Urgent action is needed, but it may seem entirely overwhelming to get started, so Rawson Property Group put together some of our top tips to create an eco-friendly household. Plus, these changes will save you money too!
READ: 8 eco-friendly cleaning solutions for a greener home
1. Reduce Reuse Recycle
One way to reduce waste is to avoid buying single-use items, such as plastic water bottles, coffee cups, plastic bags, convenience meals and products with excessive packaging.
Recycling is a great way to reduce waste. It is becoming easier to dispose of your recycling as more recycling companies offer pick-up services; find out what companies operate in your neighbourhood and set up a weekly pick up. If you're living in a sectional title scheme, you can get your body corporate to request recycling bins from your Municipality or buy bins.
You purchase many items that can be reused in your home before being recycled, and the internet has endless options for DIY projects creating storage out of things such as cardboard boxes or plastic containers. There are even tons of games for kids you can find to play using recyclable waste.
READ: Green saving tips for senior homeowners
Another way to reuse items before they go into recycling is to clean out glass jars and containers. You can reuse glass containers to store everything from dried foods in your kitchen to cotton wool in your bathroom, or you can use them as a fun way to serve drinks. They're also handy for storing your smoothies or overnight oats in the fridge.
When considering what type of bag you buy and use for your grocery shopping, it is important to take into account the environmental impact of each type. Reusable and paper bags have a greater environmental cost when produced, but single-use plastic often creates more negative effects after being discarded.
There is no perfect choice when deciding what type of shopping bag to use for your groceries; however, what is clear is that reusing what you have is much better than buying new ones. The most sustainable and environmentally friendly bag is the one you already have. So take care to reuse as many bags as possible before needing to discard them. And when it's time to discard them, be sure to do so responsibly through your local recycling agent.
READ: 4 Eco-friendly upgrades that will increase the value of your home
2. Boost your plant-based meals with Meat Free Monday
Incorporating more veggies into your diet is excellent for your health and the environment. Support your local economy and shop at your farmer's market to gather fresh produce for the week.
3. Cut Down on Energy in your Home
There are many ways to reduce energy usage in your home and you can make a difference with some super simple hacks. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
When plugs are connected to power but not in use, they still draw a small amount of electricity, so it is best to switch off and unplug appliances and power cables, chargers, etc., that are not in use.
Swap your traditional incandescent light bulbs (ICL) for CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) and LED (light-emitting diodes). Using an LED light bulb can save a lot of electricity but will also save you money as one LED can last as long as 20 ICLs.
Thinking of greening your garden lighting? Use solar lamps, or motion detector lights for exterior lighting. Not only will you be saving money, but you will also be doing your bit for the environment too.
4. Save Water where you can
Saving water is something that South Africans have had to learn to do in the last few years due to extreme drought across the country. Here are some handy tips for reducing your water consumption:
Shower for less time or install a high-quality energy and water-saving showerhead. This is a simple and affordable way to reduce water usage by half.
Give your taps around the house a once over to make sure there are no leaks. A dripping tap can waste up to 30 litres a day, and fixing this can save on your water bill and the environment.
Next time you buy a dishwasher or washing machine, make sure to look for eco-friendly options. In the meantime, try to ensure that you run your existing machines on their most energy and water-efficient setting; low heat and shorter cycle.
If you are thinking about landscaping, or you want to buy a few new plants for your balcony, consider indigenous drought-resistant plants. Succulents are great water-wise plant options.
6. Green cleaning and switching to eco-friendly detergents
Store-bought eco-cleaning solutions can be pricey, but not to worry because there are plenty of simple homemade green cleaning hacks that help clean even the dirtiest areas around the house. Undiluted white vinegar can be used for stubborn stains. Baking powder on almost anything does wonders if applied in a circular scrubbing motion. There are so many affordable options!
For an all-purpose eco-friendly solution, you can combine the following:
- 1 cup white distilled vinegar
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 10 drops of your favourite essential oil
Pop the mixture into a recycled or repurposed spray bottle, and you're good to go! You can even make a homemade glass cleaner! Regular store-bought glass cleaner works well, but it can have some pretty harmful chemicals in it.
You can easily make your own glass cleaner with:
- 250ml water,
- 250ml rubbing alcohol,
- a dash of vinegar or lemon juice.
Mix it together, and you're ready to rock. Apply your homemade detergent on some chamois cloths, squeegees, or a regular soft cloth. You can finish the windows with some old newspapers to dry them and to achieve some extra sparkle.
Using vinegar in laundry will whiten, brighten, reduce odors, and soften clothes without harsh chemicals. Vinegar is inexpensive, and it's safe to use in both standard and high-efficiency washers. When buying vinegar for laundry, choose distilled white vinegar. It contains no tannins (natural plant dyes) that can stain clothes. If you only have cider vinegar, use less and dilute it with water before pouring directly on clothes.
TheSpruce shares 10 reasons to add vinegar to your laundry routine.
Banish Mildew Odor
Leaving wet towels in a hamper or a load of wet clothing in the washer can create mildew growth and a moldy smell. To get everything smelling fresh, fill the washer with hot water, add 2 cups of distilled white vinegar, and run a complete wash cycle. Run a second complete cycle with detergent added.
This works well for small amounts of mold and sour smells. For larger mold issues and stains, you'll need to use a more aggressive treatment.
Brighten and Whiten Clothes
The acetic acid in distilled white vinegar is so mild that it will not harm washable fabrics. Yet it is strong enough to dissolve residues (alkalies) left by ingredients in soaps and detergents. Adding just 1/2 cup of vinegar to the final rinse will result in brighter, clearer colors. Add the distilled white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser, or add the vinegar manually at the beginning of the rinse cycle.
The mild acetic acid in vinegar also acts as a whitener and brightener for gray, dingy clothes. To get stained white socks and dingy dishcloths white again, add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water. Heat to boiling, and add the dingy items. Allow them to soak overnight, and then launder as usual. This method should only be used on 100 percent cotton fabric.
Naturally Soften Fabrics
If you don't like the idea of using heavily scented commercial fabric softeners but want softer clothes, distilled white vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener and leaves no residue on laundry. Just add 1/2 cup to the final rinse cycle.
If you do like a light scent, add a couple of drops of an essential oil like lavender to the bottle of vinegar.
Reduce Lint and Pet Hair
Just 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle will help prevent lint and pet hair from clinging to clothes.
It also helps get rid of the excessive lint if you accidentally washed something dark with some lint-producing towels.
Fight Underarm Odor
Fill a spray bottle with undiluted distilled white vinegar, and keep it on hand in the laundry room to remove perspiration odor and stains on washable clothing. Spray the vinegar directly on the fabric on the inside of the underarm areas, and allow it to work for at least 10 minutes before tossing the garment into the washing machine. If the fabric feels stiff before washing, use a soft-bristle brush to break up the residue. The vinegar will help to cut through residual deodorant left on clothing and prevent underarm yellowing.
Erase Hem Lines
Keep Dark Clothing Dark
Get Rid of Smoke Odors
If your washable clothing reeks of cigarette or cigar smoke odor, add 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar to the wash cycle. For dry clean-only clothes and furnishings like pillows and drapes, fill the bathtub with very hot water and add 1 cup vinegar. Hang the clothes or fabric above the steaming water, and shut the door so the steam can penetrate the fibers.
Distilled white vinegar is also effective in removing heavy smoke odors in the air following a kitchen or other small household fire.
Clean Your Washing Machine
A clean washer equals cleaner laundry. Soap scum and mineral deposits can build up in the hoses of your washer restricting water flow and performance. Four times per year, remove soap scum and clean the hoses by running a complete wash cycle with the washer empty using hot water and 2 cups of distilled white vinegar.
If you have automatic detergent or fabric softener dispensers, place distilled white vinegar in the dispensers to dissolve any residue buildup that may limit performance.
Use vinegar to clean more frequently to help freshen a front load washer with musty odors.
Clean Your Iron
When the iron is cool, rinse the tank with distilled water. Refill the iron and shake water through the vents onto an old cloth. Finally, iron an old cloth for several minutes to expel any residue before moving on to ironing wearable garments.
To remove scorch marks from the faceplate of an iron, rub with a paste of equal parts distilled white vinegar and salt. Finish by wiping down the faceplate with a cloth dampened with full-strength distilled white vinegar.
Want all the latest property news and curated hot property listings sent directly to your inbox? Register for Property24’s Hot Properties, Lifestyle and Weekly Property Trends newsletters or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Print
