More Hip Than Hippie #243 - Dirty Laundry

Eco-friendly clothing goes beyond organic cotton and hemp. Your laundry habits are more important than your fashion sense.

If you're trying to be more eco-conscious about your wardrobe, you should know that the fabric you choose is only a small part of the equation. The energy used to care for your garments accounts for about 2/3 of their carbon footprint. The Hipsters air out some tips for washing, drying, ironing and dry cleaning that'll help you green your jeans! Also, Val turns another year older and offers to slip Dori the pickle.

Beer and Chocolate:

Beer: We pop across the pond to merry old England for this flavorful brew. Ripon Jewel Amber Ale from Daleside Brewery pays tribute to the Yorkshire cathedral of the same name.

Chocolate: "Let chocolate change your world", says the label. Done! The Lake Champlain Raspberry Truffle bar featured an elegant fruity ganache and yummy chocolate, but at a paltry 54% cocoa still proved to be a bit too sweet for our bitter palates.

Hip News and Finds

Finds:

• Pig out! If a Bacon Wrapped Turkey is wrong, we don't want to be right.
• Pickin' and Grinnin'. Greenfeet's popular Pick A Present promo is back! Go ahead, get yourself a little something this season. And share a giggle too; the official Bad Joke Contest is underway! Win a Greenfeet prize pack with your nice clean joke. Email your entry to ThePrez@greenfeet.com by Dec. 4th.

Hip News

• Remote control. The California Energy Commission approved the nation's first energy-efficiency standards for TVs. Next up: making SNL funny again and putting music back on MTV.
• Jolly good fellows. Forty conservationists have been singled out for TogetherGreen Fellowships this year. Check out our past show about this joint venture between Audubon and Toyota.
• Big dork. After receiving angry e-mails from Greenpeace and Pamela Anderson, Russian automaker DARTZ will forgo using whale penis leather in their new armored car. Must've been a hard decision.

Teenie Weenie Greenie™

Tag, you're it! Make your own gift tags this year using cookie cutters as patterns. Once you've finished baking your holiday sugar cookies, trace the cutters on some festive paper. Cut out all those stars and snowflakes for instant gift tags that are Santa-approved!

 

Dirty Laundry

If you're trying to be more eco-conscious about your wardrobe, you should know that the fabric you choose is only a small part of the equation. The energy used to care for your garments accounts for about 2/3 of their carbon footprint. Washing, drying, ironing and dry cleaning can all be adapted to help green your jeans!

 

• Detergent. Look for products that are biodegradable and free of phosphates. Save on packaging with concentrated and powdered detergents like Nellie's Laundry Soda.
• Washer. Save water and money with a front-loading machine bearing the Energy Star label.
• Dryer. The 2nd biggest energy hog in your home, dryers should be used sparingly. Cut costs by employing the moisture sensor and cleaning the lint screen regularly. Use a clothes drying rack or clothesline whenever possible. Here are some tips for softening those crunchy line-dried garments.
• Bleach. Non-chlorine bleach brands like Seventh Generation are safe and non-toxic. You could also add half a cup of borax to your wash load.
• Dryer sheets. Avoid the stinky chemicals. Mrs. Meyers uses plant-based softeners and essential oils.
• Dry cleaning. Just say no to dry-clean-only clothing! Earth911 has the scoop on wet cleaning.
• Laundromat. Surprisingly eco-friendly, since commercial machines tend to be more energy efficient. Some are even switching to alternative energy.
• Reuse. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, wearing your jeans at least three times before washing them results in about 5 times more energy savings.

 

Listener E-mails

We're thankful for great listeners like you! Keep sending your questions and compliments to hip@greenfeet.com. Check out our new blog! And remember to post articles, links and dirty laundry at our MHTH forum!Send Val at least 25 beer caps for her patio project, and get a free MHTH bottle opener! Mail them to More Hip Val, 275 Fairchild Ave. #107, Chico, CA 95973. No Sierra Nevada please!

• Tina in Texas is ready for her annual cold. She found Better for Grownups reusable cotton sateen tissues in a box. Gesundheit!
• Ann in NC recommends GoodSearch for finding worthy charities to support. They donate to every charity you search!
• Melinda in SC loves Melissa and Doug products because, unlike Mattel and Disney, they don't make toxic toys.
• Alison in NC teaches us something new about the non-toxic claim on labels.
• Kevin throws down a challenge to fellow Hipsters: when you're out at a restaurant or coffee shop, give 'em your porn star name to call out! Way to work it, Glitter!

Show the world you're More Hip Than Hippie! Grab some merch for Hanukkah or anyday!Twitter goes green on #EcoMonday! Follow us on Twitter: GrnDiva, MoreHipDori and JRich9 at your service! Add us to your friends on Facebook and MySpace!Remember to vote for us at Podcast Alley, and leave a glowing review at iTunes! More Hip Than Hippie is sponsored by Greenfeet.com.