Womb Within

182 opinions for Keeping clean and green during pregnancy (and beyond) - a review and a contest

• Jul
  Jun 5, 2008 at 7:58 am

  My favorite new green tip: grow your own veggies! You can’t do better on the “eating locally” thing than your own back yard (or in my case, the balcony!). :)

• Jennifer Gnaidecki
  Jun 5, 2008 at 9:37 am

  I adore seventh generation!

  My favorite green tip: Working from home means you can be a one car family. That reduces pollution!

  My second green tip: Use a rag. Paper towels just aren’t worth it.

• Lara
  Jun 5, 2008 at 9:43 am

  Stumbled, and I’m getting ready to write up a post linking to the contest for you.

  One of my favorite “green” tips comes from my late Aunt Dolly who said that “Vinegar cleans everything”.

  She once put it in a steam cleaner (for carpet) with water (no soap)… “not too much so it smells bad” and said that her cream colored carpets never looked better.

  Just a tip beyond the old “wash windows with vinegar” idea.

• Grace
  Jun 5, 2008 at 10:02 am

  my green tip - eat fresh - veggies, meat, fruits, even bread (make your own). this way my baby and i get the most nutrients wih the least chemicals and preservatives. less on cans and plastics packaging too.

• Living Home Starter Kit Giveaway
  Jun 5, 2008 at 10:27 am

  […] Contest link: Keeping clean and green during pregnancy (and beyond) - a review and a contest […]

• Tracey
  Jun 5, 2008 at 11:02 am

  My green tip is to compost everything you can (some cities even allow meats, etc. in their green cart programmes). We have the green carts and I use that for some things (meat, cooked vegetables, some packaging), but I use my own backyard composter for the majority of my vegetable and fruit peelings. I’m going to be using the compost on my gardens & lawns so why send it off to be composted & then have to go pick it up again from the region?

• Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
  Jun 5, 2008 at 11:49 am

  Ah, I’ve been wanting to try Seventh Generation for a while now!

  Here’s my green tip, it’s for nontoxic cleaning: You can make your own “Soft Scrub” with baking soda, enough liquid soap to give the mixture a frosting-like consistency, and essential oil. I got this tip from http://www.care2.com and have been cleaning my tub with it for a little while now - it works great. I use tea tree oil, because I have so much of it and because of its antifungal and antiseptic properties.

  Great contest!

• Sarah
  Jun 5, 2008 at 1:43 pm

  Seventh Generation’s stuff rocks!!!

  Most people don’t know that it costs $250 a year to keep a Playstation3 running all the time! XBox 360 and the PS2 are cheaper but not by much. So my green tip is to make sure your video game consoles - as well as your computers and other electronics, are turned off when not in use. Also don’t forget to not leave your charger cords plugged in. You might want to consider buying some carbon offset credits as well!

• Bebemiqui
  Jun 5, 2008 at 3:35 pm

  One of the easiest things to do is to put up a clothesline in your backyard and purchase a clothes rack for the indoors (in the winter). Think of all the energy you’ll be saving. It also keeps the dryer from heating up your house in the summer.
  Great giveaway! Count me in. bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

• Melissa
  Jun 5, 2008 at 3:38 pm

  I stumbled you and then I’ll leave my green tip (though it seems insignificant to me, compared to the rest).

  Use the bus. Not only does public transportation cut down on the number of cars on the road, but it reduces pollution and it helps you get exercise, by walking to the bus stop, which is good for your body!

• andrea
  Jun 5, 2008 at 3:45 pm

  My green tip is to use cloth diapers and detergent that is good for the environment! Also I think using cloth bags for your groceries is really good, especially when you have a large family and are getting so much, if not at least recycle those plastic bags! asummerso4 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

• Amelia
  Jun 5, 2008 at 4:48 pm

  Greentip: Breast feed! That was an easy one… I’ve always wanted to try the Seventh Generation stuff but have been afraid that it won’t be worth the money. I use vinegar/mild dish soap and warm water to clean most things in our home. I also save old clothes/towels etc to use as cleaning rags instead of using paper towels.

• Mama Zen
  Jun 5, 2008 at 5:26 pm

  Definitely do a garden!

• Kiley
  Jun 5, 2008 at 6:19 pm

  My husband rides his bike to work and runs to the grocery store with our eco friendly reuseable bags! I would love this cleaning set because we have a 20 month old! Thank you!

• mama4jc
  Jun 5, 2008 at 7:14 pm

  My green tip: If you plan on having more than one child, give cloth diapering a try! It is not a tedious as cloth diapering was in the previous generation - no need for pins! :)

• CanCan
  Jun 5, 2008 at 10:06 pm

  We started a community garden in a small space of land behind our church. We also bring our food scraps there to compost. It feels good to put food waste back into the soil instead of a dump somewhere.

  We also do cloth diapering, cloth wipes, and cloth napkins and rags instead of paper towels.

  onlycancan at hotmail dot com

• Cindi
  Jun 5, 2008 at 10:08 pm

  I have been using a lot of vinegar and some ammonia to clean my glass surfaces; especially windows. I am hoping this is much greener than using most glass cleaning products. I would love to try your “Seventh Generation” goodies. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks, Cindi

• Jennifer Bogart
  Jun 5, 2008 at 11:54 pm

  Hmmm, I was going to say cloth diapering too! We do cloth diapers, we also do cloth wipes, and I have a tutorial on my blog about how to make your own. Cloth wipes also make great hankies and spill catchers!

  Compact fluorescents are good too :).

• misty w
  Jun 6, 2008 at 12:02 am

  My green tip, green roof. Start a roof garden if you’re able. If not, start growing your own produce or buy it local. Thanks so much for the opportunity.

• tuesday
  Jun 6, 2008 at 7:43 am

  My tip is to buy locally. Not only will you keep farmers fuel costs down but you will support your local farms.

• Andrea
  Jun 6, 2008 at 9:38 am

  My tip is to use cloth diapers AND cloth wipes!! :) We do and we LOVE it. :)

• Gina Stratos
  Jun 6, 2008 at 12:47 pm

  My green tip is simple - compost
  gkstratos @yahoo.com

• the mama hood
  Jun 6, 2008 at 12:53 pm

  Buy locally to help the locally to support your community and help the environment.

  Linking to your site

• Linda Pinto
  Jun 6, 2008 at 1:14 pm

  We always drove to the grocery store even if it is only a few blocks away. Now, unless I am getting a lot of food, I walk. It is good for my figure and saves gas and the environment.

• Veggie Links for 6-Jun-2008
  Jun 6, 2008 at 2:35 pm

  […] enter Marijke’s contest and you could win a Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit just by leaving a […]

• Michele
  Jun 6, 2008 at 3:05 pm

  My favorite easy tip is to turn off the tap while brushing teeth

• magpie
  Jun 6, 2008 at 5:34 pm

  My tip - if you don’t like the smell of compost in your kitchen, put it in your freezer! This makes composting easy and CLEAN. When your container gets full, take it outside as usual :)

• Vickie Couturier
  Jun 6, 2008 at 6:14 pm

  We recycle reuse an reuse again,whatever we can redo even if its in a craft we take our own reusabe bag to the store

• Kristinia Clos
  Jun 6, 2008 at 8:52 pm

  My green tip is: Eliminate plastic baggy usage and start using those cool canvas bags, keep a few in the car so you remember to use them every time you shop for anything, not just groceries, also check your famer’s markets for produce/veggies, walk instead of driving (preventing the usage of soo much fuel), and get your kids in on it! phillipsonlygirl (at) gmail (dot) com

• Kelly H
  Jun 6, 2008 at 9:19 pm

  Nalgene Bottle. Carry one, use it! Stop the plastic bottle craziness.

• Katie
  Jun 6, 2008 at 9:34 pm

  My favorite green tip is joining a farm share. For $30 a week I get tons of fresh, organic, local produce dropped off at a location near my house. Not only is it good for me, it’s good for the Earth.

• Emily Wood
  Jun 6, 2008 at 10:42 pm

  My tip is: practice elimination communication, otherwise known as diaper-free or natural infant hygiene–no disposible diapers AND no cloth diapers to use up electricity washing and drying!

• Gen
  Jun 7, 2008 at 3:11 am

  I have to say walking to the store, and buy locally from a farmer’s market.

• Saturday Sanity: When Your RSS Feed Just Isn’t Enough
  Jun 7, 2008 at 4:02 am

  […] In the rest of b5media’s Health & Wellness Channel contests abound! Pink Ribbon Review’s Karen Lynch is holding a contest for a Fujifilm One-Time-Use Camera, Ruth at Eating Fabulous is holding a contest for a wet of Wish-Bone Bountifuls, Grace at Kids Health Notes is giving away three Scholastic books for children, Lively Women’s Kristen is offering a chance to win three copies of High Heels to Hormones: A Woman’s Guide to Spine Care, and Womb Within’s Marijke is holding a contest for a Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit. […]

• Susan C
  Jun 7, 2008 at 12:21 pm

  My green tip is instead of using aerosol air freshener to make your home smell good, simmer a little vanilla in some water-it smells wondeful!

• Amy L
  Jun 7, 2008 at 2:06 pm

  My Green Tip: Clean with white vinegar. I keep a spray bottle of white vinegar and water in the kitchen and bathrooms for fast cleaning. I also use baking soda to scrub my sinks and tub. It’s so much easier on my hands than cleansers.

• kara
  Jun 7, 2008 at 8:47 pm

  I keep a canvas bag in my pocketbook so that I remember to use it rather than use the plastic bags from the store. You can sew up an old t-shirt to make a reusable bag which fits easily into your bag.

• Teresa Hoyt
  Jun 7, 2008 at 10:29 pm

  My green tip is to soak egg shells in a jug of water and use to water your plants.Its stinky, but its a chemical free way to give plants what they need!

• becky
  Jun 8, 2008 at 1:46 am

  I’ve tried one or two Seventh Generation product, but I’d love to try the whole set!

  My green tip: talk to your employer about an alternate schedule. Try working 4-10 (4 days, 10 hours) or enough 9 hour days to get every other Friday off. You’ll save commuting time, money, and gas. AND your office won’t have to worry about heating (or cooling) and lighting for you that day. If they won’t let you compress your schedule, can you telecommute a few times a month?

• julie
  Jun 8, 2008 at 5:25 am

  we subscribe to enegy efficient florida power and light…this has made a big difference in our power bill and we don’t even notice.

• Keeping Clean and Green tips are coming in and they’re great!
  Jun 8, 2008 at 6:46 am

  […] Keeping clean and green during pregnancy (and beyond) - a review and a contest […]

• Kimberly
  Jun 8, 2008 at 5:22 pm

  My tip…

  If you are going to the grocery store ask your neighbors if they need anything from the store too. They can either share the ride with you (carpool to the grocery store) or you can pick up what they need from the store while you are there. That saves gas, emmissions, and less cars on the road.

  Also, buy bottles you can refill with water instead of buying bottles of water. The kind that have the center piece you can freeze are great. I keep several in my freezer all the time.

• Emily N.
  Jun 8, 2008 at 8:20 pm

  reduce consumption, recycle, reuse items, carpool

• stacey moore
  Jun 8, 2008 at 8:43 pm

  grow your own veggies!
  thanks!
  moore.g at insideconnect.net

• CareBear
  Jun 9, 2008 at 7:30 am

  My green tip is for those menstruating:

  Diva Cup and LunaPads are great! I was skeptical at first but now I wouldn’t change. http://www.lunapads.com Lunapads also has Postpartum Liners.

  OR

  If disposables are your thing try switching to a natural organic product such as Natracare http://www.natracare.com It was my first step and I found it cut down on cramping.

• jonica
  Jun 9, 2008 at 9:21 am

  My green tip is to buy 2 or more big trash cans. Plastic. Drill some small holes in the bottom on the sides and on the top and throw all your leaves, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, newpapers and make your own compost. No need to go out and buy the expensive tumblers. Yes it does take some time. once a month I go out and turn the dirt but once a week I make sure it is moist. Now I have about 6 of the cans and it makes more than enough for my veggie garden, seed startings, the 8 or so flower and herb beds I have.

• ashley
  Jun 9, 2008 at 9:57 am

  Seventh Generation Products are great!

  Green tip - go vegetarian, eating meat is energy inefficient and bad for the environment. You can feed 10 people in a year with what you would feed 1 cow. Also I subscribe to a CSA, I am supporting a local organic farm and getting some of the best veggies I’ve ever eaten. I also started a padio garden with the vegetables I eat the most, lettuces, tomatoes, basil and peppers. By growing them in pots I know they are organic and aren’t getting any pestacides from my neighbor’s runoff.

• Jo
  Jun 9, 2008 at 2:55 pm

  Walk instead of driving whenever possible.
  jceko77@yahoo.com

• laurabc98
  Jun 10, 2008 at 10:15 am

  great info! my green tip: don’t throw away those paper towel and toilet paper tubes - save them! You can donate them to local schools or libraries to use for craft projects; make crafts with your kids or friends’ kids or nieces and nephews! Use them as packing material; give them to your pet hamster or bird to play with! Lots of uses you wouldn’t expect.

• Shumyla
  Jun 10, 2008 at 4:34 pm

  The most common-sense thing ever: Bring your own container to restaurants. That way you aren’t taking polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers home, which don’t biodegrade. At the same time, you’re also reducing the garbage generated by your home.

• Archana Prabhu
  Jun 11, 2008 at 2:48 pm

  My green tip -

  Avoid taking paper printouts unless absolutely necessary. Also use cloth towels instead of paper in kitchen and bathroom.

• First-ever trial investigating if HIV prevention gels safe for pregnant women & their babies
  Jun 12, 2008 at 9:04 pm

  […] Don’t forget to enter: Keeping clean and green during pregnancy (and beyond) - a review and a contest […]

• Jill Myrick
  Jun 12, 2008 at 11:32 pm

  Always recycle when possible. I am unsure about other states but in NC our landfills offer free recycling. With huge bins labeled for each such as glass, cardboard, plastic etc. It definitely helps our environment.
  Thank you so much for offering this wonderful giveaway.
  I would LOVE to win !!

• Deborah R
  Jun 13, 2008 at 4:49 am

  My green tip is to shop at thrift or resale shops. Most people are still wasteful and feel the need to own the toaster du jour, so they get rid of the 6 month old toaster they used twice. Keep stuff like this out of the landfill and save production and packaging costs by buying used whenever possible.

• Margaret Smith
  Jun 13, 2008 at 6:00 am

  Thanks for this giveaway. My green tip is to unplug all appliances, video equipment, game equipment, when not in use. Get times for your heat and air conditioners. Get energy saving bulbs.
  Thanks again and please enter me.

• James Jenkins
  Jun 13, 2008 at 6:48 am

  wow

• Jodi
  Jun 13, 2008 at 6:52 am

  Great giveaway!

  My tip: If you can spring for it, consider installing a solar hot water heating system. It’s pricey up-front (but much less than trying to run your whole house on solar), but saves a lot of money/energy in the long run–especially if you do your laundry on sunny days. And I firmly believe that if more of us went solar, it would be more affordable for everyone.

• Kathy Scott
  Jun 13, 2008 at 7:12 am

  Throw away the clocks. This is the age of the cell phone. Use it to its full capacity.

• Elaine
  Jun 13, 2008 at 7:27 am

  Use diluted vinegar to clean-nontoxic and leaves everything shiny and streakfree.

• Vicky Boackle
  Jun 13, 2008 at 7:47 am

  put a bucket out when it starts to rain to catch water for the plants inside.

• Karen M
  Jun 13, 2008 at 7:50 am

  My favorite tip is to use q-tips and alcohol to clean those hard to get places in the fridge.

• Tricia Andrews
  Jun 13, 2008 at 8:58 am

  Buy a composting bin!! I have one and I have been using it for a few months and have already seen a decrease in the amount of trash going into our garbage container. About 25 % of our garbage (after recyclable items are pulled out) can go into a composting bin! And then it makes great compost mulch for your gardens for free!

• Susan C
  Jun 13, 2008 at 9:06 am

  Despite trying to cut down on plastic bags, I still get a lot of them. My green tip is to use these as trash can liners.

• sarah
  Jun 13, 2008 at 10:55 am

  Don’t drive, walk! It’s a great mood booster and good for the environment.

• Carissa D.
  Jun 13, 2008 at 11:04 am

  Use cloth bags for shopping.

• Gen
  Jun 13, 2008 at 11:30 am

  When I need to boil water (for tea, canning) in the summer, I always boil more than I need and take the extra hot water outside right away and pour it over the grass/weeds growing up through the cracks of my brick patio/walkway. It kills the weeds and within a day or two, they are all dried up and can easily be swept away. No chemicals required!!

  Thanks for the give away!!

• Theresa Shafer
  Jun 13, 2008 at 12:51 pm

  Clean sink pipes maintenance.

  1. when dishwasher drains into sink add 1/8 cup liquid soap into drain.
  or
  2. 3 tablespoons of liquid into drain before pouring hot water from: Spaghetti, vegetables, what ever water you have just finished cooking with that is very hot.

  This cuts grease thus keeping sinks clean and no need to use harsh chemicals.

• Monique Rizzo
  Jun 13, 2008 at 12:53 pm

  We do a ton of recycling and composting!

• Lindsay
  Jun 13, 2008 at 1:17 pm

  Reduce your energy costs by switching to energy saving lightbulbs

• charline s
  Jun 13, 2008 at 2:01 pm

  My best tip is keep the lights off, and use recycled grocery bags.

• william watkins, Sr.
  Jun 13, 2008 at 2:31 pm

  nice prize

• Erin
  Jun 13, 2008 at 2:36 pm

  If you use a dishwasher, use the lowest cycle setting and run it at night, to conserve energy. (p.s. I’ve learned a few things from these posts. Great!)

• Stephanie V
  Jun 13, 2008 at 2:57 pm

  Buy everyone in the family their own SIGG bottles and refill water. Stop using plastic bottles!

• Dan Smith
  Jun 13, 2008 at 5:10 pm

  reuse rain water

• Susan
  Jun 13, 2008 at 5:12 pm

  Dry your clothes naturally

• Megan
  Jun 13, 2008 at 6:05 pm

  Put apple cider vinegar in a jar by the kitchen sink for washing fruits and veggies. Works great, and no additional chemicals to worry about : )

• Noelia Gutierrez
  Jun 13, 2008 at 9:03 pm

  carpool that is so important right now not only to help the earth but save money. Also grow your own produce, especially now when you can see that some foods are not safe like tomatoes, but if you grow it on your own, you know it’s safe! Thanks

• susan varney
  Jun 13, 2008 at 10:38 pm

  raised bed garden

• christopher h
  Jun 13, 2008 at 11:33 pm

  use cloth towels in the kitchen instead of paper

• Kirsten
  Jun 14, 2008 at 1:37 am

  I recycle, I buy items made out of recycled products and drive as little as possible. Also use CFLs!

• Amy
  Jun 14, 2008 at 7:16 am

  I don’t use paper towels or paper napkins. Also, we recycle almost everything we use.

• marybeth i.
  Jun 14, 2008 at 7:58 am

  I try to find new ways to go green - we are doing so in small steps but the practices we adopt become permanent ones. We are in the process of switching all of our lightbulbs to reduce energy costs and save energy. I have started using reusable totes for shopping and have started buying “green” cleaners. Next steps are to recycle MORE, to compost and reduce water usage. We recycle of course!

• Cindy Flores
  Jun 14, 2008 at 3:25 pm

  I love growing my own veggies in my backyard. It is as ‘local’ as local can be, not to mention it is great excersise and brings the whole family together.

• Jennifer M
  Jun 15, 2008 at 8:15 am

  Get rid of paper napkins and paper towels! Small terry “bar towels” work great as napkins, and old T-shirts cut up as rags are better than paper towels anyway.

• hazel hunt
  Jun 15, 2008 at 9:01 am

  Put apple cider vinegar in a jar by the kitchen sink for washing fruits and veggies. Works great, and no additional chemicals to worry about : )

• hazel hunt
  Jun 15, 2008 at 9:01 am

  Put apple cider vinegar in a jar by the kitchen sink for washing fruits and veggies. Works great, and no additional chemicals to worry about : )

• Ashley Henley
  Jun 15, 2008 at 11:12 am

  hang your clothes out to dry, this makes a big difference in your electricity

• Anthony Hedden
  Jun 15, 2008 at 2:24 pm

  Have your own garden

• judy brittle
  Jun 15, 2008 at 8:47 pm

  i walk to work. replaced all my light bulbs with energy efficient ones. than i go shopping taking all my green bags for loading groceries.

• Candie L
  Jun 15, 2008 at 8:55 pm

  We do our part by getting energy efficient light bulbs and we prefer to eat food that is locally grown

• April Valentine
  Jun 15, 2008 at 9:26 pm

  Buy some worms and make your own composture.

• Mary Jenkins
  Jun 16, 2008 at 12:44 am

  the thought grossed me out at first, but my hubbie convinced me to use bath towels twice to reduce our water/energy usage. and i recycle clothes into fab new items! we use totes verses bags.and reuse plastic storage sacks!

• Vicki Wurgler
  Jun 16, 2008 at 3:31 pm

  I have a garden, and I compost and recycle as much as I can, plus I wash in cold water and use my clothes lines to dry

• Lori
  Jun 16, 2008 at 3:32 pm

  re-use plastic water bottles for padding when shipping

• Jay Fenster
  Jun 16, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  use the hibernate and sleep options (under power settings) on your computer to save electricity!

• Pregnancy can be hard on your feet
  Jun 16, 2008 at 6:38 pm

  […] Don’t forget to enter: Keeping clean and green during pregnancy during pregnancy (and beyond) - a review and a contest […]

• kathleen w.
  Jun 16, 2008 at 7:07 pm

  I use vinegar in the washer rather than fabric softener as well as dryer balls to avoid dryer sheets. My clothes still come out soft.

• Elizabeth M.
  Jun 16, 2008 at 7:20 pm

  We put in a clothesline and we dry our clothes that way now. It’s actually kinda fun!

• Dawn Bates
  Jun 16, 2008 at 7:27 pm

  My favorite green tip: Don’t leave your car idling when waiting at the drive through or picking up your kids. It wastes gas and creates unnecessary emissions.

  Thanks for the giveaway!

• Alta Whisnant
  Jun 16, 2008 at 7:45 pm

  Clean with white vingear

• JONI CHADWELL
  Jun 16, 2008 at 8:20 pm

  I do all my laundry in cold water and I have cut back on the amount of laundey detergent I use per load

• Belinda A.
  Jun 16, 2008 at 9:20 pm

  Save energy by not running the dishwasher until it’s full. Along the same lines: Don’t run the washer unless you have a full load and, if you can, hang dry laundry before smoothing out creases in the dryer.

• Shay
  Jun 16, 2008 at 9:33 pm

  I am slowly replacing all my harsh chemicals with GREEN cleaners. So far I have been quite pleased with them and my lungs have really been thanking me especially when I clean the bathroom.

• Jennifer C.
  Jun 16, 2008 at 9:41 pm

  I use a lot of vinegar for cleaning. I also wash in cold water, don’t buy paper plates, don’t water my lawn, only mow when it is necessary (usually every other week), no extra driving around, Hubby traded in his minivan for a smaller car to save on gas for him to get back and forth to work.

• Jacob LaFountaine
  Jun 16, 2008 at 10:33 pm

  Use USB devices when you are on the computer. The thing is in use so why not use that power for USB fans, waterfalls, light and other needs.

• Diane Kripp
  Jun 16, 2008 at 10:46 pm

  My best green tip? Don’t buy alot of crap you don’t need. Use and if possible re-use what you do buy. Being green environmentally can also make you green with extra cash by cutting back the waste.

• lindsey
  Jun 17, 2008 at 12:45 pm

  I shop at thrift stores as much as I can–it keeps things out of the landfill, and I am not creating waste by buying new. I’ve scored really great bakeware from thrift stores!

• sandra kao
  Jun 17, 2008 at 2:54 pm

  recycle old baby bottles

• Dan
  Jun 17, 2008 at 3:44 pm

  Eat and organic, whether you buy in a store or grow it yourself.

• Janice Wright
  Jun 17, 2008 at 4:00 pm

  Join http://www.freecycle.org and gift your unwanted good items to other members instead of those items ending up in a landfill.

• Dan
  Jun 17, 2008 at 4:29 pm

  Use a high efficiency washer to save water and energy

• Amber U
  Jun 17, 2008 at 4:36 pm

  I clean with vinegar, Our items of clothing and such gets saved for when we hear of someone in need ie. house fire. same goes for the kids toys they no longer want or play with, the love going through there stuff to give to someone!

• Gayle Morgan
  Jun 17, 2008 at 6:11 pm

  7th generation rocks - good stuff

  I recycle and reuse anything I can. I also compost - works wonders for tomatoe plants in the garden

• Stephen Dell
  Jun 17, 2008 at 7:40 pm

  My green tip is to start a mulch pile. I use mine for my garden!

• vicki lorenz
  Jun 17, 2008 at 8:57 pm

  My green tip is: Start your own garden, whether you have the space or grow your own in pots. There is nothing better than pulling out your own veggie and eating it right away!

• Angela
  Jun 17, 2008 at 9:00 pm

  I recycle anything paper I can get my hands on especially packing supplies as I reuse all my old mailers to mail giveaways on my blog and old printouts to make labels and even print my homework on the back of printouts so that i use both sides before I recycle the rest!

• Meg
  Jun 17, 2008 at 10:01 pm

  I try to take shorter showers or turn off the water while I shave. Also, buying locally grown food is a great way to help out the environment.

• Peggy Gorman
  Jun 18, 2008 at 12:39 am

  Plant a garden , make a list and go to the store 2x a month,wash clothes in cold water and I find if I hang my clothes outside on the line on hangers it save time ,all my clothes dry and they are already on hangers ,so I only have to put the in the closet,smell great and wrinkle free,saves me from ironing and using electricty
  Think Green

• Belinda
  Jun 18, 2008 at 1:06 am

  Make your own cleaners. They are safer and cheaper.

• Noreen
  Jun 18, 2008 at 1:45 am

  water your house plants with drinking water left in a cup that won’t be used

• Protecting your back after baby is born
  Jun 18, 2008 at 4:31 am

  […] Don’t forget to enter: Keeping clean and green during pregnancy during pregnancy (and beyond) - a review and a contest […]

• Megan B.
  Jun 18, 2008 at 6:43 am

  My green tip is to not use the washing machine unless you’re on a full load and try to hang-dry as much as possible, especially during the summer months.

• Elaine
  Jun 18, 2008 at 7:49 am

  Use vanilla extract to deodorize. Place cotton balls soaked with vanilla in the ashtray of your car.

• Aine
  Jun 18, 2008 at 9:35 am

  One green tip that I heard of recently is:
  Save those styrofoam packing peanuts and use them in the bottom of big planters. They will help with water drainage, and they won’t weigh your planter down!

• Tammy
  Jun 18, 2008 at 9:35 am

  Did you know that Garbage Disposals are environmentally friendly? Unless you compost, it is a cleaner, safer way to dispose of food products than throwing them out and having them leach chemicals into the ground. Food waste is virtually liquefied, and then treated, and can be used for a variety of things after that.

• Aine
  Jun 18, 2008 at 9:36 am

  Have ants coming in through a crack in your wall? Sprinkle cinnamon on the crack. Ants are repelled by it! They also hate cayenne pepper. Don’t use those scary chemical insecticides in your home! Just use spices! :)

• Aine
  Jun 18, 2008 at 9:39 am

  Stop using the drive-through if possible. Just think of all the gas you could save, and extra exercise you could get, by going inside instead!

• Aine
  Jun 18, 2008 at 9:42 am

  Try to plan your errands so that you can do them all in one trip, saving gas. Are three of your errands on the same side of town? Try to do them all in the same afternoon! This is so much better than going home and then going back out. Every bit of gas you save will help!

• Aine
  Jun 18, 2008 at 9:44 am

  Reuse those old baby food jars for sewing notions or nuts and bolts in the tool shed. You can drill through the lids to attach them to the underside of a shelf, and screw them into place!

• Bobbye F
  Jun 18, 2008 at 10:30 am

  We recycle cans, paper, and platic at our home. We have started buying reusable bags and use them for just about anything you can think.

• Brooke
  Jun 18, 2008 at 12:19 pm

  We do all kinds of green things in my house, but my favorite is buying local produce at the farmer’s market.

• Anne G
  Jun 18, 2008 at 1:09 pm

  My green tips are little ones:

  Select minimal packaging - those “100 cal” packs and single serve items are very wasteful.

  When driving in hot weather, turn off the AC after the car cools down and run the recirculate. It stays cool for a while like that. Be sure to turn off 5 - 10 min before reaching destination so you aren’t leaving an empty cooled down car in the parking lot.

• Rebecca Snodgrass
  Jun 18, 2008 at 1:18 pm

  Use newspapers to clean windows

• Diana Corlett
  Jun 18, 2008 at 1:24 pm

  I never buy anything new without considering if something I already have might fill the bill instead. Ingenuity=recycle, reuse, reduce waste

• AnneMarie DeRemer
  Jun 18, 2008 at 1:33 pm

  Bottle your own ice teas. No need to buy it bottled. Make up a 2qt pitc her at home and funnel into recycled water bottles. Saves all that heavy glass and expense.

• Kristie Noguera
  Jun 18, 2008 at 1:42 pm

  My green tip is using vinegar to clean the tub. I always wanted to try it, but thought I had to look up recipes for homemade cleaners, until one day I just tried plain old vinegar and now I won’t use anything else. (except Seventh Generation of course!)

• kiyana
  Jun 18, 2008 at 2:03 pm

  Take or buy only what you need so you don’t waste!

• Suzanne Denys
  Jun 18, 2008 at 3:30 pm

  Recycle everything. Compost your kitchen scraps. Grow your own vegetables and use organic soil. Buy in bulk. Donate unused stuff to thrift stores. Use less.

• Mariann Hudson
  Jun 18, 2008 at 4:21 pm

  My favorite things are growing your own veggies and using vinegar to clean!!!

  I have never used these products - would LOVE to, though, as my family (including 5 children) would greatly benefit from using them. Thank you for the opportunity.

• Ed Nemmers
  Jun 18, 2008 at 4:50 pm

  Hang clothes outside on the line to dry when apropos.

• Stephanie Bruce
  Jun 18, 2008 at 6:35 pm

  Freecycle dont throw that stuff away see if someone in your community can use it instead

• amira m
  Jun 18, 2008 at 7:45 pm

  instead of using conditioner for your hair, use a cap-full of vinegar! It will detangle and really does the trick to get my hair soft and shiny!

• Sharon Seneker
  Jun 18, 2008 at 8:18 pm

  I give my plastic grocery bags to the Bread Basket to package food for the needy and the Appalachian Helping Hands clothes closet to bag clothes for the needy.

• cassity johnson
  Jun 18, 2008 at 8:54 pm

  in the summer I reuse bath water or put a bucket in the shower and later that morning, I can use it to water my outdoor plants and flowers!

• cassity johnson
  Jun 18, 2008 at 8:55 pm

  cleaning drains with baking soda and vinegar!

• Pamela White
  Jun 18, 2008 at 8:56 pm

  I use layers of newspaper in our garden in between the plants and along the paths to hold down the weeds and concerve on water. As the newspaper rots it can be mulched into the dirt and more newspaper added.

• KristelH
  Jun 18, 2008 at 8:56 pm

  My tip is to purchase a reusable water bottle and keep it refilled. It saves plastic from ending up in the trash and money!

• cassity johnson
  Jun 18, 2008 at 8:57 pm

  give your air conditioner a rest, open the windows as much as you can… besides saving a lot of energy, its much better for you!

• kay wolter
  Jun 18, 2008 at 9:47 pm

  never been pregnant tried and tried did infertility and adoption for 10 year and finally was chosen for Adoption and was picked for a Healthy handson baby Boy He is already 11 and He is very strong that We use things 1/2 the dose they say and it still works great…laundry is still really clean dishes also…

• Jennifer H
  Jun 18, 2008 at 11:35 pm

  Instead of buying fancy tupperware to store leftovers, just reuse the plastic containers that lots of foods come in.

• Janet
  Jun 19, 2008 at 12:52 am

  Freecycle AND make things out of things u would be throwing away.Hang clothes out side to dry.plant veggies.recycle cans.

• L McLendon
  Jun 19, 2008 at 2:02 am

  We use a small rechargable electric mower for our yard. It is economical and doesn’t add pollution or noise to our overburdened air.

• Brian E.
  Jun 19, 2008 at 2:38 am

  Tip: wash your dishes by hand !!! (And save the soapy & rinse water for your plants, both houseplants and your outdoor landscape plants.)

• D Johnson
  Jun 19, 2008 at 3:17 am

  Sweet

• Catherine copeland
  Jun 19, 2008 at 5:46 am

  you can grow some of your own vegetables in a container garden. yummy, convenient, no pesticides and you don’t have all the scares to worry about.

• Amber Porter
  Jun 19, 2008 at 6:50 am

  Use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones.

• Susan
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:03 am

  recycle

• Dan Smith
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:03 am

  collect and reuse rain water

• Becky Grady
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:13 am

  I try to reduce, reuse & recycle as often as possible. My best green tip is to use cloth grocery bags.

• kathy pease
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:14 am

  i use newspapers instead of paper towels for washing windows :)

• sarah woods
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:19 am

  Probably the biggest green tip was given at a lecture; in that simply cut off the computor/s when not in use to save the emission of toxic carbon/s into the environment and atmosphere. Now at our office and homes we have signed pledges that when we leave the computors go to “OFF:” Thanks SW

• Deborah R
  Jun 19, 2008 at 9:10 am

  If there’s one nearby, join a local farmer’s Community Supported Agriculture group. Not only will you get great produce, you’ll also be buying locally and supporting small farms.

• Barbara Baker
  Jun 19, 2008 at 10:43 am

  my green tip: if you save coke cans already, get your little ones involved too. My little girls take the tabs off the top and save them in a recycled water gallon. They feel so proud when THEY have filled it and they feel like they’ve done something very important (which they have) in saving the earth.

  Great giveaway…love the sound of the window and surface cleaner, I so want to try each and every one of them!!!

• Dddiva
  Jun 19, 2008 at 10:58 am

  We don’t have the smallest carbon footprint, but we are trying where we can. One of the biggies is trying to get things with as little packaging as possible- from buying large sizes and putting into smaller reusable containers to using canvas bags- we are trying. We even started packing the girls sandwiches and such in little keepers that they bring home and wash out instead of baggies.
  Not always easy, but we are getting better.

• Tammy
  Jun 19, 2008 at 11:12 am

  Don’t know what to do with all that Styrofoam that came in that last item you purchased? Or the left over cups and plates from the last picnic gathering? (rinse those first though!)
  Keep it as packing - how many times have you needed to pack something for shipping and found you had nothing on hand? Break down large lumps of Styrofoam into smaller chunks and keep a bag of it handy

• Michelle
  Jun 19, 2008 at 1:09 pm

  Unplug items (don’t just shut off) that you are not. This is especially true for charging cell phones all the time. Only charge them when they need them.

• Renee Turner
  Jun 19, 2008 at 1:59 pm

  Instead of buying wrapping paper, use the comics from your newspaper to wrap presents.

• Kim
  Jun 19, 2008 at 4:16 pm

  I reuse my pickle and mayo jars and yogurt cups - the yogurt cups are great for seedlings, and the jars make nice drinking glasses.

• Eryn
  Jun 19, 2008 at 5:26 pm

  Oh I love the Seventh Generation laundry soap, but can’t find any of their other products in my tiny town!

  My green tip would be to try the “no trash” lunch plan. Our family takes 4 “sack” lunches a day, and my using reusable containers, insulated lunch bags, our own silverware, and reusable sandwich wrappers, we’ve eliminated all garbage from our daily lunches. Sure, you gotta teach kids (and a husband) the responsibility of washing out a container when they get home, but you’re both saving money and reducing your families carbon footprint! A win-win situation for everyone!

• * * ALiesa * *
  Jun 19, 2008 at 6:27 pm

  * * I make a point to recycle * *

• Lily Kwan
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:17 pm

  I carry a canvas bag with me when I go grocery shopping.

• Suanne Giddings
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:33 pm

  Natural cleansers like vinegar and baking soda do a great job without harming the planet. The scent leaves much to be desired! Thanks for the chance to win!

• Donna Kozar
  Jun 19, 2008 at 8:53 pm

  My tip is grow at least some of your own food.

• Veronica Garrett
  Jun 19, 2008 at 9:33 pm

  My green tip is purchase or make your own barrel for collecting rainwater.

• Rickey Moham Jr
  Jun 19, 2008 at 10:03 pm

  WIN WIN WIN!!!

• Heather C
  Jun 19, 2008 at 10:18 pm

  My green tips:
  - Always, always have canvas or other bags in the car. You never know when you might need to run into the store for a few small things.
  - Use a towel instead of paper towels for after washing hands.

• Jennifer Gniadecki
  Jun 19, 2008 at 10:32 pm

  Stumbled & Subscribed

  My green tip is to use rags or old kitchen towels instead of paper towels!

• A Casson
  Jun 19, 2008 at 10:48 pm

  We Re-cycle and re-use just about everything we can. Even the plastic lids off of nut cans, margarine tubs, etc. I use as mini disposable cutting boards

• Amanda
  Jun 20, 2008 at 10:16 pm

  OOH! I would love to win this!

  My green tip is to resolve to buy only what you need. REDUCE, reuse, and recycle.

  Most of us buy out of habit…and half the stuff we buy we don’t really even want or need.

  Buy less, buy better–quality over quantity!

  Check out my blog on sustainable fashion and beauty! http://www.evolvedfashion.com

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