Love the cleaning power of vinegar, but hate the smell? Then, infuse it with a scent that you do like.
Approach #1
INGREDIENTS:
Flower petals or herbs (dried or fresh)
Vinegar
2 glass bottles
A strainer
PREPARATION:
1. Sterilize the bottles.
2. Then, place your chosen herbs or flowers into one of the bottles. (The more you put in, the stronger the scent will be.)
3. Fill the bottle with vinegar.
4. Cap, and allow to steep for 10 days.
5. Open the bottle, and strain out all of the flowers or herbs.
6. Pour the vinegar into the second bottle; and store in a cool, dark place.
Approach #2
INGREDIENTS:
Essential oil
Vinegar
PREPARATION:
1. Add several drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar.
2. Cap, and shake to distribute the scent throughout.
SCENT SUGGESTIONS:
Try lavender for laundry and citrus or peppermint for around-the-house cleaning.
TIPS AND WARNINGS:
1) Keep all cleaners out of the reach of children.
2) Avoid dark colored herbs, as these could change the color of the vinegar, and potentially stain.
MORE USES FOR VINEGAR:
Looking for a cheap alternative to commerical fabric softener? Then, look no further. Just add a cup of white vinegar to your washer's rinse cycle and your laundry will come out soft and cling-free.
The Benefits of Using Vinegar as a Fabric Softener -- Vinegar Will:
eliminate static cling
remove soap residue from your clothes
soften your laundry
make your towels more absorbent
Vinegar Won't:
add harsh chemicals to your laundry
imgregnate your clothes with synthetic fragrances
cost you a lot of money
Tips and Warnings
1) To give your clothes a fresh scent, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the vinegar.
2) Have a fabric softener ball? Fill it with vinegar, and you won't have to watch for the rinse cycle.
3) Keep vinegar out of the reach of children and pets.
Did You Know?
Commerical fabric softener builds up on your towels over time, making them less absorbent.
Looking for a safe and easy way to sanitize your kitchen and bathroom sponges? Then, try this:
What You Need:
White vinegar
A small bowl or container
What You Do:
Soak your sponges in a container of white vinegar overnight. Then, squeeze them out in the morning, and they'll be refreshed and ready for use.
Why This Works:
The acetic acid in vinegar kills bacteria and eliminates odors.
(Source: http://www.FrugalLiving.com)
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Because Each Household Matters
Recycling Trivia:
-- every three months, Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild the nation's commercial air fleet?
-- if you throw away two aluminum cans, you waste more energy than is used daily by each of a billion citizens in poorer countries?
-- the energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a television for three hours?
-- it takes 95% less energy to make aluminum from recycled scrap than from virgin materials?
-- the energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours?
How long it takes the following to degrade?
A banana peel? 3-4 weeks
A paper bag? 1 month
A cotton rag? 5 months
A piece of wood? 10-15 years
A leather shoe? 40-50 years
A tin can? 80-100 years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Topic:
Recycle - Reduce - Reuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easier - Recycle means to process old, used items in order that the material can be used to make new products. Examples of things that are often recycled are glass, plastic, newspapers, aluminum cans, used motor oil, and batteries. Here, reduce refers to lessening the amount of items or resources that are consumed, using only the amount that is needed, and looking for alternatives that will lessen our use. And reuse means extending the 'life' or repurposing an item rather than discarding or throwing it away.
Harder - Recycling is the processes of collecting, processing, remanufacturing, and reusing materials instead of discarding them. This helps conserve raw materials and energy that manufacturers would otherwise use in producing new products. Recycling also reduces the amount of material going into landfills. Recycling helps lessen the pollution that may result from waste disposal. Reducing our consumption of materials and reducing the waste of materials also adds to the conservation of our resources.
Read More Here: http://42explore.com/recycle.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-- every three months, Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild the nation's commercial air fleet?
-- if you throw away two aluminum cans, you waste more energy than is used daily by each of a billion citizens in poorer countries?
-- the energy saved from one recycled aluminum can will operate a television for three hours?
-- it takes 95% less energy to make aluminum from recycled scrap than from virgin materials?
-- the energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will light a 100-watt light bulb for four hours?
How long it takes the following to degrade?
A banana peel? 3-4 weeks
A paper bag? 1 month
A cotton rag? 5 months
A piece of wood? 10-15 years
A leather shoe? 40-50 years
A tin can? 80-100 years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Topic:
Recycle - Reduce - Reuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Easier - Recycle means to process old, used items in order that the material can be used to make new products. Examples of things that are often recycled are glass, plastic, newspapers, aluminum cans, used motor oil, and batteries. Here, reduce refers to lessening the amount of items or resources that are consumed, using only the amount that is needed, and looking for alternatives that will lessen our use. And reuse means extending the 'life' or repurposing an item rather than discarding or throwing it away.
Harder - Recycling is the processes of collecting, processing, remanufacturing, and reusing materials instead of discarding them. This helps conserve raw materials and energy that manufacturers would otherwise use in producing new products. Recycling also reduces the amount of material going into landfills. Recycling helps lessen the pollution that may result from waste disposal. Reducing our consumption of materials and reducing the waste of materials also adds to the conservation of our resources.
Read More Here: http://42explore.com/recycle.htm
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You DO Make A Difference
The average U.S. home harbors about 62 toxic chemicals linked to allergies, birth defects and cancer. While not all chemicals are bad for you, it's easy to find non-toxic alternatives. The average American uses about 25 gallons of toxic products per year in their home (Source: Prosperity Without Pollution, by Joel S. Hirschorn and Kirsten V. Oldenburg, 1991).
"There are many, many things that you can do that will take literally two minutes or less, things you do every day anyway. Why not just try to do them a little differently? Some things take no extra time, things like using laundry soap instead of laundry detergent. It takes the same amount of time to do your laundry. It takes the same amount of time to do your shopping but it makes a difference [to the environment]." - Marjorie Lamb
EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally, more than 200 times higher than outdoor levels. Cleaning products and other household products are among the many culprits. (Source: EPA)
Cleaning products can be among the most hazardous chemicals in your home or office and are therefore regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These products create hazardous waste -- threatening human health and the natural environment. Borax, ammonia and baking soda are safe alternatives that can clean and disinfect to meet hospital standards and are much cheaper than name brand cleaners.
There are many green products available that are just as effective as traditional ones. Contact this blogger if you need information on where to shop.
Tips:
• Choose products that are biodegradable and non toxic to humans and aquatic life.
• Choose concentrated products, and be sure that they can work in cold water.
• Choose products with VOC concentrations of less than 10% of the weight of the products when diluted for use as directed.
• Choose products with a neutral pH.
• Choose products in recycled, recyclable and refillable containers and packaging.
• Avoid petroleum-derived ingredients. Instead choose surfactants derived from vegetable oil. Look for d-limonene and pine oil solvents.
• Avoid containing EDTA and NTA. Look for alternatives with sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium silicate.
• Avoid phosphates -- choose products with a phosphate concentration of 0.5% or less by weight.
• Avoid products containing chlorine bleach or sodium hypochlorite.
Did you know that... Electric dryers account for 5 to 10% of residential energy consumption. And, using cold water will save close to 85% of the energy and dollars you use on washing.
"There are many, many things that you can do that will take literally two minutes or less, things you do every day anyway. Why not just try to do them a little differently? Some things take no extra time, things like using laundry soap instead of laundry detergent. It takes the same amount of time to do your laundry. It takes the same amount of time to do your shopping but it makes a difference [to the environment]." - Marjorie Lamb
EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally, more than 200 times higher than outdoor levels. Cleaning products and other household products are among the many culprits. (Source: EPA)
Cleaning products can be among the most hazardous chemicals in your home or office and are therefore regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These products create hazardous waste -- threatening human health and the natural environment. Borax, ammonia and baking soda are safe alternatives that can clean and disinfect to meet hospital standards and are much cheaper than name brand cleaners.
There are many green products available that are just as effective as traditional ones. Contact this blogger if you need information on where to shop.
Tips:
• Choose products that are biodegradable and non toxic to humans and aquatic life.
• Choose concentrated products, and be sure that they can work in cold water.
• Choose products with VOC concentrations of less than 10% of the weight of the products when diluted for use as directed.
• Choose products with a neutral pH.
• Choose products in recycled, recyclable and refillable containers and packaging.
• Avoid petroleum-derived ingredients. Instead choose surfactants derived from vegetable oil. Look for d-limonene and pine oil solvents.
• Avoid containing EDTA and NTA. Look for alternatives with sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, and sodium silicate.
• Avoid phosphates -- choose products with a phosphate concentration of 0.5% or less by weight.
• Avoid products containing chlorine bleach or sodium hypochlorite.
Did you know that... Electric dryers account for 5 to 10% of residential energy consumption. And, using cold water will save close to 85% of the energy and dollars you use on washing.
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