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Welcome to January's issue of Green Home, your EcoFresh monthly newsletter.
In this month's issue:
by Shelagh McNally (editor of Green Living Online)
Is your house toxic because of the cleaning products you're using?
Here's a list of six household cleaners to avoid and alternatives to help detoxify your home.
1. Antibacterial cleaners
These cleaners contain triclosan, a form of dioxin, linked with weakened immune systems, decreased fertility, hormone disruption and birth defects.
Alternative: Regular soap, which kills 99.4 percent of germs. Antibacterial soap kills 99.6 percent.
2. Air Fresheners
One main ingredient, formaldehyde, is a carcinogen, causing allergic reactions, dermatitis, headaches, mucous membrane irritations, joint and chest pain, depression, fatigue, dizziness and immune dysfunction.
Alternative: Open the window or use an exhaust fan.
3. Dishwasher detergent
They contain a dry form of highly concentrated chlorine that is poisonous and have been known to produce skin irritations or burns, and cause eye injuries and damage to other mucous membranes.
Alternatives: Detergents that are phosphate and chlorine free. One eco-friendly choice is Caldrea.
4. Oven cleaners
Among the most dangerous chemicals in households, these cleaners contain sodium hydroxide (a derivative of lye) so corrosive it can eat through the top layer of skin and cause severe tissue damage.
Alternative: Make a scrub of baking soda, salt and water paste.
5. Carpet and upholstery shampoo
The main ingredient, perchlorethylene (the same one used in dry cleaning), is a known carcinogen, damaging to the liver, kidney and the nervous system.
Alternative: Use a mix of baking soda and water. Salt will take out wine or fruit stains. Club soda will remove lighter stains. Baking soda and cornstarch will deodorize.
When having your carpet professionally cleaned, make sure to check the cleaning solutions are Green Seal Certified.
6. Toilet, tub and tile bowl cleaners
Are a source of many poisonings, particularly since they are used in small, often windowless spaces. Highly toxic, bathroom cleaners
Alternative: Remove toilet bowl stains with pure vinegar. Dilute with water to remove soap residue. Washing soda or borax is also effective on tiles.
The result is a harmonious home that lays the foundation for emotional, spiritual, and physical health.
by Victoria L. Freeman, Natural Solutions magazine
Based on influencing the flow of qi (chi) or energy through your home and other aspects of your environment, feng shui principles align energy patterns with healing forces of nature. The result is a harmonious home that lays the foundation for emotional, spiritual, and physical health, says Brooklyn-based chakracologist (a term she's coined) and feng shui expert Nancy SantoPietro.
Use these feng shui tips to make your home an anxiety-free zone.
Repair all electrical systems. "Electricity runs through the wires of your home much like qi runs through the meridians of your body. When your home's electrical system breaks down, it interferes with your energy flow and ability to stay focused, clear, and calm," SantoPietro explains. Avoid energy clogs or leaks by repairing or replacing worn wires, blown light bulbs, and faulty outlets.
Clear away clutter. Clutter stagnates energy, both in your environment and in you. Entranceways are particularly important, SantoPietro notes, as they set the tone for the feng shui throughout your home. Keep them clear and unrestricted.
Reduce bedroom energy. "Remove electrical sources such as TVs, computers, and LED clock radios from your bedroom because they leak radiation, depress immunity, and interfere with sleep," urges SantoPietro. The bedroom is meant for rejuvenation, renewal, and intimacy.
Just add color. "White decor deflects life force and thus neutralizes feelings," SantoPietro says, "but decorate with color and you'll invoke it. Any time I evaluate a home with all white decor, I know that someone in that house is not dealing with something." And avoiding feelings often leads to anxiety.
A refrigerator is the hub of our kitchen. We depend on it to safely store all of our perishable foods until we're ready to use them. Unfortunately the refrigerator takes a lot of abuse. We stuff it full. We forget about leftovers. We leave spills until they've crystallized. Then we complain when there's even the slightest unpleasant odor. Find out all the steps you need to know to clean your refrigerator.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 30 Minutes-2 Hours
Here's How:
1. Remove the Food
Toss any old or expired food into the trash. Remove the food that is still good to a cooler with ice to keep it safe and cold while you clean the remainder of the refrigerator.
2. Remove Shelves and Drawers
Take out all removable drawers and shelves and set them aside. Drawers and shelves that are made of metal or plastic can actually be washed with hot water and dish soap right away, but glass and ceramic pieces need to gradually warm up to room temperature before being washed with hot water to prevent cracking and breaking.
3. Wipe Down Refrigerator Interior
Use a clean cloth with hot water and a mild detergent like dish soap. Work from top to bottom to prevent dripping on surfaces that are already clean. Tough stuck on spills may need a plastic, non-abrasive scrubber. Another option is to lay a warm wet cloth over the spilled area for a few minutes. The spilled area will be softer and easier to wipe away. Rinse cloths thoroughly and/or use multiple cloths to insure cleanliness. Pay special attention to the bottom crevices and back of the refrigerator where spills tend to migrate. Finally wipe down the interior doors.
4. Clean Shelves and Drawers
Now that your shelves and drawers have had time to warm up gradually, take a few moments and clean and dry them thoroughly. Be careful, especially when handling slippery glass shelving. Dishwashing gloves may be helpful to prevent breakage.
5. Dry Interior
Using a clean dry cloth or towel. Wipe down the interior of the refrigerator to make sure it is completely dry. Don't forget to dry the interior doors as well.
6. Replace the Food
Put the food back into the refrigerator. Now is also a good time to wipe off any jars or containers of food that may need it, like a sticky jelly jar or a crusty salad dressing lid. Take care to use clean cloths when working with your food jars and dry them thoroughly as well.
7. Clean Out the Freezer
Use the same methods listed above to clean out a freezer. The great thing about freezers is that they rarely have spills and need to be scrubbed out much less often. You may need to only check for and remove expired food. If the freezer does require more thorough cleaning, you can use the same methods used in the refrigerator.
8. Clean the Outside
Starting from the top, wipe down and clean the exterior of the refrigerator using hot/warm water and a mild dish soap. If you have a stainless steel refrigerator, you'll need to use a soft non-scratching rag, and vinegar or a window cleaner to keep the surface shiny. Don't forget to clean the rubber gasket seal around the edges of the door using dish soap and warm water. Dirt and grime can collect here and cause the seal to crack.
9. Seasonally - Check the Drip Pan
Some refrigerator models have a removable drip pan that collects the condensation from the refrigerator. Remove the grill from the bottom front of your refrigerator and use a flashlight to locate the drip pan. It will be on top of condenser coils. Drip pans can become moldy and gross over time, so wear gloves and be prepared. Remove the drip pan and clean thoroughly before replacing. You may need to use vinegar and water. When in doubt refer to the manufacturer's instructions and follow them. Dry and replace the drip pan and front grill.
10. Seasonally - Vacuum the Refrigerator Coils
Unplug the refrigerator and move it out from the wall carefully and slowly. For models with the coils on the back of the refrigerator, use the brush attachment to vacuum the coils. Some side by side and built-in models may have coils located behind a vent on the top, bottom or back of the refrigerator. Some models even have vents screwed on over the coils. On these models, you'll need to use a long narrow crevice attachment for your vacuum cleaner. Refer to your owner's manual for assistance. Put the refrigerator back and plug it back in.
Tips:
1. Wiping up spills as the occur, and throwing out old food every week, will go a long way to keeping your refrigerator clean.
2. Adding a box of baking soda can work wonder for eliminating odors in the refrigerator and freezer. This is great if you don't want your butter to taste like fajita onions.
What You Need:
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Preparation:
January 1, 1892 — Ellis Island in New York harbor opened. Over 20 million new arrivals to America were processed until its closing in 1954.
January 1, 1901 — The Commonwealth of Australia was founded as six former British colonies became six states with Edmund Barton as the first prime minister.
January 1, 1915 — The British Battleship Formidable was hit by a torpedo in the English Channel, killing 547 crewmen.
January 1, 1942 — Twenty six countries signed the Declaration of the United Nations, in Washington, D.C., reaffirming their opposition to the Axis powers and confirming that no single nation would make a separate peace.
January 1, 1958 — The EEC (European Economic Community) known as the Common Market was formed by Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and The Netherlands in order to remove trade barriers and coordinate trade policies.
January 1, 1959 — Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba after leading a revolution that drove out dictator Fulgencio Batista. Castro then established a Communist dictatorship.
January 1, 1973 — Britain, Ireland and Denmark became members of the Common Market (EEC).
January 1, 1975 — During the Watergate scandal, former top aides to President Nixon including former Attorney General John Mitchell, Domestic Affairs Advisor John Ehrlichman and Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman, were found guilty of obstruction of justice.
January 1, 1979 — China and the U.S. established diplomatic relations, 30 years after the foundation of the People's Republic.
January 1, 1993 — Czechoslovakia broke into separate Czech and Slovak republics.
January 1, 1999 — Eleven European nations began using a new single European currency, the Euro, for electronic financial and business transactions, with Euro coins and notes to be issued to the general public by January of 2002. Participating countries include; Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.