The sad truth is the carpets that hold up best to traffic are the ones coated with toxins. And we don’t want those in a place where humans dwell.

If you do have a healthy wool carpet in your home, you can still clean it without harsh chemicals like perchloroethylene – which the EPA has linked to kidney and liver damage. Naphthalene, made from coal tar, is also considered a carcinogen that can harm the central nervous system.

Ask cleaning services if they simply steam to lift dirt or apply shampoos to loosen those hard-to-clean coffee and wine stains. Treatments like Oxi Fresh use an oxygenated method by applying less water and natural ingredients. Some cleaners also use citrus-based products that smell much better than standard chemicals. Just check and see if their products are plant-based chemicals (Biokleen, NatureClean and Seventh Generation’s Natural Citrus Carpet Cleaner) or made with synthetics.

Here are some natural ways to go for maintaining cleaner carpet:

1. For daily maintenance, have guests and family members remove shoes when entering the house if you have carpet on the first floor. Otherwise, remove shoes before heading upstairs. Obviously there can be exceptions, such as when you are entertaining. Guests often complain about taking off shoes for a more formal event. They may have holy socks or need the height so their pants won’t droop.

2. ehow tells us to spot clean with vinegar and water by mixing equal parts into a spray bottle and applying to the stain, then blotting with a clean, dry towel. For tougher stains, you can make a paste of baking soda and water and coat the stain. Let the paste sit for about 30 minutes, then wipe away with a damp cloth. For deeper cleaning, they suggest going with biodegradable cleaners like AFM Safecoat added to a rented carpet cleaner.

3. Do It Yourself recommends regular vacuuming to prevent dirt and pet dander from settling into your carpet fibers, and to sprinkle on some baking soda before your sweep to eliminate potential orders. You can even add spice, such as cinnamon or cloves, in the baking soda before you spread it. Also, let the baking soda sit on the carpet to lift stains and dirt at least 10 minutes before you vacuum.

4. For spot removal, use a clean dry cloth or paper towel to soak up the spill and blot the stain rather than rubbing it. Once you blot it, apply club soda or soda water to dissolve and lift, then blot up the liquid. You also can use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar mixed with water or rubbing alcohol to lift the stains. You might also try making your own spot cleaner with a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and one to two cups of water.

In terms of cleaning fiber rugs, such as sisal, it is best to just use water or soda water. These can be the hardest rugs to maintain because many products don’t work very well to get out the stains.

Let us know if you have some other tried and true green methods of carpet cleaning!

Image: adriagarcia

I’m not ashamed to say that I recently searched out a dishwashing liquid as if it were to become my personal signature scent.

It began in September, when I attended the Natural Products Expo East in Boston and was handed a fistful of Biokleen Lemon Tyme dishwashing samples. The smell, in my opinion, is intoxicating, and the product worked well. So when my samples ran out, I jumped online to find out where I could buy more.

Now I’m not going to tell you that using Biokleen turns everyday life into a Calgon moment, those iconic TV commercials that transform one’s life from havoc to heaven, but I am definitely hooked.

This newfound fabulous scent aside, the fact that natural cleaning products are best for us, and the environment, has led me to change my purchases. Though there are presently no bans on chemical-laden cleaning products, the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive is now educating consumers that many cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can have serious adverse effects not only on those using them, but on building occupants whose air quality suffers when products circulate through ventilation systems, and the environment, when chemicals drain into our ecosystem. Environmental damage can also occur during the development, manufacturing and transportation of these products.

One thing you can look for when making purchasing decisions is companies that have been endorsed by Co-Op America and  Green Seal, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the manufacturing, purchasing, and use, of environmentally responsible products and services.

In addition to Biokleen products, here are eight more green cleaning options to brighten your home, many made with ingredients such as coconut, palm and vegetable oil, orange oils, and sodium carbonate.

Arm & Hammer Essentials Liquid Laundry Detergent (pick up some coupons here)

Sun & Earth Concentrated Laundry Detergent

Sun & Earth Dryer Sheets, which are hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and completely biodegrade in 21 days.

Purex Natural Elements

Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner

Planet Ultra Dishwashing Liquid

Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Powder

LifeTree Automatic Dishwashing Liquid

Now’s a great time to get started on that spring cleaning. After all, summer 2009 doesn’t officially start until June 21st.

Image: emdot

To alleviate stress, some people indulge in aromatherapy, others depend on their monthly massage, while you hit up the tennis courts and leave it to the wrath of your racket. Along with a peaceful state of mind, this effective method of release has left you a basket full of old tennis balls that you can’t bring yourself to throw away. Here are some clever ways to take them out of retirement and save them from life in a landfill.

Slice a tennis ball down the middle and push the concave side onto the top a stubborn jar. Just squeeze and twist to open it with ease.

Pour beer into the other half and set it out in your garden to trap slugs before they feast on your plants and flowers.

Are you sick of stiff clothing, linens and towels? Toss a tennis ball into the dryer to fluff your laundry. Plus, it helps eliminate static cling.

Cut a slit into a tennis ball, secure it onto the end of a broom stick and rub away scuffs on wood or linoleum floors.

Once your floors are gleaming, this homemade tool can also be used to get rid of all those cobwebs lurking in the corners of your ceiling. So long, Swiffer.

When your significant other turns his nose up at your request for a foot massage, put a tennis ball under each sole and do it yourself.

Who actually rinses off their sunscreen or lotion before taking a dip? Just throw some tennis balls in your swimming pool to soak up oils.

Image: Steve Punter

I’m one of those people who quickly tidy up my car before handing it over at the car wash, disposing of the banana peels jammed into paper cups and cookie crumbs taking up residence in the carpet and upholstery. Such treasures are routinely left behind by my daughters who view my Volvo as their waste can on wheels.

It occurred to me this morning that I should create a car compost system with a portable bin to chase those necessary after-school car treats.  Instead of grinding the granola bar remains into my wagon’s cup holders, certain passengers could simply toss the food scraps into the small compost container.

While no one has invented a car compost bin per se, small kitchen composters could do the trick. I found a few options with lids at Composters.

The car wash guys will be impressed!

Image: Werwin15

Who says your air filter has to look like hospital equipment and command lots of space in your bedroom? The compact module Blueair AirPod is taking the allergy world by sneeze and storm. Call them the little purifiers that could.

Perhaps it’s the packaging, even more magnetic than those perky patterned paper tissue boxes. Perhaps it’s the idea you can alleviate your allergens at a rate of 45 cubic feet per minute for $100. These adorable systems, sold at A Store Called Spring (one of my favorite home design sources) are only 13″ tall and cradled in a docking station just like your iPod.

They contain the patented Blueair HEPSilentTM technology which is a new approach to HEPA, with large surface air plus larger openings in polymer-based filter media. This allows higher air flow with less noise from the fan. More efficiency, fewer sniffles.

Steel yourself: we’re going to talk about drains.

It would be ungentlemanly of me to mention the amount of my ex-girlfriend’s long hair that used to jam up the plug of the shower – so I won’t. But there’s all sorts of things drains can clog up with: skin, grime, bacteria…let’s not dwell. Here are a few tips on prevention.

 - Luanne reported on sink strainers a few months ago. Terrifically useful. You have your own, yes? (They’re about $7).

 - Don’t use bleach! There are many planet-friendly alternatives: something like the Earth Enzymes (plant extracts and essential oils) sold by Nigel’s Eco Store is what you need.

 - The best time to deal with a problem is before it happens. A kettleful of boiling water down the drain once a week will suffice (check plastic pipes afterwards to see if they’ve started to leak). Even better, a few cups of 1 part baking soda to 4 parts hot vinegar.

 - Poke a clever plastic stick down the plughole.

Just remember: drain aren’t bad. They go bad. Look after them, and they’ll stay as sweet and clean as the air you breathe.

(You can open your eyes now).

Image: mobile street life

With thanks to Kimberly Delaney at Lime.

Sure, you’ve switched to greener cleaning products, but how eco-friendly is the storage and folding apparatus in your laundry room? Are you still married to cold chrome and first-use plastic?

Here’s the scoop on several better choices for the oh-so-natural laundry maven.

Roll out the bamboo because it’s a better way to store and hang your laundry. It may be designed for the guest room but the bamboo rack, $130, from The Container Store is a natural in the laundry room.

 
Take stock in how you’ve been schlepping those tees and towels. The Whitmor totes from Kohl’s  (below) are so much more wholesome than their woven plastic rivals. The ample Vetiver bins from VivaTerra sell for $69 and are made of wild root and grass and also deliver a more gentle storage option for hauling clean and dirty clothes. And for splashes of color to contrast with the neutral green textiles, stir in the Rice and Feed bags, just $20-$36, also from VivaTerra.

 

We always had wicker hampers when I was a kid and these canvas and woven houses for dirty clothes are also woven of healthy fibers. The folding cedar hamper with a cotton canvas bag is only $30 at Organize and is another space saver with adorably simple lines. Station one in every room and bring them down for laundry time. Other pure storage containers include the reed or sea grass hampers from The Container Store.

 

We have sung the praises of resurrecting the clothesline for sustainable drying (and we’ve also shared a bevy of green laundry tips, including how to make your own detergent, so don’t miss it). Just tell nosy neighbors who don’t like it to nose right out! There are many sources for picking up rotary and rectractable lines, including Green and More, where I found this rotary model for around $120.

For indoor drying of delicates, a wall-mounted bamboo folding rack is a good way to go, such as this one for $80 from Gaiam.

My editor said, “Emily, slow down with the spiritual/personal development articles!” But it’s hard not to let my mind go there as I just read Eckhardt Tolle’s A New Earth. Between us, I’m just going to indulge a sentence or two.

As we are evolving our consciousness in many ways and turning toward a more eco-conscious way of life, it shows our ability to reconnect with the feminine. By feminine, I mean a more nurturing and caring side of us.

This leads me to the word empowerment I had been thinking about one day while running errands. I was really looking for a way to take off tile grout without resorting to a harsh commercial brand. While perusing, I happened to hear “Green Tile Wild” – a very empowering song by an up-and-coming artist. This song was the catalyst for my choice of cleaners and getting me on this whole kick about reconnecting with the feminine. I wasn’t about to resort to the old commercial stuff! I wanted something caring toward the environment, yet powerful. And I found it. Seventh Generation Tub and Tile Cleaner in Emerald Cypress & Fir fights soap scum and grime with no fumes. And get the description of the blend of balsam fir, lime and emerald cypress: “Green and zesty with a full-bodied heart. Healing, breathing, reflective, (consciousness), joyful, and empowering.”

Now if that isn’t a spiritual shopping spree and a perfectly synchronized match with the song I was listening to and my thoughts of empowerment, I don’t know what is.

The song comes out on iTunes in December, so bookmark this post and we’ll include an update when it’s available.

Image: doolittle1989

What’s the difference between hand soap and body soap?

My opinion is that there shouldn’t be any. I respect the skin of my hands just as much as that anywhere else on my body (after all, finger-tips are in charge of one of our five senses). But conventional wisdom seems to be that liquid hand soap should be harsher, more aggressive. That doesn’t sound very wise to me.

In Sarah’s words, what we need is a soap that feeds the skin – natural, sustainable, effective but gentle. (Feeding, yes – intoxicating, no). So we’re talking about Castile Soap, produced purely from vegetable oils. Dr. Bronner’s range is a market leader in the States, with a tagline that confirms everything I think about good soap – “All-One”. Reviews? Glowing (here’s Adam’s, over at Life Goggles).

In the U.K., we’re big on two brands of eco-friendly liquid soap – Ecosoapia and Ecover. I’ve no hands-on experience with the former (which enjoyed a lot of media attention in the first half of 2007) but I’m a fan of Ecover, which leaves my hands feeling and smelling like they’re freshly laundered.

Don’t take my word – test them yourself! A stockist of both Ecosoapia and Dr. Bronner’s is EcoHip – for example, the peppermint Ecosoapia variety costs around $12, and 16 oz. of Dr. Bronner’s Pure Almond Castile Liquid Soap is around $13 (note: this soap is better value than it looks, since it’s thick enough to water down and still remain useful).

Image: B.G. – Oodwin

Starre Vartan, founder and editor of the green lifestyle website Eco Chick, is one of our favorite go-to girls for sustainable practices. She offers a wealth of information and presents her knowledge in a fun, practical way. Starre has recently taken her duties one step further to create a book of tips called The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to be Fabulously Green. Inside, she walks us through ways to be ecologically smart without sacrificing style and happiness. We caught up with Starre from her home in Connecticut to dish about the book. Here’s what she had to say.

EcoSalon: What inspired you to translate the information on your site into a book? (Don’t worry, greenies – it’s printed on recycled paper.)

Starre Vartan: I really wanted to write something that was a companion to my site, which is for young women who want something cool and accessible. My blog is all about being current and following trends, but I was constantly getting questions about the basics – what is a sustainable fabric? What kinds of cleaning products can I use without breaking the bank? The book answers these questions and isn’t about ‘news’ like the blog is.

ES: You dedicated this book to your grandmother, the original Eco Chick. Did she bestow her traditional green ways upon you? Was she your inspiration for creating Eco Chick?

SV: My grandmother was the major inspiration for the book. She raised me in the Hudson Valley of New York, where I grew up growing and eating organic veggies from our gigantic garden, enjoying meat and eggs from a farm about two miles from my house, and using only non-toxic cleaning products. Being a kid, I thought all these things were normal.

It was only later that I realized she consciously made these choices both because she was attuned to preserving her local environment and because she believed that conservation made sense for a sustainable world.

ES: We love the “My Green Shopping Basket” lists at the end of each section, in which you suggest specific products/services for each topic. Have you really tried them all?

SV: I’ve definitely tried pretty much all of them, or my friends have, sometimes both! I’ve been an official greenie (writing about environmental science and sustainable living topics) for about nine years now, and was raised in a very open, progressive way, so some of these companies – Kiss My Face, Nature’s Gate, Morningstar Farms, The Body Shop, Under the Canopy, Patagonia – have been part of my life for many, many years now.

ES: You talk about sharing eco-friendly practices with family, friends, and colleagues. Do you believe this will help convert others around us to going green?

SV: It’s ONLY by talking to each other that habits change on a large scale. Doing things in a bubble with like-minded people is comfortable and reassuring, but ‘ghettoizing’ a sustainable lifestyle will not lead to change; only consensus, collaboration, and compromise (not to mention creativity!) will.

ES: This guide is so comprehensive and the perfect carry-along resource. Are there plans for additional books in the future?

SV: I’m working on a more literary endeavor based on a project I started as part of the thesis for my MFA (in nonfiction writing) from Columbia. It’s about the five senses and humanity’s relationship with the environment; basically how modernization and mechanization have changed the way we understand the world. I’m using the lenses of history, culture and science, including many scientific studies, to look at how we have fundamentally changed the way we live so rapidly; and how that has negative (disconnection from the natural world) and positive (the Internet!) impacts.

ES: Thanks for stopping by, Starre! We’re eagerly awaiting your next project.

Editor’s note: To learn more about Starre, visit Eco Chick. You can also hear her talking green fashion at GreenTalkRadio. And be sure to check out her book. Go on, shoo!