Did you know that a sole elaborate Thanksgiving dinner for about a dozen guests actually qualifies as “an airborne toxic event”? Who knew? However, it has been scientifically corroborated in an eye opening experiment at the University of Colorado. So, if this is the damage one dinner can do, what about all the other home-based things that are polluting the environment?

At this point you might be thinking “Well, it seems very unlikely that my cooking and cleaning will destroy the Earth as we know it, right?” Wrong. It’s not just your cooking and cleaning, but rather the actions of the majority of eco-unfriendly households. Shockingly, this led to 4.2 million premature deaths to outdoor air, according to the 2016 report by the World Health Organization. That said, let’s take a look at some of the green DIY sustainable projects that will help your home as much as your home will help the environment.

Introduce Vegan Home Cleaning Products

The majority of store-bought cleaning products are as hard on the environment as they are on your skin and lungs. The sooner you distance yourself from such products, the better. And the best thing is, you can make your own cruelty free products without sacrificing your cleanliness. All the ingredients are 100% natural and the fundamentals at your disposal are as follows:

White/cider vinegar is something you probably have hidden at the back of your kitchen cabinet. Since it is highly acidic it acts as an antibacterial cleanser for surfaces. Mixed with a little hot water, it will restore an amazing shine to your windows, mirrors and silverware;
Baking soda in combination with lemon juice and purified water, makes a fantastic kitchen spray
Essential oils are always a welcome addition to your cleaning mixture since they will enrich the smell as well as purify your home.

Have a Home Recycling Center

Not only will a home recycling center make the whole process easier, but it will also educate your kids (or other family members) about the importance of being eco-friendly. The first step is to dedicate an area of your home to sort out recyclable materials. Having several designated bins will certainly do the trick. This will help your whole family stay organized and committed to a cleaner and safer environment.

Decorate and Renovate - Vegan Style

If you’re up for some home renovation projects and still want to remain as green as possible, you’ll love DIY home improvement. This can be done without expensive help or fume-emitting machinery. Even though you can read through the instructions in handy texts, it is advisable that you opt for informative YouTube tutorials where you can see all the steps clearly followed by very helpful narration.

As far as home décor is concerned, you can either make new ornaments yourself or go shopping at some of the vegan design stores nearest to you. One of the things you can do is make your own throw or blanket that will give your living room (or bedroom) a nice new facelift. Why not try recycling old candle wax and turning it into colorful, adorable new candles? Use some of your antique cups or glasses you haven’t recycled yet. You can even make a fun family night out of it and bond with your loved ones while raising awareness about a more sustainable home. A Garden You Can Re-Grow

You’d be wrong to think starting a home-based garden will do a number on your budget. You don’t even have to splurge on new plants and seeds. All you need to do is save the tops of your carrots and the roots of your onions to use as the re-growth. There’s so much you can grow this way, from all sorts of herbs to avocado trees. What’s more, you can use empty containers you find lying around your home as plant pots. Decorate them to bring in some color until your garden blossoms. All you need is patience and a little know-how and you’re ready to go.

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Apart from doing wonders for the environment, having an eco-friendly home will definitely prove to be more budget-friendly in the long run. All it takes is dedication and a little bit of research, and your home will soon turn into a healthy oasis. As the old native American saying goes, we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, but rather borrow it from our children.

Special thanks to Theodora Evans for writing this piece for us on living a more eco-friendly life!

Image Credits: Fuzzy Rescue

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