Good Home Post

How to Extend the Life of Your Furnace

Posted on11. Mar, 2010 by Oksana Irwin.

By having the furnace cleaned out, you will get what is called “gas scale build-up” out of the heating elements of the furnace such as the heat exchangers and combustion chamber. This substance looks like rust, and will plug up the components of the furnace, causing them to overheat and eventually crack.
The other part of [...]

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How To Control Dust, Dust Mites, and Other Allergens in Your Home

Posted on29. Jan, 2010 by Oksana Irwin.

Dust builds up throughout your home. The dust may contain substances that trigger asthma symptoms, such as wheezing or coughing, or another allergic reaction, such as the rash of atopic dermatitis or stuffy nose of allergic rhinitis. These substances are called allergens. Dust mites are another example of an allergen.
Although there is no strong evidence [...]

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Safe Ways to Kill Germs

Posted on14. Jan, 2010 by Oksana Irwin.

Even if you wear gloves when cleaning the toilet or bathtub, it is a good idea to wash your hands afterward. This eliminates bacteria from water that may get on your hands as you take off the gloves.
Also: 

Clean the bathtub at least once weekly with scouring powder or a solution made with one-half cup of [...]

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DIY Christmas Decorating

Posted on11. Dec, 2009 by Oksana Irwin.

 This sweet Christmas tree was made with a styrofoam cone, onto which peppermints were glued. Displayed on pillar candlesticks, they would make great table or mantle decorations. Very cute, and very easy! Via BHG.

The eco-friendly housewares-and-clothing boutique’s current window candy is a clever and beautiful assemblage of crocheted snowflakes, yarn pom-poms, and dried oranges hung from [...]

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Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes

Posted on09. Dec, 2009 by Oksana Irwin.

All-purpose cleaner and disinfectant
Just as effective as popular antibacterial cleansers, this formula is perfect for kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
 
2 cups hot water
¼ cup white vinegar
½ teaspoon washing soda (similar to, but more caustic than, baking soda)
15 drops tea tree essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a reusable spray bottle and shake well. To use, spray [...]

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How To Create a Wonderful Winter Foyer

Posted on06. Dec, 2009 by Oksana Irwin.

By Christine Hanlon; Photography by Lara Fishbein
Via Style at Home

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Nontoxic Cleaning Kit

Posted on05. Dec, 2009 by Oksana Irwin.

You can clean your house from top to bottom with just eight simple ingredients. To save time and money, buy the ingredients in bulk and make cleaners in advance.
Baking Soda
A truly multitasking cleaner, baking soda is a perfect substitute for cleaning powders that scour sinks and tubs without scratching. It’s also great for wiping down [...]

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How To Freshen Your Home Naturally

Posted on02. Dec, 2009 by Oksana Irwin.

Your air freshener may be primed to whisk you off to an alpine meadow in springtime or a verdant oasis after a rain shower, but it could also be blasting a raft of toxic contaminants all around you.
In 2006, a study conducted by scientists at University of California, Berkeley for the California Air Resources Board revealed [...]

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Safe Ways to Kill Deadly Germs in the Kitchen

Posted on18. Nov, 2009 by Oksana Irwin.

The sink is the most germ-ridden space in the house – and often contains more fecal matter (from washing meats) and E. coli bacteria than the average toilet.Rinse the sink with hot water after every use. Disinfect it weekly with a vinegar solution – one tablespoon of vinegar mixed with one cup of hot water. [...]

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Who is Sleeping in Your Bed?

Posted on30. Oct, 2009 by Oksana Irwin.

Halloween hauntings of the spookiest kind
According to recent reports bed bugs infestation rates in homes, hospitals, hotels and school dorms have been steadily increasing since the 1980’s. These nocturnal nastys lurk in the dark folds of your bedding, or cracks of your walls, and emerge when the lights go down.
Don’t let the bed bugs bite: [...]

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