Natural Cleaners for the Home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:08:00 +0000

Garbage Disposal

Try this natural cleanser.

Lemon: Cut a lemon in half, then run both pieces through the disposal.

For more tips, see 8 Surprising Household Deodorizers.

Plastic Food-Storage Containers

Try this natural cleanser.

Lemon: To bleach stains from tomato soup and other acidic foods on dishwasher-safe items, rub lemon juice on the spots, let dry in a sunny place, then wash as usual.

For more tips, see How Long Will This Last?

Pots and Pans

Try these natural cleansers.

Borax: Rub borax into cookware with a damp sponge; rinse well.

Table salt: Sprinkle salt on cookware to absorb excess grease. Dump out the salt before washing as usual. (Not recommended for nonstick cookware).

Ketchup: To remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware, squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. They should go back to their coppery color in minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with towel.

Cooking oils: To combat cooked-on debris on cast-iron pans, make a scrubbing paste with vegetable oil and a teaspoon of course salt; then rinse with hot water.

For more tips, see Cookware 101: Which Pots to Stock.

Dishwasher

Try these natural cleansers.

Borax: If the machine has a distinct odor, sprinkle borax in the bottom, let it sit overnight, then wipe down with a damp sponge. No need to rinse; just run the next load.

Vinegar: To disinfect the interior of the machine, pour 1/2 cup vinegar into the reservoir and run an empty cycle. Or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack and run an empty cycle.

For more tips, see the Complete Kitchen Cleaning Checklist.

Coffeemakers, Can Openers, and Other Small Appliances

Try these natural cleansers.

Vinegar: Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the coffee machine’s water chamber, then switch on the brew cycle. Halfway through, turn off the coffeemaker and let the solution sit for about an hour. Turn it on again to complete the cycle, then run several cycles with clean water.

Baking soda: To clean a can opener or food processor, dip a toothbrush in a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon water and use it to dislodge gunk.

For more tips, see Repurpose Rarely Used Appliances.

Glassware

Try these natural cleansers.

Vinegar: For spotless hand-washed glasses, add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water.

Table salt: Salt won’t scratch the way a scouring pad can. To get out stubborn stains, add some salt for extra abrasion and scrub.

For more tips, see Home Bar Essentials.

Silverware

Try these natural cleansers.

Baking soda: To combat tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away.

Toothpaste: Put a dab of toothpaste on a soft cloth, rub it onto the tarnish, then rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.

For more tips, see How To: Polish Silver.

Stove Burners, Stovetop, and Oven

Try these natural cleansers.

Baking soda: In a dishpan, soak burners in 1 gallon warm water and 1/2 cup washing soda for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry.

Liquid Castile soap: Add a few squirts of liquid Castile soap to 2 cups hot water. Apply to the stovetop, the burners, and the vent hood to cut through accumulated grease.

Table salt: If there’s a spill in the oven, pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven is cool, wipe with a damp sponge.

For more tips, see Keep the Kitchen Clean Longer.

Stained Teacups and Coffee Mugs

Try these natural cleansers.

Baking soda: Fill with 1 part baking soda and 2 parts water and soak overnight; rub with a sponge and rinse.

Table salt: Sprinkle salt on the outside of a lemon peel; rub the affected area till clean.

For more tips, see the Complete Kitchen Cleaning Checklist.

Feng Shui Your Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:47:00 +0000

If insomnia is a problem, don't overlook the décor of your bedroom. Ideally, your bedroom should be restful and not used for anything but sex and sleep. Banish all paperwork and the television to other rooms, keeping clutter to a minimum. Get the sleep of your dreams with these simple feng shui tips for your bedroom.

Furniture, plants, and other objects should never loom or hang over the bed; they can threaten your subconscious mind. Plants should also be alive and green, not dry (suggesting death or morbidity) or spiky (threatening).

As for the bed, place it so your head is either facing north or east—experts disagree on which is best—in a spot where you will not be startled if a family member enters. And don't let junk accumulate under the bed. It can disturb the flow of chi (energy) and affect your sleep. - Yoga Journal

20 reasons to decorate with red

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:39:00 +0000

Just in time for Valentine's Day and the Year of the Tiger, here are 20 decorating ideas for the luckiest color of them all.

Make a statement
Showcase a prize
Reinvent your space
Update a classic
Accent a wall
Revive old furniture
See all 20 reasons

Healthy Energy In Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:49:00 +0000

You practice yoga to stimulate the healthy flow of energy throughout your body. By incorporating some basic principles of feng shui (pronounced "fung shway"), the ancient Chinese practice of shaping your environment to achieve harmony, you can encourage healthy energy flow in your home, too. During winter's chill, give your love life a warm jolt by attending to your bedroom.

Start by coupling up all your decorative items to encourage an intimate, equal relationship. Set up two nightstands and two bedside lamps, and allow equal, easy access to both sides of the bed. Make sure the color scheme is soft and soothing. A touch of red, the fire color, can spark romance, but don't overdo it by having red walls or rugs. Steer clear of water symbols, such as fountains or paintings of seascapes, which douse flames and encourage tears. Finally, make sure the room is organized around rest and intimacy; anything that doesn't support those two functions is an obstacle. Move your computer and television to another room, and don't work or pay bills in bed.

Always make feng shui adjustments with intention. As you make changes, pause and visualize the way you'd like your relationship to be. Silently state that with the actions you're taking, you welcome deeper love into this space. Soon you'll notice that changing your surroundings really can change your life. Yoga Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:14:00 +0000

a b o d e

Natural Cleaners for the Home

Feng Shui Your Bedroom

20 reasons to decorate with red

Healthy Energy In Your Home