Oct

9

Laundry Done Naturally With Soapnuts

Filed Under cleaning products, Healthy Home | 10 Comments

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    I was just discussing the implications of Tide with a reader recently.  She asked me “Is it really that bad?”. I’ll be the first to admit that my laundry detergent was one of those things you had to pry out of my hands (and then I cried a little at the thought of dingy clothing).  There are safer alternatives to use on laundry that are better for both you and the environment.  We could all live without the habitual exposure to fragrance phthalates and chemicals.  (Do it for the fish, man.) In fact I even have a cheat sheet with an entire list of options.  Some work better than others and some are safer than others when it comes to ingredients.

    But one product will forever stand out as the most natural option out there and tons of people swear by it’s effectiveness. That product is Soapnuts.  If you are not familiar with these little gems, they are Sapindus Mukorossi shells which contain sapindus – a natural surfactant.  Surfactants are what product makers use to make a product create “suds”.  This surfactant is inherent in the Sapindus Mukorossi seed shell. They are hypoallergenic, biodegradable, antimicrobial, cruelty-free and ideal for HE washers. Soapnuts clean just as good as a commercial chemical detergent. 1 lb is enough for more than 160 loads of laundry as you can reuse each Soapnut up to 5 times..  You can reuse each nut up to 5 times.  To use them all you do it put 5 Soapnuts in a little cloth washer baggie and toss it in with your clothes. That’s it.  Lay them out to dry after and reuse.   You can put them in your compost pile when you’re done. So cool.

    Some people might this this is a crazy way to wash your clothes but it’s really cool and your clothes stay clean and don’t smell like an over-fragranced flower field. (I can no longer stand the smell of regular laundry detergent.)

    Where can I get these wonderful things? You can buy Soapnuts in Abe’s Market (160 loads of laundry) or you can get a smaller 1/2 pound bag of Soapnuts (80 loads).

    Sponsored by Abe’s Market, one of my new favorite places to shop for natural products.

    Jun

    16

    I’m a Mom For Cooties

    Filed Under Chemicals, cleaning products, Healthy Schools | 6 Comments

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      I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning Phd in Parenting and she posted about a campaign floating around called Moms Against Cooties.  It’s a campaign launched by the Water Quality and Health Council (which they don’t make very obvious).  According to their website  they are a group sponsored by the “Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council, an industry trade association“. Which means to me that it’s funded by groups with a monetary interest in the success of people’s fears turning to chlorine products like Clorox to obsessively bleach the heck out of everything we come in contact with.

      I am a Mom FOR Cooties. “You like your kids to get sick? What kind of a twisted woman are you?” No.  I hate when they get sick.  But it’s a part of life and a part of growing up. Kids and people will ALWAYS get sick.  If we didn’t we would have no immune resistance to anything.  I come from the era where your parents sent you to the kid with Chicken Pox’s house to play so you’d get it and be done with it.  I don’t recommend that course of action but let’s be real.  Kids get sick regardless of whether we scour our schools with a “mild chlorine bleach solution” or not.  Oh my! Germs! Run!

      Cleaning is important, of course. I am not advocating the idea of not cleaning schools and day cares.  But I don’t think that rubbing down every surface of our homes and schools with chlorine bleach is the key to a healthy life illness free life. It may “kill germs” but it is also contributing to the polluted air in schools and could be aggravating asthma conditions.  I think teaching good hand washing while using simple less toxic (please let’s ditch the heavy scented stuff! Ugh!) cleaning products is more effective in preventing the spread of germs.

      So is the Moms Against Cooties campaign really out to “protect” your kids from germs and bacteria? Or are they just looking for another way to brainwash people into thinking chlorine bleach  = clean and safe so they can sell more product? What say you?

      Interesting that the “about us” page is broken right now… hmm.

      What Can I Do?

      I am often asked what to do about preschools and public schools usage of toxic cleaning products.  So far I have come up against two barriers.  One is that many times, schools are bound by the state Health Department and must follow certain rules in regard to cleaning.  Second is budget.  Our own preschool uses some cleaning products I wish the didn’t. I have lobbied to have them investigate safer options without success.  But I think if I had more back up it could be encouraged since most people I speak to about it are open to learning more about it.

      • Educate yourself so you can educate others.  I once told our class teacher that the cleaning products they used each day could contribute to asthma and other long term health problems for developing kids.  She “had no idea” that was the case.  They were open to learning more.
      • Tap into resources like Cleaning For Healthy Schools Tool Kit which provide printable PDF’s to share with your schools administrators, nurses and teachers.
      • Check out Healthy Child Healthy World‘s tips on getting your school to Clean Green.
      • The Healthy Schools Campaign is loaded with information and resources to help you too.

      Have you approached your school about changing their cleaning policies?

      Nov

      10

      Method Antibac Line Cleans Up SafeMama’s House (Giveaway!)

      Filed Under cleaning products, Giveaways Coupons | 83 Comments

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        There is one other thing besides lip gloss that I collect, and that’s less toxic cleaning products.  Sure I could DIY my little heart out but here is a confession.  I don’t do it. It never happens. So I turn to products that do the job without subjecting myself and my kids to harsh chemicals, bleach and now the all too infamous Triclosan.  We don’t need it, and there are products that work better without them.  One of those is the new line out called Method Antibac. Method partnered up with the CleanWell Company to create this new line of antibacterial products using botanical cleansers that kill 99.99% of household bacteria including E.coli, salmonella enterica, influenza A and H1N1 virus on hard, non-porous surfaces.  Ok, I’ll admit it… I like that. I know its good to be exposed to stuff like this but ew. If I can avoid even one illness this season, I’ll take it.

        How Well Do They Work? I’ve been using these at home for a while now and with great results.  The Method Antibac line has several products: An antibacterial kitchen cleaning spray in lemon verbena, an antibacterial bathroom cleaning spray in spearmint, all purpose cleaning and disinfecting wipes in lemon verbena and of course their new hand sanitizer.  The lemon verbena kitchen cleaner and disinfecting wipes work great.  They actually do an impeccable job on my stainless steel appliances, not to mention they smell nice without leaving a strong lingering scent.  My husband is not a fan of the lemon verbena but he never knows that I’ve used it since the scent doesn’t sit around.

        What I really enjoyed was the spearmint antibacterial cleaning spray. The bathroom smells super clean and lightly minty fresh.  My kids bathroom is the worst and it effectively removed that gross toothpaste river out of the sink and erased the soap scum off the tub and shower.  I also used it to clean the toilet and it’s pretty sparkly if I do say so myself.

        I was so impressed with the Method Antibac line that I bought a Method Hand Sanitizer for my car… it makes my hands soft and smell nice. I hate leaving the playground without a quick rub down on my hands.  Those places are grimy!

        I’ve given Method a hard time in the past but I’ve given them my approval based on their transparency on their sustainability practices, and their transparency in ingredients.  They don’t use phthalates in any of their fragrances and I can live with that pretty comfortably.  If you just aren’t ok with them I always recommend being  DIYer.   But in circumstances where you just don’t want to, you don’t need to.  You can still have safer products that work really well and don’t cost a fortune.  I think Method Antibac products would be PERFECT for schools and I plan on supplying the teachers that requested bleach wipes for the classroom a few containers of the Method Antibac cleaning wipes.

        Where to get these: You can find the full line of Method Antibac products at Target, Lowe’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and Whole Foods as well as at many local grocery and drug stores.  One of the best features is they’re affordable. I love affordable.

        Want To Win A Method Flu Kit?

        Method is giving a super rad Flu Kit to one lucky SafeMama reader. Inside is a bottle of the Method Antibac Bathroom Cleaner, a bottle of Method Hand Sanitizer along with some really funny stickers.  This Flu Kit is not available for purchase so get your entries in to win it!

        Here’s How To Enter:

        Leave a comment on this entry letting me know what Method products you have tried and liked… if you haven’t tried any, visit Method online and tell me what sounds appealing!

        For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

        • Fan/Like Method on Facebook (first name, last initial)
        • Follow @MethodTweet on Twitter (Twitter name)
        • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
        • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
        • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
        • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  I entered to #WIN a Method Flu Kit on @SafeMama from @MethodTweet! #giveaway ends 11/18 http://tinyurl.com/3xz3o3q

        One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until November 18, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

        Want more chances to win Method products?

        Join the #ecowed Twitter party, hosted by @thesmartmama on November 17th from 10pm-11pm EST to have your cleaning questions answered by Method and chances to win some great prizes!

        Note: I received complimentary samples of the Method Antibac products as a part of the Mom Go Green Blog Tours so I could check them out and give an honest review.  Samples in no way affect my honesty in reviewing a product.

        Jul

        7

        DIY Toy Cleaning

        Filed Under cleaning products, Eco-Mama, Toy Safety | 10 Comments

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          We get questions about how to safely clean toys at least once a week.  I really believe that people are getting overly paranoid about germs now that the Swine Flu did a number on our mentality about illnesses.  Thing is, I understand.  I felt it too… the uncertainty, the debating over getting flu vaccines, the worrying that our kids or us would get some horrible sickness and spread it to our families.  But I firmly believe that over sanitizing and MicroBan-ing everything we touch is unhealthy for us in the grand scheme (not to mention MicroBan and Triclosan could be  endocrine disruptors). Germs are good.. building immunity is good. Inconvenient, but good.  But again, I get it. No one wants to get sick, ever. However, I do think a level of cleanliness is important too so periodically cleaning your childs toys isn’t a bad idea… as long as you do it safely.

          True there are safer cleaning products on the market and you may have seen the commercial of the mom washing her childs bottles and toys in a bleach and water mixture in the sink.  If that’s your bag, fine.  But I think its overkill and there are less toxic methods of toy cleaning.

          Teethers and Baby Toys: Instead of thinking of it as sanitizing, think of it more or less like eliminating surface dirt. Some toys you may be able to run through the dishwasher.  Other’s might need a quick soap and water soak in the tub/sink.  Other’s may only be able to tolerate a wipe down with a cleaner and soft cloth.  Here’s a recipe for a spray bottle mixture you can use to wipe down toys and teethers.

          • 1 Cup Water
          • 1 Cup Distilled White Vinegar
          • 6 drops of Tea Tree Oil (natural antiseptic qualities)

          Mix together in a re-purposed spray bottle and either spray directly on toys or spray onto a soft cloth to wipe things down.

          Stuffed Animals: These can harbor dust mites and dust so a good way to kill that process is to put them in an airtight bag and stick them in the freezer for a few hours to kill any dust mites.  Most stuffed animals you can also stick in the washing machine if they are made from cotton or polyester and they’ll be just fine.

          Jun

          8

          SafeMama Laundry Detergent Cheat Sheet

          Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, cleaning products, Cloth Diapering | 41 Comments

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            For years and years, I was a Tide girl.  I loved  my Tide in all its stain fighting glory (especially with a husband who is a habitual leaver of lip balm in his pocket and my rule is, I do the laundry, I don’t check pockets) and optical brightening power.   Then I read about phthalates and other chemicals which could possibly be slowly poisoning my son, and the rest, as they say, is history.    So of course, all of our research has led you here, to another production of the SafeMama cheat sheet. (Know a brand you think belongs here? Let us know!)

            Make Your Own!

            You can easily make your own detergent with just a few simple ingredients.  I actually have a friend who made her own and liked it.  However, I can’t really attest to how well it gets out grime and dirt, just because she said that they don’t get really dirty (empty nesters, such is the life).  But if you want to try it for yourself, you’re more than welcome to give it a whirl and see how you like it.

            What you’ll need (the liquid version, i.e. maybe a little more time consuming, and a little more mess to prepare):

            • One five gallon bucket with a lid (you can usually find them at hardware stores)
            • One bar of soap (any kind is fine, but preferably one that’s free of all the ickies!
            • One box of washing soda (NOT baking soda).  You can find this in the laundry aisle of your grocery store or big box department store.
            • One box of box of borax (optional) (Looking into the safety of Borax use – recipe still works without it)
            • three gallons of tap water
            • a measuring cup
            • a knife or cheese grater, whichever you prefer (you’ll need it for the soap)
            • your favorite essential oil (also optional)

            First, put about four cups of water into a pot and turn the heat on high.  You want to heat it up, but not boil it   Then, begin grating or shaving strips of soap into the water.   Once you’ve put all of the soap into the water,  stir until soap particles have dissolved, but your water is soapy.

            Next, add three gallons of hot water to your bucket, along with the soap mixture from the stove.  If you want to use essential oil, go ahead and add that too.   Add one cup of washing soda to the mixture and stir.  Once you’re done, let it sit overnight, and let cool.  The next day, you should have a slime like consistency.  For each load, you’ll want to use about a cup to your washing machine.

            The Powder Variety (the easier of the two):

            What you’ll need:

            This is pretty similar to the liquid kind, except you just keep it in powder form.

            • One bar of soap (any kind is fine, but preferably one that’s free of all the ickies!
            • One box of washing soda (NOT baking soda). You can find this in the laundry aisle of your grocery store or big box department store.
            • One box of box of borax (Looking into the safety of Borax use – recipe still works without it)
            • a food processor
            • essential oil (again, optional)

            First, you’ll want to cut up your soap into manageable chunks for the food processor.  Chop up the soap until fine.   In a large ziploc bag or container, add one cup of washing soda, along with your soap flakes.  If you’re using essential oil, you can add 5-10 drops to the mixture.   seal the container or bag and shake until well mixed.  Voilà!  You can use this in high efficiency washing machines as well.  Just use less.  One to two tablespoons will do the trick.

            Got any other green laundry tips?  Share them with the class!

            May

            25

            Cheat Sheet: Safer Cleaning Supplies

            Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, cleaning products, Eco-Mama, Healthy Home | 8 Comments

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              One of the first things that went in my house when we started to green (during the whole BPA boom of ’07) was conventional cleaning products. Since then, we’ve tried many green cleaning products. And of course, what do we SafeMama girls do best? That’s right, my friends, cheat sheets. We’d be remiss if we didn’t put together a cheat sheet of safer cleaning products for your home, too.

              Of course, there’s also no better product than making your own.  I swear by vinegar and baking soda.

              Do It Yourself

              Multi Purpose Spray:

              Take two parts warm water, to one part vinegar.  Put in a spray bottle and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and viola! You’ve got a multi purpose cleaning spray.  It’s even streak free on windows and mirrors.

              To clean your tub and shower:

              Put half to one cup of baking soda into a bowl.  Slowly add vinegar in small increments until you have a semi-crumbly paste.  Use on a scrubby sponge to clean.  It works wonders.

              To clean your toilets:

              Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into your toilet tank once a week. Make sure NO ONE uses that toilet for at least 30 minutes. I then add approx. 1/4 cup of baking soda to the toilet bowl and let that sit for a few minutes too. If need you can use a toilet brush to remove tough stains. Then flush! You have naturally disinfected the toilet and refreshed it too! Kills odors!

              Toilet Stain Cleaner: 1 cup borax, 1/4 cup lemon or vinegar juice

              Mix, then pour into the toilet bowl. Let sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub the stains away.

              (toilet cleaning recipes courtesy of dot com women)

              Great DIY Ideas and Recipes:

              Have any recipes of your own? Do share!

              Apr

              28

              SafeMama Cheat Sheet: Safer Hand Sanitizers

              Filed Under cleaning products, Product Safety, Safe Mama Tips | 11 Comments

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                For the longest time, we were always getting the question, what about sanitizing?  “I want to carry a hand sanitizer!“  “What about sanitizing my toys/baby bottles/pacifiers?“   It seems like these days, it’s so much more prevalent to see some parent slathering Purell or the like on their kid at every turn.   They keep giant warehouse size bottles of it in school classrooms.  Parents want to sanitize their entire life.   Even my washing machine has a sanitizing mode.  Do my kid’s socks really need to be sanitized?

                When we were younger our parents weren’t insane about wiping down grocery carts before we sat in them.   We didn’t have cart covers.    As much as I eschew religious references, like my mother says  “God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt!“.  Maybe she could use a little polishing on her grammar, but what she says is true. Yu can’t be sterilized all the time.  But dirt can be contaminated with pesticides, lead and PDBE’s…. I’m paranoid like that.

                I know that there are times when there is a need for something to sanitize when you’re on the run and you have nothing else available to you.   Like when the only place to go to the bathroom for miles is an old disgusting gas station rest room with no soap.

                Now that I’ve stepped up on my soapbox, here are some natural sanitizer alternatives:

                Looking to kill bacteria or fight germs in your home?   One of our favorite ingredients we’ve recommended time and time again, is vinegar.   Another great ingredient is lemon juice (from a fresh squeezed lemon is best).    Making a mix of the two to clean your counters and other surfaces in your home beats the pants of off those noxious smelling blue multipurpose cleaners any day of the week.

                Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

                You can easily make your own hand sanitizer.  Essential oils such as thyme, oregano, tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus to name a few are great at killing a host of bacteria.  Here’s an easy recipe from eHow.com

                Ingredients

                • 100% pure aloe vera gel (organic is preferred – aloe can be preserved with parabens)
                • Witch hazel
                • Tea Tree Oil
                • Peppermint Oil

                Directions

                • Place about 1 cup of your pure aloe vera gel into a bowl.
                • Slowly mix in 1-2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel. You do not want the consistency of the gel to become too thin.
                • Add 3-4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil, and 3-4 drops of Peppermint essential oil. Slowly stir ingredients together.
                • If you find the consistency to be too thin, add more aloe vera gel a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
                • Store in a re-purposed container.

                Most of the time however, just warm soapy water for 15-20 seconds is more than enough to kill germs.  I have my son sing his ABC’s while washing his hands to get into the practice of washing for long enough.    I save even the natural hand sanitizers for when we’re truly in need.

                Apr

                21

                YoreGanics Review: Soap Nuts (& Giveaway)

                Filed Under cleaning products, Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons | 80 Comments

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                  I have a confession.  I’ve sinned.  I’ve tripped over the green wagon.  I haven’t fallen off of it entirely, but I’ve had to use not so eco friendly products in recent months, for various reasons.  I don’t like it one bit, but I was having some major skin problems, as was my daughter and I had to resort to some conventional laundry detergent, on the off chance it was something in the detergent.    I really love the idea of a greener detergent and less chemicals being absorbed into my skin, but the rashes and the itchiness were just too much to bear.

                  And then, one day, Kimberly from Yoreganics emailed us to see if we’d be interested in doing a review.   Including some soap nuts.   I was intrigued.  No chemicals, just pure nature.  So I decided to give it a shot.  And like with any natural product, I’m an immediate skeptic.  Perhaps this is years and years of being brainwashed by large corporations making me think that surely all of those chemicals are necessary to clean your clothes.  And surely, that artificial “laundry” smell that we’re all so fond of is what laundry is truly supposed to smell like.

                  Soap nuts, if you’re not familiar (see inset) are nature’s little nuggets, hailing from the soapberry tree,  that give off the ability to create a lather.   You can use them for household cleaning, bathing, and of course, laundry.   Curious to see how they work?  Stephanie from Bubble and Bee put together a quick no frills video:

                  And there you have it.  The  washing machine agitates well enough to create a lather, leaving you with clean clothes.

                  So how did it work for me?

                  First, I did a load of whites, and put in Kim’s whitening powder, tossed the soap nuts in their handy little bag and threw them in my machine (note: you can still do this if you have a front loader, it works fine).   The result?  CLEAN clothes.  They smelled fresh, like clean laundry, but obviously not like chemically clean laundry.  It was pretty cool.   The best thing is that you can get a few loads out of one bag of soap nuts.   My clothes were also noticeably brighter.   Also? Not crunchy, which tends to happen with a lot of eco-friendly laundry detergents, I’ve noticed.  And who likes their clothes feeling as if you’ve put a pound of starch on them?  Especially baby clothes.

                  Win It:

                  We’re giving away a laundry trio, courtesy of Yoreganics.com.  This is a great deal and such a great opportunity to try out some soap nuts.  I think I’m a convert.

                  To Enter (Required):

                  To enter, simply visit Yoreganics.com and tell us what inspired Kim to create Yoreganics, and then leave your answer in the comments.

                  For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                  • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via RSS reader
                  • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                  • Share this giveaway on Facebook
                  • Fan SafeMama on Facebook
                  • Follow @safemama on Twitter
                  • Follow @yoreganics on Twitter
                  • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED DAILY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): RT Enter to #win a @Yoreganics soap trio from @safemama #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/yywy4ox

                  One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until May 5, 2010 at midnight PST. Good Luck :D Giveaway Ended!  Thanks to all who entered!

                  Apr

                  14

                  EcoStore USA Products a SafeMama Favorite (Giveaway!)

                  Filed Under cleaning products, Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons | 130 Comments

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                    We reviewed EcoStore’s products ages ago.  Well, Statia did and I never got around to trying any of them myself.  I meant to though.  So when EcoStore reached out to me to do another review along with a great giveaway I was so willing and happy to do it.  For review, EcoStore USA sent me a bottle of their plant based Dishwash Liquid and their plant based Laundry Liquid to try out.

                    EcoStore was founded over 15 years ago by Melanie and Malcolm Rands who were living in an eco village in New Zealand.  Having to be responsible for your own water waste and it became apparent that petroleum based soaps and products were damaging to the villages delicate waterways.  Malcolm started working with scientists to develop products that would be gentle on the environment, and gentle on us.  No Nasty Chemicals is their mantra and SafeMama loves that!

                    Having not tried these before I was really impressed that their products were all super concentrated.  A lot of “green” brands claim this but I always end up using more to overcompensate for shabby performance.  The perfect example is the Dishwash Liquid.  I have several other brands next to my sink but inevitably when I’m doing dishes I keep going back for more and more soap because they A) don’t suds the way we are all used to with regular soaps and B) They don’t really clean all that great so I end up washing things twice.  That’s a lot of soap and money literally down the drain.  I will admit I was really skeptical that EcoStore’s Dishwash Liquid would be different but I was pleasantly surprised.  It has a light lemony scent which feels “clean” to me.

                    One of the things I struggle the most with is laundry detergent.  Confession time.  I was still using TIDE.  Free and clear Tide but TIDE.  ME! SafeMama…using TIDE.  I feel so much shame.  I tried… really, I tried lots of eco-friendly laundry soaps and eventually my laundry started looking dull and funky every time. So I went back to Tide.  But then EcoStore sent me their Laundry Liquid.  The clouds parted, the sun streamed in on my washing machine and my fluffy clean laundry thanked me.  I think I can break my Tide habit, finally.  This Landry liquid is concentrated so you literally use a tablespoon or so for a full load.  It suds and cleans, and my laundry comes out smelling clean and faintly of cool eucalyptus.  After a month or so I still have bright clean laundry not to mention plenty laundry Liquid left, and no sad gray looking socks that used to be white.  If you need extra boosting power EcoStore does carry a Pure Oxygen Whitener which Statia really likes.

                    Get It Yourself: You can pick up all of these products and other great stuff like bar soap, baby shampoo as well as pet care on their website EcoStoreUSA.com.  Order now and get TWO for ONE during Earth Month as well as free shipping on orders over $25! That’s an awesome deal… I think I’ll stock up on Dishwash Liquid right now…

                    WIN!

                    EcoStore USA is offering a great giveaway to one lucky SafeMama reader.  The winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to use on the EcoStore USA website!

                    To Enter (Required):

                    Visit EcoStoreUSA and tell us what product of theirs you’d love to try out!

                    For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                    One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until April 28, 2010 at midnight PST. Good Luck :D

                    (Please note: If you have won a prize from EcoStore in the last 6 months you will be ineligible to win. )

                    Feb

                    12

                    Clearing the Air: Germ Guardian Review and Safer Air Cleaning Remedies

                    Filed Under allergies, cleaning products, Healthy Home | 5 Comments

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                      I had never thought much about cleaning the air in my home.  A long time ago I just masked any funkiness with air freshening sprays, carpet powders and candles.  Little did I know I was polluting the air in my house more by doing those things.  Since I’ve tried to eliminate toxic chemicals from my house, the air included I’ve adopted more effective practices.  And while I have no way to measure whether the air in my house is actually cleaner, I can rest a little easier knowing my attempts are safer.  Between two kids, dogs and a husband who trains for marathons (read: smelly workout gear), odors do turn up.  Here is my attack methods and a review of one air purifier I’ve been trying out.

                      House Plants

                      This seems like a silly and obvious tip, but apparently plants do a better job of cleaning and filtering the air than anything else.  Some of the best plants for removing toxins (like formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide) are Bamboo Palms, Chinese Evergreens, English Ivy and Gerber Daisies.  NASA ran some research tests and came up with a Top 10 list of house plants that clean the air.  Here is their comprehensive list:

                      • Bamboo Palm – Chamaedorea Seifritzii
                      • Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum
                      • English Ivy Hedera Helix
                      • Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii
                      • Janet Craig - Dracaena “Janet Craig”
                      • Marginata - Dracaena Marginata
                      • Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana
                      • Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria Laurentii
                      • Pot Mum – Chrysantheium morifolium
                      • Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum
                      • Warneckii - Dracaena “Warneckii”

                      Fresh Air!

                      Ever hear the term “stale air”? There is some truth to it! The more air tight your home is (which is typical of newer construction) the more opportunity dust, dust mites and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have to accumulate.   Drafty homes aren’t great for your heating bill but they are a little healthier in terms of air quality.  Not everyone can do this all the time (especially in the winter) but as soon as the opportunity arrives, open as many windows as possible to get some quality air flow through your house.   I try to do this when I am doing a big clean (which doesn’t happen often enough around here) so help move the air through the house.

                      Air Purifiers with HEPA Filters

                      At first, I started using these in my sons room to create some white noise while he slept… our house was quite small at the time and it seemed to drown out any noise going on in other areas.  But it also served as a way to clean the air he was sleeping in.  Since I had to clean the filters and screens monthly I can only assume that gunk was pulled out of the air.  Ew. What I didn’t realize was that it was important to use an air purifier with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter to aid in removing allergens and blocking tiny particles which can irritate airways or cause an allergic reactions.

                      I had the opportunity to try out an air purifier from Germ Guardian, UV-C and True HEPA Air Cleansing System.  In addition to the HEPA filter it also has a UV-C light to kill common germs and bacteria, kills airborne mold spores and fights odors (like the diaper pail perhaps?). It has a quiet and powerful fan system, which makes good white noise… no rattling or knocking noises.  It’s really made well and comes apart easily for cleaning.  This is an especially perfect unit for those of us who haven’t invested in a HEPA house filter yet.

                      Permanent Solutions / Tips

                      • Choose Low or No-VOC paints
                      • Choose carpets made of natural fibers like wool
                      • Choose natural and/or untreated materials when selecting furniture
                      • Dust often and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter
                      • Use HEPA filters on your HVAC
                      • Have forced air systems cleaned and sealed
                      • Use soy candles – they create less soot
                      • Skip the toxic cleaners!

                      Have another tip? Let us know!

                      Browse > Home / Technology / NASA Study House Plants Clean Air

                      NASA Study House Plants Clean Air

                      Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. Those plants in your office or home are not only decorative, but NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings.

                      NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) have announced the findings of a 2-year study that suggest a sophisticated pollution-absorbing device: the common indoor plant may provide a natural way of helping combat “SICK BUILDING SYNDROME”.

                      Research into the use of biological processes as a means of solving environmental problems, both on Earth and in space habitats, has been carried out for many years by Dr. Bill Wolverton, formerly a senior research scientist at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, Miss.

                      Based on preliminary evaluations of the use of common indoor plants for indoor air purification and revitalization, ALCA joined NASA to fund a study using about a dozen popular varieties of ornamental plants to determine their effectiveness in removing several key pollutants associated with indoor air pollution. NASA research on indoor plants has found that living plants are so efficient at absorbing contaminants in the air that some will be launched into space as part of the biological life support system aboard future orbiting space stations.

                      golden pothos excellent in cleaning indoor air

                      While more research is needed, Wolverton says the study has shown that common indoor landscaping plants can remove certain pollutants from the indoor environment. “We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places, ” he concludes.

                      Each plant type was placed in sealed, Plexiglas chambers in which chemicals were injected. Philodendron, spider plant and the golden pothos were labeled the most effective in removing formaldehyde molecules. Flowering plants such as gerbera daisy and chrysanthemums were rated superior in removing benzene from the chamber atmosphere. Other good performers are Dracaena Massangeana, Spathiphyllum, and Golden Pothos. “Plants take substances out of the air through the tiny openings in their leaves,” Wolverton said. “But research in our laboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors”.

                      “Combining nature with technology can increase the effectiveness of plants in removing air pollutants,” he said. “A living air cleaner is created by combining activated carbon and a fan with a potted plant. The roots of the plant grow right in the carbon and slowly degrade the chemicals absorbed there,” Wolverton explains.

                      NASA Clean air study
                      NASA Study shows common plants help reduce indoor air pollution….

                      NASA research has consistently shown that living, green and flowering plants can remove several toxic chemicals from the air in building interiors. You can use plants in your home or office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to live and work – where people feel better, perform better, any enjoy life more.

                      TOP 10 plants most effective in removing:
                      Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Carbon Monoxide from the air

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