Large families with four or more kids have to do things differently than a smaller sized family. We often buy in bulk, plan meals in advance and recycle everything we can. This includes clothing that’s still in good condition and toys that the older kids outgrow.
Here are some more tips on going green with a large family.
Laundry
When you have a large family, you do a lot of laundry but there are ways you can cut back on the amount of energy you use. I wash with cold water instead of hot and pre-soak items in the sink instead of using the pre-wash setting on the washer.
I use the lowest timer on the dryer for most items. For jeans and thick towels, I’ll reset the dryer on the lowest time setting and check them when it’s about halfway through the cycle. If they are dry, I take them out instead of letting them run the full time.
Food/Groceries
Whenever possible, I buy in bulk. This saves on trips to the grocery store and saves money on the products. Instead of using the plastic bags in the grocery store, I try to take my cloth grocery bags shopping with me to put my items in.
Waste/Recycling
Recycling is important and something that I have taught my kids to do as well. It only takes a few minutes to separate the items and it helps to keep a lot of waste out of the landfills. Instead of using baggies and freezer bags to store food, I use reusable containers whenever it’s practical.
When the kids outgrow clothing that cannot be passed down to another sibling, I donate these to charity or Goodwill to be recycled and used by other families who are in need of clothing
Cloth and Paper Use
Using paper plates is easier when you have a large family but the paper adds up after awhile and you end up sending a lot of waste to the landfills. For this reason, I now use regular dishes and someone is designated to load the dishwasher after every meal to ensure the dishes are clean when needed. However, we never use the dishwasher until it is completely full.
I taught my kids to use both sides of the paper when drawing or coloring and both my husband and I do the same when printing out work or other information. We use scrap paper and junk mail for notes, grocery lists and kids’ drawing, too.
Water
Bath time can use a lot of water if you’re not careful so we monitor the time the kids spend in the shower. They have enough time to get clean but they don’t spend time playing in the shower. We use timers to keep everyone on target.
Energy/Electricity
We use our ceiling fans to help circulate the heat and air throughout our home. In the summer, we open windows to let in fresh air but keep the curtains pulled on the side of the home the sun is shining in to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool the home. In the winter, we let in all the sun we can to help reduce the heating bill.
The thermostat is set at one temperature that is comfortable for everyone and left there to save energy. We also use rechargeable batteries for toys and small electronics. Everyone in the family turns off the TV when no one is watching it and we turn out the lights every time we leave a room, even if we plan to return in a few minutes. Electronic devices are powered off and unplugged when not in use.
Cleaners
Whenever practical, we use natural cleaners around the home. For example, we use vinegar and water to clean windows and mirrors. Every little bit helps when you’re going green with a large family. It also helps us save money.