Finding a bit of Green at Home Depot

I recently had a chance to go to The Home Depot and find a small way to make my household a bit greener.

I finally decided to get the stuff I needed to install the clothesline I’ve had for a while. I really want to be able to dry diapers outdoors occasionally, to take advantage of the sun’s bleaching abilities and odor-eliminating abilities. I’ve been wanting to sun my sheets for a while, too. I’m pretty sensitive to bleach, and I don’t really want to use such a harsh chemical if I don’t have to, especially on fabric I’m going to be touching all night.

So I came home with:

• A masonry drill bit.
• Masonry screws (for attaching the clothesline to the house).
• A fence-post stake thingy
• A 4×4, to act as the “tree” the clothesline can attach to.
• A small sledgehammer for pounding the stake into the ground (with a chunk of 4×4 they cut off for me)
• A small bicycle hook, for hooking the line to (it’s retractable)

I’m really excited to finally install it and be able to use it for my diapers and sheets, but I’m sure I’ll use it for other things too, reducing the energy I would spend on using the electric dryer and also reducing the need for bleach and other chemicals in my laundry process. We already do so many “green” things in my household—recycling, cloth diapering, often just cleaning with microfiber and water (though admittedly not always), breastfeeding (no packaging! no waste!), using cloth baby wipes/kitchen towels/napkins…but we can always do a little more.

There’s a great list of ideas you can use to “Green” your home at The Home Depot website, and while most of them seem geared toward homeowners rather than renters (no, I won’t be replacing our house’s windows and faucets), some are very accessible—more efficient lightbulbs, toxin-free cleaning products, and organic gardening supplies (I almost bought a composter but decided to do the clothesline thing first)

So what are your favorite “greening” tips? I’d love to hear them!

Want more tips on how to become eco-conscious? Visit the Prizes & Promotions Section on BlogHer!