Recycling made easy

Our family has always been big supporters of recycling. However, some days it's hard to get all the recyclables outside to the proper container. We start losing counter space quickly to our piles and it's easy to just trash it. Since our garbage can lives under our sink, it was an easy decision to place another smaller can on the other side. Now, when we wash out our recyclables we can stick them in a clean garbage can and empty it when we take out the garbage. No more piles, no more begging someone to run things out to the recycling container, and no more throwing it away just to make it easier.

Cleaning with Baking Soda

Baking Soda has many wonderful uses. Besides baking or removing odors in the fridge, baking soda can be used to scrub tubs, toilets, shower curtains and floors. For these uses, sprinkle the baking soda on the item to be cleaned and use a damp sponge to scrub away the grub.

Baking Soda is also useful in cleaning sliver. You can make a paste of baking soda and water and rub it onto your sliver items. Leave for up to 5 minutes and then rinse and buff. For larger items, and heavily tarnished items, soaking your sliver in a tin foil pan with a mixture of baking soda and water heated up will generally remove all tarnish. Rinse, dry and buff. Your sliver should be as good as new.

Baking soda is also a great carpet deodorizer. Especially with children around crawling on your floors, keeping your house clean and chemical free can be difficult. If your carpet begins to get dingy and smelly, sprinkle baking soda all over the carpet and leave for 1/2 hour to 1 hour. Vacuum as usual and your room will be free of smells. The baking soda absorbs any moisture and odors to keep everything smelling clean and your family chemical free.

Cleaning with black tea bags!

Black tea tastes great hot or iced. But did you know that you can use your black tea bag to clean? The tannic acid in black tea is well known for its antiseptic properties. Many a dentist recommend tea bags after extractions because it not only prohibits the growth of bacteria but it helps to clot the blood. The tannic acid also works well to break up old stains in non porous materials.

Tea bags soaked in a pan overnight can loosen the grime and build up from years of cooking. In the morning scrub your pan as usual and you will have a shiny new pan.

Another great use for black tea bags is polish your wood. Here I used it on my piano. Over the years the wood has become dry and discolored in some areas. The tea bag helps to bring back some of it's luster and also adds a little conditioner to the wood. Rub the wet tea bag on your wood, and buff with a dry towel. Many people use brewed unsweetened tea on their wood floors with great luck. Be sure to wipe clean before it dries unless you want it to dye your woods.

Green Cleaning with Banana Peels

Do you ever wonder how to dust your plants and actually clean the leaves to make them shine. A few posts ago we talked about how having lots of plants in your house actually filters your air. However, plant leaves get clogged up with dust and grime and begin to lose their recycling powers. A quick, easy, and green way to keep those plants looking good is to clean them with banana peels.
Using a ripe banana, peel the skin away and enjoy the fruit. Now, cut the banana peels into squares, or just use it like it is. Rub each leaf with the soft white side of the peel. Not only will it take the dust and grime off right away, it will moisturize and shine your plant.

When you are done cleaning your plants, take those lovely banana peels out to the compost pile or simply bury it near your outdoor plants. The plants will love the potassium and you will be adding vitamins and minerals to your soil will very little work.

Dog Shampoo that is Safe and Green

Have you ever wondered why you can't use human shampoo on your dog? It's because of the harsh chemicals that are in most bottles of store bought wonders. It's no different when looking at dog shampoos. Dogs especially are sensitive to chemicals put on their skin. Using a harsh shampoo to wash your dog could cause him extreme dry itchy skin. Many shampoos strip off the important oils that keep a dogs skin protected from the environment. That is why I started using my own homemade shampoo.
After researching online for a safe alternative and vet approved wash, I found a recipe that is easy, safe and will have no ill effects on the environment. Sounds like a win, win today.

INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup glycerin (found in most drug stores)
1 cup all natural dish soap (like Seventh Generation)
1 cup apple cider vinegar (or white)
1 quart water

Mix ingredients into a large bottle, shake, and use as needed. Remember to shake before each use to keep the glycerin mixed.

To give your dog a pleasant after bath smell as well as a soft coat, consider whipping up this simple conditioner recipe.

INGREDIENTS
Egg
Warm water

Directions
Whisk some egg yolk with warm water until it turns creamy, then add the egg white and whisk well. Apply this to the dog's coat and let it stay for around two minutes and then rinse out with lukewarm water.

Quick and Easy Toilet Cleaning

Ever get one of those panicky moments when an unexpected visitor arrives and then they ask if they can use the restroom. I know I do. My mind races to figure out who the last person was in the bathroom, would they have flushed? Did they hang the towel back up? Leave toilet paper for the next person? Oh and the toilet, when was the last time I cleaned it? Oh dear!

When an unexpected guest stops by I give my usual, I have no idea who used the bathroom last so please forgive me before you walk in there, speech. However, I have found a simple and quick way to make your toilet smell good and shine quickly with very little effort. Koolaid, yes, any flavor works but lemonade is the best. It is an old trick that military latrine duty cadets use. Sprinkle in some Koolaid and now the latrine is sparkling and smelling beautiful in time for inspection. It works like a charm and has the added benefit of not harming the environment or your pocketbook.
Now, if I could just find a way to make the toilet paper roll change itself.

What to do with your Christmas tree now

Christmas is over and it's time to put away the decorations for another year. Most of the decorations we have can easily be stored. But what about the Christmas tree. There are many options and ways to recycle your tree.

1. Many local landfills offer free tree recycling. They chip them up and add them to the bark mulch.

2. Charities like boy scouts often come around and pick up trees for a $5.00 donation. They then haul them to recycle centers for you.

3. If you have a pond or stream nearby, on your own property or get permission from the property owner, and place the tree top down on the side of the pond or stream. This makes a great place for the fish to hide and a natural habitat for them to live in.

However, my favorite way to recycle the tree is to use it outdoors for a few more months. Place your decoration free, tinsel free tree outside standing upright. Make some homemade bird feeders and hang them in the tree to feed the birds this winter. Oranges can be spiral cut, bananas can be mashed and placed in pine cones as well as rolled in birdseed. You can also cut apple slices, string peanuts or make suet to decorate the tree. As the months go on your tree will become brittle enough for you to break off the branches and add to your own mulch or compost pile. Instead of using your tree for only a few weeks, put it to more use and enjoy it longer.