Mommy Greenest

Healthy Living, Less Judgment

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  • Home
  • Book
  • Categories
    • Healthy Living
    • Mommy Greenest Approved
    • Eco Beauty & Fashion
    • Natural Parenting
    • Latest Buzz
    • Green News & Events
  • Mommy Greenest Guides
    • Guide to Going Green
    • Guide to Eco-Friendly Fashion
    • Guide to Healthy Eating
    • Guide to Natural Parenting & Pregnancy
    • Guide to Green Beauty
    • Guide to Healthy Cleaning
  • About
    • Standards & Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
  • natural cleaners on kitchen counter
    Mommy Greenest Approved

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Branch Basics Natural Cleaner

    January 5, 2015 /

    What do you do when your reality implodes? You change the world. That’s what then 20-year-old Allison Evans set out to do after realizing that the debilitating health problems she was experiencing were the result of exposures to toxic chemicals. The company she later co-founded, Branch Basics, manufactures an amazingly effective soap that you dilute to different consistencies to tackle every cleaning job in your house—from laundry and dishes to windows and floors. Created with a proprietary blend of plant enzymes, this stuff is safe enough to (accidentally) drink—but serious enough to eliminate tough dirt and stains. Amazing!

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    Rachel Sarnoff 122 Comments

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    Enter the Natural Products Expo

    February 27, 2014
    Softcup box

    Free Softcup Sample

    April 21, 2014
    organic raw milk products against white background

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Organic Pastures Dairy Raw Milk

    December 22, 2014
  • natural laundry detergent
    Mommy Greenest Approved

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Meliora K Natural Laundry

    December 8, 2014 /

    There’s a great scene in the new biopic of Stephen Hawking in which he woos his soon-to-be wife with an analysis of why the men’s white shirts luminesce in the ultraviolet lights of a cocktail party. “Optical whiteners,” he says—and she swoons. I didn’t know that that meant, so I did a little research. Optical whiteners are synthetic chemicals that make laundry look brighter; they absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as blue light. (It’s basically the same reason why white-haired ladies use blue shampoo.) So since optical brighteners have nothing to do with getting your laundry actually clean, I wondered if there was a downside to these chemicals—and if you…

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    Rachel Sarnoff 71 Comments

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    jars of natural deodorant against a white background

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant

    May 26, 2014
    woman holds LED lightbulb

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Cree LED Light Bulbs

    November 20, 2014
    father looking for non toxic products in baby store

    Safe Ducky Protects Kids From Toxic Products

    November 23, 2015
  • jessica alba's honest company detangler next to a brush on a table with a blurry green background
    Mommy Greenest Approved

    Mommy Greenest Approved: The Honest Company

    August 4, 2014 /

    In the dog days of summer, the only thing my kids want to do is swim in the pool. Since we don’t have one at our house, I keep a bag packed with essentials that I can tote to a friend’s house, the health club, a public pool—basically wherever we can get some water time. I like products that do double duty so I carry less gear. And of course, I want them free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances and dyes, formaldehyde, petrochemicals and any other baddies I don’t have room to mention. That’s why this year, my swim essentials bag is packed by the The Honest Company, which just…

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    Rachel Sarnoff 4 Comments

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    four skin and hair care products against a white background

    Mommy Greenest Approved: The Wonder Seed

    February 3, 2014
    three glass water bottles with blue lids against white background

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Retap Water Bottles

    July 17, 2014
    lash enhancer product in white tube next to white box against white background.

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Lash Food Natural Lash Enhancer

    June 30, 2014
  • african american father with young son on his shoulders smile in front of large house with white columns
    Healthy Living

    Home Detox with Mommy Greenest

    July 11, 2014 /

    After many years of informally advising friends, family and acquaintances about how to reduce toxic chemical exposures in their homes, I recently launched Home Detox with Mommy Greenest, a service business here in Los Angeles. Meeting with families one-on-one for about 90-minutes, I assess the big picture—from what’s in your fridge to what’s on your floors—and follow up with recommendations on the spot, as well as an in-depth report within the week. The service helps families eliminate household toxins and make sure their homes are the healthiest they can be. And the response has been nothing short of amazing!

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    Rachel Sarnoff 0 Comments

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    tomato with red dye being injected into it

    GMOs, By The Numbers

    February 24, 2014
    mommy greenest eco police policewoman angie dickinson photo

    I’m Not the Eco Police

    February 4, 2015
    happy girl eats candy

    Better Halloween Candy Guide

    October 20, 2014
  • woman wearing breathing mask and gloves inspects several unlabeled cleaning product bottles.
    Healthy Living

    Seven Shortcuts to Healthy Cleaners

    June 18, 2014 /

    The EPA estimates that the air inside our homes can be as more polluted than the air outside, and some of that pollution comes from our cleaning products. In fact, in their Guide to Healthy Cleaning database, the Environmental Working Group* found that a full half of the cleaning products on the market contain ingredients known to harm our lungs. So what’s exactly in these products—and what can we do to make them safer? 

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    Rachel Sarnoff 6 Comments

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    Are You A Green Mom?

    September 21, 2015
    arugula salad in large bowl on white background

    Reinventing Detox by Eating Clean

    March 7, 2016
    plastic water bottle pours water into a clear glass

    Maybe BPA Isn’t Bad for You?

    March 16, 2014
  • woman on news set stands behind table covered in flowers with green tablecloth
    Latest Buzz

    MG Earth Day on KTLA News

    April 24, 2014 /

    Using ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard, I shared how-to healthy housecleaning tips with the amazing KTLA News team on Earth Day. What are Jessica Holmes and Chris Burroua now doing with those red pepper flakes? You have to watch to find out!

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    Rachel Sarnoff 2 Comments

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    March Newsletter

    March 1, 2022
    Mommy Greenest on SD Living TV

    MG on “San Diego Living”

    January 4, 2014

    The Big List Book Review on Carpool Goddess

    February 3, 2014
  • brown carpet before cleaning and after
    Mommy Greenest Approved

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Detox the House with ZerorezSoCal

    March 14, 2014 /

    For years, I’ve been helping people detox their homes by getting toxic chemicals out of the picture. We’ve talked about eliminating pesticides, switching over to better laundry products, taking off your shoes at the door to reduce lead, dirt and pesticides by 85% and getting toxic chemicals out of your cleaning cabinets. As I shared earlier this month, in my hunt for truly cleaner cleaning products, I discovered ZerorezSoCal, which cleans carpets, upholstery, tile and grout using a special kind of patented water that’s high pH and so pure you can drink it. And I did, of course. 

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    Rachel Sarnoff 3 Comments

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    life saving medication

    Mommy Greenest Approved: SIRUM Life Saving Medication Reform

    February 18, 2015
    raw beets and carrots surround packaged organic healthy chocolate milk drinks

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Sneakz Organic Healthy Chocolate Milkshakes

    June 16, 2014
    lash enhancer product in white tube next to white box against white background.

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Lash Food Natural Lash Enhancer

    June 30, 2014
  • woman's hand holding glass of water against white background
    Mommy Greenest Approved

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Nixing the Five Second Rule with Zerorez SoCal

    March 6, 2014 /

    I was the second to get pregnant. My sister-in-law went first; two years later, I had my son—and then two more kids, in relatively rapid succession. The two of us had this joke—I’m sure you’ve heard it—that with the first kid you sterilize the bottle if you drop it on the floor, with the second you put the nipple in your mouth to clean it off, and with the third, you wipe it on your pants. Just writing that makes me cringe. But back then, we didn’t really think much about germs—or toxic chemicals in cleaning products.

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    Rachel Sarnoff 1 Comment

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    Mommy Greenest Approved: GlobeIn Subscription Box

    March 16, 2015
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    Mommy Greenest Approved: Love for Humanity Organic Skincare

    September 29, 2014
    A subscription box against a white background showing contents

    Mommy Greenest Approved: Goodbeing Subscription Box

    November 30, 2015
 Older Posts

Welcome! I created this blog in 2008 as a resource for healthier living with less judgment. I'm a mother of three, former journalist, and co-founder of the (shuttered, sniff) sustainable beauty and fashion site EcoStiletto. I was Executive Director of the nonprofits The 5 Gyres Institute and Healthy Child Healthy World and appeared as a sustainable lifestyle expert on "The "TODAY Show" and "CNN Headline News," among others. Oh, and have you checked out my TEDx talks: Trash is Ruining Recycling and Can One Straw Change The World? Today, you can find me here. Let's keep in touch! xoRachel

https://youtu.be/sOol1MIgois

rachellincolnsarnoff

Can anyone tell me how this is achieved? Last time Can anyone tell me how this is achieved? Last time I looked at a #Coke bottle it was “100% recyclable,” a claim that is simply #greenwashing, as the fact that something can be recycled doesn’t necessarily mean it is. This bottle says it’s made from #recycled material, and the QR code drives to a lot of fancy talk — including #BillNye — about the best way the purchaser can recycle it. But the American Beverage Association, which represents the company, still lobbies against #BottleBills that would incentivize the recovery of plastic. So how is #CocaCola getting enough #PCR to make this bottle and distribute it nationally — or is this just intended for the libs in California? #BreakFreeFromPlastic #ReuseRefuseRecycle
Say what you want about Apple, they have packaging Say what you want about Apple, they have packaging down. This #foamfree #recyclable paper origami-quality box with the tiniest amount of plastic transport led my #preloved #refurbished iMac. The best part? The box now has new life as a toy for the toddler across the street. #repair #righttorepair #ewaste #lovedmacslast
Just another sentence to blow your mind. #Inspirat Just another sentence to blow your mind. #Inspiration #1000wordsofsummer #AmWriting #Fiction #WomensFiction #WritersOfInstagram #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity
This ritual, every week. Sometimes alone but bette This ritual, every week. Sometimes alone but better with friends. You?
#Pandemic #Exercise #Bike #Biking #California
Fun fact: Stanley Gerald Thompson was my grandfath Fun fact: Stanley Gerald Thompson was my grandfather. And that’s not even half the story.
#AmWriting #WritersOfInstagram #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity #1000wordsofsummer
Last year, I wrote about watching #StrangerThings Last year, I wrote about watching #StrangerThings with my daughter. I described how the series helped us connect during the pandemic. I was conflicted about whether or not to publish the piece, but finally felt that sharing what we went through might be helpful to other parents – and it was. I heard from so many people that they had also shifted habits, gotten more lenient with things like television watching and chores, all in the name of making things a little bit easier for our children, who were going through so much. Things are different now, thankfully — new MG post, link in bio. (And Season 4 is worth the wait.)
#Parenting #Pandemic #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity
Happy official start of summer, everyone! Now can Happy official start of summer, everyone! Now can we please talk about your sunscreen? Friends don’t let friends use oxybenzone. We’re friends, right? New #Sunscreen story up on Mommy Greenest, link in bio! https://www.mommygreenest.com/why-i-only-wear-reef-safe-sunscreen-and-you-should-too/ #ReefSafeSunscreen #NaturalSunscreen #Sunscreen 
#Health #Wellness #Toxics #Chemicals #HealthyLifestyle #MommyGreenest
Yes, this — always. Keep pushing forward, friend Yes, this — always. Keep pushing forward, friends. #amwriting #amreading #writer #writersofinstagram
Nearly 8,000 children are shot each year in the Un Nearly 8,000 children are shot each year in the United States — that averages to about 22 kids each day. Each. Day. Please call Chuck Schumer at (202) 224-6542 and tell him to bring a gun bill to the Senate floor immediately. Republicans won't support it, but we can make them go on record now as they vote against gun restrictions. It’s easy, just leave a message with your name, city, and zip code — 30 seconds, max. If you call or email, that information is recorded, and the more people take action, the more influence we have. Please do this today. We cannot go on like this. #EndGunViolence
Party like it’s your… Party like it’s your…
This amazing human never stops exploring and dream This amazing human never stops exploring and dreaming and writing about it every damn day. I’m so grateful that we chose each other as family, all those years ago. #writer #writing #family
This week, I received a beautiful card from a frie This week, I received a beautiful card from a friend whom I’ve only known through a zoom screen. Her words of encouragement could not have been better timed, as I’m wrestling a massive, sticky octopus of a new plot and had been wondering if I should just let it swim back into its inky, anonymous cloud. Getting this card was the push I needed to hold on. So today, I’m sending words of encouragement to another writer whom I know primarily through screens, and hoping she’ll pass it on, too. There’s something about the surprise of a message facilitated by ink and paper and a stamp that resonates more strongly than an email. Do you agree? #AmWriting #Writing #WritingCommunity #PacificMFA
What if you could wash your hair just once a month What if you could wash your hair just once a month? New MG story up — link in bio! #hair #hairstyle #ecohair #ecostyle
This has always been a challenging day for me, as This has always been a challenging day for me, as it is for so many of us who grew up without or have challenging relationships with their mothers. From kindergarten on, the week before was filled with questions and activities designed to honor a person who was not present in my life, and that reminder was a special kind of pain, like a shard of glass in your sole that shifts every so often into something sharp. The feeling softened as I became a mother, and is changing again as my children leave the nest — today, it’s just my youngest and me. But there is also sweetness in annually honoring all the amazing and generous women and men who have mothered me and taught me how to mother — some are mothers, and some love with a mother’s heart. I believe that we choose our own families — sometimes they’re connected by blood, but not always. If this day is difficult, please remember to honor and nurture yourself through it. For me, this means writing about these feelings, until I’ve worked out the glass and it can no longer make me bleed. #amwriting #writer #writersofinstagram
Happy trails to you… #lakearrowhead #arrowhead # Happy trails to you… #lakearrowhead #arrowhead #mountains #mountainlife #treehugger
Honored and inspired by last night’s conversatio Honored and inspired by last night’s conversation with Shannon Perry about her incredible vision and execution on @cityofsantamonica #sustainability and Daniel Thurmond about the amazing work of the student-led Team Marine @vikingssamohi! What’s the best way to ensure progress on #environmental goals? Take daily action and #VOTE! This fall, legislators could pass the #BreakFreeFromPlastic Act, and in my home state of California, voters will decide the #PlasticPollution Reduction and #Recycling Act. Let’s do this!
When is someone too old to wear band shirts? Askin When is someone too old to wear band shirts? Asking for a friend. #music #livemusic #bands #bandaid #wetleg #whatareyoudoingsittingdown
Flashback to last month, when my essay was feature Flashback to last month, when my essay was featured on the front page of the #WashingtonPost. Did I get trolled? Yes, until my editor shut off comments. Am I more thoughtful about consumption? Hell, yes. Link in bio. Would love your thoughts. xo
#AmWriting #Fiction #WomensFiction #WritersOfInstagram #Writer #Writing #WritingCommunity
Isn’t she magnificent? Please don’t kill #shar Isn’t she magnificent? Please don’t kill #sharks for #beauty! New MG post explains how to stop — link in bio. #naturalbeauty #naturalbeautyproducts #cleanbeauty #cleanbeautyrevolution #cleanbeautyproducts
Lula has new skills. #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogsdo Lula has new skills. #dog #dogsofinstagram #dogsdoingthings #dogsdodrive
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