All About Water

• Lemon polish: mix ten drops of pure lemon oil (check the oil’s ingredients carefully to verify that it does not contain petroleum products) with two tablespoons of lemon juice and a small quantity of olive oil.
• Cornstarch polish: sprinkle cornstarch on a rag and rub it into the furniture until it gleams.
• Linseed oil polish: combine 1/8 cup of food-grade linseed oil, 1/8 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup lemon juice to create a great natural furniture polish with a pleasant smell.

We can help our planet by living green in many ways, large and small. One decision in the grocery store or car dealership can make a big difference for the environment and your health. Using eco-friendly cleaning products in the kitchen can minimize pollution and enhance the healthiness of your home environment. All cleaning products are not created equal. Some are downright dangerous, while others clean just as well but are safe and environmentally friendly.

The chemicals used in cleaning products and their packaging, can harm the environment and our water supply. Cleaning products contain thousands of untested chemicals, but are flushed down drains into our waterways. These chemicals may leak into streams and rivers, where they may take a long time to decompose into harmless substances, or may never break down at all. Algae blooms can kill life in waterways. “Nutrient overloads” in waterways, caused by cleaning chemicals, have ruined popular fishing areas and shellfish beds.

Some of the chemicals in cleaning products enter the food chain and can return to us in toxic form to cause cancer or even birth defects. Some harmful chemicals commonly found in cleaning products include phosphates, alkalies, bleach, ammonia, acids, alkylphenol ethoxylates, phosphorus, nitrogen and VOCs. Phosphates pollute ocean, river and stream ecosystems with algae blooms and even dead zones.

When we drink water or eat foods that have been contaminated by the dangerous chemicals in cleaning products, we may face health consequences. Over one hundred of the chemicals found in cleaning products have been linked to health problems like allergies, skin rashes, birth defects, cancer, headaches, depression, joint pain, chronic fatigue, chest pains, asthma and dizziness. We can acquire these health problems by breathing air tainted by our cleaning products. Dish washing detergent accounts for the largest percentage of accidental poisonings of children in the home. Housewives have a 50% greater chance of getting cancer than working women; scientists suspect that housewives’ daily cleaning agent usage is to blame. Choosing eco-friendly cleaning products improves your health as well as environmental health.

Hundreds of green, eco-friendly cleaning products are available for our kitchens. We need only find and choose them. Purchase eco-friendly cleaning products online or at your local retailers. Read labels and ask questions to find the best products. Ask for non-toxic cleaners: you should never pour anything but natural substances down the drain. We can also make our own eco-friendly cleaning solutions out of common household substances like salt, vinegar, lemon juice, water and baking soda.

Toxic cleaner usage in bathrooms around the country has harmed our environment for decades. Respiratory irritants in conventional bathroom cleaners increase air pollution. Toxic chemicals in cleaners, personal hygiene products and pharmaceuticals are washed down the drains of American homes and contaminate our drinking water. These cleaners impact not only those who obtain their drinking water from a government-regulated source, but also the 15% of our population who use unregulated, private wells. The environment would greatly benefit from green cleaning supplies.

The EPA has created a list of contaminates that includes every known substance found in drinking water and how much of these substances we can safely consume. Many of these contaminants enter the water system via improper disposal, but others enter through unsafe cleaning products. Using green cleaning supplies is the best way to ensure safe, clean drinking water. Phosphorus and nitrogen are two of the top contaminates found in drinking water. According to the American Water Works Association, higher levels of these substances in water can be attributed partly to toxic bathroom cleaners. Green cleaning supplies avoid using these chemicals in order to reduce the impact of household chemicals on the environment.

Pollutants found in drinking water can cause a multitude of diseases, including nervous disorders and some types of cancer. Airborne particles released by traditional cleaning products cause or aggravate respiratory diseases like asthma.

Purchase green cleaning supplies from health markets or make green cleaning supplies at home using common household ingredients. These green cleaning supplies effectively disinfect bathrooms. Commercial green cleaning supplies offer non-toxic substances in recyclable packaging, further reducing their environmental impact. There are endless recipes for homemade green cleaning supplies, and though the results may vary from batch to batch, all are generally effective.

Many companies are “green-washing” their products to seem more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Always read the ingredient and warning labels found on any products that are sold as green cleaning supplies. Many so-called green cleaning supplies merely change the proper names of toxic chemicals to less offensive-sounding titles. Greenpeace has investigated many of these faux-environmentalist companies’ and found that they touted their products with false information to make their products seem eco-friendly.

A Universal Practice

Keeping a lawn green throughout the summer can be a challenge. Nobody wants dull, brown grass, but running a sprinkler wastes valuable resources and runs up the water bill. Fortunately, water saving sprinklers are now available on the market to help you save water and money.

Types of Sprinklers

There are three basic types of sprinkler systems, spray, rotor and drip.

Spray sprinkler systems are usually used in small areas, like turf or small flower gardens. Spray heads come in a variety of designs for different spray patterns. Spray heads have a high application rate, which means that they can pump out a large amount of water in a fairly short time, averaging 1.5-1.6 inches per hour.

Rotor sprinklers can be either steam- or impact-driven. They are generally used to cover larger areas and apply water in a more uniform manner than spray sprinklers. A rotor spray’s application rate is lower, generally about 0.6-0.8 inches per hour.

Drip systems are quickly gaining popularity. These are often used in closely spaced flower beds or other non-turf settings. A drip system is essentially a long hose or tube that is punctured to allow water to slowly seep out. Drip irrigation systems are good water saving sprinklers. They can be applied to only areas that actually need water, and they don’t waste water spraying areas that don’t need to be sprayed. Drip systems’ application rates are highly adjustable; output can vary from 0.5-0.24 gallons per hour.

Using Water Saving Sprinklers Effectively

Regardless of which type of sprinkler system you choose, if you use your system ineffectively, you will waste water. Follow these tips for efficient water application:

• Frequent light sprinklings do more harm than good. Light sprinklings do not water the soil deeply enough to reach roots.
• Wet soil thoroughly about once a week, allowing water to penetrate about five to six inches down so that it can reach plants’ roots. The soil will retain the water, allowing for less frequent waterings.
• Watering frequently and heavily will drown plants. Soggy soil leads to oxygen deficiency.
• Before reapplying, check the soil to ensure that plants have used most of the moisture in the ground.

Making Sprinkler Systems More Efficient

Regular sprinklers can be converted into water saving sprinklers. Put timers on sprinklers to ensure that they won’t run too long. Replace old sprinkler heads and nozzles with water saving models. Convert all or part of your system into a drip system. Put rain sensors on sprinklers to avoid watering your garden when nature is already providing her own sprinkler system. Using water saving sprinklers doesn’t have to be expensive. Most of the aforementioned equipment is already available at your local lawn and garden store and is reasonably priced.

There are also many lawn alternatives and rainwater systems that can be used to help you save even more money and most importantly water.

There are many smart ways to avoid wasting water in the yard. Many of these allow you to creatively choose the materials and plants that your yard will showcase.To minimize the use of water in the yard, one should consider native and alternative plants, the use of non-living materials for ground cover, synthetic grasses, and watering methods, including rainwater systems; all these things will enhance water conservation and contribute to a more interesting yard design. 

Synthetic Grass Alternatives

The common over-planting of grass contributes to our water bills and depletes our local reservoirs and aquifers. Fortunately, through technology we have developed some incredibly life-like synthetic grass products. Gone are the days when one could immediately spot synthetic grass in a front yard. Modern synthetic grass comes in a variety of authentic colors and non-fading dyes. Its realistic grass structure will beautify any size yard. Synthetic grass can be used in patches or beside pathways. These “grasses” allow the rain to filter through, minimizing standing water in the yard after a rain. Synthetic grasses also eliminate the need for mowing.

Wood and Stone Mulches

Wood and stone mulches come in a variety of earthy colors and can be touched up with fade-resistant, spray-on dyes that will keep them looking fresh, delaying replacement. Mulches can be used around plantings or as a ground pattern to enhance other structures, such as walkways or patios. They can also be used to contrast other ground coverings. Mulch reduces evaporation, meaning that your yard and soil will be able to retain water more easily.

Drought-Tolerant Grass

Many grasses are drought-tolerant, and new hybrid varieties of grass offer more options in areas in which it is geographically difficult to grow grass due to heat, humidity, and low precipitation. These hybrid grasses stay healthy and green in areas where sufficiently getting water in the yard has been problematic.

Plant Trees to Increase Shady Areas

Water in the yard evaporates more quickly in direct sunlight, due to heat. Trees, even small ones, can reduce moisture loss by shielding the plants and grass. Tree roots generally go deeper than those of other plants, so water in the yard is reserved for plant roots that are closer to the surface. This reduces the amount of water in the yard that you must expend.

Planting Native Species

Plants that have acclimated themselves to specific areas generally require no more water than that obtained through normal rainfall in their native area. This allows water in the yard to be redirected to other areas that might require more attention. If an entire yard is designed according to this kind of xeriscaping, little or no watering will be required to keep it healthy.

Combining various methods of conserving water in the yard not only helps preserve water, but reduces water bills, waste, and insect infestation.