Green wives often want to prepare their families food, whether it be mainstream, vegan or even just a snack, but aren’t sure how to “green up” their kitchens without going too far out of their way , while they can also do some remodeling in the kitchen, including new cabinets and adding other appliances or installations, such as the right plumbering or a water purification system from great professionals as water softeners the villages which specialize in this area.
Using a dishwasher is a popular convenience that many enjoy. How in the world can this be a little greener? First, make sure. you run the washer only with a full load of dishes. Take a moment one day and figure out how you can load your dishes most efficiently, so that the most dishes fit, yet still get clean. Another way is to find a naturally derived dish detergent, such as Seventh Generation brand. This detergent doesn’t have dyes or perfumes, and is naturally based, and biodegradable. This minimizes the chemicals in the waste water.
Paper towels can be a large part of a family’s routine. Because of the increasing cost of most items, they are also a somewhat unnecessary expense. “HOW can they be considered unnecessary, when I use them for everything?” Quite simply, replace them with a product such as an “unpaper” towel. “What is this,” you ask? Very often, it’s a layer of fabric, approximately the same size as a traditional paper towel, with one side being smooth, and the other being slightly “scrubby.” These “towels” are as absorbent as a paper product and wash up nicely with your regular laundry. They’re also much more durable than a paper product, so where several paper towels would be needed, many times one “unpaper” towel will do the trick.
Even opening a slow drain can be more environmentally friendly than using a bottled chemical product. First, remove any visible obstruction from the drain. Then, add about 1/8 to ¼ cup of baking soda, whatever brand you prefer, to the drain, as close to the pipes as you’re able to get. It’s recommended to remove any sink traps before beginning this. To the baking soda, add up to one cup of white, distilled vinegar in small increments. This will create a bubbling, steaming reaction (it can get quite hot, use caution).Very often, your drain will be open after this. For particularly stubborn clogs, the baking soda and vinegar procedure may need to be repeated.
Composting is a viable option for discarding scraps of food and leftover bits of food, even for those who live in small apartments! New York City is one of several cities that advertise its composting project, providing drop off sites for food scraps. Their website describes how to create a worm bin for those who wish to compost at their residence. The soil created from this compost can be used in window boxes, parks and many other places. It could also be used to fertilize indoor gardens and vegetable pots.
There are undoubtedly many other ways to be Earth-friendly in the kitchen. Won’t you share some of your favorite tips?
Where can I find the products mentioned in this article?
– Try your local grocery store. Many are beginning to carry brands such as Seventh Generation.
– DoodleBunz carries UnPaper Towels
– NYC and cities such as Vancouver provide residents with supportive websites and drop off sites for composting. Call your municipality and see if anything exists in your town. If not, encourage local education.