Cleaning, part 2

I just read a spring cleaning checklist.  They actually suggested reusing fabric softeners to dust the rest of the house.  Now why would I want to spread those chemicals all over the house?  Then I thought of the other uses of fabric softener sheets I've read about over the years.

Remember the suggestion to put a fabric softener sheet in a sink with a greasy pan for easy cleaning?   Or how about putting fabric softener sheets under the seats in the car to help absorb odors?  Yeow!  I used to do this.  I bet the inside of my car could get a tad hotter in the summer than the inside of a dryer.  Something tells me that high heat and all those chemicals could not be a good thing.  Good thing I don't do that anymore.

Green clean is catching

As I zoomed down the aisle in our local grocery store chain tonight, I noticed something amazing.  They are carrying Seventh Generation products now!  The ones I noticed in a hurry were pricey, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

IDEA:  Instead of always buying the disposable wipes that go on the mops these days, why not cut flour sack towels - or an old t-shirt - to the size of the disposable wipes?  Hook the reusable towel in the same way to the mop.  Then, use a spray  bottle mixture of your choice (maybe vinegar or tea tree oil) on the towel to do a quick damp mop of the floor.  Wash and reuse.

Restaurant going green

Kiku Japanese restaurant in Pittsburgh is going green.  According to their website, they are the restaurant that "introduced sushi to Pittsburgh."  So, how are they going green?  Think chopsticks. 

Customers now have three options for their chopsticks: 1) bring your own; 2) use the wooden disposable traditionally seen in a restaurant;or 3) buy a pair and leave them there. Kiku's will put your name on the set and store them for your next visit.

What a great way to reduce and/or reuse!

Decreasing those chemicals

Last weekend I spotted Alba's Un-petroleum jelly at Giant Eagle's Market District.  This is great for those who may be allergic to petroleum products or those who are concerned about decreasing use of petroleum products for environmental and/or political reasons.  You can check out the Un-petroleum here, if you are curious and want to learn more.  After using it a few times this week, it seems to really moisturize.  It looks like regular petroleum jelly, except it comes in a tube to squeeze out just what you need.  It's maybe a little thicker.

This week, Herbal Essences announced it would begin to make over the recipes of its shampoos and conditioners in order to decrease the amount of 1,4-dioxane, a cancer-causing chemical.  Current amounts are actually illegal in California.  If you go here, there are two links to this week's press releases on the topic.  Follow the links in the one article to get very handy product lists that are safe to use.  Or use Skin Deep's online database.  The link is in my favorite links list.

I noticed Rite Aid has organic cotton balls.  WalMart has several shirts labeled as organic cotton at very reasonable prices.  Check the clearance shelves for organic cotton sheets.  Giant Eagle Market District has organic cotton kitchen towels.  Look in the baby section for unscented, mild liquid castille soap at the Market District also. 

The blogs... they are a-changin'

I'm in the midst of changing the blog all around, so please be patient.  Thank you!

Updates and reminders on this and that

It's spring time, folks!  That indoor air you've been breathing the last few months is 2-5 times more polluted that the air outside.  Open those windows - let some fresh air in! 

The first day it was warm enough, I opened my windows at home for awhile.  What a difference it makes.  Today, I opened the office window - goodbye stale air, hello fresh air!

I think I finally figured out a recycling system in our suite of offices at work.  If we have to walk over 300 steps one-way every time we want to recycle a bottle or can I know it won't happen.  So, I got an extra container from maintenance,  decorated it with a nice little sign, and voila!  Every can/bottle recycled helps.  And I got an extra one for paper, because our system before just wasn't working.  I think we're in good shape now.

I was asked to be part of a volunteer team for our local recycling program.  I was excited about that - to surround yourself with others who recycle in the county helps stay motivated.  I also like how they promote to reduce in the first place.  Reduction of "stuff" or "things" as the title of this site refers, leads to a much lighter, simpler way of life. 

I love the feeling of cleaning out a cupboard or closet.  It's ridiculous how much stuff one person can accumulate when s/he's not watching.  It's a reminder to always be present, especially in purchases. 

And just because something is on sale or free, does not mean you need to take it home with you!  I had friends that used to give me knick-knacks for every holiday.  It drove me crazy -stuff with no purpose that just collected dust.  Now, I like pictures and occasional trinkets, but simple and minimalist is better, in my opinion.  It truly does give you a lighter feeling - a feeling of freedom. 

A year ago, I did an experiment that I've actually maintained:  how low can I get my monthly bills?   My rabbit ears work just fine.  My tracfone for emergencies is just dandy. 

Books are a weakness, I admit.  But I don't collect them like I used to - and I love to pass books along.  Yes, it's great to use the library, but there is also something wonderful about having a book and passing it along to a friend to share.  It's like sharing a wonderful conversation - although, without the talking to one another. ha!

Duane Elgin coined the term voluntary simplicity a few decades ago, but how wonderful it still is today!  I don't want to be a slave to things.  As my favorite quote from his book says, "You only cross the same creek once."  I want to know when I cross that creek. I don't want to be so busy making a living that I miss it!

Anyway, those are the thoughts for today.  Open your windows, let a fresh breeze into the room, and then tell me:  What do you do to reduce or simplify?

Kids these days...

Kids these days are exposed to more and more chemicals and may be especially vulnerable to the chemicals we use in our homes each day.  Think about it.  Children spend more time playing on the floor, putting their toys and/or fingers in their mouths.  What do you use on your carpets and other flooring?  How many chemicals do you spray somewhere in a room - but where does it settle?  (Think room deoderizers, hairspray, dusting spray, furniture polish, glass cleaners...) Some experts have even suggested that children's skin is likely to absorb more chemicals than adults (think sunscreen, bug spray, lotion, bubble bath, shampoo...).  Pound for pound, children also breathe more air than adults (remember how they say indoor air is more toxic than the air outside - yet another reason to get those kids outside playing for awhile after school).

But, the chemical exposure starts before birth.  In Green Up Your Cleanup, Jill Potvin Schoff says, "A study by the Environmental Working group tested the umbilical-cord blood of 10 American babies born in 2004 and found an average of 200  industrial chemicals and pollutants in each baby's blood."  True, that is a small sample, but do you really think it would be significantly less in a larger sample?

And all those chemicals we're exposed to - the thousands each day - are cumulative.  "Toxins build up in your body over time.  This is what scientists are now calling 'body burden'. . . . The EPA estimates that every American has more than 700 pollutants in his or her body.  And we have no way of knowing how this kind of low-dose exposure will affect people over the course of their lives" (Potvin Schoff).

The website "Chemical Body Burden" has some interesting information. The case study about phthalates mentioned something I had not thought about, but all parents might want to consider: Is your child teething?  Think again about putting that plastic teether in their mouth.  Perhaps the organic cotton teethers would be healthier - I put some in my amazon store the other day without appreciating the full extent to why these might be better.

Golly, it's never ending!  We can't eliminate everything, but we can make better choices and reduce our exposure.  Have you thought of other ways to decrease exposure?  Let me know.

Here's to healthier kids!

CBS "The Early Show" does segment about going green "on the cheap"

Well, maybe "green homes" will go more mainstream.  Recently, "The Early Show" on CBS ran a segment about greening your home.

They  mention those  annoying  parabens -  maybe if enough of us start buying paraben-free products, manufacturers will get the idea!

The segment also mentions replacing those plastic containers with glass containers.  I've already replaced mine with canning jars for those leftovers.  They work great.  I've also put various containers in my amazon store to ease your search.

If you see or hear any mainstream media covering the green home, let me know!