Home and Health Tips

Home Remedies: Fact vs. Fiction

by Jennifer | 1 Comment Tuesday, March 26, 2013

For every ailment, there is a claim out there on how to fix it on your own without a doctor’s care. Some home remedies are very effective and can save you a great deal of money, but some are either old wive’s tales or just plain bonkers. If you prefer to use a home remedy, make sure it is always for something small. For major illnesses and injuries, please seek professional help. Here are some of the most popular home remedies, and lets find out if they really will help, or if you should turn a cold shoulder.

1. Duct Tape For Warts – True

Studies have shown that keeping duct tape on a wart for 2 months, and exfoliating with a pumice stone weekly is more effective than freezing. So if you don’t mind wearing duct tape all day, every day for two months, it might actually be better for you to try that first.

2. Gargling With Warm Salt Water For A Sore Throat – True

We all had to do it as a kid, and remember how it worked? Well, it still does! Salt draws out excess fluid from your throat, reducing inflammation which relieves some of the pain. It won’t heal you, but it will offer some much time off from your pain. And the best part? You can do it as often as you want! (Just don’t swallow too much salt!)

Putting Butter On A Burn – False

My grandmother did this to me every she witnessed me get a burn of any kind, and it hurt like crazy! Truth is, the butter actually works like a seal, trapping the heat from the burn in, which can actually make it worse. It can also lead to a bacterial infection. If you get a minor burn, rinse it off with cold water and use aloe vera. For a more serious burn, go to the hospital.

4. Taking Apple Cider Vinegar For Heartburn – False

There is no research to support that apple cider vinegar has any effect on heartburn. And besides, who wants to drink that stuff by itself? Blech!

5. Yogurt For Bad Breath – True

The live bacteria in yogurt suppresses bad breath. Just one more reason to eat this yummy and super-beneficial food!

 

For more great home remedies, check out This Article in Women’s Day!

Also, check out WebMD’s article on home remedies that do not work.

Make The Most Out Of Family Time

by Jennifer | No Comments Tuesday, March 12, 2013


Your family is what drives you to do well, it is your motivation to succeed. Whether you are a stay at home parent who runs your home and strives to make things smoother and easier for everyone, or if you are out there working to provide, staying connected is what keeps you and your family happy and healthy.

But with so much to do every day, how do you find the time (and energy) to give your undivided attention daily? There will always be dishes and laundry, and work will always need to be done.

Put Down Your Technology

Unless it is a family activity, such as movie night or a video game you can all play together, put it down for a while. Your phone, tablet, etc. are big distractions from what is right in front of you. Once you put everything away, it won’t be long until your other responsibilities seem less important to the fun you are having!

Set A Time For Chores

Chores around the house are ongoing with no end. The to-do list is always going to be long, but it is important to remind yourself that sometimes it’s ok to wait a little bit. Have some fun, you deserve it!

Eat Dinner Together

As simple as it sounds, it can be very difficult for everyone to gather together for dinner. There are many reasons to eat while you work, but if you can set aside everything for a while to gather for dinner, you may find your home to be a little more peaceful. Studies have shown that gathering for a meal daily improves your children’s self esteem, and helps you stay connected to their lives in a positive way.

Make A Plan-And Stick To It!

Family time doesn’t mean much if nobody can decide on what to do. However you and your family want to decide what to do is completely up to you. Maybe everyone gets a vote? Or you take turns deciding on a plan. Whatever option works best for you, stick with it and there will be less stress in finding something to do.

Above All, ENJOY!

Children grow up so fast, so enjoy yourself! Soak up your time together, and let them surprise you with what they can do and show you about themselves.

Is Your Olive Oil The Real Thing?

by Jennifer | No Comments Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Olive oil is a staple product in virtually every home. It has numerous culinary uses, and is even great for your beauty regimen (we talk about some of its uses in another one of our blogs Here.)

The problem is most brands are not the genuine thing. The oil is either cut with less expensive refined oils such as canola, or lesser grade olive oils to reduce the cost of production, therefore skyrocketing the profit margin. When the product is bottled, it is very difficult to tell if it is real or fake by taste or texture. In 2010, researchers at UC Davis tested 124 samples of oil from major brands, and found that over 70% were adulterated! Click Here To See Their Report.

For more information on this subject, check out these links to The Food Renegade, or Mama Natural’s Blog.

All in all, the general consensus on this subject is that your best bet is to buy local (or as close to local as you can, depending on where you live.) It may be a little pricier, but you know you will be getting exactly what you pay for, and not lining the pockets of those who find it appropriate to trick the consumer for a higher profit.

Using A Sh-Mop In Your Home

by Jennifer | No Comments Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Here at Bit a Bliss, our cleaning professionals use a Sh-Mop as opposed to a conventional mop. It is a greener, cleaner, and much safer alternative. As you can see above, it looks similar to a Swiffer mop, but there is a big difference between the two. The Sh-Mop is used as a wet mop, and comes with removable mop heads that are laundered, so there is less waste since they don’t get thrown away. Every home we go into gets a fresh mop head (and more as needed) so you won’t need to worry about having another home’s dirt brought into yours.

The way we use it, is we take the mop head and get it damp, then spray cleaner directly on it and mop the floor in an inward motion so that any dirt that is left behind can be delegated to a small area to be wiped up. If used correctly and with products that are designed for your floors, it will leave behind no streaks or smudges, and will leave your floors sparkling.

If you have never heard of this handy tool, you can get More Information Here. If you would like, you can purchase it on your own or through us. If you are a client and would like to get one through us, let us know and we can bring it to your home on your next cleaning and simply add the cost to your cleaning! If you are not a client, that is no problem at all, we can have it shipped to you.

Being More Efficient In Your Kitchen

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, November 29, 2012

The kitchen is often the most used room in the home. It can be very easy to become unorganized, especially when it is the central hub. But there are a few things you can do to keep your kitchen from spiraling out of control and make it easier on you and your family to keep the area efficient and always ready to go!

-Pre-plan Your Meals For The Week

You hear this over and over, but most have never tried this. Go ahead, give it a shot! Once you get into the habit of it, there are plenty of benefits to it. You will never get frustrated over a meal if you are ready to go, and since you already know everything you will need, you will save a great deal of money on groceries and won’t buy things you won’t use.

-Store Equipment Wisely

This sounds like a no-brainer, but really think about where everything is. Silverware should be close to the plates, and pots and pans are actually better suited next to the sink, since typically the first thing you do with them is fill with water. Once you start to realize what works better, you will save yourself a great deal of time, instead of constantly running back and forth.

-Don’t Keep Appliances Out That Aren’t Used Regularly

Sure it may look cool, but do you really use those high-end appliances that often? If the answer is yes, I concede. But chances are, most of what’s on your counters aren’t used daily. If you notice you have something out that doesn’t get used EVERY day, find a place for it out of sight. That way there’s more room for everything you do use often.

-Clean As You Cook

If you save all the cleaning for after dinner, chances are you’re going to tell yourself some of it can wait until the next day. Clean as you go, throwing things away and wiping off surfaces right after use, and that way you won’t have much to worry about when you’re so full you can hardly stand up! And it will cut the time spent doing dishes down considerably, since food will usually rinse right off if you get to it before it has time to cool down and dry.

-Utilize Wall Space And Install Racks Inside Cabinets For Optimum Storage

Of course, you don’t want to use up every available square inch of wall space for storage, that would look disasterous! But hanging up a spice rack, a magnetic strip for knives, or even a small peg board for your most used cooking utensils can look great and make everything much easier. And one of the most underused spaces in the kitchen is the inside of cabinets. Install racks and small baskets inside them, and you get a great deal of extra storage without sacrificing the overall look of your kitchen.

For a great deal of more information on improving efficiency in your kitchen, check out This Blog From Kitchen Floor Plans And Layouts!