Home Tips – Page 4 – Flows to Bay

Spring is on the way. As you reach for that dusty bin of cleaning supplies to spruce up your home, consider these affordable, eco-friendly and effective DIY cleaning alternatives. Instead of reaching for a potentially toxic product, there are many ways to be eco-friendly, clean effectively and possibly save some money in the process.

All around the house

Countertops: Using equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle helps clean countertops and kills bacteria. Do not use this mixture on granite, marble or stone as the acidity is not good for these surfaces. Instead, use rubbing alcohol.

Windows: In a spray bottle, mix four parts of water with one part vinegar and the juice of one lemon. This mixture is also effective for cleaning mirrors.

In the kitchen

Microwave: Fill a bowl with water and one sliced lemon. Microwave this mixture for five minutes. Take a towel to clean off surfaces.

Oven: Heat the oven to 125 degrees. Using a spray bottle, spray vinegar on the oven interior. Add a bit of salt to a a towel damp with water to scrub and clean.

Cutting board: Slice a lemon in half. Use one half and rub over the surface. Let sit for 10 minutes. When 10 minutes has passed, take the other half of the lemon and rub to loosen any bits on the board. Rinse with water.

In the bathroom

Bath and tile: Mix ¾ cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of castile soap. Add one tablespoon of water and make a paste.

Toilets: To clean and sanitize frequently, mix a spray bottle of vinegar with five or six drops of tea tree or lemon essential oil. For a more thorough cleaning, put 10 drops of the essential oil in ½ cup of baking soda and mix with ¼ cup of vinegar.

Now it is your turn! Try one of these recipes to prove that using these non-toxic alternatives is a great green way to keep your home clean and healthy.

Even with recent record rainfalls, Californians suffering through the drought have come to understand that water is a precious resource. There are many small ways to make your home more water friendly here in the San Mateo area. You can also save money by cutting back your monthly water bill.

1. Rain barrels

When the rain comes, collect it. Just one inch of rain on an average roof can equate to 625 gallons of water that will take its course through a vast network of pipes and channels, eventually draining untreated to the Bay. But did you know you can actually save that rainwater and use it for watering your garden before it goes down the drain? Rain barrels can help put rainwater to good use, lighten your water footprint and even reduce flooding. San Mateo residents who buy and install qualifying rain barrels can collect rebates of up to $100 per barrel. Learn more about installation, upkeep and rebate information here: rain barrels.

2. Faucet fixes

A leaky faucet that drips just five times within a minute may be wasting more than 200 gallons of water a year. A quick repair to stop the dripping can help conserve that water. It is also possible to save as much as 70 gallons per month by adding water-saving faucet aerators.

3. Update the washer

Older top-loading machines use 40 gallons of water for a full load of laundry. A high-efficiency washer may use half the water and energy of traditional washers. Update to a high-efficiency model and a rebate may be available through Cal Water. Check for rebates here.

4. Rip up the lawn

Shut off the sprinkler and remove the grass on your property. Replace it with a drought-tolerant landscape. Not sure how to do that? It’s easier than you might think. Attend a free water-efficient landscape class offered by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency.

5. Permeable Pavements

One of the best ways to reduce runoff is to direct it into the ground. There, it can be filtered by plants or soil instead of running onto sidewalks, streets and into storm drains. Water is absorbed by the plants and trees. Learn more about permeable landscaping here.

Conserving water can save money and the environment. Take one action this week to make your home more water-friendly!

Fall and winter are great times to have some “Edventures” with your kids!

Laying a strong conservation foundation now when children are young helps to ensure future water saving efforts. Here are some helpful tips to show your child that water conservation can be fun and engaging:

1. Get a Jump on Some Spring Plantings.

Kids love to get their hands dirty. So tap into that behavior and plant some spring bulbs now. Plants set in the fall require less water and will look better in spring.

2. Small Investment, Big Benefits.

Show your child that saving water is as easy as catching water in a barrel…literally. A rain barrel can be used to collect and store rainwater runoff, which can be used to water your plants or garden.

3. Encourage your Child to be a Drain Ranger, a Leak Detective or Deputy Drip!

Task your child to go sleuthing for leaks or ways to save or protect water around the house. Have them look for dripping faucets or together you can try the “dye test” to see if any of your toilet tanks are slowly leaking. Once found, fix the leak or clean up the potential pollutant with your child and show them that they can be part of the solution!

4. Saving Water is a Family Affair

Organize a family meeting with your child and help them make a list of ways they can help save water like the one below:

a) Keep showers to 5 minutes (a shower timer is handy).

b) When washing hands, turn off water when lathering hands with soap.

c) Fill the sink when hand washing dishes—don’t let the water run.

d) Turn off water while brushing teeth.

5. Go On a Watershed “Edventure!”

Drive, hike, walk or bike to explore creek, bay and ocean habitats. Take the time to show your child that pollution affects our rivers, lakes and oceans.

Teaching your children about water conservation shouldn’t be boring and dull…make it an “edventure.” Trust us…your kids will thank you for it!

This Thanksgiving, share some helpful water-saving tips with friends and family. Why do turkeys, side dishes, and, of course, desserts have anything to do with water conservation? All the preparation, cooking, drinking, and cleaning can gobble up a lot of water. For example, one twenty-pound turkey requires up to 9,360 gallons of water over its lifetime, and that is before it reaches your Thanksgiving Day table! Here are some great tips to reduce water usage that your parents probably didn’t share with you:

The Big Thaw

Don’t defrost your turkey in cold water. Instead plan ahead and place your turkey in the refrigerator days before you’re set to cook it. The bigger the turkey, the more time it needs to thaw. Don’t forget to put the turkey in a pan to catch any leaking juices.

Many Ways to Reuse Water

Washing vegetables in a large bowl of water rather than running water over them can help cut down the amount of water going down the drain. The water can then be used to water your garden or even to soak the roasting pan or dirty utensils before washing them.

Steam Instead of Boil

One way to conserve water is to steam vegetables instead of boiling them. Not only will you use less water, you’ll also preserve more nutrients and vitamins. No steamer? Place inexpensive metal forks on the bottom of your pot, fill with a little bit of water and then let veggies steam in a heat safe plate on top of forks.

Water Within Reach

One way to save water is to place a pitcher of cold water on the table instead of filling each glass. Diners can refill their water glasses when they are thirsty and not just when they are empty. Then use the leftover water to water your garden!

Food Waste = Water Waste

According to the EPA, non-food waste increases by over 20% – an extra 5 million tons – between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Serving smaller portions means cooking less, which then corresponds to less water consumption. Also, rather than dumping food scraps down the garbage disposal, which can clog pipes with oil and grease, scrape leftovers into the trash or even better, into a compost pile.

Who Wants to Do the Dishes?

Opt to use the dishwasher to clean dishes because an ENERGY STAR-rated dishwasher can use as little as three gallons. If you have to wash dishes by hand, fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.

So, in addition to giving thanks for what we have this Thanksgiving, let’s also spread the message that water conservation is something we all can be grateful for and support.

Do you have an old thermostat at home with a dial or a lever that looks like the one pictured on the left? Then most likely you have a thermostat that contains mercury. Many thermostats manufactured before 2006 contain mercury. This thermostat is perfectly safe to use, as the mercury is usually contained in a glass tube. But if you decide to change your thermostat to a new digital or programmable model, disposing of the old thermostat should be done safely.

Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that doesn’t break down in the environment. Mercury can be released into the atmosphere and can settle into waterways where it can convert into methyl-mercury and impact fish and humans.

Mercury thermostats contain about 3 grams of mercury. Although California banned the sale of new thermostats containing mercury starting in January 2006, they are still found in many homes, apartments and businesses.

In 2008, California passed the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act, which required thermostat manufacturers to set up a convenient collection and recycling program for unwanted mercury-containing thermostats for consumers and businesses. This was the first law in California to use a concept called extended producer responsibility (EPR) requiring manufacturers to take responsibility for managing their product from creation to disposal/recycling.

Under the law, heating and air conditioning wholesalers must also accept mercury thermostats from the public free-of-charge, and contractors who remove mercury thermostats must recycle them. So what does this mean for you? If you’re a consumer or business in San Mateo County with a mercury thermostat to get rid of, you have seven locations in San Mateo County to easily dispose of them!

Check out the Thermostat Recycling Corporation website to find a location near you. Remember to recycle that old thermostat, and the environment will thank you!

Spring is a time for sunshine, flowers, new growth and exploring the outdoors. Get outside and join a community cleanup event and help preserve our local waterways and environment. On or around Earth Day on April 22nd, neighborhood litter pickup events, habitat restorations, graffiti abatement and other general sprucing up activities take place. Help capture trash before it goes into the storm drain!

Once in the storm drain, litter easily flows directly to our creeks, Bay, beaches and ocean. Find a spring cleanup event near you.

Breathe Easy! Safer Home Cleaning

Open those windows while you do some spring cleaning with safer products! You can avoid the harmful ingredients in many household products by making your own products with ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen cupboard! Click here for safer, easy-to-prepare cleaners. The videos are especially helpful. Then e-mail us! We would love to hear your safer cleaning questions and suggestions. Contact us at info@flowstobay.org.

Have you heard of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)? EPR is an approach in which the manufacturer takes responsibility for proper disposal of the products they generate. The EPR model is a free market solution that allows manufacturers to assume the cost of product waste management and develop a program that provides residents with convenient access to environmentally responsible disposal solutions. An EPR model program for unused medicine disposal is currently being considered in San Mateo County. Under the program, drug manufacturers would fully fund a larger medicine collection program, making safe medicine disposal more convenient.

To learn more visit: smchealth.org/epr

Draining your car’s oil every 3,000 miles is no longer necessary. Your grandfather’s advice served you well but technology has resulted in newer vehicles needing less frequent oil changes.

Cruise into a quick lube with your 2011 Chevy Cruze every 7,500 miles. Sierra-bound in your 2010 Subaru Outback? Every 7,500 miles too. And that 2011 MINI Cooper? Every 12,000 miles! Check your number at checkyournumber.org

Recycle & Go Re-Refined – Same Great Oil at a Fraction of the Earth

When it’s time to change your oil, safely dispose of it at any of our 60 convenient drop-off sites or call for curbside pick-up. Go to smchealth.org/usedoil for complete information. When you recycle used oil, it can be re-refined and made into motor oil that meets the same high standards of oil from virgin crude. So when changing your oil, ask for re-refined – don’t tap the planet of more crude. O’Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone and PepBoys sell re-refined oil.

With California still facing the effects of a record-breaking drought, Earth Day is the perfect time to teach your kids to take care of our water. Get going now with these family-friendly water-protectors:

1. Build a rain barrel. Capturing rain in a barrel keeps it from flowing through the streets and dirtying the bay and ocean with pollutants picked up along the way. By working with your kids to harvest rainwater—and then using that water to irrigate your lawn and garden—you can also lower your utility bill. For a quick video on installing your rain barrel, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1i4zMlMSd0&list=PL4FACE8960D56BFF5

2. Go native. Talk to your children about how native plants require very little water to thrive (and therefore go a long way in helping California deal with the drought). Then, head to the nursery and have the kids pick out a native plant (such as California redbuds or California lilacs) for you to bring home and plant together. Check out this resource from UC Davis for a great list of everything from plants to great planting techniques: http://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum_all_stars.aspx

3. Green your pet care. When it’s time to give your dog a bath, head outdoors with your kids and hose him down in a patch of lawn that needs watering. And instead of dumping leftover water from your cat or dog’s dish, encourage your children to use that water to feed thirsty houseplants.

4. Head to the farm. Visit a local farm to teach kids about efficient irrigation — and to boost their appreciation for locally grown fruits and veggies.

5. Buddy up with bugs. Since pesticides are major water pollutants, pair up with your kids to ward off pests by planting some plants that will lure “good bugs” like ladybugs into your garden. Here’s our look at the top ten bugs you actually WANT in your yard: https://www.flowstobay.org/files/publications/10mostwanted.pdf

6. Plant an organic pest-fighter. Another way to fend off pesky insects without resorting to pesticides: help your kids plant garlic near your tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, or kale. Garlic naturally repels aphids, plus it’s rich in fungus-zapping sulfur.

7. Sign on for a beach cleanup. Taking part in a cleanup with your kids not only keeps the shore in good shape for your next family beach trip: it’s also essential for getting rid of cigarettes, plastic bags, and other trash before they end up in the water and hurt marine life. Feel like helping? Find an event near you.

A day at the beach or a trip to the creek helps your kids build a long-lasting love for water and a close connection to their community. Here are four reasons why visiting the water can change your children’s lives this summer and beyond:

1) It expands their sense of wonder. By spending a few hours in a place that’s fantastically different from their everyday world, kids can gain a sense of discovery that feeds their imagination and broadens their minds. Encourage them to explore by turning your beach trip into a treasure hunt and sending them out in search of seaweed, shells, or driftwood.

2) It inspires creativity. Another imagination-booster, making art from sand, rocks, and shells helps children tap into their creativity and find new means of self-expression. To bring beach fun beyond sand-castle-building, try activities like photography and storytelling.

3) It’s a hands-on science lesson. Roaming the beach or combing through tidepools can give children an invaluable understanding of the ocean ecosystem and all its amazing creatures. Take time out to teach your kids a few cool facts about why they need the ocean to thrive, such as how ocean plants contribute up to 85 percent of the world’s oxygen.

4) It empowers kids to protect their planet. Visiting the beach also lets children get a close look at how pollution affects the ocean and why it’s crucial to care for the environment. Devote a few minutes of your trip to collecting litter and explaining to kids how your everyday activities (such as picking up pet waste) can help protect marine life.

Now that you are inspired to get out to the water, consider these great options in our own San Mateo County: http://www.californiasbestbeaches.com/san_mateo/san_mateo_beaches.html