Valentine’s Day is supposed to be all about love, thoughtfulness, and maybe a few decadent treats. But did you know what’s really involved in getting some of the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts to your loved one? It’s not always so rosy. This year, Do Your Part as you send flowers, prepare dinner, or even deliver the sweetest of gifts.
Not All Cookware Is Created Equal
There are lots of reasons to cook at home – everything from trying out a friend’s fabulous dessert to serving up your family’s favorite meal. Most times, it’s enjoyable to cook and usually a whole lot healthier and affordable than eating out. But here’s the thing. Do you know how safe the cookware you use is? It may not be as harmless as you think. Do Your Part to find out how your cookware choice can impact you and your family.
Do Your Part for Mother’s Day & Mother Earth
The big day is approaching – do you have your Mother’s Day gift? This week, I’m sharing some unique ways to Do Your Part and show the mothers in your life how much you care. And as a bonus, you’ll be taking care of Mother Earth at the same time!
Best Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA
What are the chances you are buying and bringing BPA right into your own home? Probably pretty good and there is reason to be concerned. BPA is linked to everything from developmental problems to infertility. Do Your Part and reduce your exposure today.
BPA can be found in plastic food containers. Any time you buy foods or liquids in plastic check the bottom. Avoid plastic marked number 7 because it usually contains BPA.
Another way BPA gets into your house is in canned goods. The chemical is used in the liner of the cans and can actually leach from the liner into the food itself. Seek out cans labeled “BPA-free” or choose food items packaged in safer materials.
Glass and ceramics are safer materials. Use them to heat up foods in the microwave to avoid any risk of BPA leaching into your foods.
Many baby bottles and pacifiers used to be made with BPA. Now, many manufacturers have changed this but it’s still important to look for baby products labeled BPA-free.
And, be careful how you handle certain store receipts. BPA shows up on receipts printed on thermal paper. If you can make an outline with your nail..it probably has BPA on it.
And don’t forget about those reusable water bottles. You want those to be BPA-Free too. bottom line? Reducing BPA exposure is an important way to create a healthier home for you and your family. Do Your Part to make sure it doesn’t contaminate your food, your body, or our planet.
Terri’s Top 7 Green Cleaning Secrets
Getting a deep, green clean means a healthier home and a healthier family. Terri shares her ‘Top 7 Green Cleaning Secrets’ to help you Do Your Part today!
1) White Vinegar Works Wonders
White vinegar is a natural disinfectant that works just about everywhere. Mix a half-and-half solution of white vinegar and water for a germ-busting disinfectant to clean kitchen counters, bathrooms, and even most floors. Add 1 cup of vinegar to your dishwasher to clean out its inner workings. Or cook ½ cup of vinegar with 1 cup of water in your microwave to loosen stuck on food and grease. One warning, don’t use vinegar on marble or other porous surfaces.
2) Baking Soda Solutions
Baking soda works well on most things in the kitchen because it doesn’t scratch. That makes it a good choice for countertops, oven tops, stainless steel, and the sink. If you have stubborn stains, make a baking soda paste. Just use 3 parts baking soda and one part water. Let it sit for awhile, scrub the area, and then wipe clean. And baking soda is also an excellent deodorizer for carpet. Sprinkle with baking soda, let stand for at least fifteen minutes, then vacuum.
3) Tackle Bathroom Blues with Borax
Borax is an effective mold killer and works well on hard water deposits. Use a paste to scrub the sides of the tub to a sparkling white, or mix a solution of 1 cup of borax with 1 gallon of warm water to eat away at mold in tile grout. Let 1 cup of borax sit in the toilet bowl overnight, and swipe it clean with a toilet brush the next morning.
4) Chose Air Fresheners Which Don’t Pollute
Most popular air fresheners contain dangerous ingredients like formaldehyde. Many times, they will also contain VOCs which can slowly emit toxic chemicals for years. Fresh air, baking soda (sprinkled in everything from garbage cans to tennis shoes), and soy candles are healthier options.
5) Green Your Laundry Routine
Green up laundry day by switching to a phosphate-free plant-based detergent. For softer clothes add ¼ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle as a natural fabric softener. For a more efficient use of energy and water, only wash full loads and set the water temperature to cold.
6) Break the Paper Towel Habit
Paper towels are made from the trees. Wean your family off of paper towels by keeping a drawer of reusable clothes. You can make your own by cutting up old t-shirts and towels, or invest in new sustainable bamboo dish clothes. Whatever you choose, the key is in quantity. Make sure you have plenty of options on hand for wiping down the counters or cleaning up a unexpected coffee spill.
7) Safely Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste includes common household items like old paints, used motor oil, batteries and more. These items should never be thrown in the trash where they can contaminate the land and water. Do Your Part and take your household hazardous waste to a proper recycling facility in your area. To find one near you, search for “Household Hazardous Waste” at Earth911.com.
Dirty Grout Got You Down? Try Terri's Tested Method
Do you have tough grout stains you’re dying to get rid of? Do Your Part to get it clean without any harsh and toxic cleaners. I’ve done the dirty work for you and tested three different methods to see what works best.
Take a look at what the grout looks like ‘before’ we started cleaning. You can see the stains and grime between the tiles. So, first I created a paste made of a safe, non-toxic oxygenated bleach along with water. I put it along one line of grout.
Then, I created a paste of baking soda and bleach. I don’t normally recommend bleach for job like these because there are safer and less toxic options but I wanted to see a side-by-side comparison.
Finally, I tested another area with a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. I scrubbed them all and let them sit for an hour.
The oxygenated bleach and the chlorine bleach did the best so I would go with the oxygenated bleach because it’s safer. Remember, you don’t need to load up on toxic chemicals when you do a deep clean. Instead, Do Your Part to make a healthier choice.
The Main Sources of Pollutants at Home Could Surprise You
Do you know what’s in your home right now that’s polluting the air you breathe? Rodale reports that scientists at the Silent Spring Institute analyzed roughly 200 common products to get the answer. Here are their top 3 main sources of toxic chemicals:
1) Fragranced Products
That includes soaps, shampoos, dryer sheets, air fresheners, and more. Companies don’t usually have to reveal the chemicals used on their ingredient list either.
2) Vinyl Curtains and Bedding
Products made from vinyl (think shower curtains and pillow protectors) may contain hormone disrupting phthalates and BPA. And it’s tough to shop for ones without it because most aren’t properly labeled.
3) So-called “antibacterial” products
These days there are everything from antibacterial soaps to socks. Many of these products contain the controversial ingredient Triclosan. Not only can that ingredient cause health problems but our obsession with killing germs is creating a rise in drug resistant bacteria.
Antibacterial Ingredient Declared Toxic – But Not Here!
Canada is about to declare Triclosan, a controversial chemical found in many antibacterial products, as toxic to the environment. Triclosan was created more than 40 years ago as a surgical scrub for hospitals. It is now found in commonly used products like soap, toothpaste, furniture and toys. Several scientific studies have shown the chemical may alter the regulation of hormones in lab animals. The FDA says other studies have shown triclosan may contribute to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Canada.com reports that once Canada makes that declaration, health officials will begin work to phase out triclosan especially in personal care products.
Meantime, half of all liquid hand soaps sold in the U.S. are antibacterial or antimicrobial. The FDA plans on reviewing the safety of triclosan in the coming months. Right now, the FDA says the agency does not have sufficient evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan.
What's the Best Time to Sell Your iPad2?
Are you thinking of trading in your iPad2 for the next iPad that’s expected to be released in the coming months? NextWorth.com, an electronic trade-in site, predicts there will be a steep decline (20-25 percent) in the value of the iPad2 in couple of weeks before the iPad3 is unveiled which is expected to happen in early March. They’ve looked at similar trends with the first iPad and the iPhones. NextWorth takes unwanted electronics to recycle and says they will guarantee and lock in their prices for 21 days. Visit NextWorth.com for more information on selling back your device for top dollar.
Top 7 Alternatives to Toxic Air Fresheners
You know what stinks? Using toxic air fresheners at home or in your car. They can release air-polluting chemicals that can actually make you sick. Some of the most popular air fresheners on the market contain phthalates, which are known to cause everything from birth defects to cancer. There’s nothing too sweet smelling about that. Do Your Part before you spray, plug in, or light some traditional air fresheners and check out Terri’s ‘Top 7 Safer Alternatives’.
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