Goal For The Green

You don’t have to spend a dime on cleaners and solvents, to do your Spring cleaning.  There are products in your kitchen or pantry right now, that will do the job nicely, and in an earth friendly way.

Most household cleaners, fall into the acid or alkaline region on a pH scale.  The scale ranges from 1-14, with 7 being the pure or neutral (like water) region.  Acidic solutions fall below 7, while the alkaline solutions are on the up side of the scale.  Cleaners that rank on the high end of the alkaline scale are considered caustic, and the very acidic cleaners are corrosive.  Usually, areas that are soiled with grease and oil are best treated with alkaline cleaners.  This is because alkaline cleaners work by separating heavy soil and grease from surfaces and fabric, so they can be easily blotted up, or rinsed away.  The most common alkaline cleaners are sudsy ammonia, borax, chlorine bleach, detergents and soaps, TSP (trisodium phosphate) and washing soda.

Common acidic cleaners, are white vinegar, lemon juice, commercial rust removing products, and metal cleaners that remove tarnish and corrosion.  These cleaners work best on particulates (such as smoke) and in hard water areas where lime scales are formed by calcium and magnesium deposits.

For kitchen clean-up, nothing more than 2 Tablespoons of Bleach to a gallon of  water and a few drops of your dish washing detergent, is all that is needed for sparkle and disinfecting.  For your copper bottomed pans, take half of a lemon dipped in table salt and work it like a scrubber on the pan.  Ketchup and table salt, also works well.  Wash and dry, and your pans will look like new.

My favorite, around the house cleaners, are white vinegar and baking soda. White vinegar is great for cleaning anything, from your coffee pot to windows, sinks, bathrooms and chrome fixtures.  It works well, at removing mineral deposits and stains. When paired with baking soda it will bubble, but works wonderfully well for cleaning out your oven and drip pans, if you don’t have a self cleaning oven.  For best results, just let sit over night. Its much better, than the fumes from oven cleaning products. Proper ventilation, should always be used, when using commercial cleaners, as some can cause burns to the skin, and shouldn’t even be breathed. Baking soda, is both gentle and powerful, and has many uses like removing odors and fruit juice stains, and as a mild abrasive in other cleaning applications.

When it comes to making home made cleaners, it is by far more, the economical choice. Most recipes make about a gallon, and you probably already have the ingredients on hand.  For pennies, you can make your own, and there is no waste.

If you prefer to buy ready made cleaners, look for brands such as Ecos, Simple Green, and the new line of green cleaners from Clorox, just to name a few earth friendly alternatives.

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     All soy starts as three beans in a pod. The beans vary in size and colors of the flowers and pods.  It is a hardy crop that grows well in temperate climates, such as the area from North Dakota to Louisiana.  In the early 1950’s the U.S. had surpassed Asia, as the leader in soybean production.  But in 2005, Brazil surpassed the U.S.

     For more than 5,ooo years the Chinese have reguarded soy as a sacred plant, along with rice wheat barley, and millet.  The soybean curd has been consumed by both peasants and royalty, as a hosehold staple. Known for its high nutitional value, it contains eight of the essential amino acids, and is the only complete plant protein.  Soy foods are a rich source of fiber, B vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids.

     In 1999, The Food and Drug Administration officially recognized the cholesterol lowering effect of soy protein.  The health claim states that 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. The health claim also states that most soyfoods are low in saturated and trans fat.  The American Heart Association has also recognized soyfoods role in a heart – healthy diet.

     Research also suggests that soy may also lower the risk of prostate,colon and breast cancer.  It has also been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone health problems.  It has also been affective in treating hot flashes in menopausal women.

     While soy is a very versatile product, there is a small percentage of the population that may be allergic. Many products in the U.S. now contain warning labels if soy is present.

It’s not that hard to do anymore. We hear about some aspect of “green” almost daily.  Support for the idea, has become almost second nature.  But what does it all mean?

The goal to living a greener lifestyle, is to become more energy smart, earth smart, health smart, and water smart. In other words, to strive to minimize our use of non-renewable energy, water, and other natural resources.  We make it a goal to create a healthy indoor and outdoor environment for our families. To save money and energy, we make it a point to use products that reduce harmful effects on the environment, and are preferably bio-degradable .

Creating and maintaining a healthy indoor environment is most important to anyone who suffers from allergies.  Regardless of their needs, the savvy customer knows that there are dehumidifiers, that reduce mold and mildew, and air purification/ventilation systems that can ease their symptoms.

Another way to green-up your lifestyle is to check with your power company about signing up for Green Power. Green Power is electricity that is renewable and non-polluting from sources like the wind and sun. The more Green Power we use the less harm we do to the environment, while also investing in renewable resources.

Did you know that your power company may also have a program that entitles you to a free energy check-up?  They come out and check to see where energy is escaping from your home.  If you are planning a home improvement project, they can also help you find a contractor.  The contractors are pre-screened, and can help you with your roofing, heating, cooling,windows, doors, gas fireplaces, insulation and water heaters.  They are required to participate in ongoing training on energy saving options that will help you lower your energy bills.   You may be doing yourself a favor if you check and see what your power company can do for you.

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