Category Archives: Eco Friendly Home

Recycling Myths

Recycling is one of the things people think of first when they think about being environmentally friendly. In some ways that’s a pity, as reduce and reuse really should come first, but recycling is nonetheless important, and one of the easiest for the government to encourage both individuals and businesses to do.

Recycling has improved greatly these past several years, but it’s still not great. Far more could be recycled, especially when it comes to paper. It is still easier in many areas to throw paper in the regular trash, whether you’re at home, work or out and about.

Myths about recycling abound, as many people don’t really think carefully about it.

One is that recycling is hard. This one really depends on where you live. Where I live it is ridiculously easy for the materials that are accepted. One bin, no sorting required. Other places require sorting, but do provide the bins. It’s not that common anymore for recycling to be difficult.

Some also claim that recycling takes up just as much energy as using new materials. Continue reading →

Choosing Bamboo Products

We bought a new bed for my son the other day. He’s 2 and just out of the blue told his Daddy that he wanted a big bed, not his toddler bed. That bed was a hand-me-down, so no real worry that he only used it a relatively few months. Just have to see who wants it next.

So we bought a bed. Nice one, made of wood, bought at Ikea. Took my husband a solid 4 hours to assemble it, but the bed should last him through high school at the very least. Not at all a bed that will appeal only to a child.

But of course this meant new sheets to. And that got me thinking about bamboo products. Those bamboo sheets feel nice! Made me want to replace the ones on my bed, except they don’t need to be replaced yet.

I really think I’m going to be remembering bamboo whenever I can as an option. I love the look of the bamboo cutting boards. And I know that other kitchen and home items also come in bamboo.

Best part about bamboo is how quickly it grows, unlike wood. Yet it’s durable.

I know there aren’t a lot of things I NEED to buy in bamboo, pretty and useful though it is. But I do like to keep it in mind.

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Focusing on Power Consumption

There’s a great article in The New York Times on energy consumption and how to decrease yours. I don’t know how easy the article will be to acces, since after a day or two they generally require sign in, but it’s an interesting read.

The author bought a Kill A Watt to measure the power consumed by various electronics when they were not in use. These included his computer, TiVo, cable box and DVD player.

The experiment made him realize just how much energy he was wasting in his home. He’s not alone:

Indeed, the Department of Energy estimates that in the average home, 40 percent of all electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Add that all up, and it equals the annual output of 17 power plants, the government says.

This is something I’ve been trying to convince my husband of for a while. I may even decide to pick him up a Kill A Watt at some point if it will help to make my point. Continue reading →

Why Are Antibacterial Products So Hard to Avoid?

I’ve tried for years to avoid antibacterial products. They’re just an annoyance to me, as I trust soap and common cleaning to take care of the germs that matter. I don’t need a sterile home.

Heck, if I wanted that I wouldn’t have had kids!

But antibacterial products are all over the place. And there’s an article in Scientific American that my husband pointed out to me that confirms my own feelings on the matter – that antibacterial products are not good to use.

The trouble is that they tend to produce resistant bacteria. That’s always a bad idea.

Triclosan is a common one you should be checking ingredient lists for. Not all products that use it call themselves antibacterial. It hasn’t been shown to be a problem in humans so far, but the potential is there. It may act as an endocrine disrupter in bullfrogs and rats.

Too few bacteria also means that children don’t develop the natural immunities they need for a healthy life. Continue reading →

Alternative Uses for Vinegar in the Kitchen

Vinegar is one of the great nontoxic cleaning supplies most people have in their homes. Today I thought I would share some ways you can use it in the kitchen.

  1. Cleaning the microwave.
    Soak a cloth with vinegar. Microwave on high for 15 seconds. Once you can handle the cloth, it can be used to wipe the now loosened splatters.
  2. Removing coffee and tea stains from cups.
    Combine vinegar and table salt in equal portions. These can rub the stains right off the cups.
  3. Remove buildup from the coffeemaker.
    Run 1 cycle of cold water mixed with 1/4 cup of vinegar. Repeat with water only. If you can still smell vinegar, repeat again.
  4. Degrease oven vents.
    This is good to do about twice a year. Use a sponge soaked in vinegar to remove grease from the vents of your oven hood.
  5. Limit mildew buildup inside the refrigerator.
    Wipe down the refrigerator door seals with vinegar.
  6. Degrease pans.
    Simmer 1/4 inch water and 1/2 cup vinegar in a greasy pan for 10 minutes. Wash as usual.
  7. Open clogged drains.
    Depending on the severity you can do a couple of things. Light clogs pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain. Allow to work at least 5 minutes or up to 1 hour. Rinse with boiling water. For more serious clogs, add 1/2 cup salt to the baking soda/vinegar mixture from above. Allow to site for 1 hour before rinsing.
  8. Countertops may be wiped with vinegar.

There are many more things that you can clean vinegar with. It’s a very safe cleanser for most surfaces. Some people dislike the smell, but in my experience this fades nicely once the vinegar has dried.

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