There, while we discussed good resources for product ingredient lists and standards, an audience member dropped what sounded like a bomb to all of us in the natural parenting, green cleaning and organic living world:

On January 1, 2010, all household products will have full ingredient lists on their labeling.

How did this amazing change in chem-laden products come about? Blame Thank Canada.

Here are the deets on these requirements.

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Editor’s note: The following post was originally published on Green and Clean Mom. “Green & Clean Mom can inspire you to try a little harder, be a catalyst for change and to offer you some new tips and news on how to be the green, sexy and sassy mom…I know you are!”

Tomorrow my son turns five, and I’m feeling emotional. This week is a big roller coaster of emotions for me. My son had kindergarten round up, so I had to come to terms that he’s no longer a baby, toddler or even preschooler but heading into the school age realm where the world is much bigger and less sheltered. I’ll explain some of my observations during round up and how being a “green” mom I couldn’t not notice a few things that left lumps in my throat. But besides the birthday and kindergarten round up I head to my State capitol tomorrow with my son to advocate for early childhood services and programs. I’m emotional over this because it’s so important and dear to my heart and the idea of seeing thousands of parents, educators and children all rallying for our young children makes me feel so proud. I am excited for my son on his 5th birthday to be a part of such an important day and to see what his mom does and learn a small piece about government at such a young age. Oh and then there was my skin cancer examination went well and I have nothing to be worried about other than having melasma on my face - which has brought me to tears because most of the treatment options explored are far from “natural”.

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The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Cleaning Second Editionby Mary Findley and Linda Formichelli is a newly updated version of the original Green Cleaning guide and is packed full of advice on how to clean anything and everything green.

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As responsible citizens of Earth, we are obligated to nurture and sustain this planet. Eco-living in green, healthy homes is taking precedence these days over traditional building materials.

With a growing amount of education and technology in Eco-sustainable resources, many countries are leading the way towards a paradigm of green building and construction. In the world of home remodeling and landscaping, there are many things that should be taken into consideration.

There are many green, Eco-friendly materials that replace the need for asbestos and can reduce energy costs annually. The implementation of Eco-construction,  energy efficient solutions and energy reduction solutions has continued to play an important role in the transformation to a healthier and sustainable world.

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Some progress is being by Disney, however slow. According to the CHEJ :

“Disney World Parks & Resorts has made progress since CHEJ began its Disney Go Green campaign by introducing some green cleaning products and reviewing current practices. “Disney World absolutely understands green cleaning. Since we began our campaign, they have made progress, but until Disney World shows real leadership and commitment by implementing a written and comprehensive green cleaning policy, their job isn’t done.” said Renée Blanchard, Program Coordinator at CHEJ.”

They’d waited long enough. It was time to act.

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Jessica has already shared with our readers her love affair with microfiber, and I have to agree I’m in love with E-cloths.

E-cloth® uses microfiber technology to pull and capture dirt, dust, grease, oil and more from hard surfaces without the need for chemicals.   Perfect to have on hand in the kitchen to clean in between courses.  E-cloth® is made to clean hard surfaces from kitchen countertops to wood shelves to stainless steel appliances and glass (leaving no discoloration, streaks or smudges) all without a single chemical cleaner.  Specially cut fibers utilize pure tap water to clean at the microbial level, saving your family from having to choose between a dirty home and harmful chemicals.

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Am not.

But I dare say I might become one.

I do enjoy a good cup of coffee, but caffeine sometimes makes me edgy.  Though I have managed to mostly avoid the lure of Starbucks, I have been known to indulge in a white chocolate mocha at Second Cup, or a French Vanilla at Tim Horton’s… and don’t get me started about Iced Cappucino in the summer!!

Then I read 5 Ways to Green Your Coffee and I got the itch.

So I bought myself a french press and some fresh-ground, organic, Fair Trade coffee.  And I just had to share a little about the company behind my coffee.

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Apple Cider Vinegar dates back to over 10,000 years ago. Not everyone knows that apple cider vinegar can be used in variety. It’s not just for your salad or for pickling. Apple cider vinegar is an old folk remedy known as a cure all for many types of ailments. Not only does it promote health but it is used for home cleaning and beauty enhancement.

Apple cider vinegar is a natural antibiotic and antiseptic. It’s a germ and bacteria fighter. It’s also great for balancing your body’s pH levels. A daily dose of apple cider vinegar is equated to having “your apple a day…” It’s rich in enzymes and potassium.  ACV will help your body absorb calcium and magnesium. A teaspoon of ACV added to an 8 oz. glass of water, can offer a numerous benefits to your health. It can increase energy for one and fight off a cold for two.  At the first sign of a cold add one teaspoon of ACV to a four ounce glass and drink several cups throughout the day. It’s great for adding to a Neti Pot or humidifier for stuffed up nose, sniffles and allergies.

The many wonders of apple cider vinegar are endless. For home cleaning you can add it to your dishwasher where the rinse aid would normally go.  It will cleanse your dishes better and help remove hard water spots. Works great in conjuction with an eco friendly dishwashing detergent! In the laundry, you can forgo bleach for good. Use it to brighten your whites, keep clothes from fading, as a stain remover and it rinses clothes more throughly from any lingering detergent. If you’re worried about the smell, don’t be. ACV will not leave a smell on your laundry. Apple cider vinegar is a great disfectant. Simply use it to wipe off counter tops and even areas that tend to collect germs such as your door-knobs, phones, computer, lightswitches, etc. You’ll want to dilute it in water using a 50/50 mix.

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I was sent a sample of Eco Store’s Automatic Dishwashing Soap, and I almost fell over when the box arrived. Peanuts, it was packed to the brim in packing peanuts.

I don’t even know what to say. I was (and am) startled that a company who wanted to be sustainable would ship in a packaging that will outlast my Great Grandchildren. What’s worse is this.

I love the product.

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On a day-to-day basis I’m perfectly satisfied with cleaning with vinegar and baking soda; it’s effective and reduces my family’s chemical exposure.  When the flu virus rears its ugly head, however, my gut instinct is to pull out the the big guns: the Clorox bleach.  I can’t help it.  I’m looking for total annhilation.  I want to keep my kids healthy; I hate to see them sick.  I want those germs stopped in their tracks.

Don’t worry.  Knowing bleach has no place in the home, I stopped buying it long ago.

What can you do when you want to avoid exposing your children to toxic chemicals like bleach, but still kill the germs that will make them sick?

It’s simple. Keep white vinegar in a spray bottle, and 3% hydrogen peroxide in another.  (The bottle containing the hydrogen peroxide should be opaque, as it will degrade in a clear bottle.)  Spray your contaminated surfaces with the vinegar and follow with the hyrogen peroxide.

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It is only recently that I began to wonder if Simple Green really is as ecologically friendly and safe as the name of this cleaning product implies.

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PureAyre makes several organic odor eliminating sprays that really do work for the smells babies, kids, and adults produce in the bathroom.

In our family of four, we have only one bathroom. Sometimes in the mornings, we can’t wait for the air to clear before another family member needs to brush their teeth before school.  We keep a bottle of PureAyre on the back of the toilet, and it really does works to eliminate odors without masking them.  I don’t really understand how it works, but the strong smells just seem to disappear.  I’ve tried lavender bunches, matches, scented candles, etc., but nothing compares to PureAyre’s ability to eliminate odor.

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Well, not exactly, but really close. My mother, like many others walks out of retail stores that smell like heavy cleansers and would sooner live in filth than in a house with Pine Sol. I’m not as sensitive as my mother, but I’ve tried to keep my house friendly t her and others like her.

Today I cleaned the house from top to bottom with EcoDiscoveries products and guess what my mother smelled? Nothing.

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Enter GreenRaising.com, an all-green gift hub of gorgeous recycled wrap, cool reusable bottles and bags, fair trade chocolate, green school supplies, soaps and lotions, even cleaning supplies!

This fabulous one stop portal imparts an earth-friendly message, while helping financially strapped schools and youth organizations with socially responsible spending. (um, could our government sign up?)

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Naturally Clean is written by Jeffrey Hollender, Geoff Davis, Meika Hollendar, and Reed Doyle. The book is divided into seven sections:

1. Case for Change at Home: These chapters are about the chemicals in household cleaners and the negative effects they have on our health, including cancer, asthma, hormone disruptions, and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS).
   

   Like almost anything else, there is a good side and a bad side to all the molecular manipulation chemists practice. There are safe chemicals, and there are unsafe chemicals. Our problem today is that we don’t really know which are which.

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My spring water comes from the roots of an old oak tree and is gravity fed to my home. This may sound idyllic, until you see the mineral stains it leaves on the shower and tub walls.  I scrub and scrub until I get tendonnitis, but those stubborn stains return in about a week.  Like my toilet, I like to keep my bathtub clean for my little ones.  Seventh Generation Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner has simplified this tedious job.  I simply spray it on, let it sit for about three minutes, then gently scrub the stains away with a walnut scrubber sponge.  No more crazy scrubbing until my arms ache, and since it is made by Seventh Generation, I am not worried about my children being exposed to this cleaning product.

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A couple days ago, I recounted my story about how I was forced to abandon my abode (a small tent) due to a blight of mold.  The old children’s song of the first lyric is what Pittsburgh’s been singin’ all summer.  The second is a little ditty I’ve been singin’, ever since I kissed that tent goodbye.

I haven’t tossed the tent in the garbage (that wouldn’t be very sustainable!)  I do plan on redeeming it: even if it ends up stained by the mold, its function shouldn’t be reduced by the event.  Since my close encounter of the fungal kind, I’ve been doing research about methods for removing mold.  Read on for sustainable solutions for dealing with moldy clothing.

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Basic H2 Organic cleaning concentrate was the first official Earth Day product in 1990 and has hundred of uses. From windows to stovetops, the concentrate allows you to mix the appropriate amount of water for your use.  This little 16 oz. bottle of concentrate can mix up an unbelievable 48 gallons of safe, powerful cleaner.

Basic H2 is quite sudsy, so I suspect it contains SLS; however, I am not sure this as much of a concern for a cleaning product as it is for a beauty product.  As long as your child’s skin doesn’t come into contact with it, it would not be irritating. Shaklee, the makers of Basic H2, will not release full disclosure of ingredients because, “We do not list the  specific ingredients for all of the cleaners as some of the formulae are proprietary.” This is common with household cleaners, but they state their products are from sustainable sources such as corn and coconut (SLS is coconut-derived).

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Whether you’re working from home or from a downtown high-rise, you can conserve paper, reduce energy use, and produce less waste by keeping the environment in mind for all your office purchases. In this article, I’ll share ideas for stocking your green office and sources of green office products.

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