We are all familiar with baking soda as a rising agent in baking.  Then of course there is the mandatory box in the back of the fridge.  Now that orange box is coming out of the cupboard and taking center stage as a green friendly cleaning product.

If you want to be earth friendly and save a few dollars consider using baking soda, (alias sodium bicarbonate), for these common household jobs:

• Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to one part water to remove tough stains on counter tops or floors.
• Shine the stainless steel sink by placing baking soda on a damp sponge.  Just scrub, rinse, and dry.
• Apply as a mildly abrasive cleaner for glass or ceramic cook tops.
• Use in the bathroom sink, shower, and tub in place of soft scrub or comet. With a little water and elbow grease it will remove stains and soap scum.

• Sprinkle baking soda anywhere there is an offensive smell.  It works great to neutralize odors in trashcans, dishwashers, diaper pails, litter boxes, and garbage disposals.
• Dust over the carpet, let sit 15 minutes, and then vacuum as normal.
• Add one-half to one cup baking soda to the washing machine for cleaner clothes.  It can be used alone or to improve the performance of existing laundry detergent.  It makes sweaty gym clothes smell fresh again.
• Keep swimming pools sparkling clear and maintain water PH levels (Don’t add if pH is above 7.5 or alkalinity is 110 ppm or higher).

These are just a few ideas for a fresher and cleaner home with baking soda. In addition to cleaning and deodorizing it can be used for personal hygiene.  Some popular uses are teeth whitener, facial scrub, hair cleanser, and antacid treatment. Just watch the oral intake as it contains high amounts of sodium (1/8^th teaspoon of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda contains 150 mg of sodium or 6% of daily value).

With so many uses be sure to buy in bulk.  My last purchase was a 12-pound bag from a wholesale club (like Costco, Sam’s, B.J.’s etc) that ran about $12.00.  You can also buy sodium bicarbonate in non-cooking quality from feed stores or pool maintenance companies.

It is surprising how many toxic household chemicals you can avoid with a green living approach.  Just keep three simple items on hand (vinegar, baking soda, and the best green cleaning cloth) for a full arsenal of cleaning products. These environmental friendly cleaning products save money, remove toxic chemicals, and are kind to the earth.

Start living green one day at a time,

Tracy Z

A visit to the farmer’s market is truly a weekend treat. From Seattle’s Pike Street Market to San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza and later the ports of Anchorage, Alaska and Civitavecchia Italy, my senses have been tantalized with the taste of local food and culture. 

Now a Saturday just isn’t complete without a visit to the Dr. Phillips, Winter Park, or Lake Eola markets near my current home in Orlando, Florida.    

If you are a regular visitor to the area market you already enjoy the benefits of shopping locally.  If you are new to the experience or just need a bit of encouragement, here are 5 reasons to shop your Farmer’s Market:

1. Locally Grown – When food and goods are produced locally they travel a shorter distance to market reducing carbon emissions and the impact on the environment.
2. Green Commitment – Most vendors are committed to eco-friendly goods.  From green cleaning products to organic produce, you can feel good about living green and supporting area businesses dedicated to nurturing the planet.
3. Fresh and Flavorful – Nothing can compare to the flavor of produce harvested ripe and delivered straight to the market.  My personal favorites are vine-ripened tomatoes grown hydroponically by our friends at Rest Haven farms.  A store bought tomato, like most grocery produce is generally picked green and allowed to ripen during shipping.  Many growers pick their produce the day before (or even the morning of) going to market.
4. Saves Money – Buying in season straight from the producer saves money.  For instance, lemons and limes sold 5 for $1 last Saturday rather than the 89 cents each charged at the store.  That was a savings of over $3 on just one item!
5. Builds Community – Not only do you meet some great people, the market encourgages community through economic and social support.  Many neighborhoods have been rebuilt through the establishment of a thriving local market. 

So take the Farmer’s Market Challenge and see just how much of your weekly grocery shopping can be completed at the area market.  Not only does it make this household chore enjoyable, it will reawaken tired taste buds at a savings to both the pocket book and the environment.

Start living green one day at a time.

Tracy Z

Did you know the average home contains 62 toxic chemicals?  In fact a recent EPA survey revealed that the air indoors was 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air.  Unfortunately, cleaning supplies are a primary source of indoor chemicals.

So how can we get the clean home we want without harsh chemicals?  In our home the answer is a bit of water and The Streak Free Pro Microfiber Cloth.

We simply Wet It, Wring It, and Wipe It for a green clean that is streak free, spot free, and lint free.

Not only is it friendly to your health and the environment it also saves hundreds in cleaning supplies and paper towels. 

Here are some of the ways we clean green on a daily basis using the Streak Free Pro cloth:

• Mirrors
• Stainless Steel
• Granite
• Windows
• Sinks
• Kitchen Appliances
• Cabinets
• Bathrooms
• Eyeglasses
• Computers
• Flat Screens
• Cars, Autos, RVs, Motorcycles
• And much more!

It works great on any hard surface. My favorite use is to the clean chrome and custom paint on my Fat Boy Harley Davidson motorcycle.  It even takes off the road grime and Florida love bugs.  In fact my husband and I first discovered this amazing cleaning cloth on a tri-state state motorcycle trip in 2005.  We’ve been hooked ever since.

When it gets dirty this green cleaning cloth can be washed hundreds of times for use over and over again.  Only one caution – DON’T use fabric softener.  It coats the fibers and interferes with effectiveness.  Besides that it is guaranteed for 3 years of use.

Please know this is no ordinary Microfiber cloth.  The fibers are specially designed to hold 7 times their weight in dirt, grime, and liquid.  While inferior cloths are only 80 grams per square meter (GSM) the Streak Free Pro boasts over double that at 170 GSM.

The patented and exclusive technology makes The Streak Free Pro Cloth the best green cleaning cloth in the industry today. Don’t be fooled by imposters. Click here to order the genuine made in the USA Streak Free Pro cloth with free shipping and prices as low as $4.00 per cloth!

Start living green one step at a time.

Tracy Z

Going Green? Start with Blue! 

Water, water everywhere – but hopefully not wasted. 

One of the easiest ways to succeed with a “go green” commitment is by paying attention to the water you use and how you use it. Here are 10 tips you can implement today to not only save precious resources, but also a few bucks! 

1. Look for leaks around the house by turning off all water and checking the meter. It should not move in a 2-hour period or you have a leak somewhere. Repairing leaks can make a big difference. A faucet dripping at one drop per second equals 2,700 gallons per year! 
2. Don’t leave the water running when shaving.  Rinse the razor in a sink or cup filled with some water.
3. Brush your teeth while waiting for the hot water to dispense.  Then wash your face using the hot water.
4. Check the toilet for leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking the color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.  For even greater benefits install a water-conserving model.
5. Take shorter showers (under 5 minutes) and make sure there are water efficient heads.
6. Only run automatic dishwashers or clothes washers when they are full. When it comes time to replace the old top load clothes washer, purchase a front load instead as they use less water.
7. Wrap all hot water pipes with insulation and consider installing an instant water heater in the kitchen.  This way you don’t have to let the water run to heat up.
8. Store cold drinking water in your refrigerator (so you don’t have to let the faucet run to get cold water).
9. Don’t over water your lawn. As a general rule, lawns only need to be watered every 6 days in the summer. Be sure to water the lawn in the morning when the evaporation rate is less.
10. Remember to monitor sprinklers and hoses so they do not run unattended. Use a broom to brush off sidewalks rather than cleaning with water. Up to 600 gallons can pour out of a garden hose in as little as an hour.

Start living green one day at a time!

Tracy Z

Note:  Thanks to Jeff Durham for use of this artwork.

Here are some green friendly ways to clean the kitchen with vinegar: 

• Wash tile, wood, or linoleum floors by adding about 1 cup of vinegar to a bucket of warm water.
• Use as an all purpose cleaner on counter tops and appliances by filling a spray bottle with 1 cup vinegar mixed with 3 cups water.
• Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring vinegar down the drain.
• Pour vinegar in the rinse dispenser of the dishwasher for spot free dishes instead of using Jet Dry type products.
• Clean the coffeepot and remove buildup by running 2 cups vinegar and the remainder water through the brew cycle (without any coffee).  Run two more cycles of water only to remove any vinegar taste before brewing a real cup of java.
• Make metal pans or chrome fixtures shine by using a paste of vinegar and salt.
• Remove grime, film, and grease by letting a paper towel soaked with just vinegar sit on the area until loosened (about 10 minutes) then just wipe away.

There are hundreds of uses for vinegar as a cleaning agent and Eco-friendly alternative to harsh chemicals.  So before reaching for that bottle of 409 first try using a mixture of vinegar and water.

Start living green one day at a time,

Tracy Z

The reduction in trash is being attributed to consumers buying less, eating out less, and cutting back on vacations to the area.  The amount of construction debris has also declined with the falling real estate market.

It is no surprise that this has County officials worried about the impact on income generated from trash collection.  It also has a trickle down effect on energy.  In Lake County, down 8%, some of the trash is used at a waste to energy plant.  

So an economy in the dumps is good for dumps!  (Of course the politically correct word for “dump” is now “landfill” but it just doesn’t have the same ring!)

Start living green one day at a time,

Tracy Z

Note: This post is based on the article by Martin E. Comas in the February 7, 2009 edition of the Orlando Sentinel.

Not only does recycling cell phones help the environment it can also benefit your community.  Cell phones still in working order can be be reused by others in need.

Unfortunately only 10% of unwanted cell phones are recycled each year according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency of the United States). They further estimate that enough energy to power more than 19,500 US households for a year could be generated if the 100 million cell phones unused annually were recycled. The EPA has partnered with many cell phone providers to increase the nation’s awareness and recycling rate.

So make a quick check of the closets and drawers to see how many old cell phones you have lying around.  Our family of three recently cleaned house and found 5 cell phones no longer in use.  We’ve since donated them to a program for abused women and another for military families.

Start living green one step at a time!

Tracy Z