Wash your car – the green way

When your car needs to be washed, do you do it yourself or head to the local car wash? You may be surprised to learn that taking your car to a commercial car wash is actually better for the environment than washing your car at home.

When you wash your car in your driveway, the runoff goes into storm drains, which lead directly to creeks, lakes, and streams and harm water quality and wildlife. Federal laws require commercial car wash facilities to drain wastewater into sewer systems, where it is treated before being released back into the environment. Commercial car washes use computer controlled systems and high-pressure nozzles and pumps that minimize water usage; the International Carwash Association reports that automatic car washes use less than half the water of even the most careful home car washer. Also, many car washes will recycle and re-use the rinse water.

Tip of the Day – Smarter dishwashing

Skip the pre-rinse cycle on your dishwasher. Most dishwashers are powerful enough to clean your plates without the pre-rinse, so why waste the energy and water? While you’re at it, skip the dry cycle – leave the dishwasher door open and let the air dry your dishes for you!

Laundry soap that grows on trees

Maggie’s Soap Nuts are an all natural alternative to commercial laundry detergent and fabric softener. Soap Nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree, and contain saponin – a natural cleanser that’s been used to clean clothes for thousands of years. 100% natural, effective, and safe (even for the most sensitive skin), Maggie’s Soap Nuts are sustainably harvested from India and Indonesia using no chemicals or pesticides.

Maggie’s Soap Nuts 10.5 oz box (36-50 loads), $18.99 at Better Life Goods; $10 at Whole Foods

Spring cleaning with Mrs. Meyers

I picked up this cute “Spring Cleaning Kit” from Mrs. Meyer’s at World Market yesterday. The kit contains a countertop spray, all-purpose cleaner, window spray and dish soap in a delightful honeysuckle scent. The fresh summery scent made cleaning a bit more enjoyable today.

Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free. And, they don’t test on animals.

Honeysuckle Spring Cleaning Kit, $14.99 at worldmarket.com

Whiten whites (without bleach!)

Bleach is hard on your clothes and on the environment, so try an effective retro alternative: Launder cotton whites in cold water with a spoonful of cream of tartar (sold in your grocery’s spice aisle) in addition to your usual detergent.

Going green with your laundry

A few tips for eco-friendly laundry:

• Wash in cold water! Using hot water for both washing and rinsing uses three and a half times more energy than washing in warm water and rinsing in cold. Or you could wash and rinse with cold water. No water heater necessary – just think of the savings.
• Use green products. There are a ton of great options out there. Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, Ecover and Sun & Earth offer some excellent natural detergents and bleach alternative (did I mention to ditch bleach? Bleach is bad. Lose it!).
• Buy an energy-efficient machine. The newest, most-efficient washers use four times less energy than the least-efficient machines, and save up to $70 a year in energy costs. Also, older washers can use as much as 40 gallons of water per load, whereas Energy Star-rated machines use around half that.
• Wash a FULL load of laundry. It takes less energy to do one big load than two smaller ones. And try to get more wears between washings. Jeans don’t need to be washed after every wear. Well, unless they are visibly dirty, or smell bad. Use good judgment.
• Hang your clothes to dry. Your clothes will last longer, and you’ll save energy too. We don’t have access to a clothesline, so in our apartment we hang wet clothes in the guest bathroom to dry. It’s not easy on the eyes, but it’s easy on the environment!