Going Green to Save Some Green

[freezorburn]

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who was hoping that at some point MK would return to NJCD and start up the GGTSSG check-in again. But it seems that she's got a full plate. But I'm sure we haven't seen the last of her.

Not sure if anyone else will be joining us here ... but in the meantime, I thought I might get a thread started here and there and see what happens.

You know what to do.

[freezorburn]

Earlier this week I happened to be chatting with DS's preschool teacher who organizes the arts and crafts portion of the school day. She asked me if DS had a space for doing art. I said well, he has an easel, and usually sits at the counter or kitchen table to draw or color. She suggested I set up his own space.

I knew we could just rearrange some furniture, but on top of that, my brain immediately went to thinking about what I was going to need to spend on storage solutions ... but after letting the idea percolate a bit, I decided to challenge myself to use stuff we already have. We got a lot done on Wednesday night. Moved furniture around, and demarcated the space with a fort-building kit that was a Christmas present a couple of years ago, but had otherwise been gathering dust. Right now he has some desktop storage in the form of a mason jar, a pencil case, and a wooden box of Melissa and Doug stamps. I still have to work on the storage piece -- most of his supplies are in drawers in the kitchen. The way we've set up the art space, there's an Ikea Trofast bench next to his table, which has mostly held toys but those can go somewhere else and hold art supplies. It's a work in progress, and I'm pretty excited about where it's going. I'll post pictures in the morning after my phone has charged.

[linewifekat]

freezorburn I'm looking forward to see pictures. I haven't been very green lately just wanted to pop in and say hello.

[freezorburn]

Here is the basic setup. I still have to work on organizing supplies, and maybe something for the wall. I also put a half-sized Masonite drawing board on the table, propped up by another box, but he took it to his dad's for the weekend.

Oh, and I have to vacuum.

[critter015]

We had a new grocery store open here this week that I'm really excited about. I've been doing WalMart pickup where they basically put each item into it's own plastic bag, but at the new store you bag your own, so I'm excited to get back to using reusable bags. I also think that if the new store's pricing is at all comparable to their location that my mom shops at, that I'll be able to stretch my grocery budget a little farther.

[DGM]

I was using a big name brand's earth friendly dishwasher detergent, but it made my kitchen smell like bleach every time. Made me wonder what residue was being left on the dishes. So I tried making one out of castile soap but didn't like the results. My winner is a few drops of my regular supposedly earth friendly dish soap with baking soda and salt. I haven't figured out if it truly is cheaper, but it just seems safer.

Oh and I think I posted this back on NJCD, but I've been using diluted castile soap as an all-purpose cleaner for almost 2 months now. I like the results and that it doesn't worry me when L wants to help. She lurves using spray bottles LOL.

[linewifekat]

DGM I've been using vinegar, water and some essential oils to clean counters and such. Maybe I should add some castile soap to it.

[DGM]

Jun 1, 2017 6:00:05 GMT -5 linewifekat said:

DGM I've been using vinegar, water and some essential oils to clean counters and such. Maybe I should add some castile soap to it.

I was using vinegar diluted with water to clean counters and tabletops for a while. After getting a sample of castile soap, I just like it better for some reason. I still use the vinegar on the rare occasions I clean our windows. Castile soap and vinegar together though leave a film on surfaces so if you're content with the vinegar, no need to change.

[pipsqueak]

How long does diluted vinegar keep in a clean, plastic, spray bottle? I mixed some vinegar and water in a spray bottle for wiping down the bathroom counter but wasn't sure if it goes bad/becomes ineffective after sitting mixed for a while.

[pipsqueak]

Jun 26, 2017 14:13:49 GMT -5 pipsqueak said:

How long does diluted vinegar keep in a clean, plastic, spray bottle? I mixed some vinegar and water in a spray bottle for wiping down the bathroom counter but wasn't sure if it goes bad/becomes ineffective after sitting mixed for a while.

I asked this question in another group as well.  Also, I've never seen anything discussing ratios here so what I gathered from that Facebook group is that for cleaning it's 1 part water to 1 part vinegar and it generally should be replaced after 2-3 weeks so mixing in smaller spray bottles is better than in the large cleaning spray bottles (or don't fill the large bottles all the way full).

To use diluted vinegar as a post bath spray for eczema/contact dermatitis type itching it's 1 part vinegar and 6-7 parts water. 

[pipsqueak]

lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livingwellspendingless.com%2Fwp-content%2Fdocuments%2F10x10x10.pdf&h=ATPke5uIbpgE99-K4F0-Twb9B9gcaPSxm2rrW4tyB0uxsKlzUANVBJpikuQ40cbHBHHL5MWgBmtL1cUgGZDJ7I-iep_mzdDaikkmx6w7oifu0j_oYTRXMIfNaz_bmMi7Czvep95Axpk&enc=AZNPkukDnhOT5dBthUXNUvkjqc0h7422n-5USnKDJm00LkqwsV76ronTmz8RX1UqkBE&s=1

Hopefully the link works correctly. Handy chart of recipes for different cleaning products.

[freezorburn]

^Thanks for the link! I've been thinking about incorporating this type of thing into my cleaning supplies, especially whenever I read about people using them in the old place. I've been too lazy to change ... ok, I probably don't clean enough that it's been ages since I've even had to restock on anything ...

[pipsqueak]

Jul 6, 2017 1:27:35 GMT -5 freezorburn said:

^Thanks for the link! I've been thinking about incorporating this type of thing into my cleaning supplies, especially whenever I read about people using them in the old place. I've been too lazy to change ... ok, I probably don't clean enough that it's been ages since I've even had to restock on anything ...

Yeah, I probably don't clean as often as I should either.  I'm hoping that as I switch to less toxic cleaners that it will be easier on me and I'll be more willing to clean.  It's hard to want to clean  the bathroom when it's a small, poorly ventilated space and you know you're going to breathe in the chemicals you're cleaning with.

[DGM]

I never even thought about how long dilute vinegar would last. I definitely don't clean as much as I should either so I've kept mine in a spray bottle for months. Oops.

[freezorburn]

I think it probably lasts for years. Previous owner left behind a spray bottle of diluted vinegar ... it was labeled "for cleaning glass." I used it for quite a while.

[DGM]

My SIL gave me the tip that after sensory play with shaving cream in a sink, it then works as a great degreaser. Just tried it and thumbs up! Happy toddler, clean sink.

[pipsqueak]

I've been trying to cut down my electric bill - weather has and hasn't cooperated - it's been cool and rainy so while I haven't had to run my AC as much to keep the house comfortable I have had to run the dryer since I don't have enough indoor drying space. I did switch back to my flats (instead of prefolds) since they do dry faster in the dryer or hung up.

[freezorburn]

For a while I was able to remember to bring my travel mug to work with me ... they give a small discount when you use a personal mug. But then I dropped it and it cracked in a bad place ... I have another one that I can use but I don't like it as much. So I guess I'm on the hunt for a new one.

Also trying to walk to work whenever my schedule allows -- which is pretty much when DS is with his dad. It should get even easier once the school year starts, since there's a decent gap in between the time that DS's school day starts and the beginning of my shift. So I should have plenty of time to get to work.

[freezorburn]

ok, this is going to be the most unsexy post ever in ggtssg --

I'm working on getting back into the groove of packing all of my lunch and snacks on workdays. And bringing my own coffee from home instead of buying from Starbucks. Or, at least using my personal cups when I get coffee from there.

This is happening.

[pipsqueak]

I introduced dh to family cloth a couple years ago. We were walking through the tp aisle at the store this weekend and dh commented about laughing, and being rather skeptical, about the idea. He then acknowledged how little tp we go through now - usually tp is only used by guests.

[DGM]

Aug 27, 2017 23:31:36 GMT -5 freezorburn said:

ok, this is going to be the most unsexy post ever in ggtssg --

I'm working on getting back into the groove of packing all of my lunch and snacks on workdays. And bringing my own coffee from home instead of buying from Starbucks. Or, at least using my personal cups when I get coffee from there.

This is happening.

In cold weather, I keep those $2 Starbucks cups in my car for hot coffee emergencies LOL. Your post made me realize there's no reason I can't put cold drinks in them too. Just put two cups in my purse!

[freezorburn]

I've been procrastinating terribly ... my side sewers are clogged and I figured one of the better solutions other than a massively expensive repair, would be to put in a cistern on one side of the house. It's cheaper and I'll be able to use the water for my garden. But I'm having trouble pulling the trigger.

Also my pond needs repair. I thought I had lined someone up to do the work at the beginning of summer but I never heard from him after a few follow up calls. Now summer is almost over and I hope I haven't run out of time to line up someone else to do the work.

[pipsqueak]

freezorburn, you're not the only procrastinator here.

At some point before dh bought our house, a car must have run the stop sign and taken out the entire northwest corner. When it was repaired a different style of brick was used as most of the bricks in that corner are smooth and different colors from the rest of the house. When the space above the garage was added, instead of using bricks to match the rest of the house, they added a stone facade. We've been planning to paint the brick a shade of brick red so that at least all the brick will match from a distance. Paint was bought at the beginning of last summer and still hasn't been put on the house yet and now temps are dipping into the 40's overnight.

[DGM]

Aug 28, 2017 19:57:58 GMT -5 DGM said:

Aug 27, 2017 23:31:36 GMT -5 freezorburn said:

ok, this is going to be the most unsexy post ever in ggtssg --

I'm working on getting back into the groove of packing all of my lunch and snacks on workdays. And bringing my own coffee from home instead of buying from Starbucks. Or, at least using my personal cups when I get coffee from there.

This is happening.

In cold weather, I keep those $2 Starbucks cups in my car for hot coffee emergencies LOL. Your post made me realize there's no reason I can't put cold drinks in them too. Just put two cups in my purse!

Quoting myself that I found out yesterday the reusable cups I have in my car are useless for my regular sized frappucinos unless I don't get whipped cream. Sorry, earth. I'll be kinder when it's hot drink weather again.