Green stuff you can do NOW!!!

Ruby's post a while back really motivated me to take my green living even further. I am a good Oregonian:


I recycle
I reuse my cottage cheese containers
I take my own bags to the grocery store
I ride a scooter

But I want more and a lot of the advice out there is geared towards homeowners, etc. However, I have found a few new ways I can make changes now with where I am in life.

#1 As already mentioned by Ruby, I not only bring my own bags for the check out, but also for bulk item section. Case in point, yesterday I was at Winco and I brought in old Safeway plastic bags and used them for putting veggies in as well as bulk food items. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Insert added bonus: at the check out the checker gave me a 6 cent credit not only for my cloth bag, but also for every bag I used for the veggies and bulk items that was not a Winco bag. This may be a special circumstance and may not be repeated, but I was encouraged. Jenna...save your bags.

#2 Eco friendly cleaner=less plastic, better for you and the environment and saves you money. Economists say that making your own cleaners from natural ingredients cost 1/10 of buying cleaners, so when you empty a bottle of window cleaner or other cleaning product refill it with your own natural cleaner, this may especially be of interest to you Moms and Mom-To-Be's out there. FYI-bleach is a pesticide.

Creamy soft scrubber

• Pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda into a bowl, and add enough liquid detergent to make a texture like frosting. Scoop the mixture onto a sponge, and wash the surface. This is the perfect recipe for cleaning the bathtub because it rinses easily and doesn't leave grit.

Window cleaner

• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 cups water
• Spray bottle
• Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important.

Oven cleaner

• 1 cup or more baking soda
• Water
• A squirt or two of liquid detergent
• Sprinkle water generously over the bottom of the oven, then cover the grime with enough baking soda that the surface is totally white. Sprinkle some more water over the top.
• Let the mixture set overnight. You can easily wipe up the grease the next morning because the grime will have loosened.

All-purpose spray cleaner

• 1/2 teaspoon washing soda
• A dab of liquid soap
• 2 cups hot tap water
• Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until the washing soda has dissolved. Apply and wipe off with a sponge or rag.
• Note: If you have a hard time finding washing soda, most stores will special order in items at the request of customers, so check with your favorite store.

Furniture polish

• 1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive
• 1/4 cup vinegar or fresh lemon juice
• Mix the ingredients in a glass jar. Dab a soft rag into the solution and wipe onto wood surfaces. Cover the glass jar and store indefinitely.

Vinegar deodorizer

• Keep a clean spray bottle filled with straight 5 percent vinegar (aprox. 1 TBS to 1 1/3 c water) in your kitchen near your cutting board and in your bathroom and use them for cleaning.
• The smell of vinegar dissipates within a few hours. Straight vinegar is also great for cleaning the toilet rim. Just spray it on and wipe off.
  

Tea tree mold killer

• 2 teaspoons tea tree oil
• 2 cups water
• Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes two cups.
• Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.
• Also, tea tree oil turns out to be one of the most useful of all essential oils, especially as an antiseptic, germicidal, antifungal, and antibacterial.

— Annie B. Bond, "Clean & Green" (Ceres Press, 1990)

#3 Facial toners

Ladies, rather than throwing away your empty toner bottle, why not fill it up with quality, organic, homemade toner?

Here are a few recipes. Note: As with any new product check a small area of your skin for allergic reaction...Abby this means you!! (Loves)

Essential oil toner-this one is good to add moisture to your skin

• 3-6 drops of essential oil (I like to use 2-3 Lavender and 2-3 Rosewood)
• 1 chamomile tea bag
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup witch hazel (next to the rubbing acohol)
• Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, add tea bag, let steep for 5 min. Remove tea bag, add remaining ingredients. Let cool and pour into clean storage bottle. Shake before each use.

Easy Apple Toner-This apple facial toner is soothing for all skin types.

• 1 large apple, cored and seeds removed, cut into chunks with skin left intact
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup witch hazel
• Place apple chunks and water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Strain water and discard apple chunks. Stir in the witch hazel and decant toner to a clean glass bottle.
• Red skinned apples will give the toner a slight pink hue; green apples lend a hint of green coloring.

Pine Facial Toner-This fragrant, refreshing pine toner is mildly astrigent and good for all skin types.

• 1 cup fresh pine needles
• small sprig of pine needles (optional)
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup witch hazel
• Place pine needles and water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
• Strain water and discard the pine needles. Stir in the witch hazel. Add the pine sprig to a clean 8oz glass bottle and cover completely with toner. Store in a cool, dark place.

Watermelon Toner-This is rich in sugar and vitamins A, B and watermelon has astringent properties, and the super high water content makes it an excellent skin refresher.

• 1 cup watermelon chunks
• 2 tbsp witch hazel
• 2 tbsp distilled water
• Purée watermelon chunks in a processor or blender. Strain the liquid and discard the solids.
• Mix the strained liquid with the remaining ingredients, stir and pour into a glass bottle. Dab on face using a cotton ball.

Rose Skin Toner

• 3 ½ cups of witch hazel
• ½ cup dried rose petals
• 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• Mix ingredients together making sure it is all blended well.
• Strain the blend and splash on your face after cleansing.