Here at Growing a Green Family we’re looking at how to save $50,000 by going green. In case you’re curious, so far we’ve managed to save $13,761.00, just by taking some basic green actions. That does leave us $36,239 left to go, but cloth diapers should cut a nice big chunk off of this figure.

Image by Flickr User simplyla

How many disposable diapers will you need?

The average newborn baby can speed through 12 diapers in a single day. Older babies and toddlers use less, but still average around 6 to 10 diaper changes a day. That’s a whopping total of 7,500-8,000 disposable diapers over 2.5 years. However, many babies are in diapers longer. Still, for the purpose of this post, we’ll assume you toilet train one of your children super fast.

How much will all these disposable diapers cost you?

It sort of depends on which diapers you use. This being a green blog, I suggest you use the least toxic disposable diapers possible. I’ll be using Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers because they’re probably the most popular less toxic disposable diaper around.

Seventh Generation Free and Clear Baby Diapers

Below are typical diaper prices, if you buy in bulk, along with the sizes you’ll need for various baby ages – although note, the sizes are only average estimates. Some babies run bigger or smaller of course.

• Newborn diapers – up to 10 lbs – 25 cent per diaper (1 mos to 1.5 mos) – 12 diapers a day – 540 diapers = $135
• Stage 1 diapers – 8-14 lbs – 20 cent per diaper (1.5 mos to 4 mos) – 10 diapers a day – 750 diapers = $150
• Stage 2 diapers – 12-18 lbs – 25 cent per diaper (5 mos to 7 mos) – 8 diapers a day – 480 diapers = $120
• Stage 3 diapers – 16-28 lbs – 18 cent per diaper (8 mos to 23 mos) – 8 diapers a day – 3,600 diapers = $648
• Stage 4 diapers – 22-37 lbs – 32 cent per diaper (2 years+) or Stage 5 diapers – 27+ lbs – 37 cent per diaper (2 years+) depending on your kid – 5 diapers a day – 750 diapers = $255

Total diapers needed – 6,120 for one kid, 12,240 for two kids.

Total cost = $1,308 for one kid, $2,616 for two kids.

You’ll also need some Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Training Pants (55 cent per pant). We’ll assume one of your kids potty trains fast, by age 2.5 and the other not until 4. For the first child you’ll need about 5 months of training pants, along with regular diapers, or about $247 worth of training pants. For the second child, you’ll need about $1,133 worth of training pants. That’s a total of $1,380.

Total diapers + training pants for two kids = 14,749

Total costs for two kids = $3,996

Keep in mind that research shows that the average family, with two kids will go through 16,000 diapers, so there’s a good chance I underestimated price.

How many cloth diapers will you need?

Again it depends on what sort of cloth diaper you use. In this case, I’m going with ease of use, which for me, means you use all-in-one-cloth diapers or a hybrid, which are a little more expensive, but also easier than traditional pre-fold cloth diapers. Some choices include:

• GroVia
• gDiapers
• Kushies
• FuzziBunz
• Charlie Banana

Once you choose a brand, you’ll need to choose sizes and amounts. I suggest going with real sizes, not one-size-fits-all, mainly because fit can be iffy. To read more about how to choose the best cloth diapers, I suggest reading Eco-nomical Baby Guide, which has an excellent cloth diaper section, or you can simply read Cloth Diapering Myths to get started.

gBaby Bundle

Overall, say you use gDiapers with reusable inserts. You’ll need about 6-8 little gPants per size (small, medium and large). You can get the gBaby Bundle which comes with 12 tiny gPants, 6 small gPants, 80 gRefills and a swishstick for just $125. Then you’ll also need 8 gDiapers Little gPant Diaper Covers Medium ($136), gDiapers Little gPant Diaper Covers Large ($79) and 3 or so packs of reusable gDiapers Cloth Diaper Inserts ($79). Plus probably an extra 6 or so diapers along the way ($79). Total cost for the gDiaper system = $498.00.

Now, if you go with another brand, like FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper, you’ll need about 12 small, 12 medium and 12 large diapers. That’s a total cost of $577.

If you don’t want to work too hard, you could also go with a mega set, such as the GroVia Live Package ($349), which pretty much allows you to cloth diaper your baby for his entire childhood so long as you add 24 extra shells ($196). Charlie Banana is also easy, as they offer quick sets with 6 reusable diapers + 12 reusable inserts. Once you buy all the sets you need, it’ll be about $600.

You won’t need training pants, as larger size cloth diapers double up as both diapers and trainers.

Charlie Banana cloth diapers

Other supplies you’ll need for cloth diapering:

• A few wet bags, which hold wet cloth diapers and inserts on the go, such as Itzy Ritzy Zippered Wet Bag – $36 for two.
• A bin for wet and icky diapers – same cost as the garbage can you’re using for disposables.
• Disposable inserts some of the time (maybe) when out and about or on a trip. $34+ depending on how often you use them.
• A book about how to use and care for cloth diapers. Again, I suggest Eco-nomical Baby Guide – $14.
• Water for washing and laundry soap. You can use basic, natural laundry soap and cold water. You’ll wash maybe every two days or so. I’m not figuring in this cost because you’ll also spend money on gas to go and get disposables, plus extra garbage fees to toss those disposables, so I’m guessing it all evens out.

Total diapers needed for cloth diapering – about 36, although most people collect a few more. Plus you’ll need reusable inserts – about 24 to 30. If you use disposable inserts, you’ll need more and it’ll cost more, but I suggest reusable inserts on most occasions.

Total cost of cloth diapers – it varies depending on brand, but on average about $556 plus supplies = $636.

Note that this is a high estimate in my opinion. You can easily pick up gently used all-in-ones at your local thrift store or baby consignment shop. Seriously, we’re talking $1 to $2 diapers, which would bring your costs down considerably. You can also register for cloth diapers for your baby shower.

Plus, don’t forget, cloth diapers will last through both kids. Assuming you need to replace some diapers and inserts, which you will, your total cloth diaper costs should only be around $700-$800 if you splurge and $120 – $300 if you really shop around at consignment stores. If you use basic pre-fold diapers, you’ll save too.

Here are some more cost comparisons of cloth diapers – what real parents spend, cost of cloth diapers and cost savings of cloth diapers.

Comparing costs

Overall, if you have two children, you’ll spend $3,996+ on disposable diapers. If you go with cloth you’ll spend about $300 to $636 for both kids that’s a savings of $3,360 for two kids. Even if you totally go nuts and splurge on all sorts of adorable reusable cloth diapers, plus buy brand new for both kids you’ll still save around $2,724.

Image by Flickr User IngaMun

PLUS…

Beyond cost benefits you’ll be helping the planet. Most research suggest that 250 to 500 years is a conservative guess as to how long disposable diapers will sit in the landfill after you toss them and most conventional disposable diapers are 100% gross. They’re stuffed with icky SAP, pesticides, perfume, latex, chemicals and plastic (made with non-renewable oil) and other junk.

Where we’re at right now…

• Save $3,360 by using cloth diapers
• Save $835 per kid by using to reusable baby wipes
• Save $1,612 by using homemade green cleaners
• Save $2,960 by having a less consumer Christmas
• Save $1,000 by ditching paper towels
• Save $1,354 by using cloth napkins
• Save $6,000 by switching to reusable water bottles

TOTAL SAVINGS SO FAR: $17,121.00

$ left to save: $32,879

I know, it’s cold and wet and the last thing you’re thinking about is sunshine and summer-minded stuff like sunscreen. Still, did you know that sunscreen is a year-round issue? It’s true.

During the winter you are far less likely to get an actual sunburn, because the sun sits at a different angle. That said, the sun is still present as are radiating ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet exposure does occur even during the winter months and even when it’s cloudy. When you cut your exposure to these rays you in turn cut your risks for developing skin cancer.

Be sure to apply a safe non-toxic sunscreen to the most exposed areas of your body and your child’s body each day. Usually in winter this means the neck, face and ears.

• Best non-toxic sunscreen for 2011
• Less expensive and still mostly safe sunscreen choices
• What the…! Less toxic sunscreen can cost more than an eco-friendly car

Image by shuallyo via sxc.

I recently wrote, 50 things I did outside as a kid that didn’t kill me, a post that got me thinking about how come I did all this cool stuff outside, but kids today don’t. I think it’s due to two major issues – screens and parent comfort with the outside world.

Photo © Flickr user N8tr0n

Kids are glued, almost literally, to screens nowadays from television to computers to Kindle to cell phones and other screens. Research backs this up and also shows that screen addiction results in some health and social consequences.

Anyhow, I’ve been pondering the situation and I’ve tried to come up with some ideas that will get your kids outside and active vs. constantly sedentary. Later I’ll be posting a challenge about this, since screen time and activity is something we need to work on in my own house. But first, some tips…

Photo © Flickr user KellBailey

Admit that the world is safe to explore

As I noted in that 50 things I did outside as a kid that didn’t kill me post, many parents are scared about letting their kids roam outside on their own.  As a kid, I wandered around all the time on my own, as did my peers, and statistically, there was more crime in the 70s and early 80s than now. We survived.

I think about what life would have been like had my mom (or some other adult) shadowed my every movement as a kid and the first thing that pops into my mind is yikes! What a downer. Life would have been considerably less fun had I never gotten any free kid time. I imagine that kids today maybe don’t mind as much, because they’re not used to exploring on their own. Still, I bet many would give their teeth to be allowed some awesome wandering time outside or at a mall or in a big city.

Admit to yourself and your kids that there are bad people and bad times, but for the most part, people are okay. Bad things don’t always happen. Life should be an adventure. If you’re brave enough to accept that being outside is safe and fun, maybe your kids will too.

For help coming to terms with the fact that the world is mostly safe, read the following:

• Is it safe to let your kids play outside alone?
• Do you let your five-year-old go to the park alone?
• Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry)

As I noted in that 50 things I did outside as a kid that didn’t kill me post, plenty of parents today are too scared to allow their kids any freedom when it comes to outside play. In fact, the Kids Fighting Chance website notes that a recent study of parents’ worries by pediatricians at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, showed that nearly 3/4 of parents said they feared their children might be abducted and 1/3 of parents said this was a frequent worry, greater than that held for any other concern, including car accidents, sports injuries or drug addiction.

• Do you let your five-year-old go to the park alone?

As a parent, you need to get the facts and pass them on to your kids, because it’s not just parents who are scared of this world, but kids too. You don’t need to dwell on and relate the super scary facts you see on cop shows and the news, but the real hard core facts about safety in today’s world.

But kids are kidnapped!

This is true. Some kids are victims of horrid crimes. But very few.

The U.S. Justice Department released a huge report on U.S. child abduction (pdf) in 1999, and noted that during their study year, there were an estimated 115 stereotypical kidnappings, i.e. what we’d call stranger kidnappings. In 40% of such kidnappings the child was killed. In another 4% the child was never recovered. That leaves 56% of kids recovered, meaning, about 50 children are kidnapped never to be seen alive again. Teens, not young children were most frequently abducted.

Of course, those statistics are from 1999. Are more kids being kidnapped now? Some news reports state crazy stuff like 800,000 children disappear every year, but dig deeper into statistics and you’ll find that still very few (still only about 115) kids fall into that stranger-danger kidnapping category. Most child-minded organizations admit readily that cases of stranger-based kidnappings are extremely rare.

Obviously, even one child kidnapped is terrible. Plus, as Free Range Kids points out, it doesn’t much matter that just 50 kids are kidnapped, never to be returned each year, the bigger concern is that most parents think along the lines of, “My kid could be one of those 50.”

However, if you’re so worried about stranger danger that you keep your kids near you and inside at all times, you’d also better be aware of all the other dangers out there in the world.

Your child is more likely to be the victim of…

Fact: Your child is far more likely to be killed by a car crash, a pool, a parent-caused birth defect or your own home than kidnapped and killed by a raving maniac while playing outside.

• Injuries suffered in a motor vehicle traffic crashes, not murder, is the leading cause of death among children in the United States. In fact, the CDC states that each day eight teens die in a crash. U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that every single day in the United States, an average of 4 children age 14 and younger are killed and 529 are injured in motor vehicle crashes.

• Deaths from fires and burns are the fifth most common cause of unintentional injury deaths in the United States (CDC 2006) and the third leading cause of fatal home injury (Runyan 2004). Four out of five U.S. fire deaths occur in homes, not outside, and kids are in a high risk group.

• The CPSC estimates that about 300 children under the age of 5 years drown each year in home swimming pools. Additionally, CPSC points out that almost all child victims “Were being supervised by one or both parents when the swimming pool accident occurred.“

• Radon gas affects 8 million homes a year and kills 20,000 in the USA alone annually.

• The CDC notes that currently about 1 in 8 pregnant women in the United States reports alcohol use and because of that the March of Dimes notes that up to 40,000 babies are born with FASDs annually.

• American Association of Poison Control Centers notes that 1.25 million kids younger than six years of age are unintentionally poisoned in the home each year by common household products.

• Last year, a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found more than 1.7 million children live in homes with loaded and unlocked guns and it’s also been reported that there are about 500 child deaths per year due to accidental gun shootings.

• According to The Consumer Products and Safety Commission reports over 230,000 toy-related injuries are treated at U.S. emergency rooms annually.

Year after year unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. NOT kidnapping.

If you’re really hell-bent on protecting your child, then seriously, don’t ever take your child out in your car. Don’t take him to a swimming pool. Don’t give him toys. Don’t allow him to be inside too long, because he might die in a house fire or eat poison.

What happens when kids aren’t allowed outside freedom

• Kids miss out on basic rights, such as forming fun childhood memories and making mistakes.
• Kids don’t learn how to be brave.
• Kids face health consequences such as obesity and other illnesses.
• Kids loose out on all the major benefits of free play.
• Kids can’t figure out how to entertain themselves or figure out what to do when a screen isn’t available.
• Kids miss out on “nature buffers” which have been shown to protect children against the effect of stressful life events.

If you really can’t drop the kidnapping issue, consider that research shows that street-smart kids are less likely to be abducted. Kids cannot, no matter what you think, develop street smarts while sitting safely inside.

Sure, teach your kids basic safety rules. Wear a helmet. Look before crossing the street. Don’t go places with people you don’t know. However, don’t teach your kids that the world will kill them if they step into it. That’s not only a lie but it’s created a society of kids who don’t value outside fun and who have no clue what to do with themselves when they’re on their own.

It is safe and beneficial for your child to play outside alone.

If you’re looking for a good video about “strangers” check out The Safe Side. It encourages safety but not fear and discusses “People we know well” and “People we don’t” vs. “Terrifying strangers.” I thought this video was great and especially liked that it encourages kids to be smart and safe, but not freaked out. If you can’t chill out, read Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry) – it’ll help I promise.

Kids are pretty darn sheltered these days. On Facebook I once posed the question to some parents, “At what age is it safe to let kids play alone outside?” The answers I got freaked me out. Parents posted stuff like, “14, 18 years of age” or “Never.” Very few parents said they allowed their kids outside time without a parent at all, at any age. Even fewer parents said they allowed kids under the age of 12 alone time outside.

• Do you let your five-year-old go the park alone?

It’s shocking. Not only do kids get almost no time outside they seem to get literally no time away from their parents. In fact, research shows that just 6% of kids ages 9-13 play outside alone. This is almost cruel in my opinion. Kids need nature. Kids need to be outside. Kids need to explore. Kids really, really need free play sans adults.

In some cases parents halt free play in favor of academics. In other cases parents halt free play because it’s easier to say yes to video games and TV. In a majority of cases though, I’ve seen parents halt free play because they’re scared to let their kids out of their sight. It’s a disservice to kids to be so scared of the world that outside play becomes a hazard. The world isn’t perfectly safe, but it’s not a big fat danger either. Not if you talk to your kids about basic safety rules.

My mom was far from perfect. However, she did give me outdoor freedom. She told me about stranger danger and advised me to look both ways before crossing a street. She liked when I was playing with friends, but also understood that sometimes I needed alone time. Because my mom was good in this respect I had a childhood full of normal healthy outdoor risks and adventures.

In fact, here are 50 things I did as a kid, before the age of 16 (WITHOUT an adult present) that didn’t get me killed, kidnapped or otherwise scarred for life…

1. Planned to build a clubhouse and sort of followed through using nails and (gasp) hammers.
2. Play acted movies out with my friends.
3. Kissed a neighbor boy.
4. Ran in the rain without a coat.
5. Climbed a million trees.
6. Walked 20 blocks to a corner store for soda and candy.
7. Rode my bike on very busy streets all over town.
8. Built stuff out of rocks, mud and other nature items.
9. Swam at my neighborhood pool without parents present – before 12 with a lifeguard, after 12 no lifeguard.
10. Jumped out of trees from way up high.
11. Biked without a helmet – not just in my neighborhood either. I used to sneak out and ride on the rural highway.
12. Tied a bunch of bikes and wagons together to make a parade.
13. Climbed on my friend’s roof (second story).
14. Played street football and baseball.
15. Jumped on a trampoline.
16. Sat in my friend’s hot tub sans adults.
17. Picked up stray cats.
18. Did cartwheels off a pool diving board.
19. Jumped off a pool diving board while sitting in a patio chair.
20. Got inside a pillowcase or old box and went stair sledding.
21. Played hide and seek at night.
22. Walked around a big city, shopping, looking, etc. with young friends.
23. Explored my neighborhood and other places.
24. Jumped in the rain and in puddles.
25. Went hiking, got lost. Got found.
26. Dangled into a sewer to get my Barbie doll who fell in.
27. Played monster – a tag game where the “IT” kid had to hit other kids with a plastic bat.
28. Rolled around in pink insulation in the outdoor playhouse my friend’s dad was building.
29. Did somersaults on concrete.
30. Rode tire swings with way too many friends.
31. Stayed outside too long in snowy weather.
32. Stayed outside too long in hot weather – didn’t drink water.
33. Went downtown on the bus to go to a music concert.
34. Cooked over a campfire.
35. Went to visit neighbor friends, starting at the age of four, who lived houses and houses away.
36. Climbed rocks.
37. Threw rocks and had some thrown at me.
38. Ran off alone at city parks, sometimes with friends, sometimes not.
39. Ran near the ocean.
40. Rode horses.
41. Got in fights and roughed it up with other kids.
42. Went swimming in rivers and lakes.
43. Picked and ate berries off of neighborhood bushes.
44. Played on splintery old playground equipment.
45. Slept outside with other kids, no adults. Suburban camping!
46. Slipped on a Slip & Slide.
47. Rode public transportation alone, no parents. Often at night.
48. Went on long night walks.
49. Had snowball fights.
50. Walked to and from school alone – I lived about 10 blocks away.

Do I recommend your kid jump into a pool while sitting on a patio chair, throw rocks or dangle into sewers? No, these are stupid things to do. I could have been really, seriously hurt. Yet, I wasn’t.

Keep in mind:

I didn’t always live in safe neighborhoods as a kid. Sometimes we lived in pretty sketchy areas. I never, not once in my childhood, required doctor’s care due to an accident from playing outside. I’ve never had a broken bone, or even stitches. Even so, if I had experienced accidents, I’d still be glad I had all that outdoor time. Kids need to make mistakes and sometimes fall down. That’s life.

The new depressing version of childhood

It’s incredibly depressing to me to think about all the kids in this generation who will look back on their childhood as a time when they sat and sat and sat, safe and secure in front of computers and the TV. These are kids who won’t get the chance to learn how to be alone or how to be free to explore their world. Plus, a sedentary childhood can lead to all kinds of health and mental problems. It’s very depressing.

If you’re having trouble wrapping your head around this issue, I highly suggest you read Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry). This is one of my favorite books and can really help if you’re too worried to let your child be an explorer.

What did you do as a kid that didn’t kill you? What are you allowing your kid to do now, alone, outside that also won’t likely kill him? Share in the comments.

Yesterday I posted the top ten most popular green family posts of 2011. However, in order to have room at the top, some posts do have to hit rock bottom (sad). It always surprises me to see what my readers don’t find interesting.

Still, if you want to be a rebel, and go against popular consensus, you may want to check these posts out. Sure they weren’t the most popular, but in part, that’s because some were new (as in December new). Plus, unpopular or not, maybe you’ll still learn something.

Least popular green family posts of 2011 – from most to least popular

1. What does being a green parent mean to you?
2. Choose Your Green Shade of Grocery Shopping
3. Alternatives to conventional schooling – even for single parents
4. Tips for a less consumer-minded holiday season
5. Signs your child may be overweight
6. Food industry wants to keep BPA in food – big surprise
7. Make the most of shopping at the local farmers’ market
8. Homemade Memory Game Craft Project
9. Why U.S. parents are in denial about childhood weight issues
10. Where to find an organic Halloween pumpkin

Interesting mix. No one wants an organic pumpkin?

I’m running a bit short on time today. Cedar and I got immersed in some Zelda paper crafts, then I had to write a huge debate post for a client. Time got away from me. In any case, instead of something new today, how about something popular to fall back on? One thing is clear, you people REALLY love ice pops, play kitchens and sunscreen.

The most popular green family posts of 2011 (most popular at the top)

1. 50 Amazing Homemade Organic Popsicle Recipes & Ideas
2. Non-Toxic Popsicle Molds for Homemade Popsicles
3. DIY Green Toy – Nine Affordable Play Kitchen Sets
4. Ten cool BPA-free reusable water bottles for kids
5. Stainless Steel Non-toxic Popsicle Molds
6. Only 8% of sunscreen safe – find your best eco-friendly summer sun protection
7. Ultimate Eco-Friendly Play Kitchen Guide
8. DIY Green Project: Make a reusable waste-free lunch kit!
9. Best non-toxic sunscreen for 2011 – safe sunscreen choices for kids and adults
10. How To Build a Solar Cooker

Enjoy!

I’ve been slacking on my, “Save $50,000 in five years” series. It’s a lot of work (all those calculations!) However, it’s time we got back to it, so without further ado… Let’s look at cleaning products.

Image © kabliczech

Why use green cleaning products?

In this post I’ll be comparing the costs green cleaning products only – both store bought and homemade. What I won’t be doing is comparing savings on making homemade cleaners over conventional cleaners, because you shouldn’t be using conventional cleaners at all. That’s a much longer story though and an issue that goes beyond budget.

If you’re interested, read Ten Problems and Hazards of Conventional Cleaning Products.

How I’m getting these calculations:

Green cleaning supply costs can really depend on your family, how much you clean and many other variables. We’re a family of five, and we clean fairly regularly, so I’m just going to use us as an example. When it was just my son and me, we almost always only used homemade cleaners. Now that we live with another family, who can’t seem to figure out homemade cleaners (longer story for another time) it’s sometimes easier to buy green cleaners at the store. I’ve also had to test out store bought green cleaners for reviews.

That said, I have a decent amount of experience with both types of cleaning supplies. However, I’m kind of a Grinch about buying anything, so I also looked at some market research to see how much people are spending on green cleaners.

Cleaning my family regularly does annually & supplies needed:

We do daily chores, such as wiping down the kitchen and dining room table surfaces about 2-3 times per day, most days of the year. On a weekly basis, we have two bathrooms to clean, scrubbing out the kitchen sink, recycle bin and garbage can, along with mopping floors and dusting surface. 

On a twice monthly or monthly basis we clean windows (glass and frames), wipe down the fridge, wipe down walls (Oregon mold prevention), spot clean couches and floors if needed and clean the oven.

For the chores above we need all-purpose surface cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, glass cleaner, tub cleaner and organic liquid soap.

*I’m not including vacuuming carpets (vacuum cleaner) or other tools such as scrubbing brushes or cloths or paper towels – just cleaners. I didn’t include laundry or dishes, because low impact laundry and dish washing savings are their own posts.

How much do FRUGAL basic store bought green cleaning supplies cost over five years?

These are the store-bought cleaners we buy, when we buy them. These in total are few, and not very typical to what I see among most families, so we’re going to figure two scenarios.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner – $3.49 per bottle – lasts about three months. Need 4 bottles = $13.96 (per year)

Glass & Surface Cleaner – $4.99 per bottle - we use a concentrated, mix your own cleaner that lasts us about 3 months – but we use it for lots of stuff; glass, the fridge, all surfaces, etc. Need 4 bottles = $19.96 (per year)

Castile Liquid Soap Organic $14.99 per bottle – we use this for a ton of stuff, from scrubbing out recycling bins to cleaning sinks and more. We tend to get the 32 oz size which lasts and last because a tiny bit goes a long way. Need 2 bottles = $29.98 (per year).

Fabric Stain and Odor Remover $5.05 per bottle – due to the kids, we go through more of this than other stuff, about a bottle every two months. Need 6 bottles = $30.30 (per year).

I never buy a scrubby type cleaner. If I want to clean the sinks or tub with something other than homemade stuff, I’ll squirt a bit of castile soap or surface cleaner into the sink or tub, sprinkle a bit of eco-laundry powder or eco-dishwasher powder into the area and scrub with a brush.

As for floors, we use our Shark 2-in-1 Vac-then-Steam, which we didn’t pay for, but costs $149.00. I suggest using this, as you don’t need any cleaners for it, and it’ll last the whole five years I’m guessing. Plus sweeping and mopping sucks. You do need to buy a steam mop pads, maybe once per year, for $6.75. Total costs for five years = $182.75. Still, had we not gotten the steam mop for free, then we’d simply use some of the castile soap or surface cleaners + a basic cheap mop, so our costs on floors would be negligible.

Total frugal green cleaning store-bought supplies = $94.20 per year or $471.00 over five years or $653.75 with the steam mop.

Image by svilen001 via sxc.

How much do TYPICAL basic store bought green cleaning supplies cost over five years?

We buy very few store-bought cleaners, even when we’re using them regularly, because we mix it up with homemade and use them sparingly. However, we’re not very typical.

When I visit other people’s homes, I often see a much larger amount of cleaning products – both if they’re buying green or not. People seem highly attracted to single use products – i.e. they need a kitchen vs. bathroom cleaner. Typically I see the following stuff in typical homes… Oh, and I’m going to guess, based on my experience how fast the average family of four would use these up and I’ll choose the most popular green cleaners at Amazon – since it’s hard to tell what typical people buy.

• Furniture polish $8.67 per bottle - I’m guessing a bottle of this would last a year (?) = $8.67 (per year)

• All purpose cleaner $8.80 per bottle. Need two bottles a year, since you’ve got all these other cleaners too = $17.60 (per year).

• Kitchen cleaner – surface spray $3.98 per bottle - maybe 12 bottles a year, people use a lot of kitchen cleaning spray. If I mix my own from eco-concentrate, I still mix up about 1.5 bottles per month = $47.76 (per year).

• Bathroom cleaner $3.86 per bottle - as with kitchen cleaners, if I mix bottles myself, I use about 6 or 7 per year on the bathrooms alone. Especially because the kids totally over-spray = $27.02 (per year).

• Toilet Bowl Cleaner – $3.49 per bottle - lasts about three months. Need 4 bottles = $13.96 (per year).

• Some sort of disinfecting multi-surface wipes $4.97 per container - I’ve seen people go through 2 or 3 of these per month, but that’s just nuts. I know a more frugal cleaner who uses 1 container per month, so I’m going with that = $59.64 (per year).

• Window and glass cleaner $9.70 per bottle - 4 bottles = $38.80 (per year)

• Fabric Stain and Odor Remover $5.05 per bottle - 6 bottles = $30.30 (per year).

• Floor Cleaner $4.85 per bottle for mopping and such – I have no idea how long this might last, but floors are big, so I’ll estimate at least three bottles a year = $14.55 (per year)

• Oven cleaner – I’ve actually never seen a readily available eco-oven cleaner. BUT you don’t want to go the conventional route. Oven cleaners are the worst of the worst cleaners. I do know of one oven cleaner that’s supposedly safe, but I haven’t used it. It’s affordable at just $7.69, I guess it would last the whole year = $7.69 (per year).

• Tub and tile cleaner $3.74 per bottle - hopefully you’d use less of this, especially if you’re buying other cleaners. Once, Seventh Generation sent me a bottle of tub cleaner spray to test, and it lasted me about 3 months, assuming I cleaned the tub entirely with it = $11.22 (per year).

• Bleach $11.63 per bottle

Total typical green cleaning store-bought supplies =$300.56 per year or $1,502.80 every five years.

How much do people REALLY spend on green cleaners?

My figures were $545.95 for frugal green cleaners and $1,502.80 for typical green cleaners over five years. However, to be clear, my best estimates about typical cleaning product purchases don’t match what other market research says.

David Bach, author of Go Green, Live Rich estimates that the average American family spends about $600 per year on home cleaners. Packaged Facts estimates that the U.S. market for household cleaning products through 2012 will reach $8.1 billion. People seem to buy an outrageous amount of cleaning products. Currently green cleaners only make up 3% of the home cleaning market, but they cost more, so if you buy a full range, you’d be spending a bundle.

For example, in 2009, $339 million was spent by a very small percentage of people on green household cleaning products. Packaged Facts estimates that green home cleaner sales should reach $2 billion in sales by 2014 while the global market for household green cleaning products forecast is US$9.32 billion by the year 2017. About 1/3 of green cleaners sold are laundry products, but even so, that leaves a hefty amount of other green cleaners being sold.

According to market research, my best guess figures were extremely low. The cleaning market is a rich market. It’s very likely that people spend much more on cleaning products than I figured, more in the range of $500-$600 per year. Or $2,500-3,000 every five years. If you split the average of $2,500 and $1,502, you’re looking at $2,001 every five years.

© Franny-Anne

How much do basic homemade green cleaning supplies cost over five years? 

Okay, these figures are easier, since for years, homemade green cleaners were all I used, so I have a much better basis for comparison.

Here’s a list of my basic supplies for a year’s worth of cleaning naturally.

• Prevention + arm power – both free – if you clean often, you avoid big messes that can’t be cleaned and you’d be surprised what a basic good scrub with a brush will get rid of.
• $3.00 (2 containers) salt - usually store brand or bulk.
• $6.00 (3 massive boxes) baking soda – usually store brand or bulk.
• $9.60 1 lemon per month (I refuse to pay more than 80 cents for a cleaning lemon, if it’s more I go without for cleaning.
• $9.02 1 bottle of Organic Tea Tree Oil.
• $29.98 (3 bottles) Castile Liquid Soap Organic
• $1.80 a small containers of vinegar – I HATE vinegar and use it ultra sparingly, actually forgetting to use it, so it costs me almost nothing.

I personally buy Fabric Stain and Odor Remover $5.05 per bottle - 6 bottles = $30.30 (per year). However, there are homemade versions you can make. They’re a bit more trouble, so this is one area where I spend extra.

Total costs of natural cleaners $59.40 for a year or $297.00 over five years. If you buy the steam mop ($182.75) I suggested up above, you’d spend $479.75 over five years.

Savings with natural homemade green cleaners over store bought green cleaners:

• $297.00 – $479.75 spent on homemade cleaners (highest estimate).
• $2,001 spent on store bought green cleaners (conservative estimate).
• You’d save $1,521  to $1,704 every five years if you went with homemade green cleaners (average of $1,612.00).

We’re trying to save $50,000 and so far we’ve saved the following…

• $1,612 by making homemade green cleaners
• $6,180 by using reusable water bottles vs. buying bottled water
• $1,000 by using cloth instead of paper towels
• $1,354 if you use cloth napkins instead of paper
• $835 by switching to reusable baby wipes

That’s a grand total of $10,981.00. That leaves $39,019.00 left to save. That seems like a lot. Whew, by the way, next time I’m doing something easy – these calculations were a nightmare. For now, if you want to start making your own green cleaners, check out the following:

• Green and safe kitchen pantry homemade cleaners
• Homemade all-purpose and mold cleaners
• Homemade green kitchen cleaners

If an eco-friendly play kitchen is on your child’s wish list this holiday season, then you’ll need some play food to go with it. Felt play food is inexpensive, safe, soft and comes in an array of fresh colors, making it a great choice. If you want to learn more about eco-friendly felt vs. conventional, read this post.

This summer, Cedar and I started trying to make some homemade felt food for a friend’s holiday gift – more on this later. We did okay for beginners, but it’s a lot of work. The good folks at Etsy have us beat in the design category for sure, so if you’re looking for some unique and wonderful felt play food sets, I’d check Etsy first.

IMPORTANT – felt food takes time to make. If you’re ordering for the holidays or for a time-specific gift, contact the stores below and place your order well before you need it!

Below I’ve posted some of my favorite felt food shops on Etsy along with three notable felt food creations from each shop…

• Felt Food Baking Ingredients Wool Play Set

   

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• Felt Play Food Soup Can with Interactive Opening Lid Meat and Vegetables

   

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• Felt Food Waffle with Bananas Syrup and Whipped Cream

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-Food-Waffle-with-Bananas-Syrup-and-Whipped-Cream.jpg
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• Felt Food Cookie Baking Set

   

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• Felt Food Baked Potato with Butter and Sour Cream with Chives

   

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• Felt Food Hot Chocolate with Mini Marshmallows

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-Food-Hot-Chocolate-with-Mini-Marshmallows.jpg
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• Apple Dippers with Caramel Sauce Eco Felt Play Food

   

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• Watermelon Fruit Basket Felt Play Food Apple Orange Kiwi Pineapple Banana

   

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• Ants on a Log Celery Sticks Peanut Butter and Raisins Felt Play Food Snack

   

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• Sack of 'Taters

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Sack-of-Taters.jpg
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• Popsicle with wrapper

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Popsicle-with-wrapper.jpg
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• Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Broccoli-with-Cheese-Sauce.jpg
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• Felt Food Avocado Set

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-Food-Avocado-Set.jpg
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• Felt Food Popcorn Set

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-Food-Popcorn-Set.jpg
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• Felt Food Ice Cream Waffle Cone Set

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-Food-Ice-Cream-Waffle-Cone-set.jpg
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• Felt play Christmas Cookies

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-play-Christmas-Cookies.jpg
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• Pretend Play Felt Bags Of Fruit And Vegetables

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Pretend-Play-Felt-Bags-Of-Fruit-And-Vegetables.jpg
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• Gingerbread cookie dough

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Gingerbread-cookie-dough.jpg
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• Play Food Felt Pie Slice Set

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Play-Food-Felt-Pie-Slice-Set.jpg
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• Felt Lemon Bars

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-Lemon-Bars.jpg
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• Gourmet Chocolate Felt Teacakes

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Gourmet-Chocolate-Felt-Teacakes.jpg
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• Felt Food Interactive Peanut Butter Jar

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Felt-Food-Interactive-Peanut-Butter-Jar.jpg
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• Indian Corn with removable husk

   

  http://www.growingagreenfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Indian-Corn-with-removable-husk.jpg
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• Felt Food Refrigerated Set- Gallon of Milk, Butter and Eggs

   

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Bug Bites Play Food

• Felt Food Baking Ingredients Wool Play Set
• Felt Play Food Soup Can with Interactive Opening Lid Meat and Vegetables
• Felt Food Waffle with Bananas Syrup and Whipped Cream

ThePixiePalace

• Felt Food Cookie Baking Set
• Felt Food Baked Potato with Butter and Sour Cream with Chives
• Felt Food Hot Chocolate with Mini Marshmallows

Royal Rugrats

• Apple Dippers with Caramel Sauce Eco Felt Play Food
• Watermelon Fruit Basket Felt Play Food Apple Orange Kiwi Pineapple Banana
• Ants on a Log Celery Sticks Peanut Butter and Raisins Felt Play Food Snack

Seven Feathers Tribe

• Sack of ‘Taters
• Popsicle with wrapper
• Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

CreationByM

• Felt Food Avocado Set
• Felt Food Popcorn Set
• Felt Food Ice Cream Waffle Cone Set

It’s the Small Things

• Felt play Christmas Cookies Set Of 5
• Pretend Play Felt Bags Of Fruit And Vegetables
• Gingerbread cookie dough

The Fakery Bakery

• Play Food Felt Pie Slice Set
• Felt Lemon Bars
• Gourmet Chocolate Felt Teacakes

The Felted Pear

• Felt Food Interactive Peanut Butter Jar
• Indian Corn with removable husk
• Felt Food Refrigerated Set- Gallon of Milk, Butter and Eggs

A few years ago I saw a television program (on PBS I believe) that highlighted the green efforts of some fella who had been reusing the same disposable plastic water bottle for about one year. His intentions were good. I mean, obviously you shouldn’t buy bottled water over and over. However, in actuality reusing disposable plastic water bottles is not a very healthy.

Back in 2009, a piece from a local PDX news site features this idea of reusing a disposable plastic water bottle over and over and the advice came down hard on the side of don’t do it. An expert from the The Oregon Environmental Council noted that there are two major reasons why you should not reuse disposable single use water bottles – bacteria and polyethylene terephthalate.

Plastic disposable water bottles are also very tough to clean properly (all those weird ridges and a small opening).  Experts say you shouldn’t put disposable water bottles in the dishwasher, because heat releases chemicals used in the plastic making process, and your hand obviously can’t fit inside one, so bacteria growth and chemicals are likely problems.

Because disposable water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate, which degrades over time, eventually, the bottle will leach phthalates into your clean drinking water. Phthalates can disrupt your hormones and the expert from the The Oregon Environmental Council further notes that phthalates have been linked to various health problems, “Including women giving birth to boys with small genitalia and undescended testes.”

It won’t kill you (of course) if you reuse a plastic water bottle once or twice, but with so many better, reusable water bottle choices out there, why would you? Plus, ditching disposable water bottles can save you a whopping $6,000 over 5 years. Listed below are some non-toxic, BPA-free, reusable water bottle options…

• BPA-free reusable water bottles for kids
• Reusable water bottles for adults