There are a few good websites which I subscribe to which offer me good tips on being eco friendly. One of the good sites is Environmental Working Group which covers news of green living and health issues in the light of today’s environmental change.
Many people often complain that they are not sure how to be eco friendly in their household cleaning. Well, I picked up this article from the Environmental Working Group website when reading up on top diet pills and would like to share some tips with you. In today’s list of household cleaning products, children are constantly exposed to harsh, corrosive cleaners can suffer burns to skin and eyes, and inhaling the fumes can cause lung damage. Exposure to low levels of these chemicals over a lifetime may increase the risk of developing serious health conditions, such as cancer or reproductive problems. Here are some tips:
* Less is more. Dilute your cleaning supplies according to instructions and use only what’s needed to get the job done.
* Open the window. Clean with windows and doors open so you don’t trap air pollution inside your home.
* Use gloves and other precautions. Cleaning chemicals may harm or penetrate skin and eyes — check warning labels.
* Keep kids away. Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. If they like to help, let them clean with soap and water, not toxic cleaners.
* Avoid “antibacterial.” If your family is generally healthy, there’s no need to use potentially toxic “antibacterial” products, according to the American Medical Association. Wash your hands with plain soap and water.
* Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other acids. These combinations can produce deadly gases.
* Don’t be fooled by labels — buy certified green products. Label claims aren’t always true. Cleaning supplies certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo meet green standards.
* Try natural alternatives. Experiment with non-toxic options like vinegar and baking soda.
* Take care with pine and citrus oil cleaners. Avoid using these cleaners especially on smoggy days, when the ingredients can react with ozone to produce cancer-causing formaldehyde.
* Skip the biggest hazards. Avoid air fresheners, use a baking soda and water paste to clean the oven and tackle toilet stains, and use a mechanical snake to unclog the drain.
As the eco trend starts to set in, more people are becoming more conscious of their lifestyle choices. You can find many cards being made in recycled paper stock as compared to last time. With the increase of demand, recycled or eco friendly cards are also more affordable.
Last week, I received an invitation for a baby shower and was impressed with the natural colors and finish used on the card. This friend of mine is an eco friendly supporter and it didn’t surprised me to receive a card made of recycled paper from her. She was telling me that she ordered the photo cards online and specified the use of a recycled paper stock. It was nice.
If you are thinking of a less costly way to send our eco friendly cards, try to give your creative cells a go and design your own. All you need is some recycled paper stock, some stencils, some colors and you are set to design some nice cards. For those who have a color printer, you can print your eco friendly cards from home too.
Since my cleaner resigned two months ago, I have been doing most of the household chores on my own until a part time cleaner came along last week. I suppose she wasn’t used to all the environmentally friendly cleaners that lie around in my bathroom as most cleaners are used to the powerful and strong cleaners in supermarkets.
But it seems that some manufacturers tend to misuse the word ‘eco’ on their products. It may carry the claim ‘eco’ but when you study the ingredients and labels, there are just as much chemicals than the non-eco ones. So sometimes, the term ‘eco’ can mislead people and retailers or manufacturers use that as a selling gimmick. Eco cleaners usually mean biodegradable and it should also contain the most natural ingredients instead of chemicals that will bring environmental harm. Whether you are cleaning stainless steel drums or your house, using eco cleaners is the way to go if you want to do your bit for the environment.
With so many eco friendly cleaning choices in the marketplace today, there is no reason why anyone should not give a thought about it.
I’m writing this post from Hong Kong right now as I take a break from walking on the streets and shopping in the malls. It is a good trip so far and I’m kinda sad that I’m leaving tomorrow. It is nice to note that the locals are promoting eco friendliness by charging for plastic bags.
As I walked in the malls, I noted that many people were carrying their own eco bags to carry all their purchases. I did a bit of shopping and dining in Hong Kong is so enjoyable. The only complaint I have about Hong Kong is the air quality which is rather poor. But other than that, it is a great place to visit and it has an interesting culture that I like. I was asked to bring back some cigars for a friend looking to buy some gifts and my hubby ended up with some good buys too. The hotel I am staying in have an oxygen air purifier which is good for my allergies – that was so considerate of the management.
We’ll be heading home tomorrow and I hope to find more eco friendly products the next time I visit Hong Kong.
Ever walked into a shop, grab a couple of items and after paying for your items, you were presented with a long slip of receipt? Sometimes I wonder why retailers like to print out long slips of paper. Aren’t they aware of eco friendly principles of saving the trees? Why do they need such long slips of receipt for just a couple of items?
One of the reasons why I tend to shop online more is because I’m becoming more productive with my time. I don’t need to drive to the mall which means I am contributing to lesser gas emissions on the road. Sometimes I need to wait in line in the stores to make payment especially if the credit card processing centers are busy. Shopping online eliminate these problems. I do understand that not everyone likes to buy things online as they can’t feel or see the actual product. It takes a while to get used to the concept. Besides, there are some things which require a tactile experience such as buying shoes and textiles.
You don’t need to shop online to be eco friendly. There are many simple ways you can follow to save the earth and to practice the principles of Recycle, Reuse and Reduce.
Last weekend, there was an organic awareness campaign in my neighbour and that event sought to promote eco living too. There were organic vegetables and fruits sold during the event and it was packed lots of shoppers and green enthusiasts.
I enjoyed listening to the few talks organized during the event and one of them was on making household enzyme solution. I have been using enzyme for cleaning the house and I love it. First of all, it is free and secondly, I can reuse the waste from my fruit peels. Often times, we throw these peels away but it feels nice to be able to use it for the good of the family. I use the enzyme solution for cleaning anything in the house. It is effective when use for floors and bathrooms. I would mix some in a spray bottle and clean it for my daily cleaning. Since I work from home, I need a clean office so the solution is used to clean our office equipment, from our Linksys router to our printer. It’s eco friendly!
Eco living can be simple and most of all, it is affordable. I mean isn’t it nice to reuse what you would normally throw in the bin? This is what we mean by ‘green living’.
Early this year, some of the stores in my suburb decided to launch an eco friendly lifestyle campaign. Consumers or shoppers were required to bring their own shopping bags on Wednesdays and Saturdays and failing which, twenty cents will be charged per plastic bag.
Such a campaign is great to increase awareness towards a greener lifestyle but it isn’t without challenges. I saw angry and frustrated shoppers at the beginning because they were ready to pay for plastic bags! This was especially when they had patronize the stores. Also, many shoppers bought a whole trolley full of groceries and they weren’t prepared to pay for so many plastic bags. It took a while to educate the customers and acceptance did take time too. I was reading some information on an insurance blog and found that education is important for all disciplines.
After a few months of eco friendly lifestyle campaign, things are alot better now and shoppers tend to bring in their own bags. It also promotes a better awareness of how we can all play a part in making this earth a better and friendlier place to live.
An eco home is one that many parents seek to build for the good of the entire family. Since becoming a mom six years ago, my interest towards green living has increased over the years.
For someone who has sensitive airways and allergic rhinitis, I am careful with the household detergents I use at home. Breathing in strong chemicals will bring a blockage to my nose and it can also trigger an asthmatic cough. After so many years of allergy relief seeking, I have found that keeping a home free from strong allergens can be helpful. An allergy blood test is needed to find out what is causing the triggers and you can then be more cautious with your food intake or environmental conditions.
Having an eco home means focusing on natural living and avoiding chemicals, preservatives and pollutants. It used to be expensive to buy eco friendly household products but not anymore. These days, you can find affordable Eco Natural home products on the supermarkets or health store. Otherwise, you can also concoct your own eco friendly cleaning solutions from home by using fruit and vegetable enzyme.
That time of the year is coming and I am shopping for a wedding anniversary gift for my other half. We’ve been married for 10 years – time really flies! My hubby isn’t crazy about eco friendly stuff even though I have been sharing with him the many benefits of being friendly to the environment. But he’s the one who always reminds me not to use too many plastic bags!
Since, I have been carrying groceries in my own eco bag whenever we are out shopping. He got very disturbed after watching a documentary about the ‘dying earth’. However he knows that changing to an eco lifestyle would take some time, it comes from a conviction within. I was just checking out some mens ties online and was hoping to find an eco friendly one. I have come across some cool ones that are made of recyclable material some time back but never thought I would need them so soon! Now I’ve got to start searching online.
When I went last weekend to a local supermarket, I was thrilled to see some new labels for eco natural cleaning agents. And due to a rising demand, the prices for eco friendly products had dropped too.
Eco lifestyle can be practiced at home by your commitment to lead a chemical free life. It may involve efforts and discipline but it is rewarding in the long run.
