6 Tips for a Greener Home

By Olivia Putnal

With Earth Day coming up on April 22, everyone has "eco-friendly" on the brain. But not only is going green good for the environment, it's better for your health, too-especially at home. Being aware of things like recycling, nontoxic cleaning products and your home's lighting are the first steps to greener living. WD spoke with the some of the Web's top green bloggers to find out how you can make your home a more eco-friendly environment.

1. Clean with greener products. One of the easiest ways to make your home healthier is by using eco-friendly cleaning products. Not only is it better for the environment, but it's better for your environment, as you won't be exposing your family to toxic substances. Green bloggers Kath Younger from Kath Eats Real Food and Toni Hammersley from A Bowl Full of Lemons both love Shaklee cleaning products, which are nontoxic, hypoallergenic and free of hazardous chemicals like kerosene, ammonia and chlorine bleach. They offer a wide range of items, including dish detergent, hand soap and laundry detergent, that all come in concentrated form. For example, to use their all-purpose Super Cleaning Concentrate, you only need 1/4 tsp of the product per 16 oz of water. "I was convinced first and foremost by its effectiveness, but the fact that it was also green, inexpensive, concentrated and came in cute packaging were all bonuses," Younger says of Shaklee's Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste.
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2. Add essential oils to your products. Oftentimes, green cleaning products don't have much of a scent, so adding organic essential oils like peppermint, lemongrass or lavender will leave your home smelling fresh. When cleaning with vinegar, Shaklee or any other multipurpose product, by adding essential oils to the formulas "you can customize your cleaning scent and make the whole process pleasant," Younger says. Photo: Shutterstock



3. Change your lightbulbs. "Lighting accounts for an average of about 10 percent of a household's electricity use, according to the Department of Energy," says Preston Koerner of JetsonGreen.com. "To save energy, eliminate incandescent lighting, skip compact fluorescent lamps and start using LED replacement lights." Koerner recommends this bulb from The Home Depot, which has the same light color as an incandescent bulb but contains no mercury or lead, lasts up to 25,000 hours and turns on without a noticeable delay.
Save more on electricity with these eco-friendly bulbs.

4. Have a yard sale. Thinking about tossing old clothing and furniture? Before you do, consider having a yard sale. Victoria Green of MommyIsGreen.net recommends yard sales because they help rid your home of unwanted clutter and encourage the reuse of old items. As the old saying goes: "One person's trash is another person's treasure." Yard sales can also be fun! "In my family, we make a day out of yard sales-spring or fall is a beautiful time for this. We start out early with bagels and coffee and catch up during the slow times. The kids play outside all day and ride down the street on their bikes," Green says. So, not only are you preventing items from ending up in the landfill, it's also a great way to spend time with the family. Photo: Shutterstock

5. Find new ways to recycle and reuse. Cindy of MyRecycledBags.com recommends getting creative with what and how you recycle. Her favorite tip? "Recycle the netting you get lettuce and other veggies in by crocheting them into things like scrubbies," which you can learn how to do here. Another simple household item that's easy to recycle is a gift bag. "Instead of throwing away gift bags and boxes you receive for a birthday or holiday, reuse them for gifts you give later," suggests Green. But it doesn't end there. "One of my favorite items to repurpose is a picture frame. I use old, out-of-style frames and [make] them vintage-looking." For an adorable example, complete with pictures and instructions, click here. Thinking about how you can use something over again is the key to making the most out of your purchases and helping the environment.

6. Invest in energy-saving appliances. Your big home appliances can really waste energy. Koerner recommends shopping around for energy-saving appliances such as those that carry the EPA's Energy Star label. Bosch also typically makes some of the best-performing products on the market." He also suggests that before you purchase these types of large appliances, you do some research at TopTenUSA.org, an online resource that recommends the best of the best.
Find out how to save big on major appliances.

Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.

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