When spring rolls around, I start getting a familiar itch to open the windows, let the sunlight in, and dust-bust my way through the apartment. While I do have a fairly good cleaning schedule throughout the rest of the year, I like to do some deep cleans in spring. Mainly, decluttering and reorganizing. There are sustainable ways to do this without creating waste or using harsh chemicals. I do my very best to find good homes for the items I no longer plan to keep, usually offering them to loved ones first. And, I always choose sustainable, non-toxic cleaning supplies when I’m buffing the grime away. If you’re looking for some sustainable spring cleaning tips, look no further! Here’s how to make your home sparkle with minimal waste.
This post is sponsored by CLEANR and contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a very small commission at no extra charge to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
3 Sustainable Spring Cleaning Tips For A Tidy Home
Step 1: Decluttering
You can’t clean until you declutter. Sorting through your items, discovering what should stay, go in storage, or be donated, is super important.
I just recently decluttered my laundry room and OOF, what a difference it makes! I can actually see the floor again…
Here’s how to sustainably declutter:
- Upcycle whenever you can: Make old pillowcases, sheets and t-shirts into rags; Reuse glass jars/bottles as vases or storage; Repurpose old toothbrushes into cleaning brushes, etc.
- Take it one room at a time: Sometimes down to a single area (like one drawer, cabinet or closet).
- Ask yourself the hard questions: Do you use it? Have you used it in the last 6 months? Does it bring value to your life? Is it in need of repair, and if so, can it be repaired (most clothes/shoes can be revived at a tailor/cobbler)?
- Make three piles: Keep, donate, recycle, sell or compost. Pass on your items to loved ones first before donating to thrift stores, shelters, or community centers. You can also host a garage sale or even a clothing swap. Kathryn Kellogg also has a great blog post about the best places you can resell your clothes online. Properly recycle or compost anything else (because yes, there may be some compostable materials amongst your household items. Food scraps and organic materials can enrich your garden).
Step 2: Organizing
Putting an end to chaos leads to a much neater space! Here’s how to properly organize your home.
- Reuse: Repurpose shoeboxes, glass jars, or old containers. I like to use tote bags I’ve accumulated over the years to store my smaller items safely. For delicate items, wrap them in some upcycled paper for cushioning. And don’t forget to label your items, especially if you’re storing bulk dry goods in glass jars (this helps prevent food waste).
- Invest in Reusable Containers: Opt for glass or stainless steel containers for food storage. For bigger items, it’s okay to invest in high quality plastic bins (I had to for my laundry room), but make sure you’ll be using them on a frequent basis first. You can also hit up a thrift store, or Facebook market place to see if they have any secondhand organizers. Storage containers made from natural materials, like water hyacinth, maize and rattan, are also ideal.
- Vertical Space: Use hooks, shelves, and hanging organizers to maximize space. You may be able to find some unique ones on Etsy. I also love the idea of utilizing space beneath cabinets – I’m thinking about getting some command hooks to hang mugs! It’d free up some space in my cabinets for other items.
- Roll-out cabinet drawers: There are all kinds of simple kitchen installments you can make to organize your items better. One of my favorites is a roll-out drawer you can easily install in any cabinet and store items like baking sheets and pans hassle-free. I really want to get one of these soon!
Note: Just remember not everything needs a new storage container. I see SO many influencers dump things out of perfectly good containers into ‘aesthetically pleasing’ glass canisters. While some items, like flour or rice, may be suitable for this, it’s not recommended for items like laundry pods or juices to be decanted.
Step 3: Deep cleaning
Once you’ve got an idea of where everything goes, and how you want to store it, it’s time to clean! Getting grime, dirt and bacteria off of surfaces and fixtures is so important.
Here’s how to deep clean without harsh chemicals or creating waste, broken into sections.
DIY cleaning products
Skip the Bleach and Ammonia: These aren’t good for people or planet. Instead, try these DIYs that I’ve come to love.
- Citrus-Infused vinegar spray: You can make this using any type of citrus and it’ll be ready in a matter of weeks. All for the low cost of a lemon or orange! And you can use it to clean almost any surface.
- Baking soda: I love sprinkling onto my sink, adding a splash of water, then scrubbing it clean! It makes the stainless steel shine after a good rinse.
- DIY Tub Scrub: My husband has taken over making this solution and scrubs the entire tub for me with it. It does a great job getting our tub shiny again. And yes, it even buffs away mold!
- Disinfectant wipes: These are great to use in a pinch, and made using non-toxic ingredients. They save us so much money!
Stocking your cleaning caddy
Don’t have time for DIYS? Here are some effective, eco-friendly cleaning products and supplies I always have on hand in my cleaning caddy.
- Blueland multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and glass/mirror cleaner.
- Wooden scrubbing brush.
- Upcycled old toothbrush (great for grout and hard to reach places).
- Rags and microfiber cloths.
- Baking soda (I use it to clean my sink, get stuck on food off my pots, etc.).
- Blueland toilet cleaner.
- Liquid castile soap (I always have this on hand for cleaning out my compost pail, soaking dirty items, making tub scrub, etc.).
- Castile soap bar (I use this to clean the dishes – I just put it on my soap holder, and rub my wooden brush onto it. That’s it!).
Laundry room essentials
- Wash full loads of laundry. This will lead to washing less often, and clothes shed less with fuller loads.
- Use cold water and gentler cycles. If clothes are tossed around less aggressively, fewer fibers will break off.
- Prioritize buying cotton and natural fiber clothing over synthetic. Although both types of fibers shed microplastics because natural fibers are often coated in plastic and toxic dyes.
- Our clothes shed millions of microplastics in the wash, making them the largest source of microplastic pollution into our environment. Stop microplastics at the source with a washing machine microplastic filter. CLEANR makes a microplastics laundry filter that attaches to your washing machine in minutes and filters out over 90% of microplastics before they reach the environment. Spring cleaning is all about fresh starts, and this is one simple switch that helps reduce your everyday environmental impact without changing your routine.
- Sustainable detergent – I love Clean Cult’s liquid detergent, Earth Breeze sheets and Dropps pods.
- Wool dryer balls – they help reduce dryer time and replace single-use dryer sheets.
Clean your cleaning supplies!
Don’t forget, your cleaning supplies (like brushes) can get dirty too. Make sure you upkeep them as well.
- For wooden brushes: To clean and disinfect your wood dish brush, add a little liquid castile soap to a cup of vinegar and soak your brush in the liquid for about 10 minutes. Then rinse with hot water and lay (bristles down) to dry.
- For rags, cotton and microfiber cloths: Add these to your washing machine with sustainable laundry detergent. Wash in hot water. If they’re coated in grease, allow them to presoak in a solution of how water and degreaser before washing. Never add oil-soaked cloths in a clothes dryer even after washing. They are combustible. Allow them to line dry.
- For vacuums: Use a cloth dampened with cleaning spray or warm, soapy water to wipe down the exposed parts of your vacuum and the attachments. You can use a soft brush to get to any hard-to-reach areas, like an old toothbrush. Wipe out the dust bin, brush rolls and filter. Make sure to remove any stuck hair, string and other debris so your vacuum will function at full power.
Tackle neglected areas
- Windows and Blinds: Dust, wash, and wipe down. Don’t forget to wash your curtains and dust the curtain rod.
- Doorknobs: Spray with all-purpose cleaner and wipe down.
- Under furniture: Use a long-handled duster if under wooden floors. If under carpet, move the furniture and vacuum.
- Baseboards and Corners: Vacuum and wipe.
- Mattresses and Pillows: For mattress, sprinkle with baking soda, let it sit, and then vacuum it up.
- Appliances: Clean coils, filters, and vents.
- Ceilings: Clean ceiling trim, light fixtures, and corners. Secure a cloth to a broom with a rubber band to reach these difficult spots.
- Oven: Clean the stovetop with all-purpose cleaner. The inside can be cleaned by leaving a paste of water and baking soda to sit overnight (avoid getting any in the heating vents – I suggest covering them with aluminum foil + tape), then scrub clean the following morning.
- Floors: Vacuum, mop, and/or steam carpets if possible. I personally use a Dyson and a Bona to clean my floors. Bona doesn’t bother my very sensitive nose and the microfiber pads are machine washable/reusable.
adding life to your space
What good is cleaning if you can’t also beautify the space you’re in? I love decorating for the seasons – it stays relevant no matter what holidays come to pass.
You can add some spring time touches to your home by:
- Buying fresh flowers from the local farmers market and putting them in a pretty thrifted vase
- Getting a new zero waste candle in a spring scent
- Opening the windows and letting the house air out
- Investing in pretty linen curtains
- Hanging up some spring artwork (I love painting my own pieces!)
- Making plastic-free suncatchers using pressed flowers, gelatin and hot water.
So, what do you think of these sustainable spring cleaning ideas? Let me know in the comments!
For more spring cleaning tips, check out this list of zero waste cleaning products.
And, a huge thank you to CLEANR for sponsoring this post. Be sure to visit CLEANR to get your hands on their innovative microplastic filter for washing machines.
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