Archive for January 2009
Preventing and Treating Uninary Tract Infections
Posted in Home Remedies, Women | 
Tags: preventing a urinary tract infection, preventing a UTI, treatments of UTIs, urinary tract infection, UTI
Personal Grooming Tips
Personal Care and Grooming
Apply scent free natural baby oil to lips for added gloss and moisturizing. You can even dab on a bit over your lipstick for added shininess.
I’ve been known to use lipstick or even lip gloss as blush whenever I’ve run out. I’ve also mixed a little baby oil and lipstick as a blusher, and I’ve found it has great staying power. Apply a little powder over top to reduce the shine and make the color last even longer throughout the day. Avoid this if you have break out or have very oily skin. Baby oil is mineral oil based and should not clog pores.
Hairbrushes should be cleaned at least once a month in order to remove oils and impurities. A dirty brush will make your hair dirty after shampooing and bring unwanted oils to the scalp. You can soak your combs and hairbrushes in various solutions, but here are a few that work well for me. Always rinse off with mild soap and warm water as your last step to the following soak remedies.
Hot water and ammonia – wear gloves on this one and make sure to rinse completely with mild soap and warm water.
Baking soda and Hot water
Tea tree oil and hot water – use only a few drops of this highly concentrated oil. Its anti-fungal and cleaning properties are excellent for naturally cleaning and deodorizing many surfaces around the home, and works great on combs and brushes. It works especially well on pet combing supplies.
Mild shampoo and hot water
Never mix ammonia with anything other than water. If mixed with other chemicals, whether natural or not, you can create an extremely harmful toxic mix… the same goes for mixing bleach and dish liquid.
To help your cosmetics last longer, keep them refrigerated. Keep aloe lotions and sunscreens as well for a refreshing cooling sensation after beach or pool activities. Children love applying cooled sunburn lotions.
For healthy gums, try a solution of warm water, baking soda, sea salt and a touch of iodine. Do not use this solution if you have a known allergy to iodine.
A tiny dab of Tea Tree oil and warm water make an excellent anti-septic gargle.
Hydrogen peroxide and warm water helps whiten teeth and keep gums clean. Make sure to dilute the peroxide as much as possible.
When gargling with any solution, make sure not to swallow. Keep a very close eye on children under 6 years of age when taking care of their oral health.
Air Conditioning: Saving Money on Air Conditioning
Saving Money on Air Conditioning
Air conditioning – lower your cooling and heating bills by closing drapes and blinds during the summer and insulating with blankets on windows during the winter months. Sun light coming through your windows throughout the day brings in unwanted heat and raises indoor temperatures, that in turn, makes your air conditioning unit have to work harder, and thereby, costing you more.
In the evening, during the summer, open your shades and such to let the cooler night air in. This coolness will be retained throughout the night. Wood flooring keeps your home cooler and carpeting keeps it warmer. I bring out area rugs during the winter and helps keep the house warmer.
I also insulate my windows with thick blankets for added warmth. Wood floors are colder in winter. Thick comforters work better than thicker made curtains anyway. Bring them down for spring- cleaning and store them until the following winter. With these methods, I have found my electric bill to be incredibly lower and I don’t have to use the heat or air conditioning most of the time.
You can use ceiling fans as well, to keep your cold air circulating and set your thermostat at a higher temperature in the summer. Large trees and bushes also provide shade that lead to lower energy bills. This welcoming shade will also save you lots on energy cost. We have giant Oak trees that shade most of the house as well as large bushes that cover most of the windows – this can also serve as a burglar deterrent.
Do not pay your electric bill or any bill for that matter on a credit card. You’ll end up paying ten to thirty percent on your final credit card statement.
Make sure your refrigerator is just the right size for your needs. Empty shelf or drawer space leads to energy loss. It’s more efficient to cool or freeze filled areas than empty areas.
When wanting to conserve heat or air conditioning, shades work over 30 percent more efficiently than draperies.
Later,g
Natural Personal Care
NATURAL PERSONAL CARE REMEDIES FOR THE BODY
Tighten your pores and tone your skin with…
Make a paste with Baking Soda and distilled water. Apply all over face and leave on for about 30 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. This works really well for getting rid of blackheads.
Baking Soda makes an excellent deodorant – especially for those with chemical sensitivity to scented deodorants and antiperspirants containing aluminum. There are some really great aluminum free underarm products out on the market today. My favorite are the ones made from www.kissmyface.com Simply apply Baking Soda dry under arms. I apply Patchouli Oil on my underarms and this helps in fighting odors as well as smells great – if you like Patchouli. A little goes a long way. You can buy the oil at www.patchouligarden.com
Mix Baking Soda and Cornstarch Powder for stinky feet. You can also put this mixture in your shoes to keep them fresh. Drier sheets can also be inserted into stinky shoes.
Mix Baking Soda and water into a spray bottle. Keep this mixture in your refrigerator for use after over exposure to the sun. You can then apply some White Distilled Vinegar to avoid peeling after the sunburn starts healing.
If you have itchy, dry skin or are suffering with chicken pox, add one cup of Baking Soda to your bath water, followed by an application of dry Soda after bathing. This is safe for children as well. Soda acts as a mild pain reliever for many minor skin ailments involving pain, itchiness and dryness.
Unscented baby wipes make an excellent make-up remover. They contain a lot less additives than adult makeup removing cloths. You can also add a dab of baby oil for heavier makeup. Simply apply all over face and then wipe off with the baby wipe, or add some baby oil directly onto the baby wipe. I’ve also used baby lotion at times and wiped clean, followed by regular facial cleansing regime.
If you’re allergic to any of the above, handkerchiefs make gentle makeup remover cloths. I also find that sensitive skin Dove Soap works well for me. Since I don’t wear a lot of makeup, it removes it all and leaves my skin feeling moisturized and fresh. Order on line at www.dove.com They’ve also come out with tons of sensitive skin body and face products. I also like their commercials promoting beauty in every woman, no matter what your imperfections may be. I wish they’d come out with a makeup color line though.
A mild astringent for sensitive or dry skin is to wash and cut up some grapes, strawberries or cucumbers, and rub all over your face. Leave on for as long as you like and wash clean. Use this method a couple of times a week.
Slices of raw cold potatoes applied over closed eyes helps heal swollen and tired looking eyes. It also helps diminish the look of dark circles under the eye area.
If you use hairspray, rinse you hair with baking soda to remove any and all traces of the hairspray. You hair will also feel silky and smooth and adds shine as well.
When I was a little girl, I ended up burning the soles of my feet walking from the beach through an extremely hot parking lot on my way to the car. After arriving at home, my mom quickly soaked my feet in baking soda and water. She then followed daily treatments of the same but added splashes of white distilled vinegar to avoid the peeling as much as possible. I healed up completely and didn’t remember having pain or itching during the entire treatment period.
For rough, fry or callused feet, soak in warm water with about two tablespoons of baby oil. Do this daily. You’ll start noticing a definite difference after about one week. Always follow this with a foot scrub made of a sugar and honey paste, end by applying some foot lotion or any lotion of your choice.
Car Care
Automotive Therapy
I am the worst person to inform you guys on car care. I am really more interested in how the car functions than what it looks like. Well, this soon changed some years back, when suddenly I was being attacked by swarms of roaches. I found out the hard way the importance of keeping your car clean, as well as functioning properly! Here are some simple remedies to send you on the road to car care.
Batteries – make sure you check your battery and its connections. This will ensure proper function and helps the battery last a lot longer, while performing its best. If you notice any type of gunk or corrosion, simply pour some cola over affected area. Wipe clean or rinse off with water afterwards. My dad also used to disconnect the wires and apply a baking soda and water solution to all the parts. Sometimes if it’s really bad, you’ll have to disconnect the entire battery itself, or you won’t get the hidden parts.
If your car doors are rough to open and close, or make a squeaking noise, simply rub some petroleum gel on the hinges, or try rubbing a bar of Ivory Soap around the affected area.
If you ever catch yourself stuck in mud, snow or even sand, let a little air out of each tire and simply drive away. Don’t forget to refill the air you just let out. If you have any flat stuff in your trunk such as cardboard, try to slide it under each wheel, then try driving away. Believe it or not, I’ve even heard that cat litter sprinkled around the tires can also set you free. You’ll need 25 pounds at all times in your trunk, or more, depending on the size of your car and tires.
When you wash your car, make sure the body of the car is not hot or being exposed to sunlight. Don’t use hot water when washing your car…always wash with cold water and a touch of plain mild soap. Biodegradable liquid soaps tend to work best and don’t leave a residue. Just keep it simple with soap and water. Avoid buying expensive soaps and tools.
For windows, wash with white vinegar followed by wiping or use a carbonated drink.
Sprinkle some Baking Soda inside and vacuum. Do this with cloth upholstery only.
Make sure you keep up with the interior, especially if you’re driving children and their friends around. Pick up wrappers or fast food containers daily and don’t let it build up. Wipe up messes immediately with travel wet cloths you keep in your car, and always have plenty of dry napkins on hand. I carry lots of extra napkins I collect from fast food places, and keep them in my glove compartment. I also keep emergency clothes, blankets, plastic rain coats and towels in my trunk; and don’t forget keeping at least one full gallon of water in your trunk. You can use it if your car over heats or to clean up major spills (and not to mention those unfortunate vomit episodes)! Even while driving, remember… emergencies can happen and you should have your trunk filled with items that can ultimately save you, save money and keep you self sufficient and prepared.
Later,g