Green Treehouse

A Green Treehouse reader recently wrote to us and asked for a little do-it-yourself (DIY) cleaning supplies advice. To our writer, thank you for reading and asking your question! We’ve trolled the Internet and pulled together some great links to help you create your own non-toxic, eco-friendly, baby-approved household cleaners. If we’ve missed any good links, be sure to let us know.

Why DIY non-toxic cleaning products?

There are many reasons for making your own cleaning supplies. Beyond the happy planet and health aspects, DIY cleaners can save money and they can be easy to make from ingredients commonly found at home. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the piece of mind that comes from knowing what’s in a product–especially one that you’re using in an environment shared with baby.

What about manufactured cleaners? Are they baby safe?

It depends. Today, parents interested in eco-friendly, baby safe cleaning products can find effective, yummy natural scented (or scent free), and reasonably priced non-toxic cleaners on the market. But, not all cleaning supplies are eco-friendly or baby (or even parent) safe. Look for natural ingredients and mom-approved labels like:
* Seventh Generation
* Begley’s Best
* Sun & Earth
* Mrs. Meyer’s
* BabyGanics

Where can I find *recipes* for making my own cleaners?

Thanks to mommy (and daddy) bloggers, here are some links to DIY cleaning product recipes. Please write to us and share your favorite formula!

To Make Your Own Glass Cleaner:

A little ol’ vinegar and water should do the trick. But check out this recipe (Mom’s Budget), this one (Dabbling Divas), or these heavy duty home-brewed glass cleaner recipes.

To Make Your Own All-Purpose Cleaner:

Check out this recipe (Greeniacs) that calls for 1/8 cup of borax and 1 quart of hot water.

To Make Your Own Tile Cleaner:

Get squeezin’ lemons. Just half kidding there. According to Greeniacs, “Cut a lemon in half. Dip the lemon half in borax and use the lemon to scrub the tile. Rinse surface with warm water after scrubbed.” Sounds super easy, doesn’t it?

For other cleaning recipes or reasons to go green at home check out these eco-friendly links:
Sustain Lane’s How to Make Your Own Household Cleaners
5 Ways Moms Can Save the Planet
Eco-Friendly Household Cleaners

Binky. Nuk. Ninny. Fussplug. Chewy. Soothie. Mute Button. These are only a few of the many pet names parents and children attach to pacifiers. But these days eco-conscious parents aren’t just trying to figure out what nicknames to call their pacifiers, they’re trying to figure out which pacifiers are BPA and Phthalate free. In other words, they want to know which pacifiers are safe?

While there are a number of pacifiers on the market that fit the BPA and Phthalate free bill, here are three parent approved picks.

1. Hawaii Medical GumDrop Pacifier.

2. NUK Classic Pacifier.

3. The First Years Soothie Pacifier.

Going green means minimizing risk of exposure to toxins. Check out this Parents TV clip featuring Pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, author of Raising Baby Green, for quick tips on growing an eco-baby, including his number one tip: choosing an organic cotton crib mattress for baby.

Related Posts
Raise Baby Green
Are Fragrances Safe for Baby?

Related Products
Check out BabyEarth’s selection of natural and organic baby bedding here.

Did you know that fragrances found in perfumes, cleaning products, beauty products, and in air fresheners usually come from petroleum-based chemicals? Did you know that there are millions of people who are highly sensitive (some more so than others) to chemicals and scents? Did you know that some places have “scent free” or “reduced” scent zones?

Chemicals in our environment can affect people in ways that we might not realize. Synthetic fragrances contained in shampoos, hair care products, and body soaps can induce headaches, mood changes or breathing difficulties. Some studies suggest that man-made fragrances are more than simply annoying–they claim that chemical fragrances can damage the body, like the nervous system, and even lead to cancers or depression, among other health problems.

New parents concerned about the safety of synthetic fragrances have options. Parents can opt for fragrance free baby products, like California Baby’s Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion (fragrance free) or TenderCare Tushies Unscented Wipes. Parents can also look for bath and body care products that are free of synthetic fragrances and are made of natural or organic ingredients like Little Twig’s line of baby skin and bath products. Parents can also switch to natural laundry detergents, such as BabyGanics Laundry Detergent that is specially formulated for babies, and choose natural air fresheners.

When it comes to health, the environment, and air quality, even small decisions, like deciding what baby shampoo or body wash to buy, just might have a big impact on future generations.

Whether you have five plus years to go until your baby heads off to school or are sending your baby to kindergarten (or beyond) this year, check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (”CPSC”) Tips for Back to School Safety (August 19, 2008).

Here are two tips that made the list:

* Avoid Children’s Clothing with Drawstrings. According to CPSC, “Drawstrings at the hood or neck area are a strangulation hazard. They can catch on playground equipment and other items. Remove hood and neck drawstrings from upper outerwear clothing already in your child’s closet, and do not buy children’s clothing that uses them.”

* Confirm that playground equipment is safe. “Check with school officials to make sure that equipment has been inspected and maintained.” Parents can even listen to a podcast on playground safety here.

Ever thought, there’s no way I’m using cloth diapers? Well, the bumGenius Organic One Size Cloth Diaper might change your tune.

Move over sposies. The award winning bumGenius One Size Cloth Diaper design is now available in organic! It’s a totally easy to use design. Perfect for use by cloth newbies and die hard, experienced cloth diapering fans. the bumGenius “no-stuff” design offers stretch tabs for a perfect fit, along with simple hook and loop fasteners. Use it like you would a disposable diaper–but with the environmental bonus of reuse, over and over again. There’s no need for a waterproof cover. The absorbent layer is completely integrated into a waterproof outer layer. The bumGenius design is so brilliant, you’ll probably have to remind yourself that it’s cloth!

Oh, if you’re looking for the perfect baby shower gift…this is it! New moms will love putting this diaper on their newborns.

One of my favorite photographs is a picture of my baby playing in a laundry basket. While babies certainly add to the laundry pile, they also make laundry fun. Babies seem to love climbing into laundry baskets. Babies giggle when you play a gentle game of tug-the-towel or sock. Babies think it’s a hoot when they can topple a neatly folded and stacked pile of clothes. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, they still want to play with the laundry beyond the baby years–they still love climbing in the basket, but sometimes they also want to match socks or help fold laundry!

In the process of creating those childhood-laundry memories, you can also fight global warming and do a part to save the environment. How? Hang a clothesline. The non-profit, Project Laundry List, lists ten reasons why hanging your clothes to dry is a good thing. Saving money (”more than $100/year off electric bill for most households”), conserving energy and the environment, and fresher smelling clothes (without the possible toxicity created by chemicals or dryer sheets) are just three of those reasons. A clothesline of baby clothes or cloth diapers also looks cool, and sends a positive message to your children about the environment and your values. Plus, hanging clothes on the line with baby (think baby attached in a carrier) or your children makes for quality-time together and the creation of priceless baby memories.

Related Links:

Check out BabyEarth’s Organic Baby Product Guide here.
Check out BabyEarth’s full line of Bumkins Baby Products here.

During the 60s, not long after environmentalist Rachel Carson published her book Silent Spring, which brought attention to pesticides and environmental problems, The Banana Splits Show hit television. Given that the show was before my time, I had no idea what to think of the 100% organic t-shirt featuring a groovy, retro animal theme and “The Banana Splits” written in bubbly font that recently landed in my toddler’s hands. I knew I liked the organic part for sure. But that’s partly because I’m in love with anything organic. Since day one, I’ve outfitted my babies in organic when possible.

Thanks to the Internet, I figured out that the “The Banana Splits” was a t.v. super hit. I also learned that it’s coming back to television this fall (Cartoon Network). Obviously geared to the younger crowd, the show has me wondering generally about TV.

How do parents decide how much television children should watch? What is too much? I know some parents who limit t.v. to the length of their shower–they pop in a Baby Einstein DVD when they need a shower break. I know some parents think t.v. time actually brings about household peace (think less war, less sibling fighting, and more love). I know some parents who don’t allow their young children to watch any t.v., and still others who don’t really seem to impose any time limits.

Moms and Dads chime in… aside from saving electricity (and the planet), where do you draw the line and pull the plug?

Related Posts
5 Ways Moms Can Save the Planet
Rubberwood Toys: Plastic or Wood?

Want to recycle your old baby gear? Check out BabyEarthRenew!

If your preschooler wants to learn to lace (or you’re sick of tying shoelaces), check out this totally adorable Tie-Up Shoe by Plan Toys. I’m not sure who likes the shoe more–me or my child! It’s so cute.

By the way, I’m a huge fan of Plan Toys because it holds itself out as a green toy company. Plan Toys is committed to minimizing its impact on nature. Plan Toys are made from non-chemically treated, recycled rubberwood.

August 7, 2008: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”) has announced a voluntary recall of Fisher-Price Learning Pots and Pans Toys (Model No. G6685), which have stackable pots and pans, a lid and shape-sorting blocks.

According to CPSC, “Missing screws in the blue toy pan can cause the clear plastic cover to come loose and release small balls, presenting a choking hazard to young children.”

For more information about the recall or to learn whether your toy may be affected by the recall, check out the CPSC news release here.