1. Living Room
- Leave the shoes at the door.
- Use a steam carpet cleaner (2x a year) instead of a shampoo-er
- Use vegetable, milk based, low VOC paints, rugs and carpets.
- Use microfiber cloths to dust.
- Don't use ammonia based glass cleaners. Use vinegar instead.
- Older furniture has less harmful materials. Buy furniture that is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
- New car/carpet/plastic smell is not good.
- Clean the vacuum every 6 mos.
- Use non-toxic paint strippers.
- Buy PBDE-free furniture.
- Particle board is made with formaldehyde.
- Get a high efficiency pleated furnace filter.
2. Kitchen
- Get rid of antibacterials.
- Get rid of chlorine bleach.
- Replace plastic microwave containers with glass/Pyrex.
- Use wax paper instead of plastic wrap.
- Buy phosphate free dishwasher detergent.
- Buy produce locally.
- Don't buy cleaners that say "toxic, corrosive, caustic."
- Use a microfiber mop with non-toxic floor cleaner.
3. Bedroom
- Buy a PBDE-free mattress, such as organic natural latex.
- Buy un-dyed linen, organic cotton or bamboo sheets.
- No-iron (sheets or shirts) are treated with formaldehyde.
- Use paraffin wax candles only.
4. Bathroom
- 'Hydrosol' in beauty/body products means nothing.
- 'Extracts' just means water.
- Try to buy 95% or higher of natural ingredients in beauty/body products.
- Triclosan in toothpaste is dangerous.
- Buy bar soaps that are EDTA free.
- Avoid lotions, shaving gels, shampoo and toothpaste that don't have parabens or other "-abens".
- Buy an non-PVC shower curtain and liner - like hemp, cotton or canvas (which are also machine washable).
- Put the lid down and then flush.
- There's propane in aerosol air fresheners. Use essential oils instead.
- Hang a sprig of eucalyptus from the shower head. It released essential oils and helps relieve congestion.
- Squeegee the shower.
5. Laundry room
- Use nontoxic, concentrated un-chlorinated bleach that's biodegradable or hydrogen peroxide (16 oz.)
- Use 1 cup of white vinegar in the "clean" cycle on the washing machine.
6. Kids' Rooms
- Use paints and markers certified by the ACMI.
- Check out www.thegreenguide.com, it has a list of clean and dirty arts and crafts supplies.
- By organic cotton, snug fitting PJs instead of the flame retardant ones.
- Buy PVC free toys (AKA: the #3 in the recycle triangle or the letter "v").
7. Pets
- Avoid flea shampoos and collars. Use eucalyptus oil or cloves instead, as well as feeding dog a few cloves of garlic daily.
- Give the dog a bath 1x a week with a natural soap.
- Use PVC free toys.
Step by step...