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Welcome to November's issue of Green Home, your EcoFresh monthly newsletter.
In this month's issue:
1) Place a non-metallic, microwave-safe bowl of water in the microwave and heat for 3-5 minutes. When the microwave stops, keep the door closed to give the moisture and steam time to work. Remove the bowl (careful, it's hot!) and take a moist, warm cloth to the inside of the microwave. The crud bits should wipe off easily.
2) Add a couple teaspoons of baking soda to a bowl of water and place in microwave. Follow same process as above. The baking soda will act as a deodorizer.
3) Mix 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in a bowl, place in microwave. Follow the same procedure as in method one. The vinegar also acts as a freshener and deodorizer.
4) Soak a clean, thick sponge with vinegar and water (you can also use a hand towel instead of a sponge), set the microwave on high for 3 minutes. Let the microwave sit closed for a few minutes. Then, open it and use the sponge to wipe down insides. The sponge will be hot, so wear rubber gloves to protect your skin from the heat.
The fruits and vegetables of fall make wonderful, hearty meals that we often associate with family and prosperity. Gourds (pumpkins, melons and squash) not only make terrific meals, but they also make beautiful decorations for any home. If you're looking for a fun project to do, or want to create a centerpiece for the table, consider painting some gourds.
Step 1) Choose a pattern. Painting on gourds can be fun for all levels of crafters and painters and you'll get beautiful results by using a pre-made pattern. Look through coloring books or observe the fabric designs in your home. Use a photocopier to enlarge or reduce your pattern if necessary.
Step 2) Choose a gourd or pumpkin that compliments your pattern. There are many shapes and beautiful colors like yellow, green, and even natural speckled patterns that will look terrific with your design.
Step 3) Make sure your gourd is clean, dry and fresh before applying your pattern. You can draw the pattern free-hand, use graphite paper, or a dull toothpick to transfer your design.
Step 4) Before you paint, use a paint sealer on your gourd. This will help prevent your paint from chipping off. If you are not using the natural background of your pumpkin, you will need to apply 2-3 coats of basecoat over the sealer. Spray paint can be used for faster results. You can also use a "wash" of 1/2 paint and 1/2 water applied in long even strokes to achieve a sheer, antique look.
Step 5) Paint away!
Step 6) After painting your pumpkin, use the same spray sealer over your dried paintwork to protect it further.
Gourds are considered a seasonal plant and will spoil if proper care is not taken. Under the right conditions, you can enjoy your painted gourds for many months. Gourds should not be stacked; they need fresh air circulation and should be stored in a dry cool place. Space them apart from one another - gourds are like apples, a bad one could spoil the whole bunch!
If you display your painted pumpkins outside, make sure to bring them in at night to prevent them from freezing.
Other than paint, gourds can be embellished using a wide variety of crafting supplies. Most decorations can be attached using a hot glue gun or craft glue.
Gourds can be decorated with any theme or idea in mind. If you are painting your gourd to look like a person, you can make wigs out of doll hair, curling ribbon, fake fur, straw, bendable wire... the list goes on and on! Adding a straw hat to a scarecrow or a red bandana to a cowboy painted pumpkin can really bring it to life.
Want another fun idea? Paint a pumpkin white. Then add small wooden wheels, touches of gold spray paint, and glitter or jewels. You'll transform an ordinary pumpkin into Cinderella's fancy pumpkin coach!
For a whimsical centerpiece, turn your gourd into a watermelon, sunflower, ladybug or other seasonal symbol. The possibilities are endless!
1048 — All Soul's Day is instituted to honor the departed; particularly those in purgatory
1512 — Sistine Chapel ceiling art by Michelangelo is unveiled to the public
1604 — Shakespeare's "Othello" debuts
1800 — John Adams was the first U. S. president to live in the White House
1870 — The U.S. Weather Bureau begins operation at 24 locations around the country
1879 — Newspapers report a six-day race between a man and a horse was won by the animal
1939 — U.S. government authorities authorize the first cash-and-carry arms sale policy
1952 — Clarence Birdseye begins marketing his invention: frozen peas
1991 — TV's "Full House" celebrates 100 episodes.
The holidays really are the best of times and the worst of times. Our tidings of comfort and joy can so easily be devoured by the insatiable stress to do it all, be it all and buy it all. For some people, the holidays can bring some unwelcome guests: stress and depression. And it's no wonder. In an effort to pull off a perfect Hallmark holiday, you might find yourself facing a dizzying array of demands - work, parties, shopping, , cleaning, caring for elderly parents or young kids, and scores of other chores.
However, with some practical tips, you can minimize the stress and depression that often accompany the holidays. You may even end up enjoying them more than you thought you would!
Fun holiday stress relievers:
Holiday Organization Tips (that will also alleviate stress!):
Between the candy binge at Halloween, the incessant gobbling at Thanksgiving, and the flurry of food that fuels the resolutions of the new year, it's a good time to think about obesity. Obesity is particularly worrisome in kids, since it can lead to habits and diseases that are difficult to reverse in adulthood. Today, 65% of all Americans adults are overweight or obese. If current trends continue, that percentage will rise even higher as this generation of children reach adulthood.
Here are the facts:
How did this happen?
What can you do?
Ingredients:
Instructions:
When you must be away from home-say for travel or an emergency-and don't want to leave your pet in a boarding kennel, who takes care of your pet? If you're like many pet owners, you ask a friend or neighbor for help. But if your friends and neighbors lack proper pet-care experience, or have started to resent your frequent requests to look after your pet, it may be time to consider hiring a "pet sitter."
A pet sitter offers many benefits. In addition to providing your pet with food and water, a good pet sitter also spends quality time with your pet, gives him exercise and knows how to tell if your pet needs veterinary attention. What's more, pet sitters typically offer additional services such as bringing in mail and newspapers, watering plants, turning lights on and off and providing homes with a lived-in look to deter crime.
To find a pet sitter, start with a recommendation from a friend, neighbor, veterinarian, or humane society. You can also contact the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (800-296-PETS) for a referral. It offers pet-sitter accreditation to those who demonstrate professional experience, complete pet-care-related home study courses, attend professional conferences and abide by a code of ethics.
Before selecting a pet sitter, here are some interview questions to ask:
Of course, even the most trustworthy, experienced pet sitter will have trouble if you haven't also kept your end of the bargain. Here are your responsibilities:
Finally, remember to bring your pet sitter's phone number in case your plans change-or you just want to find out how Fluffy and Fido are doing.
Your carpets take a lot more abuse than you realize, and we're not just talking about the occasional spots and spills. Daily wear and tear can really take its toll on your carpet and shorten its life. Carpeting is an expensive investment and we want to help you protect that investment. Here are a few signs your carpet is in trouble and how to rectify the problems. As always, make sure to have regular professional cleanings at least once a year.
1. Sprouting: Shoe nails, pet claws or defective cleaning equipment can pull tufts above the level of the carpet. To prevent additional problems, use a sharp pair of scissors to trim the excess tufts as soon as you notice them.
2. Shedding: These short, broken fibers can be trapped during the yarn-making process. After your carpet is installed, they may show up as fuzz. While some is normal in high quality spun yarn, it's best to get these fibers up and out by vacuuming to eliminate the problem.
3. Shading: Heavy traffic causes carpet pile to lie in a variety of directions, so tufts remaining upright appear darker than compressed fibers. A thorough vacuuming or combing will rectify the situation so pile wears uniformly.
4. Pilling: The small, fuzzy balls that stick to carpet surfaces are caused when strong, unbroken fibers cling to weak ones. Most often, the cause is using old cleaning equipment, so ask your carpet care professional to inspect your vacuum and other cleaning tools. Pets may also be the culprits, too.
5. Furniture dents: Finally decided to rearrange the living after 20 years? You can try getting rid of those unsightly dents by holding a steam iron over (never against) the indented pile, then gently brushing the area.
1. Cleaner, greener, meaner
As the health and environmental impacts of conventional cleaning products become more thoroughly understood, more and more brands of healthy, green, and effective cleaning products have started hitting the market and competing for that coveted place of honor under your sink. Many of these products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum). But if designer labels aren't for you, home-mixed cleaners can get the job done and then some. Vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean almost anything. Mix in a little warm water with either of these and you've got yourself an all-purpose cleaner.
2. Healthy airflow
It is not uncommon for the air inside a home or office to be more toxic than the air outside. This is because of the presence of toxic materials and substances and the fact that homes and buildings are better insulated than ever before (which is a good thing from an energy standpoint). Keeping windows open as often as possible allows fresh air in and keeps toxins flowing out. This is especially important when cleaning your home.
3. Are we breeding supergerms?
The antibacterial and antimicrobial 'cleaners' that many people think are necessary, especially during cold season, don't clean hands better than soap and water, and also add to the risk of breeding "super germs," bacteria that survive the chemical onslaught and have resistant offspring. The FDA has found that antibacterial soaps and hand cleansers do not work better than regular soap and water, and should be avoided.
4. Help your home smell soda-licious
Baking soda not only removes those strange smells coming from your fridge, it's also a great odor-eliminator for your carpet. Just sprinkle on a little baking soda to soak up some of those odors and then vacuum it up.
5. Clean peace
Skip the store-bought air fresheners and instead try boiling cinnamon, cloves, or any other herbs you have a fondness for. Fresh chocolate chip cookies also have been known to create a friendly aroma. Also, plants may not make your house smell different but are good for filtering interior air--pretty much any broad green leaf plant will do. Peace Lilies are a favorite choice.
6.The toxic toss
When replacing your cleaning products, don't just throw the old ones in the trash. If they're too toxic for your home, they won't be good for the drain or the landfill either. Many communities hold toxics & electronics recycling days and will take all of these off your hands. Throwing chemicals in the trash or down the drain means they might end up back in your water supply and come back to haunt you (see How to Green Your Water for more).
7. Drycleaners
Conventional drycleaners are the largest users of the industrial solvent called Perchloroethylene, or perc, which is toxic to humans and also creates smog. The two most common green drycleaning methods are carbon dioxide cleaning and Green Earth. Seek out cleaners that use green methods. If you do take clothes to conventional cleaners, be sure to air them outside before wearing them or putting them in the closet.
8. Green house cleaning service
For people don't have the time to clean their own homes, fortunately there are an increasing number of green cleaning services out there to help get things spic and span. If you can't find one in your area (or their rates are outlandish), call around until you find a service willing to use the products and methods you specify.
9. Leave the toxins at the door
Imagine what's on your shoes at the end of the day. Bringing that oil, antifreeze, animal waste, particulate pollution, pollen, and who knows what else into the house is not good news, especially for kids and other critters that spend time on floor level. Keep the sidewalk out of your home with a good doormat or a shoeless house policy. Many green buildings now include entryway track-off systems as a means of maintaining a healthy interior environment. Less dirt also means less sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming, which means less work, water, energy, and fewer chemicals.
10. Clean design
Designing houses and other building with cleanability in mind can create spaces that are cleaner, healthier, and require fewer substances to maintain. In larger buildings, good cleanability can also be a big money-saver as cleaning costs can often add up to as much as half of a building's total energy costs.
1. Home health starts with home safety. According to a study commissioned by the Home Safety Council, falls and accidental poisoning are the top two causes of home injuries, so assess your home for potential hazards. Remember that even over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and topical treatments can be harmful if used improperly.
2. Let in the fresh air. It's no secret that indoor air can be more polluted than outside air, with culprits being everything from dust to chemicals to cooking emissions. Minimize air pollution as much as possible by removing source pollutants and ensuring that your home is properly ventilated.
3. Prevent the spread of germs. Frequent, thorough hand-washing is a simple and effective method for reducing the spread of germs. (The CDC recommends vigorous scrubbing with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds.)
4. Keep the kitchen healthy. Proper food preparation and storage can help prevent food borne illness. Cook meats to proper internal temperature, and avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meats away from surfaces used for other foods, particularly fresh vegetables and fruits. Use thermometers to monitor refrigerator and freezer temperatures.
5. Make your home a haven. Our homes can help keep us mentally healthy by providing a respite from the outside world, but clutter and unfinished business just adds to the workday stress. Employ simple organizational systems, get rid of unused items that weigh you down, and treat your home's other occupants with good-natured consideration.