6 Green Kitchen Tips That Save Money WITHOUT Extra Work

April is Earth Month. We all know we should be doing our bit to save the planet, but sometimes, it can all feel like a bit of a chore, especially when you have a busy family home.

We know we should be doing things like composting, growing our own herbs and vegetables etc, but it can feel like there's just simply not enough waking hours of the day to do all these things.

At Chef Remi, we advocate anything that helps our planet, but we also understand the needs of a busy family home, and that time really is a premium!

So, in honor of Earth month, we've rounded up some easy tips to help you make your kitchen a greener place, without needing to turn into a domestic Gaia! Nothing on this list will add any more chores to your already busy day. Go on, you're allowed to feel a little bit smug knowing that you're doing your bit, and you're save money too!

Dishwasher tips

Dishwashers have been proven to be more energy efficient than hand washing, but only when you follow certain rules.

Fill up your dishwasher – Your dishwasher will use roughly the same amount of energy when it's full as it does with just a couple of plates and a handful of cutlery.

If your dishwasher isn't full, just leave it until the next meal time when a load more crockery and cutlery can be added.

And if you have a small household where you find it takes a couple of days to fill up your dishwasher (and you start to need certain utensils that are still dirty), consider selling the machine and start washing by hand – your wallet (and the planet) will thank you!

Don't pre-rinse dishes / utensils – Unless your dishwasher is more than 10 years old, it's powerful enough to remove food without needing to rinse crockery in the sink. Skip this step to save water, time and money.

Use the air-dry option - Do you really need hot plates? If not, then don't set your dishwasher to heat the cleaned dishes, and you'll save money on electricity.

Cookware

Buy utensils that stand the test of time – It's natural to want to buy the cheapest cookware available, especially if you're kitting out a new kitchen, and need a lot of things!

Buying cheap cookware is a real false economy. Plastic utensils can melt easily, and cheap wooden ones can rot. In other words, cheap items will need replacing very fast, which will cost you more in the long run.

We're not now saying you need to get a bank loan out just to get some kitchen tools! But opt for sturdy, mid-priced items that will last years and can withstand the demands of a busy family kitchen.

At Chef Remi, we pride ourselves in inventing kitchen accessories that are modestly priced, but will last the test of time, such as our heavy duty kitchen shears.

Also, Our cutting board is one of our best selling items, and it''s no wonder as it's made from hard wearing, rot-free rubber board, that is made to last you many years, unlike cheaper woods, bamboo boards and synthetic boards, which are proven to harbor bacteria that even a dishwasher can't get rid of.

Cleaning items

Use cloth towels – Paper towels are handy, but you'll be amazed at how much paper you waste in a year (and how much money you spend) by using these as your go-to cleaning item.

Have cloth towels to hand instead, and use paper towels as an emergency measure only when you have no clean cloth towels.

Use microfiber cloths – Sponges have a habit of falling apart over time (and therefore need replacing every few months), not to mention that they harbor more bacteria than most toilet seats (yuck!)

Instead, try heavy-duty microfiber clothes which can absorb even more liquid than sponges, can last years, and can be placed into the washing machine to clean to kill all bacteria

See? You really don't have to become an organic farmer or start hugging trees to make your kitchen more green!