Gloria Gemma's Carol Donnelly Journey

by Carol Donnelly

 

I have lived with a compromised immune system ever since I lost my spleen in a car accident over 25 years ago and there were periods in my life where it seemed that I was sick more than I was well.  Eventually, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, and decided to take matters into my own hands.

    
The first thing I did was fill a cupboard with the strongest cleaning products I could find—especially ones that claimed to be disinfectants or had antibacterial agents in them or bleach.  Yes, bleach was my BFF.  I used it to wash my linens. I used it to clean my bathroom, and clean the toilet bowl.  I used it to clean my small white appliances.  I even used it outside on the vinyl siding! I thought that using bleach to clean just about everything would kill the germs, and it was killing the germs, but what I didn’t know was that my BFF bleach was also my frenemy.    
   
Two breast cancer diagnoses in five years got me thinking about how I could reduce my risk of another cancer diagnosis, but the big question was: where to start?  There’s so much material out there, and sifting through endless streams of it to find legitimate information was a daunting task.  Fortunately for me, I began working for the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, and part of their mission is to “increase breast health education…and generate funding for local breast health programs.” The classes they offer at their center, and classes offered by their partners, like Whole Foods, gave me the knowledge I needed to effectuate changes in my environment.
    
One of those classes was taught by Leslie Reichert, the green cleaning coach. What I learned in that hour and a half astounded me! I had no idea that in my effort to keep my house clean and germ-free, I was potentially harming myself and my family. I also learned how to make my own cleaning products for a fraction of the cost of buying them.  Needless to say, I bought her book, and then went home and symbolically kicked bleach to the curb.  Don’t worry, bleach wasn’t alone when it got the boot, I gave a popular scouring powder and several other products the heave ho, too.        

In my journey to get my family and myself healthier, I discovered that “everything old is new again,” and going green is nothing new, nor does it have to be expensive—our grandparents did it, and saved lots of money in the process.    

Sara Snow Is My Guest On Clean Green Talk

Join me as I interview green living expert, Sara Snow. Sara understands healthy and natural living in a way few of us do, and it’s her mission to help impart that knowledge and experience to people all over the world so they too can live a greener lifestyle. Learn how Sara’s family and upbringing shaped her and how that experience earned her the title of “green living’s real deal.” You can call and ask her questions at 1-866-50clean (1-866-502-5326) or join the conversation on my facebook pagewww.facebook.com/greencleaningcoach

Fume-free Oven Cleaner

I posted this photo on facebook the other day and people said they wanted me to explain the "how to" about it.  I cleaned the glass on my oven with just rubbing alcohol and baking soda. Sprinkle the baking soda over the glass. Put the rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray it right on the baking soda. I used a sparkle sponge to clean it - so it wouldn't scratch the glass. The greasy build up came right off! Now that was easy!

Making Your Own Laundry Soap Is Easy And Frugal

You've heard about making your own laundry soap, but it really seems like a lot of work. I'm going to show you how easy it is in this video below

With just four simple ingredients you can make enough for 80 loads of laundry. And the price? I'm guessing that it really only costs 3.00 for the entire batch. Watch the video and if you decide you really don't want to do it yourself, you can purchase this beautiful Ball Jar container filled with the recipe here: http://www.backdoorvac.com/great-grandma39s-laundry-so39.html

Julia Child - Cleaning Up In The Kitchen

Everyone is writing, cooking and eating to honor the 100 birthday of the wonderful Julia Child. I have been a fan of hers from the very start of her TV career. I remember watching her TV show when they were being aired for the first time. Yes, that would be the early 1960’s and even as a  5 year old child, I loved her. I also remember what the Washington Post wrote about her style. “It wasn’t that she could do no wrong – it was that she made doing wrong so right!”  I love her!

So in honor of Julia’s 100^th birthday, I pulled out my copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and started to see if there was SOMETHING I could make so I could be a part of the celebration. It’s been three years since my husband bought me her book, hoping that someday I would get motivated and make something French for dinner. To date that hasn’t happened. I opened the book to the introduction and read her outlook on life. I especially liked the part about -  “have a good time!”  

I then started browsing through the forward and found her advice on cleaning:
“Use all the pans, bowls and equipment you need, but soak them in water as soon as you are through with them. Clean up after yourself frequently to avoid confusion.”  And again “have a good time!”

Who knew that Julia not only was an expert at cooking but also had great tips for cleaning. (Although if you watch her show she usually threw things right on the floor!) Really, every good cook has to clean up their own mess, unless of course you’re a celebrity chef and have a staff to do that.  Sometimes I think that cleaning up is the real reason I don’t like cooking!

As I continued into the pages of her book I found a “recipe” on page four under A Note on Copper Pans. Julia writes: … there is the cleaning problem, as copper tarnishes quikly. Ther are fast modern copper cleaners available. A good homemade mixture is half a cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup each of table salt and scouring powder. Rub the mixture over the copper, using steel wool if the pot is badly tarnished, then rinse in hot water.  Alias, the woman we celebrate for her cooking skills also knew how to clean and realized its importance.

So in honor of Julia’s 100 birthday, I suggest you mix up this copper scrub, find a pot that needs attention and get to cleaning! While you’re cleaning that pot, sing happy birthday to Julia! It will be a great way to avoid confusion and to have a good time!

Happy Cleaning, Julia! 

Get Rid Of Ants With This Simple Recipe

It's that time of year where the ants are starting to drive me crazy. Watch this video and learn a quick way to get rid of them, without nasty pesticides.

Bucket-less Mopping

Using a traditional mop and bucket can leave you feeling a little bit like a scurvy pirate mopping the deck of a ship with some dirty sea water. The water in the bucket gets dirty, you have to lug the water wherever you want to clean, and sometimes the floor doesn't even look cleaner after mopping. However, all of the hassle and grind of using a bucket is unnecessary. To learn about a faster, easier way to mop your floors, follow the link below to the third part in my ten video series that will help you achieve a safer, greener, and cleaner home.

http://www.greencleaningcoach.com/ar/bucket-less-mopping

Safe Germ Killers

Bleach is a household cleaning product for one reason. It is very effective in killing that bacteria on your countertops or other surfaces in your home. However, not only is bleach toxic to those micro-invaders but it is also terrible for you and your family, especially when it finds its way from you countertops to your food. There are better, safer ways to protect yourself from salmonella, e-coli, and other scary bacteria. Below is the link to watch part 2 of my 10 part video series to help you get a safer, green cleaning home.

http://www.greencleaningcoach.com/ar/safe-germ-killer

Not only will the tips in this video save you some money as you will be able to use common home ingredients but you will have the added benefit of knowing that the cleaning supplies you are using aren't harming the health of you and your family. The fact that creating your own cleaners can be fast, fun, and easy is just a bonus.

Stop Those Stains - Simple Solutions To Those Unfortunate Mishaps!

Stains can be so daunting, especially if they are on a light colored fabric or surface, but here are some more simple solutions to common problems. The best part is you can find most of these ingredients in your home.

• Makeup can be removed from clothing with a bit of castile soap and rubbing alcohol. Mix the two together and put them on a white cloth so that the color of the cloth doesn't rub off onto the fabric. Blot the stain until the cloth stays white afterwards. The soap and alcohol work together to break down the makeup so that when you do wash the garment, the makeup with disappear. This is for those of you who are either active in show business or have children in shows. Makeup on a white color or dress is simply an occupational hazard.
• If an unfortunate accident at an evening party left you with a red wine stain on your clothes or on your favorite rug, simply relax and grab a drink...literally. You can either use white wine or a combination of club soda and a bit of borax to remove that spot. Simply pour the wine or the club soda mixture onto a white cloth and blot at the spot until it disappears.
• Coffee stains can be removed with an eyedropper of white vinegar or lemon juice.
• That mustard from the cookout doesn't have to be a permanent fixture on your husband's shirt. Just use white vinegar to work out the stain, flush the air with water, and then wash the garment with a bit of dish soap.
• Stains from ball point pens can be removed with a bit of rubbing alcohol. Dip a white cloth into the alcohol and touch the stain with the cloth until the cloth comes up clean

Here is something to keep in mind when you are removing stains from furniture or carpeting. The last thing you want to do is to replace that stain with a bigger water ring, which happens when the fabric takes on the treatment and leaves a ring where any liquid solution was applied. To avoid this, always use a damp cloth to work the stain, work the stain in towards the center so that it doesn't expand outwards, and continue to work until the cloth comes up without a stain. If you keep this is mind and you will be well prepared to conquer any stains that find their way into your home.

Homemade Mixtures That Save Money

If you meet someone who is a very dedicated cleaner but hasn't yet discovered green cleaning, you will often meet someone with a different mixture for every surface in the home. The simplicity of green cleaning not only means you won't need as many products but also that you will spend less money. Many of the solutions for green cleaning can be made from common ingredients found in your kitchen.

Counter Cleaner
Vinegar is a powerful natural cleanser that kills many foreign elements you won't want making it into your food like mold and germs. Combine equal amounts of vinegar and water and use that solution to clean your counter. If you can't abide the smell, mixing some oil fragrance with the vinegar before adding the water will improve the smell.

Glass Cleaning Solution
Combine rubbing alcohol and water in equal portions. It will make whatever you wish to clean shiny and works well for appliances as well as windows.

For Copper
If you scrub the bottom of a copper pan with a mixture of lemon juice and salt, your pot will shine with that reddish glow once again and you won't even have to go shopping to get new soap.

Scouring
Baking soda is perfect for this. It is gentler than regular solutions and safer. If you want to increase the power, you can mix it with other household items like sea salt or borax.

Study Finds Dangerous Chemicals In Our Cleaning Products

The Silent Spring Institute has released the first of it's kind study about the ingredients found in numerous cleaning products. They also found that some of the so called "green" products had dangerous chemicals in them. The study was looking for 66 different chemicals that were a health concern. Household cleaners do not have their ingredients listed on their labels.This study may spark the process in getting the government to require the manufacturers to list the ingredients. The ingredients they were concerned with are linked to asthma, cancer and growth hormones. You can see the Channel 5 Boston news report at this link:  http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/30637634/detail.html

On a separate note, in the comment section of this article, a young woman states she uses vinegar and bleach for cleaning. This sounds like a natural alternative to chemical cleaners, but in reality mixing bleach and vinegar can create a toxic chlorine gas. Someone reading this comment would think the bleach/vinegar mixture would be a great alternative, but in reality they would be creating something very dangerous.

We need to remember that chemicals are dangerous. Mixing bleach with even something as safe as vinegar can create a chemical cocktail. That is why I suggest using natural items from your pantry and using great care so that don't hurt yourself and your family or your pets.

If you would like to read the actual study, you can find it here at http://www.thebostonchannel.com/download/2012/0308/30637602.pdf

And here is a summary of the report: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/download/2012/0308/30637569.pdf

Time to "Clean" the Closet

When the weather changes, it is time to "change the closet." Now those of you who live up in the northern parts of the country probably know exactly what I mean and precisely how much it entails. It's that special time of year when you kiss all of your sweaters goodbye and start rummaging in your spare drawers and those boxes in the attic for that clothing you put away because it was too cold. You have to pack away your winter wardrobe and refresh your spring/summer style, and your clothes don't smell any better for being stuck in storage for the last few months. So to help you take just one more step to getting your home ready for spring, I'm going to give you the recipe to my Great Grandma's Laundry soap featured in my book, The Joy of Green Cleaning. This recipe will not only make your clothing clean and fresh but  is perfect for those with sensitive skin who are prone to breakouts.
Start by compiling your ingredients. First you will need 2 cups of soap flakes. You can either order them or you can create your own by grating a dry ivory soap bar. Next you will need 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup Borax, and 15 drops of any essential oil for scent.
To make the detergent, simply mix all of these ingredients and store them in an air-tight container. For front loading machines, you can use 1-2 tablespoons of detergent or 1/4 cup for top loading. If you prefer a liquid detergent to a powder, just mix the soap with very hot water before putting it in the washing machine. Mixing these ingredients hardly takes any time and you will be sure to come out with a well washed wardrobe that is better for the skin of you and your family. Once those piles of laundry are cleaned and organized, your home will feel more spacious and you will have the peace of mind of knowing that when the weather changes, you will have precisely what you need.

How to Clean a Pot With Caked-On Crud!

It's an all too frequent event when a simple distraction leads you to leave something on the stove for just a few minutes overtime, and nothing looks more daunting in your pile of dishes than that crusty caked mess on the bottom of your favorite pot. However, with these few simple tips, you won't have to leave it soaking for hours. You can remove that grime easily and quickly with some basic products that you have lying around the house. With the techniques I've included in this video, nothing will stop you from keeping your pots spotless.

Tide - A Reminder of the Benefits of Green Cleaning

Some recent news has once again reminded us of why green cleaning is so attractive. When using green products or creating your own home cleaning products, you have the power not only to monitor exactly what is going into your home and coming in contact with your skin and lungs but also to eliminate anything that is deemed harmful or dangerous. There is no mystery when you combine all the ingredients by hand to make your own laundry detergent or when you use simple baking soda to get your cups white.

Recently it has been discovered that Tide Free and Gentle contains a chemical called 1,4 dioxane that has been linked to cancer. Not only is this chemical harmful but it also wasn't included on the label leaving the consumer oblivious. Tide isn't the only company who don't list all of their ingredients. If you're curious about the products you use, you can check out http://www.womensvoices.org/science/fact-sheets/dirty-secrets/ It's just a reminder that no matter how many strides commercial products take to promote themselves as safer and gentler, there is nothing more sure than the cleaner you make on your own.

Reasons to Make the Switch -Guest Post by Service Master Clean

This article was provided by Service Master Clean, providing
eco-friendly Austin commercial cleaning services.

Reasons to Make the Switch to Green Cleaning

There has never been a larger emphasis on cleanliness than there is today. From the spread of diseases to food bacteria, the daunting reality of germs are everywhere.  However, what we may have overlooked in our desperate war to kill every single living thing that may or may not actually be there was the reality that although these chemicals do a good job at killing germs, they may also be causing us more long-term harm than short-term good.

Most of us have felt the sting in our eyes and burning in our throats right after spraying down our shower with a bleach-based mildew spray, so it should be no surprise that these types of cleaners can be hazardous to long-term health. What you may not know is that some of the products we use everyday don’t just contain bleach, but a variety of other harmful chemicals that aren’t listed on the bottles. Shockingly, there is no law that forces these manufacturers to list every ingredient in their cleaning products. 

Butyl cellosolve, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and a plethora of other hard-to-pronounce chemicals show up in products like window cleaners, certain all-purpose cleaners, and abrasive powder cleansers respectively. Some of these chemicals have even been linked to increased cancer risk and can pollute indoor air quality. This should be enough to make the switch to green cleaning solutions, but many common household cleaners also have negative effects on the environment with their plastic bottles ending up in landfills, and as you may imagine the residual chemicals that can make their way into water supplies.

Thankfully, there are a variety of green cleaning solutions made from natural, less-harsh chemicals available at your local retailers (http://www.shopgreencleaning.com/) as well as a number of online resources that can teach you how to use everyday household ingredients to make your own non-toxic cleaning kits. (http://www.greencleaningcoach.com/) If you have no choice but to use traditional cleaning products make sure to crack a window and create good ventilation to reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

This article was provided by Service Master Clean, providing eco-friendly Austin commercial cleaning services.

A Simple "Cocktail" That Removes Ink

The other day I put on my favorite "skinny" jeans - at least that's what they called them at the store - and went off to work. On my way down the steps my daughter asked "what's that on your butt?" Oh course I thought she was being cute and ignored the question. "No, really mom, what's on your butt?" It was a huge ink spot from a pen I had left in my pocket! Usually this would mean the jeans are now going to be a rag - but I thought I'd try out my new Stain Lifter and a few green tricks and see if I could get the stain out. I knew this was going to be crazy as I had wash AND dryed the ink into the jeans.
I knew that the "secret" ingredient in hair spray and Dawn dishwashing detergent is alcohol which break down ink. But I didn't have any rubbing alcohol so I used the next best thing - VODKA!

 

I used the stain lifter with the vodka and worked them into the jeans in a circular motion. I left the stain lifter on the pants overnight. The next day I worked more of the stain lifter into the jeans and rinsed them. I let them air dry - which would keep the stain from setting even more than it had.

When I came back the large stain was totally gone and the small stain was so faint that you don't see it unless you know it's there. Simple old fashioned soap and vodka did the trick!

 

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Scary Stains From Halloween

I don't know about you, but I deal with some pretty scary stains after halloween. My kids come home and dump their candy all over my family room carpet. And every year "someone" gets chocolate on the carpet. Here is a sure fire plan that will help you should your little "goblins" get chocolate on your family room carpet!

1  Rub an ice cube over the stain so that the chocolate becomes hard and won’t smear into the surrounding fabric. Once it is hard scrape as much chocolate off as you can. Use a vacuum to lift the flaked chocolate off the carpet.
2. Wait until the chocolate warms back up to room temperature, and blot it with warm/hot water and a wet cloth. Continue to blot the stain until nothing comes off on the cloth.

3. Mix up 1 tablespoon borax, 1 tablespoon baking soda and add some club soda together until you have a thin paste and rub it from the outside of the stain to the center. Don’t smear the stain around or work in a circle – just blot and wipe towards the center of the stain.

4. Using a damp white cloth, blot the stain and continue the above process until nothing more comes off onto the white cloth.

5. If the stain is still visible you can use some old fashioned laundry soap and work it into the area.

6. You can also dilute some of the laundry soap in hot water and add a few teaspoons of rubbing alcohol and place over the stain.

7. Continue to blot the stain until it is removed.

8. An enzyme based spot remover such as Unique, which will “eat” the chocolate as long as it remains wet. Place the stain remover directly on the stain and place a wet paper towel over the area. The longer you keep it wet, the longer it will continue to work on the stain.

Breast Cancer Awareness- Small Changes - Big Results

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Check out this video to learn that small changes can make a big difference. And share this video with someone you love.

Green Cleaning Your Grill For The Fourth!

Summer is in full swing which means we have moved most of our cooking to our outdoor kitchens and grills. Dinners become more relaxing and very casual. But you don’t want to be casual about keeping your grill area clean. Even though we are outside we still need to keep the cooking area free from both bacteria and toxins. Here are a few “green cleaning” recipes for you to use.


Grill Cleaner
After cooking on your grill you want to burn off as much of the excess grease that you can. Turn off the heat and let the grill cool down. Sprinkle the grill area with a light coating of baking soda. Fill a spray bottle full of white distilled vinegar and spray the entire cooking area. The baking soda will bubble which will help remove any built up grease. Continue to spray the grill and keep the baking soda moist. Wipe with a wet rag or wash in the sink.

Antibacterial Spray
Keep the areas around the grill free from bacteria by using this spray on any of the surfaces.

½ cup white distilled vinegar
½ cup club soda
½ cup hydrogen peroxide
8 drops Tea Tree oil

Mix the Tea Tree oil with the white vinegar. This will cancel out the vinegar smell. Then add the other two ingredients and place in a dark plastic spray bottle to keep in our outside kitchen.

Stainless Steel Polish

This mixture removes build up grease from stainless steel grills.
1 cup baking soda
½ cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons borax
Club soda to make into a paste

Mix baking soda, borax and lemon juice together. Add enough club soda to make into a paste. Apply the paste to the metal with a soft cloth. Rinse with plain club soda. Finish by polishing with a clean cloth.

For a free recipe from the book The Joy of Green Cleaning go to www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com You will also get a free video on how to use it!

Out With Allergies - from Shape Magazine 2011

It was a real pleasure to work with Kate and the staff at Shape Magazine! I'm really glad that they realize that keeping yourself in "shape" means taking care of your environment too. Here is a small part of the article. If you'd like the entire piece, email me and I'll send you the pdf.

BE A GREENER CLEANER - by Kate Ashford
Every time you spray a cleaning product onto a surface, you breathe it in. "There are some dangerous ingredients in cleaners - such as formaldehyde and chlorine - that, if inhaled, can affect your respiratory system and irritate your lungs," says Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning. "And the risk doesn't stop when the sink is gleaming: those chemicals linger in the air for a long time." One solution: Make your own cleaner by mixing equal parts water and vinegar. This blend gets rid of dirt and kills germ without affecting your air quality.