Green Household Cleaning

One of the simple and easy green things I have done for the past couple of years is drastically cut down my use of paper towels (kitchen roll). I now use a variety of items that I throw in the washing machine every few days. The only time I really use paper towels is on the rare occasions that I deep fry something or the that my dogs throw up. What do I use you ask? Well, here goes...

1. Wash cloths (flannels)- I bought a pack of a dozen or so wash cloths to use instead of paper towels when wiping counters or cleaning some dishes. They are so much cheaper than some of the towels specifically made for kitchen purposes and are a great size.

2. Sponges and textured cloths- I use sponges to do the washing up (no dishwasher here) and found some cloths with a textured backing (by Kitchen Aid), which are also great for washing dishes. These don't really replace paper towels, but I wash them all and reuse them, so they replace disposable sponges. When the sponges are nearing meeting their maker, they move on the becoming cleaning sponges (bathroom or stove).

3. Tea towels (cup towels, dish cloths)- I usually air dry my dishes, but I find tea towels to be most helpful in soaking up spills in any room of the house. I also use them when dusting or cleaning mirrors. I have been gifted or purchased some of my tea towels and highly absorbent cloths, but I also use t-shirts when they have become unwearable.

4. Cloth napkins- When I was living and working in France, I got in the habit of using the same cloth napkin for about a week. This works really well unless you are a very messy eater. I keep a cloth napkin on my desk at work to use at lunch time. I also use them at home and throw them in the wash every few days. I sometimes do use paper napkins because I absentmindedly buy pretty ones when at Ikea or someplace.

Like I said before, I wash these things every few days. I have a bucket near my washing machine where I toss them until there are enough for a small load in the washer. When they are clean, I hang them to dry either inside or outside. Tumble drying might be good for sanitizing, but I feel the sun is equally good. I also don't have a dryer, so I air dry everything (even in the winter when I have a curious system).

Another thing to consider is the length of time you can have your dirty towels standing. Houston is really a very humid place, and depending on your cooling system (mine is window units and doesn't quite cool the kitchen where I have my washing machine), your towels might start to mold or get smelly before you wash them. A good way to avoid this is to fill your bucket with cold water and a half cup of vinegar and some baking soda, if you have it, until you are ready to wash them. Still, keep an eye on the towels because you will lose them if they mold (or you could use them for car washing or the like).

CSA

So, it's been over three years since I've written in this blog. Well, I just got the urge to write because I finally joined (well wrote the check to mail tomorrow) a CSA (community supported agriculture).

I was trying to figure out how to get food this semester since I teach until after closing at my co-op. Just by chance, I checked the CSA I have been stalking for some time and found that they now have a drop spot in my neighborhood, and it's on Thursday evenings when I am not teaching! I am soooooo excited.

I also made an arrangement with the closing manager of the co-op (who happens to be one of my besties) to hold my fruit share on Wednesday nights (I'll get there when they are about to walk out the door), so I'll be able to get fruit at the co-op. The veg is more delicate in many ways, and I like to pick quality leafies, so I am really happy with getting my fruit from the co-op and veg from the CSA.

The CSA is in Brenham, TX, which is about 80 miles from Houston. That's really very local in terms of TX.

I'm really excited about all the winter greens and squashes I'll be cooking up this season. What a thrill to eat seasonally!

What else has happened in the past three years, you ask (or don't). I graduated from my master's program in humane education. I am proud of that accomplishment and all I learned during the program, but I have since begun another program, which I might talk about in another post. The thing I find so difficult about life is settling on one interest. I just have so many, and there are so many things worth focusing on. I really love what I do (teaching English) and I really love humane education. Combining the two is possible, and I do it, but it isn't easy.

Anyhoo, I'll sign out. Things are great here in Houston. I am happy, still with the Valentine I mentioned in the previous post, and I can't complain because in the grand scheme of things, none of the things I deal with are significant in terms of what others have to face on a daily basis.