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Last updated on November 8th, 2022

How does hearing “spring cleaning” make you feel? Personally, I love cleaning. Not necessarily the huge cleaning projects, but I enjoy taking small daily and weekly steps to maintain my home. Whether you love to clean or not, this spring cleaning low-waste routine will have you stopping to smell the roses!

Enjoy this spring cleaning low-waste routine and let me know which item is your favorite in the comments or on Instagram @kayla_ih!

Have a question, comment or thought to add? Leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll reply right away 🙂

Spring Cleaning Low-Waste Routine

spring cleaning low waste_Writing From Nowhere

1. Clean out that drain that has Lord-only-knows how much hair in it

Let me address the elephant, or giant wad of hair, in the room:

Why snake a drain if you’ve never done so before?

Maybe I’m jumping to wrong conclusions here, and you’re totally familiar with confronting the ~stuff~ in your drains.

But while writing this blog post, I started talking to people in my life about cleaning drains and realized it’s a task many people have never even considered.

So I bring to you, this tidy little plastic drain snake. One could even call it cute and approachable.

To clean your pipes the natural way, sans Drano, you simply put this drain snake into your drain, twist and pull up.

Some people would write this tool off because it’s plastic, but I think it deserves a spot in your spring cleaning low-waste routine. Especially when compared it to the alternative that’s so easy to reach for: Drano.


Drain Snake vs. Drano

Drain snake:

  • One-time purchase (reusable)
  • Chemical free
  • Takes up less storage space (for all the fellow tiny livers out there)
  • No health concerns

Drano liquid clog remover:

  • Packaged in plastic
  • Received an F from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in reference to environment and health safety
  • Has to be sensitively stored away from children and animals

Plus, as always: maintaining the things you already own is an essential habit of sustainable living.

Warning: the Amazon reviews are not for the faint of heart. The things people have been pulling up out of their drains with this drain snake will leave you shook.

This drain snake says it’s suitable for variety of pipes – sink, kitchen, bathtub and so on.

3 Pack Plastic Plumbing Snake Drain on Amazon


2. Use the sun (UV light) to clean things naturally

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There are two ways to approach UV light cleaning. The first, and the version I recommend, is simply using the sun.

Sunlight can kill germs and dust mites, bleach stains and remove odors, to name a few of it’s cleaning superpowers.

UV cleaning with the sun

Some common household items that How To Clean Stuff recommends cleaning with UV light are:

  • Pillows
  • Mattresses
  • Stuffed animals
  • Stained tupperware
  • Moldy items
spring cleaning low-waste_Writing From Nowhere

The second way to clean with UV light is to buy UV light cleaning devices.

UV cleaning devices

Common UV cleaning device can help with allergies, such as mold and dust mites.

A few common UV cleaning devices are:

This spring cleaning low-waste task actually isn’t the first time UV cleaning has made an appearance on Writing From Nowhere. If you remember my sustainable travel packing list, I recommend the Steripen as a tool for sanitizing water and avoiding plastic bottles while traveling in areas where the tap water is unsanitary to drink.

The company behind Stasher bags recently shared this hot tip on their Instagram on how to use mother sun to naturally bleach food stains from your Stasher bag.

This tip should work on all types of tupperware in your kitchen.

In case you’re new to Writing From Nowhere, in a nutshell: Stasher bags are reusable silicone Ziplock bags. They’re leakproof, heatproof, dishwasher safe and can be reused indefinitely. They’re a life-changing low-waste item to have in your arsenal!


3. Go over the surfaces in your home with a reusable dusting cloth once a week.

This spring cleaning low-waste item is a repeat from my low-waste autumn cleaning blog post, but I thought dusting deserved a spot on this spring cleaning low-waste list as well.

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Even living in a tiny home as my husband and I do, this spring cleaning low-waste habit always turns up a surprising amount of dust. I try to go over all of the surfaces in my home once a week.

Machine Washable Microfiber Cleaning Cloth 5 Pack on Amazon


4. Replace any old scrub brushes with biodegradable tools

Is it time to get new scrub brushes?

I included these in my eco-friendly gift ideas holiday post last year and was surprised to see how popular they were.

Some studies have found that 47% of kitchen sinks contain coliform bacteria, and more than 1 in 4 kitchen sinks contain mold. (source)

Maintaining clean kitchen brushes means a cleaner sink, dishes, and so on. A solid cleaning investment!

spring cleaning low waste_Writing From Nowhere

If you don’t need new brushes yet, then right on! Next time you do need to purchase some, remember this as an opportunity to make a more responsible choice.

Set Of Biodegradable And Zero-Waste Cleaning Tools on Amazon


5. Change your bamboo toothbrush

Have you changed your toothbrush this year? No judgement here. I hadn’t, until I wrote this blog post.

This may not be a conventional spring cleaning low-waste item, but it’s a great opportunity to take a moment to care for your health.

Imagine never needing cold medicine, tissues or hand sanitizer again? Taking care of your health is an important part of long-term sustainable living.

If you are sick, no judgement here. I believe that everyone should take care of their health without any shame or judgment being attached to it.

But taking steps to upkeep your health can have huge long-term returns on your low-waste journey.

Writing From Nowhere_Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or sooner if the bristles are visibly fraying. (source)

These toothbrushes are made from sustainable bamboo, are biodegradable and vegan.

Vegan Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrushes With Charcoal Bristles on Amazon


6. Try your hand at making cleaners from scratch for your spring cleaning low-waste routine

This sustainable spring cleaning recipe is as simple as it sounds. Organic material, vinegar – done!

spring cleaning low waste_Writing From Nowhere

I made my batch of lemon vinegar clear in November, and as of March I’m still using it and it hasn’t spoiled. I store mine in the fridge, though I’m not actually sure if that makes a difference.

To make your own vinegar cleaner, follow these easy steps:

  1. Soak lemon rinds (post juicing) in vinegar
  2. Let soak for a week or two in a dark place
  3. Remove lemon rind, put vinegar in a spray bottle and get cleaning!

I bet you already have a spray bottle laying around the house somewhere that can upcycled. But if you are going to buy something new, remember to choose glass and not plastic.

Amber Glass Bottles, 2 Pack on Amazon


7. Deep clean your wooden or bamboo cutting board

You can deep clean a cutting board without chemicals by using coarse salt and a lemon.

How to naturally clean your cutting board:

  1. Wash cutting board as usual
  2. While still wet, cover in coarse salt
  3. Let sit overnight
  4. Scrub cutting board with a lemon and wash again
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Spring Cleaning Low-Waste Routine Summary

Which of these spring cleaning low-waste routines will you incorporate first?

The lowest-hanging fruit is probably changing your toothbrush, but I think deep down you’re curious what’s living in your sink.. Tell me in the comments or on Instagram @kayla_ih!