Is Salt Beauty's Next Big Ingredient

Is Salt Beauty's Next Big Ingredient?
By YouBeauty.com | Love Your Body
Salt on Your Skin: Pros and Cons
Sea salt can leach moisture out of your skin. But it's a wonderful exfoliant. "In its raw, crystal form, salt stimulates skin renewal and boosts radiance," says Idit Gandelman, Global Head of Training at Ahava (a skincare company based on Dead Sea minerals). A handful of coarsely ground sea salt, mixed with skin-nourishing grapeseed oil can slough off dead skin cells, while the oil replenishes moisture.

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 http://shine.yahoo.com/beauty/salt-beautys-next-big-ingredient-123400868.html

Vinegar and your health.

Vinegar has been used around the house for many years.  Vinegar can be used for anything from cleaning to health benefits.  Today I will give you a list of just some of the many health benefits that vinegar has to offer.

According to the Vinegar Institute, vinegar has been used successfully for the following.

1. Relief From Heartburn.

2. Soothe a Bee or Jellyfish Sting.

3. Relieve Sunburn.  When I was a child if you got sunburned you would pour vinegar over a small piece of brown paper and place that on the sunburned spot.  As funny as that sounds you would be surprised at how fast the sting of the burn disappeared.

4. Relieve Dry and Itchy Skin.  I have found that vinegar is a great itch remover, just add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar to your bath water and the dry itchy skin is soothed.

5. Soothe a Sore Throat. 

6. Fight Dandruff.  This is a fast easy way to stop the itch of dandruff and maybe even heal it.

7. Head Lice Killer.  Sometimes your child will bring home head lice from school.  Don't panic just get the vinegar and pour it over the head slowly. The lice cannot breath and they will die.  Of course you will still have to remove the lice from the rest of the house but it at least you have a good start.

8. Toenail Fungus. I have seen this work wonders.  It may take a little while but it does work.

9. Arthritis Relief.

10. Lesson Morning Sickness. I have not used this one but according to the Vinegar Institute if you drink some apple cider vinegar in water with honey it can help calm a queasy stomach.  If any of you try this, please let me know.  I would like to hear your thoughts on how this works.

11. Cleaning Heavily Soiled Hands.

12. Wart Remover.

13. Bug Spray.  Combine equal amounts of water, white distilled vinegar and liquid dish soap in a spray bottle.  Use on skin, as needed. A natural bug killer sounds better than all the harsh chemicals in the normal bug killers.

The uses of vinegar are almost endless. How do you use vinegar for health benefits?

Vinegar Laundry Hints

I am always talking about vinegar and its many uses. As I have posted before I am always looking for new uses for vinegar because I feel that it is a fantastic natural product.  After some research I  found this great site, THE VINEGAR INSTITUTE, so I just had to share with you some of the helpful laundry hints that I found. Many of these hints I have blogged about before but many of them just might be new to all of us.

Wine stains: Spots caused by wine can be removed from 100 percent cotton, cotton polyester and permanent press fabrics if done so within 24 hours. To do it, sponge white distilled vinegar directly onto the stain and rub away the spots. Then clean according to the directions on the manufacturer's care tag.

Freshen baby clothes: The addition of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue leaving the clothes soft and fresh.

Clothes washing magic: Clothes will rinse better if 1 cup of white distilled vinegar is added to the last rinse water. The acid in vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents.

Blanket renewal: Cotton and wool blankets become soft, fluffy and free of soap odor if 2 cups of white distilled vinegar are added to the rinse cycle of the wash.

Deodorant stains: Deodorant and antiperspirant stains may be removed from clothing by lightly rubbing with white distilled vinegar and laundering as usual.

Hole removal: After a hem or seam is removed, there are often unsightly holes left in the fabric. These holes can be removed by placing a cloth, moistened with white distilled vinegar, under the fabric and ironing.

Keeping colors fast: To hold colors in fabrics, which tend to run, soak them for a few minutes in white distilled vinegar before washing.

Leather cleaning: Leather articles can be cleaned with a mixture of white distilled vinegar and linseed oil. Rub the mixture into the leather and then polish with a soft cloth.

Scorch marks:
Lightly rub white distilled vinegar on fabric that has been slightly scorched. Wipe with a clean cloth.

Setting colors: When you are color dyeing, add about a cupful of white distilled vinegar to the last rinse water to help set the color.

Shower curtains: Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water when you launder your shower curtain. Do not spin dry or wash out. Just hang immediately to dry.

Unclog steam iron: Pour equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water into the iron's water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water.

Clean a scorched iron plate: Heat equal parts white distilled vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains.

Cleaning Vintage Lace: Soak the lace in cold water, rinsing it several times. Next, hand-wash the lace gently with a wool detergent, such as Woolite. If rust spots are a problem, try removing them with a mixture of white vinegar and hot water.

I hope you have enjoyed this list as much as I did. Do you have any other way to use vinegar in your laundry?

What can you do with Tea Tree Oil?

Tea Tree Oil has natural antiseptic properties so it helps fight germs.  When it is added to your homemade / natural cleaning products, it makes a strong, germ-fighting cleaner.  It also is said to boost your immune system.  When my kids were in the lower grades in school, I put it in their shampoo to help control lice.  It has been used for lice prevention as far back as WWII, if not farther.  Tea Tree Oil has many, many safe and healthy benefits.  

Lemon juice and Vinegar together

Lemon juice is a natural cleaner on its own.  It is safe for most counter-tops.  When lemon juice is mixed with equal parts of vinegar, it makes an even more powerful, yet natural, cleaning compound.  Now you have a powerful and natural cleaner that also smell fresh.

Natural Copper cleaner

Many of us have used lemon juice in the summer to give our hair that naturally highlighted look.  We know it is a great hair lightener.  

Did you also know that it is also a great copper cleaner?  It will make short work of the copper cleaning chore that most of us aren't very thrilled to do.  Now you can clean your copper with less work and spend less money while doing the job.    

What is a good natural drain cleaner / clogged drain opener?

There are many drain cleaner / clogged drain opener products on the market. Most of the ones that I have tried usually burn my eyes or even make it hard to breath.  The chemicals that are used to clean your drains are very harsh and in most cases very dangerous.  Therefore, we are left with a few choices.

1. Use the dangerous chemical to clean our drain and risk the dangers of harmful chemical on our lungs and on the lungs of our family. This would not be my first choice.

2.  Leave the drain clogged or dirty smelling. This choice is again not top on my want to do list.

So what do we do to get our drain clean and unclogged without all of those harmful chemicals?  The simple solution would be to use a natural product.  If you are like me you will want a product that will clean and unclog the drain without harming your health or the health of your family.  Next question would be is there a natural drain cleaner that is not costly? The answer is yes and you more than likely have this drain cleaner in your kitchen.

You will need Baking soda and white vinegar, a half cup of each.

Step #1.  Pour the 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain.  Let it set for about five minutes.

Step #2.  Pour the 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain.  Let is set about 10 - 15 minutes.

The baking soda and vinegar will react chemically, causing foam.  This is a normal and perfectly safe reaction.

The clog will dissolve under this solution while it is also cleaning your drain.

Step #3.  Bring a pot of water to a boil.  After the 15 minutes are over pour the water down the drain, this will wash the baking soda and vinegar down the drain.  The boiling water will also wash away the clog and odor.

Now you have a fresh smelling drain and the clog is gone.  
If you have used a drain-cleaning product to clean your drains then you will want to wait a few days to avoid a chemical reaction between the vinegar and the other drain cleaner.

What other natural drain cleaners do you use?  Leave me a note and I will share it with the rest of my readers.

Natural anit-fungal product.

Do you know of a product that is both natural and strong enough to be an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-mildew product?  I have a great natural product for you.  I use this product along with many other products in my home because it is both cheaper and safer than your normal household cleaners.  This great product is Hydrogen Peroxide.  Hydrogen Peroxide has natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-mildew properties? This makes it another great all-purpose cleaner. 

I am a big fan of Hydrogen Peroxide.  You will find that I blog about Hydrogen Peroxide on many occasions.  I feel that it is one of the top three cheap products that has more uses than most people even realize.  Keep checking back for more ideas on how to use Hydrogen Peroxide.  Until then how do you use Hydrogen Peroxide in your home?

BORAX - The Natural Bug Killer

What are some good uses for Borax?  Did you know that Borax could be used for much more than washing your laundry or dishes? 

Borax is a natural bug repellant.  You can use Borax to get rid of fleas, ants and even roaches. How is that for a tough, yet natural product?!  Just sprinkle the Borax powder behind your refrigerator so that pets and children can't get to it and say goodbye to your pest problem. Borax is a fabulous tool for many household problems but can be deadly for children and pets if eaten. If there is any chance of a child or pet getting near the Borax I would not recommend using it. 

Hydrogen Peroxide can be use for so many natural household cleaning projects.  This article will give you even more natural cleaning ideas.

10 Clever Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide

Published: April 19, 2012  By: Courtney Craig

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/green-cleaning/uses-for-hydrogen-peroxide/?nicmp=outbrain&nichn=cpc&niseg=hlart

How to save money on baby food?

Is there a way to save money on baby food?

Baby food comes in many different brands and with many different ingredients.  Most of the time baby food is very costly and we don't even know for sure what many of the ingredients on the label truly mean.  Do you want to save money and know what you are feeding your baby?  The best way to do this is to make your own baby food.  All you have to do is take whatever your favorite fruit or veggie is and drop it in the blender.  When the baby food is at the proper consistency for your baby, just pour the new baby food into an ice cube tray and cover with plastic wrap and freeze.  Whenever you need to feed your baby just pull the food out of the freezer, thaw a cube or two and feed your baby with confidence.  Now you have fresh homemade baby food when you want it.  You not only have saved a bundle but you also know what is in each bite of food that you are feeding your baby.  What other ideas do you have for saving money on baby food?

How do I get germs off my cutting board?

How do I get germs off my cutting board? 

How do I get germs off my cutting board?  Ok, so you have used your cutting board for something that has left germs behind.  How do you get rid of those nasty germs that could make your family sick without adding harmful chemicals?  You guessed it … this is another great job for vinegar.  Using vinegar when washing your cutting boards can help remove those harmful germs.   I like to wash almost any hard surface in my house with vinegar.  Just mix half vinegar and half water for most jobs.  If you are concerned about the vinegar smell then you may want to add a few drops of citrus oil.  I don't add anything to my vinegar mixture because in most cases the smell will evaporate very quickly. 

How do you use vinegar in your home? 

What would be a natural disinfectant?

What would be a natural disinfectant?  Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar mixed evenly together are a great natural disinfectant.  It has been used for years to get rid of germs.  When you have someone in the house that is sick, just keep the counters wiped down with this to help control the spread of the germs. I have on many occasions use them separately as well.

A few things to do with Baking Soda.

How do I make my shoes smell fresh?  Sprinkle baking soda inside the shoe.  Leave over night.  Shake the extra baking soda out in the morning. Do this as often as needed to keep the stinky foot smell under control.

My hands get rough when I wash with soap, what can I do?  Use baking soda.  It not only cleans your hands of dirt and grease, but it softens them at the same time.

Homemade Windex

What is a homemade / natural replacement for Windex?  My favorite would have to be half water and half vinegar.  You could even add a few drops of blue food coloring if you need that blue color in the bottle.  Any time you use vinegar remember that the smell will go away very fast.  This combination is also great on many kitchen and bathroom counters.

How do I clean a stained plastic food container?

How do I clean a stained plastic food container?  Pour half vinegar and half hot water into the container.  Let it set over night.  The next morning wash as normal.

Natural Ways To Clean Dirty Pans

Have you ever used baking soda to clean pans?  Sprinkle a few tablespoons of baking soda into a dirty pan along with a bit of warm water.  Leave it in the pan for about 10 minutes and then scrub and wash as normal.  Rinse and reapply until the pan is clean.