5 Tips for a Greener Closet in 2012
The new year always brings about resolutions to make better choices in eating, exercising more, having more balance in life. This year I am vowing to have a greener closet. Here are five ideas that will be easy to do and make your closet a more eco-friendly place.
1. Recycle – This year take all your clothes that you are not wearing or haven’t worn for more than a year and donate them. If they are too big, too small, too weird, or you don’t feel amazing when you wear them – say bye bye. But please don’t throw them away in the garbage. There are people that will wear them trust me, same goes with shoes, underclothes, and toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, lotions etc). Make a telephone call to your local homeless shelter, I did this recently they were thrilled to take anything. You’ll streamline your closet and be helping people at the same time – very eco-friendly.
2. Repurpose – There may be a few items that aren’t really wearable anymore, that old t-shirt with holes or a sock that doesn’t have a mate etc. Single socks make great dusters, slip it over your hand and away you go, the perfect dust mitten. I use old tees for cleaning, cut into manageable squares, I can use for cleaning, wash and use again. It cuts down on my paper towel use and the old tee has been given new life. Same goes for towels, wash clothes, bedding, try to find ways to repurpose before sending them into the landfill.
3. For 2012 don’t buy what you don’t need. Excess is not eco-friendly and sometimes more is just more, not better. Only buy what you need and what you will actually use and wear.
4. Don’t buy clothing that requires dry cleaning. (See my previous post) Dry cleaning chemicals contain known carcinogens and your dry cleaned clothing retain those chemicals. You don’t want to wear those next to your skin. Before buying look at the tag for the care instructions and make the greener choice by purchasing apparel that can be washed by hand or in the machine.
5. When you do need to buy something new, look for organic and eco-friendly materials like bamboo, organic cotton, hemp and soy silk. And seek out companies that practice fair-trade and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.
We can make the world greener but we have to start with ourselves, it is a choice. Make a New Year’s resolution to be a eco-conscious consumer in 2012 and have a greener closet.
Happy New Year!
Be eco-beautiful.
xxtrees
Melinda
Category: Go Green Fashion
About the Author (Author Profile)
Melinda received her degree in Communications from Drury University. After working in marketing for many years, she refocused her career and is now a freelance writer and artist.
Melinda brings her love of fashion, beauty and the environment together to find eco-friendly clothing and products each week.
She resides in the midwest with her wonderful husband and a really great dog.
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