Here’s what we had going on this week:

CONTESTS! Lots o’ contests – in fact a dozen – like a nice box of donuts.

• A smashingly great Earth Day project for kids
• PVC-free Shower Curtain Liner
• How to reduce your carbon footprint – bunny style
• A story about my insane child – Sometimes Recycling is an Emergency!

Two product reviews – which reminds me I have another to do…

1. Greening Your Pet: Feline Pine Cat Litter Review
2. Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Gel

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Jennifer & Peggy are totally green obsessed – no joke

Except for that we didn’t care that it was World Health Day – go figure. Actually we did care we were just busy.

Who knew people liked to talk about dryer sheets so much? We’re now think of changing the name of this blog to “dryer sheet hugging family” – what do you think?

Peggy did an entire series on green dry cleaning:

• Dangers of Traditional Dry Cleaning and Safe Alternatives
• Dry Cleaning Alternatives
• “Green” Cleaners to Be Leery Of

While I did a super long, but worth the read post on Homemade Beauty Products – Safety 101

The sweetest little Leatherback Turtle – who believe me, I might hug.

Homemade Healthy Hair Care – Hair Masques

Plantable paper

Real life dramatic photos of wildlife! Ok, not so dramatic but super cute – which is what you get when Peggy takes her camera out.

Whew, don’t forget to subscribe by RSS or sign up in the sidebar to have this blog emailed to you – although we do like it when you visit directly and leave us nice comments. Then we don’t just talk to each other all the day long

Everyone have a great week and don’t forget to let us know what your plans for Earth Day are.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

What’s wrong with traditional dry cleaning?

Traditional dry cleaning uses the solvent perchloroethylene (perc), classified by the EPA as toxic. And 85% of cleaners still use it.

Perc is a chlorinated hydrocarbon that can contaminate soil and groundwater, and it’s been shown to cause cancer in lab rats. Since perc is supposed to be removed from clothes during the cleaning process, workers at dry cleaners where perc is used face greater health risks than customers. However, if clothes smell like solvent, they should be reprocessed. Tricky thing is that you can’t always smell perc. Plus, if perc is polluting the earth, then everyone is affected, not just dry cleaning customers.

Environmentally friendly dry cleaning options:

•Wet cleaning (water solvent)

•Co2 (liquid carbon dioxide solvent, same as used to decaffeinate coffee) Process does not produce any new Co2.

Find cleaners using these methods. Many of these greener cleaners are located in California. If unavailable for you, ask for these methods in your area. Consumers are in control, so exercise your power.

Please check back later today for a post about “green” cleaners to watch out for.

Image via flickr.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family