The Best Green Cleaning Tools No Kitchen Should Be Without!

Having a toxin free home is important to your health, which is why you choose cleaning products that are organic and free of dangerous chemicals. But why stop there? The tools you use to clean your kitchen are just as important to keep an eye on as the ingredients your home is cleaned with.  At Bayes, we provide organic home cleaning supplies and we proudly support those that are committed with us, to caring for the health of our homes and lives. 

We wanted to share this great information from Mother Earth Living and hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 

From all of us to your home, here are the best green cleaning tools no kitchen should be without!

We do our best to avoid hazardous household cleaners, but what about the integrity of the tools we use to clean our homes? Unfortunately, most of them are cheap, disposable pieces of plastic manufactured with no regard for the health of our homes or our planet. Next time you find yourself in need of a cleaning tool, opt for one of these more health-conscious and eco-friendly choices.

No (Plastic) Scrubs 

If you haven’t done it already, make the switch to biodegradable sponges and scrubbers. Conventional neon-colored sponges are made of oil-based, landfill-clogging plastic. Cellulose sponges, on the other hand, are made of compostable plant-based materials, and are available unbleached and undyed. Twist Loofah Sponge and TwistScour Pads, $1 to $5.

Tip: Toss sponges in the dishwasher or a pot of boiling water to disinfect.

Helping Hands 

All-natural homemade cleaners are great alternatives to common chemical-laden varieties, but even natural ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide and essential oils can be irritating. Open windows to ventilate rooms while you clean, and wear gloves. If You Care Household Gloves are made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified latex, and the rubber harvesters receive a fair wage. If You CareHousehold Gloves, $3;

Tip: To make your own hand exfoliant, mix two tablespoons olive oil with kosher salt in the palms of your hands and rub.

Dust Buster 

Does your vacuum suck (in the pejorative sense)? If you have pets, large area rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting, consider investing in an energy-efficient vacuum with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters pick up tiny particulates—dust mites, pet dander and other allergy triggers—that other vacuums leave behind. We like bagless models (less waste) with lifetime washable filters. Dyson DC24 All Floors, $400.

Tip: Empty canisters or change bags outside—and do it often.

Paper Trail 

Paper manufacturing is the third-largest user of fossil fuels worldwide. Curb your consumption by replacing paper towels with an arsenal of reusable dish cloths. Stash dirty rags in a bin under the sink until it’s time to do the wash, but make sure they’ve had a chance to dry out first to avoid mold. Full Circle Tidy organic cotton dish cloths, three for $6.

Tip: Repurpose old clothes and towels as cleaning rags.

Clean Sweep 

Streamline your collection of brooms, mops and floor-cleaning gadgets into one space-saving, sustainable workhorse. The Cradle to Cradle-certified eclipse collection includes a pole made from 30 percent recycled aluminum with three interchangeable heads: broom (made from recycled soda bottles), mop (made from 30 percent soy) and microfiber duster (traps dust without chemicals). eclipse collection, $8 to $30.

Tip: For a natural floor cleaner that smells great, combine ¼ cup white vinegar with 10 drops lemon oil and 4 drops oregano oil in a bucket of water. (thanks Mother Earth News!)

Bayes loves to be part of your home's health! From our organic granite counter top cleaner to many other products, we hope you enjoy what we have made to make your lives healthier, cleaner and much better!

5 Easy Tips To More Sustainable Living for Every Family!

Looking for more ways to green up your life? Choosing a sustainable lifestyle is easier now more than ever.  Bayes was founded on the idea that every home deserves natural, organic solutions. So if you are ready for better in health and home, here are 5 easy tips to more sustainable living for every family!

Compost

Most people throw out old food and scraps from the table and never give it a second thought. But when you have a composting system in your backyard, you can turn those old food scraps into fertilizer or even a material that can help repair damaged parts of your lawn. You can also include lawn clippings and leaves in your composting system to create a comprehensive source of organic material. You can create a compost pile in your backyard, or you can invest in a more advanced composting system that will create the materials you need for your lawn and garden.

Conserve Water

In some parts of the world, there are water conservation laws that dictate how residents of those areas can use water. But everyone should be conscious of water conservation and preserve the water we have. Instead of allowing rainwater to flow into the ground, you can develop a rainwater collection system and use it to water your garden or your lawn. This saves you money by allowing you to water your landscaping without using your house spigot. You can save the dishwater from when you do the dishes and use that to water the lawn or clean up accessories around the home. Conserve water and you will save money and help your community.

Conserve Energy

There are many things you can do to conserve energy in your home. Always be sure to turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use. Invest in new doors and windows when the old ones have become drafty and unable to help regulate the temperature of your home. If your home appliances are 10 years old or older, then replace them with more energy-efficient models. You may also want to think about adding alternative energy sources such as solar panels and windmills. An extreme measure is purchasing an electric car and charging station. These alternative energy sources will reduce your reliance on electricity that is generated using fossil fuels, and it will also help to lower your monthly energy bills.

Recycle

Recycling in the home starts with finding out where you can take old newspapers and cardboard in your community to get it processed into new products. Many communities have recycling programs that make it easy for residents to put their old paper and cardboard to good use. If your community does not have an official paper recycling program, then check with a local church or civic group to see if they are running one. You can also recycle old plastic and glass food containers or reuse them by washing them out and using them as storage containers around the house. Before you throw anything out in your home, make sure that you cannot find another use for it and reduce the amount of garbage that goes into your local landfill.

Green Cleaning 

Sometimes being green at home is not about saving money. Sometimes it is about using supplies that are safe for the environment and safe for the family. For example, home cleaning supplies that use harsh chemicals can get into the water table around your home and contaminate your property. Those harsh cleaning supplies can also leave behind a residue that can get on the hands of your children and possibly cause disease. Instead of using those harsh cleaning chemicals, you should use more environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. There are many different kinds of cleaning solutions you can make from household items that have no dangerous chemicals at all. By learning to make our own safe cleaning solutions at home, you are teaching your children a skill that they can use when they grow up to save the environment and keep their children safe as well.

This is where Bayes comes in.  We know that you have a lot of options for better green living, and we want to make sure it's as simple as possible. This is why we developed our line of organic cleaning products. We want you and your home to be as healthy as possible. Stop by today and see what we have made for you!

Simple and Fast Ways to Have a Green Life and Home

Don't be intimidated by all the information on green living! You can incorporate these simple and fast ways to have a green life and home into your daily routine and rest assured knowing you are improving yours and the lives around you! 

Recycling

Recycling in the home starts with finding out where you can take old newspapers and cardboard in your community to get it processed into new products. Many communities have recycling programs that make it easy for residents to put their old paper and cardboard to good use. If your community does not have an official paper recycling program, then check with a local church or civic group to see if they are running one. You can also recycle old plastic and glass food containers or reuse them by washing them out and using them as storage containers around the house. Before you throw anything out in your home, make sure that you cannot find another use for it and reduce the amount of garbage that goes into your local landfill.

Composting

Most people throw out old food and scraps from the table and never give it a second thought. But when you have a composting system in your backyard, you can turn those old food scraps into fertilizer or even a material that can help repair damaged parts of your lawn. You can also include lawn clippings and leaves in your composting system to create a comprehensive source of organic material. You can create a compost pile in your backyard, or you can invest in a more advanced composting system that will create the materials you need for your lawn and garden.

Water Conservation

In some parts of the world, there are water conservation laws that dictate how residents of those areas can use water. But everyone should be conscious of water conservation and preserve the water we have. Instead of allowing rainwater to flow into the ground, you can develop a rainwater collection system and use it to water your garden or your lawn. This saves you money by allowing you to water your landscaping without using your house spigot. You can save the dishwater from when you do the dishes and use that to water the lawn or clean up accessories around the home. Conserve water and you will save money and help your community.

Energy Conservation

There are many things you can do to conserve energy in your home. Always be sure to turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use. Invest in new doors and windows when the old ones have become drafty and unable to help regulate the temperature of your home. If your home appliances are 10 years old or older, then replace them with more energy-efficient models. You may also want to think about adding alternative energy sources such as solar panels and windmills. An extreme measure is purchasing an electric car and charging station. These alternative energy sources will reduce your reliance on electricity that is generated using fossil fuels, and it will also help to lower your monthly energy bills.

Cleaning Supplies

Sometimes being green at home is not about saving money. Sometimes it is about using supplies that are safe for the environment and safe for the family. For example, home cleaning supplies that use harsh chemicals can get into the water table around your home and contaminate your property. Those harsh cleaning supplies can also leave behind a residue that can get on the hands of your children and possibly cause disease. Instead of using those harsh cleaning chemicals, you should use more environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. There are many different kinds of cleaning solutions you can make from household items that have no dangerous chemicals at all. By learning to make our own safe cleaning solutions at home, you are teaching your children a skill that they can use when they grow up to save the environment and keep their children safe as well.

This is where Bayes comes in.  We know that you have a lot of options for better green living, and we want to make sure it's as simple as possible. This is why we developed our line of organic cleaning products. We want you and your home to be as healthy as possible. Stop by today and see what we have made for you!