If you’re new to green living, here’s an idea to help you get started in purchasing green cleaning products and recycled household products. It’s a green cleaning starter kit filled with a variety of non- toxic cleaners and recycled paper goods. Here’s what the green cleaning kit includes:

Phosphate Free Household Cleaner: An every day non toxic cleaning spray for cleaning the bathroom sink, kitchen appliances, and counter tops.

Biodegradable Dish Washing Soap: Plant-based soap for dishes and cooking pans.

Recycled Paper Towels: 80% post consumer waste.

Recycled Facial Tissues: 100% recycled, 20% post consumer waste.

All Natural Hand Soap: Biodegradable hand soap made with essential oils.

I think the Starter Green-kit available at Green-kit looks like a convenient way to take some of the initial confusion out of selecting green products, and choosing the ones you like the most.

You can save many trees and reduce the amount of waste in your green household by taking a closer look at some of the everyday household items you have on hand. Here are a few green living tips for reducing paper waste in your green home.

Wipe Out the Wipes: It seems every cleaning product imaginable comes in a handy wipe option. From glass cleaner to furniture polish, Americans have become addicted to grab and toss cleaning wipes. Eliminating cleaning wipes from your shopping list in favor of a cleaning rag and a bottle of environmentally friendly household cleaner can save you money and help you live a little greener.

Break the Paper Towel Habit: Try using a cotton dish towel or washcloth instead of paper towels to clean up spills. You’ll save money and reduce the amount of waste coming from your home. Not sure you can live without them? Try cutting back when you can and using recycled paper towels when you must.

Discover Micro Fiber: Micro fiber cleaning cloths (shown above) are a must when it comes to green cleaning products. I use these all over my home and am always amazed at the results. You can use them to remove stubborn stains on furniture, carpet, and all around the house for general cleaning. Using micro fiber cleaning cloths often eliminates the need for paper towels, cleaning wipes or harsh cleaners.

Whether washing your car at home or at the car wash, there’s no quicker way to undo your water conservation efforts. It’s estimated that a single car wash uses up to 140 gallons of water. If you like having a shiny set of wheels, but want to save water, you might want to check out Green Earth waterless car wash.

Designed to clean, polish, and protect your car without using any water, these green cleaning products are also environmentally friendly in other ways. It contains no dyes, is fragrance free, and VOC free. This green household product is also biodegradable. According to So Go Green, you can get 7-10 green car washes from a 16-ounce bottle, but it’s not recommended for heavily-soiled cars with caked on dirt or mud.

While checking out Clorox Green Works products on yesterday,  I was surprised that the collection of green household cleaners does not include a green laundry detergent, so I went in search of one.  I’m going to try this one, ECOS laundry liquid.  According to The Good Steward, ECOS laundry soap provides better performance than other green laundry detergents.  ECOS natural laundry soap is highly concentrated, and a large load of laundry requires only 2 ounces of the product.  The ingredient list, found at The Good Steward, sounds amazingly natural, and includes chamomile, coconut, and essential oils from magnolia and lilies. ECOS green laundry detergent is non-polluting,biodegradable and non-toxic.  This environmentally friendly laundry detergent also has a neutral Ph which is ideal for those who have problems with allergies.   

Green cleaning products seem to have finally hit mainstream markets such as Wal-Mart and chain grocery stores with the introduction of Clorox Green Works™ line of green household cleaning products.  The Green Works™  cleaning products collection includes environmentally friendly all purpose spray cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, a dilutable cleaner for use on floors and countertops, a bathroom spray cleaner and a glass cleaner. 

According to Clorox, the entire line of green cleaning supplies is made from 99% all-natural ingredients including lemon, coconut, glycerin and filtered water.  The company has plans to add environmentally friendly dish soap to the Green Works™ line of cleaning products.  I’m going to pick up some of these green household cleaners next time I do some shopping to see how they hold up against my family’s messier than average household!

It’s one of America’s favorite traditions- having a BBQ on the 4th of July.   This year, consider making your celebration of the red, white and blue a little bit green too!  Here are a few tips for green grilling:

Disposable Plates and Bowls:  If you can’t get past the thought of washing up the dishes consider an organic variety of disposable plates and bowl such as those made with potato or corn starch.  These biodegrade quickly and are produced without the harmful chemicals associated with foam.

Food:  What’s a BBQ without food?  For greener grilling, consider avoiding anything that is pre-packaged.  Buy fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, meats and fruit.  Pre-packaged usually translates to additives and a lot more trash at the end of the day.

The Grill:  Although gas grilling is thought to be a greener, cleaner burning alternative to charcoal grilling, there are several varieties of eco-friendly, organic charcoal briquettes available. Check out your local organic grocery for suggestions. 

Clean Up:  When the day is over and the last sparkler has sparkled remember to use green cleaning products for cleaning up after your 4th of July BBQ.  There are many varieties of green cleaning products made from organic ingredients such as orange oil, baking soda and vinegar that will do a  great job and make your home smell nice too.

Enjoy your 4th of July BBQ and don’t forget to grill green!