Small Changes, Big Difference

Confession : I used to be a total brat when it came to all things “Environmentally Friendly”.  And by “brat” I mean “total uber beyotch”.  Yeah – I was the girl snickering at your reusable bags and wondering just how in the hell someone could afford to be green.  Because, ya know, I was totally an authority on the lifestyle and just knew that going green had to be expensive, what with all that research I had done.  #sarcasm

I look back at the person I was just last year and I’m almost ashamed of myself.  Not only was I naive and uninformed, I was ignorant in the worst way possible.  I guess you could say that I’ve grown up a lot this last year.  I mean, not to say that the BP Oil Spill was this huge defining moment in my life that made me just blink and then *bam*, all of a sudden I just turned over this new leaf and became a tree huggin’ hippie.  I guess the oil spill, combined with a few other issues that we as a country have faced over the last few years, was the straw that broke the camel’s back and caused me to see things from a different perspective.

So here I sit, this regular old wanna be middle class girl, trying to make a difference in the world around me.  I’m obviously not perfect – I still buy Spray N Wash, I still drink way more Dr. Pepper than any normal person should and I still have a lot to learn about this new lifestyle my family and I are incorporating into our lives….but it’s the little things that add up and can cause a huge impact in the end.

One single person can scream as loud as they possibly and only a few will hear them.  But get a few groups of people to start whispering to their friends and family and then hundreds of people start to whisper and it spreads until there are thousands of people whispering and then millions of people whispering and so on and so forth.  And all of these little whispers turn into one giant voice that can be heard throughout the entire world.

Those little whispers are what you make happen each time you grab a glass from your cabinet to fill with tap water instead of reaching into your fridge for a bottle of water.  Every time you remember to take your reusable bags to the grocery store?  Another whisper. When you walk or take public transportation instead of driving your car?  Another whisper. Did you plant a garden last Spring?  That’s another whisper.

When I first started “getting into” this, my extended family was pretty much flabbergasted but I’m slowly getting them to cooperate and participate in some of my whispers.  My mom almost always takes her reusable bags to the grocery store and she makes her own laundry detergent.  My dad is a recyclable products police officer….before anything is thrown away, we better make sure it’s not recyclable.  These people?  They’re part of my whispers.

I know that my life will never be “certified green” because, in my opinion anyway, that’s impossible in the world and society that we live in….but I can try, right?

What are some of the ways that you whisper?

Photo by: Sheila Charm School Reject

Scotch Brite Greener Clean – Perfect Sponges

I finally needed sponges and I was on the hunt for eco-friendly ones.  You see, once upon a time, I bought an arsenal of Scotch-Brite sponges at Costco. You know, the yellow sponge and the green scrubby back. Then I went and greened the house. But I still had all of my sponges. I certainly wasn’t going to waste all of them. Plus, I didn’t like the looks of those natural sponges. They looked like they would fall apart under my abuse. But I knew the time was near. Sometime over the summer, I busted open the last of the Costco green and yellow army. It was going to be my last awesome sponge.

Then I went to BlogHer. Where Scotch-Brite had a booth. Promoting their new line of Greener Clean products. (If the skies could open up and clouds could really play harp music, it would have happened.)

Because I am a moderately overzealous fan, I received samples of the Greener Clean product line to try and review. I have been working with these products for months so that I could give you my honest opinion.  I have now purchased them over and over again.  My husband, who is only “green by marriage” has even purchased them.  He approves them

Here’s what they have:

Greener Clean Soap Loaded Scrubbers

The soap pads are made from recycled plastic bottles. You know that 12 oz. plastic water bottle that you recycled? It has enough fibers to make approximately 6 scrubbers. The soap is biodegradable and phosphorus free. 100% recycled packaging.

GRADE: Works really well on the broiler pan, which is a popular item in our house for cooking salmon.

Greener Clean Natural Fiber Non-Scratch Sponge

Made from 100% natural materials. This is the replacement for my green and yellow sponge.

GRADE: Just as awesome and my green and yellow sponge. It also passed the Brian test. My husband doesn’t care if things are eco-friendly. He wants it to work without any additional effort. He liked it.

Greener Clean Natural Fiber Scour Pad

Made from 100% natural materials. The scrubbing fibers are made from 50% natural agave. The pads are large, so I cut them into smaller strips (I have freaky small child hands) and got about six strips from the two pads.

GRADE: FANTASTIC. These took off burned off stains from glass baking dishes that I thought were never going to come off. I am a fan for life.

Greener Clean Biodegradable Absorbent Sponge

Made from 100% natural materials. Reusable and long-lasting.

GRADE: Very handy. Super absorbent. A good alternative to paper towels. Especially if you have to clean up spills from hairless cats that like to knock over cups of water. (Is this a problem that only I have?) Much easier than using rags.

Greener Clean Biodegradable Expanding Soft Sponge

Made from 100% natural materials. Expands when wet.

GRADE: Very similar to the biodegradable absorbent sponge; however, it is expandable. Two thin sponges fit into very little packaging. I like the idea that I can get two sponges with a lot less waste.

I absolutely love these products.  LOVE. So happy that Scotch-Brite is making a green line of sponges. I can get these at my regular supermarket.  They are under $5.  They are perfect.  Buy them.

Go Green But Be Informed

All Natural!

Your Green Solution!

Natural Products Association Certified!

Environmentally Friendly!

No harsh fumes!

It seems to me that every manufacturer in the world is attempting to cash in on the Green Craze that is sweeping our nation.  Well, maybe not the manufacturers of candy bars and pork rinds….that’d probably be a hard sell.  Everything from juice boxes to cereal to toilet cleaners….heck, I’ve even seen garbage bags touted as environmentally friendly!

When I first decided that enough was enough….I was going to go green in as many areas of my life as I possibly could….I did what any completely sane person would do – I hopped onto google and started scaring the crap out of myself.  I already knew that I couldn’t pronounce any of the ingredients that were listed on the back of my bottle of 409….did I really need to know what diseases it caused?

Probably not.

But now that I did, I went to my local store to scope out the green alternatives and was promptly overwhelmed by the choices and fancy words that jumped out at me.  I finally grabbed the cheapest bottle of all purpose cleaner, saw that it was touted as my “Green Solution” and had a fancy little certification logo on it and ran out.

When I got home, I decided I was going to finally tackle the walls in the bathroom, which haven’t been thoroughly cleaned in oh, three years or so.

I sprayed, I wiped.  I sprayed, I wiped.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

It was working it’s magic though – my ceiling was white again and the walls were no longer dingy blue.

Then I started to get a little light headed and my lungs were burning like I’d been spraying ammonia all over the place.  I’m pretty sure “natural” cleaners shouldn’t do that, especially when the bottle says “No harsh chemicals or fumes!”  So I went downstairs for a break and complained to my husband, who is a big science geek and actually can pronounce all of the fancy words on the ingredient list.

Turns out, that little fancy symbol on the bottle means absolutely nothing.

A quick comparison of a bottle of the “bad stuff” we had laying around showed up that, other than a few miscellaneous ingredients, my “Green Solution” was the exact same thing as my normal brand.

To further punish myself, I went to my “Green Solution”‘s website where I was give a tough life lesson : “Remember, just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s green!”

Um, yeah.

Thanks for that.

So, my point here, because yes, I promise that there is actually a point to this, is that you should not be pulled in by words or fancy logos.

Unfortunately, there are very few standards in place by the government that regulate the use of these claims by manufacturers.  That is why it is up to you, the consumer, to compare labels and do your research.

Be informed.

The way I see it, if using environmentally friendly products is important to you, it’s worth the time it takes to make sure you’re actually making an environmentally friendly decision.  Otherwise, you’re going to be pretty pissed off when your lungs start burning.

Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme Is Magic

It is generally accepted that I’ve got foxy feet.

But these are my summer feet.  In the winter, things happen.  I still get my monthly pedicure.  (Yes, astute reader, that is OPI’s I’m Not Really a Waitress, the only color I’ll wear.  You have found the chink in my green armor.)  My heels turn into some sort of stone, filled with cracks so deep that it hurts to walk.

My reflexologist tells me that these cracks are caused by issues with my GI system, but I don’t see any connection to my cereal intake and my rock hooves.  Every winter, I spend an obscene amount of time with one of those callous razor things.  Then, I accidentally slice off too much skin and make myself bleed.  As you can imagine, I’d like an alternative.

I ran out of wee razor blades for the callous shaver, so I was forced to the drugstore.  I stopped at the Burt’s Bees display because no other lotion that I have in the house is doing a damn thing to remove my scales.  I saw the Coconut Foot Creme.  $9.  Okay, I’ll try it.  I’ll try anything.

When I got home, I removed the necessary layers of skin and then opened the new tube of creme.  It was thick and gooey.  I knew it would be perfect from the texture.  More importantly to me, it was thick and gooey and didn’t contain any sort of petroleum products. (I now refuse to put any petroleum products on my person because the more I think about it, the more grossed out I am.)

Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme is:  paraben-free, sulfate-free, petrochemical-free and phthalate-free.  All of these things are extremely important to me.  (Check this list for why all of these things are important.)  If you are vegan, the glycerin is vegetable based.

I’ve been using Burt’s Bees Coconut Foot Creme for about five days.  Guess what?  I’ve got sexy summer feet and it’s December.  The cracks haven’t reformed.  My feet are soft and feel good.  This is the best foot creme that I’ve found that meets my rigorous green standards.  I am happy to report that it rates a 7.7 on The Good Guide.  (Do you use the Good Guide?  I love it.)

If you want sexy summer feet in the winter, definitely give this a try.  You should be able to find it wherever Burt’s Bees products are sold.  It is also available on their website for $9.

4 Easy Ways to Go Green

Ecover Limescale Remover: A GREAT Green Cleaner

Ecover Limescale Remover – you have saved my lazy butt!  As you may recall from my last post on the ionator HOM, I am a disgusting, filthy woman. Because of my refusal to clean, we eventually got a green cleaning service. Alas, even their powers couldn’t remove the nasty hard water stains and limescale build-up in our glass shower in the master bath. After two years, I viewed the stains as an unintended privacy shield on the clear glass.  But, even I know when I’m making excuses for being gross.

I asked my green guru girlfriend and she suggested Borax mixed with some soap and elbow grease.  In the ionator HOM post, Sheila recommended microfiber cloths, water and elbow grease.  You may notice that both of these have something in common – elbow grease. Yeah, this is the reason why I don’t clean in the first place.  I do not like expending all of that energy on cleaning. Especially on that stupid bathroom. I know I sound like a spoiled brat. I get it. But I. Hate. Cleaning.

As I was strolling through Sunflower Market, I spotted Ecover Limescale Remover.

On the label it said that I could let it sit on the limescale, and then wipe off. Not one word about elbow grease. Sold.

To show you how well this product works, I have to bring great shame to my mother. Mom, I’m sorry that I am so gross.

Here is a photo of my shower, taken from the inside.

I know.  I know.

Next, I sprayed the Ecover Limescale Remover onto the glass.  No elbow grease was used by me. Just some trigger action with the finger. Then I sat there and watched it drip.

Now, look, you can see that there is stuff out there in the background. At this point, I was dancing with glee.

Next, I wiped it with a rag.

Now, there are still some spots in this photo, but it took me a few minutes to realize that they were on the outside. This is seriously the same spot as the first photo. The glass in this shower hasn’t been this clean in years.

I am in sweet, sweet love with Ecover limescale remover. It works and it required almost no effort on my part. That is the kind of cleaning that I can handle.

To find the closest Ecover retailer to you, you can use this handy tool on their website.  I believe that this was about $4.

Feature photo by: epSos.de

Green Toothpaste from Tom’s of Maine

Question : What do you do when you buy toothpaste as a joke and it turns out to be the most awesome personal care product ever?

Answer : Relish in it, people.

Over the last few months, I’ve been really focusing on “going green” in as many areas as possible.

It started out simple….a water bobble here, a microfiber cloth there….before I knew it, I was reading labels and checking corporate policies before I bought something.

To say that I had both feet firmly planted on the bandwagon is something of an understatement.

About a month ago I was at the store, buying toothpaste.  To the left of my normal brand, I saw a box that I had never noticed before.  It wasn’t anything special to look at – no fancy logos and the box was almost totally white.  I suppose that is why it caught my eye – it’s simplicity is definitely not the norm.

So I picked up a box of Tom’s Of Maine toothpaste and started reading.  My husband was only slightly embarrassed when I burst out laughing.

Environmentally friendly toothpaste?  Seriously?  What gimmick will they come up with next?

I had to buy it and show it to my brother, who was “green” (btw, I really hate that term) long before it was cool.  He, of course, was all “oh yeah – that stuff has been around for forever.”

Way to be a buzz kill, bro.

Anyway, it was time to put this stuff to the test.

I bought the Whole Care Fluoride Toothpaste, if you really care to know.

It made my teeth squeaky clean, left a slightly minty taste in my mouth that is not overpowering the way most toothpastes are and several hours, two meals and countless Dr. Peppers later, my teeth did not feel gritty and my mouth still felt clean.

As an added bonus, this stuff is a buck cheaper than my regular brand.

Considering I went to a second store to buy this stuff when the grocery store I was at didn’t have it in stock, I think it’s safe to say that I now have a new regular brand.

While you can find it at some of your local stores, you can get a better deal if you order it online, which is the only place I’ve been able to find their children’s toothpaste, as well as their other products.

Mother’s Day Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas – Gifts To Help Mom Go Green

I have called my mother a hippie on more than one occasion. (And once I accidentally called her hippy, which is apparently not the same at all and slightly more insulting.  The more you know…)

My mom was eco-friendly before going green was all the rage.

We had a compost heap in our backyard before you could pick up composters at the grocery store.  We reused and recycled back when only those weirdos in communes were talking about global warming.

So, it is in honor of my eco-friendly and environmentally aware mother that I talk today about top holiday gift ideas for women who are trying to go green.

Biodegradable Home Kitchen Compost Pack
$21.95

Where were these babies when I was growing up?  Do you know how not stinky it is to put your food garbage in something with a lid?

This makes the process of taking your garbage from the kitchen to the outdoor compost pile much more convenient – and much more likely that the rest of the household will play along.

Organic shopping Set – 5 pack
$39.95

I’m a huge fan of my reusable shopping bags.  This set comes with 5 reusable shopping bags (each old about 35 lbs.) and 3 reusable produce bags – which I do not have.  A great gift idea for women who have yet to hop on the reusable bag wagon.

Eco Sandwich Wrap
$6.95

Does your eco-friendly mom pack a lunch?  These reusable sandwich wraps replace the little sandwich baggies that usually get thrown away after one use.

In my house, we’ve been trying to wash out the baggies – which is kind of a pain because they don’t really get dry on the inside.  These wraps lay flat, making them easier to wipe down and reuse.

Refresh’n Dryer Towels
$9.95

OK – so part of me thinks this is kind of like giving your wife a vacuum cleaner as a birthday gift.  BUT – part of me also thinks that this is a neat idea that I might not spend the money on initially to try out.

They are described as dryer towels  that can “be reused up to 25 times, save on water and electricity, lessen time in the laundry, prolong the life of your clothes, and is 100% natural.”  Basically, instead of washing your clothes every time you wear them – you throw them in the dryer with one of these.

It is an eco-friendly gift idea.

Sun Oven
$249.00

No one said environmental responsibility was cheap.  But damn.  Apparently this cooks at temperatures between 350-400 degrees.

This is a really thoughtful gift idea for a woman who camps or picnics a lot.

Rain Barrel and Diverter
$149.00

What would your mom (or wife) want with a barrel of rain water?  There’s a lot of uses for collected rain water that are good for the environment and her water bill.  Water the lawn or garden, wash the car, um… ok.  There are at least two awesome things she could do with reclaimed rain water.

To be honest, eco-friendly gifts for moms aren’t always the most fun things to buy for her.  BUT – they can be really thoughtful, especially if going green is something she’s expressed an interest in.

And the most important thing to remember about buying a gift for someone else is that it’s about them, and not you.

Going Green With Reusable Shopping Bags

I am always one of the last people to pick up on the latest “going green” trends.  It’s not that I don’t love the earth or want to be more eco-friendly.

It’s that I’m lazy and cheap and like my stuff.

I tend to be suspicious of green products because there’s a lot of overpriced, yuppy crap out there being marketed as “eco-friendly” and therefore “worth this exorbent price tag”.  Thanks, but no thanks.  The Earth and I had a talk and we’ve agreed neither of us wants me to be poor or a pretentious asshole.

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