By Rachel Gray, iVillage.com
If you’re into smart, thought-provoking design, you’ll have lots of new things to add to your wish list once you flip through Cool Green Stuff. The book has hundreds of fun and functional fashions, gadgets, furniture and home accessories you’ll decide you can’t live without. Much of the products featured are created from reclaimed materials, like a fruit bowl made from discarded wool felt, so you don’t have to feel badly about your consumerism.
Other items I love are a coffee table made from compacted aluminum window frames, and these key holders made from seat belt buckles rescued from used cars.
Rachel Gray
iVillage.com, Associate Producer
http://housecalls.ivillage.com/home/

Dear Mr. Green,

Recently my husband and I purchased a new energy efficient washer and dryer that use much less water and detergent, and really clean our clothes better than our old washer and dryer.

I would love to use some of the safe time-trusted suggestions that you’ve recommended in your book Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing. If the manufacturer recommends only one type of detergent for use in this machine, is it safe to use baking soda, borax, lemon juice, salt and vinegar in my new front-loading energy efficient washing machine and still keep it in tip-top running condition?

Mags

Dear Eco Laundry-Lady~

Remember those rickety old washing machines and dryers that used to rock-and-roll across the basement floor all because you added one too many towels or that extra pair of blue-jeans? Well, they’re now a thing of the past. The newest generation of machines, much like the ones you’ve recently purchased, are energy efficient and spin so effectively that they practically dry your clothes before you’ve ever even tossed them into the dryer. What’s more, the updated and hi-tech gizmos, computers and balancing centrifugal thingies inside your new washing machine mechanisms save a lot of water and include a slew of settings for almost any kind of fabric or laundry task you’re certain to come across.

Your dated and inefficient older “slip-n-slide” top-loading machines were water and energy guzzlers – and because of new-fangled innovative technology, the new and trendy front-loading washers use an estimated 25% to 60% less energy. For folks who do a lot of washing and drying, this can be a tremendous personal savings, as well as an eco-friendly savings for our planet — so congratulations on making that switch. The machines should pay for themselves in a very short time.

There’s another good reason for their surge in popularity. In the new machines, your “duds-intended-to-clean-up-with-suds” actually come out much cleaner and use less water, soap and electricity, and are gentler on the washload. What’s more…they’re so quiet that they drone on like a kitten. (Our old one used to sound like and eighteen-wheeler idling in our basement–and the new ones we have are so quiet, they actually send out a beep to let us know that they are done–and the dryer, should we not be there for the finish, will toss the dry load one rotation every few minutes so that the clothes don’t sit in a heap wrinkling themselves–now if they could only figure out a way to fold and hang, it’d be just like the Jetsons!)

So when eco-conscious folks like you (or those whose old machines have just died and are forced to make new purchases) make the decision to invest in a new washer that’s energy efficiency rated, the manufacturer has made and recommends purchasing the dryer meant to accompany it…twins you might say. (For the sake of full disclosure, the asker of this question is Mags, my real twin sister!)

The reason the two appliances work so well together is that the extra-fast spin cycle on the new washer leaves your clothes so much less soggy than traditional top-loaders, that when paired with the new front load dryer – with moisture settings intended to dry your damp clothes much more efficiently – is calibrated to work in tandem with your washer’s eco-efficiency, thereby saving on the gas and/or electricity previously wasted on the drying cycle. And, if you are one of those lucky people with a yard and a clothes line (yes, they are back in style and very eco-chic these days), you’ll find that the laundry straight out of the washer and hung up on the line dries faster than before as well–and the sunshine is free, free, free.

We’ve all seen the Brady Bunch episode where Bobby washes his good clothes with an entire box of laundry soap.  Much like that kerfuffle, one of the necessities when using the new front loading appliances, is that the manufacturers’ recommend using only high-efficiency detergents since regular laundry soap will create way too many bubbles. Look for this HE (high efficiency) logo on the package:

And remember, you can’t fool the new machines because it uses much less water and that regular detergent you used to use with your top loader will remain in your clothes–a total waste of money, and a possible skin irritant.

When it comes to your new green laundry room, “green” isn’t “green” if your clothes aren’t “clean.”

Energy efficient washing machines are a swell investment when it comes to conserving power and saving water. However, you need to consider the impact that any commercially manufactured cleaning products containing pollutants and contents derived from petroleum have on the environment as well.

Further, many newer washing machines suggest that bleach can be destructive to the rubber seals and interior surfaces, not to mention the water supply and the flora and fauna that rely on it. I propose that you use straight lemon juice in your machine in the same way you might use bleach. Rather than using one-quarter cup of chlorine bleach (or even non-chlorine bleach) the next time you need to run a load of “unmentionables” – use one-quarter cup of eco-friendly lemon juice instead.

The bottled citrus (that needn’t be refrigerated for laundry purposes) costs approximately the same as bleach (if not less), and used in the exact same amount per wash, brightens your whites safely with the added bonus of not destroying the fabrics being washed or altering the integrity of the new machine either. Once the clothes are washed and clean you might also notice the aroma of the lemon-y goodness…it’s what our grandmothers did with their dirty whites eons ago, before we got addicted to chlorine bleach–one of the nastiest water pollutants ever manufactured.

And as far as the HE detergent goes, I recommend using the smallest amount imaginable regardless of what the label says (e.g. if the instructions recommend one-half cup, use only one-quarter cup). That lesser amount of HE detergent paired with an entire cup of baking soda will boost the effectiveness of the soap, soften your clothes and deodorize the entire load of laundry as well.

Additionally, you can add just a few drops of white vinegar to a colored load to keep those colors bright, and the run-off water environmentally safe. You can also remove any soap residue in your laundry by adding a quarter cup of salt (table, Kosher or sea) to the rinse cycle. Salt also acts as a marvelous natural fabric softener, too, and again, is 100% safe for the environment.

There are any number of ways to incorporate baking soda, borax, lemon, white vinegar, salt and other wholesome environmentally safe alternatives to your new laundry routine. Experiment and find a solution that works best for you – every region of the country has different water conditions, so a bit of trial and error is in order. And what ever you do, don’t worry…these alternatives are completely safe for your machine, lower the need for the recommended amount of commercially toxic detergents, and make the water supply safer.

Finally, if you are used to a nice scent when the load is finished, you can try putting 2-3 drops (trust me–you don’t need more than that!!) of your favorite essential oil on a clean dry white cloth and adding it to the dryer load–lavender is a good one to try.

What bothers me most is that there are no laws regulating the full disclosure of the ingredients in any commercially manufactured cleaning products. This is meant to protect “trade secrets” but it is also a way for the industry to include unnecessary and often untested chemicals, scents, extenders, and surfactants (wetting agents that lower the surface tension of liquids) to their products–even the companies that promote themselves as “green” often add these “secret” ingredients.

The environmental impact of the eco-laundry alternatives I’ve recommended here will always be lower than that of any store-bought laundry detergent. The manufacturers may not care to tell you what’s actually in their products, but at least if you’re mixing in your own Zen-Cleansing alternatives – baking soda, borax, salt, lemon and/or white vinegar – you’ll be the one who knows exactly what went into making your laundry clean.

about mr. green

From re-gifting, re-cycling, to natural cleaning products for your home, Mr. Green has all of your ecotiquette answers. Our Mr. Green (aka. Michael De Jong), is the author of “CLEAN: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing.” He lives in Jersey City with his partner (Richard,) dog (Jack,) and three goldfish (Phil, Jill and Gill) all of which benefit from his natural cleaning techniques. De Jong, who cleaned apartments in New York City while working as a fine artist, began researching and inventing many of the recipes in “CLEAN” and is continually experimenting with safe, effective and eco-friendly alternatives. Raised in the mid-West by an immigrant family that valued the environment and re-cycled before it was fashionable, his quest for non-toxic solutions comes naturally to him. He is currently writing a companion series of “CLEAN” books dealing with such topics as the body, first aid, organization, and food, as well as posting a weekly Blog on www.thedailygreen.com. “CLEAN: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing” can be purchased at Barnes & Noble stores across the country or on-line at www.barnesandnoble.com or www.amazon.com.

Click here to send him a question and he’ll put in the elbow grease to scrub out the answers!
Dear Mr. Green,

Recently my husband and I purchased a new energy efficient washer and dryer that use much less water and detergent, and really clean our clothes better than our old washer and dryer.

I would love to use some of the safe time-trusted suggestions that you’ve recommended in your book Clean: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing. If the manufacturer recommends only one type of detergent for use in this machine, is it safe to use baking soda, borax, lemon juice, salt and vinegar in my new front-loading energy efficient washing machine and still keep it in tip-top running condition?

Mags

Dear Eco Laundry-Lady~

Remember those rickety old washing machines and dryers that used to rock-and-roll across the basement floor all because you added one too many towels or that extra pair of blue-jeans? Well, they’re now a thing of the past. The newest generation of machines, much like the ones you’ve recently purchased, are energy efficient and spin so effectively that they practically dry your clothes before you’ve ever even tossed them into the dryer. What’s more, the updated and hi-tech gizmos, computers and balancing centrifugal thingies inside your new washing machine mechanisms save a lot of water and include a slew of settings for almost any kind of fabric or laundry task you’re certain to come across.

Your dated and inefficient older “slip-n-slide” top-loading machines were water and energy guzzlers – and because of new-fangled innovative technology, the new and trendy front-loading washers use an estimated 25% to 60% less energy. For folks who do a lot of washing and drying, this can be a tremendous personal savings, as well as an eco-friendly savings for our planet — so congratulations on making that switch. The machines should pay for themselves in a very short time.

There’s another good reason for their surge in popularity. In the new machines, your “duds-intended-to-clean-up-with-suds” actually come out much cleaner and use less water, soap and electricity, and are gentler on the washload. What’s more…they’re so quiet that they drone on like a kitten. (Our old one used to sound like and eighteen-wheeler idling in our basement–and the new ones we have are so quiet, they actually send out a beep to let us know that they are done–and the dryer, should we not be there for the finish, will toss the dry load one rotation every few minutes so that the clothes don’t sit in a heap wrinkling themselves–now if they could only figure out a way to fold and hang, it’d be just like the Jetsons!)

So when eco-conscious folks like you (or those whose old machines have just died and are forced to make new purchases) make the decision to invest in a new washer that’s energy efficiency rated, the manufacturer has made and recommends purchasing the dryer meant to accompany it…twins you might say. (For the sake of full disclosure, the asker of this question is Mags, my real twin sister!)

The reason the two appliances work so well together is that the extra-fast spin cycle on the new washer leaves your clothes so much less soggy than traditional top-loaders, that when paired with the new front load dryer – with moisture settings intended to dry your damp clothes much more efficiently – is calibrated to work in tandem with your washer’s eco-efficiency, thereby saving on the gas and/or electricity previously wasted on the drying cycle. And, if you are one of those lucky people with a yard and a clothes line (yes, they are back in style and very eco-chic these days), you’ll find that the laundry straight out of the washer and hung up on the line dries faster than before as well–and the sunshine is free, free, free.

We’ve all seen the Brady Bunch episode where Bobby washes his good clothes with an entire box of laundry soap.  Much like that kerfuffle, one of the necessities when using the new front loading appliances, is that the manufacturers’ recommend using only high-efficiency detergents since regular laundry soap will create way too many bubbles. Look for this HE (high efficiency) logo on the package:

And remember, you can’t fool the new machines because it uses much less water and that regular detergent you used to use with your top loader will remain in your clothes–a total waste of money, and a possible skin irritant.

When it comes to your new green laundry room, “green” isn’t “green” if your clothes aren’t “clean.”

Energy efficient washing machines are a swell investment when it comes to conserving power and saving water. However, you need to consider the impact that any commercially manufactured cleaning products containing pollutants and contents derived from petroleum have on the environment as well.

Further, many newer washing machines suggest that bleach can be destructive to the rubber seals and interior surfaces, not to mention the water supply and the flora and fauna that rely on it. I propose that you use straight lemon juice in your machine in the same way you might use bleach. Rather than using one-quarter cup of chlorine bleach (or even non-chlorine bleach) the next time you need to run a load of “unmentionables” – use one-quarter cup of eco-friendly lemon juice instead.

The bottled citrus (that needn’t be refrigerated for laundry purposes) costs approximately the same as bleach (if not less), and used in the exact same amount per wash, brightens your whites safely with the added bonus of not destroying the fabrics being washed or altering the integrity of the new machine either. Once the clothes are washed and clean you might also notice the aroma of the lemon-y goodness…it’s what our grandmothers did with their dirty whites eons ago, before we got addicted to chlorine bleach–one of the nastiest water pollutants ever manufactured.

And as far as the HE detergent goes, I recommend using the smallest amount imaginable regardless of what the label says (e.g. if the instructions recommend one-half cup, use only one-quarter cup). That lesser amount of HE detergent paired with an entire cup of baking soda will boost the effectiveness of the soap, soften your clothes and deodorize the entire load of laundry as well.

Additionally, you can add just a few drops of white vinegar to a colored load to keep those colors bright, and the run-off water environmentally safe. You can also remove any soap residue in your laundry by adding a quarter cup of salt (table, Kosher or sea) to the rinse cycle. Salt also acts as a marvelous natural fabric softener, too, and again, is 100% safe for the environment.

There are any number of ways to incorporate baking soda, borax, lemon, white vinegar, salt and other wholesome environmentally safe alternatives to your new laundry routine. Experiment and find a solution that works best for you – every region of the country has different water conditions, so a bit of trial and error is in order. And what ever you do, don’t worry…these alternatives are completely safe for your machine, lower the need for the recommended amount of commercially toxic detergents, and make the water supply safer.

Finally, if you are used to a nice scent when the load is finished, you can try putting 2-3 drops (trust me–you don’t need more than that!!) of your favorite essential oil on a clean dry white cloth and adding it to the dryer load–lavender is a good one to try.

What bothers me most is that there are no laws regulating the full disclosure of the ingredients in any commercially manufactured cleaning products. This is meant to protect “trade secrets” but it is also a way for the industry to include unnecessary and often untested chemicals, scents, extenders, and surfactants (wetting agents that lower the surface tension of liquids) to their products–even the companies that promote themselves as “green” often add these “secret” ingredients.

The environmental impact of the eco-laundry alternatives I’ve recommended here will always be lower than that of any store-bought laundry detergent. The manufacturers may not care to tell you what’s actually in their products, but at least if you’re mixing in your own Zen-Cleansing alternatives – baking soda, borax, salt, lemon and/or white vinegar – you’ll be the one who knows exactly what went into making your laundry clean.

about mr. green

From re-gifting, re-cycling, to natural cleaning products for your home, Mr. Green has all of your ecotiquette answers. Our Mr. Green (aka. Michael De Jong), is the author of “CLEAN: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing.” He lives in Jersey City with his partner (Richard,) dog (Jack,) and three goldfish (Phil, Jill and Gill) all of which benefit from his natural cleaning techniques. De Jong, who cleaned apartments in New York City while working as a fine artist, began researching and inventing many of the recipes in “CLEAN” and is continually experimenting with safe, effective and eco-friendly alternatives. Raised in the mid-West by an immigrant family that valued the environment and re-cycled before it was fashionable, his quest for non-toxic solutions comes naturally to him. He is currently writing a companion series of “CLEAN” books dealing with such topics as the body, first aid, organization, and food, as well as posting a weekly Blog on www.thedailygreen.com. “CLEAN: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleansing” can be purchased at Barnes & Noble stores across the country or on-line at www.barnesandnoble.com or www.amazon.com.

Click here to send him a question and he’ll put in the elbow grease to scrub out the answers!

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Green Week is creating quite the digital buzz.  So much so that sites that aren’t a part of the NBCU family are going green and promoting it!  Thanks to the editorial team at Zap2It.com for saluting Green Week so beautifully!

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com
I’m living the dream. Finally, after 20 plus years of living in Manhattan, I have an organic vegetable garden. Granted it lives on my kitchen countertop but it is a very real, very Green, very abundant garden.
Let me introduce you to my AeroGarden — a present from my dear husband this Christmas. This revolutionary product is based on hydroponic gardening — a soil less, high nutrient process that is considered by some to be the most productive way to grow all varieties of plants, for maximum yield, flavor and vitamin content. In fact, AeroGarden claims to be proven by NASA to be the highest yielding plant growth technology on the planet with nearly 50% faster growth then soil plants grown under the same conditions.
So far it has been a very user friendly, brown thumb proof, extremely low maintenance science experiment. The hydroponic concept is quite brilliant as plant roots suspend in the air in an high oxygen, rainforest-like environment. The plants thrive with ample oxygen that stimulates root growth helping them absorb nutrients faster. Just mix the pre-packaged nutrients in with the water and they feed directly to the root system several times a day.
Hydroponic gardening also offers environmental benefits. The process uses less water than soil gardening and constantly recycles and reuses the nutrients. Since hydroponic gardening systems do not require soil, topsoil erosion isn’t even an issue.
However (and you knew there was a big BUT coming), now I know what it is like to have my own personal sun beaming down on me. The unit has 2 full daylight spectrum, energy-efficient grow lights that shine so brightly you’d think you had the Arc of the Covenant in your home. The system runs the grow lights for 16 hours on and 8 hours off so be sure to time it right for when you plan to sleep. The first few nights the lights were still on after I went to bed, and I found my REM sleep self lured toward the light in a creepy Close Encounters of the Third Kind kinda way.
And yet it works. I have herbs galore after just a few weeks. Basil and chives and dill, oh my! Next are cherry tomatoes, strawberries and mesclun lettuces. Just wish I could grow them all at once. I wonder how many of these units I can fit on my counter? Maybe if I move the coffee maker and the toaster oven into storage I can make enough room…
Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
Please join my Going Green group and read my Green Blog