Recently, I made the switch to all Seventh Generation (http://www.seventhgen.com/) cleaning products. You guys are probably already doing this, and this line of products is not news to you. But in case it's not, check the link. I started doing some research and learned that most laundry detergents are made from PETROLEUM-based cleaners. Gulp - who knew? Not me. I've been thinking about making the switch for some time now, but had it in my head that "environmentally-friendly" meant these products wouldn't work for shit. Wrong. They actually work.
I'm also becoming more mindful about how much I drive and am trying to condense trips. Oh, and I practically chase Adam around the house, shutting lights off behind him...
I'm making more and more of an effort to be a little kinder to our environment. But, I know I could be doing more. In the comments section, let me know what you do to be a little kinder to the planet. Give me some tips, peeps!
9 comments:
One thing my daddy taught me is about watering plants... Water them really early in the morning or late at night when the sun is going down. This way you aren't losing as much water to evaporation, and hopefully you use less water.
I love the idea of tips... post all you have peeps!
Jen makes her own cleaners from vairous recipies that she's acquired over the years - basically Castelle(i cant spell...google didn't even know what i am talking about) soap, tea tree oil and vinegar is all you need to make earth happy cleaners ... i was at the laundromat one day and the owner was commenting on how many people dont know WHY you're not supposed to wash your baby clothes with fabric softener...its cuz it negates the fireproofness of them...i mean...wow...
the energy efficient light bulbs are cool too - its not a TON of energy (running say 7 watts instead of 60) but every little bit helps - we've been just replacing what we have when they die out and we're almost 100% using them now...though there has been some mercury concerns with them - so dont break them in the ocean.
oh - and they smell pretty...and work...(the cleaners not the light bulbs i haven't smelled those)(saturday night fun maybe...)
What are the recipes??? You should post them for everyone!
Marc said you wanted these. I LOVE the all-purpose spary, the tub cleaner, the toilet cleaner and the scrub. I still use windex for glass and once in a while I find I do need the strong stuff but these are much easier on you lungs and wallet because you can make a lot of cleaner with one bottle of castile. And you can find most of these at the grocery store now, mostly in the whole foods section. happy-er cleaning!
the other thing we've just done is to buy the canvas bags for groceries.
All-Purpose Antiseptic Soap Spray
Liquid soap (castile)
Purified water (have never used!)
Tea tree oil
16 oz squirt or spray bottle (old, clean cleaner bottles work)
Fill bottle almost full with water THEN add 3 Tbls castile to prevent bottle from sudsing up. Add 20-30 drops tea tree oil. Shake to mix.
Toilet Bowl
Vinegar
Tea tree oil
16 oz squirt bottle (i'm using the ole castile bottle)
Mix 16 oz vinegar and 8 drops tea tree oil.
Tub/shower
8 oz peppermint castile soap
4 drops tea tree oil
8 oz spray/squirt bottle (i use an old dish soap bottle)
Squirt around tub and scrub. you don't need a lot and use a very wet rag.
Scouring Powder
1 cup baking soda
¼ cup dried rosemary (antibacterial)
¼ cup dried rose petals (scent) (colored roses will stain rag)
shaker
i got a shaker like they use for parm at papa ginos. You really don't need the roses and even just baking soda does wonders if you let it sit overnight
Furniture Polish
Olive oil
White distilled vinegar
(Lemon) pure essential oil or vanilla extract
8 oz flip-top bottle
Put ¾ cup oil into bottle. Add ¼ cup vinegar. Add 50 drops or ¼ cup lemon oil or ½ tsp vanilla. Test on small area. i don't really polish my furinture so...
Glass Cleaner
Club soda in spray bottle (make sure to dry)
OR
Lemon juice and purified water
16 oz spray bottle
1-2 tsp lemon juice to 16 oz water (fresh lemon juice works best but strain well). Lemon juice will spoil so refrigerate.
Floors
2 Tbls castile
15 drops sweet orange essential oil
8 drops lemon essential oil 04 ¼ cup lemon juice
Add ingredients to 1 gallon hot water. No rinsing needed.
if you have a wood floor, murphy oil soap is great. it does work on other surfaces too. not sure how 'natural' it is...it says 'pure vegetable oil soap'...i didn't know vegetable oil came as soap naturally!
it almost brings a tear to my eye to see you young folk thinkin' 'bout the planet...
marc is right on about the light bulbs...i read an article about the new bulbs and the energy savings is phenomenol...(that might not be spelled right)
plant a tree, the carbon offset is worth it!
also, read 'the end of nature' by bill mccibben...it's 10 or 15 years old, but it'll open your eyes even more...
beermaker...i'm going to go see if my library has that book. thanks!
garden organically...
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