As the sun moves through its yearly apex, the bright rays shine through my windows and bring light to all those dirty little things I was able to ignore in the darker winter months. There are great tips all over EcoSalon for naturally removing the nitty gritty from your kitchen and your clothes. But now I need to polish my silver earrings, shine my Tibetan singing bowl and make my iron skillet look pretty enough to cook in again.

Here are some old-fashioned, non-toxic ways to clean metal:

Iron: Scrub down your iron item with a little water and some steel wool. Once it’s clean, let it dry completely and rub in a little oil to keep it from rusting again.

Silver: Make a paste out of baking soda and water. Leave it on the silver for a minute, rinse with hot water and polish! If your silver is heavily tarnished, leave the paste on for an hour.

Pewter: Pewter can be washed in warm, soapy water and then polished clean.

Chrome: A lot of places recommend cleaning chrome with diluted ammonia, but that’s not something I want to keep around my house. Try rubbing the chrome with a piece of aluminum foil dipped in white vinegar instead.

Brass and Copper: Years ago a friend recommended ketchup for cleaning my copper bracelet, and it worked! It’s the acidity that does the cleaning, so a mix of lemon juice and baking soda will do the trick. If the tarnish is too heavy, soak your items in hot vinegar and salt until you see the shine, then take it out and rinse.

Et voila! Sit back and enjoy the shine, chemical free!

Image: Jones G Gallery

via The Good Human

Here's one for you business owners. It seems everyone's aware of the wisdom of tote bags - even the plastic-mad British are wising up to the damage urban tumbleweed wreaks. So let's sing the praises of reusable tote bottles. Why the business angle? Because they're the savviest of marketing tools!

Plastic drinks bottles were always going to be trouble. (Ask Carmen Salva). The logic is damning: since they're designed to be throwaway, they're made super-cheaply, encouraging corner-cutting in the interests of profit-making. Counter-argument: they're thrown away before the chemicals do the consumer any damage. Counter-counter-argument: disregarding the toxins released when they degrade or combust, the argument still doesn't hold any water. So let's save some time and label them a menace, period.

Tote bottles are the way forward - and the way to look progressive and responsible. Business owners, take note: a custom tote bottle from companies like KleanKanteen or SIGG can be emblazoned with your logo, effortlessly improving your green-cred any time your customer gets thirsty. (Beware, though: bottles from, say, Nalgene still use the B.P.A. that has everyone worried. So, choose wisely).

And why not supplement it by following the German retail model - at the office canteen, add an extra charge to the price of plastic-bottled water, redeemable when the bottle is returned for recycling.

Image: judepics

Sara’s shameless plug: Hi, it’s your editor. De-lurk, dear reader, and leave this fabulous writer a comment. (We love chatting.) You can also share this post with friends – just click your favorite social bookmark listed below. New reader? Be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter to win free eco goodies! You can also subscribe to any RSS feed your heart desires.

It's easy to see why Eastern-inspired décor has become so popular in Western countries like our own.

With its striking Zen appeal, this artisan-made unique piece infuses your home with a thoughtfully crafted sense of harmony. In addition to adding a visual touch of this rich culture to your patio, the Emperor gong - handcrafted by musician and instrument designer Garry Kvistad with more than just appearance in mind - fills your living space with the melodious sounds of the Far East as well. If this stunning work leaves you wanting more, then make sure that you also check out the Serene Buddha panel that we recently featured. (Available at VivaTerra for $75.)

When it comes to incorporating elements of nature into my home, I stand firm in my belief that there is no such thing as excess use of such inspiring beauty. I hang wall art depicting the lush reeds in the forest, put out vases to display the vibrant hues of flower buds and, still, I find myself craving more.

If, like me, you can't get enough, then the Metal Leaf screen will make a fabulous addition to your décor scheme. Crafted from heavy-gauge metal by Honduran villagers, this elegant piece mimics the delicate structure of a leaf on a larger scale that will add an organic touch to any room. (Available at sponsor VivaTerra for $134.)

Sometimes I look around my kitchen and feel comforted by the warm, familiar (and mostly vintage) things I own. And sometimes, I just want to chuck it all and start over.

That's not eco-friendly, so I prefer to update things piece by piece as needed. These lovely thatched bowls are on my list. I'd fill them with all the fruits of the season - right now that would be oranges, lemons, and limes. Later on they'd become acquainted with apricots, tomatoes, plums, and pears. And just picture them with persimmons!

I like these bowls because they are airy yet elemental. They are perfect nests for fruit because they allow the air to circulate, slowing down spoilage. You could also fill them with greenery, moss, rocks, and other items from nature and arrange all three together for a dramatic centerpiece for your celebration table.

Handmade by artist Michael Aram from recycled metal. Available from sponsor Viva Terra as follows: small $69, medium $98, large $169, set $329.

A soft feather bed, luxurious linens, a fluffy down comforter, a silky duvet, decorative pillows, a matching dust ruffle and a cozy throw simply are icing on the cake, but most important is the bed itself, and it takes more than the basic furniture store frame to satisfy my taste.

The Jianni bed by Cocopa is reminiscent of standing at the gates of a blooming garden in the spring. Budding vines twist around this stunning bed's intricate design, hand-forged from LEED compliant steel that comes in a gunmetal, moss or natural finish. (Available at Cocopa for $5245- $7875.)

Gorgeous. Any of these brilliant modern lighting pieces by Hudson Furniture Inc. will dazzle empty wall space with metallic glimmer, bold design and striking elegance. Ethereal threads are lightly captured within a sleek metal cage. Sparkling Swarovsky crystals mounted onto the ends of a sconce's twisted iron branches vividly catch and reflect the light emanating from its center. (Choose between clear or black crystals to complement your personal décor scheme.)


If you’re hypnotized by this eye-catching sconce’s radiant beauty, then make sure that you check out the matching chandelier as well. And we're hooked on these airy, modern pieces, too:

 
(All available at Hudson Furniture Inc. for, well, not cheap.)

We've got to give credit to Tammy Roy at One Eighty Design for scouring the junk yards in her noble mission to make use of discarded materials. Inside her workshop, through passion and artistic energy, she works to transform what was once waste into strikingly unique pieces of decor.

"My work in metals is influenced by the clean lines of modern art and design," Roy says of the creative process. With its original edge and simple sophistication, the Sphere basket is reflective of such stylish influences and can be used to store mail and magazines or by itself as a tabletop accent. (Available at Structured Green for $85.)

It's hard not to fall for the clean, sleek appeal of modern furniture. With an antique-finished black locust base that supports a floating blackened steel tabletop, the Clerestory II coffee table by Meyer Wells redefines the simplicity of minimalism sustainably.

Designer-founders Seth Meyer and John Wells share their environmentally conscious story with full transparency, providing us with information about the methods and materials that they use and more. (You'll keep this one in the family for a looong time: $3740 at Meyer Wells.)

I have always thought that a modest metallic touch is the best way to brighten up a dull room. Simply elegant, the Bruno side table by Oly Studio is a drumlike accent piece that your living room, bedroom and study will fight over. It's clear that furniture designers Kate McIntyre and Brad Huntzinger have succeeded in their goal to "present a fresh blend of clean lines and antique motifs" with their creation of this one-of-a-kind table. Its welded edges make this exquisite piece sleek and seamless, while its antiqued brass finish will add a hint of warmth and brilliance to any room. (Available at Eclexion for $1456.)