PetPeePee
The name makes me laugh, but it describes what it is used for. PetPeePee Product is designed to remove dog & cat urine odor using Naturally Blended Minerals from the Dead Sea that are odor-free, pet friendly, eco-friendly & organic. It does not contain any deodorizers, detergents or enzymes that can mask urine odor. It is specifically designed for small and fresh pet accidents.
My dog doesn’t pee indoors, so I wasn’t able to test this product at home. Although, my office is dog friendly and there are occasional pee pee accidents from other dogs. I took PetPeePee to work to try it out. There weren’t any fresh stains, so I tested it on a couple of older stains. It worked rather well and removed the majority of the stain. I know this product is for fresh stains, but those don’t happen quiet often enough. From the results that I got, I could tell that this product is very powerful, and I will definitely keep it around for the next accident that may occur. If your pet has indoor accidents, then I recommend that you try PetPeePee. Check out the photos below from my tests.
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eco dryer balls
Dryer balls are meant to take the place of fabric softeners, one of the most toxic products around. Fabric Softeners also contain animal rendered fat, so who wants that on their clothes?
Nellie’s dryer balls have soft plastic spikes on the surface help lift and separate clothes, with the goal of reducing static and drying time and fluffing clothes by improved heat and air circulation. Nellie’s makes Environmentally friendly, non-toxic, dryer balls and contains no chemicals. They are made of a sturdy PVC-free material that is suitable for any drying cycle. I recommend using 4 dryer balls at a time, otherwise I feel there is more static build-up.
There are other types of eco-friendly dryer balls such as wool dryer balls, but I haven’t tried those yet. Try experimenting with different eco-dryer balls and see what works best for you.
BerryPlus Laundry Soap
Post by Stacy Rockwood of Eco-Napkins
There are more and more varieties of environmentally friendly laundry soaps available on the market. Have you wondered how ecologically friendly or sustainable they actually are? There are eco-soaps and then there is BerryPlus soap for those who want to be sure! Ever considered washing your clothes with berries? If you are imagining raspberries, squashed blackberry juice, seeds and some granola bits mixed in with your favorite T-shirts, let me clarify: Soapberries (also known as soapnuts, washing berries or washing nuts) are the fruit of a plant in the Sapindus genus with a variety of 12 different species. They are native to Asia, India and some parts of North America. The fruit is a small leathery-skinned drupe (soapberry) that contains saponins which is a natural surfactant. They have been used for washing for thousands of years by native peoples all around the world. BerryPlus has no scent and a trace amount of suds, working great in cold water. People who are accustomed to bubbles and scents might have misgivings or feel unsure. However, it is the most natural soap available and thus the purest soap for sensitive people.
BerryPlus comes in small individual ‘micodose servings’ so that the right amount is used every time. This soap is “First aid for your laundry and the planet”. It is the perfect soap to have in your household and also take on the road with you, especially if you are camping! With BerryPlus soap, “When all that laundry water goes down the drain and out into the world, the planet doesn’t even blink.”
BerryPlus Info: http://berryplus.com/what-is-it/berry-based-soap/ Fun
BerryPlus video: http://berryplus.com/2010/07/the-spin-cycle/
solar charger
I live in an apartment, so I can’t have solar panels. Instead, I like to use gadgets that are solar powered. I purchased a solar charger so I could charge my cell phone while in the car, at work, outdoors, at home, or during a power outage. I try to save electricity every opportunity I get. I found a really thin solar powered backup battery and charger. It is the same size as my iPhone and it is extremely affordable. It has a built-in Lithium Ion battery that can be charged using the provided USB cable or using sunlight via the solar panel. There are a few different options out there. I purchased two different units to compare and I finally narrowed it down to one. I’m not an expert on solar chargers, so I think you should experiment with a couple different kinds to see what works best for you.
office chair mat
Plastic chair mats are big, ugly, and bad for the environment. If you need an office chair mat, then please consider getting one made out of sustainable materials such as bamboo. They are more attractive and the earth will thank you, too.
Shatter Resistant Glass Baby Bottle
These days we have learned that BPA (Bisphenol A) from plastic can be harmful to our health. It leaches chemicals and it can cause birth defects!
I discovered this company called 5 Phases at the Go Green Expo last month. The mom who started the company did so, because her baby was diagnosed with a birth defect. After thorough research of BPA and phthalates she knew she needed to act fast and start this company. She didn’t want other mothers to go through this and created a shatter resistant glass baby bottle.
Their unique patented design helps glass resist shattering but will contain the glass if shattering should occur. The outer sleeve is made of plastic with a glass insert and is BPA, phthalate, and PVC free. The glass inserts are interchangeable and they use vented silicone nipples. These bottles are very affordable and convenient. Isn’t your baby’s health worth it? Check out the 5 phases website for more info.
Seed Bombs
I’ve been seeing these vending machines around town and I wondered what a Seed Bomb was. I looked it up and it is a very cool concept. Today, I stopped by their booth at a festival and picked up a few. I got the Wild Flower Mix Seed Bombs to attract Hummingbirds, Butterflies and Bees. I will test them out and report back to you in a couple months or so. They also sell sling shots to spread the seeds, which is very cool.
What is a Seed Bomb?
Made from a mixture of clay, compost, and seeds, seedbombs are a great way to combat the many forgotten grey spaces you encounter everyday: from sidewalk cracks, to vacant lots and parking medians. They can be thrown anonymously into these abandoned urban sites to reclaim and transform them into places worth looking at and caring for. They can also be tossed into your home garden.
GreenAid manufacturers and distributes seedbombs which are available in a wide variety of seed mixes specially formulated for various regions of the U.S. In addition to our wildflower seed mixes, they are developing seedbombs that will contain edible plants, trees, and other beneficial species. They can also work with you to determine a custom mix and sizing suitable to your specific project.
Check out their site: http://greenaid.co/
Silverlake Jubilee
This weekend I will be volunteering with students from Thomas Starr King Middle School at the Silverlake Jubilee. The students are raising money to buy reusable lunch trays instead of throwing away 1,400 Styrofoam trays every day. Learn more about their project at: http://farmkingblog.wordpress.com/
Silverlake Jubilee eco-commitment:
The Silver Lake Jubilee is a single-use bottled water free event. Bring your own vessel and pour your own water for FREE from the water fountains provided by the LADWP with the assistance of Take Back the Tap, SustainLA and the Silver Lake Jubilee!
- Free water provided by Take Back the Tap & LADWP
- No single-use plastic bags, Styrofoam or other non-recyclable containers at festival
- Food scrap recycling and training for food vendors
- Compostable food serviceware containers
- Recycling and composting during the festival at Eco-Stations
- Flyers and other paper literature at festival are discouraged
The Silver Lake Jubilee implements a Zero Waste initiative with the goal of 90% landfill diversion, water conservation and renewable power resources. We encourage attendees to bring their own cups and reusable bags. Free bike valet will be available and the festival encourages Metro ridership.
These initiatives echo the pledge of The City of Los Angeles and Council President Eric Garcetti to make LA the model for eco-friendly big cities in America. Through our partnership with SustainLA, the Los Angeles Arts and Athletics Alliance (Event Organizer) commits to ensuring that the Silver Lake Jubilee is a positive addition to the community. The festival promotes and educates the importance of preserving our natural resources, as well as the importance of Resource Recovery.
Last year the Silver Lake Jubilee achieved tremendous results with 80% landfill diversion and will continue to further our commitment to sustainability and Zero Waste. We hope you choose to adopt sustainable practices in your everyday life by making a conscious effort to reduce and reuse, then recycle and compost.
Results from 2010 Silver Lake Jubilee
- 80% Diversion Rate
- Diverted over 4,000 lbs. of trash from landfill
- Prevented consumption of over 30,000 plastic water bottles by providing free water stations
- Styrofoam and singles-use plastic bag free event
- 3-bin Eco-Stations (compost, recycle, landfill) throughout the festival
- Wood used for 3-bin frames was recovered from a landfill dumpster
- Think before you Toss (TM) training for all vendors
- Compostable To-Go Ware guidelines and resources for food vendors
Source: http://silverlakejubilee.com/event-info/eco-commitment/
Personal Care
Personal care products are disposable, fill up the landfills, and are harmful to the environment. Here are a few products to reduce your impact on the environment.
Preserve products such as their toothbrushes and razors are made from recycled yogurt cups, are BPA free, doesn’t test on animals and are recyclable after use.
Eco•Dent floss is biodegradable, recyclable, vegan, and economical. Eco-Dent packages their floss in a cardboard carton rather than a plastic case to cut down on ecological damage done by plastic and the disposal of plastic. Good for you, good for the environment.
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Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
http://www.apc.com/recycle/index.cfm?isocountrycode=us
I use a battery backup UPS on my home computer equipment for protection from damaging surges and spikes. It allows me to save my files and safely shutdown my computer during a power outage.
I had one for several years and then last year it died. I wondered what I was going to do with the old UPS? I discovered that there was a recycling program with several eco-friendly options available. I sent in my old UPS and got a discount on a new, energy efficient one.
If your old electronics stop working, then please find out where you can recycle them. Please help keep electronics out of the landfills.
