Kitchen Cleaning

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Hemp is one of the best materials to buy to help the environment and keep your home natural and non-toxic. This versatile fiber has so many uses, one of which is household sponges. These fantastic hand-made sponges are biodegradable and compostable, last for five or six months, are 100 percent hemp and won't scratch dishes. 

This plant-based kitchen brush set has FSC-certified bamboo handles and sisal bristles made from Mexico's palmyra & sisal plants, great for scrubbing pots, pans, dishes, and more. The bristles are biodegradable and effectively clean without harming surfaces. Packaged in a paper box. No plastic. 

This all-natural bamboo scrub brush from Eartheasy is great for tough scrubbing on dishes and soft gentle scrubbing of vegetables as there are two types of bristles, one soft and one harder. It's made using all plant-based materials -- bamboo, tampico and palmyra. And there are no plastics, glues, or chemicals of any kind. 

These all-natural scouring pads are  tough but gentle on dishes and pots and pans. They are made from the outer husk of coconut shells. They are non-toxic and biodegradable and there are no plastics, glues, or chemicals of any kind. 

There are so many affordable and widely-available natural plant-based sponges on the market now, there is no need to buy synthetic sponges. Zen Living is a great choice as they have a scrubby surface on one size for touch stuck-on food and are biodegradable. They're made from wood cellulose and coconut fiber.  

The Earthly Co. says a 10-pack of these cotton paper towel alternatives replaces 80 rolls of regular paper towels. These towels are biodegradable and compostable. They are versatile and attractive and can be used as paper towels, napkins, guest towels or anything else. They are non-toxic and free of chemicals. 

I'm seeing more and more tree-free paper towels. These paper towels from Save Trees are made from FSC-certified bamboo. They are bleached with elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching. This method is safer and less toxic than using chlorine because it does not create dioxins. (It uses chlorine dioxide which is not the same as chlorine.) The paper towels are toxin-free, pesticides-free and have no added fragrances. Plastic-free packaging.

How I love vintage dish towels! There are so many out there. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Aunt Martha's are my go-to towels. I love the old-fashioned look. I like the blue striped ones the best and next I like the multi-colored striped option. But there are lots of great colors from which to choose. Just as you want your clothes and linens to be organic and natural, aprons and other accessories can help you keep a non-toxic home and wardrobe (in addition to protecting the environment, farmers and wildlife from pesticides). 

Marley's Monsters are reusable cotton flannel paper towel alternatives or “unpaper towels” as they call them. These eco-friendly wipes are made in Oregon. They also make make-up pads, nursing pads and reusable toilet unpaper. The business was started several years ago by a soon-to-be new mom on maternity leave to help reduce paper waste and create a sustainable alternative to common paper products. Marley’s Monsters says if every household replaced just one roll of paper towels with their unpaper towels, it would save about 544,000 trees each year.   

Getting a stainless steel funnel means there is one less plastic item in your kitchen and less microplastic in your food. This steel funnel from EarthShopp also won't leach out BPA or other chemicals. It has a removable strainer, making it especially versatile. Stainless steel is considered sustainable because it is 100% recyclable into the same product with no reduction in quality

These small stainless steel funnels (set of two) have narrow necks that make it easy to transfer items like spices and dish soap that are going into small jars. They are corrosion-resistant and lead-free. Best of all, plastic-free. 

The best thing about these mesh stainless steel strainers is that they are not plastic. Metal strainers add a vintage look to a kitchen and are better than plastic for the environment and us. This set of two is corrosion-resistant, lead-free and dishwater-safe.  

For a long time I struggled with how to hang up pots and pans. I have a cathedral ceiling and limited wall space so most racks designed for pots and pans weren't going to work for me. Then I found these steel peg boards. I wanted a one large one but opted instead for two of these 16-inch square smaller ones to put on either side of a cubby space I have in the kitchen. S hooks work well for pots and pans. It looks great.

Glass is best and Anchor Hocking's glass measuring cups are made in the U. S. from BPA-free, lead-free non-toxic glass. This set of three includes a one-cup, two-cup and four-cup measuring cup. They are designed with bold lettering to be easy to read. 

These serving utensils from Public Goods are made in India of sustainably-grown acacia wood. The set includes one spoon spatula, one scraper spatula, one slotted spoon and one mixer spatula. They are free of toxic lacquers or finishes. Handwash to preserve the beauty of the wood.

These wooden kitchen utensils are made of organic bamboo and finished with a natural oil. They are FDA approved and BPA free. Bamboo is one of the most environmentally-friendly materials available. It's benefits are numerous including drawing carbon dioxide from the air and producing more oxygen than trees. It requires less water to grow than other natural resources like wood and it's large canopy and network of roots help reduce soil erosion. It's also the fastest growing plant on earth, making it particularly sustainable. 

Eartheasy’s disposable picnic plates are made from biodegradable organic bamboo. They’re stronger than paper and better and safer for the environment than plastic. They are free of harmful chemicals including pesticides, bleaches and dyes. They can be thrown away after use or tossed in a backyard compost heap where they will naturally break down in several months. Eartheasy also has some good options for non-toxic biodegradable picnic utensils. They are made from organic bamboo, are chemical-free and contain no dyes or bleaches.

This is a great glass pitcher. I have it and find it a good size and I'm happy with the quality. The stainless steel top is a great and has two pouring options, strained and open. It's made of heat-resistant borosilicate glass, lead-free, lightweight, durable and suitable for cold and hot beverags.

There are a variety of water filters you can install in your home that will remove toxins and other impurities. For simple countertop filtering, I use activated charcoal sticks in a glass pitcher. Charcoal is the same material that cleanses water in many filter systems, including the popular Brita systems. The big advantage is there is no plastic housing and no plastic pitchers. I like Kishu sticks. They come in a biodegradable cardboard box and you can buy several different sizes. Kishu sticks remove such metals as lead, mercury, copper, uranium, aluminum from water. 

These ceramic trivets absorb adn distribute heat, protecting pots and pans and surfaces. A natural cork backing protects counters and tables from scratches and keeps the trivet from sliding. Stone trivets from Thirstystone come in a variety of designs from decorative like this one to floral, seaside and wildlife themes. 

This aluminum trivet depicts the sheesham tree, which is prevalent in India, where the trivet is made. The tree is known for its sprawling branches and is planted to bring urban areas shade. The trivet has rubber feet on its four corners. It's made by Noah's Ark International Exports, which is a fair trade handicraft marketing organization in Moradabad, India. 

If You Care paper baggies can hold almost anything plastic baggies can and they are much better for the environment and for you. Plastic is made with toxic chemicals and, depending on the use and the type of plastic, many plastic bags can leach chemicals into food inside. They are also not biodegradable. If You Care paper baggies are made in Sweden from unbleached pulp of Scandinavian spruce trees – a natural, renewable resource. They are greaseproof and provide a natural barrier, making them ideal for nuts, potato chips, cookies, and sandwiches that use mayonnaise or oil. They are uncoated and not treated with any kind of wax. They are also chlorine-free, which means your food isn’t exposed to chlorine and nor is the environment after the bags are composted or thrown away. If you’re holding liquid or other foods not suitable for paper baggies, use glass or another natural material, if possible. Not plastic. If You Care also makes tons of other natural paper eco-friendly kitchen supplies like coffee filters, waxed paper and baking dishes. 

I am really excited to have found these vegan plant-based food wraps. Don't let the name fool you. No bees were harmed or exploited or used in any way to make these eco-friendly cruelty-free wraps. Bee's Wrap does make another line of wraps that uses beeswax -- as do many makers of wax wraps -- but these do not. They are made in the U. S. from organic cotton, plant oils and waxes and tree resin.  You can wrap food like sandwiches or fruit directly in them or you can use them to cover leftovers in dishes. They last a long time and can be used again and again.

Storing leftovers and other food in plastic isn't a good idea because first of all, it's plastic so it created pollutants when manufactured and will do so when it's eventually discarded. Secondly, a lot of plastics leach toxins into food. It also sheds microshreds into food, the air and into the environment. I use regular dishes mostly and cover them with vegan food wraps or wax paper. I also use glass containers with lids. Be sure to choose BPA-free lids. And even better, look for lids made of silicone, which is better for you and the environment. This one from Ikea is a good choice as the size is versatile and the lid is silicone. The storage boxes pictured here are from Joy Jolt, which has a large line of eco-friendly glass jars. I especially like these jars with bamboo tops. 

Anchor Hocking has a lot of good choices for glass food storage containers and they are all made in the U.S. These jars for cookies, nuts, dog biscuits or anything else have only glass and metal tops. 

This set of glass food storage containers with silicone lids is from Public Goods. They're made of borosilicate glass (oven safe) and tempered soda lime glass and free of  lead and cadmium. Public Goods offers so many eco-friendly products. 

These nifty stainless steel lunchboxes are great because they are not plastic. Nor are they aluminum, which  is a known neurotoxicant and may contribute to neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. These non-toxic lunchboxes are from PlanetBox and contain no lead, PVC, phthalates or BPA. PlanetBox likes to say they are "going plastic-free one lunch at a time." They use food-grade stainless steel to ensure safety. It's durable and long-lasting so you only have to buy a lunchbox once, not every year.  These are great for both kids and adults and they have several sizes available.

These 3-section stainless Greenlunch Bento lunchboxes are also an excellent choice. They are made from food-grade stainless steel and are free of BPA, phthalates, PVC and lead. 

It's great that more and more shoppers are bringing reusable bags to the supermarket, but unfortunately, most of them are made of plastic. They eventually get thrown away and are then harmful to the environment and wildlife. These canvas shopping bags are made of organic cotton. Another good option is organic cotton string bags from Zero Waste Store, which can crunch up small and stow away easily in your purse or a pocket in your car. Plastic produce bags are an Earth-killer you can avoid using by bringing your own. And cotton is best. (Three cheers for Whole Foods though, providing paper bags.) These natural produce bags from the Zero Waste Store are made of organic cotton. They are Fair Trade, GOTS-certified and biodegradable. Not only better for the environment but they’ll keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer than plastic bags. 

These sturdy  shopping totes from Simple Ecology are made from organic cotton and jute. They are sustainable, biodegradable, recyclable and GOTS-certified. 

Ecobags has a dreamy line of Earth-friendly tote bags: Organic and recycled cotton, drawstring cotton mesh bags, cotton string bags and more. Their mission is to save the Earth "one bag at a time.” Another material they use is birla cellulose, a biodegradable fiber from wood pulp. Ecobags started back in the 1980s when then-new mom Sharon Rowe realized the environmental harm that single-use plastic was doing. 

These mesh cotton produce bags from Zero Waste Outlet are made from 100 percent GOTS-certified organic cotton. They have a wooden drawstring bead and a tare weight tag. They are biodegradable. No reason to put fruits and vegetables in plastic. 

These GOTS-certified mesh produce bags from Coyuchi are 100 percent organic undyed cotton, grown in India. They are made in India in a factory that recycles 98 precent of its wastewater. There is a large bag for things like lettuce and celery and two smaller bags for smaller produce. 

Cast iron is my top choice for cookware. Safe, non-toxic, long-lasting and eco-friendly. It's nostalgic and has stood the test of time for good reason. It's great for cooking everything except tomatoes as the acidity of tomatoes can react with the iron and cause a funny taste. Lodge has been making cast iron cookware since 1896 and it is all American-made. Their 10.25 inch skillet is a versatile size and comes pre-seasoned with vegetable oil. It can be used everywhere from the oven to the stovetop and even on a campfire. This 7-quart Dutch oven pot is pre-seasoned with vegetable oil and is a good size for cooking large batches. This sturdy muffin pan has such a nostalgic look it would make a great gift, as would any cast iron cookware. Amazon has a number of other cast iron options including this 15-inch pan and this three-piece pre-seasoned skillet set. 

Stainless steel is  a great material for pots and pans. It's safe, non-toxic, durable and affordable. My favorite brand is Cuisinart. Its pots and pans are strong, well-built and attractive.  Their riveted handles are ergonomic in design and have holes for hanging, a must-have feature for any pot I buy because I hang them with S hooks on steel pegboards. Some tops are solid stainless and some come with tempered glass tops rimmed with stainless steel. I have three of this saucepan and find it to be the perfect size for cooking vegetables, rice and sauces. This functional 13-piece set is an excellent choice is you're setting up a new kitchen or looking for a practical gift. 

For baking, glass or cast iron is best. As I mention under cast iron, Lodge has great cast iron baking dishes. For glass, I recommend Anchor Hocking as it's BPA-free lead-free glass products are made in the U. S. as they have been since 1905. This multi-dish bakeware set includes a variety of sizes and a measuring cup. It's a good option for anyone setting up a new home. For adding to your bakeware supply, check out Anchor Hocking's collection of glass dishes sold separately. 

Copper is fine for higher pH, less acidic, foods since the copper usually won't react with them as it will with acidic foods, like those with a pH below 6.5, such as tomatoes, wine, vinegar, citrus juices, etc.... When that happens, more copper can leach into the food resulting in too much copper ingestion and the food could also have a funny metallic taste and become discolored. Copper is also fine if it's lined with tin or stainless steel, such as this set from Cuisinart. Copper is popular with chefs as it conducts heat efficiently and evenly and it's attractive but it should be used with caution. If you want the beauty of copper but want to be sure it won't have a dangerous or unpleasant reaction with food, get pots and pans lined with tin or stainless steel. Tin conducts heat better but also wears out faster. Never use old copper pans lined with nickel. While copper is an essential mineral and we need a certain level of it (about 900 micrograms a day), too much can be toxic.

Don't cook with aluminum or any older non-stick pots and pans, such as Teflon. They are toxic. Some newer non-stick ceramic-coated cookware claims to be non-toxic and free of harmful chemicals. Find out exactly what's in them before buying them. Also never cook with plastic, or heat up food in it, in the microwave. Many pots and pans have an aluminum core sealed behind stainless steel. These are fine to use as the aluminum can't access your food.

Berkey water filtration systems are consistently among the highest rated filters you can buy. Not only is it one of the most effective activated carbon filters, the housing is metal, not plastic. It's a little more money up front than others but the filter elements need to be replaced less frequently so in the long run it's a good economic choice too. Berkeys have been tested by independent labs for their ability to remove over 200 common water contaminants including heavy metals, inorganic minerals, VOCs, perfluorinated chemicals and pharmaceuticals.  

This French bread serving board is handmade in Haiti. The fast-growing obeechi wood is cultivated sustainably to ensure that while craftspeople make a fair living from their native land, they also protect the landscape for future generations. They're made by the nonprofit Comité Artisanal Haitien, which was founded in 1973 to help rural craftspeople sell their wares in Port–au–Prince, to provide income and to help reduce the flow of migration from the countryside to the city. 

Composting vegetable scraps and coffee grinds is a great way to reduce the volume of trash thrown away. And if you have space to toss it out back into a designated compost area the garden, soil, bugs and worms love it. This stylish one-gallon compost keeper from Eartheasy is made of ceramic and has a stainless steel handle and charcoal filter in the top to absorb odors. Fits nicely on countertops.

This 12 oz. terra cotta mug is hand thrown by traditional craftspeople in Nepal. It's made through Sana Hastakala, which means "small handicraft" in Nepali, a nongovernmental, nonprofit export organization based in Kathmandu. Sana Hastakala works to preserve the rich artistic skill and traditions of Nepali artisans, and provides additional training and marketing assistance to artisans. Eighty percent of the artisans are women; most artisans are uneducated.

Single coffee cup are so often plastic. This porcelain filter that sits directly on a mug is better for the environment and healthier for us. More attractive than plastic too. It's lead-free and doesn't stain. Takes #4 filters, which can be purchased here. 

This set of four stainless steel food storage and carry dishes are stacked for convenient travel and storage. They can be used singly or all together. They're a great option for picnics, taking food to gatherings or just storing at home. Their seamless interiors make cleaning easy. They're US FDA and EU food grade compliant and third-party tested. Free of toxins like cadmium, aluminum and pfas. The set is ethically made in India and shipped in cardboard. 

Natural sandstone coasters quickly absorb condensation from drink glasses in  doing so protecting surfaces from water marks. Sandstone is made up of minerals such as quartz, mica, feldspar and clay. The coasters are made in the US and come in a variety of decorative themes. They have a natural cork backing. .