Eco tips!

[Tatties]

Have you any eco-secrets you want to share?

Here's one to start us off:

If you have to use the tumble dryer put a dry towel in with the wet clothes to reduce drying time.

[Pruni]

You can clean anything vv well with soda crystals. I have looked and looked but can't find anything that says soda crystals will destroy the environment, but then, it's hard to find much that isn't put out by the Soda Crystals Marketing Board or similar.
£0.79 a bag in Co-Op.

[Pruni]

[Tatties]

Pruni I have just bought some soda crystals - heard they were good for washing nappies - glad it is so versatile!

[quanglewangle]

Get a dishwasher - they use less water than hand washing. That's official!! I heard it today on Radio 4 so it must be true.
Mind you, it might not be true for my 18 year old machine. Still, probably greener to keep it than bin it and get a new one.

[expatinscotland]

showers instead of baths - MUCH less water

save slivers of soap from bars. place in handwash pump dispenser. top up w/water. voila - handwash!

[ChaCha]

Ecover are selling a useful booklet full of tips. I think it's £3 to buy. Thought I'd mention it.

[Bozza]

Does that really work expat? Would never have occurred to me.

[expatinscotland]

It's what I'm using just now, Bozza. It does work. Years ago, I bought some Raddox handwash, and I've been using the dispenser ever since.

My MIL is fab, but she's always giving me soaps I don't really like, so I've been successfully making them into handwash. :)

[littlerach]

Expat, there was a feature about water usage on the news yesterday, and they said that having a shower uses less water than a bath only if shower is 5 mins long or less.
If your showr is 10 mins long, then you actually use a lot more water than a bath.
The person doing the article commented on this, and said that it is quite a myth nowadays.

[rosycheek]

Another fan of Soda Crystals. Use with my Eco-balls for getting stains out of laundry.

Also I clean everything with a solution of white vinegar and water. Aparently a 5% vinegar solution will kill about 80% of germs. Much cheaper than conventional cleaners and no horrid chemicals!

[littlerach]

So do eco balls work?

[Halster]

Rosycheek - where do you buy your white vinegar?, can't seem to find it around here.

[rosycheek]

Eco-balls replace your conventional powder. Look \link{http://www.ecoballsdirect.co.uk/\here}. They are mean't to last up to about 1000 washes. Need a bit of help with whites which is where the soda crystals come in.

I buy white vinegar in Tescos, Halster. I think Asda do a cheaper own brand version as well.

[rosycheek]

Sorry Littlerach, mis-read your post. They do work. Was a bit dubious about things going crispy as no fabric conditioner, but really is no need for them. As I said though, needs a bit of help for whites a tough stains.

[FrayedKnot]

If you use the ecoballs, is there anything you can put in with your wash to make it smell nice?

I'm thinking of lavender oil or something?

Also, do you put the soda crystals in teh machine, or are you talking about soaking whites first, before washing?

[Halster]

Thanks Rosycheek - must look in a bigger store then.

[rosycheek]

I don't know about whether you can add anything smelly. I quite like the fresh smell you get from just drying it on the line. Not sure whether adding something oily might affect the balls.

I put the soda crystals in the machine drum with the balls, although I do pre-soak very dirty things first as well.

[rosycheek]

I don't know about whether you can add anything smelly. I quite like the fresh smell you get from just drying it on the line. Not sure whether adding something oily might affect the balls.

I put the soda crystals in the machine drum with the balls, although I do pre-soak very dirty things first as well.

[Notquitesotiredmum]

Ecotip? Don't buy a plasma screen TV. They are hugely energy inefficient, will add to your energy bills and increase your household emissions, undermining all that switching off of lights etc.

[acnebride]

keep a bucket next to the bath and use the water for loo flushes (prob obvious but i've only just worked this one out)

if you have a video or dvd player, learn to set the clock quickly so that switching it off completely is not a problem (obvious again...)

[rosycheek]

I do the bucket and loo thing acne bride. After the kids have had their bath at the end of the day, we keep the water in there and use for the loo!!

And before everyone jumps on me for using the bath, all 3 share the same water and they only get a about 4 inches!!!

[Notquitesotiredmum]

Great idea. Why did I never think of that?

Loving this thread.

[azroc]

This may be something everybody already does, but washable baby wipes are good - can be bought or made from cut up old clothes. Much greener and they don't smell hideous like the packet ones.
Also, if you have to use plastic bags for sandwiches, you can get biodegradable ones made by Totally Degradable Plastics.

[expatinscotland]

w/two kids under 3, my shower is ALWAYS 5 mins or less