Paul asks…
Eco friendly laundry balls?
“An Eco Laundry Ball is a small plastic ball that is filled with 3 types of small ceramic balls which eliminate chlorine from the water supply, kills germs, mildew and odor (especially effective removing that smell from front loaders), raises PH and includes negative ion/ far Infrared beads coupled with incredibly strong magnets! This powerful combination in an Eco Laundry Ball creates a cleaning experience as good as or better than any detergent on the market today without any chemicals or animal fats being introduced into our water supply!
Powerful magnets activate water clusters, softens the water and minimizes the size of the water molecules which helps reduce scale and rust build-up in washing machine and pipes.
Far infrared and negative Ions break water molecule hydrogen combinations into small clusters and forces the small water cluster being activated to increase its molecular motion and penetration force ensuring a powerful wash. In addition, radiating negative ions weaken the surface and inter-fabric adhesion allowing dirt to be removed without using harmful detergents.”
I am going to buy an eco–friendly laundry ball to put in my wash instead of using detergents.
But before i do i wanted to hear any-body’s testimonials. Do you own one? Does it clean your clothes well? Is it a good purchase or a waste of time?
The Expert answers:
Have you ever washed your clothes in cold water, with no soap? Most people would be really suprised at just how clean that alone gets your clothes!
Toss in a couple of clean tennis shoes into your laundry, to batter around your clothing and knock the dirt loose and you’d get your clothing even cleaner.
Personally I wouldn’t put too much faith into the actual magnet cleaning your clothes. I suspect the actual action of the balls themselves is doing the cleaning. Besides they are made in China…who knows what they actually contain!
Here’s a recipe to make your very own earth friendly laundry soap:
Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha
½ cup Arm and Hammer washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~
Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.
Now I DO think you should get some balls for your dryer! They are just plastic balls that whump about keeping your clothing separated, and helping it dry faster. I’ve found it cuts down drying time from 60 minutes for a full load of jeans or towels to about 45 minutes.
I’m going to give you a link to them, but you can purchase them at Walmart for MUCH cheaper!
Here’s the link:
http://www.lehmans.com/store/Home_Goods___Laundry___Drying___Nellie_s_Dryerballs___1089160?Args=
By the way, you can find Fels Naptha soap in many grocery stores on one of the lowest shelves. Make sure you purchase WASHING soda, not baking soda.
~Garnet
Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years
George asks…
how is veganisim eco friendly?
i have been a vegan since i was 14 and i love it! i have been a green minimalist since i was 18. i don’t have a car or anything i don’t “need” i have 4 bowl,plates, spoons etc.my studio apartment is always neat and clean and i literlely know whats in every drawer. i air dry clothes and only use home made natural cleaning products. i don’t even use the dishwasher. i use reusable bottles and sleep on the floor or sometimes in the hammock if im cold. i don’t have a bed and only have one small couch.
i basically try to be as green as possible and only take what i need.
i originally became vegan for ethical reasons but more and more im hearing about the eco friendly benefits of veganisim.
but what are they exactly?
The Expert answers:
Meat and the environment:
Would you ever open your refrigerator, pull out 16 plates of pasta, toss 15 in the trash, and then eat just one plate of food? How about leveling 55 square feet of rain forest for a single meal or dumping 2,400 gallons of water down the drain? Of course you wouldn’t. But if you’re eating chickens, fish, turkeys, pigs, cows, milk, or eggs, that’s what you’re doing—wasting resources and destroying our environment.
A recent United Nations report concluded that a global shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change. And the U.N. Is not alone in its analysis. Researchers at the University of Chicago concluded that switching from a standard American diet to a vegan diet is more effective in the fight against climate change than switching from a standard American car to a hybrid. And a German study conducted in 2008 concluded that a meat-eater’s diet is responsible for more than seven times as much greenhouse-gas emissions as a vegan’s diet is. The verdict is in: If you care about the environment, one of the single most effective things that you can do to save it is to adopt a vegan diet.
According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off U.S. Roads.
Many leading environmental organizations, including the National Audubon Society, the Worldwatch Institute, the Sierra Club, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and even Al Gore’s Live Earth—have recognized that raising animals for food damages the environment more than just about anything else that we do. Whether it’s the overuse of resources, global warming, massive water or air pollution, or soil erosion, raising animals for food is wreaking havoc on the Earth.
The most important step you can take to save the planet is to go vegetarian. Order PETA’s free vegetarian/vegan starter kit for tips and recipes to get you started on an Earth-friendly vegan diet today.
Sandra asks…
How can I make my life more eco-friendly?
Hi, I’m starting to get a little concerned with the way I live right now. I really love the environment and I’m trying to make my life a little more green but I’m not sure what else I can do.
What I’m currently doing:
. I’m using a lamp to lighten up my entire room
. I turn of the outlets I’m not using (I only have one that goes most of the time)
. I recycle as often as I can
. I never litter
. A lot of my clothes are hand me down and a few are “green” shirts
. I own a couple of notebooks that are made from recycled materials
. Some of the products I use are organic e.g. Shampoo, conditioner, cereal
. I try to take my bike to the grocery stores as often as I can
. My mum gives my friends lifts (carpools <3)
. We try to eat all the food in the fridge instead of throwing it all away
. We use the first bag we're given to hold as much shopping as we can
. We open up our curtains from 7-3 in the day to let light in
. We're using one car at the moment
I'd like to start taking jute bags out instead of getting more plastic ones each time. What can I do to get my family inspired enough to live a bit more eco–friendly and make my life style a bit more sustainable?
Thank you so much for answering I really appreciate it ^_^
btw I live in a rented house so I dunno if we can add stuff to it
The Expert answers:
Good start..
Look into free cycle and Craigslist for items you want to get and to give when you are through.
My wife and I use the reusable bags for groceries and other shopping. Once you get used to taking a few bags with you, it DOES become habit.
Look into buying locally grown and produced items. Are there farmers markets nearby? Buy from local farmers and manufacturers when at all possible.
How about a garden? Plan out what you could plant this coming spring, things you like…we haven’t paid for vegetables between August and October in 3-4 years…even just a few pots and tomato plants are a good start to REALLY produce your foodstuff locally.
Good luck! One of the best things you can do is educate others!
James asks…
Need help with some organic cotton?
Im currently working on my Senior project and im doing it on eco friendly clothing.. and im having some trouble with finding the average price difference between organic cotton and the Traditional cotton. please help.. and could you provide me with a web source as well
The Expert answers:
Traditional cotton
http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/images/1401as10.jpg
Organic cotton
http://cm1.theinsider.com/media/0/53/98/whaletail1.0.0.0×0.432×341.jpeg
Any questions ??
John asks…
Eco-Friendly Laundry?
So I wash my laundry in Borox and eucalyptus to sanitize and clean, but what are some essential oil options that would make my clothes and sheets smell fresh (and not minty)
… what are some oil scents that would compliment — not clash with the eucalyptus scent.
(Also, anyone know of any fabric softner sheet alternatives?)
Thanks in advance
Note: Eucalyptus serves as a natural, sanitizing agent … in some senses, even stronger that bleach
The Expert answers:
Lavendar and chamomile would work with your eucalyptus. Also line drying would lessen the scent left in your clothes.
I use white vinegar to soften my clothes.. In a large load 1 1/2 – 2 cups. My husband is amazed that clothes dont dry board stiff on the line. This also brings back the absorbancy to your towels, fabric softener hangs in the fibers whether its a sheet or liquid
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