1. Use cloth hankies to blow your nose instead of disposable tissues. Hankies are big, so either use it more than once before washing or cut it into smaller sized hankies and send it to the wash after each single use.
Image via Wikipedia2. Use cleaners you can make at home with items such as vinegar, baking soda, lemons, and borax. There are numerous recipes online for all types of cleaners using simple household products. Some of these may require you use a little more elbow grease, but consider it much safer for your health and the environment - and a good little calorie-burner too!3. Use a broom and dustpan, duster, and regular mop instead of all the throwaway products currently on the market. It may seem like such a small thing, but consider how many of these are thrown away each day. It adds up in the landfills.
Image via Wikipedia4. Get yourself some rechargeable batteries and a recharger
instead of always using and throwing out batteries. Even better, get a solar-powered recharger! Some of these can also recharge your cell phones, iPods, and games by simply using the sun.5. Instead of reaching for the paper napkins, try using cloth napkins. Not only will you be doing your part to save trees, but you will add a special elegance to your mealtime.
6. Change out your plastic food storage containers for glass containers. Glass is better for your health, it lasts longer than plastic, it can be cooked in, and you can see what you are storing in the container without staring into the fridge trying to figure out what you have there.
7. Buy in bulk when you can as this uses less packaging. This doesn't mean buying a case of canned soup as that's still the same amount of packaging. Buy in bulk when you can get a 20 pound bag of rice, rather than in bulk where you get 20 pounds of rice in 20 boxes.
8. Look at anything you're going to throw out and determine if it can have a second life before going to the landfill. For example, reuse a commercial cleaning bottle by cleaning it out and filling it with a homemade cleaner.
9. Compost your food scraps. When food goes to the landfills, bacteria does a number on it and heat-trapping methane gas is released. Composting is easy, plus it makes wonderful soil for your garden. (For more on composting, visit our Sustainable Gardening blog - we have a lot of info there on making your own compost.)
10. Did you know sunlight is nature's favorite stain remover? Try drying your clothes on a line outside. In the winter you can use a drying rack inside.
Even if you can't do these things 100 percent of the time, aim to do as much as you can most of the time because every little bit helps.
And remember to stop by our new holistic living website and get your free checklist for making your home cleaner and greener!
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