Spring Cleaning? Think Creative Reuse

As winter rolls into spring (hopefully...), it presents an opportunity to hit the refresh button – in our homes and yards too!

Spring cleaning is often thought of as a chore, but it can be a creative, healthy and even rejuvenating process. Reusing and reimagining things you already have is a great way to save money, support sustainability, and spark your creativity.

Cleaning!  Consider using earth-friendly supplies instead of over-engineered and over-packaged chemicals. Here are just a few of the things you can clean with baking soda and with vinegar.  No toxins in your home or in the environment!

Compost!   Food waste that you can't compost yourself can be dropped off at many city-run facilities. Find one near you here.

Gardening!  Save the pollinators by not cleaning your garden until we've had 5 consecutive days of 50 degree or warmer temperatures. Then most of the bugs will have hatched from their wintering in plant stalks.

Repair! Are there any clothes or furniture that you could update? Borrow tools from the Chicago Tool Library or bring them to the next Community Glue Workshop

Recycle! Take all your old household chemicals and paint to a city hazardous waste dropoff.

Recirculate! -- Find a new home for things you no longer need.

Chicago Furniture Bank -- furniture, including mattresses

EcoShip -- Shipping / packaging materials

Open Books -- Books

Habitat ReStore -- Hardware, appliances, and building supplies

Salvation Army, Brown Elephant -- clothes and household goods

And CCRx! for art, office, sports, craft, and school supplies

Reimagine! When it comes to reuse and repurpose, the creative possibilities are endless.

• Use bottles or jars for storage, as planters or vases.

• Reuse plastic bottles as personal water bottles and bigger bottles as containers for frozen juice -- just wash them out and remove the label.

• Old shoe and gift boxes can be turned into drawer organizers, charging cord-holders, pencil bins, even birdhouses.

Swap!   Have a swap meet with friends, your kids, or your classroom. What can you share? What can you make? There are lots of ideas on Pinterest.

Party!   Have a reuse party!   Just because something is typically used for one purpose, doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Turn a thrift-store dress into a tote bag! Turn an old shirt into a stylish pillowcase. Or use it to patch a worn pair of jeans. Got an old dresser? With a little imagination, some paint, a few craft supplies, you could turn it into a show-stopping entryway piece. These easy fixes can transform the look of your space without draining your wallet. And it is fun to do them with friends : )

Here are some more great tips from the American Cleaning Institute. Enjoy your clean Spring!