Clean up your act in springtime

A thorough spring spruce-up is the perfect time to recycle unused electrical items. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

Reduce: The first step to fighting mess and keeping your home spic-and-span is getting rid of all that stuff you never use. Go through all the places where it accumulates - try wardrobes, junk drawers, out-of-reach shelves, attics and basements, and any other place where you're inclined to toss stuff as you say, "I'll deal with this later"and be diligent about separating out what you really will use some day from what you never will.

Reuse: Now you have a pile that you're ready to get rid of - but wait: don't just trash it. First, go through and see if any of those items could serve a purpose you haven't thought of before: Do you have enough books to stack up and use as a side table? Can you take the frames off those ugly paintings and use them elsewhere?

Donate: Once you've taken stock of what you can use, separate out items that someone else might need. This includes dishes, kitchen gadgets, clothes, books, magazines, toys, home decor - all of these items could find a second life with someone else.

Recycle: Once you've exhausted all the other options, it's time to hit the recycling bucket. Of course you're already recycling newspapers, magazines, and any glass that isn't salvageable, but take a second look at the rest of your rubbish, too: did you clean out the fridge? Find a compost pile. Get rid of old electronics, from cellphones to VCRs to ancient computers, by passing them off to retailers with a recycling programme or to a specialised electronics recycling company.

Get the right tools for organising: Now you need to find a system for organising what's left. You'll need containers, but that doesn't mean (non-biodegradable) plastic bins. Instead, try cardboard boxes wrapped in pretty paper, bamboo baskets, or bags made from old T-shirts.

Make your own household cleaning supplies: Buying eco-friendly cleaning supplies is a good start, but for a truly green clean, make your own cleaners. You'll bypass the resources that go into production, shipping, and purchasing - from making that plastic spray bottle to getting the product to your local supermarket - and you'll save a lot of money.

Aim for a no-waste clean: If you use an entire roll of paper towels to scrub your bathroom that is not eco-friendly cleaning. Try reusable microfibre cloths or sponges, or trade the disposable mop for a reusable one.

Choose natural cleaning for big projects: Focus on the spaces you generally gloss over by vacuuming out the refrigerator coils to make the appliance more efficient, deep-cleaning carpets, and washing curtains.

Go paperless: Spring cleaning is a perfect reminder to make sure you aren't overwhelmed by junk mail. As magazine subscriptions expire, see if you can read online instead to keep your living space more clutter-free.

Plan ahead: Keep these tips in mind and your 2010 spring clean will be easier. Don't let stuff accumulate in your home; don't buy things you don't need; and return gifts you won't ever use.