Hello All, and A Happy New Year to All!:
THis blog from the Green Guide from Nat'l Geographic has lots of great tips and ideas:
http://www.thegreenguide.com/blog/diy_divaEnjoy!,
His,
Bruce
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DIY DivaBy Donna Garlough
Cleaning Tarnished MetalFiled under: Cleaning and care, Do It Yourself
09:32 am - January 10, 2008
With the holidays over and the January malaise setting in, you may find a mountain of dirty dishes growing in your sink. While it's no sweat to run an extra load of plates and glassware through the dishwasher, cleaning soiled stainless-steel and copper cookware quickly becomes tiresome. Not only does it take more effort to get them clean, it's tough to make them really sparkle without the use of harsh cleaners and metal polishes. But while there are many products designed to shine up tarnished metal, I personally can't stomach the thought of using them on my cookware. (These things touch my food, after all.) And given their typically strong chemical odor, I don't doubt they often contain toxic volatile organic compounds. In a word: Ick.
What to do? Try this trick: After washing your cookware in soapy water to remove grease, cut a lemon in half crosswise. Dip the exposed side of the lemon in a plate of table salt, and rub the salted lemon in a circular motion over any metal parts that have been discolored by cooking and washing. The acid in the lemon juice helps restore the tarnished surfaces' shine, and the salt facilitates the scrubbing. Squeeze the lemon slightly as you scrub to help release the juice, and dip it in more salt as necessary. When you're satisfied with the results, rinse your cookware clean and towel dry ASAP to prevent further tarnishing.
Finally, gleaming metal pots and pans, no chemicals required. Now that's worth toasting.
© The Green Guide, 2007
DIY Sugar ScrubFiled under: Sugar, Skin Care, DIY
5:08 pm - January 3, 2008
Now that much of the country is blanketed with a sheet of ice, it's beginning to set in: There ain't no turning back from winter. Even if my brain isn't ready to face four more months of frigid temps (I live in Boston, where the sidewalks stay covered by dirty snow piles until late April), my body's beginning to show the evidence: flaky lips, dried-out elbows and crackly hands.
Time for some pampering skin treatments--DIY, of course. Whip up a batch of homemade sugar scrub, which smoothes and moisturizes. I'm convinced it's the easiest beauty treatment there is. All you need is granulated (table) sugar and a neutral, skin-compatible oil such as jojoba, almond, or extra-light olive. If you like a fragranced scrub, add essential oils. Here's how to mix it up.
Easy Sugar Scrub
1/2 cup granulated (table) sugar
1/2 cup oil
5-10 drops essential oil such as lavender, geranium, or grapefruit (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a sealable plastic or glass container, mixing thoroughly with a fork. This mixture can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks.
* For hands: Wash hands first, then scoop up a handful of the scrub and rub hands thoroughly. Rinse and pat dry, allowing the residual oil to fully absorb into the skin.
* For your body: Stand in the shower on a towel or mat, which will prevent slipping. Apply the scrub to dry skin, rubbing in circular motions. When you're done scrubbing, turn on the water and rinse skin clean, but don't soap up--you want a layer of oil to remain. Pat skin dry, then apply body lotion to lock in the moisture.
* For lips: Use your fingers to apply a tiny amount of (non-scented) scrub to lips, then rub lips together to exfoliate. Remove the scrub with a damp washcloth, then apply a layer of lip balm to further hydrate.
© The Green Guide, 2007
