Tips for Making an Eco-Friendly Move
Thursday August 2, 2007
Moving your stuff from one place to another can be a wasteful but unavoidable process, but there are ways to reduce the harmful ecological effects of moving. These simple tips will help you make a more eco-friendly move by reducing waste (and stress), and helping you find environmentally friendly moving and cleaning supplies. Photo courtesy of Earth Friendly Moving
Comments
An Eco-Friendly move? Lets chop this term up a little bit.
Only a few generations ago people stayed in just one area.The house they were born in was most likely their parents were also born ,perhaps grand parents.
Today ,what is the norm?How many times does an American family move in their lifetime?
They buy bigger homes then they need which causes many Envirobnmental problems, Their Employment usually is over 10 miles away One-Way. The communte in their own personal vehicles usually without any other passengers.
And their very building of New homes cause a Domino effect where Strip Malls , Shopping centers and new roads,and streets are built all because of them moving.
Now, shall I try to get to the point of this article?
Ok first if you nttice the Person moving is pushing plastic containers Which many toxic chemicals were used just to make those things.
Now cleaning supplies/ If you look inside a normal home today you will not find real interlocking wood floors.which did in fact need a few chemicals to keep them protected from normal wear, but they might last a hundred years so you could say they were environmentally friendly.
The inside of today’s normal dwelling you find overwelmmingly man made furniture and building material all leaching there toxcities . And the cleaning supplies just as bad .
Question ? Can we still clean even this man made stuff with natural cleaners like salt, vinager and basking soda?
Yes you can ,but it will take longer ,and you have to keep at it daily so the spills and stains don’t set in. Ah but wasn’t that what Grandma use to do ,and she raised how many children did the cooking and wash, plus still had time to give for church and other honorable causes.
Again, I have seen this article maybe 10 times over the last 30 years.
How many peeople have changed their ways because of it? Where I shop I still do not see store racks for Natural Cleaners,or detergents,Clensers, even real brooms are hard to find. Anyone have one of those no power push to clean Carpet Sweepers? Can you find them in many stores? I doubt it. I got my two from Yard sales and the both still do pick up the dirt and I don’t even have to buy bags for them. Lets see the one I have had oh 20 years . The other just got it this year.
Remember those old Porcelan Bath tubs?
We had one for 30 years without one scratch and it was still shining when I left my old home.
Now ,I have a Fiberglass tub. Soapscum and mildew and mold love it..
Can you clean it with harmless cleaners. Probably,but when you do you have to keep it clean as a penny daily .
You cannot scour then or use most clensors on it . You must rinse with clean water and wipe it completely dry with every use.
Or if you clean the tub daily add a little vineger to the water and I use old course wash rags and tea towels to keep it clean.
Well I am a bit off the track as far as moving right?
Ok lets talk more about the moving Ecowise.Are you prepared to use all the fixings and Furniture you had in the one house in the other?
If not then either try and sell what you do not need or put it on Freecycle for others to pick up and reuse.
Today there are more and more of these storage facilities which are a waste of everything environment Your precious keepsakes and even your wallet.
Then you have he many plants you might have started in your yard. You can take some of them along Cuttings from roses, bulbs ,seeds .Even that old swing on that back tree that your grown children made good use of. The new owners will be afraid of it .
Last set down roots at your new home. Get to know your neighbors ,Join local organizations atend local Carnavals etc?
And yes ther can be great energy saved by doing this last thing. Entertainment wise can be right in your neigborhood instead of some muluple movie house.
Having dinner with your neighbors instead of some farther away resturant.
Sharing the toil shoveling snow or cleaning up after a storm.
All this and more just from saying hello and trying to be a good neighbor.
Why not too long ago neighbors use to help you move and your new neighbors helped you move in. Yes that happen when I moved.
If you want to try to change the world you do it one person at a time.
Those green cleaners ? There is no law that you cannot reccomend them to others in the neighborhood.
Happy Moving