You return from your latest shopping trip and are putting your purchases away. As you unpack your reusable shopping bags of the latest cleaning wonder, you look at your cleaning cabinet. It may actually qualify as a miniature superfund site.

A closer look reveals that you are not that different than the rest of us - we all have different cleaners for wood, stainless steel, tile, windows, carpets, drains, and everything else under the sun. You admit to yourself that perhaps you like a clean house way too much and that you’ve got a soft spot for the high tech cleaning gadgets, but is any of it eco-friendly?

Do you know what the most difficult challenge of municipal water systems is? It isn’t the organic waste that is difficult to deal with. Organic waste settles to the bottom where it is then taken care of by special enzymes. Chemicals are another story. Cities and municipalities have to use a series of filtration systems to remove chemicals from the water. Other chemicals are often added to help neutralize some of the more hazardous chemicals. However, this water isn’t even completely purified; it is merely purified enough to be pumped down the river, or into a lake.

If you think businesses and manufacturing facilities are the biggest problems - think again. They are closely monitored for chemical pollution to waterways. Homeowners like us are the real problem. With thousands of people on a local water system, and millions on a big city system it is impossible to control what gets washed down the drain or flushed down the toilet. While some offenses are blatant, such as pouring antifreeze or other used car chemicals down the drain, most comes out of ignorance, as most people assume that the manufacturer of the product is selling you something that is safe and look no further. Unfortunately, this is not true. The enzymes and boosters put in most cleaning products have detrimental impacts on algae growth and oxygen levels in water which has a very large negative impact on marine ecosystems.

What can be done to stop this kind of madness? Actually, it’s providing people with the knowledge and education to make smart eco-friendly choices. For instance, home cleaning can be done with several safer cleansers like alcohol, ammonia, bleach, detergent, oil and soaps. Make sure not to mix these chemicals since doing so can be deadly.

One major source of chemicals in the water comes from laundry. However, it really only takes a simple detergent to keep clothes clean. Bleach is great for light clothes. Soaking extremely dirty clothes first, and then washing with a simple detergent is generally effective. Most stains will come clean with the use of alcohol. Vinegar can help with grease or oil stains. What about glass and windows? A simple solution of ammonia and water mixed equally is all you really need. The best cleaner for wood surfaces is simply a mild oil soap. There are even natural, eco-friendly cleaning techniques for virtually every mess or stain out there that involve the use of oils created from things like peppermint and lavender!

The rule of thumb is if there are more than seven to ten ingredients in a cleaner, there is probably a better and more eco friendly choice. Next time you are shopping for home cleanup products you may want to remember that it’s not just buying or bringing your organic cotton bags, its what you put in, or don’t put in it.

You return from your latest shopping trip and are putting your purchases away. As you unpack your reusable bags of the latest cleaning wonder, you look at your cleaning cabinet. It may actually qualify as a miniature superfund site.

As you look in the cabinet, you notice cleaners for polishing wood, cleaners for your stainless steel appliances, cleaners for the window/glass, carpets, drains, bathrooms; the list is endless. You admit to yourself that perhaps you like a clean house way too much and that you’ve got a soft spot for the high tech cleaning gadgets, but is any of it eco-friendly?

Consider your municipal water system - what do you think is the biggest challenge for them? It isn’t the organic waste that is difficult to deal with. Organic waste settles to the bottom where it is then taken care of by special enzymes. Chemicals are another story. Chemicals must be tediously removed from the water by a series of filtration systems. Other chemicals are often added to help neutralize some of the more hazardous chemicals. However, this water isn’t even completely purified; it is merely purified enough to be pumped down the river, or into a lake.

While business and manufacturing facilities can and are closely monitored for chemical pollution, the biggest problems come from homeowners. With thousands of people on a local water system, and millions on a big city system it is impossible to control what gets washed down the drain or flushed down the toilet. While some offenses are blatant, such as pouring antifreeze or other used car chemicals down the drain, most comes out of ignorance, as most people assume that the manufacturer of the product is selling you something that is safe and look no further. Unfortunately, this is not true. The enzymes and boosters put in most cleaning products have detrimental impacts on algae growth and oxygen levels in water which has a very large negative impact on marine ecosystems.

So, what can we do? Like most things, it all begins with a little education. For instance, home cleaning can be done with several safer cleansers like alcohol, ammonia, bleach, detergent, oil and soaps. Make sure not to mix these chemicals since doing so can be deadly.

One major source of chemicals in the water comes from laundry. However, it really only takes a simple detergent to keep clothes clean. Bleach is great for light clothes. Soaking extremely dirty clothes first, and then washing with a simple detergent is generally effective. Most stains will come clean with the use of alcohol. Vinegar can help with grease or oil stains. A tried and true cleaner for glass is made from ammonia and water mixed equally. The best cleaner for wood surfaces is simply a mild oil soap. There are even natural, eco-friendly cleaning techniques for virtually every mess or stain out there that involve the use of oils created from things like peppermint and lavender!

A general rule to follow when looking at what kind of cleaning products to use is to avoid products that use more than 7-10 ingredients. This won’t solve all the problems, but it will help. If you really want to get as eco-friendly as possible, look around online for “recipes” for cleaning products that you can make at home using only water and natural oils and extracts. Next time you are shopping for home cleanup products you may want to remember that it’s not just buying or bringing your organic cotton totes, its what you put in, or don’t put in it.

Spring is the best time to engage in landscaping and if that’s exactly what you’re planning on taking advantage of, you’ll find this information really handy. When out tree shopping take a moment to look up White Pine seedlings. These trees grow rapidly reaching 6′ within 6-7 years and they continue to grow at that speed for the first 100 years. Three-year old seedlings measure 10-18″ tall and make good dense screens and windbreakers while also making ideal options for landscaping and ornamentation purposes. These trees, with their blue-green 4″ long needles, like direct sunlight. Hardy perennials, they grow well in regular soil and moisture conditions.

Serbian Spruce trees are also perfect choices for landscaping. Making them irresistible is their availability this season at rock bottom prices. Buyers should consider a visit to the local nursery to pick up these balled and burlap- packed trees. Most nurseries also hand out planting and care guides along with copies of their nursery license and a Gypsy Moth compliance certificate, necessary requirements in many states.

Another attractive choice is the Honey Locust tree. These trees are not only popular for ornamental landscaping but are also known to attract wild life, thus providing double benefits. They can survive in hot and arid climates and do well in cities as well. Those bought from registered tree farms come ready for planting. Healthy growth is best achieved by planting in spring.

There are also a host of plants that can be grown both indoors and outdoors. The Alexandra Palm Trees is one such option. Most seedlings available for purchase measure 4″-10″ from the base of the stem to the fronds. They do well in pots and containers indoors in cold regions and are good as houseplants outdoors, either under direct or partial sunlight, in warmer climates. They grow to about 50-80 ft with fronds extending 10-15 ft.

Oak Tree Seedlings, those old, reliable favorites are just as popular today and can be bought in pots covered with soil. These seedlings is currently available for online sale in all states except the following, which enforce different legal specifications on incoming shipments - Arizona, California, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Oak seedling, on attaining maturity, can reach a height ranging between 40-80 ft. It’s also capable of providing shade over an area spanning 50-80 ft, a result of its magnificent spread. It grows well in direct and partial sunlight.

Maples can also do a lot for your landscape. I recommend the rarer Sycamore Maples. Those that are just past the dormant stage grow at a good rate, growing leaves and spurting overnight. They are guaranteed to grow 60-70 ft tall by the time they attain maturity. These not only add to the beauty of the landscape but are strong enough to withstand unfavorable conditions like pollution, sea spray, winds and even drought making them sound bets.

Deserving a mention on this list are American elms. These are also fast growing trees and used to be popular in urban areas. Their populations were hit hard by Dutch elm disease and are now mainly found in the American Midwest and Canadian Prairies. Their graceful appearance adds beauty to any landscape with minimum care involved. When ordered online, they generally come with the roots secured in damp paper.

And lastly, deserving a mention are Fraser Fir trees which grow tall and dense very quickly and can therefore be used as effective windbreakers, borders and privacy screens. These firs are capable of reaching 60 ft on maturity and have soft and shiny needles that are silver on the underside and dark green on top. These hardy specimens do very well when planted in well drained soil and can manage without full sunshine. Most sellers provide detailed planting instructions that ensure successful transfers and long-term growth.