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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:
Happy Cleaning!!
Brr...Well folks, summer is officially over and the crisp cool air of fall is moving in. Before you know it, winter will be here, and despite the best efforts of global warming, many of us will still have to deal with snow and ice this season. And while the white stuff isn't falling yet, the temperatures are already dipping into the freezing zone in many regions. So, I wanted to go ahead and post this information about non-toxic anti-freeze solutions that are safer for the environment, your children and your pets.
1. Ice Clear: This solution is a non-toxic, bio-based, food-grade solution that works just as well as conventional anti-freeze for de-icing sidewalks but without the petroleum based, toxic chemicals.
2. Birdseed: Use bird seed on icy sidewalks. It gives you traction, and the birds help to break up the ice while they eat it.
3. Vinegar: Mix up a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water and spray it on your car's windshield before you go to bed. It will keep the ice from forming on your windshield and save you that early morning scraping.
4. Propylene Glycol: For your car, look for an anti-freeze that uses propylene glycol in place of it's toxic cousin, ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol is still petroleum based so it is not great for the environment, but it is non-toxic and safe for pets and children.
Last weekend I had the good fortune to attend the Green Festival in Washington, D.C. where I saw a convention center full of great eco-savvy products and learned the latest in environmental news from incredible speakers like Bill McKibben and Timberly Whitfield. Here are some of the highlights from the event:
Step It Up 2007: Bill McKibben, a true environmental leader and author of the bestseller, The End of Nature, has organized the Step It Up 2007 campaign to demand leadership and action on global warming from our elected officials. In April, 2007, the group organized 1,400 rallies in all 50 states across the U.S., amounting to the largest environmental movement since Earth Day 1970. Step It Up is planning another set of rallies for Nov 3rd of this year (one year before the election). Click here to find an event in your area.
The Hungry Vegan: The Hungry Vegan is a food delivery service offering organic, vegan meals that are already prepared and ready for your freezer or dinner plate. They deliver a week's worth of meals directly to your door (or to your hotel if you are traveling) for an extremely reasonably price ($75/week for 1 person or $140/week for 2). What a perfect gift for new parents, college students, or anyone else who needs a break in the kitchen!
Gaia Girls: From author Lee Welles comes a series of books for eco-savvy Green Kids along the lines of Nancy Drew or Harry Potter. The first book, Enter The Earth, introduces Elizabeth Angier, an average American 10 year-old who grows up on an organic farm and happens to possess the ability to command the "Earth" (soil, trees, etc.) at will. Elizabeth's adventures as an eco-hero leave the reader ready and willing to protect the planet. Subsequent books in the series introduce girls with the power to command air, water, and fire. Kids of all ages will devour these enthralling eco-adventures!
Just a few years ago, the organic section in my small town grocery store was limited to a dated funky looking package of tofu and a few dried up herbs. Now, organic foods are all over the store, from coffee, to eggs, to salad dressing. Organic foods are produced without all of the chemicals and genetically modified ingredients that are common in traditionally produced foods, so they are bound to be better for your health and that of the environment. But if you can't afford to go whole hog (so to speak) and purchase everything with an organic label, use these tips to decide out when to buy organic and when to pass.
Buy Organic
- Fruits and Veggies: Foods such as apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, peanut butter, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries use and retain the most chemical pesticides.
- Baby Food: If you have a baby, find room in your budget for organic baby food, or better yet, make your own homemade baby food using organic ingredients. Babies have fragile, developing immune systems that cannot protect them from the adverse health affects associated with pesticides.
- Meat and Dairy: Beef, poultry, and eggs are also good to buy organic, especially if you and your family eat them frequently.
- Extras: If money is no object, consider purchasing organic processed foods such as ketchup or soup. These foods will contain some, but not solely, organic ingredients.
Don't Bother
- If your budget is tight, don’t worry about organic when it comes to onions, avocado, pineapples, mango, asparagus, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and eggplant as these fruits and veggies contain the least amount of pesticides.
- Don’t even bother with organic seafood as there are currently no standards in place to regulate their labels.
Top 10 Foods To Buy Organic
- Peaches
- Apples
- Baby Foods
- Peanut Butter
- Bell Peppers
- Berries
- Imported Grapes
- Beef
- Dairy Products
- Eggs
One final note: All grocers are legally required to place organic foods (especially fruits and vegetables) where they won’t be exposed to the pesticide-laden water runoff from conventional produce. If your local store has forgotten that rule, remind them. If they still don’t move the organic food, shop somewhere else.
Here's a high-tech way to clean up your neighboorhood. Next weekend (Oct 13th-14th), Google is hosting an International Cleanup Weekend in an effort to spread the word about taking care of the planet. They are hoping to inspire folks to make an impact by thinking globally and acting locally.
Log on to Google's clean-up site and join up with a clean-up event in your area. Or, if you're feeling ambitious, organize your co-workers, friends, family, or neighboors to clean up your local area. Using their step-by-step tutorial, you can learn how to organize your own local clean-up event and "map" your event to make it part of the international effort. If you don't have time for a big event, keep it simple and grab your kids, a few bags, and a picnic lunch to spruce up your favorite local spot. After your clean-up, you can post photos and videos of your event for the whole world to see.
How much does your car weigh? Personally, I can't answer this question except to say that my car is pretty darned heavy. That's why I find it so disturbing with the findings from FuelEconomy.gov that "most vehicles produce several times their weight in greenhouse gases each year." The amount of time we spend behind the wheel has a significant impact on the planet. So if you are ready to make a change that will really make a difference, consider organizing an office carpool. Carpooling is a fantastic way to save money, reduce congestion and save the planet.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each person that carpools saves 77 lbs of hydrocarbons (the nasty stuff that makes smog); 550 carbon monoxide; 33 lbs of nitrogen oxides; 9,900 lbs of carbon dioxide; as well as 500 gallons of gasoline every year.
Here's how to get your carpool up and running:
- Find out what kinds of transportation benefits are offered by your employer. If they don't have a policy established, talk to them about the government sponsored Commuter Choice program that works with employers to design commuting choices. Commuter Choice can work out a custom plan that takes into account tax incentives for any commuting benefits offered to employees as well as solutions involving flex-time, route planning, and van-pools.
- Seek out co-workers and friends who might be interested in sharing a ride. Don't know anyone interested in carpooling? Find fellow commuters in your area at eRideShare or Carpool Connect.
- Once you've established your carpool, go over some Carpool Etiquette to make sure that everyone stays happy.
- Kick back, relax, and enjoy the guilt-free ride!
As a Green Parent, I try to minimize my impact on the environment each day, especially at the store. I take the time to buy organic and locally grown foods as well as all-natural personal care products whenever possible. I check ingredient labels and “vote with my wallet” to support companies with an environmental backbone. But all of this effort used to go out the window when I got to the checkout line and was forced to answer the inevitable question…Paper or Plastic?
According to the Environmental News Network, 90 percent of all grocery bags are plastic with Americans alone going through about 100 billion plastic bags each year. Yet only 1 to 3 percent of these bags are ever recycled. The rest line our waterways, sewers, street corners, and occasionally landfills where they take hundreds of years to break down into toxic particles that leach into the water and soil. And paper is no better, the 10 billion or so paper bags that Americans use each year consume 14 million trees and cause pollution and recycling problems of their own.
In the past, I tried to reuse plastic bags whenever possible around my house. But the time has come to for a more eco-friendly option...reusable totes. If it sounds too dauting, just start slowly. Toss 1 or 2 reusable tote bags in your diaper bag or in your car so that you will have at least a few on hand the next time you’re at the store. Once you get the hang of it, try adding a few more totes to your collection until you no longer need to use plastic. Here's a few more tips:
- Look around your favorite store to see if they offer a reusable alternative. Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Publix, Giant, and Albertsons all offer reusable cloth bags for sale in their stores (some for as little as $1 each).
- DIY: I’m not that handle with a needle, but even I can whip up a homemade tote bag. Here’s a few instructional sites you can try:
- Buy "Preloved": Tote bags multiply faster than rabbits so you are sure to find a good deal at your local thrift store or area garage sales.
- Win: If you have scoured your house and local thrift stores and you still can't find a decent tote, register to win one through The Green Parent. Just enter your info in the column on the right. I'll give away one free bag each week for the next year!
Oh...and if you still have a bunch of plastic bags laying around your house, check out these sites for some creative ways to reuse them: Reader's Digest LivingThe Frugal LifeGreen Parent Tip: If you have a problem remembering to put your totes back in the car after you've used them; try hanging them on the doorknob or in the same place you put your car keys!
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