To remove wax from table cloths, carpets, and other fabrics use a medium hot iron. Place a paper towel on both sides of the fabric (or on top of the carpet). Blot up the wax once it melts, replacing the paper towel as needed.
Plant fibers are very good at absorbing moisture. And they breathe, enabling the release of perspiration through natural fiber clothing. Fibers from plants include cotton, hemp, linen, jute, kenaf, and ramie, however rayon is a manmade fabric made of natural materials, but the widespread practice in gathering the fiber is to use virgin tree pulp, which is not sustainable.
The FDA does not regulate labeling for home cleaning products, detergents, paints or pesticides; they only regulate food products and drugs. Avoid purchasing products that say "Poison" or "Toxic" as they most certainly are — manufacturers do not use such labeling unless they absolutely have to.
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Chemicals. If possible, choose paints and stains with no VOC. Avoid paints with petrochemicals, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene and xylene. Pregnant women should never paint and should not inhabit newly painted rooms until they've been well ventilated and dried — at least a week.
Synthetic pesticides are all manmade pesticides including indoor and outdoor herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Most synthetic pesticides contain organophosphates — a chemical family of nerve toxins. Check labels for chlorpyrifos/Dursban as it has recently been banned for residential use.
Most pest problems can be controled by practicing cleanliness. In the kitchen, make sure there are no food residues left anywhere. Fix leaks because pests are drawn to moisture. Sprinkle borox on backs of shelves, cupboards or along floorboards if you have a bad infestation - out of the reach of children or pets!
You can calculate your "footprint" on earth based on the type of shelter, food, transportation you use. Go to www.ecobusinesslinks.com/ecological_footprint_calculator.htm
Often 'green' and 'natural' are seen as synonymous. But buying recycled synthetics can divert resources from landfill - creating one more cycle in a human-created system, rather than making yet more demands on already overburdened ecosystems. Recycled plastic fencing, for example, can be more environmentally sound than new wood - even though it's less 'natural'.
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