How to Make Cheap and Easy Eco-Friendly Surface Cleaners

There’s been a lot of talk lately about needing to take better care of the environment. New cleaning products available which claim to be good for the earth; however, they can be expensive. Below are instructions on how to make a cheap and easy eco-friendly surface cleaner you can use all over your home.

#1 – One of the easiest and most economical cleaners is simply to put 6 ounces of vinegar in a clean 12 ounce spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water and shake. Keep out of the reach of children and do not mix this with bleach. It can be used all over the house. You may also add essential oils – more drops if you want a stronger smell – and one tablespoon of liquid soap.

** Add essential oils to your homemade cleaners: Cleaning Blend 100% Pure, Best Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil - 10ml - Lemongrass, Lemon Eucalyptus, French Lavender, Rosemary , Tea Tree 

** Get more tips from Essential Oils for a Clean and Healthy Home: 200+ Amazing Household Uses for Tea Tree Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lavender Oil, and More

#2 – Make an abrasive powder cleaner by combining equal amounts of Borax (found in most grocery store laundry aisles) and baking soda and mix until thoroughly incorporated. To use the cleaner, sprinkle it on any wet surface and scrub with a sponge. Rinse the area with water to remove any residue.

#3 – You can also make an all-purpose cleaner by dissolving 1/8 cup Borax in 1 quart of hot water. If you want to make larger quantities, use 1/2 cup Borax to 1 gallon of water.

** Get the MILLIARD Borax Powder - Pure Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2 lb. Bag

#4 – Try cleaning tiles surrounding your tub by cutting a lemon in half and dipping it into a plate of Borax. Use the lemon to scrub the tile. Rinse with warm water.

#5 – Make this all-purpose disinfectant by mixing 2 teaspoons Borax, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 3 to 4 cups of hot water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle. To make the mixture clean better, try adding 1/4 teaspoon Castile liquid soap.

** Get Dr. Bronner's Fair Trade & Organic Castile Liquid Soap - (Unscented, 16 oz) 

#6 – To clean wood surfaces, mix equal amounts of olive oil and vinegar and polish the furniture with a soft cloth.

Popular Brands of Energy-Efficient A-Shape Bulbs

A-shape CFL bulbs look almost like the standard incandescent bulb. They come in different sizes and wide range of brightness. A-shape bulbs are most suitable for lamps, ceiling fixtures and fans, recessed can fixtures, wall sconces, track lighting fixtures, and hanging pendants.

Here are popular brands and makers of energy-efficient A-shape bulbs:

11-watt Soft White A17 (General Electric)
Size: 4.4 inches long
Brightness: 400 lumens, equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is for home use. Its warm white light and low brightness are perfect for ambient lighting
Life expectancy: 10,000 hours

15-watt Soft White A19 and A21 (General Electric)
Sizes: 4.7 inches and 5.4 inches long
Brightness: 825 lumens, equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is good for home use. Its warm white light and medium brightness particularly suit hallway and room lighting.
Life expectancy: 10,000 hours

20-watt Soft White Biax A23 (General Electric)
Size: 6.1 inches long
Brightness: 1,125 lumens, equivalent to a 75-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is good for home use. Its warm white light and medium brightness particularly suit hallway and room lighting.
Life expectancy: 10,000 hours

13-watt A-Style (Maxlite)
Size: 4.3 inches long
Brightness: 800 lumens, equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is good for home use. Its warm white light and medium brightness particularly suit hallway and room lighting.
Life expectancy: 15,000 hours

20-watt A-Shape Soft White (Westinghouse)
Size: 6.58 inches long
Brightness: 1,000 lumens, equivalent to an 80-watt incandescent bulb
Use: This bulb is for home use. Its warm white light and high brightness are suitable for reading
Life expectancy: 6,000 hours

Diet Strategies That Lower Cholesterol Levels

Have you been eating oily and fatty foods for as long as you can remember? You may have to have your cholesterol levels checked. A diet high in cholesterol poses risks to one’s health and increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

You can modify your eating habits slowly and with conviction until you reach normal cholesterol levels. Diet modification may sound like you’re stripping away all the fun in eating, but it does not really. Sensible diet strategies and personal discipline will provide you good food and good health. A well-balanced diet from all food groups is doable. Here are ways to cut down on saturated fat:

Put vegetables on top of your list
Remember what your mother used to tell you at the dining table? Eat your vegetables. Research has proven that a diet that consists mainly of vegetables help reduce a person’s risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Vegetables are rich in fiber that help flush out bad cholesterol, vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system, and antioxidants that fight cancer.

Use non-fat milk or soy milk
It may be good to eat fiber-rich whole grain cereals every day. But if your milk of choice for that bowl of cereal is high in fat, you may not reach your desired cholesterol levels at all. Choose non-fat milk, skim milk, or soy milk for your cereal. The taste is almost the same but the nutritional benefits are definitely high.

Choose lean meats
Do you like grilling meats during a cookout or picnic? Consider using lean meats. These don’t have that much fat in the center and in the edge but taste just as good as the usual slab of steak. Enjoy lean meats with mash potatoes (use low fat butter) or vegetable salad.

Eat seafood more often
Food from the sea is rich in Omega 3, a type of oil that fights the bad cholesterol in our body. Eat fish or shellfish every day for lunch or dinner. A seafood diet can be very effective in lowering levels of cholesterol. Best to have the fish grilled or boiled instead of fried.

Have nuts and fruits for dessert
Candies, cakes, and ice cream are all rich in sugar and fat. Do away with candies altogether. Eat cakes in moderation and go for ice cream that contains less fat or no animal fat. The best desserts by far are nuts and fruits. These contain high levels of vitamins, minerals and fiber which are all good for your body.

Don’t chicken out on chicken 
Love fried chicken? Roasted, poached, or steamed chicken may be better. Flavor the dish with herbs and olive oil to make it more delicious. In time, you’ll learn to say no to fried chicken. It is never too late to make some changes in your lifestyle and diet. You can have more control over your plan if you cook your own food. Recipes and cookbooks on healthy eating are available everywhere. Come up with your own low-cholesterol recipes and share them with friends and family!

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Swimming Pool

Guide to Buying a Swimming Pool

Making the decision to buy a swimming pool can prove to be quite difficult, especially when you are trying to choose between an in ground pool or an above ground pool.  Either pool type can be good for you and your family, but you may want to compare each one’s features before you make that final decision.

Here are 5 things to consider when buying a swimming pool:

1. The Shape
Choosing the shape of the pool is important because it’s when you get to consider how many people are going to use that pool. In ground pools are available in square, oval, or kidney shape.  Above ground pools only come in round or oval shape.  If you have a large family or many friends who enjoy swimming, you may want to choose a shape that can accommodate many people.

2. The Size
The size of the pool is also an important consideration.  Take note that above ground pools are much smaller than in ground pools.  In ground pools are a lot bigger and offer many different sizes.  However, they are more expensive than above ground pools.  Above ground swimming pools are cheaper and use less water, although they tend to limit the activities you can do in water.

Get an Intex Easy Set 12-Foot by 30-Inch Round Pool Set for your family!

3. The Depth
If you like to dive, you will have to choose an in ground pool.  Above ground pools can’t have diving boards, as most are only 6 foot deep.  Having an in ground pool will provide you with your preferred diving height.

4. Your Budget
If you are on a budget but want to get a pool anyway, your best choice shall be an above ground pool.  The above ground pool is way cheaper than an in ground pool and can definitely save you a lot of money.  The money that you save can be used to purchase add-ons to your pool such as a deck or privacy fence.  If you choose to purchase an in ground pool, however, you will have no need for a deck and the privacy fence need not be as high as it would with an above ground pool.

5. Installation
Installation is also something that you should consider when buying a pool. You can install above ground pools by yourself with little or no help in a few hours.  The installation of an in ground pool, on the other hand, will take several days and must be done by a professional.  The cost of having it installed can be costly.

Get a Mushroom Baby Pool for your little one! 


Choosing the right type of swimming pool really comes down to how you want to use the pool.  If you need bigger space or want to dive and swim laps, an in ground pool is your best choice.  If you can be content with a smaller pool for yourself or your kids, an above ground pool would be just right.  Choose the pool that will work best for you.

Use Coupons to Save More and Spend Less

The financial recession isn't over yet.  This is what the news tells us every day. If you're feeling the crunch, you might as well start adopting certain measures to curb your usual expenses.  Whether you're an individual fending only for yourself or a parent running a household, using coupons and promo codes will help you save more and spend less money.

Why use coupons?

Coupons are a great way to save on purchases, especially on groceries.  Sure, most coupons are promotional in nature. But by and large, it's a win-win situation for both manufacturers and consumers.  Get a liter of cooking oil and get another one for half the price? That's not so bad, especially since you'll be using that extra bottle of cooking oil soon, anyway.

Why avail of promo codes?

Promo Codes are great to use practically anywhere and for whatever type of purchase.  Use them to buy clothes, gadgets or to purchase travel tickets. Avail of promo codes at the right time and in the perfect season. For example, if you spot a promo code for a good game of baseball on a good weather, grab it!

Saving money is all about strategy.  More than scrimping whatever you got, using coupons and promo codes is a sure way to spend less and get more of what you buy. Save Money. Print Free Coupons Anytime.