You don't need to use harsh chemicals to keep your whites looking like new. Try one of these tips to whiten your clothes naturally without bleach.

Baking Soda is a wonderful ingredient to whiten clothes naturally without bleach. That's why it's used everyday in many whitening toothpastes and natural household cleaners.  To whiten clothing with Baking Soda, add about ½ cup into the wash plus your regular detergent. Clothes will come out whiter and brighter without chemicals.

Vinegar is another wonder ingredient you can use to whiten clothes naturally without bleach. If the smell scares you, don't worry. Your clothes won't smell like vinegar. The smell may linger in your washing machine for a bit but your clothes won't smell.  Simply add about ¾ cup of vinegar to your wash along with your regular detergent to whiten clothes naturally without bleach.

Hydrogen Peroxide is an excellent alternative to bleach and can be used successfully to whiten clothes naturally without bleach. Add about ½ cup to your wash with regular detergent and your clothes will come out as whiter than ever.

Borax is often advertised as a laundry brightener and can be found in your grocery store's laundry aisle. It's a naturally occurring mineral that has long been valued for its whitening properties. Borax is used in all sorts of natural cleaning products. It can clean anything from toilets to dishes. But most of all, it will whiten clothes naturally without bleach. Add about ½ cup of Borax to a regular load of laundry, along with your regular detergent for whiter, brighter clothes instantly.

Sunlight! Sunlight is one of the best tools we have available to whiten clothes naturally without bleach. If you have a clothes line, simply hang your clothing out to dry in the warm sun. The sun will whiten and refresh your clothes like nothing else.

For the best whitening results, wash your clothes with regular detergent plus one of the above mentioned natural laundry whiteners. Then, hang the clothes out to dry in the sun. You'll be amazed at how much whiter they are and it was all done without bleach or harsh chemicals.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/953287/how_to_whiten_clothes_naturally_without.html?cat=69

Prevent oil discharges from the bilge. Keep your engine well tuned to prevent fuel and oil leaks. Put an oil absorbent pad in your bilge and under your engine where drips may occur.

Spill proof your oil changes by using an oil change pump to transfer oil to a spill proof container.  Wrap a plastic bag or absorbent pad around the oil filter to stop oil from spilling into the bilge.

When fueling prevent fuel spills by filling fuel tanks slowly and catching drips and spills with a rag. Don't "top off" your tank, leave it ten percent empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms.

Never use soap to to disperse fuel and oil spills.It is illegal and increases harm to the environment.

Save boat cleaning and repairs for the boat yard whenever possible. If you must work on the water, minimize your impact by containing waste. Use tarps and vacuum sanders.

Use only nontoxic antifouling paints. Remember dry storage reduces the need for paints and saves money.

Manage sewage waste properly. Never discharge sewage within three miles of shore. Use shore side facilities if you don't have an installed toilet.

Keep your trash on board until you reach land and it can be properly disposed of.

Reduce water pollution by using phosphate-free biogradegradable soap.

Sail or kayak!

http://www.wikihow.com/Boat-Green

Did you know that Saturday, June 5th is World Environment Day, which was started by the United Nations as a way to help increase environmental awareness and to enchance political attention and action? Why not stop by the Chicago Botanic Garden for a tour or to participate in a variety of different events and activities, including some that are family friendly. For a complete list of events and activities please visit:
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/wed/?gclid=CMeuzYWY86ECFQfxDAoddT9emQ
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/wed/schedule.php

Old smoke detectors at the end of their lifespan that need to be replaced should not be thrown away in regular landfill trash. Many smoke detectors have small amounts of radioactive material, Americium 241, that could pose health hazards if broken open. The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) states on its smoke detector disposal page, "By federal regulation, all smoke detectors contain the mail-back address to send used units with radioactive chips. Call the companies prior to sending packages for fees and mailing instructions and brands accepted for disposal. Mark all packages 'For Disposal Only'." SWANCC does not accept smoke detectors in its Household Chemical Waste disposal program, but it offers links to two companies that will accept them by mail.

Here's a more comprehensive list of companies that may accept smoke detectors that they manufactured.

Over time your drains will most likely become clogged. Hair, grease and other debris will accumulate in the drain, gradually stopping the water from flowing. Here's a way you can unclog the drain yourself without resorting to chemicals or an expensive local contractor.

Step 1 – Put 3/4 of a cup of dry baking soda down the drain.

Step 2 – Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain after the baking soda. The mixture will
immediately start to fizz.  Be sure to cover the drain with a plug, filling the hole
completely so that nothing can escape.

Step 3 – Leave this concoction in the drain for about 30 minutes. While you are waiting, boil a kettle full of water.

Step 4 – After 30 minutes remove the plug and slowly pour the hot water down the drain.

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week 2010 from May 17-21 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 21.  Now's the time to get your bike out, the tires pumped up and get on the road!

Among the safe methods of controlling insect pests are two homemade pest controls: 

You may want to get an inexpensive blender just for this purpose, the “bug juice” method requires collecting about ½ cup of the insect pests and blending them with 2 cups of water.  After liquefying, strain and dilute ¼ cup of the pureed insects with 1 gallon of water in a hand sprayer.  Freeze the remainder, marking it clearly.

Another spray is made by pureeing ¼ cup hot pepper, ¼ cup garlic cloves, and 2 cups of water in a blender.  Strain and dilute in the same way as the “bug juice”.   (Ortho Books All About Herbs)

Check out the Chicago Green Festival at Navy Pier on May 22-23, 2010. This event features speakers and programs, exhibitors, and even kids' programs! For more information please visit http://www.greenfestivals.org/chicago/ and be sure to download their festival guide!

You can be a successful gardener and make the world a little greener. This class will take you through the process of choosing, planting, nurturing, and harvesting vegetables that are ideal candidates for canning. Never canned or preserved anything? We’ll show you the basic steps and share easy recipes so you can enjoy the “fruits” of your labor all year long.  You can register for this program here:  Grow It! Can It! Eat It!

Already thinking of questions or concerns? Make this class more personally rewarding and productive by asking your specific questions via the Comments link below. We’ll forward your questions to the presenters, Mary Courvisier and Kathleen Neumeier, who will come to class with answers and suggestions.

Courvisier , a degreed Horticulturist, certified Advanced Master Gardener, and member of the American Horticultural Society, is a gardening enthusiast who strongly believes in promoting the use of native plants and ecologically friendly solutions to your gardening problems. Neumeier brings 10 years of expertise canning, freezing, and preserving her homegrown vegetables.

Here's where you can retrieve the program's content info: Download PlantItCanItEatIt_Final 

Currently, organic labeling of personal care products is not held to the same standards as other organic products, such as foods and beverages. Personal care products (including soap, shampoos, deodorants and antiperspirants, lotions, sun care, and baby care products) have been using the term organic, sometimes even in their brand name, for years, due to a loophole which allows companies producing personal care products to make organic claims without meeting the U. S. Department of Agriculture's standards. How can you avoid these products? If you are looking for organic personal care products, be sure to look for the USDA Organic certification seal. The USDA Organic seal ensures that no more than 5% of the product is synthetic, and the ingredients that are synthetic must be on the government's approved list.

http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=organiclabel&pcat=homegarden&EXTKEY=NG0N01004