Rinse Aid - Do or Don't

The light on your dishwasher is blinking,"Add Rinse Aid."

Should You?

What is rinse aid? Supposedly prevents spots on your dishes by preventing water form forming droplets, instead it causes the water to runs off dishes. Usually rinse aids are not biodegradable, and often they contain chemical fragrances.

Want a cheap and easy eco-alternative: fill the little reservoir with white vinegar

Voila! Non spotty dishes, without environmental by-products!

Cleaning Pots and Pans Naturally

What is the best way to clean greasy pots and pans with burnt residue?

Baking soda!

Sprinkle 2 Tbs into bottom of pan, fill with two inches of water. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.

Do you have a really terrible situation?

Sprinkle 2 TBS of baking soda into bottom of pan. Add 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar (be prepared for the foam). Stir foaming paste around the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add two inches of water and let stand for 10-15 minutes, then scrub.

Burnt Pots?

Mix 2 TBS of baking soda plus 1 quart water. Bring to boil and then take off heat the let cool to room temperature.  For baking dishes, heat above mixture in 350 F for 5-10 minutes. Then let cool and scrub clean.

Good Plastic Bad Plastic

From: http://www.everythingconnects.org/plastic-pollution.html

Safe Plastics

1 PETE
2 HDPE
4 LDPE
5 PP
7PLA

NOT Safe Plastics

3 PVC
6 PS
7 Other

Other Tips:

• Don't mix hot food and plastic
• Toss out old scratched food containers
• Hand wash plastic
• Use glass storage conatiners
• When using plastic wraps and bags avoid #3 PVC plastic and look for companies that use #4 LDPE

From: http://www.oneworldoneocean.com/blog/infographics