10 Ways to a Greener Spring Cleaning

Something about Spring Break makes me want to clean. I know it is a little weird but since we usually don’t go away for Spring Break I take advantage of some deep cleaning. But around here I don’t break out the bleach or other harsh cleaners. We like to keep it green.

1. Make your own cleaners for pennies on the dollar. My favorite is a simple formula.All you need is a simple empty spray bottle. a little water, distilled vinegar and some teat tree oil.


2. Use Cloth Rags – You don’t have to go out and break the bank buying new rags.  For cleaning any old rag will do, orphan socks, old t-shirts, clothes that don’t’ fit kids anymore.


3. Hang up your clothes outside. Use a clothesline if you can. Clotheslines have the multiple benefits, one being using less energy the other being that the sun helps to bleach and sanitize your clothes. Personally my favorite reason to use it is the smell of the clothes.


4. Take your shoes off at the door, If you feel you must wear shoes inside have house shoes.. We track in everything we walk through, When you make it a habit to keep your shoes at the door you do not track toxins through the house.


5. Hydrogen Peroxide makes a great sanitizer and stain remover. Dilute it in a spray bottle, one half water to one half hydrogen peroxide. Since it is light sensitive make sure it is kept in a dark (opaque) spray bottle. I like to keep one bottle in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. Come to think of it one in the laundry room would be a good idea.


6. Find a new home for all those plastic cups you have. We all have a cupboard full of plastic cups, they are cheap, sometimes free. Plastic contains BPA. Not only that, if you use it to heat food up in the microwave, the scratched plastic can leak chemicals into your food.


7. Dispose of  toxic cleaners in a safe way. Don’t’ be tempted to just throw away the chemicals cleaners you were using. . You must be careful when disposing of these chemicals. Not only are they toxic and dangerous but mixing them makes them a toxic soup.  Check your local area for a collection day.  Many states, cities and counties have local collection days for hazardous household waste. If you are lucky there is a spring collection day.


8. Open the windows, and skip the air fresheners. Nothing cleans out a stale house and freshens it up like fresh air. If you feel you must use some scent place some essential oils in a spray bottle and spritz that around the house.


9. Skip the antibacterial soap. Not only will regular soap and water do the trick did you know that the main ingredient in anti-bacterial soap, tricolsan is in reality an insecticide? You wouldn’t use a pesticide on yourself or kids would you? Then why use one in your house?


10. Take my husband’s advice and if the weather is good, just get outside and take a break from cleaning. The fresh air will do YOU some good.

linked up to Live Renewed Spring Cleaning, Green and Natural Mother's Blog Hop, Simple Lives Thursday

Technorati Tags: Green Cleaning,Green Cleaners,Spring Cleaning, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways

Kids Need Chores

Kids and Chores
Earlier this week I asked friends and readers on Facebook and twitter about kids and chores. Not surprisingly most believed that kids should do chores, Interestingly many kids did not have assigned chores. They were just expected to help out around the house and keep their room clean.
Julia at  Julie Cache starts  the biggest chores:  laundry and dishes. at age 7 or when they are tall enough to reach the controls.
Nada at MiniMomist starts her kids early. Her one year old helps out around the house. Actually this makes perfect sense, since toddlers readily want to do what we as adults do. They are also genuinely helpful.
Heidi works and lives on a farm and her girls have always helped out.
Now my kids do chores around the house plus theoretically  keep their rooms clean.  But what about the rest of the house? My kids help there too. In order for our house to run smoothly they must. Even though I work just part time teaching I nonetheless am out of the house when teaching. And besides that I am not the maid around here. My job is to teach my kids how to do these jobs so they can grow up and be enabled to do them for themselves. Not show up at college without prior knowledge of how to use a washing machine.  .
Chores Teach Kids
Having chores teaches kids.

1. It teaches them if no one feeds the dog the dog will not be happy.
2. That if they do NOT get their clothes to the laundry room they will not have their favorite shirt when they want it.
3. That they will have to clean up their own messes
4. Having chores teaches kids to responsible.
5. Having chores teaches kids basic household management skills, how to do laundry, dishes, etc.
6. Having chores teaches kids that they can do things for themselves, like make their own lunches
7. Having chores teaches them that if they leave a job undone it does not go away
8. When kids have chores they learn that a clean house means you can have friends over (from my 7 yo)

How do I get my kids to help Around the House?

1. I ask them to help. I let them know what jobs need to be done and ask them to do the job in the room they are responsible for (more to come on that later)
2. I tell them to do their chores.
3. We set aside time to do specific chores such as making school lunches, putting laundry away, or picking up the living room
4. For Special outside jobs I may offer a one time only payment. This works real well when the want to buy something.
5. I set a timer and we do 15 Minute Cleaning.

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Monday–Green Wash Day

The old poem goes
Monday: Wash Day
Tuesday: Ironing Day…..
While the modern household still finds laundry to be a chore, Mt. Washmore, anyone? Laundry was more of a chore before the advent of washing machines. But today we have soo much help in the laundry department. It may seem that we are never on top of the chore but we can make it more green.
How can we make our Laundry Day more Green?

1. Wash your clothes in cold water. Going A Green Family has a great post of our addiction to hot water washing. When she was in a microbiology student the discovered that It wasn’t the hot water that killed icky stuff. The biggest difference was from length of agitation (i.e. scrubbing time) and type of soap. Also, keep in mind that science says that unless hot water is too hot to touch, no way will it sanitize. I’ve touched the hot water coming from my washing machine before and it certainly didn’t burn me. It’s just not that hot. If it’s not that hot, it’s not sanitizing, it’s just wasting energy and your money. Today many detergents are formulated to work perfectly fine in cold water.  I wash my whites in cold even,
2. Line dry your clothes. When the weather is nice I line dry outside when it is not I line dry inside. Line drying saves your clothing. Do you know where lint comes from? It comes from your clothes. Line drying is less abrasive to your clothes and helps to prolong the life of your clothes. Not only that the dryer is one of the biggest energy hogs in your house.
3. Switch to a more eco friendly laundry soap, Grist has a review of some on its site.
4. Make your own laundry soap.  I personally use a mixture of Castille Soap, Borax and Washing Soda, and because castille soap is concentrated I only use a couple of tablespoons.
5. Consider trying Soap Nuts
6. Ditch the scented dryer sheets. Most of these are artificially scented, these scents have phthalates in them.  In a nutshell phthalates are chemical hormone disrupters. If you want your laundry to smell better use some essential oils on a wet cloth in the dryer, or straight into the washing machine. I like to use tea tree oil for its antiseptic properties and lavender, both for the wonderful scent and its traditional use in laundry.
7. Add some vinegar to your rinse cycle. It helps cut the soap in your clothes, making them softer when you line dry them. Trust me, if you even hang up towels outside they get stiff, add some vinegar to the rinse cycle and they are no longer stiff.
8. To get stains out use an oxygen cleaner. These are essentially hydrogen peroxide, so dilute it in a spray bottle.
9. Wear clothes more than once. Jeans can be worn multiple times before washing. same for dress clothes, simply hang the up when you take them off to air out.
10. Avoid Chlorine Bleach. Seriously, this is stuff is bad. Do you know it was one of the ingredients in agent orange? I bet you do know that you should never mix it with ammonia. There are alternatives to chlorine bleach, oxygen cleaners like Oxy clean work every well.

Technorati Tags: Green laundry,green living

E–Book Review and Give Away

This give away is now closed. Thanks to Everyone who participated. 




Regular readers of my blog know that I am a fan of natural cleaners. I have been making my own for years.  I started with just simple white vinegar when I first got married. It really helped me to get over some allergy and auto-immune issues I tend to have.

Even though I have been making my own cleaners for years, I am always looking for ways to improve them. How can I make them better, easier? So when Jenny at the Peaceful Housewife asked me if I wanted to review her new e-book I said sure.  I would just like to add that Jenny was one of the first people I linked up with when I started blogging for earnest this year. Even though we have not met IRL she is a local peep to me. Maybe one of these days our schedules will synch up.
First of all what I love about Jenny’s recipes for cleaners is that she uses ingredients you are likely to already have in your home, and if not, they are readily available at your local store. For example her furniture polish is simply olive oil and lemon juice.  My house smells good just mixing it up. If I have any left I can make my homemade vinaigrette with it. Jenny has included many recipes for the modern home, granite cleaner,  wet mop refill cleaner, stain remover, even a gel stain stick. Have I mentioned how much I miss my stain sticks?
Now I know that not everyone is a DYI sort of person like me. So if you would rather, Jenny has products available for sale on her website. The Peaceful Housewife.  All of her products come unscented or in your choice of scents, with the exception of their  Multipurpose Cleaning Spray and Glass Cleaner.  Those two items do not come custom-scented because the essential oils that we’ve chosen to use in them are part of what makes them work so well.
For those who are more adventurous and would like to try their own hand at making cleaners. I am giving away 2 copies of the e-book. All you have to do is  go on over to The Peaceful Housewife look at her scents and them come back here and tell me what scent you would love to try in your house.  This giveaway will be open until  9am Friday,  September 9, 2011.  I will be using Random.org to determine the results of the winner. Good Luck.

Triclosan - Or are Antibacterial Soaps Necessary?

 this post is part of an ongoing series of Toxins to Avoid 



Why Triclosan?
So you may be asking yourself, why do you need to concern yourself with triclosan ? With Back to School season here, many schools, pre-schools, and even day cares ask for or use hand sanitizer on a regular basis. Friends of mine are adamant against the use of hand sanitizer. So I decided to look into the reasons behind this one my own.  The FDA and EPA are and have been looking into the safety and the efficacy of the triclosan for several years now.

What is Triclosan?
Surprisingly, at least to me it has been around since 1972, and has become the most widely used antibacterial ingredient in soaps and personal products. It can be particular useful in medical situations. Triclosan is actually a pesticide that is used like antibacterial and antifungal agents. It is similar to antibiotics in many ways  but unlike antibiotics it’s purpose is to stop the transmission of bacteria to a healthy person. Like most antibiotics , does not kill 100% of all bacteria because of this some strains of bacteria end up becoming antibiotic resistant.
Originally, triclosan was developed for use in medical settings, but since 1972, triclosan has been added to a long list of products. According to the CDC  Only a few years ago there were only a few dozen products containing antibacterial agents were being marketed for the home. Now more than 700 are available and it is a $750 million market just in the United States alone. Triclosan is now found in household cleaners, soaps, toothpaste, dishwashing hand lotions, children’s toys and of course hand sanitizers. 
The Problems with Triclosan

• The most common ailments that we are trying to avoid, the common cold and the flu are viruses. Viruses Do NOT respond to antibacterial  products. Doctors recommend frequent hand washing with soap and water.
• The dread stomach bug, schools and daycares run rampant with them. We had one strike our house just last week. Most stomach bugs are viral, therefore antibiotic chemicals are no more likely than regular soap to prevent gastrointestinal illnesses. In fact, in one Pakistani study, people who washed their hands with plain soap and water were able to reduce the incidence of childhood diarrhea by 53 percent. Those who used antibiotic soap containing 1.2 percent triclocarban actually experienced slightly higher incidence of illness.
• Triclosan is toxic to aquatic wildlife. So, the fact that it is in our rivers and lakes means that it is polluting and affecting those ecosystems, and the plant and animal life found there.
• Triclosan is fat soluble.  Since it has turned up in water supplies it is possible it could turn up in our food chain.
• Several lab studies have shown that triclosan may alter hormone regulation in laboratory animals.
• In order for triclosan to work effectively it needs to be left on a surface for about two minutes.  I know that in my family the last time I washed my hands for more than 2 minutes was when my oldest was in the NICU.  I know for a fact that my son does a simple rinse and shake method.  Most people are not this patient, and end up washing off the soap before the antibacterial ingredients can do their job.

Options to Triclosan

 

Believe it or not,  according to the AMA (American Medical Association) recommends using plain  soap and water.  Hand Sanitizers and Antibacterial soaps are no more effective at preventing common illnesses such as the cold and the flu.  These common ailments are caused by viruses not bacteria. Studies show plain soap is as effective as Triclosan. A 2008 meta-analysis of all the experimental studies published in English between 1980 and 2006 on the effectiveness of different hand washing techniques to combat gastrointestinal- and respiratory illness concluded that non-bacterial soap was effective for preventing both gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, and that triclosan-containing soaps and wipes had no apparent advantage over plain soap in this regard.

I personally do not use antibiotic soaps at home. My husband and I never bought into the marketing hype behind it. We use a plain soap to wash our hands. When possible I buy a natural soap. Dr. Bronner’s makes a bar as well as liquid soaps.  I know some people are squeamish about bar soap these days but here is the kicker, you don’t even need soap to effectively clean your hands.  Proper Hand Washing Techniques are what clean your hands and rid them of germs.  When we are out and about I will simply use water to wash my hands. If I need to sanitize a cut or scrap we use tea tree oil.

Keeping Your Home Clean Without Chemical Disinfectants

Antibiotic cleaners are not any more effective at reducing illnesses in the home. In fact the CDC recommends against using antibacterial cleaners if anyone in your house suffers from a chronic illness such as asthma, or diabetes. Plain soap is effective in cleaning the house. Up to 20 years ago that is all we had, there were no antibiotic cleaners marketed for the home.

• Make your own cleaners from vinegar and essential oils. Vinegar has been used since medieval ages when Nuns treating victims of the Bubonic plague would wash their hands with it. These nuns never contracted nor passed on the plague to others. It has a great track record and has been my cleaner of choice since I got married.
• Combine that vinegar with 3% hydrogen peroxide for more effectiveness.  You will need to put each one in a separate spray bottle and hydrogen peroxide needs to be in a dark opaque bottle so as not to let light into it. I have found bottles like this at the dollar store. Spray the surface with first one than the other.  In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, pairing the two mists killed virtually all Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces when used in this fashion, making this spray combination more effective at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any commercially available kitchen cleaner.
  The best results came from using one mist right after the other—it's 10 times more effective than using either spray by itself and more effective than mixing the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one sprayer. As an added bonus aside from the health benefits, using this type of natural homemade cleanser is much less expensive than commercial varieties.
• Sunlight is a great disinfectant. Line drying your clothes will help kill any bacteria left over. Additionally for a heavily soiled load (such as one from kids playing outside or mom gardening), I like to add a little vinegar to the load. Line drying your clothes has so many more benefits than disinfecting too.

My recommendations, use soap and water to wash your hands, using proper hand washing techniques. Put the bar in a soap holder that elevates it so it can thoroughly dry. When away from home and you need to wash your hands simple washing with just water will suffice in most cases. Avoid antibacterial products like the plague. If you do not want to make your own cleaners there are many fine products out there that do not include triclosan or other antibacterial agents.  Check your toothpaste. Most of us do not need triclosan in our toothpastes. Unless your dentist recommends it stay away from tooth pastes such as Colgate Total that contain triclosan. Remember to read your labels.
additional resources
EWG
CDC
Beyond Pesticides
List of products that do not contain Tricolsan

I am sharing this blog post with my good friends over at Green and Natural Mama Thursday

Technorati Tags: triclosan,avoiding toxins

How to Clean a House in 15 Minutes

This week we are preparing for hoards of guests to arrive and visit while preparing for an upcoming family event.  So How am I going to get and keep the house clean with kids home?
I believe the house is as clean as it can be with kids but I still want to tweak a few things make the house shine. Now I am not a woman who could clean ALL DAY long,  don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to organize and to decorate when I get a chance. But cleaning is not one of those things I love to do.  I do however love a clean uncluttered house.
How I am Going to Clean My House 15 Minutes?
I believe the house is as clean as it can be with kids but I still want to tweak a few things make the house shine. Now I am not a woman who could clean ALL DAY long,  don’t get me wrong I do like my house to be clean but I don’t enjoy cleaning.
So here is the low down on how I am going to do it. 

• I will continue to do my daily chores, laundry and dishes.
• I am going to divide the house into zones.
• Great Room and Family Room
• Kitchen  and Laundry
• Bathrooms
• Bedrooms
• Each Day I will set my timer and do a 15 min clean in a zone. 
• Monday – Great Room and Family Room
• Tuesday – Kitchen and Laundry (deeper cleaning, this is in addition to daily chores in these rooms)
• Wednesday –Bathroom –make it pretty for guests
• Thursday – Bedrooms – Change linens, general straighten and wipe down of furniture.
• If I am still working on something when the timer goes off I will finish that job but not start a new one.

Will my house be looking like a hotel when guests arrive? Probably not,  but it will look warm and inviting.

How do you prepare for company coming?

Technorati Tags: cleaning house,cleaning in 15 minutes a day

Make you Own Natural Cleaners for Pennies

Why should You Make Your Own Natural Cleaners?
Have you looked at the warning labels on your cleaners? Go right now and grab just one cleaner. I bet it has on there a poison symbol or a caution. Do you really want to use something that you have to put on the top shelf because you don’t want your precious little ones to get into it by accident? True story, growing up I had a neighbor who mistook Drano for a powdered drink. Long story short he ended up in the ER.
Many of us keep our cleaners under the kitchen sink. Those poisons are within reach of our precious children and pets. These cleaners are filled with some of the most powerful toxins on the consumer market.  You can make your own cleaners, tried and true, natural and not worry about whether your need to call poison control if your toddler accidently sprays their face with it.  If walking down the cleaning aisle at the super-center gives you a headache you might try making your own cleaners. I have been using and making natural cleaners for more than 15 years. In fact you can ask my mother and mother in law. That is all I use to clean.
Why do I make my own cleaners?

• It is thrifty
• It is safe enough to ingest
• it is non-toxic – I can use the same cleaners for my house and body
• It is quick
• It is easy

I started making my own cleaners in response to some chemical sensitivities I have. I have always had them.  But they reached a peak in my twenties. It was hard for me to go to church with all the perfumes around me, and sometimes being in an office drove my allergies crazy. My eyes would tear up constantly.
So I decided that the only environment I could control was my own at home.
When I looked at the cleaners on the market the first ingredient in all of them was WATER. Yes that is right. You are paying for mostly water, oh and packaging and advertising too.
How to make your own Natural Cleaner at Home
Get a handy dandy spray bottle – $1 at most dollar stores
mix together

• 1 part water
• 1 part distilled white vinegar
• add approximately 10 drops of an essential oil like – tea tree oil, lavender or lemon (you can use a combination of these oils if you wish).  I have no preference for brand, I usually buy the one on sale. And remember, the price may seem high at first, but you are only using a small amount. 

Shake to mix and use

I like to keep a bottle in the kitchen and one in each of the bathrooms. This cleaner is safe for all surfaces and can even be used on mirrors.  

For more Great Healthy Living Ideas check out. Healthy 2Day Wednesdays

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How to not get Your Kids to Clean their Rooms

I wish I could tell you how to get your kids to clean their rooms. But. sigh, I can’t do that. I am sorry to say I have kids that play with toys and wear a lot of clothes. 
What I can tell you is how NOT to get your kids to clean their rooms

• Yell and scream at them – this has never worked for me, ever
• Bribe them – with toys, treats. This may work for one time but it does not get them to clean it on their own and keep it clean
• Ground Them until it is clean. Let me know if this one works for you
• Have impossibly high standards.  You need to take into consideration the age of the child and how much you expect them to do.
• Threaten them with taking away all their toys/clothes/anything on the floor, if they don’t get it clean.
• Give them vague orders to go clean their room.  You need to be specific on what you want done.

How do you make it easy for kids to clean their rooms?

Technorati Tags: Children,cleaning,House cleaning