Mommy Goes Green

To Bleach or Not?

August 31, 2009 by Tiffany 2 Comments

prod_laundry_bleach_64oz-free-clear_260x282 For a long time, I’ve excluded bleach from our house and found other ways to clean where I used to use bleach. I don’t like the chlorine bleach smell and chlorine isn’t good for the environment. I haven’t missed my bleach except in the laundry department where keeping stains out of my toddler’s clothing can be a challenge. A little marker here, grass stains there. Mix it all up, leave it in the laundry bin for a week and voila – permanent stain.

I recently was looking through Seventh Generation’s line of products and found a chlorine FREE bleach and decided to give it a whirl. My first use was for an outdoor curtain that wasn’t taken down during the last 2 winters and accumulated some mildew over the damp months. While it didn’t remove all the mildew ( and I didn’t expect it would since it’d been hanging there for 2 years ), it removed a lot of it and I was thrilled!

Through the ‘Ask the Science Man’ archives, I found that their line of bleach is intended for laundry stain removal only and is not tested as a disinfectant or sanitizer. According to the Science Man, “Non-chlorine bleaches are typically comprised of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or percarbonate which are able to kill many common bacteria, fungi and viruses. Non-chlorine bleaches are capable of reducing the quantity of microorganisms on laundry, although the ability to kill microorganisms when diluted in a wash cycle decreases antimicrobial efficacy.[1-2] For the best results with chlorine free bleach, pre-treat any highly contaminated items. ”

Even though the site said the bleach was intended for laundry stain removal, the Science Man did recommend trying chlorine free bleach on tile for grout cleaning so my next task is to take it to the tile floor in my shower. I might rue the day we chose an all tile floor in the shower – it’s all little tiles so there is LOTS of grout to get mildewy. If that doesn’t work, he also recommended three different options: baking soda/water, vinegar/water or a steam cleaner. I have all three, hopefully one of them will make the job easy!

So, to answer the question: To Bleach or Not? The answer is yes – but with a non chlorine bleach! I’m a Seventh Generation junkie but Ecover and Biokleen also make them.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: Chlorine Free Bleach, Seventh Generation

Natural and Non-Toxic Nail Polish

August 4, 2009 by Tiffany Leave a Comment

I have a few bottles of natural nail polish in my stash but I am not good about using them consistently. If I run off for a pedicure, I never take a bottle with me, I always use one of the pretty OPI bottles found at the salon. But, no longer.

I recently read research from Duke University that it takes less than 14 hours from the time you paint your nails to have THP, a known endocrine disruptor found in nail polish, in your body.

“A number of laboratory studies have found that exposure to TPHP caused endocrine disruption. In animal studies, it has caused reproductive and developmental problems. Recent scientific research suggests that TPHP may contribute to weight gain and obesity.”

I’m beefing up my stash of non-toxic nail polishes and throwing one in my car to keep on hand. Here’s a guide to what’s safe on the market.

Nail Polish

At the minimum, it is recommend to avoid polishes with the ‘Big 3’: formaldehyde, tolulene and DBP. That’s not too hard to do given that most conventional brands have adopted this philosophy as well.

“It is alarming to think my ruby red nail polish could come with a side of toxic ingredients that could ultimately end up in my body,” said Schrode. By voting with our dollars we can shift the marketplace towards safer, healthier products…beginning with my own bottle of bright, glossy nail polish.”

Polish Remover

Look for polish remover without acetone – the ingredient in conventional removers. Brands to shop for:

Bamboo Towelette Works Polish Remover Nail Wipes – made with soft, renewable bamboo, they are biodegradable, acetone free and infused with argan oil. For just $3, these are my favorite.

Organic Lavender Nail Polish Remover – made in America with a soy-bean base, this remover gets great reviews on Amazon.

Priti Natural Nail Polish Remover and Suncoat Natural Nail Polish Remover are both derived from soybeans and are petroleum free.

Mineral Fusion Polish Remover and Honeybee Gardens Nail Polish Remover are made without acetone and also vegan and cruelty free.

Filed Under: Beauty and Personal Care Tagged With: Earthly Delights, EcoTools, Honeybee, PeaceKeeper, Sula, Suncoat

Krylon H2O Latex Spray Paint

July 24, 2009 by Tiffany Leave a Comment

Low or no VOC paint is easy to find but unfortunately, the same options do not exist in spray paint. The good news is that there is a better choice for spray paint – Krylon H2O Latex spray paint. It’s about 25% lower in VOCs and contributes 55% less to smog pollution than traditional spray paint. H2O Latex comes in 19 colors and dries in 1 hour. An added benefit – it cleans up with soap and water.

While spray paint isn’t the most eco-friendly option ( aerosol cans release particles into the air that you then breathe and the cans can’t be recycled ), there are just some things that are far easier to spray paint than paint ( wicker chairs, for instance ). If you’re going to spray paint, you might as well choose the best option and right now, it’s Krylon H2O Latex.

I found H2O Latex at Michael’s and Jo-Ann’s craft stores but Krylon sells their products at Ace, KMart, Sears, Sherwin Williams and many online stores.

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: Krylon H20 Spray Paint

PVC Free Outdoor Play

June 8, 2009 by Tiffany 3 Comments

We’ve spent the last three weeks enjoying the sunshine outdoors and I’ve realized that it’s time to get some new outdoor toys for my (almost!) 3 year old. She keeps hijacking the neighbor’s toys and that can only last for so long! Many of the outdoor toys on the market are made of plastic and contain PVC, which I’m trying to avoid, if possible.

GreenToys has a couple outdoor toys this year, the Ecosaucer Flying Disc ($6) and Sand Play Set ($15). The Ecosaucer (a.k.a. Frisbee) is made in the USA with 100% recycled plastic milk containers. Mass retailers such as Target and Toys ‘R’ Us carry GreenToys or you can order them online at Amazon.com

Who doesn’t have fond childhood memories of their Radio Flyer wagon? Well Radio Flyer has not only metal and wood wagons but they have now have a ‘green’ Radio Flyer ( literally ), the Earth Flyer. Made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, each wagon diverts 230 milk jugs from landfills. ($130)

Sprig Toys is dedicated to manufacturing toys using earth-friendly materials including recycled wood and reclaimed plastic. Their Hollow Dunebug’s Sand Truck Playset is designed to be played with in the water, sand or dirt. ($15)

This brilliant mother designs clothesline tents out of felt (made from 100% recycled plastic bottles) for use outside on clotheslines. Throw it over a clothesline and secure with 4 tent stakes. After play, you can throw it in the wash if needed. A large window on one side and three flower sky light windows on the other side provide great views for cloud watching and breezes blowing through. Large appliques add charm so your tent looks great in your yard or in your house. You can customize the house ( my favorite thing about products on Etsy! ). I LOVE this idea so much that I’m already thinking about getting myself a clothesline! Brilliant! ($70)

Now for the granddaddy of outdoor toys, a swingset. I like CedarWorks because the wood used in their playsets is naturally splinter-free and naturally rot-resistant, so there is no need to add chemicals (like arsenic) by staining, painting or pressure-treating the wood.

KIDDIE POOLS – The best kiddie pool option that I stumbled upon is a hard one made from #2 plastic and sold at Toys ‘R’s Us – make sure to check the bottom of the pool when buying it, it should have a #2 on it. For reasons NOT to buy a soft plastic pool, check Grist’s commentary.

If you can’t find a PVC free alternative to an item you really want, your next best bet is to buy used because the toy has already off-gassed. Find a list of places to find used goods here.

Filed Under: Baby and Kids

Versatile Vinegar – My Favorite Uses

May 21, 2009 by Tiffany Leave a Comment

You often see vinegar used in DIY cleaning solutions but vinegar is an amazing product that can be used in many more applications than cleaning and it’s so inexpensive – try out a few of my favorite uses

Cleaning your coffee pot
White distilled vinegar can help to dissolve mineral deposits that collect in automatic drip coffee makers from hard water. Fill the reservoir with white distilled vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished. (Be sure to check the owner’s manual for specific instructions.) Works great!

Kill Weeds
Spray white distilled vinegar full strength on tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth until weeds are dead. We tried this and found that some weeds fell over dead and a few couldn’t have cared less. I just pick those.

Freshen Baby Clothes
The addition of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue leaving the clothes soft and fresh. I particularly use vinegar on anything with urine on it.

Glass Front Fireplace Doors
Wash fireplaces with a 50/50 ratio of water and white distilled vinegar to remove the blackened soot on glass front doors. If the doors have a spring-loaded clip, remove it, then take out the doors. Lay them flat on newspapers, spray with the vinegar/water solution and soak. Wipe it off with newspaper. I’ll be using this once we turn off the pilot light on our gas stove for the summer.

Freshen a Lunch Box
It is easy to take out the heavy stale smell often found in lunch boxes. Dampen a piece of fresh bread with white distilled vinegar and leave it in the lunch box overnight. This is my new favorite vinegar use- it’s so hard to keep my daughter’s lunch bag smelling good!

Make a Volcano Explode
First, make the “cone” of the volcano. Mix 6 cups flour, 2cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (more water may be added if needed). Stand a soda bottle in a baking pan and mold the dough around it into a volcano shape. Do not cover the hole or drop dough into it. Fill the bottle most of the way full with warm water and a bit of red food color (can be done before sculpting if you do not take so long that the water gets cold). Add 6 drops of detergent to the bottle contents. Add 2 tablespoons baking soda to the liquid. Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle. Watch out – eruption time! How cool of a mom would your kids think you were!

Vomit in Car
Remove the leftover odor after a rider has been carsick by leaving a bowl of white distilled vinegar overnight on the floor. Hasn’t this happened to every mom? It’s SO hard to get that smell out, particularly on hot days.

Clean Vegetables
Get rid of expensive ‘veggie washes’ and use vinegar, particularly for non-organic produce.

Deter ants. Discourage ants by spraying undiluted white distilled vinegar outside doorways and windowsills, around appliances and wherever you find the pests coming in. These pesky critters often move in unannounced and next time I will be welcoming them with this great tip!

Remove sticky residue. To remove the sticky residue from bumper stickers on your car, price tags on a new product or stickers your 2 year old put all over your window ( a recent development at my house ), use full strength vinegar. This works great and replaced my bottle of Goo Gone (saving money and the use of more chemicals than we actually needed ).

For many more tips, visit The Vinegar Institute ( yes, one exists ) for their Vinegar Tips and Tricks Guide or VinegarTips.com for 1001 vinegar tips and tricks.

Vinegar is so versatile – what are YOUR tips for using it?

Filed Under: Food and Drink, Gardening, Home Tagged With: vinegar