Even with a good sale and coupons, a roll of paper towel costs at least $.75. Once used, they are gone and fill local landfills.
With more than 90 percent of American households using paper towels for daily cleaning, 30 percent of all landfills are composed of paper -- and paper towels make up as much as 10 percent.
Consider using reusable paper towels. Charlotte-based Pure Sky Living offers a greener and stylish alternative. The reusable “paper towels” are made of 100 percent natural cotton and last 2-3 years. The double sided knit terry can be stored in a wicker basket or they can be hung on a cabinet knob for reuse.
Find out more at Pure Sky Living.
More green cleaning tips
From cozi.com
Cleaning with vinegar
· Clean the tub using a 40/60 solution of vinegar to hot tap water. Let the vinegar/water solution soak in the bottom of the tub for about 15 minutes and then scrub with a brush and drain. Rinse with hot water. If you don't like the vinegar smell, don't worry -- it will go away after you rinse the tub.
· Put some vinegar in a baggy and use a rubber band to strap it the shower head to clean away buildup.
· Mop your kitchen floor with a vinegar/water mix. The vinegar smell will go away when the floor dries.
· Clean your kitchen cabinets and any woodwork with an equal mix of white vinegar and hot water. Add a few drops of olive oil to leave a nice shine behind. Use this same mixture to mop your hardwood floors -- it leaves them beautiful.
· Clean out your coffee pot by running a mix of vinegar and water through, like you're making coffee. (Be sure to keep the carafe underneath!) The vinegar combined with the heat will leave your coffee pot like new (and your coffee will taste better too!. P.S. This is also a trick I use when I want to use my coffee pot to make hot water (it removes all the coffee taste that would otherwise be there).
· Soften your clothes by adding 1/4-1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. White vinegar will also whiten your white clothes, but it's not as damaging as chlorine bleach. You can use it in every load, not just once a month!
· Prevent that mildew smell by adding 1/4 cup of white vinegar to sheets and towels, shower curtains and other household linens.
Cleaning with rubbing alcohol
· Bathroom counter: Use a box of baby wipes (any brand) and add some rubbing alcohol. When the sink needs a quick wipe down, pull a baby wipe and wipe everything down. · Faucets: Wipe them with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to make sparkling new.
· Granite counter tops: After wiping off the grease or crumbs with a dishcloth, use a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and tap water to bring back the shine.
