Why Go Green Clean?
Why not? As we all are learning, it is the simple changes we make in our homes and lifestyles that will help in the fight against global warming, air pollution, and water pollution. Choosing plant based, biodegradable cleaning products, rather than petroleum based products, are much healthier for our planet and our bodies. We can feel good knowing that we are doing something to make our homes healthier for our children and our pets, and help cut down on our dependence on foreign oil. Why use products that contain chlorine bleach, solvents, or artificial colors and chemical fragrances that make it hard to breathe? Why not purchase products that help make a difference, are pleasant to use and help to teach us new ways to make better choices for our families and communities? So, why go green clean? Because it's simply better.
Top 5 Reasons You Should Clean Green
People
What people you ask? Let's start with the children. Did you know that childhood asthma has increased 60% since 1980 and now affects 10 million children under the age of 16 and is the leading cause of absence in US schools? To learn more about Childhood exposure to toxins and how you can protect your family to to www.watoxics.org. Let's not forget though, our husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, grandmas and grandpas and last, but not least, YOU!
Pets
That would be our beloved companions be they cats, dogs, birds, gerbils, geckos or snakes! Did you know veterinarians are treating more cancer and there is an increase in behavioral problems and poisonings of household pets? Conventional cleaning products can be highly toxic to animals...particularly our very small ones. Think twice when exposing your pets to cleaning and other household chemicals like pest baits, repellants and eliminators.
Planet
Yes, our own mother earth. For her health and therefore our own, it's time to consider what we are exposing her to when we "rinse away" the solvents and bleach used in many household cleaners. Some of these never go away. Did you know that toxic chemicals and carcinogens have been found in the ice of our planet's polar caps as well as in the umbilical cord blood of new born babies?
Air
Indoor air quality is a huge issue, especially for those of us who live like I do in Minnesota, and places north where we spend months and months with the windows and doors closed tight to keep out the cold. Cleaning with all natural products is a great first step to help clean up the air in your home and protect your family's health.
Water
Water conservation should also be considered when cleaning. Look for cleaning products that are low suddsing. They rinse away with less water and leave less soap in fabrics and surfaces. With the right cleaners you can even reuse the grey water for watering gardens and flowers.
Click here to see Green Clean Solutions featured on KSTP news coverage of the 2008 Minneapolis Home and Garden Show.
At the Home and Garden Show, I met the Metro Hippie Joshua Foss (no relation). He is a designer and advocate for sustainable living. He was a contestant on season 2 of HGTV's Design Star, and hosted his own series Get Green. He was there to speak on green living. He put in some good words for me and my products as he spoke to the crowds. That was cool. He has a great website full of the latest cutting edge green building techniques and technologies, as well as simple lifestyle changes you can make to go green. Check it out: Metro Hippie.
Important Green Links:
Did you know plastic shopping bags are recyclable?To find drop off locations in your area and for information about how they are recycled visit: Plastic Bag Recycling.
To learn more about why we should recycle plastic bags and switch to reusable cloth or nylon visit: The Green Mercantile and click on "More on plastic from the Sierra Club".
Every spring I get excited about the new gardening season. While you plan your garden this year why not go organic? It's better for you and the planet. I really like getting my hands dirty and dressing garden beds with beautiful, black compost before planing seeds and vegetable starts. I like to start my own seeds in my little green house. But Farmers Markets are a great place to purchase organic vegetable starts. Here is a link for a list of Farmers Markets in your area. Just click on "State Index". I'll share links to a few of the best places I have found to order organic seeds. I will also include a couple of links full of information about organic gardening, composting and where you can buy composters and bins.
Seeds Of Change
Territorial Seed Company
Abundant Life Seeds
Journey To Forever
Composting at Veg Web