Spring Clean the Green Way

Spring is here! If you're ready to throw open the windows and do some serious spring cleaning, why not do it the green way? You don't need to subject yourself to the high prices and caustic chemicals that come with so many store bought cleaning products. With a few simple ingredients like vinegar, peroxide, lemon juice and baking soda you can get your whole house fresh and clean.

Let's start with vinegar.
Thanks to its acidity, distilled white vinegar is effective at killing most mold, bacteria and viruses. Put full strength vinegar in a spray bottle to create an all-purpose cleaner you can use on glass, mirrors, doorknobs, sinks, appliances and countertops (just avoid using it on marble). Instead of harsh bathroom cleaning products use undiluted vinegar on toilets, bathtubs and showers. Add a little baking soda for extra scrubbing power. For stubborn soap residue in the bathroom or grease stains in the kitchen let the vinegar penetrate for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping clean. To eliminate residue on a showerhead mix 1 part baking soda with two parts vinegar in a bag and wrap it around the showerhead. Let it sit for at least an hour. Then remove the bag, give the showerhead a quick wipe and run the water. To keep your dishwasher clean and odor-free, fill the detergent dispenser with vinegar and run it empty once a month. Mix a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water to clean vinyl and linoleum floors.

Break out the peroxide for serious disinfecting.
Hydrogen peroxide (the 3% solution you can pick up at pharmacies and grocery stores) is a nontoxic antibacterial that kills viruses, mold and mildew. You can think of it as an all natural bleach. Anything you typically clean with bleach can be cleaned with peroxide. This includes countertops, sinks, cutting boards, bathtubs, showers, toilets and garbage pails. Simply spray it on, allow the bubbles to subside (hydrogen peroxide needs time to disinfect) and wipe. To clean and disinfect vinyl and linoleum floors mix equal parts peroxide and water to mop. No rinsing necessary. For laundry you can replace bleach with an equal amount of hydrogen peroxide. You can also soak items like toothbrushes, sponges, cleaning cloths, retainers, thermometers and loofahs in hydrogen peroxide to disinfect them. Using vinegar and peroxide together (spray with vinegar and then peroxide) creates a one-two punch that is as effective as bleach at killing bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, but is safe enough to use on produce without so much as an aftertaste.

Clean, shine, and bleach with lemon.
Lemon juice is a fresh-smelling, all natural cleaner. You can clean non-marble countertops by wiping them with lemon juice and rinsing with water. Bleach stains on countertops, dishes, cutting boards and other surfaces by pouring lemon juice on the stain and allowing it to sit before sprinkling baking soda and scrubbing. Lemon can clean, shine and remove rust stains from solid brass (never on brass plated), copper and stainless steel. Simply sprinkle half a lemon with salt and use it as a scrubber. Continue adding salt and buffing until all stains are removed. Finish by rinsing with water and buffing dry with a cloth. Shine aluminum by buffing it with a cloth dampened with lemon juice or half a lemon. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to dishwasher detergent for extra grease-cutting power and make easy work of cleaning the inside of the microwave by heating a mixture of lemon juice and water for a minute before wiping down the inside of the machine. To freshen up the garbage disposal toss some lemon peel into the disposal while running hot water. Mix equal parts lemon juice and water to create an all natural air freshener.

The best way to dust wood furniture is with a damp cloth. Commercial wood polishes can contain harsh chemicals and leave a very hard-to-remove residue. For an all natural polish mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice and apply it to your wood furniture using a soft cloth.

Lemon is also a powerful bleaching agent. To bleach white clothes soak them in half a cup of lemon juice mixed with a gallon of hot water for at least an hour. Then launder as usual. To remove rust stains from clothes, pour lemon juice on the stain and then rub in cream of tartar. Let the mixture sit until the stain disappears. Then launder as usual.

Finally, when cleaning with vinegar you can always add a bit of lemon juice to neutralize vinegar's strong scent.

Boost your cleaning power with baking soda.
Baking soda is best known for its power to deodorize. All you have to do is keep an open container of baking soda in the refrigerator, freezer or any cupboard to prevent odors.

Sprinkle baking soda on anything you want to deodorize, including (but not limited to) garbage containers, hampers, gym bags, sneakers and the dishwasher. To remove odors from carpeting or upholstery, sprinkle the area with baking soda, let stand for at least twenty minutes and vacuum. Repeat as necessary.

Baking soda's texture and absorbency make it good for cleaning, degreasing and scrubbing various surfaces. Clean and polish silver, stainless steel and chrome with a paste made of 3 parts baking soda mixed with one part water. Simply rub on the paste, rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth. Degrease dishes, ovens and other surfaces by sprinkling baking soda on the grease and rubbing with a dry cloth. The baking soda will soak up the grease making it easier to rinse messes away. To remove burnt on food, sprinkle cookware and grills with baking soda, add hot water, let soak overnight and wash as usual. To clean bathroom floors, mop with half a cup of baking soda mixed in a bucket of warm water and rinse. Clean walls and laminate furniture with a damp cloth dabbed in baking soda (the homemade equivalent of Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser). Clean toys with a solution made from 4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of water. To clean stuffed toys, dust on baking soda, let it sit for 20 minutes and dust off.

Baking soda is also very effective as a stain remover. You can remove tea stains on teapots and cups by soaking stains in a mixture of ¼ cup baking soda and 1 quart warm water overnight before washing. To remove scuff marks or grease spills from floors, sprinkle with baking soda and wipe clean with warm water.

Use these all natural cleaning solutions with rags you make out of old towels and t-shirts (saving money on paper towels and reducing waste) and you’re ready to clean green!

Prefer to buy green cleaning products instead of making your own? Learn what to look for in “green” cleaning products before you buy.

A Green Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. With it comes the start of the holiday season, full of gatherings with family and friends, beautiful décor, and fun gift shopping. As much as I love getting into the holiday spirit, I want to be sure to avoid those post-holiday blues that come from overeating and overspending. Plus, the holiday season is no friend to Mother Earth . . . from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day household waste increases by over 25%.

By taking just a few simple steps anyone can have a fun, budget-friendly, healthy and eco-friendly holiday season. Start by greening up your Thanksgiving traditions. Doing so will leave less of a dent on your diet and your wallet and may even make it more meaningful for you and your family.

First, let's consider travel – a major part of the holidays for many folks. Remember, buses and trains have less of an impact on your wallet and the environment than air travel. You could even avoid the travel crowds and forge a new tradition by celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends that live in your area rather than traveling far. If you are going to be traveling, remember to turn down the thermostat and turn off the lights to save energy while you’re gone.

If you are the brave soul hosting, start off on the right, green foot with your invitations. You can call to invite guests, use an online resource such as Evite or Facebook, or print invitations on recycled paper.

What's the first thought we have company coming? Gotta clean! If you haven't done so already, swap those expensive, smelly, chemical-laden cleaning products for cheap, non-toxic, earth-friendly solutions you can make right at home. With a few simple products, like vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide, you can get your house just as clean as with traditional cleaning products. You’ll save money, keep plastic bottles out of landfills, and avoid harsh chemicals that can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritations. Click here for details.

For decoration, utilize materials you already have on hand or purchase items you can use again. Bringing the outside in (think pine cones, plant or flower clippings, gourds, leaves, and living plants) is a great way to decorate for little or no money. Plus, Thanksgiving craft making is a wonderful activity the whole family can do together.

Whatever décor you decide on, steer clear of traditional paraffin candles. Despite how nice they may look or smell, these candles and the smoke and soot they produce can contain harmful toxins. The American Lung Association and the EPA have warned consumers that using paraffin candles can decrease indoor air quality. Paraffin is the last petroleum byproduct removed in the refining process (right after asphalt). The fumes released by paraffin candles are comparable to those produced by burning diesel. For a healthier, greener alternative look for candles made from soy or beeswax, scented with essential oil, with non-lead wicks.

When it comes to the food opt for organic and local. Doing so helps ensure that you're getting the freshest, most nutritious food that hasn’t been chemically modified to keep its appearance after traveling half way around the world. Plus, you'll be supporting your local economy. You can find farmers’ markets, farms, and community-supported agriculture programs in your area at localharvest.org. For help planning your meal around what’s in season check out the seasonal produce guide available at sustainabletable.org.

You can make your meal healthier and less costly by swapping out meat with more veggies. Even a slight reduction in meat consumption can have a significant impact. Click here to learn more about how giving up meat just once a week can make a significant difference in your health and your carbon footprint.

Buying food in bulk will reduce packaging waste and save you money, but you don't want to overbuy and waste food. You can cut down on waste by planning ahead and calculating how much food you will actually need. This list of approximate food and drink portions should help:

Turkey - 1 pound per person
Stuffing - ¼ pound per person
Casserole (side dish) - ¼ pound per person
Green beans or Brussels sprouts - ¼ pound per person
Cranberry Sauce or Chutney - 3 tablespoons per person
Pie (9-inch) - 1/8 slice per person

Keeping track of how much was consumed can help you better plan for future holiday meals.

For drinks, consider serving biodynamic wine. Don't be thrown off by the label. Biodynamic , or sustainable, wine-making is nothing more than a return to European vineyard traditions like natural fertilizers and pest management and planting cover crops. Biodynamic wine is a better quality wine with higher levels of resveratrol, the heart-healthy antioxidant found in wine, making biodynamic wine better for your health as well as the planet. There is a growing number of biodynamic wines available and many are quite reasonably priced. Click here to learn more about biodynamic wine.

When it comes to any type of party, the worst environmental offender is usually all the disposable plates, cups, utensils, napkins, and tablecloths. Americans throw away enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times! Instead of buying paper or plastic tableware, offer reusable options. If you don't have enough at home, you can always check out thrift stores for an eclectic mix of tableware. Other options are reusable plastic cutlery and compostable paper plates.

When it's time to clean up, fill the dishwasher to capacity before running it and use unheated air to dry dishes to save electricity and water. Make sure to give away and/or freeze any leftovers, compost food scraps, and make recycling easy for guests by placing clearly labeled recycling bins in a convenient location everyone can reach.

Finally, no matter how inviting that couch may look after the big meal, don't just plop yourself down for the rest of the day. You'll feel so much better if you get outside for some fresh air and exercise. Go for a walk, play baseball or football, jump in the leaves, or hit the local park. You'll take full advantage of this precious time with family and friends, burn some calories, and cut down on home energy usage.

May you have a happy, healthy, and green holiday season!

The ABC’s of Being Green

Always remember the three Rs . . . Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Every piece of advice about being green resonates back to at least one of these basic tenets.

Bike or ride the Bus instead of driving.

Clean green with homemade cleaning solutions made from simple and natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.

Donate goods you can’t recycle or sell. Freecycle is a great online nonprofit that helps you to donate to people in your community.

Eat produce from the Environmental Working Group’s 15 Cleanest Fruits and Vegetables in place of produce from the Dirty Dozen list.

Filter your tap water with a home filtration system instead of buying bottled water.

Go outside! Turn off the TV and video games and let your kids explore outdoors. Check out state and national parks in your area and the variety of family friendly activities most of them offer.

Hit the local library or used book store for books, CDs, and DVDs instead of buying them new.

Install timers to automatically adjust your thermostat when you’re sleeping and out of the house.

Juice up your cell phone with a car charger. Or, when using the computer, charge your phone using the USB port. Both options will save energy compared to using a wall plug.

Keep rain water for a variety of non-potable uses, such as watering plants or washing your car, by installing a rain barrel.

Launder your clothes with ½ to ¾ of the manufacturer’s suggested amount. You’ll cut down on waste and get your clothes cleaner.

Make the most of each car trip by combining as many errands as you can. Save time and gas.

Nurture your skin with personal care products that are safe for your health and the environment.

Opt for energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.

Purchase energy-efficient appliances to replace your old ones as they wear out.

Quit topping off your gas tank. It’s bad for your health and the environment (click here for details).

Recharge your batteries instead of using disposable batteries.

Shower instead of taking baths. Try to keep it to 5 to 10 minutes.

Toss food scrapes and yard refuse into a compost bin to make your own organic, nutrient-rich fertilizer.

Utilize what you already have before buying anything new. Don’t just “shop your closet”. Shop your entire home. Go a step further and organize a swap (of clothes, shoes, and accessories; or home goods; or kid toys; or books and movies) with your friends.

Visit farmers’ markets in your area and support local farmers while getting super-fresh, locally-produced food.

Wash with fragrance-free soap. Opt for fragrance-free body wash, hand soap, shampoo, and moisturizer to avoid chemicals that are harmful to your health and the environment.

X April 22nd on your calendar. It’s Earth Day. Visit earthday.org to volunteer for events organized in your community or get together with friends for a community clean-up of your own.

Yank out your stash of reusable shopping bags whenever you go shopping.

Zap away less energy by unplugging appliances, like toasters and coffeemakers, when they’re not in use. “Standby usage” accounts for anywhere from 6% to 26% of a homes' electricity use.

Everyday Green Home Edition: Green Up Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home – the central place for family and friends to gather and catch up, gossip, reminisce while breaking bread. It only makes sense that such a room be as green as possible – protecting the health of your family and friends, the environment and, not to mention, your wallet.

Follow these guidelines for a cleaner, healthier, greener kitchen.

Saving Energy
The refrigerator is a major guzzler of energy. Keeping your refrigerator between 36 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit saves energy while still keeping food at the proper temperature. Properly maintaining your refrigerator can also help it run more efficiently and last longer. This includes unplugging it and wiping off the condenser coils at least once a year. Check your user's manual for additional specifications on how to keep your fridge running efficiently.

Save on the energy used by your dishwasher by only running full loads and using unheated air to dry dishes. Make sure to use the most appropriate wash setting for each load so you're not using more electricity and water than actually required.

When using the stove top, make sure to match the pot you are using with the right size burner to avoid unnecessary heat loss. Even using a 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner can waste over 40% of the burner's heat. Use close-fitting lids on pots whenever possible (always when you're bring something to a boil) to keep heat in and reduce cooking times.

An even more energy-efficient option is to skip the stove altogether and use a low-energy cooking appliance like a pressure cooker, steamer, slow cooker, or even a barbeque grill instead.

Before replacing an appliance check if a repair is a viable alternative. You can save money and avoid throwing out such a large item before it's truly necessary. When the time does come to replace an appliance, look for a new one with a high Energy Star rating and contact your local department of public works for help properly disposing your old appliance.

Finally, remember to swap your incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They use 70% percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

Saving Water
The simplest and least expensive way to save water in the kitchen is to install a tap aerator on your kitchen faucet. For about a dollar you can cut your water consumption by 50%. If you are in the market for a new faucet, look for a 0.5 to 1 gallon per minute (gpm) model.

Only running the dishwasher when it's full will help save water as well as energy.

Save extra water, like water used for cooking or rinsing, and feed it to your plants rather than pouring it down the drain.

Reducing WasteThe kitchen typically generates more waste than any other room in the house. You can help cut back on waste by being careful with what you bring into your home in the first place. Avoid excessive packaging at the grocery store. Bring your own bags. Opt for fresh, unwrapped produce. Choose products in recyclable or reusable containers, such as cardboard cartons or glass jars. Go even greener and grow your own food in a home garden.

Reuse or recycle as much as you can. This includes using dishtowels and cloth napkins that can be washed and used again instead of disposable paper towels and napkins. Keep a recycling bin in the kitchen if it makes recycling easier to remember.

Go a step beyond recycling and compost your food scraps. Using compost you create from food scraps and yard waste keeps organic materials out of landfills and saves you money on commercial fertilizers.

Instead of plastic trash bags that take years to decompose, purchase biodegradable trash bags (available online). If you can't find biodegradable bags, at least purchase bags made from recycled materials.

Cookware
Invest in high quality cookware and utensils that last, rather than cheap items that will need to be replaced in short order.

Although there are some health concerns associated with nonstick cookware, it can be difficult to cook certain foods, particularly eggs, on anything else. Nonstick cookware can be safe to use as long as you take care to not heat pans too high or scratch the chemical coating – the two ways harmful chemicals can be released into the air. Add water or oil to nonstick cookware to absorb heat before turning on the stove and then make sure to only use medium heat (350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower. Wash nonstick cookware by hand using nonabrasive cleaners and sponges and avoid using metal utensils or stacking pots and pans to avoid scratching. If any of your nonstick cookware does become scratched, toss it or (for a slightly more eco-friendly option) bring it to a scrap metal yard.

You can also rotate out any nonstick cookware with pieces made from other materials. Health Canada has a great overview of the benefits and risks of various cookware materials. It's best to have an assortment. Stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic, Pyrex, and silicone are all good options for cookware and bakeware.

Food Containers
The list of health problems associated with plastics seems to grow longer by the day. For safer, healthier options, invest in food and beverage containers made of glass, ceramic, porcelain, Pyrex, bamboo, or stainless steel instead of using bags, containers, and bottles made of plastic.

Avoid heating food in plastic containers, especially polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate containers that contain BPA usually have a #7 recycling code on them.

Avoid putting plastic containers in the dishwasher. Yes, the dishwasher uses less water and energy than hand washing, but the heat and harsh detergent may cause may cause plastic to leach chemicals.

If you absolutely must have plastic food containers, opt for those labeled as PETE or recycling codes #2, #4, and #5. Avoid those labeled #3 or #7.

Cleaning Green
Traditional cleaning products can contain ingredients that are harmful to your health and the environment. Fortunately, the number of green cleaning products available today continues to grow. Check out What to Look For In Green Cleaning Products to learn about what to look for and what to avoid in cleaning products.

Or, you can avoid commercial cleaning products altogether by creating your own simple, inexpensive cleaning solutions right at home. Put distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle to create an all-purpose cleaner you can use on glass, doorknobs, appliances, and counter tops (just avoid using it on marble). Add a little baking soda for extra scrubbing power. Spray your kitchen countertops with undiluted vinegar and then 3% hydrogen peroxide to disinfect. This combination is as effective as bleach at killing bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, but is safe enough to use on produce without so much as an aftertaste. Click here for more green cleaning tips.

Everyday Green Home Edition: Green Up Your Bathroom

With its heavy use of water and electricity, the bathroom is responsible for a significant portion of your home energy costs. Therefore, it's a great room to start with when greening up your home. A few small steps can make a sizable impact.

Start by reducing water consumption.

• Install low-flow shower heads to save water without sacrificing pressure. An efficient shower head will save a family of four up to $285 per year. They typically cost less than $15 and are simple to install. 
• Put an aerator on the faucet and cut your annual water consumption by 50%. If you are in the market for a new faucet, look for 0.5 to 1 gallon per minute (gpm) models. 
• Install a low-flow toilet. They use only 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to 3.5 gallons per flush for pre-1994 models. If you have an older model, adjust your float valve to admit less water into the toilet's tank. To check for tank leaks, put several drops of food coloring in the tank and see if the color makes its way into the bowl, indicating a leak. 

Then, focus on energy usage. The energy used to heat up water accounts for 19% of total home energy usage, so reducing hot water will significantly reduce energy consumption. Here are the simplest ways to cut back on hot water.

• For about $20 and 5 minutes of your time you can make your hot water heater more efficient. Just put an insulating jacket around your water heater and secure (with tape, wire, or a clamp) foam pipe sleeves around the hot water pipes and three feet of the cold water inlet pipe. Doing so will save you up to 10% on water heating costs and cut down on the time it takes for your shower to warm up. 
• When it's time to replace your water heater, look for an energy efficient model. They may cost more up front, but you'll quickly make your money back in reduced energy costs. 
• Turn the temperature on the water heater down to 120 degrees. Doing so will reduce the heater's energy consumption by 5% to 10% and prevent scalding. 

And don't forget one of the easiest ways to save energy . . . replace your incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They use 66% percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

Opting for eco-friendly materials in your towels and bathroom décor is another great way to green up your bathroom. Due to its excessive use of insecticides and pesticides, conventional cotton is considered the world's dirtiest crop. Therefore, towels made from organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp are better options for your health and the environment. Shower curtains and bath mats are perpetually damp so they're prone to dank smells, mold and bacteria. Curtains and mats made of natural, washable materials, like organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, linen, and cork, are easier to maintain, last longer, and have a smaller environmental impact than plastic products. Even curtains made from synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are better options than PVC shower curtains because, despite being petroleum-derived, they do not off gas like PVC.

You may not give it much thought, but bathrooms require a lot of caulking and conventional caulk contains chemicals that can pose a health danger without proper ventilation. Safer, greener caulk is low in VOCs, lasts at least 10 years, and can be cleaned up with water or a mild solvent. Avoid using PVC- or oil-based caulk. Instead, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends polyurethane caulk for sealing masonry and acrylic latex caulk is good for dry surfaces like plumbing penetrations and gaps in wood.

Finally, take a look at your everyday habits.

• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons of water a month. 
• Turn the water off when you brush your teeth and save 4.5 gallons of water each time. 
• Don't forget to recycle toiletry bottles, soap packaging, and cardboard toilet paper rolls. Keep a small recycling container in the bathroom if it helps you remember to recycle. 
• Use simple, nontoxic substances, like vinegar, peroxide and baking soda, to green clean your bathroom. Click here for details. 

Follow these guidelines to reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, and reduce waste and your bathroom will be cleaner, healthier, and greener. You'll save money, while protecting your health and the environment.

Note: For bigger home renovations check out Green Home Improvements for help selecting eco-friendly countertops, flooring, and paint.

        

        

Everyday Green Home Edition: Green Up Your Bedroom

For those wanting to live a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle it makes perfect sense to green up your bedroom, the place you spend a third of your life. Here's a guide to help you make your bedroom healthier and greener.

The Bed
Avoid mattresses filled with polyurethane foam. Polyurethane is a synthetic material made from petroleum products. That means it is produced from limited fossil fuel resources (often creating toxic waste in the process) and it is not biodegradable. Polyurethane off-gasses toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which decreases indoor air quality. Plus, mattresses made with synthetic foams are treated with polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) fire retardants. In 2010, after years of study, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that PBDEs are bioaccumulative and toxic to both humans and the environment and began working on a voluntary phase out of the chemicals by the end of 2013.

To protect yourself from such toxins opt for a mattress filled with cotton (preferably organic cotton), wool (naturally flame retardant), or natural latex. The greenest option, latex, is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and dust-mite proof. Just be sure the latex is at least 97% natural. If opting for another natural filler, use a hypoallergenic mattress protector to prevent dust mites.

Bedding and Other Fabrics
It's a little known fact that bedsheets are often treated with chemicals to make them soft. And thanks to its excessive use of insecticides and pesticides, conventional cotton is considered the world's dirtiest crop. Hence, sheets made from organic cotton or bamboo are better for your health and the environment. Avoid sheets with labels like moisture-repellent, stain-resistant, or fire-repellent – clear indications they've been treated with chemicals. With more and more stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Pottery Barn offering organic bedding, the selection and availability of eco-friendly linens is greater than ever.

When selecting pillows look for hypoallergenic and organic pillows filled with wool, organic cotton, buckwheat or millet hulls, or natural (at least 97%) latex. Pillows made from recycled polyester fill are another eco-friendly option.

For blankets, wool is a greener options than polyester. Down comforters attract dust mites and, because they draw in moisture and don't dry quickly, can produce mold. Wool is lightweight, warm and quick-drying.

Wash bedding weekly to cut down on dust mites and other allergens.

Furniture
Before purchasing any new furniture take stock of what you already own. Sometimes you just need to move pieces around to give your room a fresh new look. Also consider any other items you may have stored away that you could re-purpose or re-finish to use in your bedroom.

Then, if you really do need a new piece of furniture for your bedroom, consider purchasing vintage or used. By purchasing pre-owned you keep items out of landfills and avoid buying new pieces you'd eventually have to dispose of. Check out antique shops, thrift shops, Freecycle, Craigslist, and eBay. And remember: you can always change hardware, reupholster, paint, or stain a piece to make it your own.

If you do decide to purchase new, take careful consideration of what furniture is made of. Steer clear of pieces made from manufactured wood products (i.e., particleboard, fiberboard, plywood) because they typically contain formaldehyde glues. Products made from metal and glass are safer options because they are inert materials which don’t offgas.

When purchasing solid wood furniture look for wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international, non-profit organization that requires companies to meet strict economic, social, and environmental standards to become certified. Look for the FSC logo on furniture, ask your retailer, or use the FSC's online database to find certified vendors. Other healthier, more eco-friendly options include furniture made from reclaimed wood or a renewable resource like bamboo.

Look for furniture finished with no- or low- VOC paints and stains. Alternatively, purchasing unfinished furniture you can finish yourself is a great way to get quality, customizable pieces at a reduced cost.

Flooring
Carpets made of wool (a renewable and biodegradable resource) and other natural materials (such as plant fibers, jute, and seagrass) are greener options than traditional carpet which is made of synthetic materials and backed by SB latex, a petroleum product that contains the toxin styrene and is a suspected carcinogen. Also, more and more companies are introducing eco-friendly carpeting options made from recycled products like recycled plastics and organic materials like corn.

Carpet, however, can be hard to clean and can harbor dirt, dust and mold. Greener, more allergy-friendly flooring options include bamboo, cork and natural linoleum (a long lasting material made from natural ingredients such as linseed oil, wood resins, cork, limestone, and jute). Then, you can always add some natural fiber area rugs that can be thrown in the washer to clean.

Indoor Air Quality
Paint is a great, inexpensive way to give a room a whole new look, but traditional paints contain harmful contaminants that are damaging to human health and the environment. According to the EPA, paints, stains, and other architectural coatings are the second-largest source of VOC emissions after automobiles. When looking for low-VOC paints seek out products certified by a third party such as Green Seal and make sure that the VOC levels are measured after the tints are added.

Never use mothballs. Naphthalene, the substance mothballs are made of, can cause respiratory problems, damage to the liver, and neurological damage. Plus, the EPA has classified naphthalene as a possible human carcinogen. Products made from cedarwood are safe and just as effective at protecting clothes and linens from moths.

Despite how nice they may look or smell, traditional paraffin candles and the smoke and soot they produce can contain harmful toxins. The American Lung Association and the EPA have warned consumers that using paraffin candles can decrease indoor air quality. Paraffin is the last petroleum byproduct removed in the refining process (right after asphalt). The fumes released by paraffin candles are comparable to those produced by burning diesel. For a healthier, greener alternative look for candles made from soy or beeswax, scented with essential oil, with non-lead wicks.

Adding an air-cleaning plant or two to your bedroom can help improve indoor air quality. A NASA study showed philodendron, English ivy, spider plant, dracaena, weeping fig, golden pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, bamboo or reed palm, and snake plant to be the most effective at removing common pollutants from the air.

Finally, try to open your windows and air out your bedroom for at least 15 minutes every day. The EPA and the National Lung Association both recommend opening windows to ventilate air and lower indoor air pollutants.

What to Look For in “Green” Cleaning Products

A clean home is a healthy home. Right? But how healthy can home cleaning products be if they make your eyes sting, irritate your skin, and are labeled poisonous? Green cleaning products get your home clean without harmful chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and your health. Just make sure to take a careful look at those labels to ensure you are truly getting a healthier product and not being duped by the latest company to jump on the green marketing bandwagon.

Start by looking for products certified by EcoLogo or Green Seal. To earn these labels cleaners must meet certain health and environmental standards regarding things like toxicity to aquatic and mammalian life, biodegradability, possible soil contamination, the risk of microbial resistance, labeling and packaging standards, and human health. Not all green products will be certified so use the following guidelines for selecting your own green cleaners.

Select products with 100% plant-based ingredients rather than the ambiguous “natural” label. After all, cyanide is natural element. Look for products with primary active ingredients like tea tree oil, sodium borate (borax), soy, citrus oils, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and eucalyptus. These substances come from renewable resources, are biodegradable, contain no- or low-VOCs, and should not cause skin or eye irritation. Just take care to not use products with pine or citrus oil on smoggy or high ozone days because compounds in the oils can react with ozone in the air to form the carcinogenic chemical formaldehyde.

Avoid products containing any of the following:

• 2-butoxyethanol (also listed as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether) and other glycol ethers
• Alkylphenol ethoxylates like nonylphenol ethoxylates, octylphenol ethoxylates, nonoxynols, and octoxynols
• Ethanolamines like mono-, di-, and tri-ethanolamine 
• Quaternary ammonium compounds, which are usually listed as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (ADBAC), benzalkonium chloride, or didecyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride 
• Hydrocloric acid
• Sodium acid sulfate 
• Fragrance 

It's also advisable to pass on any products containing dye. It's an ambiguous ingredient that could mean a multitude of things – many of which are unsafe.

Take a products packaging into consideration as well. Look for lightweight packaging made from recyclable and/or recycled materials. Choose pump sprays over aerosols and look for dispensers that help limit unnecessary exposure. Concentrated formulas help cut down on packing as do products that can be used with refillable dispensers.

Of course, the easiest way to avoid the harmful chemicals often found in household cleaning products is to clean your home with all natural products like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, and baking soda. Click here for homemade, green cleaning solutions.

Taking Off Your Shoes for a Greener, Cleaner Home

Think of all the different surfaces you walk on getting to and from work or even just running a single errand. On any given day you probably tread on pavement, dirt, grass, and the grimy floors of public buildings. When you return home the soles of your shoes carry in not just dirt, but several pollutants and allergens as well.

A regular pair of shoes, after just 14 days of wear, hosts a slew of bacteria, including E. coli. In the largest study of its kind, the California State Department of Public Health found an average of 22 pesticides in the dust of homes studied. Another study found that coal tar, a carcinogen used in products like driveway sealant, is tracked into homes from driveways and parking lots. And even though it's been removed from paint and gasoline, lead is still remarkably prevalent in the environment and can be tracked inside (along with mercury and other heavy metals) on people's shoes. The buildup of pollutants is even greater in homes with carpeting because carpet traps pollutants and is usually not cleaned well enough and often enough to prevent buildup.

Infants and young children, with their proximity to the floor, tenancy to put things in their mouths, and developing nervous and immune systems, are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of toxins being brought into the home on shoes.

There is an extremely effective measure everyone can take to cut their exposure to pollutants being tracked inside. Take off your shoes! Eighty-five percent of the dirt in homes is tracked inside on clothing, shoes, and pet paws. By taking your shoes off at the door you can avoid 70% of the allergens and pollutants being tracked into your home. Having a shoes-off policy makes your home cleaner and healthier and saves you time and energy vacuuming and dusting. Plus, it's simply more relaxing to walk around barefoot or in cozy sock or slippers.

Worried about how to ask guests to remove their shoes without coming off as a shrew that covers all their furnishings in plastic? A simple sign on the front door can be a big help. There are several simple “Please Remove Shoes” signs available. Or, you can go with something humorous like this "Life is full of choices. Remove shoes or scrub the floor." sign. It also helps to have a specific place to take off and place shoes. Leaving a basket of various clean and comfortable-looking slippers by the door helps send the no shoes message while also providing a considerate amenity to your guests.

So kick off those shoes, put up your feet and enjoy your greener, cleaner home.

Green Laundry

Laundry. I know . . . ugh! But it has to be done. And it's no surprise that, with all we need to launder, the washing machine and dryer guzzle a serious amount of resources. Home appliances account for 20% of home energy use and the washer and dryer come behind only the refrigerator in energy usage. With just a few simple steps though, you can not only green up your laundry, but save money and make your clothes last longer.

First, only wash full loads. This doesn't mean overfill your washing machine; clothes still need to move freely in the washer in order to get clean. If you must run a small load, set the water level accordingly.

Cold water rinses detergent out just as well as warm or hot water, so always select the cold rinse option on your washing machine. Most laundry can also be washed with cold water, so give it a second thought next time you go to wash something in warm or hot water. Using only cold water for washing clothes will save you at least $100 a year.

You can treat laundry stains the all-natural way with ingredients you already have at home. Most stains can be sprayed with a mix of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar. Lemon juice mixed with a little cream of tartar is also an effective stain remover. Gently rubbing a little salt into a fresh stain can help keep it from setting in.

Most laundry detergents these days come in concentrated form which is greener than non-concentrated options because they use less packaging. It's a little known fact that you really shouldn't use the manufacturer's suggested amount of detergent. Use ½ to ¾ of the recommended amount and you will save money, reduce the amount of suds polluting our waterways, cut down on detergent bottles sent to the recycling center, and get your clothes just as clean if not cleaner than before. Un-rinsed detergent on your clothes can actually attract dirt!

Many laundry detergents contain ingredients that are harmful to you, your clothes, and the environment. Opt for an eco-friendly laundry detergent that is plant-derived rather than petroleum-based, biodegradable and free of phosphates, brighteners, dyes, or artificial fragrances. Adding half a cup (quarter cup if you have a front-loading machine) of baking soda to the wash helps boost your detergent's cleaning power. Adding it to your washer's rinse cycle will help rinse clothes better, ward off hard water stains, and make clothes feel softer.

Fabric softeners can also contain harmful ingredients. Plus, they can build up on clothes, reducing their longevity. The simple solution is to swap fabric softener with a cup of distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle (or in the softener cup if your machine has one). Vinegar neutralizes the water's pH, rinsing the detergent out better, eliminating static cling, reducing lint buildup, and leaving your clothes softer.

Chlorine bleach is a highly caustic substance that can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. It can also be harmful to the environment. An inexpensive, and much better smelling, alternative is lemon juice. Lemon juice is a natural bleaching agent and can be used just as you would bleach.

Next time you're in the market for a washing machine, check out Energy Star certified models. These machines typically use 18 to 25 gallons of water per load, compared to 40 gallons for older washers. Today's washing machines are about 90% more efficient than they were 30 years ago, so if your washer dates back to the 80's, you probably want to shop around for a new one. You'll save about 7,000 gallons of water a year.

Green up the clothes drying process by avoiding the dryer altogether. Hang laundry on a clothes line or drying racks and clothes will last longer, household energy usage will drop, and you'll save up to $75 a year.

For the times you do use your dryer, make sure it is running efficiently. Check the exhaust vent every so often to make sure it closes tightly and clean the lint filter after every load. If doing more than one load, try to do one right after the other to take advantage of leftover heat. Also, ditch the dryer sheets which are loaded with chemicals that can actually contribute to the breakdown of certain fabrics.

Next time you are in the market for a dryer opt for one with a good moisture sensor that will automatically stop the machine once clothes are dry. It'll help you avoid over drying which wastes energy and wears on clothes.

Reduce how much you have to iron by hanging clothes up immediately after the wash is done. If you use the dryer, take items out immediately, smooth them out, and fold and store them neatly. Less ironing means less energy used, less wear on your clothes, and less work for you.

When the process of dry cleaning started over 200 years ago solvents like gasoline and naphtha were used. Over time other, not necessarily safer, solvents were developed for cleaning clothes. Today, 80% of all dry cleaners use perchloroethylene (perc) – a synthetic liquid solvent described by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a “toxic chemical with both human health and environmental concerns.” Luckily, there are alternatives. Click here for some green dry cleaning options.

The simplest way to cut back on laundry is to wear clothes more than once before washing. Lots of items (e.g., cardigans, jackets, jeans, some dress clothes) can be worn multiple times before really being soiled. In fact, the best way to preserve jeans is to wear them at least a few times before washing them inside out and hanging them up to dry.

Green laundry is not an all or nothing proposition. By implementing just a few of these suggestions, you can make a significant difference – in your carbon footprint and in your wallet.

13 Steps to a Greener Home

A green home is a healthy and efficient home. Greening up your living space will benefit your health and your wallet, as well as the environment. Some steps are quite simple, while others will take a bit more effort. Never let going green overwhelm you though. Remember: Even the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Start your journey to a greener home here:

1. Swap your incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Energy Star-certified bulbs use 70% percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer. For those who don't like CFLs' bluish-white light or how long some of them can take to light up completely there is the Energy Smart hybrid Halogen-CFL light bulb by GE. It casts the same kind of warm glow as an incandescent bulb, but lasts eight times longer than incandescent bulbs.

2. Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat allows you to preset temperatures for different times of the day, so you can leave temperatures lower when you're out and warmer when you're home (reverse during the summer). A programmable thermostat is relatively inexpensive ($30 to $50), easy to install, easy to use, and can save you 10% to 20% on your heating and cooling costs.

3. Keep your heating system properly maintained. Check air filters once a month and clean or replace them when necessary. Oil-fired boilers should be cleaned and tuned annually, and gas systems every two years. Following these measures can save you 5% to 15% on heating and cooling costs.

You may even want to consider buying a new furnace (depending on the age of your current furnace). Furnaces today are significantly more efficient than they were 20 or 30 years ago, especially those with Energy Star certification. Although replacing a furnace is a costly expense, the increased efficiency will save you money in the long run. Energy Star-certified furnaces are 15% to 20% more efficient than even new standard models.

4. Make sure your home is properly insulated. Use weather-stripping and caulking to seal drafts and the energy they waste. Check around windows, doors, electrical outlets, and any spots where pipes come in. Also, check the insulation in your attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawl spaces to see if it meets the levels recommended for your area. The U.S. Department of Energy offers an online Zip Code Insulation Calculator which provides insulation levels for your home based on your zip code and other basic information about your home.

5. Use less water. Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to save water without sacrificing pressure. An efficient showerhead will save a family of four up to $285 per year. They are easy to install and can cost less than $20. Installing an aerator on all household faucets will cut water consumption by 50%. Consider installing a low-flow toilet which uses just 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared to 3.5 gallons per flush for pre-1994 models. Another option is to reduce the amount of water used per flush by displacing some of the water in the tank. Put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside a plastic bottle, fill the bottle with water, screw the lid on, and place it in the toilet tank. Alternatively, you can purchase an inexpensive tank bank or float booster.

Of course you don't need to buy anything to save water. Behavioral changes can add up quickly. Turning the water off when you brush your teeth saves 4 to 6 gallons of water each time. You save 2.5 gallons of water for every minute you shave off your shower time. Running the washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full saves up to 1,000 gallons of water a month. For more water saving tips, check out Everyday Green’s Guide to Water Conservation.

6. Increase your hot water heater's efficiency. Wrap an insulating jacket around your water heater and secure (with tape, wire, or a clamp) foam pipe sleeves around the hot water pipes and three feet of the cold water inlet pipe. Also consider turning the temperature on the water heater down to 120 degrees to save money and prevent scalding.

7. When shopping for a new appliance, look for the Energy Star label. It will tell you the annual energy consumption and operating cost for each appliance so you can accurately compare both the upfront price and the monthly energy cost you'll be paying for the following 10 to 20 years. Energy Star-certified products are 20% to 50% more energy efficient than standard models, saving you money and reducing greenhouse emissions/air pollutants/water usage.

8. Select low or no-VOC paints and finishes. Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to human health and the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, paints, stains, and other architectural coatings are the second-largest source of VOC emissions after automobiles. When selecting low-VOC paints look for products certified by a third party such as Green Seal and make sure that the VOC levels are measured after the tints are added. For wood and concrete stains, opt for soy- or other plant-based stains. If you're feeling adventurous, try paint made of earth-based materials like clay and lime.

9. Swap those smelly, chemical-laden cleaning products for inexpensive, non-toxic, earth-friendly solutions you can make right at home. With a few simple products like vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide, you can get your house just as clean as with traditional cleaning products. [Click here for details.] You’ll save money on cleaning supplies, keep the plastic bottles they come in out of our landfills, and avoid harsh chemicals that harm the environment and your health.

10. Fill your home with air-cleaning plants. NASA spent two years testing 19 different house plants for their ability to remove common pollutants from the air. The most effective plants were proven to be philodendron (heartleaf, selloum, and elephant ear varieties), cornstalk dracaena, English ivy, spider plant, dracaena (Janet Craig, Warneck, and red-edged varieties), weeping fig, golden pothos, peace lily, Chinese evergreen, bamboo or reed palm, and snake plant.

11. Cut down on plastics. The list of health problems associated with plastic grows longer by the day. There’s also all the natural resources used to manufacture plastics and the pollution created in their production and subsequent disposal. While there’s no way to avoid plastics completely, there are steps you can take to guard your health and protect the environment. Invest in food and beverage containers made of glass, ceramic, porcelain, Pyrex, bamboo, or stainless steel instead of using bags, containers, and bottles made of plastic. Avoid heating food in plastic containers and washing plastic containers in the dishwasher (heat may cause plastic to leach chemicals). Filter your tap water instead of buying bottled water. Instead of a vinyl shower curtain, use one made of cotton, hemp, or polyester. Opt for housewares made of natural materials, such as organic cotton, bamboo, wool, and hemp.

12. Go fragrance-free. Fragrance almost always contains phthalates, so in addition to taking a pass on perfume and cologne choose fragrance-free soaps and detergents for your home. Avoid air fresheners and paraffin candles. Despite how nice they may look or smell, traditional paraffin candles and the smoke and soot they produce contain harmful toxins. The American Lung Association and the EPA have warned consumers that using paraffin candles can decrease indoor air quality. Paraffin is the last petroleum byproduct removed in the refining process (right after asphalt). The fumes released by paraffin candles are comparable to those produced by burning diesel. Greener options are candles made from soy or beeswax with non-lead wicks and scented with essential oil.

13. Opt for green home renovations. When you’re ready to get rid of dust-catching carpet or your vinyl floors wear out opt for environmentally-friendly options like bamboo or recycled linoleum or laminate. When it’s time to re-shingle, look for products made from recycled materials. If your siding needs replacing, consider fiber-cement products made from concrete and recycled fibers. Click here for more about Green Home Improvements.

Green Tip of The Day

Clean green with a HEPA filter vacuum. A lot of older vacuums kick up more dust than they clean. HEPA (short for high efficiency particulate air) filters are designed to trap very small particles that would normally remain in the air. A trademarked HEPA filter removes at least 99.97% of particles such as dust, animal dander, smoke, lead, mold and other allergens. When selecting a HEPA filter vacuum, check the label for a serial number and air cleaning test results before you buy. "HEPA-type" or "high-efficiency" filters are widely advertised and usually cost less, but can be up to 55% lower in efficiency than true HEPA filters. A true HEPA filter vacuum is another great tool to have in your green cleaning arsenal.

Green Tip of The Day

Make your own dishwasher detergent. You'll save money, avoid harsh chemicals, and cut back on plastic bottles. Mix the following together in a sealed container:

1 cup borax – available in the cleaning aisle of most grocery and hardware stores
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup citric acid – if you can't find food grade citric acid, you may substitute two unsweetened lemonade packets

For each load (make sure the machine is full each time), put a tablespoon of this mix into the detergent compartment and fill the rinse dispenser with white distilled vinegar.

Green Tip of The Day

Use less laundry detergent. It's a little known fact that you really shouldn't use the manufacturer's suggested amount of detergent. Use ½ to ¾ of the recommended amount and you will save money, reduce the amount of suds polluting our waterways, cut down on detergent bottles and get your clothes just as clean if not cleaner than before. Un-rinsed detergent on your clothes can actually attract dirt!

Green Tip of The Day

Cold water rinses detergent out just as well as warm or hot water, so always select the cold rinse option on your washing machine. Most laundry can also be washed with cold water as well, so give it a second thought next time you go to wash something in warm or hot water. Using only cold water for washing clothes would save you at least $100 a year.

Green Tip of The Day

Swap your fabric softener with vinegar. Fabric softeners can contain harsh ingredients that build up on clothes and reduce their longevity. A simple alternative is to add a cup of distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle (or in the softener cup if your machine has one). Vinegar neutralizes water's pH, helps rinse detergent out completely, eliminates static cling, reduces lint buildup, and leaves your clothes softer.

Green Ways to Save Money

Being green shouldn't require spending a ton of green. In fact, going green is one of the best ways to save money. Nothing drives me crazy more than green living advice that consists of little more than a list of stuff to buy. “Stuff” does not make you green. Green is simple. Green is easy. Green is cheap! Here are some of what I consider to be the best ways to save money by going green.

Stop buying cleaning products. You can clean your whole house with a few simple products like vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide. Cut up old t-shirts and towels for rags and you’ll save on paper towels and sponges as well. Cleaning green saves you money, reduces waste, and eliminates the need for chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment.

Prepare your own food. Pick up a morning coffee and buy some lunch and you’re easily spending $10 a workday. That adds up to about $200 a month, $2,400 a year! Invest in a thermos and brew your own coffee and you’ll break even after about a week. Plus, you’ll save all those throwaway cups. Pack a lunch (in reusable containers) and you’ll save money, avoid preservatives, and eliminate unnecessary waste (think of all those ketchup packets and napkins in take-out bags). Keep a stainless steel bottle of home-filtered water) handy and you’ll save money on bottled water (which is often no cleaner than tap water) and cut down on waste.

Buy less. Buy used. Instead of buying new books, CDS, DVDs, and video games, see what’s available at the public libraries in your area. Library consortiums allow you to borrow from the libraries in several neighboring towns. Used books stores are also great and often have more than just books. If there are none available in your area, check out Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's used books selection online.

Make your junk someone's treasure. Instead of throwing out clothes, furniture, appliances, tools, sports equipment, toys, books, and housewares, try selling them. Have a yard sale, use Craigslist or eBay, and check out local consignment shops. You’ll make money, while keeping those items out of landfills. Another option is to organize a swap with friends. Narrow it down to a category like clothes, home goods, or children's items, set a date and time, put out some snacks, and prepare to swap! Donate any goods you can’t sell or swap. Freecycle is a great online nonprofit that helps you to donate to people in your community.

Drive Less. We’re lucky that our family can get by with just one car. My husband takes his bike to the bus stop for work and I work from home. Now, I know this isn’t an option for everyone. But really think about it. Do you absolutely need as many cars as you have or any at all? Are walking, biking, carpooling, or public transportation options? Consider not only the car payments, but the money spent on insurance, gas, and maintenance. Check with your auto insurer. Some offer discounts for using public transportation (you’ll have to provide receipts) and/or for keeping low mileage on your car. Driving less will save you money, prevent ozone-depleting exhaust, and (if you walk or bike instead) improve your health.

Green Tip of The Day

Clean green with a HEPA filter vacuum. A lot of older vacuums kick up more dust than they clean. HEPA (short for high efficiency particulate air) filters are designed to trap very small particles that would normally remain in the air. It is even thought that HEPA filter vacuums can reduce the level of PBDEs (harmful compounds found in many everyday household products) in a home.

A trademarked HEPA filter removes at least 99.97% of particles such as dust, animal dander, smoke, lead, mold and other allergens. True or absolute HEPA filters must be able to trap at least 99.97% of particles of .3 microns to earn the HEPA label and will have a serial number attesting to such a performance level. When selecting a HEPA filter vacuum, check the label for a serial number and air cleaning test results before you buy. "HEPA-type" or "high-efficiency" filters are widely advertised and usually cost less, but can be up to 55% lower in efficiency than true HEPA filters.

A true HEPA filter vacuum is another great tool to have in your green cleaning arsenal.

Green Tip of The Day

Only wash full loads of laundry. Cold water rinses detergent out just as well as warm or hot water, so always select the cold rinse option on your washing machine. Most laundry can also be washed with cold water as well, so give it a second thought next time you go to wash something in warm or hot water. Using only cold water for washing clothes would save you at least $100 a year.

Safe and Effective Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Swapping out expensive, smelly, chemical-laden cleaning products for inexpensive, non-toxic, earth-friendly solutions you can make right at home is probably one of the quickest and easiest ways to start being green. With a few simple products, like vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide, you can get your house just as clean as with traditional cleaning products. You’ll save money on cleaning supplies, keep the plastic bottles they come in out of our landfills, and avoid harsh chemicals that can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritations.

The two workhorses of the green cleaning arsenal are distilled white vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can clean and disinfect most of your house with these two products.

Thanks to its acidity, distilled white vinegar is effective at killing most mold, bacteria, and viruses. Put full strength vinegar in a spray bottle to create an all-purpose cleaner you can use on glass, mirrors, doorknobs, sinks, appliances, and countertops (just avoid using it on marble). In place of harsh bathroom cleaning products use undiluted vinegar on toilets, bathtubs, and showers (add a little baking soda for extra scrubbing power). For stubborn soap residue in the bathroom or grease stains in the kitchen let the vinegar penetrate for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping clean. To get rid of the residue on a showerhead mix 1 part baking soda with two parts vinegar in a bag and wrap it around the showerhead. Let it sit there for at least an hour. Then, remove the bag, give the showerhead a quick wipe, and run the water. To keep your dishwasher clean and odor-free, once a month put white vinegar in the soap dispenser and run it empty for a cycle. Mix a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water to clean vinyl and linoleum floors.

Hydrogen peroxide (the 3% solution you can pick up at pharmacies and grocery stores) is a nontoxic antibacterial that kills viruses, mold, and mildew. You can think of it as an all-natural bleach. Anything you typically clean with bleach can be cleaned with peroxide. This includes countertops, sinks, cutting boards, bathtubs, showers, toilets, and garbage pails. Just spray it on, allow the bubbles to subside (hydrogen peroxide needs time to disinfect) and wipe. To clean and disinfect those vinyl and linoleum floors mix equal parts peroxide and water to mop. No rinsing necessary. For laundry you can replace bleach with one cup of hydrogen peroxide. You can also soak items, like toothbrushes, sponges, cleaning cloths, retainers, thermometers, and loofahs, in hydrogen peroxide to disinfect them.

Using vinegar and peroxide together (spray with undiluted vinegar and then 3% hydrogen peroxide) creates a one-two punch that is as effective as bleach at killing bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, but is safe enough to use on produce without so much as an aftertaste.

As for wood furniture, the best way to dust is with nothing more than a damp cloth. Commercial wood polishes can contain harsh chemicals and leave a very hard-to-remove residue. For an all natural polish mix two parts olive oil with one part lemon juice and apply it to your wood furniture using a soft cloth.

Use these all-natural cleaning solutions with rags you make out of old towels and t-shirts (saving money on paper towels and reducing waste) and you’re ready to clean green!


Want more green cleaning tips? Click here to learn how to clean green with lemon and baking soda.

Prefer to just buy green cleaning products? Click here to learn about what to look for when selecting green cleaning products.

Greener, Safer Dry Cleaning

When the process of dry cleaning started over 200 years ago solvents like gasoline and naphtha were used. Over time other, not necessarily safer, solvents were developed for cleaning clothes. Today, 80% of all dry cleaners use perchloroethylene (perc) – a synthetic liquid solvent described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a “toxic chemical with both human health and environmental concerns.”

The health effects of perc depend upon the level of exposure. People exposed to high levels of perc (individuals working in or living next to a dry cleaning facility) may experience symptoms ranging from dizziness and nausea to skin, lung, and eye irritation to liver damage and respiratory failure. Low levels of exposure may carry risks as well. When laboratory animals were exposed to perc the effects on developing fetuses included altered growth, birth defects, and death. Perc has also been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals and studies of dry cleaning workers suggest an increased risk for certain types of cancers. Due to such health concerns perc is banned in several countries and California is in the process of phasing it out completely by 2023.

Perc also poses an environmental concern as it can get into the air, soil, and water during most phases of the dry cleaning process. Once it's released into the air, perc remains in the atmosphere for several weeks before breaking down into other chemicals – some toxic, some ozone depleting. Perc, in its liquid form, can seep into soil and kill plants. Seeping into the ground, perc can make its way into water supplies, contaminating drinking water and killing aquatic animals.

Alternatives to Traditional Dry Cleaning

There are some alternatives for people who want to avoid the health and environmental effects of perc dry cleaning.

“Green” or “Organic” Dry Cleaning. If you see “organic dry cleaning” advertised, ask some questions to find out what exactly that means. Many perc alternatives are petroleum-based solvents, the most popular being a chemical called DF-2000. Because it contains a chain of carbon, DF-2000 is scientifically classified as “organic.” By the same reasoning, gasoline and perc are organic. So when you see a dry cleaner advertising all-natural, green, or organic dry cleaning, they may very likely be using DF-2000 which is classified as a VOC and is listed by the EPA as a neurotoxin and skin and eye irritant for workers. Another perc alternative is a silicone-based chemical called GreenEarth. California’s Air Resources Board studied GreenEarth for 18 months and decided that it did not qualify for a non-toxic alternative dry cleaning solvent grant program, but it did qualify it as an acceptable dry cleaning solvent alternative.

Professional Wet Cleaning. Most dry cleaners offer a process called wet cleaning where “dry clean only” clothes are washed using computerized washers and dryers and special cleaning solutions. The EPA calls wet cleaning a “viable and environmentally-preferable clothes cleaning technology.” It uses no hazardous chemicals and generates no hazardous waste or air pollution. Wet cleaning has proven less effective than silicone-solvent based dry cleaning, but just as effective or better than perc dry cleaning.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Cleaning. Carbon dioxide cleaning uses CO2 with high pressure, converting it into a liquid that can act as a carrier of biodegradable soaps, just as water would work with detergents in a washing machine. Afterward the CO2 turns back into a gas (much of which is reused) and the clothes dry instantly. The CO2 used in this process is the captured by-product of existing industrial processes. So, instead of being released into the atmosphere, CO2 is re-purposed as a cleaning agent. According to Consumer Reports, CO2 cleaning is more effective than GreenEarth cleaning (a close second), professional wet cleaning and perc dry cleaning. Unfortunately, CO2 cleaning is not yet widely available.

Home Dry Cleaning Kits. For clothes that are not heavily soiled, a home dry cleaning kit is an inexpensive alternative. These kits still involve chemicals, but until non-perc dry cleaning becomes more widely available, they're a a reasonable alternative.

Steam. Lightly soiled items can be steam cleaned in your dryer. Simply place the item in the dryer with a damp towel and run a normal cycle.

Avoid this dilemma all together. Steering clear of “dry clean only” fabrics will help you save money and avoid dry cleaning chemicals. Many of the dry clean items you currently own can be safely washed at home. Special fabrics, such as silk and suede, need special cleaning, but most other fabrics are sturdy enough to withstand being washed by hand or in a washing machine's gentle cycle with mild detergent.

If you must use a traditional dry cleaner, make sure to air out items outside before bringing them indoors. Hopefully, with time, safe perc alternatives will become more widely available.