As I mentioned in a recent post, I swapped most of my household cleaners for natural alternatives before my daughter was born. But, there are still a few toxic products lingering in my home that I feel guilty about. Dishwasher detergent is one I've struggled with, because I've tried natural brands and the dishes have come out looking spotty and the glasses foggy.
But more and more, it's coming to my attention that the products we use to clean our countertops, bathtubs, and floors don't only impact the environment, but also our health. Earlier this month, David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) launched the Spring Breakup campaign, encouraging moms to end their toxic relationships with household cleaners.
They say... "When we use these chemicals to clean our home, they linger in the air and we breathe them in. Chemicals in cleaning products can also enter our bodies through the skin or through ingestion of household dust and chemical residues left on dishes and cutlery. And when cleaning products are flushed down the drain, they can have a serious impact on aquatic ecosystems."
Yuck, right?!
And, as David Suzuki's Queen of Green, Lindsay Coulter, writes in her blog: "Did you know that many doctors and cancer treatment centres...tell patients to rid their homes of conventional cleaning products once they've been diagnosed with the big "c"?"
It's this type of thinking that really bothers me. Why not be proactive and prevent disease, rather than opt for healthy habits only once you're sick? This April I'm pledging to swap out the remaining toxic products lingering under my sink! I hope you'll join me!
Here are a few 'green' solutions that are working for me so far:
Vinegar! Though it is smelly, I'm a big fan. I mix it with warm water and use it to clean many surfaces including my daughter's bathtub, our countertops, and the mirrors. Also, because my hair has a tendency to fall out and clog our drains (yuck!) we're always trying to find new ways to clear them. I've banned the use of Drano in our house and switched to baking soda and vinegar. It not only resembles a grade school science experiment ("look it's a volcano!") but it also works really well too.
When it comes to laundry soap we use NatureClean detergent, which is fragrance free, biodegradable, and non-toxic. Fragrance never bothered me before, but now that I've been using unscented products, I find that whenever something is washed in Tide the smell drives me nuts. What used to be the "fresh smell of clean laundry" now seems more like the "smell of toxic chemicals tickling my nose."
For our granite countertops I found an awesome brand of cleaner developed locally called eco mist solutions. What I love about this product (other than how shiny it leaves my counters) is that the list of ingredients is super short (non-chlorinated water, processed coconut extracts, sugarcane, corn) and all the ingredients are food-based.
I'm happy to see campaigns like Spring Breakup promoting the use of natural products. After all, we owe it to ourselves, our kids, and the planet to breakup with toxins once and for all. To learn more about how to survive this breakup and come out on top, follow along every week as they reveal new tips and tricks for 'green' home cleaning. Plus, there are some pretty sweet prizes to be won!
Finally, if you've come across a great eco friendly cleaning product or solution, please Spill It in the comments below. Especially if you've found something that works in the dishwasher... I'm all ears!
If you’re looking for some quality TV to enjoy as a family… a show that will inspire your kids to get off the couch and do something with their own two hands…a show that celebrates the importance of giving back and getting involved…then you’ll love GIVER!
I did!
It’s a 13-part live-action TV series presented by TVO and Sinking Ship Entertainment and the whole point is to engage kids in their communities by having them volunteer to re-imagine and rebuild local playgrounds.
For each episode the producers rounded up six kids (ages 6 to 14) and in just three days had them plan out, design, and physically build (with the help of local volunteers and businesses) a super-cool new playground, based on the needs of their community.
The show was the brainchild of J.J. Johnson the 31-year-old dynamo behind kids’ shows like This is Daniel Cook (a personal fave!), Dino Dan, and Are We There Yet? World Adventure. J.J. co-founded the Toronto-based production company Sinking Ship Entertainment when he was in his early 20s and has been creating awesome kid-friendly content ever since.
I sat down with J.J. to chat about Giver and his passion for kids’ TV.
What’s the idea behind this show? Why have kids build playgrounds?
J.J. We tried to think of a space for kids that would really impact their lives. A space they could take ownership of and feel passionate about. I think the coolest thing about kids is they’re always looking for ways to maximize their fun. And what place is more fun than a playground? Plus, it's a place where even parents let go a bit, and can often be found running around with their kids. These days, so many playgrounds look the same. We decided to work with these kids to create awesome spaces that looked and felt different depending where they were located. We personalize them to help build a sense of community.
You directed eight GIVER episodes, and were on-set for all 13, what was it like working so closely with these kids?
J.J. We all had a blast—especially the kids! It was an opportunity for them to really build something; to get their hands dirty. They were using nail guns and cutting wood. They were drawing amazing plans for what they wanted to build. Their ideas were brilliant, and our task was to bring them to life in just three days.
It was also amazing hearing the kids interviewed throughout the show. Kids' world views are so much better than adults'. To them, the sky is the limit! The host would try to create some drama by asking them: "There's only one day left, do you think you're going to get this done on time?" And a kid would respond: "Even if we don't, we've done so much...everyone will be proud of us anyway!"
Why only three days?
J.J. We wanted to give the show that ticking-clock feeling; plus, it was all we could afford given our limited budget.
What were some of the parks like that you built?
J.J. We tried to come up with a relevant theme in each community. In Hawskville we built Canada’s largest sandbox, in Goodrich we created a Butterfly Park; we built a Dinosaur Park in Batawa, and in Hamilton we built a Future Park.
What were you hoping the show would accomplish?
J.J. We wanted to show kids (and adults!) that with enough hard work and dedication, anything is possible! And, even though our budgets were tight, and we relied on the help of volunteers and donations from local businesses, every episode resulted in a fully-functioning playground that the kids and their communities were proud of. The power of giving back or volunteering doesn’t only come from just helping others. These kids were able to benefit from all the hard work they put in, while giving back to their communities at the same time.
OK, just one more question. What’s your "Happy Place"?
The office! We’re a young company and we believe we can do anything; you can feel that energy in here every day. Plus, I get to work with all of my friends—a group of really talented people. The best part is we get to be creative, dream up crazy ideas, and watch them come to life!
GIVER premieres Tuesday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. on TVO and runs for 13 weeks. You can also watch it online (the first episode is up now as a preview!). J.J. says it’s ideally suited for kids ages 6 to 9, but I watched the screener with my 2-year-old and she was totally into it.
Who knows, maybe this will be the inspiration your kids need to get off the couch and GIVER! this summer.
There’s something about spring—the buds popping out on trees, the birds singing through open windows, and the feeling that new life is finally seeping back into the earth—that makes me feel like giving my lifestyle an overhaul. I’m always inspired this time of year to swap winter comfort foods for fresh produce and healthy snacks; to clean out my kitchen and re-think the way I’ve been treating the earth. It’s a time for self-reflection and taking action; for sweeping away all the guilt that comes from months of gluttony and laziness.
Since becoming a mom I’ve become more aware of my impact on the environment, because I feel it’s our responsibility to leave the earth in good enough shape for our kids to inhabit and enjoy it. But no matter how hard I try, I still feel like I’ve got a long way to go.
Since writing this article on green spring-cleaning a few years ago, I swapped all the chemical-filled cleaning products in our pantry for their natural alternatives. I figured this would be good for our health as well as the water we’re dumping these products into. I shop locally, bring my own bags when I go shopping (and have trained my two-year-old to say: ‘No bags please!’), and I recycle like a champ!
But there’s one thing that still really bothers me, and it’s gotten worse since our family has grown. It’s the sheer amount of waste (recycling and garbage) that we produce every time we bring home groceries, household supplies, and toys. Cardboard, plastic, packaging—it all piles up and seems so totally wasteful.
That’s why it’s really important to applaud brands that actually take packaging and environmental responsibility into their own hands. As a mom, I’m certainly more inclined to support these brands and choose their products when I’m at the store.
In the spirit of happiness and springtime, Planters—the brand that’s been leading the world in healthy, quality snacks for more than 100 years—has created 100 percent recyclable packaging (the Envirotub!) that’s made from recycled PET (translation: thermoplastic polymer, or the resin that’s used in synthetic fibers and beverage and food containers). In doing this, Planters will be converting over 1 million tins annually into new packaging, diverting all that waste from the landfill.
So, now all Planters Naturals and Lightly Sea Salted products are not only better for you but better for the environment too. Pretty awesome huh?!
This means less junk, less guilt, and less damage to the earth!
And, in the spirit of eating healthier foods, nuts are truly a super food—because they’re a rich source of vitamins and minerals (iron, calcium, essential fatty acids, etc.) and they require no negotiating when given to kids as a snack. They’re perfect for on-the-go mummies like me, who are never organized enough to prepare food in advance and need something easy to throw into my purse and pull out in a crunch.
There's even more happy news. Beginning April 2 and running until June 15, Planters is having two truly awesome Facebook contests to celebrate the launch of the Envirotub. First, visit their Facebook page and vote for your favourite Canadian Environmental Charity to receive $10,000 from Planters. And then, because mummy deserves a little happiness too, you can also enter daily on their Facebook page for a chance to win a $20,000 complete Energy Efficient Kitchen Makeover (talk about taking spring cleaning to a whole new level!).
And now that we've got you thinking about "greening your life" Spill It in the comments section below and tell us what you're doing this spring to leave the earth a little less damaged for our kids!
Happy Spring!
This is proudly sponsored by our friends at Planters
facebook.com/PlantersCanada
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