Today’s productivity tip is brought to you by way of a reblog from my “Procrastination Station” 30-day challenge. Okay, I couldn’t help it. I know that I said I would take a break from reblogging my old posts, but this one is right in line with the practical and beneficially healthy productivity tip that I’ve had on my mind for days now.
I was thinking about my weekly trips to the grocery store and how cleaning agents are incredibly hard to come by. You know the ones I’m talking about, don’t you? I’m sure you do, because they’re probably hard to come by where you’re from as well. So, here are some of the things that are always out when I go to the store (in certain well-known brands that I won’t mention): hand soap pumps, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant wipes and sprays.
Now, I do shop for other family members outside of my household who still use chemical cleaning agents (but I’m slowly trying to get them to come around to some healthier substitutions). Nevertheless, my immediate household and I have tried to use more natural substances for cleaning for some time now. And guess what? A lot of the healthier options can be found in the stores these days. I wonder why. Could it be that the stuff that’s good for you tends to be overlooked? Human nature is a funny thing sometimes.
And, what healthier options am I referring to? Well, I’m talking about those less abrasive but still highly-effective age-old items known as vinegar, salt, and baking soda.
All three of these substances not only appear in or on the foods we eat, but they serve very practical purposes in the cleaning arena as well. I’d call them items that ooze productivity galore! And just think: Many of you probably see your store shelves lined with these very items. So, stock up while the stocking’s good.
In day 4 of my 30-day challenge, you’ll read about my family’s uses for salt and baking soda in our household, but vinegar is also getting a lot of traction as well. For example, my family uses apple cider vinegar practically daily in these myriad of ways: as a marinade on our salads, in honey mustard and vinaigrette dressings, mixed with water and honey (or just water) as a medicinal drink (great for warding off sore throats when you feel them coming on), in any recipe that calls for it, and as a disinfectant for surface cleaning (countertops, floors, tubs, toilets, appliances, etc.).
Now, there are common sense factors you need to take into consideration like the fact that vinegar needs to be diluted with water or at least mixed with other ingredients or non-food substances before using it, because it’ll knock you down a peg or two if you use it straight. So, ALWAYS read up on dilution ratios and research safe mixing practices and solution recipes before you get all vinegar-happy. And even with that cautionary note, vinegar is still my cleaning agent of choice (along with salt and baking soda), when it comes to finding multipurpose, cheap, practical, and healthy options.
So, I hope you enjoy reading about my day 4 challenge back in December 2018 and get a chance to research the many uses of salt and baking soda. And because I can appreciate the practical wisdom that comes from others, I’d love to hear what you use these things for outside of cooking.
Day 4 of the 30-Day Challenge: Procrastination Station
Task: To read two 30-page books about two household products that can be used as natural home remedies.
Reason for Task: My family is very much into seeking natural means to meet daily needs and to solve common problems versus going the chemically convenient route. Therefore, any educational references that highlight natural and homemade remedies are constantly on our radar. And, when my Mom showed me two books from her library, one about the many uses of salt and the other about the many uses of baking soda, my interest was immediately awakened. My family currently uses these two commonly-used household products in things such as our homemade toothpaste, homemade deodorant, homemade laundry detergent, homemade mouth rinses, gargling concoctions, in cleaning and disinfecting, and of course, in cooking. We even go so far as to use Himalayan pink salt for the things we ingest and regular table salt for the cleaning applications. So, I’m not a stranger to some of the natural uses of these products; but in no way do I hold a comprehensive list of everything salt and baking soda can do. Hence, the reason for my heightened curiosity about the information that 60 total pages could reveal to me about the best-kept secrets of salt and baking soda. Let the education begin!
Duration of Task: 1 day
Confession Time: For some time now, I have admired my Mom’s priceless collection of cookbooks and natural home remedy books. I could easily lose track of hours upon hours in their captivating pages. Instead, I’ve settled on occasionally checking out a book or two from her extensive library. She literally has a lifetime supply (I mean it’s a total smorgasbord) of these types of reading materials. So, do you think she misses a book or two that conveniently make a new home on my kitchen shelves or in my kitchen cupboards? I think not. Needless to say, the salt and baking soda books have been with me for months now and my Mom hasn’t asked for them back yet. I’m content to think that I’ve rightfully inherited them due to the prior owner’s forgetfulness in reclaiming them.:)
Outcome: I highly recommend reading Salt: Clean Coffee Cup Stains and Other Best-Kept Secrets and Baking Soda: Brighten Your Smile and Other Amazing Advice, both written by Betsy Rossen Elliot. These books provide light reading with an educational punch, while delivering solutions in real-life application. You’ll be amazed at how truly valuable these two inexpensive substances can truly be if put into good use. They’re natural substances that you more than likely have in your home right now and why not use them in natural ways that will provide better health benefits for you and your family versus their chemical counterparts. I’m already planning on trying out a thing or two. In fact, I’m going to incorporate one of the suggested uses (combining salt and baking soda) into tomorrow’s challenge. So, make sure you check in on Day 5 for the big reveal.
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Tip of the Week: There’s nothing wrong with going back to the old paths (the old ways of doing things) in certain instances. Think of implementing healthier options in your household. They can be lifesavers.
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