Lauren Brown of Maid Brigade shares a few ways you can make the jump to green cleaning.

No matter where you are on the path to going green, or if you haven’t even started, there are several ways you can implement eco-friendly practices in everyday cleaning tasks.  Here are some examples:

Easiest

• Use a high quality entrance mat to keep out dirt, allergens, and other contaminated particles

• Or make your home shoes-free

• Get good quality micro fiber cloths to clean better with fewer (maybe no) chemicals

• Use these cloths in a color-coded fashion, using separate cloths for the kitchen, bathroom, etc. to prevent cross-contamination of germs throughout the home

• Use micro fiber mops, not brooms, to remove daily traffic dirt and pet hair without stirring up more allergens

• Use the mildest cleaning solution possible for the job

• Watch the Signal Words on the product labels, avoiding anything stronger than a Caution! label

• Spray cleaners on the cleaning cloth, not the surface to be cleaned; overspray is a leading cause of unnoticed residues and airborne chemicals

• Wear rubber gloves to prevent absorption of chemical solutions and vapors through the skin

Medium

• Select products designed to work in cold water

• Select products with low or no VOC content 

• Find products with a moderate pH, from 4 to 11

• Purchase products that come in recyclable containers

• Purchase green cleaning solutions in concentrated form and dilute into re-useable spray bottles

• Avoid products containing pesticides, organochlorines, formaldehyde, or APEs

• Avoid products containing known or suspected carcinogens, neurotoxins, reproductive toxins, developmental toxins or endocrine disruptors

Hardest

• Get a high filtration vacuum (preferably a HEPA filter) with a closed canister system to trap and remove 99.7% of particles 1 micron or larger (including dust, dirt, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, hair and mold – really tiny stuff) 

• Go to a chemical-free dry steam vapor system to clean, deodorize, disinfect and kill mold, mildew and dust mites using water alone

• Purchase a water-ionizing system for a chemical-free portable device that effectively tackles just about everything (you may need something stronger on heavy grease and soap scum)

• Make your own natural cleaning products – like baking soda, lemons, vinegar, borax and vegetable-based oil soaps for ultimate knowledge and control of what is in your home

• De-clutter your home to make a more enjoyable environment for recharging and to make routine cleaning easier and faster

Take baby steps! Choose a few items here and there that seem doable and see and feel the difference.

About The Author

Lauren Brown is the Grass Roots Marketing Specialist with Maid Brigade.  Lauren has been with Maid Brigade for three years, educating the community on the importance of going green for the health of the environment and our families. She emphasizes the value of using safer alternatives and how easy and affordable it can be to go green! 

Maid Brigade is a residential cleaning service that uses only Green Seal certified cleaning solutions and green methods to clean homes. This ensures a safer work environment for their employees and a safer, healthier home for their clients.

Connect With Lauren: Facebook | Twitter | E-Mail | 703.823.1726

Connect With Maid Brigade: Facebook (DC Metro) | Web

If you’re thinking about using solar energy, today’s guest author sheds light on what it takes to use solar power.

Solar energy has been a hot topic over the last five years and more people are looking into using this source of power for their homes. After all, solar power is clean, renewable, and abundant in supply. All we need to do is learn how to harness this power more effectively. There is a lot of misinformation about using the sun to create electricity so this article will cover the top 10 most common questions people have about solar energy.

1. Where is the energy stored for solar energy?

Even though the solar panels collect the energy created by the sun, they do not actually harness that power themselves. Each panel is made up of solar cells which are in series and all the electricity is channeled to a power supply like a pack of large batteries. These batteries allow power to be used at night or on cloudy days when there is not much sun. Every solar power system needs a place to store the energy, and as batteries become more efficient this becomes much more cost effective as well.

2. Is there any maintenance with solar panels?

Unlike other sources of renewable energy, solar power needs very little maintenance. This is in large part due to the fact that there are no moving parts on a solar panel like there are on a wind turbine. The only breakable part of a solar panel or part that can be susceptible to damage is the glass that covers the solar cells. This glass needs to be kept clear at all times so that the sun is not being blocked by dirt or pieces of debris.

Especially after a storm, these solar panels need to be inspected to make sure none of them have cracked and that no tree limbs or dirt is covering them up. For those who live up north, it’s important to remove any snow that builds up on these panels. Not only will the snow keep the sun from reaching the solar cells, but the weight of it can damage the cells as well.

3. How do I clean solar panels?

This goes right along with proper maintenance of solar panels since it’s really the only maintenance they need. But you need to be careful when cleaning these glass panels because they can easily crack if you step on them. There are special poles made with sprayers that will allow you to wash the panels while remaining safely on the ground, and this will remove any dust and dirt that has gotten caught on the glass.

You should seek every safety precaution if you plan on doing this yourself and especially if you plan on getting on the roof of your home yourself. There are solar panel cleaning companies that will actually do this for you if you want to have a professional clean the panels.

4. Where should I put my solar panels?

Most of the time you will see solar panels on the roof of a house, but this may not be the best placement for your solar panels. If you live in the United States, you will want your solar panels to face south, as they will get as much sun as possible. But if you don’t have a south-facing roof you will want to find another location other than the roof of your house.

You should also consider things like shade and what the shade will be like 10 years from now. After all, trees grow and even though your solar panels may not be in shade right now, they might be in a few short years. You should also consider using a tracking kit so the solar panels will follow the sun as it goes through the sky, therefore maximizing how much power you can harness.

5. How many solar panels will it take to power my whole house?

This is a very common question to those consider using solar power at home, and a large factor in how many solar panels you will need is what kind of solar panels you are getting, which we will cover in another question. First, it’s very possible to power your entire home with solar power, but it’s going to take some money.

The average home uses almost 9,000 Kilowatts a year, according to the US Energy Information Agency. This works out to about 24 Kwh every day, being 24,000 watts. With only limited sunlight during the day we need to produce 4,000 watts every hour. Using large solar panels that can produce 130 watts you would need about 30 panels to create enough energy to stay off the grid.

There are some solar panels that can generate 200 watts per hour, meaning you would only need 20 panels. And still, there are solar panels able to product 250 watts of energy, so as these panels get more efficient you will need less of them to do the job.

6. What type of solar panels are the most efficient?

Although there are 4 types of solar panels there are mainly 2 that are commonly in use. Amorphous silicon panels have been used for years but only have an electricity return rate of about 5%. The much more efficient monocrystalline silicon panels have an electricity return rate of about 16-18%, but they are also much more expensive. But since the monocrystalline silicone panels are the most efficient solar panels on the market right now, they are very popular and are used in solar plant fields quite often.

7. How much does a complete solar panel system cost?

If you want to go completely off grid and never pay for electricity again, it will take quite a large investment. We already talked about the average home needing 20-30 solar panels to power the entire home, and with solar panels costing anywhere from $500-$750, the cost of the panels will cost anywhere from $10,000 to $22,000. Of course, this does not include the cost of hiring professionals to install the panels correctly and buying a battery station to store all the energy as well.

8. Should I try to install a solar panel system myself?

After seeing the cost of solar panels you might want to just install them yourself, but it’s important that you talk to your local building inspector first, and also that you hire an experienced electrician to make sure all the wiring is correct. Even if you know a lot about electricity it’s good to have a licensed electrician do his job in this situation, and in most states it’s actually required.

9. How can I get solar grants from the government?

There are many grant programs and federal incentives for getting a solar power system. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will reimburse you up to 30% of your costs with installing a solar panel system, and there are many local programs for helping you pay for using solar to power your home. Each location is different so you will want to check with your state or city to see what grants are offered in your area. The Department of Energy’s website is a great place to see what grants are applicable to your situation.

10. How long should a solar panel last?

Most solar panel manufactures offer a 25 year warranty, but chances are you will not have to use it because they can last much longer than this. And that’s a good thing since it will take most people about 20 years before they see the solar panels turning a profit for them. There are reports of some solar panels lasting more than 40 years, but 25 years is a good average. If you keep your panels well maintained and cleaned they should have no problem lasting long into the future.

About the Author

Jonathan S. is passionate about green technology and writes about how to make solar panels at home and new advances in technology that more people are able to use in their homes.

Connect With Jonathan: Web 

Have you ever wondered what to with bras that no longer fit you or that you don’t like any more but are still in good shape? Unlike your skivvies, you can actually donate your bras. Yeah, I know it’s hard to part with bras that you shelled out a lot of money for, but if you’re not wearing them, what good are they doing you? They’re really just taking up much needed space.

So, if you’re a gal or a guy who likes women’s undergarments and you have some bras you’d like to part with, check out your recycling options below. Don’t worry, that boob holder that you used to love will now be loved by someone else…or help with breast cancer research (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month)…or help victims of human trafficking.

• The Bra Recyclers

• Athena’s Cup

• Free The Girls

• Soma Intimates *Donations accepted twice/year – Next donation scheduled for January 2012

• Support1000

• Breast Talk (UK)

Learn More

• Japan Recycles Used Bras Into Fuel

• Your bra can make a difference

• Ladies, let your girls hang free for a good cause

My husband still has the saxophone he used to play back in high school. The last time he played it? Last never. If you’re like my hubby and have unused musical instruments laying about – and taking up valuable space – consider donating them to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation (MHOF).

The organization accepts gently used band and orchestral instruments (sorry, no guitars, pianos, organs, or accordions), and refurbishes them before giving them to under-funded music programs. MHOF was started by Michael Kamen, the composer of the film, Mr. Holland’s Opus (starring Richard Dreyfus).

“We believe that kids thrive when given the chance to learn and play music. Putting an instrument into their hands improves the quality of their education and their lives.” ”

Donate Your Musical Instrument

Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

I’m amazed by the creative and unique things you can make from stuff that you would normally put on your car or bicycle, like tires. Have a look…

Sandals

Jewelry

Art

Furniture

Planters

Would you put this in your garden?

Sources:

Trendhunter | Sandals

Trendhunter | Jewelry

Trendhunter | Art

Trendhunter | Furniture

Treehugger

LA Times Blog

Check Out These Other Transformers

“It’s not hard to understand why energy entrepreneurs and municipalities are looking to turn more garbage into gold. Recyclers will pay for plastics, metals, and paper because they can sell that material, once separated, to mills which use it as raw material. As the tipping fees increase, it becomes more and more economical to divert that material into a composting facility at a lower rate than a landfill.”

Read More:

Next wave of recycling? Check your dinner plate | CNET.com | 2.21.11

Last week, guest author, Julie Bestry, shared a few of her favorite eco-friendly office products.  On her first list – Recycled Post-It Notes and Bankers Boxes. Here are her final two picks.

ReBinders…and Their Buddies

Locating recycled file folders and hanging folders is relatively easy, but finding an affordable green solution for binder-style paper storage has long been a pipe dream. Three-ring binders are usually made of PVC plastic, and given that up to 500 metric tons of toxic PVC end up in landfills each year, it’s enough for a green-minded guy or gal to give up on binder storage altogether.

An innovative Seattle company is hard at work on creating alternative solutions. ReBinder is an online store offering products made from SFI- and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified post-consumer recycled materials, assembled by an AbilityOne-certified disabled workforce. Their manufacturing processes reduce energy and water consumption, as well as greenhouse gasses, solid waste, and deforestation.

The original ReBinder three-ring binders come in three versions: the no-frills Original, made from heavy-duty corrugated cardboard, the Select, made from 100 pt. chipboard, and the Professional, which takes the chipboard base of the Select and adds an elegant black cloth spine.

(To get a sense of the vast chasm between vinyl and recycled paperboard, check out ReBinder’s detailed explanation of their materials, process and end result.)

To improve your eco-friendly efforts, you can purchase replacement ReBinder covers for a fraction of the cost of the original, from $1.76 for .5″ to $2.38 for 2″ replacement covers. Sturdy, high quality Re-Tab recycled tab dividers and Re-Pouch three-hole punched slash/pocket tab dividers (which hold papers, CDs and business cards, each in their own little slots) amplify both usability and your green credibility. In addition to ReBinder’s lines of recycled binders, dividers, and pockets, they make similarly planet-friendly CD sleeves and cases, folders, conference badges, adhesive labels and notebooks, available in a sample pack of their most popular products for $25 (with free ground shipping).

PlanetSafe Dry-Erase Wall Planners and Calendars

Each year, when you discard your wall calendar and put up a new one, do you heave a sigh, imagining millions of other glossy calendars with plastic-coated spiral bindings getting tossed into the landfill? Have you wished there were a better alternative? Thanks to PlanetSafe, makers of the world’s only non-plastic erasable wall planner, there is.

These planners all have the write/wipe attributes of typical plastic wall planners, but use no petroleum-based products. PlanetSafe’s line is made from 100% recycled paper, organic vegetable inks and a 100% biodegradable plant-based film laminate. Not only made from recycled product, it’s the first erasable line that is 100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.
PlanetSafe products are made from durable, heavyweight write/wipe material with a glossy finish. The line includes dated one- and two-year calendar planners, as well as multiple styles and sizes of 5-, 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-day undated planners with room for notes and project planning.

The planners are designed to work with either dry-erase or wet-erase markers, as well as sticky notes – like those in the Sustain line of recycled Post-Its®!

While the boards have ample space for writing one’s thoughts, “To Do” items and action plans and then wet- or dry-erasing them afterward, tracking concepts and tasks via sticky notes allows you to quickly re-prioritize by moving, rearranging, and even color-coding…it’s sort of a retro version of cut-and-paste in Word, without a single keystroke.

From tiny notes to massive calendars, from boxed archives to binder-bound papers, there truly are affordable ways to help keep our little blue marble a little bit green.

While the boards have ample space for writing one’s thoughts, “To Do” items and action plans and then wet- or dry-erasing them afterward, tracking concepts and tasks via sticky notes allows you to quickly re-prioritize by moving, rearranging, and even color-coding…it’s sort of a retro version of cut-and-paste in Word, without a single keystroke.

From tiny notes to massive calendars, from boxed archives to binder-bound papers, there truly are affordable ways to help keep our little blue marble a little bit green.

About the Author

Julie Bestry is a Certified Professional Organizer, speaker and author, who helps individuals and businesses save time and money, reduce stress and increase productivity through new organizational skills and systems. Although a generalist, Julie specializes in paper organizing, blogs as the Paper Doll, and publishes Best Results for Busy People: Organizing Your Modern World. For more information, visit Best Results Organizing at http://www.juliebestry.com.

Connect With Julie: Twitter | Facebook

We like eco-friendly products around here, so we’re very excited to have Julie Bestry share some of her favorites. This is two-part post, so be sure to check back next week to see what else is on her list.

When we try to select eco-friendly office supplies, it seems we often face a battle between green guilt and greenbacks. On the one hand, we want to be kind to the planet and feel a tad guilty each time we opt for a non-green solution. On the other hand, the more eco-friendly a product is, the more exotic it tends to be. For example, there are paper products made of everything from wheat to stone to elephant and sheep…um…byproducts. And, not surprisingly, exotic, eco-friendly paper supplies tend to be expensive.

Today, I’d like to offer up my favorite green paper-related office supplies. They’re not only gentle on the planet — they’re gentle on the pocketbook as well.

Post-It® Notes

It’s hard to find an office, from the smallest kitchen nook to the fanciest executive suite, that doesn’t make use of sticky notes. People use them for reminders, for labels, even for personal affirmations. While we’ll leave aside the efficacy of having so many little fluttering squares competing for our attention, it’s hard to ignore that nagging voice that says using so much paper is bad for Mother Earth.

Enter 3M’s Post-It® Sustain line.

Greener Notes take the notion of “It’s not easy being green” to a new level – apparently, it’s so hard to be green that the Greener Notes are only available in Canary Yellow! These notes are not only made of 100% recycled paper, but the sticky part of the sticky note is made of a plant-based adhesive. Fewer chemicals mean less energy is used for production, which means a lighter carbon footprint. Greener Notes are packaged 100 to a pad, with twelve pads to a package.

But you say you need more color in your life and Canary Yellow clashes with your paperwork?

Post-It® SuperSticky Recycled Notes are available in multiple colors (and sizes), and come lined or unlined. These notes are guaranteed made from 30% post-consumer (i.e., recycled) content.

Happily, all Post-It® Notes are Sustainable Forestry Initiative (FSI) Chain-of-Custody Certified, which means that the paper comes from ethically- and well-managed forests where trees are replanted. Indeed, the Buy One, Plant One initiative from 3M and Post-It® can help you further squelch your green guilt. Locate the promotion code on eligible recycled products, register at the Post-It® site and a tree will be planted in honor of your purchase.

While there are generic sticky note alternatives, I’ve found that the adhesive fails to stand the test of time. However, I have a charming pink Post-It® SuperSticky Recycled Note that’s been affixed to a vertical Formica surface since November. I’ve removed it frequently to dust and clean, but it reattaches with all the same stick-to-itiveness it had the first day.

Bankers Boxes®

For a tree-based product, Fellowes’ Bankers Boxes® actually have a pretty good environmental record, especially compared to similar functioning plastic storage items. Most of the boxes in the company’s basic-, extra- and maximum-strength lines are made of at least 65% recycled product. However, the Bankers Box® Earth Series line include Stor/File® (medium-duty and extra-strength) and R-Kive® (maximum-strength) boxes made of 100% recycled materials.

The box shown above is a standard letter/legal version (10.25″ x 12.5″ x 16.25″) with a lift-off locking lid, a stacking weight capacity of 550 pounds and a suggested retail price of $6.70. It comes with sturdy double-end, double-bottom, single-side construction and quickly unfolds into place, from flat-packaged to three-dimensional in seconds with FastFold Assembly.

Variations on the theme include letter- and legal- sized recycled File/Stor® boxes with flip-top lids as well as those with fold-in lids and string-and-button closures.

The Recycled R-Kive® boxes have triple-end, double-bottom, double-side construction and a special smoothed rolled-over edges to increase overall strength and prevent paper cuts. (If you’ve ever had a corrugated cardboard paper cut, you know what a value this feature is!)

Check back next week to see Julie’s final two super-awesome eco-friendly paper product picks. Wow, say that three times fast. =)

About The Author

Julie Bestry is a Certified Professional Organizer, speaker and author, who helps individuals and businesses save time and money, reduce stress and increase productivity through new organizational skills and systems. Although a generalist, Julie specializes in paper organizing, blogs as the Paper Doll, and publishes Best Results for Busy People: Organizing Your Modern World. For more information, visit Best Results Organizing at http://www.juliebestry.com.

Connect With Julie: Twitter | Facebook

Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

Is it Spring yet? I‘m am soooo ready for warmer weather and no thunder snow. Aren’t you? Rain I can deal with. And, as it turns out, there’s a cool way to put all those droplets from your umbrella to work and bring a little Spring indoors.  Check out this really awesome transformer that’s also eco-friendly.

Junjie Zhang of the Green Trace project created a horizontal umbrella stand/tray with grass seeds inside. Simply place your wet umbrellas on the tray and pretty soon, you’ll have a lovely patch of green.  Not sure how this would work if you had pets, though I’m sure your shoes would appreciate the new surroundings. No more wet floors, either. Nice. =)

“Random human actions may result in the growth of new life forms. I believe, through some kind of phenomenon, human habits and the principles of nature can be embodied in a product.” ~Junjie Zhang

Here’s a similar product created by Simon Enever…

…and this lovely brolly that would pair nicely with your umbrella tray.  What do you think? Would you use any of these products?

Sources:

Trendhunter

Yanko Design

Check Out These Other Transformers

Welcome to our regular “Transformers” feature (click link and scroll down to see them all). A transformer is a thing that started out as one thing, has been rehabbed, and now functions as another thing.  A transformer can also be a thing that is really another thing all at the same time. Check out our latest find…

Got old, broken things tucked away in your garage or attic? Resolved to finally get your act together and ship them out? You might want to rethink that notion and turn those old things into something new. We like that kind of recycling around here, but only if you’ll really do it.

You can turn T-shirts into quilts, belts, and bags…ladders can become bookcases, pot racks, and towel holders…stools can become nightstands.

But, what about suitcases? Most of us have many but use only a few. Check out these two interesting ways to repurpose them.

Listen to Your Suitcase

Who knew your suitcase could blast out music? I’m not sure how easy it is to do this, but it looks pretty awesome.  Want your own speaker-case? Mr. Simo can take care of that for you. It’ll cost you $300 for a plug-in “boomcase” or $350 for battery powered one. If you decide to do this, please tell us if it’s really as cool as it looks.

Sit on Your Suitcase

I love, love this idea of making your suitcase into a seat! It looks great and would be an awesome conversation starter. They are made by Katie Thompson of REcreate.com, a company that specializes in designing with recycled furniture.

These final two were created by Maybe Designs located in Turkey.  I really love that the last one doubles as seating and storage. Btw, I couldn’t find a working website for the design company but you can read more here and here.

Sources:

Trendhunter.com

REcreate.com

DesignSprout.com

TheBoomCase

Toxel.com

NorthernVirginiaMag.com

Check Out These Other Transformers