Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Walker Smith, 651-297-7018 Theresa Gaffey, 651-215-0251 Saint Paul, Minn. -- Maybe you've briefly satisfied your urge to poke around in the garden and flowerbeds. But sooner or later, you'll have to get around to blowing winter cobwebs out of the house. The tips below, from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA), might not make spring cleaning fun, but they can help keep your home and the environment healthier. Some of them might even help you keep a little more "green" in your wallet. -- Play it safe and read labels first
Many household cleaning products contain ingredients that you'd probably rather not inhale or be exposed to. Warning labels on these products contain "signal" words indicating the relative hazard posed by the product. "Caution" is the least hazardous, "warning" is moderately hazardous, and "danger" and "poison" are the most hazardous. Choose the least hazardous product to do the job. If you're familiar with these labels, you're more likely to properly use and dispose of products, as well as protect your family and the environment. -- Keep your home healthy
When spring cleaning your home, keep it -- and yourself -- healthy by using products that are free of toxic chemicals. In addition to being less expensive, single-ingredient, common household materials such as baking soda, vinegar or plant-based soaps and detergents can often do the job on your carpet or other surfaces. Soap and water have been shown to keep surfaces as free of bacteria as antibacterial soaps do. -- Be on the lookout for hazardous wastes
While cleaning, keep an eye out for items that present environmental hazards when they are disposed of improperly. Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste." These include oil-based paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides that contain potentially hazardous ingredients. Dispose of these items properly at a household hazardous waste facility. For locations of these facilities in Minnesota, visit the OEA Web site at http://www.moea.state.mn.us/hhw/index.cfm -- Know what to throw
Some other items don't belong in the garbage either, such as used electronics that contain toxic materials. In addition to toxic materials, there are valuable resources that can be salvaged from used electronics. Sending these items to a landfill is bad for the environment, and on July 1, 2005, it will also be illegal for consumers to put TVs and computer monitors in the trash. To find out where to dispose of your used electronics, go to the OEA Web site at http://www.moea.state.mn.us/plugin/recyclers-household.cfm to find a recycler near you, as well as information on retailers' take-back programs and local collection events. -- Get a checkup on your home's cooling equipment
If your home's air conditioning system is more than 10 years old, get it inspected for energy performance by a professional contractor before the busy summer season hits. If it's time for a replacement, be sure to choose equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR for high efficiency. If it's not time to replace, have your contractor perform routine annual maintenance to ensure your system will efficiently and comfortably carry you through the hot summer months, while possibly lowering your energy bills, too. -- Get the lead out
Consider replacing some -- or all -- of your lead fishing tackle with non-lead alternatives, such as tin and bismuth jigs. Lead fishing tackle can poison wildlife such as loons and eagles. More information, including a list of manufacturers and retailers, is available at http://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/sinkers.cfm -- Find the shade of green that's right for you
Visit the 4th annual Living Green Expo. Minnesota's biggest environmental event will be held the weekend of April 30 and May 1 at the Grandstand Building at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Visit more than 220 exhibits, see over 70 free workshops, and enjoy food, entertainment and fun!! More details are available on the Living Green Web site at http://www.livinggreen.org -- Additional resources
· Energy Star information -- http://www.energystar.gov
· Reduce waste -- http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/citizens.htm#home