10/10/13

Many people still store their seasonal clothing with sachets or packets of mothballs in an effort to prevent moths or mold from attacking and ruining their clothes. The chemical often used in mothballs, naphthalene, is possibly carcinogenic to humans if ingested or inhaled, and it can cause everything from liver to neurological damage. If you must use mothballs, avoid storing any kind of infant or children clothing with them; children who wear clothes that have been stored with mothballs risk absorbing the dangerous toxins through their skin. Better yet, don’t use mothballs at all. Natural alternatives, like cedar and lavender, have proven to be effective in deterring moths.

10/9/13

Did you know that wall-to-wall carpeting can hold up to eight times its weight in trapped dirt, dust mites, chemicals and pesticides? While it may not be green to rip up your carpet and replace it with hardwood floors, you can be mindful of what goes on in rooms with carpeting. First, make a habit to not wear shoes in carpeted rooms. Second, if you get your home treated by an exterminator, ask him or her not to spray directly onto the carpet but on the baseboards. Insecticide chemicals can settle in carpets and remain there for many years, accumulating each time you have your home treated.

10/8/13

After you’ve boiled a pot of pasta or potatoes, ever wonder what you can do with all that leftover starchy water? Instead of pouring it down the drain, let it cool to room temperature and reuse it to water your garden. The residual starch in the water actually spurs the nutrients in the soil, which helps feed the plants, making them stronger. In essence, they are carbo-loading for strength! Just remember this one tip: Don’t add any salt to the water when cooking, since salt is harmful to all plants.