3/14/13

One of the biggest gripes about nontoxic cleaning is that it can be nearly impossible to get the grout in between tiles to look sparkling clean using only natural ingredients. Try this foolproof recipe: Mix 7 cups tap water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup bottled lemon juice and 1/4 cup white vinegar. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray away. It'll loosen grime, brighten the grout and give the whole room a fresh, clean smell.

3/13/13

The social media website Pinterest is loaded with clever ideas of how to take everyday pantry staples like instant pudding, cake mixes, snacks and frozen food and mix them together to create homemade treats and meals in minutes. If you see a fun idea that you've pinned to try later, remember this: You don't always have to use the same conventional brands when you try the recipe at home. With organic food brands becoming more prevalent, swapping out a conventional cake mix for an organic one means better quality ingredients and the likelihood of fewer or zero artificial dyes and flavoring.

3/12/13

Parents who set up a sandbox in their backyard as a place for the kids to play may also be setting up the perfect environment for insects to nest and build colonies. Instead of reaching for chemical pesticides to keep your sandbox insect-free, search in your pantry instead. Generously sprinkle cinnamon all over the sandbox, and rake it through the sand. Cinnamon is a natural insect deterrent, and it smells great, too. If you need a lot of cinnamon for your extra-large sandbox, look for generic brands or inexpensive bulk containers at your local warehouse club store.