Photo credit: Ohio Sea Grant
Spring is here and it is time for cleaning! When it comes to cleaning, the best practices for boaters are also easily transferable to our lives at home, at work, and in the community. Now is the time of year I send reminders to our marina and boating community about these best practices for keeping our waterways clean. Below are a few of my favorites that I take with me wherever I go.
Cleaning:
- Use non-toxic, phosphate-free, and biodegradable cleaning products. You’d be surprised how well baking soda and vinegar work on tough stains! Find our list of alternatives to toxic cleaning products here.
- Become knowledgeable about disposal procedures for waste and hazardous materials at work and in your community.
Maintenance:
- Clean up all trash, dust, and debris immediately following any maintenance or repair activity. Dispose in your regular trash at home or in designated receptacles at your local solid waste management facility.
- Use a drop cloth to catch dust and debris when working over unpaved surfaces. Sweep up debris on paved surfaces when finished.
- Make sure trash cans have lids and are emptied regularly.
- Recycle cans, glass, newspaper, and other products, and ultimately try to reduce trash by switching to reusable items.
- Do you know where your nearest storm drain is located? Make sure that it is cleaned regularly and only rain goes down the storm drain.
You can learn more about these and other tips for protecting our waterways through our Clean Boater Tip Sheets, available through the Great Lakes Clean Marina Network, online at the Ohio Clean Marinas Program website and on Facebook.
Happy cleaning!!
Contact: Sarah Orlando, Ohio Clean Marinas Program, (419) 609-4120, orlando.42@osu.edu.
(Submitted by Sarah Orlando, Program Manager, Ohio Clean Marinas Program, Ohio Sea Grant)