We all want to save money when it comes our household budget needs, and at the same time, do what is good for our planet. Consider the following 15 easy eco-friendly living tips, which are designed to help you save money.
1. Create Your Own Household Shower Spray
Mixing a solution of 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract with two cups of water not only kills germs, but helps prevent mildew from growing on the walls of your shower.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the walls and shower curtain or doors.
Let it sit for several hours, then simply rinse. Best of all, it’s non-toxic.
Note: Adding a little baking soda turns the solution into a natural scouring cleanser that won’t scratch fiberglass sinks and bath tubs.
Lemon juice is another excellent nontoxic general-purpose cleaner.
2. Easy Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Try this trick to make your toilets sparkle. Pour a can of cola into the bowl. Let it sit for several hours, then swish with a brush.
The acids in the soda break down mold enzymes. No more having to use elbow grease to get the job done!
3. Don’t Waste Water When Brushing Your Teeth
Get in the habit of turning off the water when brushing your teeth. Remember, warm water must be heated.
You can save several gallons of water a day in addition to the energy needed to heat water by sticking with cold water when brushing your teeth.
When it comes to easy eco-friendly living tips, you can’t get much simpler than this
4. Switch to a Low-Flow Showerhead
Low-flow showerheads are very inexpensive and will quickly pay for themselves by reducing the amount of water needed for a squeaky-clean shower.
Remember, it takes energy to heat that water, so if you want to save any further, use colder water when possible.
Now let’s move to the kitchen for more easy eco-friendly living tips!
5. Use a Lid When Boiling Water
When boiling water, always cover the pot with a lid. The water will boil faster, saving energy.
6. Thaw Food Ahead of Time
Thawing frozen foods before cooking them saves both time and the energy needed to cook them.
7. Use the Right Sized Pan
Match the size of the pan to your stove’s heating element. You want as much heat as possible to go to the pan, and not be lost to the surrounding air.
8. Take Advantage of a Hot Burner
If you have an electric stove, turn the heating element off a few minutes before the instructed heating time, as the burner will stay hot long enough to complete the cooking, thus saving electricity.
9. Stick With Glass and Ceramic Pans
Glass and ceramic pans heat faster than metal pans, so use them in your conventional oven when cooking or baking.
10. Skip the Oven When Possible
Think small! A microwave oven, crock pot and toaster oven will cook food using much less energy than a conventional oven.
11. Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances
Think about your refrigerator, and if you have one, a freezer. How old are they? Newer models can save significant money over the course of their lives because they are much more energy efficient.
Next, follow us to the laundry room.
12. Switch to an Energy-Efficient Washing Machine
Just as is true of old refrigerators, old washing machines use more water than newer models.
13. Look for Detergents that Work in Cold Water
Many of today’s detergents are designed to work in cold water, so use these in your washing machine.
To take it a step further, opt for a detergent that is labeled as eco-friendly.
Biokleen is a great choice because it’s made using plant-based ingredients, yet is still tough enough to tackle dirt and grime.
14. Don’t Launder Quarter and Half Loads
Wait until you have a full load of laundry before doing a load of wash. This not only saves energy, but also cuts down on your water consumption.
15. Remove Stains Naturally
Skip the bleach and harsh chemicals and remove the stains on your clothes and linens naturally.
You can use household items like club soda and vinegar to accomplish this, as well as an enzyme-based stain remover, like Puracy (my personal favorite).
Reducing your home’s energy use while helping the environment at the same time with these easy eco-friendly living tips is a win-win plan!
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Thank you very much for all these ideas. In the present circumstances, where most of us are on a budget, I believe that there are always ways to save money. I particularly have been paying attention on how I wash my clothes. Never put in half loads and switched to a detergent that works in cold water. I will see if I can upgrade my washing machine to an energy-efficient one.
I totally agree. I just read that food prices have risen 31% since the lockdowns started. Every way we can save is so important!
I learn a lot from this website and how to use products around the house to mix to help me keep the clothes cleaned and free of stain.
Parents with children know that keeping the bathroom clean is a struggle this website help parents keep the bathroom clean.
So glad you found this post useful! I am all about using safe cleaning products around children and pets.
this websites is helpful to the public to learn a lot from in how to use products around the house to mix to help me keep the clothes cleaned and free of stain.
Parents with children know that keeping the bathroom clean is a struggle this website help parents keep the bathroom clean.
Thanks! I also love to promote using natural products, as chemicals can be so harsh on the skin.