Spring is the season of fresh starts. Many of us open the windows, declutter our spaces, and deep clean our homes. But traditional spring cleaning habits often come with an environmental cost: disposable wipes, paper towels, plastic spray bottles, synthetic air fresheners, and single-use cleaning tools. All of which contribute to household waste.
Globally, the world generates over 2 million tons of municipal solid waste each year, and that number is expected to grow to 3.4 billion tons by 2050 if consumption patterns continue at their current pace. (1)
Packaging alone is responsible for a significant portion of that waste. Plastic packaging accounts for roughly 36% of global plastic production, much of which is used only once before being discarded. (2)
Cleaning products themselves can also contribute to indoor air pollution. Many cleaning products on the market currently contain hundreds of hazardous chemicals that can harm human health & the environment. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), 53% of cleaning products contain ingredients that can harm the lungs, and 22% contain chemicals that can cause asthma. (3)
The good news is that refreshing your home does not require excessive waste or harsh chemicals. Small changes in the products and systems we use can reduce waste, improve indoor air quality, and make our homes healthier places to live.
Here are five simple ways to refresh your home sustainably this spring:
1. Switch to Refillable Cleaning Products
Most conventional cleaning products come in single-use plastic bottles. Plastic packaging is one of the largest drivers of global plastic consumption and accounts for roughly 35% of plastic use worldwide. (4)
Refillable cleaning systems allow you to reuse the same container over and over again, reducing plastic waste and also cutting down on the number of bottles entering the landfill. Here are a few of our customer favorite cleaning products they refill on here at Tare Market!
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Laundry Powder Your go-to people and planet-friendly laundry option. We only use what you need to clean your clothes — free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, preservatives, and brighteners. |
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Toilet Cleaning Bombs Cleaning toilets has never been so easy and safe! Simply drop one tablet into the toilet bowl and let it fizz out. These are multi-purpose as well and can be used as well for your washing machine, garbage disposal, and also to deodorize spaces. |
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Floor Cleaner Tablets These floor tablets are versatile and will leave surfaces gleaming. These are pet and family friendly and are good for ceramic tile, porcelain tile, glass, vinyl, linoleum and sealed hardwood. Each tablet makes 16oz of cleaner. |
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Foaming Hand Soap Tablets Concentrated foaming hand soap tablets are good for people & the planet. These are plastic-, dye-, preservative, palm oil-, cruelty-, synthetic fragrance-free and are MADE SAFE certified. Each box includes 6 tablets. |
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Cleaning Scrub A super gentle home cleaning scrub made with safer ingredients and sustainable packaging. Made with baking soda, vegetable soap made with organic plant oils, and organic essential oils for scent. |
2. Replace Disposable Cleaning Tools with Reusable Tools
Paper towels, disposable wipes, and single-use scrubbers create unnecessary waste and typically just end up in the landfill, taking thousands of years to break down, if at all. Instead, replace them with reusable and compostable tools that last longer:
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Swedish Dishcloth This biodegradable dishcloth replaces paper towels and sponges, is perfect for household surfaces, and can be washed up to 200 times! These sponge-like dishcloths are eco-friendly and are extremely versatile. |
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Pop-Up Sponges Made from cellulose, these expand with water for dishwashing & cleaning just like regular sponges. Cellulose is made from wood pulp and is 100% compostable. |
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Multipurpose Scrub Brush Why settle for one brush when you can have a two-in-one? Anchored by a renewable bamboo handle and crafted entirely from plant fibers, it's the sustainable swap that actually delivers on cleaning power. |
3. Declutter Responsibly
Spring cleaning often means getting rid of items you no longer use. Instead of sending everything to the landfill, consider some more sustainable options instead!
Donate usable items, share in a Buy Nothing group, host a clothing or book swap with friends or family, or look for local recycling programs for hard-to-recycle items.
Globally, waste generation continues to rise and reducing consumption and waste wherever you can is one of the most effective ways you can limit your environmental impact.
4. Open Your Windows!
This is one of the simplest ways to refresh your home, and it’s also one of the most sustainable: fresh air.
Opening the windows this spring instead of running your AC helps improve air circulation and indoor air quality without relying on synthetic fragrances or air fresheners.
According to a 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) in 2020, electricity consumption for air conditioning accounted for about 19% (254 billion kilowatthours [kWh]) of electricity consumption in US homes. (5)
5. Focus On Reuse Instead of Replace
Sustainable living doesn’t have to mean completely changing your lifestyle overnight. Small changes like switching cleaning products, using reusable tools, and being mindful about what we throw away can add up overtime.
Research consistently shows that waste prevention and reuse are far more effective than recycling alone. In fact, the EPA identifies waste reduction as the most impactful strategy for minimizing environmental harm.
Refreshing your home for spring doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. When we choose reusable cleaning tools, refillable products, and thoughtful decluttering practices, we reduce the amount of waste entering landfills and the number of disposable products we bring into our homes.
Spring cleaning is ultimately about creating a space that feels lighter, healthier and more intentional. By choosing sustainable alternatives, we can extend that same care beyond our homes and into the environment that we all share.
Sources:
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https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/everything-you-need-know-about-plastic-pollution
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https://www.omnicalculator.com/reports/plastic-pollution-statistics?
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