Urban Ecoist

Are you using too much detergent? Have you read the instructions on the box to see how much you are supposed to use? Sometimes, the scoops they provide are larger than needed. (An evil trick to make you use more.) Try an experiment with using less detergent until you find the smallest amount you need to still make a load clean. Then mark your scoop at that level (permanent marker works great for this.)

I personally have found that the small 1 tbsp scoop is enough of even my liquid detergent to get the clothes clean.

I know I posted about it several weeks back, but I wanted to provide an update. I got the Jimi wallet this morning in the post. It came in a small bubble-lite envelope made of 100% recycled paper (25% PCR - post consumer?) It is teal. It came with a small operator’s manual stuck inside. Filled with witty quips, it seems really more for laughs than for instruction. And if you were able to open the Jimi in the first place, I doubt you really need the instructions. But they are quite novel.

My initial thoughts on it are that it might not hold enough credit cards for the average user. It will only hold 5 - 4 in the credit card slot and 1 in the money clip. The manual says it can hold 3 folded bills, so while I don’t typically carry money, I might fit a couple more cards there. We’ll see.

It’s my post to test it out for a minimum of two weeks, then provide feedback. I’m think after that I should use it 2 more weeks then provide my final assessment (or make any modifications to my original assessment.)

Actually, there’s so much that I could say about the CNN article on a new electric car… it would make an article in and of itself. And honestly, I’d rather you read the author’s words than mine.

But I was talking this over with one of my coworkers who seemed to think that the ideas presented in the article were the dumbest he’d heard in quite some time. He thinks that employer’s would never provide solar powered charging stations. He doesn’t think that Americans would rent the batteries for their cars (understanding that by doing so you decrease the actual cost of the car, though your total payment would probably be the same.) But he says that “if it doesn’t save the average consumer money, then it’s not really resolving the battery concern, just putting a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

I’m not going to tell you everything he said, because it might make you as angry as it made me. Regardless of whether the idea is perfect or not, it is a step in the right direction, and I don’t think that part can be denied. My point is simply this: there will have to come a time when we make decisions based on betterment rather than money, or we will all die - and what good is money when you are dead?

Due to my skin issues and really just wanting to be better to myself, I’ve followed a lot of the information and reviews about the chemicals we put on and in our bodies. Wednesday, I had to go to the dentist for a cleaning. After the procedure, I was instructed to use Fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash.

I’ve read about fluoride and how bad it is and that it doesn’t help fight cavities. So, I’d stopped using fluoride toothpaste years ago. Now, I know that public drinking water is fluoridated. But because I was trying not to had more plastic to the landfill I skipped on the bottled water - opting to try and decrease my fluoride exposure. And of course, I’ve known that several of the bottled waters are tap water, some bottles have actually said it from day one.

But now, a major vendor is coming forward and stating that their water is also tap water. Meaning Aquafina drinkers trying to avoid fluoride, might not have ever really avoided it.

*sigh*

Seems like we can’t win.

dentist, fluoride, poison, bottled water, tap water, Aquafina, PepsiCo

Although I’m sure you will read otherwise, and I know a lot of frugal persons really hold on to and embrace their ‘cheapskate’ titles, frugality is not always a sign of being cheap.

There are a lot of ideas and tips out there that not only will save you money but are good for the environment as well. Take fabric softener for instance (I mention in only because my dead phone still has a lingering fresh scent), it’s not really good for you, but it’s also not good for the environment. Here’s why.  But did you know that there are cheaper alternatives? Did you know that plain old vinegar works just as well? That’s not al. That’s hardly the tip of the iceburg!
So, for the love of all those eco-friendly, frugalist, wannabes - here’s a list of sites to frequent. Please keep in mind that while frugal does not always equal cheapskate… frugal does not always mean the most eco-friendly choice either. Use your best judgment.

Frugal Homemaker Plus
Frugal Babe
Young and Broke
The Weight of Money
Sorta Frugal
Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood
Stop the Ride
Like Merchant Ships
Savvy Saver
Simply Thrifty
Frugal For Life
Live Frugal
Mighty Bargain Hunter
Kirby on Finance
Educating the Wheelers
Wenchypoo’s Warehouse
Punny Money
Space Between My Peers
The Homespun Heart
All Financial Matters
Motherload-Mom Advice Blog
Pat Veretto’s FL
MotherLoad
Money Matter and More Musings

I was blog surfing yesterday and came across the blog of a woman (EnviroWoman) who has decided to live plastic free for 2007. She has made the commitment to only utilize the plastic that was existent in her life on December 31, 2006. In her blog she details the struggles she has finding things as simple as deodorant, when it seems our whole world is made on plastic. I looked around my office here and thought - there’s no way. No more pain relievers, no more DVDs, no bottled water (which I’d have a problem with because the fluoride in tap water is just as bad), no CFLs!!! But that being said, I can appreciate her efforts, and her drive.

On her site, she links to an article that I think everyone should read. It’s long, so I’ll warn you now. But it’s definitely a worthwhile read.

Go to www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more about donating your business clothing to Dress for Success, a not-for-profit agency that helps low-income women get back into the workforce.

donate, low-income, clothing, Green Tip Tuesday

Never wash your cell phone with your sheets. Both your sheets and your phone may come out clean, but only one will still be able to provide its intended function.

That’s exactly what I did yesterday. I was talking on the phone to my mother. When I got off the phone, I just laid the phone down. At some point in the next few minutes, it got covered by a sheet or pillow or something. Either way, it was wrapped up in the sheets that I tossed in the washing machine only a few minutes later. Twenty four hours after that, the phone still will not power up, and thus I am on a quest to find a new phone. Honestly, I was fine with the phone I had. But this whole situation has brought up a couple of questions for me…

What do I do with my water soaked a.k.a. dead phone? And would buying a refurbished device be more eco-friendly?

So, I read in a magazine not too long ago about a company, SellYourCell.com, that will buy your used (though 100% working) cell phone. SellYourCell.com is dedicated to the idea that used cell phones can have their useful lives extended with re-marketing. Re-marketing can and does result in lengthening the life of an individual phone and indirectly reduces the need for the purchase of a new phone. Extending the life of products in these ways are a recognized means of effective recycling.

Unfortunately, my phone isn’t working and therefore I can’t send it to them. My carrier is T-Mobile. To my amazement, with a little bit of digging, I was able to find that T-Mobile excepts old cell phones, working or not, any carrier, which they then donate to their T-Mobile Huddle Up program.

As far as refurbished devices, I would have to assume that they are more eco-friendly than a new phone. Should you decide to go this route, ReplaceYourCell.com, has quite a selection of unlocked, and ready to use phones.

Okay… but I don’t get it.

It’s a bag. It doesn’t do the laundry or mow the lawn. It doesn’t put cream cheese on my bagel. It’s a bag. Just a plain, old, ordinary bag.

A bag so insecure about its place in the bag hierarchy that it feels the need to proclaim, “I’m not a plastic bag.” Well duh.

I mean, am I missing something here? I mean they sold out in 29 minutes in NYC. Who cares if Keira Knightly was last seen carrying one? It’s a bag, folks! If your friend jumped off the Empire State Building, would you?

You would? Oh, well then, nevermind.

I’m not a plastic bag, keira knightly, Anya, plastic, bag

You remember the jingle, right? Transformers! More than meets the eye! Well that’s exactly what I heard in my head when I first saw the unique products available over at nobodyandco. The Piccolo table and bench were the first items I was exposed to from their product line. The interesting thing about these two items is that since they are constructed of single slats of wood, when you tug on them, the furniture lengthens making a longer table and a longer bench. Now there’s room for everyone at the picnic table.

Of course, if you look around their site a bit more, you’ll find La Bibliochaise (my favorite) which is a chair whose exterior is a book case, as well as the Piola. And while it make not be the most efficient use of space, it is by far the most unusual bookcase I’ve ever seen.

Like a scene right out of Little Shop of Horrors, botanicals have just made a leap forward on the evolutionary food chain. Well, not really. But with the technology provided by Botanicalls, your very own Audrey II’s can call you when they are thirsty. And even better than your teenager, they’ll also call you to say, “Thank you.”

Check out the video here. And this is hilarious.

Direct your browser on over to GreenMaps.org. There you can get the scoop (and the map) on all your local ‘Green’ stores and services.

Not finding anything? Sign up to participate and put your city on the map!!

green tip tuesday, greenmaps, green maps, locate, shop, stores, maps

And of course, I meant, don’t put that in the recycling bin just yet. Not because I need to water the plants, or lug a gallon of water anywhere (which seems to be all that mine get reused for). I want to make a lamp out of it.

“A lamp, you say? How’s that?”

“Well, I found this really neat kit that I can buy online that will let me turn that milk jug into a festival lamp. Its a Milkit.”

That incredulous look I know so well….

“I’m serious. That’s its name!”

“A lamp?” You look at me skeptically.

“Okay, a party light! We can use it at the luau next month.” I say as I quickly leave the room.

“What luau?”

(No really… I think they are cute.)

Want to ‘green’ your life, but not sure where to start?

Green Options’ free e-course will teach you how to lighten your environmental impact, without sacrificing comfort or breaking the bank.

ecourse, green options, online course, email

There’s been lots of talk lately about reducing your carbon footprint and your negative impact by purchasing locally grown produce. The idea being that if it’s grown locally, it required less energy to get to you. It’s a really great idea I think, but sometimes its hard to find the local farmer’s market. This website can help. http://www.localharvest.org/

Do you realize that a majority of the produce in the US is picked about a week before being placed on supermarket shelves? On average its shipped anywhere from 1000 to 2000 miles before being sold. When you take into account produce imported from Mexico, Asia, Canada, South America, and other places, those distances can grow exponentially.

Imagine all the food wasted through the shipping process. All the CO2 released through the burning of gas to transport it. Think of all the packaging that can be reused because the merchandise is just dropped off…

It really just makes more cents to buy locally if you can.