Getting started is not as hard or expensive as you think

Easy tips just pick one a week to change & in a month you will be amazed at how easy it is!


Things you can do today-

*removing shoes at door to reduce pesticides coming into your home/floors where kids are

*stop using raid -bug killers and weed killers around and inside your house. if its poisonous to insects doesn't that indicate what it could do to a child?

*reduce indoor allergens from spray & plug in air fresheners, fabric softeners, candles( petroleum/parafin wax type-most are made with the same "oil" used for our cars hence the black smokey rim residue). soy and beeswax are natural safer alternatives

*Avoid plastics when possible by choosing paper plates instead of vinyl/plastic or Styrofoam,clothe tablecloths & napkins, fabric or paper bags for store purchases and lunch bags

*When microwaving-use a glass plate and a napkin to reheat food instead of a plastic dish with saran wrap over it.When some plastics are heated or frozen they excrete toxins into your food.

*Open the windows more to air out the toxins on the inside,especially on cleaning day if your using not using natural cleaning products

*clean floors with vinegar (the smell goes away after it dries) instead of smelly cleaners that create waxy buildups, which causes the stains on your grout

When shopping-

*instead of antibacterial hand soap just choose regular "moisturizing type" soaps not containing bleach, chlorine or "triclosan" which is a pesticide! and later if you want to step that up, buy soaps that are made with natural plant bases, if organic even better. I like JR Watkins natural hand soaps and Dr. Bonner's castile soap bars from Target and EO products from Whole Foods and Amazon.

*Go for the recycled paper products instead of big name brands that use bleach to make "white" paper towels. I like Publix brand recycled toilet paper and napkins.

FREE: try to use more old shirts as rags or newspaper when cleaning instead of creating more waste with paper towels.

DIY laundry soap

Very easy and frugal! Most of all healthy! I know my family is not wearing or absorbing any toxins from their clothing. No VOCs, petroleum, phthalates or formaldehyde here.

For a large amount I have made this formula that fills 1 large size coffee can (11.8 oz) dry mix:

*2 bars of castile type soap shredded with cheese grater (I prefer Dr. Bonner's Castile soap lavender scented) found @ Target or Mother Earth
*fill can 1/3 full with BORAX
*fill can 1/3 full with Washing Soda (*not baking soda)
Mix well with your hand or spoon.

I use a small laundry soap lid from an old bottle so about 1/3 cup added on on top of laundry.
works great in my front loading HE machine. Also, for added smell I add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to a small towel during the drying cycle.

As for stains,I follow some of the tips I have found in these articles- like spraying vinegar
on sweat stains.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/clean-clothes-happier-planet.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-new-smell-from-clothes-2.html

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/156/1/Earth-friendly-clothes-washing.html

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/your-green-laundry-room-198781/

Note there are many other versions out there, even liquid varieties. Google is your friend!

toxins in your makeup!

Most of us don't realize what we are applying to our faces and skin everyday that could be contributing to health problems! It's even in the sunscreens we use!

read these and decide for yourself.....
http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/the-cost-of-beauty/

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/do-toxins-cause-autism.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/shocking-news-chemicals-cause-cancer.html

http://www.ewg.org/whichsunscreensarebest/2009report

check out yours for safety here: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Cleaning products shouldn't be toxic

Some ideas for "greening" your household with natural cleaners:

Baking soda
Washing soda
Vinegar (white and apple cider)
Hydrogen peroxide


sold almost anywhere for less than those brand name overly smelly products.

Some links I have found that helped me:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/23-ingenious-uses-for-white-vinegar.html

http://www.sustainlane.com/reviews/learn-to-make-your-own-household-cleaners/D4FVI2T87AYBC8QUPYXTRUWYV9JZ

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-kit.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/20-great-uses-for-tea-tree-oil.html

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/annies-top-10-baking-soda-uses.html