February 11, 2008
· Filed under Baking Soda, Home Cleaning, Salt, green living · Tagged environmentaly friendly, Green Home, green living, natural cleaning
A green home is a healthy home; free of toxins with fresh air and a clean environment for our families. A green home is also an environmentally friendly home with reduced energy use, conscience recycling efforts and sustainable living habits.
Creating a green home is easier then you think.
- Reduce your temperature to your water heater by 10 degrees. By reducing the temp, you can save 3% - 5% in your energy costs.
- Reduce your thermostat by 10 degrees. Even for just the 8 hours your family is out at work or school, will save you another 10% on your energy bill.
- Get a high-performance shower head. This will use 60% less water and most are designed to produce the same feeling of water pressure.
- Clean your lint trap regularly. Doing this simple task can reduce you families energy use by 30%.
- Use chemical free, natural cleaners. Baking soda, salt, and vinegar are just a few natural cleaners you can use to clean your home. Most people have these items in their homes already and they are much healthier for your family than the toxic chemicals in traditional home cleaners. Let’s just put it this way; if you need to wear rubber gloves so you don’t absorb the chemicals into your skin or if there is a warning label that you must use the cleaner in a well ventilated area, it’s a good bet that the cleaner is not environmentally friendly, safe for your family and may cause illness.
- Replace major appliances with Energy Star Appliances. This can be a big investment to purchase new appliances for the sake of having a green home but they end up paying for themselves in the long run. They will reduce your energy costs and help the environment.
- Install double-pane windows. Also a big investment, but will pay for itself as well.
- Remove all carpet. Drastic, I know, I’m not a fan of carpet. Especially when there are renewable, sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives that are much healthier and easier to keep clean. Bamboo, cork, and reclaimed wood are far better to have in your home than carpet. Carpet collects dust and no matter how great your vacuum is, it doesn’t get it all. The air quality in your home will be substantially improved without carpet.
- Buy house plants. Plants are natures way of cleaning the air and producing oxygen.
- Use Green Energy. More then 50% of U.S. retail customers have the option to choose green energy from their energy provider. Should you choose to do so, you’ll be using energy created directly from renewable sources like wind and solar power.
More Information
Creating an Eco-Friendly Bedroom
Green Shopping
November 22, 2007
· Filed under Home Cleaning, Salt · Tagged green living, Home Cleaning, natural cleaning, Salt
More uses for Salt:
- Polish up your tarnished copper pots by using a little salt and vinegar. Sprinkle the pots with salt. Then with a cloth dipped in vinegar, scour your pots until the tarnished is gone. Wash as normal.
- Remove rust stains with a thin paste made of salt and vinegar. Rub the paste onto the stain and lay out in the sun to dry. When dry run item through rinse cycle. Repeat treatment if necessary.
October 1, 2007
· Filed under Baking Soda, Natural Beauty Products, Salt · Tagged Baking Soda, DIY, Do IT Yourself, Natual Beauty Products, Table Salt, Whiten Teeth, Whiten Teeth Naturally
Why use those chemicals to whiten your teeth when you probably have the ingredients on hand to do it naturally.
All you need:
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Water
In a small dish mix equal parts baking soda and table salt. Dip a damp tooth brush into the mixture. Brush your teeth as normal. Then rinse.
Or, you can make a paste by adding a little water to the mix.
I would say this is a much better way to whiten your teeth than those sticky strips. Plus, this way you know you aren’t damaging you teeth.
Of course, this method doesn’t work over night or as quickly as the strips. So my suggestion, if you need those pearly whites for a special occasion this weekend; use the strips but then start a regular cleaning with the baking soda and salt to maintain the whiteness.
~ DIY Naturally
August 29, 2007
· Filed under Natural Beauty Products, Salt, Skin Care
Table salt is an inexpensive way to treat your body to a nice relaxing delight. Salt can be used to relieve dry itchy skin and reduce the oiliness of oily skin. Salt, along with baking soda, can make an excellent toothpaste that is great at fighting plaque and is a natural whitener.
10 ways to use salt as a health and beauty product
- Relax sore muscles by massaging your skin with salt. While your body is still wet in the shower gently rub salt in a circular motion all over your body. This will help relax the muscles and increase your blood circulation.
- Wake up in the morning by invigorating your mind, body and skin with salt and lavender essential oil. In a bowl add 1/4 cup of salt and 2 drops of lavender essential oil. Massage this mixture into your skin in a warm/hot shower. Then rinse off.
- Relieve dry itchy skin by soaking in a bath tub of saltwater. You can use either table salt or sea salt; add 1 cup of either to a nice hot bath. Soak for 20 - 30 minutes.
- Cleanse and tone your face with a mixture of olive oil and salt. In a bowl mix 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt. Use mixture to gently massage your face; avoid contact with your eyes. Wash your face as normal and pat dry with soft cloth.
- Reduce oily skin by spritzing your face with a spray bottle filled with a mild saltwater solution. Fill bottle with lukewarm water and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Pat dry with a soft cloth. Repeat if necessary.
- Get rid of bad breath with a natural mouthwash solution of salt, baking soda and water. In a small glass of water mix 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Use as a mouthwash and rinse.
- Natural teeth whitener brush teeth with a mixture of equal parts baking soda and salt. Dip a wet toothbrush into a small bowl containing this mixture and brush teeth.
- Natural toothpaste brush teeth with a paste made of baking soda, crushed salt and water. You can crush the salt with a spoon in a bowl.
- Relieve mouth pain (sore gums, a bite on your cheek or tongue, or toothache) with a salt water solution. In a glass of warm water, add 1 teaspoon of salt. Swish in your mouth for a few seconds and spit out. Repeat if necessary. Any serious mouth problems; you should see a dentist.
- Emergency toothache but can’t see the dentist right away; rinse your mouth with this solution: 4 ounces warm water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt. Repeat as needed.
~ DIY Naturally
Natural Beauty Products | Table Salt | Dry Skin | Itchy Skin | Oily Skin | Natural Teeth Whitener | Naturally Fight Bad Breath | Natural Toothpaste
August 27, 2007
· Filed under Home Cleaning, Natural Stain Removers, Salt
From stained carpet to tarnished copper; salt can do the job of cleaning your home. Salt is tough enough to tackle your hardest cleaning projects including polishing your sinks, removing stains in your carpet and revitalizing your word furniture.
10 ways to use salt to clean your home.
- Red wine stains in your carpet can be removed easily. Begin by immediately blotting up as much wine as you can with a towel. Then sprinkle the area with salt. Let stand for 20 minutes allowing the salt to soak up any remaining wine. Finally, clean up area with a solution made of vinegar and water mix at a 1:2 ratio. ex. 1 cup vinegar with 2 cups of water.
- Removing grease stains from carpet or rug can be tricky but salt will work every time. Use a mixture of salt and rubbing alcohol at a ratio of 1:4. Rub the mixture into the stain going in the same direction as the nap. You may need some elbow grease for task but it should work. When finished rinse with water and blot dry.
- Brighten up enameled sinks, bathtubs, and toilets that have gone yellow with age. You will need to make a paste with salt and turpentine (wear rubber gloves) . You should only need a small amount of turpentine. Make in small quantities; this mixture will go along way. Apply to enameled surface and let sit for 10 - 15 minutes. Then wipe away with a damp sponge.
- Whiten yellowed wicker by scrubbing it down with a saltwater solution and placing in direct sunlight for 30 minutes.
- Hot pans and water stains on your wood table can be removed with a little salad oil and salt. Just make a thin paste and polish the area of the stain. Use a gentle circular motion and wipe off with a soft cloth when finished.
- Polishing pewter can be a difficult task because it is so soft and can be damaged easily. Using flour, salt and vinegar you can make a paste that will be gentle enough to polish pewter. See recipe bellow.
- Polish copper or brass with a sliced lemon dipped in slat. Rub salted lemon in a circular motion on the copper or brass surface. Rinse with water. This method is best for slightly tarnished copper and brass.
- Clean tarnished copper with a little vinegar and salt. Begin by adding vinegar with a little water to a spray bottle. Spray the copper item with the solution and then sprinkle with salt. Gently scrub the piece with a soft sponge and rinse making sure to remove all of the salt.
- Clean and shine copper and brass make a paste with equal parts vinegar, flour and salt. Rub on paste and let stand for about 1 hour. Then clean off and buff with a soft cloth.
- Remove rust with a simple paste made of salt and lemon juice (from the fruit not in the bottle). Apply paste to the rusted object. Rub with a dry soft cloth.
Pewter Polish
You will need:
In a bowl mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of vinegar and add flour until you have a smooth paste. Apply paste to the pewter piece and allow to dry for 30 minutes. Rinse with water and polish with soft cloth. Make sure to remove all paste residue.
~ DIY Naturally
Table Salt | Natural Home Cleaning | Natural Stain Remover | Remove Wine Stains | Remove Grease Stains | Polish Sinks | Polish Bathtub | Pewter Polish Recipe | Clean Copper | Polish Tarnished Copper | Clean Brass | Polish Brass | Natural Rust Remover
June 24, 2007
· Filed under Home Cleaning, Natural Stain Removers, Salt
Salt is a wonderful stain remover. With salt you can remove grease stains, ink stains, blood stains and more. Using salt in your laundry will also help preserve bright colors and reduce the yellowing of white clothing.
10 ways to use salt to clean your laundry
- Remove grease stains on fabric by sprinkling the stain with salt. Allow the salt to soak up the grease and wipe off. Repeat if necessary.
- Remove a fresh blood stain by covering it with salt. Then dab with a clod water cloth. Continue to add water until the stain is gone.
- Remove ink stains by rubbing the stain with salt. Then soak the stain in milk over night. Then wash.
- For mildew stains, use a paste made of lemon juice and salt. Spread the paste on the mildew and lay clothing out in the sun. The sun, salt and lemon juice will bleach the mildew.
- To remove mildew stains on other fabrics use a solution of salt, vinegar, and water.
- Remove wine stains from cotton fabric by sprinkling enough salt on the stain to absorb the wine. Soak the clothing for 2 hours in cold water. Then wash.
- Treat yellowing of white cotton clothes by soaking in a solution of water, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1/4 cup of baking soda. Let stand for 1 hour. Then wash.
- Remove sweat stains on white clothing by dabbing the areas with a sponge soaked in a salt water solution of 4 tablespoons of salt per 1 quart of water.
- Prevent bleeding colors by adding 1/2 cup of salt to your wash cycle.
- Bring colored rugs back to their vibrant colors by rubbing a salt water solution into the rug with a damp cloth. Use a gentle scrubbing motion.
~ Do it Yourself Naturally
Natural Cleaners | Salt | Naturally Clean Laundry Room | Remove Blood Stains | Remove Grease Stains | Remove Wine Stains | Remove Mildew Stains | Remove Sweat Stains | Remove Ink Stains
June 22, 2007
· Filed under Home Cleaning, Salt
We all know how difficult it can be to keep our kitchens clean with high traffic, spills, drips, dirty dishes, and greasy pans. It seems like it is a never ending battle sometimes. Thankfully our ordinary table salt can be of greater use other than seasoning our foods.
10 Ways to Use Salt to Clean Your Kitchen
- Clean up stove top spills by sprinkling with salt. It’s naturally mild abrasive quality; salt can easily remove stuck on spills.
- Mask the odor of burned-on foods on your stovetop burner by sprinkling the food with a mixture of salt and cinnamon. Wipe away the mixture immediately. The next time you use that burner you won’t have the smell of burned food through out your home.
- Refresh your refrigerator by cleaning it with a mixture of equal parts salt and baking soda. With a damp sponge dipped in the mixture wipe down the inside of your refrigerator and rinse off with a clean wet sponge.
- Remove coffee stains from mugs by rubbing the stain with salt and a little water. Then wash as normal.
- Clean casserole dishes with stubborn baked on foods by adding 3 tablespoons of salt to boiling water. Pour the water into the dish and let stand until the water has cooled. Wash as usual.
- Dirty pots and pans with excess grease can be easily cleaned by sprinkling the pot or pan with a generous amount of salt. Allow the salt to absorb the grease and wipe away with a paper towel before washing.
- Remove odors from kitchen drains by pouring 1 cup of salt and 2 cups of hot water down the drain.
- Brake up clogged or slow drains by pouring a mixture of equal parts salt, vinegar and baking soda down the drain. Let stand for an hour. Then pour boiling hot water down the drain.
- Polish up your silverware by gently rubbing the silverware with salt and a soft cloth. For your fine silver, use a paste of 2 tablespoons of salt and a half a cup of vinegar. With a soft cloth gently rub the pieces in a circular motion. Rinse and hand dry with a dry soft cloth.
- Eliminate odors in plastic container and thermoses. Sprinkle some salt into the container and cover with lid. Leave for several hours. Repeat if necessary.
~ Do It Yourself Naturally
Natural Cleaners | Salt | Naturally Clean Kitchen | Table Salt | Coffee Stains | Kitchen Odors | Natural Silverware Polish
June 22, 2007
· Filed under Home Cleaning, Natural Beauty Products, Salt, Skin Care
The last several articles have been about using baking soda for various household cleaning tasks including the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and a few other uses such as, taking care of your kids and pets and as a beauty product.
To continue with our “No more chemical cleaners” series, we are going to shift to table salt and its many uses around your home.
A natural compound, Sodium Chloride or as we know it, table salt; has some amazing power. It can preserve foods, soothe aches and pains, and clean your home. Salt is also a key ingredient for your health. It can help our muscles, help our digestion of food and help our blood circulation.
Along with all the helpful household tips, I will also share some great recipes for dinner dishes and dressings, as well as beauty recipes for natural toothpaste and remedies for allergies and toothaches.
~ Do It Yourself Naturally
Natural Cleaners | Table Salt | Sodium Chloride
Subscribe via rss
