The Green Cleaning Tip for January 2018 is contributed thanks to Going Green House Cleaning. We use their services for our listings and recommend them for our clients.

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Happy New Year!

The holiday season has come and gone and the time has come to embrace the new year.

The new year brings a fresh start and the opportunity to set new goals and motivations for the year ahead. Yet somehow, this fresh feeling that we “feel” doesn’t always relay in to how our lives and homes look coming out of the hectic holiday season. We may feel renewed, but our surroundings may relay a different story. So how can we make our home feel the same way we do? Well, Going GreenHouse is here to help with our first green cleaning tip of 2018 (can you believe it?!?!).

Fridge:

After tossing old holiday leftovers, wipe the shelves and door with a microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner made with plant-based ingredients. Pull your fridge out from the wall and unplug it. Then use your vacuum’s brush tool to gently clean the coils. (If your fridge has a removeable grille in the front, unsnap or unscrew it to get to the coils from the front of the fridge.)

Oven:

Corrosive chemicals in oven cleaners can cause breathing difficulty or skin irritation. Fortunately, you can make a surprisingly effective oven cleaner with a paste of ½ cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of dish soap, and water (about the consistency of toothpaste). Rub the paste into whatever holiday leftovers are lingering on the walls and bottom of your oven. Leave it for 5 minutes, then wipe clean with a wet rag or microfiber. To reach the back of the oven, wrap the microfiber around a spatula or long-handled spoon, this will help you reach those hard-to-get areas.

Windows:

Window cleaners may contain ingredients like ammonia and  isopropyl alcohol that may irritate your lungs. To remove gunk without these ingredients, rub a dollop of mayonnaise onto sticky spots from window decals and scrape with a plastic spatula (never use a razor blade, which can scratch the glass) use a plant-based all purpose or glass cleaner on the frame, ledge, and hardware and wipe clean. Then spray the cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe the window top to bottom in a “Z” pattern in order to prevent streak marks and create consistency.

Vent covers:

In addition to choosing cleaners with low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), cleaning your vent covers is an easy way to help protect your home’s indoor air quality. Get rid of dust bunnies and allergens by unscrewing vent covers and placing them in a sink filled with hot water and a squirt of dish soap. Wipe the covers carefully with a microfiber, dry, and replace.

Carpet:

Carpet can trap (and hold) dust, dirt, pet dander, and allergens. To freshen and deodorize your carpet, you don’t need special cleaners — just sprinkle baking soda on the entire area and let it sit for at least an hour (the longer, the better). Vacuum it up and repeat if needed.

Although keeping a clean home can seem like a never-ending task, these are a few items that will help you get the new year started on the right foot! Don’t forget, if you need an extra hand, Going GreenHouse LLC is here to be of service! Happy New Year!

Green Cleaning Tip for December 2017 is contributed thanks to Going Green House Cleaning. We use their services for our listing and recommend them for our clients.

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I’m dreaming of a GREEN Christmas…

The holiday season is upon us! Holiday parties have commenced, baking is in order, shoppers are shopping, and our agendas are filling up quickly. Last month we discussed how to get our homes holiday-ready and what better way to embrace the holiday hullabaloo than to discuss the topic of resourcefulness.

It is a season of abundance. An abundance of savory dishes and delectable treats. An abundance of tree lots lining the streets. An abundance of wrapping paper, ribbons, and boxes. An abundance of family and friends. Joy and cheer abound. These are all things to embrace and for which to be thankful.

Now think a little bigger. Pull back the curtains, if you will, on the topic of resourcefulness. Take a moment to think of all the boxes, bags, wrapping paper, tissue, and paper products in general that we consume during the holidays. According to a Stanford University study, Americans create an extra 1 million tons of garbage each week from thanksgiving to New Years. It is hard to fathom, isn’t it? This month we are going to step away from the cleaning side of “going green” and instead focus on what it can look like to conserve, because ‘Tis the season…right?

Wrapping paper.

We are all guilty of tearing open holiday gifts without thinking twice. I remember, as a child, watching my mother carefully popping off the tape from gifts and slowly unwrapping. At the time, the anticipation of seeing what was inside had me beside myself. Hurry, hurry, open it! Then I would watch as she carefully folded the paper and set it aside. How obserd. Or is it? You see, what she was doing was saving the paper to reuse down the road. How many rolls of half-used of wrapping paper do you have in your home? Consider this. What if we all made a point of reusing boxes, saving ribbons, and saving wrapping paper? Another way to be environmentally conscious is to purchase recycled wrapping paper or use old newspapers, for a classic twist.

Holiday cards.

It is pleasant to think that we all have boxes upon boxes of every holiday card, from every family, that we have ever received. However, the reality is that a lot of cards end up in the trash, at some point. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Keeping this in mind, consider using cards made out of recycled paper or avoiding buying cards with glossy, shiny, or foil coatings since they cannot be recycled.

Re-Gifting.

Speaking of abundance, what about the idea of re-gifting? Yes, this may sound offensive. However, think of all the gifts this year that will remain unused and untouched. Or the old clothes and toys that will be replaced and end up in the back of some closet, somewhere. Instead of allowing the clutter to build in your home, consider re-gifting or giving back to your community. Too many times old toys and clothes are simply thrown in to the trash and put to waste. Instead of giving in to convenience, be proactive and give your surplus to a local charity, thrift store, family in need, or, well, your sister-in-law for that matter. There are a myriad of ways  to give back this holiday season.

Opportunities to be resourceful are all around us. Sometimes we just need to take the opportunity and commit to doing our part in making a difference. From our Going GreenHouse to yours, Happy Holidays!

Our Green Cleaning Tip for November will help you triage your cleaning program amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Thanks again to our friends at Going Green House Cleaning.

‘Tis the season of hustle and bustle and remembering to slow down and embrace the moment. So how do you balance everything? How do you balance being able to embrace your loved ones while staying up on the day-to-day chores?

cook, clean, shop, host, repeat.

It can be overwhelming, can’t it? One of the most anticipated times of year can quickly become the most hectic and stressful time of year. Amongst the hustle and bustle we find ourselves trying to make enough time in the day to accomplish everything on our To-Do Lists and still take time to relax and enjoy the season at hand. Sometimes the most stressful part of the holidays is getting food on the table and still making sure that the house looks good for company at the end of the day. What is it that you should focus on when it comes to cleaning? What is it that your company will notice when they enter your home? Do people even care how your home looks? What are the essentials and where can you draw the line? Well, Going GreenHouse is here to help! Let’s focus on a few main points of polish for getting your home entertaining-ready.

The entryway.

Let’s be honest, it’s the first thing people notice when they approach your home. So what can you do? Wipe down your front door, give the doormat a good shake, and make sure dust and dirt haven’t collected on the floors. These are the first things guests will see when they arrive, so keeping them clean will guarantee a good first impression and will prevent dust and dirt from accumulating with all the foot traffic.

The kitchen.

People tend to gather around the food during the holidays, so make sure your kitchen looks and smells inviting. Don’t forget to dust the light fixtures and flush sink drains with boiling water. After all, you want people to notice the aroma of food in the oven, not the food in your garbage disposal.

The Royal Throne.

Yes, having company means that the loo will see its fair share of guests. Simply wiping down the backsplash and base of your toilet can ensure a good impression… and don’t forget to give the inside a good scrub too. A grimy loo can be the demise of any guest. And to all you hosts out there, nobody likes the embarrassment of a stench left behind, so give your guests the peace of mind of a green-friendly air freshener. Whether it’s air cleansing essential oils or a pleasant candle, give your guests an option for leaving the bathroom smelling pleasant for guests to follow.

The stovetop.

We all know that the stovetop receives a lot of love during the holidays, so keep it clean with a simple mixture of baking soda and water. Nobody wants to see your stovetop leftovers from dinner the night before.

The holiday budget.

The holidays can quickly become an expensive time of year, so save some money and make your own cleaning products. Castile soap is a wonderful multi-purpose solution for all your holiday cleaning needs. Simply fill a pray bottle with water and add Castile soap and your favorite holiday scent: clove, myrrh, pine, sweet orange, cinnamon, peppermint, etc… and just like that you will have a solution for all your cleaning needs!

From our Going GreenHouse to yours, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Need some help this holiday season? Contact Going GreenHouse for your holiday cleaning needs.

I’ve been driving by the old building at about 2nd Ave and Camelback for years and I was never sure what it was. Was it a hotel? Was it an office? Well, its going to be Arrive Phoenix, by Vintage Partners, who are well known for the redevelopment efforts at Uptown Plaza.

The plan, according to this article, is to build a stylish boutique hotel and dining destination. It is nice to see that the developers (from California) teamed up with the developers of The Newton, Windsor and Churn, and The Orchard, Venue Projects.

The $20M project is another testimony to the importance of adaptive re-use. I’m a fan of adaptive re-use over new-build because renovating an old building is about 90% more earth friendly than building a completely new building. We need more of that these days. Congrats, Arrive Phoenix!

According to the article, Arrive Phoenix will “combine both buildings into a singular and striking 79-room property. Arrive Phoenix will also host a boutique coffee shop, a poolside taco bar, a gourmet ice creamery, and a nautical-themed rooftop craft cocktail bar featuring sweeping 360-degree city views.

Did you catch that bit about the gourmet ice creamery? I guess that means we will have three ice cream shops in a 1/2 mile radius, unless they move Churn in here.

This development speaks again to where the central Phoenix housing market is going. If you are living in the area of this development, you are doing to be in a good place in the long-run.

Now, let’s see if we can find some space for more owner-occupied properties in walking distance to this development. As we say, its not just about in-fill. Its also about walkability.

If you are thinking of moving in to the area, call us quickly at 602-456-9388, and prices will probably go up once this gets in place.

As many of you know, I’m a fan-boy for the Phoenix Public Works Department’s efforts at building a circular economy.

Here’s the difference between the two. And, yes, the difference is huge for not only our sustainable future, but also for our local economy.

A linear economy is wasteful, expensive and does not create as many jobs as it could. It costs more money and jobs to ship raw materials here from out of state, or out of country and it adds carbon emissions.

Click here to see the video that these screen captures come from.

A circular economy takes advantage of materials that are already in our waste stream, and re-uses them in a way that creates new jobs and businesses.

When you think about waste streams, think numbers. Over 7 million people in Arizona are all throwing away trash every day. We currently recycle less than 20% of our trash, despite all of those blue bins that we see in our neighborhoods. Office and industrial waste is often passed right in to the landfill.

Hey, just imagine what is happening to all of the metal, wood and concrete that comes off of those many homes that you see being renovated right now.

So, I’m particularly interested in the work that ASU is doing in collaboration with the city to find ways to extract the monetary and employment value from this waste stream. Check out the Resource Innovation and Solutions Network, which has just started its “Call for Innovations.” This will result in an demo and expo day, which will certainly lead to new business opportunities.

At a time when there is a lot of talk about bringing jobs back to the US, these folks are making it happen. After all, the more basic materials we can re-use here, the less we need to import from across the ocean.

Watch these folks. They are certain to have more to report as they are building a circular economy.

The Urban Farming Tip for September 2017 is close to my heart. Y’all who know me, know that I’m a fan of solar energy.

Well, before there were solar panels and the utility company battles to stop their distribution, there was solar cooking.

For years, folks looked with on with smirks as solar enthusiasts cooked food in their back yards in the sun. Well, that was the beginning of a movement which looks much different now, but which comes from the same ethos –independence, sustainability and creativity.

So, for this Urban Farming Tip, we check in again with our favorite urban farmer Greg Peterson, as they give you the details on how to use a solar cooker. Below is an excerpt.

“Sunlight—we all get some or a lot, but besides turning it into a nice tan, heating water or making a few hundred watts of electricity, what else can you do with the brilliant sunshine? How about channeling it into a cost-effective, energy-saving tool for cooking? Yep, I am talking about one of the greenest practices custom-made for us: the solar oven.

Believe it or not, solar cookers can be as fancy or as simple as regular kitchen ovens. Well, OK, most kitchen ovens are not quite as simple as an insulated cardboard box pointed at the sun, but there is quite a gamut of solar ovens available. In fact, my first solar oven was made by the Kerr-Cole Sustainable Living Center in Taylor, Arizona. Talk about basic: it was a cardboard box inside another cardboard box with insulation in between. But boy, did it work. Its internal temperatures regularly exceed 325° F. A little fancier and made from sturdier materials, my new solar oven is a Sun Oven, and can easily get up to 375° F.

Even better, solar ovens are a little like a two-for-one deal. They can serve as either a crockpot, where the temperature rises slowly, slow-cooking food throughout the day, or as a regular oven, baking, steaming or boiling all types of food. Plus the even temperatures of a solar oven help prevent overcooking. In fact, using my solar oven almost feels like cheating – no electricity, so no fear of burning my dinner and it couldn’t be more natural.

I know we’ve had some interesting weather, but don’t be fooled. Even though the sidewalks aren’t hot and it is brisk outside, the sun is bright enough to cook food. In fact, “a 40-degree, low-humidity day will allow food to cook faster than a 100-degree day with high humidity,” according to the makers of the Global Sun Oven. But remember that the days are getting shorter, so cooking hours will be somewhat limited.

If you’re considering a solar oven, here are some points to consider:

• Sunlight is free. This goes without saying, but it’s important to consider as the economy continues to shift. The initial investment can vary from under $100 up to $300 or $400, depending on type and model, but there’s absolutely no cost beyond that.
• Pots and pans. Feel free to use your regular kitchen pots and pans in these ovens, just keep in mind that shinier materials like aluminum will reflect light rather than absorb it, so darker, thin-walled pots are best.
• TLC. Using a solar oven can require a little more tender loving care. If you intend to use your solar oven like a conventional oven, it is recommended that you reposition your oven to point at the sun every 25 to 30 minutes to ensure a thorough cooking. This might be problematic, but remember, there’s no stirring or other attention needed.
• Lazy cooking. For those of you who are lazy like me, you can also use your solar oven like a crockpot. Load it up in the morning and point it south, then go to work and let the oven slow-cook your dinner.
• Taste. They say it has to do with the lack of air circulating through the solar oven, but whatever the scientific reason, I have found food cooked in a solar oven to taste simply incredible. Even breads taste better baked in a solar oven.

There are many types and models of solar cookers available, so check around and ask questions as you consider this investment. I have enjoyed both my models – especially since they have been such a pain-free way to help the environment.

And to be honest, since it’s hard to burn anything in a solar oven, it has dramatically improved my cooking skills, too.”

We made a solar dehydrator at our house recently, and we’ve hd some good luck using that. We used it to dehydrate food that we took on a hiking trip with us. Amazing thing: it tastes so much better than dehydrated food from the store. So, maybe our next Urban Farming Tip will cover that process.

Here’s your Green Cleaning Tip for August 2017 from Going GreenHouse.

Indoor air pollutants such as: dust mites, mold, pet dander, hair, secondhand smoke and common household cleaning products, can trigger asthma and other allergy symptoms. However, by using “green” cleaning products and processes, you can reduce the affects that pollutants have on allergies and asthma symptoms in your home.

The American Lung Association states that many standard cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs have been linked to occupational asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and can be found in cleaning products such as: bleach, ammonia, floor cleaners, bathroom and tile cleaners, air fresheners, polishes and more!

Not only are green cleaning products better for our environment, but they can also help reduce triggers that may worsen your symptoms. Below are a few examples of how you can keep your home green and free of allergens.

In your kitchen:

Baking soda is going to be your best option for a cheap, all-purpose, green cleaning solution. It is best to break down your cleanings and keep a regular cleaning schedule. Each week, floors should be mopped, and cabinets and appliances should be wiped free of dust and build up. Seasonally, wipe down the inside of your fridge/freezer as well as the inside of utensil drawers. In order to prevent moisture and fumes in your kitchen, remember to use exhaust fans while cooking and keep all food in sealed containers, making sure to dispose of expired and moldy food.

In your Living Areas:

Many living areas consist of bookshelves, tables, and little knickknacks. Be sure that these items are being dusted regularly with a microfiber rag, which will trap and remove dust without sending it in to the air.

In your Bedroom:

Dust mites are your bedrooms worst culprit. Do your bedroom a favor and invest in dust mite-proof covers for pillows, mattresses, and box springs. In addition, be sure to wash your bedding and blankets regularly (recommended once a week) in at least 130 degree water, in order to kill dust mites and remove allergens.

In your Bathrooms:

Start by making your own green cleaning solution of either 50/50 water and vinegar mix or baking soda and water paste. Bathrooms see their fair share of moisture. You can help control the amount of moisture in your bathroom by using an exhaust fan to eliminate moisture/steam and reduce fumes caused by aerosol sprays, such as hairspray and bathroom deodorizers. You may also reduce moisture retention by eliminating the use of carpeting in bathrooms and opting for wood, laminate, or tile.

Maintaining a green and clean home may seem like a daunting task, but when broken down into a weekly routine you may find it to be quite manageable. If not, your friends at Going GreenHouse are happy to help. Green cleaning is what we do best!

Thanks again to Phoenix urban gardening guru, Greg Peterson, here’s your urban gardening tip for August. This time, its about composting –whether you want to do it with the help of chickens or a tall pile of compost is up to you.

But, before we re-print excerpts from Greg’s article, which you can see in full at this link, I want to share my old video from about ten years ago. In the video, I reviewed the types of composters that I built back then while I showed off my terrible taste in clothing.

None of the composters, of course, are as successful as Greg’s. But, they were fun to build and I learned a lot. Currently I use a two-step box method, which has two open boxes that I can use to mix the composted materials back and forth in to keep it all aerated.

Here’s a few things Greg has to say on the topic:

Most of the time the heat and desert soils seem to consume organic material faster than we can add it. Building healthy soil by adding compost is the key to growing healthy plants…

Start by looking at the amount of organic material that you have to compost. If all you have are your kitchen scraps, traditional composting may not be your answer, as it requires a lot of organic material, which the typical homeowner generally does not have. Do not fret however, as there are several other ways to “compost” that are much simpler and still accomplish the same results.

My favorite way of noncomposting is to feed it to the chickens. I know, your first reaction is “I can’t keep chickens in my yard.” Now I am not talking about roosters, just hens and they are very easy to keep, are effective at weeding and controlling bugs, they eat your kitchen and yard scraps, provide lots of great compost material, and give you the added bonus of the occasional egg or two for your breakfast enjoyment. (See the full article for tips on owning chickens.)

Now if you aren’t quite up for keeping chickens, you might try worms, which are much more innocuous. They do their own kind of digging, provide their own kind of manure and do a really good job of munching on your kitchen scraps. They are as easy to keep as putting a bucket under your sink with some shredded newspapers and worms. Or, you can add an old bathtub in some corner of your yard and vermicompost away (the fancy word for worm composting).

One of my favorite methods of noncomposting is called lasagna gardening. It is a process by which you build the soil in your garden and compost at the same time. The name says it all. Start by putting down a layer of dry material usually 1 to 3 inches deep. I like using dried leaves, hay or straw. Then add a layer of manure to facilitate the slow composting, then another layer of dry material and manure. You can add layers to your heart’s content and if you want to plant right away, dig a little hole, add some soil and plant. Over the course of a few months the layers break down and create awesome slow-cooked composted soil. The added bonus, is that you can take your kitchen scraps and tuck them into the lasagna garden and let nature take over.

Now if you still want to take a stab at traditional composting, the first thing to know is that you need a critical mass of organic material in order for the compost process to begin. The minimum size for effective composting is a cube of material 4 x 4 x 4 feet. The organic material used needs to consist of approximately 25% green/nitrogen such as manure, kitchen scraps and green grass clippings and 75% dry/carbon such as dried leaves, hay and chicken yard litter. Next you need to build the pile by thoroughly mixing your items, making sure they are fluffed appropriately so the pile can breath. Then add just enough water so that when you squeeze the wet material like a sponge a little water comes out. Add water once a week and watch the compost happen. A great item to use for building the compost holder is old pallets. Wire three of them together in a “U” shape and add a fourth on the front to hold it all in. This makes harvesting it easy when it is done, as all you have to do is unwire the pallets and use the compost.

The composting process works when bacteria eat the organic material in the pile. This causes heat (and boy does it get hot, up to 160 degrees). As the bacteria eat the compost, the pile shrinks, up to 50% in just a few weeks. After about six weeks the temperature drops dramatically and the pile needs to be turned and watered and the process starts again. Turn the pile one more time and let it sit for an additional six weeks and you will have wonderful compost. As a general rule the smaller and more uniform the pieces of material going into the pile the faster the compost will cook.

One of the most abundant materials to use in composting as well as in my noncomposting examples is leaves, which fall abundantly in most neighborhoods. Alfalfa hay is high in nitrogen and is another great material to use in your composting and lasagna gardening. When using kitchen scraps I suggest only using vegetable matter as dairy and meat products don’t seem to break down as readily and can attract pests.

Noncomposting is easy it just takes some work to get it set up and running. At the Urban Farm composting happens, with chickens, worms, lasagna gardening and composting. The fruits of our labor arrive in great tasting food that we harvest just about every day of the year. Using one or all of these methods just about guarantee you a great crop. Remember though, composting takes time as does raising a great garden. Be patient and compost away.

This article was written by Greg Peterson and originally published in Edible Phoenix Issue 2, Summer 2006.

If you need help finding the perfect urban property so that you can compost, raise chickens, garden and still make it downtown quickly for First Fridays, give us a call at 602-456-9388. We know all the best urban garden spots.

Here’s your Green Cleaning Tip for August 2017 from Going GreenHouse. Their focus is often on green cleaning products and how to green-ify your home. However, it is important not to forget one important element to cleaning… YOUR LAUNDRY! So, people have been using these laundry detergents for years- is it really THAT big of a deal?  Well, let’s look a little deeper and let you decide for yourself…

Regular detergents contain chorine, phosphates, and other artificial additives that are dangerous to human health. Not to mention, the synthetic dyes and perfumes that can be harsh on your skin and cause allergic reactions and skin outbreaks. Chemicals found in conventional laundry detergent emit fumes that are constantly inhaled throughout the day. Breathing in chemical fumes, even at minute concentrations, may have damaging consequences on endocrinological and neurological health.

Further, we need to halt the damaging effects of phosphate– a common chemical added to detergent for its ability to enable the cleaning components of detergent to act, by preventing interference by the “hardness” of water (mineral ions). This chemical has done significant damage to our environment in last 40 years, mostly due to the poisonous effects on fish and the environment.

Enough with the “problems” what about a “solution”?

Here is where you do your part… for your sake, your family’s sake, and the environment’s sake, let’s make a change. What if we stayed free and clear of these harmful ingredients and switched to a more natural option? You can find natural/organic detergents at just about any grocery store these days, but if you are looking for a more resourceful option, try making your own at home. We even have a recipe for you!

Natural Laundry Soap:

1. One bar of Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castille Bar Soap (try lavender, tea tree, or peppermint)- grate in a food processor until finely ground
2. In a large bowl, mix 1 cup washing soda (find in the laundry section of your local store), 1 cup Borax, and 1 bar grated soap
3. Store in a closed container (like a 1 quart or half gallon mason jar).
4. Use 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup per load of laundry.

If your loads of laundry need an extra boost, try these helpful tips:

•  – Remove musty odors from fabrics by adding ¼ cup white vinegar to the wash cycle
• – Revive dingy whites by adding about ½ cup of baking soda 0r ¼ cup white vinegar to each load
• – Soften clothes by adding distilled white vinegar during the rinse cycle (try sing a fabric softener ball for easy dispensing)
• – Pre-treat stubborn organic stains, such as yellow caused by sweat, with a paste of baking soda and water before washing