March 1st, time for spring cleaning. And preferably as sustainable as possible, of course. With this challenge, you'll get your house ready for spring in 31 days. For each day, we have a achievable goal or sustainable cleaning tip that not only makes your house cleaner but also the world a bit cleaner. Ready, set, scrub!
Cleaning
March 1st
See it as a challenge to minimize water waste during this sustainable spring cleaning. Use a bucket with a small amount of water and refresh it occasionally. This way, you'll waste less water than constantly running the tap to rinse your cloth.
March 2nd
An obvious one: use sustainable cleaning products when cleaning your house. That means without harmful chemicals, microplastic-free, and - where possible - palm oil-free.
March 3rd
Your bathroom also doesn’t need corrosive substances - like bleach - to shine! Use, for example, our bathroom cleaner for the toilet, taps, and sink, and clean the shower screen streak-free with water and vinegar.
March 4th
Hang a shower timer in your clean bathroom. This way, you challenge the whole family to take shorter showers.
March 5th
Scrubbing is good, but preferably not with a traditional scouring sponge. This releases microplastics into the environment via wastewater. A soft brush or natural sponge cleans just as well!
March 6th
Use reusable cleaning cloths or, for quick cleaning, hygienic wipes that are 100% biodegradable.
March 7th
Clean your windows with a bucket of water and a splash of vinegar. Vinegar is cheap, not harmful to the environment, and leaves your windows streak-free.
March 8th
Opt for cleaning products in large (refill) packages as much as possible. Because: less packaging material, less freight traffic, and therefore less harmful to the environment.
March 9th
Don't use too much cleaning product. A small dash of Marcel's Green Soap all-purpose cleaner is enough to make your house smell delightful.
March 10th
Did you know that a freezer with a layer of ice consumes unnecessary amounts of electricity? Defrost the freezer when there is a lot of ice formation. When all the ice has melted, turn it back on.
Old Appliances
March 11th
Collect all broken electrical appliances in the house and return them so that the parts can be reused.
March 12th
Old appliances consume a lot of energy. Find out which (old) appliances are energy guzzlers and replace them if necessary with appliances with an A-label.
Clothing
March 13th
Collect all the clothes you never wear anymore and organize a swap party (or bring them to the textile bin or thrift store).
March 14th
Repair damaged clothing (or have it repaired) so it can last another round.
Waste
March 15th
Create a mini-environmental square in your (pantry) kitchen and/or shed: a bin for plastic, a bin for organic waste, a bin for cardboard/paper, and a bin for residual waste.
March 16th
Place reusable shopping bags in a strategic location so you never forget them when you go to the supermarket.
March 17th
Organize a kitchen cabinet with reusable water bottles, coffee-to-go cups, vegetable and fruit bags, and takeaway containers. This way, you permanently ban disposable plastic from your life.
March 18th
Don't just throw everything away randomly during sustainable spring cleaning, but give items a second life at the thrift store or sell them online (ka-ching!).
March 19th
The fewer things you bring into the house, the longer you can enjoy your tidy home! See it as a challenge to shop more consciously from now on. So: only bring things into the house that you really need.
March 20th
Do you have empty (plastic) packaging? Throw them into the plastic waste, so the plastic can be reused. Did you know that all our bottles are made of recycled and recyclable plastic?
March 21st
Challenge yourself to live microplastic-free from now on.
Garden
March 22nd
Start your own compost heap or worm farm so you can fertilize your garden with your own organic waste.
March 23rd
Start your own vegetable garden. Nothing is as sustainable as a self-sufficient life!
March 24th
Install a rain barrel in the garden so you can use it to water your plants and vegetable garden.
March 25th
Are the garden furniture and tiles due for a cleaning? Preferably, don't use a pressure washer to clean them (due to water waste). A bucket of water, green soap, and a sturdy brush work wonders.
Laundry
March 26th
Sustainable laundry tips: use as little detergent as possible, don't do half loads, wash at a low temperature, and use refills of your favorite detergent.
March 27th
Your washing machine sometimes needs a boil wash to dissolve all the grease and dirt, so your machine lasts longer and uses less electricity. So: fill your washing machine with white sheets, add a scoop of soda to the detergent drawer, and run a program at 90 degrees. Good for your sheets and your washing machine.
Power Consumption
March 28thDo you have a dryer? This one can go on a summer retreat! Now that spring has arrived, you can just dry the laundry outside.
March 29th
Go through your house to unplug all the plugs of devices that are not or hardly used. This will save you a lot of electricity and money!
March 30th
With April approaching, the thermostat can go on vacation mode. But wait a bit longer with storing away your winter sweaters because April weather is unpredictable...
March 31st
Now that you're doing so well at making your home(household) more sustainable, it's just a matter of keeping it up! Tip: turn an empty bottle of Marcel's Green Soap into a (saving) jar and put a euro in the jar for each achieved sustainable goal. Who knows, by the end of the year, you might be able to go on vacation with the proceeds! Preferably not by plane, of course... 😉
