Living Green stretches to many aspects of our lives, and often times it is surprising how non-green we are living. We hope these not so common questions can help shed light on a few subjects. We’ve shared a couple of questions from this great article. The resources are endless! We’ll share a few from the list now and will plan to share more later!
Do biodegradable trash bags actually make a difference in the landfill?
A 2010 test placed five brands of bioplastic bags in compost piles for 180 days and found that, while one did turn a rotten brown, four did not change at all. Bioplastic composting requires an industrial composter that reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, whether or not your town is one of the few that composts them, bioplastics are a greener option than conventional trash bags because they’re made from renewable resources rather than fossil fuels.
Is there a natural way to clean your oven?
Conventional oven cleaner and other degreasers are among the most toxic household products around, according to the Washington Toxics Coalition. A great suggestion is to use a homemade paste: Mix 2 cups baking soda, 1 cup washing soda (found in laundry aisles), 1 teaspoon dish soap, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar. (You can thin it with a bit of water if necessary.) Wearing gloves, scour the oven’s interior with a scrubber, rag, and hot water to remove crust that hasn’t yet stuck solid. Apply thickly to all sides of the oven and leave overnight. In the morning, put gloves on and scrub, wiping with a wet cloth until all traces are gone.
Which bedding is more environmentally friendly: organic cotton or bamboo fiber?
Organic cotton, cultivated without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, is greener. Bamboo, organic or not, is a tough, woody grass that is often processed with harsh and polluting chemicals in order to make silky rayon fabric. The Federal Trade Commission recently ruled that, because rayon made from bamboo bears none of the genetic markers of the original plant, it must be labeled “rayon made from bamboo.” However, it’s worth noting that bamboo is a fast growing and renewable grass that thrives without pesticides, fertilizer, or intensive irrigation. When purchasing bed linens, look for USDA certified organic cotton and bamboo or their international equivalents: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) or Quality Assurance International (QAI) certified organic.
We hope your found this information helpful!
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