#GoGreen: Checklist To Turn Your Home Green

Hello my friends! Hope you’re all doing well!  that writing out your goals and having a plan is so important if you want to get anything started, let alone completed. So that’s what I’m doing and one of my goals is #gogreen, aiming for a totally green home, or as close as I can get. Here are some ways that will help me accomplish this. Won’t you join me?

Ready, Set, #gogreen!!

1. On the top of the list is recycling. I can’t say it enough, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot! That should be your starting point, especially if you’re new to this #gogreen thing. Recycling is free and easy. Check with your towns recycle operations and what they do & don’t accept, how items need to be sorted, etc. That’s important because trash in the recycle bin can cause damage to the machines or even a person. Also check out my post Journey To A Waste Free Home that goes into recycling a bit more.

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    For the most efficient use of your heat, keep the thermostat at about 68° during the day. Don’t forget to turn the heat down at night and when you leave the house!!

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   Showers can use up so much water. To better conserve your water usage, replace old, inefficient, water-wasting shower heads with low-flow models. I love the rain head ones! Also, ladies, when shaving, turn the water off! I keep a small container in the bathroom to rinse my razor. You’ll save gallons there! And the obvious, water doesn’t need to be running when brushing your teeth and washing your face.

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4. This one I have a hard time with because if I’m not using at least warm water for my clothes, I don’t feel like they get clean. They do though! Cold water for laundry is just fine for most clothes. However, towels, socks and linens must be washed in super warm! To many germs for cold water. 
   

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5. This one is so important especially if you have little ones. Set your water heater to no more than 120°. Not only better for your wallet but lowers the chance of a little one getting burnt.
   

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6. Use a dishwasher? Lucky!! Trying to get one. Always run a full load of dishes and skip the heat dry. Hand washing? Only fill the sink with hot water 1/2 way. Then as the water cools just add more hot. And rinsing the dishes, keep the pressure low. You don’t need the water full blast to rinse a plate or fork!
   

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7. If you still haven’t switched from incandescent light bulbs to LED or CFL’s. Choose at least 5 bulbs to switch. Yes they are more expensive, but they last forever.
   

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8. Unplug electronics and small appliances. Just because it’s not turned on doesn’t mean it’s not sucking power still. Clock on the coffee maker? It’s being powered somehow. And obviously, turn things off when not in use. I’m guilty of leaving my laptop on.
   

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9. This one gets pricey. Upgrade appliances to Energy Star. If your fridge is older than 1993 it’s definitly time. That dinosaur is robbing you! Trust me, we just got a new fridge and it replaced one from the 70’s {well, maybe not that old }. What a difference! Another money waster is drafty windows. Consider replacing them and see the difference in your heating bill!
   

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10. Go easy on the chemical cleaners. Instead use safer products like baking soda for the stove top or bath tub. Or vinegar and water to clean windows. {Some recipes call for tiny bit of dish detergent. Personally I don’t see the need.} Once a week, while a big pot of water comes to a boil, drop a few tablespoons of baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar and watch it fizz! Then once the water boils, pour it down the drain. It flushes the junk out and keeps it clear. Lemons are a great natural cleaner, too! Check out my post Lemons-Not Just For Lemonade for some tips there.
    

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11. Stay green in your garden {No pun intended! }. Ditch the pesticides and herbicides. Go with organic gardening using compost!

So these are the methods I’ve been using or am currently trying to implement into my daily life. Do you have any tips of your own for #gogreen? I’d love to hear any you have! Just leave comment below and use #gogreen! And if you’re reading this sentence, Thank You for sticking through my post till the end!! Until next time..

Ciao!

Kristine   xo

The post #GoGreen: Checklist To Turn Your Home Green appeared first on The Blue Blanket.