by Maureen Erikson

Published 10.14.2011

There's nothing more satisfying than sitting down with your family to a home-cooked meal. But once that feast is over, that's when the real work begins. Keeping your kitchen clean can be a difficult task. Do you know how to save yourself some time and energy, and also save the environment? We bring you a few tips and tricks this week to keep your kitchen green, clean, and cost effective.

First of all, you always want to prevent any problems before they begin. Keep tabs on leaky faucets. Each drip might not seem like much, but it adds up. One leaky faucet dripping 30 times a minute would add up to 1,041 gallons a year. That's as much a 20 bathtubs full! Check out the USGS website for an awesome calculator to help you figure out how those drips add up in your home.

Along with those drips and leaks come moisture and mildew. This, in turn, can lead to a variety of health effects ranging from allergic reactions and asthma to more serious illnesses. Make sure that any spills or wet areas are dried up within 24-48 hours to prevent growth, and use a good household cleaner to keep any existing messes clean. Along with this, keep these areas clean in order to prevent pests such as ants or mice in your kitchen. You make delicious food for your family, not for these unwanted houseguests!

When those dinner dishes start to stack up, turn to your dishwasher. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, using an ENERGY STAR qualified dishwasher instead of hand washing will save, on average, 5,000 gallons of water and 230 hours of your time annually. Set your dishwasher to air dry at the end of the cycle, and save yourself some additional energy costs. 

Another thing to focus on is waste management in your kitchen. All that cooking and baking can create waste. There are a few very simple solutions to cut down on your trash.

Try your hand at composting. Although most people see this as a summer project with a huge bin in their yard, it's pretty simple to set up a small compost bin right in your kitchen and use it year round. There are several kinds of small 1-3 gallon composting buckets available that are convienent enough to keep under your kitchen sink cabinet. Keep your eggshells, banana peels, and your daily coffee grounds in the bucket, and with a few red wigglers, you could have some beautiful and vitamin-rich compost to maintain your kitchen herb garden year round!

Recycling is a simple solution. Most communities have a recycling program built into their city waste management system. All those soda cans, cereal boxes, plastic milk jugs, and soup cans really add up. Keep a box in a convienent place in your kitchen, and encourage your family to rince and recycle! Recycling doesn't always mean sending it toa facility. It also makes a great art supply treasure chest for children to build hats out of cereal boxes, tin can phones, or storage containers for art supplies and tools.

Once those dishes are cleaned up, and the leftovers are composted, it's time to wipe down those counters. Kitchen cleaning supplies can be filled with chemicals and additives that can be harsh on your skin, your lungs, and even your stomach if they come in contact with your food. This is why it is so important to be using natural cleaners in your home. Products such as Boulder 100% Natural Household Cleaners will keep those counters, windows, and appliances clean, without exposing your family to chemical dangers. With all-natural ingredients such as orange and coconut oils, biodegradable and paraben-free formulas, and the scouring power of natural salt, you know your counters and surfaces are squeaky-clean, and safe enough to eat right off of!

With these simple tips, keeping that kitchen clean and green is a breeze. You'll be able to keep your energy and water costs down, keep your family safe, keep cleaning efforts to a minimum, and cut down on your environmental footprint!

We ask you: What do you do to keep your kitchen green?

by Maureen Erikson

When you were little, monsters under your bed were perhaps the most frightening thing you could think of. Each night when you tuck your little ones in, and read them a bedtime story, do you stop to think about the nightmares that may not be lurking under the bed, but in the bed itself? The scary truth is that the conventional mattress could be as frightening as the purple hairy guy lurking below.