Before we get to the results, a little background on the science  and stats behind this. Ionization has been widely used in hospitals, commercial kitchens, and hotels for a long time to clean and disinfect. However, their units are large-scale, $10k a pop solutions. The Activion guys figured out how to miniaturize it. Again – how does it work? Similar to chemical cleaners, the ionator lifts dirt by breaking it up and suspending it – only it does it through physics vs. chemistry. The charge of the ionized water – think magnets repelling each other - does the job. What about disinfecting? This part is cool – essentially, the charge electrocutes the bacteria/virus literally exploding them. Lab tests show it effectively sanitized against most bacteria including staph, H1N1, and E-coli in 6 seconds. Most chemicals need to stand several minutes to do the same thing.

Does the Ionator have the credentials to back the claims up? Independent lab tests show it has a 99.% kill rating. Many universities including MIT, Harvard and UC Berkeley, as well as large hotel chains and restaurants like Just Salad, use it.  So credibility – check. And for fun – check out Bill Nye’s endorsement and more stuff for skeptics like me – or you: http://www.activeion.com/default.aspx

OK, but can the puppy clean?  Here’s my report:

Test 1: Bathroom mirror covered with normal fingerprints and added bonus of smeared glitter Chapstick. Incumbant: Vinegar/alcohol based glass cleaner by Seaside Naturals.  Hubby evaluator did not know which panel was cleaned with which product. Results: The Ionator wiped the mirror down with significantly less liquid, and was streak free. Hubby said the Ionator panel was much cleaner. Winner: Ionator

Test 2: Kid’s sink. Incumbant: Clorox Greenworks multi-purpose cleaner. The Ionator was up to the task and quickly cleaned the countertops. It did take slightly more effort on stuck-on toothpaste than the Greenworks, however when cleaned off left no residue. The Ionator did an outstanding job on the chrome faucets – high marks for immediate streak free shine. Winner: Ionator

Test 3:  Kitchen counter. Incumbant: Arm & Hammer multi-purpose cleaner. Once again the Ionator cleaned up vs. the traditional cleaner (pun intended). Our counters are dark and any smudges/streaks are easily visible. Ionator left no streaks or residue.

Test 4: Stainless steel refrigerator, glass top stove. Incumbant: Method Steel for Real, Arm & Hammer cleaner (stove top). The Ionator did a fantastic job on the stainless – super shine! It did take more than one swipe, however so did the Steel for Real.  Did not do quite as good a job on food splatters on the stove: A&H better at dried tomato sauce/took less scrubbing. Winner: Ionator - stainless, A&H – stove top.

Test 5: my face. Incumbant – N/A (sorry, not gonna do it, even with the greenest stuff in my aresenal). The best thing – It’s just water. That’s all. I let 5 year old Lauren play housekeeper with it. No harm to her, the dog, the cat, to her sister, to mommy.

Bottom Line: The Ionator outperformed my conventional cleaners in almost every test.  The exceptions were spills that are dried on/require more scrubbing. For these a traditional de-greaser/enzymatic cleaner or scrub worked better.

Price: $169.00, about what you might pay for other household appliances such as the Shark steam mop or a vacuüm. Admittedly however, pricy compared to the cost of traditional household cleaners. Over time though it will pay for itself, and the benefits of a non-toxic/non-chemical alternative may be worth the investment.  Would I/will I buy one? Yes.

 Want to borrow one? Give me a call! Want to buy one? https://extranet.securefreedom.com/GreenIrene/Shopping/ShoppingCart_LoadPage.asp?OrderType=C&RepID=1459&ProdID=50250

I do realize that many think that a clothes line is ugly and somehow devalues their town/HOA/neighborhood/whatever. Yes, seeing your neighbor’s knickers hanging in the backyard may be an eyesore. But consider this: what if you could see the pollution from the powerplants generating the electricity to run your dryer? Imagine a big, greasy dark cloud hanging out over your lovely patio furniture and smelling the acrid air every time you did.  Does that change your perspective?  Too often with environmental issues, we ignore what we do not see. We can’t afford to any more.

Now let me introduce you to my new hero, Peggy Brace. Peggy took her right to hang loose to the Concord Town Meeting, and received some press mentions in the meantime. And YAY!  It PASSED!  Concord Town Meeting voted to support this article, which would keep real estate contracts, agreements or rules from prohibiting the use of clothes lines on residential properties.With only one person objecting, it went through with flying colors,” reports Peggy Brace of Liberty Street. Now the people of Concord, MA, will have the right to hang their laundry just like our fore-bearers (fore-mothers?). GO CONCORD!

Line drying is receiving attention from unlikely places – check out this very funny video from the Colbert Report. I say to you, Live Free or Dry!!!

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/308751/may-05-2010/the-enemy-within—backyard-clothesline

Line drying has become so popular – yes POPULAR!   – that there are now websites dedicated to it an celeb spokespeople. Here are some facts and tips courtesy of Project Laundry List and believe it or not, Tide:

Fun Facts:

• Line Drying Saves Energy: Second to the refrigerator, the electric dryer is the second biggest household user of electricity. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, as of 2005 there were 88 million dryers in the United States.  Each of these consumes approximately 1,079 kilowatt hours of energy per household, emitting 2,224 pounds of carbon dioxide.  Every individual who chooses to do one less dryer load makes a difference.
• What is Lint? Lint is bits of disintegrated fabric from your clothes. Clothes typically last longer without the duress of a machine dryer.
• White and Bright: Exposure to sunlight is the best natural bleach for your clothes. Worried about fading clothes, simply hang them inside out.
• Line Drying kills germs: The sun’s ultraviolet rays are an antiseptic and kill bacteria.
• Line Drying is perfect for things that can’t go in the dyer- rubber backed throw rugs, car mats, extra large blankets.
• Line Drying inside on a retractable or folding clothesline is a great humidifier for your plants, skin and hair.
• Line Drying is good for your health. Not only is it great exercise, if you are line drying outside you get some fresh air, and the little bit of sunlight that you need everyday. (OK, I admit this one is a stretch…)

Line drying tips:

• Make double levels for small items. If you hang a second clothesline about a foot below the main one, you’ve got twice the space for socks and underwear.
• Shake out wrinkles. Snap an item briskly through the air and most of the wrinkles will disappear. Remove any remaining by pulling the item smooth after hanging it.
• If an item will be stored on a hanger, put it on one while it’s damp, pulling collars and pockets into the proper position. Hang the hanger between items on the line or on a hook nearby. Outdoors, wire hangers can be bent around the line to prevent them from blowing away.
• Put hosiery and lingerie in a nylon-net bag in the washer and then hang them on the line.
• Hang T-shirts by the tails and socks by the toes so clothes pin marks won’t be visible.
• Hang jeans and towels folded over the line. Halfway through drying, turn them so they’re folded the other way, and they’ll dry all the way through.
• Put heavy items near the ends of the line to reduce sagging, which can cause the supports to come loose.
• When hanging clothes outdoors, don’t let them touch walls or posts, which may be dirty.
• Hang fitted sheets folded over the line with the pockets on the inside, so they don’t catch leaves or other debris.
• Sunlight can cause colors to fade so dry bright / deep-dyed colors in the shade or when possible, turn them inside out.
• Add vinegar to the rinse water (1/2 cup per load) to prevent any drying stiffness. Vinegar removes soap residues that cause stiffness and, as the clothing dries, the odor disappears so you don’t have to worry about smelling like a pickle! 

 However, like you there are times when my whites need a little kick in the pants and my dishwasher needs some extra oomph. I recently road tested the following products – here’s my review. Keep in mind this is my opinion only…I encourage you to try a few brands out yourself, and keep trying till you find one that works for you!

Ecover Non-Chlorine Bleach:

This is a hydrogen peroxide based laundry bleach. It’s becoming widely available – I bought it at Stop & Shop. Retail price: about $5.00. I used it like you would normal bleach, in a warm water cycle (I stopped short of splurging on a hot water wash). Consensus: after several loads of whites, it does an adequate job. Not quite as white as Clorox, or  Oxiclean, which is another non-chlorine alternative. In fairness I need to do a full on hot water load with the Ecover plus a detergent booster for head-to-head results, but for now I give it a B+.

 Method Smarty Dish

I am a fan of all things Method, and this product is no exception. The Smarty Dish tablets work as well, if not better than, standard Cascade power tablets. And they smell nice too! I prefer these over Seventh Generation liquid. However, the one drawback is the price and availability: Smarty Dish comes in at about $6.50 and inventory has been spotty except for Target. On performance I give it an A. This is one product I’m willing to pay the premium for.

 MassSave Great Appliance Turn In – Feedback Anyone?

Leave it to the government to get everyone all excited about going green and then disappoint. Anyone try to take advantage of the rebates? Anyone get through? Post your experiences here!

Rumor has it that they are going to fix the website and call centers and try again later this year. Fingers crossed!

When in doubt remember this rhyme: ” 4,5, 1 and 2. All the rest are bad for you.”

Those of you who want the cliff notes can stop there. But wait – there’s more! Below’s a quick overview of the different types:

#1: PET or PETE

• Found in: water and soda bottles, many food containers like salad dressing, peanut butter.
• Generally considered safe. Low risk of leaching into product contained within
• Widely recyclable – virtually all recycling programs accept
• What it gets turned into: polar fleece, carpeting, plastic straps

#2 HDPE

• Found in: Milk jugs, soda bottles, household cleaners like bleach/detergent, yogurt containers
• Generally considered safe: low risk of leaching
• Widely recyclable
• Turned into: more bottles, recycle bins, plastic lumber, fencing

#3: PVC – Vinyl

• Found in: window cleaner/detergent bottles, siding, piping, flooring, windows,many toys, shower curtains, inflatable pools/toys
• NOT SAFE. Vinyl is “the poison plastic”.  PVC contains phthalates – endocrine disruptors that can cause reproductive damage. Heating/burning PVC releases dioxin – a carcinogen. Never heat it. That vinyl shower curtain smell? You guessed it – the hot shower causes the vinyl to off-gas. Same deal with vinyl floors. Ironically, many baby products – including some teethers and bath toys – are made with PVC. Ditch them.
• Not widely recyclable. PVC if mixed inadvertently into other plastics contaminates them.
• Turned into: siding, mudflaps, flooring.

#4: LDPE

• Found in: squeezable bottles, films like cling wrap, plastic shopping/tote bags
• Becoming more widely recyclable, but many communities still do not accept, esp. in bag form.  Most groceries/dept. stores like Target will take them back.
• Generally considered safe
• Turned into: trash can liners, plastic lumber, shipping envelopes

#5: PP

• Found in: ketchup bottles, straws, bottle caps, medicine bottles, some yogurt cups
• Generally considered safe. #5 has a very high melt point so you can put hot liquids/reheat in it.
• Not widely recyclable
• Turned into:  brooms/brushes, landscape borders, some auto parts

#6: Polystyrene/styrofoam

• Found in: disposable food containers, CD cases, egg cartons
• Not safe: contain styrene and benzene, which affect the nervous system and are carcinogens. Known to leach into food (ironic, huh?)
• Very difficult to recycle, not accepted by most municipal programs
• Turned into: insulation, packing peanuts, more food containers

#7: Polycarbonates/Other:

• Found in: sunglasses, 3-5 gallon water bottles, signs, DVD/computer cases…anything plastic that’s very rigid
• Not safe for foods/beverages: this is the plastic with BPA risk. BPAs are hormone disruptors linked to everything from reproductive issues, immune disorders, obesity, and cancer – even at low doses. BPA leaches from #7 plastic, especially if heated or if exposed to acidic substances (hello coffee cup/baby bottle/orange juice container?)
• Not widely recycled, but more programs are starting to accept it
• Turned into: plastic lumber, custom products

On Recycling: If you are unsure which plastics your town takes – or not – email me and I will find out for you. Many “single stream” communities take all plastics in order to encourage wider recycling. They then dispose of the plastics not recycled conventionally.

Work in progress – as a business:  those of you who know me also know I’ve been looking for a way to marry my vocation with my avocations for some time. And I’ve looked in some crazy places – daydreaming of everything from consulting to candy to yes – a gourmet peanut butter sandwich franchise.  In one of my late-night, caffeine induced quests I was watching “Living With Ed” on Discovery…it was either that or infomercials… and they had a segment where Ed’s friend the eco-coach helped Helen Hunt green her house. Did you know she spends a serious wad on heating her hot tub, and also seems quite bitchy? I digress.  It was at that point the CFL above my head lit up. 

It’s been a slow path. Doing training, getting a few practice sessions and making contacts take more work than I expected, especially since most of it happens between 9pm-1 am! But it’s been rewarding.  And every step forward is exhilarating. Turns out I really like this, which is a good start.

Work in progress going green: We’ve always been a green family. But the more I learn, the more I realize how much further we can go, and why it’s so important.  Every day another story – this week it’s Garbage Island in the Atlantic. Last week my suspicions about microwave popcorn being bad news were confirmed.  But I am also inspired. Yesterday my daughter Carly’s friend was over and asked what the big black round thing in the backyard was. Carly promptly explained composting, showed Samantha where the food scraps go and why. And get this – they were both really into it! 

I’m a firm believer if I’m going to talk the talk, I’ve got to walk the walk. But it’s a journey, and even simple steps make a huge difference. Will we ever completely get rid of paper towels/plastic lunch baggies? Probably not. Have we reduced our usage dramatically? Yes.  Am I going to turn into Ed Begley? My husband is praying no.

So my question to you is – how is your work in progress coming along?  One of my favorite quotes is ” Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.” This Earth Day will you take a step forward? I hope so.