Green Homekeeping: Save Money and the Planet
By Alice Alvrez
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About this ebook
Alice Alvrez
Alice Mary Alvrez became a vegan ten years ago after a major health crisis and completely turned her life around. A women's studies teacher, she is also a dedicated gardener, cook and blogger. Alice is on a mission to help more people take charge of their own health through healthy eating. She lives with her family of five in Portland. Oregon.
Read more from Alice Alvrez
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Green Homekeeping - Alice Alvrez
Copyright © 2018 Alice Alvrez.
Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.
Cover and Layout Design: Elina Diaz
Infographics by Roberto Núñez
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Green Homekeeping: Save Money and the Planet
Library of Congress Cataloging
ISBN: (print) 978-1-63353-662-3 (ebook) 978-1-63353-659-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017960781
BISAC category code: HOM022000 HOUSE & HOME /
Sustainable Living
Printed in the United States of America
"One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is
really worth the doing is what we do for others."
— Lewis Carroll
Contents
Foreword
Level 1: Green Rookie
Waste Less Food
Buy in Bulk
Turn off the Tap
Improve Your Showers
Turn Off the Computer at Night
Try the Library
Download Your Software
Use Reusable Shopping Bags
Get to Know the Farmer’s Market
Level 2: Eco Friendly
If It’s Yellow…
Air Dry Your Clothes
Full Loads Only
Avoid Dry Cleaning
Make Natural Cleaners
Try More Natural Insect Sprays
Make Your Yard Bee-Friendly
Stop Printing Everything
Dispose of Electronics Safely
Stop Using Disposable Razors
Shop Second-Hand
Level 3: Green Thumb
Grow Your Own Food
Revamp Your Lawn
Eliminate Phantom Loads
Get the Right Bulb
Don’t Miss These Recyclables
Stop Using Disposables
Try a Trashless Lunch
Switch to E-flyers
Look for Organic Cotton
Don’t Idle & Don’t Drive Alone
Level 4: Eco Expert
Get Biking
Try Dimmer Switches
Use Rechargeable Batteries
Refill Your Toner
Ladies, Try Cloth Pads
Try Using Cloth Diapers
Limit to NO Antibiotics
Avoid GMOs
Wrap Gifts the Green Way
Get Hip about Hemp
Buy Shade Grown Coffee
Pick Greener House Paint
Level 5: Captain Planet
Get Some Green Power
Start Composting
Harvest Some Rainwater
Raise a Few Chickens
Install a Wood Stove
The Dual-Flush Toilet
Quit Smoking
Go Vegetarian
Learn to Upcycle & Freecycle
RESEARCH – Don’t Fall for Hype
Appendix
Foreword
We all want to live in an enchanted cottage, a clean and charming residence in every sense of the word. Several years ago, however, I learned that all the chemicals in our cleansing products introduce potential toxins into our lives. Who likes the smell of raw bleach, over-perfumed detergents and those scary oven cleaners? They strip away the natural and are simply too harsh. It is a danger to have them around young children whose curiosity could lead them into trouble. I think we can all agree it makes a lot of sense to simply not have anything in your kitchen cabinet that is marked poison.
There are so many options that are inexpensive and will make your home and anyone who walks in the door, healthier and happier.
Here, I’ll share some of my tried and true DIY recipes for greening your life!
DIY Daily All-Purpose Cleaner
Ingredients
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid Castile soap
3 drops lemon essential oil or 1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 quart warm water
Instructions
Pour the ingredients into a bowl and mix well; transfer to a clean spray bottle and shake. If you have a tougher job than usual, add a cup or white vinegar to the other ingredients. Baking soda is a mild abrasive so don’t use it on fine furniture or delicate fabrics. Otherwise, it is quite miraculous for touch stains, rust, ovens, tiles, stain removal, tough greases, smelly fridges, and so many other household chores.
Green Clearing Secrets to Stain Removal
If you spill coffee or red wine on your couch, carpet or table cloth, pour plain table salt into the spill and it will soak right up. The salt turning purple blue as it soaks up red wine is truly spellbinding! Vacuum it up and the stain will be gone.
Stained clothes, linens, etc. should be soaked it in cold water with baking soda or white vinegar and wash in cold water only to avoid setting
the stain.
There is no need to use bleach in your laundry for white fabric, use a cup of Borax in your load.
Eco Floor Cleaner
Ingredients
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
1 quart warm water
Instructions
Mix everything together, preferably in a big glass bowl, and pour into a clean spray bottle. As always, use caution even with these homely, organic ingredients and avoid getting vinegar, lemon juice, Borax or any of your concoctions in your eyes. Simply aim the spray at your floor and mop with a clean damp mop. Follow by mopping with hot water. Allow the floor to dry a bit and buff with clean dry cloths into which you have sprinkled a few drops of lavender oil. Your floors will look really good and smell even better.
Lemon & Lavender Floor Cleanser
I haven’t used store-bought cleansers since the year 2004 when a health challenge awakened me to the importance of ridding my environment of any toxins or potentially harmful chemicals. I think it is a very good idea for all of us to consider, as our health is precious. I know this made a difference for me and my loved ones. And the smell of a home freshly cleaned with lemons and scentful natural oils