Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Green Oddities

Hi, everyone! We love to embrace the unusual and here is an article found on www.oddee.com that covers the wierdest eco friendly products.

The green technology industry is booming: from recyclable earrings to a banana coffin, meet some of the weirdest eco friendly products.

Eco-friendly Burial

A Colorado company sells caskets made from banana sheaves, bamboo or pandanus that decomposes together with the body as a way of promoting ecologically-friendly burials. The so-called Ecoffin, short for eco-friendly coffins, of Ecoffins USA takes six months to two years to biodegrade. The company's marketing director, Joanna Passarelli, said the Ecoffins is better for the environment than cremating bodies. The lowest price for this eco friendly product is $800.

Eco-friendly Remote Control

Sony challenged Industrial Design students from China to design and eco-friendly device. One of the participants from Dong Hwa University came up with this unique creation called the Sony Conductor TV Remote. It's a wand shape kind of remote that needed to be swayed side to side to power it on and the green LED light fire up to indicate its power level. To start navigating, one can wave the conductor left and right to change your TV set's volume, up and down to change channels and in a circular motion to switch your TV set on or off. Sounds really tiring to me.

Eco-friendly Pet Furs

If you think making clothes out of human hair is weird how would you feel if I told you humans are making clothes from their pet's fur? It isn't much different from using sheep's wool or natural animal fibers from alpaca, angora, llama or camel, right? Danelle German doesn't think so. She is a professional cat groomer from South Carolina. She started a business called Catty Shack Creations as a means of reusing beautiful cat fur instead of throwing it away. Her inspiration came when a friend of Danelle's asked her to clip her pet's hair so that it could be spun into yarn. First the pet is thoroughly washed to make sure the fur is clean and tangle free. Then the pet is shaved. Many pet owners have their pets shaved to help their pets survive the hot summer and to help make it easier for the owner to keep their pets well groomed. The fur is then collected and cured for a few days. The hair fibers are then carded, spun into yarn and finally knitted into handbags.

Eco-friendly Moss Carpet

They say walking on fresh grass increases your blood circulation; I can't vouch for that! Anyways, it is a reason to get going to the nearest park, remove your expensive Jimmy Choo's and prance around. The Moss Carpet, created by Nguyen La Chanh, looks at getting the grass to your feet, and that too in your loo! Made from imputrescible foam called plastazote, the mat includes ball moss, island moss and forest moss. The humidity of the bathroom ensures that the mosses thrive. And that's why you need to place it there and not anywhere else. Little gnomes not included.

Eco-friendly Umbrella

Conventional umbrellas come with a fixed surface. Although it is changeable, you cannot replace it easily. This eco-friendly design is more flexible. It is actually only a collapsible umbrella skeleton without any surface, so you can put anything such as newspapers, plastic bags or whatever you want to serve as the protecting surface.

Eco-friendly Edible Shoe Cream

Probably the weirdest on the list, this product was designed by Greenfibes, eco goods and garments. It's organic edible (yes, edible!) shoe cream. Apparently, it can be used for other purposes such as spreading on toast or as a lip balm. I don't know about you, but eating something that is advertised to be spread on a shoe does not interest me in the least.

Eco-friendly Clothing for Babies

Maybe you weren't the best to the environment, but darnit, your baby hasn't destroyed anything yet. Whether your child wants to be condescending with a onesie reading "Thanks For All the Global Warming," cutsie with a "Give A Hoot, Don't Pollute" shirt, or even disgusting in a onesie reading "Ask Me About My Compost Pile," strangers everywhere are sure to take a second look at your sassy starlet. And lest you worry about making your baby a hypocrite, all three tees are organic. Oh, and if your child is actually the K-9 variety, there are plenty of cute eco-friendly shirts for pups as well.

Pollution-Sensitive Dress

Don't be caught outside unaware of pollution levels in the air. The pollution-sensitive ‘EPA Dress' by Stephanie Sandstrom detects pollution in the air and wrinkles accordingly. That's right, this dress – which is actually quite pretty – looks like you pulled it from the bottom of the dirty laundry heap when the air is dirty. It might protect your health by advising you to stay indoors for the day, but it won't do you any favors if you're meeting with clients.

Eco-friendly Car Racer

Can you image a car racer is so eco-friendly that it is all made from plants. Just take a look at the picture, you gonna know that it's soooo natural. Eco One was designed by Dr Kerry Kirwan, a researcher at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), the university's academic department which provides solutions to industry, and built by student Ben Wood over two months at a cost of £20,000.

Eco-friendly Earrings
A wonderful and great green product from Kitten Lab is now available for purchase to those who wanted to accessorize themselves in a green way. The eco fashion accessories by Kitten Lab are made by the artistic hands and from a vintage IBM Selectric typewriter balls. The balls are made of plastic, that is why it is light enough to be on your ears. With this creation, there will be no need for us to spend too much to be fashionably trendy, and it will dramatically reduce landfills, which is great in reducing the harm that we have for the environment.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

An Awesome Discovery: Ekocycle!

Global music artist and producer will.i.am and The Coca-Cola Co alongside Levi's Brand MCM, RVCA and Case-Mate will join the Ekocycle brand. The Atlanta-based beverage giant announced in July a $1 million commitment and the launch of the brand with partners Beats by Dr. Dre and New Era.

The Ekocycle brand initiative aims to educate consumers about recycling, identify products that can be recycled and tout the positives of recycling. EKOCYCLE finds products, such as assorted plastic bottles and aluminum cans, that can be repurposed into recycled content for fashion-forward lifestyle products through the help of some of the industry’s hottest trendsetters.

Products from the partners include:
•Limited edition Levi’s 501 Waste Less jean, which is made with an average of eight recycled assorted plastic bottles per pair of jeans. The jeans will be available in April 2013 for $128 with global distribution via Levi’s retail doors and online at levi.com.
•Beats by Dr. Dre EKOCYCLE headphones contain 31 percent recycled material and deliver exceptional sound. They are now available online at Beatsbydre.com and global e-tailers, priced at $349.95.
•Case-Mate EKOCYCLE Barely There Case is molded from a 100 percent recycled PET -- a translucent, glossy finish that showcases more of a smartphone. It retails for $35 at Best Buy stores and the company’s website.
•New Era caps’ EKOCYCLE Cap Collection features two caps - a 59FIFTY fitted and a 9FIFTY Strapback. Both are made with a recycled fabric that consists of a traditional polyester fabric and recycled plastic. They sell for $30-45.

We support and admire people and companies who use their funds and fame for the benefit of the Earth. Check out Ekocycle today and tell us what you think!
http://www.facebook.com/EKOCYCLE

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Greener Singapore

As small a city as it is, Singapore finds itself vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. It is also particularly concerned with the need to use resources efficiently, especially energy and water. As part of the global community, Singapore has been doing its part to reduce the overall carbon footprint.

As part of this effort, the national target to “green” at least 80% of all buildings in Singapore by 2030 was set in 2009. Championed by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), the green building movement has come a long way since it was started in 2005. Public sector buildings took the lead to go green to be certified under the Green Mark scheme.

But green buildings are only a part of the solutions. While energy efficient buildings and technology enhancements are important, the intelligent and conscientious usage of energy at the workplaces and our homes are just as crucial. This is because close to 20% of the total amount of electricity produced in Singapore are consumed solely by households.

Studies have also shown that in office buildings and shopping complexes, the occupants and tenants are typically responsible for about half of the total energy consumed in such buildings. The green movement must therefore go beyond buildings to reach and galvanise the community and individual into green action.

The movement for change has begun, and the time to act on it is now. With the support and encouragement of those behind the first steps toward making a greener Singapore, we are left with no excuses not to care. Small changes in lifestyles often turn out to have massive chain reactions, such as packing your own lunch to work, bringing a bag instead of using those provided by the shops, running your errands for the week in one day instead of spreading them out across a matter of days – all of these efforts add up and make a dent in changing our environmental impact for the better.

Take the time to care for the earth, and it will honour you the same courtesy. Respect our home and guide others around you to do the same. We hope you have had a fantastic weekend, and urge you to start your week right. Live healthy. Live green.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Big Things Are Brewing!

There's something slow roasting in the Green Cleaners Headquarters and it's about to get crazy! Before we get into that though, we'd like to begin by sharing our new and improved brochures.




Please note that during October we have a new client sign up offer!
At Green Cleaners we pride ourselves on our high standards of cleaning and service. We’re confident once you’ve had your first Green Home Cleaning appointment, and seen, felt and smelt for yourself a home that is clean and healthy - you won’t want to leave us. With this in mind, you may wish to take advantage of our ‘Kick the tyres’ Promotion in October; For new clients, we’re offering your first appointment with 50% discount when you sign up for a regular service with us!* Offer ends 31/10/12. Subject to availability – please check for available dates early!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Staying Lean While Keeping It Green

Happy Wednesday, everyone! We really enjoyed sharing our DIY pampering recipes with you all last night, so tonight we’re carrying on the path to health and happiness. Did you know that your daily workout is another lifestyle area where you can make earth-friendly changes? There are countless eco-savvy ways to get in your daily dose of physical fitness. Here are some of our favorite tips for energizing your exercise with a green boost:

Take it outside whenever you can.
Instead of increasing your energy consumption via home and gym exercise machines, take advantage of hiking and biking trails in your area. One big advantage to the great outdoors - it’s 100% free and always interesting! If you don’t fancy going solo, invite a friend or two and take in some quality time as well.

Inspire a green makeover at your health club or gym.
If the great outdoors just aren’t for you, consider encouraging your gym to make some eco-friendly upgrades. Make sure your club offers recycling bins and energy efficient machines, and remind the staff to ask patrons to limit their towel usage.

Car pool to your local gym with a friend or neighbor.
Not only does carpooling cut down on your fuel costs and usage, but having a gym buddy is an instant incentive to keep up with your fitness goals and resolutions. For extra support, consider joining a soccer, volleyball, or kickball league in your neighborhood. No one to car pool with? Your bike is another great way to get where you’re going and warm up for your workout at the same time.

Dress the part.
Looking for some new workout clothing or gear? Organic cotton and bamboo threads are a great place to start for sweat-friendly green fabrics. For eco-conscious equipment choices, check the web or a local sporting goods shop for great deals on secondhand bikes and weights.

Give in to the bottle.
The water bottle that is! Move on from one-time use plastic water bottles. It’s time to commit to using refillable water bottles for workouts and everyday hydration. Using a refillable bottle means less waste in landfills and more money in your wallet.

Get creative with your workout routine.
It’s not always easy to find time to head to the gym or commit to an after-work jogging schedule. Try to throw in an extra walk or bike ride during your lunch break for a calorie-burning boost. Another great way to supplement your gym routine: Try knocking out some house or yard work by attacking the job with gusto! Shoveling snow, raking leaves, vacuuming and dusting can be great activities for burning off a greasy business lunch or the sins of the weekend roasts and barbecues. Do you have more ideas on how to stay lean and keep it green? We would love to hear from you. In the meantime, stay fit, happy and healthy the Green Cleaners way!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Pamper Yourself the Eco Friendly Way!

Who says you have to spend thousands of dollars on spa treatments and undergo the pain of going to the dermatologist? We at Green Cleaners believe that only the most organic of ingredients should touch your skin, and we have found some simple, easy and fun recipes for you to make and apply in the comfort of your own home! So whether it's a girls' night in or much needed time to rejuvenate, we hope you enjoy the experience of pampering yourself - because you deserve it.

Pore Scrub
Though it is not really possible to shrink your pores, keeping them cleansed makes them appear smaller than they really are. For this Pore Minimizer Scrub (to be used every other day), you will need:

1 tablespoon of warm honey
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
3 drops of lemon juice

After cleansing your skin, massage into pore-plentiful areas for 3 minutes. Keep those circular motions going and rinse with lukewarm water. Remember that hot water opens pores, so keep it at room temperature.

Banana Peel Facial
There's something assuring about knowing you can have a full facial treatment with ingredients found in your kitchen all year round! Follow these simple steps to smoother skin. For this recipe, you will need:

1 banana, just ripe
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon finely powdered oats
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional, if mask will not be used immediately)
2 drops of essential oil (your scent of choice)

Peel and mash banana. Add honey, egg yolk, wheat germ oil, oats and lemon juice, if used. Mash further to form a smooth, creamy paste. If mask is too thick, add a bit of distilled water, and stir well until smooth. Add essential oils last, and stir to mix well. To use, apply to clean face and neck, avoiding eye and mouth areas. Rest for 10 minutes, or longer if your skin is very dry. Rinse with warm water and ta-da! Baby soft skin.

Sweet and Zesty Body Scrub
Body scrubs have numerous benefits - it cleans and exfoliates the skin, improves blood circulation and helps remove toxins. For this lemon and brown sugar infused scrub, you will need
1/4 cup coarse brown sugar (to gently exfoliate without drying) 1 cup grapeseed oil (to moisturize) 1/4 cup grated lemon peel (to invigorate your senses)

Mix together all of the ingredients. Gently rub this delicious scrub all over your body in a circular motion. Concentrate on rough areas like elbows, knees and heels. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse off with warm water.

Homemade Chocfull of Beauty Facial Mask
Who doesn't love everything about chocolate? With this yummy recipe in tow, you can enjoy the benefits that this treat has on your skin whilst having the lovely aroma surround you as you beautify yourself! For this mask, you will need
1/3 cup raw cacao powder or cocoa powder 1/4 cup of raw honey 2 tablespoons of mashed avocado 3 teaspoons of cornmeal (if you're looking for a great natural exfoliator)

Simply blend all the above ingredients together until creamy. With clean hands, apply the mask to your face and any other part of your body that you so desire (hands and feet can greatly benefit). Gently massage your mask into your skin, leaving it on for 15 - 20 minutes, and then rinse it off with warm water.

So there it is, a green way to end the day. We hope you give these home spa recipes a try and have a wonderful time making yourself look and feel beautiful!

Monday, October 22, 2012

A Green, Ghoulish Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and we have everything you need from prep to clean up to ensure that your celebrations will be ghoulishly green!

Like many of our holidays, Halloween can be an expensive and wasteful experience. Don't let the commercialism take all the fun or eco-friendly opportunities out of it! Check out our simple tips to make sure you don't spook Mother Nature this October.

Green Halloween Costumes
Consider reusing or recycling costumes from previous years, or recycling old clothing into new costumes. Before you set out your paper recycling, set aside cardboard boxes and large pieces of paper that you can use to enhance ideas.

Green Halloween Treats
Instead of giving out high-sugar candy, consider giving pennies for UNICEF, pencils, erasers, or temporary tattoos. Besides reducing the waste of all the single-serving packaging, you’ll be providing a healthy alternative to candy. If your kids won’t let you give up food treats, consider small boxes of raisins or other semi sweet treats which have recyclable paper packaging.

Green Halloween Decorations
Halloween decorations can be natural and non-commercial, with gourds, pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns! Lower your emissions on Halloween by buying locally grown pumpkins, and then lower your waste by composting them after Halloween is over. Use recycled paper to make window decorations, and then send them on for another round of recycling after the holiday. Paper grocery bags can be cut and molded into spooky Halloween trees, masks, and painted white for ghostly effects.

Green Halloween Trick-or-Treating
Send your children trick-or-treating with reusable buckets, canvas bags or pillow cases. Lower emissions by trick-or-treating in your neighborhood and get to know your neighbors better by inviting them over for an old fashioned bobbing-for-apples competition at your house.

Green Halloween Party
Send electronic invitations instead of paper to lower waste. Instead of using plastic plates, cups and utensils, compostable silverware and party plates are now widely available. Go to your neighborhood store and purchase a pile of mismatched cloth napkins and then have guests toss them in a bin for washing and reusing at your next party. Be sure to recycle bottles and cans, and compost leftovers.

Green Halloween Cleanup
Once Halloween is over, recycle your pumpkins, the straw you used to build scarecrows and any other organic material by composting it. For inedible items, add them to your composting pile (or start composting now!) for great, nutrient rich soil in the spring.

If you have any further ideas to keep the festivities eco friendly, let us know! In the meantime, Trick or Treat!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

We Reap What We Sow

Happy Sunday, everyone! We spent the better part of the weekend watching the film "The Lorax", and just had to share the finale with you. It sure teaches a valuable lesson - that change begins and ends with us. What better time to start than right now? Enjoy!
Let It Grow, finale from "The Lorax"

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Media Frenzy!

Hi Everyone! We are so excited to announce that Green Cleaners has jumped on the media bandwagons of both Twitter and Pinterest! Follow us on @GreenCleaners09 and http://pinterst.com/greencleaners09 to learn more about the latest in the world of going green! Share your own home remedy recipes, or pin us with ecofabulous ideas that you want us to feature! We look forward to taking cybermedia space by storm with all of you.