Making Spring Cleaning a Lifestyle

By: Asma Shums,
The beginning of spring and the end is synonymous with cleaning where we throw out things that don’t serve us or we have no use for to make more space. Often this space is taken over by more things by the end of the next season. Summer accessories, pool toys, new summer clothes, garden accessories, and more. The need to fill the space affects not just our physical space but our mental space as well. Research by many experts show that clutter have a detrimental effect on our mental health and a far greater impact on our earth. Waste is our biggest crisis and reaching it’s boiling point giving minimalism and zero-waste lifestyles the traction it deserves. Microplastics can be found in most living beings, environments destroyed because of deforestation, and our air polluted by harsh chemicals because of factories and cars.
So how can we transition into the biggest spring cleaning of our life and reduce our impact on the environment?
Principles of Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle
1. Reflect on what you truly need as many things find their way into the landfill
2. Reduce what you do use to what you truly need to reduce waste
3. Reuse what you can by repairing items or buying second-hand things
4. Recycle what you can’t so it does not end up in a landfill
5.Rot what’s left over by composting food scraps back into the earth
Beginners Guide to a Zero Waste Lifestyle
1. Bring less things into the home and only things you truly need. We purchase things that service no purpose and just make us happy because we are purchasing something.
2. Shop in bulk and try to use reusable containers. This can result in less plastic and by using glass containers you can feel good with every purchase.
3. Use reusable containers when ordering takeout or buying coffee. Many stores provide a discount if you bring your own containers as it reduces their costs and helps us reduce our waste.
4. Reassess your favourite products. Some of our cleaning products cause great harm to the ocean when they are washed away or create additional waste as paper towels are used. Many products can be made at home and function the same.
5. Use what you have. Many of us buy additional items for storage and end up throwing them our after we have forgotten about their existence or no longer need them. By using what you have first, you can decide if it fits your lifestyle before purchasing.
Email info at: asmashums@gmail.com