Beauty Treatments

Thu 13 Mar 2008

Los Angeles Interior Designer: Tips on Organizing Your Home

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Los Angeles Interior Designer: Tips on Organizing Your Home

Here are a few tips to help keep your home organized and orderly. Enjoy!

1. Labels. Whether it goes in a box (unless you are a mind-reader you will never know what’s inside), plastic storage bin or even on the shelves in you pantry, using a label-maker can help you help those around you keep things in their place. My theory is “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

2. Cedar Blocks. If you are storing anything made of wool or cashmere, do yourself a favor and drop in a cedar block. The moths will hate you, but your garments will love you.

3. Sachets. When you open that plastic storage bin filled with your mother’s old recipes or photographs (which you insist you will put into albums one day) how nice to be greeted with a fresh scent rather than stale air. Drop a lavender sachet into anything you are storing (suitcases, shoes, and holiday decorations) and smile when opening the box.

4. Paper. Using paper (from drawer lining paper to old wall-covering) to line the interior of drawers, closets and storage containers adds greatly to your enjoyment when it’s time to pull things out for daily use. Do it for yourself and enjoy.

5. Notes. We all would like to think that we will remember everything. The reality is we remember very little. So when packing away almost anything that has memories attached (photo’s, books, gifts..etc.) write a note to remind yourself of the date received, who gave this to you, who is in the picture… etc. You and your family will thank you one day for this thoughtful and helpful footnote.

Thu 6 Mar 2008

Los Angeles Interior Designer: Prepping for House Cleaning

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Los Angeles Interior Designer: Prepping for House Cleaning

Spring seems to have a personality this year. From my perch in Los Angeles, it feels sassy and bold, as if it’s carrying a very “in-your-face” mentality. We hit 80 degrees before February ended and this first week of March has not been far behind.

I know that my friends in other parts of the country are not enjoying the same experience, but it has set me thinking that some type of spring cleaning is lurking just around the corner.

Much like when you seen the car in your rear view mirror flying toward your bumper at speeds that will only be stopped by your resting automobile and you brace for the inevitable; that’s how I feel (today) about the house cleaning projects which are just around the corner. So to begin the preparation process I thought we would consider a few internal exercises to prepare our souls for the coming season.

1. Find a quiet place. Either in your home or away, find a quiet spot. It should allow you to be distraction-free for at least 30 minutes and it should be a spot that pleases you.

2. Settle into your retreat location. Your favorite spot has now become a destination for you. Get comfortable. Sit is a comfortable chair. Plant yourself cross-legged on the floor. Even recline but definitely be comfortable.

3. Close your eyes.

4. Picture yourself involved in your happiest memory. Stay with that memory and allow the emotions to wash over you time and time again.

5. Experience these emotions fully. Feel yourself laughing, crying, singing…etc.

6. Now picture yourself wrapping those emotions in your arms and begin to carry them back with you to the place you are seated.

7. Decide that those feelings will be what you will carry with you for the day and see how one set of happy memories can influence your moment, your hour and your day.

Thu 28 Feb 2008

Interior Designers in the OC: The Safe Home of the 21st Century

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Interior Designers in the OC: The Safe Home of the 21st Century

Because Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, it is crucial to make the home environment as safe as possible. Indoor pollutants have proliferated in recent years, often because modern construction techniques and furnishing manufacturers utilize hazardous materials or because consumers do not know enough about the products they buy to make informed choices.

But safe nontoxic alternatives exist for nearly every real need around the home, and the search for them may help consumers distinguish between what they really do need, and what may be “luxuries” that could compromise their families’ health.

Even the furnishings of the typical American home can be harmful. Fabrics that are labeled “wrinkle-resistant” are usually treated with a formaldehyde resin. These include no-iron sheets and bedding, curtains, sleep wear — any woven fabric, but especially polyester/cotton blends, marketed as “permanent press” or “easy care.”

More modern furniture is made of pressed wood products that emit formaldehyde and other chemicals. Carpeting is usually made of synthetic fibers that have been treated with pesticides and fungicide. Many office carpets emit a chemical called 4-phenylcyclohexene, an inadvertent additive to the latex backing used in more commercial and home carpets, which is thought to be one of the chemicals responsible for “sick” office buildings.

It seems that we must educate ourselves about what we bring into our homes whether to clean or as a finished product. The more we know, the better prepared we will be to make choices that will support the health and well-being of our families as well as the health of our planet.

Thu 21 Feb 2008

Los Angeles Interior Designer: Environmentally Safe Cleaning

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Los Angeles Interior Designer: Environmentally Safe Cleaning

Here’s a fresh list of environmentally friendly cleaning products that get the job done while impacting our environment as little as possible.

All Purpose Cleaner. Solay Simple (www.solaywellness.com) is made completely from ingredients found in coconut trees and cornfields. Nothing artificial at all.

Laundry Detergent. Shaklee (www.shaklee.com) This remarkable product uses enzymes, not phosphates or harsh solvents, to get garments clean, and the formula is so concentrated that it replaces three bottles of lesser products.

Glass Cleaner. Biokleen (www.biokleenhome.com) The strong arm of vinegar replaces scary ammonia in this fast working product.

Furniture Polish. Timothy Corrigan Home (www.timothy-corrigan.com) Using vegetable-based moisturizing properties, this product developed by Interior Designer Timothy Corrigan will return a warm healthy shine to any wood piece.

Tools of the Trade. Casabella (www.casabella.com) offers a wide range of cleaning products for every preference. Microfiber or old-school sponge you will find the tools you need to do the job.

Thu 7 Feb 2008

Interior Designers Beverly Hills: Cleaning Tips

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Interior Designers Beverly Hills: Cleaning Tips

Systems fascinate me. Institutional systems, political systems, mechanical systems each bring to mind cogs and wheels, cause and effect, power and movement, and ultimately results. Systems offer basic framework to a group or cause which allows for common objectives to be reached. If we are interested in systems that support our desire for a clean home here are 4 suggestions to move that objective along:

1. Consistency. Set aside the same time each week for specific cleaning tasks. Systematizing this helps set up internal support for this external effort. Soon it becomes a habit.

2. Ritual. Important to establishing a habit is the repetition associated with the task itself. Put on the same “uniform.” Go to the same cabinet and gather the same tray of supplies. Start at the same end of the room… etc. Ritual brings a heightened sense of importance and sense of satisfaction to any task.

3. Celebration. Find ways to bring new energy and joy to the task, however mundane it may feel. Music is my favorite method. I-Pod in hand and suddenly you can create your own soundtrack. Suddenly, you are smiling. Go with it and have fun.

4. Support. Sometimes there are tasks which we just struggle to accomplish. Maybe you really don’t like to iron. If you ask around I’ll bet you can find a friend who loves to iron. but hates to vacuum. Swap tasks. Do what you love and let someone else cover an area where you need support. And if you’re swapping tasks it won’t cost you anything.

Thu 31 Jan 2008

Top Interior Designer’s Tips for Keeping it Clean

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Top Interior Designer’s Tips for Keeping it Clean

I ran into someone tonight who I have not seen in over two years. I felt a hand on my shoulder at a business function and turned around to see a familiar face. There was something radiant about her face; something glowing. As we spoke she told me of the adventure the past two years have delivered to her life.

Interesting to me was her story of a visit to a meditation retreat in India and how it changed her life. Planned as a one month visit her time there stretched to over 10 months. She spoke of her clarity, her knowledge that this was the right place for her at this time in her life.

She meditated, worked, learned and is now confident that the same clarity of purpose is guiding her to new adventures. I came away from the conversation refreshed and challenged. It is refreshing to hear someone so connected with a confidence about their reality. This same confidence is also challenging.

It begs an examination of my own reality, about the things I prize. It asks about my commitment to these things and why I do what I do. In someway it prompts a bit of internal house-keeping. The only way to successfully construct a building is to start with a good foundation.

Seems to me the only way to build a successful life is to find clarity of purpose. Be clear on the concept of your life and don’t waver. Seems like a nice clean way to begin the second month of 2008.

Thu 24 Jan 2008

Interior Designers Beverly Hills: Cleaning Tips

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Interior Designers Beverly Hills: Cleaning Tips

If you are living anywhere near a radio, television, computer or newspaper these days you may find yourself inundated with information. Whether it is political, economical, and social or education-based, there is information flying past us at an ever-increasing rate.

Some days I feel buried by it almost as if I were drowning. When this happens I try to revolt. I cancel a subscription or turn something off, usually with a big huff as if this will resolve my overwhelmed feelings. Like a child tossing a tantrum I feel like I’ve accomplished something. Then the sun comes up and I log-on or tune-in or pick-up, and suddenly, I’m where I was the day before.

Need a feeling of accomplishment? Need something you can act upon and that will deliver a great feeling of gratification? Then I suggest we take charge of a corner or a cupboard or even a drawer and clean it up!

1. Pick the project. If you don’t have a clear goal or objective how will you ever know if you have achieved anything? Pick one closet, cabinet or drawer. Be clear and decisive and then write the target down (a white board or Post-It-Notes are great for this).

2. Set aside time. Pick a 30 minute period of time and mark it on your calendar. You’ve just made a date with yourself to succeed.

3. Take stock of what you need. Do you have the supplies that you will need to realize your goal? If not, then plan a trip to the store to fully stock your project.

4. Gather a team. Sometimes the worst part of a project is doing it alone. Find a partner and make it fun. Put on your favorite music and enjoy yourself.

5. Reward yourself when the task is complete. Sometimes just achieving the goal is not enough. If that’s the case for you give yourself a reward that will motivate you and then get to work.

Fri 18 Jan 2008

Good Advice from one of the Top Interior Design Firms Los Angeles

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Good Advice from one of the Top Interior Design Firms Los Angeles

Two-way streets are a wonder. From a vantage point above street level, observing the choreography that unfolds as multiple lanes of motorized masses sail past each other. It is amazing; sometimes heart stopping, but always a dance of human and technological daring. Somewhere in this waltz of wonder is a lesson having to do with the yin and yang of life.

It is true that what goes up must come down. It is also true that energy expended must be restored in anticipation of the need for future expansion. So when we think about the effort and energy expended when we entertain we must, from time to time, attend to our needs so that we can best care for those whom we invite into our home.

One of the best readily available methods each of us has to recharge our inner life is to connect with our core of friends and family. You will be amazed at how energizing this time can be; by strengthening these most important relationships we strengthen every facet of our life. Take some of these suggestions and then use your imagination to build better and stronger relationships.

With your children:
-Movie night with each child.
-Bake cookies or brownies together
-Read together

With your spouse or partner:
-Sign up for something together; ballroom dancing, cooking classes or learn the art of massage together
-Explore a local winery together
-Plan a hike or select a local park for a quiet stroll.

With Relatives or Friends:
-Visit local museums
-Join or form your own book club
-Volunteer with a local charity group.

Thu 10 Jan 2008

Interior Designer Rooms: Good for Your Health

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Interior Designer Rooms: Good for Your Health

Have you ever been gripped by the desire to climb to the top of the nearest tallest building and scream at the top of your lungs “I TOLD YOU SO”! If your answer is yes, then you will understand my emotions on January 1, 2008 when I held in my hands the New York Times and read the words “Excessive clutter and disorganization are often symptoms of a bigger health problem.”

In an article titled A Clutter To Deep for Bins and Shelves, Tara Parker-Pope explores the realities related to the mess (extreme) which an estimated 1.5 million or more Americans live in daily.

Please understand that Ms. Parker-Pope and I are not speaking of the disaster area otherwise known as your teenager’s bedroom (which if you’re really lucky will either vanish or relocate when said teenager shuffles off to college), but rather of the type of clutter which can be defined as compulsive hording which takes over one’s living, dining and sleeping spaces in a way that harms an individual’s way of life.

Do yourself a favor and read the article. I found it fascinating to learn that the thing which I find so nurturing and reassuring (“a place for everything and everything in its place”) and which I readily encourage people towards at every turn might be beyond the reach of some, save for the help of psychiatric as well as design professionals.

Maybe my grandmother’s dictum that “a tidy room is the sign of a healthy mind” wasn’t so extreme after all.

Now clean up your room!

Thu 20 Dec 2007

A Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Favorite Cleaning Tips

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A Top Los Angeles Interior Designer’s Favorite Cleaning Tips

There is no turning back. Before you know it the New Year will spring fully formed from champagne corks left scattered on the island in your kitchen. Once again, we will be slaves to January waiting listlessly for the holiday joys of 2008 to come calling. But before it’s all said and done, I recommend you observe a few final cleaning rituals for 2007.

This time, rather than blasting through the closets and cupboards with organizational charts ablaze or scrubbing the stone and tile off the walls with environmentally conscious cleaning products, we should clean out our minds and pamper our bodies. Is there a more perfect way to usher in the New Year than taking some time to take care of us?

Never being one to approach a task without the proper tools here is a list of some delicious items to gather which will make our “self-care” exercise as indulgent as possible.

A robe by any other name….. try Calvin Klein’s Lush Robe when you want to be wrapped in luxury. www.macys.com

Slip into heaven……in a pair of delightfully soft slippers. Great with padded soles and an easy buy from Restoration Hardware: www.restorationhardware.com

Scoop your way to the stars…. using Sabon’s wood scoops. And use way too much. The point is to endulge. www.sabonnyc.com

A little dab will do ya! NOT. K. Hall Designs Milk Shower Paste in 17 fragrances is said to hydrate, polish and detox you from head to toe. www.khalldesigns.com

You can call me Bubbles…..When bubbles and lavender collide you will find L’Occitane’s Lavender Foaming Bath. Stock up. www.loccitane.com

Thu 6 Dec 2007

Best Los Angeles Interior Designer: Cleaning Tips for Your Home

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Best Los Angeles Interior Designer: Cleaning Tips for Your Home

With closets and cupboard organization underway you’ve set a course to enjoy the holiday season. Here are additional tips to keep in mind while you make your newly organized way through your home:

1. Labels. Whether it goes on a box (unless you are a mind-reader you will never know what’s inside), plastic storage bin or even the shelves in you pantry; using a label-maker can help you help those around you keep things in their place. My theory is “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

2. Cedar Blocks. If you are storing anything made of wool or cashmere, do yourself a favor and drop in a cedar block. The moths will hate you, but your garments will love you.

3. Sachets. When you open that plastic storage bin filled with your Mother’s old recipes or photographs which, you insist will be put into albums one day; how nice to be greeted with a fresh scent rather than stale air. Drop a lavender sachet into anything you are storing (suitcases, shoes, and holiday decorations) and smile when opening the box.

4. Paper. Using paper (from drawer lining paper to old wallcovering) to line the interior of drawers, closets and storage containers adds greatly to your enjoyment when it’s time to pull things out for daily use. Do it for yourself and enjoy.

5. Notes. We all would like to think that we will remember everything. The reality is we remember very little. So when packing away almost anything that has memories attached (photo’s, books, gifts..etc.), write yourself a note to remind you of the date received, who gave this to you, who is in the picture…etc. You and your family will thank you one day for this thoughtful and helpful footnote.

Thu 29 Nov 2007

Best Interior Designer Los Angeles: Cleaning Tips

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Best Interior Designer Los Angeles: Cleaning Tips

Out with the old and in with the new. Tis’ the season when accumulation happens at surprisingly accelerated rates. It’s hardly news that the holiday season offers wonderful opportunities to share love and care for friends and family – by giving gifts that express our feelings.

This can also be turned around and cause our own closets and cabinets to swell. A large part of having a beautiful home is making a place for everything and making certain that everything is in its place.

If you have limited space this may mean setting time aside for some clear-headed pre-holiday editing. Here are three ideas to help you find and maximize the space in your home:

1. My first rule of thumb is if I haven’t worn it or used it (not including seasonal clothes or objects) in 6 months, I don’t need it. It is always a pleasant surprise to find things I’d forgot I owned lurking in the back of a closet or cabinet. Clearly I didn’t miss it. Why do I need to keep it? Either it goes back into serious use or it’s time to find a new owner.

2. What I keep, I care for. I treat my belongings with care and they wear well and long. By elevating their importance by the way I store and care for my belongings (sweaters in closed containers with cedar, monogrammed wooden hangers, fabric lined drawers, shoe trees…etc.) things not only look good, but they last.

3. What I care for I organize. A quick inventory (3 black cashmere sweaters, 5 pair khaki slacks, 14 white cotton dress shirts….etc.) can give you a foundation for a organizing system as simple, or as involved, as you need.

Grouping your belongings (clothing, linens, china, crystal..etc.) by color, season, application or need is often a good place to start. Digital photographs and a basic numbering system can make quick work of the cataloguing process. You know what you own and you know where everything is stored. Now it’s time to go shopping!

Thu 8 Nov 2007

Cleaning Tips from a Top Los Angeles Interior Designer

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For the past number of weeks we’ve looked at the ingredient side of cleaning with great interest. Who knew that so many of the household products we used every day could be so harmful to the environment not to mention the children, pets, as well as the floral and fauna in the general area.

Yikes. We seemed to have addressed many of those concerns with safer and more friendly products, and now that we are all using these on a regular basis we can pat each other on the back for a moment.

Now it’s time to move on to the really tough jobs when it comes to house cleaning (the germs appear to be under control). I’m now concerned about the junk piled high in that space you call a living room (we’ll talk about other rooms of the house next week). For today, let’s give pause and consideration to the room we live in; the Living Room.

Sometimes called the great room, in times past it was called the Great Hall, the Reception Room, the Parlor… etc. You get the point. It is typically the larger of the common spaces within the house and is usually used to entertain guests of important stature which today could be your gaming buddies or the CEO of your husband/wife’s company.

When was the last time you really looked at your “Living Room”? I ask this question fully knowing that most people are lucky if they remember what color the drapery is in their Living Room.

How interesting that two of your children’s school science projects are still stored in the corner next to the failing Fichus tree (yes, the one with the braided trunk!). And whose idea was it to store the fishing tackle boxes behind the sofa? How many issues of National Geographic do you intend to include in that makeshift side table?

I always wonder when, like a house of cards, this world of decorating wonder will slide to its demise?

What’s my point? Let’s start by cleaning things up. You will be amazed at how much more beautiful clean and neat it is. Imagine how great it will look when we actually start making it really beautiful.

Thu 1 Nov 2007

Best Los Angeles Interior Designer with Safe Household Cleaning Tips

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The Safe Home of the 21st Century

Because Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, it is crucial to make the home environment as safe as possible. Indoor pollutants have proliferated in recent years, often either because modern construction techniques and furnishing manufacturers utilize hazardous materials or because consumers do not know enough about the products they buy to make informed choices.

But safe, nontoxic alternatives exist for nearly every real need around the home, and the search for them may help consumers distinguish between what they really do need, and what may be “luxuries” that could compromise their families’ health.

Even the furnishings of the typical American home can be harmful. Fabrics that are labeled “wrinkle-resistant” are usually treated with a formaldehyde resin. These include no-iron sheets and bedding, curtains, sleep wear — any woven fabric, but especially polyester/cotton blends, marketed as “permanent press” or “easy care.”

More modern furniture is made of pressed wood products that emit formaldehyde and other chemicals. Carpeting is usually made of synthetic fibers that have been treated with pesticides and fungicide. Many office carpets emit a chemical called 4-phenylcyclohexene, an inadvertent additive to the latex-backing used in more commercial and home carpets, which is thought to be one of the chemicals responsible for “sick” office buildings.

It seems that we must educate ourselves about what we bring into our homes whether to clean or as a finished product. The more we know the better prepared we will be to make choices that will support the health and well-being of our families as well as the health of our planet.

Thu 25 Oct 2007

Natural Home Remedy Pesticides from a Top Interior Designer

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Against pests in the home, the best offense is a good defense. The first step is to make the house — especially the kitchen — unattractive to insects by cleaning up food spills immediately, keeping hard-to-reach areas reasonably clean, and removing clutter that can hide pests.

It’s best to store foods that are attractive to pests, such as flour, in the refrigerator. Water attracts pests, so leaky faucets and pipes should be promptly repaired. Doors and windows should be well screened. Cloths should be regularly cleaned and aired, and properly stored in paper or cardboard boxes that are sealed against moths.

A number of nontoxic substances can be used to repel insects. Generally, they are highly fragrant or volatile herbs or spices. Powdered red chill pepper, peppermint, bay leaves, cloves, citrus oil, lavender, rosemary, tobacco, peppercorns, and cedar oil can repel various types of insects.

Insects can be trapped and killed without resorting to dangerous chemicals.

Generally a poison nontoxic to humans is mixed with a food that insects find attractive, and spread in the infested area. Examples are oatmeal (attractive) and plaster-of-Paris (poisonous), and cocoa powder and flour (attractive) and borax (poisonous). Old-fashioned flypaper — not a hanging strip of insecticide — is an effective trap.

For specific house pests, try these natural home remedy pestcides:

For ants: Sprinkle powdered red chill pepper, paprika, dried peppermint, or borax where the ants are entering.

For beetles: Kill manually when you see them.

For cockroaches: Mix by stirring and sifting 1 ounce TSP, 6 ounces borax, 4 ounces sugar, and 8 ounces flour. Spread on floor of infested area. Repeat after 4 days and again after 2 weeks.

For fleas: Feed pet brewer’s yeast in powder mixed with food or by tablets.

For moths: Air clothes well in the sun; store in airtight containers, and scatter sachets of lavender, cedar chips, or dried tobacco in with clothing.

For rats and mice: Again, prevention may be the best cure. Holes in exterior or interior walls should be closed off and storage spaces kept orderly. Garbage should be kept tightly covered. To catch rodents, the most efficient system is the oldest: a cat. Next best are mouse and rat traps.

For termites: Any wooden parts of the house should be at least 18 inches off the ground, as subterranean termites cannot tolerate being exposed to air and light. They have to build easily visible mud tunnels to get at available wood.

However, most existing houses have only about an 8-inch clearance between wooden parts and the ground, which makes the wood vulnerable. Metal shields may help discourage termites, but they cannot prevent infestations.

To treat existing termite infestations, there are a few nontoxic alternatives: The “Extermax” system, available in California; and the use of a particular species of nematodes to eat them, a system available from N-Viro Products, Ltc.

For gardens: In hardware stores, look for new brands of safer insecticides that use soap-and water solution to get rid of aphids, or pyrethrum for a number of applications. As more and more people understand the hazards of organic chemicals in the home, market pressure will encourage the introduction of safer products.

Several naturally derived pesticides exist which, in some cases, are less toxic to humans than the organophosphates, carbamates, or organochlorines now widely used. Nicotine is the most toxic, poisonous both to humans and to other mammals, as well as to birds and fish. It is not available commercially for home gardeners because of its hazards.

Rotenone, moderately toxic to humans, kills a wide range of insects; however, it should never be used near a waterway, as it is very toxic to fish. Ryania kills only a few species, including the European corn borer, codling moth, and cranberry fruit worm.

Pyrethrum is relatively nontoxic to humans and only slightly toxic to aquatic life, so it may be the best choice for home gardens. Sabadilla controls lice, leafhoppers, squash bugs, striped cucumber beetles, and chinch bugs. It has low toxicity to wildlife, but it may be toxic to bees.

For lawns: Herbicides are most often used to kill “unsightly” weeds in gardens and yards, and are employed by lawn care companies to maintain the perfect appearance of turf around homes, lawns and golf courses. Basically, the safe alternative to herbicides is simple: pull weeds by hand. There are no really safe herbicides.

Thu 18 Oct 2007

Top Interior Designer with Safe Cleaning Products

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Safe Substitutes for Art and Hobby Materials

There are some nontoxic choices that can be made when buying art or craft supplies, but because some techniques require certain materials, minimizing exposure may be the best you can do.
In painting and print making, ready-mixed water-based paints or inks can be used. If you must be exposed to paint dust, use toxic dust respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Ventilate the space thoroughly whenever using any kind of solvents, whether in painting or in lithography, intaglio, or photoetching. Solvents also should be avoided while pregnant.

Enamels are usually lead-based, and can contain other toxic metals such as cadmium and nickel. Use lead-free-enamels whenever possible, and make sure kilns are vented outside.
In pottery as well, outside vented kilns are important, as is a careful choice of materials—most potters know to avoid lead glazes and lead frits, but many don’t know that flint, feldspars, fluorspar, and some compounds containing barium, lithium, manganese, or nickel can also be toxic. Children should avoid the pottery studio, as they are more highly susceptible to the toxics used in pottery than are adults.

Photography presents a number of toxic hazards which are difficult to avoid. Minimize exposure to photo chemicals by using gloves, mixing chemicals in a mixing box with holes in the sides for gloved hands, and providing adequate ventilation. The Health and Welfare Office of Canada suggests at least 10 room air changes per hour. Children under 12 should avoid the darkroom.

Thu 11 Oct 2007

Cleaning Tips from a Top Los Angeles Interior Designer

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Safe Substitutes for Personal Hygiene and Cosmetic Products

We use cosmetics and hygiene products for a fairly narrow range of reasons: to keep skin moist and supple; to clean hair without stripping it of natural oils; to eliminate unpleasant body or mouth orders; to prevent skin oiliness and clogged skin pores; and simply for the pleasure of relaxing and pampering ourselves with body-care or facial-care treatments. The following ingredients can help achieve these purposes without the use of toxic additives, synthetic fragrances, or artificial colorings:

Moisturizers and conditioners: egg yolk, milk, yogurt, safflower oil (for light moisturizing), olive oil (for dry skin or hair), water, oatmeal, jojoba oil.

Astringents/after shaves: witch hazel, diluted isopropyl alcohol.

Deodorants: baking soda, white clay, deodorant crystals.

Toothpastes: baking soda, salt.

Soaps cleansing agents: castle soap, olive-oil based soap.

Perfumes: essential oils provide nontoxic fragrances that can be used to scent shampoo, bath soaks, or even, in the case of peppermint, to flavor toothpaste.

Although it’s easy to make healthful alternatives to many cosmetic and hygiene products, any natural-foods store has a fairly wide selection of shampoos, moisturizers, toothpastes, after shaves, soaps, and bath products that do not contain the harmful ingredients in many commercial preparations.

Thu 4 Oct 2007

Laundry Products Without Chemicals: Safe Substitutes

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Detergent is specially adapted to clean synthetic fabrics, and it has the added advantage of not leaving soil residues even in hard water. However, detergents are generally derived from petrochemicals, and people sensitive to these compounds may find it hard to tolerate detergents or the fragrances they are scented with.

In addition, most detergents contain phosphates, which build up in streams and lakes and upset the natural balance in waterways, causing blooms of algae, which deplete the dissolved oxygen fish need to live. Some detergent may even contain naphthalene or phenol, both hazardous substances.

An effective alternative to using detergents is a return to soap. Soap is an effective cleaner for natural fabrics, leaving such items as diapers softer than detergent can. For cotton and linen, use soap to soften water.

A cup of vinegar added to the wash can help keep colors bright (but DO NOT use vinegar if you are using bleach — the resulting fumes are hazardous). One-half to three-quarters of a cup of baking soda will leave clothes soft and fresh smelling. Silks and wools may be hand-washed with mild soap or a protein shampoo, down or feathers with mild soap or baking soda.

For synthetic fabrics or blends (including most no-iron fabrics), there are biodegradable detergents on the market that do not contain phosphates, fragrances, or harsh chemicals. They are often imported from Europe and are available at health food stores or by mail order.

Thu 27 Sep 2007

Free House Cleaning Tips

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For common household tasks, try these nontoxic strategies using the ingredients noted in our last Beauty Treatment list:

Freshen air by opening windows and doors for a short period; distribute partially filled dishes of vinegar around the kitchen to combat unpleasant cooking odors; boil cinnamon and cloves in a pan of water to scent the air.

Sprinkle 1/2 cup borax in the bottom of garbage pails or diaper pails to inhibit mold and bacteria growth that can cause odors; rub vinegar on hands before and after slicing onions to remove the smell; use bowls of potpourri to give inside air a pleasant scent.

All-purpose cleaner can be made from a vinegar-and-salt mixture or from 4 tablespoons baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water.

Disinfectant means anything that will reduce the number of harmful bacteria on a surface. Practically no surface treatment will completely eliminate bacteria. Try regular cleaning with soap and hot water. Or mix 1/2 cup of borax into 1 gallon of hot water to disinfect and deodorize. Isopropyl alcohol is an excellent disinfectant, but use gloves and keep it away from children.

Drain cleaner. Try a plunger first, though not after using any commercial drain opener. To open clogs, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and cover the drain.

The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into the soap and glycerin, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. Again, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener–the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Floor cleaner and polish can be as simple as a few drops of vinegar in the cleaning water to remove soap traces. For vinyl or linoleum, add a capful of baby oil to the water to preserve and polish. For wood floors, apply a thin coat of 1:1 oil and vinegar and rub in well.

For painted wooden floors, mix 1 teaspoon of washing soda into 1 gallon of hot water. For brick and stone tiles, use 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon of water and rinse with clear water.

Metal cleaners and polishes are different for each metal — just as in commercial cleaners. Clean aluminum with a solution of cream of tartar and water. Brass may be polished with a soft cloth dipped in lemon-and baking-soda solution, or vinegar-and-salt solution. Polish chrome with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny slide out.

Clean tarnished copper by boiling the article in a pot of water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar, or try differing mixtures of salt, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and cream of tartar. Clean gold with toothpaste, pewter with a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.

Silver can be polished by boiling it in a pan lined with aluminum foil and filled with water to which a teaspoon (each) of baking soda and salt have been added. Stainless steel can be cleaned with undiluted white vinegar.

Oven cleaner. Sprinkle baking soda on moist surface and scrub with steel wool. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Scouring powder can be made from baking soda or dry table salt. Or try Bon-Ami Cleaning Powder or Bon-Ami Polishing Cleaner.

Toilet bowl cleaner can be made from straight bleach (do NOT mix with any other substance except water), baking soda and vinegar, or borax and lemon juice.

Tub and tile cleaner can be as easy as rubbing in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinsing, or wiping with vinegar first and following with baking soda as a scouring powder.

Window and glass cleaner is easy with these tips: to avoid streaks, don’t wash windows when the sun is shining. Use a vinegar-and-water solution, cornstarch-vinegar-and-water solution, or lemon-juice-and-water. Wipe with newspaper unless you are sensitive to the inks in newsprint.

Thu 13 Sep 2007

How to Choose Cleaning Products

Posted by interiordesigner under Beauty Treatments
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As promised last week, here is a list of simple, safe and sane products for basic cleaning in your Kitchen and Bath:

Safe Substitutes in the Kitchen and Bath

One shelf of simple and relatively safe ingredients can be used to perform most home cleaning chores; all that’s needed is a knowledge of how they work and how different ingredients should be combined to get the cleaning power needed for a specific job.

Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. It has a number of useful properties. It can neutralize acid, scrub shiny materials without scratching, deodorize, and extinguish grease fires. It can be used as a deodorizer in the refrigerator, on smelly carpets, upholstery and vinyl.

It can help deodorize drains, clean and polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel and tin. It also softens fabrics and removes certain stains. Baking soda can soften hard water and make a relaxing bath time soak; it can be used as underarm deodorant and toothpaste too.

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water. It can deodorize, inhibit the growth of mildew and mold, boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent, remove stains, and be used with attractants, such as sugar, to kill cockroaches.

Cornstarch, derived from corn, can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs, and starch clothes.

Isopropyl Alcohol is an excellent disinfectant.

Lemon Juice, which contains citric acid, is a deodorant and can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, clothes, and porcelain. It is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight.

Mineral Oil, derived from seeds, is an ingredient in several furniture polish and floor wax recipes.

Soap (NOT detergent) is made in several ways. Castle soap can be used as a shampoo, or body soap. Olive-oil based soap is gentlest to the skin. An all-purpose liquid soap can be made by, simply, dissolving the old ends of bar soap (or grated slivers of bar soap) in warm water.

Steel Wool is an abrasive strong enough to remove rust and stubborn food residues, and scour barbeque grills.

TSP is trisodium phosphate, a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint that would normally require much more caustic and poisonous chemicals; TSP does not create any fumes.

Vinegar is made from soured applied juice, grain, or wine. It contains about 5 percent acetic acid, which makes it a mild acid. Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits and grease, remove traces of soap, mildew or wax buildup, polish some metals, and deodorize.

Vinegar can clean brick or stone, and is an ingredient in some natural carpet cleaning recipes. Use vinegar to clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots and to shine windows without streaking. Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but can be used straight.

Washing Soda or SAL Soda is a sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. It can cut stubborn grease on grills, broiler pans, and ovens. It can be used with soda instead of laundry detergent, and it softens hard water. These items are available from drug and chemical-supply stores.

Thu 30 Aug 2007

Laundry Saving Tips

Posted by interiordesigner under Beauty Treatments
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Try to think green when it comes to cleaning your house and particularly when washing your fine fabrics (much easier on the environment than dry cleaning). Here are some quick laundry saving tips for your clothes:

-Small Loads. Keep the number of items in your washer and dryer to a minimum. Your linens will get cleaner and have fewer wrinkles this way.

-Sort Everything. I recommend laundering two shades of the same color in the same load. The more diligent you are at sorting your colors, the fewer unwanted surprises will await you when the spin cycle is done.

-Spot Clean. By pressing a damp towel with a bit of delicate detergent on a spot and then blotting with the towel’s clean corner you can save yourself a trip to the dry cleaners. Minimizing these heavy blasts of chemicals makes your suits and coats last longer and helps preserve the environment.

-Cool it off. Use a cool or gentle cycle on your dryer and remove items as soon as they dry. This will prevent dryer damage.

-Half and half. Dress shirts last longer if you wash them at home. Then have them ironed professionally. Some cleaners will try and charge full price, but negotiate and get the most from your purchases.

-Clean it all. Washers collect lint just like dryers. Once a month run your washing machine on “hot” with a cup of white vinegar to clean out unwanted fibers.

Thu 23 Aug 2007

Tips for Cleaning the House

Posted by interiordesigner under Beauty Treatments
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How to Choose Cleaning Products

Who knew a Google search could stop you dead in your tracks? It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon. At brunch, a friend mentioned a new cleaning product that he had just purchased. He described it as “green” and I didn’t hear much beyond that.

Was the packaging green? Was the liquid itself green? Or was this just ‘buzz’ emanating from Al Gore’s brilliant documentary? I wasn’t sure, but I did know that a Google search of “green cleaning products” might provide some answers.

Suddenly, I’m reading from a 1999 “New Scientist” study that found when aerosol sprays and air fresheners were used regularly in a home: women experienced 25% more headaches; men and women were 19% more likely to experience depression; infants under the age of 6 months had 30% more ear infections and 22% more cases of diarrhea.

Where have I been since 1999? The article listed item after item of typical cleaning products and the health challenges that they can aggravate, check the list here.

I could not let my Sunday afternoon slip past without checking under my kitchen counter to see what possible can or canister of eco-devastation was hiding in the shadows. I was shocked to learn that it wasn’t one or two.

I cleared out two plastic trash bags full of very scary cleaning products (see my picture of shame above). Over 25 containers of products that could harm my health, my friends and family’s health and the health of our environment, all from two cabinets in my kitchen.

Take a look under your kitchen counter and see what’s staring back at you. Hopefully you have more eco-friendly cleaning products at work and/or around your family, friends and pets. If not, then join me over the next few weeks as I explore how to choose cleaning products that are safe, effective and will leave your home sparkling clean and non-toxic.

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