Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Keeping Your Apartment Kitchen Environmentally Friendly


One of the easiest ways to create an eco-friendly kitchen is to limit the chemicals that pass through it. There are many different kinds of natural cleaning products that have been proven to clean just as effectively as their harsher counterparts. And “green” cleaning does not have to be expensive. You might already have some of these useful cleaning products in your apartment, in fact. Baking soda is a great way to keep your apartment sinks and countertops shining; toothpaste can keep your silver shining; and vinegar can clean nearly anything in your kitchen — and refresh your coffee pot, too!

Recycling your trash appropriately, and composting kitchen scraps are great ways to cut down on waste. (And compost is a nice addition to your apartment garden!)

You can also save energy by selecting compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) and plugging your appliances into a power strip that you can turn off when you’re not using them. Buying your food from nearby producers saves money on fuel, as well as the paper and plastic used to package and ship food grown far away. Supporting local farmers is also good for your community’s economy. You can even go ultra-local and grow some of your food in a balcony garden, or get your feet wet with an herb garden.


The kitchen isn’t merely the room that sustains you and your household; it can also be a spot where you help sustain the environment at large. With a little effort and some smart choices, your apartment kitchen can serve up green as a main course.