More and more people are becoming aware of the environment and, as they do so, they start to think of ways that they can become more environmentally friendly in their own homes.  One of the biggest “earth unfriendly” areas in the home is the kitchen so we thought it’d be a good idea to give you some easy ways that you can start to green your kitchen.  If you’ve taken these on board already and are looking for more ideas, have a chat with your local kitchen professional.

Swap to Cloth

How many of you rely on paper towels to wipe up spills and messes in the kitchen?  It’s understandable as they’re so convenient and relatively cheap too but they’re not the most environmentally friendly option.  Rather, buy a few microfibre cleaning cloths that can do the same task!  If the thought of reusable cloths freaks you out, don’t worry. They can be easily soaked in disinfectant to sterilise and then machine washed.  You can also replace them every few months as necessary.

Opt for a Water Filter

Are you addicted to bottled water or are you scared of drinking the tap water because of any potential “nasties”?  The solution is to use a water filter of some sort to give you fresh, clean water day in day out.  There are systems that attach to your piping or tap or you can simply use a filter jug.  It’s up to you and your budget!

Ditch the Plastics

It’s well known that plastics are taking over the world and that they take forever to break down!  The key is to replace the plastic bowls and containers in your kitchen with greener options such as glass or stainless steel.  You don’t have to do it all at once - that’s expensive! – but you can make a point of replacing one item each week or replacing plastic with a green alternative as it becomes old, stained, or loses its lid.  Before you know it, you’ll have a kitchen that is plastic free!

Use Green Cleaners

It’s well known that powerful kitchen cleaning agents can be damaging to the environment and to our health as a whole.  If using harsh cleaners worries you, try and make the switch to greener alternatives.  Excellent natural cleaning agents include white vinegar and bicarb soda, or you can buy greener cleaning options in your supermarket.

Recycle and Compost

Do you find yourself constantly taking rubbish out to the bin?  Instead of just throwing it away indiscriminately, try to get better at recycling and composting.  Kitchen scraps and vegetable waste are perfect for going on your compost heap and you’ll get a rich fertiliser for your garden for your efforts!  Recycle glass and plastic containers as well as your tins and you’ll find that the amount of actual waste that you create is more than halved!