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Welcome to Green Clean
There is a revolution going on around the globe — a green revolution. The latest front is the home, as people across the country adopt cleaning solutions that are not only healthy, but good for the environment. Green Clean is the definitive, step-by-step guide to cleaning better while using nontoxic, ecofriendly products. The Green Clean blog will bring you tips, tricks, and hard facts from Green Clean as well as the latest news about keeping your home and environment healthy and toxin-free. Have a look inside the book.
Posted by GreenClean at 08:39 PM
Greening Your Supply Closet
I’ve been a little slow getting a post up about the most recent Green Clean publicity, but better late than never, right? Green Clean author Linda Mason Hunter has a wonderful article in the August issue of Better Homes and Gardens all about stocking your “Green Supply Closet.” You can see it right here on her website, or pick up the issue on newsstands now.
The article provides information on everything from choosing the right sponge (hello natural sea sponge, goodbye plastic ones) to making your own cleaners.
But my favorite part of the article is her suggestion for a green cleaning basket. She built a lovely “basket” complete with products from Mrs. Meyer’s, Ecover, and even one of my old favorites, Murphy’s Oil Soap. A green cleaning basket would be a great housewarming gift or wedding present. It’s definitely more useful than more sterling silver gravy boat. Just don’t forget to include a copy of Green Clean!
Posted by GreenClean at 11:39 AM
What's in my Non-Toxic cleaning products, exactly?
The invaluable Green Guide looks into one of the most popular line of nontoxic cleaners, Mrs. Meyers, to see what's actually inside. (As Green Clean notes, most "green" cleaning products include a list of ingredients; such a list is a good way to know the manufacturer has nothing to hide.) The Green Guide found that Mrs. Meyers products include a small amount of preservative, EDTA ("a boosting agent that also acts as an allergen and mild skin irritant"), and sodium citrate ("which, although naturally derived, can still cause allergic reactions.")
Green Clean contains more details about the content of cleaning products and the potential harms of their ingredients.
Posted by GreenClean at 11:03 AM
Bleach alternatives
Chlorine is the chemical most frequently involved in household poisonings and is a potent environmental pollutant. There are two great alternatives to chlorine bleach for laundry and household use: oxygen bleach and hydrogen peroxide-based bleach. Recommended oxygen bleaches include Bi-O-Kleen's Oxygen Beach Plus and Earth Friendly Products' Oxo-Brite. Hydrogen-peroxide bleaches include Ecover's Natural Non-Chlorine Bleach.
Finally, adding 1/4 cup of washing soda or borax to a load of wash will whiten whites and brighten colors.
Posted by GreenClean at 02:01 PM
Summer Stain Busters
Green Clean features more than 25 hints for solving specific stains without using harsh products. Here are a couple of summer stain fighters:
Grass
Clothing and linens: Do not use ammonia or degreasers — they can make stains permanent. Blot with a little rubbing alcohol, then rinse with water. Apply liquid dish soap to the stain, rinse with water, and allow the garment to air dry. Launder as usual. If discoloration remains, soak the garment in warm water with a stain remover for 30 to 60 minutes. Relaunder in hot water. Upholstery and carpet: Pour a small amount of mild laundry detergent onto the stain and let it stand for two hours. Blot the soap away using a damp towel.
Ketchup
Clothing and linens: Rinse with cold water, then let the garment soak in a solution of liquid laundry detergent or soap and cold water. Rinse, apply a stain remover, and launder as usual. If stain remains, try treating with a one-to-one solution of distilled white vinegar and water, reapplying stain remover, and relaundering. Upholstery and carpet: Make a thick paste of borax and water. Apply directly to the stain and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Wipe the paste away and blot with a damp towel.
Posted by GreenClean at 03:29 PM
Safe Drain Cleaners
Drain cleaners are among the most dangerous household products. The best way to avoid using caustic drain cleaners is to prevent clogs and buildups in the first place. Scrape dishes well before you put them in the sink, use a trap or screen to keep food scraps out, and don’t pour your cooking grease or oil down the drain. Grease builds up in your pipes and your community’s pipes, eventually blocking them and causing sewer leaks and spills. Instead, allow the grease or oil to cool and collect it in a sealable container, then throw it away or compost it.
Once a week, pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to flush it out. If the drain does become clogged, use a plunger, or try a simple, safe DIY recipe: Add one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar to a large pot of boiling water (they’ll fizz) and pour down the drain; the combination will dissolve fatty, greasy clogs. Flush with tap water until it clears.
You can also try one of the several nontoxic, enzyme-based drain cleaners on the market, such as Earth Friendly Products' Natural Earth Enzymes Drain Opener.
Posted by GreenClean at 02:07 PM
Taking Care of the Drain
Drain cleaners are among the most dangerous household products. The best way to avoid using caustic drain cleaners is to prevent clogs and buildups in the first place. Scrape dishes well before you put them in the sink, use a trap or screen to keep food scraps out, and don’t pour your cooking grease or oil down the drain. Grease builds up in your pipes and your community’s pipes, eventually blocking them and causing sewer leaks and spills. Instead, allow the grease or oil to cool and collect it in a sealable container, then throw it away or compost it. A few cities offer grease and oil recycling, and a local restaurant may be able to include your household grease in their commercial recycling.
Once a week, pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to flush it out. If the drain does become clogged, use a plunger, or try the DIY recipe below. Enzyme-based drain cleaners break down organic matter that clogs drains; they work overnight, don’t use caustic chemicals, and are safe for septic systems. For stubborn clogs, using a plumber’s snake — or just calling a plumber — is a good choice.
Make Your Own Drain Opener
Add one cup baking soda and one cup vinegar to a large pot of boiling water (they’ll fizz) and pour down the drain; the combination will dissolve fatty, greasy clogs. Flush with tap water until it clears.
Posted by GreenClean at 10:17 AM
The Three Graces: Baking Soda, Vinegar, and Soap
Throughout Green Clean, you will find recipes for simple home-cleaning preparations. The majority call for baking soda, distilled white vinegar, or liquid soap. These three nontoxic ingredients, singly and together, can deal with most household cleaning tasks.
Baking soda is alkaline and therefore works well on acidic substances such as proteins, grease, and animal messes. It is slightly abrasive and can be used for scouring. It’s also a natural deodorizer and grease cutter, and has mild bleaching properties. Some recipes may call for washing soda, which is a more alkaline (and more powerful) form of baking soda.
Vinegar is acidic. It dissolves scale, inhibits mold, and cuts soap scum. For household cleaning always use plain distilled white vinegar. Vinegar works well on alkaline substances and stains such as coffee, rust, tea, and liquor.
Simple castile soap (made with olive oil) and vegetable-based soap (such as Murphy’s Oil Soap) have a neutral pH. Soap cleans by attaching to soil at the molecular level, so that the soil can be rinsed away with water.
Posted by GreenClean at 11:53 AM
What Is Green?
“Green” can mean a dozen different things to a dozen different people. For some, it means simply “environmentally friendly,” no matter how vaguely that phrase can be used. In Green Clean, the word points to a deeper set of beliefs. By living green you seek to reduce your negative impact on the planet in small, everyday ways. It means treating all resources as precious; living with nature instead of trying to subdue it. It means being energy efficient, lessening your use of petroleum products, and conserving water. Most of all, it’s a mindful way of living, trying to make every choice a green choice.
Continue reading to see The Green Consumer
As defined by The Green Consumer
- is not dangerous to the health of people or animals;
- does not cause damage to the environment during manufacture, use, or disposal;
- does not consume a disproportionate amount of energy and other resources during manufacture, use, or disposal;
- does not cause unnecessary waste, due either to excessive packaging or to a short useful life;
- does not involve the unnecessary use of or cruelty to animals;
- does not use materials derived from threatened species or environments.
Posted by GreenClean at 04:23 PM