tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post2536347198238997867..comments2024-02-23T04:39:49.329-05:00Comments on Conversations in Klal: On Green [the environment and $$$] and CleaningProfKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954446826821665314noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-22042153562526306972011-03-29T15:52:02.614-04:002011-03-29T15:52:02.614-04:00Anon,
Just a few comments. Cleaning "pretty ...Anon,<br /><br />Just a few comments. Cleaning "pretty well" is unacceptable when rags are greasy or grimy. Leave any grease on the rags and the minute you wet them again you will be spreading a film of grease and grime on the new surface you are tackling.<br /><br />I also use vinegar to clean with but it doesn't clean every surface and is a no-no for certain types of materials.<br /><br />Re the compost heap, yes and no. According to the scientists of our government, and some that aren't government affiliated, decomposition time for a pure cotton rag is about 1-5 months, the same amount of time that it takes for that paper towel to decompose. If you put rags on the compost heap you can also put used paper towels there and get the same effect. Also, check the label of the item the rags come from. A whole lot of those "pure" cotton items that are sold are not so pure. Many are blends with synthetics. Those synthetics in the nylon family can take 20-40 years to decompose, and some take longer.ProfKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17954446826821665314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-22525853417180605002011-03-29T13:37:46.737-04:002011-03-29T13:37:46.737-04:00I own paper towels just because my husband uses th...I own paper towels just because my husband uses them (occasionally). Rags come naturally in my house, all you do is wait for something to wear out. No problem to throw them in the washer, even water will clean them pretty well. And I mainly use vinegar to clean. AND, you can throw them in your compost heap when they're too yucky to use again. Win win win.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-58405688983112344512011-03-29T11:22:47.908-04:002011-03-29T11:22:47.908-04:00These kinds of debates are difficult to have becau...These kinds of debates are difficult to have because some people are so ideological that no amount of evidence will ever make them change their opinion. The dirty little secret of the push for "green" is that the total costs to the environment are often the same or that it's difficult to ascertain if there's a net plus or minus. Take Compact Fluorescent lights. They use FAR less electricity and they last MUCH longer, but when they die, they have dangerous mercury in them. Is this a plus? A minus? Who knows! I've read that disposable versus cloth diapers also have the types of pluses and minuses associated with rags versus paper towels.<br /><br />The debate kind of reminds me of some community members where we used to live who were trying to recruit my wife to sell Avon type products. They'd go on and on about how much money they made the previous month. My wife would then ask what the products cost them. They had no idea. They were all mistaking revenue for profit. It's the same here. The benefits may be great, but there are costs too - many of which are hidden from the end consumer as well.<br /><br />Green is definitely good, but it does no one any good to only look at half of the equation. If we really want to help the environment we need to consider all factors.<br /><br />Personally, I use lots of paper towels except where it makes sense to keep reusing a rag - like drying up a floor after washing it.JSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-50505647764229979062011-03-29T10:30:57.821-04:002011-03-29T10:30:57.821-04:00When those shmattes get frayed and stained they ar...<i>When those shmattes get frayed and stained they are going to be tossed out. </i><br /><br />Really??? You throw out stained, frayed rags? I make rags out of old clothing that got stained and frayed! If a rag has axle grease or something similar on it and can't be washed, I throw it away. But otherwise, they just get washed and used over & over again.<br /><br />I wonder - do some people scrub and iron their rags?<br /><br />Read this post (an oldie but goodie) in which the blogger's mother complains that the blogger's rags are too raggy:<br /><br />http://askshifra.blogspot.com/2007/04/natural-declination-of-bath-towel.htmltesyaanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-75865644881438422212011-03-29T10:25:36.826-04:002011-03-29T10:25:36.826-04:00this sounds reminiscent to the cloth vs. disposabl...this sounds reminiscent to the cloth vs. disposable diaper debateAbba's Rantingshttp://abbasrantings.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-89651500877394250092011-03-29T08:49:30.146-04:002011-03-29T08:49:30.146-04:00This is where philosophy and the practical have a ...This is where philosophy and the practical have a collision. I've got a very limited amount of time to do all that messy cleaning and there are plenty of other extra things that need to be washed without adding in cleaning cloths. I use paper towels as many as I need. A few jobs I use the rags for but those are mostly dry jobs instead of wet jobs.leahlenoreply@blogger.com