It’s that refreshing time of year when we can open the windows and sweep out the dust and cobwebs. Awww… Spring is in the air and so is the desire to clean out our houses and yards. Unfortunately, as this desire to give the floors and cupboards a good scrub takes over, we face the daunting task of finding good, green cleaning agents that will make our homes both eco-conscious and clean. The following are four simple ways we can green up when we clean up this Spring: 1. When gathering cleaning supplies, avoid using disposable products such as paper towels and one-time dusters. Contrary to what we are told on advertisements, they are not more cost-efficient or -effective in combating germs and bacteria. Old T-shirts and towels make great rags and have been used in generations past for good reason. For more information, check out ecomii’s tips on eliminating disposable cleaning supplies. 2. When searching for green cleaning agents, we are bombarded with claims of being all-natural and biodegradable. How do we find a brand that we can trust? See this link for a guide to green cleaning alternatives and what logos we can count on. 3. For those of you who are interested in taking matters into your own hands, making your own cleaning solvents is easy and cost-efficient. All you need is baking soda, salt, lemons, and vinegar. Vinegar and baking soda on a damp sponge will clean and deodorize most surfaces. For more easy and natural cleaning recipes, check out: mlmgorilla.com 4. There’s no better excuse than Spring cleaning for gathering your friends and neighbours together for a little community garage sale. This is a great opportunity to dispose of some items you may be storing unnecessarily, without filling up your garbage bin.