Save Green by Going Green Tip #3

Our next money-saving/planet-saving tip is...      Tip #3:  Make Your Own Rags

Making your own rags gives you something to do with all those old tee-shirts you were going to trash, and it saves trees!  Instead of using paper towels, use homemade rags to wipe up spills and messy counters.  An average family could save more than $100.00 per year by making the switch from paper towels to cloth rags.  Below I've listed a few times when rags could be used instead of paper towels.

• Wiping down countertops
• Cleaning up spills
• In place of paper napkins
• Dusting
• Cleaning the shower/bathroom
• Wiping off wet dog feet
• Wiping off messy boots/shoes

Follow this Link to see where I found the cost analysis on paper towels versus cloth.
Follow this Link to read a great New York Times article on paper towel use.

Be sure to check back with us to read more tips on How to Save Green by Going Green, and lots of other cool Green topics!

Save Green by Going Green!

We all like to save money, and most of us want to save the planet, too. For those of you who, like me, want to save both, here are some tips…

Tip #1:  Shorter Showers
Everyone knows conserving water is good for the environment, but what we don't always remember is that conserving water is also great for our wallets!  You can conserve water in multiple ways, so if you love your long, hot showers, don't worry - there's more than one option here.  Below, I've listed a few ways to conserve water in your home.  Whether you rent or own, these are great ways to rein in on your water bill and start saving money.

• Shorter Showers  (Not only is this good for water conservation, but it's also great for energy conservation.  You may cut down on your overall water useage, but you'll definitely cut down on Heated Water useage. Plus, I've heard it's better for your hair if you only wash it every 2-3 days. So cut down on shower time and stock up on shiny tresses.)
• Fewer Washes  (You can either wait to wash more items in one larger wash instead of two smaller washes, or you can hand wash some items which would otherwise go in a Mini load with one or two other items.  Just be sure to fill that washer when you can!)
• And the Kitchen Sink!  (If the dishwasher isn't full, don't run it!  I know we all want clean dishes and don't want to have to wait, but it's worth it.  Hand-washing dishes takes just as little time if there are only a few dishes, and conserves so much water.)
• Soak It Up (Soaking dishes in a small plastic tub can reduce the grease and food particles stuck to the dishes, thus greatly reducing the amount of water is sprayed out of the faucet to wash that same dish. The faucet uses much more water per second that a tub does, and this goes for the bathroom, too. Take a bath if you can, instead of a shower. It's relaxing and saving all at once.)