There are many cheap ways to be eco-friendly every day; just look for a more efficient way of doing things and recycle, reduce, reuse, and unplug.
Most people are conscious of the amount of waste they produce and are taking steps to reduce that amount and be more eco-friendly. Small, everyday changes that cost almost nothing can help people live a greener lifestyle. Here are some cheap ways to be eco-friendly every day and be kind to our planet.
Cheap Household Cleaning Products
Household cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and to your family. Disposable cleaning cloths that are pre-loaded with cleaning agents reduce chemical fumes when used, but the clothes are not recyclable and not the best eco-friendly choice.
Vinegar and baking soda are two cheap and effective household cleaning agents that can tackle almost any dirty, grimy object in the home, including laundry, and clean it without harsh chemical fumes. Vinegar cleans kitchen grease splatters, and bathroom soap scum and vinegar disinfects as it cleans. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that will remove any baked-on, caked-on mess that vinegar can’t handle. Both products are natural, cheap, and eco-friendly.
Cheap Cleaning Cloths That Are Reusable
An old T-shirt is a great cleaning cloth. The T-shirt fabric is soft, lint-free, and absorbent and can be used for any cleaning project, from dusting high-end furniture to scouring out the dirt and grime on vehicle tires. An old T-shirt used for light cleaning jobs can be tossed in the washer and reused multiple times.
Cheap And Green Laundry Ideas
Changing the water temperature setting on the washing machine to the cold water cycle is a cheap way to be eco-friendly. Coldwater washing will save you money and get clothes just as clean. If laundry needs a little extra boost to come clean in cold water, add ½ cup of vinegar or baking soda to the wash cycle; either is still a cheaper alternative to using hot water for laundry.
Leave the dryer off whenever possible and air dry clothes. Another cheap, eco-friendly idea that will save money.
Reduce Water Usage
Reducing the amount of water the household currently uses is a cheap way to be eco-friendly. Little things like shutting the water off in the sink while shaving or brushing teeth, placing a brick in the tank of an older toilet to reduce water used with each flush, and taking shorter showers all add up to water savings.
Unplug The Electronics
Any electronic item that is plugged into an electrical outlet is using energy, even when the item is turned off. Phantom electricity is used by the electronic, keeping the item user-ready in an instant for when it’s turned on. Unplug electronics, like the coffee maker, toaster, hairdryer, radio, and so forth when the items are not in use, and it will prevent phantom electricity usage and lower the home’s energy bill.
Being eco-friendly doesn’t mean spending more money on green products; it’s about looking for ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle items we currently use. There are many cheap ways to be eco-friendly every day, just look for a more efficient way of doing things and recycle, reduce, reuse, and unplug.
