Eco-Friendly Fall
The fall season allows nature to put on its full display of beautiful colors. Leaves slowly drop and give us that satisfying “crunch”. 🍂
Fall also means trailing in dirt and debris, plus with colder temperatures, many of our plants experience transitions, needing to be brought indoors or taken care of outdoors.
In this blog we will explore the importance of vacuuming, how to care for your plants in an eco-conscious way, plus ways to reduce plastic this Halloween.
Let’s get started! ✨
📸 by Jordan of Dee’s Green Cleaning
The Importance of Vacuuming
Vacuuming is one of the most important cleaning tasks for maintaining a dust-free, allergen-free, spotless home. 🏠
Proper vacuuming techniques ensure that dirt, pet hair and debris are thoroughly removed, improving both cleanliness and air quality.
Regular vacuuming also helps trap VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs as described by the American Lung Association are, “gases that are emitted into the air from products or processes. Some are harmful by themselves, including some that cause cancer. In addition, some can react with other gases and form other air pollutants after they are in the air.”
VOCs get trapped in dust particles; if not removed from the home, the compounds get re-triggered when stirred up, having a negative effect on our health, plus the health of our beloved pets.
Here are a few tips when it comes to vacuuming;
✅ Prioritize high-traffic areas like living rooms, walkways and hallways.
✅ Use the right attachment for carpets, hard floors, and tight spaces.
✅ Vacuum slowly to pick up more dirt and allergens.
✅ Go in multiple directions to lift deep-down debris.
✅ Empty the canister and clean filters regularly to keep suction strong.
Why It’s Important
Improves Indoor Air Quality: Regular vacuuming reduces dust, pollen, and pet dander in the air, helping those with allergies breathe easier.
Prolongs the Life of Carpets and Rugs: Removing embedded dirt prevents wear and tear on fibers, extending their lifespan.
Enhances Overall Cleanliness: A well-vacuumed home looks and feels fresher.
Reduces Allergens, Bacteria & VOCs: Dirt, debris and VOCs can harbor bacteria and allergens, making consistent vacuuming essential.
Quick Q&A
Q: How often should I vacuum my home?
A: High-traffic areas should be vacuumed at least 2-3 times per week, while other areas can be vacuumed once a week.
Q: Can vacuuming replace deep carpet cleaning?
A: Vacuuming removes surface dirt, but professional carpet cleaning is needed for deep-seated stains and bacteria.
Q: What’s the best way to vacuum pet hair?
A: Use a vacuum with a pet hair attachment and go over surfaces slowly for the best results
Bonus Tip:
In addition to frequent vacuuming, look for candles, beauty and household cleaning products made with essential oils rather than artificial fragrance to help eliminate VOC’s within your home.
Unlike artificial fragrance, essential oils boost the power of cleaning by fighting against harmful bacteria.
Dee’s Green Cleaning makes our own all-purpose cleaner with the help of essential oils like lemon, rosemary and lavender - just to name a few that we love! 💚
Plant Power
Whether your plants are real or artificial, they add beauty to our space — but they need a little love to stay vibrant!🌱
Real or artificial plants collect dust over time; regular cleaning reduces dust which improves our overall health.
Another image by Jordan!
Here’s how:
✅ Gently dust leaves with a microfiber cloth.
✅ For stubborn dirt or dust, wipe with a little soapy water, gently.
✅ Buff with a dry cloth
✅ Use a soft brush for tricky spots.
Why It Matters:
Less dust = healthier indoor air
Regular care keeps them bright and fresh
Regularly cleaning real plants helps keep pests like spider mites and other harmful insects away
Bonus Outdoor Plant Tips:
Protect pollinators and leave your leaves! 🐝
Not only do fallen leaves act as natural decorations, leaf piles provide shelter for different pollinators, insects and wildlife as colder temperatures approach. In addition, they act as natural fertilizer and insulation to help aid and protect your flower beds.
What to do*:
Move, don’t remove; You can rake them into garden beds, around tree bases, or into other designated areas.
Don’t shred your leaves; Shredded leaves will not provide the same cover as leaving them whole, and you may be destroying eggs, caterpillars, and cocoons along with the leaves. Try raking or blowing the leaves.
Wait until spring; wait to trim stems and clean up. The seed heads will feed goldfinches and other birds, and the stems will provide shelter for many insects that nest in them.
*All information is provided by the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation.
Plastic Free Halloween
Ditch fast-fashion and say no to plastic this Halloween with these sustainable options!
Our favorite go-to is always reduce & reuse; use what you have and if you want new-to-you decorations, check out your local resale shop or exchange with a friend.
📸 Jordan Furest
Our other favorite sustainable swaps are;
✅ Create your own costume - Use an old sheet to become a ghost, put on a flannel and a pair of overalls to be a lumberjack; utilize the items you already have for endless creative potential! 👻
✅ Make your own trick-or-treat basket to last you years, or use an old pillow case!
✅ Alternative pumpkin disposal - we may not realize that there are other options for your pumpkin and natural decoration disposal. Items like pumpkins, hay and gourds are all compost friendly! No compost? No worries. You can break apart larger items and put them out in your backyard for wildlife to enjoy. 🎃
Plus, who doesn’t love freshly baked pumpkin seeds!?
✅ Bring your reusable mug for your favorite seasonal beverages 🍵
✅ Skip the fake spider webs! Did you know that fake webs are made of non-biodegradable synthetic materials like plastic that trap wildlife, create microplastic pollution, and linger in ecosystems for years? Opt for natural decorations like pumpkins & gourds instead.
Carbon, methane and microplastics wreak havoc on our environment and continue to grow year after year.
Every action counts - no matter how small! ✨
We hope you have a happy (& safe) Halloween & fall season!
For further information, check out these resources
>> https://thesustainableagency.com/blog/impact-of-fast-fashion-stats-and-facts/
>> https://xerces.org/blog/leave-the-leaves
>> https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/volatile-organic-compounds
