Simple Ways to Go Green

So going "green" has many different interpretations to different people. For me it's simply the three R's, reduce, reuse and recycle. Here are a few ways I do those three things around our home. Simple tips I've found to save money, resources and reduce waste. Now we still use toilet paper and buy things, so we aren't hardcore green people. But we do like no having to take the trash out every day cause it's over flowing with waste and it's mildly rewarding when we are able to fill up a recycling bucket. Baby steps are the easiest, simple tricks that before long you don't even notice you've changed your routine. 

Laundry Tips - 

     One thing I started early on in our marriage (mostly to save money!) is to cut dryer sheets in half. You literally get double the loads out of one box. It takes maybe 2 minutes and I have never noticed a difference in how my laundry comes out. Works just fine and it reduces the amount of waste. And again, IT SAVES MONEY!!! Woohooo! Now I don't use them every load anymore, I've just fazed out to linens like sheets and towels (since they sit in a closet and aren't always used everyday it helps lengthen the fresh). So now I can stretch out a box even longer and when a box cost $5 a pop I like to milk it out. Just a side note too, I have tried to make my own dryer sheets with sponges and diluted fabric softener and it was a hot mess. After a while I noticed grease stains on most of my clothes and considering I'm an adult who can eat without spilling food everywhere I traced it back to those nasty sponges. 

Another thing I do (which if you've read any other blog post you know this is my specialty!) I make our own laundry detergent. Cuts down on expenses and waste. You don't have a bunch of old laundry detergent bottles that just get chucked into the trash and it does save money. Like a LOT! Here are my other post on detergent, the original liquid, all natural liquid and the concentrate version. Check them out and start saving the moola!  

Also an HE washer and dryer will save water and electricity. 

Kitchen Tips - 

One thing I did as soon as we got married (back in fall 2013) was buy a large pack of plain white wash cloths. I had this hair brained idea that I would use wash clothes instead of paper towels. I figured if I hated it I'd only be out $4 (how much the pack costed at walmart). Well guess what?? I didn't hate it! In fact I LOVE it!! And they payed for themselves pretty much right off the bat. I've been using the same pack our whole marriage too and I've had to toss maybe 4-5. But I have saved so much money on paper towels and I have saved a lot of paper from the trash too. I also feel like I get a better clean cause it's more scrubby. 

Another way to cut back on paper waste is make cloth napkins. Super easy! (I may make a tutorial one....may not....who knows!) Just cut out a 12" by 12" piece of cotton fabric (I use old scraps so I don't have to buy new cloth) and a 12" by 12" piece of flannel. Then sew them together, flip right side out and seam along the edges. Again, super easy and will save you loads of money and waste!  

Buy less prepackaged stuff. More packagings means more waste. And recycle or reuse the packages you have. Trust me, once you start recycling it's second nature. In fact I cringe when I'm out and about throw away a recyclable. 

PLEASE! Ditch the pastic water bottle habit! Soooo much wasted money and plastic. We bought a filter pitched and keep it in the fridge and hardly ever use bottles now. Hubby and I both have Nalgene bottles (those bad boys hold a butt load of water!) We just wash and refill. Simple right? Plus you skirt around that nasty plastic bottle taste with the filters. Buy off brand filters will also cut back on the money. 

Other Kitchen tips -
Instead if zipper bags use storage containers. Wash em and use em again! Saves money and stops waste

Don't use cleaner wipes (like clorox clean up wipes) Just use rags and cleaner

You can make your own cleaners out if Apple Cider Vinegar. I've yet to venture into that but most likely will once I'm done with this bottle of biodegradable cleaner. That way I can reuse the spray bottle. See? Baby steps! 

Use a steam mop with a washable head. No cleaners, no wasteful mop cloths.


Baby Tips -
Go cloth! Cloth diapers AND wipes are great ways to save money and reduce waste. And cloth diapers don't have to break the bank. We bought most of our's used and bought the rest from www.alvababy.com. They have a pocket diaper that adjust from 6 lbs to 33 lbs so you can essentially use these diapers the whole time your baby is in diapers. I have yet to use them (since baby isn't even born yet) but my sister has used their diapers and I have heard from plenty of local mama's that they are the best bang for your buck ($5-$7 for 1 diaper and 1 insert). Plus they are so cute! I needed out and got a couple of Harry Potter prints! (Ps, not being paid to mention Alva, just passing on what I know) So for our whole stash we probably spent right around $125. Sooooooo much cheaper to by used and a plus side is that we have several brands so if we don't like one we aren't stuck with 20 of their brand.



Cloth wipes will also cut down on waste and save money too. I seriously just used the simple plain baby wash cloths. You can make a solution for them of your own or buy a pre-made solution to moisten them. Here are a couple DIY solutions you can use for cloth wipes,

- solid 
- liquid

Also here is my Pinterest board for cloth diapers. Lots of good articles if ya wanna research more :)



Other simple ideas -

Buy used everything you can! Used clothes, carseats, used play things (swings, bouncers, Johnny jumpers, etc) The more you buy used the more you can keep it green. Plus ya save money....again, who doesn't like that?!