softcrunchymom

Going green is a gradual process accompanied by a lot of guilt.  Lately as my son is starting to be a bit more mobile, rolling around from side to side, and getting ready for solids, I’ve really upped the ante with turning my home into a safe clean place to raise my son.  I’ve started making my own cleaners using Dr. Bronner’s soaps and lots of vinegar, as well as starting to phase out the old yucky stuff.  My issue is: what do you do with the old stuff that you no longer want to use but can’t just dump down the drain or toss in the garbage?  When we moved into our new home the previous owner graciously left us an almost full gallon of bleach and a ton of paint.  Most of the paint isn’t even colors that are in our house anymore, so what do we do with all this stuff?  Also about a year and a half ago my parents gave us this awesome set of Calphalon pans, however I keep reading about the carcinogenic off-gases of the dishes as well as the increased risk of Alzheimer’s.  I’d love to get some stainless steel dishes, but run into the problem of what to do with the Calphalon?  I know going green is a gradual process but I feel so much guilt over the things that I haven’t greened up that it’s becoming quite stressful.  I switched to an all-natural deodorant, but I can’t part with my Philosophy Hope In A Jar. I switched to all-natural cleaners in the kitchen, but can’t part with my bleach wipes for chicken gunk.  I keep envisioning this pristine household which smells of lemon and citrus from the peels and juices used in my all-natural cleaners and knowing everything in my home is safe, the challenge is getting there without losing my mind.