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Ethical living

Discover eco friendly brands and sustainable fashion on our Ethical Living forum.

Original poster

What are your green tips for the home? Share them with me.

95 replies

mellowchristmas · 11/12/2006 23:45

Hi,

I've just started a blog about green living to get people exchanging simple tips about how to lead a more eco-friendly and ethical lifestyle.

I'm trying to collect tips from MNetters for future installments.

I've also just done my first post about cooking. Here's the link . Do you have any cooking tips you would like to share? I would love to hear what they are.

OP posts:
Lio · 13/12/2006 22:28

Similar to pinktinsel, don't use washing powder at all - laundry balls are great. Wear slippers when it's cold. Switch off your microwave at the wall (except when you are using it - dur). All eco light bulbs. Curtains instead of blinds (keep cold out better).

trying2bgood · 13/12/2006 22:36

mellow - ecotricity I think they are the only company which produce 100% renewable energy, also I think the most ethical

Original poster
mellowchristmas · 14/12/2006 08:49

thx,t2bg

OP posts:
Paddlechick666 · 14/12/2006 16:20

check this site out

seems like a wealth of information here.........

PizPizPiz · 14/12/2006 17:32

ooh and we use rechargeable batteries now

PizPizPiz · 14/12/2006 18:26

... and recycled toilet paper and kitchen towels!

MomOnTheRun · 15/12/2006 02:21

Save all your used wrapping paper and shred using a shredder. When you are packing things, don't use the polystyrene stuff or air pockets but use the shreded paper to cushion your things. The presentation is nice and the paper can be recycled.

kernowcat · 15/12/2006 02:39

I use eco balls on everyday stuff and powder for a treat. It eases my guilty .

Paddlechick666 · 15/12/2006 14:11

shredded paper is also a good substitute in pet cages.........

bluejelly · 15/12/2006 14:28

Don't fly
Take the train/tube/bus where you can
Tell everyone you know to see 'an inconvenient truth'

bluejelly · 15/12/2006 14:30

Never accept plastic bags in shops, always bring a proper bag out with you instead

crazycanuck · 15/12/2006 14:35

get a mooncup
compost if you can
walk, cycle
soapnuts are fab!!!!
reusable nappies
grow your own veg if possible
cloth bags for shopping
make your own home cleaning products

MistletoeGolightly · 15/12/2006 14:58

My pet hate is air fresheners - they are bad for the environment and for your health and they smell frankly disgusting! My particular ire is reserved for those plug in ones that poof out "fragrance" every 10 minutes whether there is anyone there or not and no doubt use up a tiny bit more fossil fuel every time they do.

There are so many other ways to make a home smell truly nice - bake a loaf, make a pot of coffee, flowers or evergreens from the garden, citrus peel on the fire (or radiators), or even (dare I say it) doing a bit of cleaning every now and again!

Original poster
mellowchristmas · 15/12/2006 21:31

Does anyone use a mooncup? I'm considering buying it.

OP posts:
crazycanuck · 15/12/2006 22:30

I do and I highly recommend it. It does take a bit of getting used to but is worth it in the end. It's nice not having to worry about stocking up on Lillets (sp?) every month!

trying2bgood · 15/12/2006 22:32

ok being a bit stupid, I think i know what a mooncup is for but how does it work? I often use those natural towels.

crazycanuck · 16/12/2006 06:59

it sits inside and collects everything then you remove it and tip the contents into the toilet and give the mooncup a good rinse/wipe before putting it back in. you can leave it as long between empty-ings as you would between changing a tampon. really easy once you get the hang of it! my only gripe relates to the way my house is set up as the toilet is separate from the sink so I have to make a separate trip to rinse it out.

olittletownofberolina · 16/12/2006 08:27

Can someone explain eco balls to me, please? (And soapnuts - they sound interesting). We use eco detergent but it's expensive.

We got rid of our car. We live in a small town so it's a pain sometimes, but we're fitter and greener for it. When we move back to a big city soon we'll sign up to a car-sharing scheme.

Dh bathes in my shower water (I put the plug in when I shower). He leaves water from boiling eggs to cool and then uses it to water the plants.

I reuse wrapping paper

crazycanuck · 18/12/2006 08:11

re-using wrapping paper is nothing to be embarrassed about berolina! think of all the trees you're saving!

I don't know about eco-balls (never used them but there are a few threads about them floating around) but soap nuts/pods are from a tree, you put a few in the little cloth bag that comes with them and just pop them in the washing machine. the warm water (you have to do a cycle on 40 degrees) activates the soapiness in the nuts. you can use the same pods 3 or 4 times and they can then be composted. they have a website

PizPizPiz · 18/12/2006 15:20

I used eco balls for a couple of weeks and then sold them on ebay! I was very disappointed, nothing looked clean. I've switched to ecover and I'm happy with it.
Do a search on eco balls on MN, there's loads of info.

DINOsaurmummykissingsantaclaus · 18/12/2006 15:22

Don't have a car. If you live in a city, it's perfectly easy to do without one.

Instead of running the cold tap for ages to get really cold drinking water, keep a big jug of drinking water in the fridge.

Stop using tissues - use handkerchiefs.

Try and avoid foodstuffs that use oodles of plastic packaging.

Recycle as much as you can.

Original poster
mellowchristmas · 18/12/2006 17:55

I bought soapnuts as recommended and I think it's working really well. Better than ecover for me. None of dh or dd's clothes came out clean with ecover. They are sweaty people though.

OP posts:
Brandybuttershott · 18/12/2006 18:26

Use lids on your saucepans as much as possible - when you're bringing water up to the boil, simmering, reducing sauces etc - stops heat/energy escaping.

mellownomore · 13/01/2007 10:57

I added a new entry about the pervasiveness of food plastic packaging and the WI's campaign. You can read it here.

www.greentrading.co.uk

mellownomore · 13/01/2007 10:58

To save you the trouble, here is the link.