I don't use a disinfectant very often, but when I do I use Lysol aerosol spray in clean linen scent. The two major things I use it for are to spray the diaper pail and the cat's litter box. I do it both to disinfect and to deodorize. Many essential oils (like lavender oil and tea tree oil) have natural antimicrobial properties, so I decided to replace my Lysol spray with a homemade version. I found a recipe online and mixed up a batch.
1/4 tsp. lavender oil
1/4 tsp. peppermint oil
1 cup water
This stuff smells fantastic and stops nasty odor much better than Lysol spray. I have no idea whether it is killing more or less germs ... short of taking swabs and culturing them I really couldn't know this. I am not really sure how much "killing germs" matters ... I think it's mostly psychological. I'd guess this spray probably does kill some stuff, but it's likely not 100%.
While reading about lavender I did see that using lavender scented things on kids, especially young boys can cause issues with their hormones. Also, if you tend to have skin sensitivities, some people have issues with essential oils (contact dermatitis). I would guess you'd have problems with chemical-based products, too, though.
Cost comparison on Amazon:
Lysol: $3.88 for 6 ounces
Homemade: under $1 for 8 ounces
Convenient access:
If you have essential oils on hand it's way easier to make your own disinfectant spray
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Raw honey and homemade granola bars
I have been enjoying a blog called Kitchen Stewardship lately. I have gotten a lot of great tips from her on saving money, being green and eating less processed foods. She was my inspiration for making yogurt (although I don't use her recipe). She has a great recipe for homemade granola bars that I've made twice so far. The first time I used dried cranberries as a mix-in and this time I used mini chocolate chips. They're delicious and easy to make. Each batch makes about 20 or so bars. I never looked at the back of a standard box of store bought granola bars before, but there are a lot of random ingredients in them. I am hoping I can make these bars once every week or every other week, whatever rate we go through them.
Also, I've started using raw honey instead of regular honey. Here's why (copied from KS):
Also, I've started using raw honey instead of regular honey. Here's why (copied from KS):
- Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral, Anti-Fungal
- Treats coughs/upper respiratory infections
- May promote better blood sugar control
- Experimental evidence indicates that consumption of honey may improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity compared to other sweeteners.
- Antioxidants
- Improved HDL cholesterol
- Boosts immunity
- Some research shows that taking a Tbs of raw honey made within 100 miles of your home fights off seasonal allergies.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Yogurt
Okay, so I'm a mere 6 posts or so into this blog, and I already lied. I made my own yogurt, despite claiming I never would. However, you would, too, if you found a recipe this simple: Crockpot Yogurt. This recipe was so easy I couldn't not try it.
It takes a long time, but there are really just a couple of steps. It makes the equivalent of two 32oz tubs of yogurt. My husband and I calculated that we spend over $1000 a year on yogurt between small cups for the 2 of us and tons of the 32oz Stoneyfield tubs for the babies. That's crazy! This recipe uses a half gallon of whole milk and a half cup of plain, whole fat yogurt (buy a cup the first time then use some of your first batch for your starter next time).
Current yogurt costs per week:
$4.09 per Stoneyfield 32oz tub x 3.5 tubs per week = $14.32
50 cents per cup of Dannon yogurt (average) x 10 cups per week = $5.00
Total spent per week = $19.32
$19.32 x 52 weeks = $1004.64 per year
Costs of making homemade (rate of 1.75 batches per week):
$2.00 per half gallon of milk x 1.75 = $3.50
+ 50 cents for a starter cup (if needed)
Total spent per week = $4.00 (or $3.50 if no starter)
$4.00 x 52 weeks = $208 per year
Total savings per week = $15.32
Total savings per year = $796.64
Wow, talk about savings! My first batch tasted yummy, but it was a little on the thin side. Next time I will filter it through a coffee filter or cheese cloth to get it to thicken up a bit. I flavored half of it with vanilla and a little honey and left the other half plain. I have been enjoying it all week for lunch!
It takes a long time, but there are really just a couple of steps. It makes the equivalent of two 32oz tubs of yogurt. My husband and I calculated that we spend over $1000 a year on yogurt between small cups for the 2 of us and tons of the 32oz Stoneyfield tubs for the babies. That's crazy! This recipe uses a half gallon of whole milk and a half cup of plain, whole fat yogurt (buy a cup the first time then use some of your first batch for your starter next time).
Current yogurt costs per week:
$4.09 per Stoneyfield 32oz tub x 3.5 tubs per week = $14.32
50 cents per cup of Dannon yogurt (average) x 10 cups per week = $5.00
Total spent per week = $19.32
$19.32 x 52 weeks = $1004.64 per year
Costs of making homemade (rate of 1.75 batches per week):
$2.00 per half gallon of milk x 1.75 = $3.50
+ 50 cents for a starter cup (if needed)
Total spent per week = $4.00 (or $3.50 if no starter)
$4.00 x 52 weeks = $208 per year
Total savings per week = $15.32
Total savings per year = $796.64
Wow, talk about savings! My first batch tasted yummy, but it was a little on the thin side. Next time I will filter it through a coffee filter or cheese cloth to get it to thicken up a bit. I flavored half of it with vanilla and a little honey and left the other half plain. I have been enjoying it all week for lunch!
Monday, July 11, 2011
All-purpose spray
Until very recently, whenever I needed an all-purpose spray, I would use Windex Multi-Purpose Kitchen and Glass Cleaner (discontinued), or sometimes just the classic blue Windex. I used these for cleaning shelves and drawers in the refrigerator, countertops, sinks, small spills on linoleum, spills in the microwave, scrubbing the stove top, etc.
The ingredients in the Multi-Purpose Spray aren't too horrible ... it's mostly water (96.25%). The other ingredients score a 4 on EWG: isopropanol (3.5%) and ethylene glycol (0.5-1.5%). Still, there has to be something better than that, especially when I have 4 little babies crawling around!
I decided to give Method's All-Purpose Spray (clementine) a try first. I loved the smell, and the bright orange color was really pretty. =)
Here are the ingredients:
1) Corn and coconut derived surfactants (code word for SLS)
2) Soda ash (aka sodium carbonate): - scores a 1 on EWG
3) Corn-based cleaning salt: appears to be potassium cornate, which is the potassium salt of fatty acids derived from corn oil. It acts as a surfactant. This scores a 0 on EWG but only because there's no data about it. From what I can tell, it doesn't act as an eye irritant, but is hazardous if ingested.
4) Potassium hydrate (aka potassium hydroxide): scores a 1 on EWG. I think it's used here as a pH adjuster.
5) Fragrance oil and color: umm what? Method claims these are non-toxic and non-carcinogenic according to the FDA and DEA. Natural dyes would promote bacteria growth and not give them the vibrant colors they want. I can see their point, probably safe enough, but I could do without these if possible.
6) Water: safe!
I really liked this spray. Honestly, I think it does just about the same job as the Multi-Purpose cleaner, but I prefer it because of the yummy orange scent. It helped block the nasty smell after my daughter threw up several times this past week. That's great! Still, I am not too thrilled with the long ingredients list ... I think it is safe enough and pretty environmentally friendly, but it's kind of expensive and I'd prefer a cheaper alternative.
Last week I took the plunge and ordered a well-reviewed 6 pack of 100% pure essential oils for $26 (included shipping). They smell so good and should last a long time, too. Some of these oils have natural antibacterial properties as well.
I found a recipe online for an all-purpose spray that was super easy to make and dirt cheap:
50% vinegar (white, distilled)
50% water
5-10 drops essential oil per 16oz solution (*see below for adjustments)
I made it with 10 drops of lemongrass oil. The solution itself worked just fine when my sister used it to clean out the fridge drawers, but it sort of smelled like a marinade. I added 10 drops of lavender oil to balance it out, and I found the scent to be pleasant when I used it to scrub some spots on the kitchen floor later. It smelled very clean and kitcheny (lemon was muted a little bit with the lavender).
Cost comparison on Amazon:
Windex: about $4.12 for 36 ounces
Method: $5.10 for 28 ounces
Vinegar/Water combo: $1.35 for 14oz of vinegar (or less $ depending on the jug) + 14oz water (almost free) + less than 43 cents for the oils
Convenient access:
It's slightly easier to locate vinegar than Windex or Method. You must have essential oils on hand, but the overall cost savings probably makes the homemade solution more convenient in the long run.
Once I got off my lazy butt and ordered the oils I was pretty happy to switch over to a homemade solution. Definitely saves money, I don't lose anything in cleaning power, and it is safer for my kids, myself, and the environment. Added bonus: less packaging waste!
The ingredients in the Multi-Purpose Spray aren't too horrible ... it's mostly water (96.25%). The other ingredients score a 4 on EWG: isopropanol (3.5%) and ethylene glycol (0.5-1.5%). Still, there has to be something better than that, especially when I have 4 little babies crawling around!
I decided to give Method's All-Purpose Spray (clementine) a try first. I loved the smell, and the bright orange color was really pretty. =)
Here are the ingredients:
1) Corn and coconut derived surfactants (code word for SLS)
2) Soda ash (aka sodium carbonate): - scores a 1 on EWG
3) Corn-based cleaning salt: appears to be potassium cornate, which is the potassium salt of fatty acids derived from corn oil. It acts as a surfactant. This scores a 0 on EWG but only because there's no data about it. From what I can tell, it doesn't act as an eye irritant, but is hazardous if ingested.
4) Potassium hydrate (aka potassium hydroxide): scores a 1 on EWG. I think it's used here as a pH adjuster.
5) Fragrance oil and color: umm what? Method claims these are non-toxic and non-carcinogenic according to the FDA and DEA. Natural dyes would promote bacteria growth and not give them the vibrant colors they want. I can see their point, probably safe enough, but I could do without these if possible.
6) Water: safe!
I really liked this spray. Honestly, I think it does just about the same job as the Multi-Purpose cleaner, but I prefer it because of the yummy orange scent. It helped block the nasty smell after my daughter threw up several times this past week. That's great! Still, I am not too thrilled with the long ingredients list ... I think it is safe enough and pretty environmentally friendly, but it's kind of expensive and I'd prefer a cheaper alternative.
Last week I took the plunge and ordered a well-reviewed 6 pack of 100% pure essential oils for $26 (included shipping). They smell so good and should last a long time, too. Some of these oils have natural antibacterial properties as well.
I found a recipe online for an all-purpose spray that was super easy to make and dirt cheap:
50% vinegar (white, distilled)
50% water
5-10 drops essential oil per 16oz solution (*see below for adjustments)
I made it with 10 drops of lemongrass oil. The solution itself worked just fine when my sister used it to clean out the fridge drawers, but it sort of smelled like a marinade. I added 10 drops of lavender oil to balance it out, and I found the scent to be pleasant when I used it to scrub some spots on the kitchen floor later. It smelled very clean and kitcheny (lemon was muted a little bit with the lavender).
Cost comparison on Amazon:
Windex: about $4.12 for 36 ounces
Method: $5.10 for 28 ounces
Vinegar/Water combo: $1.35 for 14oz of vinegar (or less $ depending on the jug) + 14oz water (almost free) + less than 43 cents for the oils
Convenient access:
It's slightly easier to locate vinegar than Windex or Method. You must have essential oils on hand, but the overall cost savings probably makes the homemade solution more convenient in the long run.
Once I got off my lazy butt and ordered the oils I was pretty happy to switch over to a homemade solution. Definitely saves money, I don't lose anything in cleaning power, and it is safer for my kids, myself, and the environment. Added bonus: less packaging waste!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Organic vegetables and fruits
It would be great if I could buy all organic produce, but it's simply not reasonable. First of all, you can't easily find everything organic. Even if you go to Whole Foods you won't find every type of fruit/veggie in an organic option, and Whole Foods is kind of far from my house. Secondly, organic produce is almost always more expensive (particularly at the grocery store). This will be a very difficult switchover for me because I love a good bargain. Strawberries for $2? Um, yes!
A general rule of thumb for what to purchase organic involves considering the skin of the fruit or vegetable. Is it hard/inedible (like a melon rind or orange peel)? Buy the regular stuff. Is it soft/tender or do you eat the skin? Buy it organic. Tomatoes are a great example of a thin skin that you eat.
A couple of helpful lists:
Dirty Dozen (worst first)
1) Apples
2) Celery
3) Strawberries
4) Peaches
5) Spinach
6) Nectarines (imported)
7) Grapes (imported)
8) Sweet bell peppers
9) Potatoes
10) Blueberries (domestic)
11) Lettuce
12) Kale/collard greens
Clean 15 (best first)
1) Onions
2) Sweet corn
3) Pineapples
4) Avocado
5) Asparagus
6) Sweet peas
7) Mango
8) Eggplant
9) Cantaloupe (domestic)
10) Kiwi
11) Cabbage
12) Watermelon
13) Sweet potatoes
14) Grapefruit
15) Mushrooms
Those are long lists and kind of make my head spin! Here is a wallet-size card you can download for easy reference (link on left side). There's apparently an app for it, too, since there's an app for everything these days.
The rule of thumb I mentioned above holds true for 100% of the dirty dozen (if you eat potato skins) and for 10 of the clean 15. The full list is worth a look, too, but if it all gets jumbled in your mind then just try to remember the rule of thumb.
This year we had a trial vegetable/fruit garden. Things I liked growing included cilantro, raspberries, tomatoes, italian green beans, spinach, and basil. I love tomatoes and find homegrown ones to be vastly superior in flavor. Our beans were delicious, the spinach was easy and flavorful, the herbs were no issue, and the raspberries grow wild and spread quickly.
Things I still haven't decided whether I'll repeat include cucumbers, zucchini (both are very unruly and this stresses me out ... neat rows are my thing), peppers, carrots, and radishes. Things I definitely will not waste time growing again include onions (way easier to buy), strawberries and sugar snap peas (getting a couple berries/peas every so often isn't worth it). Next year I will definitely have a potted herb garden of parsley, mint, basil, and cilantro and maybe thyme because we use those herbs so often when we cook. It has been great going out to the garden to snip cilantro or basil whenever we need it.
Strides I've made at the grocery store:
1) Switched to buying organic canned tomato products (for sauces)
2) Bought organic potatoes, carrots, spinach and leeks for recipes this week
Still can't quite let go of the $2 strawberries ... maybe one day. Every little bit helps though.
A general rule of thumb for what to purchase organic involves considering the skin of the fruit or vegetable. Is it hard/inedible (like a melon rind or orange peel)? Buy the regular stuff. Is it soft/tender or do you eat the skin? Buy it organic. Tomatoes are a great example of a thin skin that you eat.
A couple of helpful lists:
Dirty Dozen (worst first)
1) Apples
2) Celery
3) Strawberries
4) Peaches
5) Spinach
6) Nectarines (imported)
7) Grapes (imported)
8) Sweet bell peppers
9) Potatoes
10) Blueberries (domestic)
11) Lettuce
12) Kale/collard greens
Clean 15 (best first)
1) Onions
2) Sweet corn
3) Pineapples
4) Avocado
5) Asparagus
6) Sweet peas
7) Mango
8) Eggplant
9) Cantaloupe (domestic)
10) Kiwi
11) Cabbage
12) Watermelon
13) Sweet potatoes
14) Grapefruit
15) Mushrooms
Those are long lists and kind of make my head spin! Here is a wallet-size card you can download for easy reference (link on left side). There's apparently an app for it, too, since there's an app for everything these days.
The rule of thumb I mentioned above holds true for 100% of the dirty dozen (if you eat potato skins) and for 10 of the clean 15. The full list is worth a look, too, but if it all gets jumbled in your mind then just try to remember the rule of thumb.
This year we had a trial vegetable/fruit garden. Things I liked growing included cilantro, raspberries, tomatoes, italian green beans, spinach, and basil. I love tomatoes and find homegrown ones to be vastly superior in flavor. Our beans were delicious, the spinach was easy and flavorful, the herbs were no issue, and the raspberries grow wild and spread quickly.
Things I still haven't decided whether I'll repeat include cucumbers, zucchini (both are very unruly and this stresses me out ... neat rows are my thing), peppers, carrots, and radishes. Things I definitely will not waste time growing again include onions (way easier to buy), strawberries and sugar snap peas (getting a couple berries/peas every so often isn't worth it). Next year I will definitely have a potted herb garden of parsley, mint, basil, and cilantro and maybe thyme because we use those herbs so often when we cook. It has been great going out to the garden to snip cilantro or basil whenever we need it.
Strides I've made at the grocery store:
1) Switched to buying organic canned tomato products (for sauces)
2) Bought organic potatoes, carrots, spinach and leeks for recipes this week
Still can't quite let go of the $2 strawberries ... maybe one day. Every little bit helps though.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Lip balm and gloss
I have known for a while that I probably shouldn't be using Blistex Medicated Lip Medex. You know the kind I'm talking about -- a tiny blue jar that works miracles on chapped lips. I don't use lip balm often, but if I had severely chapped lips during cold, dry weather or if I was sick I would turn to this little jar.
This stuff earns a 6 on the EWG database. Here are the ingredients:
Petrolatum (59%), Camphor (1%), Menthol (1%), Phenol (0.5%), Cocoa Butter, Flavor, Lanolin, Mixed Waxes, Oil of Cloves
The absolute worst thing on this list is the phenol. It ranks a 9 with a good amount of data to back it up. I knew this from working in a lab. When we use phenol we wear gloves and keep it from touching our skin. I found myself holding my breath around it, too. It's not like it will instantaneously zap you with cancer, but if I'm wearing gloves to handle it in a lab then perhaps
I shouldn't be smearing it on my lips! The other ingredients fall in the yellow and green zones and aren't really worth mentioning since a chemical ranking a 9 should be enough to send you running for the hills.
I stopped using this stuff when I was pregnant. One of my worst pregnancy complaints was severely chapped lips. I tried Chapstick (also scores a 6 due to fragrance and parabens). No phenol, but not really great. Plus it didn't work.
My friend got me a bunch of Burt's Bees stuff as a gift, so I gave the Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm a try. I have it in both the tin and the tube, but the tube is easier to use. It scores a 2 in the EWG database, placing it in the green (safe) zone. The major advantage I've noticed is that it seems to actually decrease my need for lip balm in general. When I use Chapstick or Lip Medex I feel like I am constantly needing to put on more. I don't know why this is -- maybe it's all in my head?
Ingredients in Burt's Bees Lip Balm:
Beeswax, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, lanolin, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, canola oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil.
Lanolin is the only ingredient that scores in the yellow zone (4). It can be an allergen. I am not too worried about it, but if you're prone to allergies/sensitivities there are tons of options that get a zero in the EWG database.
Cost comparison on Amazon (single tube/tub):
Lip Medex is significantly less expensive. That being said, the difference between paying $1-ish and $2-ish is minimal to me for a product that I only buy about once a year max.
Convenient access:
I actually am able to find Burt's Bees Lip Balm much more easily than Lip Medex. I often went to several drug stores before locating Lip Medex. It's probably because phenol is horrible for you. =) However, Burt's Bees and Chapstick are equally as convenient to find.
I wanted to end by mentioning Burt's Bees tinted lip glosses. They rank a 2 on EWG and come in a variety of colors. I don't use lip gloss very often, but these are easy to find. I have only worn lipstick a handful of times in my life, so I am not going to review it. However, standard lipstick brands rank from a 4 to as high as a 10 on EWG. Smashbox has some lip tints that score a 10. Yikes. I'd check out EWG before buying lipstick for sure.
This stuff earns a 6 on the EWG database. Here are the ingredients:
Petrolatum (59%), Camphor (1%), Menthol (1%), Phenol (0.5%), Cocoa Butter, Flavor, Lanolin, Mixed Waxes, Oil of Cloves
The absolute worst thing on this list is the phenol. It ranks a 9 with a good amount of data to back it up. I knew this from working in a lab. When we use phenol we wear gloves and keep it from touching our skin. I found myself holding my breath around it, too. It's not like it will instantaneously zap you with cancer, but if I'm wearing gloves to handle it in a lab then perhaps
I shouldn't be smearing it on my lips! The other ingredients fall in the yellow and green zones and aren't really worth mentioning since a chemical ranking a 9 should be enough to send you running for the hills.
I stopped using this stuff when I was pregnant. One of my worst pregnancy complaints was severely chapped lips. I tried Chapstick (also scores a 6 due to fragrance and parabens). No phenol, but not really great. Plus it didn't work.
My friend got me a bunch of Burt's Bees stuff as a gift, so I gave the Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm a try. I have it in both the tin and the tube, but the tube is easier to use. It scores a 2 in the EWG database, placing it in the green (safe) zone. The major advantage I've noticed is that it seems to actually decrease my need for lip balm in general. When I use Chapstick or Lip Medex I feel like I am constantly needing to put on more. I don't know why this is -- maybe it's all in my head?
Ingredients in Burt's Bees Lip Balm:
Beeswax, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, lanolin, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, canola oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil.
Lanolin is the only ingredient that scores in the yellow zone (4). It can be an allergen. I am not too worried about it, but if you're prone to allergies/sensitivities there are tons of options that get a zero in the EWG database.
Cost comparison on Amazon (single tube/tub):
Lip Medex is significantly less expensive. That being said, the difference between paying $1-ish and $2-ish is minimal to me for a product that I only buy about once a year max.
Convenient access:
I actually am able to find Burt's Bees Lip Balm much more easily than Lip Medex. I often went to several drug stores before locating Lip Medex. It's probably because phenol is horrible for you. =) However, Burt's Bees and Chapstick are equally as convenient to find.
I wanted to end by mentioning Burt's Bees tinted lip glosses. They rank a 2 on EWG and come in a variety of colors. I don't use lip gloss very often, but these are easy to find. I have only worn lipstick a handful of times in my life, so I am not going to review it. However, standard lipstick brands rank from a 4 to as high as a 10 on EWG. Smashbox has some lip tints that score a 10. Yikes. I'd check out EWG before buying lipstick for sure.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The toilet
Toilets are gross. I absolutely hate when they get a ring in them. I was using Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, but we just ran out. I decided to switch to Seventh Generation brand (Emerald cypress and fir). I thought the scent was a bit strong when I sniffed it at the store, but I just cleaned the downstairs toilet with it and it smelled pretty good. It's definitely better than the fumes from the Lysol and certainly better for my lungs. The toilet had a slightly pink ring (okay I'm a slacker, I have 4 babies, whatever). I was able to get the toilet beautifully white without any trouble. Sure, I wish it could kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria like Lysol does, but I suspect that isn't as important as it seems psychologically.
Ingredients in Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner:
Water, lauryl polyglucose and decyl glucoside, lactic acid, xanthan gum, essential oils and botanical extracts
Lauryl polyglucose and decyl glucoside both appear in the EWG database in shampoos scoring a zero, so if you can put it on your head I guess it's safe enough if you come in contact with it cleaning your toilet. I'm not too worried about lactic acid (scores a 0 or a 4 on EWG depending on its form). Xanthan gum gets a zero as well. Essential oils and botanical extracts? Sure. Water? Well, duh.
Cost comparison on Amazon (single bottle):
Lysol: $5.99 for 16 ounces
Seventh Generation $4.84 for 32 ounces
Convenient access:
Equal to Lysol (easy to get at Target)
I think I could also try a mix of vinegar, water, and baking soda, but most of the recipes say you have to let it sit for a long time or dump half a box of baking soda in the toilet or something. I am not really into having a ton of baking soda around, it's just random. I also like that the Seventh Generation stuff has a classic toilet bowl cleaning spout and clings (although not as well as Lysol brand) so that it's easier to use with the scrub brush and gets in all the parts of the toilet (like under the rim). I like the scent, and it's cheaper than what I was doing before. I gave up almost nothing with this switch. My one hesitation would be if your toilet is seriously disgusting. You might need to bring out the ol' Lysol for that.
Overall, it's a win for green.
Ingredients in Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner:
Water, lauryl polyglucose and decyl glucoside, lactic acid, xanthan gum, essential oils and botanical extracts
Lauryl polyglucose and decyl glucoside both appear in the EWG database in shampoos scoring a zero, so if you can put it on your head I guess it's safe enough if you come in contact with it cleaning your toilet. I'm not too worried about lactic acid (scores a 0 or a 4 on EWG depending on its form). Xanthan gum gets a zero as well. Essential oils and botanical extracts? Sure. Water? Well, duh.
Cost comparison on Amazon (single bottle):
Lysol: $5.99 for 16 ounces
Seventh Generation $4.84 for 32 ounces
Convenient access:
Equal to Lysol (easy to get at Target)
I think I could also try a mix of vinegar, water, and baking soda, but most of the recipes say you have to let it sit for a long time or dump half a box of baking soda in the toilet or something. I am not really into having a ton of baking soda around, it's just random. I also like that the Seventh Generation stuff has a classic toilet bowl cleaning spout and clings (although not as well as Lysol brand) so that it's easier to use with the scrub brush and gets in all the parts of the toilet (like under the rim). I like the scent, and it's cheaper than what I was doing before. I gave up almost nothing with this switch. My one hesitation would be if your toilet is seriously disgusting. You might need to bring out the ol' Lysol for that.
Overall, it's a win for green.
Intro
I am skeptical about being green. It's not that I'm opposed to it -- I'm not. I just feel like it's become a fad. When I think of people who live "extremely green-ly" (for lack of a better phrase), I often think of snobs. No, seriously. I think a lot of people have gotten so obsessed about green living that they use it as a way of feeling superior to others. They don't admit it, but the air of smugness is very irritating. I can think of so many people like this and it just irks me. There are people out there who don't have the time, the money, or the energy to go green and that's just fine with me. You do what you can. Ideally all the products on our shelves would be green and it would be easy and economical to be environmentally friendly all the time.
While technically there are ways to live greenly (and I use this as a broad term for eating free-range, organic, cleaning safely, using environmentally friendly products, etc) that can rival the frugality of Wal-Mart and coupons, this is not the norm. Most likely you're going to need to spend a few extra bucks to change your ways. That being said, I want to be as frugal as I can about this.
I also want to be smart about it. Just buying Burt's Bees, Tom's of Maine, and anything that says organic on it is not the answer. It's naive to think that a company is green or safe in everything it does. For example, based on the ratings of the Environmental Working Group, Burt's Bees beeswax lip balm is safe, but most of their shampoo is not.
Finally, I want to be reasonable about this. I want convenience. I want my family to enjoy themselves. I am willing to make sacrifices in comfort or convenience to a point, but I'm not going to save money culturing and making my own yogurt nor am I going to be safe by using olive oil as my body lotion. That's just gross. I suspect over time I might be willing to make more of my cleaning supplies, but I also want trustworthy reasonably cheap options I can purchase when I'm too lazy or busy to make my own.
I'm honestly skeptical about a lot of the risks of the chemicals in products and I'm skeptical about the actual health benefits of eating organic, etc. I think there are benefits, I just am not sure how many. I do, however, think it can't hurt and could help. I also think we ought to treat our animals and the earth with more respect.
So I'm going green. Slowly. Carefully. Easy does it. We'll see what happens.
While technically there are ways to live greenly (and I use this as a broad term for eating free-range, organic, cleaning safely, using environmentally friendly products, etc) that can rival the frugality of Wal-Mart and coupons, this is not the norm. Most likely you're going to need to spend a few extra bucks to change your ways. That being said, I want to be as frugal as I can about this.
I also want to be smart about it. Just buying Burt's Bees, Tom's of Maine, and anything that says organic on it is not the answer. It's naive to think that a company is green or safe in everything it does. For example, based on the ratings of the Environmental Working Group, Burt's Bees beeswax lip balm is safe, but most of their shampoo is not.
Finally, I want to be reasonable about this. I want convenience. I want my family to enjoy themselves. I am willing to make sacrifices in comfort or convenience to a point, but I'm not going to save money culturing and making my own yogurt nor am I going to be safe by using olive oil as my body lotion. That's just gross. I suspect over time I might be willing to make more of my cleaning supplies, but I also want trustworthy reasonably cheap options I can purchase when I'm too lazy or busy to make my own.
I'm honestly skeptical about a lot of the risks of the chemicals in products and I'm skeptical about the actual health benefits of eating organic, etc. I think there are benefits, I just am not sure how many. I do, however, think it can't hurt and could help. I also think we ought to treat our animals and the earth with more respect.
So I'm going green. Slowly. Carefully. Easy does it. We'll see what happens.
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