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How to Go Green: Spring Cleaning
Throwing open the windows on the first warm day of the year is one of life's great pleasures—until, of course, all that sunlight and breeze makes you realize how dusty, dirty, and cluttered your house has become during the winter hibernation. Even the messiest among us get the urge for spring cleaning—and though we don't all act on it, those of us who do should keep the annual scrub-down as green as possible.
Home cleaning supplies
The strength of any deep clean comes from the supplies you use to wipe, polish, scrub, and soak—but that doesn't mean you have to stock up on sprays and powders that are made of potentially toxic antibacterial chemicals. Find out how using kitchen staples—like vinegar, baking soda, and good old hot water—can get your house as sparkling clean as anything on the shelves (at a fraction of the price), and how those once-a-year jobs (like vacuuming the refrigerator coils) can make your home more efficient than you realized.
Home organization
Get a jump on your spring cleaning by tackling all of your home's trouble spots, from junk drawers and closets to garages and attics—because having less to clean makes the job go that much more quickly. Once you've managed to get rid of those magazines you'll never read and those clothes you'll never wear, find green ways to get them out of your house, from donating and recycling to selling or reusing—which can help make someone else's life a little greener, too.
In this guide, we'll show you how to reduce, reuse, and recycle the clutter that's blocking your access to summer essentials like the beach chairs and the barbecue; how to clean your home from roof to floor with non-toxic, homemade household cleaners; and how to get—and stay—organized without investing in a pile of plastic storage bins. Who knows? You just might love your new, clean, green space so much that next year’s spring cleaning won't even be necessary—so you can head right outside at the first sign of warm weather.
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