How to Boredom Clean During a Pandemic

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Odds are you’ve found yourself with a little extra time at home because of the current global pandemic. This extra time might be inspiring you to clean out areas of your home that you just haven’t had the time to for a while — a phenomenon known as Boredom Cleaning. Here are a few things to consider before cleaning out the attic, reorganizing the garage or clearing out the yard.

Avoid Non-Essential Dump Runs

Sanitation workers have been hard at work keeping garbage and recycling from piling up throughout this crisis. However, the crisis has put an additional strain on the sanitation system. For both your own safety and the safety of the individuals who are hard at work keeping this essential service going, please wait until stay-at-home orders are lifted before doing a non-essential “dump run” to drop off extra trash.

Keep Items Inside the Carts

During this time of heightened health precautions, it’s more important than ever that all the items that belong in the carts go only into the carts. Many boredom cleaners are putting extra garbage in bags or piles next to their carts. These loose materials require garbage collectors to touch additional surfaces, exposing them to unnecessary risk.

Store Hazardous Waste and E-Waste for Now, Dispose Later

If you are cleaning out the garage or shed you may be dealing with hazardous waste and e-waste. While our facilities are still open for essential drop-off of hazardous waste and e-waste, it’s best if these materials are stored correctly for now and disposed of properly after this current health crisis is over. Items such as antifreeze, aerosol cans, batteries, electronics and small appliances are illegal to put in the garbage or pour down the drain. Remember to store fuels, aerosols and any other combustible items out of direct sunlight in a well-ventilated area until stay-at-home orders are lifted, when they can be properly disposed of as hazardous waste.

Upcycle, Recycle or Donate

Consider using your extra downtime to recycle and repurpose items. That old decrepit wheelbarrow could make a cool new planter bed. That empty pickle jar could be transformed into a neat container for nuts, beans or grains. Websites like Instructables and Upcycle That have an abundance of interesting upcycling ideas — the sky is the limit when it comes to repurposing items. Ready to get rid of an item but not sure how to dispose of it? Check out our handy Recycling Guide. Have items in usable condition that you no longer want? Store them in a bag or container until stay-at-home orders have been lifted and thrift stores have re-opened.

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