Green & Clean

What do Britney Spears’ Curious, Hannah Montana Secret Celebrity, Calvin Klein Eternity, and Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce all have in common?

At least a dozen secret chemicals not listed on the label, according to a new laboratory analysis by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Campaign partner Environmental Working Group assessed data (collected by an independent laboratory) on 17 best-selling fragrances and found they contained an average of fourteen chemicals not listed on their ingredient labels because a loophole in federal law allows companies to claim fragrances as trade secrets. 66 percent of these “secret ingredients” have never been evaluated for safety, meaning we have no way of knowing what they’ll do to our health.

What we do know: The perfumes contained an average of ten unlisted chemicals each that are associated with allergic reactions like asthma, wheezing, headache and contact dermatitis, and an average of four chemicals known to be endocrine disruptors, which impair normal hormone development and have been linked to a range of health issues including sperm damage, thyroid disruption and cancer. Bear in mind that we’re lacking good studies that show definitive links between perfume use and rates of cancer or other serious health problems, but the President’s Cancer Panel just issued a 200-page report saying the link between toxins in consumer goods and cancer has been “grossly underestimated.”

“Something doesn’t smell right–clearly the system is broken,” says Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund. “We urgently need updated laws that require full disclosure of cosmetic ingredients so consumers can make informed choices about what they are being exposed to.”

Here’s the full list of products tested and the number of secret chemicals found:

*

* Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue = 7

* Clinique Happy Perfume Spray = 9

* AXE Body Spray For Men – Shock = 10

* Jennifer Lopez J. Lo Glow = 11

* Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce (for men) = 11

* Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Wish = 13

* Hannah Montana Secret Celebrity = 13

* Halle by Halle Berry = 13

* Calvin Klein Eternity (for women) = 14

* Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom = 14

* Calvin Klein Eternity for Men = 15

* Quicksilver (for men) = 16

* Old Spice After Hours Body Spray (for men) = 16

* Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio (for men) = 17

* Britney Spears Curious = 17

* Chanel Coco = 18

* American Eagle Seventy Seven = 24

Freaked much? Consider going cold turkey on perfume, or switching to all-natural essential oils for sweet, secret-free scent.

by Virginia Sole Smith

Babies are lovely, but then can create a lot of waste. Some parents use cloth diapers and make their own baby food, but there are those times when store-bought solutions are just easier. But you can still reduce waste even when you’re relying on some single-use products by reusing whatever you can.

Tired parents may think nothing of tossing empty baby food jars in the recycling bin, but these small jars can be reused in many fantastic ways. Here are five effortless ways to reuse baby food jars:

Candle Holder
Place a votive or tea candle in a clean baby food jar for a simple and rustic candle holder. You can also make your own candles by suspending a cotton wick in the jar and pouring melted beeswax or soy wax into baby food jars.

Grow Seedlings and Small Plants
A little soil, a few seeds and a baby food jar are all you need to get your garden started, grow dainty flowers, or grow sprouts to add to your meals.

Hold Craft Paint and Glue
If you buy large bottles of craft paint or glue, but hate the waste when you pour out too much for a craft project, then baby food jars are your answer. Simply screw on the lid and save paint or glue for the next project!

Store Small Items
Baby food jars are perfect for storing small items and foods such as beads, bulk spices, buttons, paper clips, hair pins, seeds, and any other small thing you can think of.

Reuse as a Food Container
Baby food jars are made to be re-sealed, so they’re perfect for transporting other wet foods as well. Instead of buying apple sauce cups, pour a little in a jar each morning to take for a snack at work. Or if you love an oil and vinegar dressing on your salad, just pour the ingredients in a baby food jar, seal tightly, and at lunchtime, shake the jar vigorously to blend the oil and vinegar

The much beloved bacon is one of those meats that can be used in tiny amounts to give a big smack of flavor. It probably explains why so many of us are hooked on bacon, and boy are there some bacon obsessives out there. Ari Weinzweig, author of Zingermann’s Guide to Better Bacon, even goes as far as to claim bacon as the “olive oil of America”. But all too often, even those of us who love our rashers, pour away one of the most beautiful elements—the fat. And as being green is about using resources to the maximum, this seems like a no-no. So I thought I’d put together a few suggestions for what to do with that yummy leftover fat after you make your BLT.

(Of course, waste minimization aside, from a nutritional standpoint you probably shouldn’t eat too much bacon fat. But I’d suggest you cut back on bacon in general, and when you eat it, eat it all.)

Bacon Fat Mayonnaise
This one comes straight out of the aforementioned Zingermann’s Guide to Better Bacon. Caroline Russock tested it out over at Cook the Book—describing it as a “spreadable BLT.”

Bacon-Infused Bourbon
This might sound weird, but I have it on very good authority that it is utterly delicious. In fact, I’m going to make it a project the next time I have a BLT. New York Magazine has a rundown of how to make bacon-infused bourbon, and even a cocktail recipe for what to do with it.

Bacon-flavored Veggies
This one always bothers my nutritionist wife, but cooking greens or peas in a little rendered bacon fat is a great way to add flavor. In North Carolina, sauteing collard greens in a little bacon or fat back is pretty much a staple.

Bacon-fat Cookies
So you thought bacon-flavored bourbon was weird. Many home-bakers swear by the addition of bacon fat to their sweet recipes too. Try these bacon-fat ginger cookies, for example.

Bacon for the Birds
If you’re watching your weight, and you just can’t bring yourself to ingest the fat, then give it to someone who needs it. Check out this posy I found over at Yahoo over bacon-fat suet treats for birds.

Drugstore.com is offering up to 25% off its selection of eco-friendly Seventh Generation products, including laundry detergent, feminine protection products, bathroom tissue, diapers, training pants, and more. Shipping on orders over $25 is free for first-time Drugstore customers.
Ends: 11/25/09

Shop here

I was a bank robber, the first Halloween I can remember. That involved carrying a burlap bag filled with stacks of newsprint “loot” over my shoulder, wearing a black turtleneck sweater like Illya Kuryakin wore in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and — most memorably — sliding one of my grandmother’s worn out silk stockings over my head.

That memory (the last part, in particular) is etched upon my mind. And, my therapist says, no amount of counseling is ever likely to erase it.

Silk stockings are of course as long gone as my dear grandmother; truly sad to say, in both cases. But here are 20 creative ways to repurpose today’s worn-out nylon pantyhose, even if you’re not planning to rob a bank:

* Gift wrap storage: Keep rolls of gift paper neat and tatter-free by storing them in old pantyhose — one roll per leg — and hanging them in the closet.
* Green Cheapskate soap on a rope: Put bath soap slivers in the foot of a pair of pantyhose to get every last bit of suds out of them in the shower. Rub-a-dub-dub, there’s a cheapskate in my tub.
* Plant ties: Use lengths of pantyhose to stake up tomatoes and other plants in the garden; because of its elasticity, it’s easier on tender plants than string.
* Mold and mildew stoppers: Partially fill pantyhose with kitty litter and place in shoes, luggage, closets, dressers, etc., to absorb moisture and reduce mold and mildew.
* Panty-pantry storage: Store onions, potatoes, and garlic in pantyhose and hang them in the pantry to promote good air circulation and keep them from rotting.
* Sweet smelling sachets: Fill lengths of pantyhose with potpourri, tie off at both ends, and use to keep closets and dressers smelling sweet. They also work well when filled with cedar shavings or moth-repelling herbs to prevent damage to clothing in storage.
* Pillow stuffing: Cut pantyhose into strips and use to stuff throw pillows or toys.
* Repair torn pair in a pinch: If she has a run in the left leg and a matching pair with a run in the right, my wife sometimes cuts off her bad legs (so to speak) and doubles up, wearing two layers of panties with a good leg attached to each. (God I love that frugal woman.)
* Packing peanut storage: Store menacing foam packing peanuts in a pair of pantyhose to keep them from invading the house until you’re ready to reuse them. Cut a hole in the toe and tie it off with a twisty seal for easy peanut dispensing.
* Homemade Bungee cords: The elasticity of pantyhose make them perfect all-purpose tie down straps, or tie a metal “S” hook from the hardware store on each end for a homemade Bungee cord.
* Lint mitt: Use like a mitten to remove lint and pet hair from clothing and upholstery rather than a lint brush. The mitt will also remove deodorant residue from clothing.
* Scratch-less scrubbers: Try pantyhose to scrub tile and other surfaces where you’re afraid of scratches. Also good for applying polishes to silver, brass, gold and other easily scratched metals.
* Protect prized veggies: Put pantyhose over vegetables like squash and melons while they’re still growing in the garden to protect against pest damage without using chemical pesticides. Is that a zucchini in your pantyhose, or are you just happy to see me?
* Flower bulb storage: Store seasonal bulbs in pantyhose and hang them up in a dry place to promote good air circulation.
* Shoe shine buffer: Old pantyhose are perfect for putting the spit-shine on shoes.
* Wear them outdoors: Guys, don’t be shy about sporting a pair of worn out pantyhose next time you go camping or work in the yard. Real outdoorsmen (and outdoorswomen) have known for years that they prevent chigger and other insect bites and minimize foot blister.
* Draft dodgers: Partially fill pantyhose with kitty litter to seal off cold drafts from under doors and windows.
* Fishing trick: When I wasn’t wearing my Granny’s worn out stockings over my head, my Gramps was using them to catch catfish. He’d wrap a piece of chicken liver bait in a section of nylon stocking to keep it on the hook; the fish would still bite, and he’d still have his bait.
* Paint/stain/plaster applicator: Use pantyhose to add interesting texture and designs when applying and/or finishing paint and plaster.
* Special photo effects: Stretch pantyhose over your camera lens to give photos a muted or starburst effect. (Note: It’s best to have her take them off before you try this.)

Jeff Yeager is the author of the book The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches. His website is www.UltimateCheapskate.com

Get Rid Of Bedbugs The Green Way

It’s hardly a secret that making your own food at home is great for your budget and your health. The planet also benefits from less packaging and travelling to stores and restaurants. A lesser-known fact is that you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice time in order to save money.

The trick is having the right tools on hand. Using these five gadgets on a regular basis can save you hundreds of dollars every month. You probably already have most of them tucked away in your kitchen cabinets. If not, ask friends if they’re looking to unload any of the items below or seek out great deals or freebies on Craigslist, Freecycle, and elsewhere.

Slow cooker

Grandma had the right idea. This old-fashioned appliance can save you money in countless ways. You can make delicious meals using inexpensive ingredients such as beans and tough cuts of meat (which are magically transformed into tender morsels after a full day of cooking at a low temperature).

Slow cookers use much less energy than traditional ovens and stoves. You’ll also potentially spend less on take-out since you won’t be tempted to order in at the end of a long day because you’re too tired to cook.

Prep time is usually quick and easy since it often involves slicing and dicing a few ingredients, throwing it into your slow cooker, and letting it simmer all day. This handy appliance has made a bit of a comeback in recent years so there’s no shortage of delicious recipes to choose from.

Bread machine

Homemade bread is far superior to and much less expensive than most store-bought versions. Most of us don’t have time to bake bread by hand, but a bread machine can save a lot of time since all you have to do is add the ingredients and turn it on. It’s also a great tool for making pizza dough, desserts, and other higher ticket items.

Here are some tips for saving money on ingredients for homemade bread and pizza dough. One common criticism is that bread you make at home may go bad more quickly because it has fewer preservatives than processed bread. An easy solution is to slice up leftover bread and store it in the freezer.

Coffeemaker

We’ve all heard this one before, but that’s because you can really save a bundle by brewing your coffee at home instead of purchasing it a coffee shop.

How much will you pocket? The average adult can save around $100 a month (assuming you buy two cups of Joe a day at an average price of $2.45). The savings really add up if you have more than one coffee drinker in your household or buy super-size versions of specialty drinks on a regular basis.

Soda maker

It’s unlikely that you already own a beverage carbonator, but it may be worth the investment if you drink a lot of sparkling water or conventional soda. A soda maker allows you to easily turn tap water into your favorite carbonated drinks in minutes. Some other benefits: Making your own soda is fun, you don’t have to lug heavy bottles home from the supermarket, and you save time on sorting through empty bottles for recycling.

The savings can really add up, especially if soda is the preferred beverage in your household or you throw a lot of parties. It costs about 20 cents to make a liter of seltzer and a quarter for the equivalent of a 12-ounce can of soda.

If you buy 10 two-liter bottles of seltzer, you’ll spend around $25, compared to making your own for around $8. It costs about $20 to buy two 12-packs of soda. Making the same amount of soda will cost you $6.

Water filter

Drinking bottled water is an expensive habit that’s worth breaking, especially when you consider that experts say tap is the best choice for those who live in the U.S.

The New York Times estimates that it costs about $1,400 a year for people to get their eight glasses of water a day from a bottle, versus about 49 cents for an annual supply of tap water. That puts the potential monthly savings at around $116 a month per person. Calculate your own cost for drinking bottled versus tap.

Drinking from the tap is also your greenest option, since bottled water has many negative environmental impacts associated with making and disposing of plastic bottles. Which filter you choose largely depends on what you’re trying to achieve so here’s advice on finding the best filter for your tap water.

Eco Friendly Cleaning Kits

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