Category: Healthy

Five Healthy, Homemade Cleaning Solutions

3/26/2020

Keeping your house clean is especially important in these trying times of COVID-19 right now. Are you tired of spending money on multiple cleaning products that take up a lot of space? Often, with just a few simple ingredients, you can make your own cleaning solutions at home. Most homemade cleaning products are a fraction of the cost and are typically better for your health and the environment. Get started with these five everyday cleaning solutions:

Clean and deodorize your kitchen. Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 quart of warm water in a spray bottle for a kitchen cleaner you can safely use on most counter top surfaces and appliances. It makes stainless steel shine and freshens up the inside of a refrigerator.
Make your shower sparkle. Combine 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Place in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds then pour into a spray bottle. Spray, then let sit for three to five minutes before wiping clean.
Scrub your toilet bowl without toxic fumes. Use a glass bowl and wooden spoon to combine 2 cups of baking soda with 100 drops of a disinfecting essential oil, such as tea tree or lavender – this makes enough for about 30 cleanings. Transfer to an airtight glass jar, and store outside of the bathroom. To clean, place 1 tablespoon of the baking soda mixture into the toilet bowl then sprinkle more around the sides. Next, add 2 cups of regular 5% distilled white vinegar. The vinegar and baking soda should begin to foam. Scrub the bowl with a toilet bowl brush, let the solution sit for 15 minutes and flush.
Get smudge-free, fresh-smelling windows and mirrors. Mix 2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle. Wipe down with a microfiber cloth.
Clean surfaces naturally. Combine 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with seven drops each of tea tree oil and lavender oil. You can swap the rubbing alcohol for distilled white vinegar, but do not use any vinegar solution on granite, marble, natural stone or hardwood.6

When making your own cleaning solutions, be sure to follow each recipe carefully to avoid damaging surfaces or mixing potentially toxic combinations. Baking soda, distilled white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and dish soap are the most common homemade cleaning product ingredients. Get that fresh, just-cleaned smell with the addition of lemon or essential oils. When combined, used alone or diluted with water, you can clean just about anything.

Reposted with permission from BlueChoice Health Plan.

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How to Keep Your Trees Healthy and Upright

10/24/2019

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They’re trees. And as with so many things in life, proper maintenance is critical. Keeping your trees healthy will allow you to continue to enjoy them and their benefits — one of which is providing enough oxygen for four people every day!

Maintenance also will reduce the risk of a tree falling on your home or your car (or even worse, someone else’s home or car).

Here are some tips from the National Arbor Day Foundation to help keep trees healthy, identify warning signs and address problems. A healthy tree that you care for properly — and regularly — is far less likely to become a hazard. Remember, prevention is key!

Inspect your trees often This applies to all seasons! The sooner you spot a problem, the sooner you can take corrective action — and potentially save your tree. Check trees regularly each year, and have a qualified arborist inspect them annually.

Plant the right species Brittle trees can produce weak limbs that fall and injure people or property. Examples include Silver Maples, Lombardy Poplars, Box Elders, and Willows.

Prune the right way, at the right time Trees should first be pruned when they are young, and then at regular intervals as they age. Make the cut outside the branch collar, and never allow trees to be topped.

Plant in the right place Don’t plant trees that will grow to be large close to your home or under power lines.

Learn to spot problems According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, there are several key things to consider when evaluating your trees for potential issues.

The tree’s history: Has it been topped? Have branches broken? Have large limbs been lost unexpectedly?
Branch quality: Dead limbs are dangerous — they can fall easily and are a big red flag. Take prompt action. If you see branches that cross or rub, prune as soon as possible, because that can lead to weak spots.
Appearance: Vigorous trees can be determined by the amount of leaf cover, as well as the color, size and condition of its leaves. If a tree’s trunk is forked, that’s a signal of weakness.
Decay: If you see cavities, disfiguration or fungi on the trunk, large branches or roots, this may indicate decay. It doesn’t automatically mean that a tree is a hazard, but it means you should closely monitor it. If there’s a large amount of sound wood surrounding internal rot, for example, the tree may still be safe.

If you have a dead or dying tree, it should be promptly removed unless it is in an area where structures or people won’t be threatened. And have an expert do the job — bringing down a large tree is extremely dangerous, and accidents can result in severe damage, injury, and even death.

The law typically holds the owner responsible for damage or injury caused by a defective tree. So don’t forget about them when you’re working in the yard or examining your landscaping. Keeping your trees healthy can limit the potential for disaster — in addition to keeping your space beautiful and vibrant.

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Five Healthy, Homemade Cleaning Solutions

How to Keep Your Trees Healthy and Upright

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