How To Deal With Mosquitoes & Ants

It's that time of the year when the mosquitoes and the ants make their presence known in the Sacramento Valley Area. Ants and mosquitoes pop up every where, uninvited of course, but did you know there are some safe household remedies for these varmits?

WINDEX: Windex, when sprayed directly on ants kills them instantly and keeps them away for weeks at a time. Put Windex in a spray bottle, or better yet rinse out your old bug sprayer and spray the around the entire perimeter or base of your home, walk ways, and drive ways. Spray directly into the ant bed too!

LISTERENE: Listerene is a safe alternative to use on mosquitoes and ants rather than using harmful bug spray. Where bug spray can cost over $4.00 for a sixteen ounce can Listerene can be purchased for a about $1.89 for a large bottle. Put Listerene in a spray bottle and spray the areas mosquitoes like to hang out. Do not spray directly on wood surfaces such as your door, but spray around the frame. The next time you are on a picnic take a bottle of Listerene and spray your picnic are before you set up and have a bug free day! Don't forget to spray Fido's dog house!

Both Windex and Listerene are safe around children, pets and the environment.

Until Next Time,

Michael Hull

VINEGAR - NATURE'S MIRACLE

Vinegar is something that we all probably have in our home for cooking purposes. Vinegar has been used since ancient times and is an important element in European, Asian, and other traditional cuisines of the world. The word 'vinegar' derives from the Old French 'vin aidre', meaning 'sour wine'. But did you know that vinegar can be used for other purposes as well?

Vinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the fermentation of ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient acetic acid also called ethanoic acid.  Becuase of the chemical properties of vinegar there are numerous household uses for vinegar (we are referring to white vinegar only). Here are a few for you to try:

1). Laundry - add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of your next laundry load instead of fabric softner. Vinegar removes the soap residue from the clothing and leaves your clothes soft to the touch.

2). Dishwasher - add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of your dishwasher to remove water spots from your glasses, plates, and cutlery. If you have hard water don't hesitate to give this a try.

3). Coffee Pot - add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to a half a pot of water and run water through your coffee maker to remove coffee stains and build up. Make sure to rinse coffee maker a second time with plain water. You may be surprised at how much better your coffee tastes.

4). Bathing - add 1 cup in your bath water to restore the 'acid mantle' to your skin. The acid mantle is your body's first line of defense against harmful bacteria and infections. Ordinary soap removes this from your skin.

Most people won't try vinegar because it has a pungent ordor. Once it drys the ordor is gone forever. Vinegar is an inexpensive household item that can save you lots of money and is goof for the environment. If you know of other uses for White Vinegar click on the comment link below and let us know.

If you have questions about this article please contact me at (916) 525-2456 or email me at paddle@frontiernet.net.

Michael Hull

Old Fashioned Green Cleaning

There is a lot of talk and marketing hype out there these days regarding Green Cleaning and saving the environment, but did you know that your great-grandmother used "green cleaning" all the time? If your great-grandmother or possibly great-great-grandmother lived just after or during the civil war she probably used Hydrogen Peroxide for just about everything.

Plan old hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) found in your local pharmacy or grocery store, at less than two dollars a bottle, is useful in amazing ways and can completely replace smelly chemicals such as chlorine bleach.

Historically, chlorine bleach was developed as part of the military chemical weapon arsenal in the 1940s before WWII - the wonderful time period that also gave us petro-chemical pesticides, that later developed into a nerve gas and plastics. Hydrogen peroxide, on the other hand, was used during the civil war as a field antiseptic and was a common ingredient in most homes. Every spring your ancestors would wash the floors and walls with hydrogen peroxide to kill any germs left by old man winter.

Any kind of decontamination that chlorine bleach can might come to mind for, may be more healthful and safely done with H2O2; for it can fulfill many cleaning, sanitizing, and also body and wound detoxification purposes. You can even use it as a daily mouth wash - just never swallow it.  It naturally kills the harmful bacteria in your mouth that causes gum disease and tooth decay. It also helps to naturally whiten your teeth.

Anywhere you consider chlorine bleach, including the laundry, or another sanitizing cleaner, try non-toxic hydrogen peroxide instead. You might be surprised what cleaning compounds you can do without and the money you may save in the process. If you have questions about this article give me a call at (916) 525-2456 or email me at paddle@frontiernet.net.

Here's to your green health!

Michael Hull

Swine Flu Q&A

According to the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), swine flu is a respiratory disease typically found in pigs that is caused by Type A Influenza (H1N1) virus. While it is not typical for humans to contract swine flu, human infections occasionally do happen.

According to the CDC, human infections with swine flu were first reported in late March, early April 2009, in Southern California and San Antonio, Texas. Numerous cases have appeared in Sacramento, Carmichael, and Woodland as of the date of this blog.

The swine flu is contagious according to the CDC and can spread from one human to the next. It is not known for sure how the swine flu is spreading, but flu like viruses are normally spread through two different mechanisms:

1). Air transmission via droplets expelled from the mouth when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. These droplets remain airborne for some time and can then be inhaled by another person.

2). Droplets from an infected person will eventually make contact with environmental surfaces (such as kitchen countertops, tile floors, computer keyboards, tile showers to name a few). The virus can then be spread from those surfaces if another person touches the contaminated surface and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth, or nose before washing his or her hands.

How Can Your Protect Yourself Against Swine Flu?

1). Wash your hands. Thoroughly wash your hands throughout the day with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure to scrub underneath the finger nails and the back of the hands. If soap is not readily available, use and alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

2). Disinfect surfaces regularly with a disinfectant. Liberty Floor Solutions can properly clean your hard surface areas with solutions that will kill the Type A (H1N1) virus.

3). Avoid close contact with people who are sick. And if you yourself are ill, stay at home to avoid spreading germs to those around you.

Where Can You Go For More Information?

Centers for Disease Control Ounce of Prevention: www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention

Centers for Disease Control Swine Flu: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm

Please Be Safe!

Michael Hull