Green Living

Organic & Earth-Friendly Tips with Vinegar

Many people use a variety of chemicals in your home, but there are alternatives.  You can use vinegar, which is cheap, common, and environmentally friendly instead of using chemicals that are toxic and bad for the environment.  Not sure where to begin using vinegar?  Here are some great tips that will help you to make the most of vinegar within your home. First of all, you may want to know a bit about vinegar.  For many years, actually tracing back to the ancient Egyptians, vinegar has been used.  When alcohol is oxidized in products that are fermented, vinegar is what is created.  There are several different types of vinegars, including malt, red wine, white, apple cider, and white wine vinegar.  Of course, the one that is most versatile happens to be white vinegar.  Now that you know a bit more about vinegar, here are some handy tips that you can use around your home. Dealing with calcium buildup on your electric jugs or kettles?  If so, vinegar can help.  Simple boil with some white vinegar and then allow it to soak.  Rinse away the vinegar with some water, then boil water again, and you should eliminate those calcium deposits. Tired of odors in ...

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Health-friendly Ways to Deal with Mold in Your Home

Attacking Mold Did you know there's a more ecologically and health-friendly way to deal with mold in your home?  Most of us run right to the chemicals to get rid of mold before it spreads.  However, these chemicals are bad for us, and they're bad for the world around us.  You may find that after you've used a heavy dose of mold killers, you feel sick or "off" for a few hours to a few days. Commercial mold killers contain sodium hydroxide - lye, and sodium hypochlorite - bleach.  These are chemicals that can be very useful and not terribly environmentally damaging in small amounts and when used correctly, and extremely damaging in large amount or when used wrongly. They're both highly corrosive, and can actually dissolve skin.  That's why it's a good idea to use cleaners of this strength only when you have to.  Mold killing in the bathroom really isn't a time when you need them.  Let's take a look at some of the other options you can use to kill mold. Borax and Dishwashing Detergent Use a gentle, environmentally friendly dishwashing liquid - one teaspoon mixed with one teaspoon of borax and a quart of warm water can be used to soak ...

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Formaldehyde Tips You Can’t Afford Not to Know

A substance that naturally occurs in our environment is formaldehyde, which you may have heard referred to as oxomethane or methyl aldehyde.  While this is a natural substance, man has pushed the presence of the chemical, which is toxic, to high levels today.  Unfortunately, it happens to be one of the pollutants indoors that is extremely common.  At room temperatures it turns into a gas, making it a VOC, or volatile organic compound.  Trying to avoid products that contain formaldehyde can be tough, since it is used in the creation of adhesives and plastics. More than likely you would be surprised to find out how many common products contain formaldehyde.  Just a few items that you have at home or at the office that can include formaldehyde include disinfectants, particle board, air fresheners, doors, glues, foam, old carpet, paints, ironing sprays, furniture, cleaning fluids, furniture, polishes, hair products, cosmetics, and more.  When you think about it, it is quite frightening to realize how much formaldehyde is all around you. Why is formaldehyde such a problem?  Well, products that have it will slowly give off vapors that are toxic.  If you inhale more than 0.1 concentrations of this toxin, it can lead to ...

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Best Ways to Avoid Mercury

While most people have heard of Mercury and Mercury poisoning they may not be completely familiar with how severe it can be or how to avoid being poisoned.  Developing a clear understanding on the subject of Mercury is most definitely helpful because it can aid in reducing the unfortunate impact the poison can have on the human body. Mercury is considered a heavy metal poison and its method of absorption is through the skin, lungs, and the digestive system.  Once it is absorbed into the system, the consequences can be devastating.  The target of such poison is the central nervous system and once the poison comes in contact with it, it is not impossible that the central nervous system can be destroyed.  Additionally, the organs in the body can be targeted by this poison leading to their malfunction which can cause death.  Depending upon the exposure to Mercury, those that can survive such poisoning have been known to suffer brain damage and insanity as a result.  Needless to say, exposure to this poison must be avoided.  Granted, that can be difficult considering the high volume of it present in certain environments. For example, many people are known to ingest Mercury through their ...

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Be Green and Buy Carbon Offsets

The concept of carbon offsets is a relatively simple one.  Basically, to reduce carbon emissions in the environment you can sponsor the planting of trees in the world to help enhance oxygen production and other benefits.  There is quite a bit of confusion and, yes, some controversy around the issue which is why it deserves a closer look. Since the purchase of carbon credits cannot exist without some selling them, there will be instances where less than honest sellers enter the fray and do not exactly promote carbon credits in an ethical manner.  Sadly, such an element will always exist in any sales venture.  The key is to look for those sellers that have a stellar reputation and will not undermine your ability to get the most out of the venture and offset the footprint of carbon dioxide emissions. Once you do find a reputable and reliable carbon credits professional, you can get right down to the proper business at hand.  You can seek out someone that will help you sponsor the planting and care of trees that will neutralize the negative impact your own personal carbon footprint would have on the environment.  And, as previously mentioned, you will want to go ...

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