Archive for December, 2007

December 30, 2007 | Allergies, asthma, Cleaning tips

Christmas has come and gone, but New Year is just around the corner, and that means parties! More cleaning to be done, plans to be made, appetizers to prepare, and desserts to bake. The fun of the holidays is far from over!

But in another few days we’ll be putting away holiday decorations and putting our homes back in order - the way they are the rest of the year (or at least the way we want them to be for Superbowl parties).

A few things to remember as you’re doing your cleaning this week and next:

• As you put away your holiday decorations, remember that the regular decor that’s been boxed up may have collected dust and other allergens. Unpack them outside if possible, and dust them before you bring them in - especially if anyone in your home has asthma.
• Now is a great time to replace your air filters. All the changing of home decor probably created more dust in your home, and while you’re cleaning you might as well change those filters.
• Don’t forget to sweep your entry ways (even outside the home) and give your door mats a good clean. With the extra traffic of the holidays, you’ll want to make sure what remains is memories, not dirt to be tracked in!
• Have leftover candy canes? Throw them in a food processor, melt your favorite chocolate and spread it over a cookie sheet. Sprinkle the candy cane dust over the top, and refrigerate. Voila! Peppermint bark! Add a drop or two of peppermint oil to the melted chocolate to make it extra minty.
•  If you have silk plants and trees in your home, now would be a great time to spray them down. Again, the activity of the holidays brings extra things into your home, and that means extra dust. Either put the plants in the shower and use a detachable shower head to spray them down, or take them outside and use a garden hose and sprayer attachment to wash the dust away.
• A feather duster is a great way to go over your home quickly for dust. Just remember to wear a mask if you have severe allergies, do it when others are away, and an hour or two after you dust each room run the vacuum to collect any dust that will have settled into your floors.
• Don’t forget to clean out your refrigerator and freezer after the parties have finished. You’d rather toss it now than in a month when it’s become a science project!
• Does your oven need a good scrub after all your holiday baking? Mine sure does! Good for you if you have a self-cleaning oven. If not, you don’t need a harsh oven cleaner. Just grab a good degreaser (Simple Green works well, as does Bon Ami and Bar Keepers’ Friend). Spray or sprinkle on, let sit a while, and then scrub away. It may take a few rounds, but it’ll be well worth it.

And may the New Year bring you renewed organization, healthy motivation, and a good balance of relaxation and good times with good friends!

December 25, 2007 | Company news

This is an amazing time of year. One of my personal favorites! I love the cool and crisp weather, the frost on the grass in the morning and the generally happy feelings felt by most. There is nothing better than a hot cup of coffee and a rolling fire in the fire place. I love the food and the time spent with family. I even enjoy shopping for gifts, even though I usually choose to wait until the last few days before Christmas, all the while leading up to those said days saying “I’m not buying anything for anybody!”. I enjoy trying to find the perfect thing for the perfect person and then ending up buying a gift card for them anyway on Christmas Eve!

I know a lot of people celebrate Christmas differently. We all have our different traditions. Some choose not to celebrate it at all, others choose to celebrate an entirely different holiday. No matter how you celebrate or what you believe, enjoy this time of year! Walk outside, take in a deep breath and enjoy the scent of pine floating through the air.

A few warm thoughts:

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you’re home. ~Carol Nelson

Merry Christmas!

December 22, 2007 | Health, Essential oils

I have always loved Tea Tree Oil and I’ve seen a few of it’s different uses listed here on Broomhuggers! I was first introduced to it when I got my belly button pierced (Ahh.. the teen years!) and it got slightly infected. The guy that did the piercing for me suggested I try this oil and it helped me heal amazingly fast. Ever since then I’ve been singing the praises of Tea Tree Oil!

I learned one of it’s newest uses this week. A relative of mine called me up to ask me if she could use Tea Tree Oil on a fever blister since she was out of the usual product she used. I told her that it wasn’t going to hurt her and long as she was careful not to actually ingest it and she should give it a shot. Now, if you’ve never had a fever blister (also known as a cold sore) you might not know that they can take weeks to heal. The over the counter products help them heal faster but still a good 4 - 5 days for most people. Well, she called me back the next day saying that the blister was almost gone! The Tea Tree Oil strikes again! There are so many other uses for this handy, easy to find, essential oil. Type Tea Tree Oil into your favorite search engine to see it’s many other helpful uses and then run to your local grocery store (Walmart, Kroger and Target should all carry it) and pick some up!

Usage: dab a bit on, or dilute it with water and use as mouthwash.

Note: Tea Tree Oil is not intended for ingestion. Specifically, limit oral exposure in children, pregnant women, or anyone who would be prone to swallow it.  Tea tree oil can also be an irritant to those with sensitive skin. Try dabbing a small amount on your hand or shoulder, and if your skin doesn’t react than you can use it more liberally. For more information on the safety of tea tree oil, see the National Institute of Health.

December 21, 2007 | Health, Essential oils

A simple addition to your weekly baths – that takes only seconds and costs only pennies – could restore vital magnesium levels in the body, improving health in a number of ways.  Scientific studies have shown that magnesium, the primary component of Epsom Salt, performs more functions in the human body than almost any other mineral. Plus, magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin, which means improving health is as easy as relaxing in the tub.

The National Academy of Sciences reports that the average American female gets just 70% of the magnesium required for good health, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and more.

Magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin, which means bathing in Epsom Salt can help:
• Reduce inflammation
• Relieve sore muscles and aching joints
• Improve heart and circulatory health
• Flush toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Improve the body’s ability to use insulin
• Improve nerve function by regulating electrolytes. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
• Reduce stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body.

Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.

A study by Dr. R.H. Waring at the University of Birmingham reports that bathing in Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate) is a safe and easy way to increase magnesium levels in the body. Study participants soaked in Epsom Salt baths for 12 minutes for seven days. Blood and urine samples were recorded at intervals after the baths. All but two subjects showed an increase in magnesium levels in the body, with the two most likely already having optimum levels of magnesium. The study concluded that most people would benefit from two to three weekly baths in 500-600 grams of Epsom Salt, roughly 2.5 cups.

Now, here’s the trick… want a great hostess gift that won’t cost you a bundle? Something elegant but easy on the wallet? Pick up some essential oils at your local natural foods store, and mix a few drops with a couple cups of epsom salts. Put it in a cute container, and voila!

For Christmas: Mix several cups Epsom salt 1 drop each per cup of salt: frankincense  and myrrh.

For headache relief: Mix same proportions above, using eucalyptus, lavender, and mint.

For cough and cold relief: Mix same proportions above, using eucalyptus, tea tree oil, and rosemary essential oil.

The possibilities are endless, and the staff at your health foods store can help you find even more combinations to suit your mood - be it for relaxation, concentration, or sensuality…

December 20, 2007 | Reviews, Broom Hugged, Health, Cleaning products

I was so excited when earlier this month I walked into Target and saw that Method had their new holiday scents out! I use a lot of Method products at my house so already knowing what the company stands stands for I grabbed up my favorite holiday scent, cinnamon bark, and waltzed out with dreams of a beautifully clean and fragrant household. (more…)

December 17, 2007 | Cleaning tips

Eww! Gross! At least, that’s what you’d say if you looked at mine. I may own a cleaning company, but doing those special cleaning tasks (like ceiling fans, baseboards, etc.) doesn’t come naturally to me. They take work. And thought. And lots of other things that fall by the wayside in the midst of 2.5 kids, managing a company, and dealing with the curve-balls life throws.

The primary reason I don’t like cleaning the ceiling fan is that it’s hard to do it right. You have to get up on a ladder with a bucket of soapy water. You have to ensure that there’s nothing below to absorb any dust that falls off. You have to wear a mask (if you’re cleaning my fan, at least) because the amount of dust kicked up into the air - even when using a wet sponge that dust clings to - will clog your lungs in an instant, and send you sneezing and falling off the aforementioned ladder. Yuck.

But guess what? I got a new vacuum with a boat-load of a attachments. And one of them is perfect for cleaning the ceiling fan. Ladder-less. Waterless. And the powerful suction of the vacuum keeps the vast majority of the dust from being sent airborne. I love it. Do you have a vacuum with attachments? If not, you should. Or at least you should consider getting a hand-held vac that can handle ceiling fans, air vents, and the top of things like door frames and window treatments. It’ll be your new best friend.

December 15, 2007 | Health, Essential oils

I put a lot of effort into keeping my family as natural as possible. Most of our food is natural, most of our personal products are natural and I clean with all natural products. I know there are a lot of others out there that do the same. But, what about our four legged family members (or two legged if you live in Australia and are lucky enough to own a kangaroo… I’m envious)? We would like to get a puppy when we find a place with a big yard so I figured I should start doing some research now.

Fleas tend to be a big problem here in Georgia but before you reach for that flea spray, shampoo, powder or collar maybe we should thoroughly check them out first. Pesticides of ANY kind are designed to kill living things. Even though only a small amount is needed to kill off something as small as a flea, these pesticides can still do damage to our four legged friends. A report done in 2000 by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that hundreds, if not thousands, of pets have been poisoned by the pesticides in the pet products that were intended to keep them safe. The even bigger issue is the effect these pesticides can have on those of us of the two legged variety (no, not the kangaroo, the HUMAN). The NRDC report called attention to the poisoning risks faced by pet care workers like veterinary assistants and groomers. One survey found that people who work with pesticides used on pets are two-and-a-half times more likely to have health related problems than other workers. One of the popular flea medications you can get from your vet is applied by putting a liquid in between your animals shoulder blades. Once that liquid is applied you cannot let your kids touch the animal for 24 hours. The way this medication works is it doesn’t kill the fleas but it damages their reproductive organs so they cannot reproduce. That just isn’t something I want to have in my house!

So, what can we do about those pesky fleas? Here are a few ideas: Most people treat for fleas year round. Instead of subjecting your pets to year round treatments find out when flea season is in your area and start preventative measures right before it starts or at the first sight of a flea. For dogs: Slice up a lemon (skin and all) and pour one pint of nearly boiling water over it. Let sit overnight. Strain the liquid and pour into a spray bottle. Spritz your dog generously and rub it in. Citrus oil kills and repels fleas. You can use this solution on pet bedding, too. For cats: Since they don’t like citrus scent or being sprayed, try this recipe: mix one ounce pennyroyal oil with 18 ounces of water and sponge it onto your cat, massaging it in. You can use this mixture on dogs as well. (NOTE: Pennyroyal can be toxic to animals in high concentrations, so be sure to always dilute it. Pregnant women should NOT use pennyroyal.) Cedar filled bedding is also a great flea repellant but the scent does fade after a while so renew the scent with cedar oil drops. Cedar blocks can also be placed throughout the house to help with fleas indoors. They also dislike the scent of lavender, mint, rosemary, and sweet woodruff, so you can use sachets of these herbs in furniture, too. For some more information on this topic and some great products check out Nature’s Pet. Don’t forget, not only will these tips keep your pets safe and healthy but it will keep the kids that love them safe and healthy too!

December 14, 2007 | Company news, Being Green

We wrote a post a few days ago about Green-washing. We thought it might be helpful to come completely clean about our business - for the sake of our clients, and for the sake of transparency. I’d hope that other products and services out there would do the same. So here are the 6 sins, complete with how we add up:

• Trade-offs. The example given: Paper. It may be harvested from sustainable forests but how environmentally-savvy is the production?
  • Broom Huggers is gradually taking steps to make all aspects of our business sustainable and responsible. The places where we’re lacking right now are transportation (financial prohibitions have kept us from going carbon-neutral), energy (our office uses some sustainable power, but not 100%), and marketing (while we opt for 100% recycled paper, and go paper-free as often as possible, we still advertise in print and haven’t paid the high premium for the most environmentally-responsible paper and inks).
    
• No proof. Claims are offered, but no substantiation is given or made available.
  • We aim to be as transparent as possible. If you have questions about any claims made in our marketing or on our website, we’ll be happy to respond via telephone or email. We’re the only cleaning service in Georgia certified by Co-op America. 
• Vagueness. This is a big one. Claims like chemical-free, non-toxic, and all-natural can’t be substantiated.
  • Well, we happen to use these terms all the time. Why? Because according our market research, it’s what our target clientele wants to hear. And according to their definition, it’s true - we meet their expectations there. But, we go one step further. We also tell you that we’re phosphate-free, paraben-free, and phenol-free. We’re chlorine-free and ammonia-free. Lead-free too. We’re hypo-allergenic. We don’t use disposables. Our cleaning solutions biodegrade in 28 days or less. Ask us what we mean by any of those things and we’ll tell you. There are plenty of other things that you won’t find in our products, but most of the readers here wouldn’t be interested in that list. Let me know if you want it, and I’ll get it to you. 
• Irrelevance. Companies use advertising claims that have little to no relevance to their product or target group. They count on their consumers not paying attention and not doing any research.
  • Our blog is intended to educate. We want you to know what we’re talking about, and we want you to know why it’s relevant. The truth is a tool, and we intend to use it often and wisely.
• Fibbing. Lots of companies make claims that are simply not true. Dig a little deeper than the surface, and you’ll find little fabrications.
  • Frankly, this one just makes me a little sad. You’ll never - and I mean never - catch us in an intentional fib. Nor will you catch us hiding the truth. See, our business is designed around faith-based values. Integrity is key, and not just because it’s a nice trait, but because one day we believe we’ll have to answer to the only High God and King. And fibbing just isn’t worth having to justify to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It just seems silly. We won’t throw our faith in your face, but you can be confident that our integrity and honesty is driven by something deeper than mere warm fuzzy feelings. 
• The lesser of two evils. The example given is ‘organic’ tobacco or ‘green’ insecticides.
  • If you can find an ‘evil’ that we’re ignoring, please - by all means - bring it to our attention. I’ve put quite a bit of thought into this to figure out what this could be for us. I just can’t find anything. But that doesn’t make us perfect. Like I said, you look. Ask questions. Be an informed consumer. And if you find something, let us know so we can fix it!
    

December 12, 2007 | Food & drink, Health, Pregnancy

Being an Emergency Medical Technician I could give you the medical explanation of why we need iron and what it does for us . I will spare you the medical jargon and just tell you that we need iron because it is an important component in our blood, which we all know we desperately need, and it helps us maintain a healthy immune system. The recommended daily amount varies by web site and is quite controversial but here is an idea of what I have found:

~ 10 mg a day for children, men over 18 and women over 50
~ 15 mg a day for females and lactating women
~ 30 mg a day for pregnant women

Iron is not secreted from the body except for very small amounts through hair, nails and skin so the amount of iron we consume builds up over time. The other obvious way we reduce the iron in our bodies is through blood loss. Having too much iron in your diet (HEMOCHROMATOSIS) can be cause for concern. Most Americans get enough iron in their diet, some get too much, others can be deficient. Those who are most likely deficient are children, pregnant women and those with tested and diagnosed iron deficiencies. The easiest way to find out how much iron is in your blood is by a simple blood test that can be preformed by your doctor. The other ways you can make sure your iron level isn’t too high is to avoid taking iron supplements (unless instructed by your doctor) and by donating blood. Sure, it may involve a little pain, but donating blood serves the dual purpose of ridding your body of excess iron and potentially saving lives.
To keep your iron levels in check, follow a healthy and varied diet! You can find out about iron-rich foods here. If you are into checking labels than see how much iron is in the processed foods you eat. The recommended daily value of iron on labels is 18 mg which unless you are pregnant is more than most adults need (The daily value percentage has not been updated since the 1960’s). So, if the daily value of iron on the label is 10% it really contains closer to 20% of your daily quota. Just double the number to get a closer result.

The skinny on iron? It helps maintain overall blood health and energy levels, but there is such a thing as too much. Your doctor can help you decide what works best for you and whether or not you need supplements.

Being Green, Lifestyle, News

TerraChoice, an environmental marketing firm, has keyed us in to a new trend in the marketplace. They call it “Green-washing,” which by their definition is “the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.” They deliver to us the 6 sins of green-washing, which are frighteningly prevalent.

Without regurgitating their list (you can read it here), I will point out that some of the big points are unsubstantiated claims and blanket, meaningless terms. Certain products cannot be certified organic (most meat, many cleaning supplies, etc.). But that doesn’t stop companies from calling their products or services organic. Another big one is “all-natural.” My high school English teacher would put that in the same category as the word “good” - totally meaningless in that it’s too subjective, overly broad, and not verifiable. In fact, even cocaine is natural, but that doesn’t make it healthy.

The fact of the matter is, the ‘green’ market has been flooded by people jumping on the band-wagon, but unfortunately the vast majority of companies, products, and services out there are only giving it lip-service. John Makower wrote a great post about TerraChoice’s Six Sins of Greenwashing, and I encourage you to check out what he has to say about it.

If you, as a consumer, are going to spend the extra energy and money to come over to the greener side, you owe it to yourself to be informed about the market.