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From Clean to Green Work natural alternatives into your housekeeping routine for environmentally sound results  Image courtesy “A Guide to Green Housekeeping” Greenhouses aren't what they once were. They aren't just large glass-enclosed spaces with lots of plants. The word �gas� doesn't always immediately follow. And they certainly don't refer to exterior paint color. Green housekeeping is changing domestic life drastically, taking homes from clean to green. In her book, "A Guide to Green Housekeeping" (CICO Books, 2008), author Christina Strutt offers new and, perhaps, forgotten environmentally sound housekeeping methods. She says one of the most important elements of making a home greener is to begin thinking on a global scale. �"Whatever you are wasting, it is probable that millions of others are, too," she says. "Inform yourself of the facts behind the supply of a liter of water or an hour of electricity." While Strutt says that she finds natural cleaning solutions much more effective than anything available commercially, she recommends using greener alternatives. "Natural products such as vinegar and bicarbonate or soda are incredibly efficient," she says. If it's more convenient to buy green cleaning products, take the time to make sure the products are actually beneficial to the environment says Alex Wilson, president of Building Green LLC. "There are all kinds of claims that are being made. There's what's called 'green washing,' where a product is being marketed as green and healthy when it's really just a standard product," he says. "The best thing to do is to look for reputable certifications or labels that indicate that this product has been tested and certified by an entity that examines these factors." He recommends looking for products certified by organizations such as the Greenguard Environmental Institute and Energy Star. In addition to products, however, lifestyle changes can go a long way. From simple solutions like waking up early to take advantage of daylight hours and save electricity, to more long-term solutions such as reducing your carbon footprint by using tidal or hydropower, Strutt says that anyone has the power to make an impact by incorporating greener alternatives in house. "If you consider how many of us average people there are on the planet, together we can make a huge impact," she says. Wilson says that while architecturally designing a more environmentally friendly home is really the first step to green living, he also recommends simple solutions for everyone from green-living advocates to beginners. "There are some really simple things [you can do], and one of them is changing the management of the house," he says. "For example, not permitting smoking in the house and asking people to remove their shoes. Removing shoes is a way to remove cracked-in contaminants from the home and a way to reduce the amount of cleaning that's required." Wilson suggests leaving slippers for guests to change into near the door. "It's just a simple thing that isn't very expensive and can make a difference," he says. And even though treating stains with baking soda may seem tiring, and the value in giving a gift of lavender-filled socks instead of the latest gadget isn't immediately apparent, Strutt says it's important to constantly think of the bigger picture. "It's easy to say 'why should we make such an effort when governments and big industries seem to be doing little to halt their polluting ways?'" she says. "[But] we can make a difference – If the care of the planet starts within the home, we can at the same time put pressure on our governments and demand that they address the immediate problems, as well as those bubbling up for tomorrow. "Our grandchildren's lives quite simply depend on it." |
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