In the past I have blogged about the dangers of chemicals in our household cleaning products, the multiple dangers of personal care products, the importance of vitamin supplement and my couponing tips for healthy and organic groceries. However, I feel it is important to give you resources of things you can purchase both in the store and online. I have thoroughly research the contents of everything I am posting, used myself, and most of the personal care products I'm going to recommend can be found in most organic books including Sloan Barnetts book "Green goes with Everything" .
Personal Care Products- Essentially this is anything you would put on your body, like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, body wash, shaving cream, etc. No Lauryl/ Lauteth Sulfates or Parabens
Shampoos & Conditioners-
Kiss My Face - Can be found at Whole Foods and most health stores
Jason Naturals Can be founds at Whole Foods and most health stores
ProSante - online ordering, shipped directly to your home. I actually love this conditioner!
Body Lotions-
Avalon Organics- Can be found at Whole Foods in 32oz for $15.99. I've had mine for 5 months.
Enfuselle- online ordering, shipped to your home or found via a distributor. 100% organic/raw.
Alba- can be found at whole foods, some other grocery stores.
Face/ Skin Care
Enfuselle- I use all the basic care- eye cream and anti-wrinkle products. I have very sensitive skin and for me this is the only product-line I haven't had any issues with.
Sunscreen- No Titanium Dixoide
Enfuselle- online ordering/distributor. I use this one and absolutely love it.
Alba- can be found at Whole foods or other health food stores.
Badgerbalm- I have never tried this personally, my friends have & they love it. 60% certified organic.
Toothpaste & Mouthwash- you want to choose the floride-free option, instead with Xylitol.
Toms of Maine- we use this and love it. You can find this in most grocery & drug stores.
Kiss My face- can be found at health food stores.
Bodywash & Soap- beware many products Lauryl/ Lauteth Sulfates or Parabens. These don't:
Burts Bee's Body Wash- I personally use this and love it. You can find this just about everywhere
Meadow Blend Bar- This is a nice soap-free natural bar. Online ordering/distributor
Tom's of Maine cleansing bar- I like this, it just doesn't last too long.
Shaving Cream
Alba- my husband loves this brand, says helps skin feel smooth and calm.
Avalon Organics- I prefer this one myself, it is easier to see shaving.
Deodorant- Titanium Dioxide and aluminum Free
Burts Bee's- Again found just about everywhere.
Kiss my face- most health food/organic stores.
Tom's of Maine- found pretty much everywhere- I get mine at CVS with extra care bucks
Cleaning Products
You can read my previous blog here about why product-lines like Seventh Generation and GreenWorks really are not green, safe, non-toxic, nor save you money. In my opinion I have been very happy with this line. It has saved me money, is environmentally safe, and non-toxic or harmful to me or my doggies. Sloan Barnett highly recommends it in her book.
Vitamin and Supplementation
You can read my previous blogs about why a good vitamin is essential here and here . I have tried many many brands of vitamins anything from those cheap ones at the grocery store to the health food store. There are many harmful things in these vitamins the FDA has warned about, click here for more information. My brand of choice is here. I have been taking them since August 2007 and I haven't gotten sick once regardless of lack of sleep or stress. In my opinion there is nothing better on the market. In addition to supplementation I eat healthy, mostly organic and avoid chemicals in my personal care products and cleaners.
Any questions, please ask :) Be Healthy Everyone!
Showing posts with label money savings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money savings. Show all posts
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Natural and Safe Insect Pest Control
It's that time of year for pest to be showing up in our homes. Below are some healthy, safe, and inexpensive ways to control ant, spiders, mosquitoes, and flies.
Ants
~Keep a small spray bottle handy, and spray the ants with a bit of
soapy water.
~Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point
of entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber. Bitter
cucumbers work best.
~Leave a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem
most active. Dry, crushed mint leaves or cloves also work as ant
deterrents.
~Trace the ant column back to their point of entry. Set any of the
following items at the entry area in a small line, which ants will not
cross: cayenne pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of
string), lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds.
~Mix a half-teaspoon each of honey, borox, and aspartame (Equal,
Nutrasweet, etc.), in small bottles. Place bottles on their sides,
with lids off, in areas of most ant activity. Ants will carry the bait
back to their colonies.
~Leave a small, low wattage night light on for a few nights in the
area of most ant activity. The change in light can disrupt and
discourage their foraging patterns.
Spiders
~You can use peppermint or spearmint oils to repel spiders. Mix
one of these oils with water and pour it into a spray bottle. Or you
can put a few drops along window sills and other areas that
spiders use to enter your house.
~Garlic is another repellant that you can use. Put a few cloves in a
spray bottle and add water.
~Another option is using tomato leaves. Blend the tomato leaves
and mix with 4 pints of water and one tablespoon of cornstarch.
Strain the liquid in the fridge and use as needed. Put it in a spray
bottle.
Mosquitos
~An effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5
parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray
lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up
to 5 - 6 hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this
mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized
deterrent.
~Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in
India. The leaves, seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain
sallanin, a compound which has effective mosquito repelling
properties. Neem oil is a natural product and is safe to use. Look
for new Neem Oil-based commercial products on the market.
~Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug
repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs and flying
insects do not like.
Flies
~Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be
placed around the home to discourage flies.
~Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in small cheesecloth
squares can be hung by open windows or doors.
~Place a small, open container of sweet basil and clover near pet
food or any open food in the house.
~A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a scrap of absorbent clothe will
deter flies. Leave in areas where flies are a problem.
~You can make your own flypaper with this simple recipe: Mix ¼
cup syrup, 1 tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tbsp. brown sugar in a
small bowl. Cut strips of brown kraft paper and soak in this
mixture. Let dry overnight. To hang, poke a small hole at the top
of each strip and hang with string or thread.
Best of Luck!
Ants
~Keep a small spray bottle handy, and spray the ants with a bit of
soapy water.
~Set out cucumber peels or slices in the kitchen or at the ants' point
of entry. Many ants have a natural aversion to cucumber. Bitter
cucumbers work best.
~Leave a few tea bags of mint tea near areas where the ants seem
most active. Dry, crushed mint leaves or cloves also work as ant
deterrents.
~Trace the ant column back to their point of entry. Set any of the
following items at the entry area in a small line, which ants will not
cross: cayenne pepper, citrus oil (can be soaked into a piece of
string), lemon juice, cinnamon or coffee grounds.
~Mix a half-teaspoon each of honey, borox, and aspartame (Equal,
Nutrasweet, etc.), in small bottles. Place bottles on their sides,
with lids off, in areas of most ant activity. Ants will carry the bait
back to their colonies.
~Leave a small, low wattage night light on for a few nights in the
area of most ant activity. The change in light can disrupt and
discourage their foraging patterns.
Spiders
~You can use peppermint or spearmint oils to repel spiders. Mix
one of these oils with water and pour it into a spray bottle. Or you
can put a few drops along window sills and other areas that
spiders use to enter your house.
~Garlic is another repellant that you can use. Put a few cloves in a
spray bottle and add water.
~Another option is using tomato leaves. Blend the tomato leaves
and mix with 4 pints of water and one tablespoon of cornstarch.
Strain the liquid in the fridge and use as needed. Put it in a spray
bottle.
Mosquitos
~An effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5
parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray
lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up
to 5 - 6 hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this
mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized
deterrent.
~Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in
India. The leaves, seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain
sallanin, a compound which has effective mosquito repelling
properties. Neem oil is a natural product and is safe to use. Look
for new Neem Oil-based commercial products on the market.
~Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug
repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs and flying
insects do not like.
Flies
~Use mint as a fly repellent. Small sachets of crushed mint can be
placed around the home to discourage flies.
~Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in small cheesecloth
squares can be hung by open windows or doors.
~Place a small, open container of sweet basil and clover near pet
food or any open food in the house.
~A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a scrap of absorbent clothe will
deter flies. Leave in areas where flies are a problem.
~You can make your own flypaper with this simple recipe: Mix ¼
cup syrup, 1 tbsp. granulated sugar and 1 tbsp. brown sugar in a
small bowl. Cut strips of brown kraft paper and soak in this
mixture. Let dry overnight. To hang, poke a small hole at the top
of each strip and hang with string or thread.
Best of Luck!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
How Far Does Green Go?
Happy Earth Day! I actually saw it posted on facebook that everyday should be Earth Day. It also has to make me wonder, how far does green go? We all know the basics: recycle, reusable grocery bags, energy saving electrical appliances & light bulbs, etc. But what about chemicals? Those buggers can't be real good for us or the environment. Most of the cleaners in our homes are causing more damage to our families and the environment than we realize. I know some of you might be thinking, well I use "earth friendly" cleaners. Hmmm, well I've done some research on two of the biggest "green" cleaners known: Greenworks and Seventh Generation. Neither met my standards for "green" which are:
* Biodegradable
* Formulated without dye
* Nonflammable
* Contain no ammonia, acids, alkalis, solvents, phosphates, chlorine, nitrates, borates, or volatile organic compounds.
Here were my findings: Greenworks has many of the same chemicals found in traditional cleaners only they have diluted them, meaning they just added water.
Seventh Generation I found the following: All purpose cleaner contains hexahydro-1,3,5-Tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine which is a preservative and a pesticide. According to here . The toxicity level to humans is Toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity. I’m not too sure if that sounds safe.
Natural Dish Liquid contains sodium laureth sulfate. This chemical does a world of dangers to us. Sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity. It also contains hexahydro-1,3,5-Tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine, which I have discussed above.
Even for the concentrated form of these cleaners you are paying for them to put the water in. Do you want to pay for diluted chemicals? When I checked the prices for both Seventh Generation and Greenworks I was shocked on how much they are. Plus can you imagine how much plastic bottles you use every time you purchase another one and paying for it for that matter. The only truly green product I have found to meet the above standards and saves me money, is safe for me, my family, and the environment is here
For most of my cleaning I use a fragrance-free basic household cleaner, which is super-concentrated. You can make a whole bottle of cleaner for most applications with somewhere between 2 drops and 1⁄4 teaspoon of the concentrate. One bottle of this can make literally hundreds of bottles of ready to use cleaner. Since this reduces the number of plastic bottles that need to be manufactured, shipped, and recycled, it greatly decreases the environmental impact of using the product. The cost per use is also a lot lower than almost any other product, just 25 cents makes four 32 ounce bottles (one gallon) of all purpose cleaner Even vinegar in comparison, can cost 10 to 20 times as much per gallon, depending on what size is purchased and where. So why pay $2 or more for a cleaner that isn't going to last you as long, going to cost you more, and is bad for the environment and bad for you?
Don't be "green-washed". Some examples of tactics used by companies include: seducing with images in ads, using environmental organizations to promote products, distracting from destructive products, claiming to seek solutions while lobbying against regulation, using charitable endeavors to gain support, and the misuse of the word “sustainable.” I really liked this quote from Jeffrey Hollender, and it sums up my feelings on the subject as well. ”“Green” is not something a company becomes because of a new product line, a marketing campaign, a decision to be carbon neutral or even the selection an enlightened new CEO. “Green” is about the inside, not the outside of a company. It’s about its DNA, its culture, and its very reason for being.” Is Clorox Green Works and Seventh Generation really green? What do you think?
There is a way to eliminate 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills. There is a way to eliminate 248 pounds of greenhouse gas. There is a way we can make a difference. Use something that together plants 10 trees and saves you money. Click here.
* Biodegradable
* Formulated without dye
* Nonflammable
* Contain no ammonia, acids, alkalis, solvents, phosphates, chlorine, nitrates, borates, or volatile organic compounds.
Here were my findings: Greenworks has many of the same chemicals found in traditional cleaners only they have diluted them, meaning they just added water.
Seventh Generation I found the following: All purpose cleaner contains hexahydro-1,3,5-Tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine which is a preservative and a pesticide. According to here . The toxicity level to humans is Toxicity to humans, including carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, and acute toxicity. I’m not too sure if that sounds safe.
Natural Dish Liquid contains sodium laureth sulfate. This chemical does a world of dangers to us. Sodium laureth sulfate can lead to direct damage to the hair follicle, skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity. It also contains hexahydro-1,3,5-Tris (2-hydroxyethyl)-s-triazine, which I have discussed above.
Even for the concentrated form of these cleaners you are paying for them to put the water in. Do you want to pay for diluted chemicals? When I checked the prices for both Seventh Generation and Greenworks I was shocked on how much they are. Plus can you imagine how much plastic bottles you use every time you purchase another one and paying for it for that matter. The only truly green product I have found to meet the above standards and saves me money, is safe for me, my family, and the environment is here
For most of my cleaning I use a fragrance-free basic household cleaner, which is super-concentrated. You can make a whole bottle of cleaner for most applications with somewhere between 2 drops and 1⁄4 teaspoon of the concentrate. One bottle of this can make literally hundreds of bottles of ready to use cleaner. Since this reduces the number of plastic bottles that need to be manufactured, shipped, and recycled, it greatly decreases the environmental impact of using the product. The cost per use is also a lot lower than almost any other product, just 25 cents makes four 32 ounce bottles (one gallon) of all purpose cleaner Even vinegar in comparison, can cost 10 to 20 times as much per gallon, depending on what size is purchased and where. So why pay $2 or more for a cleaner that isn't going to last you as long, going to cost you more, and is bad for the environment and bad for you?
Don't be "green-washed". Some examples of tactics used by companies include: seducing with images in ads, using environmental organizations to promote products, distracting from destructive products, claiming to seek solutions while lobbying against regulation, using charitable endeavors to gain support, and the misuse of the word “sustainable.” I really liked this quote from Jeffrey Hollender, and it sums up my feelings on the subject as well. ”“Green” is not something a company becomes because of a new product line, a marketing campaign, a decision to be carbon neutral or even the selection an enlightened new CEO. “Green” is about the inside, not the outside of a company. It’s about its DNA, its culture, and its very reason for being.” Is Clorox Green Works and Seventh Generation really green? What do you think?
There is a way to eliminate 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills. There is a way to eliminate 248 pounds of greenhouse gas. There is a way we can make a difference. Use something that together plants 10 trees and saves you money. Click here.
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