Tag: going green

DIY: Reusable AND Refillable Dryer Sachets

DIY reusable AND refillable herbal dryer sachets from katienormalgirl.com | #DIY #natural #home

It’s time to ditch your dryer sheets and embrace the latest trend in simple, sustainable living…dryer sachets!  These chemical-free, all-natural alternative to dryer sheets have been growing in popularity, and this week I’m going to show you how to make your own dryer sachet, that is both reusable and refillable.

Often dryer sachets are sewn shut on all sides and are not refillable without some difficulty and it’s this ability to refill them, that makes this project unique.

These dryer sachets are an easy-sew project, perfect for beginners and can be done by hand or using a sewing machine. It’s also a great opportunity to upcycle old t-shirts, or use up old scraps of fabric from other projects.

I like to take some time on a Sunday afternoon to make a batch of these that can be kept in a basket next to my dryer. As you’re making them for yourself, remember that they also make great housewarming gifts, teacher presents or can be a unique addition to a baby shower gift basket.DIY reusable AND refillable herbal dryer sachets from katienormalgirl.com | #DIY #natural #home

Tools & Materials Needed:

  • Iron and firm surface to iron on
  • Scissors
  • Measuring tape or quilter’s square
  • Sewing machine or needle (if sewing by hand)
  • 4 1/2″ x 9 1/2″ piece of fabric (cotton or linen) and coordinating thread
  • 4″ strip of industrial strength or decor velcro*

*Make sure you are using industrial strength or decor grade velcro for this project. It has double-sided “teeth” that are strong enough to stay closed while tumbling around in the dryer. It can be sew-on or stick-on, for added security, you’ll want to sew it into the sachet, either way.

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Saving Energy: Adjusting Your Water Heater Temperature

It’s officially Autumn in Florida. How do I know? Because this past weekend I adjusted my hot water heater’s temperature gauge. For those of you that don’t know, I adjust my hot water heater’s temperature gauge seasonally. When the outside temperatures drop, I turn the gauge up and when we welcome back warmer temperatures, the gauge goes down. It’s little things like this, that helped contribute to my power costs only being $35 last month.

But back to the reason for the adjustment…

For a cold weather wimp like me, the mornings are chilly (in the mid 60’s…the 60’s you guys!). So I need my shower to have lots of hot water, unlike the summer time when I only need a bit of hot water.  I opened up the hot water heater panel, adjusted the gauge and voila!, more hot water.

Perhaps you don’t know how most hot water heaters work and how this can save you money. The simple explanation is this: most hot water heater temperature gauges are set between 120°F-125°F. Your hot water heater, heats water to the set temperature, then the water cools a bit and the heater, heats it back up again. It does this all day long to ensure that the moment you want hot water, it is available. If you’re not using all of the hot water in your tank, then you can turn the temperature down to save money. That’s what I do in the summer, when I set the gauge to 100°F.  But now I’m cold (in the 60’s, remember?), so I adjusted it up to 115°F and as it gets colder, I’ll adjust it up to 125°F.

Want to try it yourself?  It’s easy!  Grab your screwdriver and I’ll show you how.

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