- reusable bags (BYOB) - bring one out all the time
- recycle paper
- sources: newspaper, magazines, pamphlets, booklets
- other recyclable items: tin cans, glass, plastic (see what types)
- use old scraps as scratch paper
- find a convenient place to collect recyclable items. Most things come from the kitchen, making it a good spot to set up a recycling center.
- green cleaning tips
- All-Purpose Cleaner Using funnel, put 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon dish soap, and 2 tablespoons vinegar into your spray bottle. Give it a stir/shake. Let it sit for a minute, now fill bottle with warm water and shake it up. Give it a few more minutes to calm down, and add a few drops of essential oil if desired.
- Sink or Stovetop Cleaner Put a 1/3 cup baking soda in a bowl. Mix in enough warm water so that you get a nice moist paste. Put paste on sponge or brush and scrub away. Make it as you need it.
- to polish wood furniture, mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice in a jar with a lid. Shake well and apply a small amount to wood surfaces with a clean cloth. Let it soak in, then wipe dry.
- for carpet stains (red wine, tea, coffee), cover the entire spot with a thick layer of salt. Let the salt soak up the stain, then vacuum up the salt.
- for whiter whites, wrap the peel of one lemon in cheesecloth, tie securely, and add to the wash cycle.
- spray distilled white vinegar on glass windows to make them sparkle
- a solution of one cup olive oil and 1 tablespoon vinegar will remove white water rings from wood furniture
- to clean hard-to-reach glass decanters, combine a solution of warm water, baking soda and crushed egg shells. Swirl around in the decanter and let stand overnight. Then rinse thoroughly
- for dirty hairbrushes and combs, soak for one hour in a solution of warm water and baking soda
- for stubborn stains inside coffee cups, fill cup with a solution of baking soda and white distilled vinegar
- to remove deodorant stains on clothes, dip a rag in vinegar and rub across stain
- To erase fingerprints and spots from wallpaper, rub stale, soft chunks of bread in even vertical strokes.
- Cleaning a microwave: Put one or two cups of water in a large, heat-proof glass or ceramic bowl. and add one tablespoon of white vinegar. Microwave until about half the water has evaporated. Wait about 10 minutes and don’t open the door. This lets the water cool off a bit and the steam penetrate any baked-on crud in the oven. Remove the bowl carefully; the water will still be hot enough to burn, so wear hot mitts. Scrub the walls of the microwave with a sponge sprinkled with a bit of baking soda; baked on stains should come off with relative ease. Wipe down the microwave with a reusable cloth dampened in clean water and the oven will be sparkling clean and free of odors.
- reuse leftover herbs: gather up the unused herbs from the week's recipes, or take clippings from the garden. Mints, rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage and similar herbs are all fair game. Hang them upside down in a dry place (near the heater works best) for a few days so they dry completely. Once the herbs are dry, strip the leaves from the stems. You may leave whole, or gently crush the leaves. Place the leaves in your sachet, or place in the center of a square of material, gather the edges, and tie with ribbon. These can be placed in drawers, closets, cars, or given as lovely gifts. If the scent starts to diminish, simply give the sachet a shake or a gentle crunch to release more scent.
- Sharpen scissors by cutting a piece of sandpaper once or twice with them.
dec 16 2009 ∞
feb 5 2011 +