A Greener House

I've talked in the past about how much I like Clorox's Green Works cleaners. Their all purpose and glass cleaners are now a staple in my cleaning cabinet. I love that they are not prohibitively expensive, do a great job, smell good, and are all natural.

That's why I was thrilled when Mom Central contacted me to let me know that Clorox had come out with a new Green Works dish soap. Knowing how pleased I was with the other cleaners I had been given, I was excited to receive my new dish soap.

I am happy to report that it did not disappoint. Like the other Green Works products, it delivers a powerful cleaning punch while helping me to keep harsh chemicals and fumes out of my home. It works just as well as it chemical laden counterparts and does not break the bank like some natural alternatives can.

Clorox's Green Works products are available at most general retailers (anywhere Clorox products are sold). I have found them at both my local grocery store and at my local Target. The dish soap is available in five scents: Original, Water Lily, Tangerine, Free & Clear and Simply Lemon.

I'm hoping that Green Works disinfecting wipes are next!!

AccuClean

After spending the day outside planting, my allergies have kicked in full swing. This spring seems to be particularly bad as my usual meds aren't helping at all. Little J is suffering as well and has now developed itchy red eyes to compliment his runny nose. He's rubbed one eye so much, it triggered a nasty case of eczema on his eyelid which required a trip to the pediatrician yesterday.

All of this brought back a conversation I had with my furnace repair guy this past winter. (We use a small company and they come out twice a year to maintain our furnace and air conditioner and are starting to feel like family.)

One of the (many) really cold days this past winter, we woke up to the furnace cycling on and off about every 45 seconds. Not a reassuring sound when the scheduled high is -5. The furnace repair guy came out right away and after an hour of fiddling around determined that the furnace was having trouble sucking in air through the filter. I had bought the ultimate-clean-all-allergens-out-of-the-air super thick filter to help with allergies. Turns out it was putting a bit of a strain on the already running 24/7 furnace.

The repair guy suggested that I look into a whole house filter as it would ease the strain on our furnace and is much more effective than what I was using. I figured it would be complicated to install and cost a ton, so I kind of put it on the back burner for a while.

This spring has brought it back to my attention!

So imagine my delight when MomCentral came looking for people to explore the AccuClean Whole Home Air Filtration System by American Standard. I immediately checked out their website and was thrilled with what I learned:

• It removes allergens: AccuClean filters airborne allergens like mold, dust mites, pollen, even pet hair and animal dander, before they can land on your rugs, floors and upholstery.


• It prevents odors: The majority of irritating particles like cooking grease, even smoke from burnt food, can be removed from the air. (I often avoid cooking fish in the winter because I can't stand the smell lasting for days after.)


• It removes up to 99.98% of unwanted particles and allergens from the filtered air in your home. (Standard 1" throwaway filters and ionic-type room appliances can't even begin to match that.)


• It removes the flu virus from the air...after the winter we had here, this is a HUGE plus for me!


• It has a reusable filter that can be easily washed or vacuumed.


• It can be attached to your existing furnace or air handler, so you don't need to renovate your home to install it.

There were quite a few dealers in my area who carry American Standard products. If this sounds like something that might help your family, head over and check it out.

The New Greener Clorox

Clorox has come out with a new line of cleaning products in response to the demand for products that are safer for our homes and for the environment. Green Works can be found in most stores where the traditional Clorox products are found and includes a number of cleaners such as bathroom, kitchen, glass/window, as well as a concentrate that can be mixed with water.

Green Works cleaners work just as well as their more toxic counterparts without giving off the harsh chemical fumes and residue that can result. Green Works products are made from biodegradable ingredients and NOT tested on animals, two things that are important to me personally. They are 99% natural and have a pleasant scent.

Two things which I really like about these products (and that set them apart for me) are:

1. the fact that they are easy to find in the stores where I am already doing my shopping and

2. the cost which is a bit higher than traditional cleaners but lower than other natural cleaners.

Good for Clorox for taking this step! I hope other companies follow their lead and begin coming out with environmentally friendly lines of products as well.

Fade-Proof Your House

When we were house-hunting, one of the things that sold me on our present home was the bright, sunny interior. Our living room has two huge windows, one facing south and one facing west. From about noon to sunset, at least one piece of furniture or another has direct sunlight on it. Not a big deal, until we bought two couches and a chair in a dark shade of green.

Not long after the furniture made its arrival, I started noticing a change in color due to the sun. Then a friend introduced me to Gila Window Film. It is a thin, clear sheet of film that goes on the inside of your windows and filters out the UV rays that can damage and fade your furniture. We have had it on our windows for over two years now and the fading has completely stopped.

The application of the film can be a bit difficult if you are dealing with a large area. I've found it manageable if you have at least one other person to help you. You soak the film with a water and soap solution and basically slide it into place. Once the film is up, you trim it to fit your window and then have to work out the bubbles that form underneath the film. I was able to remove all of the larger bubbles, but was left with a few very tiny bubbles that have never really disappeared. I can't see them unless I am quite close to the window and purposely looking for them. Not a bad trade off for couches that will actually stay the color that they are meant to be.