8/28/10

The Food and Drug Administration recently announced it is reevaluating the chemical triclosan, a common antimicrobial ingredient found in everything from hand soaps to plastics, because of concerns that it "alters hormone regulation" and may make "bacteria resistant to antibiotics." Almost three-quarters of the population has traces of triclosan in their urine stream, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you want to avoid the risk, be sure to read the ingredients on personal care items to avoid triclosan and, when washing, remember: regular soap and hot water will always do the trick.

8/27/10

Upcycle old silk flowers into ceramic-looking ones in minutes. Mix about two cups of powdered plaster (from the hardware store) with water according to the package instructions. Dip each silk flower into the plastic and dry standing upright by securing them to an old Styrofoam block. When dry, arrange in a basket just like ceramic flowers.

8/26/10

Tens of millions of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies that can make sleeping at night difficult. One often-overlooked area that can be a breeding ground for dust mites is our drapes. Every few months, remove your drapes and run them through the dryer (without washing) on high heat for a few minutes to remove all the dust, dander, pollen and dust mites. If that isn't possible, be sure to use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to give them a good cleaning.