21 little known ways to go green at home
Going green at home.
Going green is very similar to living a frugal lifestyle, as both often lead to saving money. However, living more “green” is also good for the environment – which is a great thing.
We try to find green alternatives to everything we do in our life. What I love the most about being eco-friendly is that those alternatives usually lead to mega savings.
Below is a list of 21 ways to go green at home.
1. Install CFL light bulbs wherever you can.
2. Unplug appliances when not in use.
3. Wash all of your laundry in cold water whenever possible.
4. Hang dry your clothing instead of putting them in the dryer.
5. Don’t leave water running when you brush your teeth.
6. Install a low-flow shower head.
7. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving and polluting the air.
8. Buy organic whenever possible to support local farmers.
9. Use a filter, such as Brita, instead of buying bottled water.
10. Buy used whenever possible.
11. Recycle, recycle, recycle.
12. Buy in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging you bring home.
13. Make your own homemade cleaners.
14. Grow your own vegetables and herbs.
15. When it’s time to replace your appliances, purchase energy efficient models.
16. Use reusable bags instead of plastic.
17. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
18. Pay your bills online to prevent paper clutter in your home.
19. Use cloth diapers instead of disposables.
20. Use cloth napkins and rags in your kitchen, instead of paper towels.
21. Re-purpose everything possible (glass jars, plastic containers).
Remember that you don’t have to do every single thing on this list. Even partaking in one or two things will help.
Living a more eco-friendly lifestyle can lead to a happier, healthier life – it’s worth most of the sacrifices you may have to make.
Is there anything that you do in your home that is eco-friendly?
Comments
Use microfiber cleaning products. They work great and you only have to use water to clean!! They are expensive to purchase(good ones) but save a lot of money in the long run. They remove up to 99.9% of the bacteria when used properly
We don’t turn on the dishwasher and washer and dryer until 7pm on weekdays or leave the cleaning til the weekend and holidays( during off peak hours). Also I use dryer balls instead of bounce sheets for my daughters laundry. Less chemicals and I bought them a year ago for $7!!
I also use dryer balls…..but made my own with two layers of old socks from my “lonely sock club”, knotted over an old tennis ball If tennis ball is new…..encase in a Ziploc sandwich bag to prevent streaks of yellow on your clothes……This same tennis ball “gadget” makes an excellent toy for the family dog as well
Compost. As I understand, some places pay per bag-you would be amazed how much of your garbage is compostable. Unless you are in an apartment, I bet you could find/make a small spot to do it. You don’t even need fancy equipment, just a spot of dirt to rotate small holes to bury your compost.
Use cloths for faces and bottoms, not disposable wipes. Same with cleaning/disinfecting (sorry, Cassie!!!) I have a tub of Mr Clean Wipes that is nearly a year old and will last another year at the rate I use them. A soapy dishcloth will look after almost any cleaning. One bottle of cleaner will do about anything else. I am always amazed at people’s stockpile pictures at the amount of cleaning products. I am not a clean freak and rarely use chemicals.
Fix what breaks if at all possible. I am peeved tonight as I changed the print cartridge in the printer this aft and when I closed the lid, something snapped. A hinge is broken. The printer is not that old and I don’t know if there is any way to fix only the hinge–SO FRUSTRATING!!! I hate buying anything new as it is just a piece of junk! Appliances, clothes, cars, furniture, etc. That is THE biggest non-green thing ever-man, a fridge should not have a 10 year lifespan!!! My parents just got rid of their 48 yr old one!
Plan your driving/know the cost. I live about 25 km outside of our town. I figured out the cost to drive “into town” and back at about $5. I can’ just run willy nilly into town to pick up a deal on sale, it has to be worth my time and the gas money. Have I missed some bargains? Most certainly, but nothing I really needed anyhow!