How to Take Steps to Be Clean and Green
Update your washer and dryer., Keep your water heater warm., Give your clothing a cold shower!, Use vinegar in your washer., See if your dry cleaners are green., Clean the coffeemaker., Stay away from air fresheners., Pick an energy-efficient home...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Update your washer and dryer.
Laundry needs are the second-biggest water user in a home.
Energy-efficient machines can save big on utility bills, and the technologies employed in those machines also can be gentler to your clothes, help you use less detergent and reduce drying time. -
Step 2: Keep your water heater warm.
Wrapping a water heater with insulation can keep as many as 1,000 pounds of global-warming CO2 a year out of the upper atmosphere , Using cold water can save up to 80 percent of the energy required to wash clothes. , A cup of vinegar will clean a washing machine.
Run it through a regular cycle
-- but not with clothes. , There are several dry cleaners that now use less chemicals to clean your suits and dresses.
Find one that supports green dry cleaning in your area. , Vinegar will clean out deposits clogging a steam iron or coffeemaker. , Some commercial air fresheners use chemicals that can be harmful to your infant's development.
Instead, lightly spritz the place with vinegar , When looking for a home to purchase, look for green features, such as Built Green and Energy Star certification.
Or ask to see the last year's utility bills to get a sense of the home's current efficiency. , A laptop uses a fraction of the power required by a desktop computer. , Generating enough electricity to cook for an hour in an electric oven creates
2.7 pounds of carbon dioxide.
Here's a list of what can do it for less: toaster oven,
1.3 pounds over 50 minutes; slow cooker,
0.9 pounds over seven hours; and microwave,
0.5 pounds over 15 minutes. -
Step 3: Give your clothing a cold shower!
-
Step 4: Use vinegar in your washer.
-
Step 5: See if your dry cleaners are green.
-
Step 6: Clean the coffeemaker.
-
Step 7: Stay away from air fresheners.
-
Step 8: Pick an energy-efficient home.
-
Step 9: Use a laptop whenever possible.
-
Step 10: Tune off that stove.
Detailed Guide
Laundry needs are the second-biggest water user in a home.
Energy-efficient machines can save big on utility bills, and the technologies employed in those machines also can be gentler to your clothes, help you use less detergent and reduce drying time.
Wrapping a water heater with insulation can keep as many as 1,000 pounds of global-warming CO2 a year out of the upper atmosphere , Using cold water can save up to 80 percent of the energy required to wash clothes. , A cup of vinegar will clean a washing machine.
Run it through a regular cycle
-- but not with clothes. , There are several dry cleaners that now use less chemicals to clean your suits and dresses.
Find one that supports green dry cleaning in your area. , Vinegar will clean out deposits clogging a steam iron or coffeemaker. , Some commercial air fresheners use chemicals that can be harmful to your infant's development.
Instead, lightly spritz the place with vinegar , When looking for a home to purchase, look for green features, such as Built Green and Energy Star certification.
Or ask to see the last year's utility bills to get a sense of the home's current efficiency. , A laptop uses a fraction of the power required by a desktop computer. , Generating enough electricity to cook for an hour in an electric oven creates
2.7 pounds of carbon dioxide.
Here's a list of what can do it for less: toaster oven,
1.3 pounds over 50 minutes; slow cooker,
0.9 pounds over seven hours; and microwave,
0.5 pounds over 15 minutes.
About the Author
Ann Jones
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow cooking tutorials.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: