Challenge: sustainable spring cleaning in 31 days

March 1, time for spring cleaning. And preferably as sustainable as possible, of course. With this challenge you can prepare your house for spring in 31 days. We have an achievable goal or sustainable cleaning tip for every day that will make not only your home, but also the world a bit cleaner. Ready, set, sop!

To clean

March 1
Consider it a challenge to waste as little water as possible during this sustainable spring cleaning. Use a bucket with a small layer of water and change it every now and then. This way you waste less water than if you constantly open the tap to rinse out your cloth.

March 2nd
A tip of course: use sustainable cleaning products when you clean your house. This means: without harmful substances, microplastic-free and - where possible - palm oil-free.

3 March
Your bathroom really doesn't need any corrosive substances - such as bleach - to shine! For example, use our bathroom cleaner for the toilet, taps and sink and clean the shower wall streak-free with water and vinegar.

4th of March
Hang a shower timer in your clean bathroom. This way you challenge the whole family to shower for less time.

March 5th
Scrubbing is good, but preferably not with a traditional scouring pad. This releases microplastics that end up in the environment via wastewater. A soft brush or natural sponge cleans just as well!

6 March
Use reusable cleaning wipes or - for quick cleaning - hygienic wipes that are 100% biodegradable.

March 7th
Clean your windows with a bucket of water and a dash of vinegar. Vinegar is cheap, not harmful to the environment and cleans your windows streak-free.

8 March
Choose cleaning products in large (refill) containers as much as possible. Because: less packaging material, less freight traffic and therefore less burden on the environment.

9th of March
Do not use too many cleaning products. A small dash of Marcel's Green Soap all-purpose cleaner is enough to make your house smell wonderful.

10th of March
Did you know that a freezer with an ice layer uses an unnecessary amount of electricity? Therefore, defrost the freezer when there is a lot of ice formation. When all the ice has melted, turn it back on.

Old appliances

11 March
Collect all broken electrical appliances in the house and return them so that the parts can be reused.

12 March
Old appliances consume a lot of energy. Check which (old) appliances are energy guzzlers and, if necessary, replace them with appliances with an A label.

Clothing

13 March
Collect all the clothes you never wear anymore and organize a swap party (or take them to the textile bin or thrift store).

March 14
Repair broken clothing (or have it repaired) so that it can last another round.

Waste

Mar. 15
Create a mini environmental square in your (utility) kitchen and/or shed: a bin for plastic, a bin for organic waste, a bin for cardboard/paper and a bin for residual waste.

March 16
Place reusable grocery bags in a tactical location so you never forget them when you go to the grocery store.

17th of March
Set up a kitchen cupboard with reusable water bottles, coffee-to-go cups, fruit and vegetable bags and take-away containers. This way you permanently ban disposable plastic from your life.

18th of March
Don't throw everything away haphazardly during sustainable spring cleaning, but give things a second life at the thrift store or sell them online (katsjing!).

March 19
The less stuff you bring into your home, the longer you can enjoy your tidy home! See it as a challenge to shop more consciously from now on. So: only buy things that you really need.

20th of March
Do you have empty (plastic) packaging? Throw them in the plastic waste so that the plastic can be reused. Did you know that all our bottles are made from recycled and recyclable plastic ?

21 March
Challenge yourself to live microplastic-free from now on.

Garden

March 22nd
Start your own compost heap or worm bin so that you can later fertilize your garden with your own organic waste.

March 23
Create your own vegetable garden. Nothing as sustainable as a self-sufficient life!

March 24
Install a rain barrel in the garden so that you can water your plants and vegetable garden.

March 25
Does the garden furniture and tiles need cleaning? It is better not to use a high-pressure washer to clean them (due to water wastage). A bucket of water, green soap and a sturdy brush work wonders.

To wash

March 26
Sustainable washing tips: use as little detergent as possible, do not do half loads, wash at a low temperature and use refills of your favorite detergent.

27 March
Your washing machine sometimes needs a boiling wash to dissolve all the grease and dirt, so that your machine lasts longer and uses less energy. So: fill your washing machine with white sheets, throw a scoop of soda into the container and run a program at 90 degrees. Good for your sheets and your washing machine.

Power consumption

28th of March
Do you have a dryer? This one can go on a summer retreat! Now that it is spring, the laundry can simply dry outside.

29 March
Take a tour of your house to unplug all appliances that are rarely or never used. This saves you a lot of electricity and money!

30 March
With April approaching, the thermostat can be set to holiday mode. Just wait a little longer before putting away your winter sweaters, because April is sweet…

March 31st
Now that you are so busy making your home(s) more sustainable, it is only a matter of persevering! Tip: turn an empty bottle of Marcel's Green Soap into a piggy bank and throw a euro into the pot for every sustainable goal achieved. Who knows, you might be able to go on holiday with the proceeds at the end of the year! Preferably not by plane, of course... 😉