However, the use of cleaning products can’t be totally eliminated as no matter how much effort you give in warning people about its effects to their health and the atmosphere, many would still choose to utilize such products because of the convenience and assistance that it can give when it comes to their home cleaning and other household dilemmas.

Indeed, most commercially-manufactured cleaning products, rust removers, deodorizers, carpet cleaning products and the like are effective and can help you achieve the results that you want or need. Unfortunately, there are lots of consequences to be suffered as you go along the use of such products. Its bad effects may not be experienced directly but over time you will then realize that you never should’ve indulge yourself or family to cleaning products enhanced with harsh ingredients.

Chemicals, toxins and other harmful ingredients are usually contained in most commercial cleaning agents. These elements can cause a great deal of allergies, skin irritations and worst, severe cases of certain diseases such as those involving the respiratory system. Chemical or toxic exposure should never be encouraged as such condition can contribute to loads of further damages in our almost-dying planet.

What you need in order to keep on cleaning your house as effective as possible but with the kind of safety that no other commercial cleaning products could give is a better alternative which is eco-friendly and natural by all means. You may be wondering if such products exist. Fortunately, with the innovations in our technology, the advent of green carpet cleaning products and other household agents have been made possible.

Since carpet cleaning, when taken for granted can cause a lot of real cleaning troubles, making sure you have the most effective and safest carpet cleaners should always be your concern. A regular carpet cleaning and maintenance should always be put forward to eliminate molds, dirt, allergens and stains to accumulate. With proper means and products, you can be assured of a successful carpet cleaning that is safe for your family and the planet. And there is no other and better way to accomplish that than with the help of the best natural carpet cleaning products.

If you want a safe and effective alternative for your carpet cleaning, then might as well consider the use of biodegradable carpet cleaning products. A harmless method of keeping your carpets stain and dirt free can be achieved when you make use of all-natural carpet cleaning products.

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Paper Or Plastic?

The answer to that is neither. Most people answer this question saying paper, that is a wrong answer. Use re-usable bags that you can buy online or from stores in your area. Keep your bags in your vehicle so that if you make an unexpected stop to purchase something you have your own bag with you. You can Google cloth bags and find a choice for yourself.

Cleaning Products

Not only do cleaning products put toxins in your home for you, your children and your pets to breathe they are also not environmentally friendly. I use products that are natural and organic, have no warning labels so I know if my toddlers get them I am not going to have to rush them to the emergency room to have their stomachs pumped or call the poison control center. Women that work at home run a higher risk of cancer than women that work away from home. The risk is 54% higher. As I work from home and have children and pets I switched to all natural products. Shaklee not only has all natural products they are also the first company in the world to be certified Climate Neutral meaning they leave no footprint on the planet.

Packaging

When you are buying look at the packaging, things that are packaged inside of packaging cause too much waste. Buy things that are minimally packaged.

Paper Plates Or Plastic Plates?

Of course it is best not to use either but there are times when we must. When you are faced with this situation buy plastic plates that are 100% recycled. You can wash these, in an all natural dish detergent and use them over and over. Once done they are recyclable.

Organic Produce:

Buy produce that is organic. This means that it was grown with no pesticides which makes it healthier for you and for the planet. It costs a little more but is well worth the price. You can find a place near you where you can purchase organic produce online. Local Harvest is a great place to look, type in your zip code to find a farmer near you.

Reusable Water Bottles:

Instead of buying bottled water buy reusable water bottles. With the money you save from buying bottled water you can afford to buy a water filtration system for your home. Or you can buy reusable water bottles with a filter built in to them.

Look at your local landfill:

If you go take a look at a landfill in your area it will give you a wake up call. Most of the things there are not bio degradable and the ones that are will not be gone in your lifetime or the lifetime of your children and grand children.

Light Bulbs:

Buy energy efficient light bulbs. They are higher than the regular light bulbs you have been purchasing but they last for 5-10 years so the cost is minimal in reality. G E makes some great CFL bulbs. You will not only be helping the planet you will also find that you save on your electric bill. If everyone changed just one light bulb it would be equivalent to saving the carbon emissions on 800,000 cars. I switched all light bulbs in my home so I know this has made a huge difference to the planet.

Re-Cycle

The average person creates 4.5 pounds of trash per day. Think how much is going into the landfills if you are not re-cycling. You can re-cycle aluminum cans and foil, glass, but please rinse all containers before re-cycling, paper, a 4ft stack of recycled newspaper is equivalent to a 40 ft. fir tree, cardboard, such as cardboard boxes but if you have a cardboard container that pizza came in it can not be recycled as they can not use it if it is dirty, take your packing peanuts to your local shipping store, most will take them from you happily. I re-use my aluminum foil over and over before recycling it. I also buy foods packaged in containers that I can use to put left overs in when possible.

Water Consumption:

When showering or taking a bath spend less time in the shower and do not fill your tub to capacity when taking a bath. This will save a lot of water and if we all did this we could save enough water to ensure that everyone in the world could have water. Also fill up your sink when shaving instead of running the water for the duration of the time it takes you to shave.

Re-cycled Products:

Use re-cycled toilet paper and paper towels. I know it is not as easy to shop when you have to check packaging but think of the good you are doing for the environment.

Napkins:

The average person uses 6 paper napkins a day. That is a lot of waste going into our landfills. I switched to cloth napkins and then I just wash them in my environmentally friendly laundry product and re use them. I love the feel of the cloth napkin as opposed to paper also, it adds a nice touch to the meal.

Smart Power Strips:

Plug your small appliances, tv’s and clocks into smart power strips. When not in use turn them off from the strip, this will save you a lot of money on your electric bill and is very healthy for the environment.

Candles:

Most of us love candles. Use an all natural candle made from soy, they burn clean and clean up with soap and water. I know I love the smell of candles in my home.

Printer Ink:

Instead of buying a new cartridge each time you need ink take your cartridge to a store where they re-fill them. I get mine done at CVS Pharmacies.

Gift Wrap:

Buy gift wrap that is made of 100% recycled paper.

Computers:

Instead of throwing your old computer away donate it. You can also find people that buy them to re-build them.

If each of you will incorporate one of these tips into your daily life the difference you make will be huge. I do all the things I have listed, as I said I am very passionate about my planet and especially the health of my family. It is difficult in the beginning to make all these changes but it becomes routine before long as anything you practice all the time does. How passionate are you about the planet? Thank you for being here and I hope I have given you some great tips you have not thought of before.

Cheryl C McNeil

1-05-08

Cheryl C McNeil is a life coach who enjoys helping people create changes in all areas of their life.

Trained at the beginning of her career by Ellie Drake, Cheryl has much to offer. Receive a free 30 minute consultation by contacting Cheryl at 817-902-2580.

Visit http://cherylcmcneil.com for all natural products

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Green Investments: A good place to start is with your light bulbs. If you’re still using incandescent bulbs, you should switch to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs or regular fluorescent bulbs. Many cities in the United States have an exchange program, where your city will replace your incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs -at no cost.

Green Power Save gadget: This handy gadget will help to monitor the supply of power to your home and regulate the usage. It will use the minimum needed to supply all your power needs.

Green Usage: The first thing you need to do is become aware of the extra energy your using. When you go to another room, be sure to turn of the lights. Even if you are gone for only a few minutes, this will help to get yourself trained to continually turn off unneeded appliances.

Your Green Perception: What do you perceive as an electronic appliance? Would you turn off a TV or a radio, but not the reading lamp? These small and simple tasks will help in a huge way to reduce your energy usage.

Green Appliance Usage: If we start thinking green when it comes to using our major home appliances, we can eliminate the myth that the more gadgets we have, the higher our power bills will be. Some of the typical high energy usage appliances include:

Washer and Dryer- Try do laundry only when you have full loads, and if possible, try switching to a gas dryer.

Water Heater- Set the water heater to be on the minimum amount of time, and if possible, switch to a tankless water heater.

You might think that purchasing these new appliances defeats the purpose of saving money on your energy bill. However, you will find, most of the time, that you will get an energy credit on your taxes for making this purchase, and saving energy in the long term.

Heater & Air Conditioner- By setting these appliances to only the minimum amount required to be comfortable, you can greatly reduce the energy they use.

Computer- By turning off your computer monitor when you take a break can make a huge difference. It only takes a second to turn it back on… think of it as a light bulb.

You must stick to this energy saving lifestyle to reduce your energy bills and help save the world. We need to stop thinking about ourselves, and think of the next generations to come!

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill.

Get our complete guide at Modern-Trends.info/Energy.

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There is something we can all do to reduce the amount of waste we create as consumers and it starts at home. It will take a little more effort that we are used to, but it is worth it when you consider how much trash could be used as a resource.

Here are four simple ways we can reduce the load coming from our homes into landfills or oceans.

1. Reuse: Instead of throwing away cardboard boxes, use them for art projects or reuse them as mailers. A shoe box makes a great mailer and saves money you would spend to purchase a box at the post office. A plastic juice bottle with the top one-fourth cut off can make a safe vase for flowers. An empty bottle of dish wash makes a fun squirt bottle for summer outdoor water activities. A soup can may be used as a pencil holder. Cover it with contact paper to keep the rim smooth and avoid cuts. An oatmeal canister can hold small toys like Legos and action figures. You can even cut “windows” and a drop down door for your castle.

2. Recycle: Collect glass, cardboard, aluminum, and plastic that you would normally toss into your trash can. Purchase some inexpensive plastic bins at your local department store and use them to hold your recyclable items. We keep our recycling bins in the garage where they are out of sight but convenient to the kitchen where most of our trash is created. Be sure to rinse the residue from cans and bottles so you don’t attract bugs! We also collapse food packaging that comes in boxes to conserve space in our collection area. About every three to four weeks we carry our recyclable items to our local recycling center. Some cities offer curb side pickup, which makes it even easier.

3. How many plastic bags do you bring home from the store in a week? Probably far more than you can possibly use. Don’t throw them away; take them back to the store next time you shop. Many grocery stores collect them for recycling. I prefer to use canvas bags because they hold more and stay put rather than sliding around and scattering the contents all over the trunk. It may take a few trips before you get used to taking them into the store with you. Several times, I’ve had to go back to the car to get them, but once you get used to shopping with a lightweight bag on your shoulder you probably won’t ever use one of those wire or plastic totes the store offers. Simply toss your items into your canvas bag and empty it on the counter when you are ready to check out.

4. Most of us probably do not throw our old clothes away. Most leave them hanging in the closet taking up space we could actually use to get better organized and find the items we do want to wear. Go through your closet about once every two or three months and remove the clothes you no longer enjoy wearing. Take them to Goodwill or donate them to another charity where they may be reused while they are still in style. Some skirts and shirts contain enough material that can be can used for craft projects.

I hope you will begin to use these simple tips to reduce your volume of household discards and help the environment. When we help the environment, we help ourselves, other people, and the plants and animals that depend upon the earth for existence.

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS). She and her team of ghostwriters are ready to assist with writing and editing for books, Web text, bios, articles, and media releases. For more information about writing, networking, publishing, and book promotion, sign up for free email delivery of WITS newsletter by visiting http://www.writersinthesky.com. New subscribers receive a free eBook Tips for Freelance Writing.

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* Lighten up on your lights. Compact fluorescent bulbs utilize approximately 25% the energy of their regular bulb counterparts. In layman’s terms, if every American household changed just one bulb, the emissions savings would be comparable to removing 3 million motor vehicles from the road for an entire year. Fluorescent bulbs cost more but last 10 times longer. With fluorescent bulbs you can save up to $50 in electricity per light over their lifetime. Because they contain minute amounts of mercury, check with your local waste authority about proper disposal. To save even more money on lighting, install timers and dimmer switches. Turn off lights when leaving a room. Use solar-powered lighting in your patio or back yard.

* Get rid of energy leeches. About 40 percent of the total energy used to run home electronics is used up when the items are not even turned on. Energy can be consumed through the cords of plug-in items such as cell phone chargers, computers, toasters, and other electric items. Be sure to unplug appliances when not in use and put your computer and monitor in the sleep mode since they consume about 95% less energy than those running on full power.

* Become “Star” Struck. A joint venture program between the Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Star helps you save money and protect the environment through energy-saving products and practices. Thanks to Energy Star, Americans saved $14 billion on their energy bills in 2006 while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions tantamount to those coming from 25 million motor vehicles. When you go shopping, look for items bearing the Energy Star label that says “Exceeds government efficiency standards by using less water or electricity.”

* Load up the refrigerator. Refrigerators consume the most energy in the house. However, a filled-to-the-limit refrigerator saves you money because it stays colder and operates more efficiently. To maximize the efficiency, set the thermostat of the refrigerator at 37 degrees and the freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

* Turn up the heat. By reducing your thermostat 2 degrees during winter and raising it 3 degrees during summer, you will prevent the annual emission of about 700 pounds of carbon monoxide. In addition, every degree lowered during the winter month saves you 5% on your utility bill.

* Lose the drippy faucet. Just one drop of water per second from a leaky faucet can expend about 160 gallons of water every month. To save money in the bathroom, consider installing water-efficient showerheads. A family of four can shave water usage by nearly 275 gallons per month by changing to the low-flow models.

* Keep an eye out for your water temperature. Electric water heaters manufactured after 2004 have tons of insulation. On any model before that, wrap the water heater with insulating blankets. By doing this, you save 10% on your water bill annually. Using cold water to wash your dirty clothes saves you about half the energy needed when washing in hot. Also, setting your dryer on the moisture sensor and not the timer, will further reduce energy consumption by 15%.

* Recycle. This is perhaps the easiest tip you can do to help improve the environment yet a quarter of us do not recycle. When shopping, look for products whose labels show that the product was made from recyclable materials. Reuse paper grocery bags by loading them up with old newspapers and use the plastic ones to dispose of trash or clean up your pet’s feces.

* Make your own fertilizer. Food scraps and yard waste make up to 30% of household garbage. Compost bins can convert that garbage into usable fertilizer for your garden and plants.

* Stop junk mail. You can reduce the amount of junk mail filling up your mailbox by simply registering with the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service. You can also write to the sending company directly and request them to remove you from their mailing list.

* Throw away old batteries properly. Do NOT throw away old batteries in the trash. They can leak toxins into the ground. Instead, drop them off at a Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation site.

* Heed paint warnings. One of the top 5 hazards to human health, according to the EPA, is indoor air. Indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air. Paints and finishes are among the leading contributors to polluted indoor air because they emit volatile organic compounds (VOC) similar to the kind found in nail polish and gasoline. If you plan to paint your home, shop for low-VOC, zero-VOC, and natural paints at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Protecting the earth for the enjoyment of our children and their children is an everyday commitment that requires everybody’s participation. By utilizing these tips, you will reduce your electric, water, and heating bill and put more money into your pocket. Your progeny will thank you for making their world a safe and healthy one.

Fabiola Castillo is an online marketer for the website NinjaCOPS SuperStore. This virtual store sells not only personal defense items but also nutrition products such as weight loss plans, energy supplements, marine coral calcium, heart health supplements, and fat loss supplements.

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1. Be selective about your apartment. If your going to share your apartment make sure its with a like minded person with eco friendly values. Try to get an apartment that is close to your job and other places that you frequent, so that you can ride your bike or walk.

2. Turn off the TV, lights, and close the refrigerator door. Many of us turn on the TV or lights the very second we step into a room. We don’t necessarily need them its just habit, so we will have some noise going on in the background. Try not to have this noise for a while and you will be surprised at how calming this is for your mind.

3. Replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescents. Over time this will save you a large amount of energy and money. It will also help remove greenhouse gases from the air.

4. There are several small thing that can be done from the start to make your apartment energy efficient. Things like weather stripping your windows and doors which will reduce your energy bill. Hanging blinds and sun shielding shades will give you more control over the amount of light in your room without using electricity and it will also help control temperature in your house so you won’t have to run your heat and air as much.

5. Try not to use plastic bags whenever possible. Plastic bags continue to be one of the worst things for the environment because we usually discard them after they pile up in our storage bins. Try to reuse them to take your lunch to work or line a small trash can.

6. Before buying new products and clothes shop at consignment shops and thrift stores. Usually you can find all that you need and help the environment by reusing items instead of throwing them in the trash.

7. Saving water will save energy so it is one of the best ways to go green in your apartment. If you can try to install low-flush toilets if not use a milk jug filled with stones and place it in your toilet tank to displace water and use less to fill the tank. Turn the water off when while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, don’t use hot water for your laundry. Cold water works well also and only run your dishwasher and washing machine with a full load.

8. Use non-toxic detergents and cleaners. Since WWII about 75,000 chemicals have been placed on the market but less than 5% of them have been properly tested for environmental and health side effects. Clean your toilet bowl and windows with vinegar or use baking soda on your counter tops. There are several alternatives to harmful cleaning chemicals.

9. Use old t-shirts and PJ’s as bedding for dogs and cats. Do this instead of spending money at the pet shop, use your old clothes until they get too dirty and then throw them away.

10. Use alternative light sources such as candles instead of electricity. Use things like old coke bottles or wine bottles to light up your room with a cozy glow.

11. Grow your own food. It can be done in an apartment with a few window boxes, balcony area or porch you would be surprised at how much food you could grow in different containers.

12. Try to find reduced packaging. Many companies are using less packing materials on their products. Less packaging equals less trash in landfills.

13. If you like to read newspapers reuse them. Use them as extra filler in mailings or gifts. Also a little of watered down vinegar in a spray bottle will give you a streak-free shine when used with old newspapers to clean windows.

14. Open your windows and doors and stop using your central heat constantly. You’ll get some fresh air while saving yourself some money.

15. Look for minimal processing in differnt kinds of furniture. Most furniture contain varnishes and resins that are more chemicals brought into your home. Try to look for organic drapes, clothing, and bedding its time consuming but worth it.

16. Stay away from volatile oraganic compounds, or VOCs. They can be introduced through carpets, paints, cleaning agents, and furnishings.

17. Try to maintain your energy efficient appliances such as your refrigerator. You may need to have a repairman come out once a year, but its worth it from a cheaper energy bill stand point.

18. Add some plants to your apartment. Per one hundred square feet only two plants are needed. They will spread out over time and clean toxins in the air.

19. Recycle your paper. If you print a lot some of this paper is only used on one side. Save them and cut them into halves or fourths for scrap paper.

20. If your plants or apartment have bugs, Try soaking a citrus rind in water for a couple days. Pour the water into a pump bottle and spray on plants both inside and out.

21. Check and change your air conditioning filter when needed. AC and other appliances with a filter run better and cost less to operate when the filter is changed regularly.

22. Buy as much organic products and food as you can from suppliers. This will increase demand and lower the price.

23. Quit Smoking. Nuff said!!!!!

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