When it comes to household problems, mold is something many of us suffer with: so what environmentally friendly cleaning products are available to help us get rid of this problem? Choose a natural option and you can avoid allergic reactions to commercial cleaners yet still win the battle against mold in the home.

Vinegar: This has been used for so many applications, and is also perfect for mildew. Vinegar may smell but it does the job fantastically! Just apply it and don’t rinse.

Grapefruit Seed Extract: Otherwise known as GSE, this is one of the environmentally friendly cleaning products that doesn’t have an odor and is great for its anti fungal properties. Make sure to buy it in liquid form, mix with water, spray onto affected areas and leave there.

Natural Cleaners Bought From the Store: There are natural environmentally friendly cleaning products available to buy from stores if you look carefully. These can be a little more expensive than homemade cleaners.

Tee Tree Oil: This also works as an anti-fungal, and is mixed with water and then sprayed onto the affected area.

In order to stop the mold from coming back, you should follow these simple, natural tips:

Dehumidifiers: Investing in a dehumidifier may use electricity, but you can make use of the water that it collectes to use in your garden, your toilet and more.

Keeping Things Dry: For example, mold can easily build up on your shower curtain if you don’t keep it dry, you should also make sure you wipe up small amounts around the kitchen sink and other areas where mold could develop.

Ventillation: Keep your home ventilated, especially by opening a window when you’re taking a shower.

As you can see, there are plenty of environmentally friendly cleaning products that can work as an effective antidote to mould, without the unhealthy chemicals!

When it comes to green building products, paint stripping may be a necessary job – but you don’t have to make it dangerous! There are now many different non-toxic paint strippers available, and some of which can even make it safer to remove lead paint from your walls.

First, let’s take a look at typical paint strippers and why they are so bad for our health. They contain chemicals including:

1) Methylene chloride is potentially carcinogenic, and is the most common chemical used in paint strippers. Among the many health hazards this chemical is known to cause are:

• Irritation to skin, respiratory system and mucus membrane,
• Circulatory problems,
• Kidney and liver damage when you are subjected to long-term exposure,
• Headaches and dizziness.

2) Acetone, Toluene, and Methanol are usually used together. Hazards of these three include:

• They are all flammable,
• They can make you drowsy,
• Headaches and dizziness,
• Brain damage when exposed over a length of time at high levels,
• Harm to unborn babies.

3) N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) causes skin damage in the form of swelling, burns and blistering.

4) Sodium hydroxide (lye) is the most common caustic alkali used in toxic paint strippers. It works by melting and loosening the paint. Hazards of lye include:

• Severe burns on the skin and eyes even through brief contact,
• Toxic when swallowed.

The good news is that the world of green building products is always evolving, and here are some of the non-toxic alternatives currently on the market:

• Paint strippers based on soy, including SoyClean and Soy Gel, which are odorless, non-toxic and don’t evaporate quickly.
• Infrared paint removal is also becoming more common, which will soften paint so it’s easy to remove,
• Peel Away is a water-based and biodegradable option that does not emit fumes and can remove lead paint safely,
• Paint strippers bained on citrus, that smell nice and can remove paint from items such as furniture,
• RemoveALL can now be used for a number of projects, and has no odour.

If you are looking into using more green building products in your home then it’s well worth taking a little extra time to research each product before you buy. The good news is that it’s becoming easier and easier to get hold of these eco friendly options.

There are so many chemicals in our day to day life that it makes sense to start looking towards natural health solutions to help purify the air in our homes. After all, this is the air we breathe whenever we are inside, and it’s a lot more polluted than you might realise.

1) Look to the Source

When it comes to pollution in the home you need to get rid of its source. This may include replacing items with eco friendly alternatives – and one of the most common areas that may need changing is the carpet.

2) Get Some Plants

Houseplants are a great way of improving the quality of the air in your home. Plants can take in carbon monoxide and give out oxygen. Houseplants can also absorb other chemicals that are bad for us. Some of the best types of plants to choose are palms, English ivy and the peace lily. Try to have one plant per 100 square feet.

3) Keep Your Filters Clean

Make sure you change the filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly – at least every 90 days. And when you use them more often, change them monthly. These aren’t just natural health solutions – this can help you to lower your energy bills too!

4) Ventilation

You should make sure that you are able to get some fresh air into the home from time to time. Keep the air moving around with fans from time to time, and open windows and doors in good weather.

One of the best natural health solutions for the air in your home is simply to become more aware about the products in your home, toxic cleaners, paints and so on.

When it comes to environmental homes, there are so many factors to consider. Not only does this mean the way in which they create and consume energy, but it also extends to the materials used – including kitchen counters. Countertops play an important role in our kitchens, with both a practical and aesthetic value. As people become more and more aware of the environment, even countertops are coming under scrutiny.

Some of the best eco friendly countertop materials to choose from, for environmental homes, include:

Recycled Glass: These can make for beautiful countertops, and they come in a wide variety of colours and styles. They are perhaps one of the more costly options, though they can make for a stunning kitchen!

Bamboo: Bamboo has a number of uses, including in your kitchen. It is an extremely renewable resource, growing very fast, and can be used for your flooring, cookware, furniture and more! When it comes to your countertops you’ll find that bamboo works out about half the price of glass, but it still looks great. The main downside is that bamboo can become scratched and dented.

Ceramic Tile: Ceramic tile is only an eco friendly choice if made from recycled materials such as bottles and light bulbs. When it is, this can be an extremely cost effective eco friendly option for your countertops. It is one of the cheapest options around at around $10 per square foot, and is also extremely easy to install.

Concrete: Though it may not seem it, concrete can look great in many kitchens. Personalise the way it looks by staining it a certain colour and you’ll have yourself a very durable option.

Recycled Aluminuim: Stainless steel has been popular due to its sleek appearance and durable nature. If you want to avoid the many resources that go into the creation of steel countertops, opt for recycled aluminium instead. It still comes with a great look, but is far more environmentally friendly. It can be costly, however, coming in at around $100 per square foot.

Conclusion

Eco friendly countertops aren’t limiting in terms of function and beauty – they come in just about every style you could need, and are a great way of adding to the value of environmental homes. The materials used will be better not only for the environment, but also for our health.