Easy and Pleasant Mosquito Repellent Recipe

Yay!! It's Spring!! Time to get ready for Mosquito invasions.

Here's an easy and pleasant repellent recipe you can make at home:

Combine in a 16 oz bottle:
15 drops lavender oil
3-4 Tbsp of vanilla extract
1/4 Cup lemon juice.
... Fill bottle with water.
Shake.

Ready to use. Make some extra to gift to your neighbors, family & friends. (Trust me.. it'll be appreciated!)

 

Five Pointless Chemicals in Your Home

As you start spring cleaning this season, consider more than just scrubbing away dirt and dust. For a healthier—and cleaner—home, rid your home of toxic chemicals. We’re talking more than just nixing the bleach or pesticides. Really, deep clean your home of chemicals. These five toxic chemicals don’t do your home any good—and they’re probably the ones you don’t even know are already there.

1. Triclosan

You’ve likely heard about the dangers of antibacterial soaps. Antibacterial agents added to soaps may rid products of nasty germs, but bacteria have now started to mutate and create super bacteria that resist these microbe-killing agents. Besides that, those chemical additives aren’t so great themselves. Triclosan, one such chemical commonly used to reduce or prevent bacteria in products, has a slew of health dangers.
According to the FDA, triclosan has proven to alter hormone regulation in animal studies. As well, other studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Eesh. Want a safer alternative? Avoid anything “antibacterial”, or better yet choose soaps made with natural and organic ingredients for your home.

2. Flame retardants

Did you know that your couch’s cushions were likely sprayed with flame retardant chemicals? The theory is that it gives people more time to get out of their homes in the event of a fire. While the idea of spraying large pieces of furniture with flame retardants to slow the spread of fire may be noble, you have to ask: at what costs?
The toxic chemicals sprayed onto our favorite pieces of furniture are extremely concerning for our health. Flame retardants found in couches and other furniture off-gas into the air and can linger in household dust, allowing us to breathe in toxins for years. A study by researchers at the Silent Spring Institute found 44 flame retardant chemicals at concerning levels in household dust in California homes. Of those chemicals, many were now banned chemicals that remained in household dust over the years.
Couches made out of natural fibers like wool, cotton and hemp are better options. If you’re not able to invest in a new couch, reduce your exposure by removing dust regularly from your home using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

3. Formaldehyde

You’ve heard of formaldehyde, right? Well, besides preserving dead bodies, this chemical is also commonly found in cosmetics, building materials, glues, air fresheners and household cleaning products. For such a common ingredient, it’s frighteningly bad for your health. The U.S. National Toxicology Program labeled formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. Avoid exposure in your home by only using natural and organic cleaning products and cosmetics. Also, be sure to choose solid wood furniture for your home instead of pressed wood products, which usually contain formaldehyde resins.

4. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Everything from backpacks to shower curtains to art supplies and vinyl flooring are made out of PVC, a known volatile organic compound. As a volatile organic compound, the toxic chemicals in this substance can evaporate out of the product and into your home’s air, causing irritation, allergies or worse. Whenever you smell that new plastic smell, it’s likely from PVC. This chemical is also terrible for the environment. It’s not easily recycled so PVC products either end up in the landfill, where they leach chemicals into the environment, or are incinerated, releasing dioxins and heavy metals into the air. Avoid anything with the #3 recycling symbol, as it’s made out of PVC plastic.

5. Bisphenol A (BPA)

Made famous by its recent banishment from plastic baby bottles, Bisphenol A or BPA is an industrial chemical that’s commonly used in domestic products. BPA typically has two uses: to create rigid plastic used for food and beverage containers and to make an adhesive that lines many canned foods and beverages, typically acidic foods like tomatoes, chili and soups.
As a chemical that goes so near our food—whether in the lining of metal cans or in the plastic containers we store food in—it’ health hazards are downright scary. BPA mimics estrogen in the body and can disrupt the endocrine system. It’s been linked to infertility, breast and reproductive system cancer, obesity, diabetes, early puberty and more.
To minimize your exposure to BPA, avoid all plastic bottles, plastic food stores containers and canned food unless they’re explicitly BPA-free. Oh, and one more thing. BPA is also used to coat many paper receipts. Yes, receipts. Avoid handling them if you can.
                                                             

Courtsey Of The Organic Authority

Written by Kirsten Hudson

How Green Is Your House?

When you knuckle down for a good spring clean, you want to rid your home of dust and dirt and the germs they carry. But you could be exposing yourself to even more dangerous problems. Asthma, skin irritation, immune- and nervous-system complications, hormonal disorders and even cancer have all been linked to chemicals contained in common household cleaners – the same nasties that also harm the environment. And it’s not just cleaning products that hold a dirty secret – materials almost all of us have in our homes such as plastic items or fibreboard furniture could harbour sinister compounds too, as well as the products that we use to keep our bodies spick and span. Come with us on a tour of the contents of your home and discover what some of these dangerous chemicals are, what health problems they may cause and what the safer alternative is...

AIR FRESHENER
There’s nothing like the smell of flowers and the like, but your average aerosol freshener will contain aerosol propellants (to help it spray), as well as petroleum distillates and the chemical formaldehyde, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The fumes associated with these substances can be strong irritants for the eyes, nose and throat, says Dr Rajendran Nayar of iCare Clinic in Dubai, while formaldehyde has been associated with cancer, and both petroleum distillates and aerosol propellants are highly flammable.

What’s the alternative? “When shopping for cleaning products prefer clearly labelled, plant-based, eco-friendly products,” says Gundeep Singh, founder and CEO of The Change Initiative. Or you can make your own natural air freshener by boiling peels of citrus fruits with aromatic herbs and spices like cinnamon and cloves, says Mariana Paunescu, executive housekeeper of The Grand Millennium Dubai. “Put all the ingredients together, bring to a boil, then simmer until the scent spreads to other rooms. You can reuse the mixture three times, but keep it refrigerated between uses.”
 

MULTIPURPOSE CLEANERS

Used in the kitchen, bathroom and on pretty much any surface, these contain many different kinds of ingredients – such as detergents, grease-cutting agents, solvents, and disinfectants – and with these come many related hazardous chemicals. “All-purpose cleaners may contain diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), which react to form nitrosamines, and these are carcinogenic and capable of penetrating the skin,” says Dr Nayar.

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What’s the alternative? In our germ-obsessed society, the commitment to cleaning can go too far and, sometimes, a little bit of dirt is a good thing says Gundeep. “Studies show that excessive use of antibacterial cleaning products and soaps may inhibit the development of the immune system in children, leading to allergies and chronic respiratory illnesses.” Instead of spritzing chemicals all over the house, regular dusting and use of a mild soap diluted in water will keep your house clean and healthy. “Baking soda is good for scrubbing, use it to clean the kitchen cabinets and counters,” says Mariana, “and instead of using a detergent to remove stains, dip a toothbrush in white vinegar and lightly rub the affected area."
                                                       

Written by: Khulekani Madlela and Tabitha Barda
                   Friday Magazine April 23, 2013
 

Keep Hop Alive

Sneeze Free!

Take a deep breath and get a load of this statistic. Over two million dust mites inhabit the average double bed. Here are some Sneeze-Free Do’s and Don’ts that will make you breathe a little easier:

DO: Keep pets out of the bedroom.
DON’T: Leave bedding and mattress uncovered. Use hypoallergenic cases.

DO: Opt for leather, vinyl or plain wooden furniture; upholstery is a haven for mites. Regularly wipe down these surfaces with cleaner.
DON’T: Keep rooms humid. Use a dehumidifier and an air purifier.

DO: Remove heavy drapes. Use window shades instead of blinds. They collect less dust.
DON’T: Keep books in the bedroom…they’re dust magnets. Store them behind glass cabinet doors instead.

DO: Wash and dry 100% cotton linens on hottest setting.
DON’T: Use down or wool bedding.

DO: Hang pictures on the wall vertically, not horizontally. They’ll collect less dust that way.
DON’T: Grow flowers in the bedroom. Instead, get one of these houseplants that can dramatically reduce toxins in the air:

* Spider Plant
* Peace Lily
* Chinese Evergreen
* Ficus Plant

 

Courtesy of: Clean Home Ideas

How to Clean Nicotine Stained Walls

Anyone who’s lived with a smoker knows cigarette smoke ruins your walls, your furniture and your clothing, not to mention endangering the health of everyone who comes in contact with it. Painting over nicotine instead of first cleaning it off is fruitless, because nicotine seeps through paint. Walls stained by the greasy residue of nicotine are notoriously hard to clean—but it’s not impossible.

 

Work your way up to increasingly strong cleaners as needed. You can start with a spray bottle filled with straight white vinegar or lemon juice, applying it in sections, rubbing it off in a circular motion with a clean cotton rag (old cloth diapers are ideal for this). Refold the cloth frequently to prevent reapplying the nicotine. Wipe down with clear warm water.

 

If this doesn’t work, open a window for ventilation, wear rubber gloves and fill a bucket with warm water and ammonia. Start with small amounts of ammonia—say a half cup—and if necessary increase the ratio of ammonia to water, up to a 50/50 mixture. For really tough jobs, you can buy a commercial product at the hardware store that removes nicotine from ceilings and walls.

 

After washing down the walls, dry thoroughly with another clean cloth. When completely dry, apply a paint primer specifically designed for sealing any residual greasy stains you may have been unable to clean. This is advised even if you believe you’ve thoroughly cleaned the walls. Apply one or two of these primer coats, then paint the room in a latex or oil-based paint.

 

Finally, for the sake of everyone’s health and to save yourself from having to repeat this kind of effort, forbid smoking in your home. Post a NO SMOKING sign on your freshly painted wall if you have to.

 

 

***Clean Home Ideas

Secrets For Easy Surface Cleaning...

Bleach stains on carpet or clothing can’t be reversed, but you can sometimes make them unnoticeable by carefully touching up the spot with a permanent marker in as close a color you can find.

 

Blood stains are tricky but not impossible to remove, especially if you catch them quickly. Start with a paste of cold water and baking soda, followed by a vinegar water rinse. If necessary, use a bit of hydrogen peroxide for a second cleaning. Some people report that cornstarch is an effective blood stain remover. Rinse stain in cold water first, rub in moistened cornstarch, then place item in the sun. If you catch a blood stain immediately, try this old folk remedy: wet a long piece of white cotton thread with saliva and roll it across the spot. The saliva enzymes will help the thread absorb the blood. Repeat.

Candle Wax can be removed from walls, wood tables and tablecloths with heat and plain paper. Place the paper over the wax and gently iron until the wax seeps into the paper. Repeat with fresh pieces of paper until wax is lifted, then clean surface carefully with a soft cloth dipped in a solution of vinegar and water. As an alternative, try applying an ice cube to dripped wax. It will become brittle and lift off more easily.

Coffee stains can be lightened or removed with this process. Wash in cold water and detergent or soap, then rinse first with water, then a water/white vinegar solution. Repeat water rinse. Rub denatured alcohol in the stain, rinse with water again. Finally, dip a white cloth into beaten egg yolk and rub yolk into stain. Rinse with clear water.

Chewing Gum can be hardened with ice for easier removal with a dull knife. Or try soaking the gum in rubbing alcohol, which will dissolve the gum.

 

Courtesy Of:   http://www.cleanhomeideas.com/about.html