Practical information for consumers on going green.
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Friday, November 14, 2003
Earthpak
Looking for a backpack made from recycled materials? Look no further. Earthpak is the answer: strong, safe, and made from plastic soda bottles. Go to
http://earthpakgifts.com/aboutus.asp
posted by Beth at 7:53 PM
bapartin@yahoo.com
Conservation for Teens
I just finished surfing a GREAT conservation website for teens, ibuydifferent.org. It has stories about what kids and teenagers have done to improve their local environment, including inventing asphalt made from recycled plastic bottles and starting recycling programs.
It has a page where teens can record their purchases (say, a recycled paper notebook) and calculate how much pollution they have prevented by buying that notebook. Go to
www.ibuydifferent.org
and click on "Buy Different."
posted by Beth at 7:45 PM
bapartin@yahoo.com
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Less Toxic House Cleaning Products
For years now, I have eschewed cleaners like 409 and Ajax and Comet for gentler versions---and although my kitchen sink may not always be as white as it used to be and I just can't get those grease spots off the inside of the oven hood---I am satisfied with a "green clean."
For some basic information on toxic chemicals in general, see this page on Environmental Defense's website (the group that was formed to ban DDT in 1967 and succeeded in banning it in the United States in 1972):
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/system/templates/page/issue.cfm?subnav=20
For information on several different brands of green cleaners, go to this page at the Center for a New American Dream website:
http://www.newdream.org/consumer/cleaners.html
The brands listed on this site avoid ingredients like ammonia and chlorine bleach.
And finally, here's how I do it:
1. When I want to clean my toilet, I pour some 20 Mule Team Borax in the bowl and swish it around. Then I let it sit for at least half an hour. Then I spray a general cleaner on it (Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly Products Orange Plus, or Lemon Maid Glass and Surface Cleaner) and scrub it with the bowl brush.
2. To clean my refrigerator, I take everything out, take apart the shelves, and wash all the surfaces with Seventh Generation dish soap and water. I don't want anything stronger than that near my food.
3. To clean the shower, I spray general cleaner on a sponge and wipe down the walls (or scrub them if there is buildup of scum) and use a nonabrasive cream cleaner for the floor. I use a general or cream cleanser on a toothbrush to clean grout that has bacteria on it.
4. Earth Friendly Products makes a very good furniture polish that produces a nice shine.
5. Seventh Generation makes a carpet cleaner, but I wasn't very impressed by it. However, Woolite Heavy Duty carpet cleaner didn't get the oil stains out of the carpet either.
6. I use Ecover liquid laundry detergent and have not noticed any difference between it and Tide or any other well-known brand.
For some information on why people think eco-friendly cleaners are not effective, go to Ecover's website:
http://www.newdream.org/consumer/ecover.html
For the Environmental Protection Agency's take on indoor air pollution (to which toxic cleaners like 409 can contribute), visit this page:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html
posted by Beth at 6:37 PM
bapartin@yahoo.com
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