The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and our allergies are absolutely killing us. Spring is in swing in Los Angeles – and you can hardly say Spring without subconsciously imagining the word ‘cleaning’ directly after. While we know that there’s already plenty to think about when it comes to seasonal cleaning, we just can’t stand the irony that an act of tidying up would actually make our planet dirtier! With that in mind, here are some hot tips to help you green up your clean up.

The Do’s of Spring Cleaning

1. Do Sort Your Waste Efficiently. When getting rid of old and unusable items, make sure to sort them by their waste types: recyclables, compostables, and trash. It can be tempting to throw all of your unwanted things into one big pile, but this simple step can make a significant impact on reducing waste that ends up in landfills.

2. Do Utilize HHW Collection Facilities. Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) like batteries, aerosol cans, old paint, and expired medications should never be tossed in the trash. These items contain harmful chemicals and other substances which can leach into the surrounding soil, pollute nearby water supplies, and even result in harm to waste management personnel. To get rid of your HHW the right way, pay a quick visit to one of our LA SAFE Centers! These free to use drop-off locations will process harmful materials and ensure they get disposed of properly.

3. Do Donate or Give Away Unwanted Items. Before discarding usable items, consider donating them to local charities. Your clothing, kitchenware, blankets, books, shoes, and more could find new homes and be repurposed instead of contributing to landfill waste. We also recommend asking around your neighborhood – one home’s trash is another home’s treasure!

4. Do Opt for Sustainable Cleaning Products. When scrubbing your tiles or walls, be sure to choose eco-friendly cleaning products which minimize the impact of chemicals on our waterways and ecosystems. Look for biodegradable or non-toxic alternatives that are safe for both your family and the environment.

The Don’ts of Spring Cleaning

1. Don’t Dump Your Bulky Items. Dumping old furniture or other bulky items on sidewalks or in vacant lots is not only unsightly but also highly illegal – violators can face fines or even jail time! Although it can be tempting to simply offload that bulky wooden desk or shelf, you should always go through the proper channels. If you aren’t able to donate the item to someone in your neighborhood, try coming to one of our free monthly bulk item pickup events or schedule a bulky item pickup using LASAN’s Service Request Form.

2. Don’t Toss Unwanted Electronics. Although they might not seem like it at first, electronics are a form of household hazardous waste. Additionally, electronics contain scarce materials and parts that can be upcycled. Instead of throwing them away, take your old electronics to designated e-waste recycling centers, such as LA’s SAFE Centers, to ensure proper disposal and recovery of valuable resources.

3. Don’t Wash Your Car at Home. Now this one might be a little surprising – normally we’re the champions of DIY to avoid unnecessary purchases. But, in the case of washing your car, this process is best left to professionals. The reasons for this are twofold:

  1. Washing your car at home uses several times more water than would get used at an average car wash.
  2. When washing at home, all the soap and chemicals from your car are washed directly into our storm-drain system – which is entirely untreated. That means all of these chemicals directly contribute to the pollution of our local waterways and the ocean. At a car wash, this ‘gray water’ is instead recaptured and sent to a wastewater plant for proper treatment. 

4. Don’t Use Disposable Containers. Spring cleaning often involves packing things away into storage. Where possible, avoid contributing to waste by opting for durable, reusable containers instead of single-use cardboard for storage and organization.

You have our thanks – and the Earth’s too – for taking the time to read through these best spring cleaning best-practices. We hope you’ve learned something today – whether it’s a local resource you didn’t know was available or a wasteful element of your cleaning process which you simply never considered. If you found this guide at all helpful, we encourage you to spread the word to your friends and family. After all – while we can keep our own houses nice and tidy, it takes all of us together to keep the planet clean. Good luck on your spring cleaning endeavors, LA!Unsure of the best way to get rid of bulky old furniture, hazardous waste items, or old electronics? We’d love to answer your questions at lastormwater@lacity.org.