A cleaner clean

Interesting enough, I have been going down the same track as Kathryn about safer cleaning supplies. Been testing lots of different types...I really like some of the Method products, especially the liquid dish soap. I like Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day dishwashing powder and laundry soap (but I have to find something else as it comes in a plastic bottle...). I did not have good results at all with either Seventh Generation or Wave dishwashing powder. The stuff at Trader Joe's is also pretty good. Mrs. Meyer's also has a good all surface cleaner and a stainless cleaner. The only problem is that they are EXPENSIVE!
I am glad I'm looking into this. A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle confirmed my worst fears. "Hazard Warning on Home Cleaners: Study says many use chemicals linked to fertility problems." No wonder kids are going into puberty at such young ages.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/24/MNG0QR5P191.D

Safer Cleaning Products

This is a useful website about safer cleaning products http://www.womenandenvironment.org/. Their findings were reported on today on sfgate.com.

Also, for Christmas one year I gave Christy the book, "Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning your Home" by Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin. It has a lot of useful tips as well as recipes to make your own cleaning solutions.

The suncreen debate

On my list of things to do this summer was more research into sunscreens. It's one of those topics that drives me nuts: increasing reports of how much radiation we are exposed to and the increasing rates of skin cancer, more awareness on my part of highly toxic ingrediants in skin care products, reading about all these highly-effective chemicals allowed in sunscreens in Europe, but not here (but not knowing if there are BOTH effective and safe), etc., etc., etc...all the while slathering the entire surface area of myself and my kids every day.

I was delighted by a recent posting by the Environmental Working Group (my heroes!) with in-depth research on hundreds of sunscreens, rated by both effectiveness and saftey. Some of the things I thought I was doing well, like buying Alba's organics lavendar suncreen for kids, didn't test well at all. Many surprises. I am going to buy their top-rated choice, UV Natural Sport SPF 30+ , as soon as I find it and will report on how it fares on the wearability quotient...greasy and obnoxious vs. well-absorbed.

Complete list at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens/summary.php

Chipping Nail Polish

I had a mani/pedi last Friday so I my hands and feet would look nice for a wedding I attended last weekend. I go to a place that offers a range of nail polish brands from traditional chemical laden brands toformaldehyde free. They also don't use those gross massage chairs and don't do acrylics. I went for one of the brands that had fewer chemicals than the traditional brands. I was a little disappointed, however, when on Sunday my fingernails had chipped and this morning when I noticed that one of my toenails had chipped, because normally when I get a manicure at this place it lasts five to seven days and a pedicure even longer. Next time I will still resist the urge to use a chemical ladenOpi color and try yet another brand, and hopefully it will just last a little longer.