Saturday, April 19, 2008

Don’t just clean, clean “green”

I may not have done much homework yet this weekend, but I have cleaned my room and bathroom. I didn’t really think much of it until I found an article on Yahoo! about cleaning with “green” products. On top of being environmentally friendly, making your own household cleaners can save you money and energy. Just think, you probably already own many of the ingredients, and you won’t have to make a trip to the store (saving gasoline). Also, you are reducing the demand for a product that requires oil to manufacture, i.e. the plastic packaging.

Trystan L. Bass in “Clean, green sweep” (http://green.yahoo.com/blog/greenpicks/136/clean-green-sweep.html) lists several other reasons why using eco-friendly products is a win-win choice for consumers and the environment, including that harsh chemicals are toxic for people. Bass argues that these eco-friendly cleaners worked for our grandparents, so they should work for us also.

Greener Choices in “Making the right choice” (http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices) lists some common household products and how they can be used as cleaning agents. For example, cutting boards can be sanitized with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Bath tubs can be cleaned with baking soda, liquid soap, and vinegar. Also, toilet bowls can be cleaned with borax and vinegar.

Refer to the website for proportions and proper cleaning methods:
http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=greencleaning&page=RightChoices

Go Green!

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