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Easy Green: Weekend Detox for Your Home
A few small changes to your home over the weekend can help improve your health (and your cash flow) every day
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
Looking to green up your home but not sure where to start? Try this simple plan for a weekend home detox. Covering Friday to Sunday, it is packed with easy tips to help the planet, save cash and have more fun.
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Friday after work: Unplug. Save energy and recharge your own batteries by spending Friday evening without your usual tech devices. Take advantage of the longer days by taking a small snack, a book and a refreshing drink outdoors to savor the last few moments of light. No yard? Hit up your local park.
Later, dust off decks of cards, board games and neglected craft projects for an evening of old-school fun.
Later, dust off decks of cards, board games and neglected craft projects for an evening of old-school fun.
by Jeanette Lunde
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Saturday morning: Clean the air. Open up those windows and let the fresh air in. This simple step can make a big difference in indoor air quality, which is usually worse than outside, even in cities. Try to crack a few windows for at least 15 minutes each day to keep your home's air clean.
Next, grab your coat and your coffee because I am sending you on a little errand. Visit a local nursery (or even your grocery store) and treat yourself to a flowering plant. This small act will undoubtedly lift your spirits, and it will help detox the air to boot.
Next, grab your coat and your coffee because I am sending you on a little errand. Visit a local nursery (or even your grocery store) and treat yourself to a flowering plant. This small act will undoubtedly lift your spirits, and it will help detox the air to boot.
| Reduce and recycle. Take a walk through your home, scooping up excess clutter as well as those pesky electronics you've been meaning to take to the recycling center. Your home will feel lighter, and you will be doing the earth a favor when you donate and recycle unwanted items rather than throwing them in the trash. |
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by Nicole Lanteri
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| Now let's take a look in your pantry. This is a great opportunity to toss unhealthy packaged foods, plus anything that is expired. Consider storing healthy staples in clear glass containers where you are likely to reach for them. When it's time to hit the store again, try using the bulk bins for some of your purchases to reduce packaging waste and save money. |
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| Getting hungry? It's time to plan some home-cooked meals for the next few days. Cooking at home means you don't need to dispose of all of those takeout containers, plus it's usually healthier and cheaper. While you are at the market, also scoop up a few natural cleaning products. Most on the market now work just as well as traditional cleaners and smell much better. Want to really pinch pennies? Some people swear that baking soda and vinegar can clean just about anything. For bonus points, pick up a water filter and ditch your plastic water bottle habit. |
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Saturday evening: Go paperless. Before you go out, take a half-hour or so to sign up for online statements for your household accounts and cancel any subscriptions you are no longer enjoying. A short time spent setting things up now will prevent a mountain of paperwork from entering your home in the future.
Get tips and online tools for taking the paperless plunge
Get tips and online tools for taking the paperless plunge
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by Amy Lau Design
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| Bedtime: Make your bedroom a tech-free zone. Remove as many electronic devices as possible from your bedroom and see what a difference it makes in the way you feel. To have a more restful sleep, try turning off the TV and Internet at least a half-hour before you turn in. 8 Decorating Ideas for a Good Night's Sleep |
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| Sunday: Plant something. Plants help clean the air and keep our planet cool. Do your part and take advantage of whatever space you have to grow something. Don't have a huge yard? Not a problem. Get creative with container planting, a vertical garden or even a pot of herbs on your windowsill. |
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| Go a step further and bring home a tree for indoors or out. Indoor trees make for dramatic decor and do a wonderful job of cleaning the air. Bamboo, philodendron and rubber plants are all great choices. |
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Sunday evening: Have a social dinner. End the weekend by starting a new dinner tradition. Whether you keep it small or invite lots of friends and family is up to you; the point is to slow down and connect. If your unplugged evening went well on Friday, consider going unplugged again this evening. You could even shut off the lights and have a candlelit dinner.
More:
10 Ways to Go Greener Through Design
Reclaim Room to Breathe
More:
10 Ways to Go Greener Through Design
Reclaim Room to Breathe
Ideabook published on March 30, 2012.
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