Did you know you could be polluting the inside of your home without even realizing it? Many of the cleaning products that we typically use can actually be quite harmful and even dangerous especially for young children. It’s a common misconception that we need to have that “bleach in the back of your throat” smell in order to be sure that the surface is clean enough. This couldn’t be further from the truth! You can choose environmentally friendly products that clean your house just as well without the abundance of harmful chemicals.

What are eco-friendly cleaning products?

It’s likely that you’ve seen ads on television, on the Internet, or in the grocery store that are promoting organic or often nicknamed “green” products. Simply put, these products are approved by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and their guidelines that say that they are safe for the environment. If they are safe for the planet’s soil, then you can bet that they are a lot safer in our home compared to the chemicals that the others are made up of.

The biggest difference is that without those chemicals present, they won’t be getting into the soil, into our drinking water, and affecting the health of both humans and animals.

Switching to eco-friendly cleaning products

The first thing you’re going to do when making the transition to green cleaning products is to read the labels. The majority of big brands have come out with their own lines of products that are easier on both humans and the planet’s environment.

What you can also do to save even more money is create your own cleaning solutions, like people did before all the chemicals were available in a bottle. The great thing is that you probably have most of the ingredients you need in your home already.

You will need a spray bottle and water as a base solution. So for instance, you can use vinegar mixed with water to clean floors, tile, and windows.

Did you know that a little vinegar and baking soda can be used in combination to unclog drains? You don’t need to buy that stuff that is dangerous to touch in order to get the job done.

There are several ways of cleaning without buying chemicals. However, if you have small children around, be sure to keep any cleaning products you have safe out of their reach, regardless of how eco-friendly the cleaning products are.

Many people unfortunately still have the perception that saving the planet is something separate than doing something to help ourselves. When you do something to help the environment, you are also helping all of us who live on it since without a healthy planet, we would not survive.

So, even if you can’t wrap your head around that concept yet, there are ways you can “go green” and give back while being kind to the environment at the same time. Giving away stuff that you no longer need to charity is a perfect way to keep more trash out of landfills and do some good for people who are in need.

Here are a few examples to get you started:

• Clothing
  Unfortunately, your favorite clothes don’t last forever, but the good thing is that there are tons of people in the world who would greatly appreciate your hand-me-downs. Donate your old clothing and help keep fellow human beings warm. You also help the planet by not adding to the trash and reusing items.
• Books and magazines
  Your local library will absolutely love you if you cart over all those old books and magazines that you no longer need.  Depending on the topics, your schools or churches might be able to use them as well. Getting rid of all those old books and magazines can free up a lot of space in your house or garage too!
• Computers, Phones, Furniture, etc.
  Even if you have stuff that needs some “fixing,” there are charities that accept old, beaten down stuff that they can fix up and give to people who can’t afford items that they need in their homes.

Giving to charity is a great feeling, and not only do you help other people and save the environment from unnecessary trash, you set a great example for your children. You can even make it a fun family affair and get your kids involved and teach them the value in helping others and protecting the planet.

All of us celebrate something at least a few times a year with holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations. Often, these celebrations, especially the elaborate ones, end up with a lot of disposable waste that is not very environmentally friendly.

Green living can take a bit of creative thinking on your part, especially when putting together a party atmosphere but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. As a matter of fact, after you’ve done one or two celebrations with more eco-friendly items, you begin to enjoy thinking of fun ways to add more to the mix.

Here are a few suggestions that will help you celebrate the green living way:

• Crafty decorations
  For those of you who are crafty, you can make your decorations and not only save money, but save on plastic packaging that it comes in from the store. Plus it’ll be fun and you can include the kids!
• Shred your costs
  Instead of buying tissue paper (the price is way too high for that stuff anyway!), why not just use paper that needed to be shredded in the office anyway?
• Decorate with recyclables
  Instead of wrapping paper for gifts, why not creatively use old magazines or have the kids color on a cardboard box? You’d be surprised how much people appreciate the personalized effort.
• Donate to charity
  There’s nothing as great as giving a donation to a person’s favorite charity in their name. You’re helping someone else in need, and saving the planet by not buying packaging materials as well.
• Reusable containers
  When you send your friends home with goodies and leftovers from the party, be sure to use reusable containers so that you’re not adding more disposable waste to the landfills.
• Potluck party
  Why not have everyone bring something to eat or drink to the party. They can all bring something in their own dishware and they’ll be taking their own dishes home. Not only is this idea eco-friendly, but it saves you from cleaning up a lot of mess.

For many of us, the fact that we live far from landfills is a blessing, but it also often means that it’s very easy for us to forget the massive problem that exists with the heaping piles of waste that plague our environment. When you and your family decide to make it a priority to recycle, you are making a commitment that does a great service to our Earth and all life that inhabits it.

There are so many products that we all use on a daily basis that are not environmentally friendly in the slightest way. When you see a soda pop can lying in a ditch, that can is there forever until someone decides to pick it up and recycle it into something reusable. Otherwise it will end up in the humongous piles of waste in landfills and sit there indefinitely because it is not biodegradable.

Recycling is one of the most important parts of our attempt to clean up the mess we’ve made. Unfortunately it will only work if we all work together and actively participate.

How to start recycling as a family:

The amount of recycling products available to buy is growing and could really make a huge impact if we all helped out by recycling all the materials that can be.

Your family can simply start by having separate bins for your recyclable items and either putting them out at the right time weekly when your city’s sanitation department is scheduled for pick up in your area or by taking items to your local recycling service.

Typically, cardboard is to be bundled together and the same with newspaper. Also, bottles and cans are to be separated and put together. Breaking down all the cardboard boxes you use (even product packaging) will also help a great deal. Typically those are the general rules, but consult your local sanitation department for literature on specifics for your area.

To get the family involved and make it an easier job on everyone, why not give each member of your family a job to do and you can all meet in the living room on that night once the chores are finished and share a snack together or maybe make it movie night that starts after the recycling is done?

There’s really no reason why we all can’t help to recycle and reuse in order to help improve the environment and attempt to clean up the mess that we made.

These days it’s pretty difficult to get the kids off the couch with the Internet and all the video games to contend with, let alone getting the entire family together for a group project. Nevertheless, if you’re inclined to give it a try and get your family to connect on something around the home that will do everyone some good, why not start a family garden?

There are several benefits to having a garden and when you add the whole family, it becomes extra special. You can teach your children a little bit about nature, the current condition of the planet, the rewarding feeling of growing your own food, and save money at the same time!

Growing your own food in the yard with the family can also be a great way to bond and spend some quality time on a regular basis. You can all share in the reward of the delicious first dinner that was prepared with fresh fruits and vegetables that came from the family garden you all grew together.

Here are a few tips to help you get started on your first family garden:

• Prepare and plan
  The biggest reason that people don’t have a garden is that they don’t understand what’s involved or know where to start. Get everyone in the family involved, read up a bit on gardening and plan out the start date on a weekend when the whole family is available for a few hours.
• Decide what you will eat
  Choosing what it is you want to grow can depend on the time of the year you are starting the garden and what the climate is like in your area. Either way, you should still have plenty to choose from.
• Go organic
  If you want the true experience and also want stick to the whole green living family idea theme, then be sure to use organic gardening products, fertilizers, and insect repellents. You don’t have to use chemical pesticides. Adding friendly insects like ladybugs will take care of the pests. Also, this allows you to have fresh food that can be eaten straight out of the ground, if so desired.
• The garden tour
  Be sure to take your kids through a quick daily tour of the family garden so  that they can watch nature at work as well as feel the rewarding sense of accomplishment as their food pushes through the soil.