Express window cleaning - no cost, zero toxic chemicals

Every Feng-Shui practitioner will tell you: "Keep your windows clean!" With the spring coming, it even more important to get the energy flowing. I can hear many of you saying: "Fair enough but not my favorite activity!"

Here is a tip for window cleaning at no time. You will need:

• 2 buckets of warm water with half a small cup of vinegar (no need to fill the bucket completely, I use no more than 2-3 litres of water per window)
• 1 microfiber cloth
• 1 clean dry absorbing soft cotton cloth (use old sheet, pillow or t-shirt - no need to go spending on this item)
• another spare cloth from recycled material to clean the window frames

Stop shampooning your windows, start cleaning them

The trick consists in:

• wiping your window frames first (use first bucket)
• using the microfiber cloth soaked in your vinegar water solution to clean your windows once, rinse the cloth, wring it well and clean for the second time
• last step is wiping dry the remaining tiny drops (leave the drops to dry a bit but not completely).

That is it! ...no rinsing of chemicals, no toxic sprays smears to deal with. This is the fastest and best green window cleaning I came across and have been using for years. Your hands stay soft after using vinegar water (some people use specific kinds of vinegar even to shower). You do not inhale any toxins or pour them into the nature. Plus you save money.

This of course applies to car windows, mirrors and so forth. For other non toxic cleaning tips see vinegar mania.

Green your office -start today

There are always ways you can green your office regardless of where you are but obviously if you have a home office things can be more easy. Here are some tips on how to green your office.

• Choose natural lighting which is better for your sight as well. When you need to use artificial light, make sure your bulbs are energy efficient LED (light emitting diode) rather than incandescent light. Other popular environmentally friendly but still containing mercury are compact fluorescent light (CFL). If you use these, you must ensure correct disposal. IKEA usually recycle those as well.

• Go digital and save paper and ink. Do you really need to print documents, emails and notes? Think of all the documents you can read, process and store in digital form. I have not had a printer on my desk for the past 3 years and I go out to do my prints if needed, which is not very often. This forces me to be very creative and stay fit when Im not.
• Reduce the use of CDs or use rewritable ones so you can use them again. There is so much material out there that one can download directly through internet without the need of purchasing a CD. From music and movies to computer programs. Storage of files is also better on external drives than on single CDs. They contain toxic substances and recycling of used CDs is not always available.

• Avoid purchasing unnecessary appliances, make the best use of the ones you have. Eg. I use my camera instead of a scanner. 

• Reuse paper and, if you need to print, print on both sides. 
• Use greener paper, one that is non-bleached (chlorine-free) and FSC certified or recycled paper. 

• Select eco-stationary that can be made of treeless materials including bamboo, elephant dung or even stone (this one employs a very eco friendly production process). Corn starch is used to make paper, pens, or cups.  
• Stay informed since not all paper that is made of these 'green' resources, is eco-friendly. The production process and transport are to be taken into consideration. So check the labels.

• Recycle all - your stationary, batteries, CDs, old computers, printers, telephones, and other gadgets. Never throw them into conventional gardbage. Most western countries have a place where you can take your old appliances some sellers will take your old applience for recycling. So do your research to find your recycling stations.

• Reduce the use of batteries or use rechargeable ones. Many fancy gadgets and office appliances run with batteries which account for a considerable amount of toxic waste. If you need to use them avoid batteries for only one use. 
• Go solar when you can. Logitech's wireless solar keyboard is only one example.
  

• Switch off all appliances when not in use. You might want to install a central switch.

• Avoid drinking water in plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are a highly polluting item and water in them is not always safe. Sit a water jar on your desk.

• Consider more sophisticated ways of greening your office such as green server and green webhosting. 

• Be mindful and creative, find more greening tips for your office.

Vinegar mania (updated 2013)

My family considers me a vinegar maniac! There always has to be fermented or distilled vinegar in the house and I do use it very often. The latest addition to the list of vinegar uses was the car windscreen use.

When I sit in someone's car (I have never owned a car myself, which makes me somewhat proud), and get the pleasure of inhaling the over-perfumed soapy and truly toxic windscreen washer, I enter a state of panic. Thus, I have been looking for alternatives.

If you are looking for a less toxic ride, pour 1:2 white vinegar /water solution into the windscreen washer bottle. The result is equally efficient. You get most of the dirt away from your windscreen. As a bonus you pollute less and save yourself from inhaling yet another toxic solution. Plus its dirt cheap! 

My other vinegar uses:

BEAUTY (apple vinegar)

• Apply half a spoon of naturally fermented vinegar instead of a hair conditioner. Mix with water and rinse your hair.

• Pour a glass of 1:3 vinegar/ water solution over your washed hair to manage natural curls instead of using a non-natural fixing hair gel.

• Soften your hands by dipping them into the vinegar and drying them afterwards.

HEATH (apple vinegar)

•Drink two tablespoonfuls of diluted apple vinegar a day, or add to salads to rid your body of Candida and treat urinary tract infections.

•Add two cups of apple vinegar into your bath to balance your skin PH, sun damaged skin or attack yeast infection.

•Sooth insect’s stinks and small cuts by applying undiluted vinegar.

BATHROOM (distilled white vinegar)

•Clean, disinfect and shine your porcelain basin and bathtub with undiluted vinegar and avoid buying toxic bathroom cleaners.

•Remove scum and polish your shower door with 100% vinegar solution.

•Get rid of bathroom mold by spraying 100% vinegar solution. Ventilate your bathroom.

•Disinfect and clean your porcelain toilet by sprinkling baking soda and spraying vinegar over it. Leave for a while before scrubbing with a toilet brush and rinsing.

•Leave half a cup of vinegar in the toilet bowl to remove odor. 

•Unblock a clogged drain or remove drain odor by pouring 1 liter of hot vinegar into it. Leave overnight.

CAR

•Remove stains from car carpet with a 1:1 solution of water/ distilled vinegar.

•Remove odor by placing bowl of distilled vinegar on the car floor and leave overnight.

•Polish car chrome with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a soft cloth.

GARDEN

•Discourage ants and other pests by spraying undiluted vinegar.  

•Get rid of fruit flies by placing a bowl of distilled vinegar in the affected area.

•Kill weed and unwanted grass by pouring undiluted vinegar onto walkways (avoid pesticides).

KITCHEN

•Clean your kitchen sink and counters with 100% vinegar solution on a soft cloth.

•Deodorize and clean your garbage can with undiluted vinegar. 

•Remove mineral deposits from your kettle by placing vinegar overnight or boiling it before rinsing with water.

•Soak the tips of your wooden spoons overnight in vinegar solutions to brighten and disinfect them (avoid plastic or silicon utensils which may release toxins). Never place your wooden spoons into a dishwasher if you use conventional toxic dishwasher detergents.

•Disinfect your wooden cutting boards after washing and leave to dry in the sun.

•Clean your dishwasher with vinegar ice cubes added to the bottom prior to the cycle and avoid heavy chemical cleaners.

•Alternatively, pour 1 liter of vinegar and run in an empty dishwasher using hot but short cycle (can use just the first wash and then rinse not to abuse water).

•Remove film in (baby) glass bottles with 1:1 hot water/ vinegar solution, leave for an hour+, before scrubbing with a brush.

•Clean and freshen the refrigerator with undiluted vinegar.

OTHER CLEANING

•Create an all-purpose window cleaner 1:3 vinegar/water. For best results use microfiber cloth. The same applies to mirrors too.

•Wash wooden/ linoleum/ ceramic floors with warm bucket of water and a cup of vinegar.

•Clean and disinfect children’s toys with vinegar.

•Sanitize pet homes and beds with vinegar/ water solution.

•Add to the washing machine last cycle instead of a softener and get softer towels.

•Clean your iron with 1:1 water/vinegar solution and let it steam out.

•Make your eye-glasses shine by cleaning them with 1:2 vinegar/ water solution.

BEWARE

•Never use vinegar on marble surfaces; it can damage them.

•There are more than two dozens types of vinegar. Use only white distilled vinegar for cleaning. Balsamic vinegar and other vinegar deriving from wine and apples are not suitable for cleaning.

•Check the label before purchasing vinegar, some have been made from petroleum and fossil fuel products, since synthetic ethyl alcohol can be created from the liquefaction of coal or the hydration of ethylene, which is a product of the petrochemical industry. This is why you should ensure your vinegar comes from fermentation (e.g. corn or barley), by oxidizing alcohol in wine, beer or any other fermented liquid. The active component of vinegar is acetic acid and most vinegars will contain around 5% of this acid.

•Use apple cider vinegar for internal use only in a diluted form as it is highly acidic. 

Although vinegar is not bleach, it is a powerful disinfectant that kills the majority of bacteria, best working in an undiluted form. Some people regard vinegar as inefficient in households with children and pets. However, precisely there one should beware of the abuse of toxic disinfectants. Disinfectants overkill.

By the way, I heard that some people use vinegar as a natural deodorant. So who is the vinegar maniac here?!

RELATED:  Tips you can apply today to green your living
                      Items every green household should have

Tips you can APPLY TODAY to green your living

There are many people who would like to contribute to the sustainable living but they get hold off since they do not know how. Recycling is no longer counted as a contribution, rather it is a must. Although green living requires change of mind/ habits, it is only by doing that you can bring up the change. So roll up your sleeves and see if you can apply these 10 tips today:

• Defrost your fridge/ keep it running at low level freeze/ ensure it is not overloaded so the air circulates
• Turn down your water heater to temperature below 40°C
• Check and reduce the cycle of your washing machine (I keep them under 1hour)
• Do not buy more harsh and toxic household cleaning products/ cosmetics
• Eat as much fresh food as you can/ avoid frozen and processed food with preservatives that have a large footprint
• Eliminate or reduce meat and dairy products consumption - it will improve your health
• Shop local, buy local and bio/ organic as much as you can
• Stop buying bottled water - your tap water is safer and more environmentally friendly
• Avoid running excess water when brushing your teeth or dish washing
• Influence people around you and tell them about benefits of going green

List of nasties at your home

I  borrowed this list from a green-organic-world website and I thought I would share with you since it sums up nicely what we all should be aware of. So put this list on your bathroom mirror or have in the pocket when shopping for cosmetics and cleaning products. If it is too complex for you and you still want to avoid these just ensure you are purchasing certified bio, organic and eco products or make your own simple products using natural ingredients. There is no need to be dependent on dangerous products that are said to clean and/ or make us beautiful. Of course, the list is not exhaustive. If your household cleaning product displays Caution! Warning! or Danger! just do not buy it. Im sure you have plenty of those under your kitchen sink. And if you stop consuming those you can give yourself a huge pat on a shoulder pall! You are saving the environment big time since the production and use of such chemicals account for a large amount of pollution.

Toxic Ingredient List

1. Petroleum based products: Known by names like petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin, paraffin oil, paraffin wax.

USES:

Used in shampoos, hair relaxers, anti-aging creams, mascaras, perfumes, foundations, lipsticks and lip balms.

HAZARDS:

These chemicals commonly used in cosmetic ingredients are byproducts of and derived from crude oil and may have known or potential carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects. They may also be contaminated with unlisted hazardous impurities such as 1,4 Dioxane and PAHs due to their manufacturing process.

They coat the skin, clog pores, and interfere with the body's natural ability to eliminate toxins.

2. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)/ Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate: Often disguised on cosmetic labels, especially those labeled as 'natural', with the description 'comes from coconut'.

USES:

Found in shampoo, bath and shower products, and toothpaste. Used to degrease engines, used in car washes and garage floor cleaners. Used as an emulsifying and foaming agent. 90% of foaming products use this ingredient.

HAZARDS:

--May cause damage to the liver, lungs, and immune system.

--May cause depression of nervous system, diarrhea, and reproductive system disorders.

--Severe skin irritant.

--Damages respiratory tract and eyes.

3. Phthlates: includes Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate

USES:

These toxic cosmetic ingredients are found in perfumes, hairsprays, and nail polishes. Phthlates are used as skin moisturizers, and to enhance penetration of skin. They are also used as plasticizers to soften plastic.

HAZARDS:

--Known to have negative effects on the reproductive system and early development.

--Act as hormone disruptors. Associated with premature breast development in girls and problems with reproductive development in male fetuses.

4. Parabens: Derived from petroleum. Also known as alkyl parahydroxy benzoates; and butyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, or isobutyl paraben.

USES:

Cosmetic ingredients that are found in deodorants, moisturizers, and some food items. They are used as preservatives.

Hazards:

Interfere with estrogen levels.

5. Fragrance: Usually listed as 'fragrance' (in the US), or 'parfum' (EU). Commonly used in cosmetic ingredients and personal care products, fragrance may contain up to 4000 separate ingredients, although typically most products use an average of 50-100 fragrance ingredients. These ingredients have no restrictions and are not required to be listed separately.

USES:

Often used to mask the scent of other ingredients or to make the product smell more appealing. Fragrance is added to most personal care products on the market. 95% of the chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic derivatives of petroleum.

HAZARDS:

--Fragrance may have an effect upon the central nervous system, and interfere with metabolism, hormones, and act as endocrine disruptors.

--These hazardous cosmetic ingredients can cause headaches, dizziness, breathing disorders, allergic rashes and other allergic reactions, skin disorders, coughing, vomiting, depression, hyperactivity, irritability, and chemical sensitivities.

6. Hydroquinone:

USES:

Found in skin lightening products and moisturizers.

HAZARDS:

--A possible carcinogen, neurotoxin (substance which affects the nervous system), and a skin sensitizer.

--Causes ochronosis, a disease of the skin which results in black and blue lesions on the skin and is irreversible.

7. Lead Acetate:

USES:

Found in hair dyes and cleansers.

HAZARDS:

Known to be toxic to the human reproductive system and to impair development.

8. Mercury: Also known as thimerosal.

USES:

Found in eye drops, ointments, and mascara.

HAZARDS:

Has toxic effects on the human reproductive system and human development. May also be a carcinogen.

9. Triclosan: Also known as 5-cholor2 (2,4 dichlorophenoxy)-phenol. May not appear on the labels of cosmetic ingredients due to trademark associations.

USES: 

Found in liquid soaps, deodorants, mouthwashes, toothpastes, vaginal washes, and even clothing. An antibacterial agent that has been found in human breast milk and fish.

HAZARDS:

Forms cancer causing dioxins when manufactured or incinerated.

10. Toluene: Also known as toluol, and methylbenzene

USES:

Found in nailpolish.

HAZARDS:

--Skin irritant

--Irritates the respiratory tract

--Highly poisonous and toxic to the central nervous system, eyes, blood, liver, kidneys, and skin

--May cause liver damage

--May cause women to have spontaneous abortions

--At high concentrations, has a narcotic effect and may cause unconsciousness and death

11. Xylene: Also goes by the names xylol or dimethylbenzene

USES:

Found in nail polish

HAZARDS:

Irritates the skin and respiratory tract. May damage the liver. Has a narcotic effect at high concentrations.

12. BHT: Other names BHT goes by are butylated hydroxytoulene and E 324

USES:

Used in facial creams, lipsticks, sun lotions, and mascara. Used as an antioxidant preservative.

HAZARDS:

May cause behavioral changes and problems with reproductive system. Contains toluene (See number 8 above) Causes allergic dermatitis.

13. Propylene Glycol: Also known as propan-1,2-diol, PG

USES:

Used in shampoo, body lotion, deodorant, sun lotion, makeup and color cosmetics. Used as an humectant, to retain moisture.

HAZARDS:

--Extremely toxic, according to the EPA, which warns against contact with the skin

--Causes skin irritation and contact dermatitis

--Depresses the central nervous system

--May cause respiratory and throat irritation, liver, brain, and kidney disorders, conjunctivitis in the eyes, brain damage, and hypoglycemia

--Derived from petroleum

14. AHAs: Alpha-hydroxy acids or fruit acids, including glycolic, lactic, and citric acid.

USES:

These cosmetic ingredients are used in bath and shower products, anti-aging and face and body products. Used as exfoliants and ph balancers.

HAZARDS:

--Skin irritant

--May cause photosensitivity to sunlight and increase risk to sun related skin disorders and skin cancers

15. PPD: Also known as p-phenylenediamine.

USES:

Used as a dye. Found in dark hair dyes, black henna, and temporary tattoos.

HAZARDS:

--May be carcinogenic

--A suspected mutagen that may cause genetic mutations

--Skin irritant

--May cause allergic reactions

RELATED: Conventional cosmetics can impact your health

How natural are natural cosmetics  Items every green household should have  Green products for washing  Home made laundry detergent

Going nuts is great

Two weeks back I 'went nuts' with my two Italian girlfriends in Ravenna. We were testing ways of going green. Although we were skeptical at first, going nuts seemed like the perfect option.

We visited Natura Si and purchased a pack of brown dried Himalaya fruit which was promising great results. During our fantastic fruit/ vegetable based lunch with local wine and prime olive oil, we did our best to "sporcare" (verb originating from the pig) the table cloth with heavy stains. Few more clothes added to fill up the load and off we went to test the nuts - we cut 5 into pieces and placed into a small bag with the laundry.

The miracle was disputed the minute la 'mama' took the washing out. "Here is a stain!" She ran back, placed all laundry back into the washing machine with a bleach before we could say anything. "Mama mia"was my reaction, "the stains need to be pre-washed naturally before". This is when we went nuts again. I thought it was the end of our natural washing. ;-((( Luckily, the next load with sweated clothes was washed sparklessly. 100% natural saponing, this is my best choice for washing.

I love the Sapindus Mukorossi tree and I wish I could grow it in my garden.

Green treasure - worm composting

Hi there earth lovers,

I have been getting itchy to recycle my food scraps but find it difficult in my city apartment. I have been researching the options and although some enthusiasts have invented the Nature Mill for city apartments, I'm somewhat hesitant as I question the capacity and form. The point in composting is to use the power of nature and little of your work to turn your biodegradable waste into a fertile soil.

It seems other have been on top of the issue so perhaps those living in the cities might be able to turn food waste into magic soil soon. Lets hope that John and his team will succeed in promoting such initiative and all of us from cities can then reduce our waste.

By the way, already San Francisco leads the way with its composting law.

Now, I wonder how many of you have a house with a garden and how many of those actually do compost??? Errr, maybe I should not have asked cause Im not ready for the answer ;-)

Anyway, if you have a piece of garden and you wonder how to compost  here is a little video tip for you from National Geographic.

Household voluntary slavery...

Ah, and ultimately, the ironing.

I admire all those who pile their freshly dried clothes for days. Some people like to dry their clothes and throw them on a heap, add more and then for days look with frustration on how to get rid of this pile of creased shirts.

Why do we create unnecessary work at all cost? 

Here is what to do:

• Once you washed your clothes take them out of the washing machine as soon as possible to limit the creasing. 
• Shake them well so they extend and dry them with care. 
• If you dry your shirts and T-shirts on a hanger so you can wear them without ironing. Once they are dry, and even if you do not consider them perfectly ready for wearing, leave them on the hanger until the day when you iron them. There is no need to create more creases then there are, and if you have extended and shake your clothes well, there will be no creases. 

The Rethink Hanger by Chinese designer Xuan Yu is essentially a hook from 

old plastic bottles forming a clothes hanger.

Less ironing is less frustration and saves energy - iron is one of the biggest household energy 'eaters'. So make sure you iron only the necessary pieces.

Avoid being like my auntie who irons even the socks and creaseless T-shirts, only to fold them and pile them in the wardrobe. For her, the straight deep creases from folding do not mater... I hate to watch how she makes a slave of herself.

Items every green household should have

When we go shopping we tend to buy the same or similar things. That is why the marketers change the shelf dispaly every now and then just to make us buy stuff we were not planning to get. So do you buy products you need or are you a victim of marketing?

If we are attempting for a green household, what items should we have?

1. White or distilled vinegar 

- a great disinfectant used for household cleaning and also as a natural softener

2. Baking (cooking) soda

-moisture and odor remover, component of ecological household cleaning, stain remover, jewelry polisher, washes pesticides of your fruit and veggies

3. Eucalyptus or tea tree oil and grape seed extract

- both have antibacterial properties, can be used in our washing as well as cleaning

4. Lemon
- fantastic natural fragrance and odor neutralizer, hair conditioner, anti-grease agent,  ant deterrent,
 anti-bacterial agent e.g. to clean chopping boards, amongst others

5. Washing soda
-needed for your laundry washing

6. Castile and gall soaps
-perfect for efficient and environmentally friendly laundry washing free of stains

7. Microfiber cloth
-is ideal for detergent free cleaning of windows, mirrors, delicate surfaces etc

With these there is no need to spend a lot of money on dangers chemicals that destroy our nature and pollute our home air quality. 

"Be gentle on your home" 

(a Feng Shui principle)

GREEN PRODUCTS FOR WASHING

If we are attempting to adopt environmentally friendly practices, we should definitely aim at our laundry. Not only do we pollute the environment with phosphates and other harsh chemicals, we also let these interact with our skin and respiratory system. Washing in conventional detergents can cause allergies, rushes, skin disorders amongst other health problems. This note pad will identify environmentally friendly products for laundry washing and those that minimally impact our health.

AVAILABLE ECO DETERGENTS

There is a vast range of eco detergents available in most countries. Salection can be made from both liquid and powder detergents.

Eco detergents are phosphate-free and are made with biodegradable ingredients. They contain plant based fragrances or are unscented. Green detergents often emphasize minimal packaging, recycled or recyclable wrapping, minimize resources for production and transportation. Depending on a country, those detergents can be found in hypermarkets and supermarkets, health food stores, drogeries (Europe) and on-line. Eco friendly softeners are widely available by the eco brands.

US popular eco detergents

Seventh Generation Natural 2X Concentrated Liquid Detergent

Seventh Generation Natural Powdered Detergent 

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day 

Arm & Hammer Essentials Liquid Laundry Detergent

Country Save Laundry Detergent Powder 

Method Liquid Laundry Detergent 

Dropps Laundry Detergent

 European popular eco brands

Ecover

Alma

Another option is washing with SOAP NUTS which have been used as a natural detergent for centuries. There are around a dozen soap nuts species native to India, China, Southern Asia, parts of north and central America. The one most widely used for its detergent attributes is the Soap Nut Tree or Chinese Soapberry (source). Washing can be done directly by inserting a cotton bag with few soapnuts shells into the washing machine or with a detergent made of the shells substance called saponin. Detergents are available in liguid or powdre form in many countries. Search for a soapnuts detergent in your country so you do not impact the environment with transportation from remote areas. 

WITHOUT THE USE OF DETERGENT

Ultimately you can test YOUR OWN MAKING

Home-made detergents are not only the most environmentally friendly option, they are also the most economic solution. Some people are skeptical about their efficacy but I have tried them and they certainly work equally well as their petroleum based counterparts. Heavy soiled laundry and stains need special attention, however, so does washing in conventional detergents.This blog dedicates a section to home-made cleaning products and detergents as well.

So which is the best option?

All of the above options work well. They get your clothes clean. The criteria is also what suits you and what kind of conditions you have (hard water etc). I would suggest you test the option that is more appealing to you. I have tried almost all. Currently I use eco-balls for not so soiled and sweaty laundry (the eco balls save also water and energy since you can shorten the rinse cycle). I combine their use with a home made detergent that gets my laundry clean and has limited impact on the environment.