Creating Eco-Friendly Homes: Room-by-Room

Next up on the eco-friendly homes list...let's comb your home, room-by-room. We've already gone through reducing waste, conservation, and general care topics (like cleaners and pesticides). Now I'm gonna help you sort through what can stay, what can go, and what you can improve in particular areas of the house. (I'm not going to help you sort laundry though. I have enough of my own dirty underwear to go through, thankyouverymuch.)

This is a BIG topic, and this section is still under construction, so don't hesitate to tell me what you'd like to see...or even better, submit your own article to me and share your massive genius with the world!

Let's Start in the Kitchen, Shall We?

It is where we spend most of our time. Three meals a day, snacks in between, and ohmygoodness, constantly cleaning up. There's a lot of magic and mayhem happening in this room of your eco-friendly homes.

A lot of the tips we've covered in other Home sections can easily be applied here. What can you simplify? What can you make from scratch? What can you do without? How can you consume less water? Where can you purchase used? Let's look at ways we can make these things happen.

• Let's start with food and how to afford the good stuff
• Nature's Nonstick Cookware: Cast Iron (What, Why, and How To)
• Bamboo: The Only Naturally Antibacterial Cutting Board
• 110+ Tips on Conserving Water (in every room)
• Natural Household Cleaners
• Greening Your Kitchen with Natural Materials (coming soon!)
• The Sustainable Spectrum of Large Appliances (coming soon!)
• Sustainable Options in Small Appliances (coming soon!)
• The Greenest Way to Filter and Purify Water (coming soon!)
• Solar Cooking (coming soon!)

Next Up, The Bathroom

So we might not spend as much time there (or at least I hope not), but there's still a lot to talk about. It's where much of our water waste occurs, and where many household chemicals are hidden.

Look at how long your showers last, which shower items are filled with questionable chemicals, and even what your towels and washcloths are made from? What can you change? Do your towels need to be washed as often, or can they last a couple more days? Do they need to be replaced so soon? Check out more in-depth ideas below...

• 110+ Tips on Conserving Water (in every room)
• The Dangers of Recycled Toilet Paper (and a truly sustainable alternative)
• Greening Your Personal Care Products
• Composting Toilets (coming soon!)
• Solar Showers (coming soon!)

Let's Not Leave Out the Bedroom

Okay, I lied. The kitchen isn't where we spend most of our time. The bedroom is. In fact, sleeping accounts for about 1/3 of our life. Ignoring this area is not a good idea.

Hidden toxins are a big one here, especially in your mattress. But what about buying a used dresser and remodeling it? Upcycling something unique into a headboard? Even turning old clothing into a new quilt? How often do your sheets really need washing? Check out some more ideas for eco-friendly homes below...

• What's in Your Mattress: Toxins, Mold and More?
• Options for Eco-Friendly Mattresses (coming soon!)
• Choosing the Right Eco-Friendly Bedding (coming soon!)
• For Adult Eyes Only (Oh yeah, I'm going there soon too!)

Last But Not Least, The Laundry Room

Thankfully, this is NOT where I spend the most of my time, but depending on how many live in your home, you might be growling at me right now. (Nanner nanner boo. I hate laundry too.) As always, there's some overlap between this section and other sections of this site.

Water conservation is a big one. So are the appliances (or lack thereof) you use, and the cleaners you choose. It might even be as simple as what I asked above about washing sheets or towels a few days later. Check out the ideas below:

• Can Your Washing Machine be Sustainable? (coming soon!)
• Line Drying Options in Every Size Home (coming soon!)
• How to Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent (coming soon!)