Debunking Cleaning Myths

Organic.  Non-Toxic. No GMOs.  Every where you turn, people are trying to avoid the toxic chemicals in their homes.  There are some good old fashioned cleaning tips which have fallen by the wayside in this fast paced world.

Here are some of those tried and true cleaning solutions our grandmothers probably used:

1. Cleaning and unclogging pipes.

Pour four teaspoons of baking soda into the sink, then add a cup of vinegar. If fizziness and bubbles arise, rinse it down with hot water and your pipe will be unclogged.  I know this one works because we have used it when we are out of Drano.  Cheaper and always on hand.

 

2. Cleaning pots with tomato sauce

Tomato sauce as a cleaning product … who knew? Stainless steel pots usually have a layer of copper, where copper oxide is formed during cooking. The tomato sauce contains acetic acid, which attacks the copper active base of the pan. Apply a thick layer of sauce on the base of the pan and let it work its magic for 30 minutes. Then wipe it away and watch the black stains disappear right before your eyes.

3. Plants help get rid of dust.

Dust appears everywhere, even after having cleaned it away 10 minutes ago. The good news is plants can help!  They not only bring life to the living room, BUT they also filter the pollutants from our air and provide us with fresh oxygen. Plants such as ferns and orchids catch the floating dust in the air on their leaves and can be wiped off with a damp cloth.

4. Sparkling water removes stains 

Another stain on your shirt? Quickly grab a bottle with sparkling water or soda and let the carbon dioxide dissolve the colour and tannins from the fabric.  This doesn’t work for fat or oil stains!  To use this method, saturate the spot and blot it up with a dry and absorbent cloth in a circular motion- always dab, never rub.

5. Lemon juice makes your exhaust duct shine 

The exhaust duct in the kitchen is a magnet for odors and oil stains. To remove the sticky spots, cut the lemon in half and rub it all over the metal surface. The acid quickly and efficiently removes fats and oils. For stubborn stains, add a few drops of detergent on a cloth and gently rub the stains away. Avoid the use of stainless steel sponges, as they tend to scratch the hood, making it shine even less than before.

6. Clean silver jewelry and silverware with toothpaste.

Is your silver jewelry starting to look dull? Just like your teeth, it turns out toothpaste is the perfect solution for silverware. Get your trusty toothpaste (not gel) out of the bathroom and scrub the ornaments with a toothbrush. Rinse the toothpaste off by dipping the silverware into a cup of warm water. The oxidized silver particles will be quickly washed away and your jewelry will start to shine again.

What is your best cleaning tip that was passed down in your family?  Share it with us.

Have an Epic day!

 

Tasty Tuesday: Wicked Good Spices Vegetarian Chili

Today’s recipe is from my friend Rachel at Wicked Good Spice Mixes Co.  I was introduced to their amazing products at the Brick Farmer’s Market about two years ago.  Their spot was a must every week.  From flavored vinegar to organic olive oil to spice mixes.  The best part is they have a multitude of uses for some of their products.  Who would have ever thought of using flavored vinegar in seltzer water for a refreshing drink?

I made this YUMMY recipe this week.   I will admit, I had a brain fog MS day and despite having the directions in front of me I forgot the spaghetti squash, and the tomato paste BUT the end result was still delicious!

 Ingredients:

• 1 medium butternut squash; sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash (peeled & diced)
• 2 large onions, diced
• 1 each of diced orange, yellow, and red bell pepper
• 2 whole heads of garlic, diced
• 4 tablespoons of wicked good wild canyon pepper blend/ or pigs can fly blend (add more spice if you like more heat)
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 24oz can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 8oz can of tomato paste
• 1/3 cup of olive oil

Directions:

1. Place olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat
2. Add onions and garlic.  Saute
3. Add bell peppers, sweet potato and squash. Sauté until soft
4. Add wicked good spices wild canyon pepper blend or pigs can fly. Mix thoroughly
5. Add corn, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste
6. Stir to blend
7. Cook on low heat for 30 minutes or until squash is fork tender

A Wicked Good Idea is Born

The main reason the company was started was to show people how easy, healthy and fun it can be to make a delicious meal at home!  Rachel always thought the hardest thing about cooking is how much of this spice and how much of that spice you should add.  So go ahead and throw all of those spices you use infrequently and start using our spice blends! They are fresh and economical!  Our blends are perfectly formulated to use for just about everything you like to cook.

The farmer’s market may be closed until the end of May BUT you can get these awesome products at the following locations:

Berry Fresh Farms, 151 Brick Blvd, Brick NJ 08723  (732)477-0606

Cream Ridge Winery, 145 Route 539 (PO Box 98), Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 (609) 259-9797

Dearborn Farm Market, 2170 Rt 35, Holmdel, NJ 07733  (732)264-0256

From The Garden, 353 Fairfield Road, Freehold NJ 07728 (732)866-1745

Cedar Post Farm and Garden Center, 147 NJ Route 70,  Lakehurst,NJ 08753 (732)270-8833

Delicious Orchards, 320 Route 34, Colts Neck, NJ  (732) 462-1989

New Egypt Marketplace, 53 Main Street, New Egypt, NJ 08533 (609) 458-7900

The Lusty Lobster, 88 Bay Ave. Highlands, NJ 07732 (732) 291-1548

Twin Ponds, Rt 9 Howell, NJ 07731

Lovelandtown Grocery and Provisions, 219 Bridge Ave, Point Pleasant,NJ 08742  (732)903-6855

Princes Farm Market , 1123 Mountain Ave, Mountainside, NJ 07092

(908)358-3311

Have a great recipe you want to share?  We would love to feature YOU!  If you try this, let us know what you think…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

How to Make Your Own Swiffer Pads and Solution

Thank you bloglovin for today’s tip….

I will admit I love my Swifter. It makes things quick and easy on the hardwood floors.  I even have a Swifter Jet to do the kitchen floor.  So you can imagine how excited I was to find this inexpensive solution.

This is so much cheaper, with a mild scent and reusable cleaning pads.  I’m not usually one for making my own solutions BUT this seems easy enough….  It’s so simple, you’ll seriously wonder why you didn’t start making your own refills sooner.

For the cleaner, all you really need is water and white vinegar. Add a dash of dish soap to de-grease the floors and some essential oils for scent and shine. Pour the solution over your reusable rags and go to town. When you’re done, just toss the rag in the washing machine and use it again later.

If you have the Swiffer Sweeper, it’s easy to just cut up a couple of old rags for the pads. But if you have the Wet Jet, some people use chenille socks instead of terry towels. Just slip one over the Swiffer’s base and cut two small holes where the solution sprays out. And speaking of solution, to refill the Wet Jet’s bottle, submerge the cap in an inch of boiling water until the plastic softens (it should take about a minute). Then use your hands or a screw driver to gently pry off the cap. Refill the bottle with homemade solution and screw the cap back on. Voila!

Ingredients

2-3 old dish towels
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
3 drops dish soap
5 drops orange essential oil

Instructions

1. Trim dish towels to fit the base of your Swiffer. Fold towels and place in a plastic container.
2. In a small bowl, combine water, vinegar, dish soap and essential oils.
3. Pour solution over the towels.
4. Wash the floors as usual.
5. When you’re done, toss the cleaning pad into the washing machine and reuse.

Need a place to store your DIY kit?  Why not try Thirty One’s Double Duty Caddy

Whoever said you can’t take it with you didn’t know about the Double Duty Caddy. Picnic utensils, condiments, art supplies, cleaning supplies, baby needs, cosmetics and lots more are easily transported in this sturdy, structured carrier. With two separate interior compartments and 4 exterior mesh pockets, there’s plenty of room to take whatever you need with you when you’re on the go. Not going anywhere for a while? Keep it on the kitchen table, counter or in the cupboard to hold napkins, salt and pepper shakers, sugar and more, or put it in the bathroom to keep all your beauty products together and organized.

The best part is when you spend $35 in the month of JUNE (there is still time left!), you can get ANY product in the solid crosshatch print for 50% off.  What an amazing deal and a great way to stock up on some of your favorite organizing products.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Eco-Cleaning Myths DeBunked

Organic.  Non-Toxic. No GMOs.  Every where you turn, people are trying to avoid the toxic chemicals in their homes.  There are some good old fashioned cleaning tips that have gone by the wayside in this fast paced world.

Here are some of those tried and true cleaning solutions:

1. Cleaning and unclogging pipes.

Pour four teaspoons of baking soda into the sink, then add a cup of vinegar. If fizziness and bubbles arise, rinse it down with hot water and your pipe will be unclogged.  I know this one works because we have used it when we are out of Drano.  Cheaper and always on hand.2. Cleaning pots with tomato sauce

Tomato sauce as a cleaning product … who knew? Stainless steel pots usually have a layer of copper, where copper oxide is formed during cooking. The tomato sauce contains acetic acid, which attacks the copper active base of the pan. Apply a thick layer of sauce on the base of the pan and let it work its magic for 30 minutes. Then wipe it away and watch the black stains disappear right before your eyes.

3. Plants help get rid of dust.

Dust appears everywhere, even after having cleaned it away 10 minutes ago. The good news is that plants can help!  They not only bring life to the living room, BUT they also filter the pollutants from our air and provide us with fresh oxygen. Plants such as ferns and orchids catch the floating dust in the air on their leaves and can be wiped off with a damp cloth.

4. Sparkling water removes stains 

Another stain on your shirt? Quickly grab a bottle with sparkling water or soda and let the carbon dioxide dissolve the colour and tannins from the fabric.  This doesn’t work for fat or oil stains!  To use this method, saturate the spot and blot it up with a dry and absorbent cloth in a circular motion- always dab, never rub.

5. Lemon juice makes your exhaust duct shine 

The exhaust duct in the kitchen is a magnet for odors and oil stains. To remove the sticky spots, cut the lemon in half and rub it all over the metal surface. The acid quickly and efficiently removes fats and oils. For stubborn stains, add a few drops of detergent on a cloth and gently rub the stains away. Avoid the use of stainless steel sponges, as they tend to scratch the hood, making it shine even less than before.

6. Clean silver jewelry and silverware with toothpaste.

Is your silver jewellery starting to look dull? Just like your teeth, it turns out that toothpaste is the perfect solution for silverware. Get your trusty toothpaste (not gel) out of the bathroom and scrub the ornaments with a toothbrush. Rinse the toothpaste off by dipping the silverware into a cup of warm water. The oxidised silver particles will be quickly washed away and your jewellery will start to shine again.

What is your best cleaning tip that was passed down in your family?  Share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!