It is hard to imagine this however most of us often use very toxic chemicals to clean our homes. I bet if you were to look under your sink there would be a couple of hazardous cleaning products that you use in your day-to-day cleaning routine. Now let?s take a moment to think about this; we are polluting our homes with toxins-cleaning our children?s toys, the floors that our children and pets play on, the sinks our children use to wash in, the bathtubs we bath them in, all toxic.  Not to mention the pollution that these toxins send into our environment.  If we were to look at it that way, maybe we could put a stop to the use of those toxic chemicals.

There are a lot of eco-friendly cleaning products out there in the market. Even Canada has been promoting eco-friendly cleaning products that can improve energy efficiency, can also reduce hazardous by-products, and use recycled materials. Simple chemical free cleaning solutions can be found in your cupboards. You can use baking soda and vinegar, lemons, and even a little elbow of grease.

Because baking soda is a rough cleanser, it can dissolve dirt, mildew, grease, and wax. There are a lot of uses for baking soda that we don?t even know about. For example: you can turn it into a paste and it can remove dirt and grime.  Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1-quart water and this can be used as a multi purpose cleaner; it can even remove odor from clothes, carpets, and refrigerators.

Vinegar is also a great disinfect and deodorizer. It can also be used as a multi- purpose cleaner and even as a fabric softener. Just mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and you can clean anything and deodorize everything you wish.

Since lemons are acidic, they can actually work as a bleaching agent and has antibacterial properties to clean brass, copper, and even white clothes with stains. They are also a good deodorizer for sinks and clothes.

Steam is another great way to clean without chemicals.  There are many great steamers on the market that are simple to use.  You just add water, plug-in the steamer, let it heat-up and push the button.  The steam will do all the work to clean and disinfect.  Steam also kills germs such as salmonella and other bacteria.  It?s safe and cost effective.  The only investment is the actual steamer which can run you anywhere from $30-$150.

Choosing the right tools in cleaning your house is easy if you give importance to the environment you live in-both inside and outside of your home. If you still find that using these traditional methods don?t pass your standards, there are still a lot eco-friendly cleaning products out there that were made without chemicals.  Just make sure you read the labels to ensure that the eco-friendly products you buy are in fact chemical free.  Some companies can be sneaky!  However, in the end natural is safer and will even let you save more money than the usual toxic products.

Antibacterial Properties · Baking Soda And Vinegar · Bleaching Agent · Brass Copper · Chemical Free Cleaning · Cleaning · Cleaning Routine · Cleaning Solutions · Dirt And Grime · Eco Friendly Cleaning Products · ecofriendly · Energy Efficiency · environment · Fabric Softener · Friendly Cleaning Products · Little Elbow · products · Quart Water · Recycled Materials · Saving · Saving The Environment · Spray Bottle · Toxic Chemicals · Uses For Baking Soda · Using · Vinegar And Water

Copyright (c) 2008 Virginia Ginsburg

Raising your baby green, much like living your life green, involves many options. It is exactly these options that can make an impact on the health of the global ecosystem. That said, the options and opportunities for going green can feel overwhelming at times.

There are many small steps that you can take to start down the path of being an eco-conscious consumer. Your baby will thank you for your attention when she grows up to find native species still in place, clean air, and thriving oceans.

There are many reasons to dress your baby in green clothing. First, green or “eco-friendly” baby clothes are better for the environment because of the three main factors that are taken into consideration by their manufacturers:

1. Energy
Green baby clothes are typically produced using less energy. This is because they undergo fewer chemical processes and are often produced by manufacturers that are held to higher regulations (by their customers) than traditionally-made clothes

2. Chemicals
Green baby clothes are grown with few or no chemical pesticides or herbicides. They are also minimally processed using chemical dyes and colors. All of these chemicals can be harmful to the ecology of our planet by seeping into groundwater and affecting the ability for native plants to thrive.

3. Sustainability
Green baby clothes are produced using sustainable farming methods that take into account the natural ecosystem and creating the least impact possible.

Aside from the ecological reasons for purchasing green baby clothes, you can also dress your baby in them knowing that there are additional benefits, including:

1. Comfort
Although it shouldn’t be surprising, natural fabrics tend to be soft and comfortable – exactly what you want for your newborn.

2. Cleanliness
The eco-friendly bamboo fabric features amazing moisture-wicking and antibacterial properties, which are greatly appreciated by today’s parents.

3. Goodwill
Knowing that you dress your child in clothes that are not actively disrupting the Earth’s delicate balance can create a sense of well-being that simply isn’t possible using traditionally-farmed fabrics.

Your options in buying green baby clothes are many and increase almost daily. As people throughout the U.S. and elsewhere recognize the value of purchasing eco-friendly clothing, more and more manufacturers are expanding their capacities and even some of the greatest designers are turning to green fabrics.

It is increasingly easy to find organically-grown cotton. Even some of the large chain stores carry certain items made of this fabric. Organic cotton is grown with natural fertilizers and is free from toxic chemicals. Farmers rely on crop rotation and age-old cultivation techniques to maintain soil quality and grow healthy plants. A field must be pesticide-free for at least three years to qualify as organic, and the cotton must be processed based on International organic standards.

Bamboo fabrics are one of the more unique eco choices. Softer than even the softest cotton on the market, bamboo fabrics have a natural sheen and are frequently compared to silk and cashmere. It is less expensive and more durable than silk or satin, but can be used in place of either fabric. A great benefit of using bamboo fabric for baby clothing is its antibacterial properties. Bamboo fibers contain a naturally-occuring anti-microbial agent that prevents bacteria from cultivating on it. Bamboo also naturally provides UV protection.

Like bamboo, hemp fibers grow quickly, making it a highly sustainable and eco-friendly crop. The yield from a field of hemp or bamboo is more than double that of an equal acreage of cotton. Hemp fabric still tends to be “nubbier” than cotton, as it is the traditional choice of consumers interested in minimally-processed fibers. That said, in recent years hemp clothing manufacturers have made huge strides and greatly increased the softness of hemp clothing, making it a great option for babies.

Overall, dressing your baby in green clothing has many benefits both for the Planet and your baby. Luckily, it is increasingly becoming more affordable also.

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