My Level of Living Green

by Millie Barnes

1)   Air dry all laundry–had to put a lock on the dryer cord to convince my daughters I was serious–they have learned to plan ahead! I wash all laundry in cold water, always wash full loads, and use a drying rack inside if it is raining. It’s good for the earth and great for your skin, a free humidifier in the house. Which also makes it feel a few degrees warmer in winter, and cooler in summer.

2)  I use very few little plastic in my life. While it is impossible to avoid completely I do the best I can. I am a Chef and there are times I cannot avoid using plastic. Recently I dug in and found alternative cleaning products with either no plastic or as little as possible. I have always used the Dobie dish scrubber and the 3M green scrubbles.

Bessonle 24 pack biodegradable heavy duty scour pad is made with coconut fibers bound together with recycled fibers for a mix of great cleaning performance and care for the environment(The box is also). I have always used a Dobie and the 3M srubbies and have replaced them after about 10 days when they wear out. Both of the products last about 2 weeks or more.

Cleancult Dish Soap Liquid – Plant Based Cleaning Power – Dish Soap that Cuts Grease & Grime – Free of Harsh Chemicals – Uses 90% Less Plastic – Lemon Verbena. Not as strong at grease cutting as Dawn, but that stuff dries my hands so badly. And it comes in a milk carton type container!

Bamboo Kitchen Sponges Heavy Duty Natural Cleaning Sponges Non-Scratch Dish Sponge for Dishes, Pots and Pans-Green,6 Pack-

• bamboo sponge is made of 80% bamboo fiber and 20% polyester
• Our scrub sponge are durable,they maintain the shape well and do not fall apart or crack easily like regular sponges
• Super absorbent sponge that will collect all dirt, grease, and grime from whatever you’re cleaning
• Bamboo fiber material is not only sustainable but gentle on surfaces, ensuring a non-scratch cleaning experience that keeps your items and surfaces in pristine condition.
• These completely replaced the Dobie Scubbers, I bought them on May 14 and I am STILL using the first one!  I just throw it in the wash with my dishtowels

Molly’s Suds Original Laundry Detergent Powder | Clean Laundry Detergent Powder for Sensitive Skin | Simple, Effective Ingredients, Stain Fighting | 70 Loads (Unscented)-  SAFER INGREDIENTS, POWERFUL CLEAN: 4 simple, stain-fighting ingredients that are safer for your family and for the planet. 1 tablespoon sized scoop of Original Laundry Powder deep cleans and gently deodorizes 1 load of clothes. Gentle for sensitive skin, the environment, and most fabrics excluding silk and leather.

2) Buy all organic.

3) Buy all organic non-toxic beauty care products and make-up. I make my own skin care cleanser and moisturizers. I make my own soap. My beauty products can be purchased at http://ezchef.net/spacuisine/

4) Use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning the bathroom. I use Ms. Meyer Clean Day for dishes, Citri-Clean for counters and general purpose cleaning. I use a loofah for scrubbing dishes (I am growing my own right now so I won’t have to buy them anymore!) My sister is making scrubbies by crocheting them, we will offer these for sale soon!

5) Take cloth bags to store for groceries and all other purchases. Take muslin bags I made to grocery store for produce.

6) Recycle, re-use, make my own and have stopped buying anything I don’t really need.

7) Don’t use paper towels, never have.  I use Swedish Dish Clothes. These last for months, I wash them in the washing machine but air dry. They dry in about half an hour so they never sour. The Original 14 Pack Swedish Dishcloth for Kitchen – Eco Friendly Reusable Paper Towels – Assorted Dish Cloths for Washing Dishes. I am still rotating the first 3 out of the package and they are still going strong. I’ve had them for 6 months.

8) Don’t buy stuff in plastic, I try to buy all glass. Store all food in glass. Re-use glass jars. I mostly buy real food (meat, produce) try to not buy anything that needs a label, so no packaging.

9) I do not use paper toile paper, I use  cloth at home with a portable Bidet. The one I use is silicone.  (don’t freak, we all used that same choice when we used cloth diapers and wash clothes on our baby’s tushes!)  Portable Bidet for Travel – Friendly Handheld Personal – Peri Bottle – with 400ml Capacity, Convenient & Leakproof. While it says for travel it holds enough water for a days use at home. For when I’m out I use another silicone one that is smaller, the humangear BidetToob – Portable Travel Bidet, Detachable Spout Fits Inside Silicone GoToob XL, BPA-Free, PC-Free, 6 fl oz. It fits in my purse nicely.

10) Make my own gluten free granola, make my own mayonnaise, salad dressings, spice blends.

11) Bokashi (a way to deal with indoor kitchen scraps with NO odor and yields compost WAY faster). I have been using the Bokashi method of dealing with kitchen waste for about 3 weeks now…I love it!

12) Use very low flow shower heads. Ace Hardware has a 1.5 GPM with a shut-off valve.

13) Use all CF light bulbs…and use them as little as possible. I have one evening a week that I use no lights..on Shabbat! Dinner by candlelight!

14) Use grey water from shower (I keep a 3 gallon bucket in shower and use it throughout the day to flush the toilet, take what’s left to the flower beds.

15) Use water from rinsing dishes to water flower beds.

16) Use a broom on all my wooden floors instead of using vacuum cleaner.

17) I use a Bianchi City Bike full time for transportation except occasionally when I have to use a Lyft.

18) Use micro-cloths to clean with, even on glass you do not need cleaning products!

21) NEVER buy bottled water. I use a glass water bottle wrapped in silicone from Ello.

22) Go paperless or CD-less as much as possible. I provide my clients with emails of my book, but still put cookbook software on CD.

19) Use only a hurricane lamp when we sit outside at night. It gives enough light to read by…but is perfect turned low …for just hanging out. Very romantic, too!

20) Use candlelight at dinner, not just on Shabbat!

21) I have an outdoor solar heated shower that I built.

22) I use a non-disposable razor, an old-fashioned stainless steel, very high quality razor that uses double edged blades. It was 24.00 from ClassicShaving.com. The blades are 10 for 5.99, and they are double edged! They give the closest, smoothest shave you can imagine! No disposable blade can compare. I have used 5 blades in 10 years as I have very light hair on my legs. It’s now 39.00.

23) Wash dishes with 2 dish pans in the sink, one for hot soapy water, one with warm rinse water. Do glasses first, pause a moment to let the soapy water drip off, then move to rinse water. Stop when rinse water is almost full and rinse quickly. Repeat with silver, plates, then pots and utensils. All with 2 dishpans full of water. Then I pour the soapy water, with all that organic matter, onto my plants in the garden. It helps repel pests and loosens the soil. And good for the biceps when you carry it outdoors.

24) I work out at home, no expensive gym memberships that I never used anyway. I save all the expense of membership, and gas and time driving. I have a set of weights, two exercise balls, a yoga mat and a chin-up bar.