We have just tried the Little Green Steam Cleaner by Bissell and we love it! It’s made from up to 50% post-consumer plastic and comes with an excellent non-toxic cleaning solution (no phosphates, dyes, optical brighteners or heavy metals.) Given that regular carpet cleaners can be super-toxic, this effective cleaner is a welcome addition to my home. It’s small enough to easily carry around and is perfect for rugs, upholstery, and even drapes. It dries as it cleans and one go-round on my living room rug, left me seeing colors that I’d forgotten existed.
We are giving away two Little Green Machines this week. If you want to enter the giveaway, leave us a comment here about one little Green action that you have taken today!
Congratulations Brianna – we picked your comment to win the Eve Organics giveaway.
Running the dehumidifier today & instead of dumping the water from the bucket down the drain, I put it in the birdbath! (Surprised my hubby AND the birds!!)
I just bought a “Green is Good” Tshirt made of 100% organically grown cotton by Life is Good – wore it today while carrying my green bag to the store! Feels good doing something nice for me AND the planet!
I ordered some new green beauty product samples to green up my beauty routine, but allowing me to trial different products first wihout spending a fortune. OneLukyduck.com has a 19 item sampler & I got it yesterday & wow! They all smell sooo yummy!!! I can’t wait to try them all out before purchasing the standards I’ll switch too.
I brought my recyclable coffee mug to get my morning coffee this morning.
As a girl who is trying to bring more and more green in her life, a Bissell Little Green Machine would be heaven sent to clean the carpets in my home, considering I have 4 dogs and 2 cats. ;]
A green move I have made was when I decided to do my part and make sure that all the trash and waste was picked up in the campsite I was occupying the last 5 days in Mammoth, CA. Not only did I pick up MY waste, but also any other waste I saw while hiking, fishing, or just walking through the campgrounds. I figure… if someone sees me doing MY part… maybe they’ll be inspired to do theirs to help save the planet and bring a little more green into the world.
My son and I hauled off our huge pile of recycling to the recycling depot today!
Our apt manager refuses to set up a recycling program here, so I have to set it all aside and take it to the depot once a week!
It kills me to open up the dumpster and see it full to the brim with items that can easily be recycled!
And yes I’ve been known to dig out some stuff to take with me 🙂 I feel SO GOOD after a trip to the depot!!
I’ve been line-drying my laundry and not wasting so much energy with dryer use. Things dry wonderfully fast and fresh on the outdoor line (and sun-bleaching makes my whites whiter!) Dark colours (and privates) dry on my indoor line, keeping them coloursafe. It takes a little more time than just bundling everything into a dryer, but my clothes don’t miss the dryer damage and it’s such a simple green action that everyone can do!
Today, I purchased some eco-friendly nail polishes from Zoya. I purchased online to save gas and I did not choose air mail shipping which has a serious impact on the planet. I also turned the temperature on my air conditioner 2 degrees warmer to save energy and some cash!
Today I turned off the water in between soaping and had the water at a colder temp to save energy. By turning off the water in between soaping, I made a 20 min. shower (water running) into a 3 min. shower.
I have started taking the bus instead of driving to work and convinced coworkers to bring their own cups into work. We now no longer purchase paper cups at work.
I dug a compost pit in my yard and started dumping everything I can in it. My kids helped me and think it’s wonderful – they can’t wait to empty the bucket and churn up the slop. It’s a good green day 🙂
I convinced my yoga studio to switch from plastic to paper cups for the water they provide. Of course, I bring my Sigg, but at least the amount of plastic will be reduced!
I had the day off, and didn’t drive my car all day! I rode my bike to the gym, and walked to a local festival…feels great!
When washing my fruits and veggies, I put a plastic container in the sink so I can recycle the water for my garden.
I purchased as many “green” school supplies for my children as I could find (pencils, scissors,notebooks, a ruler etc) and then recyled the paperboard parts of the packaging of these items. While I did this, I began to explain to my children what it means to be green and why it’s so important.
Today I picked up recycling from a friend’s house and brought it to mine. She doesn’t have curb service in her neighborhood so we utilize the service in my neighborhood.
I had those adorable Gorgeously Green bags in my purse and pulled them out when shopping. First stop was uniforms for the boys. As always I said “I don’t need a bag, I have one.” The lady tried to give me one anyway. I told her I was fine and loaded the uniforms up myself. Then at the grocery pulled another out for the couple of things I had to pick up. 😀 I love those little bags!
Today I took my kids to the zoo and purchased a t-shirt that says Recycle!! I’m too cute to trash and it has soda cans on it. The sale of the t-shirt goes directly back to the zoo to help maintain the “Phoenix Zoo”. They told me on a tour that they do not get any Federal or State money to run the zoo. I felt good about making my purchase and I didn’t accept a plastic bag from the zoo. I also recycled my water bottle @ the zoo.
I walked to work and hung my clothes out to dry in the sun instead of putting them in the drier. I had to get up a half hour earlier to do all this, but it was totally worth it.
Instead of getting a starbucks today I chose to make my own coffee and take it with me in a travel mug.
I brought in my old set of dishes and mugs to work (+50 people). So now instead of everyone using styrofoam, they can use my dishes! I also brought in some of my old dishtowels so people can use them instead of papertowel.
I have been recycling plastics and aluminum
for quite sometime now and I just introduced my 6 year old to it, he loves to help and the added bonus for him is the money we get back goes into his savings!
Just started recycling!! I have 4 full bags..taking them today on the way to the market!
Whohoo..and I should have a couple of dollars to the buy the book! <3
I bought my week’s produce from local Amish farmers. I even remembered my reusable bags.
I have tried to make many changes, but the one thing I am most consistant about (or two things) are my health/beauty products are now all switched over to all green products and I always bring my own bags to any store. If I forget…I have to carry the item w/out a bag 🙂
I bought Aubrey Organics moisturizer with SPF15 and Herbal Magic’s roll-on deodorant. I used to think the more chemicals the better, but now I’ve seen the light.
I steamed some vegetables for lunch this afternoon, then used the water to make some hot tea!
I created a homemade cleaning spray to fight mold in the bathroom. I used one of Sophie’s suggestions (vinegar, water & tea tree oil.) It’s hard at work as I type this post!
Oh my! I need the Little Green Steam Cleaner by Bissell!! I have lived in a one bedroom apartment for a year and the carpets are ick! And I dont want to rent one that uses toxic cleaners.
Everymorning when I shower I turn off the water while I soap up and shampoo. A little trick to save water that my mom always encouraged us to do since we were little.
Jess
My family is fortunate enough to live in a small community where almost everything is within walking distance, but most of the residents still drive everywhere. Not us! Not anymore! We have begun walking to places anytime we can (and even when we think we can’t). This simple step saves us gas money and keeps one more car off the road. I take a small backpack if we are going across town, and I always carry my Chico Bag – just in case we stop at the local Farmer’s Market or Healthy Grocer.
Theresa
My sone and I just painted a 2 gallon painters bucket (that I wasn’t using!!) with flowers all around. I’m using it to catch the near constant drip, drip, drip – and sometimes a flow – from our sump pump. I’m using the water to water my outside flowers and plants! FYI – we have a basement and a sump pump catches rainwater from the window wells, condensation from running the air conditioner, etc., and pumps it out of the basement on a regular basis. I think it’s a great use of free water!
I used my reusable bags at the grocery store and while running into Target to buy some stuff all this week. I loved saying “I don’t need a bag for my items.” I am also using my own travel mug today for my coffee and later this afternoon for my tea.
On a happy note, I will be driving to work today in my eco friendly car. If you happen to see me driving wave hello.
hmmm….today I baked a cake with organic ingrediants ans freshly picked organic blueberries and zucchini from our garden. delish :] Also, I did my laundry in my bathtub as Gorgeously Green mentioned, and hung them outside to dry. (too bad it started raining later on, theres always tommorow to dry :p) Lastly, I read through Gorgeously Green once again and while doing my daily yoga routine, reflected on all of the green improvements I have made in my life.
I work at a hospital doing clinical research. We need to collect lab samples for our studies and the supplies are almost always sent to us by the sponsor of the study. The problem is they send us a lot of excess materials that can not be used by our hospital. So, I put together a donation of supplies for local free clinics and another to be sent with missionaries. Hopefully these items that would ordinarily be discarded can be used by programs that do not have a lot of funding to purchase these items.
I work at a large department store that cares little about our earth or the people in it. However, some of the companies and products we carry do have a commitment to being sustainable, eco friendly and fair to its employees. So each and everyday (though discreetly when I have to) I do my promotion of those companies and their products..it is amusing how well I do selling products I believe in..my sales are up and people are subtlety becoming more aware. Today it was as simple as showing a customer the reusable/recycled bag that Sanuk gives a customer who buys the shoes to sell them the product.
Early this morning we awoke to severe thunderstorms and went around and pulled out all of our plugs. I had been meaning to do it for a while, and had started slowly with the ones we use daily, but nothing like mother nature to give you a little jump start at 2am! It feels good to know that we won’t have anymore vampire loads on our electricity!
I went out to the store today with my reusable canvas bag and my Klean Kanteen bottle. 🙂
I am so excited to see the Little Green Bissell Steam Cleaner. I just finished cleaning the house (using some green cleaning tips I just learned in Gorgeously Green, I love what just vinegar and water can do!) But I noticed my carpets getting a little dingy and it coming time for me to clean my carpets again and was going on to get some ideas for greener carpet cleaning! I guess it would make a great Christmas gift!
I have started collecting the small left-overs of my burnt candles, to deliver to recycling. I discovered a missionary shop were they make new candles of the leftovers.
It is such a small thing, but I find it to be a real thorn in my side…probably because it seems so small and ineffective! Anyway, I scraped all extra food into the garbage can instead of running the garbage disposal. True green living is in the small stuff!
I just purchased my second bottles of John Masters organic shampoo and body milk. Wonderful products – thank you Sophie!!! Also, I made cookies this morning, using organic ingredients purhased through our local coop. Later on this afternoon, I’ll meet with my sister-in-law to discuss starting a new online organic bedding store! Yay!
I have been on my parents case about being more environmentally conscious and I haven’t seen much change but last night at the movies my dad had brought a bottle of diet coke. When he was done with it he told me to put it in my purse so we could recycle it when we got home!
Doing your part is great, but seeing someone else start to care just feels mazing. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Whoo.hoo…just took our newly purchased Escape Hybrid to the Co-op today and found a kitchen countertop composter that matched our decor…loved it so much I bought one for my mom…hope to get her composting too!! Best way to spend a rainy day!!
Washing my laundry today i used all natural soap and instead of using a liquid fabric softner i used vinegar. Vinegar is my new favorite cleaner.
Vowing to make fitness green and earth friendly by sharing planet friendly fitness solutions with mizzFIT.com readers.
I unplugged all cell phone chargers that weren’t being utilized as well as the toaster, microwave and coffee maker!
I sun dried my son’s clothe diapers instead of using the dryer.
I am also on day 3 of the gorgeously green diet and loving it. having a great big organic salad right now 🙂
Today I received 2 big bags of “previously loved” clothes from a friend! I paid it forward by bagging up clothes (recyclable bags of course) that my twin girls have grown out of to my neighbors with little girls 🙂 Feels great that we can all help each other out, and save some $$$ at the same time as being green!
I went to Whole Foods and bought all the food I’ll need for the next few weeks in bulk. I made enough Irish Oatmeal to last me the next three days, so I won’t have to use my stove every day. I also divided up a large piece of salmon into my reusable plastic freezer bags so I would have meals for the next three weeks and could defrost just the tiny amount I need, instead of thawing and re-freezing the same piece over and over until it was all gone.
I recently discovered Charlie’s soap and attacked my kitchen with it this morning. I later walked to the co-op (never drive when you can walk!) to get a few things. Of course I had a few Chico Bags on me! Later I’ll walk to my yoga class.
Today I walked to the library to pick up a book I had on hold, to learn more about being green during pregnancy. Afterwards, I walked to my local drug store to purchase some organic belly butter and organic prenatal vitamins.
Today I made my oatmeal for breakfast by scooping it out of a large container, instead of using those single-serve packets. Topped it with organic wild blueberries – less pesticides! Brought my own ceramic mug to work. Put papers I no longer needed into the recycle bin. Consolidated after work errands to do the least amount of driving. And used my toaster oven to cook dinner, instead of a full-size oven. I believe all these little things add up; thanks for making me (us!) stop to think about them! Currently shopping for a slipcover, instead of buying a whole new couch. Boy a steam cleaner would make a difference in our house!
Just discovered Gorgeously Green today! What a wonderful website. I am daily looking for new eco-friendly ideas that I can utilize in our family’s life. I have been replacing all the chemical cleaners in our house with home-made alternatives and have purchased re-usable shopping bags for our grocery shopping. I am an interior designer and have taken great pleasure in helping a client to buy furniture from antique stores and thrift stores. It feels great helping my clients to find value and use in older and quality furniture pieces for their family and business spaces!
One little Green action or two that I have taken today is bringing my own reusable tote bags to the grocery store and buying all organic produce. Also, walking to the store as well since it isn’t too far from me, not to mention I am 36 weeks pregnant, so I am very proud of myself. Lastly, I just purchased some organic skincare products from the Nature of Beauty.
I hung up a close line so I can stop using my dryer and I bought locally at a farmer’s market. And, I ride my bike everywhere, including work….I haven’t driven in a month! 🙂
In desperate need of a new toothbrush… so bought two recycled and recycled toothbrushes yesterday. I had been searching for those for a longg time. Also, I filled up my BPA-free water bottle with tap water for like the 60th time this week.
I brought home my co-workers water and snapple bottles to recycle. They’d only throw them away!!! Oh, and I shared with my neighbors our tomatoes & cucumbers from our organic garden 🙂
Stopped at the local farmers market to buy produce!
I composted a whole bunch of my food waste.
I switched to cloth diapers this week and purchased them on a website, but from a local mom in the area.This is a pretty big feat for me, but I am determined to stick with it. I also made my own cleaner this week and switched out all the baby and child skin/teeth etc. products to all natural products. I am currently purchasing a soil tester so I can enlarge my garden this upcoming spring. Its been a very BUSY week!
Today my family adopted the phrase: yellow stays mellow, brown flushes down. The kids love the rhyme and we save water from not flushing so much!
today i line dried my laundry
I scrubbed my kitchen & bathroom floors with a homemade cleaning solution (water, baking soda, peppermint castille soap, lavendar & tea tree oil), and I used my Aubrey Organics facial moisturizer & Dr. Hauschka deodorant this morning.
We would love to have a steamcleaner in the house. With two little boys and our two dogs it and our house being ALL carpet it would be wonderful!!
Since reading your books I am making every effort to green up our lifestyle! This week I went to cloth diapers (through a diaper service) and purchased the diaper covers and cloth wipes from a local mom who runs an online website (Littlefoxdiapers.com.) We have also switched all the skin care/hygiene/baby products to all natural products. We had a sprinkler audit today so we consume even less water on the little bit of lawn we have. I also purchased a soil test kit to test my garden dirt to expand my garden for 2010. Very busy week!! And even with some grunts from my husband we are going to try a diet plan from your book and eat meat only 3 days! For my husband who grew up in the mountains and is a fabulous junk food eater this is a pretty big change, but he is willing. 🙂
I picked fresh vegies from my fathers garden and used them in lunch today! 😀
I walked to work today and carried my water bottle that I have owned for a year and a half that I take with me everywhere I go. No plastic bottles for me.
My daughter and I watered all of our flowers with water from our rainbarrel! I am teaching my kids to be as environmentally conscious as possible!
i’ve switched all of my household cleaners over to either homemade versions (i love vinegar!) or environmentally friendly ones (method, mrs. meyer’s, and seventh generation in varying degrees). today when i get my weekly cleaning done, i won’t have to worry about the chemicals i’m exposing myself and my family to!
I purchased a green shampoo/conditioner to try.
I stopped using toilet paper for #1’s today. Instead of paper, I use a little water spritzing & a cloth from an old towel I cut up. I grabbed my old plastic sport (squeezable) bottle and filled it with water…when I pee, I squirt myself with the bottle, then dab with a cloth. I have about 30 cloths that will probably last me to the next laundry load. The cloths are about 3×3 inches big…so far, so good. Another bonus is not having to flush every other pee, now I can go all day without flushing. It’s great!
I brought reusable bags to the store and did several errands at once instead of going out for several different trips.
In an effort to reinvent my yard and garden I obtained 3 reclaimed 55 gallon barrels (the big blue ones). Out of one I made a large tumbling composing barrel using reclaimed 2X4’s from a wood pile at the dump, a reclaimed large pole from an otherwise delapidated “arbor/trellis” that was going to be hauled off, and screws and fittings such as handles, hinges and bracers dug out from my late grandfathers tool boxes. Out of the other two barrels I made rain barrels! I used again found items from my late grandfathers tool boxes, such a spigots and plumbers tape, and I used my local Freecycle network to obtain two large but leaky hoses destine for the garbage truck to use for a drip irrigation system with my new rain barrels for when the weather is hot or a draught for my fruiting plants. All other items put into my yard are decidedly maintenance free so no watering! Also, I use Freecycle almost exclusivley to find things I need as weel as for getting rid of anything that is not compostable, recycleable or is other wise just garbage.
I have a little drapery business in my spare bedroom and tried to do things a little greener. I’m collecting all boxes and cardboard rolls and drop them off at the township where they recycle them. I switched all my lightbulbs and my lining supplier now carries ‘green’ linings, so next time I need lining I’ll order those :.)
I bought a Gorgeously Green book today and read half of it. I love it!! And after reading about the Lavera Sunless Tanner, I immediately ordered it, as well as a few other eco-friendly goodies on the website (free shipping always gets me to spend more!).
I have spent the weekend cleaning out my shed. I had 13 separate bags to give to others i felt would use my throwaway, from clothing for all ages, tools for garden and workshop. Plant material and necessary mordants for dyeing as i used to do with with our daughters school. Mostly it went to people i know in my community, what was left went to the AWL (animal welfare league). It feels good to know someone will be grateful for and USE my throwaway but also for me to have got it done and now have a much decluttered and clean workshop 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to enter this competition. Happy Day 🙂
I left my teeny little house with a bag of green grocery bags and walked to the grocery store, drinking water out of a reusable bottle. No big deal but I think the important thing is that it was just normal for me. I wasn’t thinking about “being green” while doing it. I think this kind of stuff is just becoming a regular routine for normal people like me. It’s sinking in.
i’ve been using method cleaning products, scared to make my own. now that i have your “recipe” i plan on making some reusing the method bottles.
I have officially made the switch from store bought cleaning products to homemade ones, and have noticed that they are working much better!
I went to my local Farmer’s Market for the first time. It was a great experience to see how many products I can now buy the were grown locally. Plus, it was a lot of fun!
We recycle plastic, aluminum, paper every day!
No longer using plastic bags from grocery store we now bring Canvas starting w/ today!
I’m really beginning to start a greener lifestyle along with my husband. Today, I made an effort to keep off lights we weren’t using, unplug unused appliances, used a CFL bulb, recycled magazines and newspapers, and used a green cleaning product!
We’re working on making these kind of things routine habits. So far, so good!
I always carry around a pair of reusable chopsticks so that I don’t need utensils when I go out to eat. Saves paper, wood, and all the labor that goes into making the disposable ones.
My neighbors do recycling with 1 recycle bin. I have 3. I recycle everything from cans, glass, and paper. I have 2 garbage cans in my office 1 for paper (& a shredder) & 1 for garbage. I also save grounds from coffee, egg shells, left overs when I clean my vegetables to put in the compose. Our environment is important to me if only to help preserve it for my grandchildren. My husband is a musician and they drink a lot of beer so you know what I do with dem cans!!!! BAGS AND BAGS! WOO HOO – Cash & I’m recycling too what better reward. Plus I’ve carried over a saying from my father. “When not in use, turn off the juice” and my kids are telling their kids now.
This week I will start a class to help others and be supportive of the Gorgeously Green dream. One day and thing at a time to be eco-friendly. Wish me luck!
I bought your book when it first came out and loved it. My coworkers are tired of hearing about it. one of my former co-workers borrowed it and never returned it. I carry my cheat sheets and eco-friendly bags with me everywhere I GO.
I ordered slect a flush toliet attachments for all my toliets(3)…from dualflushkit.com