Mission #1: Landscaping. We did this pretty efficiently and effectively. The only electric equipment we used (and could have avoided) was electric hedge trimmers. They weren't gasoline powered, just plug in and go but still. We put down pine nuggets instead of mulch. The nuggets need to be replaced or refreshed less frequently than mulch which is really meant to be seasonal. But, they cost almost triple what mulch does, not as wallet friendly. We planted sunflower seeds along our fence which require little water and lots of sun. Rather than using a chemical weed killer we dug up the weeds in both the flower beds and the grass. We got lucky and a neighbor seeded their lawn some time recently and apparently didn't aerate first because the seed blew into our yard and we have new (and free) grass sprouting up everywhere! Everything else we just pruned and are maintaining. EcoMission Result: Pass
Mission #2: Power washing. I'll start with my EcoMission result: FAIL (miserably). There has got to be a more eco-friendly way to get the gunk off the side of your house. Granted, we don't use chemicals in the power washer (the most common is BLEACH- eeek) just pure water but it takes a LOT of water even if it is pressurized. We live in a modest, one story, 3 bedroom ranch house. It's just big enough for our family. But, I kid you not, I bet our water bill is going to be at least DOUBLE this month. We power washed the entire house and the deck to prep it for new stain. My hubby also got a little power washer happy and power washed all of the outdoor toys. So here's my question, if you don't power wash your house to clean the yearly residue off of it, how DO you clean it?
Mission #3: Deck Staining. Turns out you can buy environmentally safe and friendly paint in most home improvement stores... but not stain. Then, as I mentioned above, we power washed the deck first. It gets better though. My husband went to work on Monday and left me with a hand sander that was approximately 2"x 4". Our deck is 8'x10' and has at least 100 posts on it! I'm pretty sure I'd STILL be out there sanding with that thing. So, I borrowed grandpa's orbital sander. Again- power tool but it plugs right in AND it houses the dust while you sand so I was able to put the dust in our compost bin. That made me feel a little better about using it. EcoMission Result: all around... FAIL.
Side note: you CAN order soy-based stains online.
What could I have done differently to be more environmentally friendly? How do you "spring clean" outside?
1 comments:
In the old days, my parents used to make us kids use buckets, rags & brushes to scrub the house walls. I am surprised we did not kill ourselves on the ladders but it seemed like fun at the time. I think she used ivory soap in the buckets & sprayed with the water house for suds. Then Dad rinsed with hose. This was normally done when rain was forecast (free rinse)
Good job on yard & stain if correctly bought & done only has to be done every few years. Almost no clean up to wash into water system.
Considering our area had flash floods today & more expected tomorrow, no need to worry about power washing water use. It goes back into the water base anyway & if no chemicals in it - then no harm done except to your water bill.
JCW
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