Officially a Hippy

When I moved into my new place I did what any sensible person would do and after unpacking boxes immediately tried to scrub everything until it shone with the power of a thousand suns. Well, I was disappointed by the lack of cleaning supplies already in my house and quickly made a list of about ten different products I "needed" to clean everything from the grout to the top of the fridge. OCD aside, this was going to be quite expensive. It's no secret that I mostly try to use "earth-friendly" cleaning products in my house (with the exception of laundry detergent because I don't think the all natural ones work as well) and I turned to the internet to do some research on the best bang for my buck.

After doing some reading on GreenerChoices.org, I was pretty shocked to find out that "earth-friendly" is a completely subjective term and that most of the products that claim to be non-toxic may in fact only be less toxic than their ammonia and bleach containing counterparts.They are not required to disclose ingredient lists in cleaning products and most do not. Also, take note that most cleaning products (even the green ones) say that they are skin irritants, which probably means they are toxic, no? Also, did you know that bleach and ammonia mixed together create a POISONOUS GAS? Yeah. Um. Scary. Everything we use to clean our houses goes back into the earth through our drains and I have a minor panic attack feeling responsible for the death of whales and adorable sea otters but I am also a little bit completely OCD and like things clean clean clean. So how do I reconcile these two things? I decided to try out making my own cleaning products and if they didn't work, I'd go back to the good stuff (all recipes can be found on GreenerChoices.org).

Well, I am happy to say that so far all of the bright green alternatives I have created seem to be working just as well as anything I could have purchased at Target or Whole Foods (if not better). One thing I thought I'd never be able to live without as a long haired lady was drano/red devil for the shower. I read online that you can use vinegar and baking soda to clear drains and I was soooo excited that this solution actually WORKS. I was literally bragging about my fifth-grade science class skills to anyone who would listen. I also created an all-purpose cleaner and a windows/glass cleaner and both seem to work well.

The only ingredients I had to purchase for all cleaning needs were: Castile soap (Dr. Bronner's lavender scent), Borax, Baking Soda, Cream of Tartar, Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide. All of these ingredients in the largest sizes you can buy added up to under $30 and will probably be enough for about 6 months. So much cheaper than GreenWorks/Seventh Generation type stuff! My only complaint is that most of the recipes call for vinegar and I really do not like that smell but I plan on buying some essential oils to help cover that up (a few drops of lavender or rosemary should do just fine!). Anyway, I don't mean to be preachy, I just want to share my experience and to let you know that these alternatives seem to work really well and that should mean something coming from someone like me who values sanitation so highly. I just think that a lot of our perceptions come from marketing and that maybe we should question "reality" a little more - who says we need to bleach our houses? Clorox, that's who. I mean, seriously. So even if you are just inspired to replace one bottle of drano with some vinegar and baking soda I have done my part! I have always been a huge fan of Comet for stain removal in sinks and am going to try out a paste of baking soda and cream of tartar as soon as I have a free moment. Will let you know how that works out...

Anyway, back to the food! Have you gotten on the Greek yogurt band wagon yet? If you haven't, please immediately drop everything and go to the store to grab the largest container you can find. You need it in your life. Trust me. I always buy the nonfat plain and each brand tastes a bit different and the texture can vary quite dramatically. I recommend Fage because it is extra thick and tangy - the consistency is like a very thick whip cream or creme fraiche. The Trader Joe's brand is a little sweeter and with more of a flan-like consistency. I have also had the Greek Gods brand sold at Whole Foods and that one is the sweetest - doesn't even need any honey. Some of my favorite ways to use the good stuff:

1. In any salad that calls for mayonnaise: potato salad, pasta salad, tuna salad, etc. I always add a little lemon juice and garlic when using it in this way and also love to add a little dijon mustard.
2. With honey, berries, and granola.
3. In place of sour cream in Mexican food, on spicy chili or curry, in zesty lentil soup.
4. Mixed with a little lemon, garlic, s&p, and herbs as a dip for veggies.
5. Stir in shredded cucumber, lemon, garlic, s&p and enjoy homemade tzatziki
6. In smoothies/milk shakes
7. With sliced cucumbers, radishes, and dill for a healthy take on the traditional sour cream version.

Really, the possibilities are endless! Will update later on my weekend and some of the delicious food consumed.