Spring is not only a great time of the year to enjoy the beautiful weather, it is also a great time to get into a bit of decluttering and spring cleaning. So how do we declutter in our increasingly cluttered lives?
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The first step is getting rid of all that stuff you never use. I am not suggesting that you have to trim down to an uber-minimalist lifestyle, but the quickest way to cut your cleaning time is to simply have less stuff to clean.
Now you have a pile that you're ready to get rid of – but wait, don't just trash it. First, go through and see if any of those items could serve a purpose you haven't thought of before.
Once you've taken stock of what you can use, separate out items that someone else might need. Your house will be less cluttered, someone else can skip buying new and the landfills will be that much emptier.
Now we are ready for some spring cleaning. Quit using paper towel by using washable, reusable cloth squares instead.
Stubborn mold and mildew in your bathroom might tempt you to break out a harsh cleaning spray, but you can remove it with a few squirts of vinegar. Just let it soak for a few hours and then scrub it away. If that doesn’t work, try making a paste of baking soda in a bit of water and apply it to affected areas to use as a gentle abrasive.
Baking soda can also supercharge your dish soap to scrub baked-on residue away from your pots and pans.
Vinegar is a truly a wonderful product, and you’ll find that it can replace many of your household cleaners. Try using some with a bit of recycled newspaper to clean glass and mirrors or replace your rinse agent with vinegar in your dishwasher.
If you have chrome or stainless steel in your kitchen, keep it shiny and spotless with a lemon and a bit of salt or baking soda. Once you start replacing your household cleaners with eco-friendly options, you’ll wonder why you spent so much money on cleaning products.
