Find out which household products are good recipes for homemade cleaning products…

Long before, household cleaning products were manufactured by the likes of Proctor and Gamble, and Johnson and Family Company, people made homemade cleaning products. Phrases such as “organic products” and “environmentally friendly cleaning products” were unheard of. Back then, people did not have the convenient yet very toxic chemicals—which we have today.

But now, we know the effects of these noxious elements. So, we are reverting to the ways of our forefathers, or shall we say, foremothers. While men did not do much cleaning, women were well versed in environmentally friendly cleaning products. They knew what to use to make homemade cleaning products. Below are a few of their best housekeeping secrets:

Baking Soda
Baking soda is a multi-tasking natural cleaning product. It works as an effective cleaning agent, deodorizer and even a stain remover. To freshen up stuffed animals or eliminate odors in carpet, a few shakes of baking soda neutralizes any unpleasant aromas. On wallpaper and painted surfaces, baking soda and water removes stains like, crayon, ink spots, and marker.

Cornstarch
Aside from baking, cornstarch serves up some good household cleaning. For instance, on living room furniture, cornstarch polishes furniture to a nice shine. On non-toxic carpets, cornstarch doubles as a shampooing agent.

Lemon
Lemon is the ultimate natural household bacteria killer.

White Vinegar
Vinegar works as another multi-purpose cleanser. On the stove, it dissolves and cuts grease. On tile, it eliminates mildew. Outdoors, white vinegar manages to destroy weeds; however, since it can also kill your grass, use on cracked pavement where weeds are sprouting (only).

Vinegar Smell Eliminator Trick: To mask the pungent smell of vinegar, follow up with a mixture of lemon juice and lavender essential oil.

As the world faces a water shortage supply, everyone can do his or her part to be green and practice water conservation inside the home. Review and try these indoor water saving tactics.

Various parts of the country suffer from a water shortage. In fact, homeowners have specific times of day of the week they can water their lawn and do other outdoor watering chores. But, conserving water should not be limited to states such as Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

Without the assistance of Mother Nature, and until we find a way to replenish the supply on our own, water conservation is a universal issue. Everyone can do his or her part in water conservation. Apply these changes in the bathroom and kitchen to save on water.

Water Conservation in the Bathroom

When brushing your teeth and to conserve on water do not run the faucet. Instead, turn water on to rinse as needed.

Test the efficiency of your showerhead. Time how long it takes to fill a one-gallon bucket. If it takes less than 20-seconds, it’s an indication to buy and replace your showerhead.

Save 12,000 gallons of water each year by keeping your shower under five minutes.

Kitchen Water Conservation

As an alternative to running water down the drain for a glass of tap water, fill a glass pitcher with filtered water and chill in the refrigerator.

Whenever washing dishes by hand, try this smart water conservation tactic:
1) Fill one side of the sink with hot soapy water.
2) On the other side, fill the sink almost two thirds full of tepid, rinse water.

Instead of running the garbage disposal on a regular basis, place leftovers in the compost pile.

Rather than exert a lot of elbow grease and excess water, let pans soak over night.

Only run the dishwasher, when it is filled to the hilt. (This is another way to save more than 10 thousand gallons of water a year).

Another way to save water from the kitchen sink is to scrub produce in a partially filled bowl or sink of water.

In the kitchen and bathroom, be sure to shut off all faucets tightly. Also, check out these water conservation tips, outdoors in the garden and on the lawn.

Lawn and gardening water conservation strategies for the green-focused. Water conservation tips and tricks on lawn and garden care.

Going green is not limited to decorating the home in eco-friendly material, or the type of hybrid car you drive. Making an eco-conscious choice starts right at home, in the backyard.

For states such as Nevada, New Mexico, Georgia, Florida and Arizona, (to name a few) water conservation is a reality. And, just because we have had our fair share of floods this year, –it does not mean that outdoor water conservation is no longer an issue. Below, we compiled a few ways to save water outdoors:

Water Conservation Lawn Tactics

• For water conservation, always water the lawn during the earliest hours of the day, when the temperature is cooler and the wind is moderate. This minimizes water evaporation.

• For proper water distribution, make sure sprinklers are not misdirecting water on the sidewalk, home or on the street.

• Water the lawn only when necessary. If you walk across your lawn and an outline of your footprint is left behind, it’s an indication that watering is imperative.

• To retain soil moisture, set the lawn mower on high. With longer grass, it provides shade for the soil.

Water Conservation Planting Strategies

• For the best cultivation and water conservation strategy, plant botanicals in the spring or fall when rain is ubiquitous.

• Never plant trees, or botanicals in hard to water places. Isolated areas of soil and steep inclines are examples of hard-to-water areas.

• To conserve gallons of water and minimize evaporation, layer organic mulch above the soil of trees and plants.

Hose and Sprinkler Water Conservation Tips

Drippy hoses, pipes and faucets contribute to excessive water waste. Always check for all sources for leaks.

• Instead of running the water hose to clean the driveway and sidewalk, try using a broom.

• To prevent excessive watering, add a rain shut-off device to automatic sprinklers.

If you have any other outdoor water conservation strategies, please add your comments.

Are organic foods good for the environment? Learn the truth about organic foods.

Naturally, organic foods are nutritional for the body. Void of chemicals, preservatives and other processed elements, organic foods are the purest forms of sustenance we could possibly feed our bodies. It’s not surprising that these foods are abundant in nutrients. But, while we understand the health benefits of organic foods, there are innumerous benefits to organic cultivation.

Test your knowledge and check out these facts and fallacies about producing organics.

Fact or Fallacy: Organic foods are better than conventional foods.
Fact. Cultivated with very little exposure to toxins, organic foods are better than conventional foods. Unlike, conventional foods, which are cultivated with toxin exposure in water, air and other chemicals, organic foods call for a meticulous production process.

Fact or Fallacy: Organic and conventional food production promotes off farm pollution.
Fallacy. Unlike conventional food production, organic food promotes less off farm pollution. Since, organic cultivation requires ecological considerations, it contributes far less pollutants. With industrial agriculture, synthetic fertilizers trickle into the sensitive depths of the ocean, increasing the dead zones (i.e. the Gulf of Mexico 22, square km). The effects of pesticides, waft into the air, emitting invisible and odorless chemical toxins. Not to mention, the consumption of conventional produce is rich with these same toxic elements.

Fact or Fallacy: Organic foods are not any better for the environment than conventional foods.
Fallacy. Organic foods are by far less toxic for the environment than conventional produce. Unfortunately, less than one percent of the United State agriculture is organically comprised of pasture and cropland; meaning that, more than 99 percent of farmland in America is vulnerable to noxious chemical exposure.

Fact or fallacy, organic agriculture is not efficient.
Fallacy. On the contrary, the cultivation of organics focuses on two purposes.
Since organics are harvested using the most efficient means of resources, organic food production is not only beneficial for our bodies, but also good for the environment.

As if you did not already know, hybrid cars are one of the top-selling vehicles on the American car dealership lot. For obvious reasons, the skyrocketing price of fuel has sparked the recent demand for these electronic alternatives in mobile transportation. Consumers in quest of new hybrid cars have warmed up so much to the thought of plugging and driving away, that hybrid cars are running in short supply.

The shortage is due in part to several setbacks: a lack of vehicles, inventory, as well as the components to makes these new hybrid cars. A vast part of the hybrid car challenge is attributed to a battery shortage. But on the other side of the hybrid car quandary, recent reports say that it will not be long before every car can transform their vehicle into a plug-in driving electronic machine.

Nevertheless, these conversion capabilities will come at a hefty price of $10,000 plus. Despite the fact that automakers are just two years shy of introducing the next innovation in the hybrid car, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery manufacturers are prime to start selling these kits before the year’s end. These PHEVs morph hybrids as well as certain traditional cars into eco-friendly vehicles.

But, these new PHEVs pose new concerns–with reliability topping the list. Then, there’s the issue of breaching the factory warranty. Adding a PHEV would negate the terms of a vehicle’s warranty. Some auto-economists contend that it would merely take a decade for these plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to generate a return on their investment. And, that’s based on a person who drives 20-miles a day and cutting more than 6 cents per mile in fuel costs.

But aside from all the hoopla, what should one know about buying a new hybrid car? The answer is quite simple, do your research put your name on the waiting list for a new hybrid car of your choice.

Welcome to Let’s Talk Going Green! Join me on my journey in learning about living a more planet friendly lifestyle. If you love nature and want to secure the health of the planet for your children and grandchildren but are not quite sure where to start then this blog is for you. If you have any earth friendly tips or news to share, I would welcome your contributions.

So what exactly is green living? Green living is a lifestyle intended to ensure the one’s impact on the environment is as minimal (or as positive) as possible. The earth is our home and as a good citizen of this planet we should want to take care of it. Here are some helpful tips for going green.

• Turn off and/or unplug appliance while not in use.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Eat organic foods
• Drive a fuel efficient car
• Conserve water by turning water off while brushing teeth and putting milk jugs in the toilet
• Stop using disposables…aka diapers, napkins, plates, cups, razors, etc.
• Buy products that re made of recyclable materials
• Drink tap water… not bottled
• Use natural cleaning products
• Use natural detergents and soaps
• Grow you own foods
• Walk or bicycle instead of drive
• Take public transportation or carpool instead of driving alone
• Recycle everything you can