How to “Green” Your Home
October 28th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
This is a mixture of things you can do to “green,” your home. You may already know some of these, they may be new to you, or they may inspire you to “go green” in a different way!
- Unplug appliances when you aren’t using them (this will also save you money on your electric bill!) Some devices drain energy even when they are turned off!
- Make your own cleaning supplies
- Rip up old clothing and use as rags.
- Want new furniture? You may be able to turn something old into something new! Revive your chairs with House Paint and Textile Medium or give your chairs a makeover!
- Use minimal plastic containers and baggies. Try switching over to re-usable baggies and stainless steel containers
- What do you think… handwashing or dishwashing? Studies show… the dishwasher uses half the energy then hand washing.
- Did dinner only call for a half a can of something? Instead of throwing it out… search online if it can be frozen-almost anything can!
- Buy in bulk. No, I don’t mean buy a box of 200 individually wrapped candy bars. Talk with your friends and family about purchasing a cow- yes you can buy a cow! There are other things you can buy in bulk and split like large bags of rice. Be sure to store in your stainless steel containers
- In winter, hold off cranking the heat up. Purchase a portable heater and place it in the room you are using.
- Don’t place your fruits and veggies in those plastic sacks they have at the grocery store. Bring a small reusable bag just for that purpose.
- Use recycled paper or the back of junk mail to print!
Feel free to share some of the ways you are going green!
Comment by smilinggreenmom on 29 October 2009:
We really do work hard at buying whole foods instead of the the processed overly packaged junk available. We also planted a garden so with all of these healthy foods and our Vidazorb probiotic, I feel like we are also taking care of our bodies better while living green!
Comment by Emily on 29 October 2009:
What is Vidazorb probiotic, I’m not familiar with it!
Comment by Melissa on 1 November 2009:
I really hate the fumes from oven cleaner. Even the supposedly “fumeless” ones make be cough and choke. The last time I cleaned my oven (and it really needed it because I’d avoided the oven cleaner for so long), I used baking soda. Just wet a spot and sprinkle baking soda on the area. I used one of those Scotch Brite sponges, with the scrubby side, to aid in loosening up any stuck on pieces. It worked great. It actually worked better than commercial oven cleaner. I kept a small bucket of water beside me to rinse my sponge and rewet areas when needed. It took a while because of the build-up but, from now on, that’s the only way I’m cleaning my oven. This also requires several rinses but, when you heat your oven again, it won’t smell like oven cleaner (yuck). When I was finished, my oven looked brand new!
Comment by Barbara Platt on 16 November 2009:
I am always looking for ways to go green
Comment by Kirsten on 17 November 2009:
My husband prefers buying his spices in bulk. And then he has containers that he reuses so that saves. Plus we have all CFL bulbs and recycle. We also have a shredder that clears a lot of waste and then we recycle that. And when I print off coupons, etc. I use the excess or scraps of the paper for lists and notes to myself.