5 Green Spring Cleaning Tips

When you purchase a new home it's a fresh start. With an Ideal Homes' home, you've already made a commitment to reducing your carbon footprint because we've already put in place so many green building techniques, and we have geothermal ready communities. So when it comes to cleaning your home isn't it a good idea to keep the green trend going? Here are some great green tips we've put together for your spring-cleaning projects. Let the Fresh Air In - It's spring! We want to open up our windows and let the fresh air in. But sometimes if it's humid, rainy or there is lots of pollen floating around that may not be ideal. Rather than using costly chemical air fresheners and sprays to get that spring smell inside your home, make your own. Use one ounce of rubbing alcohol, six ounces of filtered water, and 20-40 drops of essential oils in any scent you prefer. Combine into a reusable spritz bottle and throw away those caustic chemicals in aerosol cans. Opt Out - One of the never-ending contributors to constant cleaning is junk mail. We each throw away almost 2500 pounds of paper each year with a majority of it made up of unsolicited mailers and offers. Here is an FTC site that will help you start getting yourself on opt out lists not just for the paper mail, but spam phone calls and emails as well. Make Your Own Cleaners - Replace powerful chemical cleaners with white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, borax, liquid castile soap, essential oils. Here are some great "recipes" for cleaning solutions from glass, countertops, bathroom tile, floors, wood furniture, toilet bowl cleaner, disinfectant, and more check out this site. Yard Sale - Don't add to the landfill by hauling everything off to the dump. Instead remember that old adage, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Once you've gone through and decide all the things you'd like to dump with this change of season host a yard sale, or if that's too much work Craigslist is a great way to get money for your old stuff and have someone else haul it away. Donate - Recycling old clothes and other items that don't disappear in a yard sale or Craigslist add by donating them to the local Goodwill, Salvation or other charity locations in your area.