Times are tougher than ever. Money is tighter than it has been. These are all the more reasons to go green.  True, it’s good for the planet, but did you know it can also save you a huge amount of money down the road?  Last month I wrote about what you “could” and I had no specifics.   I thought I would include some ideas that will save you money, time, and most importantly a little wear and tear on Mother Earth, after all, she isn’t getting any younger.

• Visit your local library. Take the kids on a Saturday, have them pick out 2 of their favorite books, and return them next week! It’s free and it’s green.

• Carpool! If your drive to work is 25 miles each way and at least half is stop-and-go traffic, you’ll save

almost 10 percent of your monthly carbon emissions by carpooling. Not to mention the gas dollars you’ll

save.

• Bulk shopping is good for the environment because it reduces packaging and waste plus it means less

trips to the market and less gas used so you save money.

CONSERVE ENERGY

• Run your dishwasher. It can actually help the environment while saving you time and preserving your manicure, and be sure all the germs are washed away. Many studies show that dishwashers actually use less water than dishes by hand and you can save a ton of water, energy and money by only running the dishwasher when it’s full—especially if it’s Energy Star-approved.

• Throw in a concentrated, phosphate-free detergent such as Automatic Dish Wash Concentrate that is so powerful a pre-rinse isn’t required, and you earn extra eco-warrior points!

• Use Rechargeable Batteries. Investing in rechargeable batteries can save you some money over time.  In general, the less you rely on single-use, disposable items, the less money you’ll burn through.

• Check Out the New CFLs. CFL bulbs use 80% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, and last up six to 10 times longer. You might not be aware of the newest designs from cutting-edge

manufacturers, including a new range of pleasant color temperatures, dimmable CFLs, bug lights, 3-way

models, candelabra and flicker tip styles and more.

• Turn Off Your Computer - Save energy, wear on your hardware and an average of $90 each year on

electricity costs by shutting down your computer at night. The Department of Energy recommends shutting off your monitor if you aren’t going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you’re not going to use it for more than two hours. 

·         Un plug your phone/iPod chargers when they aren’t charging phones, they uses Phantom energy

·         Check into Green$witch, (one switch that shuts all that controls unnecessary lights left on from one switch.  Learn more at:  www.greenswitchgroup.com   

RECYCLE & REUSE

• Rather than going through rolls of paper towels, cut up old t-shirts and towels for cleaning rags. If DIY isn’t your cup of tea, try  Microfiber Cleaning and Window Cloths. They are ridiculously absorbent and can be washed and reused hundreds of times.

• Ditch bottled water! The cost adds up and the bottles pile up in landfills to pollute our planet. Save big

bucks and keep waste out of the landfills by switching to filtered water.

The BestWater® PerfectPitcher® is NSF-certified and serves up delicious, clean water that can be poured into a glass to be enjoyed at home, or a portable, reusable water bottle if you’re on the go.

Come join me, and be part of the Solution, NOT part of the Pollution

Deb Villarese

www.bellawelllifestyles.com   

When it comes to the environment- and many others things for that matter- I think most people make choices base on three criteria: Health, Convenience, and Budget.  Then, if their choice happens  to be good for the planet too, that would just be a “ Bonus.”

What if you could make greener choices without sacrificing convenience and budget?  More importantly, what if those choices made a positive impact on your family’s health?  There is just a natural momentum that comes with doing the right thing for yourself and your family and your planet.  You buy one non-toxic cleaning product, you start using one baby bottle made for materials that are safe for your infant, and the next thing you know, you’re recycling and riding a bike to work and using organic bamboo towels.  I think helping the environment is a lot like working out.  It’s sort of like putting on work- out clothes (a step to be proud of in itself) and then stepping out and “starting”

The Plain Truth is this:

·         The pollution inside out homes is worse than outside and we spend nearly 90 % of our time indoors.

·          We as a nation need to rethink what our idea of clean is; in other words, our “idea” of clean could actually be hurting us.

·         The health of “your” family and “our” planet are connected.  If each of us started with our own home we could make an impact on the planet.

·         Knowledge is power.   Not knowing is one thing, Knowing and continuing to use or do the things we know is harmful is another.

It is just the simple act of cleaning the kitchen sink that can become the large act of changing the world.

It just takes the first step to make the difference.

What are a few of the adjustments YOU or your FAMILY can make in this New Year?  Cleaning supplies, cosmetics, deodorants and other personal care products, dry-cleaned clothes, laundry, plastic food containers, paints , varnishes, home and garden supplies. Many of these contain VOC’s (Volatile Organic Chemicals) which escape into the environment, the home and ultimately, into YOU.  

An accumulative ACT of ONE can and will make a huge”WORLD” of difference.

Are you part of the solution? Or part of the Pollution

Submitted by Deb Villarese, Lifestyle expert and coach.

www.eco-logicalnews.com       www.bellawelllifestyles.com  

1. Start by replacing a bunch of your cleaners (your general spray cleaner, glass cleaner, counter top cleaner, floor and bathroom cleaners) with a natural, nontoxic all-purpose cleaner. You will only need one to do that. Really!  Personally, I recommend Shaklee Basic H.  One pint will make 728 window cleaner quarts , 60 all purpose cleaners, 30 floor cleaners and one fine washables bottle.  Yes, all that with just ONE pint

2. Replace your laundry detergent with a natural nontoxic one so the clothes you wear and the sheets you sleep on have no fumes for you to breathe.  Again, Look at the book GREEN GOES WITH EVERYTHING.  A third party study shows the many benefits of using Shaklee Fresh Laundry over any other Laundry product.

3. Go to your bathroom and read the shampoo, makeup and moisturizer labels. Ask yourself, “Do I really need scent in these products?” Take stock of all of your other products and try to replace one a week with a safer, greener choice.

4. Pay attention (without freaking out) to the toys you buy for your kids. Avoid lead paint and soft plastics that contain phthalates.

5. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store and avoid processed food. Even better, choose organic and locally grown meats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

6. Try to get the plastic containers out of your kitchen and replace them with glass containers.

7. Avoid using the micro-wave and if you must, use hard surface plates and bowls to put the food on.

8. Make a vow to stop buying bottled water—NOW. Instead, buy a water filter pitcher and keep two in your fridge at all times. Or install a R/O system right at your kitchen sink.  ( We love ours!)

9. For cleaner and healthier air, open your windows once a day when the outside temperature is comfortable.  (Especially if you happen to use the standard, everyday cleaners. Our indoor pollution is far worse than what we are breathing in the out-of-doors)

10. When buying new stuff for your home, focus on green products especially mattresses and carpets

The words, Fabric Softener sounds so soothing, as a matter of fact, it sounds like something that each and every one of us would want next to their skin.  Certainly, we want  nothing scratchy on our babies.  Only soft will do for our precious little ones.  Yet have you noticed the increased of ADD, ADHD, asthma,  and even autism in our wee ones?

 Recently, I was made aware that there are some pediatricians, allergists, and general physicians who are finding it necessary to put signs in their office which read as follows:

ATTENTION: “please refrain from using fragrances, FABRIC SOFTENERS, or smoking before coming to our office, we are finding that chemically sensitive individuals are having difficulty breathing in such an ENVIRONMENT” 

 Let’s just focus on Fabric softeners for the time being as they are certainly the most used and according to the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health  and perhaps the most offensive.  Here is what is in everyday fabric softeners:  toluene, trimehtylbenzene, styrene ( which are neurotoxins  - that means toxic to the brain)) as well as phenols and xylene.  Still sound soothing? Still wondering why so many more Americans are developing diseases which we think are out of “no where”…  ie:no family history

If you use conventional fabric softeners in your wash, this alphabet soup of toxicity is all over your body.  There is a party going on in your pants, and your shirt, and your nightgown, and your baby’s pajamas.

Here is a quick list of other chemicals found in fabric softeners: a-terpineol ( irritates muccous membranes and causes central nervous system damage) benzyl acetate(eye and respiratory irritant);benzyl alcohol ( can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, respiratory irritation, and a drop in blood pressure): camphor ( is on the EPA’s hazardous waste list; ethyl acetate ( eye and lung irritant and a narcotic); limonene ( irritant, sensitizer); linalool ( central nervous system effects); and pentane ( eye and skin irritant and may cause headache, vomiting, dizziness, or loss of consciousness)1

There is another problem with Fabric Softeners.  They are designed to stay in the fabrics… Which means that they are being released into the air you  ( and your child/children) breathe and onto your skin as you wear your own clothes.  The liquid softeners toxicity is one part of the problem, the dryer sheets have their own set  of issues.  They are made from synthetic fabric and/or polyurethane foam, which means they’re biodegradable, so they fill up land fills and they contain the same harmful  ingredients that the liquid softeners contain.  These pollutants are yet one more reason why our indoor environment is far worse than the outdoor air.

You can add ¼ c baking soda to the wash cycle  or ¼ cup of vinegar will soften clothes as well. Dry synthetic and natural fiber clothes separately or go to my eco-logicalnews.com and click on the link to learn what I use

1Allergy and Environmental Health Assoc. ( Canada).  “Health Risks of Fabric Softeners”  aeha.ca/help-with.htm.

I walked into a local restaurant recently and upon entering, decided this was not the place I wanted to be, much less eat anything.  The smell of bleach was over powering, and I just knew that anything I would eat or drink in this place would taste like bleach.  The little skull and crossbones symbol sort of appeared in my imagination, and I turned around and walked out.  The unfortunate parts of the story are this: 

1.       People believe that Clean has a smell and they think that bleach or pine  “smell” makes it clean

2.       The people who work there are exposed to toxic chemicals on a regular basis

3.       When they happen to get the window cleaner with ammonia out to clean the windows, they have just created one of the most toxic brews.  The combination of these two chemicals release a chlorine gas and a close cousin to the stuff they used as Chemical Warfare in WWI

4.       And then we innocently walk in with our chemical sensitive child, or as an asthma sufferer ourselves and it sets off all sort of brain and/or lung malfunctions.

Even the label of all the leading brands state:  DANGER; Corrosive.  May cause severe irritation or damage to eyes and skin…..  Avoid breathing vapors and use only in a well ventilated area. 

There are lots of hard decisions to make when you consider potential safety of common household products.  I made a conscious decision NOT to use bleach in my home.  There are many safe, effective alternatives.   I landed on a book called Green Goes With Everything   By Sloan Barnett, an environmental investigative reporter for the San Francisco Bay area.  She refers to a product comparison study done by Sterling Laboratories.

The problem I always had was that those “natural” cleaners  is that they just don’t seem to work as well as those chemicals we’ve grown to depend on.  Pages 73-78 in her 3 week in a row best seller, shows  a 3^rd party comparison and the results are impressive.  You don’t have to compromise effectiveness for safety anymore.    Then if you are interested in getting some, go to my web site under web-links ,  and click on Green cleaners.  Or you may contact me directly for a few samples. deb@eco-logicalnews.com

P.S . They were Oprah’s favorite Green Cleaners  and on her Favorites Show in Dec 2007.

Are you part of the Pollution?  Or Part of the Solution?

Can KIDS make a difference?

Conserving, Renewing, Protecting, Re-using isn’t about your next door neighbor, and for that matter it isn’t just for Mom &  Dad.   It is a family mindset that will save you money, create a family project and at the same time help the environment.  It starts with our kids and if they develop the good habits now, the habits will stay with them for their lifetime.  This planet is on loan to us from our future generations.

What are some EVERYDAY, SIMPLE things kids can do to make this earth a better place ?

Here are some ideas to start:

• Turning off lights, when you  leave the room
• Un –plug adapters that power our MP3, Cell phones and the like. 
• Don’t throw batteries in the trash,( they go to the hazardous waste facility).
• Take a shorter shower, or don’t fill the tub up quite so high. 
• The water doesn’t need to run while brushing your teeth,
• Avoid drinking water from plastic water bottles, each one adds to the land fills.
• Donated old athletic shoes.  (Well used ones  could end up being a play-yard in the future)
• Don’t stand in front of the “frig” with the door open, deciding what you want to eat.

Now it’s your turn Kids!  Send me other ideas that kids can do to Re-use, Re-cycle and Conserve Energy

And I will give gift cards to the top 3 entries.  A panel from www.partnersforcleanchoice.org   will be the judges and you can send those ideas to:  deb@eco-logicalnews.com     Winner’s names  will be features in the October issue of Stillwater Sound.

ALSO:

Mark your calendar  for: Oct 10, 2009  Naper  Settlement from  10-4

Bring your parents to an Environmental Fair, helping families make

Clean Choices in the cars they drive, and the products they use.

Your Choice Does Makes a difference …. Make a Clean Choice.

(Our Cool Ride Clean Choiceevent will be held at Naper Settlement. For more information on the event, go to www.partnersforcleanchoice.org)

Unfortunately, I learned about the dangerous effects of cleaning products many years ago strictly from personal experience.  I even wonder today, had the effects of the cleaners not been so harmful and not  affected my  family’s lives so much, would I have become” The Drum Major” of “The Green Cleaners Band” of Products.  I am thankful that I figured out the cause of my son’s severe asthma and allergies and I believe all of us are much healthier today because I made a drastic change in our home environment when I switched to safe, green, non-polluting cleaners made from things like corn, coconut and soy.

Green Cleaners are assumed not to work as well as the most popular, advertised chemical counter-parts.  For some odd reason, people think that if they have a complicated chemical name, it must be good.  However, think about this, if these  hard to read cleaners came with warnings, then  How safe are they?  If the product is safe for you to use, then it  won’t harm the environment.  Plus the products that were 3rd party tested were proven to no only work better, but the cost effectiveness is almost unbelievable.  What if I told you a one pint concentrate of cleaner makes bottles of a window cleaner.  Think of the land-fills saved, prescious fuel saved to transport all over the nation, and most of all think of the lungs saved. This is what I use.   Under Web-links on the left side of this blog, click on “Organic, Safe cleaners” and you will be directed to the products I have found to #1 be the most safe, #2, most effective, #3 cost savings.

 Sterling labs proved through  a 3rd party study that organic out performs other products and that organic out performs toxic cleaners and sometimes dramatically out performs them as well,     (who would have thought.)  Better living through chemistry has been the American cleaning mantra for 50+yrs.

 Conventional laundry products have many of the same chemical cleaners as houshold cleaners: they carry the same kinds of dangers like phenols & bleach to name a few.  These products cause long term environmental problems and eventually affect our rivers and streams yet they also enter our bodies in a similar way with contact, using your skin.  Not to mention the fumes and fragrances which over time have overloaded  our sensories that you just don’t smell ANYTHING anymore. 

Those smells that are artificial are not good for us.  Clean has no smell not lemon, not pine fresh, not forest breeze.  Most of the chemicals used to create these smells we have grown to love are considered “neuro-toxins:  Yes they effect the brain and nervous system,

Think about this, You use the towels and wear the underwear that has been washed in ;  a -terpineol, which  irritates mucus membraines and damages the central nervous system, and  Benzyl acetate  which effects the eyes and the respiratory system.

Fabric softener irritates the eyes and respiratory system.  The petroleum based stuff stays in the fabric and can cause irritated mucus membranes and damages  the central nervouse system.  Not to mention the toxic chemicals rubbing on your skin.  So you use dryer sheets you say! Except they are filling up land fills and their smell is also very offensive to some.  I like to refer to the fabric softener on the market as the alphabet soup of toxins all over our body.  The point of fabric softener is that it stays in the fabric, that is what the manufacture works to achieve,  thus the fumes are being released into the air, especially when the person wearing the shirt perspires.  ( in some cases causing people around them to experience tightness in their lungs)

A 3rd Part study found Shaklee dryer sheets to be the best.  The sheets are fragrance free, biodegradable and  they use vegetable derived softening agents, not synthetic petroleum chemicals.  But my biggest point in this whole essay is that I find I don’t need to use softeners.  My laudry soap washes out completely, so my  clothes  are never stiff  ( it’s the fillers in the standard washing powders and liquids that make us think we need softeners) because there are no fillers to hide out inside the fibers causing stiffness, and there are no fillers, I have no static and more importantly  because there are no fillers my clothes don’t wear out.

Don’t be fooled by fragrances.  If you notice your family has more than their fair share of respiratory illnesses,  or skin irritations, re evaluate what cleaners you are using.  Come check out the ones I use and have used for over 30 years.  I promise they won’t disappoint you.  I stake my name on that and they come with a 100% money back guarantee.  Look under my weblinks and click on “organic,safe cleaners”.

So, let’s say you want to change products, but you are a bit skeptical because your past experience tells you that the claims of the Natural cleaners is a bit over rated.  Here is a line of products that will knock your socks off!  They do every bit that they say they will and more.   Comes with a money back guarantee. 

Want to know what I personally use, Click on the Organic, Safe Cleaner  under Weblinks on the left side of this page.  http://debv.myshaklee.com

What’s under your kitchen sink, in your garage, in your bathroom, and on the shelves in your laundry room? Every public facility is required to have the MSDS ( Material Safety Data Sheets) available in order to inform and protect the public, just in case someone was harmed by the products.  However, we as individuals don’t have a clue on the dangerous effects and side effect of these products we are randomly using.

In this article, I am addressing ONLY the SIDE  EFFECTS of everyday DISINFECTANTS

HAZARDOUS CONSTITUENT POSSIBLE EFFECTS of Disinfectants

AMMONIA Fumes irritate eyes and lungs; can cause burns or rashes on skin; can produce deadly chloramine gas if mixed with chlorine containing products

DETERGENTS Toxic and poisonous to ingest, causing nausea and in extreme cases - coma

CRESOL Corrosive to tissue, damages liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and spleen

LYE Caustic product that burns skin, can cause blindness

PHENOL Central nervous system depression; severely affect circulatory system; corrosive to skin; suspected carcinogen

PINE OIL Irritates eyes and mucous membranes

Disinfectants are considered pesticides. They reduce some germs and are a temporary measure at best for making your home “germ free.” Skin contact and vapors can be irritating and corrosive to the respiratory system and skin. Disinfectants are especially hazardous when dispersed from aerosol cans because the disinfectant can be easily ingested through the nose and mouth.

Disinfectants may contain one or more of the following hazardous substances: ammonia, cationic detergents, cresol, lye, phenol, pine oil. Please refer to these compounds for specific health hazards associated with these ingredients.

Use: Avoid aerosol dispensers. Handle disinfectant with gloves to avoid corrosive effects and absorption through skin and wear safety goggles. Make sure ventilation is adequate with plenty of fresh air present. Do not use disinfectants around food, animals, or children.

Storage: Keep away from children. Store in a well ventilated area.

Disposal: Use up as intended. To dispose of unused or unwanted portions take the product to a hazardous household waste collection center. If collection is not available, then flush the product down the drain with plenty of water. If on a septic tank or lagoon, dispose of small quantities over a number of days.

Go here to do some research http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/

The following information is from: http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/town/main.html

Do I know of a great alternative?

www.bellawelllifestyles.com and go to the GREEN Cleaner section for a full array of Safe, Effective, Household Cleaners.

Being obsessed with spotless, germ-free, fragrant, gleaming sparkling, springtime fresh is harming our family.  Every day products expose us to hundreds of insidious, invisible, dangerous chemicals, potent substances we us daily in cleaning supplies, cosmetics, deodorants, and other personal care products, dry cleaning, laundry by products, plastic containers, paint, varnishes, home & garden supplies – it is a very long list.  They create VOC’s, thus making our homes 5x’s higher inside our homes and offices.  We inhale them, digest them and absorb them.

Recently a study showed that most Americans have large amounts of pesticides which leads to health threats.  Some stay in the body a short time, others are more persistent and they circulate in the blood, lodge in fatty tissue, muscle, bone , brain, & other  These are know as body burden.  There are only 4 labs in the world that will do the testing.  17 vials of blood will tell you how the chemicals effect us and how much of these may cause illness.   Of course there are other causes of illness.  Bacteria, Virus, fungi, pollen dust, insecticides, dander & mold.  These live in the surface of your hands, bacteria may be liked to sinks, toilets.  We are all being exposed to biological pollutants every day.  Obviously, those with chronic illnesses may be even more vulnerable

There are really only 2 kinds of dirt.

                Safe dirt

                Scary dirt – the  toxins  we buy unknowingly,  new carpet, new furniture, stain retardants, fake pine, fake lemon, air fresheners with fake orange, vanilla.   Remember this:  Real Clean doesn’t have a smell and Real Clean can’t hurt you.

 Years ago, cleaners used to be homemade, combining vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda.  Then chemical companies saw a market.  They advertise ring around the collar.  They were like Trojan horses.  We brought them into our home,  and unknowingly they unleash and army of invaders.   Tell women you have information that will help make them and their families healthy, happy and healthy and they will be all ears.  We really all want the same happy and healthy followers.  After all going green is all about choices.

Making your home green make is all about making choices.

What is a GREEN product?  It won’t hurt YOU, your parents, or your pets, and it doesn’t hang around like an unwanted guest after you use it - on floors, carpets, counters, clothes, and so forth.  The packaging it comes in should be the minimum required and brek down into safe or recyclable stuff when you are done with it.  And, though this can be hard to find out, it shouldn’t require a lot of nonrenewable or even  renewable resources to make it, use it, or dispose of it.    http://bellawelllifestyles.com        ( click on the GET GREEN tab to learn more)

So what is clean?   It’s my fresh bed after I ‘ve just washed the sheets in non-toxic detergents.  It’s a  home that has that non descript smell of almost nothing, sort of like Antarctica 20 years ago. It is a bathroom that sparkles and shines with  utterly NO scents or fragrances.  Then my house is Clean . ……And Safe