I Am Eco Green

Archive for the ‘Eco Tips’ Category

Today is such a beautiful hot day and it will continue into next week. This is a great time to open the shades and windows. Lets air out your house or apartment.

Do some spring cleaning. Make sure to use non toxic cleaners.

Do some planting. Just get out there while its nice.

For decades my family has been using rain water for watering our outdoor and indoor plants. This saves our drinking water. More than 70% of the planet is covered with water, but only 2.5% of that water is drinkable. Scientist speculate that our water supply is rapidly shrinking.

Saving rain water can be an efficient way to help save our water supply. Don’t waste drinking water on your lawns, flower beds, and trees daily.

Some of the best ways of harvesting rain water, is your basic large trash can or even those huge storage tubs. You can place them near the shed or behind the house, but in a place that easy to get to.

If you have well water this will keep you from wasting precious drinking water and if your paying for your water this will also lower your water bill.

I have used several brands of Recycled paper towels and to me the best is Trader Joe’s. For one they are 2 play and the roll is pretty thick. It soaks up liquids pretty good too. It doesn’t leave any lint behind when I use it. You get 3 large rolls for $3.99. I bought one time Marcal and I got a lot of rolls for almost $20 bucks but the rolls are small, one ply and its easy to go through them quickly. Now the Marcal paper towels I used was several months ago. I recenlty went to their website and they seem to be making new and improved products. I will have to give them a try, maybe I will get a better deal. And of course I will post this.

Before running through your house or apartment take your shoes off. It will keep nasty germs out of the house and keep your floors cleaner If you don’t like running barefoot or with socks on in the house, have slippers set by the door for everyone and keep a spare or two for guests. We have been doing this for decades. This is also practiced in most houses in Europe. My family in Austria does this and trust me the wood floors look fabulous when theres no dirt and nasty shoes running all over it.

My apartment rug is probably cleaner then most since we try not to wear our shoes and use slipper or barefeet instead.

I personally use a Brita Pitcher. When I buy my filters try to go to your local BJ’s wholesale or Costco. You can get in bulk and its cheaper. I know it seems expensive at first but you use the filters for awhile. The pitcher I use has a little digital guide that lets you know when its time to change your filter.

Using a filter is cheaper then buying plastic bottled water and you don’t send tons of plastic to the dump. Sometimes if I buy a plastic bottle of water I try to get the one with a sport top and reuse it with my filtered water.

Everyone loves candles. I know I do. So instead of petroleum based paraffin candles try looking for soy or beeswax with essential oil candles. What’s the benefit? Soy Candles are a healthy and cheaper alternative to paraffin candles. They are a better quality then paraffin candles. Soy candles also burn much longer.

• 100% Biodegradable
• Nontoxic – no carcinogens
• Clean burning – virtually no candle soot
• Water soluble (cleans up with hot water & soap)
• Much cooler burning than paraffin
• Burns 35% – 50% longer than paraffin
• Supports the American farm economy
• VEGAN – No animal products used/no animal testing

Beeswax candles  do not contain additives and chemicals that paraffin candles contain. Paraffin candles are a by-product of petroleum. Lower grade candles may also contain waste products from animal fats. Some even release potentially harmful chemicals and soot into the air, scented candles are the worst possible option. The black soot from cheap candles can be an irritant that is harmful when inhaled, whereas beeswax produces no soot or chemicals and actually acts as an air purifier. Beeswax candle are of higher quality and will cost you more. They also have an instantly recognizable scent, a subtle and deliciously sweet honey. Beeswax candles do not need synthetic oils or fragrances, as beeswax candles by themselves are a form of aromatherapy. They also last much longer then most forms of wax and burn much slower. [starreview]