Green Spring Cleaning

By: Sommer | March 21, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

cleaning solution, orange rubber gloves, sponges, and scrub brushYesterday was the first day of spring so it’s time for annual spring cleaning again. But, how many of you, like me, dread the process because of the smell of traditional household cleaning products? Fake pine, lemon and orange just don’t make me think “clean” they make me think “hard to breathe” and “headache.” And the residue some cleaners leave behind is just gross!

I’ve recently tried to learn about less toxic products I can use to clean the house. Luckily, my research turned up tons of ways to clean without using toxic chemicals and store-bought cleaners.

Some basic staples to keep on hand for green cleaning include:

  • Vinegar: My favorite product to use around the house, plain white vinegar, works as a fabulous all purpose cleaner and it doesn’t leave behind toxic smells or residue. I mix equal parts water and vinegar and keep it in a spray bottle. A couple squirts and a clean rag go a long way to sprucing up the house. Vinegar with a sheet of newspaper works great for cleaning windows and mirrors while a spray of the water and vinegar mixture on the bathroom sink in the morning freshens it up for the rest of the day.
  • Baking soda works great as a mildly abrasive scouring powder. Used on a damp sponge it can even get a kool-aid stain off the kitchen counter! This natural deodorizer can also work wonders in a refrigerator, pantry or clothes closet to keep the air fresh. Hey, any product that can keep kitty litter smelling fresh is a miracle-worker in my book.
  • Lemons and lemon juice are nature’s bleach and disinfectant. I love to use lemons to freshen my garbage disposal. Sprinkling some salt on a lemon you've cut in half makes a great disinfectant and deodorizer for a cutting board.

When making your own cleaners use caution. Make sure you read all labels closely and follow recommendations. Never mix products that turn toxic when combined including bleach with ammonia or vinegar.

Here’s to a clean, green house this spring!

| Comments [6] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: bakingsoda   chemical   clean   green   lemon   organic   sommer   spring   toxic   vinegar  

 

Going Green on St. Patrick's Day

By: Jake | March 17, 2008 | Category: General

Four Leaf Clover

Today is St. Patrick's Day, and it is a great holiday for me because the world is immersed in my favorite color. Most people with (this includes me) or without Irish-American heritage wear green, some bars dye beer green and cities like Chicago dye their rivers green.

While St. Patrick's day is an official holiday in Ireland, it is not a federal holiday in the U.S., so we probably won't see too many federal buildings in the U.S. with green banners. Federal agencies are starting to think green though. Last year President Bush signed an executive order that requires federal agencies to "go green" and achieve 11 goals in the coming years in order to become more environmentally friendly.

Here on GovGab we've posted about ways you can "go green" by recycling, composting, conserving water or even growing your own Christmas Tree and we still have a way to go before we cover every way you can conserve. In the meantime, take a look at the Environmental Protection Agency's website, and if you looking for a way you can go green today, check out these green St. Patrick's day recipes.

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Go Green: Tips for Conserving Water

By: Sam | January 09, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

While many of you were dreaming of a white Christmas, I think most folks in the Southeast were hoping for a rainy one.  With many states facing one of the most severe droughts in history, any amount of precipitation would be a welcome change to the sunny, blue skies.

Since the drought affects many of my loved ones, I have stayed up-to-date on the conditions thanks to USA.gov.  I can check the local drought forecasts, get weekly drought monitor maps, and calculate how much precipitation it would take to end the current drought conditions in the next three months.  For much of the Southeast and parts of California, it would take 18 to 21 inches of rain! 

At drought.gov, I can get recent news related to the drought as well as impact reports from media, observers, and other sources.  These reports are searchable by state and county, category of impact (environment, agriculture, social, etc.), and time period.  They are also a real eye-opening read on how the drought is affecting individuals and communities from job loss to wildfires to sparse crop growth. 

One positive that has resulted from the drought is the need to be more conscious about conserving water.  While I was home for the holidays, my Mom had to gently remind me to take shorter showers and to turn the water off while brushing my teeth.  To help encourage folks, the state of Georgia has put together a great website, ConserveWaterGerogia.net, which is full of useful tips on conserving water at home, school, and work.

Here’s a few to help get you started:

  • Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes.
  • Fix leaking faucets and toilets.
  • Turn off lights when you’re not in the room since energy is produced using large volumes of water.
  • Don’t overwater your lawn.  Lawns only need to be watered every 10 to 14 days in the winter.
  • Avoid over fertilizing your lawn.

You can also find creative ideas for saving water such as collecting rainwater with rain barrels and test your WaterSense with the EPA’s new interactive online quiz.  And for more helpful advice and resources checkout thedailygreen.com.

| Comments [3] | envelope Email This Entry | Tags: conservation   drought   green   usa.gov   water