Tips for Greening your Cleaning!

Happy Spring!

I don't know about you, but after I've sorted through the annual garden clean-up...aerated, limed and fertilized the lawn, fixed the garden beds and planted new annuals...my attention shifts from the outdoors to the indoors. Yes my friends, it's time for spring cleaning.(ugh!)

Purging, cleaning and changing my winter decor to a spring-summer decor has become an annual routine that actually helps me feel organized and more relaxed. This rite of passage helps prepare me for a much needed transition to the outdoors after being couped up for 6 months due to harsh/unpredictable Northeast winter weather. A big part of this annual rite of spring includes cleaning windows. Yes, this is a laborious task, but it is not thankless. There's something to be said about knowing your windows are clean when you open them to let in the sweet-smelling fresh air of spring.

Believe me, I wish I could afford to have someone clean my windows for me, I'm not a glutton for punishment. Alas, as that's not a reality, the next best thing I can do is make the process as painless as possible.  And thankfully, my windows are self-tilting, making it so it's so much easier to clean the interior and exterior of the windows.

I've looked into some cleaning products to help us along. Some are basic natural products that have been successfully used for over a hundred years, others are new "natural" offers. Hope these help you as you get ready for the nice weather and BBQ season.

Best,

Paula


From Real Simple (www.realsimple.com) Feb 2011

All You Need in Your Cleaning Cabinet

Latex Gloves-that extend to the forearms for serious coverage
Half-height bucket-fits under faucet and holds plenty
Distilled white vinegar-the elixir of cleaning products-stains, sanitizing, windows, (with baking soda removes drain clogs)
A high-octane disinfectant to kill bacteria in the bathroom
A mild abrasive-removes rust, lime marks and cleans stainless steel
All-purpose cleaner-in a natural scent you love
Disposable wipes-for quick jobs (I think this is unnecessary as they crete more garbage than using other solutions)
Nylon sponges with soft and scrubber sides
Micro-fiber cloths-great for dusting as well as washing
and, my 2 cents....baking soda, the other natural cleaning stable

Natural Product Cleaning Options:

Method-Found in Target and many grocery stores-this is an affordable, reliable brand. I love the Clementine Dish Wash Liquid.
speaking of which....
Sunlight OxiAction Gel Dish Detergent is phosphate free
With Phosphate-free soaps, you have to get used to a difference in the suds. Watch your silverware, phosphate-free formulas don't clean them as well, so you don't want to over-fill the bin.
GreenWorks-Made by Clorox, these products combine main stream merchandising with natural ingredients
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day-All purpose Cleaner-A solid performer for light cleaning
EcoSense-Branded cleaning solutions by Melaleuca-Well-made, well-priced and well-marketed. I have not tried these personally, but would like to.
NatureClean-since 1963-Non-Perfumed, 99.9% natural 3x laundry detergent. I love this product as it meets several needs: 1)It's affordable 2)It's packaging saves over 80% plastic 3) It's created without Petrochemicals, Phosphates and other harmful irritants so it's 4) Great for people with allergies or skin conditions.

Let us know if you have any favorites or any tips to help "green the clean."

Mother Nature Festival-Saturday May 7th-Lawrence Nature Center

Happy Spring!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate the spring season, then spending an afternoon in the great outdoors.  This Saturday, May 7th, from 1-5pm, Lawrence Nature Center will be hosting speakers and activities for a fun and informative afternoon dedicated to Mother Earth.

Schedule:

1pm Rain Garden
1:30 Guided Nature Tour
1:30 Front Yard Edible Gardeing
2:00 Wild Animal Show
3:00 Guided Nature Tour
3:00 Solar Update
3:45 Dedicated to Ralph Copleman-Co-founder Sustainable Lawrence
4:00 Weatherizing your home
4:30 Bee Hive Talk
4:30 Guided Nature Walk

Hope you can join us!

Best,

Paula

Sustainable Lawrence hosts Home & Energy Expo

It is my pleasure to share news of the upcoming Home & Energy Expo, taking place April 10th, 10am-3pm, Lawrence High School, Lawrence, NJ. If you are in the Mercer County area, please join us in learning more about green options for cleaning, heating, cooling and decorating your home.

Lawrence Home and Energy Expo to be Held Sunday

The free event, to be held Sunday at Lawrence High School, is intended to help members of the community “make informed remodeling and purchasing decisions that promote sustainability.”

By Michael Ratcliffe | Email the author | April 8, 2011

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The annual Home and Energy Expo – the first in a series of six events planned to be held this year by Sustainable Lawrence in conjunction with the Lawrence Township Green Team – will take place Sunday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lawrence High School at 2525 Princeton Pike.

The six-event series is intended to highlight projects and practices designed “to improve your health, comfort and quality of life, while saving money and being good to our environment.”

The goal of Home and Energy Expo, in particular, is to help members of the community “make informed remodeling and purchasing decisions that promote sustainability.”

Tahirih Smith, director of Sustainable Lawrence, will give the keynote address and discuss the other upcoming events that Sustainable Lawrence has planned, while special guest speaker Mike Winka, director of New Jersey Clean Energy, will talk about NJCE’s policies and rebate offers. And Thomas Eldridge, business administrator for Lawrence Township Public Schools, will talk about how the school district generated over $1 million in revenue in one year’s time through its solar panel project.

According to Sustainable Lawrence officials , expo attendees will be able to:

• learn about the latest energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning products and other ways they can save money heating and cooling their homes;
• explore green cleaning options;
• learn the benefits of an energy audit;
• hear information about geothermal and solar financing and installation from homeowners and installers;
• find out how to recycle old appliances and get money toward new efficient ones;
• explore new “eco-chic” appliance, fixture and decorating options;
• gain practical insight from neighbors and benefit from hands-on demonstrations;
• compare offers from various experts.