Hope, inspiration and a green clean giveaway for Earth Day 2008!

Written by greenandcleanmom on Apr - 22 | View Comments | Related : Green Cleaning, Green Giveaways, Green Health, Green News

Hi nice to see you again! Are you following me on Twitter? Have you subscribed for email updates to receive the 10 free healthy fruit and veggie recipe eBook? For full transparency view my disclaimer ! Stop back soon!

Happy Earth Day all of you Green & Clean Moms out there!!!! What a beautiful day! I have barely been on the computer because the children I have been taking walks, planting, and picking up garbage. I opened up my inbox and had an email from the Environmental Defense Fund and thought I’d share this very inspiring video. It speaks of hope and possibility and I think if more of us mommies unite there is indeed hope and possibility.

I also want to take a few sentences to firmly stand behind a product I so firmly believe in and a company, Shaklee. You can listen hereto my thoughts and feelings about Shaklee and the word “green”, in a recent interview I had with the company. I do not toot my own horn often and say I am a Shaklee Distributor because that is not what this “blog” is about, however, today seems like a very fitting place to tell you my feelings and point out to you while many companies are making their products “green” they are not a “green” company. Did you know that Shaklee was the first company to be certified climate neutral by the E.P.A., among other great environmental feats and connections? These are reasons I am with this company and their products are right for me and my family. Click here to watch a recent clip from the Rachel Ray show and what she has to say about the products.

I’d like to do a giveaway, sponsored by, myself! For one lucky family I would like to giveaway some green cleaners, that I love! To enter this contest I would like for you to do two things. GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

1) Leave a post with your spam proof email.
2) If you have a natural and non-toxic green cleaning tip or short cut for the home or garden tell us about it.

Begins Earth Day and end on Mother’s Day…two very honorable days!

Of course, when you stumble me, dig me or subscribe I get more of the oh so “green” Google juice and I can’t get enough of that!!! If you have time you might want to also check out this wonderful article I was emailed from Kiwi (my favorite green mom magazine)! Happy Earth Day!

Share and Enjoy:

A Healthy Partnership

Design a Bag Contest!!

Take a Ride on the Magic School Bus

Make Yourself and Mother Earth Happy

Meet the Greenzys

lilyk

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
Urbangirl

I use handled grocery bags instead of plastic or paper bags. I get a discount for using them too!
nvtribefan

This looks like a great collection of products to try. Vinegar and water in varying concentrations is my all-purpose cleaning solution.
hammielover1

Make me feel better about cleaning. If I know I am helping the environment, maybe I won't mind it as much!
Timster

My piece of advice is to think creatively about how to conserve water.
Heather

What a great prize!
donna444444

I like to use natural products. I don't really have a tip, but I am always looking for tips.
julie

great prize...I use baking soda to clean my stainless steel sink..works great
3beez@bellsouth.net
dianerph

I have heard lots about the cleaners.I'd love a chance to try them
kamewh

Clean with vinegar and water :)
penguin28

I take old socks and use them to dust.
Cathy Tomlinson

I use Vinegar and water to clean my windows in the house and on my cars instead of store bought products. I also use Vinegar to kill the weeds in my garden. Shaklee is a great company with great products.
Jagcatfan@aol.com
Anonymous

I am trying to gradually become more green and I really enjoy trying new products.
Catharine R.

norcal80 [at] aol [dot] com
debbie panell

If its yellow, let it mellow... ;)

We also use vinegar and baking soda to clean with!
Sylvia P

i don't have any green cleaning tips, so i guess that's why i need this!
Terri

I recently began composting again. It's great for mulching flower beds in the spring.
lisawonbig

Sounds great. We could sure use this prize.

What are we doing for the environment? We're having solar panels put in this month! A major hit to the bankn for now, but it WILL pay for itself in the long run, is good for the planet, and we can run the air conditioner without guilt this summer!
klp1965

PLEASE ENTER ME :)
Miranda

please enter me thanks
Anonymous

Use cloth instead of paper napkins.
Angela k

tisaynababae@yahoo.com
Suzanne

I am looking for ways to clean and garden that are less toxic. There are a lot of great tips posted here that I plan to try!
Anonymous

I would love to try these products!

My tip is to use cloth towels instead of paper towels.

kristelh87 {at} hotmail {dot} com
dddiva

I'm pretty sure all of our tips have been posted already but my fave I guess would be baking soda and lemon juice for cleaning and using LOTS less packaging whenever possible.
Suz

I have never tried natural cleaning products, but I would love to start.
Brooke

Green tip? Clean with vinegar.
cindy

We use vinegar as a cleaning solvant, and mix it with lemon, and baking soda. It keeps our home clean and fresh smelling without harmful chemicals. Thanks for the giveaway.

cmminera@sbcglobal.net
Emilie

I wish I had a different green tip that wasn't already posted but I don't. I do want to thank you for the contest though!!!
emiliemostad at hotmail.com
Anonymous

Happy Earth day!
Use viniger with water. works great

anissacoupons[at]hotmail[dot]com
purango

Thanks for the Green Contest. I use pine needles around sgrubs and trees and praying mantiss and other natural pest control agents. garrettsambo@aol.com
trudee

any and everything that can be recycled I have been getting after the kids a lot more lately on what needs to go in the recycle bin
Teresa

Sure would love to win a Healthy Home Pack™! I think it would be great for my family of four, and I'd really like to get things around here clean, while being "greener"!

th_dreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com
Betty C

I suppose I am a senior citizen (although I don't feel like it) but I am having a lot of trouble being more environmentally conscious. I forget my cloth shopping bags, I drain the bath water, and forget to save the limp veggies and coffee grounds for the garden. The best hope for me is green cleaning products. I know Shaklee is a great company and I hope I can win this. Thanks.
cpullum

We are no wpurchasing store bags for our grocerys. Feels good!
spongewest

Please enter me.
luckylucianie

Would love to win this!
Anonymous

I would love to get some cleaning products that are good for the environment. I use baking soda to clean any surfaces that I use for cooking or storing food.
kathleenyohanna@hotmail.com
slehan

Buy used. Saves much energy and much money. Thrift stores and garage sales are good. Thanks for the contest.
jaydonco1

Baking soda is great for cleaning and deodorizing!

jaydonco1 (at) aol (dot) com
Anonymous

new to this want to win thanks
Paula

I don't have a tip but am learning a lot from all the other posts.
Jinxy & Me

A green cleaning tip I try to do as often as possible is to use rags rather than paper towels.
tlcfromtn

I really been wanting to go greenas much as I can. My tip is to use vinegar & water to clean windows.
Kristi

We have started shredding and composting our newspaper. Composting is easier than recycling even, and it really does make some great dirt.
Please enter me skullaria at gmail dot com Thank you!
quitecontrary1977

I'm not one to be giving cleaning advice. I clean so little these days that my house is about to biodegrade. nature is on the verge of reclaimed my home!
ssmina

please enter me thanks.
dvice

One word - vinegar
william

WOULD LOVE TO WIN
ky2here

freecycle everything - these freaks will drive to your house to pick up any little thing. It is wonderful and the landfills are saved from all this stuff. Even if you think no one would want this - post it! I posted some leftover screen material - laughingly expecting a stoner pothead to arrive 45 minutes late. It was a business woman wanting to use it for her son's science project about straining cheese. There is an entire freecycle culture. Come joinus.
Amira M

I am compiling a list of green tips. This is a great giveaway. We are into water preservation, like taking short showers and saving all water
Steffie

Baking Soda-is a great alternative to using detergent. Especially if you suffer from allergies, or are sensitive to chemicals.
dhunt

nice
Samantha P

it's not really for cleaning, but it is green. Instead of using the expensive and toxic chemicals for flea medication for your pets use a mixture of garlic and lemons in a spray bottle, it works pretty well
Danielle

I'm just learning about "green living" so i don't have any advice, but I'd love to be chosen for the giveaway to help me get started and learn more!
dansan826 at yahoo.com
deedleweedle

I am fanatical about cleaning and would love to win this!
Anonymous

My best tip for a green and clean garden is one I have employed for many years. I do not use chemicals on my garden and of course this results in lots of healthy weeds. To control these unwanted plants, I simply walk through the garden each day and manually pull weeds...Fifteen minutes a day is all it takes and the benefits are huge...exercise and fresh air for me and plenty of growing room for my vegetables. Simple I know...but highly effective for a greener earth.
Frances

I shred all junk mail and newspapers into garden compost
Marlene

I don't have any tips because I am collecting ideas and trying to figure out which cleaner to change to. I want to find one that is more environmentally friendly, but that also works.
Anonymous

Sweet niblets!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com
mrsdogooder

try using vinegar
catriona_sweeps

Any and every thing that can be recycled is! I've gotten my staff to start saving plastic bottles and cans so we can use the money earned as "holiday money". The more we save, the bigger the celebration!

My biggest success is converting my boyfriend and his kids to "the green way".

I've heard so much positive about the Shaklee items. Hopefully I can win so I can find out for myself!
Anonymous

Im signed up for our 2x month recyclables pickup. I have separate (different color trash cans) for each (glass, plastic, and paper) I also keep a trash can just for junk mail by the door so that gets recycled and it piles up fast! Organization will help you be clean and green!
Candie

I am so glad companies are starting to look at the effects of going green. If we could have more and more of them do so, I think we would see a change in the pollution and waste. I am sorry but I do not have any advice for being green "yet". I am always ready to hear what others say.
retellingstories

Vinegar and lemon juice can be a wonderful, natural and safe cleaner for all areas of the house, and you won't have to worry about toxins and your family.
Anonymous

i love your web site
Anonymous

our green tip is simple; when the computor is not in use; turn "OFF". it saves so much emission of carbon into our environment.
Diane

We are starting to become greener, using more safe cleaning aides for the environment and my household. I would love the opportunity to try these products. Thank you for the opportunity to enter this contest!
Huguette

I'm trying to do my best, but I'm learning as I go. I have to work on stopping the plastic bags and learn how to compost. My tip is use vinegar and water as your cleaner, can't go wrong.
strawberry3d

a green tip for the garden,catch rain water in a bucket and use for watering.
Ardy22

I use baking soda and vinegar to clean lots of things
Sheri

I don't have a tip, but it sure is great to read a bunch!
Anonymous

FRESH air
Tiffany

soap and water is my tip
blueviolet

I'm just getting started with becoming greener but I've made the switch away from my chemical cleaners to safer products. I had to go back to my Heloise books because she always used safer and gentler methods. I find vinegar works well for cleaning but the smell is killing me...lol.I can't give any gardening advice because my thumb is not even close to green. I stink at gardening.
doot65 at comcast dot net

Elizabeth
Tracy

Baking soda will clean most anything including your insides! I scrub the sink at night with it then put about a 1/2 tsp in water and drink it down. It is a fabulous replacement for toxic antacids and a quick fix for an overly acid system as well as a dirty sink.
barbara529

I'm still learning. I am currently testing a product for our electric company, so I'm currently busy learning ways to reduce my energy usage.
countrygirl1823

I would love to win this!
John-Patrick

Great site!
paryjeja

I use vinegar to clean a lot of things cheaply and hopefully a little bit greener.
Anonymous

Always interested in finding "safer cleaning products"
robt6

These are good products, enter me.
Terri B

I didn't have any tips of my own, but enjoyed your reader's comments.
Thanks

terri[at]aol[dot]com
carissaad

I'm still learning about becoming "green." I do use fabric grocery bags, recycle when I can and I'm trying to cute down on bottled water.
InMyHeart01

recycle and compost as much as you can
Beverley

I keep a garbage bowl on my counter, and every night dump the coffee grounds, vegetable leavings, and scrunched up egg shells into the garden for recycling.
Linda G

I have never used any Shaklee products, but would like to. I'm new at being "green". I don't have any tips.
Amy

We've been composting to feed our flowers and plants, we also collect rain water to use later to water the plants. Thanks for the great giveaway!
paula h

We cut up old t-shirts and use them instead of paper towels unless we are cleaning up somethin gross.
Anonymous

I would really like to try shaklee. I have a tip. I clean my kitchen sink with baking soda and vinegar. I have a great looking sink, It is very shiny.- Kristina

gladstone7272@yahoo.com
cherylfree

I would love to try Shaklee's green products :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

ols[dot]moonmaiden[at]gmail[dot]com
K.Cleaver

I didn't really know much about Shaklee until I read your blog. Very nice of you to give the prize pack away.

I've switched to some green cleaning products using what my grocery store carries. I haven't been "wow"ed by them though.
Alice

GO GREEN :0)
mary

I too would love to try these products.
Storm

I would love to try these products out! I compost and recycle, and I try to use whatever natural and organic products I can.
Sierra

We have started using cloth napkins and cloth towels instead of paper napkins and paper towels, as often as possible!
Erica G

I am the one that needs the tips. I don't know where to start!

egreca [at] hotmail [dot] com
jennmalan

vinegar and a coffee filter cleans glass great
Anonymous

I use a steam cleaner to clean my floors, guess that's pretty clean since there's no chemicals.

chris

cme8397@yahoo.com
Vicki

I use home remedies for most of my cleaning needs. Also, instead of using plastic bags in the car for garbage, I purchase paper lunch sacks and keep them in the car for quick cleanup of tissues, etc.
Paige

I use those Mr. clean magic erasers. They are great scrubbers.
Missy

My husband and I compost leftover food, grass clippings and leaves. It is great for our garden. GOOO GREEN!
Ashley

I just bought a steam mop that allows me to clean my tile floors without the use of harsh chemicals. I just let the temperature of the water do the germ-killing for me and use washable micro-fiber cloths for most other household duties.
cdrury

I use a strong spray of water to get spider mites off plants outside.Also natural detergent and water acts as a pesticide!
silverbele

I am driving less.
Anonymous

I, too, use baking soda for cleaning and use vinegar.

comments@ptreskovich@hotmail.com
Jessilyn82

Using baking soda and vinegar to clean my oven instead of tradition oven cleaners that are full of chemicals
Tabby

My piece of advice is to reuse your food! I save all my vegetable peelings, bruised spots, etc. and freeze them. Once my containers are full I boil the scraps and to make a fantastic vegetable broth. I even put the boiled scraps to work in our compost pile.
mizchild

Thanks for the giveaway.

la9zy2la7dy4[at]yahoo[dot]com
Olive

Like many others, I use vinegar a lot. I use it to decontaminate the washing machine.

Thanks for the giveaway!
kewlchick2003

Hi,

I have been going green by using regular dishes, silverwear and storage containers. I no longer bu and throw away paper plates, silverwear and tupperwear. I know it is a small change, but I am keeping more things ou of landfills
dwhogan

good luck
patricia

Great Contest. Loved reading everyones tips and going to try some of them.

dawns_horizen@yahoo.com
quiltingreader

Compost!
Scrappy Do

Hang my clothes outside to dry!
AmberRose95

I'm still learning different ways to go green, but I use green bags at the grocery store and/or reuse bags as well. I also use coffee grounds for as many plants as I can instead of just throwing them out. Thank you for the contest!
Jacob

Use white vinegar for cleaning
idahomom

Ask your children about going green. You will be shocked at how much they know.
Lilith Silvermane

I make my own furniture polish.

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice (I freshly squeeze)

Spray and Viola!

It's a wonderful solution. And with an infant and a toddler, I don't fear them licking the tables, etc.
zmama09

At our house we mix lemon juice and baking soda to clean up messes on our stove tops and sinks and bathtubs...it works just about everywhere!! zmama09 at yahoo dot com
Anonymous

I use vinegar and water to clean my grout and tiled kitchen floors. It gets the dirt out and they look so clean.
Nora

neneelynn@yahoo.com
angelaandconnor at gmail.com

OO I got alot of great ideas from the past posts... I agree with the conserving water post..I reuse all the water I can in the house (i havent quite gotten to bath water but I've certainly thought about it.. plants love old milk too)

I re-use all of my school printouts.. just flip them over and print on the other side on items that are just for refrence and I don't need to turn in.

I added your contest to Prize-A-Tron!

http://www.prizeatron.com
Shel

I have bottles of vinegar in my cupboard for cleaning just about everything. Just ran a bottle through the coffee maker tonight and I'll reuse it to clean the toilet after it cools.
eell

Add corn starch to water to clean windows.
miriama

We use a natural degreaser and periodic clog cleaner. Baking soda, vinegar and really hot water. Thanks for the great giveaway
emily N

Vinegar and baking soda are a good cleaning combination for toilets.

gotfire (at) yahoo (dot) com
Debbie Criss

I have a bad back. This year I'm planting in pots on my baloney. I have a pinic table, I sit to do the work. Set the pots on the table, so there's no bending. Please enter me, thank you
Dolly

drgarnecki (at) gmail (dot) com

To clean a microwave, place a solution 50% water 50% vinegar in a bowl and heat it for 1-2 minutes (depending on microwave). It'll cause all the sticky crud inside the microwave to loosen and easily wipe down. You can use the vinegar water solution to clean the microwave. I also use the solution to clean the stove top. --earth friendly, inexpensive, and it works!
mom2gabnnat

Shaklee has awesome products. My parents used them when I was growing up. I use white vinegar as one of my main cleaners. I use it to neutralize cat odors too if one of them misses the litter box and hits the concrete floor.
Tonya

You save about 40 cents for every load of laundry you put on the clothesline versus the dryer.
banquetbabe

i keep my coffee and egg shells and put them back in the soil
coriwestphal

I have been making all of my own cleaning supplies for about 2 years now. It saves me a ton of time and money and I'm glad to do my part for the environment. I'm really glad to learn about products like this that help me in my final goal but also not make me feel guilty about what I'm using to get my toilets clean. Would love to win this stuff and try it out! Thanks for the opportunity!
psipsina

use microfiber cloths instead of swiffer disposable pads
Anonymous

clean green
Tammy

1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar down your sinks, and tub each month, will help keep your drains clear.
Sharon

please enter me and thanks for great contest...what we do is use as many natural products as possible...our 2 favorites-white vinegar and baking soda...will clean almost anything :)
deemkooo

I've never tried Shaklee..they've been out of reach because of my budget, but I'd love to try them. I practice economic environmental consciousness by using vinegar and baking soda for most of my cleaning needs.
janetfaye

I use baking soda to scrub my sinks and bathtub.

Thank you!
Jill Myrick

Thank you so much for the wonderful contest.
I would LOVE to win this set!
arbrashears

We have just really begun committing to a green lifestyle although we have done little things here and there in the past (recycing, cutting down on energy use, etc) In regards to cleaning, I don't have a tip per se other than to say that we have recetly switched to all not toxic, natural or organic cleaners and have been pleased with it! We've also cut almost completely off with using paper towels to clean and instead use rags and things that can be washed again and again.

arbrashears(at)msn(dot)com
Uniquely Yours

This is great!!! I would love to try some non-toxic products. I always have to wait till late to clean the bathroom due to all the nasty chemicals. As for something green.....I have purchased a couple of books to find out all the ways I can become more green love the tip about vingar and weeds I'll have to try that one.
JaniceJ

I don't have anything new to add, I have used vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice to clean with for years, at the end of the summer we put egg shells, coffee grounds and pieces of vegetables into the garden and rototille them into the soil. Thanks for the giveaway!
Nicole G

We use vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda for all our cleaning needs around the house. No crazy chemicals to worry about and my kids love helping me with them :)

-Nicole
Anonymous

Don't forget to throw your used coffee grinds into your garden or mix into the soil. Used newspapers can be shredded and added to your mulch.

I hope I win (red slippers clicking):)

maggie@mannwieler.com
msrodeobrat

i would love to try these products. the only thing i currently do is hang up my clothes to airdry
~JEWEL~

I try to always use natural/organic cleaners. I've used Shaklee products before but never the 'green' cleaners. Would love to try them out. Thanks
Katmagick

Vinegar is my secret weapon. I use it for everything from cleaning the bathroom to cleaning up pet accidents.
I would love to try the Shaklee products. i am sure that they have a much nicer scent!
jennem

Bon Ami is an old-time cleaner, but it's green and it works great!
Princess Golden Hair

we use simply green products. they are earth friendly and keep my house clean.
mogrill

We recycle and use newspaper for cleaning instead of paper towels!
Sue Farrell

Stock up on baking soda and white vinegar--you'll use a lot of it in green cleaning.
vboackle

newspaper cleans windows and glass better than paper towels and is a useful recycling item.
Greywolf73

I still use the tried and true method of cleaning windows with newspaper and water & vinegar. It works surprisingly well and doesn't leave streaks.
Kari

Thanks!! We do all kinds of things, we're pretty crunchy :)
Mary

I am trying to go green in my home. We have started using those reuseable grocery bags. I just discovered that Walmart has them also so that is next on my list. I have one for every store that I shop at but them. We also are recycling our magazines to the local school my children attend for craft projects. We reuse containers from various items like butter bowls and use them for storage.

Thanks for the chance to win

fireicerainychevy@yahoo.com
izackcarson

baking soda and vinegar are great. they clean so much.
sweetsue

Stale beer works great to keeps slugs away from your plants. Pour a little into a shallow container, and put it away from your plants. The slugs will climb in and drown without using toxic chemicals.
naturegirl

I try to always use natural/organic cleaners. I've never used Shaklee products, and I love to try those.
Jeanne St. James

There are some great tips in this blog. I wish I had some of my own!
Toasters

Vinegar and baking soda to clean grime off oven tops
Tiffany

These are wonderful products! My daughter is trying to get our family to go more green, and I'm doing my best to buy fewer chemicals. Thanks!
anyang

Vinegar, it cleans just about anything!
Heather

Hang clothes to dry to save energy and recycle as much as you can. In the garden there are natural herbicides that you can make from regular household items. Thanks!
trishden

Get a compost bucket complete with air filter to store under your sink and it makes composting easier when it is handy.
Garden Gnome

Try to buy reusable items.
Anonymous

baking soda and vinagar just like my mommy used
abigwincoming@yahoo.com
Shannon

Nice. Hang your clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer.
Krystal744

These are great prizes. I have never tried these products before, Times are tough so I have to buy cheap, Thankyou for the chance to try them!
danosor

compost and recycle.use paper before plastic or styrofome.
chromiumman

i use vinegar instead of harsh cleaning materials
Liz R

I shop at thrift stores for most of my clothes and purses. My wardrobe is much larger, and much much more inexpensive. You'd be surprised at all the good outfits you would find! Shaklee H2 cleaner is great. I really want to try more of their products!
Lesha

Garden Safe Fungicide is a great alternative and organic product to kill bugs in your garden. :)
LINDALSHOT

We compost leaves & grass clipping to use in the garden.
tvollowitz@aol.com

use reusable cloths to clean and wash. Limit use of paper towels and save the trees!
Stephanie V.
Anonymous

Clean your windows and mirrors with diluted vinegar.Shiny clean and no streaks!
Elaine R

emrosser@shaw.ca
brianpiero

...instead of going through a roll or two of paper towels each week, try using a washable cloth or two each day; then just toss the dirty cloths in the laundry at the end of the week...
pcbdolphins

I need this something awful
southernlady823@yahoo.com

I would like to try these Shaklee Products. I keep old stained or worn washcloths, they are great for many projects around the house. I use them when painting, cleaning something that is super dirty so I can throw it away. My son is in maintence and he has started saving his old cloths as well, we all need to preserve.
susan1215

My tip is to use baking soda and vinegar to clean toilet bowls
DePro

Thanks for the contest. Count me in!
greenly

I'd love to win this! I've been eyeing the Shaklee products for a while now, but just haven't had the money to order them. My tip is for cleaning the microwave: after cooking with lemons, put rinds in a bowl of water and nuke for a couple minutes. The fragrant steam builds up and then the microwave cleans easily with a damp cloth.
gcuvier

Keep a bucket in the shower to collect the water while your shower is heating up, then use that water for watering plants or washing up around the house.
Shanna k

I use natural products inside and out. I did just learn to use olive oil though to get streaks off of our stainless appliances. It works great and smells good too.
fangirl

I use natural products in the garden. There are many available that don't put poisons into the environment. I have also started to only use re-fillable plastic water bottles.
jeani

I use vinegar for as many things as I can. Windows, fabric softener, hair rinse for great shine, cleaning refrigerator (mixed w/a bit of baking soda), wiping down faucets, sinks and if hard water/lime starts to build up I soak a couple paper towels in vinegar and pat them down around the faucet and base leaving it there for 1/2 hour to one hour. They come out sparkling and lime deposits are gone.
April

My best tip is to use baking soda to clean. It even boosts your laundry.
Michelle

I've been wanting to try Shaklee products. Happy Earth Day, all. For green cleaning, I use microfiber cloths as much as possible and a vinegar-water mixture is great for windows. Used coffee grounds is a great house plant fertilizer, and I clean my coffee pot and toilet bowl with a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Works like a charm o both. Thanks for the great giveaway and for all the tips in the comments here--I especially like the idea of using newspapers as a weed-blocker.
denyse

I hope I win this- There's so many new products I'd love to try!!
Betsy

Great contest! Thanks!
mar

I find that using water to clean cabinets is just as effective as chemical sprays - but so much healthier
Natalie

I started using energy efficient lightbulbs AND i use reusable bags when i go to the store! Its easy and do-able! Thanks for this contest!
Helen

Every time I buy a coffee or a drink, I make sure to take home either the paper cup or the plastic bottle to recycle.
Bonnie

We should all think about how we are consuming Mother Earth. We can all take a small part in going green and together we can make a big impact!
wendy

I use old t-shirts as rags for heavy type of cleaning..it cuts down on the use of paper towels and they can be thrown away when finished

email is: madamerkf@aol.com
agordon10

love to try these and make our house more earth friendly!
Mya

Vinegar is the bestest cleaner ever! I use it on all the counters, on my floors. Everything smells so fresh and clean!!!

iluv2pray@gmail.com
cre8tveminde@optonline.net

I would love to win.Use paper not plastic!
alycep06

Not exactly a cleaning tip but a "green" solution. I am plagued with small ants every spring in my kitchen. I have 6 cats so do not want to use anything harsh or toxic and I would prefer not to kill the ants just make them go away. So I stumbled on an old method-cinnamon........works great and is non toxic. The ants will not cross the cinnamon line around my kitchen!
Margaret

Simple Green cleaner removes SO MANY things that other, more toxic cleaners just won't touch. I use it for everything.
Liz D

WOW! Shaklee and the good ol' days. Mom would dilute Basic H and use it as a mosquito barrier. Very stinky but worked GREAT!
lizdehart at live dot com
peg42

Would love to try this. Thank you for offering this giveaway.
White vinager can be used for many household chores. Mix with water and a little vinager in a bucket and it works wonderful for cleaning floors, tubs, toilets, just about anything and it smells pretty good too. Not only that, it's very cost effective, safe and works great.
fluggy

Use baking soda/vinegar/lemon juice to clean toilets works like a charm.

thank you

fluegas5[at]gmail[dot]com
traymona

My "green" cleaning tip is to use newspaper to clean glass. Leaves it shiny without leaving lint. Recycling is always a good idea.
traymona[at]aol[dot]com
Mitzi

Thanks for the fun giveaway. My kids would love this game.
weeblet

Sprinkle borax on the carpet after vacuuming to keep the fleas away!
Deborah

Something new I'm going to try this year is to recycle old newspapers into a weed barrier in the garden.

First you soak the newspapers in water; then you spread them out in the garden.

This is supposed to act as a weed barrier, thus eliminating the need for chemicals, and as a mulch, reducing the need for watering.
louiseb130

Use micro-cloths
jennifer russell

Hi what a great giveaway! We get so many papers sent home from school each day that would normally get thrown away. Now we use the backs to write notes and grocery lists. russellkids6@comcast.net
Deanna

Simple vinegar works amazing on hardwood floors. Pet safe and cheap!

Thanks for the giveaway!

deeelama[at]gmail[dot]com
Bay Area Mompreneur

I would love to give those Shaklee products a try! SO... My green tip would be that there are many simple things we can do like reusing plastic grocery bags for bathroom trash can liners and reducing junk mail by canceling unwanted catalogs. We've also replaced ordinary light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs - they will last 10 times as long and you can save 75% on your lighting! You don't even have to change them all at once, but when an ordinary bulb burns out, just replace it with the fluorescent one!
My spam free e-mail addy is:

christinethecandlelady at gmail dot com
saleha

Hi. My tip is to use baking soda and vinegar to clean toilet bowls. It works great.
Becky

My fun tip. Rubbing alcohol removes pen stains from some fabric furniture. (I shouldn't be allowed on the sofa with pens). No need for the nasty stuff.
seanandbecky2005(at)yahoo(dot)com
Yarrow

I would love to win this giveaway. I have wanted to try some of the new eco friendly cleaners, etc, unfortunately, finances are tight. Thanks for the chance. Happy Earth Day! My favorite clean and green tip would be that I try touse grey water such as my daughter's bath water to water my plants and for other cleaning.
Michelle

Happy Earth Day to you! I still have a ways to go with my kids (see today's post!), but at 2 and 4, what do you expect? We do what we can though, and hopefully it'll sink in eventually.

My tip? I go to the local coffee places and ask for their grounds (which would otherwise be tossed) and to the haircut places and ask for their trimmings (ditto). I mix those two in with the dirt which does three things:

1) It removes waste from landfills

2) It helps keep the deer away (hair)

3) It is a great fertiziler, especially for tomatoes I think (both, but mostly the coffee grounds)

What it doesn't do: cost me a dime!

Oooo, and my other favorite -- regular old vinegar kills plants errr weeds. I pour just a bit on my sidewalk if weeds start to come up by the driveway or in my landscaping if one of the pricker plants come up, a bit of vinegar. Totally non-toxic and it kills those buggers in a couple of hours.

I'm done for now :)

ahnya /at/ excite dot (com)
Rachel

Hello! My mom sold Shaklee when I was growing up! An easy green tip that my family tries to follow is really simple...take off those shoes when you come in the door! Leaves all the dirt and street chemicals on the rug instead of inside the rest of the house...and it does not cost a thing!
Rachel in MN

I am stumbling you too!
KnitterMama

Happy Earth Day! My piece of advice is to think creatively about how to conserve water--I let water that has boiled cool and pour it into my plants, I pour tea that has not been consumed also into plants, and the list goes on--humidifier water too!
Momma On The Go

Happy Earth Day! I wish I had some great piece of advice to add but I'm still very new to trying to make my family green (having trouble remembering my green bags when I go food shopping). My students did try to convince me that working today would hurt the environment because we use pencils and paper that come from trees. A valiant effort but it didn't fly.

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