Ever since my kids were born I started become more and more green. I really think they helped me put things in perspective because I want there to be a world left for them as they get older and their kids and so on. I also like how so many products are natural now so there are less fumes and toxic chemicals used around my family. Well Twittermoms has teamed up with Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products to ask how to go green around the house. In case you are haven’t heard about Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products, they are products made from plant-derived ingredients and essential oils instead of harsh chemicals.
Here are my ten tips eco-friendly tips:
- Replace cleaners with natural-based products – This is an easy way to start going green and it is relatively cheap. I am not one to waste, so I have been using up my regular cleaners and then replacing them with natural cleaners. I have pretty much found a replacement natural cleaner for all my everyday products and I have found that they work as well, if not better, than my old chemical-filled cleaners.
- Use washcloths instead of paper towels – If I only used paper towels I would probably go through a roll a day! Now I use wash clothes wherever I can and use paper towels sparingly. I also always use the napkins that come with fast food instead of just tossing them.
- Only wash a full load – Whether I am running the dishwasher or washer, I only do full loads, which is not hard to do in my house! I actually read that it wastes more water to hand-wash so I try to load my dishwasher as full as possible. My washer I will add in dirty towels if I need to fill up a load.
- Use towels more than once – My husband and I each have a hook in our bathroom that we place our towels on. We then use the towels until we need fresh ones. I figure we are just drying off with the towels after we are already clean so it is not like the towels are that dirty!
- Turn off lights and unplug items when not in use – I am teaching my sons (and husband) to turn off lights and the TV when they leave a room. I also unplug cell-phone chargers, my laptop charger, and anything else that is not being used. I have high enough electricity bills that if I can save a few cents and the environment by turning or unplugging something then I do it!
- Make your own cleaners – I recently was out of floor cleaner and found a great recipe that included Vegetable Oil, Vinegar, and hot water. It worked awesome on my hardwood floors and I didn’t have to buy anything as I already had those three items!
- Use a washable mop – I love my mop that uses a microfiber washable cloth. I am no longer throwing away wet pads or disposable dry cloths. I just wash my microfiber pad and re-use it!
- Get fresh air – We open windows as soon as weather allows to not only get fresh air in but also turn off my energy-sucking air conditioner! My house too smells nicer with fresh air circulating!
- Clean your garbage disposal – I see those garbage disposal cleaner packets in the store, but I just buy a lemon or orange and toss half in and grind it up. Then my kitchen has a fresh fruity scent and it is a natural cleaner!
- Reuse those plastic shopping bags – I reuse plastic bags as garbage bag liners, as extra padding if I am mailing something, to put items that need to go back to someone in, or for those extra smelly dirty diapers!
Now I am by no means a clean and green expert, but I do like to try when I can. I know it is hard so I think it helps to go slow and honestly there is so much you are probably already doing that is good for the environment. Being eco-friendly also doesn’t have to cost you a lot, you just have to find ways to use things around your house and as far as natural cleaners, they actually cost about the same as regular cleaners!
Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Mrs. Meyer’s blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.