Being green and eco friendly is not difficult to achieve and it doesn’t require huge sacrifices in the way you live your life. Being green can be achieved with only small and subtle changes that will not only improve the environment but can often reward you in other ways too.

Here are perhaps the five simplest ways that you can not only make a difference to the environment but also can save you money in the long run:

Recycling

Perhaps the single most important way of becoming eco friendly is to ensure you are recycling. Recycling is one of the most direct ways you can benefit the environment. But recycling is more than just using a recycling bin to separate your waste. There are other ways to recycle to. Compost in the garden or ensuring you don;t throw anything away that is still functional and useful to somebody./

Energy Saving

Saving energy is another way of helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. It can be done in a multitude of ways from driving less to ensuring you switch devices off from standby. You can even get energy monitors to work out your energy consumption.

Reduce waste

Reducing waste can also be done in a multitude of ways. From ensuring we are not wasting electricity to not buying things we don’t really need. Try and by buy things without excess packaging and recycle rather than throw things away

Buy Eco friendly Products

Often there is an eco friendly or friendlier solution to many of the things we buy. Nearly everything from eco cars to eco kettles are available. Look for energy efficient alternatives and choose items that require less energy than the alternatives.

Try Natural Methods

Often there is also a natural solution to many problems. Try and avoid using chemical in things like cleaners and look for natural alternatives. Revert to drying clothes on a line rather than a washing machine or use a clothes airer. Often natural methods are just as efficient but also cost us a lot less to employ.

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Uses of Soapnut shells:

 

How Soapnuts clean your laundry? The process by which Soapnuts clean your clothes is naturally quite simple. The soapnut shells contains a natural saponin that works as a surfactant, making your water “wetter” and allowing it to penetrate the fibers of yours clothing, working away the dirt, keeping it in suspension in the water until it’s drained away, taking the dirt with it.

Soapnuts are ideal as natural and Eco-friendly detergent in the washing machine just put up 3 to 6 Soapnut shells (4 to 8 half shells), according your loads, into un-bleached cotton bag (provided free with each pack of “Sindhiya Washnuts” ) or in a sock. Tied tight and pop the bag in the washing machine with your clothes, these are suitable at any temperature, pre-wash or rinse cycles and on delicate fabrics. Shells can be used for more than one wash (up to 4 or more washes, according to your loads) on same day, discard any remains when they go dark brown and soggy.

What’s left is a load of clean clothes and nothing else! That’s the way laundry should be. Much like clean water, clean laundry should not contain toxic chemical residues. In fact, it’s more important to consider what laundry products do NOT contain then to look at what they do contain.

Wash the clothes:

The soapnut shells contains saponins (a natural detergent), when come into contact with water they make mild suds, soapnut shells are natural, organic, environmentally friendly a natural alternative of all kind of detergent, soaps, cleaners and shampoo. Soapnuts are ideal as a chemical free natural detergent in washing machines and laundries. Just put 4 to 8 soapnut shells in unbleached cotton bag/pouch, sock, handkerchief or similar, tie it up tightly and throw it in your washing machine with your clothes as soon as soapnut shells make contact with water (e.g. in your washing machine)the saponins dissolves and has the same effect as most normal detergent. You will not need to add any other detergent or fabric softener! The smell of the clothes washed with Soapnuts is absolutely natural – if you prefer scented laundry, simply sprinkle a few drops of ethereal oil on the bag of Soapnuts: Nice choices could be lavender, rose, orange, lemongrass or other your favorite – the variety of fragrances is nearly infinite. Soapnuts wash effectively between 30 and 60 degrees and same bag of same Soapnuts will be use 3 to 4 times for wash continues on same day. You will be wondered and amazed to see Soapnuts really works and they had cleaned your clothes as well as normal detergent.

 

Use as a bathing liquid soap or shampoo for allergic or sensitive skins: Soapnuts are 100% natural and gentle, these are so best for those who have sensitive skin or suffering from neurodermatitis and allergy in particular will benefit from the use of Soapnuts, as clothes which were cleaned with Soapnuts do not irritate the skin. Also allergic persons and people with sensitive skin may use Soapnuts for bathing instead normal soaps or medicated soaps which are contains with chemicals. For this purpose put 100 grams of soapnut shells in a pot with at least 1.5 litters of water cover the pot and put on stove for boil for at least 30 to 40 minutes. The boiling process extracts the saponins from the soapnut shells and combines with the water. Let allow then to cool till safe to handle than strain into appropriate container. Now your liquid soap is ready for use you can use it for bathing and as well as shampoo or all purpose for cleanings, pet’s washing soap or shampoo and many kinds of cleanings.

Use as a shampoo:

A Soap suds made of Soapnuts is a shampoo, which reliably and enduringly fights dandruff. A soapnut shampoo not only washes your hair but also cares for it. Especially allergic persons and people with a sensitive scalp should use soapnut suds to wash their hair: Because it is 100% natural and does not contain any kind of chemical additives, it will not irritate the scalp! Soapnut shampoo also best for lice and other kind of hair diseases. Women of south Asian countries are used this type of natural shampoo since stone ages. This kind of Soapnuts shampoo will make your hair strong, long, silky and healthy. Soapnuts shampoo does not damage your hair or skin although you use it regularly or rarely.

Uses of medicinal purposes:

Soap nuts especially are used medically as an expectorant, emetic, contraceptive and for treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis and migraines. Studies show that saponin from Soapnuts inhibits tumor cell growth. Soapnuts are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleaners. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis and for removing freckles. Soapnuts have gentle insecticide properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp. Soapnuts are antimicrobial and are beneficial for septic system and gray water. Soapnuts are used in the remediation of contaminated soil.

Use as a liquid soap to wash your pets:

Wash your dog, cat, horse, monkey, bunny and other of your pets or working animals with a Sindhiya soapnut liquid suds – and thus without any chemicals.

 

Use as floor cleaners: A liquid soap made by Sindhiya soapnuts you may use also as your Floor cleaner, you may use it for bath, toilet cleanings also because it has power to fight against germs naturally!

All-purpose cleaning agent:

Better use such a decoction instead of usual chemical cleaning agents for your kitchen and bath room.

Jewellery cleaning: press half a lemon in some soapnuts decoction, soak in it a toothbrush and rub your jewellery. In South Asian countries, peple used Soapnuts to clean their Jewelleries, Precious stones and Gold and Precious ornoments since centuries.

Pesticides:

Moisten or water your house and garden plants with the already mentioned decoction and take advantage of the saponine agent to fight against harmful organisms such as aphids, without damaging your plant or poisoning your garden.

Mosquitoes repellent:

Wash or coat exposed parts of your body with the mentioned decoction, mosquitoes are repelled by the smell of saponine and will move away. Try it is to adopt it ! Your beloved kids may sleep with coat of Soapnut liquid, you may relax and don’t afraid about mosquitoes.

Throw a few soap nut shells in with your automatic dishwasher and watch how clean they get!!

Soapnuts are successfully used in dish-washers. They do not, however, have a scrubbing agent to them.

Bugs do not survive at 65°C washing temperature. Moreover, Saponine has a repressive effect on fungal and bacteria growth. Put 3 to 4 soapnuts in the little cotton bag, put this bag inside the dishwasher and launch it.

Using SoapNuts, you can make your own ultra-pure multipurpose cleaner.

 

Place some nut shells in the bag/sock (4 to 6 for soft water / 6 to 8 for hard water). Pull the string tight and tie it off. Then place the bag on top of your washing in the machine, with your clothes– that is it!

Each “set” of shells should be good for up to 4 wash cycles. (Dependent upon wash temperature and quality of shells.) Change the shells after 3 to 5 washes and use the old (used) shells to make liquid (see below). Indeed, for other purpose of cleaning.

You should be able to see in the below pics that fresh shells have a shiny inner surface. As if they were made from solid satin varnish! Or tasty toffee – so keep children away from them. This progressively changes to a matt beige as the saponin is released and the outer surface gets darker. Note that this is only really obvious when the shells have dried. You will find that they work better if multiply washes are done the same day. For that reason I keep the used nuts in the bag, in a small bottle, part filled with water.

Here is picture of shells, you may see the result after 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th wash by same load of shells …

New Shells                         1 Wash                              2 Washes                          3 Washes                            4 Wash

 

How to perform a SoapNuts

Soapnuts decoction: Bring 6-10 shells of Soapnuts to boil in 1 liter water during 10 minutes, leave it to cool down and screen the obtained liquid. The decoction is now ready for use ! To obtain a higher saponine-concentrate decoction of Soapnuts, use more SoapNut shells in the same water volume.

This concoction can also be made to do your laundry. Here’s how:

Boil 100 g of Soap Nuts in 12 cups (3L) of water for 30 minutes. The liquid you have is now a concentrated, chemical free detergent. The leftover shells can be placed in your compost. Use 3 Tbsp or 45 ml of this detergent with each load of laundry. This allows you to do approximately 60 loads of laundry.

Preservation of a Soapnuts decoction:

Soapnuts decoction must be kept in a cool place to assure a conservation of about ten days if citric acid or lemon juice or essential oil is added.

Soapnuts shells already used in a washing machine or a dishwasher, can be recycled by making a decoction.

SoapNuts More than just laundry soap…

The natural saponins found in SoapNuts are universal cleaning agents. Sure, they work great in the laundry, but did you know they are also traditionally used to clean skin and hair? In fact, the soap nut saponins work on everything from pets and children to washing fruits and vegetables. In ancient India, jewelers even used the soap to shine their precious metals and stones, giving them a beautiful natural luster.

With all the cleaning uses for SoapNuts, can you bath with them?

Remember! that you can create a liquid concoction to wash your hands, floors, counters, etc. but we have found that you can also bath with them.. Simple place a half a cup of your concoction in your hot bath water and enjoy yourself. Wash or soak and when you come out your body will have that clean feel to it not to mention a soft feel.

You can also use the Soapnuts by themselves. Throw in 4-5 Soapnuts and into the hot bath. Swish them around for a few minutes to get the saponins flowing and then step into the tub.

Hand Wash:

Even when the shells seem exhausted they still contain some saponin and you can use them to make a FREE hand wash.

Put your old shells, with any new little “broken off” pieces that are too small to put in the bag / sock, in a blender. Add a half pint (ish) of water and blend for a few seconds. The idea is to break all the shells into tiny bits so that they release as much “soap” as possible.

Simmer for a few minutes.

Cut the pipe of an old dispenser bottle so it reaches about half way down.

Allow the blend to settle and pour in to your dispenser, to below the pipe.

Give it a shake and pump away.

You will get a palm full of soapnut foam!

Excellent for general cleaning.

You can also add a drop of lemon juice as preservative and a nice smell.

Worried about watering your garden in a hot, dry summer? Soapnuts are totally organic and, as stated earlier, a mild insecticide. It is safe, even beneficial to put on your garden. Your washing machine uses about 50 litres (12 gallons!) of water per wash. Collect that waste and your watering problems are over. Unless you are an aphid!

By the way, all children’s clothes should be washed in these soap nuts to avoid exposing infants and children to the toxic chemicals found in commercial laundry products. And while you’re at it, why not save yourself from that exposure, too, by washing your own clothes with nature’s laundry soap?

 

What SoapNuts do NOT contain, include:

 

Foaming chemicals that, consumers into thinking their clothes are cleaner because there are “suds” in the wash. TRUTH: Suds have nothing to do with cleaning. They are chemical additives used to create the illusion of cleaning action.

Fragrance chemicals that make laundry “smell” clean. Most commercial laundry products use toxic, synthetic fragrance chemicals that are, in fact, well known to promote cancer and liver disorders. Laundry products are not really regulated by any single government agency, and there is currently no law banning the use of known cancer-causing chemicals in laundry products (much like with cosmetics).

Filler ingredients. Nearly all commercial laundry products are made with at least 50% filler ingredients to “bulk them up” and make them appear to deliver more value for the price. Consumers are mostly just buying the illusion of detergent, made mostly with filler.

You won’t find filler or toxic chemicals in SoapNuts. Just pure, natural saponins grown by a tree and engineered by nature. In our opinion, that’s where more of our products should ultimately come from. Wouldn’t it be great if shampoo also grew on trees?

Actually, it does!

 

An amazing Traditional use in Myanmar (Burma):

On the last day of Myanma year, in Myanmar, all of people use SoapNuts to wash their houses to remove all of dirt of last year from their houses, shopes and offices. They also wash and clean their hair with SoapNuts on the last day of Myanma year. They believe that if they wash and clean their hair, houses, offices and shopes by Soapnuts, no dirt of last year will come to in their lives during coming new year!!!

Sindhiya Enterprise Bangladesh is th leading producers of Eco friendly products in Bangladesh. They collect best and selected quality of Himalayan soapnuts export same worldwide.

 

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If you want to make sure that you are reducing your impact on the environment, choosing to buy eco friendly appliances can be a great way to start. Unlike other eco friendly products they can have a positive effect not only on the environment but also on your monthly utility bills and this kind of visible and positive effect can make you want to continue to buy eco friendly items. It may have a potentially steamrolling effect that can end up with you establishing a very green home indeed.

 

You should not think that you need to completely switch over to eco friendly products and appliances all at once. If you try to buy eco friendly appliances all at once the expense can be huge. By choosing to buy eco friendly appliances as older, less efficient appliances burn or wear out you can wind up with lower energy costs and enjoy the refunds that many organizations give to people who are trying to be more environmentally responsible.

 

Eco friendly products tend to use less energy to operate. If it is something like a dishwasher or washing machine, when you buy an eco friendly model it will often use much less water to clean the items. When you buy eco friendly appliances they may have wash cycles that you can adjust the amount of items in it and how dirty those items are. This means that you still get great cleaning power even from eco friendly products even though they use less water and electricity.

 

When shopping for eco friendly products such as appliances you want to have a look for labels that tell the amount of power or water (or both) that the items will run on. Often, if you want to buy eco friendly appliances they will have a label on them that tells you they have been rated as being highly efficient. This means you will end up paying or less wasted energy over the life of the appliance.

 

If you want to buy eco friendly laundry equipment, you should look for front load washing machines. These use less water to operate. Many will have a high efficiency designation which means that they use much less laundry detergent than a standard washing machine. They have a different way of agitating clothes that can not only clean them more thoroughly but they will also help the clothes last longer because they are not being subjected to the same wear and tear that they would be in a front load washing machine.

 

When you make your purchases, be sure to research exactly what kinds of rebates you can get for choosing a more ecologically conscious product. It may be something as simple as not paying taxes on the purchase. There may be mail in rebates and certificates that can entitle you to get a portion of the purchase price back. If you get certificates and coupons from your utility companies, check with them as well since there may be rebate programs that they offer for cutting back on the energy that you are using.

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As people are beginning to understand how their behavior alters the planet, ecological consciousness is becoming a popular trend. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children the importance of the environment and the impact it will have on their lives and futures. A few easy steps in your own home will develop an understanding of personal action and awareness in your child. Children learn from example, so teaching them early on that environmental concerns are important will help. A major step that you can take is to use cloth diapers. Often, parents overlook the idea of using cloth diapers but it’s an idea that’s definitely worth considering. The advantages of cloth diapering are not limited to cost as the popularity of cloth diaper increases with the quality of materials used for the diapers themselves. ModernToday’s cloth dipaers are not like those your parents used. Cloth diapers have become stylish and are available in a broad range of colors and patterns. Many diapers use Velcro closures so you are not going to need the old-fashioned diaper pins. They are very cost-effective over disposable diapers since you use them again and again, and there are even one size cloth diapers that will last your child from the day they are born to the day they are potty trained. This can amount to an enormous cost saving. It has become easier to use cloth diapers while going out or if your child is daycare with the modern day wet bags – stylish, smaller bags designed to contain wetness and odor that you put your cloth diaper in until you get home and throw it in the washing machine. Another step to consider in your quest to “go green” is to eliminate the use of paper products in your home. As convenient as they are, large volumes of paper products are not friendly to the environment. Choosing to reduce how many times your family uses paper plates is an environmentally-friendly choice, eliminating them entirely from your use is even better! Use your regular plates instead. Use cloth dish towels and napkins, which can be washed, instead of paper towels and napkins which are thrown away. This not only helps save the environment but also provides a significant savings on your grocery bill. The most cost effective and green way to feed babies starting solids is to make your own baby food. It’s easy as well. Purchase some organically-grown fruits and veggies and a few inexpensive ice cube trays during your next grocery shopping. Dice the vegetables or fruit and puree in your blender or food processor. After they are adequately pureed, pour the mixture into the ice tray and freeze them. Once they are frozen pop them out into baggies. As your baby’s mealtime approaches, take a cube from the freezer and let it gradually thaw, or microwave ot for 10 to 15 seconds. You have an organic, nutritious meal for your baby made of organic ingredients and all items used in the process can be reused from the ice cube trays to the baggies. It may surprise you to realize even children’s toys can have an effect on the ecosystem. Unfortunately, the processes used to manufacture children’s toys is not eco-friendly. Some have even been found to be dangerous to children. Wooden toys or stuffed animals made with organic cotton can be purchased instead of non biodegradable plastic ones. You can even knit or crochet your own baby toys. Another great choice would be a book. For obvious reasons books will increase your child’s brain power and imagination, but books can also be recycled when they are outgrown. Your household can be very eco-friendly if you implement any of the hundreds of ideas related to the suggestions herein. Your day-to-day activities can easily be adapted to the adage: “reduce, reuse, recycle”.Always explain the purpose of these actions to your children to foster their own understanding how every person has an influence on the world. And let them know that it’s their future which they are protecting when they take a few simple actions today.

The worldwide movement to becoming more environmentally aware is an increasing trend. The importance of the environment and how to be aware of the ramifications of our actions is instilled in our youth by their parents. Your child can develop a sense of personal involvement and an understanding of advocacy with just a few easy steps in your own home. Instilling earth-friendly ideas and behaviors in your children helps make these steps part of their day to day lives.

 

A major step that you can take is to use cloth diapers. Some parents tend to immediately disregard the idea but it is definitely one worth considering. The interest in cloth diapering is on the rise since the advantages of convenience and cost reduction are weighing more heavily on today’s parents. ModernToday’s cloth dipaers are not like those your grandparents had to use. Cloth diapers have become fashionable and are available in a broad range of colors and designs. Many diapers use Velcro closures so you are not going to need the old-fashioned diaper pins. They are very cost-effective over disposable diapers since you use them again and again, and there are even one size cloth diapers that will last your child from the day they are born to the day they are potty trained. This provide a huge cost saving. It has become easier to use cloth diapers while going out or if your child is daycare with the modern day wet bags – stylish, smaller bags designed to contain wetness and odor that you put your cloth diaper in until you get home and throw it in the washing machine.

 

Your entire family can participate in reducing or even eliminating the use of paper products. While paper products are convenient, they are wreaking havoc on our environment. Instead of eating off of paper plates each night, use them only once or twice a week or even not at all! It is a good idea to use regular plates instead of the paper products. In lieu of paper-based towels and napkins at meals, which must be thrown away after each meal, use cloth towels and cloth napkins which can be thrown in the washing machine and re-used many times. Not only are you helping with environmental savings but you will also be saving on your weekly shopping.

 

The most cost effective and green way to feed babies starting solids is to make your own baby food. And, it’s easy too. Purchase some organic vegetables and fruits and a few inexpensive ice cube trays during your next grocery shopping. Dice the vegetables or fruit and puree in your food processor or blender. After they’ve been adequately pureed, pour the mixture into the ice cube tray and place into freezer. Once they are frozen pop them out into baggies. As mealtime approaches, take a veggie or fruit cube from the freezer and let it gradually thaw, or microwave ot for 10 to 15 seconds. When you make your own baby food, you not only know how fresh the food items are but you also can reuse all the items required to make and store the food as well.

 

Finally, even the toys that your child plays with can have an effect on the environment. The manufacturing process for most children’s toys is not earth-friendly and the toys contain many artificial materials. Some are even proving to be dangerous to children. Wooden toys or stuffed animals made with organic cotton can be purchased instead of non biodegradable plastic ones. You can even knit or crochet your own baby toys. A book is always a excellent choice. Not only do books provide a strong learning environment for for your child’s intellect and creativity, but they can also be passed along to others and recyled to reduce environmental waste.

 

In addition to these ideas, there are hundreds of other actions you and your family can take to make your household more green. The saying reduce, reuse, recycle can always be applied in your day-to-day activities.  Be sure to explain to your children the purpose of these actions so that they understand that everyone has an impact on the world they live in. And make sure they realize that it’s their future which they are improving when they take a few simple actions today.

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Biowashball is a unique product designed to get clothes clean without use of laundry powder or detergents.  Instead of your usual laundry soap or liquid detergent, you place a non-toxic plastic ball in with your wash.  

This flexible green sphere is filled with small round microballs made of natural ceramics.   The small ceramic spheres change the pH of the water  the same way your detergent does, but without harmful chemicals. 

 Because it is hypoallergenic (no detergent or fragrances) you can safely use Biowashball  in any washing machine. It treats grease, organic and chemical stains effectively, getting your wash bright and clean without leaving residues or dumping harmful chemicals into the water.   it helps reduce allergies and protects the environment.  

I first heard about Biowashball from a friend who prefers eco- friendly products.  She began using it  because it has no phosphates to pollute groundwater and harm the environment.

She recommended Biowashball because I’d been concerned about  the residue my laundry detergent was leaving in my clothes.  This was irritating my skin and my allergies were getting worse.   But I was skeptical.  How could you get clothes clean without soap or detergent?

The first load of wash convinced me.  Biowashball left the clothes and sheets smelling clean and fresh, with no left-in residue that could cause irritation and allergy symptoms.  Not only that, I was saving money.  Instead of dumping more powder or liquid in with each wash, you just re-use the same bio wash ball.

 Maybe you feel like I did, constantly using up your supplies and then having to go out and buy more laundry powder or detergent, bleach and fabric softeners.  But you can forget all that with Biowashball, you just add the ball to each wash and let it go to work.   It’s good for up to three years of laundry, and you can save up to $500 a year.

After I found out how great this product was, I went to http://www.products.naturalcleaneronline.com and picked up another Biowashball for my son.  He’s transferring from community college to an out-of-state school and won’t be able to come home weekends to do his laundry.

I have my own washer and dryer.  But for students, travelers, and people who use laundromats or apartment complex machines, Biowashball is really a dream come true.  They can trade heavy, bulky detergent, bleach and fabric softeners for one little ball that keeps their wash clean, saves them lots of money, and is good for the environment too.