better world betty

Betty Knows: Green Your Bathroom with Green Cleaning Supplies!

by Betty on March 5, 2014

[Originally appeared in Echo — a local monthly newspaper]

Is your bathroom in need of cleaning? When it does, most of us turn to that bin full of cleaning supplies tucked under our kitchen sinks. But, did you know that most of those cleaners contain toxic chemicals that are harmful not only to the environment but to our bodies as well? Approximately 17,000 petrochemicals are available for home use, but only 30% of them have been tested for exposure to human health and the environment. And, the average American home owns 63 synthetic chemical products, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals.

But don’t worry! We’ve got some great new tips for greening your bathroom cleaning routine that you might not have heard!

  1. Use microfiber cloths. These cloths are great at grabbing up dust and dirt particles. In some instances, a microfiber cloth can even eliminate the need for cleaning products all together. When cleaning windows or mirrors, just thoroughly wet the cloth, wring it out, and wipe the surface clean. Throw it in the wash when you’re done – they can be re-used about 300 times!
  2. Pumice grime away. Pumice isn’t just for your feet. Use a pumice stone to clean the grime from your toilet and tub – no need for chemical cleaning products!
  3. Ditch the Drain-O. Are your drains clogged? Sprinkle a couple teaspoons of baking soda down the drain, pour some white vinegar on top until you see the characteristic foaming reaction, and then wash it down with a pitcher of very hot water.
  4. Remove grease spots naturally. Make-up remover and other oils can leave tough stains if you drop them on bathroom rugs. But, skip the chemical-laden stain sticks. Simply wet an oil stain with rubbing alcohol, dab on some natural dish soap, and rub it into the stain with a brush. Then, it’s ready for the wash!
  5. Kill odors with baking soda. You know that baking soda absorbs odors in your fridge, but did you know it does the same for your carpet? Sprinkle baking soda on your bathroom rugs (or other carpets in your house!), let it absorb the odors for a few minutes, and then vacuum it up!
  6. Skip the fancy disinfectants. We all know that alcohol kills germs, right? Next time you need to disinfect your counters, try pouring some inexpensive vodka into a spray bottle, and wipe away the germs!
  7. Try a local, natural cleaning product. We recently found out about Branch Basics, a human and environment-safe cleaning product made entirely from natural ingredients and made by a company right here in Charlottesville!

Want more tips? Keep an eye on betterworldbetty.org for the latest local tips on going green. Happy cleaning!



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Betty Knows: Green Your Kitchen!

by Betty on March 5, 2014

[Originally seen in Echo — a local monthly newspaper]

 

Are you looking for ways to green your life? It’s easy! Reducing your environmental footprint doesn’t have to be challenging; in fact, Better World Betty specializes in making eco-living actions fast, easy, and fun. Throughout 2014, we’ll go through each area of your home and give you quick tips on how to up the green factor.

First up? Your KITCHEN:

  • Cooking: Put a lid on pots and pans while cooking – it can reduce energy use and time for boiling/cooking by 50%. Use a convection oven if you have one – they’re 23% more efficient than traditional ovens. Use slow cookers and pressure cookers instead of the stovetop when you can – they use one-third the energy!
  • Food: Buy local whenever possible (to reduce the carbon footprint of your food). Reduce your consumption of red meat (extremely resource-intensive). Purchase Virginia wines, and recycle the cork through Re-Cork Cville (recorkcville.com).
  • Compost: Mix kitchen scraps like fruit, veggies, and coffee grounds with dry leaves and grass clippings in a bin. Regularly rotate to form rich, organic compost for your garden. You can save an average of 832lbs of CO2 each year!
  • Garbage Bags: Avoid conventional plastic bags – they never biodegrade. Instead, choose an option that is 100% biodegradable.
  • Dishwasher: Run full loads. Fun fact: Energy Star dishwashers use less water than hand washing, so let technology help you out (and remember to buy Energy Star appliances)!

Want more tips? Visit betterworldbetty.org/homemenu for ideas, and take the pledge to green your home!



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Betty Knows: Green Your Laundry Room

March 5, 2014

[Originally seen in Echo — a monthly local newspaper]   Last month we tackled the kitchen; let’s move onto the laundry room! The laundry room has a BIG environmental footprint, but don’t worry – that just means slight adjustments can make a BIG DIFFERENCE! Reports estimate 75-80% of the lifecycle impact of our clothing can be attributed to […]

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