PaperlessKitchen Blog

Improve Your Dishwashing Routine with Casabella

We just added a whole lineup of new products from Casabella. Specializing in smart cleaning tools that are as attractive as they are sustainable, Casabella makes things you simply won't find anywhere else.

One of the specialties of the brand is dishwashing supplies, and we have a host of new solutions for you to discover, including:

1. Casabella 2 in 1 Foam & Scrub Sponge - A scrubber on one side, a sponge on the other, this tool is sure to come in handy. 

2. Casabella Dish & Flatware Sponge & Squeegee - When you use these tools to scrape your dinnerware before washing, you can use less water.

3. Casabella Fine China & Crystal Cloths - If you simply need to take the dust off the good dishes and glassware, give them a buff and polish with these cloths.

4. Casabella Hands Away Surface Scrubber - If your hands are raw and irritated from winter weather, keep them away from the water with this nifty scrubber.

5. Casabella Grab It Sponge  - Never drop your sponge in the skin again! This microfiber cleaning tool has a strap to keep it in place whether you're using the scrubbing side or the wiping side.

6. Casabella Maxi Brush Scrubber - Available in three bold colors, this heavy-duty scrub brush is perfect for your large cookware.

7. Casbaella Sparkle Scrub Sponges - These pretty sponges have a textured surface for loosening stubborn debris.

8. Casabella Smart Scrub Soap Dispensing Dish Brush - With this dish brush, you can dispense soap while you scrub to enhance the tool's cleaning power.

9. Casabella Superglide Sponge - For a larger sponge that can clean anything, try this microfiber model.

10. Casabella Swivel Dish Brush - The head on this dish brush swivels to make cleaning in corners a cinch.

You can check out these and our other new Casabella products right here at Paperless Kitchen.

Clean Greener in the New Year with Casabella

If one of your resolutions for 2014 is to clean with fewer chemicals and less waste, you need to discover Casabella. The brand makes a wide variety of unique cleaning products that you can use to clean greener.

Here are a few of the new products that we're featuring:

1. Casabella Bamboo Cleaning Cloths - For messy jobs, reach for these sustainable bamboo cleaning cloths and ditch the paper towels.

2. Casabella Loop Brushes Set - With this handy trio of brushes, you'll have a solution for everything that you need to scrub.

3. Casabella LCD & LED Cloths - Use these microfiber cloths to get the fingerprints off the television without having to use a chemical screen cleaner.

4. Casabella Microfiber Vent Brush - Keep fine particulates out of the air with this handy, flexible brush.

5. Casabella Microfiber Spray Duster - This tool not only cleans with just plain water, but it also has a built-in tank, so you don't have to use a separate water bottle.

6. Casabella Microfiber Stainless Steel Cloths - These cleaning cloths remove fingerprints and smears from stainless steel appliances and counter tops.

7. Casabella Microfiber Glass Cloths - With these microfiber cloths, you can get windows spotless without using ammonia or other harsh chemicals.

8. Casabella Microfiber Dusting Cloth - The concentrated fibers of this cloth dust and remove debris from all types of hard surfaces.

All of these Casabella products are now available for purchase at Paperless Kitchen. Check out the collection for other great finds.

Green Dorm Room Must-Haves for Back to Campus

It's time to head back to campus for the 2013-2014 school year, and everywhere, people are starting to stock up on supplies. To help you get the necessities and still be green, here are top 10 Must-Haves for 2013 Back to Campus.

1. Bambooee Paper Towels will be a lifesaver for cleaning up spills in dorm rooms. They're also a tree saver since they're made from 100 percent bamboo.

 2. Eat Cleaning Wipes help remove bacteria, dirt and chemicals from the surface of fruits and veggies and are useful for polishing off an apple that's been stuffed in a backpack or kept on a desk.

3. ThinkSport sports bottles make it easy to stay hydrated while on campus. You can also carry coffee in them, and the ice filter can be used to brew tea. 

4. To-Go Ware 3-Tier Tiffins are a convenient way to take an entire meal to eat while on the go on campus or studying outdoors.

5. The e-Cloth Screen Cleaning Pack will help keep computers, tablets and smart phones free of fingerprints all semester long.

6. PeopleTowels are the green alternative to paper towels for hand wiping. Because of their compact size, you can easily tuck one in a backpack for use on the go.

7. The Twist Naked Sponge Kit gives you a variety of natural plant-based sponges to use for a variety of cleaning tasks in dorms.

8. A 100-pack of Bambu Veenerware plates will get college students through many boxes of pizza.

9. Eco Products Plant Starch Silverware is another surefire hit in the dorms and come in huge boxes of 1,000.

10. Method Tub and Tile Wipes will be a lifesaver when the ensuite bathroom starts to look dingy.

You can get all of these great green alternatives here at Paperless Kitchen along with tons of other back to school products.

Dry Chemical Cleaning Versus Steam Cleaning for Carpets

If you have heavy soiling on your carpets, there are two main ways of dealing with the problem: dry chemical cleaning and steam cleaning. Both methods are capable of removing heavy staining, but there are major differences between the two.

 Steam cleaning involves the use of plain water to remove dirt and debris. The temperature of the steam also kills many types of microbes, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. After a thorough steam cleaning, you must let your carpets dry for 12 to 24 hours, which may mean closing off the room to children or pets. Since steam cleaning does not involve the use of chemicals, you can perform the process yourself with a system like our Vapamore steam cleaners.

Dry chemical cleaning involves applying chemicals that loosen surface stains. The biggest benefit of dry chemical cleaning is that it does not require any drying time. After dry chemical cleaning, you can walk on your carpets right away; however, that convenience does come at a cost, namely introducing chemicals to your home. Roughly 85 percent of the solutions used by professional carpet cleaning companies contain perchloroethylene or tetrachloroethylene, substances that have been classified as a possible carcinogen. Also, dry chemical cleaning must be done by a professional service.

For those concerned about creating a greener environment at home, steam cleaning is typically the better choice. You can check out our Vapamore models here at Paperless Kitchen and feel free to contact us with any questions that you have about them.

Green Cleaning Tools for Ceramic Cooktops

Recently, I purchased a new ceramic cooktop after my old model suddenly stopped working. When I was reading the owner’s manual, I was quite surprised and disappointed to see that the maker of my cooktop recommended that I clean the range with paper towels!

The manufacturer specified the disposable towels because of their softness and strength, but using paper towels every day to clean my stove definitely won't help my efforts to create a paperless kitchen. I decided to do some experimenting to determine what else could be used in place of paper. Here are my top 5 finds:

1. eCloth Range and Stovetop Cloth - This microfiber cloth was designed specifically for stoves and ranges. The mix of textures on the cloth makes it capable of removing burned on food, and eCloths can be used with just soap and water.

2. Bambooee Bamboo Paper Towels - These biodegradable bamboo paper towels can be used to clean your stove multiple times before you throw them away. They also come in a handy roll that makes them easy to dispense.

3. SKOY cloths - Like Bamboo paper towels, SKOY cloths can be reused multiple times and can also be laundered in the washing machine. They are just as soft as paper towels but thicker and sturdier.

4. Twist Loofah Sponge - The owner's manual of my stove says a mild abrasive is safe to use on the ceramic surface. I like the Loofah Sponge, which is made from all-natural materials and will not scratch the range.

5. Full Circle The Edge - This handy microfiber cloth is my favorite for removing fingerprints from the controls as you can clean right up to the corners with ease.

Do you have a favorite green cleaning solution for your ceramic stovetop? Share it with us in the Comments section!

What Is an MSDS?

If you're striving to establish a greener home, ensuring that the cleaning products that use on a daily basis are nontoxic is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell precisely what's inside of a product just by reading the label. One tip that you'll frequently see in green cleaning articles is to check the "MSDS" for your cleaning products, but not everyone knows precisely what this involves.

"MSDS" stands for Material Safety Data Sheet. U.S. and international laws require manufacturers of chemicals to produce these sheets, which detail the potential hazards that can come with handling a product. 

Generally, the hazards listed on the sheet describe what can happen if a person comes in contact with a large quantity of a particular chemical. Manufacturers often state that the warnings provided on MSDS sheets are not intended for general consumers; however, reading an MSDS can still make you aware of the presence of potential toxins, even if you're unlikely to develop severe symptoms just by cleaning your counter tops or your tub with the products.

 You can find MSDS sheets from online indexes, such as the SIRI MSDS Index. You'll need to know the name of the product and the product manufacturer to use these data sheets. The most important sections to review on the MSDS are the "Physical Hazards," "Health Hazards" and "Carcinogenic Factors" sections.

Have you used MSDS sheets before? Do you have any tips for using them or questions about them? If so, post in our "Comments" section!

How to Care for and Clean Cast Iron Cookware the Green Way

There's nothing quite like a perfectly seared steak prepared in a cast iron skillet. Cast iron cooking is practically an art form and to have the most delicious dishes possible, you need to take good care of your cast iron cookware.

But what's the best way to care for and clean cast iron if you're establishing an eco-friendly kitchen? Dishwashers, soaps and abrasive cleaning tools can damage cast iron surfaces, and many of the cast iron cleaners contain harsh chemicals. To help you keep your cast iron well maintained and enhance your green lifestyle, follow these tips!

1. Season your cast iron cookware. Seasoning cast iron is crucial to preventing food from sticking, so you should always season brand new pieces before use. To do so, coat the surface of the iron with organic olive oil or linseed oil. Wipe off the excess oil with a cellulose SKOY cloth or a Bambooee bamboo towel. Place the cookware in the oven for one hour at 350 degrees. Then repeat the steps one time.

2. Wash correctly. When it comes time to clean your cast iron after cooking, use a homemade soap alternative made from olive oil and kosher salt. Then scrub with either an eco-friendly brush like the Full Circle Suds Up Dish Brush or a mild, natural, abrasive sponge like the Twist Loofah Sponge. Dry with an organic dish towel like the Full Circle Stick 'Em Up Towel or the Full Circe In the Buff Dish Towel.

3. Re-season after every use. After washing and drying, you should apply a coat of plain olive oil to your cast iron. Rub with a bamboo or cellulose paper towel alternative and then heat the cookware up on the stove for one to two minutes. Let it cool, and then you're ready to put it away.

4. Protect your cookware. If you're stacking other pots and pans inside of a piece of cast iron cookware, it's important that you protect the surface from scratching. We like using a Toockies washcloth or a PeopleTowel organic cotton towel as padding, but you can also use several SKOY cloths or layered Bambooee bamboo towels.

Do you have any green cleaning tips for cast iron? Share them in the comments section!

WASHING YOUR CAR THE ECO-FRIENDLY WAY

Warmer weather seems to finally have arrived throughout much of the United States, and that leaves many people thinking about giving their cars a thorough spring cleaning to get rid of road salt, dust and a winter's worth of dirt.

Follow these steps to get your car clean and keep things green!

1. Skip the car wash. When your car just needs a quick touch-up, a car wash is the greener choice, as automatic washes use roughly half the water that hand-washing does; however, car washes aren't recommended for very dirty cars.

2. Park your car in a grassy spot. If you wash on pavement, the dirty water that runs off your car could end up in the sewer system and ultimately the water supply.

3. Use two buckets of water for your cleaning. Fill one with a biodegradable, nontoxic soap and keep the other filled with plain water for rinsing.

4. Start washing from the top down using a natural sponge like the large Twist Naked Sponge. Clean the tires and rocker panels last.

5. Use your plain, clean water to wash the entire car again using a second natural sponge.

6. Rinse the entire car once with the hose all over.

7. Use a microfiber cloth like the e-Cloth General Purpose Cloth to dry your car.

8. Wash the windows using a biodegradable, nontoxic glass cleaner or a glass cleaning microfiber cloth.

9. Clean the dashboards with a biodegradable, nontoxic multi-purpose cleaner or a green cleaning cloth. We recommend the e-Cloth Auto Care Kit, which includes supplies for the dashboards and the windows. You can also use a scrub brush like the Full Circle Lean and Mean Scrub Brush to clean messy areas like the vents.

10. Vacuum or steam clean the interior of your car. The Vapamore MR-50 is ideal for auto interiors because it’s lightweight and works both as a vacuum and a steam cleaner.

11. If you wish to wax, skip the commercial products, which often contain petroleum. You can make your own by combining:

1 cup linseed oil

4 tbs. carnauba wax

2 tbs. beeswax

1/2 cup vinegar

Heat the ingredients on the stove at medium-low temperature until they have all melted together. A microfiber cloth like the e-Cloth General Purpose Cloth is best for applying the wax. Make sure to wax in a shady spot to prevent it from hardening. Once you've applied the wax, buff it with a clean cloth for a perfect finish.

When done correctly, a thorough green spring cleaning of your car will take a few hours, but the results are well worth the time invested. Do you have any green car cleaning tips? Share them in the "Comments" section!

DISINFECTANTS: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

Recently, the Mother Nature Network put out a guide to disinfectants as a way to raise awareness about the cleaning products that many of us use in our homes. After the terrible cold and flu season that we had this past year, the need for keeping homes free of germs is more evident than ever, but unfortunately, when we reach for certain disinfectants, we're introducing toxins into our homes that can make us sick later in life.

Some of the potentially toxic disinfectants covered in the Mother Nature Network piece include:

- Bleach-based cleaners

- Antibacterial products that contain Triclosan

- Ammonia-based cleaners

The piece also highlighted and reviewed some natural disinfectant alternatives, and we have a few favorites of our own to share:

- Vinegar - Vinegar does work like an antiseptic; however, it is not effective against all types of bacteria, such as strep.

- Hydrogen peroxide - When used in 3% concentration or less, hydrogen peroxide is a highly effective, biodegradable disinfectant.

- Tea tree oil - This natural botanical is nontoxic and effective at eliminating bacteria and many types of fungus; however, it is largely ineffective against viruses.

- e-Cloth green cleaning cloths - These microfiber cloths turn ordinary water into a disinfectant. The cloths can eliminate up to 99.9% of household microbes by trapping them inside their dense fiber network.

The most important thing to remember about using disinfectants in your home is to select a product based upon your cleaning task. If you simply want to give every surface on your home a thorough cleaning, a homemade solution with tea tree oil could meet your needs, but if you're cleaning a place that's very prone to germs, such as the bathroom, your landline telephone or your kitchen counter tops, opt for something with greater germ-fighting power like the e-Cloth or hydrogen peroxide.

Do you have a favorite natural disinfectant? Share it with us in the common section.

Green Cleaning Tools for Spring Cleaning

Spring has officially sprung! While that means it's time for the weather to get warmer and for flowers to bloom, it also means that it's time for spring cleaning. If you're gearing up to giving your home a thorough cleaning now that the vernal equinox has arrived, check out this list of green cleaning tools for the kitchen.

- For your oven - For an oven interior that is very grimy, start with soap and water and the Twist Ravioli scrubby. You can use this to lift away very dirty spots that require scouring. Then, switch to the e-Cloth Stainless Steel cloth and clean with just water to remove the rest of the debris.

- For your stove - The e-Cloth Range & Stovetop cloth has special ridges that allow it to both scrub and wipe. It's safe to use on all types of cooktops, even ceramics. 

- For your fridge - Try wiping down the interior of your fridge with the Full Circle Suds Up Dish Sponge. Its long handle makes it easy to reach far back into the fridge to clean every corner. For the coils underneath, the Full Circle Suds Up Dish Brush is ideal.

- For your counters - Since you likely wipe your counters more frequently, we recommend giving them a simple, good cleaning with a natural disinfectant like 3% hydrogen peroxide or vinegar. Use the large Twist Naked Sponge to get the job done in record time.

- For your microwave - Start by wiping out the inside with a SKOY cloth, so that you can toss away the mess. Then, a Twist Loofah Sponge can help you easily scrub away any leftover grime from the inside of the microwave. When you're finished cleaning, microwave some lemon juice inside to give the appliance a fresh, clean scent. 

- For your windows - The e-Cloth Window Cleaning Pack and the e-Cloth Water Atomizer can help you get your windows spotless and streak-free without using anything more than water.

- For your floors - There's no better tool for scrubbing your floors than the e-Cloth Deep Clean Mop. The telescoping handle will help you even get under the table with ease.

- For your draperies - If you don't want to launder your draperies, you can freshen them up and disinfect them with a thorough cleaning with the Vapamore MR-100 Primo.

Have a green cleaning tip for the kitchen to share? Post it in the Comments Section