Going green in small steps

You recycle, mend, make do and reuse to save money, but now you’d like to step up your efforts a bit and add some environmentally friendly “green” to your environment.

You’re not alone — natural foods, non-toxic environmentally safe cleaners and organic products are finding more space on retail shelves. The problem: It seems the less that’s involved in making a product, the more it costs.

Going green doesn’t have to be expensive, however.

“ Check out books from the library for recipes to make some of your own cleaning products. With a spritzer bottle and a few grocery-store ingredients (such as white vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and borax) you can make inexpensive, environmentally friendly home cleaners for pennies. Make your own washing products (for both laundry and bath) with glycerin, washing soda and Castile soap. Make your own furniture polish with lemon oil and mineral oil.

“ Select yard plants that are naturally resistant to insects and avoid having to use chemical pesticides. Make your own insecticidal soap if the bugs arrive anyway.

“ CLF light bulbs are being touted as the newest way to go green because they last for years and reduce your electric consumption. If you replace your current bulbs one at a time, the expense isn’t too bad. There’s a catch, however, and you’ll need to consult your local disposal laws: The bulbs contain mercury and can’t be put out with your household trash. And when they break you have a real problem: You have to clean up the mercury.

“ Install a filter on your faucet and stop buying bottled water in plastic jugs.

“ Experiment with washing laundry and dishes on the short cycle setting. It might be all the cleaning power needed.

“ Swap and share instead of buying new whenever possible.

It’s possible to live responsibly in a healthy “green” environment without it costing you a fortune. But read labels. Products labeled as “organic” or “natural” aren’t necessarily safe or pure. Check the ingredients to know what you’re really getting. For example, if a label says the product is “made with organic ingredients,” it doesn’t automatically mean that 100 percent of the ingredients are organic. It means only some of them are. Check the USDA National Organic Program for more information at www.usda.gov.