Author: Green Explorer

How to clean mold off walls using vinegar

Green Explorer Green Living

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Molds naturally occur as a byproduct of damp environments. More often occur in winter or after long continuous rainy days which cause condensation to happen in the house. While mold growth is very common in the household, it can potentially contribute to dangerous respiratory illness and can make asthma and allergies worsen when it’s left untreated.

Luckily, smaller areas of occasional mold growth that are caught early, can be easily removed with simple method further discussed in this article. However, depending on the type of mold and the extend of the spread, if you are dealing with particularly large areas of mold infestation, it is best handled by professional mold remediation company. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests to call the professionals if the infected area is larger than 10 square feet or a 3-foot by 3-foot square.

  1. Why there is mold in the house
  2. How to find mold in the house
  3. How to clean mold off walls
  4. Will vinegar kill mold?
  5. Where not to use vinegar to kill mold
  6. Step by Step on How to use vinegar to clean mold off walls?
  7. How to prevent mold to revisit

But first, let’s find out how mold occurs and where he likes to hang around before removing it from the root.

Why there is mold in the house

One word: CONDENSATION.

Condensation happens when your house is too humid and the warm air hits cold surfaces.  

Besides the external factors like wet & cold weather, there are several internal affairs that contribute to the increase of airbourne moisture causing condensation to happen inside the house which support the mold growth. These factors can be as serious as water leaking or plumbing issue or as ordinary as daily household activities like: drying your washings (cloth) indoors on radiator in winter, cooking on a pot without lid, hot baths & showers in winter. All these activities add certain amount of moisture to the indoor air.

Let’s see below how the moisture cycle works:

When you dry your washing indoor, the heat from radiator dry the clothing, this moisture evaporate into the air. When the moisture hit any cold surfaces in the house, it reaches its dew point and turn back into water. Same principle applies to boiling kettle, cooking without lid on, hot showers, etc.

How to find mold in the house

Mold thrives in damp areas. The most common areas where you might find black mold lurking is places like basements walls, bathroom walls, behind beds and furniture like wardrobes, behind cupboards, above skirting boards, joint between ceiling and walls especially exterior walls, window frames and surrounds, also places like the shower, dishwasher, and washing machine may see mold growth from time to time.

Like many other problems in the world, it’s best to solve the issue at its early stage while it’s still easy to deal with. The same with mold, it is important to remove it right away once you spot a dot, stop its growth before it spreads.

How to clean mold off walls

Before you clean the mold, make sure that the main issue causing moisture problem that led to the mold growth has been addressed in the first place. That means, if there is water leak or plumbing issue, FIX IT! 

Next, rather than turning to harsh chemicals (like bleach or borax), we can use this low budget yet powerful non-toxic natural mold removal: VINEGAR to kill mold – easily accessible through amazon and/or at your local Walmart store.

There are other cleaning agents that can be used to clean mold off walls such as soap & water, Hydrogen Peroxide, tree tea oils, baking soda, citrus extract, etc.

Will vinegar kill mold?

There are several misconceptions on the ways to get rid of mold using bleach. In fact, bleach does not kill the mold at all. It simply discolors them making it looks disappear while the mold spores are still around and we still inhaling them.

The best natural mold solution is none other than Vinegar.

Most household White Vinegar typically contain around 5% acidity. With its antifungal and acidic antibacterial characteristics, vinegar becomes one of the best natural mold removers. In Fact, it is the most popular eco-friendly, non-toxic multipurpose daily household cleaner.

Where not to use vinegar to kill mold

Although the vinegar’s acidity is its source of power for cleaning and disinfectant, it also has the potential to damage certain types of surfaces in the house.

While you can safely use vinegar to kill mold on a wide range of surfaces, it is best to keep far away from the following surfaces:

  • Stone counter tops

Because vinegar is a natural disinfectant, it’s commonly used to clean and disinfect countertops after food preparation. However, make sure you DO NOT use it on Stone Countertops (eg. granite or marble tops) as the acid in vinegar can damage and discolor stone surfaces, make them dull and lose their shine overtime. Use warm water with mild dish soap or a natural stone cleaner instead.

  • Concrete walls

Although vinegar is unlikely to damage the concrete surface itself, it may harm the surrounding cement.

  • Wooden walls or floors

It is not recommended to use vinegar to kill mold off wooden surfaces as it may break down the protective finish, allowing water to penetrate, dissolve and leave watermark and may further degrade the wood floor overtime.

Some research suggests that if you diluted the vinegar, it may reduce the harm as the acidic level has lowered. However, this also means its effectiveness in killing mold has lowered too.

  • Porous surfaces

With porous or absorbent surfaces such as carpet or ceiling tiles, it will be ineffective to use vinegar to kill mold off these surfaces. It is best to simply replace them instead of trying to cleaning them.

Step by Step on How to use vinegar to clean mold off walls?

2.4-clean-mold-off-walls-using-vinegar

First, prepare the materials you’ll need:

  • Distilled White Vinegar (Undilluted)
  • Spray bottle or Bucket water
  • Sponge or Scouring Pad and/or Soft Brush
  • Rubber gloves
  • Face Mask
  • Eye protection (ie.goggle)

Then, follow below Instructions:

Step 1. Ventilate the room

Open doors and windows to help ventilate the area you’re working in. Turn on the exhaust fan where possible.

Step 2. Wear protective gear

2.4-how-to-kills-mold-off-walls-with-vinegar

Prior to cleaning the moldy surfaces, make sure to put on your protective gears (mask, goggle, gloves) as direct contact with mold may cause irritation or allergic reaction, especially when the mold spores become airborne during cleaning process.

Step 3. Apply the Vinegar

Pour undiluted distilled white vinegar into empty spray bottle. Spray the vinegar directly on the moldy area, and allow it to sit for at least an hour. Then, scrub with a scouring pad / soft brush and rinse or wipe the area with clean warm water.

Step 4. Use baking soda scrub for tough area

For persistent mold, apply this additional step (using baking soda solution) and spray directly onto moldy remains. Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with two cups of water and shake vigorously. Spray onto mold stain and scrub it off. Then use a damp towel to wipe the area clean.

Step 5. Finish off with final spray

If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, add some essential oil (eg. lemon oil, lavender oil, tea tree oil) into diluted vinegar spray. Give the area a final spray and leave it to air dry. This last spray will help prevent mold from growing back.

How to prevent mold to revisit

Mold likes moist environments. In order to avoid mold from growing back, we need to first reduce the source of moisture wherever possible.

This is how you can do it:

  • Don’t dry cloth/washing indoor

Use tumble dryer to dry cloth. If unavoidable, use dehumidifier in the room when hanging your wet cloth indoor.

  • Always use lid on your pan while cooking

Not only it limits airborne moisture, your food cooked faster too – saves energy [ticked].

Don’t forget to close door to prevent steam from entering rest of the house. Make sure to turn on the ventilator / rangehood while cooking.

  • Always turn on the extractor fan while having hot bath / shower

Look for high-capacity extractor fan or the one with build in humidity sensor – google “high capacity/high flow extractor fan”; alternatively, open window after shower to allow air movement (except in winter, where outside air is more humid and damp than indoor).

[a good Rule of thumb: if u can’t dry cloth outside, close the window. There is No merit at all to let damp air outside back inside the house.]

  • Use dehumidifier and HVAC systems to keep humidity level under control

Consider using a dehumidifier in mold prone areas like the basement, bathroom, and kitchen. Ideally, keep the humidity level indoor below 50%.

  • Keep your house well ventilated

Use extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom. Open windows for air circulation where possible (except if outside air is more humid than indoor). Make sure you have proper ventilation system in place especially if you live in an area with high humidity level.

  • Repair any leaking issues

Fix any water leaks or HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) issues. Repair or replace leaking windows to help prevent mold growth around the frame.

Mix mold inhibitors into your paints and paint it away on your walls in the next reno.

OR simply add another layer of fungicidal coating as top coat on the wall to protect the surface from mold and mildew growth. Make sure you have cleaned the area from dust and mold prior to painting.

Why should I choose Cycling over Cars?

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There are lots of ways that we can be a little greener as we travel, and one of the best option to start is by cycling a lot more. What most important to remember is the 3H principal that’s applied: Happy Belly, Happy Earth, and Happy Wallet.

Can Cycling reduce Belly Fat?

The short answer is: YES. Cycling is a fun activity to do that helps burn the notorious belly fat while simultaneously strengthening your muscles, heart and lungs. We know that belly fat has been associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and more.

So how do we get rid of them? You may first think of sit-ups, but actually cycling is the best option for an easy and fun way to combat belly fat.

Although tummy muscles do not stretch much during cycling, it is a kind of aerobic exercise that burns fat, including belly fat. The key point here is CONSISTENCY and DETERMINATION. Use the 80/20 Rule cycling method, combined with healthy diet and you’ll see your result in no time.

Cycling is one of the great tools we can use either for leisure or for daily commutes. It is a great idea to invest in your own bike for commuting or errands, but you can also make use of rentable e-bikes in many major cities.

Cycling every day instead of driving is perfect for anyone with the confidence and ability to ride. You can get active, enjoy some scenic routes while on the way to work or to the store, and know that you are also shedding off that layer of belly fat. On top of that, you also doing your bit for the environment. So, what makes cycling the best form of green travel aside from walking?

Why Is Cycling The Greener Way To Travel?

Our carbon footprint isn’t going to get any smaller if we recycle our food packaging but still make unnecessary car journeys to buy the meal. Where possible, cycling is a much better form of green travel other than walking. And for those distance inefficient by cycling, there is alternative tools to choose from.

Traffic and congestion on our cities’ streets are no good for anyone, especially not for the environment. Every car emits hazardous emissions as it burns fuel, polluting the air and making it harder for us all to breathe. The more we rely on cars, the more roads we see built to ease the flow, which paves over green space.

Although the use of public transport may reduce the number of cars on the road, which reduce its total emissions, cycling on the other hand means there are no extra emissions AT ALL.

Moreover, bikes don’t rely on that many unsustainable materials like gas, coal, and/or oil. Bikes are self-powered unless you get one of those rechargeable e-bikes, and even those are more sustainable than fossil fueled cars.

The Additional Benefits Of Switching To Cycling.

Cycling isn’t just a better choice environmentally. We can also benefit greatly from the impact of cycling on our health and our wallets.

Bikes aren’t always cheap, but there aren’t the same costs to keep them on the road as there are with cars. Once you add in costs of insurance and all that dirty fuel, cars are even more problematic. There might be some reasonable excuse to have cars within a household, like for elders or less mobile people. But what can be improved is from those who own more than one car merely for individual luxurious enjoyment instead of necessity.

As for our health and well-being, there are strong advantages in cycling for physical and mental health.

Physically, cycling gives us a good workout and we can tailor those sessions by increasing the distance and intensity of the ride. Mountain biking then provides more opportunities for adventure.

Mentally, we can feel much closer to the world around us when cycling and use the time in nature and the fresh air to clear our minds. A ride on a country trail is much less stressful than being stuck in traffic.

Making The Most Out Of Your Pre-Loved Bikes.

Another consideration here when looking at why bikes are so green is that we can refurbish and pass on pre-loved bikes with ease. This is better than always buying new models when we can pass bikes down between siblings or do up a vintage model.

A concern that some drivers may have is that bikes are expensive and you may need a lot of them for one family.

A high-end road bike can cost thousands. Kids’ bikes become too small or restrictive very quickly. Surely it can’t be environmental to throw out a two-year-old pre-teen bike to get them a better model? This is true, and it is why greener-minded cyclists can now turn to a scheme like Woom UPcycle that reuses their old bikes. This not only encourages everyone to ride but means that perfectly good bikes aren’t wasted. Fewer parts end up in scrapyards and fewer resources are used building unessential new bikes.

Woom bikes offers an UPcycling subscription, where you can upcycle your old bike to a newer model with less cost. Although there is still room for improvement with its buy-back policy, it is indeed a great concept environmentally. The idea of passing on the pre-loved bikes to those who need them.

This concept can be further expanded to other household items or furniture where you can recycle, upcycle, or re-sale them in online market places like craigslist, gumtree or facebook market place.


Give Cycling a chance

Ideally, all those with the ability to cycle should give cycling a chance. Not only it stimulates your body metabolism and make you feel better, helps reduce your body weight and belly fat, release your stress and increase your health; more importantly, it is much cost effective compared to having a car. Last but not least, it is good for environment. And with the upcycling program, you can consider giving a bike a second life and enjoying greener travel to the next level.

What else are you waiting for?

See Massive Reductions In Food Waste With Zero Waste Cooking

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Food waste is a serious problem across the world, and especially in developed countries. Consumes used to full grocery stores and easy takeaway meals get a little too complacent about food supplies and disconnected with the origin of produce. This leads to 40% of food going uneaten in the US, which equates to 238 pounds per person a year. The environmental impact of all this is staggering. Science Direct published a study, detailing the impact on global warming, water depletion, changes to land use, and more. Thankfully, we can make a difference by adopting a zero waste method when cooking.

What is zero waste cooking?

The basic premise of the zero waste approach to cooking is to use as much as you possibly can from a single food item, reuse it where necessary, and make the most of it. It is a great additional way to get into green eating along with getting local and organic produce. For those new to the concepts, this could simply mean prepping meals carefully to use everything in the house and then doing something with every part of that food item.

Those that want to get more serious and commit to the process can then look into ways of reusing items, preserving them, and making use of the inedible parts of waste food.

How can you apply this to your meal prep?

One of the best ways to avoid food waste is to use every part of the item in question. A good place to start here is with fruits and vegetables. It is all too common to prep the “nice” parts with the juicy flesh or the best leaves and then throw out the tougher stems or greens. Some good examples are carrot tops, which can go in salads, and broccoli stems, which are great in all kinds of recipes. It is also a good idea to consider using seeds, peels, and zest for texture and flavor where possible. Don’t forget that it is often safer to eat skins and peels of organic food.

You can also do something similar as a meat-eater with nose-to-tail cooking. This means working with less popular cuts, using bones in stock, and eating organ meat.


From there, you can then work on zero waste cooking for leftover meals. Anything that isn’t used or eaten during this meal could potentially go into another meal the next day. Scraps can go into stews and similar dishes. There are also dog owners that will use scrap pieces to enhance homemade pet food. However, you have to be sure that those items are safe for canine consumption.

How can you make the most of items with short lives?


Another common issue with food waste is buying too much food and seeing it go bad before we can use it. Perhaps we have good intentions to use something and then change our minds. Or, we underestimate the longevity of the fresh produce. This is where it helps to learn more about proper storage and freezing. You can freeze fruit and vegetables and use them as needed. This is ideal when growing your own food at home and preserving a harvest. You can also invest in some better storage containers and ziplock bags for freshness.


Another option in zero waste cooking to consider here is making your own preserves. Admittedly, this is the most time-consuming and extreme option. You need to be committed to the process at this point. Still, many people get hooked on jam-making and canning. You can also learn about pickling fruit and vegetables – especially if your family loves gherkins.

What about the parts of food items that are inedible?

Finally, there is the issue of those inedible parts. Try as you might, even with a new passion for this food waste crusade, you can’t eat or cook everything. Certain seeds and peels won’t be fit for consumption. You may also end up with a lot of eggshells. The good news is that you can use peels and shells in compost to nurture that next crop of produce. You can also use crushed eggshells as scourers when cleaning. As for the seeds, why not try and use them to grow your own plants. If you like the idea of composting but are short on outdoor space, you could always use an indoor compost maker such as the Zera Food Recycler.


There is a lot to consider when embracing zero waste cooking. Just start small with a few little changes in food prep and using the whole item. Then you can build from there with new approaches and techniques. Before long, you will see a big change in your family’s relationship with waste food.

5 Tips to hammer your home electricity bill

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The summer heat may be getting you hot under the collar, but there’s no need to sweat your electricity bill. With some time-tested and trusted tricks, you can lower your bill electricity and enjoy the savings that come from saving energy.  

Follow below 5 tips to hammer your home electricity bill:

Use energy-efficient bulbs

Since about 5% of your home’s bill electricity will come from light usage, it’s wise to use bulbs energy that are efficient. Not only to traditional incandescent bulbs use more energy and have a shorter lifespan, but the heat they produce can increase the indoor room temperature, causing you to use more energy to keep your indoor space cool during the summer. Using compact fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes where possible reduces the heat lost that’s produced from lighting and provides more efficient lighting, leading to all-around energy savings.

Set your thermostat and lights on a timer

Traditionally, the best way to control lighting and temperature in indoor spaces was to constantly turn the lights on or off and adjust the thermostat. Aside from potentially forgetting to change or forgetting to turn the lights off, this constant adjustment is tedious and not very effective, especially if you leave for vacation or are returning from work. Why cool or heat a space that you’re not using and why suffer until the space changes to an ideal temperature?

Smart homes equipped with smart thermostats can be synched with a wireless device such as a phone or laptop or pre-programmed so that your indoor spaces will be cooled or heated when you are there, with less energy being used when you are not. Likewise, you can program lights in your home to be timed to go on or off, preventing lights being accidentally left on or off. Smart lighting systems also incorporate intensity controls such as dimmers that allow you to control the intensity of the lights when they are, maximizing their efficiency.

Using high efficiency appliances

An energy efficient home is not just how the home is built but also how the appliances in your home operate. Energy efficient appliances not only use less energy to operate, but they also work more efficiently so that you won’t have to provide any remedial energy, such as can happen when dishwashers don’t work efficiently.

More importantly, efficiency leads them to have longer lifespans that require you to invest less in appliances. Such appliances as refrigerators can provide climate-controlled areas in your refrigerator tailored to specific food groups to maximize food storage without excessive cooling, while appliances such as stoves, ovens and microwaves can provide direct and quality cooking heat without wasting excess energy and without ruining your food.

Making sure that your home is sealed

No one wants to heat or cool the entire neighborhood, which is why a properly sealed home is key to energy efficiency. A properly sealed home can save up to 15% on your bill electricity. This comes from preventing unwanted air from going into or out of your home, which lowers heating costs.

In order to make sure that your home is properly sealed, check your windows to make sure there aren’t any gaps when it is closed and that it is properly caulked inside and outside of your home. Also, check doors to make sure that they close properly and that there is not too large of a gap where the door meets the threshold. If there is, using trim or insulating strips can help to reduce drafts and unwanted heating or cooling expenses.

Use proper roof shingles

While insulating and sealing your home is important to making sure that your home is energy efficient, it can only do so much. And, in the case of improving insulation, it can be difficult to adjust unless you are completely remodeling your home.

With one of the largest footprints of any component of your home, your roof plays a critical role in determining your home’s energy efficiency. Energy star roof shingles provide exceptional reflection of the sun’s rays while also lowering the overall roof temperature. This can substantially decrease the heat that enters your home, lowering your home’s overall energy bill while keeping you cool in the process.

Making your home efficient

When it comes to efficiency, there are a lot of tips and tricks you can use to increase the energy used for your home. If you’re looking for more energy saving ideas and green living ideas, please visit here. There’s no better way to increase positive energy than to reduce the energy used for your home.

5 Best Foods to boost your immune system during covid

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With a virus outbreak and global pandemic that is affecting the whole world, many people are looking for ways to help lower the chances of getting infected. In addition to maintaining a good hygiene practice, getting adequate sleep and exercise, as well as following the rules set by health authorities, it is more important now than ever to keep your immune system in top shape during the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the best ways to do it is by maintaining a nutritious healthy diet. What we eat and drink can affect our body’s ability to prevent, fight and recover from infections. While no foods or dietary supplements can prevent or cure COVID-19 infection, but healthy eating are crucial for supporting our immune systems and reduce the risk of infections. 

As the sayings goes, “Good Food is Good Medicine”, Let’s start exploring below foods that play a big role to supercharge our immune system:

1. Green Tea – anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory

Green tea is found to not only be one of the healthiest drinks, but is also one of the most effective products in strengthening our immune systemdue to its high content of antioxidants antimicrobial properties which gives it its ability to ward off both viruses and diseases.

Some of the key compounds in green tea known as EGCG, EGC, and ECG have particularly been studied, and findings have concluded that they are able to weaken the proteins of covid-19 and its variants, decreasing the overall power of the virus. One little note though to only drink it plain, without milk as it may deactivate the power.

Other anti-oxidants anti-inflammatory foods that you may also consider to consume such as berries, grapes, ginger, etc.


2. Garlic – anti-viral, Vitamin C

Garlic is one of the best foods out there that fight disease and viruses. It is incredibly rich in vitamin C, which helps stimulate the formations of antibodies makes it the ultimate immune booster. Certain compound that are contained in garlic have been found to make this food antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-viral which means it helps in protecting against respiratory viral infections including covid-19. In fact, studies have concluded that garlic is great for fighting against covid-19, being able to relieve some of its symptoms and to strengthen immune system cells at the same time.

Other food that’s rich in vitamin C & B6 that you may also consider to consume such as citrus, broccoli, red bell pepper, onion, kale, etc.

3. Banana – Vitamin B6

Banana is another superpower food that’s strongly recommended during this pandemic. Not only it is the best fruit sources of vitamin B6, it also contains a variety of protective compounds such as strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Its high source in potassium and fiber helps maintain proper fluid balance in our body for good digestive health. It is also known to contain a compound called rutin – which complements the action of vitamin C – bananas can help increase our immune system, and they help vitamin C work better in fighting off diseases and viruses.

Not only that, studies also point out that eating bananas is good for mind and mood, which we all need during these frustrating times.

4. Dark Chocolate – Zinc

Dark chocolate is another great food due to its high content of zinc and magnesium, which is a mineral responsible for strengthening immune system to help in fighting against viruses. In fact, dark chocolate is found to be more effective in treating cough than certain medications, and it’s health benefits extend to its preventive properties in helping to ward off covid. However, only dark chocolate can help to fight off the virus, milk in milk chocolate may deactivates the compounds which protect against it.

Other food that’s rich in zinc can also be sourced from varieties of nuts.

According to NIH, Nuts are also high in vitamin E & omega 3 fatty acids, which are inflammatory and proven to be able to strengthen our immune system by activating immune cells to make it work more efficiently and effectively fighting off bacteria and viruses.

5. Yoghurt – Vitamin D

Yoghurt is full of probiotics responsible for good gut health and a better immune system. As well as that, fortified yoghurt is one of the best sources of vitamin D.


Yoghurt produces antibodies which fight off viruses such as covid, and it’s immune boosting properties come in a large part from a certain probiotic it contains called lactobacillus.


Other alternatives such as fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, are also good sources of vitamin D3.

Healthy Eating during covid restrictions

Eating well and keeping a happy mood can boost our quality of life and reduce the risk of infections and diet-related diseases. In addition to consuming a wide variety of nutritious food, it is also important to pay attention on good hygiene practice when preparing and storing your food. Make sure to wash your hands before using it to put any food in your mouth, wipes down your groceries with disinfectant wipes before storing it away, planning ahead with a shopping list before doing your groceries will save both your time and your wallet.

At times, It may be hard to stay motivated during difficult times, but we can involve everyone in the household to take turns or to do it together. Start from planning meals, creating shopping list, doing groceries, preparing meals, storing up food, right till cleaning up after meals. Eating mindfully can also helps increase our mood and reduce stress because when we slow down, we feel less rushed and so we can truly enjoy the food we eat. Healthy eating not only can boost our immunity, it can also lift our spirit and sense of well-being.

Enjoy your food !

5 Best Eco Friendly Luggage For Your Weekend Away

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eco friendly travel bag

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As much as we want to decrease our carbon footprint when traveling, it can be hard to give up on domestic flights or road trips for fun weekend getaway. So, why not play our part with an eco friendly duffel bag or backpack instead?

How to choose an environmentally friendly duffel bag or backpack.

There are a few factors to consider when choosing a greener bag for conscious traveling, such as:

a) The materials used.

You could opt for a product free from man-made materials and plastics, such as hemp.

Or you might want to avoid animal products, such as wool and leather.

b) The use of recycled materials to create them.

If you want a more durable nylon bag, you can find companies that use recycled plastics instead of creating new materials.

c) Environmental processes during manufacture.

Some companies will also make a point of highlighting their greener production methods, such as eco-dying.

d) The air miles on the finished product.

Was the product made locally or shipped in from another country?

e) Any additional aspects to the ethics and practices of the company.

Some brands are keen to highlight appeals and issues, with many using their profits to give back.


Of course, you also have to be sure that the travel bag you choose is spacious enough, easy to carry, and has all the features you need for your use.

eco friendly travel bags

Here, We’ve picked 5 of the best eco friendly travel bags, as follow:

1) InCase EO Duffel.

There are plenty of reasons to love InCase if you are looking for a sustainable duffel bag. The materials are a good starting point, with some great synthetics treated in an environmentally friendly manner. This includes the eco-dying process that uses less water and fewer chemicals. A bonus is that these durable bags are made in the US – so fewer air miles.

The duffel itself is pretty good too. It is one of the more spacious options, making it ideal for long weekends and business trips. A standout feature here is the 15” laptop pocket with faux-fur padding. You can also remove the shoulder strap as needed to make this more convenient. It is definitely one of the more practical and mature options. A modern and lightweight tech optimized travel bag with airline compliant carry-on size – perfect for all kind of green travelers.

2) Paravel Foldable Travel Duffel.

The company claim that it is made from 22 recycled bottles, which is subsequently means less trash went in to the landfill.

The reason that this is better as a weekend bag is the capacity. Some people love the thin shape because it is so easy to carry, while others find they have to be more selective over what they pack. Still, there is the added benefit of being able to fold this flat and pack it in its own pouch. This gives it a secondary purpose as a spare bag when on vacation. The bag also looks great with colorful nylon and color-coordinated handles.

3) Vera Bradley Lighten Up Reactive Duffel.

It isn’t just Paravel making the most of recycled plastic in their luggage. Vera Bradley has recently released an updated line called Reactive that similarly uses recycled bottles. Cynics might say that they are jumping on the bandwagon, but it is nice to see them being transparent. The materials also seem to be pretty durable, which adds to its “greenness”. The longer we can use the same bag, the better.

This greener travel bag is a great choice for those with bigger travel plans in mind. It is the most spacious of the bags in this guide and ideal for those making the most of baggage allowances. The duffel measures 15 by 15 by 29 inches and has some extra zippered pockets. What makes this one even more practical is the ability to use suitcase wheels and a telescoping handle while traveling. Overall, this is a great pick for those that find standard duffels too difficult or awkward to use.

4) United by Blue Totepack.

This next environmentally friendly travel bag is a bit of a box ticker when it comes to its green credentials, design, practical features, and appeal for different situations. Again, there is a nice use of recycled materials here. But, the company decided to go one step better by actively working to deal with plastic waste. The promise is that one purchase equals 1lb of plastic taken out of the oceans.

The bag is an attractive totepack, which means it can be both a backpack and a tote. You can use the secure weatherproof tote for basic day-to-day needs and then convert it to the backpack for weekends away or going to classes. It has a 13” laptop pocket inside and a 25L capacity in total. There is also a helpful pocket on the side for your reusable water bottle, and it comes in plenty of fun designs.

5) Natural Hemp Backpack.

This is a product that you are either going to love or hate, but it was worth adding for an alternative approach. There will be people reading this unsure about using plastics – even if they are from recycled bottles. That is when a 100% hemp traveller’s bag becomes an attractive notion. The downside is that these authentic made in Nepal bags do pick up some air miles.

The backpack is fun with a traditional bohemian design that will appeal to many college kids and older generations that like the “hippy” vibe. It is a fun bag for day trips and college more than bigger travel plans. But, it is still spacious enough for essentials for a festival and also has an internal laptop compartment.

So, Which one is the right eco friendly travel bag for you?

In short, there are lots of bags with different styles, materials, and practical features. More and more brands are turning to recycled plastic and making attractive and durable duffel bags from them. The choice is broader than you might think.

Recycling 101 – Recycle made Easy….9 Items You’re Recycling that You Shouldn’t

Green Explorer Green Living , ,

When it comes to recycling, we all want to do our part. Part of trying to follow a green living plan means doing more with less and also finding creative ways to avoid sending used items to a landfill. From donating used clothing to simply buying fewer items, we can all do our part.


However, are you always recycling what you should? …And have you doing it right?

Most county recycling programs will give you a list of items that you can and cannot recycle. Still, it’s surprising to find out that some items could actually cause more damage to the environment if recycled. So, Instead of going to a recycling bin, these items have their own collection area if you would like to dispose of them responsibly.

And with those going to the recycling bins, if not doing it properly, it may also cause problems during the process. In general, all containers need to be emptied and rinse before throwing into recycling bin. No flammable residue and food waste attached.

Below list show you a few of the items that are commonly recycled but shouldn’t be!

1. Plastic Bags and Plastic Wrap

how to recycle plastic wrap

Some plastic containers can be recycled but plastic bags and plastic wrap including bubble wrap aren’t typically accepted in curbside recycling bins, especially when to be tossed with other recycling items, unless your county specifically states that they are. This is because the lightweight plastic in this material can actually damage the machines used in recycling centers. So, while you can still re-use plastic bags, they’re probably not a good item to recycle. And when it’s time to be recycled, return them to participating drop-off location such as retail stores or grocery stores that have special collection bins for plastic wraps and the like. So be sure to ask the store manager or look it up HERE.

2. Food-Soiled Items

food soiled items are not recyclable

All containers, even if they are recyclable, cannot be recycled if they contain food. This is why it’s recommended that people rinse out items before placing them in a recycling bin. You probably don’t need to scrub out your containers but large chunks of food are going to make the item unable to break down or potentially cause contamination and other problems. The biggest offenders in this category are items which actually absorb foods. Pizza and pastry boxes may be a recyclable material but if they’ve absorbed grease or oil, it become contaminated, then they CAN’T be recycled. You can, however, tear off portions of pizza boxes that are not stained to recycle.

And NO, Styrofoam and polystyrene containers (most fast food take-out boxes, coffee cups, and the like) aren’t recyclable as it’s made of materials that are not biodegradable. However, you may consider giving them a new life in your DIY / Crafting projects or reusing them as gardening accessories. Though at the end of its lifetime, they will still end up in landfill. Best is to avoid using them at all, bring your own reusable container & coffee cup when you are on the go and be a true Green Explorer.

3.  Mirrors, Window Glass and Glassware

glassware

While most glass jars & liquor bottles can be thrown in recycling bin, it won’t necessarily apply to all glass made items. For example, drinking glasses are made with lead glass, which isn’t a kind that can be recycled curbside. Mirrors, window glass, light bulbs, eye glasses, vases, glass art pieces, and the like, should be think twice before tossing them in the curbside bin. Check out EARTH911’s extensive database of recycling solutions near you.

4. Hardcover Books

Hardcover book

This is also an area that’s a common problem. After all, books are made out of paper, right? They are, but the sturdy cover of hardcover books also contains non-paper materials that have to be removed before putting them into your recycling bin. Another option is to contact your local library and see if they accept donation of old books so it can be once again enjoyed by others.

5. Clothing and Fabric

where to recycle clothing and fabric

This is an area which surprises many people. After all, clothing often does break down easily. However, curbside recycling is not the way to go for this item. It will clog up recycling machines so instead of putting clothing into your recycling bins, try running it down to the local Goodwill or other clothing donation center. Not only will this be a usable option, you may be giving someone else the chance to enjoy clothing that you no longer wear. This is just one element of green living that can help both you and others live more sustainably.

6. Cleaning Products

Dispose cleaning products properly

Most household cleaning products are now come in a recyclable container. While the container would be acceptable to recycle for its plastic element, it has to be emptied and rinse before throwing them into recycling bin. Since cleaning products are potentially hazardous, especially when mixed, you only want to dispose of them appropriately. Most water-soluble formulas can be diluted and poured down the drain. However, use up what you can to avoid waste. For cleaners that you may not know what is best, contact the manufacturer for directions or consider calling a hazardous waste disposal center for any special instructions.

7. Needles and Medical Waste

Needles & medical waste

Although it may seem quite obvious that these items cannot be recycled, it is very important to dispose them in a safely manner.

Medical sharps (Needles, Syringes, Lancets, EpiPens, etc) and medical waste including prescriptions containers and unused / expired medicines are classified as biohazards and therefore should always be disposed of in a hazardous waste box. With the potential for blood-borne pathogens, medical waste is not accepted and also discouraged in curbside bins since it could be dangerous to others. Needles are the biggest offenders but any medical waste could lead to problems. If you need to discard them, reach out to your doctor’s office or local health department to direct you to a designated collection site and discard them safely.

8. Electronics, cords and batteries

where to dispose electronic cords

Electronic equipment (including cords, wires, cables and the like) often contains metals, batteries, and other materials which may make it dangerous to recycle. Donation centers may also not accept electronics that aren’t in working order. The good news is that some electronic stores such as Best Buy will take and recycle e-waste appropriately.


9. Aerosol Cans

can we recycle aerosol cans

Although aerosol cans made of recyclable material, the pressurized air and its hazardous contents could pose a huge fire and explosion risk in the recycling center if you simply toss them in your curbside recycle bin. Contact your local county for hazardous collection program, or check out the designated disposal site to safely recycle your aerosol cans.

Now that you have an idea of what you can and cannot recycle, you may want to make sure you’re double checking the recycling bin every week. Just making a few changes can ensure that you’re only putting in items that can actually be broken down by your local recycling center.

What’s Up with Green Eating: A Guide to Sustainable Meat

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Although many people choose to lead a vegan or vegetarian diet, others may not be giving up meat entirely. However, interested in living more sustainably, they’re turning to a dietary trend known as green eating. This dietary plan is focused on living sustainably by keeping foods as natural and local as possible. It also includes having limited meat or sustainable meat intake.

sustainable meat

A large part of green eating focuses on meat consumption. Although following a plant-based diet has multiple benefits, people aren’t typically giving up their meat intake entirely. They may be going meat-free a few times a week. The meats that they do eat are sustainable meats. This may be challenging to understand if you’re not familiar with the concept. However, by learning more about green eating, you can often improve your diet and also your health.


Why Focus on Meat?

You may be wondering why a green eating plan focuses on limiting meat and also making sure to have ethical meat delivery. There are a few reasons why meat can be negative for the environment. Some of these reasons may be new to you. Consider the following points:

  • Raising Meat Requires Water

Animals consume plants and water so they take up more resources than just eating a plant-based diet. Instead of eating wheat, for example, you would feed the wheat to an animal in addition to water, leading to more waste in the process. Throughout their lives, animals also require thousands of gallons of water. Since water shortages are becoming more of a concern, especially in certain parts of the world, a high meat diet also contributes to shortages. Ethical meat delivery may simply mean eating less meat overall.

  • Many Animals Produce Methane

Methane gas is created as a byproduct of grass digestion for many animals. Ruminants such as sheep and cows tend to emit a significant amount of methane gas, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions which have a negative effect on the environment. Although you may avoid this by not eating red meat, even farm-raised fish emit methane. Fish farms emit methane as a byproduct due to the excrement and other byproducts in the ponds. Overall, it’s challenging to find a meat source which doesn’t have this negative effect.

  • Meat Contributes to Deforestation

Raising animals takes a lot of land, which needs to have the trees removed. Deforestation is a common byproduct of raising animals. Since trees are responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, fewer trees has a negative effect on the environment. Sustainable meats are usually ones that don’t take up much land like poultry.

Practicing Ethical Meat Habits


If you’re interested in going for a more green eating plan, then you don’t have to completely change your diet but there are some simple ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to diet. Consider using these options to improve your diet plan.

1. Find Local Meats

Visit a local butcher or even consider getting meat from a local farm. Many farmer’s markets sell local meats which are raised in humane environments. Talk to the farmers about their practices and sustainability efforts. Many local farmers, especially on small farms, are interested in green living and follow good practices. By buying from local producers you’ll be getting high quality and fresh meats that are sustainable.

2. Eat Less Meat

Most people find that they eat a fair amount of meat but eating less meat every week can provide multiple benefits. Not only is this consistent with a green eating plan, you may find that it has improvements for your health and even your wallet. Consider going meat-free a few times a week and watching your portion sizes. Since the portion size for meat is about the size of a deck of cards, most of us are eating more than that.

3. Reduce Food Waste

Thousands of pounds of food are wasted every year and meat can be easy to waste. After all, if it’s not cooked or stored properly, then it’s probably going to be discarded. Try to be more environmentally friendly by only buying what you know you’ll use and make sure to save and use leftovers. Many people get a little more from their meats by using the bones for broth and finding innovative ways to use the entire portion.

When you want to live more sustainably, you certainly can do this with a few simple changes. Most people who want to live a more sustainable lifestyle find that while they may not be interested in going on an extreme diet, finding simple ways to improve their habits is a great option.

Green Camping: Camper’s Guide To Choosing Portable Solar Panels

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Camping outdoors unifies you with mother nature, allowing you to appreciate the greeneries, the chirping of birds, the clean air, and the humming of the streams. To experience it, you don’t have to compromise but maximize comfort instead. And to do this, a handy dandy tool for you to bring is a portable solar panel.

A portable solar panel (or solar module) provides many functions while you’re outside to camp. You may use it for lighting, heating, charging phones and other personal devices, pest control, and even warding wild animals away.

Online articles provide you a lot to choose from. They claim that these are the best. Well, guess what? No best solar module exists out there since issues are bound to manifest. With that said, how do you choose one that greatly works for you? This article gives you an idea of the criteria.


Thin Multi-Layered Solar Cells


Good solar panels for camping are solar panels made up of thin multi-layered cells. Particularly, their thickness is 300 times thinner than photovoltaic solar cells, which are about 200 micrometers thick.

So what happens if a solar panel uses thin multi-layered solar cells? Utilizing these allows for flexibility, meaning that the solar panel can bend or warp a bit without damaging its components.

With flexibility, a solar panel brings a lot of perks while outdoors. You may easily load it even if the car is already cluttered inside. As for installation, you may position it anywhere you like so long as it can cope with the stress coming from bending or warping.

Thin multi-layered solar cells allow for ease of use. With them, you can install a solar panel or stash it away at a moment’s notice, even without the usage of specialized tools.

Strong winds aren’t a problem too. Thin multi-layered solar cells allow a solar panel to bend against the wind. With that said, it reduces the wind’s force upon the solar panel’s surface. Still, due to the solar panel’s lightness, it might get blown away.

Germany-Made or American-Made

High-quality solar modules come from either America or Germany. This statement is open for arguments. Furthermore, we don’t mean to instill market bias by this.

But why America and Germany only? Those coming from America have a high PTC rating, impressive longevity (averages 30 years of service lifetime). And smart features such as android or IOS connection, automatic shut-off function, etc. Brands that you should shortlist are Mission Solar, SolarTech Universal, and Tesla/Panasonic.

On the other hand, German solar modules for camp are characterized by their peerless engineering and durability. Most also comply with environmental regulatory standards. Meaning that they’re manufactured while observing minimum impact to mother nature.


How about portable solar modules made from China? There are a lot of decent manufacturers too! However, accompanying them in the market are numerous counterfeits and substandard ones.


Is There A White Background Foil?


Remember that a solar panel’s energy output is highly dependent on its exposure to sunlight. Therefore, a solar panel having a feature that maximizes its sunlight exposure isn’t bad, even if it didn’t produce a reputable brand.

When looking for a solar panel to use for camping, peel your eyes for the white background foil. A white background foil is installed on the back sheet of a solar panel and allows light to reflect. With it, the solar cells are exposed to light twice. Which then results in a heftier energy generation.


This feature also ensures that the solar panel generates adequate energy even if exposure to sunlight is low. A solar panel with white background foil is very suitable for woodlands, riversides, lakeside, recreational parks, and other highly shaded campsites.



Anti-Fog Glass and Tightly Sealed Frame

Fogging of the solar panel’s glass spreads sunlight in different directions and results in reduced energy generation. That’s why you should look for one which has an anti-fog feature. Usually, a solar panel with this feature uses a glass cover mixed with an anti-fogging agent that discourages the build-up of water droplets on its surface.

Also, look for sealants that reinforce the installation of the glass and frame on top of the solar cells. Common sealants that manufacturers use when making a solar panel are silicone, polyurethane, acrylic, butyl, and polysulfide. For more durability, some manufacturers place a thin lining of rubber on the edges of the frame.

portable solar panel


Conclusion


A fire is already enough for cooking and lighting when camping. However, it’s an undeniable fact that the smoke that it produces affects the environment. Also, if you don’t put it out properly, some embers might stay lit and cause wildfires.


That’s why you should try using a portable solar panel instead. With a portable solar panel, you will have a more convenient means of heating and lighting provided that you bring electric lamps, heaters, pans, and other easy-to-carry appliances.

But the ultimate purpose of using it is to travel with the environment in mind. You might not have recognized it, but human activity has drastically affected mother nature. That’s why you should know how to live green.

Simple green meal plan in the hood

Green Explorer Green Eating , , ,

Looking for a healthy lifestyle by improving your diet and living a greener life?

Spice up your menu while going green! We’ll show you how to get the most of your green lifestyle. Make it gentle for your tummy, healthy to your pocket and kinder to the mother earth.

Weight Watchers Green plan

If you’re looking for a meal plan that offers structure and accountability, Look no further! Enjoy healthy eating through Weight Watchers Food Plan has never been easier. This is due to its smart points system which has value assigned to each food to help us decide what food to eat. The system will guide you to a healthier pattern of eating to maintain a healthy weight.

Based on individual preferences and lifestyle, you can choose a green, blue, or purple food plan within weight watchers program. Each color has a unique balance of smart points and zero points foods to choose from. Based on your age, gender, height and weight, you will have a personalized smart point budget to spend every day.

The WW Green Plan is more restrictive than the others as some foods that otherwise would not receive any points, such as eggs, receive points. On the other end of the spectrum, there are 100 zero point foods that include apples and blueberries, butternut squash and cabbage, water chestnuts and zucchini; generally, most fruits and vegetables are rated as zero points on the green plan. This plan is a good option for those who struggle with overeating because more foods count for more points and there is a greater emphasis on fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Other healthy eating tips

If the Weight Watchers green plan is too restrictive or not your cup of tea, there are other meal options you can try. Weight watchers encourages breakfast consumption as a great way to fuel the beginning of your day. Options include french toast sticks, banana loaf, poached egg and toast, berry tacos, and breakfast burrito bowl. These options range from 1-5 points, with most being in the 3 to 5 point range.

If you’re looking for lunch or dinner options, weight watchers has you covered. Try making the crunchy chicken salad that features boneless chicken, hardboiled eggs, celery, cranberries and walnuts and which registers as 7 points on the green plan and 5 points for all other plans. You can try the taco salad in a jar, where you can put all of your favorite taco salad fixings, like lettuce, salsa, ground beef, shredded cheese and refried beans in a mason jar for a fun and convenient meal option that’s 5 points on the green plan and 3 points in the blue and purple. There are a host of other meal options, including slow cooker chicken and ground turkey goulash recipes, pumpkin soup and biscuit pizza bread for appetizers or lighter fare and a variety of dessert options such as peanut butter parfait. The choices are almost endless!

Healthy shopping

Finding wholesome, healthful ingredients can be a challenge, but there are a variety of venues that can accommodate your tastes and aspirations, Aldi has an abundance of affordable options that easily accommodate even the most restrictive green plan, with options that range from 0 points (organic spring mix, unsweetened apple sauce) to 9 points (spinach and feta thin crust pizza, peanut butter energy bars), Given the varied options, Aldi makes it easy, affordable and enjoyable to eat healthy, It’s also great because, if you’re trying to lead a green lifestyle, they require you to use re-useable bags.

Other great options include Walmart, Costco and BJs as they can accommodate bulk purchasing, which cuts down on packaging and often is less expensive. Many, if not most, of the options Aldi offers can be found at these stores. You can also try your local farmer’s market, which is a great option to buy, fresh, whole fruits and vegetables, an essential diet component especially if you’re on the green plan. It’s always a good idea when you are shopping to try and walk, since you not only get to exercise but you also get to cut down on your carbon footprint. What can be greener than that?

My Favorite green meal choice

Healthy eating doesn’t need to be complicated. Below is an abbreviated recipe for quick instant chicken noodle soup:

1 onion

2 celery stalks

4 carrots

6 cups of chicken broth

2 cups of cooked skinless chicken breast

2 cups of cooked egg noodles

butter-flavored cooking spray

parsley to taste


Chop all vegetables. Sautee for 5 minutes in cooking spray with 3 tablespoons of water. Add chicken and broth and simmer for another 5 minutes. Put egg noodles into bowls and ladle soup over the noodles. Enjoy!


These are just one of many healthy eating ideas you can find via weight watchers green plan.

Enjoy your meal!