Ah, March. For anybody who lives in a location with four seasons, it’s one of the most welcome months of the year as temperatures start to rise and the first signs of spring (and then happy, warm summer) begin to appear. It’s also the time of year when many of us embark on a happy little activity known as “spring cleaning.” Unless you are the type of person who says, “What is this ‘cleaning’ that you speak of?,” it’s also an opportunity to make some minor changes in how you spring clean your home to make it a bit more postconsumer friendly. Here are three tips for turning “spring cleaning” into “postconsumer spring cleaning.”

Keep It Green

Postconsumers care about the planet, and therefore you need to be conscious of the products that you use when you’re cleaning your home. Whether you take the time to go to an entirely organic store, buy “greener products” such as Method or Clorox Greenworks for your supplies or simply make your own cleaning solutions using common household ingredients like baking soda and vinegar, please stay away from chemically-rich, dangerous cleaners. Also, be sure that you recycle all of the bottles from your cleaners when you’re done!

Purge. Then Don’t Overbuy for Spring and Summer

Of course, as we’ve mentioned numerous times, we think you should take any natural opportunity to do a “stuff purge.” Parting with your “things” can often be emotional and challenging, and using a set time frame like “spring cleaning” to make it happen can help the process along. However, your stuff purge is only as good as your ability to then not replace it with more stuff just because it’s spring and you suddenly need “new things for spring!” or “a new summer wardrobe!” We’re certainly not saying that buying new things to give you pleasure in the spring is bad. But we are saying that perhaps after you do a stuff purge, you should actively work to not replace every item that you just cleared out from your home!

Set Up Your Recycling Station

If you don’t already recycle, this spring is a perfect time to begin. Start by setting up a recycling station that gives you an easy place to sort and toss plastics, glass and paper recyclables. Find out where to leave or drop off your recycling materials, and make this spring the spring that you embrace the cycle of growth by becoming a part of the cycle, instead of an end point in a straight line. Make part of your spring cleaning process about making sure that you’re participating in the cycle of rebirth.

Spring cleaning can be fun, and it can also be a starting point for a more organized and less stuff-dependent lifestyle. Now, get on out there and introduce yourself to your sponge and mop. We’re sure you’re about to have a great spring fling together!

Have other tips on how to make spring cleaning a time to embrace postconsumer values? Like us on Facebook and tell us about them!