Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle

[Lil Me]

What are some neat tips and strategies you use?  Let's share ideas.
 --
 
 Yesterday, I re-used some old books and magazines by leaving them in the mailroom of my complex.  Someone took them.
 
 I keep old towels and shirts as cleaning rags, up to a point.  (limted storage space)
   

[P.C.]

Rats.....my post disappeared.

  Using cloth shopping bags will reduce the bazillion plastic bags you accumulate in a month.

  I use old towels/sheets/cotton socks too, as cleaning rags.  A cotton sock worn on your hand is a great duster.

  I also fill a spray bottle with vinegar and water to clean all non-wood surfaces.  Works great and deodorizes at the same time.

[Lil Me]

 Hey!  Dusting can be more fun now!
   

[P.C.]

 HAHAHAHAAAAAAA.....AHAHHAHHAHAA.......thanks Lil Me.  I was in need of a good laugh.

  Yes....you too can enjoy dusting just like June Cleaver, when you use a sock. [/DIV]

[Lise]

Whenever possible, I use a big grocery bags to carry my grocery items. No point in using plastic bags if I can  help it.

  I recycle any parts of paper and newspaper and whatever around.

  I told my dentist to recycle the metallic part for our films. I don't know if she's doing it right now but it seems like such a waste at work. I even got her to call the company that takes in the recycle metallic part... they will pay a percentage. At our office we go through so much films that it seems like such a waste for not doing anything about it.

  I don't use water bottle if I can help it. I now refill containers and bring them with us whenever.

[Gopher]

Re-use envelopes (postage stamps too - if they're not marked), type on both sides of the paper. Buy as much as you can that's second-hand - take old clothes (or those you don't like) to places which collect them for charity.

[P.C.]

What's an envelope ?  [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c025.gif" border=0]

[Gopher]

Those things which contain letters, they're usually coloured brown and are packed with red tape

[Sportsdude]

recycle old electronics. Like your old tv that doesn't work, computer that's outdated etc.  

[P.C.]

lol.....just teasing you Gophie.  I think I can count on one hand how many envelopes I've used in the last 5 years.

  Another thing to consider is making your own household cleaning products.  Easy as pie....cheap and effective.  Use baking soda instead of Comet to clean sinks etc.  

[Gopher]

Vinegar's pretty good for almost everything, too

[P.C.]

 P.C. wrote:



I also fill a spray bottle with vinegar and water to clean all non-wood surfaces.  Works great and deodorizes at the same time.

  Stay with the tour Gophie.  [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c033.gif" border=0][/DIV]

[Gopher]

I'm endeavouring to re-join it.

[P.C.]

[img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/c008.gif" border=0]  ....and doing a mighty fine job.

[Russ]

Uh, I leave the country for six months of the year.. does that count?

  I tend to pass on my older books and stuff I dont want anymroe to friends. Same thing with stuff like furniture and tv's.. I offer them to friends or <gasp> I even use craigslist.

  Old clothes if I dont use them for rags first, I will bring over here to africa, and at the end of my trip I will offer them to the crew onboard or to the locals onshore. They will use them until they fall to pieces..

  I have actually been on a replace old appliances and equipment spree with more power efficient ones, and have those new lightbulbs and timers for lights in various places of the house now. Dont know if they will help, but at least it feels like I am, lol!