HAPPY EARTH MONDAY INHABITAT READERS!
To kick off our exciting Earth Week Giveaway, today we’ve gathered up a basket full of Method cleaning products and an amazing Casabella Eclipse Cleaning System (worth $100) for one lucky reader to take home! These Cradle to Cradle products are sure to keep your home sparkling clean while protecting the Earth and your family from harmful byproducts and toxins. Each Eclipse system has been made from recycled soda bottles and recycled aluminum, and each Method product boasts safe and effective ingredients for cleaning your home. The winner of this fantabulous prize will also receive a copy the pivotal eco design handbook Cradle to Cradle, written by Inhabitat favorites William McDonough and Michael Braungart. This contest is open to all Inhabitat readers – so enter now for your chance to win!
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:
1. SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE > (If you are not already a subscriber). We’ll be announcing all the winners of our Earth Week Giveaway in our weekly newsletter, so if you want to find if you won, you’ll need to receive it in order to claim your prize!
2. LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Just click on the blue ‘FACEBOOK LIKE’ button on the top right hand corner of this page, or visit our page and click on the “Like” button at the top.
3. LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW and tell us your top green tip when it comes to household cleaning. The deadline for this fabulous giveaway is Monday, April 24th. We’ll pick the comment we like best and announce the winner in our newsletter, so make sure you’re signed up!
Teaming up with MBDC, we’ve gathered a bundle of Method Products perfect for cleaning the corners of your countertop, to the more treacherous parts of your toilet bowl. Method Products are a collection of non-toxic, biodegradable natural cleaning supplies with a focus on minimalist product design. The company has rapidly gained recognition for its commitment to sustainability, including taking innovative steps to measure and reduce its carbon footprint and boasting a wide range of Cradle to Cradle Certified products.
The Eclipse system from Casabella is a Cradle to Cradle Certified cleaning system made from recycled materials. The plastic of the interchangeable attachments is made from recycled soda bottles, and the pole from 30% recycled aluminum. All of the attachments can be used with the pole, so there’s less to store, and the microfiber heads require no chemicals to be effective – just add a little water to remove stubborn grime!
Developed by architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart, Cradle to Cradle design recognizes the complex, abundant processes of nature’s ecosystems, or ‘biological metabolism,‘ but also articulates a parallel ‘technical metabolism’ for human industry. Both metabolisms can be characterized by eco-effective, continuous flows of materials, energy and water, and whole-community mutualism. The Cradle to Cradle design framework moves beyond the goal of only reducing an organization’s negative impacts (eco-efficiency), to provide an engaging vision for executives and comprehensive strategies for managers to create a wholly positive footprint on the planet – environmental, social and economic (eco-effectiveness). The Cradle to Cradle philosophy can apply to anything from houses to companies and to consumer products as well.
I love the method dryer sheets ,especially the lavender, I know i am using top quality green and feel safe using them for all my laundry,
I am sad as I am down to almost finishing it ,and safeway no longer carries it ,I don’t know where to find it ,I do not want to use any other kind of product except method
Research antimicrobial products online. Make some antimirobial “teas” based on vinegar and either salt or baking soda. Reuse eveything and invite your friends to do so through “crafternoon” project-parties. Underscore natural ingredients like mint, basil, rosemary, etc – by serving them as part of your hors d’oeuvres or in a nice G&T, Mai Thai or Mojitio. Your imagination, a DIY attitude and a wee bit of science can make for a fun afternoon and a sustainable lifestyle.
Try to buy eco friendly products in bulk with less packaging and also just try to clean less! A little dirt never hurt anyone, and then you use less paper towels, laundry detergent AND need less cleaning products!
clean your windows with my remedy that leaves them streak free
Get a pail of warm water and add a couple sqirts of sunlight dish liquid and a shot of vinegar. I cleaned my windows today and they look great!
Keeping a bowl of water in the sink for washing dishes so I do not have to turn on the water unless I am rinsing.
Making cleaning solutions from very inexpensive and biodegradable products, like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice hydrogen peroxide, etc.
I use natural products for cleaning and clean up as I go, so I don’t have to use the heavy duty harsh cleaners.
I plan to be the leader in LED lighting, powered by the sun, now doesn’t that sound like a bright idea
Way to encourage people to go green!
I always buy in concentrate. Have you seen these new refill stations in grocery stores? You buy their particular bottle, then bring it in, the machine scans the bar code and automatically fills up with the right cleaner. They is prints off the coupon, because you refilled.
You save Money, Plastic Bottles and its pretty fun to do!
I always but products in concentrate. That way I save on all of that shipping of water around, save money by diluting myself and save TONS of plastic bottles by refilling!
Have you seen the really cool refill stations they have in some grocery stores?? You bring in your empty bottle that you bought from the particular cleaning company, it scans the barcode, automatically fills it up with the right cleaner and then prints you a coupon for using the refill station. Now thats cool!
My tip for green cleaning is using as few chemicals as possible and replace them with eco-friendly instead.
Steam mop to reduce water and chemical use, make your own household cleaners from natural, non-toxic substances such as vinegar and baking soda, and eliminate paper products and switch to cloth.
Vinegar and baking soda. Best house cleaning products ever!
Eucalyptus Oil is our top all-round household cleaning product. It is a genius for removing chewing gum or anything else sticky on carpet. A dash of it on an old sock is the most fragrant duster you could imagine. A couple of drops in the water when cleaning floors, works wonders, and bung a few drops in a glass of water and you have a gargle which will knock the socks of any bacteria. Massage onto the chest for croup, remove paint, grease & ink from clothes. Mix with vodka & water as an air-freshening atomiser. Dilute with water & spray on plants as an insecticide, and to polish stainless steel…rub with eucalyptus oil. This is a wonder oil that is truly magicalfor household, garden, and personal hygiene.
eliminate paper products and use eco-friendly cleaning supplies like method!
Vinager and baking soda are my cleaning weapons!
Green is beautiful, so call cleaning time HOME BEAUTIFICATION….works wonders for the spirit and the home! Beautify with products from nature, using limes and salt to clean, and with gifts from nature, flowers, branches and stones placed thoughtfully in the home bring the outside in and remind us that we are part of a bigger whole. Cleaning is joyful when it is a walk with nature and beauty. Peace to all!!!
I use phantom socks to clean with or sometimes I just wear mismatched socks. Happy Earth Day!
My green cleaning tip is using as few harsh chemicals as possible and also repurposing old clothes into cleaning rags
It’s been said already but vinegar and baking soda have soo many uses! A little essential oils can really assist in scenting if one needs scents. I’m constantly looking for “homemade” solutions.
3 kids, 3 pets, we try to live a greener life – native plants outside, open the windows a lot, don’t use paper towels, have a laundry line, put extra money into higher-efficiency appliances, no voc paint, recycle and/or reuse everything – in other words, nothing dramatic, but making good environmental choices every day. the most important tip – teach your children, start young!