Green Cleaning Products from EcoSierra

Are you interested in finding the best green cleaning products? EcoSierra, a company based in Madison, Wisconsin, has a great-looking line of eco friendly cleaning products, and they specialize in reusable, refillable products. Check out this video to learn more about their cleaning products such as all purpose cleaner, kitchen cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and glass cleaner.

I used to work with a woman who had spent many years as a chemist, and she was very careful about her choices in cleaning products because conventional products could send her into a terrible reaction because of her chemical sensitivity. It makes me glad to see this line of health-friendly products made from natural ingredients because they not only help us maintain our physical health, but they also help us preserve the environment.

EcoSierra is known for their custom "squeasy pouch" refills for their cleaning products. This system saves money and resources and sends fewer materials into landfills. The series of photos below shows how the squeasy pouches work.

I've always liked the convenience of spray products, and EcoSierra has developed their line of cleaners so that you can use the optimal product for each of your cleaning needs. Or if you prefer to just use one cleaner throughout your home, they have an all-purpose cleaner, too. The products come in gentle scents such as cucumber and grapefruit. Visit EcoSierra's website to learn more.

Introducing Chelsydale's Silicone Baking Cups, Available on Amazon

Amazon.com provides a marketplace which allows a lot of independent business owners to reach a wide audience of consumers, and you can find some unique products as you click around on the site. For those (like me!) who like baking, one such cool product is Chelsydale's Silicone Baking Cups.

These cupcake liners are made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone, and they come in a set of 12 pieces in bright colors. You also receive a convenient transparent cylindrical container case for storage. The cups make a nice alternative to paper or foil liners as these cupcake liners are reusable. They're also non-stick. You can use them for cupcakes and muffins, of course, and also as dessert molds for gelatin, frozen treats, and so on. They are also used in bento lunch boxes.

The cups are safe to use and won't affect the taste of your foods, nor will they leave any unpleasant smell. They are microwave, oven, dishwasher, and freezer safe. And they are very easy to clean. With their handy size, many customers find the silicone cups to be versatile and capable of being used for other functions aside from baking.

Chelsydale is currently offering these silicone baking cups at a special introductory price. Plus, they have shared a coupon code with the readers of our blog. For a limited time, you can get an additional 10% discount by entering this promo code upon checkout: BRTFKDUC.

Tips for Managing Household Waste

Below is a guest post from Leo Group, a recycling company based in Halifax.

The Benefits of Proper Waste Management in the Home

Household waste can be a nuisance to say the least. Accumulating it is easy; it is getting rid of it in the right way that can be difficult. This is why it is so important that you have a proper waste management strategy in place. Recycling your household waste is, by far, one of the best things that you can do. This is because there are so many benefits. Companies like Leo Group are there to help you to recycle your household waste in the most efficient manner possible. Here are some of the benefits that come with proper waste management in the home.

Keep the Home Germ-Free

One of the problems that many people face is having rubbish lying around the house until the council come to collect it on a weekly basis. If you recycle your household waste, then you don't need to worry about this. The great thing about companies like Leo Group is the fact that they are able to collect your rubbish efficiently, meaning that you don't have to have it lying around until it can be collected. This makes the home much healthier, and also germ free.

Create a Healthier Environment

The environment is constantly being damaged. Although we are all aware of this, very few of us will actually do our bit. What you have to remember is the fact that household waste that is not recycled will inevitably end up in a landfill. When this happens, the government has to pay for it, and it causes huge amounts of damage to the environment. However, by recycling your household waste with a company like Leo Group, you are able to really make sure that you are not contributing too much to global warming.

Protect the Earth for Future Generations

If you have children, then you will obviously want to make sure that they are given the best future possible. Obviously, some aspects of their future are out of your hands, but by recycling your household waste, you are able to do your bit to preserve the planet for future generations.

Recycling really does need to begin at home. Many of us find ourselves ranting about large manufacturing firms that are destroying the earth, when we are not doing anything from the home. If you want to make sure that you do your bit for the planet then start recycling today.

Meet Kenneth Liao of Trade In Happy

Our interview below is with Kenneth Liao, founder of Trade In Happy, a company which allows you to sell your iPhone or other smartphone for cash. The company prides itself on its reputation as a reputable buyer for used phones, offering top dollar for trade ins.

Kenneth provided the following description of the company: "We, at Trade In Happy Inc., are devoted to providing innovative solutions for electronics recycling and to make our world greener and cleaner. We believe that by making recycling easier and more rewarding for everyone we can involve more people and get more used electronics recycled. We look forward to your participation in making our dreams come true."

1. Why did you decide to start a business to allow people to sell their used phones?

Recycling used phones and other electronics is going to help our environment by saving those old electronics from going to the landfill, and also reduce the demands to manufacture more new devices that will cause pollution for our environment. Recycling some of the high end smart phones can also be financially rewarding. Under the currently depressed job market, an extra $100-$300 cash is a nice supplementary income for everybody.

2. You are based in Ohio and have walk-in service there, but is most of your service via mail-in?

Yes, it is more convenient to just mail it in. The customer can save time and gasoline, and we will give them a free INSURED shipping label. All they need to do is go to our website: www.tradeinhappy.com, follow the on-screen instructions to choose their device and preferred payment method (check or PayPal), we will generate a free INSURED shipping label with their order. After they mail it in through FedEx, we will inspect the device and send out the payment. Instead of coming to our office and spending an hour or so on the road, a lot of our local customers would even like to mail their devices to us.

3. What happens to the phones that are recycled through Trade In Happy?

We believe reselling them to somebody that can use them is the best way to recycle old electronics because it will not only extend the life of the existing devices but also reduce the demands for manufacturing new devices that will consume more resources and energy and cause more environmental pollution.

4. What happens to phones that aren't recycled, and what are the environmental costs of not recycling phones?

A lot of them are dumped into landfills and even shipped overseas to other countries where they are scrapped into components and metals. Most of these devices contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants. Even in developed countries, recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities, and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure in recycling operations and leaching of material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.

5. Could you share an example or two of the feedback you've been receiving from your customers?

Sure. Here are two recent examples of feedback we received.

Tom from Miami, FL said: "TradeInHappy had the highest payout for my iPhone 5. Shipping and customer service was excellent. I would rate them A+."

Ellen from Philadelphia, PA also wrote us this: "You (TradeInHappy) are hands down the best trade experience I could have ever imagined. You have a customer for life."

Thanks, Kenneth!