We all want things to be cheap and easy, so here are a few cheap green tricks...
*Save $100 a year by converting to CFL lighting
*Save over $200 this summer with Energy Star fans
*Save up to $1,200 annually: buy local produce and food products
*Save up to $900 a year: buy fresh produce twice a week in smaller quantities to reduce food spoilage
*Save 20% on your electricity bill by using a powerbar for your electrical devices
*Save $688 annually by using a reusable water bottle
*Save $360 annually: trade in your facial cleanser for a slice of lemon (use a slice of lemon squeezed onto a wet sponge to wash your face, rinse with water)
*Save thousands of dollars annually: use community freecycle stores, freecycle websites, and second- hand clothing stores, secondhand bookstores
*Save $1,500 over the summer with an Energy Star Air Conditioner
Make your own household cleaners...
Distilled White Vinegar (sanitizes, cuts grease, dissolves build-up and tarnish):
Mix 1:1 with water in a spray bottle to clean windows and mirrors.
Use vinegar mix with baking soda to sanitize kitchen sink and bathroom surfaces (let sit for 5-10
minutes).
Use ¼- ½ cup of vinegar mix to replace fabric softener in your rinse cycle.
Baking Soda (gentle abrasive, deodorizer): Sprinkle on a damp cloth to use as a cleanser on kitchen countertops, sinks, bathtubs and ovens, then spray with vinegar solution and rinse well.
Add ¼ to 1 cup of baking soda to your laundry to deodorize and boost cleaning.
To deodorize carpet, sprinkle on, let sit overnight and vacuum up.
To clear a drain, pour baking soda into drain, pour vinegar into drain and plug with stopper while it froths, leave 5 minutes and pour boiling water down the drain—repeat as necessary.
Tea tree oil (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic): For an all-purpose sanitizer, add 1 tsp oil to 2 cups water in spray bottle (avoid contact with eyes). Add 1 tsp to a load of laundry (eg. diapers) to disinfect. Keep out of reach of children.