Green Cleaning Goods --- Part 2

Hello again! If you read my previous blog, this is part two of my Odyssey through the green cleaning product world, the third part is me delivering results on the methods I have tried. Just in case you have NO clue what I'm talking about, I'm trying out some green cleaning tips from this website. I ended with number five last time, so we'll start at, you guessed it, number six. The tips says to...

Add baking soda to water for a good cleaner safe for counter tops.

Miracle Soda

I have used this, and I enjoy it. A lot.

Pros: It's cheap, the solution is easy to make, and with a little elbow grease and determination, it works quite well. And, you can use it in certain baked goods. And, AND! It's non-toxic. How can you beat that?

Cons: It doesn't disinfect. If you use a simple solution of baking soda and water, you can clean with it, but you can't disinfect with it. If you want that, you gotta add a disinfection agent. A prime example? Vinegar. Just be careful when you mix it with baking soda.

Alright, onto tip number seven. Go green by getting green. Houseplants. Certain houseplants have the power to freshen the air in your home simply by existing. I have houseplants, and let me tell you...




English Ivy


Pros:...they work. The only time I really noticed it was being in my home without them, and then getting the plants. It was a subtle difference, but quite palatable once you recognize it. It was like an...a ha! moment.

Cons: Maintenance, cost, and space to put the plants. The plant won't do it's lovely job if you kill it through neglect. It's a living thing that needs to be fed, watered, and paid attention to. Some houseplants can get a little costly, too.

Alright, onto the next tip, and that would be tip eight. Vinegar (really?) with water. Wow. SOOOOO hard to make. Use it to make your windows gleam with the light of a thousand sons. Okay, yeah I'm exaggerating, but I can so I am. Anyway, the site tells you how to make a simple solution to clean your windows, and wipe them clean with newsprint. I have used the solution, but I gotta try the newsprint. I'll still do a pros and cons, though. Obligatory picture:

Hopefully you don't have these windows...

Pros: Vinegar and water is SO easy to make, it it works like a charm. However, the newsprint trick I cannot confirm first hand, but I have heard that it works quite well on glass surfaces, but not all surfaces. You gotta test it out.

Cons: Uh, the smell of vinegar? Only one I can spot so far. I'll try the newsprint thing and see what "clears up"! Hey, I'm laughing and that's all that counts!

Comin' to the finish line. Tip number nine. Preventing mold and mildew with a special solution that includes tea tree oil. Never even tried this, and I think I would like to. I can't list any pros and cons with this because I've never used it. However, I can say that prevention is the key to eliminate mold and mildew while staying green. I have never used a green cleaning product that kills mold or mildew. If you know of one, PLEASE contact me. Here's a pretty picture anyway.

You and I have a date, little plant.



Last, but not least, tip number ten. Disinfect and scrub your kingdom's throne with baking soda and vinegar. I have never done this, believe it or not. I've been looking for a mild abrasive and disinfectant for my bowl for quite some time now, and honestly? I have No idea why this didn't cross my mind. This is something I will try, you can count on it. For your pleasure, I've included a picture of a toilet.

Well. That's terrifying.

Okay, that about does it for this blog.  I have a lot of things to try, and I am not ashamed to say that I am looking forward to it. Yes, I am looking forward to cleaning. I'll hit you guys up later with my results. If I don't talk to you before then, have a fantastic Holiday season. Thanks for reading!

Baking soda picture found here.

English Ivy picture found here.

Windows picture found here.

Tea Tree picture found here.

Toilet picture found here.

Disturbing Environmental News

     Earth is a point of supreme controversy. I post articles about it on my Twitter account all the time. Think about it, it really is. Some believe in climate change, some are bound by facts to believe in climate change, some deny it, some look at the facts as propaganda, you name it. Humans will disagree about anything just to prove each other right or wrong. There is no real winner here. Treating the planet better should be the main objective, not proving anything anymore. People that arent' interested in helping the environment won't. Period. Facts won't convince them. Screaming won't convince them, threats, you name it. Instead of focusing on who's right and who's wrong, why not just help the environment if you believe in helping it? Don't waste your time trying to prove others right, others wrong, no. Just...do. When an oil spill can do this:

     Why are we debating over who's at fault? Just clean the damn bird, worry about the politics later. The more action we take, the more answers we get, and eventually those responsible will be brought to justice. When climate change can do this:

     Why are we debating if it's true or not? Rally the people that do care, and get something done. One voice is pointless in a big crowd, but when you spread the word, and entire crowd and all start saying the same thing. When logging companies do this:

     Why are we wasting time blaming and crying outrage? PLANT and stop them. Complaining does nothing, doing does...well everything. I help the planet every day. Everyday. I recycle a lot more than I ever have, I am more mindful of the plastics that I use, I conserve fuel and I have a hybrid car, I use phosphate free soaps and green seal cleaning products, I shut off lights, I pick up litter, blah blah BLAH. Every one of you can do something. Simple, stupid little things that don't mean much if only one person is doing it, but imagine the power of 1,000 people following suit. 10,000. 1,000,000. 1,000,000,000? Doing the right thing can be scary, or even difficult, but once someone starts it becomes contagious. Why don't you try spreading the bug? Think about it.

Bird in Oil spill picture obtained from here.

Polar Bear picture obtained from here.

Deforestation picture obtained from here.

Beginning to Repair the Environment

    

     Can we repair our environment? Yes, according to the new plan out of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Dubbed the "Aichi Target", this initiative will target (taken directly from the article):

* to reduce by at least 50 per cent the rate of loss of natural habitats, including forests
* to designate at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and at least 10 per cent of marine coastal and marine areas as protected;

* to restore at least 15 per cent of degraded areas; and

* to make special efforts to reduce the pressures faced by coral reefs.

     Ambitious, indeed. These are merely four of the twenty objectives. The World Wildlife Federation seemed pretty happy with the plan, but I'm...skeptical. I've heard this type of thing before, and I am speaking from quite the jaded? Shall we say? Angle. Mostly, it's the governments that were involved. I just...I'm apprehensive about this. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely am all for repairing the environment, but when government intervenes sometimes? It can get messy, plainly put. And I'm worried.
     There are MANY things about our environment that needs addressing, but I don't know how, or who to go about it as for now. What is the best method? Is this the best method? Should it be private? Public? Tax-funded? Out of pocket? I don't know! I simply don't know, and that uncertainty is alarming.
     I may be being too dramatic. I may be right. I may be wrong, I don't know. I read the article, but I'm at a loss for an opinion, or any insight. What do you think, reader? What’s the best way to fix our hurtin' environment?
     Think about it, and get back to me.

A Malaysian delegate leaves a room while holding a compromise text proposed by host nation Japan during the UN Convention on Biodiversity meeting in Nagoya, Japan, yesterday. (Photo: AP) 1/1