Cleaning "Green"

Cleaning homes is easier than it's ever been thanks to a variety of modern cleaning products that make quick work of dirt, grease, and grime. But many people don’t realize that today’s household cleaners often contain synthetic chemicals that can make the simple act of cleaning a hazardous task.
Researchers have linked many of the chemicals found in conventional cleaning products to illnesses that include allergies and asthma, cancer and reproductive issues. The problems these chemicals cause don't happen overnight. Only very rarely will the use of a chemical cleaner one day make us sick the next. Instead, even though we don't realize it, we're exposed to small amounts of the toxic chemicals in a cleaner's formula every time we use it. We inhale a little bit of the product when we spray it or smell its fumes. We absorb it through our skin. We even sometimes accidentally eat it when it goes from our hands or the air into our food or drink.
The solution to this problem is to use environmentally safe "green cleaners", which are made from non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients like pure vegetable oils, natural minerals, and harmless hydrogen peroxide. These products don't expose us to dangerous chemicals nor do they pollute the air we breathe.
If you’re wondering whether "green cleaners" work, the answer is yes they do! Tests show that green cleaning products clean as well or better than conventional cleaners.
Green kitchen, glass, bath, laundry and all-purpose cleaning products are the right choice for people who clean homes. They get the job done safely and effectively!
Green cleaning products are available in Canada from several manufacturers, including Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation makes products that are natural, non-toxic, biodegradable, and hypo-allergenic.
Here are five tips for healthier green cleaning:

1. Dust with a slightly damp cloth to trap and remove dust. Feather dusters can stir dust back into the air.
2. Use cleaning products that are free and clear of perfumes and dyes to avoid chemical ingredients that can trigger allergies and asthma.
3. Air out rooms frequently, even in winter.
4. Read the label before you buy a cleaning product.
5. Choose cleaning products that contain only natural ingredients.

Live Green On A Budget

Living green is a great aim. But if you're not a millionaire, the usual question is how to live green on a budget?
1. Wash your clothes colder
Boil wash stopped being the usual way of washing clothes years ago. Modern detergents work well at ever lower temperatures. Turn down the temperature dial on your washing machine. The only difference you're likely to notice is on your energy bills.
2. Stop using washing detergent
This sounds a bit more radical. Most washing powder and tablets are derived from oil, so you're not helping the planet much when you use them. There are eco-friendly versions but these are more expensive than regular powder. Instead, get you next thousand washes for a one off price by using Eco Balls.
3. Don't use your tumble drier
Drying clothes naturally doesn't take long, especially with faster spin cycles. Unless you absolutely need to wear an item of clothing immediately, let your clothes dry naturally.
4. Live warmer in the summer, cooler in the winter
Even a one degree change on your heating or air conditioning thermostat will make a difference to your energy bills. If it's too cold, put on a sweater rather than turning up the heating.
5. Buy thicker curtains
Thick, lined curtains over your windows will keep the heat in during the winter. They work at least as well as double glazing and are much cheaper than replacing all your windows.
6. Shower instead of taking a bath
A shower uses less water, so you won't have to heat as much water to get yourself clean. You'll also save time too, which can be helpful on busy days. This doesn't mean you have to cut out long, relaxing baths altogether. Just use them as an occasional treat instead of an everyday item.
7. When your light bulbs blow, replace them with energy saving versions
Energy saving bulbs are getting cheaper all the time. They're also getting less ugly. So instead of reaching for 100 Watt bulb to replace the one that's just blown, replace it with a 23 Watt energy saver. You can even get dimmable energy saving bulbs nowadays, so you can change the mood of your room and cut your energy consumption even further.
8. Check energy consumption when you replace your household appliances
When the time comes to replace your refrigerator, washing machine, etc then read the label. Most appliances now have energy rating information on them. If they don't, check the manufacturer's website which will almost certainly have the information. Chances are that spending an extra few dollars on a product will save much more than that in energy costs.
9. Don't use standby
When you have finished with something, whether it's a television or whatever, turn it off at the socket. Unless it absolutely needs to be left on standby, like a Tivo machine. Sure, it's slightly less convenient. But you'll save lots of dollars over the year as most products still draw lots of power even when they're on standby. That goes for your computer monitor as well. The switch is on the front of that, so there's not even a need to walk to a socket!

Ways to Start Going Green

These days, you can’t turn around without hearing about climate change. It’s a big issue that can feel overwhelming — but it’s possible for each of us to have a positive effect right in our own homes, by making simple changes in the way we eat, play and get around. Chip Giller of environmental magazine Grist.org offers a 7-day solution for cutting your family’s energy consumption by almost 10 percent. Try it for a week, then stick with it if you can — because every little bit helps.

Day 1:Turn down the heat Here’s a quick, easy solution that will save money and energy: Turn down your thermostat. Lowering your heat in winter by just 2 degrees can cut your energy bill by 10 percent. Get an automatic or programmable thermostat to make it easy to save on heating; set it to turn down when you’re away from home or sleeping, and to turn back up half an hour before you’ll be up and around. 
Day 2: Unplug gadgets Electronic equipment and appliances suck up energy even when they’re turned off — they’ve even earned the nickname “vampires.” Americans waste $1 billion a year powering items like TVs and DVD players while they’re turned off. So unplug your TV, stereo, computer, microwave and other electronics when you’re not using them — or use a power strip that you keep turned off unless you’re using one of the items. And make sure to unplug your cell phone and MP3 player chargers as soon as the devices are powered up.
Day 3:Wash clothes efficiently When it comes to laundry, there’s lots of room for savings. Ninety percent of the energy used in clothes washing goes to heat the water, so washing cold is a simple way to cut energy use drastically. Plus, make sure to wash full loads. When it’s time to dry, make sure to check the lint screen before every load, and clean it afterward. And if you want to take efficiency a step further, hang some items and let them air-dry instead of running them through the dryer. 
Day 4:Eat less meat Meat production takes a lot more energy and resources than growing vegetables or grains, and 18 percent of human-generated greenhouse gases come from the livestock industry. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to make a difference in this area: Try skipping meat just one day a week. If every American had one meat-free day per week, it would reduce emissions as much as taking 8 million cars off the roads.
Day 5:Put the brakes on driving Vehicles consume half of the world’s oil, and spew a quarter of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions. Leaving your car at home even one day a week can save a lot of gas and emissions over a year. Try walking, biking, car pooling or taking the bus or subway to get where you need to go — or see if you could telecommute to work one day a week. When you do drive, make sure your tires are properly inflated — underinflated tires can cut your gas mileage by 5 percent. 
Day 6:Go green in the home Pick a small project you can do around the house to cut energy use. Here are a few ideas: Replace six regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs use about one-fifth as much energy as regular bulbs, and last about 12 times longer). Install a low-flow showerhead, which will save on water heating and use. Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees and insulate the tank. If you’re feeling ambitious, undertake a home energy audit to identify projects for the future.
Day 7:Write a letter While it’s true that small changes at home can make a big difference, one of the most important things you can do when it comes to climate and energy is to let business and political leaders know that you care about these issues. Take some time to write a letter to a store, a manufacturer, or your representative to thank them for their good work — or to encourage them to do better. Look at their Web sites for contact info. You don’t have to be an expert on the issues to speak up. And if we all put in our two cents, it will add up to some positive planetary change.

So You Want to Start Going Green?

The future is green, and you just found it. These days you probably feel flooded by dire-sounding environmental news ("the Earth is set to deflate by 2011") and endless suggestions for greener living ("algae cold-fusion reactors for your shoes"). But fret not. We're here to help sort things out and get your eco show on the road. Here, we bring it back to basics and break it down into bite sized chunks of simple, everyday ways to live a greener, healthier, more ethical (and ultimately more fun) life. So read on. And remember, if you have a friend, relative, or colleague who needs a little help on the green front, send them this way.