It’s that time of year! Birds are chirping. The weather’s warming and days are getting longer. Flowers and trees are starting to bloom. In Cuyahoga County, it’s also the time when we emerge from our winter hibernation, look around, and say “dang, this place could sure use a clean-up!”
A Greener Clean at Home
For many of us springtime is when we kickstart those home cleaning projects that have been put on hold during the cold winter months. From dusting and scrubbing to window washing and mopping, many spring cleaners often find themselves using many different cleaning products to get the job done. While this may leave your home looking spic and span, you may also be inviting in loads of chemicals into your home which can impact your family’s health and the health of our environment.
Fortunately, Cuyahoga SWCD offers Green Yards, Healthy Homes Workshops to educate residents on how to replace chemicals in your home and yard with inexpensive, natural options. We are hosting a workshop at 7:00pm on April 13th at the Rocky River Public Library. Register today to learn how you can make your spring cleaning projects greener, cleaner, and healthier for all.
Green Yards, Healthy Homes Workshop – Rocky River Public Library | Wednesday, April 13th | 7:00PM
Get Out of the House!
Done with all of your spring cleaning projects? Or just looking for a break from the ones you’ve already started? Spring is also a great time to get out into your neighborhood and do some cleaning up. As the snow (finally) melts here in Cuyahoga County, we start to see all the litter and debris that accumulated over the winter. A quick and easy way to make a big difference is by cleaning up the catch basins around your property. Carefully remove any sediment, litter, or other debris and be sure to dispose of it properly. If you’re feeling social, share your catch basin clean up with us on Facebook using the hashtag #LakeErieStartsHere. There’s nothing we love more than a clean catch basin here at Cuyahoga SWCD!
If you are feeling the need to do your outdoor cleaning with others, you can also volunteer at an upcoming stream or beach clean up event. Cuyahoga SWCD is helping support two clean up events in April:
Big Creek 23rd Annual Clean Up | Saturday, April 30th | 9:00AM-12:00PM | Various Locations
Can’t make it to one of these clean up events? You can still do cleanups in your own backyard. Grab a bag, a pair of gloves, and a litter grabber (if you have one handy), then go for a walk around your block. You may be surprised by the amount of litter you can pick up in just one trip around the block.
If you have you have your phone on you and a little extra time, we would love for you to record what you find and where you found it using the Cuyahoga Cleans Up 2022 Challenge on the Litterati app. This data helps us measure the impact of our cleanup efforts in Cuyahoga County. How to participate in the Cuyahoga Cleans Up 2022 Challenge:
1) Download the Litterati app from the Apple or Google Play app store.
2) Open the Litterati app and create an account.
3) Click the “CHALLENGES” icon from the bottom navigation.
4) First time users, click the button that says “JOIN A CHALLENGE WITH A CODE.” Repeat trackers click “JOIN” in the top right and the “JOIN A CHALLENGE WITH A CODE” button.
5) Enter the code: CLEANCUY22
6) Start snapping photos of the litter you collect!
No matter what your cleaning activities look like, Cuyahoga SWCD has lots of information and resources to help you clean greener and healthier this spring season. Follow us on Facebook or explore our website to stay connected with us. Happy Spring Everyone!
Blog author: Kristin Hall, Executive Director