The Family Groove | The Green Wave

THE ECO HAS LANDED
ENVIRO-CONSCIOUS CRUSADER FRANCESCA OLIVIERI, CO-OWNER OF SAGE BABY IN NYC,
TELLS YOU HOW TO GET MORE GREEN INTO YOUR LIFE, NOW AND FOREVER

PUT A LITTLE GREEN IN YOUR CLEAN

Spring has sprung! From the season that brings you warm breezes,
blooming flowers, bright sunshine and beautiful, longer days also
comes the urge to clean like a mean machine. But this year, instead
of scouring the countertops with your conventional cleaning products
filled with nasty stuff like bleach, chlorine and ammonia, why not try
putting a little green into your clean?

I remember watching my first child playing on the floor. Everything ended up in his mouth, making me think twice about what was in the cleaning products that I was using in the house. Most conventional products won’t list their ingredients for proprietary reasons, but if you’ve ever had to talk to Poison Control, you realize pretty quickly that these ingredients aren’t what you want your child to be licking.

The good news is that there are many healthier choices for your family. Here are a few tips to get you started:

	Baking soda and white vinegar are your friends. In fact, many ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen can be used to make your own safe cleaning products. Here is just one easy recipe for a basic sink cleaner that works well and is environmentally friendly: ¼ cup baking soda ½ cup vinegar 3 drops of lavender, lemon or orange essential oil
	Another homemade option is a floor cleaner with white vinegar, a little castile soap, water and a few drops of essential natural oils like lavender, lemon or orange. It works like a charm, with no strong chemicals.
	If making your own products is not your thing, some of my personal brand favorites include Earth Friendly Products’ Parsley Plus Surface Cleaner and the Seventh Generation products. You should always try to buy the biggest containers possible to reduce package waste.
	Add a little aromatherapy when you are ironing by putting a few drops of lavender oil in the water of the iron. The scent is sure to lift your spirits when you are doing a boring task.
	Buy an air purifier, like one from Austin Air, that keeps your air free from dust, pet dander, mold and gases.

Other useful resources:

Debra Lynn Dadd’s book Home Safe Home is a favorite that I refer to regularly to learn where toxic chemicals may be lurking in the home and how to replace those products with safer ones. Debra’s site features an active blog and a shopping list of suggested products.
The Healthy Child Healthy World website is an excellent resource filled with useful information on household toxins and ways to avoid them.
The Green Guide is another excellent resource for information on healthy cleaning products.

In 2006, Francesca Olivieri co-founded the company sage baby, an online eco-friendly baby store offering everything from organic clothes and skincare to furniture. She continues to watch her green business grow while seeking to apply her values to her own home and family. Francesca lives in New York City with her husband and three kids, 8, 6 and 3.