Natural Living in the US

How safe is a home that has been cleaned with chemical agents? Some would argue that some germs and dirt may be safer then the cleaning products used to clean the area.
Cleaning agents that contain chemicals are used to clean everything in our lives, from the bathroom to the kitchen, on our pets and even ourselves. By using these products we are potentially harming ourselves and the environment.
According to the Consumer Product Safety commission, up to 150 chemicals found in household cleaning products have been linked to health issues such an allergies, birth defects, cancer and even psychological issues. Think about all of the chemical cleaners you likely have under a sink in your house – now imagine the number of chemicals in those products, and think about how much of a health risk those products are. It’s somewhat frightening.
Housewives have an elevated risk of cancer, up to 54%, compared to women who work in an office due to the fact that they are typically exposed to the chemicals more frequently.
American households have the unfortunate reputation for being at the top of the list when it comes to breaching the chemical waste rules with disposal of household cleaners compared to other countries.
So, what is the solution? We are using more environmentally safe products today, such as reusable bags, yet we still use cleaning products that are environmentally unfriendly. There is a lot more work that could be done in this area, but thankfully there are some simple, homemade, environmentally friendly alternatives.
Natural cleaning products are far safer, cheaper and do a better cleaning job then the harsh cleaning chemicals on the market. White vinegar and lemon juice are great for almost any job. Do you have grease marks on your cook top? Spray some white vinegar mixed with warm water and leave for a few minutes, come back and wipe over the cook top with a soft cloth and you have a clean, shiny surface to cook from. This mixture is also good for wiping over bench tops and dining tables.
Tea tree oil and lavender oil are germs worst enemies. Mix either oil with warm water to spray over surfaces that have mold or mildew on them and the anti-fungal agents that the oils contain will kill the mold and mildew before you know it. This spray is also good for keeping germs off of door handles.
To keep your furniture looking new and clean, mix olive oil with lemon or white vinegar, spray over furniture and wipe with a clean soft cloth. Mix Baking soda and salt into a paste and rub on any stubborn cooking stains in the kitchen, this will create a scour effect and get rid of any hard baked on stains.
It is easy to change your cleaning products and help minimize the effect on the environment that harsh chemicals can cause. Natural cleaning products are much less expensive then chemical based cleaners and so much safer for you and your family. The best news is that you probably already have a lot of these items in your home – so start using them!

While we have always known the importance of vinegar and lemon juice in cooking, it can also work wonders in cleaning. While they enhance the taste of our food, they also offer an effective cleaning agent aspect that is purely natural and inexpensive. You can improve the taste of your food using these and you can also keep your home looking clean and smelling fresh. Follow the simple recipes below using vinegar and lemon juice as main ingredients and have a ‘taste’ of how good natural cleaning products are.
Vinegar has always served a reputation as an all-purpose cleaner. You can combine equal amounts o water and vinegar in a clean and clear spray bottle and you can have it always ready as a general cleaner in your home. Vinegar is also a great odor eliminator, and as well as a disinfectant against germs, aside from being a reliable natural cleaning product. Always use it by testing in a discreet area of the affected material first. It is very gentle to use on most surfaces and of course, it is very inexpensive to use around the house. However, use vinegar with caution on tiles, as it is acidic and can eat it away. A marble surface is another area where you can abstain from using it.
While on food you can readily smell vinegar, the smell will dry up after it has dried up also. So you need not worry about your house smelling like vinegar. You can use this natural cleaning product on various major areas of your house such as the following listed below.
Bathroom – You can use vinegar as the main ingredient to clean the toilet, sink, bathtub, and countertops. Pour it around the bowl and flush it to let the water just drain down.
You can also pour vinegar inside the rim of the toilet bowl. Scrub it thoroughly to remove the traces of the rings. For the floor in the bathroom, mop it with the same vinegar and water cleaning solution. This will also remove the soap scum and hard water stains on your fixtures and tile. Try it on a discreet part of the tile or floor first before using. Kitchen- You can clean the stovetop, appliances, countertops, and floor using the vinegar and water combination.
Laundry Room- You can use vinegar as a natural fabric softener. This can be a great help for families who have sensitive skin and is allergic to chemical based softeners. Instead of fabric softener you buy at the local grocery, use half a cup of vinegar instead. This can give you the same result while also having taking away the residues of the laundry detergent from the clothes. Use this natural cleaning product to clean the various areas of your home inexpensively.
Lemon juice is a natural cleaning product that you can use as an alternative over chemical based products. It can dissolve soap scum and hard water residue on your bathroom. It can also clean and shine brass and copper.
A very refreshing way to use lemon is by putting a whole lemon peel through the garbage disposal. This can freshen up the drain and the kitchen. You can also use orange peels to achieve the same results.

This new-found science has led to the development of a whole host of alternative products that are used in everyday cleaning, both in the household and for industrial applications, including environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning products.The chemicals that have been traditionally used in carpet cleaning products are mainly derived from synthetic compounds based on carbon and chlorine elements. The first such compound to be applied to industrial cleaning applications is known as tetrachloroethylene, discovered in 1821 by famed chemist Michael Faraday, and was used as the basis for the chemical compound perchloroethylene. The first and most widely used application of this synthesized chemical was in the dry-cleaning industry.Perchloroethylene later became the most widely-used chemical compound in the carpet cleaning industry, and soon another synthetic compound was developed for carpet cleaning application, known as naphthalene, which is derived from coal tar. Both of these chemicals have been since discovered to be extremely harmful to human health as well as the environment, due to the carcinogenic nature of all chlorinated hydrocarbons. These chemicals are especially difficult to remove from the environment due to their toxicity at low levels and their high density, which causes them to sink into ground water.More environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning products have been developed that use organic elements and processes without depending on a chlorine-based enzyme action to remove dirt and stains from rug and carpet fabrics. The process for cleaning carpets known as Chem Dry depends on carbonated water to lift dirt and other materials from carpets. Although this process does include the use of hydrocarbons, the lack of chlorine in the mixture results in a non-carcinogenic method of carpet-cleaning that presents and extremely low level of risk to human health and the environment.There are several organic elements that have natural cleaning properties that are also water-soluble, which improves their biodegradability. There are many vegetable-based soaps that are non-toxic and safe for use in environmentally-safe carpet cleaning. The addition of sodium carbonate to organic soaps is also helpful to the cleaning process because it prevents the bonding of magnesium and calcium to water molecules, thereby allowing the soap to become more active in the removal of debris and stains from the carpet fabric. Sodium carbonate is the basis of what are commonly referred to as baking soda and washing soda. There are also organic ingredients that are found in most households that can be used in environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning. Vinegar is very effective in removing dirt and stains due to its acidic qualities. The essence of vinegar is derived from the  fermentation of ethanol. Although ethanol is associated with petrochemical processing for the production of fuels, it is actually an organic element that results from the metabolizing of sugars from yeast. Citric acid, especially from lemon juice, also provides caustic characteristics that are beneficial for lifting debris from carpet fabric. Either of these elements, when diluted with sufficient amount of water, are safe and effective treatments for environmentally-friendly carpet cleaning.

Cooking is an act of preparing food for eating. It encompasses a vast range of methods, tools and combinations of ingredients to improve the flavor or digestibility of food. It generally requires the selection, measurement and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure in an effort to achieve the desired result. For more help visit to: www.chef-123.com. Constraints on success include the variability of ingredients, ambient conditions, tools and the skill of the individual cooking.The diversity of cooking worldwide is a reflection of the myriad nutritional, aesthetic, agricultural, economic, cultural and religious considerations that impact upon it.Cooking requires applying heat to a food which usually, though not always, chemically transforms it, thus changing its flavor, texture, appearance, and nutritional properties. There is archaeological evidence of cooked foodstuffs, both animal and vegetable, in human settlements dating from the earliest known use of fire. The earliest use of cooking was possibly done by Homo erectus, although the evidence is in contention among pale anthropologists.If heat is used in the preparation of food, this can kill or inactivate potentially harmful organisms including bacteria and viruses. The effect will depend on temperature, cooking time, and technique used. The temperature range from 4°C to 57°C (41°F to 135°F) is the “food danger zone. For more help visit to: www.150-venison-recipes.com. “Between these temperatures bacteria can grow rapidly. Under the correct conditions bacteria can double in number every twenty minutes. The food may not appear any different or spoiled but can be harmful to anyone who eats it. Meat, poultry, dairy products, and other prepared food must be kept outside of the “food danger zone” to remain safe to eat. Refrigeration and freezing do not kill bacteria, but only slow their growth.Much edible animal material is made of proteins, including muscle, offal, and egg white. Almost all vegetable matter also includes proteins although generally in smaller amounts. They may also be a source of essential amino acids. When proteins are heated to near boiling point they become de-natured and change texture. In many cases this causes the structure of the material to become softer or more friable – meat becomes cooked. In some cases proteins can form more rigid structures such as the production of stable foams using egg whites. These are believed to be formed through the partial unraveling of the albumen protein molecules in response to beating with a whisk. The formation of a relatively rigid but flexible matrix from egg white provides an important component of much cake cookery and also underpins many desserts based on meringue.Fats and oils come from both animal and plant sources. In cooking, fats provide tastes and textures but probably the most significant attribute is the wide range of cooking temperatures that can be provided by using a fat as the principal cooking medium rather than water. Commonly used fats and oils include butter, olive oil, sunflower oil, lard, beef fat – dripping or tallow, rapeseed oil or Canola, and peanut oil. The inclusion of fats tends to add flavor to cooked food even though the taste of the oil on its own is often unpleasant. This fact has encouraged the popularity of high fat foods many of which are classified as junk food such as hamburgers or convenience fried cereal snacks. Fats can also be blended with cereal flours to make a range of dough’s and pastries. Roux made with heated fat and flour can also absorb large volumes of water-based liquids, including milk and water itself to form smooth sauces.

Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character that decides on the strength of personality and the degree of inner freedom:
- “self assurance” describes mostly the behaviour. Counterparts are insecure behaviour or shyness.
- “self confidence” is the mental and emotional state that causes the outer appearance.
- “charisma” is the effect that those have on others.
Self confidence doesn’t mean being perfect or presenting oneself in a perfect way, but realizing and accepting own strengths and weaknesses, using strengths to reach aims and considering weaknesses as challenges, not insurmountable limits.
It can be observed that some children are by nature more actively exploring their environment than others. So possibly self confidence has a genetic foundation.
Still, all experiences that include social interaction, with parents, relatives, friends and classmates, influence the development of self esteem. Appreciation has a positive, rejection a negative effect. But unfortunately, it’s not that easy.
False or fake appreciation can often be observed with parents and relatives. For example the adoration of even the smallest output of infant creativity, like crude drawings, and other approvals of a child’s intelligence and appearance can lead to a situation of over-confidence. Undeserved rejection, on the other hand, like punishing or disregarding a child out of an own bad mood, will confuse it and create insecurity.
Over-confidence, or the belief in own abilities and performance that are not real, can lead to arrogance. This can either turn into insecurity, if the person later realizes the truth, or it turns into an inconsiderate behaviour, which also isn’t making life easier. Insecurity or shyness are very common burdens and they tend to create a lot of problems. Aside from lacking social and personal success, the constant fear of the own inferiority creates barriers that are hard to overcome.
So what’s the secret of how to give a child a healthy self-confidence?
- Be realistic with appreciation. If you feel you should commend your child for something, consider what would be the ability at its age and then evaluate the outcome. If it deserves appreciation, give it. If you have the feeling that your child is putting to much effort in getting your attention, try to get it back down to reality carefully. Love and appreciation shouldn’t be goods that can be bought.
- Don’t criticize or reject your child out of a bad mood. If you come home after a stressful day and your kid comes up with a picture, show some interest – it might mean a lot more to it than you think.
- Keep an eye on the influence your child is receiving from its friends. But if you have a bad feeling, try to talk to your child before you call the offender’s parents and ask for a restraining order.
- Don’t do things for your child if it’s afraid of something. It might be hard sometimes, but how should it learn to be independent if it can always hide behind its parents? Later on, it will lack the confidence that comes from the experience of having to do things on its own.
- Always be there to give advice if required. There’s a whole new world of complex social systems out there, and it’s easy to get lost. Remember when you were a child probably you can learn a lot from that.

www.Wow6Weeks.com Dieting and weight loss recipes include whole natural foods that taste good too. A dieting plan has foods that are low calorie, easy to cook and fit in with your busy life. Natural whole foods make up a diet that you can live with because they will keep you more satisfied. http www.debbixler.com. The 6 Weeks To The New You diet is a weight loss system that shows you how to slim down and keep it off. Designed for on the go people the Six Weeks To The New You diet emphasises everyday food for real people. This affordable diet program does not require radicalmeasures or depriving yourself. When you make minor adjustments in your continuous healthy living diet that you can keep on doing every day consistently you will get skinnier and keep it off. The Six Week weight loss plan is a system of eating that is natural, affordable and healthy. Good healthy living does not have to be pricey. The program includes every day foods that you can buy at any grocery store, straightforward recipes and satisfying meals. Weight loss expert, Deb Bixler is your personal diet teacher. A culinary school trained chef Deb advocates living a fun, fast and healthy lifestyle. The You are Really Lucky… healthy living diet is definitely fun, fast and healthy so you will not be missing out on any of the good things in life. The Six Weeks To The New You healthy living resource website provides FREE fun, fast and healthy recipes, diet systems, healthy living tips, nutritional wellness …

If you want to go green around your home but just don’t know which products to use or buy or you don’t want to spend time shopping multiple stores then check out www.greencupboards.com.  This company does all the research on green and natural cleaning products and tells you which product, in multiple categories, is the most green and the most effective.   Going green does not have to be difficult.  It  is mainly a commitment to yourself, your family and the environment to clean responsibly and preserve our natural resources for future generations.  Green cleaning products don’t have to cost an arm and a leg neither.  In fact,  you can make your own eco-friendly, green cleaning products at home.  It is safe, easy and cheap!  Here are a few for you to try:

Window Cleaner: 1/4-1/2 tsp of liquid detergent (”green” of course) 3 tbs of vinegar 2 cups of water 1 spray bottle

Mix up ingredients in spray bottle and shake until well blended.  Use as you would  commercial window cleaner.

Oven Cleaner: 1 cup or more baking soda water 1-2 squirts of liquid detergent

First, sprinkle water generously over bottom of the oven.  Sprinkle enough baking soda over the water to cover the bottom of the oven.  Sprinkle more water on top of the baking soda and leave overnight.  This eco-friendly cleaning paste will loosen grease and grime so that you can wipe it up the next day.  When you have cleaned up the worst of the mess use a damp sponge with a dab or two of liquid detergent to cut the remaining grease.  Wipe until clean and polish off with a dry terry cloth rag.  If there is still a bit of residue left, repeat steps being sure to use enough baking soda and water to create a thick, white paste.  This natural way of cleaning your oven may take a little more elbow grease but it sure beats inhaling toxic fumes emitted by commercial cleaners.  Safe for you, safe for your family, safe for pets, safe for the environment.  What more could you ask for?

If you have your own green cleaning product recipe that you would like to share, please email us and we will post it here.  If you are looking for  a specific green cleaning recipe, you may email us your question as well.  Let’s work together to preserve our planet and continue to educate others on the importance of going green.

When you browse through the yellow pages, you most likely see numerous ads for Salt Lake City Carpet Cleaning, which may make coming to a decision on which company to use extremely difficult. All of these companies probably sound similar, as they all promise to get your rugs and upholstery clean for a low price, but there are some delicate differences in these corporations. B & R Chem Dry is one company that could be a small different, as they employ a special approach that is much better for your home than any standard system that other Salt Lake City carpet cleaning corporations use. B & R Chem Dry is independently owned and operated. the number one way that B & R Chem Dry is dissimilar is the way that they clean carpets. Most Salt Lake City carpet cleaning companies use bad chemicals that might possibly be noxious under some situations. This may never happen with B & R Chem Dry , however , as the company uses an all natural cleaning solution that has received Green Certification. This process is able to rid your carpets of dirt and grime, while only using a fraction of the steam that other Salt Lake City carpet cleaning firms use. This suggests that not only will your carpets will cleaner and more fit than ever before, but they may also dry much faster than you ever thought was possible . The longer your carpet is wet, the better chance there will be of mold forming, so it is important that your carpet dries quickly. An alternate way that B & R Chem Dry does well for its buyers is with the upholstery cleaning service that is offered. Unlike other Salt Lake City carpet cleaning companies,B & R Chem Dry is able to ensure that the products is safe for all types of upholstery. Some natural fibers in particular are terribly tough to wash, but it’s no problem at all with this Salt Lake City carpet cleaning company. This technique of cleaning is safe for kids and pets alike, as there is no residue left in the dust that can be harmful. B & R Chem Dry can actually be used inside of vehicles, which makes this one of the more diverse methods of cleaning you may ever find. You simply can’t beat the service that this SLC carpet cleaning company offers its buyers, as no other company will keep your upholstery as safe as this one. Another service that is offered by B & R Chem Dry is a tile and grout cleaning service that may ensure that your entire home is clean. This process is completed by specialised cleaning products and tools and it will give you with the deepest clean on the market today. You need to clean these areas at least every year and a half, though doing it once a year is strongly recommended. If you are able to have this cleaned this regularly it’ll look brand spanking new for as long as you have got your home. This Salt Lake City carpet cleaning company will also apply a sealant to your tile, that will make sure that dust is kept out throughout the year. Fundamentally, this company will keep all aspects of your home clean, making it the only phone call that you have got to make when you need any portion of your house cleaned. eventually, this Salt Lake City carpet cleaning company can restore water damage that has been done to your house if something unfortunate should occur on your property. Anything from a leaky pipe to a total flood can do damage to your floors, but B & R Chem Dry can do a great job of fixing the damage that is done and getting your home back to its original state. As you would expect, the Salt Lake City carpet cleaning industry is highly competitive, as there are many different firms out there that offer these services. Due to this, it is vital that these SLC carpet cleaning firms offer something unique that others do not. B & R Chem Dry is certainly able to do this, as they use technology that other Salt Lake City carpet cleaning companies have not yet caught up with. You’ll have many different decisions when selecting a Salt Lake City carpet cleaning company, but B & R Chem Dry is truly the best choice for you and your family.

If you are like most parents, you want a safe and effective treatment for head lice. Most treatments are toxic and are not recommended for toddlers. Here are three different treatments from parents. As always, this is not medical advice. Please check with your doctor if you have any concerns.
Treatment#1
Combine 1/2 tsp. each of Eucalyptus, Pennyroyal and Rosemary. Then add 2 1/2 tbls. pure olive oil. An Adult needs to try the mixture on his/her skin to make sure it doesn’t burn. If it does, add more olive oil. After washing your child’s hair with very hot water (as hot as the child can stand!) Comb the oil mixture through hair with a regular comb (throw away kind) Then use a flea comb, comb out any nits or eggs. Tie a cotton scarf around child’s head and leave on over night. It may tingle, but if it burns wash out immediately and dilute the mixture and try again.
THE NEXT MORNING
Wash hair with a good tea tree shampoo. This should take care of the lice, however if necessary repeat the treatment. To prevent lice (when it has been reported in your child’s school) rub tea tree oil or sassafras oil into the scalp.
Treatment#2
A natural alternative to killing head lice is to use mayonnaise. Cover the entire scalp and hair with mayonnaise, cover with plastic wrap and leave on about half an hour. Shampoo and remove all the nits or eggs.
Treatment#3
For best effectiveness, use a safe, pure soap like Botanic GOLD(tm) [ourfamilyshealth(com)] and carefully follow the directions below. Every step is important.
On a dry head, start at the nape of the neck along the hairline and work around the head saturating the hair as you go moving towards the crown where the hair is tied up. Remove the clips or pony tail and continue to apply the soap using enough to completely saturate the hair.
Massage the head and work into lather then comb through hair to ensure coverage (use a metal, regular toothed comb). Wrap or tie the hair back up on top of the head. Every ten minutes or so, massage the hair until 30 to 40 minutes have past. DO NOT RINSE AND DO NOT ALLOW TO DRY. (Reapply if necessary to keep moist.) The next day, follow the instructions above “THE NEXT MORNING”.
NOTE: DO NOT USE Botanic Insecticidal Soap.
Sanitation Instructions for ALL Treatments
Lice are highly contagious and it is extremely important that they are eliminated as fast and completely as possible. When lice are first detected, it is wise to launder everything with which the infected person has come in contact. Use hot water and a non-toxic liquid soap.
Disclaimer: The information presented is only for discussion. Check with your doctor before beginning any new treatment.
Copyright (C) 2007 Wayne McDonald