Going Green - Part Two

While I understand that changing the chemicals I use to clean my home was an important step in allowing myself to be green, I also know that other steps need to be taken to ensure I'm doing everything possible to help our earth fight the good fight.

Several months ago I began replacing our light bulbs with the new kind of spiral bulbs. Yes I know they have mercury in them and are supposed to be cleaned up in a special way if they are dropped and broken and YES, I did break my first one in my kitchen floor. Now, NO, I did not clean it up in any special way. I looked around for any little mercury beads, didn't see any, so I swept up the glass then mopped the floor. It was springtime so I had most of the windows open anyway (that is one of the recommended things - air out the room where the incident happened). Since that first breakage (is that a word?) I have been very careful with my bulbs. The only problem I have with them is that they will not work if the bulb is pointing upward. They do fine sideways (like in the fan over the stove) and they are their brightest when put in with the bulb pointing down, but unfortunately I have several fixtures where these bulbs just do not work - aw!

My other "green" activity has been purchasing the canvas grocery bags. I love these bags!! They hold an incredible amount of groceries and there is not any worry that my bag will burst before I get into the house. Of course when I buy meats and produce, that is still placed into plastic bags first (the meat because I don't want "yick" all over my nice bags - and produce because, well - I don't want my produce lounging around in a grocery cart full of germs). I thought it would be a problem remembering to take the bags with me to the store, but as soon as I get the groceries put away, I just gather all my bags and take them back to the truck right then. Now they are always with me and I've used them in places other than the big supermarket. I take a few of them with me when I go into places like Big Lots and my local farmer's market.

These two steps, along with changing my cleaning chemicals may seem like it's not very much but I know it will help in the long run. If every one of us could just make one change in the way we go about our daily routines I think the collective difference would be enormous.

Feel free to post more "green" ideas in the comment section.

Going Green - Household Cleaners

Over the past few years I have wanted to do my part in being environmentally friendly. After using circumstances, finances and general laziness for excuses I have finally decided the time has come let my green self emerge.

I started by looking online for alternatives to regular household cleaners. Not only are common cleaners bad for the environment, but they are bad for us humans and our pets too. Lord knows at the times I've made the bathrooms sparkly clean only to have my husband come home and "fuss" at me for the horrible chemical smell. He wasn't fussing because he had to smell it, he was worried about my health; after all, I have been with those fumes while cleaning and even afterward as they linger in the house for hours (even with the windows open). The search was on for something safe...

The main list of great, SAFE (for us and the environment) cleaners is relatively short and much cheaper than those ready-mixed, unsafe cleaners (did I mention this is cheap?)

• white vinegar
• baking soda
• borax (20 mule team)
• hydrogen peroxide

WHITE VINEGAR

• removes carpet stains
• cuts lime deposits
• removes mildew
• cleans linoleum and wood floors
• cleans toilets (and all bathroom surfaces)
• drain cleaner (when mixed with baking soda)
• glass cleaner
• absorbs odors
• cuts grease

the thing about vinegar is that yes, your home will smell like you are dying eggs while the vinegar is still wet, but once it is dried your home will be very fresh smelling.

I have mixed borax and vinegar (2 tsp borax for every 1/2 cup of vinegar) into a spray bottle and this has taken the place of my old all-purpose cleaners (409, Mean Green, Greased lightning, etc).

BAKING SODA

• add a tsp or so in your hand with your shampoo - gives your hair more body
• sprinkle in carpets to remove odors
• toilet cleaner (by itself or mixed with vinegar for that "bubbly" action)
• add to washing machine along with your regular detergent to help clean and freshen "funky" clothing

BORAX

• add to laundry (same as the baking soda instructions)
• wash your fridge (inside and out) with mixture of 1 tbs per quart of water - will kill odors
• borax is a natural disinfectant
• clean garbage cans
• bathroom cleaning - it does not scratch fiberglass

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

• removes blood stains (ew)
• removes mildew/mold
• use as a mouthwash - it kills germs and brightens teeth

So far that is my list of cleaning products which will hopefully enable me to leave a smaller carbon footprint on this earth.