The miracle recipe for a successful (and green) spring cleaning
Did you know that a house contains on average 300,000 objects? With the arrival of spring, you may have a strong urge to open the windows and declutter the house. Before getting started, I wanted to share with you some thoughts that have made me review my way of cleaning in recent years.
Interesting fact: in our lifetime, we will spend an average of 3680 hours (or 153 days!) looking for misplaced items. We lose up to 9 objects a day (or nearly 200,000 during our lifetime). Phones, keys, sunglasses and documents are at the top of the list.
So these tips are meant to help you organize your living spaces and save time.
My first piece of advice would be to be careful not to over-declutter the house, the same way you over-cluttered it (we all do!). To be efficient and avoid wasting valuable possessions, don't get too excited about trying to clean the house from top to bottom in a single day. Only the first few hours will be effective and fatigue could make you throw away useful things.
Try to invest only 30 minutes a day by devoting yourself to one area per day (eg the pharmacy, the utensil drawer, the pantry…) and I promise you that the result will be much more lasting.  ;
Do you know the technique of the three boxes? It is the idea of removing all objects, clothing or accessories from the area to be cleaned and separating the contents into three boxes. The first (the big one) will contain the objects to keep and replace, after having dusted off. The second will be for what you want to donate, while in the last (the smallest) you will deposit the objects to be thrown away, because they are no longer usable.
Not only will you have the space to clean surfaces, but it will allow you to declutter effortlessly. And by analyzing the usefulness of each object, you will understand that everything is a potential waste. Yes yes! The discovery/the drama of my life! Often, even if an object is still in excellent condition, you cannot find a buyer. I won't tell you how many times I wanted to pass on goods in great condition, but which I no longer used, to my relatives who kindly refused them. My old things were very nice, but everyone had too many! Result? We throw away*!
*Note: before throwing away, go to a donation center or a community organization that helps people who are homeless or in difficulty, such as women's centers or for new arrivals. What you consider waste could make life easier for someone who really needs it.
Using the least amount of household products for a bright home is possible!
I realized this when I challenged myself to reduce the amount of products cluttering up my under sink. At the time, I wanted to replace them with do-it-yourself products, based on only six ingredients.
- White vinegar
- Essential oils
- Soda crystals
- Citrus fruits
- Vegetable soaps
- Baking soda
I made my products for a few months, until I realized that I was wasting raw materials and the products were spoiling in use. It did not meet my needs, even if it met those of some people around me.
When I realized that I had to analyze my consumption habits to find the best products , I managed to reduce it to just three commercial products, but made in Quebec. Obviously, I chose the most durable and efficient ones.
Now all I need is a dishwashing cake (which washes much more than the dishes), a powder magic and multipurpose liquid to clean the whole house with the least possible effort. And the results look better than ever.
Taking the time to do it right can save you a lot of money. It's good for your mental load, your wallet and your morale! Happy cleaning!
