Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Paper Towels

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week's challenge was a real "eye opener". We've had our furniture for a long time so it is, simply because of its age, Eco-friendly. When it was purchased, however, I didn't know about the chemicals used in foam cushions or that varnish contains pollutants. I never thought about the origin of the wood, whether the fabric was harmful to the planet, or where the pieces were manufactured. And, I bought brand new pieces rather than shop for second-hand items. Even though I am more Eco-conscious today, I haven't thought much about furniture. This challenge changed that and raised my awareness. I have no problem buying "used". For anything new, I'll definitely be thinking about the things I've learned this week and will shop accordingly.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

One of your articles, from our two-outfit challenge, got mentioned in The Ilona E Daily. Was it yours?

I'd like to welcome Eco Chic Sense to CTWW. She shares this comment: "I'm an eco-friendly interior designer located in NYC and I love your next challenge! If anyone needs help or further advice on how to furnish your home in an eco-friendly way.... feel free to reach out to me. Also, if your looking for further insight- check out my blog, Eco-Chic Sense, with great tips and techniques on how to design your home in an eco-friendly way."

Argentum Vulgaris (AV) recently bought two new items for his home. They are typically made with a lot of plastic but AV was able to search out more Eco-friendly versions. In Change the World Wednesday – 12th Mar, he talks about his purchases, where he stands on light bulbs, and shares an analysis of his home furnishings.

Welcome to DWhiteCreations. She says, "I had been on the fence about rayon, not any longer...thanks for the information".

Alicia joined us and shares this, "Well we have got the light bulb thing down really well but the home furnishings I am embarrassed to say we need improvement on. I am blessed that my husband has built us some tables and a cabinet from recycled wood. He even made us some tables from left over hardwood flooring that are really cute. We have a few pieces of furniture that was handed down from both sets of parents. Otherwise we have bought the rest of the furniture without thinking very Eco Friendly. I decided a few months ago that I am going to do my best to start buying lamps, tables and other furniture off of Craigs List. There is such a wide variety there that I think it is going to be easy to find the things I want. A lot of the things we use in the kitchen are Eco Friendly but I am making a real effort to change to more sustainable and recycled products throughout the house. This is a good challenge to make us all aware about what we are using in our homes!"

Those of you who know Lois know that she lives minimally and is a super-star in the upcycling arena. She's also constantly looking for ways to improve. In Change the World Wednesday, A Recap, she analyzes her decor. She points out what works, areas for improvement, and how she saves money in the process.

Why are second-hand furnishings Eco-friendly? Check out Aimee's (aka EcoGrrl's) comment: "Ha - never saw last week's post but couldn't have participated as I was in the garden so there's no way with how scrappy I get and having to visit clients :) This week - yes! I have a 10 year old leather (don't cringe!) sofa & chair that I am dying to replace that I'd bought at Z Gallerie as my divorce present to myself. Problem is that the cushions can't be removed so I can't restuff them, so will ultimately have to sell it on Craigslist or donate to Community Warehouse. As far as finding a replacement, to stay green and in a reasonable budget (all the eco sofas I've seen are $3-5K minimum, it's scary), I'll probably to go to a consignment store, so over 2014 I'll be checking out those stores instead. While a consignment or similar second-hand sofa won't necessarily be made of eco-materials, it'll have zero carbon footprint because no new materials will be made. As for the rest of my house, I'm a minimalist, so I don't have much else beyond the same bookshelves I've had for 15 years and the coffee table is one my fiance built for me out of a repurposed media cabinet :) "

Melanie joined us and shared this: "My husband and I have switched all of our lights to energy efficient bulbs. We've also taken time to insulate our house well to insure energy efficiency to reduce the amount our heater/ac runs. As for decor & furnishings, much of our house is filled with upcycled, reclaimed or repurposed items-- such as our tables, cabinets, and shelves just to name a few. A lot of our decor comes from eco-friendly handmade small businesses as well. We are doing what we can, and learning more, to be eco friendly!" By the way, Melanie is celebrating the 3-year anniversary of her shop, Violet's Buds, and on Thursday, March 20th, she'll be a hosting a wonderful giveaway. Prizes include Eco-friendly products from a bunch of great companies. So mark your calendars and check it out!

Clare accepted the challenge and said, "It took us a while with the light bulbs - we rent a rather quirky house and every light fitting seems to use a different bulb, aargh! Anyway, we finally finished that project last year. Home decor - hmmm, definitely not 100% on that! Our main lounge furniture is on its 3rd re-cover / refurb so that qualifies as "well-used" I think. But we have bought a couple of new things since moving here - when you're in a new country you don't know where to source things. Now we know where to buy 2nd hand, altho' very limited. Thanks Small for this challenge, you've got me working on this one! I've got a blog post with some tips on eco-friendly storage and even some really great-looking furniture made from - wait for it - cardboard! See it here: http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/eco-friendlyhomestorage".

Mary stopped by our aerator challenge and said, "Great post! So thrilled to see people being responsible and taking action. Thanks for sharing."

Via Triberr, Alaiyo shared this comment: "This is a topic I've wondered about. Thanks for writing about it!"

Deborah and I have been chatting, this week, about how she could participate in CTWW. She embraced the concept and shared this about our last couple of challenges: " Hi All, Looking back at the last 7 days, I had no problem wearing two basic black items which are a loose black cotton knit top and black cotton knit harem pants. They are comfy and easy to keep fresh with a quick wash while I am showering at night. I am currently studying sustainable fashion design and ecofriendly textiles, so my next big challenge in the clothing arena is to research cost-effective sources for hemp clothing which is considered more environmentally-friendly than even organic cotton. I will be blogging about some of my favorite hemp clothing resources and options very soon. I also wrote a post about the topic of toxin fashion: Are You a Fashion Victim? "10 Healthy Reasons to Avoid the Toxic Side of Fashion & Wear Organic Clothing" http://urbannaturale.com/are-you-a-fashion-victim-10-healthy-reasons-to-avoid-the-toxic-side-of-fashion-wear-organic-clothing/ --- which you might find of interest. With regards to the sustainable home decor challenge, we have switched to CFL bulbs in our home but I am now doing more research and considering replacing CFLs with LEDs as they burn out. LEDs have some significant advantages over CFLs are are considered safer. I will be writing more about the benefits of LEDs soon. The subject of eco friendly decor is one of my favorites. We are working on replacing old furnishings in our home with ecofriendly ones as they wear out. An eco friendly mattress is probably our most important next purchase so I plant to research the best options and write about that soon. We also need a new shower curtain so I have been researching eco friendly ones. It is amazing how expensive some of them are, so I am looking for the most cost-effective green options and may try to make my own hemp shower curtain. More to come on that project... It is critically important to reduce exposure to the harmful materials and toxins in many of our home furnishings and building materials. It is vital to our health that we improve our indoor air quality. I wrote a few blog posts about some eco friendly home furnishing options including: 8 Great Way's to Make Your Kitchen Greener" - http://urbannaturale.com/8-great-ways-to-make-your-kitchen-greener/; "Green Your Decor with CB2 Recycled Home Furnishings" - http://urbannaturale.com/green-your-decor-with-cb2-recycled-home-furnishings/; and "AfroChic Ecofriendly Home Collection" http://urbannaturale.com/brooklyn-is-in-the-house-aphrochic-ecofriendly-home-collection/. I am trying to apply the green principles of reuse, repurpose and upcycle as much as possible so a number of green DIY projects are planned in the coming months. Thank you so much for sharing Reduce Footprints' valuable and inspiring green content and Change the World Wednesday Challenges on the Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Blog Hop! I appreciate it!" Speaking of the Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Blog Hop, Deborah gave CTWW a nice mention in this week's "hop". Check it out ... and add your posts to the list!

Sunflowers & Edibles gave CTWW a nice mention and included at least one of your tweets. Be sure to browse the rest of the paper ... some of our favorite "greenies" have been featured.

Mrs. Green stopped in and said, "I hope I'm in time SF; I had a lot of fun with this challenge and I invite you and your readers to come and sit on my (secondhand) sofa with me :) http://littlegreenblog.com/green-home/reduce-reuse-recycle-green-home/recycling-furniture/". I accepted Mrs. Green's invitation, took my shoes off at the door, left my glass of red wine in the kitchen, and entered Chez Green's lounge. It was a lovely visit and Mrs. Green was quite candid about the origins of her furniture. Her invitation includes you ... she's a delightful hostess ... so head over for a visit.

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @GiveTreeGifts
- Guide to Buying Green Furniture ow.ly/uwkmu
- Green Furniture ow.ly/uwktw
- Eco-Friendly Furniture - Demystifying Shopping for Sustainable Home Furnishings ow.ly/uwkCb
- CHEMICAL-FREE FURNISHINGS: Being mindful of chemicals in the products you furnish your home with can... ow.ly/uwkMc

From @laalicia
- love this use of old tires ow.ly/uwbhO

From @pberk
- RT @SimpsonDoor Cool ideas for re-using everyday items for home decor @renovate_ideas: http://t.co/jqZeNfw5B7

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@2kidsandacoupon	@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie
@angelosurmelis	@anitaadamsnc	@aussierichluck
@barrydarrdixon	@beakunz	@beatepdx
@befeld13	@bg_garden	@biggreenpen
@bike2power	@billindursky	@bstoneblog
@clothaddicts	@collegegogreen	@conservationm
@convetit	@counselorholley	@davidquickbooks
@debsmikdav1	@decor8yourlife2	@dehelen
@designlifenet	@dieselelephants	@ecoexpert1
@ecothrifty	@etsnetworksinc	@familybetty
@familyfocusblog	@francisphyl	@frederickbrooke
@ginavalley	@givetreegifts	@green_vibes
@greenforu	@greeningforward	@greensmart
@gregorspeaks	@groovygreenlivi	@guayaba
@halliegrace2	@healthfulmama	@herbgir1972
@herbspecialist	@janmoran	@jnjgogreen
@johannamhaack	@kaitlingarder	@karensromance
@kayelleallen	@kgimson	@krmbalclothing
@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses	@ladyladuke
@larlegal	@leslieveg	@lorcadamon
@loridennisinc	@lschreurs	@lu_and_ed
@madeinusablog	@mamapoolecooks	@marcelajersey
@marikokoloco	@marjoriemcatee	@mimibarbour
@mindfulmomma	@momfindsout	@momgamerwriter
@monicapedersen9	@nikidanforth	@nolafusion
@ourfavadventure	@pamela_o_plays	@pberk
@perithelabel	@perkins0039	@phebeohyes
@pinkladyapril	@proamusa	@rckweddings
@realityarts	@reginald_chan	@rozdb
@rulesofgreen	@sensuouspromos	@sfcouncil
@shannongrissom	@sophie2978	@soulfullab
@spafloating	@storylinepr	@tbasecomm
@tbaseedu	@theurbannatura1	@theworld4realz
@treesgroup	@turningclockbac	@tweetpegasus
@vintagejunk_fm	@violetsbuds	@walruswinks
@wencdj	@wheeliesmom	@whopaysthepiper
@whywelovegreen	@withinyourhands	@yfnjman
@zaidabeauchesne	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

I am reminded, once again, that everything has an environmental cost. Furnishing our homes is, for many people, about comfort and beauty. We enter a store with color schemes and styles in mind, looking for pieces which reflect our tastes and personalities. Each piece has a history. Perhaps the wood was sourced from the rainforest. Maybe the brilliant colors were created using harmful chemicals. And that comfortable, overstuffed chair has probably been treated with fire retardants. Knowing the environmental price of our decor changes the game. Our beautiful furnishings don't seem quite so comfortable when they have been created using non-Eco-friendly materials and methods. It is said that ignorance is bliss. I say that ignorance is dangerous. Let's make it a point to know the facts ... and live accordingly.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Can you give up paper towels?

We've had a couple of hard challenges, so let's tackle something a bit easier. Well ... easy for some! Here you go ...

This week, do not use or buy any paper towels or napkins. Instead, use cloth napkins and cleaning rags.

OR ...

If you never use paper towels or napkins, please review your paper use and determine if there are other ways for you to conserve. Can you use less toilet paper? Could you say "no" to printed receipts? What about printer paper, gift wrap, magazines and catalogs ... can you give them up? Choose at least one area where improvements could be made.

OR ...

If you've basically eliminated paper from your life, please share your tips and ideas for doing so.

Are you up for this challenge? I know that you are!!

Sneak Peek: Are you ready for Spring? It starts tomorrow!

Until then ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you don't have the time right now, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week's challenge asked us to banish paper towels. Was it easy for you? We gave them up some time ago. Old T-shirts and towels have been turned into cleaning rags and the thrift store is my resource for cloth napkins. In my opinion, the key to success is to have plenty on hand and to place them in convenient locations. They save money and significantly reduce waste. What could be better!

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Here's what they had to say:

How did Argentum Vulgaris' hamburger turn him into a fiend? And what does a BBQ have to do with cloth napkins? You'll find the answers to those questions in "Change the World Wednesday – 17th".

Remember our challenge to use non-toxic cleansers? Well, Charlie got busy and wrote a whole series ... "Non-Toxic Cleaning". She includes posts on cleaning windows, fibers and woods, pets, the kitchen, bathroom, etc. In one article she offers important information on the chemicals found in typical commercial cleansers ... it's a "must read"!

Did you read the "Shopping Charity" this week? I found some terrific articles including a couple written by CTWW participants. Was yours one of them?

In "Time to go Paper Towel-less" Lisa took a closer look at paper towels and came up with some rather shocking statistics. Do you know what percentage of trash in landfills is paper? She also shares her strategy for switching over to cloth.

Lois came up with a brilliant idea for finding cloth rags. Want a hint? What does a thrift store do with clothing that is too soiled to sell? Curious? Read "Change The World Wednesday, paper products". And I have to say, Lois, that you have some very pretty napkins for your table!

Alicia had no problem with this challenge. She says, " We haven't used paper towels for quite a while. We use kitchen size terry cloth towels. We bought them in bulk several years ago and they are still holding up well.We have used cotton napkins for about 10 years now. To be honest we haven't really missed using paper towels or paper napkins. The cloth napkins and terry towels do a much better job and you can continue to use them year after year!!" By the way, Alicia recently posted a recipe for "Brussels Sprouts". If you just thought "yuck", you're going to want to check it out ... she's discovered a way to make everyone love them!

Amanda is making a difference. In her words, "Trying to make more of an impact every day. We recently changed from buying bottled water to a water filter, and it not only saved money, but all the plastic that they generated decreased." Nice! Amanda is an artist and has been participating in the "A-Z Challenge 2013" by posting an original piece every day. Her work is stunning. Hop over and check it out!

Clare's comment has me curious and I can't wait to read her post. She shares, "This challenge turned out to be great fun! I hardly ever use paper towels, so I thought "no problem" but your challenge gave me a renewed impetus to re-try to re-train my husband. (He's normally pretty green but not in this aspect). I was also interested to research what paper towels are used for, around the world. I'm writing a blog post, but it'll only be published by tomorrow (Wednesday) your time, sorry, I'll paste the URL once it's up. BTW, I love the new layout of your site - much easier to find everything! Thanks for another great challenge!" Re-train your husband, huh? This ought to be good!

Our Twitter friend, @sunflowerhippo, shared this: "I never use those products. Destroys eco-systems, fells trees & most are koch brothers companies. 3 strikes against them"

@rulesofgreen, via Twitter, shared this "This Earth Day, Use a People Towel Instead of a Paper Towel http://www.wehatetowaste.com/paper-towel/"

And finally, check out this video by The Green Sisterhood ... recognize any faces?



The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie
@anitaadamsnc	@anktangle	@beatepdx
@beckymcneer	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@bylittlenea	@cleansediva	@columbusjunk
@conservationm	@counselorholley	@crazedkitchen
@crazy4grnlivn	@crazykids6	@dusdifissette
@ecoexpert1	@eddiegear	@ginavalley
@givetreegifts	@groovygreenlivi	@intricateknot1
@irishcarter1	@ithoughtiknewma	@jadekerrion
@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses	@lavishandlime
@littlegreenblog	@lorcadamon	@lyssaann42
@marjoriemcatee	@mcmillendc	@momgamerwriter
@nolafusion	@ntiveheart	@oneadayart
@plus2point4	@rckweddings	@realityarts
@rulesofgreen	@ruralmoms	@shoppingcharity
@squishablebaby	@theworld4realz	@tidbitsfromamom
@treehugga	@treesgroup	@tristinandtyler
@twicecreations	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

Trees breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Younger trees need a lot of Co2 to grow. When a tree is cut, all of the absorbed carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere contributing to global warming. While paper manufacturers claim that they are sustainable, growing forests specifically for their products, they aren't sharing the whole story. Every time a tree is cut, our environment is hurt. We can help by reducing the demand for paper products ... buying less ... using less. It's a small action with a huge impact.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Let's continue the paper theme, shall we? Here you go ...

This week, use less toilet paper. Rather than just pull it off the roll, count out no more than 6 sheets per use. If you accepted this challenge the last time we ran it, and did well, see how low you can go.

OR ...

If you are already a toilet paper conservationist or have switched to cloth (oh yeah, some use cloth toilet paper), please share other ways that we can conserve paper.

Are you up for this one? I know that you are!

Join me in our mantra ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you don't have the time right now, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

How did your Eco-friendly spring cleaning go last week? I made the switch to natural cleansers quite some time ago. My arsenal consists of vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and for polishing, olive oil with lemon juice. I also have some products from Etsy vendors which are basically combinations of these same ingredients with, perhaps, some essential oils tossed in to make them smell nice. Removing toxins from our life made a dramatic difference. In the past, cleaning meant headaches, nasal congestion and skin rashes ... a high price to pay for a clean home. Natural solutions have no adverse affects, they're inexpensive and they work. Good for me ... good for the planet. What could be better!

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Here's what they had to say:

In "Change the World Wednesday – 10th", Argentum Vulgaris (AV) gives us an update on his meat-free week. What do you think ... did he succeed? I'm not telling! Check out the rest of the article for a clever way to use empty CD holders as well as AV's cleanser of choice. By the way, EcoCrap has an Apothecary page with do-it-yourself recipes. It's a great resource.

Lisa wrote a terrific article entitled "How Many CD’s Do you Own? – Change The World Wednesday". Did you know that DVDs are more earth-friendly than CDs? Lisa explains why. Be sure to read through the comments ... people shared some creative ways to use old discs. In "DIY Soap for the Dishawasher, The Dishes, and your Hands", Lisa tests a recipe. It seemed simple enough to make ... but did it work? You'll have to read the post to find out!

Thanks to Regina McDonald for the "front page" mention in the "The artists Daily". The paper includes several interesting articles and, a personal favorite, music videos.

Did you know that Mrs. Green is a published author? Oh yes ... her book, Self Sufficiency Household Cleaning is just a wealth of information. Read "How to have a green spring clean" for Mrs. Green's tips, ideas and recipes. If you'd like to download her book, you'll find information towards the end of the post.

Lois shared a complete list of cleaning solutions for every part of the home. I even found an idea for spot cleaning the carpet. In the beginning of the piece, Lois talks frankly about how she made the switch to natural cleansers. It's fascinating! Take a look at "Change The World Wednesday, Cleaning House"

Have you ever heard of an enzyme cleaner? Alicia is "brewing" her own. In her words, "We made it a goal several years ago to pretty much eliminate toxic chemicals from our home. We found that a majority of them were due to the awful cleaners we were using. Alan developed a wonderful household bar that we use for almost everything. I also use vinegar and soda. This past year I had been seeing a lot of blogs sharing a recipe for making your enzyme cleaner. I know from our research that enzymes are awesome at cleaning. I just got around to making this cleaner recently and it is AMAZING!! This cleaner consists of citrus peels, brown sugar and water. It needs to ferment for about three months and then it is ready to use. I had read that you could add a couple of teaspoons of yeast to it and it would be ready to use in about two weeks. That is what I did because I didn't want to wait the three months to try it. It really is awesome. The first place I used it was on the shower walls and floor. It cuts through soap scum easily. Next I am going to try it on some shirts that have some greasy stains on them. I am now making a huge container of this and letting it ferment for the three months. That way I can compare. Next I am going to make a dishwasher detergent. I think it is time to give it a try because it is the only household cleaning product that we buy. Everything else we make. If you have never made furniture polish it is so easy to make and works great. Our daughter made a paste of white vinegar and soda to clean the oven and I was so impressed. It is spotless without any harmful fumes. Trust me you will love getting rid of toxic chemicals from your home and it is so easy to do! I am so excited for everybody to give this challenge a try!!"

AspenClean shares green cleaning tips on their BLOG and on their PINTEREST PAGE. Have you ever used Cream of Tartar to clean? How about lemons to remove stains? These are just a couple of the great tips you'll find. For those who aren't interested in making their own products, check out AspenClean's Natural Cleaners (you can order them online).

Ann stopped by. She says, "I don't have CDs or DVD, the TV and computer are my source of entertainment."

Lady JC makes her own cleaning solutions. She shares, "Vinegar is a cleaning miracle! I've been making citrus cleaner by soaking orange peels in white vinegar. I let them soak in a large mason jar for around 5 weeks then fill spray bottles halfway with the solution and top up with water, shake and spray. It cuts through greasy messes in a jiffy. I also use plain white vinegar to clean mirrors, and mix vinegar with baking soda, castile soap and a few drops of essential oil (tea tree and lemon are great!) then sprinkle it in the shower to scrub the tile and tub." In "Homemade Hand Soap" she shares her recipe ... easy to make and cost effective ... perfect. By the way ... JC has a question, "If anyone knows a recipe for a cream bleach alternative specifically to clean those difficult stains on white ceramic kitchen sinks, I'd really appreciate it." Ideas?

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation ... here's what they had to say:

From @givetreegifts
- Hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle is handy for treating cutting boards. Follow w/ spritz of vinegar & let sit for 10 min then wash
- Don't go farther than the pantry for fabric softener. Use vinegar in the fabric softener receptacle of washer - softens & freshens
- I'm told citrus peels work wonders for clearing out garbage disposal. They're natural fragrance & the oils in the peel freshen & clean

From @laalicia
- <3 RT @ecokarenlee: How simple is this? 5 frugal ways to go natural. Thanks +The Soft Landing for the tips! http://ow.ly/k8aF4

From @dusdifissette
- Challenge Accepted! Bought #Italsteam Steamer that doesn't need distilled H20 & switching to #EccoFriendly detergent.

From @rulesofgreen
- just learned how to clean my cermic stove in an eco-friendly way: http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/ecofriendly-ways-clean-ceramic-stove-tops-20102.html

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@_zandraaaa	@a_kiasi
@allnaturalkatie	@amotherlife	@anitaadamsnc
@anktangle	@aspenclean	@badgerdesigns
@beatepdx	@beckymcneer	@biggreenpen
@bstoneblog	@campaignerkaye	@chewyleecious
@chrysalisdesign	@cleansediva	@clubcontent
@conservationm	@counselorholley	@crazedkitchen
@crazy4grnlivn	@crazykids6	@dusdifissette
@earthyurban	@ecoexpert1	@eddiegear
@frederickbrooke	@ginavalley	@givetreegifts
@greeneral	@groovygreenlivi	@intricateknot1
@irishcarter1	@ithoughtiknewma	@jadekerrion
@jaemacjustsayin	@jenniharris4	@jnjgogreen
@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses	@lavishandlime
@littlegreenblog	@lorcadamon	@marjoriemcatee
@mcmillendc	@millarjohn	@mom2tle
@mombloggerplr	@momgamerwriter	@motherhoodlooms
@mrsgreensworld	@ntiveheart	@oneadayart
@pinkladyapril	@rachelwild	@rckweddings
@realityarts	@rewildbritain	@rulesofgreen
@ruralmoms	@squishablebaby	@thefadderly
@theworld4realz	@timsimms	@treehugga
@treesgroup	@tristinandtyler	@truenatureed
@tsue1136	@twicecreations	@wencdj
@whopaysthepiper	@whywelovegreen	@woodlandtrust
@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

Commercial cleansers are convenient and they work. But using them comes at a high cost. In addition to being more expensive than home-made solutions, they are toxic to the environment and harmful to all living things ... including us. We wouldn't dream of asking our loved ones to breathe in dangerous fumes ... and yet, that's exactly what's happening when we use chemicals in our homes. Eco-friendly options, especially those we make ourselves, are inexpensive, effective and harmless. The choice seems clear.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Have you ever noticed how some good habits slide a bit with time? Maybe we let the water run a bit longer or take a few extra squares of toilet paper. So, let's revisit one of the "basics". Here you go ...

This week (yes, one whole week) banish paper towels/napkins from your life. This includes paper towels in public restrooms and disposable napkins in restaurants.

OR ...

Never use them? Great, please share your tips & tricks for getting along without them.

Are you with me? I know that you are!

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Enjoying a good read ...

Here's an interesting fact: "The U.S. book and newspaper industries combined require the harvest of 125 million trees each year and emit over 40 million metric tons of CO2 annually; equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of 7.3 million cars." from The Green Press Initiative.

On these cold winter days, there's nothing better than curling up with a good book ... losing one's self in a story or learning something new. The feel of a book ... the smell of the pages ... it is, for many of us, a link to our earliest memories. Unfortunately, it requires a lot of paper and resources to go from an idea in an author's mind to a book in our hands. Yes, we can now read books online or buy reading devices but, for many of us, there is nothing better than holding a book.

Here are a few ideas to minimize the environmental impact of books:

• Use the library. If you haven't been to a library for some time, you might be surprised. Today's libraries are user-friendly, organizing isles by subject and interest.
  
  
• Consider buying a "used" book. If owning a book is more appealing than "renting" one from a library, check out used book stores. Prices are typically lower and many stores offer cash for your trade-ins and/or points towards other books.
  
  
• Check out thrift stores. Many people buy a book, read it once, and then donate it ... so "almost new" editions can be found.
  
  
• Consider trading books. There are now many online sites dedicated to book swapping. Check out these sites (graciously provided by our bloggy friend Brian, at Eazy Cheezy):
  
  

Bookins
Book Mooch
Swap Tree
Title Trader
Zunafish
Paperback Swap

• Create your own swap club with friends and family ... once a book has been enjoyed, pass it on.

Living "green" is often a matter of balance. A book, by it's very nature, is less than environmentally friendly but ... by adopting these ideas we can minimize our impact ... all while enjoying a good read.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

A bit of this and that ...

Here are a few quick tips and interesting facts:

• Rather than buy a new vase for your beautiful summer flowers, try using an old glass or bottle.
  
  
• Farmer's markets not only offer local, seasonal and often organic food ... there isn't any packaging involved.
  
  
• On average, we use a plastic bag for 12 minutes ... that same plastic bag persists in a landfill for approximately 1,000 years ~ Body+Soul magazine, September 2009 issue.
  
  
• A push mower emits 0% pollution ... and it's great exercise.
  
  
• Thinking of purchasing a new oven? Opt for an energy efficient convection oven. It uses 20% less energy than conventional ovens.
  
  
• Did you know that wooden chopsticks cost China about 25 million trees a year to make?
  
  
• Use tap water instead of bottled water.
  
  
• Did you know that you could reduce your chemical exposure by approximately 80% by choosing organic produce?
  
  
• The perimeter of a store typically has the healthiest items (for both us and the environment).
  
  
• For grass stains on clothing, use hydrogen peroxide ... the key to this working is speed ... don't let the stain set.
  
  
• Use the appropriate burner on your stove. A 6 inch pot over an 8 inch burner will waste over 40 percent of the heat generated.
  
  
• Send e-greeting cards ... save money, a stamp, paper and the earth.
  
  
• Save trees ... read the daily newspaper online rather than having it delivered.
  
  
• A vacation is a state of mind, not a reservation ... so try a "staycation".
  
  
• And finally, if you're still looking for a natural cleaner for this week's challenge, try this:

Have a great weekend, everyone!

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

The Rainforests - Part Three

This is the third article in our Rainforest discussion (you can read earlier discussions here: Part One and Part Two). Today we'll talk about a few more products from these precious forests and how our actions can help.

Petroleum

In 1960, oil was discovered in the Ecuadorean Amazon (called the Oriente). During the 1970s, drilling began and over the next 28 years, over 17 million gallons of crude oil were spilled from the main pipeline ... toxic spills killing plant and animal life. Drilling has, and is, occurring in the rainforests of Columbia, Thailand and Nigeria, as well. It generates toxic pollutants, hurting the land and indigenous people ... and it creates new roads. We learned in our last post that new roads enable farmers and illegal logging operations to venture deeper into the forest resulting in deforestation. In addition, oil drilling operations create airstrips and developments ... both of which pose a threat.

All petroleum products are bad for the earth ... and they are everywhere. There are the obvious products ... gasoline and home heating oil. And there are the not so obvious ... cosmetics, candles, plastic bags, paint and even some foods. There are alternatives ... paraffin free candles, natural cosmetics and reusable shopping bags, to name a few. The list of petroleum based products is huge ... therefore, read labels and know what's in your products. If a petroleum derived ingredient is included, look for something else.

Paper

Simply put, paper comes from trees ... and as previously discussed, deforestation due to logging is a real problem. The US is the largest per-capita consumer of pulp and paper products in the world. While the US is also a major producer, more and more of the pulp and paper products used in the US are imported.

We can make a difference by reducing our use of paper. Whenever possible, choose electronic versions of receipts, documents, bills, etc. rather than paper versions. When paper is necessary, use both the front and back of each sheet. Remove your name from junk mail lists. Ask companies not to send catalogs your way. Share books and magazines ... or opt for digital versions. For more ways to reduce paper, just type in the word "paper" in our search bar (upper left part of the side bar) for earlier articles on the subject.

Steel

The largest iron mine in the world, the Las Carajas mine in Brazil, is using up nearby forests to process iron into steel. It's estimated that the mine will be active for 50 years and in that time will consume 16% of the Amazon for charcoal to fuel the processing of iron.

Whenever possible, avoid steel. If you can't avoid it, be sure to recycle it.

Beef

Nearly 80 percent of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon results from cattle ranching. Consider this ... more than 38,600 square miles has been cleared for pasture since 1996, bringing the total area occupied by cattle ranches in the Brazilian Amazon to 214,000 square miles, an area larger than France. Brazilian beef is mostly exported to Europe ... however, it has characteristics that some U.S. markets see as favorable. Amazon cattle are effectively "free-range", "grass-fed", and possibly "organic", depending on the definition.

What can we do? Eat less meat. Regardless of where one lives, eating less meat is good for the planet. And, since Brazilian Beef has attractive characteristics ... it's possible that eating less meat will also be good for the rainforest.

We continue to see how our purchases matter ... and how vitally important it is to be informed consumers. In our fourth and final article, we'll talk about bananas, aluminum, gold, coffee and chocolate.

As always, I would love to hear from you!

Strange Bedfellows: Paper, Sugar, Diapers

Paper, Sugar and Diapers ... Strange bedfellows indeed.

That bed has a few more occupants, however: Flour, Coffee Filters, White Cotton Clothing, Tampons, Toilet Paper, Tea Bags, and Cigarette Papers (to name a few). What do all of these "bed mates" have in common? They are brilliantly white thanks to bleaching ... a process which releases dioxins into the environment.

Dioxins are environmental pollutants and have been associated with health complications such as cancer, birth defects and an increased risk of diabetes. Because dioxins are "fat loving", they bioaccumulate in both humans and wildlife. Bioaccumulate means that they are absorbed into our bodies faster than our systems can get rid of them.

Waterways are particularly susceptible to dioxin contamination as a result of bleaching practices. The toxins get into fish and plant life ... and travel right up the food chain to us. Additionally, dioxins linger on the bleached items ... this is a concern because those items come in contact with us and/or our food.

There are many ways that dioxins enter the environment ... burning coal, using products with chlorine, burning trash in a can in the backyard, plastics (think PVC) ... and bleaching consumer products. Here's an interesting fact ... most natural, raw fibers and products aren't white at all ... they are brown or off-white. But somewhere along the line we came to believe that white equals clean. So we started bleaching things ... and hurting the environment.

Once again, there is power is our purchases. Refusing to buy bleached items increases the demand for unbleached items ... and a healthier planet. Here are a few ideas:

• Buy unbleached flour.
• Instead of white coffee filters, go for the natural, brown variety. Or better yet, invest in a reusable filter.
• Try raw or unrefined sugar or honey instead of white sugar.
  
• For paper products, look for unbleached varieties. This includes computer paper, toilet paper, paper towels and napkins, etc.
• Buy clothing made from natural organic cotton or, if you can find it, go for clothing made from hemp and bamboo. Both hemp and bamboo are sustainable crops and use less resources than cotton crops.
• Don't smoke.
• Check packaging ... anything white is a bleaching "giveaway".

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

13 (more) Ways to Easily Go Green

Here are 13 more ways to easily reduce our footprints on the earth.

1. USE YOUR CRUISE CONTROL - When using cruise control your vehicle could get up to 15% better mileage. Good for the environment and your wallet.

2. GO TO A CAR WASH - Professional car washes are often more efficient with water consumption. If everyone in the U.S., who washes their car themselves, took just one visit to the car wash we could save nearly 8.7 billion gallons of water.

3. WAIT UNTIL NIGHT - Do not fuel your vehicle or mow your lawn during morning hours ... all those emissions bake in the sun all day causing more ozone.

4. RECYCLE UNWANTED WIRE HANGERS - Wire hangers are generally made of steel, which is often not accepted by curbside recycling programs. Instead of tossing them, take them to the nearest dry cleaners ... they typically accept them back to reuse or recycle (just call them first to be sure they'll take them). If they won't, donate them to thrift stores or homeless shelters.

5. WHEN NOT USING A FIREPLACE, KEEP THE DAMPER CLOSED - Keeping the damper open (when you're not using your fireplace) is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter. It allows warm air to go right up the chimney. This can add up to hundreds of dollars each winter in energy loss.

6. CHOOSE MATCHES OVER LIGHTERS - Most lighters are made out of plastic and filled with butane fuel, both petroleum products. Since most lighters are considered "disposable," over 1.5 billion end up in landfills each year. When choosing matches, pick cardboard over wood. Wood matches come from trees, whereas most cardboard matches are made from recycled paper.

7. USE COTTON SWABS WITH A PAPERBOARD SPINDLE - Some brands of cotton swabs have a paperboard spindle while others are made of plastic. If 10% of U.S. households switched to a paperboard spindle, the petroleum energy saved per year would be equivalent to over 150,000 gallons of gasoline.

8. DOWNLOAD YOUR SOFTWARE - Most software comes on a compact disc, and more than thirty billion compact discs of all types are sold annually. That's a huge amount of waste, not to mention the associated packaging. Another bonus to downloading your software is that it's often available for download at a later date when you upgrade to a new computer or are attempting to recover from a crash.

9. PAY BILLS ONLINE - By some estimates, if all households in the U.S. paid their bills online and received electronic statements instead of paper, we'd save 18.5 million trees every year, 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and 1.7 billion pounds of solid waste.

10. SKIP THE COFFEE STIRRER - Each year, Americans throw away 138 billion straws and stirrers. To stir without stirrers, simply put your sugar and cream in first, and then pour in the coffee ...it should be well mixed. Determined to stir (and didn't bring your Swiss Army Knife)? Ask the establishment for a spoon (a real one ... not a plastic one).
    

11. SHORTEN YOUR SHOWER - For every 30 seconds you shorten your shower, you'll save up to 4 gallons of water.

12. EAT LOCAL - It takes 17 times more oil to transport non-local food compared to that which is produced nearby.

13. FIND A BETTER WAY TO BREAK THE ICE - When a big winter storm heads our way, most of us use some sort of ice melter to treat steps and sidewalks. While this makes the sidewalks safer, rock salt and salt-based ice-melting products can contaminate wells and drinking water causing health problems. It's also harmful to pets, plants and the environment. Searching for an Eco-friendly alternative, however, is tough because almost everything used to clear away ice is bad for the environment in some way. So ... the message here is moderation ... if you must use an ice-melting product, use as little as possible.
    

Yes ... these 13 tips can be yours for the low, low price of a little time. BUT WAIT ... there's more!! If you act now, we're giving you a bonus ... another easy way to reduce your footprint on the earth:

• Share these easy ways to go green with everyone you know. Together we can make a difference!

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Phone Books

How often do you use a phone book? No ... I'm not talking about using it as a door stop ... nor am I talking about using it to boost your child up at the dinner table. I'm talking about actually opening it up to find a phone number.

Every year, three phone books show up at my door. I set them by the phone ... dust them ... get sick of seeing them so move them to the bedroom ... dust them some more ... and eventually, when new books arrive, recycle them. Maybe (and this is a big MAYBE) I open one of them ... usually just to see if my name is there.

If everyone receives three ... or even one ... that's a lot of phone books. Sure, we can recycle them ... but wouldn't it be better not to get them in the first place? After all ... most people have access to the Internet or a cell phone ... both of which are fast, efficient and inexpensive resources for looking up phone numbers and addresses. So ... here's what we can do: opt out of phone books. Brilliant! Here's a link that will get you started:

http://www.yellowpagesgoesgreen.org/

This site also includes an "opt out" link for junk mail.

If you live outside the U.S., I suggest either calling or emailing your phone book provider and asking them to discontinue distribution to your address. If you find a link to opt-out ... let us know ... we'll publish it here for others to use.

One note: this is the first year that I've opted out of receiving a phone book and while I'm hoping that my door step will forever be free of those lovely yellow dust collectors, this method isn't yet tried and true. So ... should they grace my door again, I'll be on the phone ... calling to get them discontinued.

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Powder vs. Liquid

I'm always searching the web for new and unusual ideas on how to live a greener life. Most searches net the same list of tips. They are valuable and worthy of our attention ... but I keep thinking ... is that it? Is that all we can do? I don't think so ... but finding those little jewels of knowledge is like trying to find that proverbial pin in a haystack.

Persistence, however, pays ... and that brings us to today's post.


I've never given laundry detergent much thought beyond whether or not it contains phosphates (which, by the way, are bad for the environment). But recently I came across an article which stated that powdered detergents are better for the environment than liquid varieties. This was news to me.

Liquid detergents (and this goes for dishwasher as well and laundry detergents) are 75% water. The concentrated varieties are bit better but not by much. Liquid detergents are usually packaged in plastic which is hard to recycle. Powdered detergents, on the other hand, contain no added water and are usually packaged in biodegradable boxes or bags.


Liquid varieties are heavier than the powdered ones and that's important when it comes to travel. Simply put ... the heavier the item, the higher the cost to haul it to your grocer's shelf.

So ... it turns out that using powdered laundry detergent is kinder to the environment.

That's my little "jewel" for today!

As always, I'd love to hear from you.

14 Ways to Conserve Paper

I once read that paper is precious because of the thoughts and sentiments that are written on it ... once written, the ideas are forever released and shared with the world. I personally believe that paper is precious because of the natural resources that were used to make it. Every piece of virgin paper represents the consumption of trees, water, electricity, etc.

Conserving paper not only saves our natural resources, it saves us money as well. Most paper products are rather expensive and ... let's face it ... paper is usually a "single use" product. So here are some ideas for conserving it:

1. Use cloth napkins instead of paper varieties.
2. Check junk mail packages for usable paper. The backs of 8-1/2 x 11 sheets can often be used as printing paper, scratch paper, telephone message pads or coloring sheets for your kids.
3. Instead of using new envelopes, use envelopes that come in bills, credit card offers, etc. Cross out or white out the company's address or use a label to cover it up. Another idea, glue pieces of other "waste" paper over the address.
4. Save receipts from stores, libraries and banks and use the backs as shopping lists.
5. Instead of printing out online receipts, save them as a file on your computer.
6. Pay your bills online rather than receive an invoice in the mail.
7. Use the back as well as the front of paper ... set your printer to double sided printing instead of single sided.
8. Use cloth cleaning rags instead of paper towels.
9. Use reusable dishes instead of paper plates.
10. Use as little toilet paper as possible.
11. Decorate, paint or color on the back of used sheets of paper and use them as gift wrapping.
12. Recycle any paper that can't be used further.
13. Write or call advertisers to get your name off their mailing list.
14. Buy recycled paper products whenever possible.

Perhaps if we follow these ideas, we can reduce paper production to the point where the only paper produced will hold lofty ideas ... shared with the world.

As always, I would love to hear from you. Let me know how you walk gently on the earth.