Saturday, September 10, 2011

Air Freshener

A colleague recently came into my office and said, "you're green, right?" (I love that that's the image I portray!) And then he inquired about the Glade Plug-in I had, which sits on my floor, more so because it smells like Christmas than because it is not eco-friendly. He was looking for an air freshener that didn't negatively impact his health or the environment. After doing a little research, I couldn't find a simple option to replace the rather toxic plug-in variety.


The only green air freshener I found is this: http://www.sani-air.com/default.aspx

Most green people suggest a lot of do it yourself ideas. Some are fairly easy. Here are some I found:

  • Burn 100 percent pure beeswax candles with 100 percent cotton wicks—they purify and clean the air
  • Use green tea to refresh your home
  •  Simmer cinnamon and cloves, fresh ginger, or herbs in water on the stovetop.
  • Simmer water with a drop or two of your favorite pure essential oil.
  • Use organic sachets and potpourris.
  • Try these other homemade Home Sweeteners
  • Combine 5-10 drops of an essential oil like lavender, lemon, peppermint, bergamot, balsam, eucalyptus, tea tree, or sweet orange in a spray bottle with two cups of water.
  • Place a drop of your favorite essential oil on a light bulb prior to turning it on or add a dozen drops to a bowl of water placed on a radiator.
  • Place a couple of drops of essential oil on your vacuum cleaner's exhaust filter to freshen exiting air. A few drops of lemon juice on your vacuum cleaner bag will do the same trick.
  • Open windows.
  • Clean the source of the odor with non-toxic products.
  • Empty the garbage frequently.
  • Use an open box of baking soda for smelly rooms. We keep baking soda near garbage and the dirty diaper bag. 
  • Use indoor plants to clear carbon dioxide and other toxins.



I would say an essential oil would be a good way to go. You can buy a few varieties at Cub in the natural foods section, or there’s a bunch more at a food co-op or Whole Foods. I use essential oils for a few different things, and they really do a good job of naturally cleaning and smelling nice.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

National Zero Waste Week

This week is National Zero Waste Week. Visit the link for ideas about how to reduce your waste this week and all year! 

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