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Since we all like neat, clean clothes, we need to do laundry. While laundry is a cleaning process of cleaning, the process itself may not be clean enough. Our clothes may be soiled with germs, soil, oil and other matter that is not water soluble. Water alone can not be used to remove all of them, so we need some type of laundry detergent when washing our clothes.

Detergent isn’t the only point of concerns associated with laundry. The cleaning products we use contain potentially hazardous chemicals including bleach, solvents, chlorine and ammonia. Moreover, a dryer can use up to five kilowatts of electricity per hour and a top-loading washer uses approximately 40 gallons of water per load.

Some simple and far less hazardous alternatives can be used to make cleaning a far less harmful household chore. Keep in mind these tips to save water, electricity, environment and money when next time you head to the laundry room : (continue reading…)

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Most of us have at least a few things in our closets that are labeled, “dry clean only,” and we have to at least make an occasional appearance at the local dry cleaners. The door is usually ajar, and when you enter you notice that chemical smell and all of the plastic bags containing that odor.  When you get home and take off that plastic bag you are breathing in PERC, wearing it, and contaminating the room with it.

PERC or perchloroethylene is the chemical that most dry cleaners use. According to EPA, approximately 85% of cleaners use PERC as their primary solvent. A study was done on workers by National Institute for Occupational Health, which found increased cancer and disease rates among people who worked in dry cleaners for at least a year. (continue reading…)

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By following a few simple steps with your washing, drying and the laundry detergent you choose you can save money and feel great about the impact you’re having on the environment for future generations.

If you need a new washer or dryer, consider buying an Energy Star washer. They use 50% less energy than standard machines. Buying a front loader, rather than a top loader will cost more initially but will save you money over the life of the machine. Energy Star estimates that you will save $550 in the life of the machine. Most Energy Star machines use about 15 gallons of water per load, compared to 32.5 gallons of water to wash a full load in a standard machine. (continue reading…)

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If the clothesline were invented today, it would be touted as the solar powered, eco-friendly renewable laundry solution. With the invention of automatic tumble dryers, harnessing the power of the sun to dry clothes has fallen out of favor, to the point that some communities even ban clotheslines on the grounds that they cheapen the neighborhood.

A clothesline need not be an eyesore. A neatly hung clothesline, with the clothes spaced evenly and grouped together, instead of randomly arrayed on the line, can be a banner of commitment to the environment. Not to mention the benefits to the wallet. An electric tumble dryer is the third biggest energy hog in the average house, behind lights and the refrigerator, both of which are on a lot longer each week than the dryer. (continue reading…)

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When it comes to daily life, how much thought do you give to cleanliness? When most people think about what it means to have a clean house, their minds immediately jump to the big things- dirty dishes, cluttered rooms, desks piled with junk mail and important papers. Take a step back and think smaller, smaller…focus on the unseen dirt that is being regularly brought into your home through habits we acquire and never seem to reflect upon. Here are a few examples involving the home and some related examples from outside the home which may help shed some light on exactly what is at risk. (continue reading…)

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I went through a major life change a couple of years ago. I reclaimed myself, gave myself a life makeover. One part of that process was getting rid of items I’ve kept for decades, carried from house to house as I moved. I almost never saw or used any of these belongings, but I felt a deep sentimental attachment to them. However, a time came where I realized they were holding me back. I had to let go and I was ready to do so. Inspired by some of my efforts, here are a few tips on reducing clutter in your own home, plus a little lesson I learned in each area.

The kitchen: Use your environment to help positively guide your habits.
The kitchen is where I had the most fun culling. I hate doing dishes. I took this opportunity to get rid of every inferior modern accessory that had been clogging my cabinets. If a whisk offended me, off it went. I reduced down from a Martha Stewart inspired collection of table settings to enough dishes to serve my small family for a couple of days at a time. This kept me from letting the dirty dishes pile up and gave us more room to experiment with actual cooking. Now we are very cautious about any new additions. We think each purchase through carefully and usually wait months to see if our minds change before adding anything new. (continue reading…)

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The clean campaign of this generation is all about germ warfare. The war on germs, that is. There seem to be many misconceptions about green cleaners and their ability to disinfect. The larger question is, how important is disinfecting the surfaces at home, school, and work?

A recent study at Clark Atlanta University compared bleach and greener cleaning products (commercial and home-made) with a focus on the killing of E. coli. It’s the microbe that is found in contaminated meats and produce and most commonly gets in the baby pool from leaky diapers. The scientists in this study argued that killing E. coli by any means necessary is best for public health. They also concluded that bleach is the best solution for E. coli, followed by petrochemical cleaners, with greener alternatives weighing in as “ineffective.” Never mind the petroleum or cancer-causing organochlorides in toxic cleaners.

The war on germs is sensationalized in the media and especially in advertising. The common phrase “kills 99.9% of germs” is on most of the wipes, sprays, and bottles moms buy every day. We have come to expect that our cleaners will sanitize because microbe- free is more than the trend, it’s one of the tenants of “normal” American motherhood. (continue reading…)