As we as consumers become more educated on the products that fill our lives we have grown to understand their impact on our health and environment. We are now seeing more and more products that are greener, non-toxic, biodegradable and made from renewable resources.
We are also exploring ways to create products at home that can give the results that we are looking for while bring us closer to our greener goals.
In today’s world of insulation, tightly sealed homes, and air conditioning it is not uncommon for the air inside of a home to be more toxic than the air outside. When possible try to keep windows opened to allow fresh air in and toxins to flow out of the home.
Replace toxic cleaning supplies with greener non-toxic supplies. There are many companies out there now producing green cleaning supplies: Seventh Generation, Ecover, Shaklee, and Earth Friendly products to name but a few. So spend your green dollars wisely and greenly. Also remember when replacing your cleaning products if they’re toxic for your home, then they will be toxic to the environment. So recycle them and dispose of them appropriately.
Instead of covering up the odors of everyday life with an aerosol air freshener product try a greener solution. Try some stove top simmering potpourris, essential oil diffusers, plants, and/ or baking soda. Baking soda is an odor-eliminator for your carpet, just sprinkle on a little baking soda and allow it to soak up some of the odors and then vacuum it up.
We spend most of time outside of the home. Image what we track into our home. Our shoes carry the story of our day on their soles, they can bring into a home oil, antifreeze, animal waste, particulate pollution, pollen, and many more toxins and pollutants. Keep a good doormat out side your entrances to allow those to enter the opportunity to remove some of the toxins and pollutants from there shoes. An even better option is to have a shoeless house policy.
We see a lot of products that are labeled antibacterial and anti-microbial “cleaners” and many people think are necessary, but they add to the risk of breeding “super germs.” Exposing germs to these antibacterial and antimicrobial compounds gives the germs the chance to develop immunity to these compounds as well as the change to grow stronger. When it comes to washing hands nothing works better than regular soap and water.
Back to top
The best way to know that you are using a green cleaning product is to create your own.
Directions: Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the ingredients from your favorite recipe, boil for a few minutes, then turn the heat down to simmer all day. Top up water as needed.
Boil two cups of water. Pour the water into a bowl and add up to 10 drops of an essential oil (of your choice) to the water.
Light a candle and allow it to burn for about five minutes. Extinguish the candle, place 1 to 2 drops of an essential oil of your choice in the melted wax not on the wick and then relight the candle.
1/4 cup baking soda 1 quart warm water
Dissolve baking soda in warm water. Apply with a sponge. Rinse with clear water.
1/4 cup baking soda 1/4 cup white vinegar 1 quart warm water
Dissolve baking soda in warm water and vinegar. Apply with a sponge. Rinse with clear water.
1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup white vinegar Boiling water, at least one 6 cups
Pour baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar and cover the drain. Wait five minutes then pour the boiling water down the drain.
3 cups olive oil 1 cup vinegar
Mix together until well blended. Use a clean, soft cloth to apply to the furniture.
Baking soda Vinegar
Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl. Add vinegar. Scour with a toilet brush.
Lemon juice Baking soda
Make a paste about the consistency of toothpaste. Rub onto brass with a soft cloth. Rinse with water and dry.
Dip soft cloth in undiluted white vinegar. Wipe surface.
|| Back to top
Photo credit — Running shoes: ©iStockphoto.com/magnetcreative; Cinnamon sticks: ©iStockphoto.com/Creativeye99
