30 Things in 30 Days - #1 - Cloths Not Paper Towels

Since I seem to have limited time to post lately, and since people seem to keep asking me, "Can one person really make a difference" (OF COURSE THEY CAN!!), I have decided to commit the next 30 days to 30 simple posts on ways you can make a difference for our environment.

Today's "Thing" is to start using cloths instead of paper towels. We have a stack of dish and baby washcloths that we use to wipe up spills, wash the windows and mirrors, clean the counter tops and other surfaces, basically for anything you would use a paper towel for. In fact, about the only time I use a paper towel is when I need to line a bowl to put bacon on top of. And since I have been a vegetarian for the past 22 years, that is not often. On a side note, does anyone out there know of an environmentally friendly way to dispose of bacon grease? My family does eat bacon, and we pour the grease in a jar and then throw the jar away, which makes me feel guilty. Is it ok to scoop the grease into the trash once it has solidified? I would imagine that is fine... anyway, we also use baby washcloths to wipe my daughter's bum when we change her diaper. The only time we use disposable wipes is when we are out and about, which means we only buy the refill packs for the original plastic tub a couple of times a year. Give it a try. It will take some getting used to, but it becomes a habit to use and launder cloths. And if you buy paper towels, buy 100% recycled paper towels. And please make sure to recycle the packaging so as not to repeat the irony you see here in this picture I snapped while out on a walk recently...

Dishwashing, The Clean Way

Ok, so we have finished up our poluting, offensive, not-so-healthy dish washing detergant, which by the way, in liquid form as not doing a very good job in our ancient, non-efficient dishwasher. Just in time for making a change. We are in the process of moving to our new home, which although it was built in 1980, came to us complete with new energy efficient (and stylish at that) appliances. I am excited and ready for the challenge of making our dishwashing detergant and handwashing soap. I should not really say "challenge" as it is easy-peasy. That is if you can find the materials, which was a snap at our local small grocery store. They seems to carry everything that a planet-conscious DIYer needs. I know, we are lucky. I will put the recipes here, hoping that you, too, are able to find the contents...

These recipes are from the book, Green Clean.

Dishwasher Soap
1 part Borax
1 part Washing Soda (mine is Arm and Hammer)
Container any size

Mix in the container and use in place of commercial detergant. You may find a soap film on your dishes, if you live in a hard water area. Add a bit more soda if this is the case.

Liquid Dishwashing Soap
Castile Soap (I use Dr. Bronner's Almond Hemp, which is in a liquid form)
Distilled White Vinegar

If you have bar soap, grate it and add to the dish water. I plan to just add the liquid soap. Add vinegar to the rinsewater to give glasses extra shine.

Both of these products have an indefinite shelf life.

On a personal note, I am vow to do my best to wash dishes in the sink the "proper" way, meaning by stopping the sink, filling with soap, water, and dishes, then rinsing. Right now, truth be told, I am the person who just let's the water run, albeit very little water, from the tap as I wash the dishes. I am afraid of sticking my hands into water I can't see through, and of unidentified "floaties" but, I know, I know, that is what rubber gloves are for. I promise, I will use them!

Monica I am Not...

My mother, my sister in law, and Monica from the sitcom Friends, all have one thing in common... they love to clean. Or maybe it is the results of their efforts that they love the most. Either way, I lovingly refer to them as cleaning geeks. They get very excited when they find a new product that works better, faster, simpler. I, on the other hand, do not enjoy cleaning. Don't get me wrong, I don't leave food out to rot, nor are we unable to see ourselves in the mirror for the dust, and we can see the floor... We have a clean house, just not an overly sanitized. I have always avoided the chemicals that come with cleaning. It was not something, until I became pregnant 3 years ago, that I even consciously thought about. I had just avoided most chemicals up until this point because I knew that I will spend the whole time I was using them holding my breath and gasping for air. So I didn't use them. I just don't trust these chemicals. And I think they are unnecessary. In fact, I know they are. I wipe my counters with a wet baby washcloth. I change the cloth each day but other than that I just use water. No one in my family has gotten sick from all those scary germs you hear kids trying to pronounce on television. We are a very healthy bunch. I don't wash my daughter's toys in bleach solution, and she puts them in her mouth all the time. And in our house we don't use antibacterial anything. The hand sanitizer that I did use when in Haiti, is now only used for removing pine sap from clothing. And air freshener? I am the most suspicious of that. I know many people who Febreeze the hell out of their surroundings. This makes my skin crawl and my lungs seize. Should our kids, pets, and ourselves be inhaling this stuff? I can understand that occasionally you don't want to leave the bathroom without it, yet all you need to do is strike a match, blow it out, and flush it. As you can see, I have given these things some thought but what I never really "got" until yesterday was that there is a natural alternative to most of these crazy chemicals. I mean, I do use white vinegar and baking soda to clean my toilets. And I did start to use diluted vinegar in a spray bottle to wash my mirrors. And I was so thrilled the other day with my vinegar, baking soda, and scrub brush treatment on my shower and tub that I almost could see Monica's love of cleaning. In fact, I went temporarily insane and considered becoming a "natural" cleaning lady for other people! Yeah, I have come back done to earth. But, I know I have only scratched the surface on ways to making everyday cleaning a good experience for myself, my family, and the earth.

Recommended Reading:
Green Clean
By Linda Mason Hunter & Mikki Halpin