Spring has finally begun to show signs of life here in Fort Collins! With the semester picking up momentum as we approach the end of the school year, it’s normal to feel as though your life is a little bit more chaotic than usual. Such chaos can lead us to accidentally cluttering our spaces, which can negatively affect our mental health and performance. Consider finishing the semester with a clean slate, upon returning to campus from spring break, by giving your living space a much-needed spring cleaning. A good spring cleaning will not only help you get organized for finals — you won’t have to tear your room apart searching for your notes from January — but will also make things much easier for you when it’s time to move out of your residence hall in just a short couple of months.
If you do decide to give your space a spring cleaning, why not also try something new and incorporate some green tips into your cleaning checklist that will have a better impact on your health and on the environment? Below are just a few green cleaning tips that you can try this spring to keep you and your space healthy:
- Swap chemical cleaners for natural ones. Chemical-laden household cleaners risk releasing toxins. You can either purchase premade non-toxic products at the store, or DIY your own, which can be just as effective. For example, lemons and white vinegar are commonly used in natural cleaning products, as they hold antibacterial and antiseptic properties. For instructions on how to make your own ecofriendly cleaners, visit https://learn.eartheasy.com/guides/non-toxic-home-cleaning/.
- Ditch paper towels. Instead of wasting money on single-use paper towels — which can’t be recycled — switch to using reusable rags. You can also save your money by making your own from cut-up old T-shirts and cloth towels. This way, you can simply add them to your laundry and reuse them over-and-over, saving your wallet and the planet.
- Utilize baking soda. Baking soda is a great multi-use natural cleaning alternative that is cheap, readily available, and safe to use. Try sprinkling a bit on your carpet before vacuuming to eliminate odors or use it to tackle the grime in your bathroom sink.
- Reuse your old toothbrushes. An estimated 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown out each year in the US (American Dental Association), each one taking hundreds of years to decompose. Even though you should be replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, you can still get some life out of it as a household cleaning tool. It pairs amazingly with a vinegar and baking soda solution to get rid of tough grime!
- Get a houseplant. Some houseplants can improve the indoor air quality of your space by neutralizing lingering toxins, which is an extremely beneficial property when living in a tiny space (such as your residence hall room).
- Air out your space. Because your rooms are so small, the air inside them gets stale and stuffy fast! Air fresheners are commonly used to freshen up a room, but usually contain chemicals that add potentially hazardous pollutants to the air… even air fresheners labeled as “green” are often still hazardous. The best and simplest way to freshen up your space is to frequently open the windows and let the breeze circle through.
Written by Lucy Renfrow, Sustainability Intern.