Happy New Year

Hi Again and Welcome to 2012. Happy New Year to all

A New Year brings new resolutions, new beginnings and new hope. You can do your bit and help improve not only the environment, but your pocket as well, by making some environmentally friendly savings this year. Councils have already started installing new water mains and water meters so water charges are on the way, so that means you need to reduce your water usage. Start the habit now.

Firstly please allow me to set out some basic recycling tips, courtesy of “Dublinwaste.ie” to remind you of the simple ways of helping our environment.

Recycling Tips for your Home

• When buying products with packaging, choose packaging that is easily recyclable e.g. glass rather than plastic bottles.
• Make sure you maximise use your green bin fully and correctly.
• If you do not have a green bin, make optimum use of your nearest recycling centre – try incorporating visits into other activities such as shopping, school runs etc.
• Get a compost bin - this can reduce the waste disposed in your black/grey bin by almost one third.
• Where possible, buy products made from recycled material.

Recycling Tips for your Office at home

• Photocopy and print on both sides of the page.
• Proof-read documents and read emails on screen rather than printing them out.
• Store data on computer networks or on disk instead of paper files.
• Don’t dump used printer, fax and photocopier cartridges - most suppliers and many charities collect returns.
• Buy recycled paper and stationery.
• Order supplies in bulk or in concentrated form.
• Re-use envelopes and jiffy bags.

So Water charges are on the way. Now is the time to take stock and start the habit of using less water at home. Here are a few simple tips to start with.

• To avoid wasting drinking water from a running tap, collect it in a bottle or jug and store it in the fridge until it is cool enough to drink.
• When you clean your fish tank, use that water on your plants.  Only use the dishwasher when you have a full load.
• Use the rinse-hold setting on the dishwasher, if it has one, rather than rinsing dishes under the tap.
• When washing dishes by hand, don’t rinse them under a running tap. If you have two sinks, fill the second one with rinsing water. If you have only one sink, stack washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a pan of hot water.
• Use washing-up liquid sparingly as this will reduce the amount of rinsing required when washing dishes by hand.
• Use a plugged sink or a pan of water. This saves running the tap continuously.
• When boiling vegetables, use enough water to cover them and keep the lid on the saucepan. Your vegetables will boil quicker and it will save you water, power, and preserve precious vitamins in the food.
• If you have a leaking tap, replace the washer or other components as required.
• Catch running water whilst waiting for it to warm up. Use it to water plants, rinse dishes, or wash fruit and vegetables. 
• Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth. Wet your brush and use a glass for rinsing.
• Don’t rinse your razor under a running tap. Filling the basin with a little warm water is just as effective and less wasteful.
• Take shorter showers. Limit time spent in the shower to soap up, wash down, and rinse off. Shorter showers save on energy costs associated with heating water.
• Use a shower timer. Choose from a manual 4-minute egg timer or a more sophisticated electronic timer that either attaches to the shower wall or showerhead, or is wired into the wall during construction.
• Use a bucket to collect water while waiting for the shower to get hot.
• Shave your legs before taking a shower. Use running shower water to rinse off.
• Insulate hot water pipes. This avoids wasting water while waiting for hot water to flow through and saves energy.

“Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly – until you learn to do it well”  Steve Brown

Pristine Home would love to help you with all or any of your home cleaning needs, outside or inside your home, and this will ensure that your home is kept neat and tidy on a regular basis. Please call  1890252309 or info@pristine.ie  or visit our web site and avail of our many cleaning services to help you and leave you the time for yourself. 
Looking forward to hearing from you
Diana