Go Green with these Fall Cleaning Projects

Who knew cleaning could be so seasonal? With chilly weather fast approaching for many of us, it is important to get some cleaning and yard work done to keep our homes in tip top shape during the winter months. Depending on where you live, October may be the last month you can comfortably be outside to get work done.

October is a good time to organize the yard, gutters, and garage. With no need for chemicals or cleaning supplies for this type of work, fall cleaning is an effortless green cleaning activity.

Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts

A great thing to do before the snow hits is to clean the gutters on your roof. If they are not cleaned, you could be looking at a clogged drainage system, which leads to foundation and roof problems, and that often equates to a super expensive but easily avoidable repair bill. While this sounds like a tall order, think of it as a team-building exercise.

You will need a large ladder, a spotter to hold the ladder, a good pair of garden gloves, a small garden trowel and a compostable bag.

Start by safely positioning the ladder against your house, and working your way around the roof or trading off with your spotting partner. Clean all debris from the gutters by trowel or protected hand, depositing waste into the compostable bag. Do not use a hose at the beginning of this task because the water mixed with debris can overwhelm the gutter and can cause the downspouts to back up. The finer muck can also be removed, perhaps for this task you would want to use the trowel, gently of course.

Once the bigger debris is cleared, you can give the gutters a good clean rinse with a hose to remove all remaining residue. This should also help clean the downspouts, and if you feel extra adventurous, you can try feeding the hose right into the drain opening in the gutter and blast water through the downspout. That will leave you with a squeaky clean gutter system that is ready for winter.

Composting Yard and Kitchen Waste

One of the upsides to the fall season is creating a compost bin in your garden. With all of the lovely leaves changing colours, falling off, and covering our lawns, the best way to leverage these free golden nuggets is as compost! Not to mention, you certainly have other organic waste that can easily be composted including fruit and vegetable peelings, grass clippings, coffee grinds, and natural fibers such as wood, cotton, and wool.

You can purchase a compost unit at your local hardware store or through your town or city departments, or the more adventurous types can build their own.

When setting it up, think of your compost as a lasagne—the compost bin needs many layers to be a success. Add about six inches of compostable materials (the more broken down, the better), and top with a thinly spread a layer of 10-10-10 percentage mix fertilizer (available at any garden or hardware store). The compost can be built up this way, but be sure to create a small depression in the middle of the pile, which will allow for easy watering. You want to keep it damp, but never too wet. To keep it evenly damp, turn the pile once in a while.

It is critical to not place any type of fat in the compost, or else animals will make a meal out of your backyard project! A great tip is to squeeze lemon or lime on the pile to reduce odours.

Hopefully the changing season will encourage you to venture outside and take care of these fall projects to keep your home cleaner and greener!

More on Eco-Friendly Cleaning from Naturally Savvy