COLUMBIA- It’s the thick of springtime, and consumers might be checking off that spring-cleaning list around the house or apartment.
Well, housing experts want to make sure they’re doing that while keeping the environment in mind.
The Missouri Realtors is urging homeowners and people living in apartments to focus on a few tips while they clean.
- Using natural cleaning products, like vinegar, water and lemon juice;
- Consider donating unwanted items while decluttering;
- Conserving water by compiling vinegar and water in one bucket;
- Using energy efficient appliances;
- Knowing where and how to recycle in an individual’s community
Monica Hansman, a licensed realtor based in Columbia, said spring-cleaning is a way to live with less.
“The hardest thing about spring-cleaning is knowing where to start. And so, you know, take it one drawer at a time, or one cabinet at a time,” Hansman said. “It doesn’t have to be all on a weekend.”
Hansman said as a realtor, she spends a lot of time in houses. And over time, homeowners accumulate a lot of clutter.
“You can tell that the homeowner’s taken pride in home by maintaining it and keeping it looking like it is, like it was when they bought it,” Hansman said.
For mid-Missourians, Hansman said people can donate items that haven’t been used recently to Salvation Army or the City of Refuge.
“Instead of throwing things away and filling up our landfills, let’s have (donated items have) a second time,” Hansman said. “There’s lots of people that are going to (take) those and kind of upcycle those products, rather than throw them away.”