Another Versatile Cleaner: Vinegar

My first experience using vinegar came a few summers ago.  My wife's parents were visiting and I had just came in from the backyard.  Unfortunately, I had brought dog poop in on the underside of my shoe and then tracked it down the basement stairs.  When I went to go upstairs, I came eye to poop with tracks of the stinky stuff on every other step.  After a few choice phrases, my father in law suggested using white vinegar to clean the carpeted steps.   The vinegar worked wonders since it deodorized and helped clean the mess.

Vinegar is great since it is cheap and safe enough to eat.  It is not nearly as harmful to the environment as many factory made cleaners.  I have used it to clean crayon off of carpeting and vomit off of a sofa.  It can be used to clean toilet bowls and sprayed onto clothing stains to eliminate smells.

Vinegar can also be used against mildew.  The attic access near our bathroom is very receptive to mildew growing on it. When I see the mildew, I mix 1 part water to 2 parts vinegar.  Then I spray the surface of the access panel, wipe it down, clean it with a damp paper towel, and dry it.

Many people also use vinegar to clean their coffee makers.  Simply pour vinegar into the coffee maker and run it.  When your coffee maker is finished, empty the vinegar from the coffee pot and place clean, cool water into the coffee maker.  Then run the coffee maker once more.  When the water in the pot has cooled, you can use it to water some of your acid loving plants in the garden.

I would advise against using vinegar on metal, porcelain tiles, and concrete.  Since vinegar is an acid, it can cause those surfaces to be dissolve or be pitted.  When you finish cleaning, use a damp paper towel that has been soaked in clean water to wipe away the vinegar.  Then use a dry cloth to dry the cleaned area.

How do you use vinegar? Please share your thoughts.

A Review of Sheila Says We're Weird

This evening, we read Sheila Says We're Weird to our children.  My wife selected it from the Earth Day books that are in our local library today.  Author Ruth Ann Smalley and illustrator Jennifer Emery portray how and, more importantly, why people should make sustainable choices in their lifestyles.

In the story, Sheila seems to grapple with why her neighbors live the way they do.  Her neighbors make environmentally sustainable choices in how they live.  When Sheila asks,  "Why don't you get your groceries from the store?", her neighbors patiently explain that they like local food since it tastes better and fresher without using as much energy to be delivered.  Sheila of course states, "That's weird.". The book, contains similar situations and Sheila begins enjoying the way her neighbors live.

I enjoyed reading this book to my children who have not fully realized how differently we live compared to many of our neighbors.  The explanations and pictures of why the family practices green living should help convince children and adults of some of the simple things they can do to lessen the impact we make on the environment.

Smalley, Ruth Ann; Emery, Jennifer; Sheila Says We're Weird; Tilbury Publishers; Gardiner, Maine, 2011

http://www.jenniferemery.com/

Many Hands Make Light Work

There are many things that we can do individually to lessen the effects of pollution and climate change.  Each of these actions is like moving a small stone from a mountain.  As a lone person, it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to move the whole mountain.  Collectively, it can be done.  The daunting challenges of stopping climate change and cleaning up the world's environment requires us all to act.

One of the best things we can do is to join and be active in a local organization that promotes the care of the environment.  Yesterday, I was part of a group that did a roadside cleanup.   The volunteer group has been active for several years and this is just one of the activities that they do.  In about an hour and half, seven of us cleaned up the litter that was strung along both sides of a mile stretch of highway.  We filled about five large trash bags with various objects, mostly plastic wrappers, disposable cups, and paper products.

Afterwards, there was a definite sense of accomplishment as we surveyed the clean parkways and looked down on the pile of bagged litter at our feet.  What would have taken one person a large portion of the day to do was accomplished efficiently by the team.

Most important of all was the sense of camaraderie that was shared while we were picking up the litter.  We were able to talk about life and feel that we were a part of something greater than just ourselves.

I encourage you to join an organization and contribute your talents to making the world a better place.  If there are no organizations nearby, then become a founding member of one.  The more people that help, the easier it is to reach a goal.

Baking Soda Goes Beyond Baking

Like many people that cook from scratch, I use baking soda with many baked goods.  Baking soda is much more versatile than many of us realize.  Besides cooking, I use baking soda as a cleaning agent since it is not harmful to the environment or our health in the way many industrial strength cleaners are.

In our home, we seldom use nonstick pans, prefering stainless steel or glass cookware.  Soaking the dirty pans in a solution of water and baking soda helps make them easier to clean.

When it is time to clean the shower, tub, toilet, and sink, baking soda is ready for duty.  We use a paste made from water and baking soda.  Then scrub away.  The important thing to do is rinse the cleaned area thoroughly and then dry it with a rag or paper towel.  If you don't rinse and dry, there may be baking soda deposits that appear after the water evaporates.  You cna also pour baking soda in the tank of your toilet and let it sit over night.

My wife uses baking soda to clean the microwave.  She mixes up a solution of baking soda and water in a microwave safe bowl.  She then microwaves the solution for several minutes.  Afterwards, she uses a damp paper towel to wipe down the inside of the microwave.

As a child, I had the small misfortune of being stung by a bee when I accidentally smashed it while picking up a toy.  My grandmother, who was watching me, made a baking soda paste and spread it over the injury.  After letting it dry, the stinger stuck to the paste.  She was able to carefully scrap the stinger away without using tweezers.

Amd finally, baking soda is able to avoid unpleasant smells.  Feel free to pour some in the bottom of your kitchen trash can or a diaper pail.  After a few months, remove the old baking soda and replace it with fresh baking soda.

How do you use baking soda?  What tips or advice do you have?

Spring is here... I think.

It seems spring has finally made an appearance.  In the midwest, it felt like winter was a month late and like a guest who is enjoying himself, then decided to stay a bit later.  Today was our first day above 60 degrees and it was a welcome sight.

The garden is finally dry enough that I planted some arugula.  When I write dry enough, the soil looked like moist brownies that were just taken out of the oven.  I can't wait to eat some.  It sounds like we should be able to have some in 30-45 days.  Next on the list,  placing a fence around the arugula to keep the bunnies out.

Every year I attempt to grow something new in the veggie garden.  Last year we had chile peppers.  Growing some of your own food helps lower your carbon footprint since you only have to walk a short a distance to get your food.  The real perk is having food that tastes great since it is extremely fresh.

If you haven't gardened before, my advice is to start small so you don't become overwhelmed.  And don't become discouraged if a plant doesn't grow well.  Celebrate the successes and think of failures as learning opportunities.

Riding the bus

Today I took the bus home from work since the car needs auto-body repairs. It was quite pleasant ride. The bus was on time, clean, and quiet. The sun was shining and the air was crisp during the mile walk home.

The difficult thing is adjusting my mindset from being able to leave whenever I want to scheduling my time so that I don't miss the bus.

For my old Pontiac, I can go about 20 miles in the city on one gallon of 87 grade gasoline. Taking the bus this afternoon saved one third of that gallon of gasoline. That is 6.3 pounds of CO2 that was not emitted today. That's a small stone but enough of positive changes can make a difference. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's ride.

Check out slate.com for information on how a gallon of gas creates 19 pounds of CO2.