Celebrating Earth Day with our Favourite Environmental Quotes

This year, to celebrate Earth Day, we thought it would be fun to share some of our very favourite environmentalism and sustainability quotes. Over the years, the sentiments in these quotes have inspired us to work hard at developing high-quality, eco-friendly products to help Canadians clean their homes without leaving toxins behind. 

Our commitment to both families and the environment is stronger than ever as we strive to help create and maintain Healthy Homes for Canadians, we hope you enjoy and share this selection of quotes!

1. Alice Walker on Activism 

2. Chinese proverb on Tree Planting

3. Recycling vs. Manufacturing

4. #SaveTheArctic Campaign Poster

5. Dr. Guy McPherson on the Environment 

6. Ed Begley Jr. on Progress 

7. Too bad about the trees... 

8. Ansel Adams on the Environment

9. The earth does not belong to man

10. Defining Environmentalism 

11. Don't forget about the bees!

12. And of course, always Love Your Planet

How to Clean Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

Yesterday, we showed you how to give your whole house a makeover by washing walls, trim and light switches. Today, we’re going to point out a few other neglected places that love to harbour dust and can easily be cleaned to brighten your home and really round out your spring cleaning routine!

Over the course of a long winter, light fixtures, light bulbs and ceiling fans tend to grow a mighty beard of dust that can be rather intimidating. But fear not - the right tools will go a long way towards making these tricky cleaning tasks a lot easier. Once you remove a mountain of dust and dead bugs out of your light fixtures, you’ll be able to enjoy a brighter home environment with no icky surprises when you turn on the light!

1. How to Clean Light Fixtures

Begin by giving all your light fixtures and lamp shades a light dusting with ZU's Double Trouble Mitt to remove large dust particles and prevent this task from making a mess on your floors. As you dust your light fixtures, assess which tools you will need to take them apart. It should go without saying that all light fixtures are different. So please use caution while cleaning. You may want to flip the circuit breakers as you go to avoid accidents.

Proceed with removing the covers for proper cleaning. I do the same for all the standing lamps in my house as well. Since most light fixtures are made of glass, I get prepared by filling my sink with warm water and some gentle dish soap. I bring all the fixtures to the kitchen for proper cleaning. While I'm at it, I keep track of burnt out, or almost burnt out light bulbs to make a list for replacements. Some of the bulbs may be dusty, set them aside for the next step. 

2. How to Clean A Light Bulb (bet you didn't think you had to!)

You may not realize it, but light bulbs need to be cleaned too. To safely clean a light bulb, dampen a micro cleaning cloth and gently wash the glass part of the bulb only. Hold it by the metal part to avoid getting moisture getting into the bulb, and make sure your micro cloth is just barely damp. You’ll notice right away that your old bulbs cast more light, and that your home seems brighter! 

3. The Easy Way to Dust a Ceiling Fan

There are many ways to dust a ceiling fan, but not all of them are safe or effective. We're confident enough to say that ZU’s Double Trouble Mitt is one of the  easiest way to dust a ceiling fan. Use a stool or step ladder as necessary to reach safely with the dusting mitt. Hundreds of chenille fingers on the mitt trap and hold dust as you work, preventing you from getting a huge, less-than-nutritious mouthful of dust, and keeping it off your floor as you go. Be sure to dust your ceiling fan as frequently as possible, especially when they are in use, to prevent it from flinging dust particles around your living environment. Keeping the blades clean will also increase your unit’s efficiency and may even have a small, but positive effect on your energy savings. If those benefits aren't enough, cleaning the blades also prevents wobbling, reducing noise and extending the lifetime of the fan’s motor. Of course, you should also be giving your ceiling fans a yearly deep-clean as part of your regular maintenance schedule.

Bonus Tip: Spring is also the time of year when you’ll want to change the direction of your ceiling fan to produce a cool wind effect with downward airflow. During the summer, a ceiling fan should be rotating counter clockwise, or forward, to help cool your home. To produce the opposite effect, and circulate warm air in the winter, the fan should be rotating clockwise. 

More Ways to Kick Start Your Spring Cleaning:

• 5 Easy Tips for Natural Spring Cleaning
• 6 Ways to Detox Your Bathroom
• How to Clean Painted Walls, Trim & Light Switches