Ideas for Non-Toxic Body Wash

Go Green in 2014: Week 43

I know we've gone over this already, but it's important enough to say again: Everything we put on our bodies is absorbed through the skin - our largest organ - through the pores. And when we take a warm, steamy shower, our pores open to soak up even more of the products we use to clean our bodies.

Although soaps and shower gels are meant for cleaning the skin, they often contain chemicals that pollute our bodies, potentially causing health issues in the long run. So you might feel clean on the outside, but inside is another story.... This doesn't mean you need to completely skip washing up in the shower, though. Don't worry. We're not doomed to a lifetime of body odor in exchange for "going green".

Gentle, non-toxic body wash ideas

There are various green body wash options. Here are just a few of the ideas I have come up with. If you think of others, please share!

1. BomaSense Face & Body Wash. This is what I currently use; it is $15 a bottle, and can be ordered from www.bomasense.com. It may not lather as much as your usual shower gel, but it contains safe and gentle ingredients such as green tea extract, aloe vera gel, and various other nourishing components.
2. Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. This versatile soap comes in a liquid or a bar. I personally use the liquid for washing my face and washing dishes, and the bar for handwashing in one of my bathrooms, but it can be used as a body wash, as well. You can order it here (affiliate link).
3. Various kitchen ingredients. Yes, you can combine items found in the kitchen and around the house to make your own body wash. I don't have my own recipe, but here's one I found online to share with you: Nourishing Homemade Body Wash from Live Simply.

I'm guessing most of you use a loofah or washcloth to apply your body wash. Personally, I got sick of buying new scrubbies all the time and started using my hands to rub it into my skin. However, after a while I began to miss the skin sloughing effect...so I decided to give dry skin brushing a try.

What is dry skin brushing?

The idea is to use a natural fiber body brush to slough dry skin prior to showering. I purchased an Earth Therapeutics brush from Amazon.com for around $7. Simply use long strokes to brush your skin toward the heart.

Dry brushing has many benefits, including softer, smoother skin. It can help to get your circulation moving, and some even say it can help reduce the appearance of cellulite. But let's not get into too much detail right now - that's a post for another time!

If you don't have a skin brush, you can always go back to Week 15, when I shared a homemade body scrub recipe for naturally smooth skin.

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Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Your challenge: This week, try out a green, non-toxic body wash in the shower.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

How & Why to Ditch Disposable Sandwich Bags for Cloth

Go Green in 2014: Week 42

It's late in the day once again, due to the fact that I was out of town again this weekend and didn't have a chance to work on this post until after work today. I'm going to try to keep it short because, well, it's getting late and I'm either getting sick or my allergies are flaring up from being in Minnesota (I already drank some honey tea...and I'm sure I'll be attempting a few more natural remedies before this is over).

Anyway. I wanted to cover reusable cloth sandwich and snack baggies with this post. Does your household go through a lot of plastic baggies? Between sandwiches, snacks, and various other items, it's easy to burn through an entire box before you know it. I had recently started bringing snacks to work in reusable plastic containers, but they are kind of bulky, so I decided to order some reusable cloth baggies from Etsy. Here's a link to the shop I ordered from (Disclaimer: I am not compensated in any way for endorsing this shop).

Why use cloth instead of plastic?

The biggest reason to ditch disposable sandwich bags for cloth is to reduce waste. Some people go through several plastic bags daily, which can really add up quickly...and then there's the money it costs to replenish your supply. Plus, the baggies I bought are just adorable. ;)

How can you make the switch?

If you're really ambitious, you can make your own baggies. However, I still haven't purchased a sewing machine, so I ordered mine online (see the link above). There are tons of different online shops with various styles and patterns. The baggies I ordered came in sets of two - one sandwich bag and one snack bag. I ordered four sets.

I've only been using them for a week, but they work great. They are made with colorful cotton fabric; white nylon lines the inside; and they have Velcro (hook and loop) closures. To reuse, simply turn them inside out, shake out the crumbs, and wipe clean.

Do you use cloth sandwich and snack bags? Or do you have a different solution for reducing the number of plastic baggies you use? To be honest, I won't completely do away with the plastic. I like using them for freezing food, and it's nice to be able to throw away the plastic after thawing the food. But every little bit helps when it comes to reducing waste.

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Your challenge: This week, consider the ways you can reduce the number of plastic baggies you use and try to implement them into your daily routine.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

Quick, Natural Trash Can Freshenening Tip

Go Green in 2014: Week 41

Because it's so late in the day already, I'm going to keep this post short and sweet with a quick tip for naturally freshening the trash can.

As you've surely noticed, the garbage can start to get pretty stinky as it starts to fill up. We have recently downsized to a smaller can, which helps because we have to take out the trash more frequently. However, because we started recycling at the beginning of the year, we throw less in the garbage, so it still take a few days (and sometimes even a week!) to fill up the bin.

The recipe I'm going to share contains one ingredient only: baking soda. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into the bottom of a fresh liner to help absorb odors. You can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (lemon or lavender would be great) along with the baking soda, if you so desire. And if it starts to smell before the can is full, simply add a little more baking soda.

Easy, right?

I've used this trick for quite a while now, and it works great. Let me know how it works for you!

Photo courtesy of Flickr / Michael Allen Smith

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Your challenge: This week, use baking soda, and possibly a couple drops of your favorite essential oil, to absorb stinky garbage odors and freshen the trash can.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**

Ways to Conserve Energy While Heating and Cooling the Home

Go Green in 2014: Week 40

Where I live, temperatures have been dropping quickly, and we have already had to turn on the heat. It certainly won't be long before winter arrives!

As you've surely noticed, energy bills can get quite a bit higher in the summer and winter, when we run the air conditioning and heat more often. At least, that's the case here. One of the bad things about living in a larger house is the cost of heating and cooling it. Fortunately, there are several ways you can save money and energy while heating and cooling the home.

Heating the home

Following are a few ways to conserve energy while heating your home in the winter.

1. Keep the thermostat at 69 degrees. Rather than turning up the heat when it gets cold, and turning it down when it gets hot, keep it at a steady, slightly low temperature. It takes a lot of energy to re-heat the house once it cools down. Yes, sometimes it gets a little cool in our house, but I just keep lots of blankets around!
2. Cover older, drafty windows with heavy curtains. Standing next to certain windows in our house, I can feel a cold draft coming in, which means the furnace will have to work harder to maintain the heat. Heavy curtains can definitely help keep the cold out. In my dining room, I actually have sheer spring curtains, which I switch out for heavier draperies in the fall and winter.
3. Leave the oven door open after baking. I know it doesn't really help heat the house a ton, but it makes more sense to release the warm air into the kitchen, rather than trapping it inside the oven.

Cooling the home

Here are some ways to conserve energy while cooling your home in the summer.

1. Keep the thermostat at 72 degrees. Or, if you have a window air conditioning unit, try to avoid running it at a higher speed or cooler temperature than you really need. Face fans toward open windows to blow the warm air out.
2. Open windows during the coolest times of the day. Then close them, as well as the curtains or blinds, to block out the sun and heat during the hottest part of the day.
3. Cook during cooler times of the day. Or, come up with meal ideas that require minimal to no cooking (how about grilling outside instead?). The stove and oven can really heat up the house in the summer.

When it comes to conserving energy while heating and cooling your home, it is important to make sure your home is sealed against the elements. That may mean replacing old windows with newer models. It may mean insulating and caulking where needed.

What are some methods you use to conserve energy while heating and cooling the house? Have you considered installing solar panels?

Photo courtesy of Flickr / Michael Coghlan

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Your challenge: This week, begin incorporating natural home heating or cooling methods into your daily life.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**