Are You Storing Paint Properly?

Thank you Julie Simms for sharing this with us!

VOCs can emanate from cans of partially used paint. That doesn't mean that you have to throw the paint away though. Use this simple procedure to store paint and not only will it not give off VOCs, it will last for years:

When you're done with the paint, put the lid on tightly and then turn the can upside down on a several layers of newspaper. The newspaper is necessary just in case the lid leaks. Then, after several days, turn the can right side up and store it in a cool place. By doing this, the paint will seal the lid. By the way, don't forget to turn the can back over or you will really have a mess the next time you open it.

CLOROX vs. PEROXIDE

I had this passed onto me in as part of an email forward. Good Read...enjoy!

This was written by Becky Ransey of Indiana (a doctor's Wife), and I want to share it with you. She was over recently for coffee and smelled the bleach I was using to clean my toilet and counter tops. This is what she told me. 'I would like to tell you of the benefits of that Plain little ole bottle of 3% peroxide you can get for
under $1.00 at any drug store. What does bleach cost?

My husband has been in the medical field for over 36 years, And most doctors don't tell you about peroxide. Have you Ever smelled bleach in a doctor's office? NO!!!

Why? because it smells, and it is not healthy! Ask the nurses who work in the doctor's offices, and ask them if they use bleach at home. They are wiser and know better!

Did you also know bleach was invented in the late 40's? It's chlorine, folks! And it was used to kill our Troops. Peroxide was invented during WWI in the 20's. It was used to save and help cleanse the needs of our
troops and hospitals.

Please think about this:

1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and
hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. (I do it when I
bathe.) No more canker sores, and your teeth will be whiter without
expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs.

3. Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. I had fungus on my feet for years until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.

6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. My husband has
seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine but was healed by soaking in peroxide.

7. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and Water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without Harming your septic system like bleach or most other Disinfectants will.

8. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, plugged sinus. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes, and then blow your nose into a tissue.

9. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly.

10. And of course, if you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide-burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually, so it's not a drastic change.

11. Put half a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help get rid of boils, fungus, or other skin infections.

12. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

13. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors. There is no smearing, which is why I love it so much for this.

14. Another place it's great is in the bathroom, if someone has been careless & has wet on the floor around the toilet & it's begun to smell of urine. Just put some peroxide in a spray bottle & spray. In the blink of any eye all the smell will be gone & the bacteria eliminated!

I could go on and on. It is a little brown bottle no home should be without! With prices of most necessities rising, I'm glad there's a way to save tons of money in such a simple, healthy manner! ' This information really woke me up. I hope you gain something from it, too.

Are You an Eco-Hero?

Thank you to Kris Kirwan for sending me over this great information! It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up and just a few minutes more to log some green deeds. The one thing I don’t love about this great site is that you can only log 3 green deeds a day. The reason they track this is there are prizes involved! Each deed you complete earns you points. The person with the highest points at the end of the week is awarded with an “Eco Hero” medal.

Eco Heroes is Foursquare meets Planet Green: a social media game that makes it fun to save the planet. Just as Twitter asks, "What's happening?, Eco Heroes asks "Who's the greenest of them all?"

Eco Heroes creator Roz Savage says, "Like many people I'd had enough of Green Guilt, feeling bad about my sins against the environment instead of celebrating the things I do right. So I wanted to focus on the positive. It's fun to earn points for Green Deeds, and to connect into the worldwide community of Greendoers."

Disillusioned with the failure of our global leaders to step in and save the world at the Copenhagen conference last year, Roz Savage asked herself what we can do as individuals to create a greener future. She decided it all came down to developing good green habits. "Mostly we haven't created this mess through a few big disasters. It has been more an accumulation of billions of tiny actions, the kind of actions we all do every day. And that is the way we are going to get ourselves out of the mess - by doing at least one good Green Deed every day, consistently over time. Each and every one of us can make a difference."

Sign up HERE

Back to School: Shopping for Supplies

From "The Green Life" at Sierra Club

Summer vacation is winding down, which means it's time to prepare for new teachers, new classes, and new friends. This week we'll provide green tips for going back to school.

Tip #1: Avoid Impulse Purchases

Before you're dazzled by a super-sized pack of highlighters (on sale!) or a fancy eraser set, take stock of the school supplies you already have. Sturdy items like folders and backpacks can often be reused for several years. And chances are, you already have an ample supply of pens and pencils in your family's catch-all drawer. Come to the store armed with a list so you won't be tempted to buy things you don't need.

Share your tips: How do you get extra mileage from old school supplies?

HOME: A Documentary

Hello Fellow Green Team Members,

I watched this video a few weeks ago and was really moved by it, so I thought that other people in the group would also be inclined to watch it and hopefully share it with their friends and family as well. It is a bit long and can take a while to download, but if you do have the drive and the time to watch it, it comes highly recommended!

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU

Link to Wikipedia synopsis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(documentary)

Thank you for taking the time to read this and be sure to keep an eye out for more fun and educational green videos! I will try to post every Friday.

Thanks ~ and PlayGreen!

Brina