What can I do to get the janitorial service to actually recycle our recyclables? In my office we have trash bins labeled "Recycling" I have been working here for a little over a year and today I found out that the "recycling" has just been getting thrown in our dumpster out back! right next to the recycling bins! This makes me so MAD!!!!

Spring cleaning is exhausting. Pollen blowing in through the open windows. Ants marching through the kitchen and bathroom. I'd rather be outdoors gardening and cycling than indoors cleaning.

Piffdos, I'm not sure where you're located, but at least in New York City, there is no law for commercial recycling (unbelievably so). The city's recycling program only deals with residential buildings. This may be the case in other cities as well. In order for your office building to start recycling, they'd probably have to privately contract it... an expense many building managers may not be willing to stomach. There are private companies that try and work with businesses to get them to implement a recycling program. Great Forest in New York is one of these businesses. I'd check out your area to see if anyone is doing something similar.

HillE, I totally hear you on the cleaning! If you're an allergy sufferer, it can be a tough time. But you know how great it's going to feel when it's all done... clean, crisp, fresh. Due to some harrowing home experiences lately (people coming in and out, landlord ordering things done to the apartment...), I feel like my home life is completely out of control and desperately needs to be deep-cleaned. So I'm in this with all of you!

I live in California, the building that I work in pays for a recycling service, however the janitorial service has been throwing the material in the recycling bins, straight into the trash.

Sounds like a building management problem regarding the recycling. Usually, there is an extra cost to have recycling picked up. If the recycling dumpsters are empty then management is paying that extra cost which is probably in the thousands of dollars per year, for nothing. I'd try emailing or stopping by the building management office so that they can communicate with the building engineers who can then communicate with the janitorial service manager. They will not want to lose the business and will make sure that their workers comply.

I just moved into a house and the refrigerator that comes with it has mold all along the rubber seal. I have hardcore scrubbed the seal three or four times and it is staying put. What will get rid of it?

hilolp,
The only thing that ever worked for me is Clorox Cleaner or straight bleach. Sprayed it on....let it sit awhile....scrubbed it off. Maybe someone else has a green solution.

Yeah, that was my dad's suggestion. I was just hoping for something slightly greener than bleach...

hilolp, have you tried vinegar straight up from the bottle and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush? A 5% vinegar solution kills bacteria and is generally what's in the bottle (check the label on your brand to be sure) so it doesn't need to be watered down. I found that the spray head from an old plastic cleaning bottle screws onto on the brand of vinegar I buy. Works for me since I can recycle the bottles when it's empty but I can't recycle the sprayer because it's made from multiple plastic types.

@hilolp,

You may be able to remove the gasket from the door. You can tell by tugging on a corner. If it pops out and pops back in without any trouble you could pull it off and hand wash it. It's worth a peek.