Green Cleaning

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Cleaning a little more green

December 1, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

I know it’s the holiday season and you’re hyper busy so you may not want to swear off conventional cleaners entirely. Of course in a perfect world you should swear off them and make homemade non-toxic cleaners because most conventional cleaners are really toxic and not safe. However, if you’re too bogged down to contemplate going 100% green, you can make some subtle changes that can help keep your home clean while limiting your family’s exposure to chemicals.

green cleaning quick

You can choose store bought green cleaners. You’ll pay a little more but it’s worth it to avoid the toxins. Just make sure you choose actual, not fake green store bought cleaners. Some good brands include:

Just about anything from Earth Friendly Products or Biokleen. I personally like…

You can adjust your cleaning routine. For example, don’t clean areas your child can get to with toxic cleaners. For surfaces your little one may touch substitute a less toxic all purpose cleaner such as one of the above or make your own easy cleaner. Mix a few drops of natural soap, 2 cups water, and 15 drops each of tea tree and lavender essential oil. You can spray this on all surfaces, like cutting boards, counters, toilets, walls, (except it will streak glass). For glass simply use straight up lemon juice or club soda or if you don’t mind the smell use 1/2 cup vinegar mixed with one gallon water.

You can clean more often. A major reason people turn to harsh cleaners is because they’re not keeping up on their cleaning and when they finally get around to it, gunk is super stuck on everything. Wiping down your home frequently means it’s cleaner obviously, but also you can use just plain old natural soap and water on a cloth vs. harsh chemicals on a scrubber.

Clean your drains without toxins

October 16, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

Bathroom and kitchen drains can easily become clogged with hair, food, and other gunk. But you don’t have to always use toxic drain cleaners to manage said clogs. In fact toxic cleaners and plumbers should be your last option. First try the following…

Prevention: This is the best way to avoid clogs, prevention first. Don’t put stuff down the drain that shouldn’t be going down there. You can compost food instead of grinding it in the disposal (even great disposals can clog at times) and you can make sure your hair doesn’t clog the shower drain with a simple, low-cost mesh screen drain cover.

Plunging: When you first see a clog, try plunging it to see if that can unblock the blockage.

Ah la natural: Put about 4 tablespoons of baking powder into your drain, follow that with a half cup of white distilled vinegar. Allow that to sit for an hour, then pour a kettle of boiling water into the drain.

Better cleaners: Try a natural drain cleaner first, before a more toxic one, like Earthworm Drain Cleaner.

Plants that naturally detox your air – natural healthy air quality

October 10, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | No comments

House plants not only brighten your home but also improve your air quality without having to purchase a bulky plastic humidifier or air purifier. Plants do more than simple freshen the air too, they can actually remove some toxins, for example, in studies, specific plants have been found to do very well at removing formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is an icky substance that the EPA calls a possible carcinogen found in things like carpet, plastics, synthetic fabrics, and more. You can naturally reduce the amount of formaldehyde in your home with the following plants…

Most of the above bloom even in medium light, so they’re ideal for indoors. The exception is the Corn Plant which does need bright light, but not full sun so choose a sunny window sill.

For more air cleaning plants take a look at an excellent plant chart from Good Magazine.

The Hidden Hazards in Air Fresheners

October 7, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

We’ve all heard that traditional, conventional air fresheners can be toxic, but keep in mind that air fresheners listed as “natural” or “unscented” can contain hazardous chemicals. In a recent study, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates in 12 air freshener products; some marketed as “all-natural” and “unscented” and none said that they contained phthalates. Additionally conventional air fresheners are a household source of VOCs. Not cool.

See the list of air fresheners (pdf) that NRDC rated.

What is safer?

Well, for one thing making your own scented products with non-toxic ingredients such as flowers, herbs, spices, citrus, essential oils, and so fourth is a safe as you can get because you know what’s in them. Following are some ideas for non-toxic homemade air fresheners.

Clean Earth Eco-Friendly Drain & Septic Solutions

September 24, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Product Review by Jennifer | 1 comment

Clean Earth offers various products that take the place of what are normally some of the most toxic household products; septic system treatments and drain cleaners, although they also carry a line of basic eco-friendly household cleaners as well. Pretty soon I’ll be posting a review of both Clean Earth’s Earthworm Family-Safe Drain Cleaner and their Earthworm Family-Safe Septic System Treatment & Cesspool Cleaner. Before I get into these product specifics though, I figured we’d look at the company as a whole.

As noted above, Clean Earth offers a more family-friendly brand of drain and septic solutions. Their drain cleaner is a unique blend of natural enzymes that liquefy grease, fats and other organic waste to keep your drains fresh and clean. It also helps prevent clogs before they start and removes odor-causing bacteria.

Their septic treatment uses billions of natural, highly-active, beneficial bacterial cultures and special enzymes to help restore balance to your septic system by digesting household waste and neutralizing their odors. The natural enzymes include:

  • Lipase: Effective on fats, oils and greases commonly used in your home.
  • Protease: Effective on protein matter such as meats.
  • Amylase: Effective on starches and carbohydrates.
  • Cellulase: Effective in degrading toilet paper and tissues, vegetable matter, and certain foodstuffs.

The eco-benefits of Earthworm septic and drain cleaner over most conventional include:

  • Non-polluting to the planet or your home
  • Biodegradable (maybe see below)
  • Sustainable ingredients (maybe see below)
  • Free of harsh fumes and harmful vapors
  • Neutral pH is gentle on hands and skin
  • Free of caustics, chlorine, phosphates, acids and petroleum-based ingredients
  • The septic cleaner is septic tank, cesspool and greywater system safe
  • Product packaging is made with 100% recycled paper and is recyclable

Any eco-negatives?

  • Products note that they’re not tested on animals, but they’re not aligned with the Leaping Bunny so… it could be called a questionable claim.
  • There is only ONE item on the entire Clean Earth website that lists any sort of ingredients. What the heck is in these products? From the website, you’d never know.
  • The packaging I got listed ingredients, but it’s unclear. For example, the septic treatment simply says, “Natural bacteria and enzymes, micronutrients, and inert ingredients.” The drain cleaner notes, “Water, natural enzyme blend, plant derived surfactant, fragrance, preservatives.” I like a little more info with my green cleaners. NOTE: Neither of the products smell chemical like or caustic, so I’m guessing they’re fairly natural, but fragrance for example is seriously vague.

Coming up, some reviews of these products – which do have some eco-cons noted above BUT be aware that their cons are no where near as bad as typically extremely harmful cleaners like Drano.

Visit Clean Earth to learn more.

Green Product Review: Seventh Generation Emerald Cypress & Fir Toilet Bowl Cleaner

September 14, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Product Review by Jennifer | No comments

Product: Emerald Cypress & Fir Toilet Bowl Cleaner from Seventh Generation

Uses: As you might guess this is for cleaning your toilet but cleans and deodorizes without the harsh fumes, harmful chemicals, or dyes that are found in most other toilet cleaners.

Cost:$4.99 for 32 oz. at the Seventh Generation shop, but I’ve seen it for less at my local grocery store. It’s also a product that goes on sale.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), lactic acid (plant-derived demineralizer), polyglucose, coceth-7, coceth-4 and deceth-5 (plant-derived cleaning agents), xanthan gum (natural thickener), peg-15 cocomonium chloride (plant-containing cleaning agent)*, essential oils and botanical extracts** (citrus aurantifolia (lime), abies balsamea (balsam fir), calilistris columellaris (emerald cypress).

Eco-perks: Read the rest of this entry »

Are dryer sheets toxic?

August 27, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 2 comments

Why yes, in fact many traditional dryer sheets can be toxic. The EPA even notes that there are tons of toxic chemical goodies in normal old dryer sheets. They’re also totally unnecessary. Think about it. First off, if you hang dry (which is an eco-solution) you don’t need them anyhow. If you do use your dryer, why do you actually need dryer sheets? In most cases dryer sheets supposedly reduce cling, make clothes smell fresher, and make fabrics softer.

If you buy naturally made fiber clothing it’ll be softer naturally. As for the cling – well, how hard is it to shake out your clothes? Not much. And, once you wash your laundry it should smell fresh via that soap you used.

Still some folks love their fabric softener for that extra pump of fresh or what have you, so to mimic this sans dryer sheets, grab one reusable washcloth, sprinkle a few drops of essential oil on it and toss it in the dryer with your load. Your clothes will smell great and there’s nothing to toss. You can reuse the washcloth over and over.

Still if you insist on dryer sheets at least buy ones that are natural, biodegradable, and not full of chemicals, like…

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Basil Dryer Sheets – made with a vegetable-derived softening agent and natural essential oils on a new biodegradable paper sheet.

Sun & Earth dryer sheets are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, biodegradable and safe to use. Available in scented “Fresh Citrus Scent” and “unscented”.

Do you use dryer sheets? Why or why not?

Don’t slack on green cleaning when back-to-school schedules heat up

August 21, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

Once back-to-school time gets going (soon!) it’s easy to run out of time quickly. Everyone in your family is busier and it’s oh so easy to buy a package of conventional cleaners to quickly wipe up spilled juice or dust. However, just because you’re busy you shouldn’t slack on green cleaning. This is one area you shouldn’t compromise on.

Some safer store bought cleaners!

Some safer store bought cleaners!

Let’s recap some of the major downsides of conventional cleaners:

  • They are toxic. If you listen to major cleaning companies you’ll see that they try and promote family health and safety, but why would you need gloves, open windows for ventilation when using them if they’re so darn safe. Why would you need to diligently keep the cleaners out of your child’s reach if these products were really safe? You wouldn’t. These conventional products will make you sick if you ingest them, can make you sick if you inhale their fumes, and if your little one gets a hold of them and ingests them he could become ill or even die.
  • They are tested on animals.
  • They are extremely over-packaged in most cases.
  • They don’t clean any better than eco-friendly cleaners.
  • They may be helping us to breed super awesome evolved germs – yay!

All that said, I know that it’s busy, and while overall I recommend making your own chemical free green household cleaners because it’s not a waste of packaging and it’s cheaper, I also get that people are on a tight schedule. With that in mind here are some store bought green cleaners I like (and a couple my pals like) that work and work fast but don’t sacrifice your eco-ethics.

Homemade Non-Toxic Citrus Creamy Cleaner

July 26, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

Traditional, conventional creamy cleansers clean ok, but often contain chemicals, fake fragrances, and preservatives plus other junk that’s not healthy for your home or health. In fact, many creamy cleansers on the market tell you to wear gloves before using them. IF you have to wear gloves to clean it doesn’t say much for the safety of a product. You can also look into some eco-creamy cleaners on the market, but so far I haven’t found any I love.

Here’s a recipe for one creamy soft citrus scrubber…

TO MAKE:

Grab 1/2 cup to one cup baking soda and slowly mix in some natural liquid soap until the consistency is like cake frosting. If you’re using it all at once you can add some squeezed citrus juice of your choice – i.e juice of a lime, lemon, or orange. If you’re not using it all at once, don’t use real citrus juice but instead use 5-10 drops of orange or lemon essential oil.

TO USE:

Pour or scoop the mixture onto a reusable cleaning cloth, scrub brush, or eco-friendly sponge and scrub down the surface. Rinse well when you’re done scrubbing or wipe down again with a wet cloth. This recipe rinses clean and won’t leave grit or scratch most surfaces. You can use it on tubs, sinks, counters, and more. If you’re not sure if a surface is too delicate, do a test scrub on one little spot.

TO STORE:

Put the remaining mixture into a sealed container, I like using old glass jars. Add a tsp or two of vegetable glycerin (which will keep the cleanser moist).

WIN $100.00 Worth of Earth Friendly Products for the Home

July 24, 2009 in Contests & Giveaways, Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

You may remember that we’ve looked at Earth Friendly Products here before, such as their Orange Plus Surface Cleaner and their All-Natural Ice Melt.

I really like most of the Earth Friendly Products I’ve tried and right now you can win some! They’re giving away $100.00 worth of their award-winning eco-friendly products on Facebook to 10 lucky winners – product they’re giving away include…

  • ECOS laundry detergent – the #1 selling green laundry detergent in the US and Canada (I love their detergent BTW)
  • Wave Auto Dishwashing Gel
  • Oxo-Brite Non-chlorine bleach
  • Eco Breeze fabric refreshener
  • Dishmate Hand Dishwashing Detergent
  • And more…

To enter to win all you have to do is become a fan of Earth Friendly Products on Facebook then, on their fan page, tell them why you should win. The winners will be picked on August 1, 2009.

If you enter and win let me know!

Steam Mop to Cut Water and Chemical Use

June 22, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 1 comment

Regular mopping can waste a lot of water and because it’s hard to get a bucket of mop water hot enough to be super efficient, you may be inclined to use harsh cleaners in your mop water. An option beyond a typical mop is a steam cleaning mop. However, there are pros and cons.

Pros of steam cleaning mops:

  • Use less water than traditional mops.
  • Because the steamy water cleans well, you won’t need chemical cleaners. Just your mop and H2O.
  • No messy wringing out.
  • Can be used to clean tiles, wood, marble, slate, and more.

Cons of steam cleaning mops:

  • Take more resources to make than a small traditional mop.
  • Very few are made with recycled materials.
  • Most have ongoing costs – such as the replaceable pads that go on the mop’s end.

How to choose a more eco-friendly steam mop:

  1. Look for the lightest model you can without sacrificing strength (fewer materials). The steam mop should heat water in 60 seconds or less and have a good warranty.
  2. If you can, look for a steam mop made with eco-friendly or recycled materials and one that’s made by a company with eco-ethics. There are a few like this, see below.
  3. Skip the pads that most companies sell and use a reusable, washable microfiber cloth or other washable towel as the mop instead.

Steam mops to consider:

Green Product Review: Orange Plus Surface Cleaner from Earth Friendly Products

May 14, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Product Review by Jennifer | 3 comments

I tend to make my own cleaners because it’s less expensive and better for the planet. However, I know not everyone is up for mixing their own cleaners. Sometimes you just want to buy a decent eco-cleaner at the store. That said, when I get a chance to review green cleaning products I usually take it. Today, I’ve got one such review for you.

Product: Ready-to-use Orange Plus Surface Cleaner from Earth Friendly Products.

Uses: The normal Orange Plus by this company is a concentrated all purpose cleaner for non-porous surfaces including sealed stone, hardwood floors, painted surfaces, linoleum, vinyl, porcelain, chrome, stainless steel, wood. You simply dilute the concentrate and use it to clean surfaces. I tried the Ready-to-use Orange Plus which is diluted for you and comes in a handy spray bottle.

Cost: Varies because it comes in various sizes. My spray bottle costs $3.69 for 17 oz, which is pretty well priced in my opinion for an eco-cleaner.

Ingredients: Purified water, pressed orange oil, and 100% natural anionic coconut kernel based surfactant.

Eco-perks: Read the rest of this entry »

Natural Household Deodorizers

April 25, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | No comments

You can purchase some natural and semi-household deodorizers or you could go green and inexpensive by making some of your own. These ideas below are natural, easy, and don’t cost a bundle…

Gross disposal: Run hot water, a smidgen of baking soda, and some citrus peels down your disposal. Any citrus peels work.

Icky car fumes and smells: If you happen to burn Soy Wax Melts in your home, place on in your car – under the seat or in a cup holder. It’ll release nice scents instead of typical built up car scents. Just don’t do this in the dead of summer or melted wax might be an issue. If you don’t burn soy wax melts, grab a small cloth bag and fill it with a handful of dried lavender buds, a dash of nutmeg, and a sprinkling of essential oil (orange or lemon is good). Place the bag somewhere in your car that’s exposed to heat – like near the heat vents on the floor.

Your ice smells: Ice and food in freezers can pick up the scents of what’s in your freezer. First of all, keep your fridge clean (no brainer). Secondly, if all else fails, wipe down the inside of the freezer with pure vanilla extract or white vinegar. Then pop a box of baking soda inside.

Musty clothing, blankets, and other textiles: The best cure is prevention. When you first tuck your fabrics away, seal them up in an old plastic bag (recycled of course) then place them in a container, toss in a cedar block and cover with a tight lid. IF it’s too late for prevention try spraying your clothing lghtly with vodka (straight). If I were you, I’d spray the interior of the fabric in case of stains. Hang to dry. Another cure for must is crumpled newspaper. If you place this with clothing, the paper, not the fabrics will absorb any icky musty scents.

To learn more about keeping a naturally scented home read:

Do you have any natural scents tips or tricks? Share in the comments…

BISSELL’s Little Green Vacuum

April 15, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

If you’re looking for a greener vacuum, Bissell’s Little Green should make you pretty happy.

Green perks of this vacuum include…

  • PVC free tanks and hose.
  • Carton contains a minimum of 75% recycled materials. They also have plans to eliminate Styrofoam from all cartons by the end of this next year.
  • Formulas for use in the Bissell Green contain biodegradable detergents and have no phosphates, dyes, optical brighteners or heavy metals and carry the EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) certification, which is recognized for safer chemistry.
  • Bissell is currently making green changes at the corporate level too – such as battery recycling, paper recycling, zero waste home computer recycling, Styrofoam recycling and more.

Cleaning perks:

  • Strong spray and suction clean and start the drying process in one step.
  • Long power cord and compact design for cleaning everywhere easily – your home, car, RV, and so on.
  • Safe for all fabrics and carpets (minus some wools – which is noted in the FAQ at Bissell).
  • Virtually maintenance-free. Basically you’re rinsing out the water tank.
  • Great for pet stains and odors when used with the Pet Stain & Odor Formula.

It’s hard to make a super green vacuum but the Bissell Little Green is better than many. Check it out at Bissell.

Green and natural pest control options

April 13, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

With summer coming I thought it’d be nice to do a pest control series here. So far we’ve looked at Green Pest Prevention and safer pest control ideas. Today I’ve got some greener pest control ideas - options that are natural and safe. Why bother with natural pest control? Because you don’t want a home full of toxic pest control poisons.

GREEN AND NATURAL PEST CONTROL:

Keep it clean – see Green Pest Prevention for tips on prevention before the cure is needed.

Ants: Ants hate red chili powder, dry peppermint, and borax. You can crush and sprinkle peppermint near ant entryways, or sprinkle the chili or borax. Ants won’t cross over this stuff. Full strength mint tea can be used as a spot treatment; spray near ant entries.

Cockroaches: Bay leaves can be crushed and sprinkled wherever you see roaches. Garlic will also repel roaches (and other pests). You can grow a pot or two of it near your doorways or blend some cloves in the blender (mixed with water and liquid soap) and spray it near infested areas.

Flies: Use screens on your windows. Place bowls of crushed citrus skins in your rooms – flies don’t love citrus. If you’ve got fruit fly issues try this killer invention: Fill an empty liter soda bottle with water. Leave about five inches of free space at the top. Squeeze an entire banana peel (not the banana, just the peel) into the bottle. Set the bottle where the fruit flies are. This is the ugliest bug catcher you’ll ever see, but I swear it will catch all the fruit flies in your house. Fruit flies are too dumb to understand how to get out of a soda bottle once they dive in after the banana peel (something to do with the curve of the bottle). Once they go in they can’t get out and eventually drown. Can you tell that I really HATE fruit flies?

Fleas: You can find totally organic and natural flea repellents, such as flea free products. Also see these tips for naturally keeping your pets flea free.

Moths: Before packing up clothing, blankets, etc, wash them. Washing kills moth eggs. After washing pack items up tightly in a tightly sealed, moth-proof box. To repel moths in other areas (like closets), place cedar wood shavings, blocks, or cedar stuffed cloth bags in the area.

Spiders: RAID! Sorry – I am deathly terrified of spiders. This is the one and only reason I use toxic pest control EVER. IF you’re not so lame as me, you can one, allow the spiders to live with you (they’ll control the other bugs) or pick them up and set them outside. That idea gives me the heebie jeebies, but honestly it’s the most eco-friendly choice.

Green Pest Prevention

April 12, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

No one wants icky pests (think bugs, mice, and so fourth) in their home, but do we really want toxic chemical pest control in our house either? Nope, I thought not. Following are some pest prevention tips.

PREVENT PESTS FIRST:

Prevention should be your first line of defense at all times. Bugs and other pests may come into your house on a whim, or show up because the neighbors are icky, but overall, pests come because you’ve got something they want. Prevent pests by…

  • Storing food in sealed containers.
  • Use a garbage can with a tight-fitting lid and frequently remove the garbage from your home. Make sure you toss what you can in the disposal or compost it, rather than tossing it in the trash.
  • Keep up with home maintenance. Leaky plumbing or water pools (under plants, under the fridge, in the basement, etc) can inspire pests to visit. You should also make sure to fix holes. Caulk cracks in baseboards and walls. Use wire mesh to block holes near pipes.
  • Feed your pets then pick up the bowls. The EPA advises not even leaving water out for pets overnight, but I’m not sure about that one – it may control pests, but in the hot summer you may end up with a cranky pet on your hands.
  • Be tidy. Some pests like tidy better than messy (roaches for example) but plenty of pests (like mice) love to hide in clutter. By clutter I mean stacks of papers, messy kitchen cupboards, overstocked bathroom areas, and more. Be generally tidy everywhere to evade pests.

Sneaky ways to prevent pests: Read the rest of this entry »

How to clean properly with cloth vs. paper towels

April 7, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 2 comments

I talk a lot about green, healthy, and non-toxic cleaning here. Why – because green cleaning has to be one of the easiest green changes any household can make. It takes almost no start-up money, no advanced skills are needed (like when building a solar house), it’s an extra healthy change to make, and it’s cost efficient.

One of the major green cleaning tips I go over again and again is to ditch the paper towels and use cloth. You can save so much money and so many trees with this one tiny step that it seems lame not to try. However, sometimes friends I have say, “BUT paper towels are way more hygienic than cloth for cleaning.” Is that true?

Fact: It is true in a general sense. Paper towels, while bad for the environment, do have one thing going for them – they’re cleaner. One paper towel per mess. No spreading of germs.With a cloth or sponge you do spread around germs to a point IF you don’t clean correctly.

However, you can clean well with cloth. In fact, you can make cloth cleaning towels work just as well as paper towels only without the cost and paper use.

HOW TO CLEAN PROPERLY WITH CLOTH:

For general cleaning like wiping down a counter or for things like apple juice spills (no major lingering bacteria in apple juice) or other non-bacteria spills you can use a cloth to death for the mess. Wipe up the juice, wring out the towel, get it wet, and wipe again. It’s all good.

For spills like blood from meat, raw eggs, cake batter, and other items that may carry bacteria or to wipe down cutting boards you need to take a different approach, but that doesn’t necessarily mean reaching for the paper towels.

  1. Use one cloth to wipe up the liquid part of the spill.
  2. Use a second cloth drenched in hot soapy water to wipe down the area.
  3. Use a third cloth to dry the area.
  4. Toss all the cloths into the laundry.

It seems like a lot of cloths, and another argument is cloth takes water resources to wash, but it takes quite a few cloths to make a full load. At my house we bought a bunch of packs of generic washcloths and some smaller fiber dishcloths (all in small sizes) and use those exclusively for cleaning. We only end up washing about one or two loads of cleaning cloths a week. It’s not a big deal.

If you clean smart you can still ditch the paper towels, cut costs, and over time, save some trees.

Green Spring Cleaning Tips – Clean Green and Healthy

March 9, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 1 comment

Spring cleaning is coming up asap, so it’s time to start considering your options. Of course many of us will partake in a little spring cleaning at least, but that doesn’t mean we need to scour our homes with toxic chemical cleaners.

For spring cleaning this year try the following…

Learn how to find non-toxic and natural cleaners over chemical laden toxic junk. If you’re going to buy cleaners from the store make sure you figure out first if the product is an actual earth-friendly cleaning choice.

Reconsider your cleaning tools. You can make better choices than typical non-eco-friendly sponges. You can purchase spray bottles to reuse over and over again (fill with homemade cleaners) vs. buying plastic toss away bottles, and you can even purchase an eco-friendly broom.

Experiment with some of your own homemade air fresheners or simply push those windows open. Fresh air is actually the best natural way to scent your air (ah, crispy).

During spring cleaning start new healthy home habits such as in-kitchen composting to use your scraps, not wearing shoes in the house or if god forbid you smoke inside, stop it!

Plan some easy and earth-friendly DIY home projects designed to save you money and green your home.

Don’t stop inside. Get out and green audit that yard and garden. For tips read…

Learn more:

Are you doing any spring cleaning this year, or better yet, planning any cool green home projects? Let me know in the comments…

Rethink Your Household Sponge – Green Sponge Choices

March 2, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 1 comment

Sponges, while useful for cleaning, are not an altogether green product. Some issues of conventional sponges…

  • Most contain polyurethane which as the name might give away is derived from petroleum – which is one, a resource that’s draining, and two, a toxic material.
  • Natural sponges; an alternative to petroleum sponges, are maybe better in a non-polluting way, but do diminish a major natural resource.
  • Many sponges come wrapped in a layer of plastic, plus a label, which frankly, is way too much packaging for this sort of item.

What to do…

The best sponges are made from wood pulp cellulose. From an eco-standpoint, wood pulp sponges are biodegradable, last along time, and don’t diminish natural resources.

You can also skip the sponge altogether. For tub or sink scrubbing, you can use a natural bristle brush, or a cloth and baking soda, which allows for the same scrubby effect.

Many people use sponges for dishes, but if you rinse right away it virtually eliminates the need for sponges. At my house all we use are old cloths for cleaning, and it works fine.

Lastly, try to buy sponges with the least packaging.

Eco-sponge & cleaning choices:

What are you using to clean with?

Two Quick Green Laundry Tips – Eco-laundry

February 19, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | No comments

Two icky chemical laundry issues are bleach and fabric softener. You don’t truly need either.

To soften clothing, add 1/4 cup baking soda to the final rinse cycle. If you can stand the scent, some people swear by adding a cup or so of basic vinegar to the final rinse. Being that I hate the smell of vinegar, I stick to baking soda. If you really like fabric softener, try a natural fabric softener.

For non-bleach whitening solutions read the following:

Homemade Organic Fragrant Room Spray

February 13, 2009 in Air Quality, Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 2 comments

Homemade organic fragrant room spray is a great alternative to chemical laden (and sometimes costly) conventional air fresheners. If you don’t normally keep essential oils around, the start up costs of making homemade air freshener can seem more expensive than buying a ready made bottle, BUT keep in mind that one little bottle of essential oil will last forever and goes a really long way.

Here are two easy recipes you can make at home:

Organic grapefruit lavender room spray Read the rest of this entry »

Are Shoes an Eco No No?

February 3, 2009 in Air Quality, Green Cleaning, Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

Your shoes may be vegan, they may be made with recycled soles, they may even be made by a totally ethical company, but when you get right down to it, your shoes may be waging war on your green home.

Quick step: Take your shoes off at home.

Why?: Research shows that shoes drag in way more eco-baddies than we think. From pesticides to chemicals whatever is on your shoes comes inside with you and gets tracked all over your house.

Other tips:

  • During the summer taking off your shoes is more important. Summertime shoes have been shown to be worse offenders. During the summer pesticides used outdoors are at their peak, and more of these chemicals make it onto your shoes.
  • Having hardwood, clay, or tile floors reducers your exposure. Carpets, not so eco-friendly on their own, become worse when shoes walk all over them. Studies show it’s almost impossible to clean out dust, pesticides and chemicals from carpets – no matter how often you clean.
  • Keeping the above in mind, a rug or mat outside your door will help to limit the junk you carry inside, because the door mat collects some of the pesticides.
  • It’s also important to improve your overall indoor air quality which can help to combat the stuff you bring in on your shoes.
  • If you hate going shoeless, keep slippers or house shoes by your front door. You can change once you arrive.
  • Don’t forget the kids – they walk where you walk. Their shoes may be small, but they cause the same risk.

Do you go shoeless at home?

Green Product Review: CVS/pharmacy Earth Essentials Aromatic Room Mists

January 21, 2009 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

Today a nice product review for your home cleaning (or I should say, scented) needs…

Product: CVS/pharmacy Earth Essentials Aromatic Room Mists available exclusively at CVS/pharmacy. These aromatic room mists come in four scents and I reviewed the following three…

Also available in Fresh Eucalyptus which I didn’t try, but I’m not the biggest fan of eucalyptus so it’s a-ok.

Price: Around $4 for a 7-oz can which is an excellent price point for an eco-minded air freshener.

Eco facts:

  • No animal testing.
  • Uses natural essential oils.
  • No propellants.
  • Non aerosol.
  • Recyclable container.

Ingredients listed: Purified Water, Surfactant, Fragrance, Glyceryl Caprylate.

Glyceryl Caprylate is a low hazard chemical, and it’s not to worry about. I’d be concerned about the surfactants and fragrance. There are biodegradable surfactants available, but these air fresheners don’t say what kind of surfactant is used, so it could be anything. To just say “fragrance” is VERY vague. I’m not sure if they mean the essential oil, or possibly something else. Going by my nose alone, I’d assume they mean the fragrance IS the essential oil based on how these smell. The two I like, don’t smell chemical at all. They smell like essential oils. However, I hate guessing.

Product pros: Read the rest of this entry »

Is This Product Really A Smart Green Choice?

January 2, 2009 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

In the last post, Green Product Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy I said I’d gather some resources that can help you answer some of the questions offered. Here you go…

Now keep in mind that some of the questions only you can answer, but in some cases, you find info about a company or product that can help you to make a green purchasing decision.

Does the product have a long shelf life?: To learn more about product reliability and life expectancy, try looking at the following…

Is the company who made it / sells it a good green and ethical company?:

Can I recycle the item and or packaging?:

Could I get it from a local company: Check your local yellow pages or do an online search but use your area as a search perimeter.

How toxic is this product?:

Is it tested on animals?: Visit Caring Consumer to see companies that do and do not test on animals.

If you do a little research before you buy a product, you can make sure that you’re getting the least toxic, and most eco-friendly product for your dollar.

    Vinegar for Weak Water Pressure

    December 21, 2008 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 1 comment

    If you’ve installed low-flow shower heads to save money, you may be getting a weaker flow than you’re used to. Some low-flow heads spray vigorously, and others, not so much. A major issue is buildup overtime which can weaken your already lighter flow head to an unbearable pressure.

    The easy fix:

    Vinegar – yup, I swear vinegar will fix everything. Ok, not everything, but it will clean your low-flow shower head.

    1. Take your shower head off.
    2. Clean what you can of the holes with a paper clip, pin, or other small item. Be careful not to scratch the head.
    3. Rinse the shower head with clean water.
    4. Place it in a bowl of white basic vinegar overnight.
    5. Rinse with clear, clean water in the morning.
    6. Replace your shower head.

    Vinegar naturally fights icky mineral deposits without harsh chemicals or yucky scents.

    Clean Green With A Twist Cleaning Kit

    December 15, 2008 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 1 comment

    Green cleaning doesn’t always mean cutting up our old tee-shirts or cloth baby diapers. If you want a less thrift-looking, but still green home cleaning cloth or sponge, take a look at TWIST products.

    TWIST is a nice looking line of eco-friendly home cleaning products like Bamboo Cloths, Naked Sponges, Euro Sponges, European Sponge Cloths, and Loofah Sponges.
    Read the rest of this entry »

    Eco-friendly Flu Fighting

    December 4, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Healthy Green Home by Jennifer | No comments

    I’m fighting the flu, or some sort of killer cold, hence the topic. I feel terrible, and also a little blah because it’s not even that far into cold and flue season. Darn huh?

    If you’re looking to try and avoid (or deal with) all these sick germs flying around, I’ve got some eco-friendly ideas for you:

    First of all you want your immune system to be in pretty good overall health. This means avoiding things like toxic home cleaning supplies, chemical laden fragrances in most conventional air fresheners, and chemical fibers in your home furniture, floors, and textiles. Your overall goal is to keep your air clean and free of any icky chemicals. Read the following posts to learn how:

    Next you’ll want to avoid breeding germs in your home. Some studies show that the use of antibacterial products; like hand gel and dish soaps, actually help germs, not fight them. You may kill some off at first, but it’s like antibiotics. If you give a germ a dose of antibacterial soap, over and over, the germ may not keep dying off, in fact the germ may adapt and just be able to eventually outwit the soap. The best soaps to use are not antibacterial, but basic, natural and organic soaps. One nice hand soap is Manor Hall Soap Company Liquid Hand Soap.

    If you’re already sick and looking for treatment options my advice is usually to start with the smallest plan of attack and move upwards. One, keep your house clean or if you’re already sick, see if someone will help you clean. Cleaning with hot soapy water does remove germs from household surfaces. Two, try some natural remedies like rest, hot showers, essential oils, tea and honey, and so on. To learn more about earth-friendly health care visit Simply Home Remedies. Three, visit the doc. I’m way into natural remedies, but I’m also not against using conventional health care when you need it. I don’t think overuse of medications or antibiotics is smart, but neither is suffering away. Smart medical care is sometimes best. Don’t avoid the doctor’s just because you want to focus on natural treatments.

    Also read: Five natural & non-toxic care remedies for kids

    More sick day posts coming up!

    5 Green Stain Removal Tips

    November 6, 2008 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

    Most stain removers for fabrics – clothing, your sofa, what have you, are not so green. Most have plenty of toxic goodies in them. For greener stain removal try…

    Wash on cool settings only: Hot water will set a stain, not get it out.

    Wash quickly: The longer you allow them to sit, the worse stains get. Working on stain removal quickly is best.

    Try glycerin: Natural vegetable based glycerin is easy to find at a health food store or co-op, and can often remove a stain. You need to rub the glycerin into the stain, then soak it before washing. If you’re using this on say, a couch, allow it to sit, then clean it off with water soaked rag.

    Use the power of the sun: Read Solar Stain Fighting to learn how.

    Always pre-soak: Pre-soaking stains is crucial when it comes to clothing (good luck soaking an entire couch). You can soak an item in the sink or in your washing machine. You can add the detergent while the clothing is soaking, but don’t start the washer for about an hour. Also, if you like you could try adding a little green bleach to the mix. NOT real bleach! Try Ecover Non-Chlorine Bleach Liquid.

    Create A Healthier & Greener Home

    October 23, 2008 in Air Quality, Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 1 comment

    Even if you think you have healthy habits; not smoking, wearing sunscreen, eating organic, your health could be at risk due to some basic home hazards. You can cut some of the damaging effects of home hazards by doing the following:

    Take your shoes off: Studies show that a major cause of pesticides in the home is due to shoes. Shoes pick up everything and then drag that everything (pesticides, pollen, and other icky air polluters) to all the rooms of your house.

    Don’t dry clean: Or at the very least try a greener dry cleaner. Dry cleaned items can release chemicals that cause cancer, plus, dry cleaning in itself is not a green process.

    Grow some fresh air: If growing fresh air producing plants is not your style, invest in an Energy Star HEPA filter air purifier.

    Light cleaner candles: Soy or beeswax candles are better for your health than wax candles. They burn cleaner, and produce less soot.

    Buy sustainable real wood: Fake wood furniture is usually partially particleboard, which contains a chemical called formaldehyde, which can make you sick and cause allergy flare ups. When considering this tip also think about your wooden floors. Real, sustainable wood can be more expensive, but in the long run you’ll be healthier and so will the earth.

    To learn more about cleaner, greener, healthier homes read:

    What are you doing to decrease toxins in your home?

    [image: Beeswax candles from Bluecorn Naturals]

    Quick Green Tip: Salt Your Oven

    October 14, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Quick Green Home & Garden Tips by Jennifer | No comments

    Besides drain cleaners, oven cleaners are at the top of the list when it comes to dangerous home cleaning products. Oven cleaners are totally toxic – why else would you need gloves and a well ventilated work area to use the darn stuff.

    Instead of toxic harsh chemicals, try plain old salt. If you notice oven spills, sprinkle table salt liberally on the spill before your oven cools down. After the oven is cool, take a damp cloth and rub off the spill. This even works on tough greasy stains; but you have to work with a warm oven. I’ve tried this on col ovens, and had less luck.

    For more green cleaning tips, read:

    Make Your House A Reusable House

    October 8, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home, Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle by Jennifer | No comments

    You can apply green building features to your house. You can invest in eco-friendly furniture. You can even landscape with the environment in mind. However, one of the best ways to go green at home, is to make your house as reusable as possible.

    First of all make sure that you’re only bringing goods into your house that you really need. Purchased goods take energy to manufacture, and most come with too much packaging. When you do purchase goods, make sure that they’re both recyclable, and if possible reusable. Look for items that can perform more than one duty. For example, no one needs a food processor, a blender, and a food grinder. One of the above will do the work of all three.

    Items that can make your home reusable:
    Read the rest of this entry »

    Grow Some Fresh Air at Home

    October 6, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 2 comments

    Anyone can buy an air purifier for their home. However, air purifiers are loud, can be expensive, and let’s face it, aren’t all that attractive. Add that to the fact that it takes plenty of energy to manufacture and ship these air purifiers, and it makes it seem like a less green, and more obnoxious choice.

    A better choice: Grow your own fresh air with a lovely collection of indoor plants. Plants naturally clean your air of toxins and chemicals, reduce stress, and improve your overall well-being; not to mention they look great and can add cheer to any room.

    Some natural air cleaning plant options include:

    Gerbera Daisy

    Bamboo – read Bringing Up Bamboo at Savvy Gardening

    Christmas Cactus – these are not just for Christmas time. A Christmas Cactus can last 30 years or longer.

    This amazing chart from Good Magazine will tell you about common household pollution problems and the plants that help solve them. At your local library look for How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office the best book I’ve read on toxin reducing plants; covering plants that work well in small and large spaces, and plants that do well with low light, meaning, you can have air cleaning plants in your bathroom or office space (even with no windows).

    Now, head to your local nursery, pick up some organic plants, and grow some fresh air.

    Quick Home Mold & Mildew Spray

    September 10, 2008 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | No comments

    To stay natural while fighting mold turn to good old tea tree oil. Fill a small reusable spray bottle with two cups of water and three drops of pure tea tree essential oil. Every once in a while spray down your walls with this solution and wipe dry. This mixture fights stains, but better yet the natural antispetic qualities of tea tree oil fight mold and mildew.

    To learn more about all natural and green cleaners for your home read:

    Stop Air Pollution in Your Home

    September 8, 2008 in Air Quality, Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 3 comments

    There are plenty of things that can contribute to air pollution in your home. Your goal should be to have pure, clean air inside your home, both for the sake of planet health and the health of your family. Allergies, asthma, and even cold-like illnesses can all be affected by the quality of air inside your home.

    Following are some ways to make sure your home air quality stays clean and healthy:

    No smoking allowed: If you smoke, go outside, away from other people. Smoking in your home, especially if you have kids is dangerous for both health and fire safety reasons. In fact some studies show that banning indoor smoking is the number one best way to improve your home’s air quality.

    Use your fireplace or wood stove smartly: Wood fires can release tiny particles and smoke that invades the air and your lungs. If you don’t have to use a wood burning fireplace, it’s better not to. If wood heat is your only source of heat; yes for some people it still is – in Humboldt we had only wood heat so we’d open windows and burn cleaner wood. To learn more read the EPA guide Wood Burning Efficiency and Safety.

    Open the windows: Fresh incoming air is a great way to push out old stale air, and any icky household fumes.

    Buy some naturally air cleaning houseplants.

    Quit stirring up the dust: Use a damp rag to dust, not a feather duster or dry cloth. You may be tempted to buy those static cloths for dusting, and they do work, but they’re not long-lasting. You’ll end up tossing them. A wet cloth works just the same.

    Clean regularly: Keeping a clean house is one good way to keep your air clean. This means making sure that items like appliances and humidifiers are cleaned as well.

    Don’t EVER use toxic cleaners: Chemical, toxic, yucky home cleaners contribute to much of the indoor air pollution you encounter – and worse, none of these cleaners are necessary for a clean home. Choose green homemade cleaners instead. To learn more read the following:

    Is Hand Washing Your Dishes A Good Green Choice?

    August 29, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Save Energy, Water by Jennifer | 1 comment

    There’s usually a pretty large debate about hand washing vs. dish washing between green living folks. Each side has pros and cons that they feel strongly about.

    save water at home

    I’m on the side of dish washing being the best green choice. Dishwashers approved as energy efficient by the EPA can use a lot less water then conventional hand washing – in some cases, depending on how you wash, hand washing can waste up to 20 gallons more water than a dishwasher.

    There are some other points to consider though.

    Are you scrapping or rinsing your dishes? If you scrap then place your dishes in the dishwasher, it clears some food. A new dishwasher is powerful enough to get the rest of the food off. An older model dishwasher may require that you rinse dishes first, which of course wastes water.

    If you use a soap that sucks (different dish washing soaps do work differently in different dishwashers) you may need to run your dishes twice – another water waste.

    If you have hard water, you’ll need to use a rinse agent (vinegar can be substituted), or you’ll have to possibly run an extra rinse cycle to clear off soap residue.

    If you live alone, and use maybe three dishes a day, hand washing responsibly is a better choice, because your dishwasher really should be full to be an efficient use of water.

    For people on the side of hand washing is better, it can be, if you wash smart. Many people run water the entire time they wash, and that’s what wastes those 20 gallons. If you hand wash, use an easy rinse soap, run one sink full (or bin-full) of hot soapy water, and one sink (or bin-full) of warm or cool rinse water. Don’t just run the water like crazy.

    What do you think – is hand washing or machine washing a better use of energy?

    Fix A Slow Drain Naturally

    August 26, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | 1 comment

    Drain cleaner is noted as being one of the most toxic items found in the home. Traditional drain cleaners are full of chemicals that can burn your skin and eyes, not to mention the fumes your lungs are being exposed to.

    Try a better solution:

    Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into your drain. Pour 1/2 cup white vinegar over the baking soda. Allow it to sit for a half hour. Rinse with a couple of quarts of boiling water.

    NOTE: I’ve used this solution, and it seems to work better as a preventative solution, not a fast cure. Once your drain is clogged badly, you may need something stronger, or you might have to pay for a plumber. Also, it helps if you first unscrew the plug, and remove any visible hair. The baking soda and vinegar will bubble up and dislodge some items, but not all. Try using this idea as a weekly cleaning routine for best results.

    As with most home care items, prevention is better than fighting a full blown problem, like a completely stopped up drain.

    Quick & Natural Household Cleaning Tips

    August 25, 2008 in Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 3 comments

    Instead of toxic, chemical heavy home cleaning supplies, try these ideas…

    Sparkling windows: Lightly spray windows (both interior and exterior) with a solution of 1/2 gallon cold water, and 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar. Wipe windows with recycled newspaper. If you hate the smell of vinegar (I HATE the smell), burn a candle or some essential oil in a diffuser nearby. You shouldn’t add essential oils to the solution to cut the vinegar scent (I tried once), because it’ll streak.

    clean windows

    A whiter toilet: Spray the inside of your toilet bowl with warm water – lightly, not dripping wet. Sprinkle with plain old baking soda. Let this sit for ten minutes, and then scrub with a toilet brush.

    Mold-free home: Once mold arrives, it’s almost too late. The best plan of attack is to prevent, not cure mold. Spray areas where mold might develop (window sills, door frames, floor bases, etc.) with a solution of 1 cup water, 1 drop lavender essential oil, and two drops tea tree essential oil.

    Tip: When looking for essential oils for home cleaning, go organic if you can, and make sure you’re buying pure essential oils which actually have cleansing and disinfectant properties. Plain old perfume scents are not the same as pure essential oils.

    Buy A Greener Broom

    August 17, 2008 in Alternative Energy, Green Cleaning by Jennifer | 1 comment

    The O-Cedar broom it greener than some of the conventional brooms you’ll find out there. If you need a new broom consider the benefits of the O-Cedar broom, such as bristles made from recycled plastic bottles, and a long, long warranty, which tells me these brooms are built to last. Built to last is always more green than built to toss.

    Visit the O-Cedar website to learn more.

    Past Green Building Resources & Green Living Tips

    August 15, 2008 in Alternative Energy, Green Building, Green Cleaning, Green Your Home, Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle by Jennifer | No comments

    In the post, Green Building Resources & Green Living Tips I noted that Best Green Home Tips used to be located in a different spot, at the RiverWired network. Over there, we looked at many a green building and remodeling tip. I thought that if you missed these posts, it would be cool to catch you up to speed. We looked at about half of these posts in the first recap, and here’s the rest…

    green building

    Green building:

    Green home interiors:

    Save energy & resources:

    Fun:

    Quick Green Laundry Tip – Skip the Bleach

    August 13, 2008 in Green Cleaning, Sustainable Building by Jennifer | 4 comments

    Bleach is toxic, bad for humans and pets, and pollutes our water supplies and soil. Skip the bleach when doing laundry.

    If you want a safer way to whiten whites, use anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1 cup of borax per wash-load (experiment). Borax can also be used as a color brightener as well. If you can’t get past not using bleach, try a chlorine free bleach.

    10 Tips for Greening Your Nursery

    August 6, 2008 in Children & Babies, Decor, Furniture & Appliances, Green Cleaning, Organics, Save Energy by Jennifer | No comments

    This week we’re going room by room, looking at how we can green up all the spaces of your home. It’s really important to keep your little one’s sleeping space free from chemicals, toxins, and other icky things. Babies, with their smaller bodies and immune systems are more sensitive to everything. Following are ten tips that can help you green your nursery.

    organic baby nursery

    1. Get rid of smelly baby odors (think diaper pail) with natural methods.
    2. Install energy saving lights and light bulbs. You can also set up lighting on a timer or sensor – for example, a night light on a sensor can save a ton of energy.
    3. Use non toxic paints and finishes on the walls and furniture.
    4. look for refurbished or recycled furniture. If you refinish it yourself, remember to use healthy non lead, non-toxic laminate or paint. Avoid materials like plywood and particleboard, because it usually contains formaldehyde.
    5. Be sure to buy a  safer, greener, baby mattresses. These used to be spendy, but you can find great deals on green mattresses and it’s worth it. While you’re at it, make sure to invest in organic baby bedding as well.
    6. Look for flame-retardant and sustainable floor coverings and rugs.
    7. Invest in toys made from sustainable wood, non-toxic materials, and made with Fair Trade practices. These type of toys cost more, but it’s better to buy fewer toys that are safe than a bunch of plastic toys chock full of chemicals. You can even consider what you have around the house as toys. Babies still love to bang on pots, play with cups, and dance with you – try to have fun with fewer toys overall.
    8. Invest in greener diaper choices.
    9. Keep your baby clean with natural soap and care options.
    10. Stock up your baby’s closets with natural and organic clothing finds. For some ideas visit the following stores:

    10 Tips for Greening Your Living Room

    August 5, 2008 in Alternative Energy, Furniture & Appliances, Green Cleaning, Green Your Home by Jennifer | No comments

    green living roomThis week I thought it might be cool to go room by room and offer some tips that are both easy and will make your rooms greener and healthier.

    Let’s kick it off with a high traffic area – the living room:

    1. If you have a fireplace or woodstove, make sure that you close the damper when you don’t have a fire going. You can save a lot on your energy use and electric bill by containing the air or heat you keep inside your house.
    2. Buy furniture made from sustainable woods or recycled materials.
    3. Try to buy soft furniture and fixtures, like sofas, carpet, chairs, and blankets in organics or natural, renewable fabrics and materials.
    4. You can also go for alternative non-carpet flooring choices.
    5. Turn off the television at least two nights a week (more if you can). It’s summer so you can head out for an evening game of Frisbee with the family, or simply have a family game or quiet-time night.
    6. Unplug equipment when not in use. Your stereo does not need to be plugged in 24/7 and it drains electricity.
    7. Choose the best air conditioner for your space.
    8. Buy plants that actually help to improve air quality – your whole family will feel better.
    9. Use LED lighting to light small reading areas, and use long lasting eco-friendly light bulbs in other lighting accessories. Once in a while try lighting organic soy candles instead of turning on the lights.
    10. Clean and dust your living room without the use of toxic chemicals.