I get so many questions asking me where to start in regards to going green. So I thought I would start doing a room by room feature with green tips for the whole house…today we begin with bathrooms. Bathrooms can be a very wasteful place…lots of water use, garbage generation, and potentially toxic cleaning. Here are some easy ways to green your bathroom…

1. Stop flushing so much – With each flush we use 3-5 gallons of water. You can reduce those numbers greatly by simply deciding to flush less. We DO use the yellow mellow policy in our house if you catch my drift. It means we flush anywhere from 5-6 times less per day.

You can also save water by putting a water bottle in the holding tank. You can use a small size water bottle or a half gallon milk jug, depending on how much room you have in the tank. Just fill the bottle or jug with 1-2 inches of rock to make it sink and then fill with water. Now when the tank refills it uses less water, perhaps only 1-2 gallons per flush. Easy!

2. Switch out your showerhead – Making a switch to a low flow showerhead is an easy way to save water in the shower. My personal showerhead choice is a smart showerhead from Evolve Stargazer. It addresses a common habit…leaving the water running while it heats up. No one wants to step into frigid water but it is all too easy to turn it on and then leave to do other things. This showerhead has a built-in sensor that senses when the water is warm enough, around (95 degrees) then “pauses” the flow of water, retaining instead of wasting your hot water. When you hear the water stop running you know your shower is ready to go. When you are ready to get in, jump in and turn the valve to resume water flow.

3. Put an aerator in the faucet - Older faucets may use between 3 and 7 gallons of water per minute. You can fix this by adding an inexpensive, low-flow faucet aerator and use as little as 1.5 gallons of water per minute. They just screw into an existing faucet and away you go…on your way to water savings.

4. Cloth OR recycled toilet paper – My post last week has inspired me to try this in our family and I will update you on how it goes. My daughter and I will be using cloth wipes instead of toilet paper for urination. We will all be using recycled toilet paper for solid waste. This will reduce our need for toilet paper by half and buying recycled toilet paper will help to conserve resources.

5. Green cleaners – Chemical cleaners are anything but green. They pollute the air, they pollute our waterways when we send them down the sink, and they are not very healthy for us to be exposed to. Instead we should use green cleaners such as baking soda vinegar, castile soap, lemons, and essential oils. Check out my favorite green cleaners here.

6. Choose a shower curtain wisely – Vinyl shower curtains contain PVC, the poison plastic. The off-gassing from these shower curtains can cause many health issues and it is just silly when there are more healthy options like hemp, cotton, and EVA vinyl. I have a list of safe shower curtains here.

7. Organic or bamboo towels – The cotton industry uses an insane amount of pesticides to grow their product. By choosing organic cotton towels and washcloths we support growers that are using sustainable methods and we send a message with our shopping dollars. Bamboo is another sustainable option and there are many wonderful and soft bamboo towels available. Bamboo towels are actually my favorite for line drying. They don’t get crunchy like other towels can…they stay super soft.

8. Recycled or wooden toothbrushes – Getting a new plastic toothbrush every 2-3 months adds up to a lot of waste for a family. Instead why not try Preserve toothbrushes. They are made of recycled yogurt cups and the company will take them back after you are done using them to recycle them again! You can also buy wooden toothbrushes as I have on many occasions. I like the feel of a wooden toothbrush…it feels so rustic and campy. You can buy one that is 100% wood or one like the Radius that has a wooden handle with recycled plastic tops that can be replaced over and over again.

9. No shampoo bottles – Shampoo bottles account for a lot of bathroom waste and plastics use. We can change all of that by using shampoo bars instead. They work just like a bar of soap but they are formulated for use on the hair. Often times they come wrapped in paper or fabric that can be reused or composted.  I have been using shampoo bars for years and have listed some of my favorites here. In fact don’t buy any soap that comes in a plastic bottle and imagine how much less waste you are generating every year.

10. Grow Your Own Loofah – Did you know that the loofahs you use to exfoliate in the shower actually come from a plant you can grow yourself? Plant a couple of these vines when the weather starts to get warm and then in the summer harvest several dozen gourds that can then be skinned, de-seeded, and dried out. They make a great alternative to sponges when washing dishes and a homegrown loofah makes a great gift for the holidays. Save the seeds and you have some for next year! When searching for them they are called Luffa Gourds. I am growing some this year…

Incorporate some or all of these ideas and you will be on your way to a greener bathroom in no time!

Photo credit: axeldeviaje

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The economy is bad, gas prices are high, food prices are rising and many green families may be wondering how they can afford organics, costlier natural items, and some of those green gadgets that cost more now and end up helping you save later. I have gotten several emails this week from moms asking about how to make this process more affordable.

I DO understand that it is cheaper to buy that 99 cent sunscreen tube from Walgreen’s instead of the safer but more expensive brand the EWG recommends. It will surely be cheaper to buy the conventionally grown strawberries instead of the organic ones. But when you look at the green/organic/natural versus conventional debate outside that narrow frame and look at the larger picture I think you might see why going green really won’t cost you anything more…in fact going green will save you some green. It is a lifestyle…not a series of one or two choices at the grocery store and it does balance out…at least in my experience.

I decided to write up some of the ways you can save money going green. With all of these cost savings it becomes easier to see why buying organic or buying more efficient appliances, or green gadgets should be able to fit in the budget. It was written of course for people relatively new to the green process. If you are already living very simply and frugally and still can’t afford some of the higher ticket items…the cash flow is what needs to change.

Consume Less -Green and frugal living means buying less. If you ask before every purchase do I NEED this, you will find that much of what you buy is a want…not a need. Doing without many of the small “wants” can allow you to save up for the bigger green items you have your eye on. If you pay for garbage services this will also affect your garbage bill. A trash compactor comes in handy to act a measuring stick in this regard too. I got one from Freecycle not long ago with some compactor bags and it really does help you to see how much waste you generate. It was an awesome free find too…but there is the added expense of trash compactor bags. This store has great deals on bulk purchases for every model imaginable, just in case there are any other trash compactor fans out there. They can really help you wittle your garbage down to one can a month!

Reuse- Stop buying disposable plates, cups, napkins, paper towels, plastic water bottles, etc. All of these items are convenient but they cost more than making do with reusable products. Your budget and your green goals are worth the extra elbow grease. Cloth diapers and alternative menstrual products will also save you money. When buying new products consider the reusability factor.

Recycling for Money Savings - Recycle products to give them a new use and replace things you might otherwise buy. An example would be glass jars. Save that tomato sauce jar and use it as a drinking glass…you will never need to buy glassware again. Use another jar as a piggy bank, a vase, or a storage container. Jeans are another example….cut up those worn jeans and make a purse….you recycled and you have new purse. Stained clothing can be tye dyed instead of tossed.

Green Cleaning- Cleaning products are expensive but natural cleaners are NOT. I read once that the average U.S. household spends $600 annually on chemical cleaning supplies. For only $25, you can replace every one of those cleaning products with a safer, non-toxic, biodegradable homemade version that use common ingredients like baking soda, club soda, vinegar, lemons, castile soap and salt! They work just as good but they cost a fraction of the price and they are safe for your family. Yes, you can buy green cleaners too but maybe if you made your own, you could easily fit some more organic groceries into the budget.

Energy Savings- Greenies consume less energy and this save money on energy bills. Here are simple ideas for increasing energy savings:

*  Turn off the lights and power strips when not in use. There are also smart power strips that can do this for you.

*  Use motion sensor lighting so that lights never get left on accidentally. We LOVE these.

*  Turn your heater thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in the summer. Use a programmable thermostat.

*  Wrap your pipes and hot water heater with insulation to make them more efficient.

*  Compact fluorescent bulbs save energy and money. Yes, they have mercury in them but with proper care this shouldn’t be a big deal. LED bulbs would be even better but they require a heftier initial investment.

*  Hang your clothes to dry on a rack or outdoor clothes line instead of using the dryer.

*  Use inexpensive low-flow shower and sink attachments to save water. I also like my smart showerhead.

*  Collect rainwater to use elsewhere or in times of drought. It is easier if you have a nifty rainwater collection system but garbage cans or plastic storage bins work too.

*  In the summer use window fans to blow cool air into the house at night. Turn them off and close the windows when it starts to get warm. I have a thermometer right outside the window to make this process easier.

*  Use weatherstripping and window quilts to keep it warm in the winter.

Driving -Greenies usually drive less or at least more efficiently. It helps with fuel efficiency if you maintain your car and tires well, use cruise control to maintain speed, drive the speed limit, and of course carpool, ride a bike, or walk whenever you can. Green cars like hybrids use way less gas and griesels use waste vegetable oil instead of gas. I would LOVE to be able to convert an older diesel to run on veggie oil.

Thrift Shopping -Green shopping might mean…buying less of course but also buying used whenever possible. Vintage or second hand clothing is preferable to new. Freecyle, Craigslist, Ebay, and clothing swaps all help us to find great deals. Some greenies even dabble in Freeganism or dumpster diving.

Eating for Less - Check out my post on ways to make organics affordable. But here are some general tips:

*  Grow your own food
*  Buy in bulk – Saves money and reduces packaging
*  Eat less meat – Meat production is devastating to the environment and it is costly
*  Cook at home instead of going out
*  Drink tap water

 
Coupons!! – Use coupons like crazy to get money savings. You can usually visit the web sites for the products you like and print or request coupons. Mambo Sprouts has some awesome coupon books for organic and green products. Kiwi magazine and other organic friendly mags have coupons in the back. Also ask on Freecycle for the coupon section of the monthly paper or recent issues of magazines that have the coupons you need in them. I know one gal that did this every week…she never had to buy the paper and got TONS of free coupons.

Beautify for Less - Beauty products can often be made at home using simple ingredients. Here are recipes for homemade toothpaste and deodorant. Trying the No Poo method of haircare will save you a ton as well. Getting rid of your conventional beauty products should make some room in the budget for that slightly more expensive but safer sunscreen.

Looking for a new showerhead? Why not pick one that is green/smart and helps you save on water AND energy.

I recently got a 1.6 GPM Energy and Water Saving Showerhead from the Clean Air Gardening Store and it is a great product for a green home. It addresses a common habit…leaving the water running while it heats up. Of course no one wants to step into frigid water but it is all to easy to turn it on and then leave to do other things. I know I am guilty of that and my kids can be to. We end up wasting hot water and energy many times when we do this. But with this showerhead it is no biggie if you need to go run to the laundry room to get a clean towel because this showerhead is SMART.

It has a built-in ShowerStart technology sensor that senses when the water is warm enough. It senses when the water reaches normal bathing and showering temperature (95 degrees) then “pauses” the flow of water, retaining instead of wasting your hot water. When hear the water stop running and know your shower is ready to go. When you are ready to get in, jump in and turn the valve to resume water flow. Easy!

You save water by not wasting it and you save energy by not heating up water that just goes down the drain..your shower waits for you. It is also a low flow showerhead, and will save about 8 gallons or water for every 5 minutes you shower and according to their web site that should save you around $230 on utility bills and more than 7,600 gallons of water per year. It pays for itself after 3 months. It is only $39.99 at Clean Air Gardening.

Here is a video to show you how it works. The only difference between the one in the video and ours is that ours has a cord attached to it so even the kids can pull it and re-start the water….very cool.