Codes:
BS- baking soda
COT- cream of tartar
EO- Essential Oil (be sure has the Latin name, otherwise it can be synthetic).
HP- hydrogen peroxide
TTO- tea tree oil
WV- white vinegar
WV is used for cleaning. ACV (apple cider vinegar) is used for internally & body (i.e. to rinse your hair).
AC alternatives
Energy saving ways to keep cool-
-Set a bowl of ice cubes in front of fan. Melting ice will cool the breeze.
-Fill a clean sock w/ raw rice, seal w/ rubber band & put in freezer at least 2 hours. Then before you turn in, slide frozen compress under covers to cool sheets. Since rice holds a chill for hours, keep it handy to counteract any hot spots.
-When it’s hotter out than in, close windows, pull blinds, draw drapes. The more layers between you & the sun the better. The U.S. Dept of Energy says this can reduce the heat coming in by up to 45%.
-Open bedroom window & position fan so it’s blowing air out. Forcing hot air out of a room is twice as effective as trying to blow the cool air in.
-An open damper in your fire place actually sucks hot air into your house. Just remember to open it up before you light it for the first fire next fall.
-Compact fluorescents produce almost 70% less heat than standard bulbs generating the same amount of light. – Woman’s World mag. 6-23-08 issue
-Turn on ceiling fans. It costs 1cent an hour to run.
-Replace A/C filters or clean them once a month
-Check your outdoor unit to be sure it's clear of leaves, clippings.
antibacterial soap
To make your own antibacterial soap. Triclosan & others are toxins.
Fill a pump bottle w/ 16 oz water, 1 ½ oz liquid castile soap, 20 drops of EO. Pump bottles work best. Put the soap in last otherwise it will bubble.
Antibacterial EO’s- bay, birch, calendula, camphor, cardamom, chamomile, cinnamon, citronella, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, ginger, hyssop, juniper, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lime, marjoram, orange, orris root, pine, rose, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, spearmint, sweet orange, tea tree, thyme, vervain (verbena), wintergreen
Note: Plain soap works just as well as antibacterial! You can stop spending money on antibacterial soap to protect you during cold & flu season- turns out, it removes no more germs or bacteria than regular soap, reveals a recent study form the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Worse, antibacterial soap containing triclosan can make your body resistant to common antibiotics like amoxicillin!
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
To make scented baking soda, the ratio is
2# BS & (choose one)
10 drops lavender
50 drops lemon
50 drops lime
25 drops peppermint
25 drops rose
25 drops tea tree
Uses- greasy pots, pans, hands, dishes, scuff marks off floor, cleaning & deodorizing cutting board, scrub for stainless steel, softening & dissolving black burned-on food spots on pots & pans, cleaning & deodorizing coolers, lunch boxes, thermos bottles, first aid for bug bites, a fire extinguisher for oil fires on stove.
Slightly alkaline, neutralizes acid based odors in water & absorbs odors from air, nonabrasive cleaner, for laundry add up to a cup per load to neutralize chemical smells, air freshener & carpet deodorizer, softens water. Courtesy of “Clean house, clean planet” book
Best times to buy from Consumer Reports
JANUARY- Bedding, CDs and DVDs, Cookware, Houses and condos, Linens, Swimwear, Toys, Treadmills, TVs, Winter clothing
FEBRUARY- Houses and condos, Humidifiers, Indoor furniture, Small consumer electronics (MP3 players, digital cameras, DVD players, etc.), Treadmills
MARCH- Humidifiers, TVs, Winter coats, Winter sports gear
APRIL- Digital cameras, Spring clothing
MAY- Athletic apparel and shoes, Cordless phones, Small consumer electronics
JUNE- Indoor furniture, Small consumer electronics, Summer sports gear, Swimwear
JULY- Computers, Indoor furniture, Outdoor furniture, Swimwear
AUGUST- Air conditioners, Camping equipment, Computers, Dehumidifiers, Lawn mowers, Outdoor furniture
SEPTEMBER- Bikes, Gas grills, Shrubs, trees, perennials, Small consumer electronics
OCTOBER- Bikes, Digital cameras, Gas grills, Winter coats
NOVEMBER- Autos (new), Bikes, Computers, Gas grills, Toys
DECEMBER- Autos (new), Bikes, Computers, Gas grills, Small consumer electronics, Toys, TVs
After summer- major appliances, backyard gear, sports equipment, home-improvement items
Some other tips that don’t fit neatly into the calendar:
Airline tickets tend to be least expensive on Wednesday mornings because that’s when airlines try to fill unsold seats on flights for the following week to 10 days.
CDs and DVDs generally come out on Tuesdays and might be on sale for the first one to three weeks.
Jewelry sales are common, except around Valentine’s Day and the December holidays.
carbon monoxide info
CO2 tips & signs
You can’t see, smell, or taste it but small carb mono leaks from heating systems, stoves, & dryers make thousands of people sick w/ severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, & other problems each winter.
Tip: Warm up your car outside the garage. Running a car in a confined space is one of the biggest causes of CO2 poisoning.
Know the clues- It may be invisible but carb mono does leave hints. Look for rust on top of water heater & furnace burner or on back of furnace cover & top vent, says expert Reggie Marston of Residential Equity Management. Home Inspections of Springfield, VA. Other signs: fallen soot in fireplaces, damaged or discolored chimney bricks & excess moisture on windows & walls. If you see any of these, have a heating specialist find & fix the leak.
Check the color of gas flames- A properly burning gas flame in your furnace or stove will be predominately blue. Too much yellow means it’s not burning correctly. Another sign of trouble, if you get headaches or smell a strong odor when using your gas oven or stove.
Install a detector- It’ll alert you if CO2 reaches unsafe levels. Put one on each floor outside bedrooms & w/in 15’ of fuel-burning appliances. And keep them low- 18” to 3’ from the floor since carbon monoxide is heavier than air.
Keep plenty of houseplants around- Plants can actually absorb low levels of CO2 to keep you safer.
Look for cracks in the walls near chimneys- Older fireplaces w/ deteriorated flues can leak CO2 into the house thru nearby wall cracks- & even draw it up into the 2nd & 3rd floors! To avoid a problem, get a professional inspection once a year.
Ventilate, ventilate, ventilate- When running heaters, washers, or dryers in confined areas, keep the nearest windows open slightly to circulate air. That will allow gas flames to burn properly, preventing probs w/ CO2.
castile soap
www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/221/1/Castile-soap.html
What castile soap is. How versatile it is i.e. shaving lather, pet & human shampoo, dish & laundry soap, house cleaning, body cleaning.
You can buy it in bar or liquid form. We use Kirk’s natural castile bar & Dr. Bronner’s liquid.
cleaning
A wide variety of recipes for cleaning. Need to experiment w/ ones you like & that work for your items. Most recipes are from “Better basics for the home”. All castile listed is the liquid kind. Also look at individual topics (i.e. windows for window wash).
-BS & castile & EO (antibacterial)
½ c BS, enough castile to make frosting consistency, 15 drops EO, make only as much as needed as can dry out.
-BS & lemon or lime EO
fill shaker w/ ½ BS, add 20 drops lemon or lime EO, stir, fill rest w/ BS, shake light coating. Don’t use on aluminum ‘cos will discolor
-BS & TTO
cleaner for trash, pails, old litter, tubs, toilet…
1c BS, ½ t TTO, stir out lumps w/ metal fork. Can add lemon or lavender
-cream of tartar, HP
whitening
2T COT, enough HP to make paste
-Salt & castile
salt, enough castile to make a paste
-Heavy duty, as needed as has borax & washing soda
2t washing soda, 2t borax, ½ t castile, 1c hot water. Indefinite shelf life.
-castile & WV & water
¼ c castile, ½ c WV, 2 gal water, one time use
clothing
Banish smoky odors from clothes-
Close the windows & doors of bathroom & fill tub w/ hot water & 3c WV. Hang garments from shower rod for 30 minutes. The acidic properties of the vinegar-infused steam will neutralize odors while the moist air smooths any wrinkles.
Cotton
If it’s made of conventional cotton, one queen size sheet set requires 1.25 pounds of petroleum- based pesticides & fertilizers. Often, these run off into nearby waterways where they harm or kill aquatic life. -National Geographic Green Guide book
Credit card
scratched- place card in plastic bag & then scan. The plastic layer camouflages scratches so system can register your information
dish soap
my recipe- 1 ½ oz liquid castile, 3c water, 1 ½ t glycerin, 15 drops EO.
I use an empty 32 oz. liquid castile bottle. Be sure to add the castile last as it will bubble.
Use 2T in sink.
www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/221/1/Castile-soap.html
2 c liquid castile, ½ c water, 1t LJ, 3 drops EO, ½ c WV. Use 2T in sink.
Dishwasher
Don’t wash plastic items in the dishwasher, which can cause endocrine disrupters to leach onto other items. Wash plasticware in warm, soapy water instead. From www.endocrinedisruption.com
Tips & ‘hand or machine’ from Home energy diet book by Paul Scheckel
-wash only full loads
-avoid using the temp boost setting- water heating can account for up to 80% of the energy required by a dishwasher
-keep your water heater temp as low as possible & let the dishwasher heat what it needs
-try different settings & detergents to see which gives you the best performance (2/3 full is best rather than full in dispenser)
-air dry dishes- use the ‘no heat dry’ setting or allow dishes to air dry by opening the door after the wash cycle is complete
-don’t rinse dishes before loading into the dishwasher, just scrape them off
-use the shortest possible cycle
-check the filter to be sure it is clear of food particles
Dishes by hand or by Machine?
Does it use more water & energy to wash dishes by hand or in a machine? Finally, there is a definitive answer. A study conducted by the University of Bonn, Germany, reported that volunteers washing dirty dishes in a sink used an average of 27 gal of water & 2.5 kWh of water-heating energy to wash a complete 12-place dinner setting. An automatic dishwasher handling the same number of equally dirty dishes used only 4 gallons of water & about 1.5 kWh of total electrical energy. After the volunteers were finished w/ their task, about half the dishes were judged to be “really dirty” or at least not acceptable to be placed on a dinner table, while the machine dishwashers offered consistently cleaner dishes.
drains
To prevent drains from clogging, dump a cup of Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover (product for pet accidents) down drains once a month. Unlike bleach or vinegar, which only destroy mold & mildew, it contains enzymes that eat solid waste like hair & soap scum.
DVD player, stuck open
Use a paper clip, straighten one end then insert it into the tiny hole by the tray (located in front or on side of player, depending on brand). Give it a light push to manually activate the drawer mechanism.
Energy & electricity
-Switch this to lower energy bills!
Lowering your utility bill is as easy as a flip of the switch: Just turn off your computer at the end of a session! Even when left in sleep mode, the machine eats up electricity, kicking up your energy costs by as much as $55 a year!
30- Number of dollars saved in energy costs for every light bulb replaced with an Energy Star bulb -“Go organic” newsletter
8 billion- Number of dollars American consumers lose daily because of idle electronic functions such as lit display clocks, memory chips, and remote control functions -“Go organic” newsletter
-Green Power choices- Your power provider may offer options for buying green power. Some offer green pricing, a program by which consumers pay a premium but are assured that a larger proportion of their power comes from renewable resources. Some consumers can actually switch to green power suppliers that use wind, solar panel arrays, etc. Renewable energy certificates (REC’s, also called green tags) are occasionally available, allowing consumers to purchase a specific amount of renewable energy to be added to the national energy grid, even when green power isn’t available locally. The Green Power Network’s site lists REC marketers, most of which are certified by the Independent Green-e certification program. http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/ -National Geographic Green Guide book
Floors & carpet:
Remove odors using 2c borax, 10 drops EO, shake on carpet, let sit few minutes, vacuum
Best way to clean carpets the green way:
Kick off shoes at door. This simple switch immediately eliminates almost all of the dirt, mold, germs, & pesticides that get tracked into your home. Since this outdoor grime accounts for 80% of the dirt that settles into carpets, you’ll need to vacuum & shampoo much less frequently, saving time & money.
Keep a tray by the door.
Best way to clean wood & laminate floors the green way:
Skip the pricey rinses. Use a damp mop says Donna Smallin of “The one-minute cleaner”. For laminates- mix 1c WV into 1 gallon warm water & mop. Why does it work? The acetic acid in vinegar cuts thru grease & grime, leaving you w/ laminates that shine.
Best way to clean tile & linoleum the green way:
Disinfect them w/ 2 cups water, a squirt of liquid soap, & 20 drops tea tree oil. The soap lifts dirt, while the tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that kills germs, so your floors are sparkling AND safe.
Also think of all the pesticides, et al & where we walk. The pesticides that we use seep into the ground. That is being tracked indoors from walking, rolling in the grass. Kids & pets sitting & laying on the grass. We sit on the floors, play w/ our kids & pets on those floors…
Household products
Of the roughly 17,000 chemicals used in household products, including those used for cleaning, only about 30% have been adequately tested for their effects on human health. -National Geographic Green Guide book
ink
The “low ink” light starts flashing on your printer. Time for a cartridge run? Not so fast- a recent study found that home printers are rarely out of ink when they first say they are. The best printer wasted 20% of its ink; the worst wasted 64%. Next time, ignore that flashing indicator & let the cartridge run its course.
Get more life from ink cartridges by using the draft or fast/economical setting when printing everyday stuff, like directions & rough drafts. Simply make the switch in the printer driver dialog box. When top-notch quality is important, i.e. printing invitations or your resume, just reset it to normal or standard.
laundry
1 gal warm water, ¼ c each castile, BS, borax, 30 drops EO. Should be 96 loads for ¼ c per load laundry. Put castile in AFTER water ‘cos bubbles.
I put in ¼ c in my laundry load w/ 2 oz oxiclean.
In the rinse cycle, I put in ½ oz of EO to help it smell better & to help w/ bacteria.
I use sweet orange.
For fabric softener, you can use ½ c of the scented WV. I didn’t notice any difference so I don’t anymore.
To help w/ laundry lint:
www.michaelsappliancecentre.com.au/Handy_laun_lint.htm
Sound too good to be true?
Do you have a Top loading washing machine and have you ever had a build up of lint or the like on your clothing after having used the machine for a few years? Why not try the CLEANSING WASH, by simply following these easy steps below. (more in link)
light bulbs
Fluor. bulbs turning black on ends can run for a long time & they won't damage the ballast. But do replace when flickering, take a long time to fire up or finally give up completely. That's because running a fluor. fixture w/ a burned-out bulb WILL damage the ballast. - The Family Handyman mag.
mold/ mildew
Mold killer- 2t tea tree oil, 2c water. Let sit few days till smell dissipates. Clean stain if needed. –or- 2t Grapefruit seed extract, 1c water. No rinse.
WV- 5% solution kills up to 99% of bacteria, 82% mold, 80% viruses. Let sit 10-15 min. Rinse or let dry.
Place a piece of charcoal (unused ones w/o starting fluid) in a bowl of potpourri. To help deter mold & absorb odors. Especially useful for bathroom.
mothball alternatives
herb sachets w/ either lavender, peppermint, thyme, or cloves
odors
Musty odors- Toss a few charcoal briquettes (unused ones w/o starting fluid) into clean coffee cans & seal. Punch holes in lids then place thruout home where kids & pets can’t get to them. The briquettes’ porous surface will absorb odors & excess moisture.
got odors, volcanic rock deodorizer- lava rocks in a mesh sack absorbs & neutralizes odors. Reusable. Recharge by placing in sun www.leevalley.com
To remove garlic smells from hands, don’t use soap but rather wet your hands & rub them on a stainless steel spoon. It instantly oxidizes the odors.
Vanilla extract to remove odors from fridge. Put some on a cotton ball on dish, replace when dried.
oven/stove
To clean a glass top stove, use BS & WV & buff.
To clean the oven, first scrape off majority w/ a credit card or the like. Then make a paste of BS & WV & let sit on overnight. You will need to use elbow grease but it’s better than the harsh chemicals. Even if your oven has the fume free where it burns it off, the stuff that gets burned off releases toxic fumes.
Best bet is to keep it clean. Clean up spills as they happen. Place aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven to catch drips.
Permanent marker
On dry erase board or body
Veg oil to take off perm marker on dry erase board. Veg oil & BS on a rag will take off most marker on bodies.
pics
To help w/ red eye in pics-
Focus your eyes on a nearby lamp or other light source right up until the photographer snaps the shot. Red-eye usually occurs when a dimly lit area causes your irises to dilate to let in more light. Then, when the bright flash hits the back of the retina, the red of the blood vessels reflects back out. But when you fix your gaze on something bright pre-picture, the irises shrink back to regular size.
Plant therapy
African violets- think faster, reduce fatigue, boost O2 to brain.
Bamboo- air filter. Removes trichloroethylene vapors esp. in bathroom, near closets, freshly dry cleaned clothing.
Boston ferns- Soften skin. Nature’s humidifier. Helps skin & immune system. Filters toxins.
English Ivy- soaks up benzene that can slow thinking from paper products, less stress, air filter.
Eucalyptus- clear congestion, tannins, anti-inflam, powerful expectorant.
Gerbera daisies- Sleep better. Unlike most plants that give off O2 during day, GD give off at night. Sleep apnea & other lung disorders, air filter. Absorbs benzene fumes from new paint.
Mums- air filter. Absorbs benzene fumes from new paint.
Peace lily- sniffle free, rids air of mold spores, acetone, & alcohol vapors, air filter. Removes trichloroethylene vapors esp. in bathroom, near closets, shower water, freshly dry cleaned clothing.
Philodendron & dracaena- air filter, useful for clearing fumes emitted from new plywood & upholstery fabrics, formaldehyde
Spider plant- breathe easier, can remove 90% of toxins in 40h. Clears allergens & airborne germs, filters carbon monoxide & formaldehyde. Keep clean so can help filter air better, place in sink & hose it down w/ lukewarm water.
More air filters- Chinese evergreen, chrysanthemum, Janet Craig, marginata, mass cane/ corn plant, mother-in-law’s tongue
shower curtains & heads
Mildew- Add a little salt to a spray bottle of water & applying it to your shower curtain once a week. You’ll stop mildew from growing. Close the curtain when you are done showering as mildew can form in the folds.
Shower heads clean- Fill a gallon plastic bag w/ vinegar, tie it around shower head w/ a rubber band & let it sit overnight. Next morning, run over the holes w/ a small brush, turn water on, & all clean.
smoke alarm
Replace after 8-10 years.
soap
Care2
2 bars mild, unscented castile or vegetable-based soap (or the equivalent in odds-and-ends)
1/2 cup dried lavender blossoms (available online from many herb companies)
5 drops essential oil of lavender
1/4 cup warm water
1. Using a cheese grater, grate the soap into a large bowl.
2. Add the lavender blossoms to the grated soap.
3. Add the essential oil to the soap mixture, combining thoroughly.
4. Add the warm water and stir.
5. Roll heaping tablespoons of the mix into balls.
6. Place on a cookie sheet and allow to air-dry completely, which will take approximately 2 days.
soap bark
Saponin, soapy constituent, literally foams & lathers
sodium percarbonate
Oxi clean, sodium carbonate (washing soda) + HP
natural bleach for whites, available from chemical supply companies
toilet
Put plastic bottles in your toilet tank. To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. This may save ten or more gallons of water per day. Be sure at least 3 gallons of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly.
tree sap & permanent marker
To remove tree sap. Use vegetable oil & BS.
Husband got some on while we were doing planting. I googled & gas is one of the remedies. While it does work, it IS expensive, harsh, & stinks. So one site said baking soda & baby oil. I don’t use baby oil ‘cos it’s not green, a lot of chemicals in there. So I tried soybean oil we use to cook with & BS. Put some oil on a rag then some BS, rubbed in circular motion & VOILA! worked. Not toxic, not drying & leaves skin healthier.
Also works on removing perm. marker on the skin as well.
Vacuum bag, reusing- Snip off top & empty by placing a garbage bag over the vacuum bag’s opening. Hold the garbage bag tightly, then flip over the vacuum bag so debris falls directly into the garbage bag w/o creating a dust cloud. Remove the vacuum bag, fold its top edge over once & staple closed.
Best bet is to buy a bagless tho.
Vehicle, deodorize
Tuck a few sprigs of dried lavender in a sachet & store in your cup holder. Fill ashtray w/ BS.
vinegar, scented
2 oz WV to 1 drop EO.
Uses: fabric softener, cleaning (when need a bigger boost to cut grease), dissolves residue from baking soda & soap, disinfectant, anti-fungal, dissolves gummy buildup, eats away tarnish, removes dirt from wood surfaces, used to avoid stains while cleaning, AHA & astringent.
Don’t mix vinegar w/ bleach, creates toxic fumes.
WV for all stains except mustard or blood, use club soda instead ‘cos WV makes it set.
www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html
Links:
bravenet.com