Most of us really love a clean kitchen, or at least the idea of having one. Doing the work to achieve that sparkling clean kitchen might be a different story however. But in many ways, it is not as tricky or time-consuming as you think.

 

Yes, you guessed it. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best ideas of cleaning your kitchen. We have specifically selected ideas that are easy to implement, are inexpensive, environmentally friendly and can even be fun to do.

 

Cleaning your kitchen shouldn’t be a massive burden and with these tips you’ll be able to get that amazing looking kitchen you want in record time!

 

Tip One- Pay Close Attention to Sponges, Towels and Rugs

There are definitely health hazards lurking in your kitchen; this is not a myth. Three major health hazards come in the form of kitchen sponges, kitchen towels and rugs.

 

Kitchen towels and rugs are easy health hazards to neutralize. Simply toss your kitchen towels and rugs into the wash and you’ve taken care of the problem. Kitchen towels should be changed every couple of days or more often depending on use.

 

Kitchen rugs can get very contaminated. Think about all the various things that can drip onto your rug and then imagine those drops festering away for weeks or even months. Yes, it’s pretty gross when you stop to imagine what bacteria your kitchen rug could be harboring. Washing your kitchen rugs at least every two weeks, or after a major spill, is probably a good idea.

 

Kitchen sponges are a little trickier. They come into contact with food constantly and you use them to make your dishes cleaner, so you certainly don’t want to be rubbing grime and germs onto your “clean” dishes.

Consider replacing kitchen sponges every week and be sure to wash them after every use. Also, consider disinfecting kitchen sponges by soaking them in a plastic container with hydrogen peroxide and rinse very thoroughly afterwards. However, the easiest, and likely safest, way to deal with your kitchen sponge is to simply replace it often or opt for a washable kitchen towel instead.

 

Tip Two- Avoid the Hidden Health Hazard of the Dish Rack

Just as it is vital to wash such items as your kitchen towels, kitchen rugs and sponges, the same holds true for your dish rack. Dish racks don’t magically stay clean. The fact that they are in the kitchen near food preparation areas means that they can become contaminated. Like your sponges, the idea of the dish rack is to help you with your clean dishes, so contaminating them is the last thing you want to do. The bottom line is don’t forget about the special cleaning needs of your dish rack.

If you have a stainless steel dish rack, that can be great for improving the visual appearance of your kitchen and matching stainless steel appliances. However, be particularly careful that it doesn’t accumulate rust. A bamboo dish rack is also recommended as bamboo is more resistant to bacteria.

It is smart to clean your dish rack just as you would any other kitchen surface area. You can use soap and water or maybe even throw it into the dishwasher, depending on the type of dish rack you have.

Photo credit: Amazon

Tip Three-Skip Your Oven’s Cleaning Mode

Your oven’s cleaning mode can be rather problematic. The problem is that the oven clean mode works at a very high temperature and can release a lot of compounds into the air at the same time. In turn this will pollute your air and make it difficult to even breathe in your kitchen.

 

Instead of using the oven cleaning mode regularly clean your oven with baking soda. Baking soda is safe and will cause no serious indoor air quality issues. Mix some water with a modest amount of baking soda and dish liquid, scrub your oven and let the mixture sit on the oven’s interior for a few minutes. Then scrub again and wipe clean with water. Finally, collect all debris and let your oven dry before using.

 

Tip Four-Remove Cooktop Stains

Cooktop stains can be very determined to resist your cleaning attempts. This makes sense as cooktop stains are quite literally baked on.

 

Removing cooktop stains can be as easy as using a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Just remember that hydrogen peroxide can be dangerous so keep it away from children and away from your eyes. Before using your cooktop, wipe down the area with water and dry.

 

Tip Five-Ammonia for Grease on Stove Grates

Cleaning stove grates can be time consuming and laborious, however, there is a trick. Ammonia can literally soak the grease right off of your stove grates. Check out this clever approach for cleaning your stove grates.

Photo credit: The V Spot

 

Tip Six-Don’t Let Burnt Pan Bottoms Get You Down

 

Burnt pan bottoms might seem like a fact of life. Bar Keepers Friend is a great product for shining up the burnt bottoms of pans. In fact, you’ll likely be surprised by how well this product works!

 

Tip Seven-Polishing Your Sink the Easily and Inexpensively

Want to have a clean sink but don’t feel like spending money on specialty cleaners? One of the easiest, and cheapest ways, to clean your sink is to use flour.

 

If you have a stainless-steel sink and you want it to look great, then use flour. Click here to check out this great Lifehacker article on how to use good old-fashioned flour to clean your sink.

Photo credit: Lifehacker

Tip Eight-Cleaning Wood Cabinets

 

Kitchen wood cabinets can get surprisingly dirty, which is not too surprising considering that they are, after all, in the kitchen. Murphy Oil Soap has been around for generations for one simple reason: it works. Murphy Oil Soap can be used to clean everything from wood cabinets to flooring.

 

Tip Nine-Mineral Oil for Kitchen Counters

 

Mineral oil can be a good way to wipe kitchen oil off of your counters. Yes, it is counterintuitive to use oil to remove oil, but forget the irony and give it a try! Mineral oil is generally safe to use and definitely works.

 

Grease and oil on countertops can be a real nuisance, so you really do need a secret weapon. Here is a link to an article about this at One Good Thing if you want to learn more.

Photo credit: One Good Thing by Jillee

 

Tip Ten-Keep Drawers Clean with Liners

Many people only worry about keeping drawers organized, but keeping them clean is also important. One inexpensive solution is to opt for drawer liners. We recommend cork in particular for this job.

 

Cork is naturally water resistant and bacteria resistant. Plus, once you have cork, or other drawer liners, you can periodically remove and wipe them down.

Photo credit: Williams and Sonoma

 

Tip Eleven-Cleaning Your Stainless Steel Appliances with an Oldie but Goodie

Vinegar is something of a cleaning superstar. A mixture of vinegar and oil can be extremely effective at cleaning stainless steel fridges, dishwashers and toasters. You can use mineral oil or even olive oil!

It is an easy process that really works, and you can learn more about how at the Kitchn it by clicking here.

Photo credit: The Kitchn

Tip Twelve-Don’t Forget to Clean the Inside of Your Refrigerator

 

When people clean the inside of their refrigerators they often overlook the removable parts. Yet, the removable areas inside of your fridge are often the dirtiest parts. Instead of just wiping these areas down, consider removing them and cleaning them thoroughly with soap and water. If you’ve ever noticed that your fridge smelled even after you removed all the old food, it may be that your fridge surfaces need a deeper cleaning.

There is a great article about this at The Kitchn.

Tip Thirteen-Remember that Old Food Can Be a Health Hazard

 

One of the single best safety habits you can have is to remove old food from your house, whether it is in your cabinets or fridge. Maybe you heard the story recently of a grandmother in the U.K. who sent several members of her family to the emergency room after serving up some nice holiday cocoa…from the 1980s! It’s important to periodically toss out old food so that you don’t have a similar accident.

Photo credit: The Kitchn

Tip Fourteen-Clean Your Garbage Disposal

 

Garbage disposals can get very smelly. If you have a mystery odor in your kitchen that just won’t go away, then it might just be your garbage disposal.

There are many ways to clean your garbage disposal without actually having to stick your hand down in one of the most dangerous places imaginable. Cleaning methods include using liquid soap while the garbage disposal is on and also just pouring baking soda and vinegar down there to do the job for you.

 

It is true that normally mixing baking soda and vinegar isn’t a good idea due to the tremendous fizzing action. But where your garbage disposal is concerned this is an exactly what you want! Head over to Crunchy Betty for a step-by-step guide.

Photo credit: Crunchy Betty

Tip Fifteen-Use Lemon and Salt for Your Wooden Cutting Boards

Lemon and salt are a powerful cleaning combo. The two work together particularly well for cleaning wooden cutting boards. Wooden cutting boards can become very dirty and should be cleaned regularly with soap and water. In addition to cleaning them with soap and water, using a combination of salt and lemon can help cut grease and shine up your wooden cutting boards.

 

Tip Sixteen-Don’t Forget Your Garbage Can

You might remember to clean the inside of your garbage can because it can get rather smelly, but what about the outside of your garbage can? The outside of your garbage can is periodically exposed to all kinds of contaminants ranging from spilt liquids to bits of food and more. You really don’t want to forget about this surface.

 

If you have young children, you can pretty much be sure that they are going to touch your garbage can. Remember to clean the outside of your garbage can along with other surfaces throughout your kitchen. Much like the dish rack, this part of your kitchen is typically overlooked. Plus, a bright shiny garbage can does wonders to improve the look of your kitchen.

The blog No Trash Can has a good article all about this topic.

Photo credit: No Trash Can

Tip Seventeen-Take Advantage of the Power of Simple Ingredients

You probably noticed that in this article we focused a lot of our attention on cleaning ingredients that are eco-friendly and people safe as well. There are plenty of chemical based cleaners out there that work really well. But as a rule, you really shouldn’t bring anything into your kitchen that would be very harmful or even lethal if consumed.

 

Anything you put down the drain eventually makes it out into the oceans and eventually into the fish of the sea and the food chains. Your cleaning decisions most definitely matter, and they do impact the world.

 

If you want to use fewer chemicals and fossil fuel based products, then opting for cleaning products that you make yourself. And then make those products out of safe and inexpensive ingredients.

Clean kitchen are healthier kitchens. A key part of observing proper food safety, so that your cocoa doesn’t send your family to the emergency room, is to think about ways to keep your kitchen cleaner.

 

A major part of having a clean kitchen is to not take anything for granted. Areas that you are sure are clean may be in need of some help. It is also vital to remember that most people don’t really need powerful chemical based cleaning agents.

Simple cleaning tools and ingredients, like the ones outlined in this article, should be more than enough for the majority of your kitchen cleaning needs. Soap, water, vinegar, mineral oil, baking soda and even olive oil can go a long way towards helping you achieve a much safer and healthier kitchen.

 

 

 

Helping to protect the environment isn’t something just for humans. Our furry friends are, in fact, a multibillion dollar industry. We, the humans, spend billions annually on purchasing for our pets. This translates into many different types of products and many of those products produce chemical waste, pollution and have high carbon footprints.

 

Everything that applies to human eco-friendly efforts also applies to keeping our pets. Yes, your pet has a carbon footprint but it is up to you to lower it on your furry friend’s behalf! In this article, we will explore 5 of the best ways to help your pet be an eco-friendly one. Your pet might not be able to thank you but the planet, and everything living on it, certainly will!

 

Pet Tip #1-Buy Local

The foundation of having an eco-friendly pet is the same as it would be for a human. Buying locally sourced and made products whenever possible means that you are lowering your pet’s carbon footprint.

The reason that so many people are becoming obsessed with buying locally sourced and made products has much to do with transportation costs. Transporting goods from across the country or even around the world to a point on the map, assembling them and then shipping the newly created product out across the world is a real energy hog. However, buying locally made and source products bypasses this highly problematic process and in the process dramatically lowers one’s carbon footprint. If you want to lower your pet’s carbon footprint, then buying local is essential.

 

Pet Tip #2-Eco-Friendly Pet Products

Another essential in helping your pet make the jump to being eco-friendly comes in the form of buying eco-friendly products. There are plenty of pet products made from recycled and earth friendly materials. Even something as simple as a locally made wool pet toy or pet bed can have a major impact on helping the planet.

Wool toys, pet beds and other products are becoming more and more common and for good reason. Wool is tough, durable and is renewable and planet-friendly. Additionally, there are plenty of toys, animal feeding bowls and other products made from eco-friendly materials such as wood, natural rubber and recycled plastic. These eco-friendly products are an easy way to help your pet do its best to help the planet!

 

Pet Tip #3-Eco-Friendly Pet Food

Packaged pet food is made in much the same way as packaged human food. Even if your pet food is organic and full of quality ingredients, it was likely sourced from food ingredients from around the country or around the globe. One of the best options for eco-friendly pet food is to simply make your own pet food. There are plenty of recipes for homemade pet food to be found online.

 

A major additional benefit of opting for creating your own pet food is that you know exactly what your pet is eating. In recent years there have been numerous examples of pet foods making pets sick. Making your own pet food will allow you to include locally sourced ingredients, which lowers your carbon footprint, while at the same time boosting your pet’s overall nutrition. It is, however, very important that you find pet food recipes and options that provide your pet with the right levels of nutrition and supplement that food with healthy pet food options. Cats, for example, need taurine to remain healthy.

 

Pet Tip #4-Biodegradable Pet Waste Bags and Training Pads

Dog training pads are much like diapers in that they produce a great deal of waste; however, there is another option in the form of all natural biodegradable puppy training pads. Dog training pads are an easy item to overlook when it comes to environmental impact, but replacing the typical, plastic based training pad with a more planet friendly options is a definite win!

 

Eliminating plastic is always a good idea when one is looking to be more environmentally friendly. One of the single best ways to reduce plastic use for dog owners is to opt for biodegradable pet waste bags. The average dog owner will use thousands of pet waste bags over the lifetime of his or her pet. Opting for a biodegradable pet waste bag will dramatically reduce the environmental impact of your dog’s outdoor time.
Pet Tip #5-Eliminate the Cat Litter!

 

Cat litter is something of an environmental disaster. There are many reasons that cat litters is something of a menace. Eliminating cat litter can be a very tricky proposition but due to the negative environmental impacts of litter on the environment, it is definitely worth the effort.

 

Cat litter, regardless of what it is made of, takes energy to extract and that means boosting one’s carbon footprint. That stated, some cat litter is better than others, for example, cat litter made from renewable resources such as corn is superior to other options, but what if you could eliminate the cat litter altogether? With some work it is indeed possible.

 

There are cat toilet training devices which can help your cat learn to use the toilet just like a human. In this way there is zero litter and zero waste, which lowers your household’s carbon footprint and keeps a ton, quite literally, out of landfills.

 

Together these five eco-friendly pet tips can dramatically alter your pet’s environmental impact. Opting for a eco-friendly pet approach reduce your pet’s carbon footprint and resource usage, while boosting your pet’s health at the same time.

 

 

You might not be familiar with the term “CSA,” but if you want excellent produce, then you’ll want to know about these initials. CSA stands for “community supported agriculture.” Unlike the typical method of food delivery, CSAs give people direct access to the regional farms that grow their food.

There are many substantial benefits to the CSA approach. Typically, CSAs let members opt for weekly or bi-weekly options. Simply purchase a share and for several months out of the year, you’ll receive the freshest produce available. The only way to receive fresher produce is to, of course, grow your own. Let’s explore the world of CSA and take a look at the 5 top reasons that you’ll want to consider joining a CSA.

 

Reason #1 to Join a CSA-Quality

The food quality for CSAs is usually much better than what people expect. The reason that CSAs provide people with excellent food is that you get food directly sent to you; this bypasses the normal distribution chain process. Avoiding the typical process is no small matter when it comes to food quality. If you want great tasting produce, then nothing beats farm fresh. That is exactly what CSAs consistently deliver. You’ll be impressed at the difference when it comes to flavor.

 

Reason #2 to Join a CSA-Nutrition

Produce quality and nutrition truly go hand-in-hand. Fresher produce contains more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than food that has been sitting around, sometimes for weeks, waiting to be bought. The simple fact is that the nutrition levels of fresh fruits and vegetables is completely superior to vegetables that have been farmed and then shipped, often across country or from around the world, only to sit for days or weeks until consumed. Produce from a CSA is usually vastly fresher than produce at your typical grocery store or even co-op. Those looking for the best tasting and most nutritionals food possible will want to join a CSA.

 

 

Reason #3 to Join a CSA-Lower Your Carbon Footprint

As the name indicates, CSAs are community based; this means that your food isn’t traveling from hundreds of miles away. Instead, you can be certain that your food is produced locally and then consumed locally. By opting to consume as much local food as possible, you are taking a big step in lowering your carbon footprint. The food that you find in most grocery stores has been transported hundreds or even thousands of miles. However, with a CSAs, this is not a concern. Join a CSA and you’re sure to lower your carbon footprint.

 

Reason #4 to Join a CSA-Produce Makes People Happy

Having more fruits and vegetables on hand, especially those with superior taste, will encourage you to eat more produce and that has a wide array of positive benefits. A recent study reached a very unexpected conclusion. The study sought out participants who consumed very low levels of fruits and vegetables. These “low vegetable and fruit” participants were instructed to consume 8 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. The results were, in short, amazing.

 

The participants reported a dramatic spike in overall happiness levels. In fact, the increase in happiness levels was roughly on par with the increase in happiness levels experienced by unemployed people when they landed a new job. Again, this dramatic spike in overall reported happiness levels resulted from the simple act of consuming more fruits and vegetables.

 

Fruits and vegetables make people feel better. Medical science has told us for decades that fruits and vegetables can boost our health, but now we know that fruits and vegetables can boost our mood in a dramatic fashion. Joining a CSA will increase the number of fruits and vegetables you consume and that will boost your mood.

 

Reason Number Five to Join a CSA-Better Health

 

CSA food is some of the healthiest food that you can find. If you’ve been looking for a way to improve your diet, then a CSA is a great place to begin the process. The vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and disease and cancer fighting properties of fresh produce are greater in fresher produce. Very fresh produce doesn’t just taste better, but it is also better for you in a range of ways. Modern medicine knows that fresh fruits and vegetables improves overall health as produce boosts immunity and contains compounds that fight diseases including cancer.

 

One of the single greatest steps you can take to safeguard your own health is to opt for a CSA. CSAs bring great produce directly to you. The produce is far fresher, far tastier and far better for you.

One of the most striking aspects of joining a CSA is the surprising taste that comes along with it. Farm direct food is often completely different than food that has been shipped thousands of miles.

 

It is no accident that many chefs at top restaurants carefully choose their own food from nearby farms. Chefs understand that great taste, of course, begins with the food itself. Fresh ingredients can be an inspiration.

 

The food is the foundation of a great meal. If you are a foodie, then you owe it to yourself to join a CSA. By joining a CSA, you are supporting small farms while boosting your own health and enjoying truly amazing food and lowering your carbon footprint. It is a win-win all the way around!

There are many diverse ways to make your home greener. Many of the ways to make your home greener and eco-friendly are also inexpensive. Rather surprisingly many of the best ways to green your home are also completely free or can even help you save money!

Greening your home doesn’t have to be a difficult, time consuming, confusing or laborious process. Quite the contrary, the path to a greener and healthier home can be a pleasant, easy and even fun journey! If you’re already using our clotheslines, you already know well that this is the case.

We think that these five simple tips can make a tremendous difference in your life and the health of the planet. Let’s dive in and explore some of the best low-cost ways to make your home a greener and healthier one. Adopt these simple tips and you’ll be helping the planet while boosting your health and the health of your family.

Tip Number One-Be Highly Selective in What You Buy

One of the single best tips for greening your home is to be very selective about the products you buy. Cleaning products are a great example of where it pays to pause and consider what products you should and should not be buying. In short, refrain from buying any cleaning products that have chemicals or contain ingredients that are not naturally based.

The odds are great that you don’t need industrial strength cleaning products, so what should you do? Just don’t buy them at all.

Instead, you can make your own cleaning products for a fraction of the cost of buying cleaning products, for example, soap and water goes a long way in cleaning countertops, toilets, showers and more. The idea that you have to constantly clean using “tough” cleaning products is an idea created by marketing firms over the last half century!

Tip Number Two-Adjust Your Thermostat, Save Money and Help the Planet

Heating and cooling your home isn’t just expensive, but it is also tough on the planet. The less energy you use, the better off everyone will be. Using less energy means that you lower your carbon footprint while at the same time putting more cash in your pocket every month.

Start by turning down your thermostat a couple of degrees in the winter and leaving it a couple of degrees higher in the summer. After a few months your body will adjust to this small change and you’ll love the savings. Everyone literally benefits from this no-cost approach to greening your home! In fact, you’ll actually save money.

 

Tip Number Three-Remember that Weeds are Not the Enemy

Without a doubt one of the most significant environmental disasters of the 20th and early 21st Centuries has been the rise in popularity of the lawn and the treatment of that lawn with toxic and dangerous chemicals. Weed killing products, such as Roundup, should be avoided in all circumstances. The scientific community has raised a significant alarm regarding the safety of such products.

You do have options. First, remember that weeds are not the end of the world; they are just weeds! Secondly, weeds can be treated with a vinegar spray bottle. While this approach takes more work, it is far safer for you, your family and the planet as a whole.

Weeds cannot give you or your family cancer or neurological disorders. Toxic weed killers, on the other hand, are likely a very different story. Additionally, these harmful chemicals make their way into our water supply.

Tip Number Four-Natural Insulation for Big Results

So far our previous three tips were all free or even helped you save money. Tip Number Four isn’t free, but it can be inexpensive and save you a great deal in the long run.

The day you insulate a previous uninsulated space you will begin to save money. Many home improvements can take years before homeowners see a return on their investment; however, insulation is unique in that insulation immediately begins paying for itself.

An uninsulated space means that you invariably use more energy. Insulating an uninsulated space, however, means that you save energy and do so while lowering your carbon footprint. It is a true win-win for you and the planet! When you opt for insulation it is a smart move to select insulation that is green. Some green insulation options include blue jean insulation and wool insulation. However, it is important to check and make certain that these insulations are not treated with dangerous chemicals as some wool and blue jean insulation is treated.

Tip Number Five-Simple Changes to Your Dinner Plate

One of the single greatest steps for greening your home is to eat less meat. Meat takes a tremendous amount of water and resources. Simply cutting back or eliminating your meat consumption will help lower your carbon footprint and take pressure off water and energy resources. If you are not a vegetarian or a vegan, consider reducing your meat consumption just one day a week. Medical studies indicate that this simple move will also help your health.

Five Small Changes Produce Combine for Amazing Results!

Together these five tips can be used to lower your carbon footprint, save you money, improve your home’s resell value, lower your water consumption and help the planet. The good news is that regardless of your budget, there are many easy to adopt changes that will help the planet. If you want to “go green,” there are plenty of wonderful options!

No doubt the world has a plastic problem. One of the key parts of that plastic problem comes in the form of the ubiquitous plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are everywhere and come in an almost endless array of forms; however, there are many real and practical steps that you and your family can take to keep plastic bottles out of landfills and out of the ocean. Finding ways to showcase to children that items have value is time well spent. It’s also a perfect activity for Earth Day!

 

Kids love special projects that allow them to display their creative side. Finding fun plastic bottle projects is a great way for kids to have fun while recycling. If you want your children to have a positive association with recycling, then fun recycling projects such as the ones we will outline in this article is the perfect place to start. Children love special projects like these and many children will find it exciting to take something that is considered to be trash and transform it into some fun, useful and even beautiful!

 

Fun Plastic Bottle Project Number One-Decoration

Kids love seeing their artwork displayed across the house. For younger children, simply decorating a plastic bottle with glitter, stickers, pasted on drawings or other simple items can be both entertaining and satisfying. A simple bottle decoration project is great as it allows children of all ages to participate. Encourage your children to use everyday items that they can find around the house to make their decorated bottle as eye-catching and unique as possible.

 

Fun Plastic Bottle Project Number Two-Bracelets

 

With just a little patience it is possible to create your own plastic bottle bracelets. Once cut into rings, your children will love decorating their own bracelets. While this idea is simple, parents are often surprised by how much effort children will put into creating complex and interesting bracelets from scratch.

 

Fun Plastic Bottle Project Number Three-Colorful Artwork Masterpieces

All it takes to create a colorful and very fun plastic bottle artwork is an unfolded cardboard box, some different colored plastic bottles and plastic bottle tops. Plastic bottles and plastic bottle tops come in just about every color imaginable. Gluing cut plastic bottles and plastic bottle tops onto a cardboard surface is an essentially free way to create wonderful new art. This is one of the best plastic bottle projects for kids when it comes to expressing creativity.

Any shape or pattern imaginable can be created using this simple plastic bottle trick. If you really want to get the most out of this idea then save up as many different plastic bottles as possible. The more different circumferences and colored plastic bottles and caps you have, the better! Once your kids have practiced with smaller plastic bottle and plastic cap projects, feel free to branch out to larger and larger projects. You and your children are only limited by your imagination!

 

Fun Plastic Bottle Project Number Three-Transforming an Old Tent

Do you have an old tent? Plastic bottles can transform that tent into a magical play land for children in surprisingly little time. By taping cut circular sections of plastic bottles to your tent, your children can build an amazing play area. This is also a great activity for you and your family to enjoy on a camping trip.

Attach the cut plastic bottle sections either the inside, outside or even both the inside and outside of the tent and you’ll have a wild and crazy looking creation. When taken outside on a sunny day, this festive toy will create hypnotic patterns on the inside of the tent. This one is very easy, very fun and sports a high replay value!

 

Fun Plastic Bottle Project Number Four-The Plant Holder

If you are looking for ways to help your children get more time outdoors, then you’ll love the plastic bottle plant holder idea. All you need for this idea is to cut a plastic bottle in half, turn it upside down, put in dirt, seeds and a little water. Of course you’ll need some way of hanging your plant, which can be as easy as attaching a hook. For homes with outdoor plant hanging areas this idea is cheap and a great conversation starter for parents. Most children love the idea of growing plants, and with this trick your children will feel as though they’ve played an important role in the process.

 

Fun Plastic Bottle Project Number Five-Animals!

A plastic bottle and a little imagination can be all it takes to create a new toy. Eye stickers, yarn and other simple items you already have around the house are perfect for transforming a plastic bottle into almost any animal imaginable. You can create paper feathers for striking birds, use bottle caps for noses, pencils for legs, partially blown up balloons for ears and the list goes on and on.

One of the key reasons that this plastic bottle activity is so much fun for children is that it gives them endless ways to express their creativity and, in the process, create a new work of art.

 

Transforming Plastic Bottles Into Artistic Wonders is a Fantastic Way to Create Lasting Memories

 

No doubt there are plenty of other ways you can turn plastic bottles into hand made treasures. The best part of these simple plastic bottle projects is that you and your children are creating them together and in the process forming lasting and fun mementos. Once these creations have been completed, don’t forget to display them with pride somewhere in your home.

 

Decluttering is your friend and, to be blunt, is nothing short of awesome. If you’ve never before experienced the wonders and joys of getting rid of your clutter then you are in for a real treat! Decluttering really can change your life and for the better.

 

The simple fact is that decluttering can and will suck up a great deal of valuable time. In the “old days” decluttering was a bit simpler than in the modern era.

 

Decluttering meant that you donated, recycled, organized or tossed out things no longer had any worth or value, such as old paperwork. However, storing digital information did serve to complicate matters a bit. Today, decluttering one’s computer is a major concern. Our smartphones, computers and other digital devices all contribute to a sense of chaos.

 

Clutter may have become more complicated and involved but the benefits of decluttering are the same as they ever were. Let’s take a look at the five psychological benefits you’ll experience when you start to say goodbye to the mess.

 

Benefit #1-Stress Reduction

Stress is an unavoidable fact of life, but that doesn’t mean you can be proactive and find ways to reduce your stress. Some of the stress we face is fixed or virtually fixed, for example, going to work, sitting in traffic, waiting in life and so on. Yet there are steps you can take to distress and one of those steps is to declutter your workspace and your home.

It is stressful to have too much stuff sitting around and getting in your way. Clutter makes simple tasks more difficult and that triggers a stress response. Many of your old items are tied to things you find stressful or unpleasant bad memories. So why are you still holding on to this stuff? As it turns, out decluttering is a great stress reliever. It can provide a tremendous sense of relief.

 

Benefit #2-Improves Your Focus

 

Improving your focus can improve your life and mental health in a variety of ways. Clutter is amazing distracting. Now you may believe that your clutter no longer distracts you, but think again! Once you’ve removed it from your life, you will notice the difference.

 

You may think that those stuffed overflowing file cabinets or boxes in your workspace are not impacting you in any way, but the truth is that they can contribute to an overall sense of frustration and distraction.

 

With greater focus, you’ll be able to tackle jobs both large and small with less stress and greater efficiency. The benefits of greater focus are surprisingly diverse, for example, greater focus can lead to everything from promotions at work to tackling chorus at home to starting a new business, going back school and on and on.

 

The list of ways that greater focus can improve your life is almost endless. Embrace a decluttering mindset and you will see an impressive difference.

 

Benefit #3-A Sense of Accomplishment

Looking around at a cluttered home or workspace can be depressing. Clutter often makes us feel as though we have failed to accomplish something important. By contrast, however, decluttering can infuse one with a real sense of accomplishment.

 

After all, many of us putting off decluttering because it can be unpleasant. The longer you’ve waited to get rid of your old stuff, the more unpleasant it may be. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tackle it head on.

 

Since we spend almost every day in our home or work spaces, the psychological benefits of decluttering can be surprisingly profound. The next time you feel as though you are not accomplishing what you want to accomplish, try getting rid of unnecessary items. You’ll feel better and you’ll enjoy the other diverse benefits that decluttering has to offer!

 

Benefit #4-Improves Your Environment

Much of your clutter is, in fact, unhealthy in nature. Many products that we are accustomed to having in our homes are toxic, degas harmful chemicals, collect dust that harms indoor air quality and more. Sadly, clutter can be more than ugly or unpleasant, as it can even be harmful.  If you want a very easy way to improve your indoor air quality and, in turn, improve your physical and mental health, then consider saying goodbye to items you never use or need.

Just remember that when you start moving around items that have remained untouched for weeks, months, years or even longer that a lot of potentially harmful dust may be released.

With this mind keep windows open, HVAC systems on if possible and leave areas if you start feeling ill, coughing or sneezing.

 

Benefit #5-Boosts Your Mood

If you want a quick mood booster, then decluttering is the answer. Now it is important to note decluttering may feel stressful while you are actually doing it, but hang in there! Once you have your space organized, you’ll feel much better. Most people like having organized living and workspaces. Consider the work you put into achieving such a space a gift to your future self’s mood and well being.

 

A good rule of thumb is that if it’s not something you really need or that’s currently making you happy when you see it, it’s time to say goodbye.

 

Embrace Decluttering for a Better You

 

Above all else, never lose sight of the fact that decluttering isn’t a waste of your time. It will actually return far more time to you than you lose. In the end not only will you gain time, but you will also reap considerable mental and emotional benefits as well. Decluttering may be a difficult or even a little stressful, but it is also your friend.

Plastic is everywhere. In many ways, we do indeed live in a plastic age. The problem is that plastic harms the environment and human health. Plastic, for example, has been dumped in our oceans on a truly epic scale and has made its way into the food chain. Ocean waves and currents work to break down plastic into tiny particles and those particles are ingested by wildlife. Additionally, plastic is ubiquitous at landfills. Few seem to have a coherent plan for what to do with the ever increasing mountains of plastic waste.

 

Plastic is made from petroleum and as a result it can harm human health. Some types of plastic contain harmful chemicals such as BPA, which has been shown to disrupt hormones and is particularly harmful for children. The negative impact of plastics on human health and the environment are considerable.

 

There are alternatives such as corn based products on the horizon but the widespread adoption of these products is years if not decades away. For now the most prudent move is to discover ways to reduce plastic exposure in your own life. In this article we will look at 7 of the best ways to reduce both your plastic use and your plastic exposure.

 

Step One-Glass Is Your Friend

Many of the jobs that plastic currently performs were once or can be performed by glass options. Plastic water bottle leach chemicals into the water they contain, but glass bottles do not have that problem. The first step in reducing your plastic exposure is to list out the products you use that have plastic in them. Next, look for glass alternatives. You may be surprised at just how much of your plastic exposure can be reduced by following this straightforward and easy to implement tip.

 

Step Two-Use Alternatives to Plastic Bags

 

Plastic bags truly are an environmental nightmare. Sure, the petroleum industry loves them, but they are bad news for the rest of us. Plastic bags don’t degrade, harm the planet, harm wildlife and contain harmful chemicals.

 

Use cloth bags whenever possible for your groceries. But remember to wash them, as unwashed cloth bags can be a breeding ground for germs. You can just dry them off quickly on your clotheslines! Paper bags are an excellent option as well especially if you bring your own to the grocery store.

 

Step Three-Avoid Plastic Wrap and Plastic Food Containers

Plastic wrap and plastic food containers obvious come into direct contact with your food. Often plastic wrap and plastic food containers come into direct contact with hot food, which only increases chemical leaching into your food.

 

Don’t use plastic wrap and plastic food containers. Instead opt for glass wear, as there are glass wear options that have rubber coating to prevent breaking. Plastic wrap and plastic food containers share much in common with plastic bags in that they do not biodegrade.

 

As stated above, glass is your friend. So opt for glass whenever possible. Also, in the long run, glass container options will be cheaper in the long run as compared to plastic food containers, which wear out over time. Finally there are plastic wrap alternatives that are made from safer materials and they work quite well.

 

Step Four-Find New Toy Options

Living in the plastic age it is easy to forget that there was a time before almost all toys were made out of plastic. Cheap toys are problematic on many levels. Plastic exposure is particularly dangerous for infants, toddlers and children due to their array of potentially harmful chemicals.

 

With a little research, you can find all kinds of toys that are made of wood or that use lower levels of plastic. Avoiding plastic toys may be next to impossible but by strategically selecting toys with lower plastic content, you can reduce your child’s exposure. In addition to plastic concerns, it is important to note that many cheap toys, particularly those manufactured in China, contain high levels of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.

 

Step Five-Plastic Cups and Plates

Plastic cups and plates are very sneaky. The simple fact is that plastic cups and plates have made their way into virtually every home. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce plastic exposure.

 

The answer? Simply switch over to glass plates and glass cups. Plastic cups can constantly leach their chemicals into your body. Switching to glass cups will eliminate this unnecessary exposure.

 

Step Six-Baby Bottles

The last thing any parent wants to do is expose an infant to plastics. There are tough glass baby bottles that have rubber coatings to protect them from being dropped. The dangers of a dropped baby bottle are likely far lower than what constant plastic exposure represents. If you are worried about baby bottles being dropped when you are in public, for example on concrete, then switch to BPA free baby bottles while outside the house. The problem with BPA free baby bottles is that these bottles are also testing positive for other potentially problematic chemicals as well. Glass bottles are safer.

 

Step Seven-Conduct a Household Evaluation

 

Investing the time to evaluate where plastic is used in your home will definitely reduce your exposure. If you are like most people you will discover that you are using more plastic than you have to use. There are alternatives if you give it a little thought and shop around.

 

Following these seven tips will not eliminate your family’s exposure to plastic; however, these tips will dramatically reduce your exposure. Plastic alternatives to exist and it is worth your time to discover those alternatives and incorporate them into your life.