Sustainable spring cleaning

When the days become longer again after winter and the sun shines in through the windows, it becomes visible what winter dirt and dust have accumulated in the rooms during the darker season. For many, this is the impetus to start a thorough spring cleaning and to banish the winter stuffiness until everything shines, glitters, sparkles and smells good again.

Spring cleaning involves the use of various cleaning agents. According to the WWF, conventional detergents and cleaning agents are not sufficiently degraded in sewage treatment plants. The chemicals from the detergents end up in the sewage and rivers and reach the sea. There they can accumulate in the environment and in organisms such as fish and plants – and also damage our health when we clean.

There is also room for improvement in terms of resource use. Be it in the use of cleaning accessories, in water and electricity consumption or in the handling of objects that are sorted out.

So there are various starting points for going green and thus protecting our planet. This does not only help the environment, but is also healthier for our own four walls. How we can say goodbye to old, environmentally harmful habits and use environmentally friendly alternatives instead: Here are tips and recommendations for sustainable spring cleaning.

Environmentally friendly cleaning agents for Green Cleaning

Ecological cleaning alternatives are just as effective against winter dirt as conventional cleaners. They clean on a natural basis and provide a healthy and environmentally friendly spring cleaning. Fortunately, there are many environmentally friendly alternatives on the market today. Sustainable products are those that are biodegradable, contain no harmful chemicals and are made from renewable raw materials. Greenpicks offers these environmentally friendly alternatives that ensure hygienic cleanliness in the household. This way, Green Cleaning is guaranteed to succeed. A good option can also be to use cleaning agents that you have put together yourself. Simple household remedies such as vinegar, citric acid, baking powder, baking soda and essential oils can be used to make effective and environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Zero Waste with reusable cleaning equipment

Disposable or throwaway products cause an unnecessary amount of waste. Green Cleaning uses reusable cleaning aids:

• Cleaning and polishing cloths made from natural and recyclable raw materials or also from discarded old T-shirts
• Brooms and brushes made from natural materials
• Cleaning sponges made from natural materials
• Rubber gloves instead of disposable gloves
• Washable hoover bags

Less plastic at house cleaning

A lot of plastic can be saved by consciously choosing ecological cleaning products. Eco manufacturers fill their cleaning products in bottles made of recycled plastic or in refill bags that use less material than the original packaging. Some products can be filled at filling stations. Some manufacturers take back bottles or canisters for refilling. For cleaning products in tablet or powder form, cardboard is sufficient as packaging. A positive side effect of the reduction of plastic and packaging, in addition to the lower amounts of waste, is the saving of energy for transport, as more units make do with less volume.

Water consumption and energy saving

When cleaning, we often use a lot of water and electricity. Sustainable cleaning also includes the proper use of water. It should be self-evident by now not to let the water run when it is not needed. You can save a lot of water by using a bucket instead of the running tap or by using dirty cleaning water for flower watering.

Energy-efficient appliances such as a hoover with low power consumption and a washing machine with low water consumption also help to save energy.

When washing cleaning cloths and sponges, energy can be saved if they are washed at low temperatures. Ideally, an environmentally friendly detergent is used for this purpose. Not using an electric dryer also saves a lot of energy and resources. The cleaned rags and sponges can simply be hung out to air dry.

Reducing the carbon footprint

With good planning, unnecessary car journeys to get cleaning products can be avoided. Using environmentally friendly means of transport such as bicycle or public transport also reduces one's own environmental impact, i.e. the CO2 footprint, and at the same time the costs for petrol and parking.

Recycling, upcycling, circular economy

Spring cleaning can also be used to tidy up and clear out. This often results in many things that we no longer need or that are broken. Instead of throwing them away, you can recycle them, use them for upcycling projects, sell them or donate them.

Electronic devices, furniture, household items, books and clothes can be sold or donated. This gives them a second, third or even fourth life, keeps them in circulation, protects the environment and supports charitable causes through donations.

Paper, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic should be disposed of separately and placed in the designated bins for recycling.

Optimise cleaning behaviour in terms of the environment

In order to make the next spring cleaning much easier, one's own cleaning behaviour should be optimised for the sake of the environment. If you remove dirt immediately and quickly, you prevent it from being absorbed or drying out. This means that less harsh cleaning agents are needed. This is easiest to implement in the bathroom and kitchen. For example, you can wipe the fittings and tiles dry after every shower. This way, you will hardly have any problems with limescale stains later on. Dirt on the cooker and oven should be wiped off before the next use, before it burns in.

Sustainable spring cleaning in the flow

Scientifically speaking, flow is a special feeling of happiness that can arise when you are completely absorbed in an activity. It may sound audacious, but you can also get into a flow when cleaning. Cleaning is increasingly perceived as a counterbalance to the stressful everyday working life and manual work as a pleasant balance, at least to the mental work on the computer screen.

Seeing that one's efforts have led to a clean result can actually be very satisfying and gives us a good feeling. Accompanied by fine fragrances and the right music, sustainable spring cleaning is then even fun!