Going Green

Ok. I get it. I finally get it. I'm on the bandwagon. I'm actually excited about going green.

Once you have a child, it's harder to ignore worldly problems. It's easier to think in terms of 'where's my country going to be in my daughter's future?' and 'what are these chemicals doing to my daughter's earth?' Thus inspiring me to become a more eco-conscious consumer, mother and woman.

I've researched green cleaning products, which are very competitive when price comparing to standard products. And, cleaning companies are getting smarter too. Most of our favorite brands--Clorox, Scrubbing Bubbles, Comet--have eco-friendly versions of all our products from toilet bowl scrubs to glass cleaner.

Tiffany and I started thinking about and discussing all the chemicals we were using in our homes where our children were thriving. Do we really want harsh chemicals around our children. With that in-mind, we both started thinking about homemade cleaning solvents. I've included a small list below. These home remedies to your cleaning problems are non-toxic (most of which require to alert poison control if ingested by your little ones).

~Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
~Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
~Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
~Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
~White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
~Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
~Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)
~Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
~Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)

Below are some recipes for cleaning solutions that use non-toxic ingredients:

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.
Another alternative is microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.

Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell.
• Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.
• Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.
• Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.
• Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.
• Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.
• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.
• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Deodorize:
• Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda
• In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit
• Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming
• Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.
If you want to use a commercial dishwashing soap, try Ecover Ecological or Trader Joe's powders, which contain no bleach or phosphates.

Dishwashing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.

Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.)
To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.

Furniture Polish: For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth.
For unvarnished wood, mix two tsps each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly.

Laundry Detergent: Mix 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads.

Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.


Rust Remover: Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue.

Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

Shoe Polish: Olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice can be applied to shoes with a thick cotton or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a clean, dry rag.

Stickers on walls: Our children covered the inside of their room doors with stickers. Now they are grown, but the stickers remained. To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.

Tub and Tile Cleaner: For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)

Wallpaper Remover: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water, apply with sponge over the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Open room windows or use a fan to dissipate the pungent vinegar smell.

Water Rings on Wood: Water rings on a wooden table or counter are the result of moisture that is trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Once the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface.

Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.

Letters

I visit my great aunt Jewell every Friday. She is in her 80's and is one of my favorite people in the world!! The past few years have been extremely difficult for her...she has lost her husband and all of her siblings (one of which was my grandpa). My aunt Jewell does not have any children so I am sure life can get pretty lonely. I am so glad she decided to move back to the old camp house just a brisk walk away from ours. What I love about her generation is the way they kept in constant contact with one another by writing letters. My uncle Frank and aunt Jewell started courting though letters... She has hundreds that chronicle their relationship. How comforting it must be to pull those letters out and relive parts of their relationship... She has said how much she treasures each word...
My aunt Jewell was also very close to my aunt Jane who lived in Texas... But do you think the distance made these sisters grow apart..NO WAY!! Of course they talked on the phone almost every day, but on top of that they would write letters each week. At my aunt Jane's funeral a few months ago they mentioned how they hoped this generation would not let the art of writing letters fade away. Because we all know how easy that would be with texting, email, myspace, facebook, twitter etc... Since Mark and I have been working on our basement it has forced us to go through several boxes from our childhood forward... And we have found so many notes and letters from friends and past loves.... It was so precious to find!! I found notes Jennifer and I wrote back and forth in middle/high school. These days I am sure kids just text only for it to be lost forever. This generation won't have the joy of reliving a memory though finding notes or letters. So, you may ask yourself why am I writing about this? Well, I have decided to make it a point to sit down and write on paper a short note or letter to friends and family.... I also started and ongoing journal with Mark. We use just a small spiral notebook and write little notes or letters back and forth and leave it on each others night stand. It can be just a sentence or pages if we want. It really just chronicle our day or what we are feeling or it can remind us to do something..This probably sounds soooo corny, but it is fun :) You know how you get busy with kids and life and sometimes you just want to tell that person what you love about them or even what upsets you? Just getting it out on paper is good for the soul. I always look forward to see what he has written :) I love that we will have something to look back on one day when (god willing) we are 80. We can remember small details that we would have otherwise forgotten. So, maybe you can do something like this in your life? It does not have to be a journal...maybe it is just leaving a quick note saying I love you or I appreciate everything you do.. Whatever it is write it down. It will become some of your most prized possessions :)

Tiffany

The picture above you will see my aunt Jewell on the left and my aunt Jane on the right when they were in their early twenties. You can't beat black and white photos :)