Having a Ball
Between the environmental impact and having an allergic cat, I have always been hesitant of dryer sheets, even when they are all-natural and biodegradable.
As we have mentioned before, the most eco-friendly way to dry your clothes is to hang them outside in the sun. However, when there is snow on the ground or you are without a yard, line-drying is a bit difficult. For me, the next best thing are Dryer Balls. They are available in most stores and not only eliminate any of the ingredients that come with dryer sheets, but they also shorten drying time (which saves on energy) and “fluff up” the clothes you are drying (which means less ironing!).
It’s true that some are made from PVC, which is not an environmentally-friendly material, however you can also find some that are PVC-free (such as these from Nellie’s All-Natural) or you can make your own wool alternative. Some even say that tennis balls do the trick just as well.
Whatever material you choose, I definitely recommend giving dryer balls a try. You may be surprised to find that they will save you time, energy, money (on buying dryer sheets) and allergic reactions.
Joey Totes
I know what you’re thinking… not another post about bringing your own bag! Alas, it’s true. I think a big reason that we keep coming back to this simple act is because it’s so easy to do! Perhaps the hardest part is remembering to take your bag with you. I’ll admit, I always have multiple bags on hand at the grocery store, but there are occasions when I make quick trip into Target, only to realize at checkout that I forgot my canvas bag in the car, resulting in trying to carry it all in my arms, awkwardly out to my car. However, all that has changed since being introduced to Joey Totes.
These little machine-washable totes fit EASILY into my favorite purse and are always on hand for any unexpected trips into a store. The pouch the bag comes in is actually attached TO THE TOTE, so that re-stuffing is a breeze. Then I just toss it back in my purse. No trips out to my car, no hanging it on the door knob. Thank you Joey Totes!
Crystal Clear
A popular argument I hear from people who don’t like to use natural cleaning products is that they don’t work as well as those with harsher chemicals. And lets face it, when it comes to certain things, you really want them to be clean. However, for those of you who trust in your natural ingredients, you can rest assured that you can be green AND clean.
A recent study from Consumer Testing Laboratories “proved that natural, plant-based products do clean just as well as chemicals – chemicals, such as phosphates, 1.4 dioxane, chlorine bleach, formaldehyde, and caustics, etc.” To prove this, the testing lab compared Cascade to the Wave® 2X Ultra – High Performance Auto Dishwasher Gel from Earth Friendly Products. “Both products were tested for their ability to remove a variety of soils from a set of identically soiled test dishes. Tests proved that both gel detergents performed well, removing all of the test soils. All of the test dishes, tumblers, and flatware were judged as comparable for spotting, filming, and soil removal following the dishwashing tests.” (Download the full PDF press release here.)
I decided to conduct my own test and got some of the Wave High Performance Dishwasher Gel. (I have been a long time fan of their Furniture Polish seen here.) As for the results, while I may not be a consumer testing expert, there was no visible difference to me. My husband (an occasional skeptic) even agreed that the dishes washed with the Earth Friendly Products were just as crystal clear and clean as when we use less natural products.
So if you are skeptical of how clean green products can be, I suggest you conduct your own study. You may just be pleasantly surprised how clean your house (and conscience) will be!
Green Pack
It is no doubt that the green trend is catching on. And while this does mean that there is an increase in “greenwashing“, it also means that long-time recognizable brands are offering solutions for those of use who choose the green route when possible.
One such brand is the popular backpack company, Osprey. As a long-time favorite of serious backpackers and casual travelers alike, I was very pleased to see when I was recently shopping for a daypack that Osprey offered a ReSource Series built almost entirely from recycled materials. Knowing this, I was more than eager to purchase a pack from a locally-owned store that carried it. Osprey’s environmental efforts are detailed on their site, and I have been very pleased with not only the quality of the backpack, but also the thought that was put into creating it.
So, as outdoor adventure weather approaches, consider your choices if you need to purchase any related gear. In addition to Osprey, you can also find other eco-friendly choices by Mountainsmith and Millet and even Keen, Kelty and The North Face.
Earth Day Indiana 2009
Earth Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean the events celebrating it are! If you are in the Indianapolis area, consider heading downtown tomorrow (Saturday) for Earth Day Indiana. Liz will be visiting from Columbus, and we are looking forward to attending the event together.
Some of our local favorites will be there, including Green Piece Indy, Celery Street, and Indiana Living Green to name a few.
Happy Earth Day
Happy Earth Day from Green-Lemonade.com!
We thought rather than take the time to write a lengthy post about all the things you can do today and tomorrow, we would instead just encourage you to GET OUTSIDE and enjoy your surroundings. We hope that seeing all the elements in your environment that need to be protected will make you more likely to make steps to do just that!
Paint it Green
To say that I spend a lot of time in my office would be an understatement. So, when it came time to paint said office, I certainly wanted to choose a paint that was not only friendly to the environment, but also odorless, easy on the pocketbook and, I admit, convenient.
The paint that I found that met those criteria was Sherwin Williams Harmony interior latex paint. Even though TreeHugger.com has this product on Greenwash Watch, I was very happy to know that it uses a no-VOC formula and can say from personal experience that the lack of odor is significant compared to regular paint.
So if you are looking to do some painting in the future, don’t forget that there are lots of options out there to choose from that won’t leave you, or the environment, with a headache.
Note: If you are interested to see how our home office turned out, you can see a photo of it here.
Earth Hour 2009
From the pyramids to Paris, people around the world are shutting off their lights for Earth Hour 2009. Do your part and switch off your lights on Saturday night from 8:30-9:30 pm. Learn more about the movement at EarthHour.org.
Afraid of the dark? Look for others doing the same in your city. In you are in Indy, hang out with the gang from Green Piece Indy at South Bend Chocolate Cafe. Check out their site for more details.
More “Twist”ing
Last year, we mentioned Twist products for the first time and since then, they have become a regular part of our kitchen clean-up routine. Since then, Twist has come out with some new products that go beyond the kitchen, including the Bamboo Cloth shown in the photo above.
This cloth is made from 82% bamboo, 18% corn and is 100% bio-degradable — not that you’ll be tossing it anytime soon, considering it’s strong enough to be cleaned in the washing machine. Soft to the touch, the Bamboo Cloth is perfect for dusting and cleaning furniture. And as with all the Twist products, the packaging is as eco-friendly as what’s inside. So check out the Twist web site for locations and start “Twist”ing to add some green to your clean.
Getting Carded
It’s no wonder that December is the busiest month at the post office as thousands of holiday greeting cards are sent around the world. This year, save yours from a trip to the recycling bin and follow the second “R” of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”
Here are just a few ideas of what you can do with all those Christmas cards.
- Make them into gift tags for next year.
- Cut off the backs off old holiday cards and use them as thank you cards or postcards next year.
- Turn them into gift boxes. (Find directions here and here.)
- Make them into ornaments.
- Turn them into bookmarks.
- Paste a smaller photo on the card to create a festive border. Frame the finished product to use as a holiday decoration, or turn it into an ornament.
- Make a luminary.
Now matter what you do, think about easy or crafty ways to reuse your cards and make sure to recycle the scraps!
