ParenthoodNJ's Green List

Our Tips

Just some ideas we've come across and are trying that don't require a lot of effort and can save you money.

• Try using cloth napkins at meals instead of paper ones. This saves A LOT of paper (including the green kind) especially with young children who love to smear their food on themselves, the table, the floor...Just toss them into the wash with your laundry.
• Use wash cloths instead of a sponge to clean counters, cabinets and more. You can get them cheap at large retail stores or just start using your old bath wash cloths instead of throwing them out.
• Try to put leftovers into plastic or glass containers instead of using tin foil or plastic wrap.
• Re-use plastic shopping bags as garbage-can liners for small garbage cans or as packing material when shipping items
• If you buy pudding or fruit in those little plastic cups, they can have a second life as paint cans for kids' art projects. You can use them again and again and if you use water-based or latex paint, you can clean them out before recycling them.
  

Cleaning Products

Distilled White Vinegar - is the all-around cleaner of choice. It's easy to buy and cheap. You can also use it to kill weeds! Baking soda is another great product for scrubbing tough stains and freshening your carpet or cat-litter box. Sites that have uses for household products include:
About.com -

If you must use manufactured cleaners, there are some to try:
Earth Friendly Products - They sell various products including an earth-friendly air freshener
Arm & Hammer Essentials - they have a whole line of biodegradable products, including an all-purpose cleaner & degreaser that allows you to re-use the bottle; you just buy a refill cartridge
Method - they tout a whole product line of cleaners to soaps that are "naturally derived, non-hazardous, biodegradeable and non-corrosive"