Ideas on how to be greener and save money

Fen1

There a lot of discussion about laundry on the OS boards. Vinegar crops up often.

The simplest thing to start with is cutting down on how much detergent you are using. It is very tempting to throw in a cupful of powder from a big box, rather than carefully measuring it. I live in a hard water area, but still only use half a dose. In a soft water area, that might be cut down again.
There is also debate on whether it is better to use less detergent and a hotter Temperature ( using electricity), or lower temperatures with more detergent ( more chemicals.)

VJsmum

Fen1 wrote: »

Save water by only flushing the loo when needed. "If it's yellow, let it Mellow; if it's brown, flush it down!" Just wee and loo paper only need flushing every third go, and that's mainly because of the build up of toilet paper. (Assuming there is a female in the house .)

However, as a previous poster has stated, modern eco loos that use the minimum of water may not have the oomph to cope even with this.

we had issues with our drains a few months ago and, as a short term measure, could only use the upstairs loos for liquids and no paper. So if we went up there (we have a downstairs too, thank goodness) then we put the tissue in the bin. Emptied every day, it wasn't a big deal, it didn't smell - even if i forgot and it went 2 days without emptying. My problem with not flushing is that a deposit builds up on the loo which means more cleaning...

Good thread, I will watch with interest

yellow218

VJsmum wrote: »

we had issues with our drains a few months ago and, as a short term measure, could only use the upstairs loos for liquids and no paper. So if we went up there (we have a downstairs too, thank goodness) then we put the tissue in the bin. Emptied every day, it wasn't a big deal, it didn't smell - even if i forgot and it went 2 days without emptying. My problem with not flushing is that a deposit builds up on the loo which means more cleaning...

Good thread, I will watch with interest

May just be how my minds works, but this made me giggle. I guess you could compost the used paper too. It adds ‘brown’ To the compost. And some additional ammonia. Haha. So that a double wammy on being green and saving money- saves on water and the paper is reused.

yellow218

but then again, maybe that's too extreme long term

SuperMoose

The most useful - even though it's not big - book I've read about "Green living" is Ecology Begins at Home by Archie Duncanson.

A lot of books make everything seem very complicated. He doesn't. Simple really is better and all that's needed a lot of the time.
Can't recommend it enough

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

yellow218 wrote: »

I think calling the poster sexist is a bit far. It’s a reasonable assumption to make that females would use toilet paper. I’d suggest almost all do. Intriguing as to what a waterless urinal is exactly.

actually I was referring to the urinal as being sexist!

wort

I use an eco egg for washing clothes, no powder necessary, it says you can do without conditioner too, but sadly I still use a little as I like the smell.
I do most of the other things anyway, I've recently tried using zoflora diluted in a spray bottle for cleaning, and I use an eco mop which just uses hot water to clean floors.
I use tbags after keeping the previous 2 bags I can make the 3rd cup using the first 2.
I don't have a tumble dryer I peg out even in winter if the weather is dry. Then put over an airer in spare room.
I have a glass bottle in the fridge with tap water in, so cold water to drink without running the tap to get it cold or buying water.
Using old newspaper to dry windows, washed with soapy water and squeegee.

yellow218

wort wrote: »

I use an eco egg for washing clothes, no powder necessary, it says you can do without conditioner too, but sadly I still use a little as I like the smell..

Eco egg sounds interesting. From what i can see, its a plastic shell with balls of something (?) inside? So must have some form of chemical, by is it a naturally produced/ biodegradable chemical? or synthetic?

Have you tried the scented ecoeggs?

If it lasts for as many washes as it claims to it sounds like it will be money saving too.......

Laura_Elsewhere

buildersdaughter wrote: »

Slinky - do you have a link? I have just looked on Ethical Consumer, who recommend them. Ecozone, who make them, score 14.5 / 20. They try to be up to date, but obviously this is a complex area.
I ask, because I use these cloths for most of my cleaning.

Sadly, I've moved all my microfibre cloths to things like final polishing of windows, glass, silver, laptop screen, specs, etc., ie situations where I don't need to wash the actual cloths.

No fleece or microfibre gets washed in our house and we actively work not to buy any more and to spread the word.

https://www.patagonia.com/blog/2017/02/an-update-on-microfiber-pollution/

Laura_Elsewhere

yellow218 wrote: »

Anyone tried alternatives for washing powder, dishwasher etc. I know a lot of them have micro beads and other nasty chemicals.

It's a bit cumbersome - you have to select your country first and then look at the red, amber or green list...

but this is apparently the official definitive list. A product only goes on the Green list if it has provided evidence of having no microplastics (aka microbeads).

http://www.beatthemicrobead.org/product-lists/