Summary:
[[Image:GreenHome.jpg|630px|thumb|left|Try these tips to minimize your environmental impact. The power is yours! P''hoto by nikcname/[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikcname/4893253973/ Flickr]''/CC]]
If horrified grocery-store employees have ever grilled you on the whereabouts of your tote bag, or if a relationship you've been in ended prematurely because you run the water while brushing your teeth, this Wired.com how-to is here to help. Happy Earth Day.
Before unleashing your eco-self on the public, try these household chemical-reducing steps that make Captain Planet look like Hoggish Greedly. Stay up-to-date on all things green by monitoring the [http://www.ewg.org/ Environmental Working Group's website], and by subscribing to environmental blogs such as [http://www.treehugger.com Treehugger] and [http://www.ecogeek.org EcoGeek]. I've learned the bulk of my tricks from the organic-life blog [http://betsywild.wordpress.com/ What's Green With Betsy]. Spring cleaning has never felt so clean.
''This article was written by John Flanagan, a Vermont-based writer, film fan, and intermittent bon vivant.''
==The Kitchen==
The proliferation of books and documentaries such as Michael Pollan's "Food Rules" and the film "Food Inc." have helped Americans learn more about their food and where it comes from. Equally important, however, is how we cook and eat it.
===Water Water Everywhere===
Have you ever considered how much water would be saved if everyone composted instead of mashing their scraps into the garbage disposal? If you've got the luxury of a lawn, designate a compost area and use the soil in your garden when it decomposes. If not, keep a bucket for compostables (you'll want a lid, too), and make a weekly trip to your regional composting area, which you might find [http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/live.htm here].
Other water-saving tips for the kitchen include quenching your plants' thirsts with the water used to wash your fruit and vegetables (or the ice cubes you drop). Upgrading to appliances such as an air-cooled (as opposed to water-cooled) refrigerator or a new washing machine, which necessitates less pre-rinsing, will also help conserve water.
Check for leaks, too. According to National Geographic's website, 14% of your indoor water use comes from leaky faucets and pipes. Think of the tremendous global impact possible if would all just finally tend to that annoying drip.
===Dish Duty===
Though dishwashing comprises only around 2% of your indoor water use, begin lowering your water bill by turning off the tap between dishes ? a relative no brainer. If washing by hand, fill one sink with soapy water and use the other for rinsing. Don't have double sink? Use a pan! However, via the means, get a machine. They're much more water and energy efficient than doing dishes by hand.
For dishwashers, only pre-rinse what really needs to be pre-rinsed, and only run it on a full load.
Oh yeah, and don't be like that girl from "Signs." Just choose a drinking glass and stick with it for the day.
===Keep Your Cast Iron===
Teflon is a spiffy name for polytetrafluoroethylene. Heating the chemical releases carcinogens into the atmosphere and into your food, whereas un-warpable, easy-to-clean cast iron pots and pans actually emit iron. And as Popeye has proven repeatedly, iron promotes red blood cells and the ability to defeat just about anything standing in you way.
Also, cast iron pans last for generations, thus decrease the burden on landfills.
===Hi Ho Silverware===
Unless nothing says bon app�tit to you like thiourea, another known carcinogen used in most commercial silverware polishes, consider what's already on your forks and knives before digging in. Just because something looks clean doesn't mean it is. Here's a What's Green With Betsy-derived recipe for shining your utensils healthfully and naturally.
*Step One: Fill a large pan with water
*Step Two: Add cream of tartar (two tablespoons) and some aluminum foil strips.
*Step Three: Soak silverware for an hour, or until it's tarnish free. (Warning: it might smell like rotting eggs?but that's okay because you're saving the planet.)
*Step Four: Rinse, dry, and store.
==The Bathroom==
Hands down the worst part of housecleaning, make bathroom duty bearable by reminding yourself of eco-toilet scrubbing's positive global impact.
===Cleaners===
The military used bleach as a weapon in World War 1; now it lives under bathroom sinks across the world. The chlorine-potent chemical concoction, which contributes significantly to air and water pollution, and in turn impacts wildlife populations, is completely unnecessary. Companies such as [http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ Seventh Generation] and [http://www.mrsmeyers.com/ Mrs. Meyers] offer natural alternatives for bleach and just about any other bathroom-cleaning product.
Another tried and true cleaning potion is baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. Baking soda whitens by removing stains while vinegar's acidity disinfects and deodorizes. Aside from making fish tastier, lemon juice dissolves soap scum and hard water deposits.
===Down the Drain===
Drano is chock full of sodium hydroxide, aka Lye or caustic soda. While not officially considered a pollutant, it's much more dangerous, and expensive, than the household ingredients you probably already have that will unclog your drains. Drano can also eat away at your pipes. All you really need to fix that impossible clog is baking soda, vinegar, hot water, and some time.
*Step One: Pour one-half cup of baking soda down a clogged drain.
*Step Two: Chase with one cup of vinegar. Cover the drain immediately.
*Step Three: Let sit for 30 minutes.
*Step Four: Pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain.
*Step Five: Repeat as needed.
==The Living Room==
Is your living room a cozy, shelf-lined room where you prosper in deserved relaxation, or is it an exemplar of green living? With these tips, why not make it both?
===Pests===
'''Mice''': Keep mice away without chemicals by using [http://www.critter-repellent.com/mice/how-to-get-rid-of-mice.php Shake-Away]. The all-natural solution employs the smell of fox and bobcat urine to freak mice out. Mice also hate mint (who knew?), so dousing cotton balls in peppermint oil and leaving them near their paths is a surefire means of deterrence.
'''Bed Bugs''': [http://www.bed-bug.net/bedbugproducts.html Bed Bug Patrol] is a 100% natural bed bug kryptonite, perfectly safe for humans. Also, the critters can't become resistant to it as they do with pesticides.
'''Spiders''': Most spiders are harmless and eat other bugs, thus actually help to clean your home. Get rid of them only if they scare the bejesus out of you. To do so, mix peppermint and spearmint oils in a spray bottle and plop a few drops by your windowsills. You could also try mixing garlic in some water; they really hate that.
===Fresh Air===
Commercial room air-fresheners only masks noisome or foul air and can actually irritate the issue by adding more pollutants. Allergy sufferers pay the highest price for unclean indoor air. Spruce up greenly by increasing the number of plants in your living room. Ferns, Ivy, and Peace Lillies are all examples of toxin-absorbing plants that are easy to care for. Also, reduce 98% of your home's lead dust by kicking off your shoes on the way in.
===Shades===
As glass isn?t the best insulator, half of your home's energy (and heating bill) goes literally out the window. Energy-efficient honeycomb shades, which trap the air between your room and the outdoors, can save around 30% of your energy bill. Airtight window sealants work, too, but you'll risk losing your green street-cred, and the honeycomb shades can function year-round.
===Shine a Light===
While compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) may not balance your lampshade properly, they use only one quarter to one third of the energy of incandescent bulbs. Each CFL bulb is projected to save $45.00 on your electricity bill in its lifetime, and if everyone made the switch, we could cut down power demand in America by half. Hail hail the squiggly bulbs!
==The Bedroom==
Though sleeping is usually considered a relatively safe endeavor, your cotton pillows and sheets are often bleached and treated with toxic dyes, which permeate off of them and onto you. Furthermore, cotton accounts for up to 25% of insecticide's used worldwide. Rest easy by buying organic cotton and linens. Organic mattresses made from natural rubber are also available. Avoid cheap, i.e. chemical-ridden bedframes, which are known to contain and emit formaldehyde. Buying higher-end frames made from natural material will help you rest easy and safely.
For blankets, stick to wool. Wool's insulating ability provides comfort year round, and it's naturally dust mite and flame resistant.
[[Category:Home]]
[[Category:Green]]
If horrified grocery-store employees have ever grilled you on the whereabouts of your tote bag, or if a relationship you've been in ended prematurely because you run the water while brushing your teeth, this Wired.com how-to is here to help. Happy Earth Day.
Before unleashing your eco-self on the public, try these household chemical-reducing steps that make Captain Planet look like Hoggish Greedly. Stay up-to-date on all things green by monitoring the [http://www.ewg.org/ Environmental Working Group's website], and by subscribing to environmental blogs such as [http://www.treehugger.com Treehugger] and [http://www.ecogeek.org EcoGeek]. I've learned the bulk of my tricks from the organic-life blog [http://betsywild.wordpress.com/ What's Green With Betsy]. Spring cleaning has never felt so clean.
''This article was written by John Flanagan, a Vermont-based writer, film fan, and intermittent bon vivant.''
==The Kitchen==
The proliferation of books and documentaries such as Michael Pollan's "Food Rules" and the film "Food Inc." have helped Americans learn more about their food and where it comes from. Equally important, however, is how we cook and eat it.
===Water Water Everywhere===
Have you ever considered how much water would be saved if everyone composted instead of mashing their scraps into the garbage disposal? If you've got the luxury of a lawn, designate a compost area and use the soil in your garden when it decomposes. If not, keep a bucket for compostables (you'll want a lid, too), and make a weekly trip to your regional composting area, which you might find [http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/live.htm here].
Other water-saving tips for the kitchen include quenching your plants' thirsts with the water used to wash your fruit and vegetables (or the ice cubes you drop). Upgrading to appliances such as an air-cooled (as opposed to water-cooled) refrigerator or a new washing machine, which necessitates less pre-rinsing, will also help conserve water.
Check for leaks, too. According to National Geographic's website, 14% of your indoor water use comes from leaky faucets and pipes. Think of the tremendous global impact possible if would all just finally tend to that annoying drip.
===Dish Duty===
Though dishwashing comprises only around 2% of your indoor water use, begin lowering your water bill by turning off the tap between dishes ? a relative no brainer. If washing by hand, fill one sink with soapy water and use the other for rinsing. Don't have double sink? Use a pan! However, via the means, get a machine. They're much more water and energy efficient than doing dishes by hand.
For dishwashers, only pre-rinse what really needs to be pre-rinsed, and only run it on a full load.
Oh yeah, and don't be like that girl from "Signs." Just choose a drinking glass and stick with it for the day.
===Keep Your Cast Iron===
Teflon is a spiffy name for polytetrafluoroethylene. Heating the chemical releases carcinogens into the atmosphere and into your food, whereas un-warpable, easy-to-clean cast iron pots and pans actually emit iron. And as Popeye has proven repeatedly, iron promotes red blood cells and the ability to defeat just about anything standing in you way.
Also, cast iron pans last for generations, thus decrease the burden on landfills.
===Hi Ho Silverware===
Unless nothing says bon app�tit to you like thiourea, another known carcinogen used in most commercial silverware polishes, consider what's already on your forks and knives before digging in. Just because something looks clean doesn't mean it is. Here's a What's Green With Betsy-derived recipe for shining your utensils healthfully and naturally.
*Step One: Fill a large pan with water
*Step Two: Add cream of tartar (two tablespoons) and some aluminum foil strips.
*Step Three: Soak silverware for an hour, or until it's tarnish free. (Warning: it might smell like rotting eggs?but that's okay because you're saving the planet.)
*Step Four: Rinse, dry, and store.
==The Bathroom==
Hands down the worst part of housecleaning, make bathroom duty bearable by reminding yourself of eco-toilet scrubbing's positive global impact.
===Cleaners===
The military used bleach as a weapon in World War 1; now it lives under bathroom sinks across the world. The chlorine-potent chemical concoction, which contributes significantly to air and water pollution, and in turn impacts wildlife populations, is completely unnecessary. Companies such as [http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ Seventh Generation] and [http://www.mrsmeyers.com/ Mrs. Meyers] offer natural alternatives for bleach and just about any other bathroom-cleaning product.
Another tried and true cleaning potion is baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice. Baking soda whitens by removing stains while vinegar's acidity disinfects and deodorizes. Aside from making fish tastier, lemon juice dissolves soap scum and hard water deposits.
===Down the Drain===
Drano is chock full of sodium hydroxide, aka Lye or caustic soda. While not officially considered a pollutant, it's much more dangerous, and expensive, than the household ingredients you probably already have that will unclog your drains. Drano can also eat away at your pipes. All you really need to fix that impossible clog is baking soda, vinegar, hot water, and some time.
*Step One: Pour one-half cup of baking soda down a clogged drain.
*Step Two: Chase with one cup of vinegar. Cover the drain immediately.
*Step Three: Let sit for 30 minutes.
*Step Four: Pour a gallon of boiling water down the drain.
*Step Five: Repeat as needed.
==The Living Room==
Is your living room a cozy, shelf-lined room where you prosper in deserved relaxation, or is it an exemplar of green living? With these tips, why not make it both?
===Pests===
'''Mice''': Keep mice away without chemicals by using [http://www.critter-repellent.com/mice/how-to-get-rid-of-mice.php Shake-Away]. The all-natural solution employs the smell of fox and bobcat urine to freak mice out. Mice also hate mint (who knew?), so dousing cotton balls in peppermint oil and leaving them near their paths is a surefire means of deterrence.
'''Bed Bugs''': [http://www.bed-bug.net/bedbugproducts.html Bed Bug Patrol] is a 100% natural bed bug kryptonite, perfectly safe for humans. Also, the critters can't become resistant to it as they do with pesticides.
'''Spiders''': Most spiders are harmless and eat other bugs, thus actually help to clean your home. Get rid of them only if they scare the bejesus out of you. To do so, mix peppermint and spearmint oils in a spray bottle and plop a few drops by your windowsills. You could also try mixing garlic in some water; they really hate that.
===Fresh Air===
Commercial room air-fresheners only masks noisome or foul air and can actually irritate the issue by adding more pollutants. Allergy sufferers pay the highest price for unclean indoor air. Spruce up greenly by increasing the number of plants in your living room. Ferns, Ivy, and Peace Lillies are all examples of toxin-absorbing plants that are easy to care for. Also, reduce 98% of your home's lead dust by kicking off your shoes on the way in.
===Shades===
As glass isn?t the best insulator, half of your home's energy (and heating bill) goes literally out the window. Energy-efficient honeycomb shades, which trap the air between your room and the outdoors, can save around 30% of your energy bill. Airtight window sealants work, too, but you'll risk losing your green street-cred, and the honeycomb shades can function year-round.
===Shine a Light===
While compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) may not balance your lampshade properly, they use only one quarter to one third of the energy of incandescent bulbs. Each CFL bulb is projected to save $45.00 on your electricity bill in its lifetime, and if everyone made the switch, we could cut down power demand in America by half. Hail hail the squiggly bulbs!
==The Bedroom==
Though sleeping is usually considered a relatively safe endeavor, your cotton pillows and sheets are often bleached and treated with toxic dyes, which permeate off of them and onto you. Furthermore, cotton accounts for up to 25% of insecticide's used worldwide. Rest easy by buying organic cotton and linens. Organic mattresses made from natural rubber are also available. Avoid cheap, i.e. chemical-ridden bedframes, which are known to contain and emit formaldehyde. Buying higher-end frames made from natural material will help you rest easy and safely.
For blankets, stick to wool. Wool's insulating ability provides comfort year round, and it's naturally dust mite and flame resistant.
[[Category:Home]]
[[Category:Green]]
Source: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/howtowiki/~3/4aPAnJ0sijg/Green_Your_Living_Space
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