Green Cleaning

So I'm thinking more about going more "green" in my household chores lately. Did anyone see Oprah today? It was all about "going green" and making changes for healthier lives and a healthier planet. It was very interesting and motivating, and I've been thinking alot already about some of my unhealthy cleaning habits and how I'd really like to make changes.

Okay, first big change I've made (can't believe I haven't mentioned this on my blog yet!)...I have a Dyson vacuum. I LOVE this thing. I bought it after someone hit my car and after paying for the repairs gave me some cash for my inconvenience. I knew exactly what I would buy with it. Okay...our old vacuum #1: smelled like burnt dog hair, weird I know, but it really did. #2: had so little power it didn't even leave those vacuum streaks in the carpet. And my carpet is long, soft, cut burber, so that's difficult for a vacuum NOT to do. #3: Because it wasn't sucking anything I never had to change the bag...oh that's bad...I should have tossed it long before I did. I'm not exaggerating, it just got to a point were the bag never filled anymore. So I guess everything was just being blown back into the air? I only vacuumed to make myself feel better. It also was loud and heavy.

The Dyson is my angel. This thing SUCKS. I can honestly say I love vacuuming. It just picks up so much that it's such a satisfying feeling. All the air goes through a filter that's HEPA approved...that means it's got the highest level of filtration available for expelled air. It's really good for allergy sufferers- both Dru and I. I like to know that clean air is coming out, not smelly air. The center bin (where all the dirt collects) snaps right out and I just empty the dirt right into the trash every time I vacuum. The Dyson also works on hard surfaces which I have alot of in my house and has great features and easy-to-use tools for hard to reach spots. It's very easy to use and not very loud. Dyson's are slightly more expensive than the average vacuum out there but one of those things that I think is just sooo worth every penny.

Something else I'm thinking about is the cleaners I use. They all give me headaches. I know they're supposedly really bad but I guess I keep using them for the convenience. I've switched to Method cleaners for my all-purpose cleaner, shower cleaner, and window cleaner. I like that they are non-toxic, however, they still are sooo purfume-y that they give me the same headaches. My mom buys Shaklee Basic H- and they talked about these products on Oprah today. I guess it has no smell (or very mild) and what they say is "clean shouldn't have a smell". Which makes sense...anything we smell in cleaners (think Comet, Pine Sol) is either a chemical or is an artificial scent; things we shouldn't be breathing in. Anyway, the Shaklee stuff is very inexpensive so I don't even have to spend more to be healthier...a big plus. It comes in a very concentrated form and you just add a very small amount to a spray bottle of water and viola! you can clean everything with the same cleaner. Literally. Bathrooms, kitchen, glass, all floors, even your skin (when we were kids my mom would give us a Basic H bath...cleaned the kids and the tub safely!) and I know they have a laundry detergent but I got the impression you could use the Basic H product in the washing machine too if you wanted...they say EVERYTHING. What I mostly like about the Shaklee Basic H though it that, like Method, it's made from non-toxic ingredients. So I think I'm going to be ordering some of that very soon.



Since we moved into our house I've become a faithful recycler. In our apartment in California we weren't given any kind of recycle bin or anything. If I wanted to recycle I'm not sure how I would have done it but I guess I would have had to drive the recycleables to a recycle center or something. Okay, but when the city gives you a huge recycling can how can you NOT recycle? It's just too easy. And it saves so much room in the trash can. I'd like to get a small bin for inside the house though to make it a little easier...sometimes I don't feel like walking out to the garage to toss something in the recycle can when my inside trash can is within arms reach.

As a way of saving energy we've also started unplugging our cell phone chargers when not in use and keeping media players off, not standby. If they're on standby they're using electricity. And everything that's plugged in is still using 40% of the energy used while on or charging or whatever.

So those are some things I'm doing and some changes I'd like to make. I'm really interested to hear what you do and what ideas you have...especially if they save time and money too, but mostly if they're healthier!! I'm all ears!