If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, you don’t have to go far. Many consumers don’t realize how much energy is lost due to holding onto old refrigerators or running your dishwasher half – full. Thankfully, our friends at yourhome.ca have given us 10 Steps to an Eco-friendly Kitchen. Here are a few highlights:

Dish it Up
Save energy and run your dishwasher only when it’s completely full. Make sure you use the right detergent. Look for plant-based detergents and avoid synthetic products. (We love GrabGreen‘s dishwasher detergent.)

Nuke ‘Em
Using sponges to wash dishes and countertops is fine, but you must make sure to keep those sponges clean. You can kill bacteria by placing sponges in the microwave for about 90 seconds.

Be Good to Your Garbage
Bacteria and odor can build up in your garbage disposal over time. To get your disposal clean and green, grab a handful of ice and a few lemon wedges, place them in, run the cold water and turn on the unit. The ice will help keep the blades sharp and the lemon will disinfect and provide a fresh smelling kitchen.

Counter-Top Clean-Up
No more chemical cleaners or paper towels. Instead, choose microfiber cloths, they’re made out of microscopic fibers that grip just about anything. You can toss them in the washing machine and use them over and over. If you buy off-the-shelf cleaning supplies, look for ones with ingredients derived from plant enzymes for green cleaning. (Better Life or Seventh Generation are couple of our favorite brands.)

Makeover Your Kitchen
Go with low-or no-VOC paints. When choosing your countertop, it’s important to understand the impact. Granite is mined causing land and soil erosion. A sustainable option is a counter-top made of recycled glass and a mix of concrete.

Chill Out
If you want your fridge or freezer to run more efficiently, make sure the freezer is full. Where your fridge is concerned, if it’s over 10 years old, it’s time to replace it. Older models use excess energy.