Gearing Up for McLean Green Day!

I keep hearing about visits to the pumpkin patch and discussions about Halloween costumes - it must be October! In fact, it's mid-October and we are just days away from the McLean Green Day hosted by Brooskfield School. 

 

 Here is why I am excited about McClean Green Day this Saturday, October 23 (9am - 12pm):

• Brooksfield has been working hard for over a year now to integrate green practices into their school operations and classrooms. Organizing an event like this for the community shows their commitment to environmental stewardship beyond their front doors. It will also give people a chance to learn more about what makes their school green.
• With over 30 vendors focused on sustainable and nutritious living - this will not only be a fun event for the whole family, you will leave with valuable information about green and healthy living. 

Green Living Consulting will be giving you important tips for creating a toxin-free home and workplace!

 Green Halloween 

 As you and your little ones gear up for that very exciting evening of trick-or-treating, here are some resources to help ensure you are keeping your child safe and reducing negative impacts to the environment that can arise from this unique holiday: 

1) The Environmental Working Group is a great resource for Green Halloween tips, from safe cosmetics and paints as well as create-your-own Halloween costume ideas.

2) Dr. Weil has some great ideas for treat giveaways that are a little less fat-filled but don't take all the fun out of collecting sweet goodies.  Info here.

3) Planet Green also has Green Halloween Tips - some similar to EWG but worth the read nonetheless.

4) Don't know what to give your child as a trick-or-treat bag? Any resuable grocery bag is the perfect eco-friendly option. If you want to give your child a themed bag that also goes to a good cause, consider a FEED bag. The FEED Project sells feed bags to help feed hungry children. Bag sells for $13.20, but can support a child with micronutrient powders for about one year. Available at HSN. 

 Fall Green Living Tips

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of appearing on TBD.com's Let's Talk Live show to give Green Living Tips for the Fall.  I discussed weatherizing your home for winter, strategies for maintaining good indoor air quality, tips for staying healthy through the Fall weather transition with safe drinking water, and ways to enjoy the Fall harvest with seasonal fruit and vegetable options. Check out the details of my Fall green living tips HERE.

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After a busy summer of interns and putting together new green living resources, I am back to Brooksfield blogging and sharing green living tips good for people and the planet. If you ever have specific green living questions, please send a message to info AT greenlivingconsulting.com. 

This month's blog is from a recent post I did on greendailygrind.com before a presentation at a local festival in DC. 

Making Your Own Green Cleaning Products

Many natural ingredients found in your kitchen can double as safe and effective cleaning products. These cleaners are inexpensive and non-toxic to use, creating healthier homes in the cleaning process.

Why Should We Be Concerned with Our Cleaning Products?

Well, here are a few facts that got my attention:

There are an estimated 80,000 different chemical compounds in use, of which 4000-8000 are estimated to trigger cancer.

The average household contains anywhere from 3 to 25 gallons of toxic materials.

Of the roughly 17,000 chemicals used in household products, only about 30% have been adequately tested for their effects on human health.

According to The International Agency for Research on Cancer, 80% of all cancers are attributable to environmental influences.

Cleaning products are often defined as Hazardous Waste: Any material (gas, liquid or solid) discarded from the home that may, due to its chemical nature, pose a health threat to people, animals and the environment if handled or disposed of improperly. When you dispose of your cleaning products in landfills or down the drain, you negatively affect: fish, birds, soil, air, the water supply, and human health.

Toxic substances has become such a concern that it is currently in the National Spotlight. Currently there are two reform bills in Congress which would improve on the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act:

• Require industries to prove safety of chemicals
• Require basic information about all chemicals
• Suggest a program for the EPA to identify and clean up hot spots in the country where chemical exposure is particularly high

The House bill requires the EPA to take action on the 40 worst chemicals within the next year. One of the other reasons for public concern is that the current Act excludes cosmetics, food, drugs, and pesticides, and the EPA has only tested about 200 of the 60,000 - 80,000 chemicals in production in the marketplace. (Get more information on the proposed reform through various organizations: Healthy Child, Healthy World, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and Occupational Health and Safety)

With so much unknown and needed reform still in the legislative process, we are better off at the moment taking matters into our hands. One way to do that is to make your own cleaning products with ingredients you can trust, and probably have in your kitchen right now.

Clean from your Cupboard: Green Cleaning Recipes and Tips

Vinegar

Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new store bought spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don't worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries. Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house:

• Bathroom - Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.
• Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.
• Laundry Room- Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits, as well as to clean and shine brass and copper. It can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. You can also put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal to freshen the drain.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action.

3% Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is yet another fabulous wonder in the non-toxic world. It can be used for numerous things in the home and can even get rid of mold! Its properties are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and it can get rid of viruses. You can even use a capful daily as mouthwash. No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes! Pour 1 cup in your rinse cycle for some great white action as well.

Jojoba/Olive Oil

Mix together 1 cup jojoba/olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice to create a homemade furniture polish. Mix together in a clean new spray bottle. To use, remember to shake before each application. Apply a small portion to your cleaning cloth. Spread the polish over the furniture, trying to polish evenly. Use another clean cloth to polish the surface dry.

Here are a few more useful ingredients to have in your house, along with their uses:

• Carnauba/Beeswax - floor and furniture wax
• Borax-deodorizer - all-purpose cleaner, rust-stain removal
• Toothpaste - metal polisher
• Washing soda (sodium carbonate) - grease and grime cutter, wax remover and deodorizer
• Citrus Fruits - disinfectant, grease cutter, deodorizer, flea repellent
• Eucalyptus/Neem Tree Oils - insect repellent
• Lavender Oil - disinfectant, deodorizer
• Tea Tree Oil - anti-bacterial, -fungal, and -viral, deodorizer
• Natural Vegetable-based Liquid Soap - grease and grime cutter, wax remover and deodorizer

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Sponsored By:

Green Living Consulting
Green Spur
McLean Chamber of Commerce

Come join us for a morning filled with GREEN activities centered around:
• Fitness
• Nutrition
• Greening Your Home
• Organic gardening
• Halloween activities

Fun for all ages!

Enjoy:
• Pony Rides, Face Painting, Pumpkin Painting, Live Entertainment, Climbing Wall, Halloween Games, and more!

Also:
• Supervisor John Foust will speak about our county's GREEN initiatives.

• Meet GREEN vendors and learn how to save on your energy costs.

• Learn from GREEN builders, architects and specialists on how to make simple GREEN changes at home and at work.

• Watch a demonstration on composting and organic gardening.

• Enjoy healthy treats that will boost your family's intake of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and more!

• Network with McLean families and business owners to learn about what's happening in our community in terms of fitness, nutrition, and greening efforts

• Meet local farmers too!

 

Hope you can make it!

 

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While there are many green practices worth adopting, switching to green cleaning products is one of those actions I advocate for both as a way of helping the environment but also of protecting our own health.

Why Switch to Green Cleaning Products?

A Safer Home

Each day, families are put to risk by household cleaning products found throughout their homes, most of which are unregulated and untested, and many whose toxic ingredients are not disclosed on labels. According to National Geographic, only about 30% of the roughly 17,000 chemicals found in household products, including those used for cleaning, have been sufficiently tested for their effects on human health. Healthier and safer cleaning products offer natural, non-toxic, and biodegradable alternatives that are just as effective as synthetic chemical cleaners.

A Safer Environment

The use of synthetic cleaners has adverse effects on air and water quality, as well as land-based environmental concerns. Many of the chemicals in household cleaners are harmful not only in their use, but also in their manufacturing process. For example, the first step in bleach production produces dioxin as a byproduct—a chemical that has been identified as a carcinogen and has been linked to birth defects and genetic changes. Natural cleaners are manufactured in a way to leave the smallest impact possible on the environment and the healthiest atmosphere in our homes.

How to be Green and Clean

Don’t Be Green-Washed

The search for truly green products may not be as easy as reading “organic” on a label.  Many companies engage in greenwashing practices, including words such as “organic,” “eco-friendly,” “biodegradable,” and “non-toxic” on their labels to make products more appealing to consumers. Unfortunately, these claims are often unverifiable and meaningless.  Look for products with full ingredient disclosure or third party certifications to ensure that product claims are substantiated.  Independent groups such as Green Seal, Cradle To Cradle, the Leaping Bunny and the EPA’s Design for the Environment program analyze product ingredients and certify that those chemicals don’t pose harm to your health or to the environment. My rule of thumb is to buy products with less than 5 ingredients and with names that I can pronounce and recognize. I also look for products packaged in post-consumer recycled materials or that offer refills to  further reduce environmental impact.

The Bleach Debate

It has been argued that because bleach breaks down into salt and water, it can be considered biodegradable and does not necessarily pose an environmental hazard. Bleach is a popular cleaning product because it is effective on a wide range of bacteria and viruses and has the added benefit of being cheap. However, despite the fact that bleach breaks down when released into the environment, it is an eye and lung irritant and mixing bleach with other acids (such as vinegar) can produce dangerous and potentially lethal fumes. Furthermore, the manufacturing process of bleach creates the known carcinogen dioxin as a toxic byproduct. It is best to find alternatives to bleach to ensure both a healthier planet and home.

Some Good Green Cleaners

• Better Life. This company was started by two dads, one a chemist, the other a greenie. This is the most effective green cleaning line I have used to-date and one that I use in my home for every surface.  Buy in DC: ACE Hardware locations, Green Living Consulting. Online: Walgreens.com, Drugstore.com. Delight.com.
• BioKleen. Family-owned, with all products receiving a third party review. Order through Greenshops.com
• Ecover. Belgian company that started making eco-friendly products in 1980. In DC: Whole Foods, Yes Organic Market, Nora, Java Green, Brookville Supermarket. Online: HerbTrader.com
• Mrs. Meyers. Biodegradbale, phosphate free and made with essential oils. In DC: Ace Hardware, Bed Bath & Beyond, Container Store, Dean and Deluca, Greater Goods, Whole Foods, Frager’s Hardware.

National Geographic’s Green Guide also reviews and sells products that meet their environmental criteria.

Green Cleaning Recipes and Tips

The greenest way to clean is to make your own cleaning agents. This can save money and ensure that you know what is in your cleaning products. The following recipes can be made from things that are typically found in your kitchen cupboard.

Vinegar

Vinegar naturally cleans like an all-purpose cleaner. Mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Always test on an inconspicuous area. It is safe to use on most surfaces and has the added bonus of being incredibly cheap. Improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at tile grout. Never use vinegar on marble surfaces. Don’t worry about your home smelling like vinegar. The smell disappears when it dries.

Here are some uses for vinegar in the rooms of your house:

Bathroom – Clean the bathtub, toilet, sink, and countertops. Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Flush the toilet to allow the water level to go down. Pour the undiluted vinegar around the inside of the rim. Scrub down the bowl. Mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution. The substance will also eat away the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Make sure it is safe to use with your tile.

Kitchen- Clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor.

Laundry Room- Use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be especially helpful for families who have sensitive skin. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener. Vinegar has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent more effectively. (A plus when you have a family member whose skin detects every trace of detergent.)

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is another natural substance that can be used to clean your home. Lemon juice can be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Lemon is a great substance to clean and shine brass and copper. Lemon juice can be mixed with vinegar and or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. You can also put a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. It freshens the drain and the kitchen. Orange peels can be used with the same results.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can be used to scrub surfaces in much the same way as commercial abrasive cleansers. Baking soda is great as a deodorizer. Place a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. Put it anywhere you need deodorizing action.

Olive Oil/Lemon Juice

Mix together 1 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup lemon juice to create a homemade furniture polish. Mix together in a clean new spray bottle. To use, remember to shake before each application. Apply a small portion to your cleaning cloth. Spread the polish over the furniture, trying to polish evenly. Use another clean cloth to polish the surface dry.

be well. live green.

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It’s estimated that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, Americans generate one million tons of waste a week. Holiday gift giving and decorating doesn’t have to sacrifice the environment – with some creative green thinking and action, you can have a festive holiday that is good for the planet, and maybe even your pocketbook!


Here are Green Living Consulting’s tips for a Green Holiday:

 
Keep up the 3 R’s Through the Holidays

More than 8,000 tons of wrapping paper are used for presents - the equivalent of 50,000 trees. Try these eco-practices to reduce waste:

• Wrap gifts with paper that is made from recycled content or recyclable. I often use the off-white paper included in shipments and decorate using colored ribbon or stamps. Comic strips from the newspaper also make great wrapping paper.
• Buy gifts with minimal packaging and wrap in a reusable bag.
• Recycle wrapping and tissue paper, bags, and boxes after the gift unveiling is over.
• Send e-cards instead of buying and mailing holiday cards or buy cards made from recycled paper. Around 744 million holiday cards are sent each holiday season. If all these were made from recycled paper, it would help to save the equivalent of 248,000 trees!

Green Decorating

Greener Tree Options

• The majority of Christmas trees are dumped in landfills every year, yet there are many uses for discarded trees. Old Christmas trees can be ground up and used for mulch. Some can be replanted and used for increased stabilization near waterways, preventing beach erosion, or fishing reefs. You can also plant your tree in your winter garden as decoration or as a bird feeder.
• You can buy plastic trees that you can reuse every year, but these trees often end up discarded after about 6 years, ending up in landfills. They also contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which produces cancer-causing dioxins during its manufacture and incineration.
• The ideal choice for a truly green tree is to buy a potted Christmas tree, available at farmer’s markets, garden centers, and some tree farms. After you’ve enjoyed it, you can celebrate the New Year by planting it outdoors or donate it to your local parks department. Visit earth911.org to find out where to recycle your tree.

Energy Efficient Holiday Lights

Indoor LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights run on about 1/10th of the energy of conventional lights. Since they produce no heat, they don’t present a fire risk, making them green and safe!

• Decorating your home with LED lights could reduce holiday lighting energy use by up to 95%. A typical 50-bulb incandescent strand of lights uses 250 watts and an equivalent 70-bulb LED strand uses only three watts. For a house that operates holiday lights for six hours a day through the month of December, with an energy price of 8.27 cents per kilowatt hour, six strands of incandescent holiday lights would cost over $23 to power versus a mere 28 cents for LEDs. By replacing the incandescent strands with LEDs, it would save you $22.79 in energy costs for the month.
• For outdoor decorating, you can buy Solar LED lights that charge by daylight and automatically turn on from dusk until dawn.
• Don’t forget to always turn your lights off before going to bed at night!

Eco-friendly Ornament Options

• Buy Fair Trade Federation-certified ornaments that are lead-free and made from materials such as silk, wood, or gourds.
• Make your own ornaments out of gingerbread cookies, prior year’s Christmas cards, origami patterns, ribbons, and the old-time favorites like popcorn-and-cranberry garland.

Electronics and Batteries

If you receive electronic goods this season, don’t throw your old ones away. Dispose of them properly by:

• Returning old cell phones to your cell phone provide (many take them back and donate them to community organizations, battered women’s shelters, etc)
• Sell them at YouRenew.com and make money if they are still working or mail it to them anyway and they will recycle or dispose of properly.
• If you are buying toys or electrical goods that need batteries, buy rechargeable ones, then add a battery charger to your shopping list. Make sure to recycle those old batteries instead of tossing them in the trash (libraries often take old batteries or go to earth911.org for disposal locations near you!).

Shopping and Gift-Buying

Around 125,000 tons of plastic packaging are thrown away over the holiday season.

• Take your own reusable shopping bags when you do your shopping.

Get Green Gifts for Your Family and Friends

• www.greenshops.com
• www.treehugger.com/giftguide
• www.greenamericatoday.org/guides/holidaygifts/index.cfm
• www.greengiftguide.com
• www.inhabitat.com/2009/11/27/announcing-the-2009-inhabitat-green-gift-guide/
• www.goinggreendc.net

for some gifts that give back…

• Alternative Gifts International – support global humanitarian causes that will gladly accept a holiday donation in the name of a loved one. www.altgifts.org
• Tom’s Shoes – for every pair purchased Tom gives a pair of shoes to a child in need. www.tomsshoes.com
• Better World Books – Collects and sells books online to fund literacy initiatives worldwide. www.betterworld.com

Post-Holiday Clean-Out

New sweaters, scarves, jeans – all the items on your fashion wishlist were delivered by Santa and now you need room in your closet. If you do a clean-out, be sure to donate your old clothes to someone in need through your local church, Goodwill, or shelter. You might even check with a second-hand shop to see if they’ll consign or buy you used clothing. It would be new to someone else and give you a little extra $green$ in your pocket for your good green acts!

 
Don’t forget to make your New Year’s resolution to live greener in 2010!


Author: Adrienne Spahr, Founder of Green Living Consulting – eco-practices for businesses, organizations, and households. Contact:

www.greenlivingconsulting.com
info@greenlivingconsulting.com

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