Going green - in baby steps

Since I quit working and got my first subscription to "Organic Style" (not around anymore) I've been trying to be more "environmentally conscious". I don't really buy cleaners at the store anymore. Once in a while I'll buy something that supposed to be "natural" like the new Clorox green line or Mrs. Meyers. But I usually just use the good ol' basics - vinegar, baking soda, and borax with a little liquid soap thrown in. I even try to buy liquid soap that is not made from a petroleum derivitive - so as not to support our dependence on the oil companies. These are getting easier to find in regular stores - by the way. I've changed almost all of my lights over to the enery-efficient versions. I try to use towels, rags, and cloth napkins instead of paper towels. I try to limit things like bottled water or anything else "disposable" that takes up space in land fills. With all that said, I've still got a long way to go but at least I'm moving in the right direction. (I'll list some vices so I don't look like a "goody-goody": disposable diapers - tons with two boys in diapers! -, baby wipes, I haven't gone down to the city building to buy the special bags I need to recycle, washing some clothes in hot water still, enjoying too long of a shower, anti-bacterial wipes in the bathrooms, and much more!)

Recently, I've made an investment in a retractable clothes line. Go ahead Mom - you have permission to laugh at me and say "you thought it was ridiculous when I hung our clothes out on the line years ago!" I did.

I have to say that I feel very good when I walk my little basket of wet clothes outside to hang with cute little clothes pins. And even better when I take them down all nice and neatly folded in my basket. I am proud that I used the sun instead of my dryer. Not only did I save money (esp. since I just found out we pay more than double what my mom does for electricity) and energy by not using the dryer but my air conditioner didn't have to run extra to cool down the house from the heat that would have been created. At least that's how I see it.