...One Spray Bottle At A Time!

"Your articles have energized me to re-evaluate my own habits and how they affect my family. You keep me motivated and engaged every day to live more eco-consciously by showing me how easy it can be to “green clean” and how effective. I must admit that your tips on vinegar are my favorite!  I never knew it could be so powerful but in “How does your home smell?” you suggested a mixture with borax and vinegar to clean around the toilets and it rocks! 

I never was much of a label reader until I became awakened to the many harmful ingredients we consume without a second thought.  Now I make an effort to check what my family consumes to ensure that I am not ignorant of a hidden threat. That includes what I clean with, which is why I love your site! However, something I ironically never thought too deeply about was the water!  It turns out that our the water we use to cook, clean and shower with exposes us to a number of toxins, one in particular that I have learned about is chlorine.  While in moderation, chlorine is not too dangerous, in larger amounts or absorbed through our skin it can lead to very serious health implications.  I was surprised to come across this disguised danger and feel that others may be as niave as I was which is why I wrote “A Daily Toxin – Uncovering Unnecessary Exposure to Chlorine,” in which I have explained the background of chlorine, how it is used and why we should take more precautions.  I feel it is critical information especially for those raising children who are more susceptible." Renee Bedford

 

Renee has sent me her article and if you are interested in receiving a copy you can email Renee directly at rbedford@christmastreemarketco.com  She would be happy to send you a copy. Thanks Renee - Together we can change the world, one spray bottle at a time! The recipes Renee mentions in her testimony above are found in The Joy of Green Cleaning.

Feng Shui Cleaning

I have been reading about Feng Shui and have found there is a definite connection to the practice and green cleaning. By combining the two we can create more harmony in your home. You can arrange your home based on Feng Shui, but if it isn't clean you won't create more energy. And if you are using toxic chemicals that take the energy out of your home, you won't have more harmony. So we are going to apply the art of Feng Shui to our cleaning techniques and come up with some great tips to keep your home happy, healthy and in harmony!

One principle of Feng Shui is to find the center of your home and make it peaceful. This practice should be applied to each room. The center of your kitchen would probably be the sink. It contains the elements of water and either metal or earth, so we see the connection to Feng Shui again.

1. Tip number one is to keep the dirty dishes out of the sink. Clutter and dirt attract negative energy, so those dirty dishes don't belong in the sink unless they are being cleaned.

2. The second tip is to get your sink to sparkle. If it's looking a little dull you can try a few things to bring it back to life. A stainless steel sink can get a lot of scratches and really look dull. Try a stainless steel scratch remover and polisher to make it look like new. You will be amazed how much energy that can add to your kitchen. If you have a ceramic sink, try using a natural surface scrub like Mrs. Meyers Clean Day in a nice aroma that will clean the sink and add a natural scent to the air.

3. According to the practice of Feng Shui, you want to reflect energy back onto the room and you can do that by keeping your sink sparkling. Wipe your sink and chrome often with a blue micro fiber cloth to keep it shiny instead of using a spray window cleaner or paper towels to clean it. You don't want to waste paper towels or spray chemicals into the air.

So enjoy the energy and harmony of Feng Shui and Green Cleaning!