We all know that houseplants are an easy and effective way to detoxify and purify the air in the home. But do you know which plants are best for specific rooms? For the bedroom, try a low-maintenance Christmas cactus; it looks pretty and removes carbon at night and releases oxygen during the day, so it purifies as you sleep. For the living or family room, go with palm trees; not only do decorators like their look, they are also purifying workhorses that remove ammonia from cleaning products and help add moisture to dry air. And for your home office, go with the pothos plant; it thrives on neglect (so toss some water from your glass into the pot once in a while), and its favorite thing to absorb is formaldehyde. This one turns your work desk into a healthy haven.
Do Just One Thing for October 08, 2015
If you use conventional drugstore shaving creams or gels for your face or legs, you may be unknowingly smearing a chemical cocktail on your skin. Typical brands contain chemicals like phthalates, artificial fragrance and triethanolamine, which can be endocrine disrupters, neurotoxins and possible sources of cancer for your body. There's no reason to take the risk. If you need a little assistance to get a close shave, just head to your kitchen and use coconut oil. Right after you shower and get your pores open, apply a small amount of coconut oil where you want to shave. Then use a sharp razor for baby soft skin.
Do Just One Thing for October 07, 2015
If you love to hike or camp in the great outdoors, healthy snacks like apples, bananas and oranges are easy to pack, and they have enough vitamins and natural sugar to fuel your day. But when you get down to the core or peels of these items, it may seem harmless to chuck the biodegradable waste right into the woods. The reality is, it's not that easy for the item to biodegrade on its own. Apple cores can take eight weeks to break down, and the peel can take up to two years. It doesn't break down like in a compost heap because there aren't any natural microorganisms or heat to turn it into mulch. It just sits there on top of the soil, baking in the sun. It becomes an eyesore and can attract wild animals. Instead of tossing it, pack up your waste and bring it home to compost.