The article provides information on everything from choosing the right sponge (hello natural sea sponge, goodbye plastic ones) to making your own cleaners.

This week they have a post about greening your dishwasher. The AT bloggers have a beautiful GE Smart dispense dishwasher that has special sensors to regulate the amount of water and detergent needed per load.

I have to say I’m a little jealous, but I won’t be rushing out to replace my perfectly good dishwasher. There are many ways you can maximize the efficiency of your current dishwasher. I always make sure my dishwasher is loaded to capacity before I run it and I never use the “dry” function. I just open the door and let the dishes air dry. Green Clean offers some other simple tips, as well as information on maintaining your dishwasher.

There are also some good alternatives to your standard dishwashing detergent. Dishwashing detergents often have a high concentration of phosphates, which can be harmful to waterways and fish. Green Clean has some good suggestions for alternatives. Mrs. Meyers makes great, phosphate-free automatic dishwashing powder at a reasonable price. Plus, I love the pretty packaging. It almost inspires me to tackle my ever-growing pile of dirty dinner dishes. Almost.

The main ingredient in many glass cleaners is ammonia, a poison that can irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system. A homemade vinegar-based glass cleaner is a great green alternative and Green Clean has an easy recipe so you can make your own.

Vinegar-Based Window Cleaner
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
1 quart warm water
Spray bottle (size of your choice)

Mix all ingredients well. Spritz on windows and use a natural linen towel, soft cloth, or microfiber cloth (my personal choice) to clean.

The shelf life for this cleaner is indefinite, so keep the leftovers in your cleaning cupboard for reuse.

Green Clean offers more tips and recipes for using distilled white vinegar as a replacement for many toxic cleaning supplies.

Green Clean contains more details about the content of cleaning products and the potential harms of their ingredients.

Finally, adding 1/4 cup of washing soda or borax to a load of wash will whiten whites and brighten colors.

Green Clean's Laundry chapter details some alternatives to dry cleaning, and describes the effects of dry cleaning chemicals: "Most dry cleaners use a petroleum-based solvent called perchlorethylene, which can adversely affect the central nervous system; can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat; and is a possible human carcinogen. Perc, as it’s frequently called, has become one of the most common contaminants in groundwater."

Many cities now have eco-friendly dry cleaning franchises, which sometimes call their process "wet cleaning." And many "dry clean only" garments can be carefully hand-washed at home.

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.

"For years, scientists have struggled to explain rising rates of some cancers and childhood brain disorders.... One suspect is now drawing intense scrutiny: the prevalence in the environment of certain industrial chemicals at extremely low levels....

"Environmental chemicals don't exist in isolation.... So scientists at the University of London ... tested the hormonal strength of a blend of 11 common chemicals that can mimic estrogen. Alone, each was very weak. But when scientists mixed low doses of all 11 in a solution with natural estrogen ... they found the hormonal strength of natural estrogen was doubled. Such an effect inside the body could disrupt hormonal action."

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.

The recycling and re-use sites the Times mentioned include RipMobile, www.cellforcash.com, www.oldcellphone.com, and www.phonefund.com.

All plants convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, but some actually remove chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde from the air. The most effective air cleaners are Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen), Spathiphyllum (peace-lily), Syngonium (arrowhead vine), Hedera (English ivy), Dracaena (cornplant), spider plants, and Scindapsus (devil’s ivy). Daisies and chrysanthemums are good, too. Aim for roughly 15 plants for every 1,500 square feet in your house. Remember that your plants need to breathe, too — dust them gently with a damp cloth. Keep their soil or root area clear — some of the air-cleaning action occurs there. The most comprehensive guide to air-cleaning plants is B.C. Wolverton's How to Grow Fresh Air.

A good source for information about indoor air quality is the EPA’s “The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality,” available at www.epa.gov/iaq.

"Our top picks for the week ahead: 'Green Clean' by Lidna Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin ($16.95). It's the ultimate guide to keeping your home spick-and-span without poisoning your family."

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.