How To Green Spring Clean

As the weather warms up, it's time for the annual clear out and spring clean. Here are some tips to make your Spring clean a little green.

- Oven - get rid of that abrasive oven cleaner! They're corrosive, toxic and terribly damaging to the environment. Try this simple recipe from Bridget Gardner at Fresh Green Clean

Cleaning inside ovens:

• Mix 1/3 cup bicarb with water to make a frosting-like paste in a small bowl.
• Use a pastry brush to paint the racks, walls and base.
• Turn on oven and ‘cook' on low for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Turn off oven and leave to cool a little. Wear gloves and take the racks over to the sink.
• Lightly buff the racks with a stainless steel scourer which is rinsed regularly in a small bowl of warm water.
• Scrape the grease-filled bicarb from the oven sides, door and base with a plastic or wooden spatula.
• Fill the bowl with warm water and either a spot of detergent, soap or vinegar, then use it with a rag (i.e piece of old towel) to wipe away the remaining residue.
• Final note: if any white bicarb residue remains, don't worry. It's completely odourless and non-toxic, and now the grease will stick to it, instead of the oven and make it easier to clean next time.

- Dusting - forget all purpose chemical sprays for dusting. For most dusting jobs (picture frames, books, cds) a clean damp cloth will do the trick just fine.

- Donate your clutter - don't just chuck it away. Magazines and Books can often be given away instead of just thrown out. Old clothes and furniture can be given to charities. Old electronics can be collected by recyclers.

- Be creative - re-use your "junk" as much as you can and give it new life. Boxes and books can be stacked up to make a side table with a nice cloth draped over it.

- Step up your fridge - make your fridge run more efficiently by vacuuming up the coils saving you money and helping the environment.

- Make your own deep carpet cleaner - mix borax and essential oil together, sprinkle over the rug, let it sit, and then vacuum.

- Cleaners - for cleaning agents, always look for agents that use minimal packaging, don't use corrosive ingredients and provide proof of their eco friendly claims.

Find more cleaning ideas, green living and solar panels, visit the Green Pages Green Eco Directory