Super Eco

Photo credit: ms.lume on flickr

"I enjoy the cleaning up - something about the getting of things in order for winter - making the garden secure - a battening down of hatches perhaps... It just feels right." David Hobson

Cleaning up in Autumn is important for so many reasons. Fall is a great time to reevaluate and purge our environment of junk and things that will blow around the yard and garden in winter.

With foliage dying back and trees losing their leaves it is possible to walk your property and neighborhood picking up plastic bags, paper cups, the occasional beer bottle hurled from a moving car and trash that the garbage truck spilled all summer long.

Fall is my favorite cleanup time because it, unlike spring is a time of drawing inward, contemplation, reflection, sweaters and fruit pies!

Here are some tips for greening-up your fall cleaning- up:

1. Use low impact cleaners like vinegar and lemon juice on surfaces to remove mold and mildew from garden tools, plastic pool toys and lawn furniture before putting them away.
2. Mulch and compost your leaves to use them for around acid loving plants and trees.
3. After the leaves are down be sure to clean your gutters and flush out the downspouts on your home to prevent water leakage.
4. Take advantage of your local clean up days to recycle old appliances, batteries, paint cans, and things that should not go in the trash.
5. Vacuum and wash windows to remove encrusted allergens before putting storm windows in place. Autumn is a great time to wash indoor curtains and window shades as well.
6. Change in-home air filters and vacuum heat registers and radiators to maximize heat efficiency and keep the indoor air quality in your home fresh and clean when the heat comes on.
7. Remove plant matter and fallen leaves from around your foundation and out buildings to prevent mold and mildew from forming.
8. Clean up and winterize your garden tools to prolong their life and usefulness.

Happy Autumn, happy clean-up and don't forget to join Super Eco group on flickr and enter an image into our "Festival Of Leaves" photo contest!