Baby Steps Towards Going Green

Over the past year or so I have been making some lifestyle changes in an effort to get 'green' with three goals in mind: 1) to be kinder, gentler to the environment, 2) to limit my family's exposure to harmful non-natural chemicals, and most importantly 3) to simplify our lives and get back to basics.

I still have a lot to learn and changes to make, but here are some of the things I have done:

Stopped using paper towels and napkins:  I decided that I was no longer going to save those 'good' cloth napkins for special occasions instead we now use them on a daily basis. I was amazed on how many sets I had accumulated over the years so I didn't have to purchase any. To cut down on laundry, I marked a napkin ring with each family member's initials so that unsoiled napkins can be put back in each person's ring and used again. Paper towels were replaced with microfiber clothes. I found that the microfiber towels are cleaning machines and are great for every surface from stainless steel to granite. In my opinion the cheap dollar store variety do just as well as the more expensive brands. For really nasty messes I keep some cut up old tee shirts (the 'not worthy of Goodwill' variety) on hand that I use then toss. I admit that I do have a secret stash of both paper towels and napkins for 'special circumstances' - e.g. 14 kids over for a pizza party, can you say "hello Bounty?" But, with the paper towels and napkins typically out of sight, they are out of mind and rarely used.

Using more natural cleaners: When first contemplating the switch, I noticed how 'green' has become a widespread marketing campaign and that 'green' products typically come at a price premium. But, among my goals was to simplify. So after some research I came to realize that I needed far fewer products to keep my home clean, that a few basic cleaning agents can be used for a wide range of tasks, and that those basics cost pennies on the dollar compared to 'green' preparations on the market. So my natural arsenal of cleaners consists of microfiber clothes, vinegar, baking soda, and borax*. To compliment this, I buy non-toxic, 'green' laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, and liquid soap. Just soap and water used with the microfiber towels really gets most jobs done. For disinfecting purposes a little vinegar diluted in a spray bottle goes a long way. Borax is a great laundry boaster and toliet bowl cleaner. Borax or baking soda combined with a little liquid soap and water converts into an effective 'soft scrub' that works well on most surfaces including stainless steel sinks and glass cooktops.

Re-use, Recycle, and Re-purpose: Re-purpose has become my favorite word for 2009. My husband finds it funny that I try to inject it into conversation whenever possible. For a long time I have been good at re-using and recycling items. I break down every cereal box, I carry my grocery tote bags, I re-use foil...but I wanted to focus some creative energy on the re-purposing. So before something goes into the trash or recycling bin, I ask myself, "What else could I do with this?"  A few answers: I use plastic bread bags to coat chicken with bread crumbs. The kids' toys are not stored in cute color coordinated Pottery Barn bins, instead in empty plastic coffee can containers. Greeting cards we receive from family and friends go into a stock pile of craft supplies for the kids to use when expressing their artistic talents.

Stopped Buying Bottled Water: With both health and environmental concerns, this was a habit I was happy to break.

Buying fewer books: Whenever available I borrow books from the library or a friend.  When I do buy a book, I donate it to the public library when I am finished.

Now, along this road to 'green', I admit there have been a few bumps:  First, my mind had been conditioned to think that something was clean only if there was some strong anti-septic odor in the air (e.g. bleach, disinfectant). I had to retrain my brain a bit on this one. Plus, I don't really care for my house to smell like a salad all the time. So I am going to experiment with adding essential oils to my vinegar cleaning solution. Moreover, I must admit that I do miss using bleach to whiten my whites. Borax is a good stain lifter and does a decent job keeping whites from graying, but after a while whites look like they need a boost. So, as a compromise, I do bleach whites about once every 6 weeks.

In the title of the post I describe my efforts as 'baby steps' because none of these were drastic or hard to implement.  I read somewhere that there are different shades of 'green'. I like that concept, because I don't strive to be perfect and when focusing on my 3 goals, I sometimes find that I am bright Kelly green, but other times, I am more of a murky blue-green. But whatever shade, I believe that I am moving in the right direction for my family.

Here are some good links with more ideas how to incorporate shades of green into your life:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/

http://www.thedailygreen.com/

http://www.justdoone.org/getinspired

*as with all cleaners, read instructions carefully and use pre-cautions.  Even natural products can be hazardous if not used properly.