Don’t Buy Recycled Products…

…unless the “footprint” is actually smaller.

I’m all for recycling, but it is within reason. When you consider the recycled product purchases you are making, take into consideration some of the potential downsides:

• Is the recycled product a locally-made product, or has your recycled product been shipped thousands of miles to your store shelf, thus causing fuel usage and added carbon footprint. Is there an alternative that may not be a recycled product, or have a lower percentage of post-consumer materials, but is locally made?
• Will you cause other waste by using a recycled product? For example, recycled toner cartridges are slightly cheaper, and negate the need for all the new components that hold the toner in the cartridge. However, it’s been my experience (recently, even) that recycled toner cartridges can leak, causing me to have to reprint important documents, thus wasting a lot of paper. In addition, some printer warranties may be void if you don’t use them according to the warranty (i.e., using non-recycled replacement cartridges). Check your warranty or contact the manufacturer to be certain.
• Are you buying a recycled product just because it’s recycled? Do you really need it, or are you just feeling better because you think you’re being greener? Consider whether you actually need the product.

Just cuz… it’s not our planet.

Skip The Bounty

Instead of using paper towels for those little wipe-ups, how about having a few old washcloths at hand.

You’ll save a few cents, and over time, will add a few trees to the forests.

Just cuz.

It Ain’t Just For Salads

Vinegar

The stuff is magic!

Did you know that there is actually a Vinegar Institute?  That’s where I started learning all the things that I could do with this magical elixir.  Some of the things I learned to do:

• Clean a coffee maker
• Wash a no-wax floor
• Paintbrush softener
• Flea & Tick repellant

I’m tellin’ ya, the stuff is magical!

So check out The Vinegar Institute, and learn some ways you can cut down on some of the harsh chemicals we introduce into our lives almost every day.

 

Just cuz.

Rain, Water, And Wash

It’s raining more often now that summer is (not officially) over. At least it seems that way.

I was thinking of all the water we use from our garden hoses on a regular basis, whether it be to water the lawn, or our gardens, or wash our cars.

Why not stop by one of those stores that sell those huge garbage cans, and dedicate one of the plastic garbage cans to collect your rain water. Then you can use the rain water collected to do some of those things that you would normally do with water from your garden hose.

Just a thought… just cuz!

Smell The Sunshine

Summer is nearing a close. But there is still time to harvest the energy of the sun before the rain and snow of Autumn and Winter blow into town.

Instead of using your dryer, take advantage of the few sunny days left and use a clothes line! Unfortunately, I live in an apartment situation and there isn’t any clothes line for met to use, but I do have a small and secluded backyard area. It’s the perfect place for a drying rack that I got from the store. And I can hang at least some of my stuff – my towels and pillow cases – on the rack to absorb the suns rays.

It saves me a few quarters in the dryer, but more importantly, it saves a little bit of electricity.

So save some electricity, just cuz…

Salt, Vinegar, And A Little Elbow Grease

It would be unthinkable to toss ALL of the chemicals that we purchase. Some things are just necessities of the twenty-first century, especially when it comes to cleaning products.

It’s certainly possible, however, to use SOME non-chemical alternatives. A simple Google search will help you find some ideas, like the one below that I found on OrganizedHome.com! (Just Cuz)

Furniture Polish

Most of us no longer use hard-to-apply furniture wax, but rely on oil-based polish to keep furniture protected and shiny.

Our “salad dressing” version avoids the danger of silicone oil, found in most commercial polishes and sprays. Silicone oil can penetrate tiny cracks in furniture finish and enter the wood, causing problems in the event refinishing is needed. Lemon juice dissolves dirt and smudges, while olive oil shines and protects the wood:

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice

Shake well and apply a small amount to a flannel cleaning rag or cleaning cloth. Spread evenly over furniture surface. Turn cloth to a dry side and polish dry.

Exchange 4 For 2 (Wheels, That Is…)

Gas prices seem to be decreasing slowly. This doesn’t mean we should go back to our old greedy ways of jumping in the car to make those short trips to the corner store, multiple trips during the week when you could have made one trip one time, or abandoning the thought of carpooling or sharing your shopping day with someone else.

These things are minor inconveniences compared to the inconvenience of pollution, ozone depletion, and eventual (again) high gas prices.

If you need to make a trip to the store to get some milk because when you were shopping with your two friends during your Shopping Club outing it slipped your mind, why not grab your empty backpack, dust off that Schwinn that’s been collecting dust in the garage for 8 years, and take a bike ride to the store!

If that wasn’t all… if you have the means, and you’re healthy enough, and your job isn’t a million miles from your home, consider taking your bike to work once a week.

It’s great exercise, it doesn’t pollute, and it’s a nice thing to do… just cuz!

Show Your Best Mug

I’m a coffee-holic, and have no plans to recover from this.

One of the little things I do when I stop by my local coffee shop (not one of those corporate ones — but I’ll talk more about that tomorrow), I take my 20 ounce travel mug with me. That way, when I get my five shot vanilla latte, I don’t have to waste a cup!

Now, I realize that this may make such an insignificant dent in deforestation and lumps of junk in the landfill, but if all of us avid coffee drinkers got together and did this, I’m thinking it may make one heck of a dent.

So bring a cup with you, just cuz!

Plant It!

Next time you’re in one of those lumber, home, and garden mega-stores, don’t forget to stop by the plant, shrubbery, and tree sections.

A cool thing to do as a family is to pick out a family tree, and then plant it together in your yard. Take time to learn about the kind of tree you planted, become an expert, and take turns tending to it’s care.

If you don’t have a yard, or live somewhere that you can plant a tree, check out the Arbor Day Foundation and donate a tree instead! Just cuz.

Help A Friend (Part 3)

I recently saw a posting on our employee bulletin board from someone seeking others in her area to share the ride to work.

I thought this would be an excellent Just Cuz Act idea!

Think of the money you could save if you and three friends carpooled. That’s four days a week you wouldn’t be using your car to and from work. I know that logistically, this can be a little difficult, and at times you will be driving many miles more on your one day than your normally would if you were coming straight to work. But it’s not going to be the same amount as all four days of driving!

If there isn’t anyone at your office, your city may have a hotline to call and leave your name and general area to match up with someone else – a great way to save those gallons as well as make a new friend!

Ask around your place of business, and share the ride, save some gas, have some morning chatter, just cuz!