The bathroom is the room where we begin and end each day, with a variety of cleaning routines designed to help keep us healthy. Odd then, that the room in which we clean our teeth, our skin and the rest of our bodies is often filled with toxic chemicals and even then, not very clean itself.
Make your bathroom a greener place by following these simple tips that will help clear the air, enable low-flow and keep the toxins out of your way!
1. Low-Flow
There are many water-saving opportunities in the bathroom. By installing a low-flow showerhead, a low-flow faucet aerator, and a dual-flush toilet, you'll save thousands of gallons of water each year!
2. Recycled Toilet Paper
When it comes to using the toilets themselves, be sure you're reaching for toilet paper created from recycled sources and avoid using products made from virgin boreal forest trees. When it comes time to flush, close the lid before hitting the button to prevent the spread of bacteria around your bathroom.
3. Reusable Cleaning Products
Toilet paper is about the only "disposable" product allowed in your green bathroom, so when it comes time to clean up, avoid the temptation to reach for disposable products. That means paper towels and other disposable wipes should be replaced by reusable rags or microfiber towels for mirrors, sinks, and the like.
4. Green Cleaners
Bathrooms are notoriously small and often poorly ventilated, so, of all the rooms in the house, this is the one that should be cleaned with green, non-toxic cleaners. Common household ingredients, like baking soda and vinegar, and a little elbow grease will do the job for most everything in the bathroom.
5. Shower Yourself with a Safe Curtain
If your shower has a curtain, be sure to avoid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. The production of PVC often results in creating dioxins, a group of highly toxic compounds and once in your home, PVC releases chemical gases and odors. Go for a greener solution, like hemp, which is naturally resistant to mold, as long as you keep your bathroom well-ventilated.
6. Maintain Your New Green Ways
Once you go green, you'll want to keep it that way, so remember to do regular light maintenance—unclogging drains, fixing leaky faucets, etc.—with green in mind.
For additional information on improving the environment, environmental baby products, green baby gifts, washable cloth baby wipes and natural baby care, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Washing dishes uses water, energy, chemicals, as well as your valuable time, so an efficient approach can save a lot of each. Since dishwashing machines are the norm for the majority of people, it’s important to know how to use one more efficiently. Here are six simple tips for making your dishwasher environmentally friendly!
1. Full load
Before running the dishwasher, wait until you have a full load (same rule of thumb for washing clothes). This will help make the most of the energy, water, and detergent the machine uses.
2. Choose your washer wisely
Choose a dishwasher that is rated for energy and water efficiency. In the US, you can start by looking for Energy Star rated appliances, which use 25% less energy than the mandated minimum.
3. Dishwashing liquids and detergents
Go for dishwashing liquid and powder that is natural, biodegradable, and free of petroleum and phosphates. Also look for products sold in bulk to save on packaging. Powdered detergents are lighter and so require less energy to ship. If you are running into spotting problems using phosphate-free detergents, try using a natural residue eliminator.
4. Skip the pre-rinse
Most dishwashers today are powerful enough to get the all the gunk off, so a lot of pre-rinsing by hand is often just a waste of water and time.
5. Turn down the heat
Most modern dishwashers have booster heaters to heat the water that comes from your home’s water tank. Turning the water tank’s thermostat down to 120 degrees results in additional energy savings without compromising on cleanliness.
6. Air dry
Instead of letting your washer use electric heat or a fan to dry the dishes, just open the door at the end of the washing cycle and let them air dry. Leave the dishes to dry overnight and they’ll be ready for you when you wake up.
For additional information on improving the environment, environmental baby products, green baby gifts, washable cloth baby wipes and natural baby care, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Many are divided on the subject of environmental impact of disposables vs. cloth but knowing that your baby will use approximately 6,000 diapers before toilet training, and that disposable diapers take 200-500 years to decompose, is certainly a key issue to ponder.
Washing cloth diapers takes water, energy, and chemicals (not to mention time), but you might want to consider the benefits of a laundering service. Some studies have found that home-washing cloth diapers has only 53 percent of the ecological footprint of disposables, and if you use a diaper laundering service that impact is halved again.
Cloth Diapers
When choosing a cloth diaper brand, go for fitted cloth diapers with Velcro or snap closures for convenience that are made from an eco-friendly material such as hemp, bamboo, or organic cotton. Use an organic wool cover that is both warm and breathable, minimizing diaper rash and cold bottoms at night. Use either removable or flushable liners and when washing, either use a laundering service or wash at home at lower temperatures.
Biodegradable Diapers
These diapers are made with plant-based plastics (also known as bioplastics), are non-petroleum based and are compostable. While these have been found not to break down under landfill conditions, there are other options to compost them such as using a composting toilet, an earthworm system, or a highly active and properly conditioned composting area.
For additional information on improving the environment, environmental baby products, green baby gifts and natural baby care, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
I wear alot of hats around here. PR is one of them these days. The challenge is being in the right place, at the right time, with the right stuff, and the right spin that the writer/editor/publisher/blogger needs for what they're working on that particular day. The stars REALLY have to be in almost perfect alignment for that to happen. But when it does...OH BABY, does it make it all worth while!Christine Esposito, a writer for Happi.com, was looking for interesting green baby products to write about. I happened to notice her post on HARO (HARO stands for Help A Reporter Out and is a great site for matching up the people who need content and those of us who want to get our content out there, even if it's just by association to an unrelated topic) I responded to her post, we went back and forth a few times and today, Bottoms Up Baby Wipes were the headline "Featured Content" online exclusive on Happi.com!
Says Christine in her opening paragraph, "Lesley Mattos’ children are all grown up, but she hasn’t stopped thinking about diaper changing—and the havoc it can wreak on the environment. This San Francisco mom is doing her part to green diaper duty with the Bottoms Up Baby Wipes Kit, which features reusable baby wipes and relies of essential oils rather than chemicals."
Happi.com is the internet compliment to the 37 year old monthly print publication which covers soaps, detergents, cosmetics & toiletries, waxes and polishes, insecticides, aerosols and related chemical specialties, for people involved in the personal care, household, industrial and institutional fields. Hopefully our online placement will raise awareness about our product and allow alot more moms to green up in the baby wipe department! Thank you Christine!
Follow these simple tips to give your newborn a head start by creating a safe, healthy and non-toxic haven, free from hazards that could interfere with his or her mental and physical development.
Paint
While lead is no longer a concern in conventional paint, you should be concerned about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - toxic fumes that release gas from common household items such as paint or a new vinyl shower curtain. Use low (or no) VOC paints and make sure that your baby’s nursery is well ventilated.
Bedding
Buy organic cotton or natural wool mattresses instead of mattresses that are treated with chemical fire retardants (such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers) that accumulate in our bodies and have been shown to affect the nervous system. Use Bamboo or organic cotton sheets and blankets. They are environmentally sound and won't irritate your baby's sensitive skin.
Carpeting
Carpets can harbor dust mites and allergens, and new synthetic carpets can also release VOCs. Keep your baby's room carpet-free, and add an area rug for color and warmth. Carpet tiles are an eco-friendly option, since they can be used as an area rug and the tiles can be individually cleaned when necessary. If you insist on wall-to-wall carpet, go with one made of natural fibers such as wool, cotton, hemp or jute.
Toys
Make sure that your baby’s toys are made from materials that are nontoxic. Don't buy toys or teething rings made from PVC, which contain phthalates, an ingredient in plastic that can affect reproductive and developmental health.
Soft organic cotton toys are a nontoxic alternative. If you buy wooden toys, look for wood that comes from FSC-certified forests, and paint and finishes that are nontoxic (or toys that are unpainted).
For additional information on improving the environment, environmental baby products, green baby gifts and natural baby care, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
We are absolutlely delighted to annouce our newest distribution partners - The Green Diaper Store and Angel Bunz - both owned and operated by Lisa Carey. Lisa tried Bottoms Up eco friendly washable cotton baby wipes and was so impressed that she decided to cary them on her natural baby care sites!
When Lisa learned about all the chemicals and toxins used in paper diapers and other baby products, Lisa was motivated to reduce her carbon footprint and provide a more environmentally friendly approach to raising her two children, Michael (6) and William (3), and live a greener lifestyle. From choosing cloth diapers and napkins to safer cleaning and bath and beauty products to banishing plastic bags, Lisa learned that leading a greener lifestyle requires a holistic approach.
The Green Diaper Store and Angel Bunz both offer a large selection of cost effective, environmentally friendly cloth diapers and other family friendly green product alternatives to alot of the big box products. In addition to actual products, Lisa also offers regular cloth diaper workshops and consults with parents and educators about the benefits of using cloth and chosing a system that best fits into any lifestyle and budget.
Lisa's mission is simple: To change the world one bottom at a time! We're delighted to help her acheive her mission!
We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership! Thanks Lisa!
Last Thursday, the Bottoms Up All-In-One Baby Wipes Kit was featured on Better, a nationally syndicated lifestyle TV show that aims to make life "better" by focusing on topics that affect your family and relationships.
On Thursday’s “Baby Boom Must Haves” segment, host Audra Lowe welcomed lifestyle expert and mother-to-be Mina-Jacqueline Au to the show to recommend products to new moms who are looking for ways to make their lives easier when it comes to caring for their babies and themselves. One of the items featured during the show was our reusable baby wipes kit!
Mina-Jacqueline Au had nothing but great things to say about our kit (see for yourself here), often referring to it as being:
- Eco-friendly
- Money saving
- Easy, great and brilliant
We’re grateful for the wonderful opportunity of being featured on the show and look forward to continuing to provide chemical free baby products that are good for your baby, the environment and your wallet!
For additional information on our cloth baby wipes kit, please visit: http://www.bottoms-up-baby.com/baby-wipes-kit.html
Mom's are naturally concerned about what comes in contact with their babies, so here's the skinny on the essential oil blends that our cloth baby wipes soak in:
Are the essential oils included in your kit safe for my baby?
Both lavender and chamomile are well known for their calming effect and their skin care benefits and offer the added benefit of a wonderful fragrance. One of our moms actually puts a dab of the lavender and chamomile blends on her wrists every day in addition to the few drops she soaks her clean washable baby wipes in!
Are the essential oils a problem for sensitive skin?
We recommend only a few drops of the essential oils in the clean and dirty tubs. The water dilutes the oils resulting in a extremely mild solution for natural baby care with none of the unnatural or potentially irritating chemicals that are found in some disposable baby wipes.
For answers to other frequently asked questions and environmental baby products, visit our website at http://www.bottoms-up-baby.com
In less than two weeks, children and child-like adults will dress up in costumes and wander the streets trick-or-treating for candy. This Halloween, encourage your family and friends to “go green” when celebrating this year. Here are simple tips that anyone can follow!
DECORATIONS
Think green before you break out the orange and black decorations. Natural items like pumpkins, gourds and corn husks are inexpensive, festive and can be tossed in the compost pile after the holiday to minimize waste. Reusable decorations that can be used from year to year also help save money and reduce waste over the long run.
COSTUMES
Start scouring your home or your local thrift store to find great costume ideas and supplies. Think about what you can put together from the items you already have around the house (wrap recycled cardboard in aluminum foil to make wands, swords or tiaras; or make a cape for your princess or wizard out of an old pillowcase) instead of buying new.
TREATS
Stock your treat bowl with organic, natural treats instead of the standard commercial fare to reduce kids' exposure to chemicals and preservatives. There are many eco-friendly candies to choose from—from organic chocolate to organic lollipops—that are available online and from local organic grocery stores. These organic candies will satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your health, and they are produced using methods that don’t damage the environment.
COLLECTING TREATS
Instead of using a plastic bucket or pail, give your kids a reusable grocery bag or pillowcase for collecting candy. When your kids are done collecting treats, store it away for use next year. If you let your kids sample candy while trick-or-treating, keep reusable baby wipes handy to clean their hands.
WALK OR CARPOOL
Rather than drive to other neighborhoods to take your kids trick-or-treating, stick close to home this Halloween and walk from house to house to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution. If you are attending a Halloween party, use public transportation or ride your bicycle. If traveling by car is really the only way to enjoy Halloween with your family or friends, try carpooling.
For additional green tips, ideas for green baby gifts, natural baby care and improving the environment, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Preserve our natural resources by following these tips which save water, electricity and paper.
Open windows: If the temperature is warm outside, regulate your inside temperature by opening up windows. Fresh air will also rejuvenate you and your entire household.
Water your garden with your leftovers: If you have leftover water from cooking, use it to water your plants outside instead of throwing it down the drain.
Check for leaks: Check your windows for insulation leaks and your faucets for water leaks which can waste electricity and water.
Use biodegradable cups and utensils: For parties and snack time, keep a stash of biodegradable plates and utensils handy. For smaller children, consider using chemical free baby products such as non toxic baby bottles to store beverages in.
Reusable napkins: Consider setting out reusable napkins that you can wash whenever you have a snack or meal. This will drastically cut down the costs of having to constantly buy one-time use paper napkins.
Reusable baby wipes: If you have small children, consider using eco friendly baby wipes, cotton baby wipes or cloth baby wipes over disposable. Doing so will benefit your wallet, your baby and the environment by reducing excess waste in our landfills.
Use the right light bulbs: Use "green" light bulbs such as compact fluorescent and Energy Star bulbs.
Use both sides of the paper: Encourage your children to use both sides of the paper when doing their homework assignments.
For additional green tips, baby safe products, natural baby care and other environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
The innovative, unique Bottoms Up Baby Wipes All-In-One Kit has many benefits for your baby, the environment, and your wallet! We’ve listed a few below:
1. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are better for our planet
Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are the eco-friendly, green way to clean your baby's bottom. Our cloth baby wipes are 100% cotton and chemical-free, and because they are re-usable there is no excess garbage being sent to landfills.
2. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are better for your baby
Bottoms Up Baby Wipes offers chemical free baby products that are free of the chemicals commonly found in disposable baby wipes (like Benzoic acid, butylene glycol, parabens, phenoxyethanol, tartaric acid, propylene glycol). Our eco friendly baby wipes only use
natural essential oils (Lavender & Chamomile blend and Tea Tree & Tea Tree Lemon) and water.
3. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes will save you money
Compared to buying disposable baby wipes, the Bottoms Up Baby Wipes All-In-One Kit can save you over $400 in the first two years of your baby's life.
4. Bottoms Up Baby Wipes are convenient
The Bottoms Up Baby Wipes All-In-One Kit was designed by a mom for moms to make a "system" that fits seamlessly into your already busy schedule. Just add the 100% cotton wipes to your laundry and take buying baby wipes off your grocery list!
For additional tips on using our safe baby wipes and other environmental safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
If your family is like many in the United States, unloading the week’s groceries includes hauling a case or two of bottled water into your home. On your way to a baseball game or activity, it’s easy to grab a cold one right out of the fridge, right?
Well, all those plastic bottles use a lot of fossil fuels and pollute the environment. In fact, Americans buy more bottled water than any other nation in the world, adding 29 billion water bottles a year to the problem. In order to make all these bottles, manufacturers use 17 million barrels of crude oil. That’s enough oil to keep a million cars going for twelve months.
Simple Solution:
An easy way to reduce bottled water consumption is to drink water straight from the kitchen faucet. Some people drink bottled water because they think it is better for them than water out of the tap, but that’s not true. In the United States, local governments make sure water from the faucet is safe. There is also growing concern that chemicals in the bottles themselves may leach into the water.
For additional green tips and information on green baby gifts, baby safe products, reusable baby wipes and environmental baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
Many of us are surprised to learn that different fabrics and distribution channels have a significant affect on the health of our environment. Here are three easy steps you can take to help green your closet when you choose clothes for yourself and your family.
Step 1 - Buy local. We know this makes sense with the food we eat – but clothes? Sure, think about it. Just like with our food, the less distance your clothes travel to get to you, the less they contribute to green house gases. So, they may not come from your local farmer’s market – but look at the labels and ask the store owner where they do come from.
Step 2 – Buy Natural. Avoid clothing made of polyester fibers because it will contain the same toxic chemical compounds as plastic water bottles (polyethylene terephthalate). Polyester is made from nonrenewable crude oil that often creates pollution in both its mining and manufacturing. Instead, buy natural fibers - it will keep the chemicals away from you and out of our environment.
Step 3 – Buy Used. Buying used clothing not only helps to green your closet, but is also a great way of saving money and contributing to local organizations. Most second-hand stores donate portions of their earnings to support local charities.
For additional green tips, ideas for cotton baby wipes, natural baby care and chemical free baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
From the moment we awake to the time we go to bed, we can reduce stress on the environment by doing many of our daily tasks a little differently.
A Clean Start: What better way to begin the day than by getting clean while being Green? Install a low-flow showerhead, and perhaps even shorten the amount of time you spend bathing. When running water while waiting for it to warm up, catch that water in a bucket and use it to water plants. Remember to turn off water in the sink when brushing your teeth or shaving.
Green is the New Black: When you reach into your closet or drawer, opt for organic cotton clothing. It's eco-friendly, grown and processed without the use of toxic chemicals and feels wonderfully soft next to your skin!
Before you Leave: Turn off the lights and unplug any chargers for your cell phones and computers that are not in use. Surprisingly, they still use about 5 watts per hour when they aren’t recharging a battery.
Your Commute: Take public transportation to work or join a car pool. Organizations such as eRideShare offer online ride-matching services for commuters looking for a lift or wanting to form a car pool. If you’re the one driving, keep those tires properly inflated. Your automobile loses about 1% of fuel efficiency for every 3 pounds of pressure less than what is recommended.
For additional green tips, ideas for green baby gifts, natural baby care and environmentally safe baby products, please visit: http://blog.bottoms-up-baby.com/blog/eco-friendly-baby-products
We are SO DARN HAPPY to be open for business that we are absolutely, positively giddy to be able to offer our readers a 20% (that's right, 20%) DISCOUNT on our very own Bottoms Up reusable baby wipes which are available EXCLUSIVELY at www.bottoms-up-baby.com!
The kits are due to be delivered in mid-September but you'll be saving $11.99 by ordering now and being an Early Bird!
Check 'em out right this very minute and tell your friends!
It's been almost exactly nine months since the decision to bring another company into the world was made. And we are darn proud of our brand spankin' new venture!The name for the company came easily, as did the (if I do say so myself) adorable logo! We're trying to get approval to put the logo on the door of our offices on the first floor of an otherwise residential condominium building, but the HOA is for some reason unsure about the cute "m" in "bottoms". Really? In San Francisco this is an issue?
Two of the first three products we're offering are making their North American debut - our very own Bottoms Up chemical free reuseable baby wipes and Count On It food storage labels which are all the rage in the UK. The third product is a line of non toxic baby bottles. And we'll be adding more, so stay tuned!
I'd personally like to welcome you to the Bottoms Up community and invite your comments on our site, our blog and our products. Oh, and if you want to buy something while you're in the neighborhood, please do!
