You’re resolved: toxic chemicals are out of your life. Now how about your fellow creatures? Our pets deserve natural care too, but fleas are often the biggest pet problem we have to buy chemicals for – or do we? Here are some non-toxic flea care ideas to help you keep your animal companions – and your home – safe and organic.

B vitamins and garlic are natural insect repellents, so supplement your pet’s diet with a pet safe vitamin. Healthier animals are more resistant to pests …

Tags: care , environment , fleas , home , organic , pets , safety , treatment

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Serious hikers and those who travel are quite familiar with the many varieties of portable water testers. But who would have imagined that here in the United States we would ever feel the need or desire to test our pet food or baby formula?

With an estimated 50,000 Chinese children sickened and several deaths after drinking melamine contaminated formula, and the reported deaths 8,500 dogs and cats in the United States from contaminated pet food produced in China, the folks at Purdue University were inspired

…

Tags: chemicals , contamination , environment , food , hazard , melamine , milk , pets , safety , toxicity

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When I was 21, I used to think that the definition of a proper grownup was someone who took their dry-clean-only clothes to the dry cleaner. I now know otherwise.

Under U.S. law, manufacturers can only label an item of clothing “dry-clean only” if they have evidence that it would be damaged by washing.

I have to say, my experience is different. The washing machine is fine for most of my clothes, even though many of them say “dry-clean only”. Delicate clothes such as silks, satins and woolens require …

Tags: dry cleaning , health , perch , safety , wellness , wet cleaning

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I’m a pretty sore loser at tennis, especially when my husband rockets those serves toward my face and I want to throw my racket at his head. But my arm never aches after as it does with the Wii tennis video game.

I notice I emulate the real motion of the swing with my remote while my daughters execute abbreviated swipes at the screen to place shots, serve and return. They’re so aggressive, if it were the real thing, I’d take them out of school and put them on the circuit …

Tags: electronics , gadgets , gaming , lifestyle , medicine , news , safety , technology , trend , women

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The past year has been a bad one for toxic kid’s products, what with lead paint on imported toys and phthalates in plastic toys. For once, Congress has been quick to act.

A new law is set to go in effect on February 10th that will require all products such as toys, backpacks, clothing and other kids’ gear be tested for lead and phthalates in order to be legally sold.

This is a major step towards ensuring non-toxic products for little ones, but there was …

Tags: baby , children , clothing , news , safety , secondhand shopping , sustainable kids clothes

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Who am I to argue with the Madison Avenue suits who coined the phrase “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”?

If only diamonds were all we believe them to be. The violence resulting from the diamond mining and trading industry is, in a word, tragic. And, as it turns out, diamonds aren’t even as valuable as we’ve been told.

First, a little primer:

The U.S. happens to be the largest consumer of conflict diamonds, purchasing over $33.7 billion dollars’ worth of the rocks in 2005. Wondering what conflict diamonds are? …

Tags: blood diamond , conflict diamond , environment , fashion , gift , jewelry , resource , safety

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While the government has yet to assess the safety of nonstick cookware, we the people have gotten word that Teflon is taboo. On a conventional stovetop, it only takes two to five minutes to exceed temperatures at which the coating breaks apart and emits toxic particles and gases that can expose us, our children and our pets to chemical dangers.

According to Natural News, Dupont denies that Teflon is unsafe for use in households, even though those fumes it gives off are well known to kill parrots and …

Tags: Cuisinart , Green Gourmet , health , nonstick cookware , safety , teflon

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Our relationship with the sun is a complicated one.

Take sun tans. Nobody’s sure how it happened, but sometime over the last century in America and Europe, being tanned became fashionable. Yet go halfway round the world today, and you’ll find pale skin most desirable. Go back two centuries, and the same is true in Europe – just read up on the long tradition of lead-paint cosmetics (and deadly consequences). But now we have sun-beds and artificial tanning lotions that turn you a lovely shade of orange…whilst …

Tags: beauty , environment , health , nature , safety , skincare , vacation , wellness

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A crackling fire might be a symbol of domestic warmth and bliss but the pollutants can be so bad for your lungs, some states forbid building open masonry fireplaces in new homes and home remodels.

Northern California homeowners like me, with existing brick fireplaces, can’t use them any old time we want any longer. The Bay Area Quality Management District has established a Spare the Air Program, making it illegal to burn wood on winter days when air pollution exceeds national standards.

Instead of fighting the tide, perhaps it’s time we learn to live …

Tags: ambience , design , furniture , green , home , safety , wood

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