get your house clean & orderly the green way

You’ve probably read about how cleaning and organizing your home can improve your life by eliminating stress and creating a calm environment where you can really relax, and there’s ample scientific evidence to back up those claims. There’s just one problem: cleaning creates pollution. Decluttering and then wiping down every surface in the house with a sponge, rag and mop is not exactly eco-friendly, not only adding more junk to the local landfill, but soaking the house in a myriad of chemicals. Those chemicals include phthalates, phosphates and chlorine, which end up flowing down the drain before sneaking through the sewers and into local rivers and streams.

The good news is that there are ways to clean and organize your home that do no damage whatsoever to the environment. Here are a few ideas.

Purge to the Max

Start off your efforts by purging your home of things you don’t need via decluttering. One of the more popular methods for this is called KonMari, made famous by the famous organizational expert Marie Kondo, who urges people to rid themselves of anything that doesn’t “spark joy.” But what to do with all that stuff?

Sell It Off

You don’t want to send the items that don’t spark joy to the landfill, which is detrimental to the environment. They may be of use to someone else who’s willing to pay for them, so find a way to give them new homes. If you have an old TV that’s collecting dust, post it online at a reasonable price to raise some cash. If you have enough items, you may want to consider hosting a garage sale.

Repair Old Appliances 

Some items won’t sell simply because they’re broken, but getting them back in working order could be feasible with the right tools and know-how. Enter the Restart Project, which holds “parties” where regular folks can go to learn how to fix their broken laptops, radios and blenders, in a convivial and learning-friendly environment.

Donate the Rest

As for the clothes in your closet you never wear, they could add style to the wardrobe of somebody less fortunate than you. All you need to do is find a charity such as Goodwill, which would be more than happy to take old jeans and sweaters off your hands, not to mention cookware and decorations.

Use Organic Cleaners

Now that your house is cleared of all that clutter without having added an ounce to the landfill, it’s time for some serious scrubbing, but with the right products. Scope out the shelves at your local supermarket, and you’ll find organic versions of cleansers that normally contain toxic chemicals.

Make Your Own

If you’ve got a DIY spirit, whip up some cleansers using all-natural ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon. They do wonders in working stains out of carpets and eliminating pet odors from curtains and upholstery, with the added benefit of being totally safe if ingested.

Clean Up Your Air

Even when you’re using eco-friendly products, it’s important to make sure the air in your home is as clean as possible. Change your air filters regularly (right after you purge items you no longer need is a great time to replace them), and it’s recommended that you opt for a MERV 13 filter, which traps more particles in the air.

When You Need Help

Some cleaning tasks may be unsafe, so you’ll want to bring in a professional to handle the work. For example, if you have inaccessible windows in your home, instead of risking injury, you can hire window cleaners who will have the necessary equipment. Research reliable, well-reviewed window cleaning contractors in your area who can get to hard-to-reach windows.

Think Before You Buy

Your house could become a mess again quickly if you don’t put a stop to impulse purchasing. Before you pull out the credit card, ask yourself if you really need something new, or if you’re just excited about the idea of making a purchase. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll probably discover many times that it’s just the thrill of the buy that you’re after.

You’ll feel great knowing your house is as healthy as it is clean without having sent junk to the landfill or toxins to the watershed. As a bonus, once you’ve done one giant decluttering-and-cleaning session, it will be much easier to keep your space maintained for the long haul.

Visit Tahoe Boho for organic herbal infusions and unique pieces of jewelry, photography, art, and more! 

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GUEST AUTHOR: emma@emmagracebrown.com