5/27/2023 0 Comments Spring cleaning companyComposting is a safe and effective way to manage organic matter at home, even if you don’t have community composting available in your neighborhood.Īll the scrubbing that goes into cleaning goes through plenty of paper products. But if you’re faced with a refrigerator full of rotting produce, consider composting rather than simply throwing food away.įood scraps can be tossed into a small bin before being transferred outside to a compost pile-a pile of scraps, leaves, and other materials that gets turned occasionally for aeration until it eventually breaks down into soil. McCoy says that most food waste starts at the store, where we buy too much and in too large a quantity than we could ever consume. They suggest using signs of spoilage-an off odor, flavor, or texture-to determine if something is ready for the garbage. The USDA states that “best by” and “sell by” dates are not safety dates, nor are they required by law. “Most have a ‘best by’ date and just because you are passed that doesn’t mean the food is no longer good, only that you will get the very best quality from it before that date.” “Very few things, baby formula is one, have an expiration date,” says McCoy. If you’re emptying the pantry, don’t be taken in by vague labels. The EPA states that more food waste reaches landfills than any other form of municipal solid waste, and the USDA says we throw out billions of pounds of food a year. McCoy is practically evangelical about food waste, and with good reason. If you don’t like the idea of cleaning your home with vinegar and water, there are refillable cleaners for both the home and bathroom, like Grove Co.’s cleaning concentrates and Plaine Products refillable bath and shower wares. “People rely on things with fumes, but that’s just toxic chemicals.” “The three most basic ingredients you need to clean your house are vinegar, baking soda, and water,” says McCoy. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has lists of approved green cleaners on its website, McCoy suggests getting a reusable spray bottle and simply making your own. McCoy says many consumers fear that green cleaners will be more costly than their chemical-laden counterparts, but that’s no longer so. The Cleveland Clinic notes that antibacterial spray, for example, can contain pesticides, while glass cleaner has irritants like ammonia. She says consumers need to be careful to read what is in the cleaners they use at home and pour down their drains. Lisa McCoy, an educator with the University of Maryland Extension (part of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore that offers statewide educational programs) and a registered dietitian, has been teaching green home courses for years. Whether you plan to tackle an over-stuffed closet, clear the pantry, or organize the cleaners languishing in the cupboard under the kitchen sink, the season of renewal is the optimal time to take stock and tidy up.īut before you drag out that Swiffer, consider bringing a more mindful approach to this year’s spring clean, one that takes into consideration the sustainability of your home-and the planet. There may still be a chill in the air, but now is the time to start thinking about that seasonal rite, the spring clean.
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