spring cleaning, zero waste. sneeze count: 12

Oh, wow. We have a lot of stuff. Like, a lot. And our apartment is SO not big enough for all of it. Not even close. We've got our own edition of Greenologist Hoarders happening over here, and it ain't pretty. Example? We've been holding onto the bottom half of a bathing suit we haven't worn since HIGH SCHOOL. Where's the top half? No idea. Is there any way we could still fit into it even if we had both pieces? Absolutely not. Somebody call Niecy Nash. Save us from ourselves!

It seems as though we've been recently led astray by our waste-not tendencies. Somewhere along the way, we lost sight of reality (and the floor of our closet) and forgot that not wasting doesn't have to mean saving every lone sock "just in case" its mate one day reappears. So now, here we are, 20 mate-less socks later, with nowhere to put... anything.

Enough is enough, we say! It's time to get serious. Seriously clean. It's time to commence Spring Cleaning Zero Waste. Check it:

Over the next month, while you crazy kids wow us with your Green Challenge photos and stories, we'll be cleaning and organizing our faces off. Not only that, but we'll be posting here to let you know all the best ways in which we're unloading our junk without sending a torn pillowcase, broken toaster or stained shirt to the landfill. Here's all the stuff we have to get rid of:

- CLOTHING: So. Much. Clothing. Some in great condition, some in OK condition, some that looks like it's been attacked by a fingerpainting bear.

- Books: Textbooks, novels... and a whole lot of Idiot's Guide To's. Don't judge.

- Jewelry: When did we ever wear rhinestone-encrusted hoops? Ick.

- Broken electronics: Our old Macbook had an unfortunate encounter with the floor.

- CDs/DVDs: Working and scratched (not working).

- Magazines: We like The New Yorker. And Dwell. And ReadyMade. And Smithsonian. And Mother Jones.

- Random household shiz: Working but worthless appliances, scented soaps whose scent we hate, baskets, candles, wire hangers, decorative pillows, unopened bath and body stuff, bad art. Worse art.

We'll be updating every day or so with our progress and solutions, as well as a sneeze count (it is DUSTY in here). You get all the best ways to de-clutter, we do all the sneezing. Sweet.

Wish us luck. If we get trapped under a mountain of socks, please tell Karen Oh we love her. Thanks.