We've talked about things we make at home, like laundry detergent, and it got me to thinking about more *green* ideas. I'm hoping we can share a few here and help each other out.

Mine is not for the faint at heart. I know most of you will probably think I'm a weirdo, but I've been called worse...much worse....

I make and use reusable cloth toilet paper (toilet wipes). I make them out of 2 ply flannel and keep them in a basket on the back of the toilet. I have a covered stainless steel canaster to hold the used ones (which I soak in a mild soap solution). In case you're freaking out now, you need to know that I keep them in the master bathroom....not the guest bathroom. They are only for me and only for #1. Honestly, I was a little leary about trying them. I've been using them for several months now and find them softer and more absorbent than TP.

I have to admit, I don't think I could be that "green!" I buy 100% recycled toilet paper, but that's where it ends for me with respect to TP.

One of my green ideas is that I no longer buy new furniture. I don't like it when everything is all matchy-poo (as my sister calls it, lol), so I find it easy to buy used furniture - one piece at a time. In fact, I just bought a used coffee table for $60. With craigslist and a little patience, I find a lot of nice things for cheap - and I'm saving trees and reducing pollution at the same time.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Recycling, recycling, recycling.... I recycle everything I possibly can.

I don't use plastic bags at the grocery store anymore. I have a bunch of reusable ones and if I forget those, I get paper bags.

I'm going to plant a garden as soon as we sell our house, so that will be a "green" thing to do.

I really try to make sure that lights, TVs, etc. are turned off when we are not in that room - same thing with ceiling fans.

We've switched out all of our lightbulbs to the more energy efficient ones.

I use kitchen towels instead of paper towels for spills.

I pack most everything in reusable containers in my son's lunch, rather than using plastic baggies.

We have garage sales or donate things that we no longer want.

This guy has some great ideas, too.... Sustainable Dave - Main Page

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Kim

I recycle everything I can. I always carry cloth and other reusable shopping bags. As a matter of fact I carry a tote with those, my coupons, my lists, etc in it. I give away anything usable I put mismatched socks in the free box, etc.
I try to be mindful of what I do i.e. water and electric usage, gas usage, etc.
I try to use what I have instead of replacing it.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I bought a bunch of bandanas from Oriental Trading and use them in my daughters' lunchboxes instead of paper napkins. I've been doing this for 4 years now and they are still holding up, just a little frayed around some edges.

I am a recycling and composting fanatic! Since I commited myself to this effort, the amount of actual trash that goes out of our house each weeks has really dropped.

Use reusable cloth bags at the store

Compost all food waste that's compostable (I'll even throw in the dryer lint from an all cotton load of laundry)

Changed out all the lightbulbs we could for compact flourescents (sp?)

Turn off lights, unplug appliances not in use

Walk when I can instead of drive

Use cloth napkins instead of paper, same with paper towels -- I keep a stash of microfiber cloths and cut up old towels under all the sinks.

I garden -- use that great compost we make from all the food scraps

Open the windows when the weather is good instead of turning on the AC

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

Wow, Freer, I thought we were doing just about all we could, but I draw the line at TP.

Our go-green measures include:

Only using natural & organic cleaning products and lawn care.

Only compact fluorescent lightbulbs throughout the house

Composting

Purchasing items with as little packaging as possible (no tissue wrapping our clothing purchases, etc)

Recycling everything that's recyclable - we keep recycle bins along side the trash cans throughout most of the house.

Repurposing and reusing items when we can - there are lots of great recycling crafts out there for kiddos.

Cloth napkins instead of paper towels

Reusable cloth bags for shopping (not just groceries)

Kids' lunches are packed in reusable containers, no waste.

Freecycling anything we are getting rid of and trying to find things we need on freecycle as well.

Only low VOC paints in our house

Turn off lights & appliances when not in use.

Rechargable batteries instead of disposable.

And, both my hubby and I drive Hybrid cars.

The next things I would like to be able to do are install solar panels and get a worm composting system. I would like to be able to line dry our clothes, but it is against our HOA rules.

For our family of 4 we only fill up about 1 garbage bag in a week and only half-fill our recycle bin. Our neighbors all have 2 garbage cans that they fill weekly. I can't imagine where you get that much trash!

I think that's about it. I'm sure I've forgotten something, but it's such a family thing we hardly think about it anymore.

Renee

We use compact bulbs
take my own bags to the grocery store (reusable ones)
try to turn lights off as much as possible, unplug electrical appliances
clean with rags
hang laundry on rack to dry/clothes line in the summer
purchase most clothing at Yard sales/second hand shops
heat our home with a pellet stove
don't use air conditioner in the summer
Keep shades down on cold days to keep warmth inside the house

Recycling money as fast as I can. Getting those bills paid takes all I can get my hands on.

We use cloth diapers, which turned out to be really easy, and I have a drying rack for those. I have cloth pads, too, which are comfy. I'm trying to find a replacement for ziploc bags right now, but I use bento boxes for lunches, and reusable grocery bags. That's a pretty boring list, really.

Cloth diaper and cloth wipes.
Hang them to dry in the sun. I love the sight of a line full of diapers blowing in the breeze.

Although being green wasn't the primary reason I went with cloth, it was because I didn't want all the chemicals in disposable diapers by my baby's parts for 2+ years.

I don't want her to be a guinea pig for future generations when they discover disposables cause infertility or cancer or something.

So the "green factor" was just a bonus.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

Here's one to save water: "If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down."

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Not sure if this counts or not, but, I switched to that Feline Pine cat litter.

I "pre" cycle. If it has too much packaging, I'm not buying it.

We had curb pickup recycling, but, that seems to have been axed with the budget cuts, so I will start hauling it to the recycle bins myself on Feb. 1st.

I have sort of fallen off the wagon, but, am working on getting back on there.

I have gotten a lot better about taking my bags to the grocery, and not leaving them in the car.

Drink organic milk, and trying to eat more naturally packaged foods and organic foods.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

With my germophobia I could NEVER reuse toilet paper I can't even use rags again if they have been used in the bathroom I use paper towels.
Also I get grossed out by cloth napkins because I picture all the people who wiped their mouths and noses on them.
I know I know but I can't do it. I would not enjoy my meal. I put the cloth napkin on my lap but I will not use it to wipe my mouth or face.
I know I should be in the loony bin lol.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I use a diva cup in stead of tampons or pads

turn off lights when I can. We have skylights so that helps

We use CFL lights where we can. They keep burning out in the kitchen and hallways so we can't use them there

Recycle: we recycle everything we can but have found out that only about 20% of what we put in the bins actually gets recycled

We yard sale and donate items

I use reusable containers and plastic silverware in the kids lunchboxes when I can

I don't use any products with aersol can's (hairspray, cooking spray, etc)

I buy "green" cleaning products or make my own most of the time

DH rides his bicycle to work during the warm days of spring, summer and fall (15 one way)

We do the "if it's yellow let is mellow..." in the master bathroom. It freaks out my 7 year old so the kids flush all the time.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Have you ever heard of a Misto? It's a non-aerosol spray can for the kitchen. You fill it with your favorite oil or vinegar, pump it and spray away. No more icky aerosol and no more pressurized cans in the landfill.

Yep, I use one for my oil. One for veggie oil and one for olive oil

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

Fruit of the Loom is trying to do their part too! Just bought new draws and the plastic package is resealable ! It says so!

Guess they can be worn 1 at a time and the others will stay fresh?

Can't wait to see the looks at lunch when I pull out 1 with my sandwich in it, and 1 with my chips in it

I do a lot of what others have mentioned , but would never wipe with cloth, keep them in a pile, and then launder to re-use.

I propagate (sp?) or split plants from my yard. It's easy to start new beds this way and it costs absolutely nothing. I also helped a friend who will end up with the entire plant part of landscaping for free.

dl

OK this is ot but what is the trick w/Misto...I have gone through 2 or 3 of those sprayers and it seems like it doesn't really 'spray' much and instead kinda leaks out the center or edges or I pump it, the nozzle gets stuck but nothing sprays out...is there a secret to using it, pumping a lot or not pumping much or what ?

I've had good luck with mine. The first one I had lasted about 3 years. My sister doesn't like them because hers didn't seem to work right. I take mine apart every now and then (when they *stream* instead of spray). I rinse the top parts really well with hot water and it works better. You could always e-mail the company to see what they say. HTH

I had that happen once when DH refilled mine. If you fill it too full, there isn't room to "pump" the oil into a spray. Try dumping some out and see if it works better. I fill it about 1/4 of the way

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

My husband was trying to remember this one and said, "If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, let it drown." LOL!

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.