We could all up the ante on our eco-fabulousness a bit, even the greenest amongst us. Here are some ways to check yourself on your earth-loving ways today;
Buh-Bye Ziploc bags.
Switch to BioBags (totally biodegradable and compostable) or reuse your Ziplocs by rinsing them and reusing or using them to scoop your dogs poop after they’ve served their purpose in your fridge. Even Ziploc themselves is coming out with a newer, greener alternative with their “evolve” line which contains 25% less plastic and are made with wind-power. We really love the Reuseit line which are eco-friendly, washable bags for food and lunches. Your cheapest best alternative? Buy vintage Corningware-type containers, and use them to store food and extra bits and pieces. They look hella cuter than baggies, last forever, can be used in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher, and cost virtually nothing at your local Salvation Army or Thrift/ Antique shops.
Old batteries sitting in a pile on your shelf?
Use rechargeables from now on. And properly dispose of your old ones by going to Earth911 to pop in your zipcode and see where you can drop off your old bat’s to be recycled appropriately.
Paper towels cost too much and waste too much.
Switch to Skoy Cloths and/ or old tees and rags to do the same job for none of the cost or waste. Let your housekeeper (if you have one) moan all s/he wants… you are doing Mother Earth a solid favor.
Stop using icky air fresheners.
They are chock full of gross, cancer-causing chemical, and cost a fortune. Not to mention, many of the companies who sell (mainstream) air fresheners partake in horrific animal testing. And those plug ins… can you say, WASTE OF ENERGY? Make your home smell delish with incense sticks, with a natural spray like Dr. Singha’s Feng Shui Spray, or by putting a bunch of drops of your favorite essential oils in a spray bottle of water. Also, soak a cotton ball in your favorite essential oil, and put it in your vacuum bag. It disseminates the scent all over the house when you vacuum and smells divine.
Switch to an all purpose cleaner.
We use Earth-Friendly Parsley All Purpose Cleaner for almost everything in our house. It smells divine, does the job, and doesn’t harm us our furbabies. It is totally commercialized bs that you need a different product to clean different items in your home. One can basically do it all. Or feel free to make your own (and save even more moolah) with these simple recipes.
It may seem like you are doing very little, making these simple changes, but you’ll find that implementing even the smallest changes to your household makes a world of a difference to Mother Earth, your wallet, and the way you feel. Dumping the chemicals from your home and life should be of the utmost importance to anyone who wants to live healthily and lengthily.