Martha A. Cheves's Blog, page 25

How to Clean Your Home Using Only 2 Ingredients - Part 3

Info from Today.com
Oven cleaner (not for self-cleaning ovens) Method #1:Scrub bottom and sides of oven using baking soda and steel wool. Method #2:1 cup baking soda2 cups white vinegarPour vinegar into a spray bottle. Sprinkle baking soda onto bottom of oven. Spray with vinegar to make a light foam. Keep baking soda moist by spraying vinegar as needed. For sides of oven, mix baking soda with water to make a thick paste. Spread this on sides then spray with vinegar. Allow it to sit for as long as you can. Wipe off and rinse with hot water.
Pots and pans To remove burnt-on food, sprinkle baking soda over the burnt area, add hot water and let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub with an abrasive sponge or Teflon scrubbing cloth.
Shower walls, doors and curtains To prevent mildew from forming, spray walls, curtains and shower doors with white vinegar after showering.
Sinks and bath tubs
Simply spray with white vinegar and wipe! 

How to Clean Your Home Using Only 2 Ingredients - Part 2

Info from Today.com
Cups and mugsFill with one part baking soda to two parts water. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, wipe away stains with a sponge.
Fabric softener 3 cups white vinegar½ cup water½ cup baking soda8 drops of your favorite essential oil, optionalMix water and vinegar, then the mixture heat in microwave for one minute. Dissolve baking soda in mixture. Add essential oils if fragrance is desired. Use in the wash cycle as you would commercial softener.
Glass and window cleaner 1 tablespoon white vinegar1 quart of water
Mix and spray on glass. Wipe with microfiber cloth. 

How to Clean Your Home Using Only 2 Ingredients - Part 1

This article came from Today.com .  Interesting and I'm going to give it a try. 
With only baking soda and white vinegar, you have a stellar "green combo" for many household cleaning chores. Whether you're tackling a grimy oven or sprucing up your countertops, these earth-friendly products are great alternatives to harsh chemical products. We asked green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert to share some of her favorite baking soda and vinegar recipes. They'll do the job, save you money and help the environment — all at the same time.
Carpet spot-cleanerWhite vinegarWaterBlot spills from carpet. Spray soiled area with a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. Blot with a towel. Repeat until spot is gone.
Coffee makers 2 cups of white vinegarRun vinegar through the brew cycle. Fill reservoir with water. Run through brew cycle again.
Counter cleaner 1 cup water1 cup white vinegar8 drops lemon essential oil, optional
Mix ingredients, then spray on counter. Wipe with a microfiber cloth. For extra power, heat the mixture in the microwave until it's warm. (Do not use vinegar on sealed granite, marble or other sealed stone countertops.) 

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #8 (end)

Eat a High-Protein Breakfast

“Protein in the morning gets converted into dopamine, which energizes you,” said Dr. Winter. Yes to meat, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, eggs, processed soy products, nuts, and seeds. Go easy on carbs (breads and cereals) and processed foods with lots of added sugar that will make you feel logey.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #7

Exercise Every Morning

“The best time is right when you wake up. It gets your body used to revving up in the morning. If you can stay to a routine, it’s amazing what it will do to your energy and attitude,” says Dr. Winter. It doesn’t have to be rigorous. In fact, gentle yoga, qigong or tai chi routines have been shown to be very effective in getting the body and brain started for the day. (You can find videos to follow by searching on Youtube.) Twenty minutes is optimal, but an intense five can do the trick particularly in a bright, stimulating environment.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #6

Try Yoga Breathing

An Oxford University study found that pranayama or yoga breathing “had a markedly invigorating effect on perceptions of both mental and physical energy and increased high positive mood.” The most common form is called Three Part Breath or Dirgha Breath. You can do it lying in bed: Inhale deeply through your nose, filling up belly your belly first. Expand your belly like a balloon. Continue to inhale, expanding ribs like gills on a fish. When you are completely full, empty yourself slowly but completely, exhaling through your nose. Do six to 10 rounds.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #5

Seek Out Light

According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, light is the main cue influencing circadian rhythms, turning on or turning off genes that control your internal clock. Roll up your shades as soon as you’re awake. If you can’t get natural light in your bedroom, consider a lightbox or alarm that slowly gets brighter, simulating dawn. If you don’t want to get that fancy, just flip on a regular light as soon as you get up.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #4

Drink Water When You First Get Up

You lose a lot of fluid when you sleep and breathe at night, and unfortunately, dehydration can make you feel sluggish and sleepy. Rehydrating can go a long way in making you feel more alert. You don’t have to chug, just quench your thirst.

8 Ways to Wake up with More Energy - #3

3. Don't Hit the Snooze Button
Set your alarm for when you must get up and stick to that. Hitting snooze over and over just leads to fragmented, fitful sleeping and you’ll wake up more tired. If you can’t trust yourself, move your alarm to a place you can’t reach it.

8 Ways to Wake up With More Energy - #2

2. Always Get Up at the Same Time—Even on Weekends

“Regardless of how well you slept or when you went to sleep, always get up at a set wake-up time,” recommends Dr.  Winter. Our circadian rhythm, the biological process that drives your sleep-wake cycle, needs consistency in order to work correctly. Not everyone needs eight hours—some need more, some can get by on less. If you stick to a set wake up time, your body will start telling you when to go to bed in order to achieve your optimal amount of rest. The overall routine will help you get the healthy sleep you need to replenish your energy stores, which means you won’t wake up as bedraggled.