5. May 2008 by Lisa.

I stack and clip coupons out of ten newspapers every Sunday. I’m tired of the papers overflowing my too-small-already recycling bin. I’m recycling them in our home and saving money.

I cut off the folds and cut right up the middle of the paper. This makes the pieces perfect size for disposing feminine hygiene products and I’m saving toilet paper doing this.

I pile the cut papers in a basket and store them under the sink. I have a master bath so guests will never see this. However, I’m not the only woman in the home. My daughter is using this method as well, so together we’re saving double the toilet paper, money and countless trees!

Please email me if you have any other great ideas about what we can do with all these papers.

Posted in GREEN LIVING | 5 Comments »

5. May 2008 by Lisa.

Aren’t we all hooked on this extremely convenient, non-messy, high priced product? I certainly am. Even with coupon shopping, you can’t beat the price of making your own.

Needed:

cylindrical plastic food storage container, 10-cup capacity
extra-large roll of paper towels
cleaning agents of your choice (recipes follow)
electric drill with 1/2-inch drill bit
electric knife
liquid measuring cups

Instructions:

Use electric drill to drill a 1/2-inch diameter hole in the center of the container lid.

Use an extra-large roll of quality paper towels for this project. Less expensive towels fray or shred when pulled through the holder; thicker quilted towels have greater cleaning strength and withstand more scrubbing.

Without removing the paper towel wrapper, use the electric knife to cut the paper towel roll into two shorter rolls. Save the second roll for a refill later. Be patient. It may take up to two minutes to cut through the towel roll and cardboard tube inside.
Remove the wrapper, and place one short paper towel roll inside plastic food storage container (still on the roll). Using a liquid measuring cup, gently pour one of the following cleaning solution recipes over the top of the paper towel roll.

You will need between 2 and 4 cups of cleaning solution, depending on the size and absorbency of the paper towels selected. These recipes make about three cups of solution; increase or decrease amounts if needed.

General Surface Cleaning:

1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1 1/2 cups water

Disinfectant Cleaning:

1/4 to 1/2 cup pine cleaning solution such as Pine-Sol brand
2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cup water

Window and Glass Cleaning:

1/2 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
2 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Place the lid on the plastic food storage container, and allow paper towels to absorb cleaning solution for 4 hours to overnight.

Open the food storage container. Gently pull the wet cardboard tube from the center of the paper towel roll and discard. Carefully pull the end of the paper towels from the inside, where the cardboard roll had been. Thread the end of the towels through the hole in the lid, and replace the lid.

Pull gently on the exposed end to separate the cleaning wipe.

Tips:

As you use the wipes, they will begin to dry out, so add more water/cleaning solution as necessary. Allow wipes to stand overnight before use.

You may vary the strength of the cleaning solutions as necessary for your household, using more cleaning agents for a stronger wipe, less solution and more water for a milder product.

Posted in GREEN LIVING | No Comments »