Ode to a Robot Vacuum

Should I buy a Roomba? Is a Roomba worth the price? I asked myself those questions many times, and now that I have an answer, which I want to share it with you. I’ve been curious about robot vacuums since they hit the marketplace 13 years ago. However, the high price of the machines always deterred me from buying one.

When I saw a used Roomba for sale at a yard sale earlier this year for $30, I jumped at the chance to test it out. (The previous owner said that the Roomba could not keep up with her shedding dog, but I was willing to give it a try.)

Because my Roomba was previously owned, I had a few hiccups with it at first. A little sleuthing on the internet and some helpful YouTube videos helped me trouble-shoot some problems (the brush heads needed to be cleaned, which involved tweezers to remove hair and debris, and later battery charging issues). I have had nothing but good experiences with Roomba since, and I can now say that I think these machines are worth their retail price tag. If my used model died tomorrow, I’d definitely replace it with a new one.

My husband, on the other hand, does not share my affection for the Roomba, which is what prompted me to write this post. His complaint is that the Roomba doesn’t do a meticulous job, but I would argue, that’s not the point of a robot vacuum. It’s never going to get every corner and nook that you could tackle with a broom. What it is going to do is lengthen the time between deep floor cleanings and cut down the weekly maintenance you have to do yourself. If you run the Roomba once a week, it will keep your floors reasonably clean. Up that to twice a week, and you’re in really good shape. It'll also tackle spots you would need to move furniture to reach, like the spaces under beds and sofas.

I usually set the Roomba to work when I leave for work in the morning, since it’s pretty noisy while it runs. When I get home, I’m always surprised at how much dirt the machine has managed to pick up in its travels, and I’m thrilled that it wasn’t me sweeping it up. Confession: I was never the kind of person who swept or vacuumed the whole apartment every week, so the Roomba has seriously upped the cleanliness of my home.

I like using the Roomba for another reason: It forces us to be tidy. To get the most out of a robot vacuum, you need to offer it a clear path, and to do that, you can’t have tons of crap piled up on your floor. When I run the Roomba, I put all the chairs up on the coffee table, dining table, and desk, which in turn means that those surfaces must also be clear of piles of crap. See what I mean? To have our apartment ready to be cleaned by a robot means our apartment must be in order.

All in all, I think a robot vacuum is a great addition to our small two-bedroom apartment. It might not be the best solution for everyone (like the dog owner I bought mine from), but for me, it's been a great way to cut down on my housekeeping time.

Why I'm Not Giving Up My Conventional Cleaning Products

In my ongoing quest to have a lighter impact on the earth, I have mostly given up my conventional household cleaning product in favor of eco-friendly alternatives. In almost every case, I don't notice a reduction in cleaning power between the environmentally-sound product and its conventional counterpart. I also believe that many cleaning product are much more powerful than they need to be. However, I haven't give up my conventional cleansers completely because in some instances I believe they are actually a more sustainable choice.

How can a product like chlorine bleach be an earth-friendly choice? Bleach is admittedly bad for the health of our waterways and aquatic life. However, a little bit of bleach can go a long way, and if using a small amount of bleach helps me to preserve an item and keep it out of the landfill, then I consider that a significant argument for using it.

For example, I have had the same plastic shower curtain liner for 5+ years. I believe most people replace theirs far more often, but I've been able to keep mine looking new by occasionally spritzing it with a solution of one part chlorine bleach and five parts water, which immediately eliminates any mildew. Likewise, I occasionally bleach my cutting boards to combat hard-to-remove stains. Using this small amount of bleach to reduce my consumption of plastic is worthwhile.

I also keep a stash of specialty cleaners and home care products that I use a few times a year, and will continue to use. Metal polish, wood polish/conditioner and leather conditioner are not always gentle, chemical-free formulations, but when I use them, they are helping to preserve the life of objects I hope to own for decades to come. So, from now on, I won't feel guilty about the jug of bleach lurking amongst all my more virtuous cleansers; it has its place in my sustainable lifestyle.

What about you? Are there a few non-eco products you won't give up? I'd love to hear what products you have decided are worth their negative environmental impact.

How to Avoid Dry-Cleaning and Make Your Clothes Last Longer

Do you want to know how to avoid dry-cleaning and make your clothes last longer? Unlike most New Yorkers, I rarely dry-clean my clothes. I avoid dry cleaning to save money, to preserve my garments, and to avoid the toxic chemicals, namely perchloroethylene, used in the dry cleaning process. (Read more about why the EPA is concerned about dry cleaning here.) The exceptions to my no dry-cleaning policy are a few items like party dresses with complicated construction and my husband's suits. I thought I'd share some of my tips for how to avoid the dry cleaner and some alternatives to dry cleaning that you can try at home.

Don't buy dry-clean only clothes.
This is the simplest way to avoid the dry cleaner: Don't bring anything into your home that requires professional cleaning. This advice is easy to follow for most garments, though it is nearly impossible to find things like blazers, suits and winter coats that can be washed at home.

Ignore the label.
Many manufacturers label clothing items as dry-clean only that can actually be washed. Manufacturers err on the side of dry-cleaning to avoid unhappy consumers who might wash something incorrectly and ruin a garment.

Instead, look at the fiber content and garment construction.
Take a look at the materials that make up your garment. Wool, cotton, linen, silk and many synthetic fibers can all be washed -- either in a machine or by hand. The trick is knowing the best way to care for each fiber. This "Can I Be Washed?" chart is a very handy guide to what fibers can and cannot be laundered. In terms of construction, anything with padding, boning, pleating or elaborate detail is going to be challenging to wash (again, avoid buying these items in the future).

Learn how to hand-wash.
Sweaters can be easily hand-washed at home. The key is to use lukewarm water, gentle agitation, a neutral soap (I like The Laundress's Wool and Cashmere Wash; you can buy it here), a place to  and some patience. Here's a great video in which Martha Stewart shows you how to wash and block a sweater. 

Wear garments multiple times.
Not everything needs to be washed every time you wear it -- really! Laundry has become so easy today that people throw even the most minimally soiled garments into the wash. If you've only worn something once, it may have another wear (or ten!) in it. If you wear a layer under a wool or cashmere sweater, you can probably get at least a dozen wears out of it, if you don't spill on it. Dark jeans can be word until they show dirt or have lost their shape altogether.

Refresh your garments between uses.
To extend the time between washings or dry cleaning, do a little maintenance between wearings of a garment. If I have wrinkled a skirt, blazer or pants, but not really gotten it dirty, I will lightly mist the piece with water from a spray bottle and hang it in a place where it can fully dry. I find the water gently refreshes the fabric and loosens the wrinkles; you can also purchase various "refresher" sprays, but I would check with the Environmental Working Group's ratings for fabric and upholstery deodorizers before purchasing anything (Febreeze products, for example, contain hormone disrupters and carcinogens). I'm also curious about DIY options, but have never tried them myself.

Steam!
A little steam goes a long way towards reviving a garment. I've had a My Little Steamer for more than a decade and I can't recommend it highly enough. It is almost as powerful as a professional steamer and is so easy to use. After you've refreshed a garment with a little water and some airing, a steaming will make it look truly fresh again. I imagine the steam also has some sanitizing properties. One tip: After you steam a garment, let it rest for 20-30 minutes, so that the moisture evaporates. If you put on a freshly steamed garment, it may just wrinkle back up if it's still damp.

Spot clean.
If you get a small stain on a garment, you may not need to wash the whole thing. Instead, dab the dirty spot with a barely damp cloth to remove any visible dirt. I'm also a big fan of Simply Spotless's fabric cleaner, which can be applied directly to a stain and does not need to be rinsed out.

Gentle wash and air-dry shirts.
Almost anything made of linen or cotton, or a blend in which linen or cotton is more than 50% of the fiber content can be machine-washed in warm water. For anything delicately constructed, use the "hand washable" or "delicates" cycle. For regular old button-down shirts and other sturdier garments, use the "permanent press," which is a bit more gentle than the regular cycle. Then, air dry the garment to save it the abuse of the dryer. I dry all my shirts on a regular hanger buttoned up. I find that oxford cloth shirts come out looking almost wrinkle-free using this method, but thinner weaves may need a pressing or a steaming after they have dried.

Cold wash and line-dry jeans.
I doubt you'd dry-clean your jeans, but here's how to make that dark wash last longer. Wash your denim turned inside out (zippered and buttoned) in cold water. Turn them right-side out, give them a hearty shake and dry them on a rack or a clothesline.

Air-dry all your delicates.
We refer to bras and panties as "delicates," but the truth is that most of these garments are pretty sturdy because of their elastic content. I find it's okay to wash them in warm water. Be sure to hook all your bra clasps to avoid snagging. Experts recommend placing them in a mesh bag to wash, but I have yet to invest in one (I find that tangling isn't too much of an issue if you don't overload your washer). Always air-dry bras and panties to make them last longer.

For more tips on how to make your clothes last longer, check out Martha's advice.

Simply Spotless Fabric Cleaner

Earlier this year, I was introduced to the Simply Spotless cleaning line, and I'll admit I was curious, but a little skeptical. Being eco-conscious, my curiosity was sparked by the company's achievement of the Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment certification for all of their products. My skepticism was founded in the product's designer packaging. What can I say, it just didn't look serious to me, and I figured the chic design was just a way for the company to charge higher-than-normal fees for their cleaning supplies.

Well, boy was I wrong: Simply Spotless Fabric Cleaner is amazing. It has removed so many stubborn stains that it is now my go-to stain treatment, especially for upholstery fabrics because it doesn't need to be washed out. A half-full glass of wine spilled on our light-colored sofa (my fault!) and fear gripped my chest. Yes, the slipcovers are washable, but it was a lot of wine, and a couch is a major investment piece. I covered all the stained spots with the Simply Spotless, and the stains were gone in the morning--really, there was no trace of the wine. It has also worked on old stains that had been sitting for who knows how long. I think this fabric cleaner is so effective that the $18 price tag is a bargain.

The company was founded by a mother-daughter team and is made in New York City, which is another reason I am happy to pay the higher price for this product.

(I should note that I also tried the Simply Spotless Glass and Surface Cleaner, and while it worked just fine, I wouldn't spend the extra money on it; I have yet to try the Wood Cleaner.)