Last year I began using reusable shopping bags, which I love! My thought after using these for awhile, "why use reusable shopping bags and then use all those annoying plastic bags for produce???" I do hate those plastic produce bags! Well, several months ago I started using these
Reusable Produce Bags. These ARE WONDERFUL. You can find them at this website It also helps the life of your produce to last a little longer than normal. Just get these bags damp, put your produce in them, and store in the fridge. On a side note, you do not want to do this with all your produce. For example onions and potatoes!
Now I have one warning if you are inspired to begin using these and you live in small town Kansas. When you go through the check out line people look at you a little weird and ask if there was a price on these bags. Or some people ask "what is this?" Seriously, they have to ask what it is??? Come on people! I just politly say they are my produce bags. They usually do not respond and continue doing their job. I just have to smile!
Another small step......
"Most people believe that keeping the home clean maximizes health. While this might be true in theory, research shows that clean houses are increasingly co-related with lowered immunity in families. The reason is that most conventional household cleaning detergents release chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can be extremely toxic..
So don’t let yourself feel too good about relaxing on the couch after a day of scrubbing and dusting. Chances are that you could be breathing in airborne micro-toxins that damage your health over the long term. So much for the assumption that a clean house makes a healthy house!" This above was taken from this website
I am sure you have figured out what another of my small steps is from the above. I have started to make my own natural cleaning products! This is a huge money saver and I have eliminated using most chemicals in our home. Some of you may be saying to yourself, "Andrea, you can buy natural cleaning products on store shelves why are you making your own?" The answer is easy. I switched to using Method products over a year ago, but I got sick of buying the expensive cleaners over and over again. Making my own is much more economical and I know exactly what is in the bottle of cleaner I am using! The products I use in my recipes are common things found in the pantry. For the health and safety of myself, Brenden, and any one else who might visit I prefer to use my own recipes.
Here is the recipe for my favorite cleaner/disinfectant at the moment. It takes about 3 minutes to make this one.
Dissolve 2 Tablespoons Borax in 2 cups hot water. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice. You can also add essential oils to this for a great smell. I add 3 drops of lemon essential oil to this cleaner for an added lemon scent! Use to clean your counter tops, stove, fridge, microwave, bathroom, etc!
Make sure you buy 100% pure essential oils. As the saying goes "You get what you pay for". Some producers of essential oils add synthetic chemicals to these pure oils. Visit this website for more details. This website also has natural cleaning recipes.
One of my favorite blogs to visit is "My Charming Kids". I would love to meet her one day, I think we would get along great! Recently she posted about her natural cleaning habits. Check her ideas out here if you are interested. I am very interested in trying goat milk soap, which she uses and recommends. Check out this soap here.
I would love to hear if any of you use natural, homemade cleaning products. Do you have a good recipe you would like to share? Have any of you taken steps to be a little more natural? Please share your ideas, I would love to hear them. I also plan to share several more recipes I use in the coming weeks. Who knows, if you share a great natural cleaning tip, recipe, or how you are living a little more natural it might appear on the blog!
Hndrea...fun post. We finally started recycling. It's expensive, but we are glad to be doing it.
ReplyDeleteI have 1 really cute, stylish shopping bag I take to Dillon's. I bought it in Manhattan; any idea where I can get more?
Hey Andrea,
ReplyDeleteReally great ideas. I also use reusable shopping bags because I can't stand the plastic ones. I have never seen the produce bags though. I would love to begin using your idea of making your own cleaners. Great idea. I have all the stuff and may make some today! In the past I have sometimes used vinegar and water as a cleanser.
Shonda
Oh my! Colorado is such a different state. I went grocery shopping for the first time here in CO and when I checked out I was the only one in line that said plastic and I felt like people were going to throw paint on me or something! People behind me and in front of me had reusable bags. I since have purchased eco-friendly bags and use them when I don't forget them at home.
ReplyDelete