How to Dump Clutter Without Damaging The Environment
Guest blog from http://tidyhome.info/
The clutter and dirt in your home can be bad for your health, but it can be even worse for the environment. When we clean up our homes, we often end up unknowingly dumping our trash into the ecosystems around us. But you can break this cycle of destructive decluttering by using these easy eco-friendly cleaning tips:
Deciding What to Keep
Decluttering your life means letting go of the things you no longer need. If you have been holding onto things for a while, it may be a bit emotional to toss them out. For furniture and decor, think about ways to repurpose these belongings to make them new again. If you have stacks of photos lying around, now is a good time to embrace the cloud and put them into digital storage. Once you have upcycled and saved what you simply cannot part with, take care to donate, recycle and discard the leftovers in ways that will not harm the environment.
Discarding Electronics and Appliances With Care
As you go through your home, you may find yourself needing to replace some larger items like your mattress and appliances. Many people end up placing these items on the curb for normal pickup, but mattresses, electronics and furniture disposed of this way will only end up cluttering landfills. The plastic and foam used to make this larger pieces will not decompose easily and could end up polluting the environment for decades, or even centuries. So look for ways to recycle your larger household goods and other items. You can even consider donating them if they are still in fair shape.
Protecting Waterways From Chemicals
Clearing out cabinets may leave you with old medications, cleaners and chemicals that you need to discard. Before you pour them down your drains, know that these toxins can end up clogging pipes and polluting water sources. Most cities have specialized disposal sites where you can bring your cans of paint, heavy-duty cleaners and household hazardous waste to be disposed of in a more environmentally friendly manner. If you have leftover medications, take them to a pharmacy take back program to ensure they do not end up in waterways or landfills.
Breaking Up With Toxic Cleaners
If you need to stock up on some cleaning supplies, try sticking to green cleaners. Common household cleaners contain some of the most toxic chemicals on the planet and constant exposure can lead to some serious health problems. These cleaners also end up releasing toxins into the air around you and get rinsed into waterways. So break the cycle of using harmful cleaners and use non-toxic formulas instead. Always read the ingredient labels of the products you purchase to make sure cleaners are truly non-toxic.
Maintaining Your Clean Home
Getting your home decluttered and clean will take some time. After all that hard work, you are going to want to make sure you keep things clean. You can motivate yourself to do so by investing in a quality upright vacuum. Many upright vacuums feature adjustments for heights, which make them perfect for a variety of hardwood and carpeted floors. Review this list of some of the best upright vacuum cleaners that can help you maintain a cleaner home.
Freeing Yourself From Plastic
Sorting through the clutter in your home will likely mean throwing some things away. If you are still using plastic bags, use this as your opportunity to break your habit of using plastics in your home. Plastics are one of the biggest threats to ecosystems around the world, and they are often made with chemicals that release toxins into your home. If you usually use plastic garbage bags, try paper bags or don’t use a liner at all. Recycle plastic shopping bag stashes now and get stow some reusable bags in your cars, so you don’t have to use plastic ones again.
Keeping your home and the environment clean is a win for everyone. So take care when you decide to clean and declutter your home, and do so in ways that are thoughtful of the world around you. The future of our planet could just depend on it.
Photo Credit: Pexels