Stasher Bags Review for back to school

School will be starting soon and lunches will need to be packed again. I’m so not ready! I do not like using the disposable plastic bags so I have a set of these Stasher silicone reusable bags. They close easily and tightly with their self loc feature; and comes in all different sizes for an endless number of uses. They are dishwasher safe and can be used again and again. We’ve never had an issue with them leaking.

You can also get larger 1/2 gallon sizes, including a stand up version, to store produce in the fridge or freeze items. And smaller sizes perfect for on the go snacks or keeping a pacifier clean in the diaper bag. And Stasher go that can clip to a bag and perfect to fit a phone, so perfect for the pool or beach to keep your phone clean and dry.

The zipper part can be a little hard to open so practice with your kids before sending their lunch in these. The sandwiches size is perfect for typical bread size but wider sizes, like some organic bread brands, may need the edges trimmed to fit the bag. They obviously are a little bulkier than disposable baggies, but we haven’t had an issue.

Stasher bags are made from food grade platinum silicone. Platinum food-grade silicone is safe for use in the freezer, microwave, dishwasher, boiling water, soups vide, and oven up to 400 degrees F. Stasher also participates in 1% for the Planet. They are BPA and phthalate free.

This Stasher starter set is great to test out the different sizes.

I love my Stasher Bags and plan to add even more to my collection.

This post contains affiliate links, however, the views expressed here are my own. This was not a paid review. I’m reviewing a product I purchased myself.

Toxins in the laundry room

Fabric softeners may make your clothes soft and towels fluffy but they are actually bad for fabrics and contain toxins. Fabric softeners work by leaving a thin, lubricating film on the clothes. (This is enough to make me go eek! No!) This is not good for athletic fabrics designed to wick moisture away, and they actually typically have instructions on the tag to not use fabric softeners. (That’s what one of those symbols mean.) Over time, the waxy coating from the fabric softener builds up preventing moisture from being wicked away. The coating can also build up on towels making them less absorbent.

In the same vein, the coating can trap in stains and discolorations. This coating can also make it difficult for water to permeate the fabric to properly clean the clothes and remove stains and odors. Have you ever had a greasy/bluish looking stain on your clothing after the wash that wasn’t there before? That’s because the fabric softener itself can sometimes leave behind discolorations and stains.

Because the fabric softener builds up on the clothes, that means it’s in contact with your skin, probably 24/7 if you use it on all your clothes.

What’s it made of?
Many ingredients, especially ingredients in the fragrance used, are not disclosed, especially fragrance ingredients. Looking on EWG.com, there are many common ingredients that are endocrine disruptors, cause organ toxicity, are skin and respiratory irritants.

“Usually, fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain cationic surfactants of the quaternary ammonium type (also called QACs), which is known to exacerbate asthma symptoms and irritate skin, and has been linked to cancer and reproductive issues. This is what makes clothes feel smoother. But the chemical can build up on fabrics over time, potentially limiting a material’s breathability. It can also inhibit flame-retardancy in kids’ clothes.

QACs biodegrade easily in the air, they don’t biodegrade very well in water. They are actually not completely removed during wastewater treatment. And of course, that’s a problem, because our washing machine water goes straight into the oceans.

Check labels and product websites for these ingredients and avoid them all: distearyldimonium chloride, diethyl ester dimethyl ammonium chloride, variants of hydroxyethyl methyl ammonium methyl sulfate or the vague terms “biodegradable fabric softening agents” and “cationic surfactant.” Also avoid fragrance which can be a skin irritant and contain phthalates.”

Environmental concerns
One researcher conducted an experiment using new organic cotton towels, and clean washers and dryers, to sample laundry emissions after using scented fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

What was coming out of those vents? (And into people’s lungs?) Seven hazardous air pollutants and 25 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Some of these, including acetaldehyde and benzene, are not safe at any level. (These are also pollutants that commonly spew out of vehicle tailpipes.)

Many dryer sheets contain chemicals that react with the air to create formaldehyde, a probable human carcinogen.

What are alternatives?

I use vinegar in place of fabric softener when needed. For stinky towels or clothes, I also add some baking soda.

For the dryer, I use wool dryer balls. They help separate clothing in the dryer preventing static and helps reduce drying time. I only dry towels, bedding and basic cottons (socks, underwear and t shirts). If you struggle with static, make sure you are not over drying or using too high of heat. If it’s still an issue, attach a safety pin to a dryer ball. The safety pin will transfer the static to the dryer drum and away from clothes.

I hang dry athletic clothes, jeans, nicer clothes and T-shirts with a heat press I want to keep looking nice. This keeps clothes looking newer longer, reduces fade from the heat, and pilling from tumble drying. It also prevents missed stains from being set in, and saves on energy costs. I have this clothes drying rack with this wall fan to help dry them quicker.

Sources:

It’s time to Stop Using Fabric Softeners & Dryer Sheets

Why is Fabric Softener Bad for the Environment (+ Best Natural Alternatives)?

https://www.ecowatch.com/3-reasons-you-should-skip-fabric-softeners-and-dryer-sheets-1891128935.html

https://nypost.com/2019/04/29/are-dryer-sheets-bad-for-your-health-and-laundry/

Stop Using Dryer Sheets Immediately!

Stay Healthy Day 31: Why you should avoid dryer sheets and harmful laundry detergent

Healthy Steps 31:

1. Switch to natural detergents and stain removers. Natural products are typically plant-based, biodegradable surfactants that do NOT contain fragrances, dyes, optical brighteners, or chlorine bleach. It can be hard to spot the bad actors, just be diligent about reading the fine print on packaging when shopping!

2. Consider making your own laundry products. The only real way to know what’s going into your laundry is to create your own formulas. The good news is that your pantry is probably stocked with a lot of ingredients that are naturally safe for the environment – such as vinegar, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda. (You can also use essential oils to add that fresh scent you love!)

3. Rethink dryer sheets and fabric softeners. For the most part, these are made with the same chemicals as popular detergents and can be harmful for both human health and the environment. Instead, opt for eco-friendly dryer sheets or dryer balls. Specifically, consider using wool dryer balls because they effectively separate clothes, allowing hot air to circulate more evenly and efficiently, which then reduces drying time by 10-25%.

4. Keep it cool. Almost 90% of a wash machine’s energy consumption is used just to heat the water. The solution: Turn that dial to cold.

5. Wash full loads. If you run your washing machine or dryer with only half a load of clothes or dishes, you’re not maximizing efficiency. (Same thing goes for when you clean dishes in your dishwasher!) According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical household can save 3,400 gallons of water a year by running full laundry loads instead of half loads. This is not only eco-friendly but will also help you save BIG on your utility bills.

6. Use energy-efficient machines. If you’re in the market for a new washer and/or dryer, consider getting a more efficient model to help save water and energy.

7. Hang clothes to dry. The bottom line is that keeping your clothes out of a dryer extends their life, reduces energy use, and cuts costs. Line drying – whether indoors or outdoors – is something that you can do year-round.

Read more here:
https://biohacked.com/laundry-detergent-toxicity/

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Stay Healthy Day 21: Avoid air fresheners

Air fresheners have been used for decades to mask unpleasant smells. They come in a variety of forms from aerosols to gels. Most contain a variety of various fragrances and essential oils. Fragrances are chemical compounds that have pleasant odors and essential oils are naturally occurring oils that typically come from plants.

Despite the fact that these scents have become increasingly popular throughout history, there is an increasing amount of concern for their effects on ones health. These air fresheners release VOC’s or Volatile organic compounds. VOC’s are a type of chemical that turns into a vapor and/or gas at room temp. It is thought that health problems arise from the chemicals and their secondary pollutants which form when said chemicals combine with the ozone that’s already in the air. They also contain a host of other toxic chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, mp-xylene, phthalates, and more. The air inside of our home can actually be more toxic than the air outside of the home due to these air fresheners and many other harmful home products such as cleaning agents.

These fresheners can cause problems from unintentional burns due to the flammable effects of them when ignited by a nearby flame, skin irritations when coming into contact with them, allergic type reaction, redness/irritation to the eyes, coughing, choking, or difficulty catching ones breath, & toxicity from minor mouth irritation to life threatening effects when ingested.

Recently, researchers have linked repeated exposure to cancers-from the formaldehyde in them, neurotoxicity, and effects from endocrine disruption. Headaches and respiratory problems are also major side effects from exposure. The VOC’s talked about earlier, have been shown to combine with the ozone already in the air to make the secondary pollutants also discussed earlier. These include: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, picric acid, and methyl vinyl ketone. These chemicals also have been known to stick to objects in the home such as furniture and are then re released into the air long after the smell is gone.

So how do we get the same pleasant effects without the use of such harmful products? How can we rid our homes or work spaces of the odors we bought the air fresheners for? For one, get to the bottom of the smell. Find the source of this unpleasant odor and properly deal with it. If you are unable to find the source of the smell, try leaving small bowls of baking soda around the home to absorb the odor. This is the same concept as having the bowl of baking soda in your refrigerator. The baking soda doesn’t just mask the smell, it actually absorbs it so you are getting rid of it entirely vs just covering it up. You also need to make sure all appliances are properly ventilated so as not to have lingering smells from cooking. Open the windows or doors while cooking to let the smells out and the fresh air in.

A great way to combat air quality is with greenery. Fill your home with plants like the spider plant, snake plants, or peace Lillies. These plants naturally filter the air in your home. When cleaning, make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter that will suck up settled particles vs spreading them around causing recirculation. Regularly clean your home, especially areas that can cause smells such as toilets and sinks. This prevents the smell before it even has a chance to start.

Finally, if you’ve tried all the above and then some, but still want that fresh autumn scent or that crisp spring smell floating around your home, try natural alternatives. DIY your own “air fresheners.” Make your own sprays with safer ingredients such as essential oils. Take fruits, herbs, and spices and put on the stove to simmer for a potpourri like effect. Get creative with your DIY. There are tons of recipes and websites out there with helpful tips to choose from. Below, you’ll find one of my favorites for fall.

Autumn Spice: simmer apple cider on the stovetop with a cinnamon stick, orange slices, & cloves.

Sources:

https://www.poison.org/articles/air-freshener-171

Toxic Chemicals in Air Fresheners

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Stay Healthy Day 17: Avoid dangerous cleaning products

A clean, decluttered home provides a much-needed sanctuary from the daily grind. It’s hard to fully decompress if your home is dirty or untidy, and the average American worker spends nearly one hour on housework daily in an attempt to keep a clean house.1 But there’s a misconception that in order to truly clean your home, you’ve got to don rubber gloves and spray harsh chemicals to do it.

In fact, one of the primary reasons for cleaning your home regularly is to clear out the many toxic chemicals that have accumulated in your household dust. Flame-retardant chemicals and phthalates are among them (along with thousands of species of bacteria and fungi).

However, if you clean your home with commercial sprays, wipes, scrubs and polishes, you’re putting toxins into your home environment instead of removing them. The same goes for most laundry detergents, dryer sheets and air fresheners. Even those strong-smelling lemon and pine scents — the ones many people believe are the epitome of a clean home — are created by toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

You needn’t expose yourself or your family to these toxins any longer, as it’s simple to clean your home with nontoxic cleaners. You can even recreate the same “clean” scents you love using essential oils, and your home will smell much better for it while offering you therapeutic benefits at the same time. As an added bonus, by creating your own nontoxic cleaners, you’ll probably save money too, compared to buying commercial cleaning products.

Sadly, most products marketed as clean really aren’t as clean as you would think. Seventh Generation and Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day are examples.

I often clean with diluted white vinegar on most surfaces, an alcohol based cleaner on granite/stone surfaces, and baking soda and castile soap to scour sink and tubs.

Earthley now has a brand new cleaning line that includes a dish soap bar, dishwasher detergent, cleaning paste, all purpose spray, and laundry detergent. Puracy is another good option.

Read more.

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Stay Healthy Day 14: Avoid Teflon

Curious as to how unhealthy teflon cookware actually is and how it was ever allowed in our kitchens? Check out this article!

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Stay Healthy Day 11: Avoid scented candles and products

There’s a dirty little secret the fragrance industry would rather you not know about, however, which is the extreme toxicity of many of these products. Hidden behind their pleasant scents are typically chemicals linked to hormone disruption, reproductive problems, and even cancer.

Many perfumes sold at department stores, big-box retailers, and virtually everywhere else can aptly be described as poison – and this means that you could very well be sacrificing your health by wearing them…

I caution against using any synthetic perfume or cologne, or any other synthetically fragranced personal care product, as they’re almost always loaded with synthetic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies, and more.

And although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actually has direct authority to regulate harmful ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products, it doesn’t exercise it… The Environmental Working Group (EWG) explains:

“When you see ‘fragrance’ on a personal care product’s label, read it as ‘hidden chemicals.’ A major loophole in FDA’s federal law lets manufacturers of products like shampoo, lotion, and body wash include nearly any ingredient in their products under the name ‘fragrance’ without actually listing the chemical.

Companies that manufacture personal care products are required by law to list the ingredients they use, but fragrances and trade-secret formulas are exempt.”

What does this mean for a health-conscious person like yourself? When you purchase a fragrance, it could contain any number of the 3,100 or so stock chemical ingredients used by the fragrance industry. What blend is in most products you buy, exactly, is virtually impossible to ascertain, aside from testing it in a lab – and this is actually what the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did…

Laboratory tests commissioned by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and analyzed by EWG, found a total of 38 chemicals not listed on the labels in 17 name-brand fragrances (such as Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Bath & Body Works, Old Spice, Calvin Klein, and more).2

The average fragrance product contained 14 chemicals that were not disclosed on the label (along with another 15 that were listed!). The report noted:

“Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products.

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Natural mosquito treatment for your yard

Do you treat your yard for mosquitoes?

Do you know that most main stream mosquito control companies use chemicals that are harmful to bees and other pollinators? The bee population is already on the decline and they are one of the major pollinators that help us maintain our food supply. This is why it’s very important to me to use methods that will be pollinator friendly.

If you don’t mind doing the treatment yourself, it can be done very easily, it just requires some time. I use mosquito barrier, a garlic-based mosquito repellent. I have my own sprayer and spray all of my bushes, tree trunks, low hanging leaves, and even the grass. It is very affordable. Some pest control companies may use a garlic-based product like mosquito barrier. If you do not want to do the work yourself, find a mosquito company near you that uses a garlic-based spray. This will keep away mosquitoes but be friendly to bees and other pollinators.

There are also plants that repel mosquitoes and other pests. I have not yet tested the effectiveness of this method but they will be going in my landscaping when we do our backyard. These plants include citronella lemongrass, rosemary, marigolds, lavender, eucalyptus, catnip, mint, lantana, fennel, basil, and thyme.

Mosquito dunks are also helpful and can be broken in 4 pieces and tossed up on the roof/in the gutters, to kill mosquitoes in the standing water in the gutters. These dunks can be tossed into ponds, fountains and any other standing water feature.

Murphy’s Mosquito Sticks are also good at helping repel mosquitoes. These are an incense type stick you put in the ground and light. So if you have young ones, you may want to keep this out of reach or avoid this option.

Wearing light colored, full length, light weight clothing is helpful, especially for infants too young for repellent. Natural repellents like Badger Bug Balm or Earthley’s Pest Aside are great to apply.

These are my go-tos! Have you tried any of these?

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Breadman bread machine review

My husband gave me a Breadman Pro Bread machine for Valentines Day this year. I was excited to be able to make fresh bread so easily and we both agree that it’s also healthier than the store bought versions which have preservatives and typically other ingredients that we would like to avoid (i.e. high fructose corn syrup).

Everything was great for a couple months. I made bread about once a week and found a whole wheat recipe that we loved. It also made fantastic fresh bread that we loved with our spaghetti dinners. And it was so easy – just measure everything, liquids on bottom, yeast last and boom, in a few hours you have a lovely loaf of bread. However it soon stopped kneading on one cycle, then another. Since it was still under warranty, I contacted the manufacturer and they sent a replacement.

So the replacement came, a BR2500, so I prepped it and was excited about the delayed timer function. That night, I decided to make fresh bread to have for lunches the next day, so I set the delay feature to start about 3:30am. At about that time, I am awakened by a very loud beating noise, like someone beating metal with a heavy object. I was scared to death someone was breaking in our house. My heart pounding, I headed towards the sound and found it was the bread machine. I closed all the doors between our bedrooms and the kitchen (which reside on opposite ends of the house anyway). Still heard it, so I had to move it behind one more door into the laundry room and stuff towels under the door. I could still hear it, but at least it was faint enough I could go to sleep with a pillow over my head. Hoping for a fluke, I tried again on a different cycle, hoping for a different result, yet it was the same loud beating/grinding sound.

Needless to say, Applica (who manufactures this piece of equipment) got another email requesting a replacement for my replacement. Now, let me back up a second and mention that even though the bread machine is not working properly, they expect you to pay for shipping of a new machine to you, as well as pay for the shipping of the cord to them (with tracking no less). Applica received an earful for this. I was not about to pay for them to ship me a new machine, but I did ship them the cord the first time and got them to waive the shipping of the new machine. The 2nd time however, I was not going to spend another dime, so I requested a prepaid label to ship them the cord of the “new” bread machie.

I am currently awaiting my 3rd breadman. I am reallyhoping it will work. If not, I will put the Zojirushi Home Bakery Bread Machine on my wishlist. While the reviews of this machine on Amazon are not perfect, they are much better than the Breadman.

What do I want out of a bread machine? At this point, honestly, I would love one that just works. I will say the different size loaves, a delay setting, and the ability to customize are nice.

If I were to start from scratch and replace my bread machine today, I would consider these, in order of my preference:

Zojirushi Home Bakery Bread Machine. Definitely more expensive at $227 on Amazon, but this brand is clearly the Cadillac of bread makers).
Panasonic’s Automatic Breadmaker also gets good reviews and is about as affordable as the Breadman at $105, and there is another version with a fruit and nut dispenser.
Sunbeam (reviews are only slightly better than the Breadman, but it’s currently about $55 from Amazon.)
West Bend 2lb Bread Machine gets fairly good reviews as well and is affordable at $60
Cuisinart has an OK one, though the reviews to be put it only slightly over the Breadman

Watch for any Black Friday deals and near-or after-Christmas sales.

Easy do-it-yourself eco-friendly disinfectant spray

I just made some of this today and it smells so wonderful! I felt like I was at a spa, even though I had 4 young children (3 in diapers) running around me all morning.

Disinfectant spray
1 ½ cups water
20 drops tea tree oil
20 drops lavender oil
Combine in spray bottle and shake vigorously. Spray in the air to disinfect. Tea tree oil and lavender oil are anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-whatever!

If you want bonus points, you can up the water (roughly 1/2 – 3/4 cups for every 20 drops of essential oils) and add 20 drops of orange oil, lemon oil and/or eucalyptus oil. These oils also have antiseptic and disinfectant properties. I added the orange oil to the above and wow! Love it!

Making your own allows you to avoid the toxic chemicals found in common disinfectants.

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