More than 95 percent of “green” products manipulate labels by providing irrelevant information (declaring a product is free of an already illegal chemical), being vague (masking poisons as natural ingredients), outright lying (claiming false endorsements) and other maneuvers.
~ TerraChoice Group
Bathroom soft scrub: Bond recommends creating a thick paste with liquid castile soap and a half-cup of baking soda. Scour tubs, showers and stainless steel surfaces with a sponge, and then rinse.
Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle one cup of borax into the toilet at bedtime and then clean the loosened grime with a brush the next morning, advises Bond. Wipe outer surfaces with the all-purpose spray.
Wood polish: Bond recommends mix- ing a quarter-cup of vinegar or lemon juice with a few drops of olive and lemon oil.
Hard floor cleaner: Environmental Working Group’s DIY Cleaning Guide suggests combining a half-gallon of hot water with one cup of white vinegar in a bucket to mop.
Carpet cleaner: Freshen rugs by sprin- kling baking soda at night and vacuum- ing in the morning, suggests Bond. For deeper cleaning, combine one cup of vinegar and two-and-a-half gallons of water in a steam cleaner.
Lane Vail is a freelance writer in South Carolina. Connect at
WriterLane.com.
Cloth Tools Replace Paper by Lane Vail
Americans, comprising less than 5 percent of the world’s population, use 30 percent of the world’s paper, accord- ing to the Worldwatch Institute. Some 13 billion pounds of this comes from paper towels, mostly landfilled because grime-soaked paper is non-recyclable. Ecological and economical alter-
natives include cloth dishrags, towels, napkins, wipes and handkerchiefs plus washable diapers and menstrual pads. Jean Calleja, co-owner of the Eco Laun- dry Company, in New York City, sug- gests customers buy recycled, organic, unbleached cloths and local products when possible.
In the kitchen: Use washcloths or repurpose cotton T-shirts into 10-by- 10-inch squares to use regularly with a homemade all-purpose cleaner on surfaces. Replace paper towels with cloth towels for drying hands.
At the table: Cloth napkins enhance mealtime. Buy or make plain napkins (by hemming cotton fabric squares) for every- day use and celebrate holidays with fancy- patterned fabric rolled into napkin rings.
In the bathroom: Substitute chlorine- laden disinfecting wipes with home- made reusable ones.
DIYNatural.com recommends mixing three-quarters of a cup of white vinegar, three-quarters of a cup of water and 25 drops of essential oil in a glass mason jar. Stuff five to sev- en washcloths into the jar, seal with a lid and shake, so the solution is absorbed into each wipe. Pull out a ready-made disinfecting wipe for a quick clean.
Laundering linens: Change cleaning rags often, hang-drying them thor- oughly before adding to the laundry basket. Wash kitchen and bathroom rags (added to the bathroom towel load) separately each week. According to Calleja, “Presoaking rags overnight in a non-toxic, chlorine-free, whitening solution can make a huge difference in getting them clean.” Combine a half- cup of hydrogen peroxide with two to three gallons of water, spot-testing every fabric first for colorfastness. Calleja also likes using a white vinegar and eucalyptus oil rinse aid to dissolve soap residue, soften fabric and leave a fresh scent.
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