How To Clean Veggies

How Clean Veggies

Caring for  vegetables  starts at the grocery store.  

First, you should select the healthiest looking veggies that you can find. If you are looking for leafy greens, make sure you select greens that are not wilted, that are not yellow, and, that are not too wet.

Many grocery stores carry packaged vegetables and unpackaged vegetables.  Packaged vegetables usually are pre washed. However, it is a good idea to run them under the faucet before you eat them.  (This is a personal precaution.)  

Carrots and leafy greens are items that you can purchase already packaged or, loose, if so desired. Herbs are usually packaged in small quantities.  Potatoes, tomatoes, fruit,  and onions are also sold per item or packaged.

Because a grocery store is a public place where most of us go to buy food, we should be aware that there are germs and bacteria there, too.  Produce is brought in from farms all over the country and imported from farms in other countries.

Although produce is inspected and washed before it reaches the grocery store, it is a good idea to wash it when you get home. Produce comes from the earth.  What is in that soil? dirt and bugs.  In case something was missed, you should wash your produce before preparing it for you and your family.

Now, there is another issue that may need your attention.  When selecting your vegetables, if they are not prepackaged, place them in a plastic bag that is provided by the store.  This protects vegetables  from picking up any more germs or dirt before you get to the checkout.  Always, place loose vegetables in a plastic or paper bag, whatever is provided by the store, before you get to the checkout. 

Many, many people place vegetables directly on the checkout conveyer belt, sans bag.  That is, they place vegetables, unpackaged, unprotected by a plastic bag onto the dirty, germ ridden conveyer belt to be rung up and bagged.  So, what happens, more contaminants get on your vegetables just from the checkout conveyer belt, alone.  Remember, you can ingest these contaminates right along with your tasty vegetables.

Germs and bacteria can be brought into your home just by innocently shopping for vegetables for dinner.  

• Precaution:  bag your produce in plastic bags that are provided by the store.  They are there for a reason. 

• Never  place vegetables that are not protected by a plastic or paper bag onto a checkout conveyer belt.

• Thoroughly, wash vegetables before using them. A solution of white vinegar and water is good for washing vegetables.  A mild soap and water solution can’t hurt, either.

       Hope this helped, thanks for viewing my blog,     

       goodtips

Wash Hands Use Wipes

Clean = Prevention= Better Health

Washing your hands frequently and keeping dust bunnies at bay are things you can do to promote healthy living.  We live in a world that we naturally share with germs and bacteria.  We can protect ourselves from unnecessary illnesses and diseases, simply by taking precautions such as practicing cleanliness. 

 Germs are transferable from one person to another as we work together, socialize together, travel and shop together.  This is society.  If you are going to be out and about and not be reclusive, then you may be at risk of catching a cold, or some other minor illness that is easily transferable and, can develop into something more serious like the flu.

Before you end up in the doctor’s office or make a visit to the emergency room, take some precautions on your own.

• Wash your hands frequently.  Even if you feel like you are washing the skin off - WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY

• Use Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer or Hand Wipes when you cannot wash your hands as frequently as you like.

• When using a paper towel dispenser, dispense the paper towels before you wash your hands. After washing your hands, tear off the paper towels and dry your hands.  In this way you will not touch the dispenser after you have washed your hands.  Thus, no transfer of germs.

• Do not touch the door handle of a public restroom after washing your hands. Use a paper towel or even your sleeve (if you must) to open the door. There are millions of germs on that handle.

• Carry disposable wipes at all times.  Wipe down anything that you might touch in a public place.  For example, if you use a shopping cart at the grocery store, wipe down the cross bar that is used to push the cart. If you have a baby or a toddler, wipe down that entire seat, including the cross bar before you put your child in that seat.

• When using a touch pad at the bank or grocery self check out, use the stylus that is provided.  Avoid using your finger unless you are wearing gloves.  Some stores have a touch window that you must touch with your finger.  Try to wear gloves or use hand sanitizer immediately afterward.  

• Of course, door handles, anywhere, are a breeding ground for germs. Sometimes, you cannot avoid touching the handle of the door of a public building, just remember to sanitize your hands or wear a pair of gloves. More and more buildings have installed automatic doors that open and shut on their own.  EXCELLENT

• The COMPUTER keypad and mouse or touch pad are another breeding ground for germs.  Buy a box of antiseptic wipes or sterile alcohol prep pads. The prep pads are small and come in pouches of a box of 25, 50, for example. Keep them at the computer and wipe the keys, the mouse or touch pad before and after use.  Because they are small, they are easy to use to clean the keys. Wipe down your computer desk, even if you are the only person using it.  Do this frequently. If you work in an office and use a computer, then it is essential that you take this precaution. 

• You should use wipes whenever you go to the Public Library.  It is a public place. Wipe down the computer before you use it.  Books are dirty, and they have been handled by lots of people. When you are finished perusing the stacks, use your wipes to disinfect your hands.

• Dusting hardwood floors and furniture can improve your home environmental health.  If you have carpet, vacuum frequently.  Do not let dust collect on floors and furniture, especially where you sleep.  Make sure the bedroom floor is dust free, whether you have carpet or hardwood floors. Dust can contribute to respiratory problems and, can aggravate asthma, not to mention provide a place for mites to live.

Hope this was helpful, thanks for reading my blog, goodtips

Remove Stain with Cornstarch

Cornstarch

Back to the Pantry for another ingredient that can be used to clean up and remove a spot from paper or fabric.

Cornstarch is not always used as an ingredient in everyday cooking, but used as a special ingredient in certain dishes.  However, it should be a mainstay in the pantry so when needed it is there.  This ingredient will soak up moisture or oil from a stain.  

Sprinkle it on the stain.  Let it sit for a few minutes, I usually allow at least fifteen minutes for it to absorb the stain.

Sometimes, it’s a good idea to place a piece of paper or a paper towel on the other side of the item from which you are trying to remove the stain.  In this way the moisture or the oil will pass through and rest on the paper towel as you start cleaning the surface.

After a short time the cornstarch should have absorbed the moisture or oil.

Now you are ready to take a brush with medium bristles and brush the cornstarch away.  The mixture should be absorbed into the cornstarch and as it is brushed away, the stain should be gone.  

I have had great success with this method.  In fact, I tried this on a slightly dirty dry spot on fabric.  It worked very well.  In that case, instead of using a brush right away, I simply rubbed the fabric against itself with the cornstarch, and then brushed the cornstarch away.

Oil is sometimes hard to remove, so try again if it does not work the first time.

Pantry items have various uses other than cooking. This is a great revelation because they are natural ingredients that will not cause harm.  They can be used and mixed with other ingredients safely.  

In cooking, cornstarch adds texture, and can be used as a thickener in soups, stews, and chowders.  There are also other uses.

Hope this was useful,

goodtips

How to Clean a Book

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Book Sense

Literacy is for everyone, and books should be taken care of, very carefully.

Books are by-products of trees.  They are composed of different kinds of paper, depending on the book and its subject.  If  it is important to you to take care of your books, then you want to keep them clean and dust free as much as possible.  Dust can deteriorate and destroy paper. 

Dust them often or better still keep them in a cabinet or provide a dust cover for each volume.   A glass front  book case is ideal for keeping dust and bookworms out of your books.   

To remove accumulated dust from old volumes begin by using a small brush to remove dust from the inside spine.  Brush away from the binding toward the edge of the page. 

Pages in older books are fragile, so be careful not to damage brittle pages.

If your books have a heavy layer of dust on them, you can use a vacuum cleaner that has a HePA filter.  Use the soft brush that comes with the vacuum cleaner and reduce the suction.

Clean the outside edges first.  A soft cloth can be used if there is light to medium dust on the books.  Use a magnetic cloth.  They do not contain chemicals that can be left  behind that cause damage.  

A magnetic cloth cannot be used on untrimmed pages or deckled pages. They may rub dirt into the edges of the pages.

Clean the top of the book first, then the spine.  You don’t want to damage the end cap. 

Clean your books on a regular basis to avoid dust, insect infestation, mold and acid build up from the paper.

Libraries and institutions that have a large collection of books use two person teams to keep books in good condition.  The books are taken off the shelves, from top to bottom, placed on a book cart.  The shelves are then cleaned while the books are vacuumed.  They are then put back on the shelves in the order in which they were removed.

Book shelves should not be cleaned with a feather duster, they redistribute dust.  Magnetic cloths can be used to clean metal shelves.  Wooden or metal shelves can be cleaned by washing with a mild detergent.  They must be allowed to dry completely to avoid the growth of mold.

Taking care of your books can extend the life of your favorite volumes.  Although they may not be a part of a special collection, they are your books and they may mean a great deal to you.  A tip for helping you take care of them.

Happy Reading, 

 goodtips

SALT

Salt Is Essential

Ye art the salt of the earth:  but if the salt has lost its savour  wherewith will it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot by men.

Matthew 5:13

Salt is ancient, to say the least.  Salt is essential to life.  It is found all over the world in different forms.  Salt  found in oceans is the main mineral, thus the term “sea salt.” In its natural form it is called rock salt or halite which is a crystalline mineral.  

Common table salt is composed of sodium chloride. The taste for salt is basic to the human taste buds.  However, only 6% is used for human consumption.  Sodium is essential to human health because it is an electrolyte.  With this being a fact, consuming too much salt can be harmful to the human body. 

A fact to note: ancient people who raised animals and ate animals from their herds did not use salt in their food, because there is more salt in animal tissue than in plant tissue.  

Because salting is probably the oldest method of preserving and seasoning food, salt was highly valued by the ancient Hebrews, Romanians, Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Hittites, Egyptians, and Indians.  In other words the world, as it existed at that time, valued salt as a precious commodity for trade.

The ancient Hebrews used salt in making a Covenant with God.  They sprinkled salt on their offerings to show their trust in Him.

  Wars were fought over salt as the need increased for preserving and salting food.  In fact, Roman soldiers were paid a “salary” in salt; thus, the word “salary” comes from the Latin word salarium.  

Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French salarie, from Latin salarium, originally denoting a Roman soldier's allowance to buy salt, from sal ‘salt' (dictionary definition).

This mineral, salt, has many uses aside from seasoning and preserving:

• manufacturing: polyvinyl chloride, plastics, paper pulp
• water conditioning processes
• de-icing roads
• agricultural use
• soaps
• glycerine

These are some of the uses in manufacturing.

Other Uses:

• Clean oil stains on garage floor by using a paste of salt and water

• Epsom Salt for the garden (must be Epsom salt, not table salt)  Epsom Salt is a mineral containing magnesium, sulphur, and oxygen. It is an inorganic salt.

• 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt 
• 1 gallon water
• Dissolve the Epsom salt in water, then water the vegetable garden once a month.  
• For tomatoes mix a tablespoon of the Epsom salt into the soil before planting. The magnesium in the Epsom salt will help the tomatoes grow.  

Every 2-3 weeks water with the water/salt solution.

Here is a new tip that I just discovered:

• If you have a swimming pool and you are thinking of updating it, consider making it a saltwater pool.
•  Building a new pool?  Make it a saltwater pool.  You will be exposed to less chlorine, as the salt dissolves it can cleanse and sanitize the water.  Just a thought, 

        goodtips

OLIVE OIL-Benefit and Uses

What to do with Olive oil

One of the oldest ingredients used in all parts of the world is olive oil, originally, a product of the Mediterranean area.  From the olives come oil that is used in many ways with benefits for the entire body, inside and out.  

The oil is derived from the olives and refined from a heavy oil to a fine extra virgin consistency for use on salads and where a thinner oil is preferred.  

There are other uses for this natural product from olives.  

• Olive oil is beneficial as a skin ointment to minimize and smooth wrinkles.  It provides protection from the harmful rays of too much sun.  Applying olive oil to the hair gives the hair a smooth enriched appearance, and makes it more manageable.

• Taken internally by eating food with olive oil provides nutrients that benefit the skin and hair directly from inside the body.  This oil is used in the manufacturing of many products because it is natural and beneficial

• Soap, cosmetics, cleaning compounds, hair and skin preparations contain some amount of olive oil.  These are vegetable based products

• Even pet food now may contain olive oil for the benefit of the pet and its outside coat

• Got squeaky hinges?  Use a little olive oil on those hinges, the squeak will be gone in no time

• Shoes look dull from wear?  Rub a little olive oil on them.  They will look new and revitalized.  This is a good solution in a pinch.  As a last resort, you have no shoe polish, do this and your shoes should look as good as the rest of your outfit

• Use olive oil as a polish for wooden furniture.  Mix olive oil with lemon essential oil and you have a cleaner and a polisher in one:

    1/2 teaspoon olive oil

    5 drops lemon essential oil

Pour into a spray bottle, spritz, and wipe with lint free cloth. The lemon disinfects and olive oil adds the shine.  

• Lemon juice and olive oil mixture can be used to mop a wooden floor.  Add vinegar to cut grease, deodorizer and disinfect: 

    3/4 cup olive oil

   1/2 cup lemon juice

   1/4 cup vinegar 

   1 gallon of water

• Pour a small amount of olive oil on a cloth.  Rub over a sticker that is hard to come off.  Rub until the sticker loosens and turns into a ball.  Wipe away the ball and the gooey access.  That’s how you remove a sticker easily, using a product from your pantry.

• Got paint brushes with dried up paint in them?  Soak them in olive oil for 30 minutes, then wipe them clean with a rag.

 Another use for an ingredient from the pantry,  goodtips 

Living Green

GREEN LIVING

For me, green living is living within the Eco system responsibly.  That means no polluting or pouring noxious gases into the atmosphere.  Using the natural elements of nature to sustain life is green living.

Solar power, wind power, and using rain water to the ultimate is part of this plan. 

The Sun is a natural resource that is free to all. Although, there may be those who would harness its energy (if possible) and attempt to sell it only to a privileged few.  Solar energy can benefit everyone, especially  those living in deprived areas and countries.  One does not have to pay a utility company to use it.  Where there is abundant sunshine 80% of the year, this can benefit the people by providing electricity. What a blessing! Living green.

There are large appliances such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators designed to be used with solar power. 

It seems that there is a lot of foot-dragging or some intentional obstacle to prevent people from using energy from the sun for electricity.  The greed for making money and hoarding it seems to be the impetus for not instituting solar energy into the power system for town and country.  

Controlling non renewable energy and making a profit by doling it out for a price is the greatest hindrance of developing renewable sustainable energy for the masses.

A few States in the U.S. have programs that make it affordable for the average citizen to incorporate renewable energy into the power source to generate electricity going into their home.  This is used with the local power company.  This is a great savings for the homeowner.  The local utility usually ends up paying money to the consumer for electricity not used, since usage is prorated.

Wind energy is free also. There are areas where the wind is strong enough to sustain enough power to generate electricity for near and far.

Wind turbines are starting to appear all over the world.  Instead of raising sheep a young farmer overseas decided to develop a wind farm. There is plenty of strong wind power in many areas.

Rain water is a natural resource with many uses.  As it comes down it cleanses the air, therefore, it is dirty.  Even in this form it can be used to water the plants and animals. The waterways are replenished.  

Gathering rainwater in a barrel or another large container and recycling it can save money.  Use this water for outside chores, cleaning outdoor furniture, watering the garden, washing the car, anything that does not need potable water.  

There are ways to purify the rainwater.  There are about 7, or more, stages of filtering that takes out the impurities. Living green.    

Renewable energy is here and will eventually overtake the need for purchasing electricity only from the electric company.  (My opinion)

This planet has resources for all people. No one should be in the dark, be cold or too hot, or even thirsty. goodtips