It seems like every day there is some new study suggesting the potentially harmful effects of chemicals found in cleaning products. While many products, especially for laundry, are safe, it is necessary to note that some things that people routinely use, like dryer sheets, can harm your appliances, leading to costly repairs or replacements. If you are interested in avoiding any potential health risks and you want to hold onto your appliances for the long haul, then maybe consider using natural products for your laundry cycles.

1. Essential Oils

Many people choose a laundry detergent not based on its cleaning abilities but rather its smell. While there is no getting around the marketability of names like fall showers or natural spring, what benefit do you get from the scent other than odor?

Essential odors provide significant benefits beyond a pleasant smell. You can choose lavender, which has the advantage of being antimicrobial, anti-mold and anti-mildew, or if lavender is not a favorite scent, you can try tea tree oil, which is also antibacterial. However, purchase therapeutic grade oils to avoid skin sensitivity.

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a versatile product, especially when it comes to cleaning kitchen appliances, but did you know it can also be used on laundry. Baking soda will lighten stains and deodorize clothing, which should not come as a huge surprise since that is why many people place an open box in their refrigerators. However, what some people may not know is that the product can also balance the pH levels in your washing machine, leading to brighter and fresher clothing.

3. Vinegar

While vinegar may not be a person’s first choice when it comes to laundry softeners or washes, it is a useful product, especially for musty smelling materials or items that are frequently damp. The residues that build up on clothes can lead to stiffer materials and hold hard to remove odors, but if you add vinegar into the wash cycle as a laundry detergent or fabric softener, the acid in the distilled white vinegar will eliminate the persistent residue, leaving clothes softer and fresher.

4. Tennis Balls or Wool

Dryer sheets, while well-loved, are among the most harmful products to your clothing and appliances. The fragrances that make dryer sheets so appealing can damage your dryer, and the chemical coating that affects the dryer can also affect the wearer. Many people cannot use dryer sheets because of allergies or sensitive skin.

Instead of using the sheets, consider using dryer wool or tennis balls. While you will not get the same pleasant aroma, a tennis ball or wool will leave your clothes softer and smelling fresh.

5. Warm Folding

Folding laundry is among the most hated laundry tasks, and many people find it frustrating when they fold and find their clothes wrinkled when they go to wear them. The problem is that most people wait to fold clothes instead of doing it right out of the dryer. If you fold clothes when warm, you can prevent post-laundry wrinkling.

If you are interested in doing an all-natural laundry cycle, then try the tips above. If you want more helpful home and lifestyle tips, then continue reading The Calorie Myths blogs.

The summer is over, and 2020 is nearing its end (thankfully). With hopes for a new year, it is time to dress up houses in the warmth necessary for the coming months. Unfortunately, many people struggle to come up with the best ways to decorate their homes.

Warmer months are easier to decorate, especially the outside because of flowers and lawn ornaments, but when the cold arrives, the focus turns to the inside. While there are plenty of healthy and sturdy fall plants, like mums, what else can you use to bring color and worth into your space? How do you transform your area for the fall and coming winter? Three decorative elements help to resolve the next seasonal transition with beauty and grace.

1. Wreaths

Nope, wreaths are not just made for Christmas. Stick wreaths are a popular choice among home DIYers because of the item’s versatility. You can use ornaments from any holiday to create a unique set of wreaths that can completely alter your living space: exterior and interior. For example, you can use dyed black leaves and flowers with skeleton accents for a lovely and whimsical Halloween decoration, or you can use fall foliage and pinecones for Thanksgiving festivities.

A wreath is an excellent way to transform an entry door or entryway. These decorations are inviting and warm, and with no limit on decorative ideas, you can use and reuse the wreaths for months and years to come.

2. Plaid and Flannel

As the summer ends and transitions from fall to winter, the temperature begins to plunge, which means most people seek warmth. Plaid and flannel blankets are common during the cooling months, and by introducing the materials, you create a warm ambiance in your home for visitors. However, throw blankets and bedding are not the only way to incorporate the bold patterns of plaid and flannel. You can also include patterned curtains, kitchen towels and rugs for a somewhat country cabin aesthetic.

3. Pumpkins and Gourds

If you want to transform the exterior of your home, then consider buying a selection of pumpkins and gourds for the fall aesthetic you are after. Nothing says autumn more than several groupings of colorful vegetables. You can even break up the hard lines and contours by placing mums between, creating a bright and textured exterior.

However, do not be limited to only decorating the exterior of your home. You can also use a combination of gourds and pumpkins to decorate your dining table or fireplace.

The autumn is the final transitional phase of the year before winter and a new beginning. As many people worldwide have struggled through 2020, it is easy to say that 2021 must be better, so hold on to some optimism and transform your home in preparation for the coming winter and the end of a challenging year. If you would like more advice and information about home decorating and lifestyle choices, then continue reading The Calorie Myths, a blog dedicated to personal improvement.

Have you ever wished you could have a larger living space, but didn't want to move away or remodel to get it? Maybe you want to enjoy the good weather more, or you have company coming, and your living room feels too small. Whatever the case, you can solve the problem by creating an outdoor living space.

Decide on a Purpose or Theme

The first step to creating an outdoor living space is to decide what purpose it will serve. Do you primarily need dining space, or simply a place to sit and visit? Do you hope to designate the space for game night, or as a place for little ones to play with toys? Your answers help to inform your decorating and layout decisions.

Establish the Footprint

Now that you know how you want to use your new outdoor room, create the footprint based on the size you need and the space you have available. Decide how you want to demarcate this area. If it's grassy, do you want to leave it that way, or would you prefer to add an outdoor rug? If you're creating this new space over concrete or gravel, you may want to add synthetic grass, a carpet, or decking material.

Create the Illusion of Wall Space

Establish the borders of the area by adding wall material, whether that consists of temporary room dividers, drapes on simple PVC frames, a living wall, or something else. If you already have a privacy wall or hedge, consider using that as one of your walls. You can also build a chicken wire wall on a simple lumber frame. The wire makes it easy to add climbing plants, fabric, or picture frames to add to the illusion of a solid wall.

Design Seating and Conversation Areas

To ensure that your outdoor room serves its purpose and doesn't end up being wasted space, choose furniture that fits your intentions for the area but also allows for flexibility. For example, if its primary purpose is dining, incorporate a small corner nook with two comfortable chairs and a small side table. If you're short on space, make the dining area convertible by using several small tables instead of one large banquet table. If you're designing your space as an outdoor living room, consider arranging several small conversation areas using comfortable chairs, loveseats, and small area rugs.

Build a Cohesive Decor

Now it's time to decorate. Using a common color, texture, or theme throughout your new space is a great way to tie everything together. Not everything has to match, but your decor should have a common thread. If you don't know where to begin, take a look at the fabric you used on your faux walls, upholstered furniture, or area rugs. Is there an accent color or motif you could repeat elsewhere in the room? If you used drapes as room dividers, can you create coordinating throw pillows out of the same fabric?

Creating an outdoor living space is a fun way to create more room for entertaining, and you may find, now that it's done, that you want to use it as much as possible, even when you don't have company. You can extend your outdoor living season by adding wool blankets, a woodburning stove, or a propane patio heater. You may also want to build a pergola to protect against rain and snow. The possibilities are endless!

It happens every year: The kids wait impatiently through fall, winter, and spring, looking forward to just one thing all year: Summer vacation! When summer finally rolls around, the first two days are rosy, joyful, endless days of bliss. On day three, you seem to hear nothing but: "It's hot" and "I'm bored." What's the best way to combat both of those complaints at the same time? Find creative ways to beat the heat.

Make Juice Pops

Let's be honest here. Juice is full of sugar. It's also full of water, though, which is a fantastic thing on a hot day. Take it a step further and freeze the juice in a popsicle mold, and you have a double win: Cool off and rehydrate at the same time. Plus, they're fun to make. Just watch out for bees when you're eating juice pops outside.

Create a Cooling Mist

You can get a small, battery-powered misting fan for a few dollars at a discount store. Many of them even have soft foam blades to make them less of a hazard to little fingers. Fill the reservoir with cool water, and the gentle mist combined with the breeze from the fan will have everyone feeling refreshed in no time.

Soak in the (Kiddie) Pool

Young children should always be supervised around water. That said, people of all ages usually enjoy a splash in water during the heat of the day. The beauty of a kiddie pool is that it doesn't take long to fill, does not require professional installation, and it doesn't take up much room. Sure, you can't really swim in one, but splashing is a ton of fun anyway.

Fall Back on a Classic and Run Through the Sprinklers

Depending on how old your kids are, they may not go for this. If they're little, though, they may think it's the most fun they've ever had, especially if you use a fun sprinkler with an unpredictable spray pattern. If you don't have sprinklers installed, you can buy one that attaches to the end of the hose. Bonus: cool off the kids and water the plants at the same time.

Stock up on Sun Protection

Getting overheated isn't the only concern in the dog days of summer. Sunburn can be extremely damaging to human skin, and the younger the human, the potentially more extensive the damage. Protect your family's skin and eyes by applying sunscreen as often as necessary, providing hats and sunglasses, and seeking shade during the hours when the sun's rays are the strongest. An easy way to block harmful rays is to invest in UPF-rated clothing. You could also use a large patio umbrella to create shade if your property is short on trees.
No matter what this summer brings, with the above tips, you'll be prepared for even the hottest days. Before you know it, it will be time for back-to-school shopping. These long, hot days will be nearly forgotten in a flurry of sweaters and scarves.

As consumers become more aware of the hazards of commercial cleaners and household chemicals, it is no wonder that they are turning to natural products. Unfortunately, many natural products sold in grocery or convenience stores are expensive. Fortunately, there is no need to spend a ridiculous amount of money for a healthy and safe household cleaner because you can make them at home with five ingredients you likely have in your pantry.

1. Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most versatile items in your kitchen, while it is excellent for cooking, it is especially useful for creating cleaning solutions. For example, in its purest form, you can pour white vinegar into an empty washing machine and run it for a cycle to clean it. You can also create a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water to run it through and clean your coffee maker. You can also use diluted vinegar to remove and blot clean carpet stains.

2. Baking Soda

Another versatile kitchen product is baking soda. While this is an essential baking ingredient, it also has several cleaning properties. Baking soda is an excellent odor absorber. You can place a cup of this great ingredient in your microwave to remove leftover odors. You can also mix it with lemon juice to help remove gunk from your garbage disposal by incorporating it into a paste and leaving it to sit for five minutes.

3. Lemon

Lemon isn't just for adding a little zing to drinks or food; it is also a capable all-purpose cleaner. However, to make an effective cleaner, you will want to mix a fresh lemon with baking soda and vinegar. Get all the juice from a lemon and mix it with vinegar and baking soda in a 4 cup bucket. You can drop the rind in the mix to help further infuse the blend. Then, stir in hot water to dilute the vinegar and dissolve the baking soda. Once you have an even consistency, leave the mix to cool before using it.

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon can be used in a couple of different ways. First, you can use the spice to make a natural deodorizer. Place cinnamon sticks out around your house and enjoy the natural scent. You can also make a cinnamon orange mix for an all-purpose cleaner. By mixing cinnamon, orange peels and distilled white vinegar, you create a natural antimicrobial cleaner for your house.

5. Olive Oil

Olive oil is an excellent all-natural furniture polish, but you do not want to use it alone. To make a natural furniture polish at home, mix up a 2:1 batch of regular olive oil and lemon juice. When applying the polish to your furniture with a lint-free cloth, you can also add essential oil to provide a more pleasant scent. Make sure you do not use virgin olive oil.

People are becoming more aware of the benefits of using natural products to create a healthy home environment. However, why stop with cleaning products. Creating a healthy lifestyle also comes down to diet and exercise. Consider checking out more of the Calorie Myths to discover health and happiness.