Spring has finally sprung!  Flowers in bloom, longer days, and the best part of all – spring cleaning.  Okay, well maybe that’s not the best part but it sure does feel good once you’ve finished.  But how do you do it in a way that’s good for you and the planet? Because let’s face it, toxic chemicals and a bunch of waste that is going to end up in a landfill are not good for anyone.  Since FirstLantic Healthcare cares about your wellbeing, we’re aggregating some techniques for you to get things spotless using natural ingredients as well as tips on recycling the things you decide to discard.  So, let’s get cleaning!

 

  1. Clean stainless-steel sinks with baking soda

Wet your sink and faucet, sprinkle baking soda, and scrub with a sponge. If you need more scrubbing power, add salt to the baking soda.

 

  1. Remove water stains with lemon

Use lemon to keep your faucets clean by rubbing a lemon half on the water stains.

 

  1. Use white vinegar to dissolve mineral deposits in your shower.

Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits that accumulate in showerheads over time, causing reduced pressure and water flow. Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar, secure it over the showerhead with a rubber band and leave it overnight to get rid of buildup. Just be sure to run the shower before you use it again.

 

  1. Place a wet dryer sheet on your ceramic stovetop to remove burnt-on residue

Dryer sheets are non-abrasive and a great way to remove burnt-on food from your stove. Place the wet dryer sheet on your stovetop for at least 15 minutes before rubbing the gunk away. Follow these tips to clean your oven.

 

  1. Clean your grill with an onion

Get your grill cleaned up by heating it up and spraying white vinegar onto the grates to help loosen the residue. Then, scrub the area firmly using half an onion. The acid from the onion will rid your grill of any leftover remnants.

 

  1. Remove rust stains

Mix water and washing soda in a spray bottle and shake vigorously. Saturate the orange spots with the mixture, then top with some ketchup to get rid of the rust. Allow the items to sit for two hours before you rinse them with water and wipe them dry. Check out more homemade rust removers here.

 

  1. Use coffee filters to remove fingerprints on appliances.

The fiber in coffee filters is gentle enough to rub fingerprints and dust away, even on delicate TV screens. Remember not to press too hard!

 

  1. Create an all-purpose cleaner

For mild cleaning, mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 4 to 8 cups hot water in a spray bottle. You can substitute 2 teaspoons of borax for the baking soda. Add a few drops of essential oil to any mixture to give it a fresh scent.

 

So, now that you’ve cleaned up, you have a pile of things to discard. For environmentally friendly ways to recycle, we turned to WastelessWednesday.org for some practical tips.

 

  1. You can buy, sell, and exchange clothing at shops like Buffalo Exchange.
  1. Old plastic planting pots may not be recyclable so you can try to reuse them or see if your local garden center can recycle them.
  2. Oil-based paints should go to a local household hazardous waste collection site. If it’s water-based, check to see if there’s a local paint recycling program. If the paint’s still good, find out if a school or nonprofit could use it.
  3. For old computers and other electronics, check out this “Recycling Locator” from Earth911.
  4. If it’s finally time to replace those CFL light bulbs, put them in a plastic bag (not together as they can break and leak mercury) and take them to a household hazardous waste collection center. Replace them with efficient and affordable LED light bulbs.
  5. If you have old hangars that you don’t need, take the wire ones to the dry cleaners to see if they’ll recycle them. Habitat ReStore and Goodwill can use plastic ones. And when you’re buying clothing, leave the hangers at the checkout if you don’t need them.
  6. If you have a few pairs of worn-out athletic shoes, check out Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe recycling program.
  7. For hard to recycle items, see if one of these companies collects in your local area – Ridwell, TerraCycle, and FreeCycle.
  8. Habitat for Humanity is a good option for donations.  Other organizations can be found here.
  9. If you own an older clothing item from Patagonia, trade it in for credit towards a new one through their Worn Wear program.

 

Now, sit back and enjoy the ‘clean’!

 

For more information about FirstLantic Healthcare services, click here.

 

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