Household Archives

Green, fair-trade non-profit shop Greenheart is packing up and moving, but don't worry. It's not going too far. It's just moving to a new, bigger location at 1911 W. Division St.

Despite the economy, this shop is obviously doing well for itself, which shows Chicagoans' dedication to eco-products!

Monday, December 22, 2008 -- 10:52 a.m.

I was at Starbucks last week when I noticed a word rarely seen inside the chain of coffee shops: Free.
Free coffee grounds, to be specific.

Inside a basket on the ground were bags full of grounds for customers to take home. But why would you want a bag of used coffee? Because the grounds are a great way to perk up your plants and speed up your compost. Worms love it too.

If you've got a garden or compost, look for the grounds next time you're at Starbucks. At least this way you'll get a little more for your money.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 -- 9:40 p.m.

Confession: I still have a couple of chemically cleaners in my cabinets. I'd haul them off to the nearest recycling facility, but it seems like a waste--and I sometimes still rely on them for heavy-duty cleanups.

But, I'm working to find good alternatives to these chemically laced products. And, lucky for Chicagoans, Method is helping us out.

Method, an eco-friendly home care company, has set up a temporary shop at 2034 N. Halsted Street in Lincoln Park through Oct. 12. And in addition to letting you test their products, they're inviting people in to trade in their chemical cleaners in exchange for a free Method product. You can buy products there, as well.

I'll be testing some of their products tomorrow, so look for a review.

Monday, September 29, 2008 -- 11:24 p.m.

All this news about the economy is really depressing--not to mention worrying. Wallets are tighter than ever, cost of living is going up and no one knows exactly what's going to happen.

Which means, of course, that I should start spending less money on random things I don't need. In theory, that means I'd avoid eating out, new clothes and buying items that are greener, but more expensive, right? Well, I'm finding that the last one has more to do with saving money than spending.

For example, I had some friends over this weekend, and in lieu of eating out, we threw together dinner at my place. We used whatever I had around--including lots of veggies from my CSA--and made a delicious pasta and spinach-cream cheese spread, which we ate with crackers I found in my pantry.

So, not only did we all save money, we also managed to reduce our waste trail by avoiding a restaurant that produces far more waste than my kitchen.

Here are a few other ways to save green while being green:

>> Take public transportation--or, better yet, walk or ride you bike when you can.

>> Buy fewer packaged products at the grocery store. Those bags of chips and cookies are probably more expensive than a bag of apples in terms of servings and being filling. In-season veggies and fruits can go a long way for not much money. Plus, you'll save a whole lot of packaging from going into landfills--and your garbage: Fewer trash bags!

>> Use CFL lightbulbs. They cost a little more in the beginning, but they save you money over time.

>> Take shorter showers.

>> Wear your jeans more than once before washing. You get to do less laundry--and your clothes are saved from excessive wearing that can come from washing machines.

>> Turn down the thermostat.

>> Plus, check out Planet Green's site for even more tips.

I know lots of these seem obvious, but we all have memory lapses--I often need to talk myself out of Cheetos and ice cream ...

Thursday, August 28, 2008 -- 7:55 p.m.

OK, here I go again with the links, but this article is pretty cool. And it goes along perfectly with what I try to do with this blog--find easy and thrifty ways to go green!

Sustainablog lists several ways you can spend a little bit of money on various things around the house and SAVE LOTS.

And who doesn't want to save a lot of money these days?

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 -- 5:40 p.m.

Ever wonder about eco-friendly dry cleaning?  I always have, but I rarely get anything dry cleaned. So when a reader asked about the environmental benefits of green cleaners, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to learn and share.

What exactly is wrong with the traditional dry cleaning, used by the majority? It uses Perchlorethylene (Perc), which the EPA lists as a possible carcinogen, and can effect your health. Perc also can find its way into our water systems. Southern California already has banned the solvent.

So what to do with all those clothes with "dry clean only" labels? Well, many don't actually have to be dry cleaned. Manufacturers sometimes avoid putting down specific washing instructions so they can't be held accountable if the clothing is ruined. I usually wash my delicates on the gentle cycle or hand-wash them in the sink.

But we all have stuff that's better of being dry cleaned, and for those items, there are eco-friendly options. The three most common green alternatives to cleaning with Perc are wet cleaning, carbon dioxide cleaning and silicon-based cleaning (which contains a solvent that causes cancer in rats). 

Wet cleaning is the most green of the options, using water, special detergents and computer-controlled washers and dryers. Sounds like it's not good for your clothes, but it is. According to an EPA study:

The wetcleaning process does not generate hazardous waste, air emissions, greenhouse gases, or ozone depleting substances; therefore, compliance with Federal and state hazardous waste regulations is eliminated. As a   result, the environmental regulatory burden associated with wetcleaning is much less than the regulatory burden associated with the use of other traditional drycleaning solvents.

Wanna give it a shot? Greener Cleaner can be found in several locations around the city, including Dominicks stores and at the Blue Line Damen stop in Bucktown. And it gets pretty good reviews on Yelp too. Supposedly, their prices are close to those of Perc-using dry cleaners, but if you're looking for a discount, check out the coupons on their site.

Thursday, May 29, 2008 -- 9:10 p.m.

Ever hear of Tupperware parties? It's kinda like that, except with cleaners. And, apparently, these parties are starting to catch on.

Women's Voices for the Earth, an environmental health and justice organization based out of Missoula, Mont., say why pay $4.99 a bottle for green cleaners when you can make your own at home for less--and with ingredients you know? And you might as well have a little fun while you're making them.

So, the organization sends out packets to help you throw your own green cleaning party. The packets include a booklet on how to throw the party, an informational DVD to show at the party, container labels and recipe cards, among other things.

Recipes include creamy soft scrub to use on counters, stoves, sinks, etc., furniture polish and toilet bowl cleaner, among others.

I'm having one of these parties as soon as I'm in my new place! What better way to encourage myself to clean!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008 -- 10:03 p.m.

What are all those cleaners we use made out of? Lots and lots of petroleum-distilled chemicals and fragrances.

And not only are the chemicals in these cleaners bad for the environment, they're also bad for you.

So, safely dispose of your chemically household cleaners (yes, they're considered hazardous waste), and try out these simple, natural options--many of which are made with things you already have around the house!

>> Water, soda water: Remember this stuff? It works pretty well on most surfaces, and it's the most natural thing out there. Soda water works well on fresh carpet stains.

>> Hydrogen peroxide: Good alternative to bleach. Just make sure fabrics are colorfast before using it.

>> Distilled white vinegar and lemon juice: They're probably in your fridge already, and they make great cleaners and deodorizers.

>> Baking soda: Great scrubbing abilities. Use it to clean kitchen counters, refrigerators and to get grease off pots and pans. It's also good in bathrooms.   

Here are some great ways to make use of your new cleaning products:

>> To clean crusty shower heads or faucets: Fill a bag with vinegar or lemon juice and put it around the crusty area. Alternatively, use a sponge or towel soaked in either product. Remove after a few hours and wipe clean.

>> Shine brass and copper: Sprinkle salt on the cut side of a lemon and rub on the metal. Rinse.

>> Sweet-smelling disposal/drain: Put lemon peel down the disposal to freshen the drain.

>> Bathroom: Use pure vinegar in the toilet bowl to get rid of rings. Then, use a vinegar/water mixture to clean the floors.

>> Drain cleaner: Pour 1/2 cups of baking soda down drain; add 1/2 cup vinegar; cover the drain. Pour 1 gallon of hot water over the drain after 15 minutes.

>> Polish wood: Fill a spray bottle with 3 cups of water, then add 4 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of distilled vinegar. Shake it up and polish away. 

Sounds like fun, right? Check back tomorrow to see how you can have a party where you make your own cleaning products.