Archive for the 'Broom Hugged' Category

August 29, 2007 | Dusting, Reviews, Broom Hugged, Cleaning tips, Cleaning products

Some dusters create static energy. They take away the dust for a moment, but the static attracts it back even quicker than before. Other dusters just kick it up into the air. Sure, your furniture looks nice afterwards, but ::achoo:: your air quality suffers. Those microfiber cloths are nice, but more appropriate for flat surfaces. When you’ve got picture frames and decorative items around, a lambs wool duster will save ages of time for you! They trap the dust, they’re gentle enough for your most precious heirlooms, and a lambswool duster on a nicely contoured wooden handle just makes you want to clean. It’s true.
That’s what works for me. For more tips, head over to Shannon’s place.

August 24, 2007 | Reviews, Broom Hugged, Cleaning products

What is this borax stuff we keep mentioning here at Broom Huggers? Borax is hard to figure out if you’re a traditional bleach/formula 409/amonia (etc., etc.) user. But once you get it, you’ll never stop using it!

What is it? Borax is a mineral, derived from sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, and/or disodium tetraborate. It is a completely stable additive for cleaning solutions, and is not flammable. It is found in nature and it’s completely bio-degradable and eco-friendly. (more…)

July 26, 2007 | Broom Hugged, Being Green, Lifestyle

I’m a Google fan. In fact, I’ve incorporated Google into my vocabulary as a verb. (”I’ll google it”) But Blackle has found a way to harness the power of Google while saving energy.

Here’s how it works. A white screen (like the one Google uses) uses about 74 watts of power, and a predominately black screen uses only 59 watts. A saving of 15 watts may not sound like much, but think of how many people use Google. Multiply 15 watts to the number of users and frequency of use, and it adds up to roughly 3,000 megawatt hours per year.

So check out Blackle. Try using it for your searches. And if you’re into website design, take the idea of dark-colored screens and run with it. Save a little energy - it’s good for you and for your website readers!

July 23, 2007 | Reviews, Broom Hugged, Being Green, Shopping

I’ve checked out every book my library system has on ‘green cleaning’ and ‘green living.’ Each had its pros and cons - useful for some things, not so useful for others. But I just came across Green Clean by Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin. It’s your go-to book for most situations, filled with a wealth of information about the importance of green cleaning and innovative ways to green your life.

Some things I learned - dishwashing liquid is the most frequent cause of childhood poisoning. (Wow!) Or a great idea, start a neighborhood curbside compost and sell it to local farmers - everyone wins! I love this stuff. And what else? The book is water and stain resistant! (well, maybe that’s just a marketing ploy) But how cool is it that I can use it on my cherry-juice covered countertops and not worry about the book! Or take it out with me while I’m working on that compost… I have to say, it’s a nice marketing ploy.

We like it (and no, I’m not getting paid to say that - it’s all me, honest and true). But we like it more for newbie greens or people who are ever so gradually making green changes. If you’re already there, you’ll want to look elsewhere for great ideas to keep you going.

July 18, 2007 | Broom Hugged, Water, Food & drink, Being Green, Lifestyle, News

Next week will be a big week here at Broom Huggers - thanks to all the negative attention bottled water has been given (see here and here), we’ll be giving away TWO SIGG reusable bottles. As featured on Oprah, Time, Elle, and over a dozen other magazines, these bottles are cool and highly durable.Broom Huggers will be giving away one adult bottle and one child’s sippy-cup SIGG. So don’t forget to come back next week and enter the drawing!

July 17, 2007 | Reviews, Broom Hugged, Cleaning products

After 9 long hours on the road coming home from Florida, I was greeted by a gratifyingly heavy white box with the familiar red and blue of Priority Mail. It was sitting on the front doorstep, welcoming me home in all it’s simplicity. The moment I saw it my heart soared - I knew perfectly well that it was the products from Barefoot Home Essentials that I’ve been anticipating. Getting home past the kids’ bedtime I didn’t really have time to test it all out yet - but stay tuned, there’s a review coming just around the corner.

I will tell you that as I opened the box and pulled out each elegantly packaged bottle I was greeted with a natural, yet gently sweet scent that awakened my home-y senses after 9 long hours in the car. Though I was too tired to clean house, I did open up the room spray and mist it around the family room and playroom. And let me just say, heaven is a clean, welcoming-scented home after a long trip. Stay tuned for a full review, but for now, I assure you there will be no shortage of lavender-disinfected surfaces in my home for some time.

Broom Hugged

Thanks for hanging in with us while we had a hurricane of big, gigantic, frustrating website-destroying hosting issues a few minor technical setbacks. Broomhuggers.com is back for good, settled well into its new web host, and we’ve got all our kinks out of our system.

And thank you ever so much to our good friend Stuart, who rescued us from the abyss of cyber-pergatory. Stuart, consider yourself (((Broom Hugged))).

July 16, 2007 | Reviews, Broom Hugged, Health, Cleaning products

Thyme is used in worldwide cuisine for its earthy, aromatic, and slightly nutty flavor. No self-respecting cook would make Thanksgiving stuffing without it (or its most appropriate friend, sage). But did you know that it has a host of medicinal uses too? Historically, thyme has been used as a disinfectant, as well as an immune booster to ward off illness.

Add to that, it’s fully sustainable, quick growing, hardy, and doesn’t require the use of pesticides, and you have a Mc-Dreamy herb.

The folks over at CleanWell have harnessed the power of thyme to create a perfectly healthy sanitizer, complete with gel, wipes, and all sort of products to keep your hands and your kids’ hands clean. It’s the perfect antidote to all those alcohol-based sanitizers out there that have recently come to light as being serious health hazards.

So head on over to CleanWell and check out their product line. I can’t wait to get my hands on some (or, more accurately, to get some on my hands - oh, that was corny!). And when you get there, tell ‘em I sent ya!

June 17, 2007 | Broom Hugged, Being Green, Lifestyle

Interested in finding out what the world wide web can offer you in terms of Green services and products? Now it’s easier to find out! Green Maven is a great search tool, and even has its own plug-in for Firefox browser! (If you haven’t used Firefox, you should try it.)

So, go try Green Maven. Go ahead, I dare you.

June 12, 2007 | Water, Reviews, Broom Hugged, Food & drink, Being Green, Shopping

Did you know that in most cities the municipal water supply goes through much greater scrutiny than bottled waters? That means your tap water may be healthier than bottled water. And frankly, the plastic used in bottled waters is atrocious for the environment. Really, if you’re drinking bottled water - especially from those little throw-away single use bottles - consider switching to something a little more earth friendly. Either get yourself a water cooler if you’re too cool for tap water, or if you just don’t like the taste, get a decent filter for your tap. And spend the money you would have used on bottled water to get yourself a nice reusable bottle to keep with you on the go. It wouldn’t hurt if it was pretty too, right?

Klean Kanteen has sippy adapters now for use with toddlers and preschoolers. Turn your stainless steel Klean Kanteen into your child’s spill-proof sippy, and you won’t have to worry about the carcinogenic hazards of poor quality plastics leeching into little Johnny’s juice. They’re on sale now at Reusable Bags. And while you’re there, pick up a tote bag for your groceries. Save us from plastic-bag-dependency!