Do chores feel monotonous? Perhaps the day in and day out approach gets pretty stale — so what can you do to spice things up? What if you knew that you were cleaning for the betterment of the planet? That's what we'll break down today: how you can change your around-the-house activities with eco-friendly choices that add up to big changes for both the planet and your household.

Vinegar

Don't turn your nose up at this household jack of all trades. Simple vinegar can replace bottles of mystery cleaning products as your eco-friendly cleaning agent of choice. Vinegar is especially useful in areas where you store food, like your pantry or refrigerator — soak a rag or sponge in white vinegar, scrub away, then rinse with water to ward off any lingering smell. It is completely safe for food surfaces and fabrics.

Natural Gas

How do you heat your home? Natural gas is one of the cleanest burning natural fuels available for heating and cooling. Not only is it an eco-friendly choice for your household energy, but it usually saves families money as well — homes that use natural gas can save close to $1,000 a year, enough to tip the scales firmly in its favor.

Reusable Products

When it comes to cleaning, it can sometimes feel like you go through an entire roll of paper towels in a single session — just wiping and tossing, over and over. Investing in reusable towels is an eco-friendly swap that pays for itself in a short amount of time. They soak up more liquid, have greater durability, and are even more attractive than their paper counterparts.

Use the Sun

It's summer in Michigan — arguably the best season for the state, with sun shining well into the evening and low chances of showers. Use the sun to dry your clothes! A simple laundry line or drying rack can cut big bucks from your energy usage while reducing your household's carbon footprint at the same time.

Chores are boring — we get it. But hopefully these simple eco-friendly swaps can turn that frown upside down and help make our planet a better one for the future. When kids are home with extra energy to burn, there's no better way to channel it than a bit of sweat equity! Keep checking back to the Kratos Gas & Power blog for weekly posts on saving money and home DIYs.