I’m talking to all you soon-to-be freshmen out there, so listen up! Your parents have been busting their butts trying to turn you into functioning members of society for the past 18-ish years and while our job never ends, it’s now up to you to start making some smart choices on your own. Much like shower fungus (don’t forget your flip-flops) being eco-friendly can be super contagious so if you play your cards right, before you know it you’ll have your whole dorm joining in the fight to save Mother Earth.

So parents, grab a compostable cup of fair-trade coffee and join me as we celebrate the incredible journey your child is about to embark on – a journey filled with eco-conscious choices, sustainable adventures, and a commitment to leaving a positive footprint on this precious planet we call home. And if you don’t have kids or they’re not old enough for college yet, don’t worry – this list is a guide perfect for college kids, grandparents, and anyone just trying to be a little bit greener.

• Sustainable Shopping:

Picture this: No matter what meal plan you end up getting, you could still find yourself doing some shopping for some snacks and pantry items for your room. Do your best to make sustainable choices for your in-person or online shopping cart. Opt for organic, locally sourced produce, and choose products with minimal packaging. Say no to single-use plastics and hello to reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and utensils. Remember, every small step counts!

Real-life example: Meet Sarah, a college freshman who started a trend on campus by organizing a weekly farmers market. She connected local farmers with students, promoting healthy, sustainable eating while supporting the community. Way to go, Sarah!

• Energy-Saving Hacks:

Living on your own means having control over your energy consumption. Embrace the power of energy-saving hacks to keep your carbon footprint in check. Turn off lights when you leave a room, unplug electronics when they’re not in use, and make the most of natural light during the day. Opt for energy-efficient dorm-size appliances and use power strips to easily switch off multiple devices. You don’t get an electric bill (unless you’re living off campus) but your making smart choices which will benefit the planet now and your wallet later.

Real-life example: Meet Alex, a freshman who started a dorm competition to see who could reduce their energy consumption the most. By encouraging his fellow students to be mindful of their energy usage, he created a fun and eco-friendly atmosphere in the residence hall. Kudos, Alex!

• Waste Reduction:

College life often means countless coffee runs and late-night study sessions with snacks galore. But all those disposable cups, food containers, and wrappers can add up quickly. Embrace waste reduction by opting for a reusable coffee mug and bringing your own food containers and utensils. Embrace the art of recycling and composting, and encourage your dorm mates to join the eco-warrior squad.

Real-life example: Meet Maya, a freshman who initiated a composting program in her dormitory. With the help of her environmentally conscious peers, she transformed food waste into nutrient-rich compost, which was used in the campus garden. Great work, Maya!

• Sustainable Transportation:

Not everyone lives on campus, so we didn’t forget about you commuters out there. Bid farewell to traffic jams and parking struggles by embracing sustainable transportation options. Dust off your bicycle or invest in a skateboard or scooter for a fun and eco-friendly way to navigate campus. Utilize public transportation whenever possible, and carpool with friends to reduce carbon emissions. Your daily commute can become an adventure for both you and the planet.

Real-life example: Meet Jake, a freshman who started a bike-sharing program on campus, making it easy for students to access bikes for their daily commute. He even organized group rides to explore nearby nature trails, promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Way to pedal, Jake!

• Engage and Educate:

One of the most powerful ways to create change is by engaging and educating others. Join environmental clubs, attend sustainability events, and take part in community service projects that focus on eco-conscious initiatives. Share your knowledge, inspire your peers, and together, you can create a greener campus and a brighter future.

Real-life example: Meet Emily, a freshman who organized a “Green Living Week” on campus. She hosted workshops, film screenings, and panel discussions to raise awareness about eco-friendly living. Her dedication to sustainability ignited a passion in many fellow students, leading to long-lasting change. You rock, Emily!

As you embark on your college journey, don’t forget that you have the power to make a difference. By implementing these eco-friendly tips and following the footsteps of these real-life eco-heroes, you’ll not only reduce your environmental impact but also inspire others to join the movement. Embrace the adventure of college life while living clean and green. Together, we can create a sustainable future, one freshman at a time.

Remember, change starts with you!

And if you’re craving more eco-inspiration, be sure to check out LivingCleanandDirty.com for a treasure trove of sustainable living ideas, tips, and delicious planet-friendly recipes.

Pass this onto anyone who has a kid in college or going to college. Stay tuned for future articles on which products will be best for an eco-friendly dorm or join the Facebook group, Eco-Friendly Dorm Essentials & Discounts, moderated by me for ideas and discounts!

Happy eco-friendly college life!

The post The Freshman’s Guide to Living Clean and Green: College Edition appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Yup, they’re all a thing, but if you’re a die hard, dark green eco-warrior like me you don’t care because every day is a celebration of the big blue and green mama. In this house it’s AEAYR (All Earth All Year Round), but this time of the year is definitely my favorite. Spring is springing, the flowers and gardens are blooming, and this is when everyone pays a little extra attention to the Earth.

So without further ado (or “a-dew” if you tend to be a bit punny) it’s time to send out the email with all my favorite companies that are celebrating Mama Earth with some awesome specials and discount, it’s my way to help out the green and save you some green at the same time. Feel free to check out last year’s Earth Day article HERE, which was chock full of companies that in my opinion were very AEAYR-worthy.

This year I’m doing my best to live a more minimalistic life and buying less, and I wanted to share with you 20 ways to celebrate that cost either no money or very little. I am forever grateful for all of you…my amazing, fantastic readers and I try to give you links when I can but since you live all over the world I suggest you use your favorite, trusty search engine to find places near you (Ask Jeeves isn’t going to work for everyone). There’s also a TON of great non-profit organizations that are doing fantastic work so I urged you to go local.

For 2023 I’m taking a more minimalistic path, but it’s still paved a lovely shade of green. Won’t you join me?

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.

1. Donate gently used clothes you don’t wear or have outgrown to a local organization. Many have bins so you can easily drop them off.
2. Participate in a beach/park/town cleanup.
3. Check out your local farmers market, support local businesses and reduce your carbon footprint.
4. Check out your local library and sign up for a card. Libraries have ditched the confusing card catalog and offer so much more now, even online. Mine offers movies, events, and even free tickets to local museums saving me money.
5. This is it! This is the year you’re going to turn off lights when you’re not in the room, turn off the water while brushing your teeth and only run the washing machine and dishwasher when it’s full.
6. Clean out one junk drawer.
7. Get outside and take a walk or ride your bike. Want a great idea to get walking every day? Find a local animal shelter and donate your time to walk a dog. Great way to keep yourself accountable to walking every day and you get time in the great outdoors. And if you’re already a pet-parent then take them on an extra walk, you’ll both appreciate it.
8. Start composting.
9. Plant a small food garden, herb garden or join a community garden. You don’t need a lot of space. I grew herbs in small planters when I lived in an apartment in Brooklyn and I have friends who grow veggies in planters/pots.
10. Pledge to say no to plastic straws. Use stainless steel straws (be sure to keep them clean) for lemony drinks to save the enamel on your teeth.
11. Regrow kitchen scraps. Click HERE to see how.
12. Make a pledge not to buy anything you don’t NEED for a month.
13. Eat less meat. Try Meatless Monday – there’s tons of great recipes. I love everything from Nora Cooks and first tried meatless meals with the help of Lisa Project Vegan.
14. Unplug your electronics when you’re not using them. Phantom electricity is a real thing.
15. Go paperless. Pay your bills online.
16. Sell your unwanted items on Ebay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark.
17. Call catalog companies that you don’t use to stop sending them to you. Click HERE if you live in the US and want to stop junk mail.
18. Sign a petition on the Earth Day website.
19. Lower your heat by 1-2 degrees. Raise your air conditioning by 1-2 degrees. You won’t even notice it.
20. Plant a tree with The Canopy Project for as little as $1.

The post Happy Earth Day 2023 appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

It may be hard to believe but on that day in 1990 I couldn’t have cared less about Earth Day or the environment. I was 20 years old and a student at GWU. I cared about the important things in life like getting tickets to the Richard Marx concert, going to see Pretty Woman in the theater and getting home in time to watch that new show called Twin Peaks. My friends and I happened to find ourselves people watching at the Mall (National, not shopping) on a lovely Sunday afternoon in April. We decided to walk around and ended up joining what turned out to be an Earth Day demonstration because…we were 20 and it was a nice way to kill a few hours before going out looking for adventure.

Fast forward to Earth Day 2022, still no Burt Reynolds (because that would be creepy) but I strut around the house like it’s Ellen Day, although let’s be honest, most days are Ellen Days and I really should strut more. I get dressed up, I prance around my house like I won an award and try to do one really big thing to celebrate . About 11 years ago I got solar panels on my roof, 7 years ago I got a hybrid car, 6 years ago I started a food garden, and last year was my favorite…I brought home Tess (my fully electric Tesla). My whole family’s favorite holiday is Halloween, but Earth Day definitely has a special place in my heart. This is the one day every year that I can do my Snoopy dance and scream at the top of my lungs “if loving the Earth is wrong then I don’t want to be right!”, unfortunately my family believes this is one day too many, but you get the idea.

So while it’s not as sexy as a new car, solar panels or even 1990 Burt Reynolds this past year I’ve been embracing minimalism in all of its forms. I’ve been getting rid of toxic people (if you’re reading this then congratulations, you made the cut), simplifying my life and getting rid of stuff I don’t use or love.

However, this Eco-mama does love a good sale, especially an eco-friendly one.  This year Earth Day falls on a Friday so while Green Friday (yes, it’s a thing, look it up) doesn’t come until November, I think there is room enough on the calendar for another Green Friday. If there are already holidays called Count Your Buttons Day and National Crouton Day then the criteria for adding holidays sounds pretty lax.

While I’m not the shopper I once was (think shopping mall and not National Mall) you can get some amazing Earth Day deals and support Earth loving companies.

Your power is in your wallet. My hubby still thinks his is somewhere else, but we’ll save that debate for another day. The math is simple, If we support more eco-friendly companies and stop buying single use plastic, throw away items and boxed products with more packaging than product then we are sending a message. If you demand more eco-friendly shopping then the market will move in that direction. Never in my life would I have imagined a fully electric pickup truck yet almost every automotive company is in a race to be the first. Ford alone has 200,000 pre-orders for an electric pickup truck so the people have spoken.

My goal here is to show you how to go green while saving some green. And if you’d like to give back then send this article to your friends, families, enemies and neighbors and have them subscribe to my newsletter. Whether you’re a fan of Burt Reynolds, Debbie Reynolds or Ryan Reynolds we all like to save some money and we should all be interested in saving the Earth too.

Enjoy your Earth Day and be especially kind to mother Earth today.  And while you’re at it, it wouldn’t kill you to call your mother, you know how she worries. If for no other reason she will probably get a kick out of a Golden Girls and Burt Reynolds reference and she’ll explain who Debbie Reynolds is.

I listed just some of my favorite companies that are celebrating Mama Earth with some specials and wanted to pass the info onto you. Click on the images and it’ll take you right to their site.

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.

The post Happy Earth Day 2022 appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

I beg of you don’t say goodbye, can’t we give our love another try?
Come on, baby, let’s start anew, ’cause breaking up is hard to do

Wiser words have never been spoken, so much so, that even the Partridge Family delivered the same message in full Partridge regalia at a carnival in the 1972 episode “Nag, Nag, Nag” (look it up).  Gloria Estefan, Clay Aiken, Carole King and so many others have preached about the ‘hard-to-do-ness’ of breakups but sadly I don’t think any of them were trying to break up with plastic like I am.

So if you remember all the way back to my last post about Earth Day and my impending war on all things plastic.  I talked about how my vitamins and my weird former co-worker Steve both came in plastic containers and those 2 things are both very bad. Well, I’m here to remind you I’m still fighting the good fight against plastic.  You don’t realize just how much plastic we use in our daily lives from toothbrushes to phone cases, garbage cans to car bumpers, dog toys to eyeglasses, and what I’m talking about today…kitchen gadgets and food storage.

I think the easiest way to kick plastic to the curb (in my blue recycle bin of course) is by going old-school, and when we start talking old-school then we have to start with “Hell-on-Wheels Helen”. My Grandma Helen grew her own food, sewed her own clothes and bought a car before she even got a driver’s license. She was never in a car accident but they say she caused more than a few, so take that advice with a grain of salt.  She was the Chuck Norris of grandmas.  Legend has it that she once had an underwater breath-holding contest with a fish…and won.  When she sliced onions, the onions would cry.  The flu still gets Grandma Helen shots each year.  Basically, she was a bad ass before women were supposed to be bad asses.

I’m pretty sure she would get a kick out of my Year of Clear. She was a real no bullshit lady and I like to think I get all my good qualities from her.  She was the boss of her house and not only could OG Helen start a fire with an ice cube and beat the sun in a staring contest but she knew that when it came to the kitchen, glass was where it was at. She stored everything in glass and it made a ton of sense, it was completely see-through, you could go directly from the fridge to the oven and so long as you don’t chuck it at your husband (allegedly) it will last for years.  Plastic wasn’t an option back then and even if it was I don’t think Helen would have had any of it. Sure plastic might be lighter and cheaper but glass is more durable, non-porous and won’t warp over time. Legend has it that Helen could dribble a bowling ball and win at connect four in three moves, so she would tell you plastic didn’t belong anywhere near her kitchen.

She wasn’t around for the rise in popularity of stainless steel straws, silicone storage bags and biodegradable sponges, but if she was I know she would be a fan.  Maybe she would’ve started Living Clean and Dirty. Maybe we need to think a little more about what touches our food. Maybe we need to simplify things. Maybe the Boogeyman still checks under his bed for Grandma Helen.  My point is…maybe we all just need a little more Old School in our lives.

So I don’t want to “Nag, Nag, Nag” (Jesus, just look it up!) but in honor of OG (Original Grandma) Helen here are my top 5 Old School meets New School tips for breaking up with plastic in the kitchen. And feel free to share any of your favorite plastic break-up tips, or 8×10 glossies of David Cassidy for that matter.

1.   Sponges: “Sponge-worthy” jokes aside, if you’ve ever use a loofa in the shower you’ll know it’s a great way to clean your body. Why shouldn’t your dishes, pots and pans be treated with the same TLC. Not only is Scrufah biodegradable, compostable, non- toxic and of course plastic free (the packaging has NO plastic too) it works really well on scrubbing off those tough messes after sitting in the sink all night. To clean my counters I love, love, love Skoy Cloths. They’re biodegradable, chlorine-free, unbleached, washable in either your washer or dishwasher and the best part is they last a really, really, really long time. The website says it can last for months and is the equivalent to using 15 rolls of paper towels but mine have lasted YEARS and I barely buy paper towels.

2.   Storage Containers: Taking a page out of Grandma Helen’s book, I switched to all glass containers. I have a ton of Mason Jars which are awesome, but sometimes it’s more convenient to have shallower storage. There are plenty of companies that sell glass containers BUT the lids are plastic and they suck, so lose-lose. They warp in my dishwasher and are difficult to wash by hand. They crack and split apart so you never get a good seal, and much like a Dutch Oven, if you don’t have a good seal then what’s the point. So basically the bottom part is great and the top half is useless (much like most of my old boyfriends). Thankfully I came across a company called Nummy. Nummyware is glass stackable storage containers that come in different sizes, are dishwasher/oven/microwave/freezer safe. They come with a bamboo lid that is 100% biodegradable, BPA free, phthalate free with a food grade silicone seal that is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.  Check out Nummylife here.

3.   Grow my own food: No plastic containers, no BPA filled receipts, no plastic wrap, no plastic produce bags. Just go outside (in the winter it’s inside) and cut, wash and use. Want great tips on how to grow your own garden. Check out this blogpost for more info. **Pro-Tip!! You can GROW SCALLIONS IN WATER INSIDE YOUR HOUSE from store bought scallions. Check it out here!

4.   Stainless Steel Straws: I would ditch using straws completely but I love drinking lemon water, which is basically lemonade’s cool older cousin. Some say if you drink this daily the acid in the lemon can ruin the enamel on your teeth. Others say to just to rinse your mouth with water after drinking the lemon water and you’ll be fine.  Still others will say that if you drink it from a straw then your pearly whites will be safe.  Legend has it that life gave my Grandma Helen lemons and she used them to make lemonade, 2 grenades, a motorcycle and an entire bottle of bourbon.  So basically no one knows what the real answer is.  I play it safe and drink my morning lemon water with a straw. I love turtles WAY too much to ever use a plastic straw, paper straws are gross, so that’s why I go with stainless steel. I bought 4 and use them over and over and over again. I even carry one in my purse when I go out which embarrasses the crap out of my kids. (grenades, motorcycle and bourbon not included)

5.   Silicone Storage Bags: My kids hate it when I take our used ziplock plastic bags, wash them and reuse them. My hubby actually says THIS is the last straw (not even stainless) and too much for even him to watch. I’m not using those bags once and throwing them away and thankfully I’m not the only one with this problem. We use non-toxic, dishwasher and microwavable silicone bags. They come in all sizes and colors so you can freeze, store or use them to carry around food. You can check some out here and here.

The post The Legend of Grandma Helen and the War on Plastic appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

Here’s one source of plastic I never really thought about until recently…my daily vitamins. Yep, even the mayor of Awesome-town takes her vitamins. I try to stay on top of my Vitamin C, Vitamin D and probiotics. (When my hubby talks about me getting my Vitamin D, he means something completely different…and sadly, it isn’t a daily supplement.)

Much like this weird guy Steve I used to work with, most vitamins come in plastic containers. Please don’t ask how I know Steve came in a plastic container. Some questions are better left unanswered.

Fortunately, I found a win-win with Truvani. It’s a company I already trusted, but what really caught my attention was that their vitamins come in glass jars instead of plastic. It’s a small change, but those little choices add up over time. Saving the planet doesn’t always mean installing solar panels or buying an electric car. Sometimes it’s as simple as choosing the glass jar instead of the plastic one.

So this Earth Day I’m saying no to plastic, hell no to Steve, and yes to Mother Earth.

💰 Save Money. 🌎 Save the Earth. 😀 Save Yourself.

The post Plastic ain’t Fantastic appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.

It’s the rallying cry behind a lot of crappy decisions.

Let’s take the morally questionable and sexually philanthropic decade that I like to refer to as “My 20s.” There were certainly more than a few challenges during that time of my life, but most of my friends and I seemed to glom onto the worst boyfriend material we could find. If he was nice, considerate and treated you right then he was a dud. Bring on the bad boyfriend.

• Treat you like shit? Check!
• Blow you off to do stupid stuff with his friends? Check!
• In the middle of sex ask you if you have a sister? Check!

MMMM-HMMMMM…he’s perfect.

And when a friend would look at your situation and say, “Um…what the fuck is the matter with you?” like little pre-programmed robots we’d all answer, “I love a challenge.”

Fortunately I moved on from my twenties and I’d like to think my decision-making skills have improved. As a society, though, we still seem drawn to positively absurd challenges. Here are five social media challenges. Four are real. One I made up. Can you spot the fake?

1. The Hot Pepper Challenge
2. The Space Monkey Challenge
3. The Charlie Charlie Challenge
4. The Purple Nutsack Challenge
5. The Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge

OK, while they’re all terrible ideas, The Purple Nutsack isn’t actually a challenge. When I suggested adding it to the list, my husband just winced, crossed his legs and wandered off.

OK, while these are all awful and I can’t recommend enough to NOT try these I will admit that The Purple Nutsack is not a challenge and when I suggested to my husband that I add this to the list he just winced and wandered off.

My whole point is this. There are a literal fuck-ton of awful, dangerous and downright ridiculous challenges out there. So why not use our love of challenges for something that actually makes the world a little better?

Enter the Plastic Free Challenge.

www.plasticfreechallenge.org/what-is-single-use-plastic

We all know plastic isn’t great for the environment, but recycling isn’t the magical solution most of us wish it was. A lot of that plastic still ends up in landfills or the ocean. Have you ever heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? If not, look it up and prepare to be horrified.

Now, I’m not saying we should eliminate every piece of plastic from our lives overnight. That’s not realistic. Like blow jobs, I believe everything should be in moderation.

Plastic grocery bags, plastic straws, plastic forks, plastic cups, plastic coffee lids. Single-use plastic is exactly what it sounds like. You use it once, throw it away and then someone else gets to deal with it.

The good news is most of it is avoidable.

Reusable shopping bags. Metal straws. BPA-free water bottles. Small changes really do add up.

Is it doable?  Hell yeah.

Is it a pain in the ass?  Hell yeah.

But we love a challenge, right?

I already do most of those things, but recently I found another easy swap. We cook a lot at home, which means we wash a lot of dishes. I also go through an embarrassing number of kitchen sponges and plastic dish scrapers, so I started looking for a more eco-friendly option.

That’s when I found Scrufah.

It’s basically a loofah for your dishes. No plastic. Biodegradable. Compostable. Non-toxic.

Why do we go through all the trouble of buying organic food but never stop to think about what we’re scrubbing our dishes with?

They’re soft when wet (insert giggling here) but still tough enough to clean without scratching my cookware. They come three to a box, each lasting about two to three months, and they’re compressed flat until you get them wet, when they expand to full size.

Now it almost feels like they’re writing these jokes for my husband.

I’ve been using my Scrufah to clean everything from dishes and pots to reusable water bottles and metal straws, and I’ve been really happy with it.

So now it’s your turn, you challenge-loving freaks.

Join the fight against single-use plastics. Maybe a Scrufah isn’t your thing, but replace one disposable item in your house with something reusable. Every little bit helps.

The amazing company that makes Scrufah, Oliver Flynn Lifestyles, is a small family business started by two sisters who wanted to create a low-tox lifestyle for their kids while reducing plastic waste. They’re also offering Living Clean and Dirty readers 15% off on Amazon with coupon code HBIC3MCK.

Check out their Website, Facebook and Instagram

They’re up to the challenge. Are you?

Oliver Flynn Lifestyles provided me with a Scrufah to facilitate this review; however, all opinions expressed are my own.

The post Scrufah says…Challenge Accepted! appeared first on Living Clean and Dirty.