✚Helpful Hints - #3

HEALTH and WELLNESS

SUPER-DILUTED BLEACH EASES ECZEMA

That's the conclusion of Amy Paller, M.D., Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago.  She tracked children with the skin disorder and found that adding 1/2 cup of bleach to the bathtub daily improved symptoms such as redness and flaking by 67 percent in three months.  The likely reason:  Bleach kills staph bacteria, which are commonly found on the skin of eczema sufferers and are thought to exacerbate symptoms.

SKIN WOUNDS HEAL 40% FASTER WHEN KEPT MOIST

This news from European scientists.  They concluded that covering minor skin wounds with ointment and a bandage led to faster healing than allowing cuts to "breathe."
The reason:  A dry environment promotes cell death and sustains inflamation at the wound site.  But note that antibiotic ointments can cause irritation that also delays healing, so it is advised to use a non-medicinal ointment like petroleum jelly.

BEAUTY and FASHION
CLEAN YOUR HAIRBRUSHES AND COMBS IN A FLASH!

What's the secret to freshening up your hairbrushes and combs?  Baking soda!  The natural powder quickly removes oil buildup and residue, making your comb and brushes more effective.  Simply soak them in a bowl of warm water and a few teaspoons of baking soda.  In a minute, you'll have squeaky-clean hair tools!

BOOST THE POWER OF DEODORANT!
To keep embarrassing odour at bay while you run errands or do other physical activities, lather underarms with bar soap instead of body wash during your morning shower, then apply deodorant as usual.  Unlike creamy cleansing formulas, which tend to over-moisturize underarms (making deodorant ineffective), bar soap strips the skin's surface of oil.  This lets the smell-blocker penetrate pores more easily.

HOME and AUTO
SOS FOR A SOAKED MATTRESS
First, flush the area with water.  After 5 minutes, use a wet vac or paper towel to soak up the excess liquid.  Next, mix up a neutralizing spray of equal parts white vinegar and water to spritz on the mattress.  Allow to dry, then sprinkle baking soda on the spot.  Let sit overnight, then vacuum the next morning.  The odour will be gone guaranteed.

'BREAKING-IN' YOUR NEW CAR
You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

• During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
• Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
• Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
• Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

FOOD and DRINK
IS WHITE FLOUR BLEACHED WITH CHEMICALS?
No. The fact is, flour turns white by itself over several weeks as it reacts with oxygen in the air. To speed things up, manufacturers bleach it with the same edible chemicals used to sanitize vegetables.

TO THROW AN INFECTION-FREE HOLIDAY PARTY:
Serve drinks from narrow-necked bottles, or pitchers with lids and side spouts. Dr. Morse, an epidemiology professor, says that open pitchers and punch bowls have large surface areas for germs to land on.

glass charms

Also, make it easy for guests to remember which beverage is theirs by providing wine charms that hook around glass stems, and stretchable colored bands that fit around beer and soda bottles.
.

PETS AND ANIMALS
GET RID OF BEGGING WITH A SPECIAL TREAT!
Here's a tricky way to stop Fido from begging at the dinner table or outdoor barbecues:  Spread a thin layer of soft cheese or peanut butter on the edges and in the "knots" of his favourite bone and give it to him as everyone starts chowing down.  (Reapply as needed.)  Strategically applying the substancw will make it more of a challenge to lick out, keeping him occupied so everyone is free from his persuasive "hunger stares."

QUICK CURE FOR AN ANXIOUS FELINE.
Your daughter's pool party has guests traipsing in and out of the house, sending poor Snowey into a frenzy.  To ease her angst, smear some butter on top of one paw.  The urge to lick it off will distract your cat from the chaos just long enough to make her feel comfortable again.

Money saving
ideas

MONEY and FINANCE
HOW TO SAVE $5000 A YEAR
Advice From Money Magazine

• Use only your own bank's ATMs. Save the service charge.
• Don't go to Starbucks, (Tim Hortons for us Canadians and wherever for the rest of you), brew your own coffee and bring it in a thermos to work.
• Rent a DVD three times a month instead of going to the movies.
• Ride your bike around town instead of joining a gym.
• Borrow a book from a friend or library instead of shelling out $25 bucks every time you go to Barnes & Noble, (Coles, Chapters, Indigo etc.)
• Hand wash your 'dry clean only' items.
• Take your family on a road trip vacation instead of flying somewhere.
• And lastly, brown bag your lunch 3 times a week instead of buying it everyday.

Hear every cell call clearly!

The secret?  While the other person is speaking, simply cover the mouthpiece, and your caller's voice will be crystal clear - even if you're standing in a noisy spot!  Sounds around you are picked up by the microphone in your phone's mouthpiece and transmitted back into your ear along with the caller's voice, creating an incomprehensible jumble, explains neuroscientist Sam Wang, Ph.D., coauthor of Welcome to Your Brain.  Covering the mouthpiece prevents that problem!

Resource(s):
Reader's Digest magazine, tesh.com, Consumer Reports magazine, The Oprah magazine, Womans World magazine, Men's Health magazine, Best Health magazine, Money magazine, Macleans magazine, Better Homes and Garden magazine