Green Your Dry Cleaning

Kids and dry cleaning? You’re joking, right? These two go together like oil and water (literally). But for those of you who are adventurous enough to mix kids and dry cleaning, here's what you need to know about the toxic chemicals used at traditional dry cleaners and how to find a greener alternative.

Why Go Green?

The standard solvent used in 85% of the dry cleaners in the U.S. is is perchloroethylene (or Perc), a central nervous system depressant known to cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness. It has been linked to reproductive problems, including miscarriage and male infertility and it hasbeen listed as a hazardous air pollutant and a probable human carcinogen under the federal standards. Perc is also rough on the planet, contributing to both air and water pollution.

How To Green Your Dry Cleaning

1. Skip It: It goes without saying (but I’m going to say it anyhow), the most eco-friendly thing you can do is to avoid clothes that require dry cleaning.

2. Get Wet: If you do have clothes that need to be dry cleaned, look for a “wet cleaner” that uses computer-controlled washers and dryers in combination with water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergents to clean delicate fabrics such as wool, silk, linen or rayon. Wet cleaning does not contribute to air or water pollution and it's safe for the people cleaning your clothes. (Here's a directory of wet cleaners.)

3. Give It Some Gas: Dry cleaning that uses liquid carbon dioxide is another green alternative. This technology uses CO2 that is captured from existing industrial and agricultural emissions (so it doesn’t contribute to global warming) . Several years ago, Consumer Reports compared eco-friendly dry cleaning methods and gave the edge to liquid CO2 for producing the best results in tests for shrinkage, discoloration, and preservation of texture. However, this method is "less green" than wet-cleaning as it does use detergents that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

4. Green Earth: GreenEarth dry cleaning utilizes a silicone-based solvent, siloxane, to clean clothes in a process similar to traditional cleaning. It is often billed as “green” because the chemicals it uses are less toxic than Perc. However, there is still concern about the safety of siloxane for both human and environmental health. Siloxane is highly flammable, it is manufactured using chlorine, and its use may release dioxin emissions. And the verdict is still out on whether or not siloxane is a carcinogen.

Where To Donate Your Old Stuff

Cleaning house? Consider donating things you no longer want or need to someone who does. Donating old stuff is not only great for folks in need, it is also great for the environment, as it reduces waste and the consumption of new resources. Get your kids involved by filling them in on where the old items are going and how they will help. Here's where you and your kids can donate anything from appliances to eyeglasses.

Appliances: Most thrift stores, including Goodwill and the Salvation Army accept small appliances for donation. Contact them first if you have something large to drop off or consider listing the item on Freecycle to see if someone in your local area might be interested. Also check with your local women’s shelter or group home.

Books: Contact your local library to find out their policy on donations. Most will accept virtually any book or magazine (within reason, of course.) Other options include children’s museums, women’s shelters, hospitals, or your local thrift store.

Cars: Got an old jalopy clogging up your driveway? Contact area high-schools, colleges, or vo-tech programs to find out if they could use your old car. Advertise the heap in Freecycle to see if anyone in your local area is interested in it for parts. Or look into donating it to a charity programs such as The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Cars or Habitat for Humanity’s Cars for Homes.

Cell Phones: Donate old cell phones directly to your local women’s shelter, or check out The Wireless Foundation’s Call to Protect Campaign or Verizon Wireless’s HopeLine, where money raised through phone sales are donated to domestic-violence shelters.

Clothes: Click here for a recent post on donating (and fixing, selling, or swapping) old clothes.

Computers: Check with your local schools, libraries, or charity organizations to see if they could use your old computer. If not, contact The National Cristina Foundation, Computer Recycling Center, or The World Computer Exchange to make sure your computer gets in the hands of someone who can use it.

Eyeglasses: Don’t toss your old frames, donate them instead. Check out The Lions Club’s eyeglass recycling program or New Eyes For The Needy, an organization that distributes glasses, sunglasses, and hearing to those who need them.

Furniture: Freecycle your old furniture or contact your local thrift store to see if they will accept it and/or pick it up.

Toys: Clean out those overflowing toy bins and pass along those old toys to your local thrift store, hospital, children’s museum, women’s shelter, or library.

Cleaning House? What To Do With Your Old Clothes

If you're like me, the new year has you itching to clean house and get rid of some post-holiday clutter. Time to go through those closets and set aside the clothes that have seen better days. Just don't even think about tossing them. There's plenty of ways to get a second (or third or fourth) life out of your old duds. Here's are some green parenting ideas for dealing with your old clothes:

Fix: If you’re handy with a needle in thread, go ahead and fix that torn hem in your skirt or patch up the hole in your son's favorite flannel shirt. Need a guide? Check out these handy sites for some quick and easy clothing repairs…

Thrifty Fun

Easy Clothing Repairs

Heloise’s Quick Clothing Repair Hints

Swap: You know what they say…one green parent’s junk is another green parent’s treasure. If you have a bag full of clothes that you no longer want, consider swapping them for a bag full of clothes that are gently used, yet new-to-you. Organize a swap with friends to exchange kids’ clothes or clothes for your own closet. Or check out these sites to trade with green parents from around the world…

Swap-O-Rama-Rama

Swapstyle

Swapthing

Clothing Swap

Sell: If you have some clothing items that are worth a pretty penny, consider selling them at your local consignment shop or online to earn some New Year $$$. Check out www.consignmentshops.com for a list of clothing consignment stores near you. Online auction/listing sites include:

Ebay

Craigslist

Donate: Another great option is to donate your old duds to a worthwhile charity. You can even deduct your donation as long as you keep an itemized list of what you gave and get a receipt from the donation site. (To get a general idea of the fair market value for your clothes, check out www.goodwillpromo.org or www.salvationarmyusa.org.) Check out the following sites for info on donating your old clothes.

Goodwill

The Salvation Army

AmVets

Dress for Success

The Glass Slipper Project

Get A Green Clean, Part II

I'll admit it...I hate to clean. I am not one of those lucky folks who finds cleaning to be relaxing or therapeutic. Instead, I think it is a chore. Unfortunately, I am one of those folks who really likes to have a clean house. So it is a chore that I tackle regularly. The good news is that since I have been using eco-friendly cleaning products in place of the chemical stuff you find on most store shelves, I find the chore of cleaning to be much more pleasant. No more toxic chemicals (Click here to see a previous post about the cleaning chemicals to stay away from.) Green cleaning leaves you with nothing but a clean, fresh house that's safe for your family and the environment. Here's what you need to know to get a green clean:

DIY

You don't have to have a chemistry degree to save a bundle in $ and make your own cleaning supplies. In fact, it's so easy, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. You can use simply vinegar and water to get your windows, floors, and countertops sparkling (at least until the kids come along). And a sprinkle of baking soda is all you'll need to clean toilets, sinks, and bathtubs. If you really want to get fancy, try out some of the great recipes I have listed in the book for specialized cleaners (disinfectants, stain removers, carpet cleaners, over cleaners, metal cleaners, etc.)

Products To Try

If DIY is not your thing, you can still get a green clean with a product from one of these nifty companies:

• Seaside Naturals: Their All-Purpose Cleaner is my new favorite cleaning product. Not because it smells great and kicks butt on dirt (although it does) but because my HUSBAND loves it and therefore uses it often :)
• Ecover
• Seventh Generation
• Begley's Best

Happy Cleaning!!

Don't Be A Tosser

I know as well as any other parent that paper towels and other disposable cleaning wipes are darned handy when it comes to cleaning up fast. But it’s actually just as fast to reach for a reusable cloth to do the job. Target has a great line of organic cotton cloths and towels as do Ecover and Seventh Generation. For sponges, look for natural sponges that are biodegradable and can even be composted when they have outlived their dishwashing usefulness. (Just be sure they come from a sponge farm and not a natural ecosystem.)

A Green Clean For Clothes

Want to get your family's clothes clean without drowning them in chemicals? Natural ingredients such as borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, washing soda, and white vinegar are safer for you, your children, and the environment. Check out GreenerChoices.org for specific recipies.

If you just love your laundry detergent, try just using less of it by adding 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash. Need to soften up those stiff baby overalls? Try adding a 1/4 cup of either baking soda OR white vinegar to the wash. And for all of those lovely grass and grape juice stains, you could try a natural bleach such as hydrogen peroxide or a commercially made chlorine-free bleach. Ecover and Seventh Generation are two great companies to check out for eco-friendly laundry detergents, stain removers, and fabric softeners.

Get A Green Clean

Harmful chemicals and toxins abound in the average cleaning products. As a parent, I was always wondering what was worse...dirt and germs or the chemicals I was using to clean them up! But if you're looking for a greener way to clean up those juice spills, don't be taken in by green slogans. Get savvy about labels and learn to separate the green from the toxic. According to David Steinman, co-author of The Safe Shopper's Bible, look for grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve as a solvent; coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum in detergents; and plant-oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, rosemary, or sage rather than triclosan.
green clean