Spring Cleaning
Overwhelmed by the urge to spring clean but don’t know where to start? Follow one of these guides or make up your own schedule that works best for you. When you’re all done, check out these locations to donate or dispose of all your unneeded items.
American Cleaning Institute – Cleaning industry professionals provide strategy, guides, checklists, basics and tips for cleaning.
Spring Cleaning from The Oprah Network – All your spring-cleaning tasks broken down into different hour chunks so you can do it all in one day.
Spring Cleaning Guide from Apartment Therapy – This guide is broken up into general times of the day and not hour by hour, but still outlines how to complete a full home clean in one day.
30 Day Spring Cleaning from the Spruce – This guide breaks up tasks to encapsulate a full month. Some days are more labor intensive, while others are simple and encourage you to keep up with the full month.
Shelf Esteem – Find inspiration and motivation with these books available at the Canton Public Library. Included in this guide are titles that can help when you feel overwhelmed.
Donating
The library cannot directly take your recyclable items. However, we are committed to the environment and the future of our planet and do encourage you to recycle items including batteries, e-waste, chemicals, light bulbs and paint. Here is a list of local organizations who can collect recyclable items.
Miscellaneous/Household Recycling
Canton Automated Recycling – Check out the full list of items accepted in Canton’s Automated Curbside Recycling program.
Canton Clean Up Schedule – The Canton Clean Up initiative focuses on other items that are not accepted in the automated recycling program. All items listed as acceptable can be dropped off at the GFL facility located at 42100 Van Born Road on the listed dates.
Canton Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up – Canton residents can properly dispose of waste that is considered toxic, flammable or corrosive.
Earth 911 – Find local depositories for a variety of recyclable materials.
Freecycle Network – Offer up usable items to the community that would you like to get rid of (rather than throwing them away).
Give Back Box – The purpose of Give Back Box is to provide an effortless and convenient method of donating your used household items. It also gives a secondary use to corrugated boxes and guarantees they will be recycled.
Goodwill – This organization accepts clothing, furniture, toys and small homewares. Funds raised from the sale of donations support occupational training and behavioral health programs.
LEGO – LEGO's Replay program will take your unwanted bricks and donate them to kids in need. They will send you a shipping label, and all you have to do is box up your LEGOs and drop them off at your nearest UPS drop-off location.
Michigan Recycling Coalition – The Michigan Recycling Coalition (MRC) is a nonprofit environmental organization whose mission is to foster effective resource use in Michigan by developing a coalition of business, government, nonprofit and individual members working toward the common goals of waste reduction, recycling, reuse, composting and recycled-content purchasing.
National Crayon Recycling Program – This program takes your used crayons, regardless of condition, and melts them down to create recycled crayons.
The Reuse Center – Accepts donations of reusable household goods, office supplies and building materials that it resells to the general public at affordable prices.
Salvation Army – Find Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARC) and Family Stores in Michigan where you can donate a variety of items.
Target – Recycle your aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers, plastic bags, MP3 players, cell phones and ink cartridges at recycling stations located at the entrance of the building. There is also an annual car seat trade-in event.
TerraCycle – This company offers products for collecting those hard-to-recycle items. If you’re serious about recycling, have a big project, or want to work with a group to fill a box they’re a great option.
Clothing
Dress for Success Michigan – Donate women's professional clothing to help promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women and help them thrive in work and in life.
For Days Take Back Bag – This basics-leaning circular clothing brand will send you a Take Back Bag, which you can fill with any textiles, including socks, underwear, sheets, pillowcases, towels, linens and shoes, in any condition. Even the “oldies” will be sent to a recycling partner to divert them from landfills.
Subset – This online underwear store will reward you for recycling your underwear. They will email you a pre-paid shipping label, and all you have to do is box up your clean, ready-to-retire intimates and ship it to them. Once they receive your textile recyclables, Subset will give you $15 off products their shop. They accept underwear, bras, socks, and tights of all kinds.
ThredUp – This online thrift store will send you a large pre-addressed bag mailer, which you can fill with gently-used clothing and mail back. Depending on which option you pick, you can earn money that you can spend at ThreadUp, get cash, or donate everything. The items that are not sold will be sent back to you or donated.
Electronics
Accurate Recycling – Recycles electronics, small appliances, computers and batteries. 663 South Hewitt, Ypsilanti, MI. Phone: 734-707-1050.
Advanced Computer Recycling – Recycles computers and more. Address: 926 Minion, Ypsilanti, MI. Phone: 734-340-6271.
BestBuy – Can recycle most home electronic devices.
Cartridges for Kids – A recycling program that pays schools and nonprofit organizations cash for empty laser and inkjet cartridges, used cellphones, laptops, PDAs and iPods.
ecoATM – Trade in your used cell phone, tablet, or other devices for cash at these kiosks.
Greener Gadgets – Type in your zip code to see a list of nationwide manufacturers, retailers and certified e-cycling locations in your area.
National Computer Recovery – Free electronic and computer waste recycling. Address: 28875 Joy Road, Westland, MI. Phone: 734-331-0460.
U.S. EPA Electronics Donation and Recycling – Learn how to donate or recycle your cellphone, PC or TV.
Specialty Items
Funeral Consumers Alliance – Did you know you can recycle metal implants, donate defibrillators to hospitals in the developing world, and even donate pacemakers to dogs? Learn how to provide instructions to a funeral director or crematory to remove and set aside items to be donated or recycled.
Hearing Aid Project – Donate used hearing aids, batteries, cleaning tools or hearing aid accessories. The donations go to individuals who cannot afford hearing aids.
Lions International – Donate eyeglasses at a local Lions club or at a participating partner Walmart Vision Center.
Nordstrom BeautyCycle – Recycle your beauty product packaging at select Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores.
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