Green Living: Take our Earth Day Challenge!

Give it up for Earth Day! Earth Day is on April 23rd and this year we’re challenging you to give something up for a year. If you still think you’re too small to make a difference, then you’ve clearly never spent a night with a mosquito! You can help to save our planet by taking our Earth Day Challenge and let us know what you’re giving up or taking on for Earth Day 2013.

Here are some green living Earth Day suggestions:

Clean green: Detergents are SO BAD for the environment. Use biodegradable ones or punch dirt in the throat with our natural cleaning remedies that you can make with stuff from your kitchen: recipes here.

Give up the bottle: Bottled water isn’t necessarily better for you than your local water supply. Still, its understandable that you may not want to use tap water. In that case, choose a water filter that you can use instead of buying bottled water. Aside from creating masses of garbage, the plastic that bottled water is made from can be harmful to your health. If you are in a bind and MUST use bottled water, turn the bottle over and purchase only numbers 1, 2, 4 or 5 as 3, 6 and 7 could pose a health threat.

Recycle: Yes, we know you do, but who among us hasn’t been too lazy to rinse out their yogurt container? It’s so much easier to toss it in the trash, but remember that every little bit helps. Still using plastic? 12 Million barrels of oil annually go into making plastic bags for the US alone. Put some reusable bags into your car or hang them on your front door handle if, like me, you are always forgetting to take them shopping with you. Make sure that you recycle that pile of plastic bags under the sink!

Hang it up: Use a clothes line instead of the dryer. It’s better for your clothes and your utilities bills. Want to be even nicer to your clothes? Turn your machine to a cold wash cycle and use biodegradable detergents. They are much gentler on fabrics. Tough stains? Make a paste of baking soda and water and rub it on the stain prior to washing.

Share your Earth Day challenges with us on our Facebook Page so that others can be inspired by the cleverness of you!

The Earth Day Network are running a really great feature called the ‘faces of climate change’. Upload your photo here to participate.