books

Organic Housekeeping: In Which the Non-Toxic Avenger Shows You How to Improve Your Health and That of Your Family, While You Save Time, Money, and, Perhaps, Your Sanity by Ellen Sandbeck

Have you ever stopped to think about the cleaning products you use around the house?  Or about the chemicals you use on your lawn to get rid of those nasty dandelions?  Believe it or not, a lot of the products we use are highly toxic, and some have been known to cause cancer and other health problems.  If you are interested in learning about alternatives to these toxic products, check out Organic Housekeeping. 

Organic Housekeeping is full of great ideas for keeping your home clean and poison -free.  There are tons of tips on food preparation, cleaning, landscaping, and a whole lot more.  The author provides expert advice on how to prevent fungi, mold and mildew from growing in your home, as well as provides fire prevention and safety tips.  The book is easy to read and somewhat humorous, too, which makes it interesting as well as informational.  I would highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning about keeping your home clean and safe through the use of primarily organic products.  A lot of the tips found in Organic Housekeeping will save you money and time, too, which is an added bonus. 

To give you an idea of the type of information found in this book, here are some excerpts:

-“Fatty foods such as cheeses and meats will absorb some of the plasticizers from plastic wrap and plastic bags.  If you want to minimize your exposure to these chemicals, when you bring your groceries home, remove the plastic packaging and wrap all your cheeses and meats in freezer paper or waxed paper before putting them in a plastic bag or container.”

-“Don’t buy precooked lunch meats, cooked shellfish, or smoked fish that are displayed in the same case as raw fish or meat.  The cooked food may have become contaminated by the raw meat.”

-“Many common foods can double as cleaning products.  Vinegar, salt, baking soda, lemons, cabbage leaves, potatoes, mayonnaise, olive oil, apple peels, ketchup, and vodka can all be used for cleaning.  If it’s safe to eat, it’s certainly safe to clean with!”