Get a Green Lifestyle in your Home

Posted on 17/07/2010

Here at Clear Lets we’re well aware of the growing trend for sustainable homes.

And as a tenant you maybe haven’t provided the raw materials for the property in which you’re living, but there’s still plenty of ways to make your lifestyle in your rented property as environmentally-friendly as possible. For instance, you could reduce pollution, energy and waste in your home. You could also think about who you buy groceries and other household products from.

Of course, an easy way to save on bills is to buy energy-efficient lightbulbs and turn off the lights every time you leave the room (doing this will save you around £10 a year). Lining curtains can also save heat. So can putting a shelf above a radiator to direct heat into the room (maybe best check with your landlord first!)

Make yourself a sustainable cleaning kit. All you need is bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice, white vinegar and tea tree oil (it’s far healthier/cheaper than the shop-bought alternatives):

Polish furniture using two parts vegetable/olive oil to one part lemon juice and apply with a soft cloth.

Wash windows and mirrors using two tablespoons of vinegar to two pints of water. If there’s streaks left over from your old cleaner you can add liquid soap. Polish with newspaper

Clean ovens, worktops and sinks using damp bicarbonate of soda

Wipe tiles with white vinegar

Clean your toilet using half a cup of baking soda, a quarter of white vinegar and ten drops of tea tree oil. This will also give your toilet a lovely fresh smell

Remove stains from fabrics with lemon juice, tea tree oil or white vinegar

Clothes can be starched using a mixture of two teaspoons of corn starch to one pint cold water. Pour into a spray bottle

Easy ‘Green’ tips:

Place a water-saving device in your toilet and save two pints of water every time you flush

Boiling a kettle? Don’t fill it up as this will use more electricity

Many fruit/veg have their own skins and don’t need packaging eg bananas, kiwis, lychees, onions etc

Use bio-degradable paper for wrapping sandwiches eg greaseproof paper/paper bag or a re-usable container

Use a hot water bottle instead of an electric blanket

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth

Soap lasts longer than shower gel and can be made with bio-degradable ingredients

Keeping your car tyres inflated can mean five per cent less on your fuel bill

For further info on maintaining a ‘Green’ lifestyle contact Clear Lets staff at any of our offices throughout Scotland.