Quick Green Tips!

Just some random things I've learned recently and thought I should share!

- Organic produce codes - you know how all produce has a 4-digit price look-up (PLU) code that you can use to ring up the price at the register? Well, if you've noticed, some produce has a 5-digit code. What does that extra digit in front mean? Well, if it is a 9, it means that it is organic! So a regular banana has the code 4011...and 94011 is an organic banana! A great way to sort through bins of produce what your store has confusing signs. But watch out - an 8 in front means that the produce is genetically modified...

- Free scrubbies - A great way to re-use AND save money! We all have those nasty messes that require a little extra elbow grease, right? And we probably all have bought our share of scrubby disposable sponges at the store to tackle them. But, if you look around your kitchen produce you can probably find something that you bought in a nylon mesh bag (onions, lemons, potatoes, you get the idea). Instead of throwing out the mesh, wash it with a little soap and water, cut it into an appropriate sized length, and then tuck your dish cloth or microfiber cleaning cloth inside so that the mesh is a pocket around it. Now go to town! You have a gentle, FREE scrubby cloth that creates great lather and will cut through tons of ick. And when you're done, just remove the cloth, rinse the mesh with some soapy water, and hang out to dry. So easy!

- Frugal hand soap - Thanks to a great green friend Misty for this idea! There are many foaming hand soap products that you can buy at the store. Unfortunately, they are expensive to refill and often loaded with toxic checmicals. Misty told me about how she bought the Method foaming hand soap bottles on sale, and then when they were empty, she just refilled them with a mixture of Dr. Bronner's lavender castile soap and water! A great way to save money, use an all-natural product, and help keep germs at bay!

Another Nature's Source giveaway!

I'm excited to offer another giveaway for free bottles of Nature's Source cleaners!

This time, I will be giving away a free bottle to THREE readers! That's right - three winners this time!

We all want a clean house, and we want it as easy as possible, right? Unfortunately, I think most of us are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers that we may face from toxic chemicals, including the health of our families and our global environment. That's why I get so excited to see big-name companies that make an effort to offer safer, more natural products that still have the power to clean.

Nature's Source cleaners are made by the same company that brings you Scrubbing Bubbles and Windex, yet they're plant-based and almost completely all natural. You can usually find them at any local store that carries your favorite cleaning products.

This contest will end on July 8 and I will pick a winner through random.org. Check back to see who wins, and look out for more fun giveaways starting soon - I have some exciting things planned!

To enter this contest:
Go to Nature's Source and find the product that you would like to try if you win, then post it as a comment here. Make sure to leave me your e-mail if you don't have it on your public profile.

For bonus entries:
Do one or all of the following, and leave me a separate comment here for each thing that you do. Make sure you leave a separate comment here for each entry that you earn!

- For FIVE bonus entries, follow my blog via e-mail (then leave FIVE comments here)
- For FIVE bonus entries, follow my blog publicly via subscribtion to a reader (then leave FIVE comments here)
- Write about this giveaway on your blog (and leave me a link to your post)
- Tweet about this on twitter (and leave a link to your twitter account)
- Share a link to this giveaway on your facebook acct (and let me know you did)
- Leave a comment on any other posts on my blog (and leave a comment here for each comment that you post)

And, don't forget to enter my other current giveaways:

Free area rug from CSN rugs - ends July 18th

Your choice of a personalized onesie, custom tutu, or two headbands - ends July 31st