Sep

21

Stroller Safety Tips and Resources

Filed Under Safe Mama Tips | 4 Comments

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    I was out with my family and I witnessed a woman pushing a stroller which then tipped backwards completely falling to the ground, with a child inside of it.  Luckily for them, the child was not hurt badly but it got me thinking.  We put a lot of time into thinking about what products are the safest for our kids, but when it comes down to it, some of the most mundane things in life can be just as dangerous.

    You would never think of a stroller as being a safety hazard but if used improperly it can certainly be a threat.  There is also the issue of stroller recalls.  You might remember a recall of Maclaren strollers not long ago that mentioned the hinges of the stroller having the possibility of severing fingers. They have of course, since then, provided a fix and have redesigned that portion of their strollers but I still see the recalled versions out and about.  Here is a list of standard stroller safety tips to keep in mind when both purchasing a stroller and when using your current one…. there are a lot of things to keep in mind but this is a few basics:

    • Don’t hang or overload strollers with diaper bags and shopping bags. As I mentioned above, the stroller can tip backwards and cause injury to your child.  Use the basket area underneath the stroller.  When shopping for a stroller, choose one that offers a larger under storage area that is accessible. If you’re using an umbrella style stroller, avoid hanging heavy bags from it.  There are those mommy helper clips for hanging bags on your stroller – I think they’re a bad idea and encourage you to overload your stroller with stuff.  Save those for the grocery cart.
    • Use the straps and and buckles as intended and make sure the child is the appropriate weight for the stroller.
    • When folding or unfolding your stroller, do so without your kids nearby so you can avoid pinched fingers or hands. I’ve pinched my own hand trying to fold up strollers so imagine what it would do to a tiny one.
    • Never leave a child unattended in any stroller, even if sleeping.  Kids can get antsy and try to climb out or unbuckle themselves when you aren’t looking, resulting in falls and injuries.
    • Double strollers: whether they are a stacked type or a side by side – be careful when there is only one child in them.  They can become unbalanced and tip.
    • Keep up on childrens product recalls and return the warranty card your stroller comes with so you will be notified in the event of a recall.  People often toss this information out.  Send them in!

    It seems silly and obvious but after witnessing that child’s stroller tip backwards I thought it would be nice to remind people that strollers can be dangerous if not properly used.

    Resources for stroller safety and stroller buying tips:

    March Of Dimes Stroller Safety for Baby “Always use the parking brake when the stroller is stopped.”

    ConsumerReports.org “Don’t jog with a stroller that’s not a jogging stroller or an all-terrain stroller not recommended for jogging.”

    Dr Spock Practical Stroller Safety Tips “Never leave your child in the stroller behind a parked car. The reason is obvious if you stop to think about it. Always keep your child’s stroller right next to you while you’re getting out your keys and unlocking the car door, and buckle her into her car seat before dealing with groceries, packages, etc.”

    Parenting Ideas Stroller Safety Tips “Check your stroller to make sure it is completely opened and in the locked position before putting your child in it. A good habit to get into is pushing down on the seat with your hand to make sure it safe for your child.”

    Apr

    28

    SafeMama Cheat Sheet: Safer Hand Sanitizers

    Filed Under cleaning products, Product Safety, Safe Mama Tips | 11 Comments

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      For the longest time, we were always getting the question, what about sanitizing?  “I want to carry a hand sanitizer!“  “What about sanitizing my toys/baby bottles/pacifiers?“   It seems like these days, it’s so much more prevalent to see some parent slathering Purell or the like on their kid at every turn.   They keep giant warehouse size bottles of it in school classrooms.  Parents want to sanitize their entire life.   Even my washing machine has a sanitizing mode.  Do my kid’s socks really need to be sanitized?

      When we were younger our parents weren’t insane about wiping down grocery carts before we sat in them.   We didn’t have cart covers.    As much as I eschew religious references, like my mother says  “God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt!“.  Maybe she could use a little polishing on her grammar, but what she says is true. Yu can’t be sterilized all the time.  But dirt can be contaminated with pesticides, lead and PDBE’s…. I’m paranoid like that.

      I know that there are times when there is a need for something to sanitize when you’re on the run and you have nothing else available to you.   Like when the only place to go to the bathroom for miles is an old disgusting gas station rest room with no soap.

      Now that I’ve stepped up on my soapbox, here are some natural sanitizer alternatives:

      Looking to kill bacteria or fight germs in your home?   One of our favorite ingredients we’ve recommended time and time again, is vinegar.   Another great ingredient is lemon juice (from a fresh squeezed lemon is best).    Making a mix of the two to clean your counters and other surfaces in your home beats the pants of off those noxious smelling blue multipurpose cleaners any day of the week.

      Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer

      You can easily make your own hand sanitizer.  Essential oils such as thyme, oregano, tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus to name a few are great at killing a host of bacteria.  Here’s an easy recipe from eHow.com

      Ingredients

      • 100% pure aloe vera gel (organic is preferred – aloe can be preserved with parabens)
      • Witch hazel
      • Tea Tree Oil
      • Peppermint Oil

      Directions

      • Place about 1 cup of your pure aloe vera gel into a bowl.
      • Slowly mix in 1-2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel. You do not want the consistency of the gel to become too thin.
      • Add 3-4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil, and 3-4 drops of Peppermint essential oil. Slowly stir ingredients together.
      • If you find the consistency to be too thin, add more aloe vera gel a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
      • Store in a re-purposed container.

      Most of the time however, just warm soapy water for 15-20 seconds is more than enough to kill germs.  I have my son sing his ABC’s while washing his hands to get into the practice of washing for long enough.    I save even the natural hand sanitizers for when we’re truly in need.

      Apr

      26

      SafeMama Discusses Internet Safety

      Filed Under Safe Mama Tips, Take Action | 4 Comments

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        Our usual subject matter is safety for babies and younger kids, because that’s what we know right now.  I’m sure however, we have readers with older kids and this subject is going to be one that will become near and dear to my heart in the coming years, I’m sure.

        My husband is an engineer in the network security field.  Sure, it sounds all fancy and stuff, but what it really means for us, as a family, is that he keeps abreast of all of the latest in regards to internet security, and it’s already been discussed that when our kids are older, our network will be on complete monitored lockdown.

        It’s important for your kids to learn how to use the internet.  To some, it may seem as if the internet is this new fangled thing.  Some passing fad, but when you get right down to it, there’s already a generation out there that has no idea what life is life without it (which makes me feel old when I can say, “I remember the day MTV aired”).   So it’s important to teach your kids internet safety.  Especially these days with every type of social media you can think of,  it has become much easier for cyber predators to lurk around every corner, and now there are more and more stories cropping up about cyber bullying.   But where do you draw the line?   You want to give your kids some freedom to have a Facebook account like their friends, or allow them to play online games with their friends.  And while you want trust your kids, you’ve seen more episodes of Dateline to instill enough fear in you to last a lifetime.   So how do you go about teaching them how to safely surf the internet, while still being able to monitor them?   SafeMama has some tips:

        • Keep the computer in a common area. I realize now that most kids have their own laptops, which may be necessary for older kids to use for school work, but have them stay in view of you.   If they’re teenagers, have a common agreement where you respect their need for privacy, while still being able to make sure they’re not getting into trouble. This is also somewhat critical for teens who are apt to lock themselves away, never to be seen by their families again.
        • Install web filters to keep young children away from sites intended for adult eyes only.
        • Share Login Info. If you’re allowing them to create a Facebook or other type of social media account, let them know that you’ll want their login info.  Not because you want to spy on them, but because you want to keep them safe.  If that’s not something you can agree on with your child, at the very least, have it be a requirement that you’re “friends” on Facebook.
        • Consider using a monitoring software. If you wanted to use something like this, be honest with them, and let them know that you’re able to see what they’re doing, and not because you intend to watch their every move.  Make sure you don’t violate that trust just to get the daily dish of what’s going on in their social lives.  Hopefully you’ll have the lines of communication open enough that they’ll keep you in the loop of what’s going on, but older kids need some privacy.  We all have stories we tell our parents when they’re at prime heart attack age, of the things we did as kids.   You may even get the old line of “don’t you remember what it’s like to be my age?”  And sometimes, we forget, but we also didn’t have the technology that they have so readily available to them.    If you were lucky, you actually had a computer, and if you were even luckier, you had a 2400 baud dial-up modem.  “And we LIKED IT!”

        Got any other tips? Software suggestions? Start a discussion in the comments!

        Apr

        2

        Some Quick Friday Green Tips: DIY Carpet Fresh

        Filed Under Eco-Mama, Green Mama, Safe Mama Tips | 2 Comments

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          Having two kids, and two dogs, and a whole lot of in and out foot traffic, I hate having carpet.   It makes me feel grimy and dirty and it holds pet odors, dander and hair like crazy.  Unfortunately, when we bought our house, 3,000 square feet of hardwoods were just not affordable.   So, we replaced the old worn carpet for new, just so that my new baby didn’t have to crawl around on other people’s funk.

          Fast forward three years later, and my carpet, well, it smells like dog, and dust.   Our carpets are cleaned regularly but you need something to keep them smelling fresh in between.  And you can do that safely and effectively with this quick tip:

          What you’ll need:

          A large shaker container.  You can re-purpose your old grated cheese container, which would be perfect for this, or an old spice container that has larger holes.

          • 1 cup of baking soda
          • 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil.

          That’s it.   Put the baking soda into the container, add the essential oil, and shake to mix it all up.   Sprinkle it on your carpet and rub it in.   Let sit for maybe five or so minutes to let it absorb the odors and then vacuum up.   Your carpet shouldn’t smell overpoweringly like essential oil, but it definitely shouldn’t smell like stale dog, either.

          Another quick tip is to make sure you clean your vacuum regularly.    We live in a day and age where vacuums are so disposable.   My mother blows through one every six months to a year!  That’s insane to me.  I think of all of those vacuums piling up in landfills.  You can make your vacuum last so much longer than that.   We bought our Dyson Animal 5 years ago.   Sure, you say, for the price you pay, it should last that long.  Yes, it should, and it was entirely worth the price we paid for it, but it’s not without a little elbow grease.

          Every six months, I not only clean out the hepa filter, I disassemble most of the vacuum (anything that has tubes or anywhere dirt gets trapped), and I give each part a good scrub in super hot water and soap.  Any tubes, I soak in hot water and a little bit of bleach.  Not a lot, just a little.  I let the parts soak over night, and then give everything a good thorough scrub.  I have a vacuum that looks and works as good as the day I bought it.  I don’t have to waste money on a new vacuum, and I keep another one out of the landfill.  It’s a win for everyone.   You don’t have to have the Dyson to do this.  Just remember:

          • Clean or replace HEPA filters according to the manufacturers recommendations.
          • thoroughly wash all tubes and hoses at least once a year.
          • always inspect the brushes every six months to make sure there’s no lingering hairballs that are making it work ineffectively.
          • Never let a bag or canister go beyond the fill line.  The vacuum has to work harder, putting strain on your motor.

          Got any other tips to keep your carpets fresh or your vacuum running smoothly?  Leave ‘em in the comments.

          Mar

          14

          Sunday Morning DIY: Lavender & Sweet Orange Hand Soap

          Filed Under Green Mama, Safe Mama Tips | 7 Comments

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            My green friends will all nod in agreement that making your own home cleaning products is a cinch… it’s just a matter of having a few items on hand.  There are literally thousands of uses for the basics and it’s a worthy investment for those on any kind of a budget because a little will go a long way.  Instead of buying expensive hand soaps (that may or may not contain chemicals or contaminants) you can easily whip up your own.  Picture spending $6 on a hand soap at Whole Foods and then picture spending about that same amount of money on a few key ingredients that will keep your hand soap dispenser filled for months on end (instead of a few weeks).

            This morning I whipped up some Lavender and Sweet Orange hand soap in less than 30 seconds and here’s how to do it.   You will need liquid Castille Soap .  For this I used Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Pure-Castille Soap which you can buy at Target, Whole Foods, health stores, or online.  Target carries tiny 1 ounce bottles, or you can purchase the bigger bottles (I recommend getting the Unscented Castille Soap if you go that route).

            Essential Oil – You will also need Sweet Orange essential oil for this particular recipe but just about any essential oil will do, especially if you are using unscented castille soap…. just think of the possible scents you can concoct.  You can pick up essential oils at health food stores and online.  What’s great is a few drops go a long way so it lasts forever and has many many uses. Other oils I keep handy for DIY recipes include Clary Sage and Tea Tree (have antiseptic and antibacterial qualities), and Lavender.

            Water – distilled water seems to be best for this kind of thing but I just use filtered water because hello, I have 2 kids, I don’t have time to distill water, and I would rather not buy it and waste more packaging.  I’m just washing my hands not performing surgery.

            Foamer Pump – You can easily re-purpose foamer pumps from old hand soaps or you can buy them.  I haven’t had a foamer soap in my house in a long time (I said goodbye to dial ages ago) so I bought a 3 pack from Bubble & Bee last time I bought shower gel. You can also buy on Amazon.  I hate to buy extra plastic but these get used over and over and it eliminates the need to buy more stuff.  You can make any number of things to use in foamer pumps like body wash, shampoo, etc.

            Do It Yourself:

            • 6 ounces water
            • 1 Tsp – Tablespoon Lavender Castille Soap (you can adjust this amount to how much soapiness you prefer)
            • 8-10 drops of sweet orange essential oil
            • Shake gently, the end. (You’ll want to give the bottle a brief shake before each use to remix the oils evenly… nothing crazy just a one, two shake will do it)

            This is gentle on skin and smells really fresh.  I keep this near the sink in the kitchen… I like orange and citrus scents in the kitchen which is great for after handling fragrant food like garlic or onions.  It’s super gentle too which is key for those of us washing their hands all day long.  Between diaper changes, nose wiping and cooking I wash my hands 57 times a day. Hi sandpaper hands.

            This is just one of a zillion possible combination that can be achieved.  Earth friendly, bio-gradable, chemical free, gentle and safe for everyone. Happy Sunday everyone :)

            Apr

            14

            Greening your hospital stay.

            Filed Under Eco-Mama, Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off

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              With the impending birth of our second child on the horizon, I’ve given a lot of thought to packing my hospital bag and what I used last time and what I’ll definitely want to bring this time.   Being a little wiser, and greener, I’ve given consideration on how I can minimize my environmental impact, while also keeping in mind that I’ll have just had a baby, so I need to be realistic.   I’m not the greenest person on the plantet by far, but the amount of waste that a hospital creates is insane.  If you’re planning on giving birth in the hospital,  there are steps you can take to be a little greener.

              Diapers.

              In general, the hospital will supply diapers for you during your stay, which makes things easy.   When we stayed in the hospital with the birth of our son, I made sure to take every single pack of diapers in the room, if they weren’t nailed down.  But that was before I decided on cloth.   Now, while I would love to bring my cloth diapers with me to the hospital, it’s not practical.  Possible, yes, but definitely not practical given that you’re already exhausted, sore and have limited resources.  If it’s something you can pull off, then I commend you, but there are other greener alternatives to conventional disposables.

              • Seventh Generation Diapers – Seventh Generation are my favorite disposable brand.  They work best on my son when I need to use disposables.   While they’re not any more biodegradable than your conventional diapers, they’re chlorine free, fragrance free and free of any of the awful chemicals that regular diapers have.    These will be accompanying me to the hospital when I give birth.
              • Nature Babycare Diapers -  I had the opportunity to try these out and I love them, but they weren’t readily available and given my gestating status, I usually don’t realize that I need diapers until I needed them yesterday.  These are really great diapers because they’re also all natural, compostable and biodegradable.   Everything about these diapers are eco-friendly, and the little leaf design on them is adorable.
              • gDiapers -  g diapers are another great biodegradable alternative.  They may be a little more cumbersome in the hospital, but the liners are flushable (check with your hospital before you flush them if you decide to use this system while you’re there) and unless you have a blowout, you can reuse the diaper and the snap in liner (the snap in is really easy to wash with some warm soap and water and dries in a few minutes.).

              Wipes

              Wipes are another thing that they do supply in the hospital.   My hospital supplied just basic paper towel like wipes that you simply wet down, which are great from a chemical free standpoint, but if your hospital supplies disposable wipes, they may be a brand that harbors unfavorable chemicals.  Again, if you’re planning on being brave and bringing your own cloth wipes to the hospital, hats off to you, but here are a couple of different wipes brands we love:

              • Whole Foods 365 Brand – I actually love these the best out of any of the “healthier” wipes brands out there.  They’re bigger and sturdier than other brands, and when you have a toddler, the last thing you want is a wipe that won’t function.  I use less wipes, and I rarely worry about getting, um, poop, on my hands.
              • Seventh Generation Baby Wipes -  Seeing as how we’re fans of Seventh Generation, these are another great alternative to cloth wipes when you’re out and about (or in the hospital).
              • Nature Babycare – I loved these wipes when I tried them, but again, they didn’t have them readily available.  I generally use cloth wipes at home, so I don’t really go through a lot of disposables, but since these are also biodegradable, I highly recommend these for your hospital stay.  Bonus!  They also make biodegradable bags.  This would be great for a hospital stay, and also if you’re out and about, or traveling.

              Baby Accessories

              Again, bringing as much as you can from home, without having to rent a U-Haul, is key.   Although, I will tell you, for the love of all that’s holy, take the hospital grade aspirator home with you.   Tell them you lost one and take two.   This was invaluable advice that was given to me (by Kathy, I believe) and we still use that thing to this day.  Literally.  I’ve been using it for the last two weeks.  Of course, there are things you can do in the interest of health, and things you can do to create less waste at the hospital, but disposable things are going to be thrown away, no matter how you cut it.   So pick what will work for you and use stuff that the hospital gives you if it’s just going to be thrown away anyway.

              • “Un Petroleum” Jelly - If by chance you need petroleum jelly for something, this is another one of those things that the hospital will supply for you, and you can save them the trouble of having to give you some, by bringing your own safer alternative.  We love this stuff and I feel better knowing that it has no harsh chemicals.  It’s a nice sized tube, so it’ll last you awhile and you’re not creating excess waste.
              • Formula and bottles – If for some reason you’re not planning on breastfeeding (and really, no judgment here, we realize that it’s not possible in all situations).  Bring your own formula to cut down on waste.  They go through TONS of those little nursettes and while they’re easy (and definitely add to your formula supply), they create so much waste.   Bring a few bottles with you to the hospital and a small sample of dishwashing detergent. Again, this is definitely personal choice.  You’ll be exhausted and we won’t be up in your grill if you do choose the nursers (I don’t really remember much of my hospital stay, I was that tired).   But you know, if you do bring your own, this is the time where your husband or partner can really shine (bottles, that is).
              • Baby skin care – Granted, you won’t be giving your baby a full bath in the hospital, but if you want to give them a sponge bath before you go home (also great to do with a nurse present if you’re first time parents, so that you don’t feel totally clueless when you get home), bring your own baby care products.   And opt for full sizes, so that you don’t have to  create extra waste by loading up on samples.   Our safe skin care cheat sheet is a great resource if you’re not sure of what’s out there.

              Accessories for Mama.

              Of course, you’ve just given birth and while you can’t have all of the luxuries of home, you can bring some things that are not only pampering, but at the same time, reduces your impact.

              • Your own water bottle – If you don’t have one already, treat yourself to a new stainless (or safer plastic) water bottle.    You’re going to need to stay very well hydrated after going through childbirth, especially if you’re breastfeeding.  Not only will this reduce your husband taking a million trips to the water dispenser at the hospital (because sure they give you a pitcher, but the water eventually gets warm, ew), you won’t be using disposable cups.  I LOVE my Thermos Intak, but really, any stainless is a great choice as it insulates your water for longer periods of time.
              • Toiletries -  There is never a shower that you will look forward to more, than the one you’re finally allowed to take after giving birth.  If  you’re delivering your first child, trust me when I tell you, to bring your own toiletries.  I made the mistake of forgetting my toothpaste and the stuff that the hospital supplies, is horrible.  Not only are you reducing your impact by not adding to hospital waste, but most of the stuff they provide you with, really sucks.  So pack your own stuff.  If you already have smaller travel containers, and want to carry smaller amounts, go for it, otherwise, skip the sample sizes.
              • Towels – You’re going to have dirty clothes, therefore, you’re going to already have a bag of laundry that you’re bringing home with you, so bring your own towel.  Again, not only is this reducing excess water consumption (in their laundry department, that is), but hospital towels are crap.  I’m not saying to bring your best set of towels, but even an older towel from home that you might not care about as much, is definitely better than the standard hospital towel.
              • Reusable breast pads -  Again, you’re going to have laundry, and breast pads really don’t take up much room in the grand scheme of things, so putting these in your bag instead of disposables, again, will help cut down on excess waste.

              Of course, we could go crazy and recommend a million things to help lessen your impact, but some of them are just not practical.  Like bringing your own cloth maxi pads.   Trust me, you’re going to want to use the disposable stuff that they give you in the hospital.  The aggravation is just not worth it.    And if you have any other ideas,  definitely contact us, and we’ll happily add it to the list.  Especially if it’s something you did in the past and it worked out for you.   Again, we realize that you’ve just given birth, so we’re trying to be as realistic as possible.

              Mar

              26

              Eco-Easter: Environmentally Friendly Easter Tips

              Filed Under Eco-Mama, Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off

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                eeggKathy had written the other day about Easter creeping up on us and where you can find natural and organic candy.   Some people may not celebrate Easter for religious reasons, or maybe you just don’t feel that you need to be a part of the commercialism aspect.   However, for those that do, I’m sure you’re wondering how to minimize your impact to the landfill.   My son is a little young for Easter and we’re not religious people, but I do like the aspect of doing something as a family, especially the crafty part of Easter.   And OK, maybe there’s also a part of me that wants a little bit of candy too!

                We try to reduce and reuse as much as we can, so when it came time to purchase an Easter basket, I wanted something that I could reuse for years to come.   I came across many beautiful Easter baskets on Etsy that are not only affordable, but are definitely something that fits in with the need for tradition.

                Easter grass: What Easter basket would be complete without some Easter grass?   I went looking for some natural recycled alternatives to the plastic stuff that you can buy anywhere.   There’s tons of great options like, shredded recycled paper, which you can either buy or make yourself if you have your own paper shredder.    If it gets destroyed, you can recycle it, or you can reuse it until it’s worn out.   The other thing I came across that’s eco-friendly and all natural, is raffia fiber.   Raffia is made from the raffia palm and then turned into rope or straw.  It makes a great packing material, but it’d be great for an Easter basket and durable enough that you could reuse it for years.

                Egg Dyes: And what about Easter dyes?   I’m not a fan of artificial colors.  I try to use all natural food coloring.  I will admit that all natural food coloring is much different than the commercial Easter dyes that you use.   Even making your own natural Easter dyes will result in much more muted pastel colors, instead of vibrant bold colors we were used to as kids, but this might make for a fun science project for older toddlers and younger children.   Again, it doesn’t have to be about the commercialism and getting more unneeded presents.  It can be more about spending the time together.

                Oh OK, and the candy too!

                Mar

                18

                Dear SafeMama: Earth Friendly Uses for Olive Oil

                Filed Under Dear SafeMama, Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off

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                  This a question that we get from time to time, but not so much recently.  I’ve also gotten this from my friends and acquaintances as well and that is, are there any safe products out there to keep stainless clean and streak free?

                  Can I just say that for one, I’m over the stainless steel popularity?   I have it in my own home.  I was adamant about buying it when we moved into our house two years ago, because we lived in a rental that had a pretty sweet kitchen.  With stainless appliances.  I was pretty excited at first, but then I realized how hard it was to keep them clean.   They always had streaks and fingerprints, no matter how much I scrubbed them, and that was BEFORE I had kids.

                  So when we moved to our new house, and went to buy a new refrigerator, I went in, fully intending to order white appliances, when the sales guy showed me the “magic stainless steel cleaner.”   And of course, being the sucker that I am, said, “oooh, pretty, I’ll take it.”   Of course, I was suckered, but it was either get my new shiny fridge NOW, or wait for the backordered white ones (right, sure, backorder).

                  Of course, once I started to green my cleaning supplies, I didn’t replace that cleaner, as it didn’t really work that well anyway.  My poor appliances suffered, as my son got bigger and more grimy and mobile and nothing I used worked over the long term and everything was streaky.

                  And then I found a very simple and very safe solution.   It’s a little more time consuming and I will tell you, that I am the LAST person to keep up with the fingerprints on my appliances.  Being pregnant has made it worse, but I try to make the effort, and one of the things that I have found to help the clean up and prevention easier is something that everyone has in their house: olive oil.

                  To start, you take a spray bottle of 1 part vinegar, to 2 parts water.  Clean the stainless thoroughly.   At first, this may take a little time, and it will streak, but don’t worry.

                  After you’ve cleaned the grime off,  take a paper towel and moisten it with some olive oil.  You don’t need much, so don’t saturate.   Gently wipe the olive oil, making sure to cover the entire area.  You may need to reapply some oil to the paper towel a few times to get adequate coverage.   Then, get a clean paper towel and buff.   I would say to be eco-friendly and use some rags to polish and buff, but I’ve found that it leaves fuzz behind.  You really only need to do an olive oil treatment maybe once every three months.   So I don’t feel entirely guilty for using 6-8 paper towels a year to clean my appliances.

                  To keep clean in between olive oil treatments, simply use the water/vinegar solution.  The fingerprints will wipe off with ease, you won’t have streaks and you’ve not only used completely safe ingredients, you’ve used stuff that you probably already have and it only cost you a few bucks.

                  Feb

                  27

                  Friday Link Roundup

                  Filed Under Articles, cleaning products, Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off

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                    linkroundupHappy Friday SafeParents!  Life has been busy for us (and hormonal… thank you pregnancy) but before the weekend came I wanted to share some finds with you that I’ve bookmarked this week.

                    • Grist.org: A Review of Six Green laundry Detergents:  I found this article this week and was thrilled to see such a well put together review of detergents.  I know Statia has been using Charlie’s Soap with some success lately but I’ve wondered about the performance of the other various brands out there.  Grist.org’s article covers their stain removal strength, scents and value of each.  Their final pick was Seventh Generation Free & Clear but see how the others measured up.
                    • Safer States: I found this site via Twitter and I am so glad I did.  This site is a great way to keep up on what’s happening across the country regarding chemical regulations and environmental health.  They post a regular blog and have a list of Action Alerts to make it easy for you to get involved with the legislation and communication with the people who help make these decisions. This one is on my permanent RSS feed reading list.
                    • LovelySafeMama.com Giveaway this week: For the moms -  Don’t forget to head over to LovelyMama and enter the Alima Pure Spring Collection giveaway we’re running until march 4th.  3 lucky winners will get full collection sample sets!  Woo!

                    Blog Spotlight!:  I decided that us safety and green bloggers need to pimp each other more.  There are so many GREAT blogs out there doing research and product testing to help all of us live a better life.  If I could single-handedly do it all I would, but I can’t.  So I am eternally grateful for all the hard work other mom bloggers do for us.  Today’s spotlight goes to Cate and the bloggers from Nature’s Child Blog.  Almost every day she publishes a thorough, heartfelt and poignant blog post about things that affect our kids and us.  She’s very passionate about her subjects and I love her approach.  I love stopping by her blog to read what she has to say and I learn something from her every time I read her.

                    Check her out: Nature’s Child Blog

                    Hope everyone has a happy and safe weekend!

                    Feb

                    13

                    End of the Week Link Roundup

                    Filed Under Articles, Dear SafeMama, Eco-Mama, Safe Mama Tips | Comments Off

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                      Hi SafeParents! It’s been a busy week around here but we’re working on some new items that will hopefully be of some good use.  In the meantime I wanted to share a few great links to fellow blogs that have done some really important and/or entertaining writing in the last week.

                      • CNN – Court Rules Vaccines Didn’t Cause Autism: This is a really volatile subject and one we chose not to cover here on SafeMama too indepth for a variety of reasons.  One being, it’s a personal decision for every parent, and two and most important: We don’t know the right answer.  Parents ask us whats the right course of action and we don’t feel that we’re qualified enough to make that kind of a judgment.  We have our own theories and beliefs but in this case, we can’t make the decision for anyone but our own family.  But we can share findings with you such as this article that broke on CNN yesterday which outlines a recent court ruling that vaccines don’t cause autism. We think they use very careful language and are weary of anything we read on the subject but it’s what popped up in the news yesterday.  Thought I’d point it out. One thing is for sure, we both agree that MUCH more research is needed into this important topic.
                      • LovelyMama: Valentines Week! We did a week of articles on safer or sustainable V-Day gifts and sexy eco-tips. Statia wrote a really great article about greening your sex life too… check it out!
                      • Take Action! Kid-Safe Chemical Act: More and more, our babies and ids are being polluted with chemicals and toxins from our environment.  We are in desperate need of reforming the laws ans regulations around household chemicals.  Please consider letting your elected officials know you support this important change.  Sign the Declaration today.

                      Happy Valentine’s to you and yours!

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