Little Laundry Changes
What you have now:
Laundry practices that use up a LOT of energy.
New ideas:
To save money and the environment, take these steps:
Put 1 large load of laundry instead of many small loads into the machine.
- Wash your clothes with cold water! Three quarters of the emissions from washing machines come from heating.
- Air dry on a rack or line.
- Avoid dryer sheets! They cannot be recycled and they leave chemicals in your clothing.
- Make your own dryer sheets with a natural recipe HERE.
Ready to upgrade your washing machine? Click HERE for lists of green appliances.
Create Cleaner Closets
What you have now:
Lots of stuff and nowhere to put it.
New ideas:
Closets can have a healthier impact on our world:
- Buy second hand! You can find furniture, clothing, and decor in a consignment store, local flea market, or website like craigslist.
- Changing a closet’s color? Use zero or low-VOC paints and stains on furniture! Volatile organic compounds (VOCS) add chemicals to our indoor air and outdoor landfills. Use this guide for info!
For a special event, try Rent the Runway. Instead of buying a one-time-wear designer dress, you pay less and then return it! If we can rent cars, why not clothing?
Clean Your Kitchen
What you have now:
A kitchen filled with plastic cutlery, plastic containers, and plastic cups… Not such a clean practice.
New ideas:
Each year, Americans throw out enough plastic and paper kitchen-ware to circle the equator 300 times. Change this when you:
- Invest in bamboo cutlery, glass jars, cloth napkins, and ceramic plates. An initial investment will save you money in the long run!
- Using plastic baggies for sandwiches? Try these beeswax-coated food wraps instead – classy and reusable!
- Stainless steel or wood spatulas, whisks and ladles won’t leach toxins into your dinner.
Better Bathrooms
What you have now:
A leaking shower or stalling toilet.
New ideas:
Turn your bathroom into a spa-like haven when you purchase:
- Low-flow showerheads. They mix air into the water stream to create pressure without water waste. Make sure yours is 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute).
- Low-flow faucets. They can reduce your water heating and energy consumption by 50%. They should be 2.75 gpm or lower.
- Dual-flush toilets. If you haven’t created a lot of waste, flush with less water.
Watch a video about Altered taps; it’s cool tech!
