5 Simple Ways to Go Green!

It used to be that going green could really make you blue – in the not so distant past. Luckily, everyday products and items we use are going green and are even easier to achieve! From appliances to toilet paper, we will show you how easy it is to make the switch to a more eco friendly lifestyle. Here are 5 simple ways to Go Green in your kitchen and bathroom.

1. Energy Efficient Appliances

Older appliances for your kitchen tend to use a lot more energy and water than you actually need. Upgrading your appliances to products that meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest energy standards is a piece of cake with the Energy Star Label. These newer appliances can do the same job (if not better!) than the older models and at the same time reducing your overall energy cost and carbon footprint.

2. Low Flow Faucets, Shower Heads and Toilets

Water flow from faucets and showers can be reduced by up to 60 percent by a replacing the heads with a low flow version. Low flow shower and faucet heads are available at any hardware store and cost usually no more than 20 dollars each.

Low flow toilets are a little more costly than replacing a faucet or shower head, but in the long run they are a wonderful investment. New low flow toilets can save up to 9,000 gallons of water a year.

If you are not ready to make the leap to a low flow toilet, you can still keep your water consumption under control as long as you keep any leaks fixed and make sure the water is not constantly running.

3. Recycled Paper Towels and Toilet Paper

It’s a good practice to always try to purchase recycled paper products;  toilet paper and paper towels are no exception. The quality and of the recycled paper towels and toilet paper are nearly the same as regular and the cost difference is minimal – if any at all.

Fabric napkins are becoming mainstream again, and a new product on the market called Unpaper Towels that are a handy compromise to regular paper towels. Unpaper Towels are small towels (about the size and density of fabric napkins) snapped together around a used paper tower holder.

4. Eco Friendly Cleaners

Look for eco friendly cleaners instead of regular cleaners on your next shopping trip. The cost difference is usually non existent and you can read the labels to verify that they contain non toxic chemicals. The easiest way to identify safe products is to look for the absence of safety words like: poison, warning, caution or danger.

You can also make your own cleaners with products such as vinegar, lemon, borax,cornstarch and baking soda. There are many websites that offer DIY formulas for different types of cleaners you use everyday.

5. Switch From Disposable Containers to Glass

Disposable products and containers can fill up the trash and empty your wallet. Choose to use regular silverware instead of plastic and replace plastic containers and ziplock bags with glass containers. Glass containers come in all shapes, sizes and colors and are completely reusable! The storage flexibility is endless, from cotton balls to spaghetti – glass containers are the way to go.

Start shopping for your Green products for your kitchen and bath at Plumbtile.com!