7 Green Supplies You Need

Linda Mason Hunter, author of Green Clean, recommends these easy switches to your normal cleaning routine to make it more planet-friendly.


green supply closet


Many "green" cleaning supplies are available in your local stores -- you just need a little label savvy to spot them.

Here are her pointers:

Paper Products

When shopping for paper goods, choose those with the highest "post consumer waste" content you can find, either unbleached or whitened without chlorine.

Candles

Replace paraffin candles, which are made from crude oil, with cleaner-burning soy or beeswax ones.

Trash Bags

Select biodegradable bags or those made with at least 65 percent recycled content.

Lightbulbs

Compact fluorescent bulbs use one-quarter the energy of incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer.

Cleaning Stuff

Buy prepared basics or mix your own cleaners using common ingredients.

Reusable Cloths

Flannel cloths, for dusting or wet cleaning, can be washed and reused.

Natural Scrubbers

Try cellulose or natural sea sponges instead of plastic ones. Old toothbrushes come in handy for cleaning grout.