It might just be coincidence that Earth Month occurs at the same time most homeowners take on ambitious spring cleaning efforts. Regardless, spring cleaning provides the perfect impetus to think green and lessen your impact on the environment.  (Two birds with one stone, right?)

Before you start pitching a winter’s worth of buildup and wiping down every interior and exterior surface of your home, here are some simple steps to make your home greener:

• Go paperless. If you find the majority of your trash is coming through the mail, switch to online payment options. As for junk mail, options range from returning to sender or using one of several services to block unwanted direct mail marketing. An added bonus: Checking the mail will be much more pleasant.
• Can I donate this? That’s something to ask yourself before tossing any item. From clothes and furniture down to magazines and house supplies, you can donate to thrift stores, local shelters or place items on the free goods section on craigslist.com or freecycle.org.
• Chemical-free cleaning. Depending on the surface, you can generally go a long way by adding a few tablespoons of lemon juice to water. This is also better for the overall health of your home, especially if you have younger children or pets.
• Towels – cloth, not paper. Ever notice how paper towels disappear  in a hurry? For the price of a dozen rolls, you can purchase reusable rags that will last for years and show much more durability and versatility than standard paper towels. There’s no need to add even more trash to your cleaning process.
• Baking soda – the miracle agent. No matter the surface, baking soda can get the job done. Cleaning the shower? Make a paste of water and baking soda and dab with a sponge. Scrub the surfaces of the shower and rinse to complete. Mopping? Add a cup of baking soda to a warm bucket of water (and add lemon juice for scent) and mop away. You can even sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of garbage cans to reduce odor. Baking soda is nothing new, but this miraculous cleaning agent is often overshadowed by newer products that can be full of chemicals and toxins.

Let’s be honest – the best part of spring cleaning is wiping away the dingy film of winter and unveiling the brisk feel of spring. Nothing is more emblematic of this transition than window washing. Before you break out the toxic window cleaner and squeegee, let’s talk over a few pointers for squeaky clean, non-streaky windows.

Borrowing our tips from the pros, we’ve found a three-step approach that will polish windows to perfection.

• Before you begin, a few things to consider:
  • Time window washing to cloudy days – bright sunlight causes the windows to dry too quickly, which may cause the dreaded streaks
  • Wash each window individually – streaks increase as you try to tackle more than one surface.
• Gather your supplies:
  • Two spray bottles (we caution against using buckets to mix or apply these solutions; you’ll spread the mess with each dip in a bucket.)
  • Organic dish detergent
  • Water
  • Vinegar (organic if you prefer)
  • Flour sack cloths (They can be purchased online and are reusable for years.)
• Prepare your solutions. Combine 32 ounces of water with four to five drops of organic dish detergent in a spray bottle. Also, prepare a mixture of three parts vinegar to one part water for the second spray bottle.
• Mist the window with this dish detergent mixture. This mixture breaks down the grease that has accumulated on the windows – very helpful for kitchen windows.
• Immediately follow this by spraying the vinegar mixture on the window. Vinegar is a solvent and it will break down the soap from the first step so you’re not leaving a soap residue. However, on its own, it won’t break down the grease.
• Buff the window dry using a flour sack cloth.
• Follow the same process for the outdoor side of ground-level windows.

It’s recommended to hire professional window washers for anything above the ground floor.

Or if you have Marvin’s Ultimate Casement, you’ll use the window’s wash-mode to clean the window exterior. The Ultimate Casement features hardware that allows the window’s exterior to rotate inward, letting you wash the outside of the window from inside the house.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a source of stress. You can use the opportunity to freshen up your house in ways that go beyond shaking out carpets and mopping floors. The season that brings Easter, daffodils and longer days can also bring a new vibe to your home.

When your mundane cleaning checklist is complete, reward yourself by livening up the house with new colors — perhaps a new coat of paint on bedroom or family room walls. Consider swapping out those throw pillows on the couch for lighter shades. Buy new comforters for the beds or incorporate new seasonal flowers into the home. Add a tiled, mosaic-themed surface to tired tables.

These easy, fun changes can make a big difference in the feel of your home. Now, open up those windows, let the sunshine in and remember that April showers bring May flowers.