How I am Saving the World Today
I wash all my clothes in cold water. That’s right, throw away the crib sheet that says whites on warm hot and darks on warm? and denim on warm hot cold. Yeah, I could never keep track of that anyway. So maybe it was a decision to be green or maybe it was my poor memory for insignificant details. Regardless, I wash all my clothes in cold water.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 90% of the energy used in washing clothes is from heating the water. Think of all the energy conservation, greenhouse gases and life of your water heater that you are saving. I particularly like that I can take a shower the same day I wash my clothes! Yay hot water conservation!
As far as difference in cleanliness, I have noticed none. If you have clothes that are seriously stained, then hot water might help. Or you could just put a stain remover on the stain, and it will probably work better. One of the older arguments as to why we should use hot water was for sanitation purposes. The hotter the water the more bacteria would be killed. Now all our laundry detergent has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, bleach and a bunch of other killer ingredients, we don’t have to rely on the hot water to do our micoscopic killings, the soap will do it for us.
Oh and did I mention, your clothes last longer and your colors stay brighter!
So, if you switch the dial to cold instead of hot, you will not only save money but you will save the world! and have clean smelling clothes! So the question isn’t why are you washing in cold water, but why aren’t you washing in cold water?
Save the World | Comments (3)How I am Saving the World Today
I have decided to be more proactive with being environmentally conscious. Ok, this is not a new decision. I decided this a while ago and have been doing things to that end for a while. But I did just decide to share with you, how I am saving the world.
I find that the environmental issues can become so overwhelming so quickly. Often the issue seem so big that I feel stunted as to what I could possibly do to help. Because of that, I do nothing. Sure there are charities and organizations and causes and volunteer work. But I am broke and busy and lets face it, a little bit selfish and self involved. I don’t want to give up my free time between work and school and remodeling my house to do volunteer work. I don’t really have that much free time and when it is free I want to write this blog and veg on the couch.
But there are little things that we can do, that anyone can do, that makes a big difference. If you change one routine, you are saving the world. The whole world! You! WOW! Next thing you know, you will be changing another routine and then another. The next thing you know, you will be converting other people to change their routines. Actually it is easier than that, you don’t even have to change a routine, all you have to do is change a product.
So that is what I have done. I have bought a different product. I normally buy Dawn dishsoap. I have used it forever. I have always been happy with it. I don’t know what was different this time. Really, nothing was different. I saw the dawn and was reaching for it when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Seventh Generation Dishsoap. I put down the Dawn, which I had automatically grabbed, and read the bottle of Seventh Generation. I thought, well, I can give it a try.
Honestly I was skeptical. I did not think it would work as well as my beloved Dawn. But so far so good. I feels nice on my hands. It smells nice. fresh. natural. So I am a convert…and now I am saving the world!
So on my sidebar, I will show you how I am saving the world. Now its your turn.
How are you saving the world?
Save the World | Comments (3)
