Deodorizing Carpet

Our carpet took quite a few hits over the course of the first 10 months of our baby's life. In other words, he spit up a lot. His doctor assured us it was normal, just in case anyone out there was wondering.

We could pay a carpet cleaning service $150+ to remove the odors. We may have to have them come eventually to remove the stains...more on that in another post.

But using baking soda is a far less expensive option for odor removal. Simply dust it onto the carpet before vacuuming, leave it for an hour, and then vacuum it up.

Another great way to keep dirt and toxins out of your home is to take off your shoes!! I don't like wearing shoes in my home anyway. Think about all the stuff on your shoes...tar, oil, antifreeze, salt, lawn chemicals...we have a crawling baby, so I sure don't want that stuff on his hands and in his mouth!!

Road Trip Savings

1. Don't pack extra stuff. Every 100 pounds of gear can reduce fuel efficiency by 1-2%. That adds up.

2. Do pack a cooler with food. Plan your meals on the road to be picnic-style and pack sandwiches, fruit, pre-cut veggies, and yogurt. Drink water. (Or drink coffee as needed.)

3. Bring along a travel coffee mug. Most coffee shops give a $0.10 discount if you have your own mug. That can add up depending on your coffee requirements!

4. Check gasbuddy.com for gas deals along the way.

5. Consider camping out at a public campground along the way instead of staying in a hotel.

6. If you do go to a hotel, find out if they offer free breakfast.

7. Rent books on tape from your local library.

8. No GPS? Borrow one from a friend.

Flossing is Frugal

I floss most nights. I have never had a cavity. My husband flosses now, too. I truly believe that flossing helps reduce our dental bills. We are lucky to have dental insurance which allows us to receive semi annual cleanings, but if we had to have a cavity filled, we would need to pay out of pocket at least some of the costs.

Flossing can reduce the risk of gum disease. Also, researchers have found that flossing reduces the risk of heart disease.

The bottom line is that flossing is worth the 2.5 minutes per night for your health and your bank account.

Dishwasher Detergent Dangers

I normally use price as my only guideline when choosing a dishwasher detergent. However, I recently read that they usually containe chlorine that can cause eye injuries. I do keep my cleaning chemicals behind a "child-safe" lock, but my 13-month old is pretty good at getting things open.

I would like to switch to a phosphate and chlorine free detergent. I hear that they do exist.

Re-Use COFFEE??

Yes, you can conserve the amount of coffee grounds you use each day.

Empty only half of the grounds (use them for composting!)
Add half the amount of fresh grounds.
Make your coffee with the same amount of water.