Healthy Home Guide

3 Surefire Ways to Keep from Gaining Weight During Christmas

Fall is the beginning season of weight gain with Thanksgiving just around the corner and Christmas shortly afterward.  No matter how hard you try, you will more than likely put on a few extra pounds by the time the festive season is over.  If you throw all caution to the wind and indulge yourself to your heart’s content, then don’t be surprised if the scales reflect what you’ve been up to after a few weeks!

Does that mean that you should be eating boring, low-calorie foods even during Christmas? Of course not!

Here are some ways to enjoy Christmas and still keep your weight in check:

1. Eat moderately and exercise self-control: Just because it is Christmas doesn’t mean that you should let yourself eat thoughtlessly! If you are going to a party with the idea of eating everything offered there, I suggest you stay at home instead!  Better choice, take control by making some wise choices with lower calorie foods first until you get your hungry cravings to taper down some. (If you’re hungry you don’t want to fill up on high calorie foods.) Then, if you must indulge, place very small portions of some favorite holiday foods on your plate.

Don’t convince yourself that you can lose all the extra weight quickly in January, because putting on weight is a lot easier than losing it! So it makes sense to exercise a bit of self-control when you hit a Christmas party.  Remember, choose foods which you like the most and avoid everything else! The chance of weight gain is still there, but your body weight would still be under control!

2. Enjoy what you eat: A lot of us end up overeating more to derive comfort from foods rather than out of hunger! This problem won’t occur if you enjoy each and every bite you have! If you enjoy your meals, you will feel satisfied very quickly! Also, make it a point to be happy after you have finished your meal, as depression usually triggers hunger pangs. If you really want to have a taste of all the courses, you can have small portions of each course!

3. Exercise hard: Just because it is Christmas doesn’t mean that you should sit back and relax on your couch the entire day. Working out a bit daily will surely not ruin your Christmas joys; if anything, those workouts would help you stay fit.

Exercising doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym everyday like mad; in fact, even a simple walk would do a lot good for your body. Remember that exercising will not only keep you fit and healthy, but also burn those extra calories that you would consume during the holiday season!

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Natural Home Remedies for the Common Cold

The common cold is a common but bothersome problem that is  caused by an accumulation of various viruses that have multiplied in the upper respiratory tract - such as coronavirus, human parainfluenza viruses and over 100 serotypes of rhinovirus, a type of picornavirus.

It has been estimated that the basic cold can be caused by over two hundred viruses! The viruses that result in the cold pass in through the area of the mouth and the nose. They then travel to the remainder of the respiratory system. Here, these viruses grow and reproduce. At full maturity, these viruses cause the victim to get many symptoms showing that you have a common cold.

Common Cold and Those at Risk:

It has been discovered that individuals who have weak or suppressed immune systems, experience high levels of stress, or those who fail to get the proper amount of rest can develop colds more easily than others. In addition to these risk factors, those that experience mild to severe allergies may develop this type of sickness easily. Here, you will be introduced to the symptoms of the cold, as well as various home remedies for the common cold.

Common Cold Symptoms:

There are lots of symptoms associated  with the common cold. One of the first things that become evident is the presence of soreness in the throat. Your throat will get dry and scratchy. There may also be a low grade fever in the early onset of symptoms. The fever is often a bit under one hundred degrees. The eyes may become watery and experience some degree of irritation. Also, the sufferer will probably notice a persistent sneeze, cough and a runny nose. When an individual experiences a severe cold, the body will probably have scattered aches and pains. There may be an altered taste, or even no motivation to eat at all.

Natural Home Remedies for Your common Cold

There are quite a few home remedies for the common cold. It is important to know that if you are looking for a good remedy, there is no one set best treatment for the common cold. Any and all home remedies that you use will either alleviate the symptoms that you are experiencing with your cold, or simply increase your comfort level until the cold goes away.

The following detail some of the best home remedies for your common cold:

1.    Get plenty of rest. Rest is essential when you fall ill because of the fact that it allows your body to devote its time and energy to fighting off the infection. You should not overly exert yourself during this time, or you may be sick much longer!

2.    When looking for an herbal remedy for the symptoms of the cold, you may find garlic to help. Garlic has proven antiseptic properties. This helps to clear the body of viruses and any bacteria that have infected the body.

3.    Individuals who have a cold that includes a large amount of congestion will find that humidifiers are indispensable in breaking up the congestion. Once you have inhaled the steam, you should then drink a glass of warm milk mixed with peppermint. This will soothe the throat and open up the sinuses.

There are quite a few home remedies for the common cold. You must first consider which symptoms that you want to get relief from, and then pick out the home remedies that assist in that specific symptom. In addition to this, you should ensure that you get enough rest and keep up on your consumption of fluids. It is then that you will find yourself with a quick recovery.
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Are Detox Diets Right for You?

You may have heard the term “Detox Diet” and wondered if it is something you should try.  In order to help you make the right decision for you and your health, it is important to first know what a detox diet is.

What is a detox diet?

A detox diet is a diet whose main purpose is to eliminate toxins from the body.  It should be pointed out that not everyone believes that the body stores toxins, or that a detox diet can successfully remove toxins in the body.  Toxins generally come from preservatives, pesticides and your body’s own waste.  There are many kinds of detoxification diets that require the dieter to undergo various lifestyle or dietary changes for a period of time.

They include:

•    Fasting, including water fasting and juice fasting
•    Food combining
•    Calorie restriction
•    Herbal detox

How do you decide what is right for you?
Read the rest of this entry »

Seven Tips for Starting a New Exercise Routine

If starting a new exercise routine is part of your self-improvement plan this year, here are seven tips to help make it easier.

Tip #1: Consult your doctor first. Before you begin any exercise program it is really important to make sure you’re physically up for it.  This is particularly important if you’re not normally physically active.  A doctor can advise you on how to approach a new exercise routine and tell you what signs to look for if you’re overdoing it.

Tip #2:  Set small goals. While it may be really exciting to set a large goal like running a marathon or going to the gym every day, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to actually achieve the goal.  The goal may begin to feel overwhelming.  The solution?  Set smaller goals.  For example, if your goal is to go to the gym every day, just go to the gym one day a week for three weeks.  Once you’ve accomplish that goal, step it up.  Decide to go to the gym twice a week for three weeks.  Once you’ve accomplished that goal, step it up again. Soon you’ll be going to the gym every day.

Tip #3:  Reward yourself. Goal setting and achieving is supposed to be fun.  When you reach a goal, whether it is a little one or a big one, reward yourself.  For example, using the gym example from above - when you reach your goal of going to the gym once a week, you could buy yourself some workout music or get a new piece of workout clothing.  When you reach the final goal of going every day, well it’s probably time for some new clothes because you’re looking awesome, right?!

Tip #4:  Do something fun. Exercising doesn’t have to be running around a track until you can’t breathe anymore.  Dancing is exercise, walking in nature is exercise, jumping on a trampoline is exercise, as is tennis, yoga, etc.  Find a sport that you enjoy, and reaching your goals will become easy and fun.

Tip #5:  Mix it up.  It’s easy to get into a rut when you’re beginning a new workout routine.  In order to keep things interesting and maintain your motivation, consider a few exercises or sports you enjoy.  This can make it easier on your body too.  For example, if you’re running two or three times a week, consider walking or riding your bike on the other days.  Maybe add yoga to keep your muscles flexible.

Tip #6:  Exercise with friends. Friends motivate you to get to the gym, friends make it fun, and friends can challenge you to push yourself just a little bit farther than you might if you were working out alone.

Tip #7:  Exercise during your best time of day. Are you a morning person?  If you’re a morning person, then the best time for you to plan your workout time is probably in the morning.  If you’re a night person, then try to plan your workout in the evening.

Starting a new exercise routine is a fantastic way to feel great, look great and improve your health.  Congratulations on making a resolution to improve your life!

Tips for Kicking Unhealthy Habits

You know what they are.  Every time you do them you think, “I really shouldn’t be…”  Fill in the blanks!  Drinking this, eating this, - the list goes on and on.  We all have habits we would be healthier without.  So what do we do about them?  How do we kick the habits for good?

Here are ten tips for kicking unhealthy habits and living a better life:

#1:  Acknowledge and own the habits. There’s no sense denying them; they exist, your friends and family know they exist, so own them.  Say aloud, “I need to stop!”  Once you’ve acknowledged it, it begins to lose its power.  It’s certainly much better than ignoring your unhealthy habits or hiding them.

#2:  Let go of shame. Don’t be ashamed of your unhealthy habits. (Brownies or Chocolate certainly are tempting enough!)  No one is perfect and we’re all striving to improve ourselves.  Everyone has something they need to work on.  Once you stop feeling ashamed of it, you can move forward and take control of your habits.

If desserts are tempting, try not to bring them home in the first place.  Slowly you will eliminate your strong desire to have these treats as often.  When you just have to have a brownie, it’s better to go get an individually packaged one at the store to keep from overeating a whole package at home.  Or, another option is to bake a pan of brownies–eat one and give the rest away so that they do not tempt you and later leave you feeling guilty or your indulgence.

#3:  Understand where the habits came from. One of the great tools to kicking a habit is to first understand where it came from.  For example, if you have a tendency to eat a lot in the evenings it could stem from your breakfast habits.  Once you know the reason behind your habits, they’re easier to change.  In the example of the late night eating, a simple solution may be to develop a resolution to have a good breakfast every morning, rather than trying to stop eating at night.

#4:  Understand why you want to get rid of your unhealthy habit. Do you want to feel better?  Have more energy?  Look better?  Extend your life?  When you understand why you want to get rid of your unhealthy habits, it is easier to find the right motivation to help you achieve your goals.  For example, if you’re motivated to look better, maybe an old picture of yourself when you liked how you looked would work as appropriate motivation.

#5:  Set reasonable goals. Lofty goals don’t serve anyone.  If you want to get rid of unhealthy habits, establish goals you are fairly certain you can attain.  That doesn’t mean they have to be easy goals, but it is important that they are attainable.

#6:  Replace bad habits with good ones. One of the best and easiest ways to get rid of unhealthy habits is to replace them with new habits.  For example, earlier we mentioned late night eating.  Rather than struggle with cravings while you’re sitting on the couch each night, brew a cup of green tea and change your habit to a good one, one that is healthy and beneficial for you.

#7:  Seek support. Sometimes we just need a little help.  We need an extra hand, a little encouragement, or someone to listen to us when we’re having a tough time.  Support groups, friends and family can all be a great resource when trying to kick old habits.

#8:  Stay positive. A good attitude is extremely helpful to kicking unhealthy habits.  It helps to be able to focus on more positive thoughts when you’re trying to get rid of habits that are detrimental to your health.  Before you set about accomplishing your goal, it helps to come up with a few methods for staying positive.  Find what makes you happy and make note of it.  When you’re having a negative thought or a tough moment, pull out your happy thought or your happy trigger and use it.

#9:  Reward yourself. Reward yourself for accomplishing the small steps along the way and for making it through the tough times.  For example, if you’re trying to cut out after dinner snacks and one particular evening you’re really craving something other than the tea you’ve been drinking, and you manage to avoid the bag of chips on the counter or the ice cream in the fridge, then you could reward yourself by getting your favorite coffee at the neighborhood coffee shop in the morning.

#10:  Plan your success. Rather than trying to wing it, it is helpful to plan how you’re going to attain your goal.  If you want to eliminate your habit of getting fast food for lunch each day, or you want to stop drinking coffee in the morning, how are you going to do it?  Break your goal down into smaller, more manageable steps for easier success.  For example you could stop going through the drive-thru four days out of the week but still go with your co-workers on Fridays.  After a week or two of success, you may even find that you’re ordering a salad rather than a burger.

Small successes give us confidence for larger ones. You create a pattern of success and strength.

5 Healthy Entertaining Recipes

1.  Smokey Garlic dip

This quick and easy snack is satisfying without busting your healthy eating goals.

•    2/3 cup non-fat sour cream
•    3 tbs fat-free mayo
•    2 tbs lemon juice
•    1 chipotle pepper canned in adobo
•    1 tsp minced garlic
•    1/8 tsp salt
•    1 tbs fresh chopped cilantro

In your blender or food processor, blend together all ingredients except the cilantro.  Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle cilantro on top and serve with vegetables or fat-free tortilla chips.

•    Calories 36
•    Protein 1g
•    Carbs 6g
•    Fat 0g

2.  Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This amazing bread is tasty for a sweet breakfast, an afternoon snack or a dessert.  In fact, there isn’t any time a slice of this bread isn’t good!

•    1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
•    2/3 cup sugar
•    1/3 cup low-fat semi-sweet chocolate chips
•    2 tsp baking powder
•    ¼ tsp cinnamon
•    1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
•    2 mashed ripe bananas
•    1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
•    1 large egg
•    1 tbs vegetable oil

Combine dry ingredients and chocolate chips in a large bowl.  Making a well in the center, add wet ingredients: bananas, apple sauce, egg and oil.  Mix together until just moistened.  Lumps are fine - don’t over-mix.  Pour batter into a loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Cook at 350° for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove bread from the oven and let it cool.

•    Calories 133
•    Protein 2g
•    Carbohydrates 28g
•    Fat 2g (1 saturated, 1 monounsaturated)

3.  Breakfast casserole

This recipe is fantastic because you can make it on the weekend and it’ll last all week long.

•    8 ounces crusty bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
•    Cooking spray
•    1 pound turkey breakfast sausage
•    1/2 cup chopped green onions
•    1 1/4 cups fat-free milk
•    1 cup (4 ounces) reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
•    2 large eggs
•    1 (8-ounce) carton egg substitute
•    2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Place bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes or until toasted.

Heat a skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat.  Add sausage to pan and cook until browned, stirring to crumble. In a large bowl, combine sausage, bread and onions.  Combine milk, cheese, eggs and egg substitute in a separate bowl.  Add milk mixture to bread mixture, tossing to coat.  Transfer mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.  Uncover casserole. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes, or until set and lightly browned. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

•    CALORIES 344
•    FAT 10.8g
•    PROTEIN 28.7g
•    CHOLESTEROL 123mg

4.  Chicken Salad

During the work week it is difficult to maintain healthy eating habits without packing your lunch and bringing it to work.  Here is a great recipe that will make you glad to skip the drive-thru.

•    1/3 cup diced celery
•    1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
•    1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
•    3 tbs chopped fresh parsley
•    2 tbs plain non-fat yogurt
•    1 tbs lemon juice
•    1/2 tsp salt
•    1/2 tsp dried basil
•    1/4 tsp pepper
•    1 3/4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (about 3/4 pound)

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, cover and chill.  When you’re ready to make your lunch, spoon it on your favorite bread or a bed of greens and you’re good to go.

•    CALORIES 20
•    FAT 0.7g
•    PROTEIN 2.6g
•    CHOLESTEROL 7mg

5.  Salmon and Edamame Pasta Salad

Fish oil and soy are two excellent nutrients.  Make this dish on a night when you just want to feel a little better.

•    1 1/2 cups uncooked bowtie pasta or shells
•    2/3 cup shelled edamame
•    1 (4-ounce) salmon fillet, skinned
•    2 tsp olive oil
•    1 cup chopped red onion
•    6 cups baby spinach
•    1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
•    4 tsp wholegrain Dijon mustard
•    salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta in boiling water for 5 minutes.  Add edamame; cook for 6 minutes or until tender.  Drain and rinse with cold water.  Heat a non-stick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium high heat. Add salmon; cook for 7 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, turning once. Coarsely chop salmon. Add to pasta mixture and toss gently to combine.

Heat olive oil in pan over medium high heat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes or until tender. Add spinach; cook 2 minutes or just until wilted, stirring frequently. Add spinach mixture and dill to pasta mixture and toss gently to combine. Add mustard, salt and pepper; toss to coat.

•    CALORIES 262
•    FAT 8g
•    PROTEIN 17.1g
•    CHOLESTEROL 14mg

Create your own natural furniture polish

Five Natural Furniture Polishes

Wood furniture is beautiful, and it is important to give our most prized pieces some tender, loving care.  That means preventing spills on them and polishing regularly.  Most store-bought furniture polishes, however, are full of chemicals that can be unsafe and not environmentally friendly.  But there are natural ingredients that can be used to make safer and less expensive furniture polish.  Here are five recipes:

#1:  10 drops of lemon oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and a small amount of olive oil. This mixture is great for everyday dusting.  The key is to get the right kind of lemon oil.  Many brands contain petroleum distillates, which are not environmentally friendly.  You can find pure lemon oil at an herb store or online.

#2:  1/4 cup of vinegar and a few drops of jojoba (if you can’t find jojoba, olive oil is an acceptable substitute). The type of vinegar you should use depends on the type of wood you are polishing.  Apple cider vinegar is slightly more effective, but it could stain lighter woods.  If you are concerned about staining, use white vinegar instead.

#3:  2 1/2 ounces of olive oil, 1 1/2 ounces of coconut oil, 1 ounce of beeswax, 1 ounce of carnauba wax, and 4 ounces of distilled water. Put oils and waxes in a double boiler and melt them, then pour in the water and mix thoroughly.  Rub the mixture into your furniture and work in with a soft cloth.

#4:  Juice of one lemon, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of water. Put a thin coat on furniture, let sit for a few minutes, and buff with a soft cloth.

#5:  1/8 cup of linseed oil, 1/8 cup of vinegar, and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Linseed oil has a pleasant fragrance and polishes well.  But it is important to get the food-grade kind, as the type found in hardware stores contains ingredients that may dry your furniture out.

When mixing your own cleaners, it’s important to consider the shelf life of the ingredients.  Most oils and lemon juice can turn rancid, but some will last longer than others.  Vinegar has an unlimited shelf life, and it is a preservative, so cleaners containing it will last much longer.

Making your own furniture polish allows you to be in control of its ingredients.  That means you don’t have to worry about having an allergic reaction or exposing yourself and your family to substances that may be harmful to your health.  It also means that you can be more considerate of the environment than using store-bought polishes will allow.  Natural furniture polish provides an inexpensive and effective way to care for your furniture and protect your family and the environment at the same time.
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How to Eat a Balanced Diet as a Vegetarian

Fruits and vegetables are an important part of any balanced diet. But nutrition experts also recommend eating a certain number of servings of meat and dairy products each day. It’s not surprising that many people who are considering becoming vegetarians hesitate because they fear that they will not get adequate nutrition.

The truth is that vegetarians can eat balanced diets too. It takes careful planning, but it’s not as difficult as one might imagine. The key to eating a balanced diet as a vegetarian is to know what foods give you the vitamins and nutrients that most people get from animal sources.

Include the following in your daily diet…

Calcium

Calcium is important because it strengthens our bones. Most people associate calcium with milk and cheese, but these are not the only sources of the important mineral. There are many vegetables that contain calcium.

Leafy green vegetables are one of the most popular sources of calcium among vegetarians. Broccoli and beans are also rich in calcium. Soy products provide lots of calcium as well, as do fortified fruit juices.

Lacto and ovo-lacto vegetarians can consume milk and milk products, so it’s easier for them to include calcium in their diets. But vegans can get the calcium they need for strong bones as well.

Protein

A common myth about vegetarianism is that it is extremely difficult to get enough protein. The fact is that although vegetarians usually eat less protein than those whose diet includes meats, meat-eaters often eat too much protein. Plant proteins can also be healthier, because they do not come with the large amounts of fat and cholesterol that animal proteins someetimes do.

Beans are a great source of protein for vegetarians. Grains, nuts, and seeds are also protein-rich. Even many vegetables, such as corn, provide a large amount of protein.

Vitamins

One thing that vegetarians usually get plenty of is vitamins. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with them, and many of these foods have several different vitamins in one delicious package. But there are a few vitamins that vegetarians need to take extra care to include in their diets:

- Vitamin B12 is one important vitamin that is usually obtained through meat, eggs or dairy products. Lacto and ovo-lacto vegetarians do not need to worry about getting enough B12 in their diets. Vegans, on the other hand, might want to consider taking B12 supplements.

- Vitamin D is also often lacking in vegan diets. Those who consume dairy products that are fortified with Vitamin D do not have to worry about it, but strict vegans usually don’t get much of the important nutrient. Two solutions are to get plenty of sunshine, which causes our bodies to create Vitamin D on their own, or to take Vitamin D supplements.

Eating a balanced diet is no harder for a vegetarian than it is for anyone else. Getting all of the vitamins and minerals we need requires us to eat a variety of foods, and to make sure those foods have enough of the things we need in them. By educating yourself about which foods have the nutrients that vegetarian diets often lack, and making it a point to include those in your diet, you can be a healthy vegetarian.

What are Common Causes of Acne?

Acne is not a life-threatening condition, but it can be extremely annoying.  Many of us struggled with acne in our teens, but it’s also quite common among adults.

There is much that still isn’t known about acne.  But there are some factors that often contribute to its appearance.  Some of them are easy to control, while others are difficult or impossible to do anything about.

1. Bacteria and Sebum

Bacteria and sebum are the root causes of acne.  The bacteria P. acnes is found naturally in the skin, and so is sebum, which is produced by the sebaceous glands to moisturize the skin.  Clogged pores, excess sebum, and the P. acnes bacteria can combine to cause damage to the pores, which shows itself as blackheads, whiteheads or pimples.

While it’s fairly straightforward how acne forms, the harder question is why it forms.  Studies have shown some factors that contribute to the process:

2. Hormones

One of the most recognized factors that causes acne is hormones.  This is why acne is so prevalent in the teens.  With the onset of puberty comes an increase in hormones - including androgen, the male sex hormone.  A number of studies have linked excess androgen to acne.

Other hormonal changes can also cause acne.  For example, many women experience breakouts right before their menstrual periods or when using (or ceasing to use) hormonal birth control methods.  Some women even find that pregnancy triggers acne for them.

3. Diet

Claims that eating chocolate and greasy foods causes acne have been around for many decades.  But these have been found to be questionable at best.  Studies have found, however, that dairy products seem to contribute to acne.

The reason that dairy products are a factor in acne is unclear.  But some scientists believe that it is due to the hormones present in cow’s milk.  Even milk from cows that do not receive hormone treatments contains some natural hormones.

4. Other Factors

There are many other things that are said to contribute to acne.  One that women often experience is using the wrong cosmetics.  Some makeup is greasy and can block pores, facilitating the formation of pimples.  This problem can be avoided by using cosmetics that are marked as non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic.

Skin irritation is also known to be a factor in acne.  This can occur as a result of scrubbing, chafing, or squeezing existing pimples.  As with the cosmetics, these things can make it easier for pores to become clogged.

There is much that is not known about acne, but there are many treatment options available today.  Those who are predisposed to acne may not have the benefit of a cure, but these treatments can often greatly reduce or even eliminate breakouts altogether.

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Five Natural Glass Cleaners

It is shocking how many dangerous chemicals the average person has in their home. Everyday cleaning products often contain substances that can be harmful to the environment, pets and humans. Making our own cleaners allows us to control what is in them, but it can be tricky to figure out what ingredients can be safely used on what surfaces. Making your own glass cleaner is a good start. Here are five natural glass cleaners that you can mix up at home:

#1: Vinegar is a great window cleaner. You can either use it full strength, or mix it half-and-half with water. The scent takes some getting used to, and it will burn if you get it in your eyes, but vinegar is very safe and effective.

#2: 1/2 cup of lemon juice and 2 cups of water makes a pleasant-smelling glass cleaner. You could also add in a small amount of castile soap for greater effectiveness.

#3: Many naturalists use cornstarch in their natural glass cleaner mixtures. It is said to reduce streaking. 1 tablespoon of cornstarch can be mixed with a quart of warm water and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. For best results, clean windows with this mixture when it’s shady so that the sun doesn’t cause them to dry too quickly.

#4: Rubbing alcohol is good for cleaning windows, and it helps prevent frost in the wintertime as an added bonus. 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol to 1 quart of water is enough to be effective. Be sure that the area is well ventilated when cleaning with rubbing alcohol, and keep the mixture out of the reach of children.

#5: If you have been using store-bought cleaners to clean your windows, a natural cleaner could cause streaks due to the residue left behind by those cleaners. To prevent this, wash windows with a mixture of 1/4 cup of castile soap, 1 cup of vinegar, and one gallon of water. After this initial cleaning, your natural cleaners should do a nice job of keeping the windows clean and streak free.

In addition to making your own natural cleaners, cleaning windows with old newspapers has several benefits. It is cheaper than using paper towels, it further protects from streaking, it doesn’t leave lint behind, and it reduces waste.

Making our own homemade natural glass cleaners is a great way to make our homes safer and help protect the environment from the harsh chemicals that can be found in commercial formulations. You probably have most or all of the ingredients you need in your home already, and if you don’t they can be purchased very inexpensively at a grocery or discount store. While it’s always a good idea to keep cleaners where children can’t reach them, most of these cleaners are non-toxic and virtually harmless.