Our ten day forecast is showing one day without wintery precipitation of some sort. And it’s not just snow either. If the forecast is correct, we’ll also get more than our fair share of sleet and freezing rain too. Lovely.
It’s a little early in the season for cabin fever to set in so hard, but I’m determined to make the most of it. I will, over the next few weeks, clean this house from top to bottom, repair things that need to be repaired, and work on finishing the basement enough to make it an enjoyable place to spend some time. I wrote it on the interweb, so now I have to do it, right?
I was thrilled to find Seventh Generation’s guide to winter cleaning. I think it’ll come in handy. Read more…
It SNOWED here yesterday! When it starts getting cold and dark, I start feeling the need to nest. If I’m going to be stuck inside, I want to be happy with my surroundings. Karen from EcoHomeResource.com wrote the following guest post to teach us what to look for in an eco-friendly rug. For more information to help you make your home comfortable and green, check out EcoHomeResource.com.
When looking for a new area rug or carpet, look for options that are eco-friendly: rugs can be made from recycled materials and from renewable resources—those that are quickly replenished without much strain on the environment, such as wool and bamboo. Read more…
We have a big window in our living room. I like it, because there’s a big beautiful tree in the front yard, and I love having such a great view of it. Argo loves to look out the window and bark at anyone who dares to walk on the sidewalk, or close their car door. The down side of the big window is that it’s old, and even with the storm windows in place, it’s quite drafty.
I’m busy installing insulated curtains and making other adjustments to my home to prepare for winter, because conserving energy is the right thing to do, and also because I know this year’s heating bill will be higher than last it was last year.
The following is a guest post from Mark, who’s an old college buddy, and one of my favorite bloggers.
My husband and I are in the process of buying our first home. As I write this, I’m looking at the giant check we need to complete the purchase and sale agreement this weekend. I think it’s the biggest check I’ve ever seen, but it’s only five percent of the purchase price, so even bigger checks will be in my immediate future. It’s an exciting time, but I can’t stop feeling a little guilty about the whole process. I need to convince myself that buying this house can be an environmentally sound decision. Read more…
After the whole Ecover/dioxane “scandal,” I decided I’d look for another laundry detergent option. Honestly, I’m not too upset about Ecover. I still think they are a great company and they have great products, but if you’re going to go green, try to go as green as you can get, right? Read more…
I talked about this last year, but since I live in suburbia and my next door neighbor has already mowed her lawn three times (no exaggeration) this week, I wanted to mention it again. Read more…
Today’s tip from Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style is all about laundry.
Using bleach on your whites is not the eco-friendly way to go.
“Bleach is caustic and can be fatal if swallowed. It can also react with other chemicals to produce dioxins. Try hydrogen peroxide to get your whites whiter and all that.”
According to DIY, here’s how you do it:
“3 percent hydrogen peroxide is super for removing bloodstains, especially if they are fairly fresh. It also is a wonderful bleaching agent for stubborn stains on white clothes. Combine 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon ammonia for an unbeatable stain-removal combination. Make sure to use 3 percent and not the kind you use to bleach your hair!”
Thanks to Carrie at Sourcebooks, I now have three copies of Green Chic to give away. Find out how to enter and post your comments after the jump.
I like to use rags when I clean, because they can be washed and used over and over. But when cleaning certain bathroom surfaces, sometimes you don’t want to reuse your cleaning cloth, you just want to toss it. Read more…
You know those hints you hear about making your house smell homey, like boiling cinnamon sticks or baking cookies? method’s Gingerbread Spice Aroma Spray is like all that homey goodness in a can. Read more…
Did you have a family member who sat in the corner at a party or holiday event, carefully folding up wrapping paper for future use? Maybe it was a grandma or great aunt who lived through the Depression and learned to save anything that was usable, maybe it was just someone who was thrifty and knew how to pinch pennies. What ever the reason behind it, saving wrapping paper makes good green sense.