Green Living Tips

Here are some of our favorite ways to go green at home.  It's simple enough to start out with one or two... then see if you can add a new one every few months.  Pretty soon, helping the environment will become a habit - and one that you're proud of!

CLEAN GREEN

Mix baking soda or vinegar with water for a natural all-purpose cleaner. We use a vinegar/water solution in a spray bottle for nearly everything! It makes me feel at ease when my little ones eat food they have dropped on the table. I don't have to worry about chemicals getting into them.

WATER CONSERVATION

Power shower! As luxurious as a nice, long shower might be, it's not environmentally friendly. So get in, get clean and get out! Shoot for a five-minute shower, if possible, but if you cut your time at all, you're saving water. Plus, consider installing a low-flow showerhead to save even more!

By now we all know about turning off water while brushing our teeth, but do our kids know that, too? Make sure you stress the importance of saving water and have them turn OFF the tap while brushing.

RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE!

Check with your local agencies if you're not sure what's accepted and what's not. Also, buy recycled! These days more and more companies are understanding the importance of going green, and therefore we have a lot of options when it comes to buying items made with recycled materials. Do a little research before you buy, and you may just save some of our natural resources!

Use reusable shopping bags! This one is near and dear to our heart, since reusable totes were actually the very first products we made back in early 2008! But it's a very important one nonetheless. Plastic bags cause all sorts of trouble, and we need to get rid of them altogether. Put a sticker on the fridge to remind yourself not to forget your totes. Or better yet, do what we do and leave some in the car for those unplanned shopping trips!

Recycle those plastic bags, IF you ever get them! Many large chain stores are starting to offer plastic bag recycling. If you do end up with some of those dreaded plastics, just throw them in the car and take them to the nearest store that will recycle them for you.

PACK WASTE-FREE LUNCHES