Dear jengarn86 - The best thing to do for the environment is to repurpose as much as you possibly can. For example, you can repurpose broom and mop handles as curtain rods. As for your sponges, synthetic sponges can’t be recycled, but sea sponges and natural sponges made from vegetable cellulose are biodegradable and can be tossed into a compost heap.

Dear Liz,
The terms soap and detergent are used synonymously, but in actuality they are very different ingredients. In the most basic terms, soaps are made by mixing a fat (vegetable oil or animal tallow) with caustic soda (lye or potassium hydroxide), a process that has been used for hundreds of years. Detergents, also called surfactants, are created by various chemical reactions between natural or synthetic ingredients to create a new chemical.

Dear Zayapooh00995,
Conventional glass cleaners are typically comprised of water, water softener, cleaning agents, solvents, fragrances, dyes and preservatives.

There are actually several natural approaches to cleaning your grout. Non-chlorine bleaches such as our Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Bleach can be sprayed on grout or applied with a rag or sponge and either scrubbed with a toothbrush or left to dry.

Dear WinthropFarm: Seventh Generation has several products that are formulated specifically for use in the bathroom: Shower Cleaner, Tub & Tile Cleaner, and Toilet Bowl Cleaner. These products are designed to clean soap scum and other soils from bathroom surfaces and remove mildew stains from grout and tile.

The best way to keep your lake clean and its ecosystem healthy is to keep it pristine and not introduce any chemicals such as those contained in soap, shampoo, conditioner, or body wash into the water...

Non-chlorine bleaches are typically comprised of low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or percarbonate which are able to kill many common bacteria, fungi and viruses. Non-chlorine bleaches are capable of reducing the quantity of microorganisms on laundry, although the ability to kill microorganisms when diluted in a wash cycle decreases antimicrobial efficacy.[1-2] For the best results with chlorine free bleach, pre-treat any highly contaminated items.

Dear Esra,

As you know, water is one of our most precious natural resources. Within the last several years, bottled water has become an integral part of our society and carrying around bottled water is even viewed by some as a status symbol. You only asked about spring water and filtered water, but I’m going to add in tap water, because I think you’ll be very interested in some of the data that compare the three.

Dear A. Phillips,

The answer to your question depends on how you define “green,” and on the composition of the specific crayon or marker being considered. Most crayons are made from paraffin wax and pigment and have a paper label affixed with glue made of cornstarch and water.[1] Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct and paraffin wax crayons are not biodegradable. A more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional crayons are soy oil based crayons which are plant-derived and 100% biodegradable. [3-4]