Monday, February 21, 2011

The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide

DISCLAIMER: I copied this from a Facebook post that someone made.  I do not stand behind these claims and of course I am not responsible for anything that happens if you try any of this... blah, blah, blah...

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MAGIC!
Ever since I started using Hydrogen Peroxide to get rid of armpit stains, to clean cookie sheets, as a miracle cleaner in my kitchen and bathroom, and to make my own “oxi clean”…I ALWAYS have at least one bottle of the stuff under my kitchen sink, under my bathroom sink, AND in the laundry room. This stuff is amazingly versatile! But it wasn’t until recently, after doing some IN DEPTH research on the subject, that I came to realize what a “miracle substance” hydrogen peroxide really is! It’s safe, it’s readily available, it’s cheap, and best of all, it WORKS! It works for a LOT of stuff!
Hydrogen peroxide should really be called oxygen water, since it is basically the same chemical make up as water but with an extra oxygen atom (H2O2). Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly into oxygen and water.

Some other interesting facts about hydrogen peroxide:
It is found in all living material.
Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to fight bacteria and infections.
Fruit and vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide. This is one of the reasons why it is so healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
It is found in massive dosages in the mother’s first milk, called colostrum, and is transferred to the baby to boost their immune system.
It is found in rain water because some of the H20 in the atmosphere receives an additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and this H2O2 makes plants grow faster.
Next to Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide ranks up there as one of the best household remedies.

Besides the obvious (cleansing wounds), did you know that it is probably the best remedy to dissolve ear wax? Brighten dingy floors? Add natural highlights to your hair? Improve your plants root systems? The list goes on and on!

There are SO many uses for this stuff that I’ve started replacing the cap on the hydrogen peroxide bottle with a sprayer because it’s easier and faster to use that way.
I have compiled a rather impressive list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide that I hope will have you as thrilled and bewildered as I was!
  1. Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
  2. In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost. Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.
  3. Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.
  4. Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.
  5. Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.
  6. Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)
  7. Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.
  8. Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.
  9. Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.
  10. Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.
  11. Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.
  12. Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.
  13. Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.
  14. Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.
  15. Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.
  16. Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.
  17. According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!
  18. Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.
  19. Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.
  20. Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.
  21. Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.
  22. Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.
  23. Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.
  24. Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.
  25. Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.
  26. Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.
  27. Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.
  28. Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.
  29. Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.
  30. De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water.
 MORE GO GREEN TIPS  |  TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HOME BETTER  |  Nothing beats FREE |  

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Your Basic Home Maintenance Toolkit

Home Maintenance Tool Kit
Owning a home requires maintenance.  Many people will hire a handyman but for those who like to do it themselves, some basic equipment and supplies will be necessary.  Everyone has their own preferances but here is a list to get you started:
Basic Home Maintenance Equipment
  • Flashlight
  • Bucket, 5-gallon
  • Ladder, 6-foot fiberglass
  • Claw hammer
  • Screwdrivers, several sizes of both flathead and Phillips
  • Tape measure, 25-foot+
  • Utility knife and extra blades
  • Wrenches, basic set of open-ended crescent wrenches, set of ratcheting socket wrenches, and set Allen wrenches
  • Pliers, standard (slip-joint), long-nose, Channellock, and wire-cutter (diagonal)
  • Hand saw, small, multipurpose
  • Gloves, rubber gloves and leather
  • Safety goggles
  • Glue, wood and all-materials (not Super Glue)
  • Sandpaper and sanding block
  • Caulking gun
  • Clamps
  • Combination square or speed square
  • Drill, cordless, 3/8-inch variable-speed reversible
  • Drill bit set
  • Flat scraper or putty knife
  • Circular saw
  • Level, 36- or 48-inch aluminum
  • Sawhorse(s)

As a do-it-yourself person, what would you add to this list?

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Will a mortgage break my bank?

How much can you spend on a house?

As of 2010, lenders, do not want your mortgage payment to exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income. The lender takes into account the actual mortgage payment, interest on the payment, property taxes and your homeowner's insurance. The total of these factors should never exceed 28% of your pretax (gross) income each month.
To calculate what your maximum monthly mortgage payment allowed by the lender will likely be, multiply your yearly salary by 0.28, then divide that number by 12.

But how much is that really?

For most people, they need the bottom line. Do you have credit cards? Car payments? Medical expenses? When it comes down to shelling out the cash, all these items do not come out of your GROSS income, they come out of your NET income. That being said, you should know your net income. Let's say you and your spouse make a combined income of $75,000 (after deductions). You are likely in the 25% bracket for federal taxes if filing jointly. So you owe about $11,000 in federal tax. (Your income is now $64,000.) And in MN, you will owe approximately another $11,000 in state taxes. (Your income is not $53,000.) So using the mortgage calculation above, ($75000x.28=$21,000/12=$1750 per month), your "maximum mortgage payment" would be about 40% of your income after tax.

Do you have other expenses each month?  Of course!  So how do you know what will be a comfortable mortgage payment for you? Break out the Excel spreadsheet. It's time to figure out your budget!  Some people just cringed and thought "Forget that" but don't move on just yet.  What are you currently paying in rent?  Is it comfortable? Then just use that as the base in your head and contact a lender to help you work the numbers to find a mortgage what you can afford for that payment. :)

(Disclaimer: Not everyone qualifies for a mortgage.)
Need answers to your mortgage questions?  Click here: http://www.curt-smith.com/

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Potato Salads (reduced fat versions)

TRADITIONAL POTATO SALAD

what you need 3 hard-cooked eggs, yolks removed, + 1 for garnish
3/4 cup Non-fat Mayo/Mayonnaise
1 tsp.yellow mustard
6 cups cubed cooked red-skinned potatoes (about 1-1/2 lb.)
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp.pepper



Directions

CUT 1 of the eggs crosswise in half. Reserve 1 of the halves for garnish. Chop remaining eggs.

MIX mayo and mustard in large bowl. Add potatoes, chopped eggs, celery, peas, onion, salt and pepper; mix lightly. Cut reserved egg half into thin slices; arrange on top of salad. Cover.

REFRIGERATE several hours or overnight.






SOUR CREAM and BACON POTATO SALAD
what you need
2 lbs. red potatoes, about 6 med.
6 slices turkey bacon
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. dairy sour cream
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. white pepper
2 hard cooked eggs
1 med. onion, thinly sliced
Parsley

directions
Cook potatoes in water in their jackets until tender. In meantime, fry bacon, reserving 1/4 cup fat. Drain and crumble bacon. Prepare dressing by combining beaten eggs, bacon fat, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook over low heat until dressing has thickened slightly. Keep warm.
To assemble salad, peel and slice hot potatoes. Reserve a few egg slices for garnish. Combine potatoes with bacon and dressing. Garnish with hard-cooked egg slices and parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 6 servings.



SOUR CREAM AND BACON POTATO SALAD -2
what you need
•6 medium potatoes, about 2 pounds
•1/2 cup finely chopped cooked bacon
•1/2 cup chopped onion
•1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
•1/4 cup chopped celery
•1 tablespoon butter or margarine
•3/4 cup sour cream
•3 tablespoons vinegar
•1 teaspoon salt
•1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
Cook potatoes, covered, in boiling salted water for 25 to 30 minutes or just until tender, Peel and slice potatoes to make about 6 cups. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook ham, onion, green pepper, and celery in butter or margarine until tender; drain off fat. Stir in sour cream, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Heat through but do not boil. Combine sour cream mixture and potatoes in a large serving bowl. Serve potato salad right away.
Sour cream potato salad serves 8.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Videographer Wanted!

We are looking for volunteers to film our Duck Junkies video segments through the summer and upcoming hunting season. We need a couple different people available for travel within the Midwest. Mostly weekends but also for 3 weeks during the duck and goose hunting season. We have a camera/supplies but if you prefer to use your own, let us know. All credits will obviously include the camera person and each camera person will be listed our website. Contact us if you are interested!