Natural cleaners

1.       Homemade Substitutions: Here is a list of common, environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in combination for many household purposes.

●Baking Soda: cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours

●Lemon: one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria

●Borax: cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls, and floors

●White Vinegar: cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains, and wax build-up

●Cornstarch: can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs

2.     Formulas:

All-purpose cleaner: Mix 1/2 c. vinegar and 1/2 c. baking soda into 1/2 gallon of water.

Air Freshener: Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.

Bathroom mold: Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush.

Dishwasher soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.

Laundry detergent: Mix 1 c. Ivory soap, 1/2 c. washing soap, and 1/2 c. borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads and 2 tbsp for heavy loads.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Mix 1/4 c. baking soda and 1 c. vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse.

Window cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean.

3.       Green cleaning products:

Seventh Generation

Nellie’s All-Natural Products

Green Works

The Truth About Soap!

The vast majority of the products on the shelf don’t say soap on their labels. They might be called beauty bars, moisturizing bars, or body bars, but not soap. That’s because these aren’t actually soap and can’t legally claim to be. They are detergents. Many of these products contain synthetic lathering agents and harsh chemicals. Many “soaps” contain triclosan which is a toxic chemical known to cause cancer. Other bad things in these products are phthalates which are linked to reproductive disorders and parabens which links to cancer.

The alternative is natural, organic, handmade soap. These soap bars are good for your skin and are good for the planet.

1.       Dr. Bronner’s: Their classic liquid and bar soaps are certified under the USDA National Organic Program and Fair Trade under IMO’s “Fair for Life” program. The liquid soaps are completely biodegradable and vegetable based.

2.       Greenridge Organics: They use organic, certified organics, and wildcrafted ingredients naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, essential oils and phytonutrients.

3.       Kiss My Face: They don’t use animal ingredients, there are no artificial colors, and is not tested on animals. It is also 100% biodegradable.

4.       Green Soap Inc.,: These soaps are 95% certified organic.

*Look for soap that contains glycerine. Glycerine is a clear liquid that absorbs water from the air and is a key factor in keeping skin soft and healthy. It is especially good for sensitive and delicate skin. Because it is a high quality by-product in the soap making process, many mass commercial soap manufacturers often extract the glycerine and sell it as a by-product to be used in higher priced products like lotions and skin creams.

Living without Lights

Kyle and I decided to live without lights for 1 week to reduce our impact on the Earth.  

Humans have lived without electricity for hundreds of thousands of years. Even today, groups of Amish are still holding strong and continue to live electricity-free in a very wired world.

Kyle and I lived without lights for 1 week. We used candles and an oil lamp. I thought it would be harder than it actually was. There are many activities that we do everyday where we don’t need that much light. We don’t need a lot of light when we are brushing our teeth or watching television. When you are doing simple activities try turning off the lights.

Pros:

1.       We both enjoyed using 1 candle while taking a shower. It was a lot more peaceful and relaxing to use a candle rather than lights. We put the candle right in the shower.

2.       Save money on electricity.

3.       Better ambiance. It’s beautiful and feels good. Candles are warm, mellow and create a sense of intimacy that cannot be reproduced by a light bulb.

4.       It’s eco-friendly.

Cons:

It was hard to cook and clean during the week with no lights. The oil lamp definitely gave off more light than the candles. However, we only own 1 oil lamp. It would help to have multiple oil lamps.

Using an oil lamp:

1.       Fill the oil lamp with oil so that the wick is in the oil.

2.       Lift the globe off. Light the wick with a lighter or match.

3.       Put the globe back on and adjust the flame for the best light. There is a little knob on the side of the lamp that you use to raise and lower the wick.

4.       After several days, the wick gets crusted over and does not burn well. Roll the wick up higher and trim the crusted part off with scissors.

5.       Take the lamp with you when you go from room to room.

*You can buy oil lamps and lamp oil at hardware stores and other big stores.

I challenge you!

Go big or start small. Good luck!!!

1.       Buy candles and/or an oil lamp and use them occasionally instead of using lights.

2.       Do one activity without lights. Try taking a shower with a candle. Turn off the lights when you are watching television or when you are on your computer.

3.       Go one day with no lights.

4.       Go one week with no lights.

5.       Go one month with no lights.

I don't use toilet paper!

When Kyle and I worked on a farm in Hawaii, the man we worked for didn’t believe in buying paper products. Therefore, he did not buy toilet paper for his workers. This was the craziest thing I had ever heard of. We are so used to using toilet paper and the thought of not using it disgusts us.

Kyle was open to the idea of not using toilet paper when we moved to Vermont. I was apprehensive and did not agree to it. However, since moving here we have changed many things about how we live. We do not buy napkins or paper towels, we compost, I started using a moon cup, and we are currently living without using lights for a week. I keep thinking of ways that I could live a greener life and not using toilet paper came to mind. Toilet paper is a huge waste of paper. Even though I felt weird about not using toilet paper I agreed. You don’t know how something is going to work until you try it!

*Americans use over 20,000 sheets of toilet paper per year.

*Making a roll of toilet paper uses 1.5 pounds of wood, 37 gallons of water and 1.3 KWh of electricity.

*Using a bidet is cleaner, healthier, and saves water.

We decided to set up a homemade bidet. We went to Ace Hardware and got a kitchen sink sprayer. Here are directions:  http://gidgetgoeshome.com/2008/08/25/diy-tutorial-make-your-own-diaper-sprayer/ After going to the bathroom we just spray and then pat our bottoms dry with a towel. We have been living without toilet paper for a week. It is a lot easier and better than I thought it would be.

You can also buy a bidet at http://www.bluebidet.com/

Some people also use reusable cloth wipes instead of toilet paper. You can use old washcloths, cut up some cloth diapers, or buy special cloth toilet wipes. You keep a container next to the toilet and the used wipes are tossed in there and washed. If using the wipes for poop is just too gross for you, you can use cloth wipes for urine only and save the toilet paper for poop. You can also use a squirt bottle or a cup of water.

And remember, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown flush it down.”

7 week plan to reduce our impact on the environment and to live simply!

1^st week (1/23-1/29): Go the entire week without using lights. We will use candles and an oil lamp. This will not be possible when we are at work. However, we will be conscious of lights and make sure that lights are turned off whenever possible.

2^nd week (1/30-2/05): Go without television. We decided that we can still watch television on the internet.

3^rd and 4^th weeks (2/6-2/19): Go without buying anything. This includes gas, groceries, etc.

5^th week (2/20-2/26): We will go without facebook, hulu, twitter, internet surfing, blogging, etc. We have decided that it will be okay to check our e-mail due to our jobs.

6^th week (2/27-3/4): We will go without television, lights, and computer.

7^th week (3/5-3/11): We will go without the stove, oven, microwave and anything that has to be plugged in.

*During these 7 weeks we will make at least 1 shopping trip where we do not buy anything that has packaging. We will utilize the bulk section by bringing in our own reusable bags.

Environmentally friendly alternatives to tampons and pads

I am continuing my journey to living as green as possible. I decided to stop using tampons and pads! I never knew there was an alternative to tampons. They are not in the grocery store and no one talks about it. I found out there was an alternative by reading the books, “Moneyless Man” and “No Impact Man.” The idea of reusing a cup seemed weird to me and I didn’t know exactly how it worked. However, I did some research online and after learning more I decided to buy a moon cup. I have already used it for one cycle. I feel comfortable using it and I am so happy that I made the switch. It is so much better for the environment and I save a lot of money!

●On average, one woman will use over 11,000 tampons or pads in their lifetime, which will end up in the landfill or in the sea.

●An estimated 12 billion sanitary pads and 7 billion tampons are dumped into the North American environment each year.

Benefits:

1.       It is cheaper! One woman uses 22 items of sanitary protection every period. Regardless of your flow, you only need to buy 1 cup, and it lasts for years and years!

2.       It is greener!

3.       It is safer! Tampons can cause dryness and leave fibers behind. These alternative cups contain no dyes, BPA, toxins, or bleaches.

4.       There is no leakage or odor!

5.       These cups have never been associated with toxic shock syndrome!

6.       It is convenient! You only need one so you don’t need to carry spares or worry about disposal.

Products:

1.       Mooncup www.mooncup.co.uk This is a reusable cup, around 2 inches long and made from soft medical grade silicone. It is worn internally a lot lower than a tampon and it collects fluid instead of absorbing it. It is inserted, removed, rinsed and reinserted up to every 8 hours. You can use it overnight, and when exercising and swimming. $30

2.       Softcup www.softcup.com

3.       The DivaCup www.divacup.com

4.       Keeper www.keeper.com

5.       Luna pads http://lunapads.com/ These are washable pads. They can be reused for 3-5 years.

Please give it a try! You can make a difference for the environment!

7 things you can do to save $731!

How much money can you save in a year?

1.       Cancel one magazine subscription. Read the magazine at the library. A 1 year subscription to People magazine is $116 as stated on amazon.com.

2.       Use paper cloths instead of paper towels. You can buy a set of 4 dish towels for $4. Paper towels cost about $2 for 3 rolls. The average family uses 52 rolls of paper towels a year costing them about $35.

3.       Use a moon cup instead of tampons or pads. A moon cup is $30 and can last for years. You would use 21 tampons at most for each cycle. A pack of 20 is around $5. Tampons cost $60 a year.

4.       Wear glasses instead of contacts. A year supply of contacts cost about $125. Contact solution costs about $50 a year. One pair of glasses cost about $150 with an eye exam. Remember that glasses will probably last longer than a year.

5.       Cancel your cable and watch television online. The most popular Directv cable subscription is $360 a year.

6.       Don’t buy books. Get them from the library. Let’s say you buy 10 books a year at $15 each. You would spend $150 a year.

7.       Take a 5 minute shower instead of a 15 minute shower. You will use 35 gallons for a 5 minute shower and 105 gallons for a 15 minute shower. You will use 6370 gallons of water a year if you take a shower every other day for 5 minutes. You will use 19,110 gallons of water a year if you take a shower every other day for 15 minutes. By saving 12,740 gallons a year you will save about $19 assuming the water rate is $1.50 per 1000 gallons. This does not include heating the water. Remember this is just for one person!

Total Savings: $731!!!