August 19, 2009

Change The World Wednesday --Thank You's


Change the World Wednesday

This week I want to Thank all those that so diligently keep us informed with new (and old) ideas about Going Green and making this world a better place.

Last week (I have a habit for being behind) was cleaning recipes and everybody had great ideas. A lot of them I use myself and there were a few that I will be making up very soon. The oven cleaner below sounds great.

At the bottom of this post you will find some FYI on Swiffer Sweepers. They use to be my favorite cleaner for the floors. That was until I was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis and started to take a hard look at what I was doing to my life.

But like I said there are some great recipes listed on the sites below and we can all make a difference, One step at a time.

*Small Footprints at http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world-wednesday_19.html

*Waylandcook at http://waylandcook.blogspot.com/2009/08/homemade-green-cleaners.html

All Purpose Cleaner

All-Purpose Cleaner
• 2 tablespoons borax•
¼ cup lemon juice•
2 cups hot water•
20 drops tea tree essential oil
1. Combine the borax and lemon juice with the water in a spray bottle. Cap and shake well to dissolve the mineral.2. Add the tea tree oil and shake again to disperse the oil.

*TC at http://livesmartbook.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world-wednesdays.html

*Elizabeth Barrette at http://gaiatribe.geekuniversalis.com/2009/08/13/green-cleaners/

1 tablespoon of sea salt plus a pinch of asafoetida powder, thrown into the washing machine just before a wash cycle, will banish gremlins.

Diagnosing an infestation of gremlins...

*Sinclair at http://naturewithme.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world-wednesday_12.html

*Connie Mishali at http://seewhykinsman.blogspot.com/2009/08/change-world_13.html

Oven Cleaner;
2 tsp. Dawn
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. vinegar
2 tsp. Borax
2 quarts warm water

*Eemilla at http://eemilla.wordpress.com/

*Kathryn Magendie at http://tendergraces.blogspot.com/

*Sober White Women at http://thoughtsofasoberwhitewomen.blogspot.com/2009/08/its-friday.html

*Kate at http://holdfastseeker.blogspot.com/2009/04/kate-reveals-her-all-natural-cleaning.html

*Kelly at http://kellysideas.blogspot.com/

*Ann at http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2009/08/grow-your-own-food-mushrooms.html

*Rewinn at http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2009/08/afterlife-of-teabag.html

*Nicole S. at http://sotorrifictwins.blogspot.com/

FYI on Swiffer:
There are 4 ingredients listed: Water, Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether, and the mysterious “minor ingredients” and “preservatives”. Three out of four of these are automatically not up for further research. We all know what water is and the vagueness of the last 2 ingredients makes it impossible to figure out what’s going on there. Which leaves us with Propylene Glycol n-Butyl Ether. (MSDS is one issued by Proctor and Gamble)

Product Safety Assessment by DOW "Repeated inhalation exposure may cause adaptive liver and kidney effects..."

More info Here

At any rate I now stay away from Swiffers, in fact I can't even stand to go down the isles where they are sold d/t to overpowering SMELL of cleaners.

Thanks again everyone, and keep up the good work !!


3 comments:

  1. Swiffer Sweeper Wet Cloths and Swiffer WetJet solutions are made of perfume and water-soluble cleaning ingredients commonly found in cleaning products everywhere.

    This ingredient, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, or other similar propylene glycol-based materials, may be used in the Swiffer WetJet and Swiffer Wet Cloth cleaning solutions at low levels. These chemicals have a long history of safe use in cleaning products. While it has a long scientific name that may sound like other chemicals, the use of propylene glycol-based materials in our products are safe to humans and pets.

    For more information about Swiffer please see the product Web site at www.swiffer.com and click on “customer support” at the bottom of the home page.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Swiffer may say that they are safe but I have little faith in that. Open up a pack and I get an instant headache (feels like my brain is going to seize up).

    Propylene glycol-based materials may be safe at low levels, but what is considered low and what happens when they mix with all the other chemicals that are in your personal care products, other cleaning products, etc.

    Still think I'll stick to tha all natural cleaners I make myself and skip the brain freeze.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Even if Swiffers contain safe levels of chemicals, they are wasteful. I have never used one as I refuse to add one use products to my life. Disinfecting a mop head isn't really that difficult, and you can get years out of just one.

    Shari, thanks for stopping by last week!

    ReplyDelete