March 31, 2009
The next “green” steps
It’s time for me to take a few baby steps of my own. A while back I posted about becoming “greener” one step at a time so it’s not overwhelming, and how I was going to start using reusable shopping bags. I’ve been doing that for a while and I love it! The bags are SO much easier to handle than those plastic things. (And if you’re interested, read here about how to get a free reusable tote. They’re gone for this week, but you can try next Monday.) I almost always remember them at Wal-Mart and Kroger, occasionally remember them at Target and other stores, and have decided not to use them for now at Walgreens because I need every ounce of my concentration at the checkout in order get my free stuff or I’ll botch it up (but that’s another story.)
So what’s next? Two things. First, I need to reduce our paper towel usage. I’m used to using them to clean the bathroom mirrors and counters, but instead I need to build up a supply of rags and use those. (I cut up some of David’s old t-shirts for rags, but they do leave some lint on the mirror. Anyone know what works best?) I’ll still keep paper towels in the kitchen—sometimes you just need them, as when you need to soak up excess grease from meat or water from produce. But I think I can pretty much get rid of them in the bathrooms.
Second, I think we’ll try to go paperless with financial bills and statements. We already pay all our bills and make donations online or use automatic draft, so we’re not writing and mailing checks. But we still request paper statements, and when I do Quicken, I sit down with our stack of paper receipts and statements to enter and reconcile. It’s convenient. I’ve got my little method that works for me that I’ve been doing for 12 years. But I can sacrifice a little convenience and tweak my method a bit in order to save some trees (not to mention postage and gas).
So there you have it. What about you? What baby step are you going to take next to be a responsible steward of God’s earth?
Comments(7)
Hi Jennifer!
Clean glass with newspaper and vinegar: no lint, no streaks, no poisin.
And no newspaper ink? Really?
Yes, vinegar and newspaper. Don’t know why it works, but I’ve heard this tip for years.
I bought a Clorox Ready Mop several years ago. Before that, I just didn’t mop. With the ready mop, though, I manage to maintain a fairly consistent mopping schedule. The only problem is that the pads and cleaner were getting pricey. ($3.50 for bottle of cleaner and $3.50 for box of pads….both lasted about a month. Less if I had to mop up a big mess.)
So I have replaced the cleaner with vinegar and water and replaced the pads with cloth diapers. I should cut the diapers to fit better, but I haven’t found the right pattern. (and I’m a bit lazy) So I just stuff them on as best I can. Works like a charm! Saves us $7-$10 per month easily.
I also have started using the vinegar and water mixture to clean my bathroom counters and tubs. I did not like the commercial cleaners that suffocated you with their scent! I use bleach on our toilets. Still have to be careful not to breathe that too much, but it’s manageable.
Try dumping some baking soda in the toilet, followed by a glug of vinegar. Wait for the fizzing to subside & brush, then flush. We have a septic tank & must be kind to it! This is a great drain cleaner, too. Baking soda in the rinse water in the washer is a great fabric softener. If you must use commercial preparations for cleaning, check the label to see if it’s safe for the septic tank, it’s in general going to be safer for the environment.
Thanks! Switching to greener cleaners and away from chemicals was going to be one of next steps. I’ll keep these in mind!
I use manure instead of fertilizer. That’s pretty green! I still have some Miracle Grow to use up, though. Mom got us a “Shark” steam mop for Christmas. It is electric and cleans with steam from distilled water. It cleans VERY well and the steam kills bacteria. It’s fun, too!
Hey Jennifer,
I don’t like the newspaper thing but have heard it works. Instead, I use those microfiber towels. I just wet one towel completely, wipe everything off, then let it air dry. It almost always dries without streaking but sometimes I go behind with a dry microfiber towel. No chemical and no trash. But, I have to admit I still like the antibacterial nature of good ole Windex.