New Treatment Guidelines for Back Pain Stress Non-Drug Interventions, Physical Movement and Watchful Waiting Legal Filing Accuses EPA of Unfairly Protecting Monsanto Kennedy Challenges Journalists to Balanced Discussion About Vaccine Safety Vitamin D Is More Effective Than Flu Vaccine, Study Says Healing the Body With Photobiomodulation Silver nanoparticles used as antimicrobials in fabric can leach out of clothes as they are being washed. One brand lost over half of its silver content from the fabric with just two washings. A group of scientists tested how well silver nanoparticles stayed in treated fabrics under conditions similar to a washing machine. They considered mechanical stress and chemical factors such as bleaches, pH and surfactants. First, they measured the silver content of several different brands and types of fabrics that used silver nanoparticles. They then washed the fabrics in detergent, later adding steel balls to simulate mechanical stress that would be similar to normal washing conditions.
Some of the fabrics were also treated with bleaching agents during washing. When the fabrics were washed in water with detergent only, the silver generally stayed in the fabrics. However, several fabrics released silver quite readily once the steel balls were added to mimic mechanical actions of the washing machine. Of the seven nanoparticle fabrics subjected to mechanical stress, four lost roughly 20 percent to 35 percent of their silver with the first wash.A B O U T R E C I P E B O X D E S I G N C O N T A C T H O U S E T O U R I N S T A G R A M P I N T E R E S T 4. Using a white cloth (I strongly believe in microfiber washcloths), sponge the stain with the detergent/vinegar solution and blot until all the liquid is absorbed. 5. Sponge off with cold water and blot dry.Norwex CleaningNorwex BizDeep CleaningSpring CleaningMattress CleanerNorwex ProductsDust MitesBody OilsBed SofaForwardNorwex Mattress Spray All the Way! OR take care of these mites by following the steps above.
Have a vet treat a pet for fleas to help control infestation. Pets often reside part or full time inside the home, sometimes sleeping on the bed and accompanied by unwanted guests -- fleas. The adult flea bite can be intensely itchy and irritating to a hypersensitive person or pet. These small, wingless insects lay their eggs on an animal. The eggs soon fall off and land where the animal spends much of its time, such as under the couch or on your mattress. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed on flea feces. The larvae become cocoon-wrapped pupae. In the pupae stage, the developing flea is protected from insecticides until it emerges. Remove all blankets and sheets and a mattress pad from the mattress. Place all machine-washable bedding immediately in the washing machine -- do not put it in a hamper with other clothing or wait until later to take care of it. Wash and dry the bedding on the hottest temperature settings. Put any dry-clean-only articles into a plastic garbage bag. Close the bag tightly using a wire twist tie.
Dust the mattress with a botanically based insecticide, such as one made from chrysanthemums. Shake the powder thoroughly over the bed. Coat all crevices along piped edges. Wait a couple of hours or the length of time suggested on the label. Vacuum the mattress thoroughly or follow the instructions on the label for removing the powder, pupae and remaining fleas. Remove the bag from the vacuum cleaner. Put the bag into the garbage. Take the garbage out of the home. Open the bag slightly with the nonwashable bedding inside. Spray inside with a botanically based spray insecticide. Leave the bag closed for two weeks. Shake the bag to encourage any remaining pupae to emerge from their cocoons. Open the bag slightly. Wait a few hours, or the length of time suggested on the label, before removing the items from the bag. Shake out the bedding outdoors, away from the home, before bringing them to a dry cleaner. Things You Will Need Garbage bag Twist tie Botanically based powder insecticide Botanically based spray insecticide Vacuum Warnings References The University of Kentucky: Ridding Your Home of Fleas Photo Credits Digital Vision./Photodisc/Getty Images Suggest a Correction
Making my own household cleaner is probably something I should have tried a long time ago. Not only is it more affordable than most of the “natural” cleaners on the market, it’s also incredibly easy to make! I’ve always assumed that anything I made at home wouldn’t be as effective as a something I could buy at the store, which is why I’ve hesitated making my own cleaner up to this point. I’ve also dreaded having my house smell like vinegar. Luckily, my sister-in-law is braver than I am, and started making her own all-natural cleaners when she became a mom. To my pleasant surprise, her home doesn’t smell like vinegar, and it’s just as clean– if not cleaner– than it was back when she was using the store-bought stuff. This was the proof I needed to try it myself. The following cleaner uses all-natural ingredients that you may already have in your house. It takes less than 5 minutes to make, and is just as effective as any other cleaner I’ve tried.
Don’t be afraid of the vinegar smell, it will dissipate as it dries. Adding tea tree oil to the mix not only improves the overall scent, but it also helps kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Feel free to use it as you would any other multi-surface cleaner! makes 3 1/2 cups 1/2 cup white vinegar 1/4 teaspoon tea tree oil (about 10 drops)* Optional: 10 drops essential oil, for scent *Note: 100% pure tea tree oil is toxic, especially to pets. As I understand it, it can be considered safe when diluted properly, using at least a 10:1 ratio of water to essential oil. This recipe errs on the safe side and uses 50 times more water, for a 576:1 ratio. In a 1-quart spray bottle, combine the vinegar, water and tea tree oil and shake well to combine. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mix, if you’d prefer a scented cleaner. You can use this cleaner on any hard surface, such as counter tops, sinks, and floors. When used with a microfiber cloth, it will even clean your mirrors and windows without leaving streaks!