Sustaining the Past: Make Your Spring Cleaning More Sustainable

Sustaining Our Past, written by Historic New England’s Director of Sustainability Joie Grandbois, explores Historic New England’s climate action efforts and highlights how we’re adapting historic sites to meet the challenges of a changing environment. Through project updates, partnerships, community engagement—and the occasional reflection on sustainability in our communities and our daily lives—Joie shares how preservation and sustainability work together to protect New England’s history.

Spring is officially here, and in most of New England, it’s finally starting to feel like it! Flowers are blooming and trees are dressing up with fresh green leaves. There are many human traditions associated with this time of year, like planting gardens and making summer plans, but one we may be most familiar with is spring cleaning.

There are many reasons we feel the urge to clean this time of year. Winter, with its short days and long nights, naturally lowers our energy levels, and the return of longer days brings a rush of energy with it. After spending much of the winter with windows shut, it feels good to finally be able to throw open the windows and let the fresh air in. It also feels good to take some time to refresh our living spaces as nature does the same.

Our annual cleanup can also support living a more sustainable life. Here are a few tips to make your spring cleaning one that reduces your environmental impact as it refreshes your space:

• Find new homes for old things: Spring cleaning creates an opportunity to sort through the things we own and determine whether we still need them. As you pack up your winter things, review what you used and what you didn’t. Maybe you have some sweaters, mittens, hats, or other winter clothing that you haven’t worn in years. Or perhaps you find that you have one more shovel or pair of snowshoes than you need. Clothing can be donated to local shelters or charity shops. You could share your winter equipment in your local Buy Nothing group or donate it to a local tool library.
• Repair it!: Spring cleaning your closets, basement, or garage often means finding items you’ve saved because they are broken or damaged, but haven’t gotten around to fixing yet. Instead of putting those items back in your closet or tossing them in the trash, take the time to find out who can perform repairs for you. Unsure where to take an item for repair? Seek out a local repair café, or look for a YouTube video—you may find the only repair person you need is you!
• Rediscover what you already own: There is something wonderful about going through a box you packed away for the winter and finding it full of things you forgot you had. Whether it’s a spring jacket that was pushed to the back of your closet or a badminton set you thought you’d misplaced, finding that you already have something you want or need is like going shopping without spending money or having to go anywhere.
• Use low-impact cleaning supplies: Spring cleaning can mean giving your living space a thorough deep clean. Many cleaners have ingredients that are not so great for the planet. When seeking out cleaning supplies look for those that are biodegradable and nontoxic. You might also look for products that have a sustainability certification, such as Green Seal.

Spring cleaning can be time- and labor-intensive, but it feels great to give your space a refresh. This spring, you can also refresh your commitment to supporting a cleaner and greener planet for us all.

Written by Joie Grandbois, Director of Sustainability