Maintain Your Car The Eco-friendly Way

Nowadays, owning a car is very expensive. Getting the most out of your car means keeping it at maximum working efficiency will enable you to extend the life of your car while saving money and the environment by simply maintaining your car the eco-friendly way:

1. Regular care and maintenance of your car is important, for instance, by keeping the tire pressure is at the optimum level you actually use 15% less gas and you also increase the life of your tires by 15%.

2. Change your oil every 3,000 to 4,500 miles if you make short runs under 6 miles at a time, if you frequent city traffic with many stops and starts, if your car tows heavy load regularly, or if you drive in salty, sandy or dusty conditions.

If your oil isn’t changed often enough this can result in advanced engine wear and tear with the loss of fuel economy and overall performance. Doing this on a regular basis will not only extend the life of your engine but keep your car in optimum working condition while helping it burn less fuel.

3. Replace windscreen wipers when the rubber in them has worn out, if you don’t, not only will they be ineffective, but they may also scratch the windscreen causing you to replace them earlier and pay more money in the long term.

4. Use biodegradable vegetable oil based soaps to wash your car is a good option as they readily breakdown if any runoff escapes down storm water drains. Whenever you choose to use car shampoos always wash your car on your lawn as these types of shampoos usually contain phosphates similar to those found in fertilizers and will be good for your lawn.

Many individuals are not aware that how they clean their car can be almost as important to the environment as how you maintain it. It takes only 1 quart of oil in our waterways to contaminate 1 million quarts of water so it pays to know what we are putting into our storm water drains.

Hosing down your car on your driveway is a bad idea and should be avoided as it waste water but it also introduces dirt, grease, detergents, oil and gas residue into the storm water drains, eventually ending up in our river systems which gradually make their way into our oceans, the very oceans that we depend upon for our survival.

As an alternative, wash your car on a grassy area, like your lawn as mentioned above to minimize the amount of water run-off.

Green Steam Cleaning Your Home

Green Steam Cleaning: A Healthier Way To Clean Your Home

Asthma and allergies are on the rise. How much of this is due in part to environmental toxins found in homes today? The percentage is quite high according to some experts. Traditional cleaning supplies are laden with known toxic ingredients. These toxins are polluting the environment and making people sick. Illnesses that can be attributed to environmental toxins include asthma, allergies, headaches, digestive issues, and nervous disorders. Using green household products, such as green steam cleaners, when cleaning the home, can effectively reduce respiratory illnesses and other sicknesses.

Green cleaning solutions are available for every cleaning job. Natural cleaners and steam cleaners are the perfect solution for ridding a home of toxic cleaning agents. Everyday natural ingredients, such as vinegar and baking soda, are a few of the most effective cleaners available. These products are not only effective but are inherently green. Carpet and floor steam cleaners are also a great alternative to the common toxic solutions made for quick mops and carpet cleaners. Steam is perfectly natural and requires no additional chemicals to help it effectively clean homes.

Steam cleaners use water to produce steam. The steam produced will kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses present on the surface areas of the home. Its chemical-free application leaves no residue, making surfaces safe for use within minutes. A green steam cleaner is safer for the environment and for the home.

There are many quick mops sold today. These mops are often viewed as disposable products. They require costly disposable cleaning pads and toxic cleaning solutions to be used effectively. A green alternative to the quick mops sold today is one of many green floor steam cleaners. Floor steam cleaners may have a higher initial purchase cost, but they generally outlast the current quick mops available. Most steam cleaners use washable cleaning pads and plain water. By utilizing reusable cleaning pads, steam cleaners produce less waste and save more money than replacing quick mop disposable cleaning pads.

Allergy sufferers can great benefit from using a carpet and floor steam cleaner. Allergy causing dust mites are virtually eliminated when using a steam cleaner. This environmentally safe method for eliminating allergens will help alleviate allergy symptoms in many individuals.

Carpet and floor steam cleaners are a wonderful green alternative to traditional cleaners, however not all floor steam cleaners are created equal. Be thorough and take time to research several green steam cleaners. An increasing number of companies are green washing their products to enhance their appeal while doing very little to help better the environment. A truly green company will only offer products that are respectful of the environment and will be involved in local and national efforts to reduce waste and pollution.

The purchase of a green steam cleaner is a step in the direction of helping the environment while creating a more healthful environment in the home. The natural use of steam to clean is safe and effective for everyone and is the best way to clean the home and the environment.

The Real Cost Of Going Green With Cloth Diapers

Number Crunching: The Real Cost of Going Green with Cloth Diapers

A little background about me: I’m a numbers guy. Always have been, probably always will be. My favorite subject in high school was math. Then I went to college and majored in accounting. Today, I own a small business and am always thinking about creative ways to save a few bucks on shipping or needling away at suppliers to get me a better deal on bulk orders.

So naturally when my wife proposed using cloth diapers for our children it didn’t take long for me to start crunching the numbers with this new aspect of our lives as well. After about an hour of online searches, I proudly presented my wife the estimated cost savings that I had scribbled onto a napkin. My wife had cleverly set the bait and I was ready with to begin our journey as a cloth diaper family.

So how much can you save?

Before we get into the potential savings, I want to give you a realistic expectation of the cost. First, the brand and quantity of cloth diapers you purchase will determine the upfront expense. If you’re just starting out I recommend looking into cloth diaper “starter pack.” This will bundle everything you need to get started with cloth diapering.

With shipping our starter pack cost exactly $398.27. Here’s what the package included:

* 12 cloth diapers

* 12 cloth wipes

* 1 diaper bag

* 2 samples of detergent

* 2 bags of detergent

* 1 cloth wipe solution

* Cloth Diaper Washing Instructions (Perhaps the most valuable part of this package. J)

Now I know what you might be thinking… $398.27 on diapers? I thought this was supposed to save me money! While the upfront cost of cloth diapers can create a bit of sticker shock the long term savings is remains undeniable. Let me explain.

The Numbers:

Let’s say you buy a large package of 174 brand-name disposable diapers that cost $42.99. Not too bad you might be thinking. The cloth diaper family paid $398.27 for a starter pack and you get 174 diapers for an upfront cost of only $42.99. However, let’s factor in how the time element will gradually compound the cost of disposables and reduce the cost of cloth diapers over a 12 month period.

Let’s say you’re child goes through 6 diapers in a day on average, which is a pretty average number. A 174 pack of Huggies will last you approximately one month. At $42.99 a month, you’ll spend a whopping $515.88 over the course of a year and have nothing to show for it. If you’re planning to have more than one child, you’ll need to multiply that number accordingly.

The cost of cloth diapers after that same 12 month period? Pretty much the same as when you started out, although you will need to purchase additional laundry detergent that will run you about $15 – $20 a bag every couple of months. Got another bundle of joy on the way? No problem. You’ve already made the initial investment in cloth diapers and will be able to reuse these products for years to come under normal wear and tear.

In addition to the cost savings of cloth diapers, my wife and I have been pleasantly surprised at the wonderful and supportive community that’s available online for parents considering the switch from disposable to cloth. It’s been like joining a fun little club and we’re happy with the decision we made to switch to cloth.

About the Author

Doug Clayton is a self-proclaimed cloth diaper advocate. Doug turned his interest into a small business called Adult Cloth Diapers HQ that distributes cloth diapers in adult sizes only. In his spare time, Doug enjoys hanging out with his wife and kids, brain teasers, and reading a good book in the sunshine.

Compare Solar Power To Traditional Energy

When we consider the many advantages of Solar Energy compared to traditional energy sources, the flexibility of setting up a photovoltaic system wherever the sun shines seems to be the biggest benefit. Freed from dependency upon a power grid, the installation will make solar power available to consumers in any location.

The Need For Renewable Energy Sources

With awareness of renewable resources on the increase, both domestic and industrial users have begun to take a fresh look at solar power. Once the initial costs have been met, and the users provided with a system, they can also benefit from government grants for grid-connected solar systems. Setup costs have also fallen over the past few years.

Energy In The Industrial World

In industrialised countries the majority of energy comes from coal, gas and nuclear energy, while solar power still accounts for less than 1% of total production. The costs of gas and coal extraction and their eventual contribution to pollution are of increasing concern, whereas solar energy remains clean, free and unlimited.

Solar Energy Set Up

The technical requirements for setting up a photovoltaic system are firstly a survey to see if your property is suitable for conversion, with a roof orientated towards the sun and strong support for the weight of the panels. Domestic solar systems produce between 2 and 5 kilowatts of energy which will be supplemented by the home’s grid supply if this is not sufficient. On a sunny day the output can exceed the consumption of the home and this excess wattage will be channeled back into the grid. The expense of setting up the system will soon be absorbed by its productive lifespan (typically 25-30 years).

Why You Should Consider Installing Solar Energy?

Owners will receive a Micro Generation Certificate Scheme to permit you to apply for rebates from the government, essentially to pay you back for any extra energy your system feeds back into the system. The disadvantages of solar power include its high initial setup costs, the lack of reliable generation in less sunny climates such as the UK, and the fact that it won’t generate at night. Traditional energy sources may keep the lights burning until the wee small hours, but solar power is the only source that pays its users to consume it.

Increased innovation and development have led to reduced installation costs for the consumer, and this technology also extends to solar water heating (which is also subject to the same limitations on daylight exposure as solar panels). Interested users should approach a reputable solar energy supplier for a survey. The Department of Energy & Climate Change can provide information on the financial incentives for users of solar energy. With solar power now providing a realistic alternative to traditional sources for consumers all over the world there are now greater options for access to solar energy – backed up by governments worldwide.

Solar professionals Solar Contact provide advice on the benefits of turning to green energy, and its advantages and disadvantages compared with more traditional sources

How To Protecting Children From The Sun

For our bodies to remain healthy, it is essential that a certain level of exposure to the sun be allowed. However, the potential health risk comes when the body becomes over exposed to harmful UV rays for prolonged periods of time, leading to long term skin damage.

The sun harms our bodies through the UV rays penetrating the skin resulting in long term damage to the cells. Often there is no indication that the skin is becoming burnt until that tingly sensation occurs to the area burnt. In severe cases sun burn is extremely painful and will last for many hours. If this occurs, the area affected should be covered from all sunlight until such time that the pain resides.

Most damage to the skin occurs when the temperature is not at its hottest, therefore tempting people to take fewer precautions.

One particular age group particularly susceptible to burning are small children. It is therefore vital for us to take as many precautions as possible in order to protect them to the best of our abilities.
There are many ways of reducing the risks of children becoming burnt, but two of the simplest methods are still the best and are;

· Wearing Sun Cream
· Staying in the Shade

Sun Cream

Although not advisable to leave young children in the sun for hours on end, wearing a high SPF factor sun cream will lengthen the amount of time that can be spent in the sun without the skin becoming over exposed. To properly protect children’s skin, the cream should be applied liberally to all exposed parts of the body paying particular attention to the tops of ears, nose and back of the neck. The cream should be rubbed in well and applied around 20minutes prior to exposure for optimum results.

To maintain greater levels of protection, sun cream should be reapplied every couple of hours and directly after swimming.

Staying in the Shade

Providing a shaded area in which to stay protected from the sun is a really effective way of allowing children the pleasures of playing outdoors without any risks of skin damage. Ideal ways of providing shade in the garden are through the use of sun awnings. At the touch of a button, this type of solar shading solution will create a large area of shade, under which children can play, paint or enjoy a meal.

Retractable awnings offer a versatile shading solution for protecting your children because when no shade is required, or when the weather is not great, they can be stored neatly in a cassette housing unit that is simply fixed to the wall (usually above a patio area, doorway or bright window)

Awnings vary in sizes, so anything from the largest patio awnings can be installed down to a small window awning that might be used to provide shade for a children`s bedroom window or nursery.

In addition to the shading benefits that retractable sun awnings offer, should there be a sudden onset of rain, the area beneath the awnings will remain dry as the water will simply run off the fabric of the sun awnings and run onto the adjacent ground.

Author Bio

Article written by Dan @ sunawningsonline.co.uk. For more information on a wide range of sun awnings, window awnings, patio awnings and a wide range of other solar shading solutions that will keep you and your family safe from over exposure to the sun be sure to search online.

6 Tips On Persuading Kids To Clean Their Rooms

Are you sick and tired of constantly reminding your kids to clean their rooms? It may seem to you that cleaning and kids do not go together. However, maybe all you need to do is to learn the art of persuading your kids to keep their private retreats spic and span. Here are a few tips that may help you persuade your kids to clean their rooms.

Start them young.

Don’t expect your kids to clean their rooms in a heartbeat if you never gave them the skills to do so at a young age. Toddlers and little children love to mess up their rooms. But they also like playing games. Turn tidying up their toys and other stuff into a game. Provide color coded bins for their toys, coloring materials, books and even their clothes. Play a sorting game or have a race. Before you know it, your little kids will be cleaning up after themselves.

Clean as a team.

Cleaning is often viewed as a sort of punishment. For your kids to see it otherwise, schedule cleaning days wherein everyone in the family will do their assigned chores together in one day. You can help your kids clean their rooms and in turn they can help you clean the areas you are responsible for.

Make cleaning fun.

Play some music while cleaning. This helps keep their minds alert and happy. Though avoid allowing them to have the TV on. Television is visual. The kids will tend to stop working and start watching if something on the boob tube piques their interest.

Come up with a schedule.

Cleaning can mean a lot of things. It can be making the bed, putting away clothes, vacuuming, dusting, or cleaning the cabinets, windows and drawers. Make sure your kids know exactly what you mean by “clean your room.” Better yet, make a schedule. Divide the cleaning chores into daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly events. This way they have a guide as to what is expected of them. A cleaning schedule helps keep them organized.

Never use cleaning as a punishment.

If you want to ground your kids, don’t tell them to go to their rooms and start cleaning. This is a surefire way to make your kids despise cleaning. Remember not to shout at them for not cleaning their rooms. Instead, speak in a firm tone but never raise your voice.

Don’t bribe them.

Giving them rewards will only backfire on you. When they do clean their rooms, verbal praise is enough. Thank them for a job well done.

Persuading your kids to clean their rooms is an art. You need to start them young and not make them feel like cleaning is a punishment. Instead, they should feel great about themselves if they are able to keep their rooms clean. Once they get into the habit, you may not need to remind them to clean their rooms anymore.

If you need help with cleaning than maybe it’s time for a maid. A simple people search will quickly get you in touch with any maids in your area so you can spend more time with your kids and less time cleaning.

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