Eco Friendly- Non Toxic Carpet Cleaning

Written by Cathy on May 11, 2010 – 9:56 am -

Welcome back!

Oxi Fresh is Providing an Eco-Friendly Alternative for Carpet Cleaning

We all know that cleaning products can contain chemicals that can be toxic for the environment as well as for us. An eco friendly option for carpet cleaning is Oxi Fresh.

Personally, this is a better option for me because as someone with allergies, anything that helps to reduce my running nose is my number one choice. I know for a lot of people they are also sensitive to cleaning products and the chemical smell that comes along with them. With Oxi Fresh, they use non-toxic solutions, so it decreases those toxins in the area. And let’s face it; no one likes that gross chemical smell in their home. Another thing that is nice about this option is their fast one hour dry time. This way you are not alienated from your home all day.

Oxi Fresh touches on a couple different eco friendly topics: water and chemicals. While doing research for this topic, I learned how stream cleaners worked. Normally, truck mounted carpet cleaning systems are used. This means that the machine is attached to a truck outside, and therefore that vehicle outside is left running during the entire job in order to power the machine. We all know what the result of that is: excessive pollution. With Oxi Fresh, they have portable carpet cleaning machines so the truck isn’t running while your home is being cleaned. By using a portable machine, only 2 gallons of water are used compared to 40 gallons from a steam cleaner. This product also uses low Volatile Organic Compounds. Basically, VOC’s release organic compounds into the air and are not acutely toxic. The result: better indoor air quality.

Submitted by Guest Blogger Nicole


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Asbestos Hazards Can Be Everywhere In Building

Written by Cathy on April 2, 2010 – 1:40 pm -

Asbestos Hazards

Danger Asbestos

Danger Asbestos

The term asbestos is translated from a Greek adjective that means inextinguishable. The Greeks praised asbestos as the miracle mineral because of its soft texture and superb resistance to heat. A naturally occurring mineral that is found in the soil or in various rock formations, asbestos exists in a variety of colors, forms, and chemical compositions. Asbestos, in one form or another, was mined countries around the world.

In addition to its resistance to heat, asbestos also withstands damage from electricity and chemicals; asbestos also possesses superior sound absorption properties and a high tensile strength. Because of the many desirable properties of asbestos, the substance became a widely utilized material in the construction and manufacturing industries near the close of the 19th century—use of the popular material declined dramatically in the 1970s when asbestos associated health risks became widely known. 

Types of Asbestos

There are six types of asbestos that are classified as: chrysotile; amosite; crocidolite; tremolite; anthophyllite, and actinolite. One of the chief differences between chrysotile asbestos and other forms of the mineral is the shape and length of the fibers. While chrysotile fibers are curled and flexible, most others are brittle and needle shaped. Asbestos fibers are not water soluble, do not  degrade over time, and are too small to be seen by the naked eye.

Because of its flexible fibers, chrysotile asbestos is the type most widely used by industry; it is estimated that chrysotile asbestos accounts for approximately 95% of the construction materials found in older residential, institutional, and industrial structures today. Chrysotile asbestos can be found in building materials such as:

  • Siding and roofing
  • Ceiling and floor tiles
  • Pipe insulation
  • Rope seals for boilers
  • Electrical insulation and more

Human Exposures to Asbestos Should be Limited

Because lung inhalation exposures to microscopic, airborne asbestos fibers are strongly associated with a risk to health, such exposures should be avoided. Asbestos causes asbestosis as well as the cancer  a malignant mesothelioma.  Exposure to asbestos fibers can occur in a wide variety of ways. Asbestos in the soil or rock formations can result in airborne exposures if the material is disturbed. Individuals who reside in areas near an asbestos mine may be exposed to airborne asbestos fibers, and air quality samples should be examined closely and on a continual basis to ensure that no such contamination exists. All forms of airborne asbestos fiber exposure should be guarded against through the use of air filtration masks or other types of breathing devices in areas such as:

  • Construction demolition or home remodeling sites: Many older structures may house asbestos containing materials. When fractured, these materials can release significant amounts of microscopic asbestos fibers into the air.
  • Landfills or other waste collection sites: Asbestos containing materials or products are often illegally deposited in town dumps or similar sites. These asbestos materials are oftentimes in a disturbed or fractured state, and all individuals should protect themselves against asbestos fiber inhalation at such locations.
  • Manufacturing facilities: Many manufacturing sites, whether closed or operational, may contain asbestos fibers. When in doubt about the presence of asbestos, breathing protection should always be worn. Additionally, any clothing that may become contaminated with asbestos must be handled with great care, and to be safe, discarded. Industrial hygiene practices are better today, but in the past, workers at the plants and factories that made asbestos products were often the victims of the material.  The long latency period of mesothelioma means that the cancer shows up decades after asbestos exposure.
  • The home: Many older and some new household appliances may contain asbestos. Asbestos has been found in such items as toaster ovens, older model electric stoves, etc. Asbestos has also been discovered in children’s toys, hair rollers, certain types of caulks and sealers, etc.

Be aware of asbestos hazards at home and at the workplace.


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Babies Crawl To Protest Toxic Ingredients In Household Products

Written by Cathy on November 28, 2009 – 8:48 am -

Seventh Generation is launching a Million Baby Crawl to Washington to protest toxic ingredients in household cleaning products.

I Just Gotta Tell Ya

  • Of the 80,000 plus chemicals, only 200 have been tested by the EPA
  • In 2006, poison control centers reported about 2 Million unintentional poisoning.
  • U.S Poison Control Centers- A child is accidentally poisoned every 30 seconds at home.
  • The Average American uses about 25 Gallons of toxic hazardous chemical products per year in their home.
  • The toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3x more likely to cause cancer than air pollution.

For more information go to Seventh Generation.com


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Organic Ant Killer Give Away And It Works!

Written by Cathy on November 6, 2009 – 7:22 am -

Eco Smart Organic Pest Control

I don’t get bitten by mosquitos, spiders don’t bother me, but I hate ants! Last week after a rare bit of rain, the ants invaded not only my house but my neighbors as well! Fortunately I had my handy Organic Ant Killer and poof the ants were gone in my house and my neighbors. Not only were the ants gone, there was no lingering toxic, stinky smell, it actually smelled good.

Eco Smart has a full range of non-toxic and organic insect control products. Safe for you, kids and family pets. The products are made from organic plant oils such as rosemary, peppermint, thyme, lemongrass, cinnamon, sesame and clove oils. Good for you and good for the environment.

The best part is Eco Smart is they are offering a GIVE AWAY PROGRAM!! This contest is open to US residents only and you can win the full package of Eco Smart organic products.

It’s Easy and Open from Nov. 6th to Nov. 15, 2009

All you have to do is make a comment on this post on why Eco Smart is Good.

One Comment= One Entry

Winners will be announced next week and Eco Smart will send the winners an organic insecticide package.

Just to let you know- while I have advertising on my site, when I do a review, my opinions are honest. Eco Smart gave me a bottle of Organic Ant Killer months ago, and I have waited until I had ants to give a review based upon actual experience. I really do like the product and will use it again and it works. Just thought I would tell ya.


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Earthpack Makes Biodegradable Bags From Tapioca Starch

Written by Cathy on October 11, 2009 – 11:34 am -

Biodegradable Bag by Earthpack

While at the Action Sport Retailer show in San Diego a few weeks ago, I was given this new biodegradable bag to test in my compost by Earthpack a supplier of recycled bags and boxes to environmentally aware retailers. The bag is made of tapioca starch and meant to biodegrade within one year (as opposed to never with standard plastic bags). Not only that it contains natural and sustainable resources, no toxic gases thus reducing our addiction to oil and other fossil fuels. Click here for more information on how they process the tapioca to make the bags.

Earthpack with their environmental commitment to biodegradable bags has saved:

  • 7,850 Barrels of Oil
  • 1,287,400 Kilowatt hours
  • 2,198,000 Gallons of water
  • 53,380 Cubic Yards of landfill.
  • 9,420 Trees

I wish I could tell you if the bag has composted yet, but it’s only been 2 weeks since I put it in the compost- no matter what- I hope this is a hot seller for Earthpack as we need more companies like them with environmental and sustainable commitments, working to lessen our addiction to oil and water.

Thank you Earthpack for the bags!


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Eco Friendly Car Detailing

Written by Cathy on May 24, 2009 – 5:23 pm -

If you are lucky to live in San Diego and want your car detailed- I highly recommend Apple Polishing Systems. 

Apple Polishing- Less Water Car Detailing

Paul has been detailing my car for years, and when I told him I was doing this post on Green Car Washing- he set out to enlighten me a little more. Not only that he is working on perfecting a new Eco Friendly Car Wash System- using less water! I asked him to send me some more information- about car washing- 

We  need to conserve water in San Diego and water rationing is something we are going to have to get used to. In fact, mandatory water rationing is in place in other parts of the country as well. This grim reality affects everyone who likes to keep their car clean. Since I own and operate an auto detailing service in San Diego I have looked hard at this problem and done a good amount of research. In my business we have complied with the local water runoff and reclamation laws for years but now we also have to save water. I care about our environment and want to do my part to preserve our natural resources, so I looked at the alternatives.

Waterless car wash

This method can be done by almost anyone, doesn’t require any special skill and is fairly inexpensive. There is really no such thing however as a completely waterless car wash since there is water in the car wash solution that you spray on the car. Also when you think about it, you will use a lot of water running those dirty micro fiber towels through your washing machine.

Those towels will degrade quickly and begin scratching the car’s finish so you will need to buy new towels often. You will also get a layer of sludge that will build up in your washing machine and will need to be cleaned regularly so you don’t soil your nice clothes. This is a decent alternative but I felt I needed to look farther.

Steam Cleaning

This method does use much less water than a traditional car wash but it is designed for professionals and it is expensive. The systems are usually bulky and require power to run which will add to the cost of the wash and also be less ecofriendly. I can see how a detail shop might benefit from a steam cleaning system but it won’t work for the average person so I felt I needed to look farther.

When I was looking for a water saving alternative to our normal car wash system I had some criteria that had to be met.

  1. It must save a substantial amount of water.
  2. It must be as good if not better than the system we were using.
  3. It must have a low impact on the environment.
  4. It should be something that anyone can do.
  5. If it could save time and money, that would be a bonus.

Less Water car wash

This method uses a concentrate that is mostly bio-degradable and it is mixed with less than a half gallon of water to wash an entire car. A pressure washer typically uses between 5 and 10 gallons of water per car wash.

I tested this system extensively and had such good results that I started incorporating it in my business. The cars are now looking better than ever and it’s saving us time too. Car washes that used to take 45 minuets to complete are now being done in less than a half hour. There is no water run off so it is compliant with all city and state regulations for our storm drains. The excess water can be used to water your outdoor plants without harming them in the least. It’s also less expensive since it is a concentrate and requires no energy to run.

The Less Water Car Wash is a proprietary system that we are working to make available to other professional detailing services as well as the general public.

You can stay up to date with our Less Water car wash system and when it becomes available at… http://www.applepolishingsystems.com

If you would like more information on the LessWater car wash you can email me at applepolishingsystems@gmail.com
 Paul Beard, owner Apple Polishing Systems

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Green Car Washing Tips and Stats

Written by Cathy on May 23, 2009 – 4:55 pm -

Wasting 116 Gallons of Water

I have been discussing with my family and neighbors car washing and the effects on the environment. Since we in San Diego will be starting with water increases and water rationing, washing the car at home is a very simple and easy thing to do to not only save water and the environment as well. 

I Just Gotta Tell Ya

  • It takes 116 Gallons of water to wash a car at home
  • Commercial Car Washes use about 45 Gallons to wash a car 
  • When washing the car at home the water does not undergo waste treatment before being discharged into the environments- going directly into storm drains – then into rivers, streams and oceans. 
  • Federal laws require commercial car washes to drain waste water into sewer systems.
  • Dirty Water contains soap, detergents, gasoline, heavy metals from rust, motor oils. 
  • Hand washes are extremely harmful to automobile finishes - Tests conducted by the University of Texas to compare surface disturbances showed that a single home hand wash on an automobile can produce scratches that penetrate as deep as 1/10 of the total thickness of the automobile’s paint

Car Wash Water Facts 

  • Full-service car washes use 15-32 gallons of water per cycle.
  • Exterior-only carwashes use 15-28 gallons of water per cycle.
  • In-bay automatic/rollover car washes use 24-45 gallons of water per cycle. Self-serve (coin op) car washes use 8-12 gallons of water per cycle.
  • In 60 seconds, a typical five-eighths inch garden hose running at a typical household pressure of 50 psi (pressure per square inch) uses 14 gallons of water.
  • Many carwashes recycle water or adjust spray nozzles to even further reduce overall water use.

 If you have to wash at home

  • Wash on the lawn or dirt or gravel  
  • Use Biodegradable soaps or Waterless Car Wash 
  • Put Dirty water down the toilet 
  • Use high pressure nozzle to reduce water usage 

Biodegradable Soaps 

Waterless  Car Washes 

  • From  BuyGreen.com - Your Trusted Source for Green Products  Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash and Polish starting at $9.50 or Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash Starter Kit $39.450 – includes Car Wash, Polish, Microfiber and more 
  • From- Ultraluster Wash Inc. -Ultralusterwash’s,”Waterless Wash Polish & Protective Glaze” offers ‘space age lubricants and polymers’ to protect your vehicles finish from scratching. It also leaves a bond of protection that beads water for months.
  • Freedom Waterless Car Wash 

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Green and Save-Soap Savers

Written by Cathy on May 17, 2009 – 7:49 am -

 

 

The cheap, frugal person that I am- I save all those soap slivers put them in an old Dishwashing bottle with a little water and use to wash. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look good for guests! I also use Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap- but I have some friends who think (no matter what I say) that soap is only good when it suds! Because of that I have a ‘Green’ soap out (that suds a little) – but now I have the problem of soap slivers! 

What can you do with all those soap slivers? If you think about it, they add up to money going down the drain- and it’s bad for the environment. Think about all those chemical additives going down the drain into our water- Yuck! 

What Can you do? 

  • Try checking out Soap Saver Blue- Put your slivers in these handy net bags, exfoliate at the same time. $1.99 at Amazon 

Soap Saver

  • Use ‘Eco Friendly Soaps’ Such as Dr. Bonners – I use this soap and love it! Wash my hair, my hands and have even washed my clothes when traveling using Dr. Bonners. Available also at Amazon  Dr. Bronner – Castile Soap Peppermint, 32 fl oz ($2.64-$22.79) This also lasts a long time- probably the cheapest soap on the market! 

Dr. Bonner Soap


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Clean and Non-Toxic- Stain Removers

Written by Cathy on May 2, 2009 – 8:55 am -

 

 

I just gotta Tell Ya:

  • Cleaning products including traditional stain removers are responsible for nearly 10% of all calls to poison Control. 
  • Treating stains with non-toxic stain removers immediately rather than running water over them- will save thousands of gallons of water. 
  • Scorecard, the hazards ranking system developed by Environmental Defense in the U.S., ranks bleach as a high risk environmentally and a slight to moderate risk in the workplace. 

Personally Speaking, I just throw in baking soda in the wash. Tougher stains- just leave the dryer lid up and let it soak for 30 minutes or more. Almost everything I own now is completely washable (no need for dry cleaning) and easier to clean stains. If something is really bad, I just put it into a bowl for soaking- no need to run valuable water. Then I take it into the shower with me, do a quick scrub and rinse. 

The best part of going clean green and non-toxic- it saves you money, space, landfills and keeps you healthier while greening the environment!

Below are a collection of Non-Toxic Recipes- always test first to see how the recipe reacts with the fabric. 

Basic Ingredients- Baking Soda, White Vinegar, Lemon Juice

Non Toxic Stain Removers 

Beer:

  • Vinegar.

Berries

  • Natural Solution: White vinegar or lemon juice; washing soda- Instructions: Soak stains in white vinegar or lemon juice for one hour; rinse. If there is some remaining stain, dampen the area with water, make a paste of equal parts washing soda and water, and rub it in gently.

Chewing Gum: 

  • Put in freezer for a few hours; once cold, peel off gum.

Blood

  • Natural Solution: Cold water; hydrogen peroxide; corn starch-Instructions: Soak in cold water. For stubborn stains, soak in hydrogen peroxide (a natural bleach; spot-test to make sure it won’t affect the fabric). Or use a paste of equal parts corn starch and cold water.

Chocolate

  • Natural Solution: Vegetable-based detergent or soap; digestive enzymes- Instructions: Mix 1 teaspoon liquid soap or detergent with 1 cup of water, and soak the stained area. To remove the dairy component, buy digestive-enzyme tablets at a natural-foods store, grind up three or four tablets, and add equal parts water to make a damp paste. Gently rub the solution into the stain. Leave for at least one hour.

Cigarette Smoke: 

  • For yellow stains, try washing soda or sodium perborate.

Coffee and Tea

  • Natural Solution: White vinegar or lemon juice; cream of tartar-Soak the stain in straight white vinegar or lemon juice for one hour. If there was milk in the tea or coffee, follow directions for removing dairy protein under “Chocolate.” Alternatively, clean with a paste made of cream of tartar and water.

Crayons and Candle Wax:

  • Freeze the stain, remove the residue, and pull off the wax. Next, heat an iron, cover the wax stain with an absorbent cloth, and melt the wax onto the cloth.

Decals and Price Stickers: 

  • Rub with vegetable oil.

Egg

  • Natural Solution: Cold water; digestive enzymes-Instructions: Soak the garment in cold water. If some egg remains, follow directions for using enzymes under “Chocolate.”

Fat/Oil (Salad Dressing-Gravy) 

  • Rub cornstarch (or cornstarch powder, or even talcum powder) into the stain , let it sit for at least 20 minutes, and then brush it off with a dry washcloth or soft dry brush. You may need to repeat the treatment several times to fully remove the fat. It works especially well on silk and wool.

Feces: 

Fruit: 
  • Lemon juice or vinegar.

Grass

  • Natural Solution: White vinegar-Instructions: Soak the area in white vinegar for one hour. Alternatively, use an enzyme paste (see “Chocolate.”

Grease

  • Natural Solution: Vegetable-based detergent or soap; washing soda- Instructions: Sometimes just blotting the stain with detergent is all you need. If the stain remains, make a paste of equal parts washing soda and water and gently rub it in. Leave for at least one hour.
  • Sometimes olive oil can be used to remove oil, but be careful not to create a new stain. Also, try cornstarch or citrus solvent.

Gum

  • Natural Solution: Ice-Instructions: Freeze with a wrapped ice cube, then peel off the frozen gum.

Ice Cream: 

Ink

  • Natural Solution: White vinegar; milk- Instructions: Soak in milk or white vinegar. citrus solvent.

Lipstick and Makeup: 

  • Use a few drops of oil or glycerin, being careful not to spread the oil farther than the stain. Scrape off. Pretreat with detergent, and then wash in hot water.

Mildew: 

  • Vinegar.

Mold: 

  • Vinegar.

Mustard: 

  • 3 percent hydrogen peroxide.

Oil: 

  • Glycerin

Paint

  • Natural Solution: Citrus solvent-Instructions: Soak the area in citrus solvent for 10 minutes.

Perspiration

  • Natural Solution: Shampoo Saturate the area with shampoo, then launder as usual. If the perspiration stains remain, use an enzyme paste (see “Chocolate.”)
  • Wet the area and soap up with a good plain laundry soap and then place it on grass in the sun, it must be green grass. Leave in the sun for a number of hours keeping it damp and well soaped all the time. I don’t know why or how this works but the stain just seems to rise to the surface (you can see it happen when it does ) and then rinses off quite readily. Fresh and clean and not a trace of perspiration stain. It will remove ingrained stains from pillow covers and pillow slips and especially those in men’s shirt underarms
  • Enzymes. Or soak item in salt water. Lay clothing in the sun for a few hours

Rust: 

  • Borax paste
  • Wet the cloth, put a layer of salt( I used some coarse sea salt that I had, but any should work just fine) and then drizzled lemon juice over the salt.

Tomato Sauce

  • Natural Solution: White vinegar; washing soda; borax-Instructions: Soak in white vinegar. Alternatively, make a paste of equal parts washing soda or borax and water and rub in gently.

Urine: 

  • Enzymes; alternating between vinegar and baking soda.

Vomit: 

  • Enzymes; alternating between vinegar and baking soda

Wax

  • Natural Solution: Hot iron-Instructions: Place a clean cotton rag over the wax and iron, making sure not to overheat the fabric. Blot the melted wax with an absorbent rag as you go to remove the residue.

Wine

  • Natural Solution: Boiling water; club soda-Instructions: Stretch the fabric over a bowl, then pour boiling water from a height of two to three feet. Or rinse the stain with club soda.

 

Enzyme Remover Recipe-Digestive enzymes work on stains the same way they do in the stomach — by digesting proteins and carbohydrates. Health food stores sell prepared enzyme stain remover products made from “natural” enzymes that have been custom-made for removing certain types of stains. Or you can buy just the enzymes (use pepsin/papain for protein stains and amylase for carbohydrate stains) and make my simple “Eat-it-Up Enzyme” paste — just grind up the enzymes and mix with enough water to make a paste to cover the stain.

Want to buy instead- 

My Recommendations: 

1.) Keep a Book Handy- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Cleaning, 2nd Edition This book is filled with great information on how to clean anything in an eco-friendly way. 

2.) Put Baking Soda, Lemon Juice and Vinegar on your Shopping List. 

Resources


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New Soap- Recycled Bottles

Written by Cathy on April 27, 2009 – 6:54 am -

 

 

New Soap

I have been saving all my extra bottles and making my own pesticides and cleaning supplies and reusing the bottles. Here is a new company that does it for you. New Soap takes your old bottles and puts in new soap!

Not only that- they will buy back your old bottles. Check out their website and find out how! 

New Soap-Windex


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