Saving Green By Going Green

Let’s face it, in this economy nearly everyone is having to cut corners and eliminate things from the budget. Sadly, it has come to my attention that one of the big things people are cutting back on are eco-friendly and organic products, in favor of cheaper, run of the mill alternatives.

Well, in this little post I would like to show you just some of the small ways that being green can save you those hard earned pennies to put toward the things that matter most!

Ditch the paper towels and paper plates (if you haven’t already)! By simply using dishcloths for your everyday messes and your actual dishes for dinner, you can not only contribute to a healthier environment with less garbage, but save a hefty little sum over a years’ time.

Green up your Swiffer! Instead of constantly buying the replacement pads to sweep things up with these handy little cleaning tools, why not try using microfiber dishcloths instead? They do the job and are easy to pop off and into the laundry!

Make your own non-toxic household cleaners! The initial supplies aren’t even that expensive and they will literally make enough cleaners to keep your house spic 
and span for a year or more!

–All Purpose Cleaner:
1/2 tsp. Washing Soda
2 tsp. Borax
1/2 tsp Liquid Soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap- I like Tea Tree!)
2 cups Hot Water (distilled preferably)
a few drops each of Tea Tree and Eucalyptus essential oils

–Glass Cleaner
1/4 cup Distilled White Vinegar
1/2 tsp Liquid Soap (once again,t he Dr. Bronner’s is a great pick!)
2 cups Hot Water (distilled preferably)

–Toilet Cleaner
Sprinkle 1/2 cup Baking Soda and 1/2 cup Distilled White Vinegar in your bowl, swish and let sit. When you flush the bowl will sparkle!

–Furniture Polish
Olive Oil, baby! Enough said!

–Floor Cleaner
Create a 3 to 1 Water to Distilled White Vinegar ratio and scrub those floors- they will be spotless!

–Fabric Softener
Replace your normal fabric softener with Distilled White Vinegar. Your clothes will come out fresh and soft, and no, they won’t smell like vinegar!

–Dryer Sheets
Replace with reusable Dryer Balls (blue rubber balls with nubs on them)found online or in stores some chain stores. They keep your clothes soft and reduce static.

Make your own bread! I know it may sound like more work, but channeling our foremothers really might do us some good here! Not only is it more nutritious, but the less processed your ingredients, the cheaper it is. Bulk grain that you mill yourself (in a powerful blender or grain mill) is very affordable and allows you to be more picky about where your grain is coming from. Make large batches and freeze lots of loaves at one time to minimize your work. Trust me, your family, your budget, your tastebuds and your planet will thank you! (For lots of info and products to get your started you can visit UrbanHomemaker.com)

Use Cloth Diapers and Wipes! Far from the pins and plastic pants that your grandparents used, cloth diapers these days are actually cute and incredibly easy to use! Still have doubts? Just check out some of the adorable products on KellysCloset.com. Still not convinced? Have a peek at the info on RealDiaperAssociation.org and you may change your mind. Need one last shove? Go to DiaperPin.com and try out the diaper calculator to see just how much money you could be saving by greening up your babe’s bum!

So, there you have it–a few things you can do that keep you green and actually save you some bucks!

Obviously, these are just the tip of the iceberg; I am sure there are dozens of other ideas you can think of to apply this same green for less green principle. So why not take five minutes and think of some? And if you have a few minutes more, I would love to have you share them with me!

An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. Follow the rest of MacKenzie’s musings on being a birth and postpartum doula while pregnant, totschooling her son, and still finding time to knit, at Mama Kenz Studio.