Every year Earth Day rolls around and every year you get an idea in your head of some way that you can be more “earth-friendly”, right? As this is the 46th year that we celebrate this movement around the world, we challenge you to think about some of the things that are important not only to you, but your family.
There are probably some simple ways that you already partake in, such as recycling your garbage or walking places instead of driving your car. But have you ever thought about these other things that you could be doing?
We’ve compiled a list of 5 things that you can do in your house that can help the environment little by little every day:
- Make your own laundry detergent: You will save a ton of money and at the same time, not let harsh chemicals down the drain and into the water system.
- Make your own wool dryer balls: You will emit no VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) into the air, which helps lower pollution and you also save on your electric bill since they cut down the drying time!
- Using beauty products with no microbeads in them: Microbeads are found in toothpastes, lips balms, face creams and makeup to add texture and color. They are wildly popular in facial scrubs and washes and act as exfoliants. Because they are so small, they aren’t caught by water treatment plants and end up in the oceans and lakes- where fish and other marine animals mistake them as food. Therefore, they end up in your food supply again.
- Use less electricity: The burning of coal and natural gasses are the major sources for electricity; but they are a major factor in air pollution. Simply put: turn off all devices and lights when you leave the house or when they are not in use. Use fluorescent bulbs in your house. Clean your lint filter in your dryer every time. Wash clothes in cold water versus hot water. You get the point.
- Produce less waste: Use reusable grocery bags instead of getting new plastic bags every time you go to the grocery store, use reusable plates instead of plastic or paper products, use glass containers instead of plastic ones and buy rechargeable batteries!
What are some ways that you are protecting the earth? We’d love to hear your stories!
Check out the official Earth Day website HERE for more ideas on how you can do your part to help Mother Nature!
-Kim and Jamie
I am pleased to say we do all of these things and mor.
Good tips. I don’t make my own laundry detergent because I read that it can damage plumbing. But there are many different laundry detergent recipes, so I’m not trying to make a blanket statement. Just not something I’ll do.
ooh, now i want to look into that, to see if anything I’m using could be a culprit. Thanks for the tip.
-Kim
My biggest change since moving has been to not use grocery bags. I don’t use them at all. Instead I have a basket in my car that everything gets loaded into. It’s fabulous!! Great tips!
i love those baskets that fit into your car! So, do you just haul all of your groceries out of the store straight from the shopping cart?
-Kim
I have been considering making my own laundry detergent. I hadn’t thought about it as a way to help the environment but now I am even more interested in doing it.
Hey Missy- yes, it’s a little bit of time to put it all together, but if you want to ensure that you are using safer ingredients and no artificial fragrances it really is a great place to start!
Great tips! I went to an art exhibit on the beach and it was all about how clothes are actually the biggest polluter. So I am committed to not throwing away any clothes. Even if they are stained and gross, Value Village will take them and recycle/upcycle them in some way.
Thanks for the info, Angie! I didn’t know that. I hope it’s ok that i just take them to Goodwill?!
Excellent ideas to do our part! I have been meaning to make my own laundry detergent and will be doing so soon. Grocery bags are a big culprit in my house.
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Yes, I agree, Kusum….grocery bags are such an easy thing to do, yet I often forget my bags in my car or in my house! Gahhh!
While I don’t make my own laundry detergent, I do make sure to buy biodegradable natural detergent, but I’m definitely going to have to look into making my own dryer balls. Thanks for the tips!!
great! They really are useful and I think one of the better changes I made!
i do all of these except for laundry detergent. that’s next on my list
nice! Thanks for the read, Leslie!
Great tips! The microbeads are so terrible. They’ve really impacted the Great Lakes negatively.
We try to be earth friendly all year around. We recycle a ton, compost, use reusable bags, freecycle items and cloth diaper to name a few. I’m definitely passionate about being kind to our earth.
We’re working on numbers 4 and 5 heavily at our house. We’re also trying to get in the habit of recycling more frequently.