by Tao, Carrboro, NC

Did you hear the one about the Cleaning professional who blew up her car by lighting a cigarette?

I wish this was a joke, but it’s true and not all that surprising - It was full of popular, but toxic, cleaning supplies. (Fortunately, she survived the mishap, though suffered burns.)

New Year’s Resolution time - protect yourself and your environment by switching to GREEN CLEANING SUPPLIES. There’s lots of convenient choices for every need in stores and online - even drain cleaner, furniture polish, and more. If this isn’t where you want to spend your dollars, you can also make your own cleaners for just about anything with inexpensive, safe ingredients like vinegar, salt, and baking soda. You know the scoop.

A new one for me: If Winter dryness is causing you static and you are tempted to buy dryer sheets, don’t, just add about 1/2 cup of vinegar to the wash cycle.

Contact your local hazardous waste facility by using the phone book or checking their website. To get a headstart on your options, you can also visit Earth911.

Most importantly, don’t wait - those chemicals sitting under your sink, in the attic or garage are not doing anyone or anything any good. Start CLEAN in the New Year!