Ask the Readers: Easy Green Products That Really Work
Not everyone will share my opinion, but I’m fully convinced that green products and solutions will never truly be viable unless they’re actually better and, more importantly, easier than more wasteful options. Take it from the girl living in an area where glass is not allowed in the curbside recycling bin (seriously!): If it’s not easy, it’s not happening.
Today, I’m hoping that some readers can share their knowledge of green products, ideas, and services that are easy and that work well.
In my own house, I’ve fallen in love with (none of which are particularly innovative or fresh, just completely effective):
Vinegar-based cleaners: Buying a gigantic bottle of vinegar means that I have to go shopping less and also that my cleaner is awesomely cheap.
Jersey-knit rags: These beat paper towels for a couple of reasons. While I do have to wash cloth rags, they can go in the regular cycle, so it’s not an extra load. Plus, they’re free when cut from old t-shirts, and it doesn’t take any longer to walk to the washing machine than the garbage can. (Strategy, folks!) And since jersey is a tightly-woven knit, I find that they soak up messes pretty damn well.
Stainless steel thermoses: These beat water bottles that need to be tossed and repurchased constantly. I think “buy it once and keep it forever” purchases are the ultimate in classy laziness. Plus, i can actually control the temp of the water or tea in my thermos! I do tend to walk off and forget my thermos on a very regular basis, but soap and water cleanup means it takes just a minute or two to refill when we’re reunited.
Reusable shopping bags: At first it was a guilt trip. No one wants to be the loser carrying out two dozen plastic bags from WinCo. Once I tried the standard reusable shopping bag, though, I was hooked. With the shoulder-length straps, I could carry more bags at a time with less strain, which made unloading the car so much easier. Plus, they’re way sturdier than they look and it’s been easy to remember to take them with me to the store. Win-win on this one.
I want to hear your ideas: what’s worked? What products suck? Please share your collective expertise so I can put together a well-rounded list of suggestions for readers.
Photo courtesy of love janine
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This post has 29 comments
September 30th, 2009
I agree with you, for most people a green product has to be better and easier to use to be a viable alternative. From what I’ve tried I have always had pretty good luck with Seventh Generation cleaning products, everything from their vegetable based dish soaps to their toilet bowl cleaner to the bleach and chlorine free baby wipes. Ecover also seems like a pretty good brand for cleaning products, I use their dishwasher soap and it works just like the other brands. When it came to deodorant I had to try probably 5 different aluminum and paraben free kinds that didn’t work before finding Earth Science Tea Tree deodorant which seems to work great.
Russ´s last blog ..And that is the power of Twitter!
September 30th, 2009
I <3 baking soda — for sooooo many things. Same with vinegar.
Got and love the bags, bottles, and t-shirt rags, too.
In addition to the rags, I have cloth napkins & towels.
I also have a Diva Cup and reusable pads from Many Moons. So much comfier than the alternatives!
Dr. Bronner's soap rocks. But then who doesn't know that?
Glass Dharma sells glass straws that I really like. They just feel special. And they don't collapse on you when drinking milkshakes.
I also have a stainless steel ice cube tray that I like.
Then there are the many reusable glass food containers I have. Some are just repurposed jars. Others are Pyrex.
I like wearing fingerless gloves instead of turning up the heat. Socks, electric blankets, and electric mattress pads are great, too.
For deodorant I use one of those crystal blocks. For "toothpaste" I actually use Ipsab tooth powder.
In addition to the pole my husband hung in our laundry room to dry clothes on we also have a few drying racks for small things.
What else…
Does my Black Berry count if I use it instead of turning on my computer?
September 30th, 2009
Vinegar & water – great for cleaning just about anything and vinegar is great as a natural fabric softener.
Baking soda – not abrasive/scratching cleaner.
Brands such as Citra Solv, BioKleen, Eco Discoveries and the old standby Dr. Bronners have been very useful for me.
For bath and body, I have fallen in love with Aubrey Organics and Weleda. There are so many others, but the list will be very long!
Carla´s last blog ..Stealing your words – post and comment scrapping
September 30th, 2009
Baking soda cleaning products, for the same reason as you with vinegar i.e. easy / infrequent refills.
Being a lot CHEAPER than nasty and expensive products is a definite incentive for me e.g. vinegar, baking soda etc.
Even ‘green’ products can’t beat the footprint and cost of vinegar and the like – I don’t buy them either, really.
We use a kinda collapsible nylon ‘box’ with handles that lets me carry about 80lb of groceries from the car in one go. We put it in the trolley as we go around, so it’s very easy
September 30th, 2009
PS I think you mean “they’re free when cut from old t-shiRts”
September 30th, 2009
We try to be green. Here are some of the ways we are doing it:
stainless steel drink containers
reusable lunch totes
recycling containers (like sour cream & butter tubs) for our short-term storage needs
using sandwich containers to pack kids lunches
using cloth napkins
purchasing a set of kid-friendly plates/bowls/cups for social gatherings = very rare use of paper plates and cups
we recycle outgrown clothing (swaps or donations
reusable shopping bags
we creatively reuse items instead of purchasing new items where possible…
And so the list goes. I’m sure there is more, but that is what I can think of right now.
Mrs. Bick´s last blog ..Quick Fix
September 30th, 2009
Joseph—Thank you! Edited to be *way* more appropriate.
September 30th, 2009
What about getting rid of green to go green? By that, I mean raising awareness of all those tiny green lights that stay on 24/7. Turn the lights off in your house and you’ll likely see a forest of them, emanating from all of our favorite gadgets. I recently read an article about this, and they greatly ratchet up electrical consumption (and technology manufacturers don’t seem too interested in making more energy efficient products). I’m working on finding a way to turn off/unplug as many of them as I can.
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..My Wild Self and the Late Summer Garden
October 1st, 2009
I have tried to go green but the green cleaning product seem not to work very well. I have not found a stainless steel cleaner that is green that actually works
October 1st, 2009
I also love, love, love baking soda! It’s my favorite.
I do a variation of the cotton jersey idea. I have a basket full of small terry cloths that I use instead of paper towels.
By the way, I wanted to ask, where’s that picture of the Keroppi t-shirt from? I think it’s really cute, and might want to buy it.
Vi´s last blog ..What do you call your baby?
October 1st, 2009
Using baking soda and non-toxic dishwashing liquid to clean your oven instead of harsh oven cleaner. Works great!
For anyone looking to go green around the house, I’d recommend the book “Organic Housekeeping.” It’s packed with tips and cleaning recipes that aren’t difficult at all and that really work.
FrugalChick´s last blog ..September in review
October 1st, 2009
Bicarbonate of soda is an excellent cleaner and rid my washing machine of a disgusting pong very effectively. Also a good old dose of hot water and elbow grease can manage to clean up most things.
Cloth bags – naturally. Especially if you make them yourself from whatever bits and bobs you have that are appropriate. I can’t imagine ever having a stack of supermarket plastic carrier bags in my house again.
Tom of Maine’s solid stick deodorant. Lovely fragrances, no aluminium, and they really do work.
Elizabeth´s last blog ..Good Grief, It’s October Tomorrow
October 1st, 2009
I’ve been using the reusable shopping bags at the supermarket. And when I go shopping to stores where I only need one or two things, I just carry a big enough bag to fit the items I’ve purchased in (CDs, craft supplies, etc. all fit in my Vera Bradley bag that I carry with me every day).
I bring a reusable bag to work with my lunch in it, and bought a stainless steel bottle for my water. It’s great – we buy almost no water now, which saves us money on top of being better for the environment and saving us trips to the recycling bin in our apartment complex!
I also reuse shipping products. I sell items on ebay, and use packaging that I’ve received items in, as well as think up creative ways to avoid purchasing packaging.
October 1st, 2009
Thanks for the suggestions so far—please keep ‘em coming. Will have to try Tom’s of Maine and see if it’ll work for me. Aluminum kinda freaks me out. And Vi, please check out the photographer’s link at the bottom of the article; she’ll be the one to have info on the Keroppi shirt.
October 1st, 2009
Sara, I’ve tried Tom’s of Maine deodorant and though it smelled nice, it didn’t seem to hold up for more than a couple hours. I’ve also read that others have had the same issues, but definitely experiment and see what works for you! I found that the ones with Tea Tree in them are really the only ones that seem to control odor for me.
Russ´s last blog ..And that is the power of Twitter!
October 1st, 2009
Sara — I can’t say enough good things about the Citra Solv line. One of the nicest things is that they’ve been around and independently owned for 22 years — before everyone else jumped on the green bandwagon. Plus, as a company, they’re really committed to the environment. Thanks for asking! — Erica
Erica´s last blog ..
October 1st, 2009
I buy some things just because they’re green, not because they are better in any other way. Maybe I’m in a minority here.
For cleaning products and laundry I like Ecover. I do use vinegar and baking/bicarb soda for some things too.
I never or rarely use the dryer. A clothes rack works great and is kinder on my clothes and I even have a nice sunny spot for it.
I can remember the bags for big shops but it’s the little shops that always caught me out. I now have a bag made from parachute material that folds up into a little pouch and lives in my handbag so I always have at least one reusable bag on me.
I can’t believe you can’t put glass out for recycling where you are – that’s absurd.
I buy Strauss milk, which comes in a glass bottle that I can return for a deposit refund. The problem with glass recycling is it needs to be melted down at a very high temperature (still preferable to landfill though). But this way, the bottles are just being sterilised and reused, which is far less energy intensive. The milk is great too.
Caitlin´s last blog ..Navel gazing – September
October 1st, 2009
I use honey to wash my face. I didn’t like the stainless steel water bottles but I found a bpa free plastic one from thermos and now have 2. I use them every day and love them. Thought I would mention that for anyone else that doesn’t like drinking out of stainless steel. This is the link for the bottle I am talking about: http://www.thermos.com/product_catalog.aspx?CatCode=HYDR&SubcategoryID=61 (not an affiliate link)
My newest green thing is not using toilet paper. I took The Crunch Chickens challenge and would never go bake. (http://www.thecrunchchicken.com)
October 1st, 2009
I had trouble with Tom’s of Maine deodorants after they “improved” their original and added hops. I have yet to find the perfect replacement but Kiss My Face liquid rock works for a long time and applies more reliably than a dry crystal.
I really like Seventh Generation’s tub and tile cleaner. It smells nice and cuts the soap scum better than homemade cleaners.
Whole Foods has a 365 line of shampoos and conditioners that I really like because I am allergic to many fragrances, including lavender. It costs around $3 for a large bottle!
Thanks for all the tips.
October 2nd, 2009
I’ve lived in AZ for 2 years and it’s difficult to find places that recycle glass.
I just switched to stainless steel from plastic bottles for drinking.
I stopped using paper plates. (just had a party)
Use cloth napkins and hang most clothes to dry.
I’m beginning to make more small changes or it all gets so overwhelming.
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..
October 2nd, 2009
Caitlin – I definitely agree with you on the whole “buying green because it’s green, not necessarily because it’s better”. I do the same thing. Sometimes it’s just nice to clean with products that aren’t hazardous to my health. It’s also nice to do the right thing, even if it’s costs a bit more – I’ll pay more for paper plates (if I have to buy them at all) over styrofoam because styrofoam is just not something I allow in my house. I feel less guilty when I make what I feel is the right choice!
Christine´s last blog ..8 Tips On How To Keep Your Cool When Aggravated
October 2nd, 2009
I bought LunchBots this year for my kids’ lunches and they’re working out great. I also like WasteNot Saks snack bags.
Kate´s last blog ..The cost of complaining
October 2nd, 2009
CFLs. Plus you get a bonus of not having to change lightbulbs as often.
October 3rd, 2009
I love the eCover dishwasher tabs. They work so well. It took me forever to find a dishwasher solution that worked well (green or otherwise) and the eCover ones are similar in price to Cascade tabs.
I love Strauss milk in the reusable glass bottle too but it stretches my budget enough to drink Organic Valley (which tastes so much better than ‘regular’ milk). I only buy Strauss heavy cream though.
October 5th, 2009
Don’t buy processed foods. Use green whole food alternatives. Eat fresh, whole foods with fewer ingredients. Meal preparation has gone from being an enjoyable activity to a necessary evil in our super busy work days. We now eat frozen, processed or prepared foods for most of our weekday meals. Along with the food we get all of the preservatives, added colors, artificial flavors, excessive sodium, and higher costs that go with the convenience of a six minute dinner from the microwave. Instead, try buying fresh fruits and vegetables and have them washed and available to grab whenever hunger strikes. Prepare whole grains and beans like brown rice, barley or split peas in larger batches on the weekend, then refrigerate, and heat as needed during the week. You’ll eat healthier while shrinking your grocery bill and your waistline.
Christine Simiriglia´s last blog ..Oct 2, Organize More Ezine
October 5th, 2009
Christine—I seriously wonder how different I would feel if I changed my diet in the ways you suggest. I like your idea that we’ve given up the pleasure of meal prep for convenience. Painting meal prep as one of life’s pleasures makes it a win-win to work on this habit.
October 9th, 2009
Sara, here is your answer:
http://www.giveittomeraw.com/forum/topics/1407416:Topic:205665
Christine, you are so right !
I have included super-healthy super-fast breakfast in my life: raw vegan smoothies. The whole family loves them, and you can literally drink them on the go. I drink 1 litre, and it keeps me going till lunch !
Eternal*Voyageur @ Venusia*Glow´s last blog ..Eternal*Voyageur’s Tips For A Clothes Swap Party
October 24th, 2009
I second reusable bags.
What also works, is green shampoos & detergents, if you read the ingredient list carefully.
Some companies are tricky, pretending that they’re green but sneaking in things that are clearly bad for the environment.
A good shampoo that passed the test was Hugo Naturals, and NaturOli products. Their ingredient lists are solid.
Aveda and other fancy “green” companies that cost an arm and a leg, are not really green or worth the cash.
The Everyday Minimalist´s last blog ..How to deal with and stop bad gifts
October 24th, 2009
In my opinion the best and easiest green thing to do is to simply stop using your clothes dryer. It is very easy to dry all your laundry on either a clothesline or a clothes drying rack. I would warn people away from those $20 accordian racks that they have at the big box stores. They break really easy, they blow over in the wind and they shade themselves and it is hard for air to get into the center to get them all dry.
My other thing is to ride your bike for your main trainsportation. If it is less than a 5 mile trip. The savings are huge then when you add in the health benefits it is a win/win situation all the way around.
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