Many Americans partake in the annual ritual of Spring Cleaning. Here at Sunflower, we think this act is deeper than just keeping the house clean. In our opinions, it is about cleansing our surroundings, as well as the inner-self, and detoxing so we can start fresh with the new season. It's an instinctual act that keeps us in the rhythm of the Earth's cycle so it makes sense to be sure that we are postivitely impacting our environment as we practice this tradition. Here are a few ways to do that...
1 | Choose environmentally safe products. So many cleaning products today are brimming with chemicals. Do we really want to be spreading toxins on every surface while, at the same time, we warn our children to stay away from the products under the sink? Here at Sunflower we have non-toxic and environmentally-safe solutions for everything from laundry to window washing! Stop in and grab what you need before you begin your spring cleaning process.
2 | Declutter. Before you delve into the belly of the beast with your gloves, rags, and cleaning solutions, move from room to room decluttering. Put everything in its place, and find a place for everything. If you're left with a pile of homeless things, maybe they aren't necessary for you. Do you use them often? Are they sentimental? Do they inspire you? If the answer to these three questions is "No" then maybe it's time to let go.
3 | Donate. Donating your gently-used clothing, appliances, decor, etc. is a wonderful way to give back to your community and to the Earth! This is such a great way to keep things out of the landfills and reduce the need for new things to be manufactured. Paring down to the essentials will truly help to clean your home. Your trash might be another person's treasure!
4 | Repurpose. If you have something that is a little too well-loved to be donated, but could be used as something else, maybe you could repurpose it! Old teeshirts can be ripped up into rags and used for cleaning, window screens can be turned into a laundry hamper, and the list goes on!
5 | Recycle. What can't be used, donated, or repurposed, can most likely be recycled. Making something from scratch can use up a lot of the Earth's resources, so when a manufacturer can start with recycled materials it really makes a big difference!
If you still need a little more inspiration or instruction, we pulled together a Pinboard with plenty of tips on how to reach the toughest places, and how to clean in a way that keeps harmful chemicals out of your family's living space.
Health & happiness,
* Click image for source. Post by Julia Marchand.
