can i have some eco frindly tips please struggling to keep trying to do my bit

[babyjjbaby]

i try to do my little bit for the enviroment i recylce what i can wellwhat they do at the recyling thing by us i try and not waste electric turn off lights and unplug stuff that isn't being used use ecoballs and ecover washign up liquid and try and not use much cleaning stuff but the steamer instead don't use the tuble drier very often but i am fining it increasling hard due to a number of reasons

• can't get my washing dried so am having to put heater or fan on to dry which defeats object of using tumble drier
  
  *finding that using washer balls and stain removers are getting expensive as i am using alot of stain remover would i be better off putting a bit of asda smartprice bi washing powder instead and just cut down on how much i use
  
  
• as i live in a caravan i have to keep a halagen heate ron 2 bars on all night in the awnign as it is so damp and cold at night so feel that it is a waste but need it on
  
  so can any 1 please encourge me to keep on at it and any other easy to tips to help save energy thansk

[onepieceoflollipop]

Hi babyjjbaby.

Would a hot water bottle help at night (on the less freezing nights?)

Re the tumble drier. I would suggest trying to be organised with laundry. Wash and dry full loads only. It is my preference to use cheapish washing powder rather than stain removers and washer balls etc. I wash whites etc separately, but am less bothered about drying it all together. Drier is probably cheaper than trying to use the fan heater.

This damp weather is hard enough in a house to get laundry dry, let alone a caravan.

[babyjjbaby]

thanks i do the washing one day whites then coloureds the next so always have a full load i am definitly thinking of using just a tiny bit of washing powder and use the washer balls as well so at least i am cutting down on it the hot water bottle wouldn't really work as i mainly need it outside in the awning so that when we get up in the morning it is warm enough to go out there and to try and not get all our stuff damp as it is only a tent thats what i thought about using the tuble drier what i do at the moment is put it on the airer and then put the cold fan on it so it blows the washing

[onepieceoflollipop]

Could the heater be on a timer so it comes on during the early hours rather than all/most of the night?

Also if you put the washing on as fast a spin as possible it cuts down drying time (but adds more creases!) I fast spin for nappies, towels etc, but shorter spin for more delicate clothing.

[UpSinceCrapOClock]

We live in a small flat so have a similar drying problem (takes almost 2 days to dry a load on the clothes horse and don't have a lot of space to permanently have a clothes horse up). I recently bought dryer balls though and so far they've been fantastic. I tumble dry a load for about half an hour / 40 mins with these balls, and then hang the clothes on the clothes horse in the morning and they are bone dry by the evening. I think that could perhaps be an option instead of having extra heating and fans on? (Also you don't need to use fabric conditioner with the dryer balls, so you can save there too!)

[babyjjbaby]

ahh hadn't thought bout timer how much are they are they easy to use thats a good idea cos i could turn it off bout 11pm and have it come on bout 7am yep i spin it loads in the spin dryer anyway

[babyjjbaby]

thanks upo clock i do have the tuble drier balls but as the dryer is only a 3kg load it seems such a waste as u can't put much in it

[UpSinceCrapOClock]

Hmm, not so good then! (Unless there's some way you could measure how much each way uses and work out which is best?)

[giraffescantdancethetango]

buy recycled toilet roll

[onepieceoflollipop]

babyjjbaby if you cat me or post an e-mail address on here I can arrange to send you a spare timer if you would like one. I had some from when I used cheap night rate electricity.

Was going to put one on freecycle when I got round to it.

p.s. am working next 2 nights so if you cat me and don't get an answer til Friday then that will be why.

[onepieceoflollipop]

Yes they are easy to use by the way.

[babyjjbaby]

are u sure lol that would be great [email protected]

[nannyL]

get a moon cup

grow your own herbs in pots so you dont keep buying fresh

stick a hippobag in the loo

[onepieceoflollipop]

have e-mailed you babyjjbaby.

[babyjjbaby]

thanks emailed u back