Do you or anyone you know use a deep fryer to cook your turkey on Thanksgiving? For me, the whole thing seems really dangerous, because every year I hear stories about people burning down their houses with a turkey fryer. How about the nutrition factor? Well, anything fried is usually a bad idea, but LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says that fried turkey “is not as unhealthy as it might sound,” as long as you’re not eating the skin.
So if you’re going to use a turkey fryer, what do you do with all the waste oil after you’re done cooking? Many companies are accepting donations of waste cooking oil to use to make biodiesel or other renewable fuels. Some companies are even paying you to drop off your oil! Cool, huh?
To find a drop-off in your city, your best bet is probably a Google search. Here’s a few I found on my own:
Tulsa, OK - Hebert’s Specialty Meats, 2101 E. 71st St., 11am - 5pm, Friday & Saturday, will pay up to $1.00/gallon
Colorado - Rocky Mountain Sustainable Enterprises’ Holiday recycOil, Saturday, 10am - 4pm, in Arvada, Aurora, Aspen/Pitkin County, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Lafayette, Longmont, Loveland, Littleton, Louisville, and Thornton (exact locations on website)
Tucson, AZ - Grecycle, Friday, 9am - 1pm (map to locations on website)
San Diego, CA - City Grease Disposal Program, Miramar Landfill, 5165 Convoy Street, M-F 7am - 4:30pm, Sat-Sun 7:30am - 4:30pm
You can also try out the Earth911 website. Type in “cooking oil” and your city on their main page to get a listing of drop-off locations.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving and please recycle the oil if you use a fryer! If you know another family that’s frying up oil, offer to pick it up and drop off for them! Your holiday good deed will be done before the Christmas season even starts!
The Natural Resources Defense Council recently investigated the chemical levels in some common air fresheners. The scary results? 12 out of 14 air fresheners had hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates in them. What’s even more frustrating is that some of the air fresheners they tested were labeled “unscented” and “all natural.” The only two air fresheners that were free of phthalates were Febreze Air Effects and Renuzit Subtle Effects.
Children and unborn babies have been found to be especially susceptible to these toxins. The state of California maintains the stance that five different types of phthalates are “known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm.”
I don’t know about you but I just love a fresh smelling car and home. To do it the “green way,” fill up a regular spray bottle with water and then add a dash of your favorite essential oil. One recipe I read said to mix 1 cup of water with 30-40 drops of oil. Just shake the bottle to mix the the oil before you spray each time.
A lemon or other citrus mixture would be nice for the kitchen and maybe lavender or other flower oil might be nice in your bedroom. For me, I’m going to make a peppermint spray for my car. Mint is proven to help you wake up and feel energized. That’s exactly what I need on my morning commute!!
Need some advice on where to get your supplies?
Spray bottle - You can get cheap spray bottles at any drug store, Target, Walmart, Dollar Store, or Sally Beauty Supply. I always see them in the hair care section by the hair brushes, combs, etc.
Essential oils - These are actually pretty easy to find if you know where to look. Check your local health food stores in the personal care section or a bath and body store like the The Body Shop. Of course, a google search of “essential oils” will also offer you a huge variety of online stores where you can buy in bulk. One of my favorites is a store called Leaves and Roots. They have a huge selection of oils, plus a great supply of natural herbs, extracts, and teas.
While there are some great “green” cleaning products out on the market right now, you may want to consider some homemade, all natural cleaning with things you already have in the house. It’s a cheaper and healthier way to keep your home clean. There are a TON of homemade cleaning recipes out there if you Google search, but here are a few of the basics for easy access.
Drain Unclogger
You can use baking soda and vinegar to unclog any drain in your house. Pour 1 cup of baking soda into the drain and follow it with 1 cup of hot vinegar. It will bubble and steam, but don’t worry, that’s normal. Once the bubbles die down, pour hot water down the drain to clear it completely. This same mixture can be used as a toilet cleaner, but you don’t need a full cup of each. Just sprinkle a little baking soda and vinegar in and swish around with a cleaning brush. (Green Living Ideas)
Glass Cleaner
Mix equal parts vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle and you’ve got a wonderful glass cleaner. You can also use plain water with a few drops of mild dish soap. Use a squeegee or old newspaper instead of paper towels to avoid streaks and cut down on waste. (Martha Stewart)
Furniture Polish
For finished wood, mix 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice in a bowl to make the polish. Dip a soft, dry cloth into the mixture and rub into the wood (in the direction of the grain). Use a soft toothbrush if you need to get in small spaces or between grains. Wipe off excess with a clean cloth. For unfinished wood, add 1 teaspoon lemon oil to 1 cup of mineral oil for the polish and follow the same steps as above. (eHow)
Mold/Mildew Remover
Add 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and shake it to blend. Spray directly on mold or mildew in your shower, on your shower curtain, or even on a moldy ceiling. Do not rinse. Make sure the area is well ventilated because the tea tree oil smell is very strong. I’ve also read that you can sprinkle a couple drops of tea tree oil on any area where bugs like to come in. It will keep them away from that area. (care2)
Air/Fabric Freshener
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle of water. Spray anywhere to freshen up the air or make a room smell better.
Stain Remover/Metal Polisher
A wedge of lemon or fresh lemon juice can be used to get out any stain on a counter or to polish metal. Squirt lemon juice onto the stain and allow it to dry. A wedge of lemon is a great way to freshen up your sink too. Rub the lemon all over the metal in the sink. For tough stains, try sprinkling baking soda on the lemon before you begin. (CHEC)
Do you have any homemade cleaning recipes of your own? Share ‘em with us and we’ll post it on our site. Happy cleaning loves!
I just had to share this video. Please take the 7 minutes and 17 seconds to watch - it is an inspiration to see what someone can do from waste. A HUGE THANK YOU! to Brittney for sharing her link on videos about recycled bags.
If your area doesn’t have a local grocer, don’t fret. A lot of mainstream grocery stores are offering organic products on their shelves. Organic Earth Day supplied a flyer at my grocery store to provide coupons and steps for going organic. Their website has some great ideas for recipes and highlights companies that create organic food items.
Some grocery stores that are making the movement:
Publix recently took their Greenwise Market products and created a whole store! Their first location is in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and they have four more locations planned.
On a recent (and rare) trip to Wal-Mart, they are now selling organic products too! Like Laurel & I’s faves: Amy’s organic foods and Stonyfield Yogurt amongst others.
For those of you on the other side of the country, Safeway’s website has a whole organic section to browse before you order online or go to the store.
And, do not forget to continuously check Laurel on Health Food for the most recent information on what organic foods can do for you. This is an excellent resource to encourage healthy things to go into your body, things you never knew could happen if you just ate the right things.
Do you have t-shirts that are holey, smelly, and with dark yellow pit stains? Get a clue, your local thrift store doesn’t want them. The dog won’t go near them. But they still have potential.
Cut ‘em up. Old sleeves make a great head scarf and the remaining shreds make excellent cleaning rags! Spray some eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner and you’re off! This way you can avoid more garbage, and the multiple handiwipes it takes to clean the surface of your table.
