I took my eco-friendly cleaning products collection one step further today when I realized I ran out of laundry detergent. So I wanted to try out Method’s concentrated formula. Living in a small apartment, this will be ideal for me as my storage for these products happen to be on top of my dryer. Here are the lovely editions to my cleaning collection. I haven’t used the products yet but I look forward to doing so.
Filed under: sustainable
I’ve been exploring Method products since I first bought some hand soap back in May. When I moved out in August, I ordered the Method Detox kit and the Omop. They have now become my favorite products. I no longer choke when I try to clean my bathroom. The mint eucalyptus cleaner smells yummy enough to eat. The lemon ginger floor cleaner smells clean but not sterile … because who wants sterile. Even the wood cleaner smells delish (like almonds) although I have limited wood surfaces to use it on. And the oMop unites the utilities of a broom and a mop. Unfortunately my building is against starting a compost pile so I can’t compost the sweeping cloths. All in all, very good investments that you can get from Method.
Check out these awesome cups I have at work. I have a mug and cup (for hot and cold beverages). Everything a girl needs to drink her day away the eco-friendly way. This cuts down on all the temptation to use throw away types of cups at work. Plus I can maintain the sanitary level on them as they are all mine … all mine!
I’ve already crossed this off the eco-wishlist but never blogged about it.
I recently finished reading “It’s Easy Being Green.” In it are a number of recommendations on what you can do to help the environment, a day at a time. So I’ve listed the items I want to focus on here so I can add them to my eco-wishlist.
- Take short showers.
- Turn the faucet off while shaving and brushing your teeth.
- Toss trash in the wastebasket, not the toilet.
- Take care of your vinyl shower curtain.
- Use water-based paints.
- Properly dispose of latex paint cans.
- Use rags instead of paper towels.
- Choose hydrogen- or oxygen-based bleaches.
- Buy concentrated products.
- Don’t wash clothes after every wear unless they’re really dirty.
- Buy phosphate-free, earth-friendly detergent.
- Keep my refrigerator full to cut down on energy.
- Keep the fridge at 37 F and the freezer at 3 F.
- Maintain my fridge twice a year.
- Use the toaster oven for smaller portion cooking.
- Switch to CFLs.
- Turn off the lights when not in use.
- Use ceiling fans to better circulate the air.
- Manage radiant solar gain.
- Buy gift wrap made of recycled paper.
- Reuse gift wrapping decorations.
- Get creative with gift wrapping.
- Recycle my Christmas tree.
- Choose energy-saving Christmas lights.
- Make my own gift tags.
- Participate in St. Jude’s Ranch for Children greeting cards program.
- Shop at my local farmer’s market.
- Eat less meat.
- Switch to cloth napkins.
- Decline silverware, napkins and condiments when ordering out.
- Wash fruit and veggies in a bowl of cold water.
- Turn the faucet using half the volume.
- Buy in bulk instead of single-servings.
- Collect grey water for watering plants.
- Buy quality products.
- Use rechargeable batteries.
- Buy a paper shredder.
- Recycle old athletic shoes with the Nike program.
- Recycle plastic peanuts with loosefillpackaging.com.
- Download software instead of buying the CDs, when possible.
- Buy only plastic bottles labeled with 1 or 2.
- Create notepads out of scrap paper.
- Ride my bike when running errands three miles away.
- Once a week, use public transportation instead of driving.
- Buy eco-friendly antifreeze.
- Decline housekeeping when staying at a hotel.
- Don’t take the complementary bottles.
- Use biodegradable pet bags.
So a number of new items on the list. I’ll indicate that these are from It’s Easy Being Green with an “E” to clarify the source. Here’s to an eco-friendly 2008!
I know this topic might be a bit personal and taboo, but here it goes, because let’s face it, it’s eco-friendly. A few months back, a friend of mine told me how she tried out the Diva Cup on a trip to Belgium. She loved it so much that she put her stamp of approval and raved so much over it, that I had to try it too.
Well, here I am raving too. Not only does it meet some personal preferences I have but it also reduces my consumption of feminine hygiene products. Women consume billions of tampons and sanitary pads each year; all finding their way into landfills around the country. The Diva Cup is reusable and safe, compact (fits under any sink!) and a cheaper alternative to buying products each month.
Filed under: reuse
Why didn’t I do this earlier? I bought a reusable mug this week from Starbucks. I thoroughly enjoy my morning mocha treat. I know it’s pricey, but it gets me going in the day, helps me through the morning commute and energizes me on many days where I’m dragging.
Apparently Starbucks gives you 10 cents if you bring your own cup. That’s kind of a nice bonus. I also like this mug because it has a swing top lid that helps limit splatter.
I’ve used it each day. Ironically it matches my new wool dress coat, which is red.
This satisfies #2 on my eco-wishlist.
I have finally found a natural lip balm that I like. My lips really like petroleum. Everything else seems to dry them out. I have tried a number of Burt’s Bees products, and nothing seemed to work. The original would turn my lips blue. Yes, blue. The tinted was OK but sometimes I don’t want to tint my lips. I even tried the honey-based variety. Still the same problem. Dry. Lips.
At Walgreens the other day, I discovered the Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil. Perfect. I like pomegranate. It goes on smooth, tastes/smells nice and I don’t feel like I have to reapply as often as other brands. Yay! Moisture
This takes care of #24 on my eco-wishlist.
I replaced my thermostat with a 5 day/2 day programmable thermostat. Before I would try to remember to turn the temperature down before I left for work, but of course, that didn’t really work out. So I got a programmable one so I can set my apartment temperature for the weekdays, as well as the weekend.
I set up the thermostat to be 68 in the morning and evening, and 62 when I’m gone and asleep.
The great thing is I’m in the middle of the three-story condo unit. Also the vents are in the ceiling so my downstairs neighbor is warming my place. So my furnace barely goes off.
This effort knocks off #37. Adjust the household temperature on my eco-wishlist.
Filed under: green living
Although I’ve been absent from this blog, I have not been absent from my eco-friendly efforts. I recently received It’s Easy Being Green and have felt a resurgence of my energies. So over the next few days, I’m going to document a few of the things I have been doing since my last post. There’s been many things and I’m excited to tell you about it.
I took the train into the Chicago today for Worldwide Knit In Public Day (no I’m not kidding). There were seven us from all over the Chicagoland area, so we really cut down our emissions by joining other Chicagoans riding the train for a variety of fun city events.
I do have to report that in our efforts not to go hungry, we accumulated a bunch of trash from picking up some lunch at Corner Bakery and not having any recycling bins in Millennium Park. I tossed three very full plastic (gasp!) bags into the trash bin because we were all so weighted down already, that we didn’t know what else to do. Carrying all that back home just didn’t seem like a great idea. So my one green thing for the day sort of neutralizes the not so great thing. I did remember to bring and use my bamboo cutlery and not use the plasticwear the restuarant provided.
