Archive for ‘Natural Health and Beauty’
5 Tips for Better, Happier Spring Cleaning
I personally love a good cleaning session. The kind that happen on the first day of spring are the best, offering the perfect chance for a fresh start and a new attitude for the new season. Following are a few of my tips, which will hopefully help even reluctant maids embrace the joy of spring cleaning.
Go on a cleaning frenzy when the mood strikes
Clean when you want to, even if the urge hits at 2am! Spring cleaning when you have the energy and desire is more fun, less stressful, and you’ll likely do a much better job. I typically clean in the early afternoon, although I’ve been known to wash my floors on hands & knees in the middle of the night. When I’m finished, I drag my filthy self into a hot shower, and emerge out into an apartment that feels brand new. There’s no better feeling!
Wipe up all the dust, preferably while running around like a crazy person
A good cleaning game for kids is to give each child a damp white rag, have them run around dusting and see who can collect the most grime. This is a great cleaning tip for you as well – Don’t put that cloth down or into the bin until it’s completely spent! After you wipe down windrows or tables, take that rag and tackle neglected windowsills (the ones hidden behind blinds all winter) and light fixtures. Swipe that barely-there spot on the wall on your way to drop your rag in the hamper. By running around spot-cleaning small areas, you’ll feel like you’re getting more done faster, motivating you to keep moving!
I know that some people like to tackle one full room at a time, but I much prefer to do all of the tidying, then all of the dusting, followed by all of the sweeping/vacuuming… You get my point. It really keeps things from getting monotonous. For dusting, always use a damp cloth — It captures more, keeping dirt and toxins from being dispersed into the air. My favorite cloths for cleaning are our cloth wipes from Kissaluvs. Prefold diapers also make great rags (and/or cloth napkins).
Making Cleaning Day Laundry Day
All of your dusting sweeping vacuuming is going to send crap (for lack of a better word) flying into the air and all over your stuff. As you begin your cleaning, start your first load of laundry as well. Wash all bedding, furniture slipcovers, the dog’s bed. Furniture that can’t be washed may be steam cleaned – I highly recommend the Shark Pocket Steam Cleaner; it’s worth every penny. Adding laundry to your spring cleaning to-do list may seem like too much to take on but trust me, you’ll be glad you did it when you’re climbing into fresh clean sheets after all of your hard work.
Try to get your spring cleaning done on a day that’s warm enough to throw open as many windows as possible. Ideally, you should always dust and vacuum with open windows or doors. A breezy day is ideal, letting the air sweep through and carry out toxins in the air. A nice breeze will also help keep you cool as you’re working up a sweat whilst cleaning like a maniac!
Use safe products
Ditch the Windex and opt for cleaning solutions from Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, or ecoSTORE USA. (Mrs. Meyers is one of the spendier options, but the scents are ahh-mazing.) Don’t think you can afford to make a switch? Pop for a gallon of white vinegar and a box of baking soda instead. (You can even buy those ones of food stamps – Ain’t no shame in it!) Not only are these products better for the environment and your family in general, but you can use them while kids and pets are around. My toddler runs around “spraying” everything as I clean and I don’t have to worry about him putting his hands in his mouth afterwards. Even if you don’t have children, it’s worth sticking to non-toxic cleaners – Those poisons aren’t good for anyone! We stopped using Swiffer solution (*shudder*) and other similar products when we brought home our puppy a few years ago. Pets spend all of their time down there on the floor.
I personally don’t believe in disinfectants unless you live in an operating room or someone in your household has a severely weakened immune system. Otherwise, killing “99% of germs” isn’t doing your body any favors. Forget that marketing scheme! Germs are natural, mostly good, and keeping things clean but not sterile will ensure that your family stays healthy as well as sane. 
Reward yourself with creature comforts
Enhance your new clean environment with something soft or pretty. Bold throw pillows to change up the look of a room, or a lighter throw to replace the winter blanket on your couch. If those are out of budget, pick up some scented candles from Bed Bath & Beyond or even the dollar store. Small indoor plants add coziness and improve air quality, and you can find them for just a few dollars at Ikea or The Home Depot. Rearranging furniture can also give an instant (and free) pick-me-up, and help signal a fresh start to your brain and mood.
Fight anxiety and more with 5-HTP
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is an over-the-counter supplement believed to treat depression, anxiety and insomnia, as well as over-eating and headaches in some people. I have personally taken 5-HTP and definitely found it helpful in dealing with anxiety, sleeplessness and even weight loss. I found that it helped me buckle down and focus on work during the day (improved concentration) and it was tremendously helpful for winding down at night. I’ve always had trouble turning my brain ‘off’ in the evening, and the addition of 5-HTP allowed me to settle down and get to bed at the same time as my husband (a normal bedtime!).
I had great results taking 5-HTP for several months (during a very stressful time in my life) before we started a family. I haven’t taken it since before my pregnancy, and there seems to be a lot of debate on whether or not 5-HTP is safe to take while breastfeeding. If you decide to try it while pregnant or nursing, be sure to discuss it with your health care professional first. All of my insomnia and most of my generalized anxiety completely disappeared into the exhaustion of motherhood.
For even better results, I recommend taking a B vitamin as well. I find the liquid form to be especially delicious and effective.
5-HTP is known to be dangerous when combined with anti-depressants (SSRIs) and some other medications. If you are taking any medications, please consult with a physician before adding a supplement. I am not a doctor and the information in this post is simply my experience, not a replacement for real medical advice.
Emily Deschanel for Loving Eco
I love love love Emily Deschanel. Bones is one of my very favorite shows and Dr. Temperance Brennan is probably my favorite character on TV. The show is on hold right now so that she can focus on her new baby, which is fabulous. Along with family, she is devoted to the environment and a vegan lifestyle. I was excited to see that Deschanel is the latest curator for LovingEco, a shopping site featuring sustainable, eco-friendly brands and collections. Check out some of her picks below, and click through the image to shop sales!
While I am not personally vegan, I applaud anyone who takes the time to consider what they put in/on their bodies and where their food comes from. — For more on living fabulously vegan, I recommend Logical Harmony, a frequently-updated lifestyle blog featuring only vegan and cruelty-free product reviews, beauty tips, recipes and more.
So-called Health Foods actually owned by Bad Corporations
Almost two years ago I published a quick post when the Natura dog food brand was purchased by P&G. I find it especially sneaky and wrong when large corporations quietly acquire smaller brands, and it’s so much worse when when those smaller brands have a following and reputation for being all-natural. I don’t consider myself naive and I’m pretty good at spotting green-washing when it comes to marketing, but I was still surprised by some of the partnerships on this list.
Health Foods Overtaken By Corporate Predators lists dozens of “health food” brands that are actually owned by big corporations (known for their unhealthy products and misleading marketing) as well as a list of brands that are (for now) still independently owned. As the author notes, companies are constantly changing hands so even these lists aren’t absolutely reliable. Still, I took note of a few brands I will no longer be buying, and others I will be keeping an eye on.
I was bummed to see that Burt’s Bees is owned by Clorox, which is pretty yuck. (I strongly dislike Clorox, Lysol, and other brands that use scare tactics to sell dangerous disinfectants.) There are also a lot of brands with “Organic” in the name that are actually owned by companies like Coke and Kellogg’s.
The worst for me was finding out that The Body Shop is owned by Nestle. This is a bad one, as it seems like such an unexpected pairing. The Body Shop used to be one of my favorite stores in the mall, but I’m definitely throwing out my loyalty card. (Nestle is boycotted by many due to their ultra shady baby formula marketing. They dress up as medical professionals to peddle formula in countries where scarce and unsafe water sources mean that formula given to infants becomes literally deadly. This isn’t an exaggeration – The research on this is sound.)
The article also breaks down the deception behind what is sold at Whole Foods (*sigh*), as well as ways that companies are trying to weaken criteria when it comes to items being labeled as USDA Organic.
Luckily there are a lot of companies that are still independent. Earth Mama Angel Baby (based here in Oregon), Newman’s Own, Organic Valley, Republic of Teas and Yogi teas are all independently owned, to name a few. Seventh Generation are an independent company as well, and one of my favorites. Although they have caught some flack for promoting the “for the trees” The Lorax film on their disposable diapers, they do seem to really care and are constantly improving their products and packaging. I also follow their blog, which focuses more on healthy lifestyle posts than on pitching their products.
I personally buy a lot of products which I know to be unhealthy. That is my choice as a consumer, but it should always be an informed choice. The problem lies in big companies buying up smaller brands with a ‘health food’ reputation, turning around and changing product ingredients without necessarily making any change to the packaging. That is shady, and makes it even harder (Who knew that was possible) for shoppers to make smart, healthy choices for their families.
I wish I had something more positive to end with, other than encouraging you to stay informed. Read labels, even on products you buy regularly, so that you can spot any changes. Buy from farmers markets when you can, where you can see the person that you are buying from face-to-face and ask questions. Grow your own food, even if it’s only a couple of plants to start with. And when you shop, buy from the independent, truly organic companies if you can afford it. As a consumer, you are casting your vote with every dollar that you spend.
Source: Healing Talks
© 2012