Going “green” can be a daunting task. Relax. Here are some changes you can make to start a greener lifestyle.
Save water by washing full loads. This handy green tip works for both washing clothes and dishes. Save dirty clothes in a laundry bag or hamper and use that large setting on your washing machine. The actual savings applies to washing dishes. Make sure the dishwasher is full before turning that start dial.
Air-dry your laundry. Drying your clothes will be 100% green with the air-dry method! Consider installing a clothesline in your backyard or basement, or use a freestanding clothes rack that folds up when not in use.
Use glass food storage containers. Plastic is the most minor “green” food storage container. But plastic is the most often used food container in most kitchens. Switching to glass food storage containers takes a big step toward a greener lifestyle.
Not only does the manufacturing of plastic harm the natural environment, but certain types of plastic are also harmful to your health.
Install a new showerhead. Older showerheads are notorious water-wasters. Switch your old one for a unique model. A new “green” showerhead uses 1 to 3 gallons less water per minute than older models. That’s quite a savings on your wallet, too!
Turn off the lights when you leave a room. If the space is unoccupied, there is no good reason to waste energy to brighten it up! A greener lifestyle is yours with a simple flip of the light switch. You’d be amazed how many people need to remember to do this simple action.
Think before buying paper products. Sometimes paper cups,
plates, or napkins are a necessity. Most of the time, they’re not. Even recycled paper products use energy during the recycling process. Look in your kitchen cabinets, and you’ll find an assortment of little-used china and ceramic plates, mugs, and glasses.
Also, cloth napkins can make any meal seem like a special occasion.
Recycle old tee shirts. Everyone has old tee shirts that are not worthy of donating to Goodwill. Please don’t throw them out. Replace your paper towel rack with a stack of tee-shirt squares. They’re soft and absorbent and, best of all, reusable. Just put them in the washer, and you have an unending supply of clothes for every clean-up chore.
Use an old-fashioned broom and mop. Have you ever noticed that most of today’s household chores require some electrical appliance? Well, your local home improvement store still supplies old-fashioned brooms and mops.
Sweeping the floor with a broom removes dust and crumbs just as well as plugging in that vacuum. And mops have been used to clean floors for hundreds of years. Using both makes your house a “green” haven.
Follow these simple tips daily and see how easy it is to live a greener lifestyle!
