1/8 Castile soap ½ cup vinegar 2 gallons warm water
Optional addition: if cleaning a spill that may have bacteria in it, add 10-20 drops of lavender, rosemary, tea tree, or eucalyptus oil to mixture.
Carpet Deodorizer - Liberally sprinkle baking soda on carpet or rug and leave on overnight.
Leather Cleaner ½ cup Jojoba oil 1/8 distilled white vinegar
Rub into leather with a soft clean cloth for cleaning and conditioning. Do not use on suede.
DIY Fabric softener – Add ¼ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle to soften clothes and eliminate static.
Easy Laundry Soap
1/8 cup castile soap ½ cup washing soda (to cut grease) ½ cup borax (to remove stains) ¼ cup white vinegar (optional for softness and static control) Combine all items. If clothes do not feel clean enough, increase the castile soap until you’re satisfied with the results.
Make use of the most natural air cleaner available!
Common households plants are a simple, attractive, and effective way to clean the air in your home. Three cleansing plants per 100 feet of space in your home or office can improve you indoor air quality and add to the natural look and feel to your home.
Aloe: One of the most effective plants for the removal of low-level concentration formaldehyde
Peace Lilies: help remove formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air. They also remove “bioeffluent,” which are the gases, including ethyl alcohol, and acetone, as well as odors, bacteria, and viruses that we exhale.
Philodendrons: One of the best plants for removing formaldehyde from air at high concentrations. Both vines and large floor plants are effective. It’s a good idea to put one anywhere you have particle board or pressed wood furniture, cabinets, or other formaldehyde sources.
Here is a list of other known air cleansing plants: Areca or dwarf date palm, Boston fern, ficus, Florist’s mums, Gerbera daisy, Dracaenas, and English ivy.
Both the areca and dwarf date palm help remove neurotoxic VOC’s , toluene and xylene from the air. Place these plants anywhere you have ceiling tiles, computer screens, heavy adhesives (like new carpeting), paints, photocopiers, or upholstery.
Room air Purifiers
Most portable air purifiers clean the air in small spaces. For best results place the purifier near an appliance or window that brings in pollution. It is important to clean or replace the filters according to you manuals instructions. At least once a month wipe down the purifier, including the slatted vents with a damp, soapy cloth, (microfiber holds the dust more effectively). Wipe a second time with just water.
Domesticated animals play an important role in the lives of most people. They provide an opportunity for children and adults to learn the skills of caring, nurturing, and responsibility. We bring them into our homes; sometimes even make them a member of the family. So if your family is a green family, how does your pet fit into the mix? Spaying or neutering your pet is one of the greenest decisions you can make. Millions of animals are euthanized every year. There are many programs for reduced costs and also for stray and feral cats. Feral cats are wary of people and congregate in groups for protection and food. By releasing them back into their environment they are allowed to stay together without multiplying. We all want to be sure that what we are feeding our pets is healthy and safe but do you really know what’s in their food! Pet food contains protein from many sources. Primarily from the ground remains of animal processing such as heads, feet, and intestines; it is the discards of human food industry. The meat processed into by-product meal or meat and bone meal may be from sick or healthy animals. In the end nutrients and minerals have to be added back in to the pet food along with preservatives so it can last for months in the stores or in your home. When choosing a pet food it is important to pick a brand that has an Association of American Feed Control (AAFCO) guarantee. Loom for labels with meat like chicken, lamb, of beef as the first ingredient, not just the word meat. Natural pet food will most likely not use chemical preservatives but will rely on vitamins C and E to partially or fully preserve food. If you want to change your pets food, it’s important not to do it all at once. It might upset their otherwise healthy digestive system. A small amount of new mixed with old and then gradually increase new until there is no more old. You may also go with homemade foods. You must remember to meet the animals’ nutritional requirements. You could consult your vet to determine the breakdown of proteins, vegetables, grains, vitamins and minerals. There are many ways to green your pet. Buy green bedding and toys made from organic cotton. You can get organic shampoos, skin treatments, and organic grooming products. Traditional cat litter can be replaced with biodegradable litter. Options are recycled paper or reclaimed wood. If you intend to make the switch you show do it gradually like with pet food. In October 2005 wildlife officials in the Everglades National Park found a thirteen foot python that bit off more than it could handle when he tried to down a 6 foot alligator. The python’s girth wasn’t big enough and it literally busted at the seams. Neither alligator nor python survived. If a new home is needed for pet companions please do research on how to relocate them properly.
Info provided from 365 Ways to Live Green Your Everyday Guide to Saving The Environment
1. Turn your thermostat down 2 degrees. 2. Change a standard light bulb to energy efficient 3. Stop appliances from being on standby 4. Say no to plastic bags, use reusable bags 5. Shop locally 6. Bring your own mug instead of using Styrofoam. 7. Go by way of public transportation 8. Bike or walk 9. Say yes to short showers 10. Plant something
If one million people stand up to say “I can help fight Global warming” we have taken the first step!
The two most critical survival skills are clear thinking and perseverance. Global warming might be the most serious challenge the human race has ever faced, but don’t freak out.
If this is your first exposure to the facts about global warming, you may slip into a state of climate shock-triggered by the realization of the eminent dangers we face. Warning signs include shortness of breath, a sense of powerlessness and despair, a concern for polar bears, and an urge to lecture others about glaciers. Luckily climate shock is manageable – And so is climate change, if all of us are committed to the task.
Most attempts at change fail – not for the lack of will but for the lack of planning and pragmatism. And yet the behavior you wish to change didn’t occur in one day, so why should you expect to undo it in one day!
Pick one goal
Write it, be clear about it, is it really achievable.
Identify the skills and resources needed
Divvy up your plans into small achievable steps
Anticipate hiccups (It’s inevitable)
Talk about it (tell friends and family)
Review your plan (for progress)
Treat yourself (when successful)
Keep your eyes on the prize (It will become easier and innate)
Fact: Convince every American household to change one incandescent bulb with CFL and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.
• 500lbs is the equivalent amount of coal burned when you choose an incandescent bulb over a compact fluorescent, over the life of the bulb.
Information from: The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Guide
What Is Tea Tree Oil? Tea tree oil is a very powerful antiseptic and an immuno-stimulant. Called the "first aid kit in a bottle," it can be used to treat burns, acne, dandruff, cuts, coughs, urinary tract infections eczema, candida, lice, athlete's foot, ring worm, colds, flu and fights pain. It's most important use is in combating bacterial and fungal infections. It is one of those products that should be in every home's medicine cabinet. It is an incredible essential oil that is extracted from the leaves of this tree or shrub, and made available to the world from Australia.
Not only can tea tree act as an air purifier, it is one of the best aromatherapy products you can find. To disinfect sick rooms, Tea Tree oil, which is easily evaporated, may be diffused into the air, it's aroma is like that of a medicinal antiseptic and it's aromatic oils lift the spirits.
A simple natural skin and hair antiseptic can easily be made by adding up to six drops of the oil to a warm relaxing bath. Adding Tea Tree is also a very useful method of getting rid of pimples fast, just add a few drops of the oil to warm water as a final natural antiseptic facial rinse. Tea tree is just one acne remedy towards a permanent acne solution. Some have even suggested it's use as an acne scar treatment.
Similarly the hair may be rinsed with a spoonful of Tea tree in warm water to control lice. Tea Tree is also one of the few oils that may be used undiluted on the skin, it is non-toxic and also non-irritating, however it is wise to test your own sensitivity by placing just a smear of the oil on the skin surface, washing it off immediately if there is any sensitivity. It's is wonderfully soothing after hair removal, and it's an asset to your facial skin care products. No serious skin care fanatic is without tea tree oil products. A few drops of the undiluted oil may be used for the treatment of athletes foot, cold sores and ring worm infections. A steam inhalation of Tea Tree oil is a very useful remedy for infections such as colds and flu, especially if it is used at the first signs of symptoms.
If you have school age children, you may receive a note from school stating that your child has been exposed to head lice or scabies. What do you do now? Do not run to the pharmacy for one of those lice kits - they are poisonous pesticides. This is more of a natural solution. Head lice infestation is predominantly found on the scalp. In addition to using the following recipe on the scalp, you should also do a complete body wash. You need to completely wash all clothes and bedding using Tea Tree by adding 1/2 to l teaspoon of the oil in each load of wash. Wash the entire body with shampoo 300-355ml)fortified with 2 teaspoons of Tea Tree oil. Rinse hair with a hot water solution containing 1/2 teaspoon of the oil plus 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. After drying, saturate a nit comb with the oil (pure), and run it through the hair. Do this for at least a couple of days.
Tea Tree is superior to the products you buy in the pharmacy for lice and scabies. It dissolves the lice and eggs on contact stopping reproduction in its tracks. It will not harm the central nervous system! Make sure you always have 2 bottles for your home, and/or first aid kit.
The oils smell is hard to put into words, but it is quite characteristic and recognizable, fresh, clean, antiseptic, slightly earthy - not unpleasant at all!
Often used alone, it may also be blended with Lavender, Pine, Cinnamon or Clove.
"I'm sick of this place...."
(Also known as Sick Building Syndrome) You really might be able to get sick from a building! Perhaps this is one reason that it is so easy to "pick something up" somewhere. The scientists felt that this provided a pretty good picture of the kind of bacteria and microbes that people are exposed to in many different kinds of indoor environments. What's more, the types of bacteria differed according to the season, and according to each building. The scientists admitted that most studies in the past have focused on indoor fungus infestations. So now it may not just be mold you need to worry about. Thank goodness for antibacterial tea tree oil!
Tea tree oil kills bacteria. Tea tree oil has shown itself to be effective in killing bacteria. You can disinfect an entire room with a high quality diffuser. Diffusers can easily cover 200 to 400 square feet, run silently, and can enhance the aroma is in an entire room or part of the house.Get Tea Tree Oil for bacteria if you haven't already. Your house may be crawling with more bugs than you ever imagined! It seems that according to a study done in 2003, common household dust is teaming with bacteria. There's mounting evidence that tea tree oil may be one of the most effective natural mold killing products available. Samples of dust taken from hard surfaces and nursing homes at different times during the course of a year. Each time, four samples were taken from floors, tables, and other hard surfaces. What they found would be shocking to most of us! You may want to start thinking about how to use tea tree oil for bacterial disinfection. Bacteria that normally belong inside the human gut, were commonly present on hard surfaces. Bacteria like Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus.
Congestion Steam Inhalations-Add 2 drops of tea tree oil into a bowl of steaming water. Cover head and inhale for 5-10 minutes. This will help relieve the congestion in the nose and sinuses.
Disinfecting Bathing with tea tree oil is to be used as a disinfectant measure and/or for any other types of rashes,and many other skin conditions. Add approximately 3-5 drops to the bath water. Soak once a day for a week.
Tea Tree oil Salve Want to make your own tea tree oil salve? You can make basic essential oils salves quickly and easily at home. You'll need just a few simple ingredients.
2 ounces Beeswax 4 ounces Sweet Almond Oil or Olive Oil 20 drops Tea Tree Oil 20-40 drops of other oils as desired (optional for scents)
Melt the Beeswax in a double boiler, or place it in a glass Jar, like a canning or mason jar, and fill a pot with water to a depth of an inch or so. Bring the water to a simmer, and when the wax is completely melted, add the Olive Oil. Remove the wax/ oil mix from the heat, and stir until creamy. As it cools, add the tea tree oil and any other essential oils, again stirring thoroughly. Pour into your storage jar and cool. If you use a clear glass container, be sure that the mix is stored in a cool dark place, because heat and like can break down essential oils. Do not use plastic containers for any tea tree oil products! Tea Tree Oil passes easily through plastics, and will leave behind only cymene, which are the irritating properties of tea tree oil.
As soon as the salve is cool to the touch, it's ready to use. You'll find it handy for relieving scratches, insect bites, bee stings, itchy spots, dry skin, and lots more.
Tea tree oil salve can be used for sore muscles, scratches, small sores, and as a lip balm. What's more, for a small amount of effort, you can save a lot of money. Many health food stores carry small containers suitable for storing your salve, or to take it along with you. Of course, after you make your own salve, the most convenient place to keep it will be in the refrigerator until you need to refill the small salve container.
If you want a salve that also helps to repel insects, try adding Lemon Eucalyptus Oil. It can be hard to find so you may have to shop around . Because it is one of the few oils that has been found to be as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes, be sure that you use only pure Lemon Eucalyptus Oil, and not a Eucalyptus Oil scented with Lemon Grass or Lemon Oil. The cheaper lemon scented Eucalyptus Oil does not work as well. The one drawback is that its effects don't last nearly as long, but it has none of the dangerous side effects or of DEET's toxic properties . I don't feel comfortable using DEET so I prefer a more natural alternative when one is available.
