EcoSMART is the leader in safe, eco-friendly pesticides, from organic ant killer to organic insect repellent.  These natural pesticides are formulated with plant and tree essential oils making them safe for the home, children, pets and the environment.

The EcoSmart formations are designed to repel, knock down and kill a variety of pests including cockroaches, ants, dust mites, flies, wasps, spiders, crickets, and fleas. Their blend of natural plant oils are just as effective as any synthetic chemicals, without toxins or harmful residues.

The Giveaway

On Wednesday, March 3rd, one Green and Chic reader will receive one Safe Home Value  Bundle.  This bundle includes:

• Ant and Roach Killer (14 oz can)
• Home Pest Control (24 oz spray bottle)
• Flying Insect Killer (14 oz can)
• Insect Repellent (6 oz bottle)

To Enter

Required
Comment and tell us why you want or need the Safe Home Value Bundle.

Optional
To earn more points, you can do each of the following (separate comment for each entry):

1. Blog about the giveaway and link back to this page on your blog. If you comment below with the link, you will automatically get two extra points.

2. Sign up for my email updates or RSS feed. Leave a comment below telling me that you have signed up. You will also get an entry if you already subscribe — make sure to leave a comment.

3. Follow me on Twitter @carlarose and tweet the giveaway. To make it easier, you can use the “retweet” button at the bottom left hand side of this post.

4. Email four friends about the giveaway. Leave a comment below telling me that you did.

You can do one or all of the above. The more you do, the better your chance of winning. The contest will end on Wednesday, March 3rd at 5:00PM PST. The winner will be selected via Random.org and will be notified via email and will also be announced in a future post.

One of my faviorte bath and body lines I have at Green and Chic is Naturity. Though I mostly use the bath line, (no little ones here) the babyhood line deserves special recognition.

In December 2009, Naturity announced that its entire Organic Babyhood product line (Baby Massage Oil, Diaper Balm, and Baby Powder) received a “zero” toxicity rating-the best possible rating for a product in the Skin Deep database.

Organic Diaper Balm

The ingredients in the Naturitiy baby line all are free from additives and chemicals. They are made with the freshest organic ingredients, which means they are grown without chemicals, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. All products are also free from chemical preservatives such as parabens, and free from artificial perfumes, fragrances, colors, 100% natural and at least 99% certified organic.

Organic Baby Massage Oil

Naturity also believe in using eco-friendly packaging. For this reason, they chose glass and  metal containers for their products rather than plastic.

From now until the end of the month, get 10% off any order at Green and Chic, by entering TENOFF at checkout.

This is a guest post written by Brett Lindenberg an avid internet marketer from nether regions of Northwest Minnesota. When not trying to harness the power of Twitter (@brettlindenberg) he enjoys watching Brett Farve be a Viking.

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Batteries are the unappreciated purveyors of our connectivity obsessed society. We use them to power up our vehicles which enables us to travel long distances, on our wristwatches to be able to tell the time of day, on our laptops which allows us to use our precious computers even if there is no electrical power source, etc. Hey, we even use it on our cell phones which have become a necessity nowadays. Indeed, there is no denying that these batteries have made our lives easier. Let’s face it; we just can’t live without them.

The progress of technology has increased the demand for these batteries. There was a time when we only needed them for a number of tools and appliances that can be found in a typical home. A lot has changed since then. Now, the use of these batteries have increased to such an alarming rate that it has become a global concern.

There is a social responsibility attached to the use of household batteries. Batteries contain heavy metals that are harmful to the environment and to human beings. Improper disposal may lead to the contamination of our environment and cause harmful effects to us. Concerned groups and organizations have acknowledged the damaging effects of these heavy metals and how it could affect us in the future. It has paved the way for new laws to be passed in some areas of the world. How should we properly dispose of these batteries? Let us start with what we are not supposed to do.

Don’t:

• Do not keep dead batteries in battery compartments. A dead battery is a useless battery.
Delaying the disposal of these batteries may lead to leaks which are harmful if a person
comes into direct contact with the leak.
• Do not dispose batteries in the trash.
• Do not expose batteries to open flames. It may cause it to explode.
• Do not attempt to disassemble a battery. Doing so might expose you to its harmful
contents.

Do:

• Follow the instructions printed on the battery packaging or the battery itself.
• See if your local store is a drop-off point for used batteries. Some stores are designated
drop-off point’s set-up to collect the batteries. They in turn bring it to a proper battery
disposal/recycling facility.
• Check-out local laws on proper battery disposal. Chances are they have a program set-up
for this.

If you live in the U.S., please visit http://www.batteryrecycling.com/. They recycle all battery types anywhere in the country.

Let’s do what we can to help save the environment by disposing our batteries the right way.

Though I’ve never owned a SIGG bottle, I did have plans to purchase a couple for myself and gifts for others. Learning about this breach of trust really angered me in ways no other “conventional” company who’ve told similar lies have ever done. We have using products with plastic and eating canned foods for years  and we are just now finding out the the hazards of some of theses items.  After manufactures of such products have been revealed and products with these chemicals banned in certain countries, we put our trust in companies that are supposed to be looking out for us.  Yes, they are out to make a profit and that is their right and I respect that, but does that mean they have a right to be dishonest when it gets difficult?

Should we now just take everything what any company says about the safety of their products with a gain of salt? How do we know (or find out) if a company is lying to us about their products?

In the seventeen months Green and Chic Blog has been in existence, I have written a few posts that has stood the test of time.  These are still the most searched and visited posts since I started blogging.  I recently edited  a few of these posts to give them a bit of a “face lift” for my new readers.

“I have a headache!” – A word about perfumes was one of my first posts in the “Chemicals to Avoid” series. I wrote this post out of frustration due to constant exposure to artificial presumes, scents and fragrances that gives me terrible migraines.

Petroleum jelly possible cancer risk is sort of a controversial subject because we don’t know for sure if petroleum jelly actually causes cancer, but there are other good reasons to avoid products with petroleum jelly and mineral oil.

Alternatives to fabric softeners Did you know that commercial fabric softeners is one of the most toxic household products used today?  This post goes into why that’s the case, and what you can use as a safer (and cheaper) alternative.

Out of these three, is there anything that stands out to you? I will continue to revise some of my older posts in the coming weeks so stay tuned via RSS or email.

Are you still using bleach in your laundry and to clean your home? I remember when bleach was the be all end all of cleanliness while growing up. Little did we realize how toxic it is.   Eco-Friendly Alternatives To Bleach by The Good Human gives us a few great alternatives.

Several months ago, Sommer Poquette of Green and Clean Mom wrote an article on kids and bleach in Bleach Prescribed to Relieve Eczema Itching: Talk About a Toxic Bath! I found it hard to believe that bleach is an actual recommendation for dealing with eczema (especially for babies).  What else can you do?  Sommer gives us good suggestions.

Do you own one of those Swiffer (mops) that requires disposable wipes? SquakFox has a great alternative to buying and tossing out those disposable Swiffer wipes in  4 Swiffer Cleaning Hacks for Cheaper Dust-Free Living. Not only will these hacks help you save money, but it will reduce waste.

Though we should be very concerned about outdoor and environmental air quality, according to the EPA, research indicates that some people spend 90% of their time indoors. That would include the sick, people with limited mobility and the elderly.  My guess is this is especially true if you live in an not so friendly climate – especially in the winter.  Indoor Air Quality by Focus Organic gives us basic steps on how we can improve the air we breathe.

Keep your eyes peeled for another eco-friendly pet product giveaway in the coming weeks.

Some people are tempted to flush them down the toilet or just throw them in the trash. A better and more eco friendly option would be to give them to someone who will use them.  You may not want them, but others may want or need these items, and may not have the same choices we do.

After a little decluttering in my home, I have given away (mostly unused or gently used) household and cosemetic products away on Craigslist, Freecycle, and local organizations.

Contact your local homeless shelters, woman’s shelters (or safe homes), or non-profit organizations to see if they have a need for anything you have to offer.  These days the need is great and anything you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Any drain cleaners went to my local hazardous waste disposal site because products such as Drano and Liquid Plumber are some of the most toxic household chemicals around.

There are plenty of alternative products you can buy now-a-days but the Treehugging Family blog has a list of 25 safe, non-toxic house made cleaning supplies.

If you use a microwave, do you stand ten feet away when its on because of the radiation?  Do you avoid using sponges at all cost because of germs? Do you avoid eating certain foods or produce if you don’t know for sure if its organic or not to avoid pesticides?

On this blog, I do write a great deal about toxic substances that are used in our day-to-day lives, but also want to keep it light and (hopefully) fun.  Baring allergies, intolerance’s or illness you or your family members may have, sometimes we can get too caught up up in whats “deadly” .The question is, how do you find that balance once you become aware that certain habits you’re used to may not be healthy for you and your family?

My guess is you have to pick and choose whats most important to you.  For me, its the use of artificial fragrances in personal and home care products because of my allergies (perfumes gives me migraines).  Also, I avoid certain foods to a point.

Between news about what Sarah Palin is wearing and what the stocks are doing, there has been some headlines about the safety of our food (again), specifically chocolate candy.  The Cheeseslave blog wrote a couple of great posts on this issue: Very Scary Halloween Candy

More on Potentially Tainted Halloween Candy

Personally, this scares the crap out of me given there has already been deaths associated with melamine.  Its been quite a while since I’ve had mainstream chocolate, but my concern is for others and their children.  Other people may not be that concerned however.

Other things people are concerned about may include, mattresses, clothing that isn’t organic, the use of plastics, cosmetics, cell phones, and much more.

How do you find your balance when it comes to keeping your and/or your family healthy and safe?

Photo credit: erix

Newsweek Magazine recently published an article on how to avoid household toxins.  Nena Baker, author of  The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being
the EPA and the  Environmental Working Group, has listed nine ways you can avoid household toxins:

1. Filter your water.  In addition to what the article suggests, staying away from plastic bottled water is beneficial to the Earth and body.

2.  Know whats in your grooming products. The Cosmetics Database website is highly recommended when researching common ingredients in personal care products.

3.  Don’t Eat Microwave Popcorn.  “The inside of a microwave popcorn bag is usually coated with a perfluorinated chemical (PFC) called a fluorotelomer that can break down to form perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Designed to prevent oil from seeping through the bag, PFOA can migrate into the food when heated. It has been linked to cancer and birth defects in animals and preliminary epidemiological studies suggest that a pregnant woman’s exposure to PFOA may reduce her baby’s birth weight….”

4.  Don’t Get Stain-Protective Treatment.  This recommendation is talking about the “extras” or add ons you can get when you buy furniture, clothes and shoes.

5.  Limit Use of Canned Food and Plastic Containers. Speaks about the risk of  Bisphenol-A (BPA) that is not only found in plastic containers, but also used to line the inside of canned foods as well (Previous post: Plastics and its health risks)

6.  Use PBDE-Free Electronics. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) is in the same family flame redardants.  They are mostly found in TVs and computer monitores.  “…is stirred into the equipment’s plastic and can heat up over time, causing the material to break away and settle into the dust. Many manufactures have stopped using PBDEs for electronics, but not all have….” The Environmental Working Group has a list of PBDE-free electronics.

7.  Don ‘ t Use Paint Made With Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Fortunately, VOC-free paints can be found at most paint and home improvement stores now. (See links below for resources)

8.  Patronize a Perc-Free Dry Cleaner. “Perchloroethylene (perc) is also a VOC and is most commonly used in dry cleaning. The EPA identifies perc as a known human toxin and “a precursor to ground-level ozone (smog).” It usually enters the body through inhalation and remains stored in fat tissue….”

9.  Dust and Vacuum Weekly. “Baker says that toxins like PBDE can settle into the dust in your house, so to be extra safe, it’s best to keep your house clean through regular dusting and vacuuming.”

Read the full article here: Newsweek – October 1, 2008

Green dry cleaner directory

Non-Toxic Paint

Affordable Low-Voc Paint

The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-being

Source: ABC News

So much for my previous post: LA Times: California launches broad effort to control hazardous chemicals

Meanwhile…
“On the same day Governor Schwarzenegger touted himself as the leader of a comprehensive chemical reform program, he vetoed a bill that would have made California the first state to ban toxic chemicals known as PFCs – a family of compounds including Teflon – from food packaging.” California Progress Report

Teflon is commonly used on cookware as a non-stick coating.  Its been known for over twenty years that Teflon cookware used in the home is highly fatal to birds to the point that its been listed as the leading cause of death for pet birds. Death to the birds can happen under very normal domestic cooking conditions, even when the cooking is done in another part of the home. 

I remember about fifteen years ago, me and my mother went shopping for a bird and the Avian Veterinarian adamantly told us not to use any Teflon coated products in the house if we decided to purchase one of the birds.  After that, my mother got rid of everything Teflon in the house stating that “if it can kill birds, what is it doing to us?”

In terms of what its doing to us, Teflon, which is a known carcinogen, has been found in the blood of many Americans.  Teflon is not only used in pots and pans, but also popcorn bags and other convenience, microwaveable food containers. 

“PFOA seems to be in the blood of most Americans, as found in studies that examined blood from American blood banks, and is likely to be in the blood of most of the rest of us as well. PFOA enters into our bodies very easily through the cooked food when the non-stick pan is either scratched, or when it is heated, (which is what we do with pans and  popcorn bags) Popcorn bags seem to cause higher exposures to PFOA compared to non-stick cookware, as a chemical in the packaging migrates into the oil which coats the popcorn which we then eat, and the chemical then degrades into PFOA in our bodies. Heated Teflon also releases toxic fumes which we inhale.”  Teflon is hazardous to our health – Trusted MD

Currently, the research isnt very clear as to what it does to the human body, but the fact that its a carcinogen and fatal to birds is reason enough to avoid it in our homes. 

 Canaries in the Kitchen: Teflon Toxicosis: Teflon kills birds