5 Ways to Go Green for Spring

Whether you live in a one bedroom apartment or a multi-level house, Spring often means it's time for cleaning and reorganizing. Winter clothes start to trickle to the back of the closet and months of window dirt demand removal. A larger selection of fresh foods starts to pop up in local stores, and more and more people begin to venture outdoors. In addition to benefiting the planet, these 5 ways to go green for Spring improve overall living conditions through awareness and the satisfaction of contributing to the greater good.

Make your own cleaning products. Besides the dangerous chemical content, store-bought cleaning products harm the environment during the creation process. Plastic containers that hold the cleaning solution harm the environment during manufacturing and the delivery process as well as when disposed of. Instead of purchasing products for your Spring cleaning tasks, make your own. Homemade cleaning products support a green lifestyle by using non-toxic ingredients and a reusable container.

Buy local. Choosing products grown locally, such as local organic produce, can have a serious positive effect on the environment. Since items harvested nearby require little moving, fumes and other environmentally damaging side effects of transportation disappear when local products are bought. The purchase also helps independent farmers and family owned businesses instead of fueling large corporations who typically don't engage in green practices.

Start composting. Even if you live in an apartment you can include composting as a way to go green for Spring. Small composting bins designed for indoor use break down food scraps while carbon filters mask any odors. The final product can be used to feed houseplants or given to a gardener friend. Larger composting bins keep fresh food scraps contained during the process, are relatively inexpensive and easily set up in any size backyard. Lawn scraps do not require a compost bin since animals are not tempted by the breakdown of leaves and grass.

Visit the local library. Instead of buying a bunch of new material to read outside in the Springtime air, check some books out at your local library. Most public libraries have a large collection of classics and newer publications as well as magazines and newspapers. Many also have an assortment of popular and educational movies. Want an even green way to go green this Spring? Walk or ride a bike to the library instead of taking the car or bus.

Trade clothes with friends. A fun way to go green this Spring is to host a clothes swapping party with friends and family. The new season usually prompts people to want or need a new wardrobe, thereby contributing to unnecessary waste and environmentally unfriendly practices. By trading clothing with friends, everyone gets a new set of duds without spending any money or contributing to the downfall of the planet.