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Natural Cleaning Techniques: “But…how did they do it 100 years ago?”

This is a common question that I ask myself and my fellow community members here at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, a striving-to-be-sustainable community. How did they do this or that before electricity? Before mass production? Before everything came in plastic? More often than not we adopt the old way of doing things here: canning or root cellaring our food for preservation, heating our homes with wood, and making butter with a hand cranked, turn-of-the-century churn.

When it comes to cleaning, there are certainly many old fashioned ways of cleaning that one could easily choose to use. From baking soda to lemon juice, there may be simple ways to save yourself from adding too many products to your life. I know at least a few folks who believe that you can clean just about anything with white vinegar and newspaper or an old rag. And while we do employ a number of very simple cleaning techniques here at Dancing Rabbit, even we are not free of mass-produced cleaning products… but we stick to those that meet our standards for sustainability.

That’s why you’ll find a number of Seventh Generation products under our sinks. We’ve been known to use their various spray bottle bathroom cleaners and those squirty-topped dish soaps, because we know this company shares our vision of living more lightly on the Earth. Having replaced toilets with a simple humanure system, we don’t need to use any of their toilet cleaning products (though we do still use Seventh Generation toilet paper).

You will also find a number of citrus-based cleaners used for anything from mopping the floor to washing our clothes. Citric acid can, in almost all cases, be used in the same way as bleach. Mixed with salt, citrus becomes especially powerful. And just think of how much more pleasant the smell of lemon is compared to the smell of bleach!

Personally, I have, at one time or another used Dr Bronner’s Magic Soaps for just about everything. From its inception, Dr. Bronner’s has listed “eighteen-in-one” potential uses for their product on the bottle, and it can really be used for every one of them. Along with body wash and hand soap, Dr Bronner’s also makes great laundry soap, and is even safe to use on your pets!

I have no doubt that some people look at our way of life, and think that we’re trying to return to the 19^th century. With some specific practices, they’re right! But we don’t reject progress… we just want to see it achieved sustainably. These natural cleaning products allow us to enjoy a bit of convenience, while still maintaining our values.

Best of luck combining simplicity, sustainability, and practicality, and happy cleaning!

Mary Beth Bishop is a resident of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in Northeastern Missouri, and a freelance writers currently under contract with long-running green blog sustainablog, which now features an eco-friendly shopping portal that carries a full range of cleaning brands, including Dr. Bronner’s.

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Using a DIY generator you will cut cost and be more environmentally friendly. Cust electricty charges and have the government pay you when you utilize natural wind power. When you build your wind generators two the key factors are wind velocity and how consistent the wind is.

Position your wind turbine within a consistent wind flow path that has speeds of about nine miles an hour to ensure that the wind you collect will be able to convert. The towe should be made of a very strong wood or steel and must be build away from the building. The blades must be positioned at a specific pitch angle to depending on your needs.

Surf the web as there are many sites which offer information and special offers to help you build your wind generator or maybe a solar power system, they will let you know exactly what materials are required. The cost of the overall installation is generally low and a unit will often pay for itself in savings in just a short time.

To avoid damage to your wind generator in strong winds and storms you may want to consider designing the blades to be collapsed when needed.

Use the internet to search for information about being green and maybe look at solar power systems.

There is so much information available to help you make your decision and get more indepth information about environmentally friendly energy solutions. Why not think about harnessing the power of the sun and set up a solar power system. Environmentally friendly homes are the way forward. Take a stand now for a greener planet, whether it is installing alternative green energy systems or recycling. Environmental options have grown over the years which will allow all of us to be a bit greener.

Go Green Today, don’t forget to be environmentally friendly.

Being environmentally friendly is the way forward and goverments are promoting this more and more every year.” Homes are traditionally known as energy cows. By wasting electricity or water will in turn wast money and reserves. Going green can help not only the world but the homeowner as well. Insulation comes standard with most of all new build homes, always make sure this has been set up correctly by the builders.

If you have an older home this may not be the case. Insulation was not generally added to homes built before the 1940′s. Homeowners with an older home should check to see if their home is insulated.

Cavity wall insulation is normally the most common type of insulation. In the case of most homes insulation can easily be injected into the cavity between the two outside walls. Insulation will stop the conduction of heat into or out of your home and save the power you have traditionally used to heat or cool your home. Sometimes heat insulation in countries such as Japan,

America, and the UK is funded by local power companies, so homeowners are urged to contact their power provider before installing insulation. Turning Out the Lights Another simple way to save the environment and homeowners’ money is buy turning out the lights. More and more people are turning to the option of solar panels to help them save the planet and money.

Homeowners have been told for years that turning out lights when they leave a room will greatly reduce their power bills. But how many homeowners follow this advice? According to many studies only a small percentage of homeowners turn out lights when they leave the room. It is unfortunate as turning out the lights is easy to do and will save energy and money. Always research the information you require as there are thousands of energy reviews, home energy review may be the one you need to look at.

It is a fact that a high number of familieshardly use all the rooms in their house. If the lights are switched off when you leave a room it could save you a very considerable amount of money. Turning On the Lights Of course, you cannot live in the dark and you must have your lights on sometime.

Companies have recognized this need to balance the use of electricity and the need to preserve the environment and are now producing environmentally friendly light bulbs. These bulbs use a smaller percentage of electricity every time they are on in the home. They also last longer therefore producing less waste.

Don’t forget to Flush Water bills rank right up there with power bills when it comes to both homeowners’ expenses and protecting the environment. Bathrooms are notorious for wasting water.

Along with things homeowners and their families can do to save water, like not running water while brushing teeth, there are devices on the market to help save water in the bathroom.

Several companies are making low flow shower heads that reduce the amount to water that comes from the shower every time it is turned on. These shower heads are inexpensive and easy for the homeowner to install. Toilets also waste water and devices can be purchased and installed that lower the flow and fill level in all toilets. Having these products installed will reduce the wastage of water.

You will be very suprised at the various options available to start going green. Why now start by recycling. Check out the recycling facts you will be suprised.

Solar power for homes comes in several styles. Garden lights that line a path or light a particular part of the yard are commonly used and readily available and affordable today. Solar covers for pools have become popular, heating the pools water while the sun is out. Today’ however, many people are installing large solar units on their roofs to supply heat and electricity to their home.

Solar homes are enjoying many benefits including the knowledge that they have made an environmentally sound choice. Solar panels that convert the sun into electricity create no pollution and are renewable as long as the sun continues to shine.

Solar panels require little maintenance and will quickly pay for themselves with the savings gained from not paying high electricity bills. Most local or state governments provide incentives/bonuses/funding for the installation of green er energy. With regard to installing solar power it is relatively easy to do it yourself of you can get the professionals in to install the system.

Solar power for homes can be as complex or as simple as you desire and your imagination and finances allow. Solar systems can be built up on over time to create a stronger and more powerful solar energy systems. You may start with garden lights and a solar pool cover and slowly graduate to a solar heater on the roof to supplement the heating bill before going all the way with solar electricity.

There are so many ways in which you can make a difference to our planet.

Take a look at the many web sites which offer home energy reviews.

It is important to be environmentally friendly as the planet is being destroyed every day. It may be you decide to use solar power, maybe wind power, recycling… all of these areas are helping protect the planet.