How to improve your indoor air quality, and depending on your location, indoor air can be just as polluted – if not more so – than outside air. The problem is the chemical nature of many building materials, to the point that “sick building syndrome” is a recognized disorder. Improving the air quality in your home is a good idea, even if you and your family do not have allergies or obvious symptoms of chemical exposure. Here are some tips for making sure the air in your home is clean.

1. Air Purifiers

Lately, air purifiers have been competing with open windows for air quality control. Continue reading “How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality” »

Originally posted 2010-05-04 06:09:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

PaperStone recycled countertop a great natural choice for your kitchen is a very smooth, dense countertop material that can be used in bathrooms or kitchens. It is non-toxic, and is made from all natural and recycled materials. It is a composite material made from paper or cardboard and water-based resin that is free from any toxic petroleum products. The paper product is thoroughly saturated with this resin, and the material is then pressed and heated to form a durable surface.

It is often made from used paper, making it an eco-friendly option. The name, PaperStone, is apt – not only is it made from paper, but the feel of the resulting surface is said to resemble stone, particularly the silky texture of soapstone. Continue reading “PaperStone Recycled Countertop A Great Natural Choice for Your Kitchen” »

Originally posted 2010-04-10 21:18:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Indoor house plants houseplant care tips to keep healthy naturally, and most houseplants have completely different needs than outdoor ones. Houseplants are kept in pots for one thing, and they receive their light through windows. Here are some tips on keeping them healthy, and some common problems and natural solutions.

1. Fertilize your houseplants by spreading some compost over the top of the soil. As you water, the compost will work its way down into the soil. Continue reading “Indoor House Plants Houseplant Care Tips to Keep Healthy Naturally” »

PVC vinyl flooring and your health, and typically you probably don’t think much about your floors and what they are made of. Your goal may simply be to keep your floor clean – a clean floor is a healthy one, right? Actually, it all depends, your floor may be very clean but still have a negative effect on your family’s health. Here are some of the typical reasons why.

Flooring Material

If you have flooring that is not hardwood, tile or carpet, you probably refer to it as “linoleum.” However, unless your house pre-dates the 1950s and has the original flooring, it’s more than likely that you have vinyl flooring. Continue reading “PVC Vinyl Flooring and Your Health” »

House plants and clean air which house plants give you cleaner air. In the late 1980s, NASA researched indoor plants to see if they would cleanse the air in tightly-sealed space stations. The good news is, you can benefit from their discoveries in your home.

It is true that houseplants improve indoor air quality. They absorb some of the toxic chemicals that out-gas from building materials. Some plant varieties are better at this than others. To derive all the cleansing benefits from your houseplants, you will need at least one plant for every 100 square feet of living space.

Here are some of the plants that are the most effective at cleaning indoor air.

1. English ivy (Hedera helix) is familiar to many as a landscape plant. It also does well indoors. It looks especially nice in hanging arrangements. Continue reading “House Plants and Clean Air Which House Plants Give You Cleaner Air” »

Easy and eco-friendly ways to keep your house cool in the summer, so when the weather gets warmer, do you automatically change your thermostat from heat to air conditioning? Before you make the switch, consider some easy ways you can keep your house cool this summer. You’ll save money and energy and still be comfortable.

1. Fans

Yes, electric fans do use electricity, but they use far less than central or wall unit air conditioning. There are several different types of fans you can employ to keep your house cool: Continue reading “Easy and Eco Friendly Ways to Keep Your House Cool in the Summer” »

Preparing your baby’s nursery can be a wonderful time of planning and dreaming. Many times, that means choosing a paint color or wallpaper (or a combination of both), furnishings, and flooring.

Today, many people are aware that the fumes from paint, wallpaper and carpet can be toxic. Babies, with their tiny, developing systems, are especially vulnerable to toxins in the air and on surfaces they touch with their delicate skin. In order to avoid these poisonous substances, you may choose to decorate baby’s nursery with eco-friendly items.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you seek to create a non-toxic environment for your little one. Continue reading “How to Choose Eco Friendly and Toxin Free Paint or Wallpaper for Your Nursery” »

How to Rid Dust Mites and Keep Dust Bites Away, while dust mites are microscopic creatures that live in bedding, carpets, drapes, furniture, and anywhere dust accumulates. They feed off of dead animal and human skin cells, which are shed daily without our even knowing it. Dust mites and skin cells are too small to see, and it’s a good thing – dust mites are ugly critters!

Because of their tiny size, getting rid of them entirely is unrealistic. But keeping their numbers and your allergic reactions down is certainly feasible. Here are some tips.

1. Put Teddy in the Freezer

Dust mites die at freezing temperatures. A case freezer is ideal for this – put pillows and children’s stuffed animals in plastic bags and put them in the freezer for 24 hours. This will kill the dust mites on those items. Continue reading “How to Rid Dust Mites and Keep Dust Bites Away” »

The art of feng shui and eco-friendly decorating are very compatible. Feng shui is intended to open up the flow of energy in your home, bringing a sense of peace, harmony, and renewed energy to the inhabitants. Eco-friendly decorating ties in with this concept, since eco-friendly interior design is intended to promote a healthy, clean indoor environment (while protecting the earth as well). Both concepts are based in nature.

The bedroom is often the room where many people want to apply the principles of green living and feng shui. Here are some ideas for using feng shui and eco-friendly techniques in decorating your bedroom. Continue reading “How to Feng Shui Your Bedroom the Eco Way” »

These days, the creative, individualized look is in. Do-it-yourself projects that are eco-friendly are hip and modern. So if you’ve wanted to cover your walls with something a little different, now’s the time!

There are a lot of interesting wall covering materials available nowadays. And you don’t have to use a “proper” wall covering purchased from a store; you can use materials you have on hand. Let’s take a look at some of these possibilities and their costs and durability. Continue reading “Alternative Wall Coverings” »