Bottled Water: Buyer Beware

It’s just what we’ve all suspected – pure, “straight from the mountains” bottled water is not so pure after all. Yesterday, EWG released an industry-rattling report that reveals the dirty truth about bottled water.

We tested 10 brands and found an alarming array of contaminants, including cancer-causing byproducts of chlorination, fertilizer residue, industrial solvents and even caffeine.

In light of these disturbing findings, here’s what you can do:

• Drink filtered tap water instead of bottled or unfiltered tap water.
• Mix infant formula with filtered, non-fluoridated water.
• Carry water in safe, reusable containers.

Read the full report or download our handy guide to safe drinking water for more tips.

Green Tip for Work

Save paper by using “Shrink to Fit”

Rid yourself of those few lines of text that spill over to the next page. Go to Print Preview and click on “Shrink to Fit” (might say “Shrink One Page”). If the text size or spacing looks too tight, you can always click “Undo” or “Control-Z” to undo it.

 

How to make your own cleaning products

Most modern synthetic cleaning products are based on age-old formulas using natural ingredients that were passed down through the generations because the chemistry was right. Going back to the original naturally derived ingredients is a way to make cleaning products that work, don’t pollute and save you money. Most are found in your kitchen cupboards. Mix and match with well-chosen and environmentally friendly green cleaning products found in health food stores, and you can easily and simply transform your home into a non-toxic and healthy haven.

Non-toxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in knowing that your family’s health is protected, and that your home is a place for your bodies to rest and recuperate rather than promote harm.

Making your own nontoxic cleaning kit will take you no time at all with these simple, straightforward directions, and with this kit you will be supplied with enough cleaning product for months of cleaning.

As an added bonus, ounce for ounce homemade cleaning formulas cost about one-tenth the price of their commercial counterpart—and that includes costly, but worthwhile essential oils, and concentrated, all-purpose detergents for homemade recipes.

SUPPLIES
Baking soda
Washing soda
White distilled vinegar
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil
6 clean spray bottles
2 glass jars

Read more about these 5 basic cleaning ingredients, and a vinegar update.

CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER
Simply pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn’t leave grit.

Note: Add 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to the mixture and store in a sealed glass jar, to keep the product moist. Otherwise just make as much as you need at a time.

WINDOW CLEANER
1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water
Spray bottle

Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.

OVEN CLEANER
1 cup or more baking soda
Water
A squirt or two of liquid detergent

Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top. Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened. When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess, dab a bit of liquid detergent or soap on a sponge, and wash the remaining residue from the oven. If this recipe doesn’t work for you it is probably because you didn’t use enough baking soda and/or water.

ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
A dab of liquid soap
2 cups hot tap water

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.

FURNITURE POLISH
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive (or jojoba, a liquid wax)
1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

VINEGAR DEODORIZER
Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar in your kitchen near your cutting board and in your bathroom and use them for cleaning. I often spray the vinegar on our cutting board before going to bed at night, and don’t even rinse but let it set overnight. The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off.

MOLD KILLERS

Tea Tree Treasure
Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. I’ve used it successfully on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof, on a musty bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.

2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups.

Vinegar Spray
Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.

 

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html

“Green Tip” from Philippa Guthrie

Freecycle.org. 

It is an Internet based, national  exchange system for used items.  You just go to their website, find a local group (in our case it’s Bloomington/Bedford or Indianapolis) and sign up to be a member of the group.  You can then participate by reading and responding to, or making your own postings for, items wanted or items for offer.  The range of things is incredible–guinea pig with cage, book cases, desks, plant stands, tool kits, pool tables, garage doors, cloth diapers, clothing, cell phones….  Exchanges are arranged via e-mail and then phone, if necessary, and everything is exchanged for free.  Freecycle.org’s stated mission is to extend the useful lives of things by getting them to subsequent owners and thereby keeping them out of the landfills.

 

Personal experience with it:

 

We had an old queen sized sofa bed, old meaning from the fifties.  It had been my parents–one of the first pieces of furniture they ever bought.  It had upholstery that was basically OK (no rips, tears or weak spots) but worn at the edges and very outdated.  But an excellent, sturdy sofa.  After my parents’ house, it had been in our basement for ten years for the kids rec room and still the cushions were firm, the Simmons mattress on the hide-a-bed was in great shape and comfortable, the mechanism worked perfectly.  The biggest downside–it weighed a TON.  We tried to find a place to come and pick it up. St. Vincent De Paul will take anything.  Not this.  They said old sofa beds are too heavy for their clients to carry and move, and no one wants them.  They also said the worn upholstery would not be appealing.  Red Cross said to try Salvation Army or Good Will, but we would have had to take it there.  After St. Vincent De Paul’s comments, I had no illusions anyone would ever want this sofa, but it was still an incredibly sound and useful piece of furniture. In desperation I went on the web to try to find some way of disposing of this, preferably recycling, and found Freecycle.org.   It looked dubious, but I joined and posted the sofa bed.  That was late Wednesday night.  By Thursday morning I had five people asking about it by e-mail.  It was too big for several, but for two it was fine.  First one to respond they wanted it got it on Friday.  They picked it up on Saturday.  A family–they were thrilled.  Their kids range from teen to married and they suddenly have all kinds of guests–college kids’ friends, grown kids with their grandkids–and they needed more places for people to sit and sleep.  I am incredibly relieved and so amazed that someone thought of this idea and that it works!

“Green Tip” from Aliza Pain

Back to School Supplies

Going back to school can be stressful. Not only do you have to get your kids or yourself mentally ready for a new year but it can put some stress on your finances too. Here are some great ways to save money and the earth when getting ready to return to your studies!

Put your wallet away. Save money on school supplies by not buying them! Before you head to the store to buy new pencils, notepads, and binders for a new year of school, check to see what’s hiding in your closet from last year. A binder filled with recycled paper can be customized year after year to suit your child’s interests (just redecorate the cover with stickers, fabric, or markers.) And you probably already have enough pens and pencils lying around the house to fill up a pencil case.

Aim For A Waste-Free Lunch. One of the single best ways you can “go green” and reduce waste is to make your kids or your lunch waste-free by using reusable containers to hold her meal. Skip juice boxes and let her pick out a cool thermos or reusable bottle to bring instead. Pack it all in a reusable tote or lunchbox. (Try the cotton lunch sack, ECOUsable water bottle, and bamboo utensils from ECOBAGS, the bento boxes from Laptop Lunches, or the super cute animal shaped lunch boxes from Gigglefish. Enter now to enter our August contest for a free Waste-Free Lunch Kit from ECOBAGS.

Borrow or Rent Sports Equipment and Instruments. If your child has a passion for the piccolo or a flair for football, it makes sense to invest in the equipment they need to play. But if they will be trying a new instrument or sport this year, consider borrowing or renting their gear until you can gauge whether or not they will stick with it. It will save you money and keep your closet from becoming a hobby graveyard! Buy Green. When you do need to purchase new stuff, look for eco-savvy supplies that contain recycled non-toxic, or organic materials. Here’s a guide:

Backpacks: If possible, update and reuse last year’s backpack by adding or removing fabric patches or designs. If you do need a new one, consider an earth-friendly brand that uses recycled materials such as those from Ecotech, Osprey, or EarthPak.

Paper: Recycled paper is good, 100% post-consumer recycled paper is better, and 100% post-consumer recycled paper that is processed chlorine free (PCF) is the gold standard. Look for brands such as Dolphin Blue, Greenline Paper, and New Leaf Everest, or browse Treecycle’s extensive selection of recycled papers.

Pens, Pencils, and Art Supplies: Minimize waste by purchasing reusable writing supplies whenever possible. Of course, that can be tricky, especially when it comes to little kids that are unlikely to hold on to the same pen from one day to the next. So if you purchase disposables, look for greener options like Pilot’s BeGreen pens and pencils made from recycled materials or check out Green Earth Office Supply or Greenline Paper for a selection of eco-friendly writing supplies such biodegradable cornstarch pens, recycled lunch tray pencils, or soybean crayons. And check out my previous on greening your child’s art supplies.

Notebooks and Binders: Mead’s recycled notebooks and day planners can be found at major retailers. For recycled binders, check out the selections from Sustainable Group and Green Earth Office Supply and Greenline Paper.

From The Green Parent, www.thegreenparent.blogpsot.com 

“Green Tip” from Stacey Ruffino

Do full loads of laundry and set the rinse cycle to “cold.”

Monthly Tips: Electricity Usage

• Keep cool – in the summer, close your drapes during the day to save on cooling costs
• Keep warm – in the winter, open your drapes to let the sun in and save on heating costs
• Turn off the lights – when going to a meeting, lunch, or leaving for the day remember to turn off your office lights 
• Computer monitors – at the end of the day and at lunch remember to turn off your monitor
  • At 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, turning off one 25-watt flat monitor during down time only saves $1.38 per month, BUT eliminates 225 pounds of CO2 (green house emissions) by burning 135 fewer pounds of coal each year.

Monthly Tips: Ways to Reuse

• Buy bigger – try buying larger packages of food items instead of individual items like yogurt and water bottles
  • The U.S. throws away 10 billion yogurt containers a year!
• BYOM – Bring Your Own Mug – instead of using the plastic or recycled coffee and water cups, bring your own mug or cup to work 

Monthly Tips: Ways to Reduce

• Pay your bills online – Easy and saves you postage
  • If all the U.S. paid their bills online, it would eliminate more than 800,000 tons of waste each year
• Paper Please – When at the grocery store, remember to ask for paper bags… or better yet bring your own eco-friendly reusable canvas bags
  •  It takes the average plastic bag 500 years to disintegrate 
  •  It takes the average paper bag 6 months to disintegrate

Monthly Tips: Water Saving Tips

• Check your faucets – leaky faucets that drip once per second can waste more than 3 thousand gallons of water a year
  • Installing a faucet aerator will double your faucets efficiency
• Check your toilet – up to 20 percent of toilets leak, wasting up to 200 gallons of water a day!
  •  Installing new efficiency toilets will save you money on future water bills
• Always wash a full load – the average washing machine uses 40 gallons of water per load
• If we all used new efficient water fixtures we would:
  • save 100 million kilowatts of electricity a year (enough to power the entire Midwest)
  • prevent production of 80 thousand tons of green house gases
  • help lower the Midwest’s chance of having a drought due to above average temperatures caused by global warming