Easy E Cloth
Reduce the money you spend on cleaning products and make your house healthier with the “e cloth“. Now most of these are not made with ‘natural’ products per say, but they can significantly reduce the money you spend on cleaning and the resources required for those products. The E-Cloth is very affordable and it only requires water to help lubricate the surfaces for easy cleaning. So it is not an entirely green product, but something I have used and believe works very well.
The E-Cloth is a polyester & polyamide blend. The polyester is supposed to scrub and clean, while the small portion of polyamide, a nylon byproduct, should absorb the water. It works because of this blend and due to the fine nature of the fabric. It is this fineness that is able to break up the ‘dirt’ and then absorb it along with the water. This type of fabric is called a “microfiber” but the company indicates that not all microfibers are created equal.
Now as a skeptic of a “one size fits all” perspective, I was curious to know if the E-Cloth could truly clean kitchens, bathrooms, and cars equally. Although they have developed a few more ’specific’ cloths since my all out investigation, I found that shockingly it does. I used it to dust, clean dirty stoves, and even wash part of a friend’s car with the E-cloth. All I needed to do was through it in the wash or a bucket to rinse it out and it was ready for the next challenge.
I highly recommend this as a one time investment if the regime of old rags isn’t cutting it. If you are sensitive to dust or other indoor pollutants, the E-cloth is a very good solution. I know many individuals with asthma or environmental sensitivities that use this product as well. It can reduce the amount of time you spend reading cleaning labels. Of course home-brewed cleaning recipes and old rags work well too. But for those who want to cut paper towels out of their own consumer report along with cleaning rags that spread in place of clean the dirt, the E-Cloth could be a great addition to your home.
Ways to Reduce Shower Time
While I was recently in the shower, I was thinking of why it takes some people so long to take showers. Upon realizing that I was wasting time in the shower while doing so, I quickly finished my shower.
There are so many different ways while we are in the shower that contribute to it be longer than it should be. Here are some great ways to make those showers shorter and help reduce your monthly water and energy bills.
Don’t Zone Out
It sounds bad to suggest not to think, but thinking too much in the shower can cost you time. It’s so easy to lose track of time and just think about the things that transpired during the day or random thoughts. I tend to do this too often and I mentioned above. It’s one of those things that I avoid at all costs to keep my shower times short. Try you best to focus on the task and finish your showers without letting the calm noise of the water let you thoughts take over.
Cold Showers
Taking a cold shower can dramatically help speed the process. Think of every time the shower gets cold and how fast you move to get out of the shower. If the entire shower were cold, it would be difficult to even do anything but hurry along and get out. Beyond that, taking colder showers helps reduce energy bills and can even have positive health benefits.
Avoid Warming Up
So many people stand around in the shower just to warm themselves up, especially during the winter. A good suggestion to avoid this problem is to wear more clothing around the house during those cold months. Even if you do take a short shower that is hot, you will be warm by the end of it.
Only Shower
Showering is not the main priority when some people shower. I have heard of people brushing their teeth, shaving, sing and so many other activities. All of these only contribute to a longer shower and can easily be done outside of the shower without the need for water to be continually running.
We are all guilty of many of these things that keep us in the shower longer than we need to. Be conscious of each of them and hopefully you can reduce your shower time while saving a little cash in the meantime.
Green Paints Top Consumer Reports List
In Consumer Report’s 2010 interior paint report, almost all of the top performers were also the lowest in VOCs. This is fairly surprising considering that many in previous years, many of the top performing paints were not all that environmentally friendly.
Bob Markovich, the senior home editor at Consumer Reports sums this new trend up nicely:
Paints have advanced in their ability to perform and be green
Some of the top performing paints include:
- Behr Premium Plus Ultra ($33/gallon)
- Kilz Casual Colors semigloss & low-luster ($22/gallon)
- Benjamin Moore Regal ($45/gallon)
The biggest thing that Consumer Report suggests is that paints should be chosen not by brand since some of the top brands did not perform that well. It’s also key to do your research and properly read the labels to make sure you are buying a paint that is in fact either low or zero VOC. I would suggest also checking out natural paints that perform just as well without dangerous ingredients and absolutely no VOCs.
Take the Guilt out of Hot Showers
So we have learned about the significant water and energy savings by taking shorter showers, calculating our water use, and learning why our water takes so long to heat up. All of which can lead to significant savings for your pocketbook. Now here is one more tip that can help you and your family save hot water immediately.
Growing up in a house full of girls, hot water was a precious commodity (as it should be). So when you won rights to the bathroom, you had to capitalize by undertaking all of your bathroom routines while waiting for the water to heat up. As some readers have mentioned, there are ways to capture and reuse the cold water, but what about the hot water?
A little invention called the ShowerStart™ slows the water to a trickle once it’s warmed up. Then when you are ready to hop in, you just pull the lever. You just install it right in between the showerhead and the pipe. They run from $40 to $50 dollars and depending on your water usage and utility costs, it can have a quick payback time (they estimate 4 months). The company estimates $75 in utility savings and 2,700 gallons of water savings per year.
As someone who has used this product, I highly recommend it. This quick addition can help you save water, electricity, and money. But it can also increase awareness and doesn’t require any additional effort beyond initial installation. Since you can install and remove it easily, it works for apartment dwellers as well as families. The company also offers several other products to improve water quality and additional energy and water saving devices.
Learn more about water conservation (did you know that cold water is suggested to make your hair shinier?).
Calculate your shower’s impact.
Discover the invigorating glory of quick showers.
I Do 30 Campaign
Want to make a big difference simply by changing the way you wash close? The I Do 30 campaign is urging everybody to turn down the temperature on their washing machine to make a big impact.
Here’s a great video that gives a brief introduction of this movement:
Though this change may seem simple, the goal of this campaign is to get enough people to begin using colder temperatures to wash their close to make a big impact. They currently have over 12,000 supporters on Facebook and growing fast. It’s as simple as following their movement, changing your own habits and spreading the word. The more people that change their habits, the better.
What I love about this campaign is that it follows the same principal that Pays to Live Green does. Making small change change have a huge impact on both the environment and our wallets. My Shower Calculator shows just how much more energy heating water to higher temperatures can actually cost. By making the small change of using colder temperatures for our laundry, we can drastically cut our energy bills.
For great tips on how to properly clean your clothes at low temperatures, check out their website.
Don’t Forget Your Reusable Bags
It’s so easy to forget bringing reusable bags whenever going shopping. It’s happen to me one too many times that I have taken steps to make sure to always have one available when going shopping.
Keep Extra in the Car
The best way for me to always have a reusable bag handy when I need it is to keep some extra in the car. Just put them in the glove box or in the back seats of your car and it will save you from having to use plastic bags. This method doesn’t always work since once you use the bags, they end up in the house. Be sure to always keep at least a few extra bags in the car.
Portable Bags
There are some reusable bags available that can easily fold up and fit in your pocket. These are perfect since they are so easy to carry, especially when you are walking or riding a bike to the store. Just as with the car, you can keep a few of these in your jacket pocket during the winter so they are always available.
Leave Them At The Door
It’s really convenient to leave bags at the door where you leave the house. Coat hangers are a great place to hang you bags and easy visible before leaving the house.
When All Else Fails…
There’s no need to panic if you do end up forgetting your reusable bags at home. The first option is to ask for no bag at all if you can carry your items without a bag. Otherwise, ask for paper instead of plastic and if reusable bags are available for sale and you will use them again, go ahead and buy some. Also, try to fit as much stuff in the bags you do use as possible. I always find that some grocery stores only fill bags partially and use way more bags that necessary.
Please share any methods that you have that make it easy to remember to take our reusable bags.
Save Energy Using Window Shades
Windows can be a major source of energy waste in our homes. One way that you can take advantage of your windows to lower your monthly electric bills is use window shades, blinds, shutters or drapes. No matter what time of year it is, shades can reduce your use of your heating/air conditioning.
Winter/Cold Climates
In colder climates, having shading for your windows can make all the difference. Here are some tips to follow in cold temperatures:
- During the day when the sun is up, keep those shades open to allow as much sunlight in. In particular, windows on the south side of your home bring in more sunlight during the winter. This will help bring the temperature up slightly in your home.
- When the sun goes down, closes the shades to prevent heat from leaving the home.
- Heavier and thermal insulated window drapes and blinds can make a major difference for windows that are not well insulated.
Summer/Warm Climate
Proper shading can also help just as much for your energy bills as in colder temperatures. Here are some tips to follow in warmer temperatures:
- During the hot days, close the shades to keep the hot sun out of your home. If your at work all day, it makes no difference that your home is dark besides helping your energy bills.
- Try using white window shades to reflect the sunlight’s heat from your home.
If you are purchasing new window treatments for your windows, make sure to contact a professional. Also, try to buy them with materials that are environmentally friendly including bamboo and organic fabrics.
