by Micki Hiland

Created on: May 27, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2009

Thinking Green

Why should I worry about the planet? I'm a senior citizen. By the time things get really serious, I'll have moved on. Or, maybe, I'm a busy mom. I'm not going to wash diapers the way my mother did. What, are you crazy? Recycle? Reuse? Repurpose? Reduce? Not me.

We have been spoiled by the convenience decades. Buy it, use it, toss it, buy a new one. So, as we, you and I, indulge ourselves, the planet gasps, chokes and heaves up another pile of the debris we fed it. We need to start thinking and stop polluting right now; time is running out.

I have compiled a few easy ways to help you start thinking green. Try it. It's fun, it saves money, lots of money. Trust me, you will enjoy the added benefit of self-respect when you respect your planet. Start with plastics.

Plastics are born of dangerous polluters. Even recycling them creates another round of manufactured pollutants, and those plastic bags hanging in your trees after a windstorm? Yuk. Think fabric. Fabric bags are beautiful and strong. They don't rip open, exposing your purchases to the public. They're not just for groceries. They are great for transporting anything anywhere. I once received a big thank you at Goodwill for bringing my own bags. I have a thermal bag that protects my chilled items. Put your purse in one, so you'll remember to take them into the store, and maybe you'll light a candle for another unenlightened consumer.

Kitchen towels live long and we prosper. Set aside a few pretty dish cloths to use for napkins. They don't need ironing, and they last forever. Your ratty dish towels can have a second life under your Swiffer mop, instead of using a throwaway. You will be spraying with your own mix of white vinegar and water instead of purchasing the expensive cleaner, and there will be no batteries to replace. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, add a few drops of your favorite scented oil. Dampen the towel before you use it. It will stick to the underside of the mop just fine.

For dishcloths, really cheap bath wash cloths are available in pretty colors to match your decor. They can be washed in hot water, and will keep on serving. No more replacement of bacteria laden sponges. Keep a stack of older towels under the sink for quick wipe-ups. These would be on their second life, before they move to your mop. You don't need paper towels, except, perhaps, one roll for things like hairballs and puppy accidents. You save money, trees and landfills.

PLANT A TREE.

Trees

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