Fri, Jan 29, 2021 0 What are Soapnuts (Reetha) and How to use them as natural soap?

Soapnuts or Reetha are dry fruit shells and the only detergent that grows on trees. They contain saponin, a natural and effective surfactant that reduces the surface tension of liquids allowing the release of dirt, oils, and grime. This is why some botanists have named the species as Sapindus detergens. Soapnuts are the fruits of a small tree called Sapindus Mukorossi tree, native of the Himalayas and the mountainous region between India and Nepal.

Laundry detergent

They are naturally antibacterial and antifungal and very gentle on the skin. It will leave your laundry fresh and clean and compared to other powder detergents, its mildness will keep colors bright, maintaining the fabric structure of your clothes for longer periods.

It can be used on all fabrics and at all temperatures from 30°C – 90°C. They don’t leave any chemical residue so they’re great for all allergy sufferers, safe on babies' clothes, and ideal for anyone with eczema or psoriasis. Soapnuts are great for all washing machines especially energy-efficient machines. Their properties include:

Vegan
100% natural
Biodegradable
Great for Sensitive Skin
Suitable for All Fabrics
Suitable for Machines and Hand Washing

The best thing is that they are so economical to use. For laundry, simply place 5 shells into muslin wash-bag into drum of washing machine with clothes. They can be used up to four more times. You can also use your exhausted Soapnuts as foaming wash. Simply put into a blender with 500ml of water and blend. Alternatively, just stand the fresh soapnuts in cold or warm water. The broken shells and the variation of colors due to the timing of harvest, do not affect their efficacy.

They are also a natural softener, but you can add white vinegar for extra softness and a few drops of essential oils onto the washbag for fragrance. For tough stains, add 2 tablespoons of soda crystals in the powder drawer. Alternatively, you can use laundry bleach of your choice.

Skin and Hair

Soapnuts or Reetha are highly valued by the rural people of India and Nepal for washing clothes and as a naturally produced shampoo for washing their hair. In scalp treatments, they are used to treat head lice, dandruff and hair loss. Soapnuts are traditionally soaked overnight and mixed with shikakai powder to make shampoo. Soapnuts tame dry and frizzy hair, and are considered best for hair growth. They are used in many natural hair tonics and solutions...

SoapNuts are used in Ayurveda practices as an ingredient in shampoos and cleansers. For skincare, they are used traditionally to tackle mild to moderate skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, etc. They are also used to eliminate fine lines and freckles and to heal cracked skin and remove chemical stains. Soapnuts can also help you get rid of stubborn pimples and blackheads. SoapNuts are a 100% natural product. In comparison, chemical detergents such as those containing sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) are becoming well known by consumers for being a skin irritant and health hazard. They can get absorbed through the skin, and are likely to be absorbed by our bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Multi-purpose cleaning

They can safely be used to wash: dishes, vegetables, surfaces, floors, as handwash, or as a body wash. Soapberries are anti-allergic and antibacterial in nature. Hence, they are used in handwashes.

Soaking your fruit and vegetables for approximately 10 minutes in Soapnut water and rinsing them off with fresh water can help rinse off harmful chemicals and residue. The Soap Nuts solution can then be reused for household cleaning. Soapnut water can be effectively used for household cleaning, floor cleaner, and washing dishes.

Pet Wash

Soapnuts are anti-fungal and their antimicrobial properties repel lice and fleas, and hence also great for 'Pet Wash'.

Pesticides

This natural soap also works as an excellent pesticide. It provides a natural alternative to repel insects off your plants and around the house. The leftover soapnut liquid from washing or laundry can be used for this purpose.

Side effects of reetha

Its contact with eyes should be avoided. Its insecticidal properties can cause allergies and swollen eyelids. Stop using the product immediately if you observe any allergies.

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Wed, Jan 27, 2021 9166 'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow' . Shop from one the UK's largest gardening website - Crocus.

"As one of the UK's leading online garden centers, we sell a vast range of plants, tools, garden accessories and outdoor furniture. We have grown plants for many show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show since 2000, winning over 26 gold medals and working with most of the leading garden designers in the country; Luciano Giubbilei, Tom Stuart Smith, Jinny Blom and Kim Wilkie to name but a few! " The UK's largest gardening website Crocus

A touch of velvet dahlia collection

Position: full sun
Soil: fertile, humus-rich soil
Rate of growth: average
Flowering period: July to September
Hardiness: half hardy (may need winter protection)

Add sumptuous colour to your borders with these lavish-looking dahlias. They will start to flower in midsummer and if cut regularly (they make long-lived additions to the vase) they will continue to bloom well into autumn.

Acer palmatum

Japanese maple

This tree is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.

Position: partial shade
Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to acid soil
Rate of growth: slow-growing
Flowering period: April to May
Hardiness: fully hardy

The beautiful, deciduous foliage of this small, round-headed tree is attractively lobed and turns from its usual mid-green in autumn to take on shades of yellow, orange or red before it falls. In late spring tiny purple-red flowers are borne in small pendulous clusters and these are followed in late summer by charming red winged fruits, which float down from the branches when they are ripe.

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Wed, Jan 27, 2021 16 Asparagus - Grow once, & Enjoy it for 20 Years!

'Eagerly awaited each year, asparagus is one of the first vegetables to be harvested in the garden.

It is packed full of vitamins C & E, particularly when eaten straight from the garden.

Once considered a luxury vegetable (the supermarkets still price them as such!), they have now become one of the most sought-after vegetable for the garden or allotment. They are relatively easy to grow, provided they are in a well drained soil, and the key to success is in the soil preparation. Once they are established they should crop for up to 20 years, with each crown yielding nine to twelve spears per harvesting season. Stop cutting in late June to enjoy the spectacular, tall, ferny foliage.'

Garden care:

"Your asparagus will arrive as bare-root crowns and should be unpacked and planted as soon as possible. They need a sunny spot, shelter from strong winds, and well-prepared soil that ideally has had lots of manure or compost added in the previous autumn. Good drainage is important too, so if your soil is heavy and wet, it would be advisable to grow them in a raised bed.

Prepare the bed well (ideally in the autumn before planting) by removing all the weeds and digging in lots of well-rotted manure or composted organic matter. When planting, dig a trench approximately 30cm wide and 20cm deep and work a little more organic matter into the base of the trench. Using the excavated soil, create a 10cm tall, arched ridge down the length of the trench and sit the crowns on top. Allow 30-45cm between each plant. Spread the roots out to form a star-shape and cover them with the remaining soil, leaving the tops of the crowns just visible. Subsequent rows should be at 45cm intervals with staggered planting. Immediately after planting, water thoroughly and mulch with a generous layer of composted organic matter. During the growing season keep them well fed with a dressing of general-purpose fertilizer and make sure the bed stays free of weeds. The first spears will appear soon after planting, but it is important that these are not cut, but allowed to develop into feathery stems throughout the summer. These can be cut back to just above ground level after they have started to die back in autumn. Before the new spears appear in subsequent years, make a ridge of soil over each row and apply a dressing of general-purpose fertiliser. If you can, try to resist harvesting the spears, which appear in the second year too, as the plant should be left to develop a robust crown before you begin cutting the spears in their third year. " - Crocus

https://www.numaonline.com/search?q=Asparagus

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Wed, Jan 27, 2021 0 What is the ecoegg Laundry Egg?

The ecoegg is supported by both Allergy UK and the National Eczema Society.The ecoegg Laundry Egg is a planet and budget-friendly laundry detergent alternative to traditional laundry detergent that cleans clothes effectively, using two types of mineral pellets encased in a recyclable egg. It contains no harsh chemicals and therefore, ideal for people who suffer from sensitive skin conditions (such as eczema) and perfect for babies' delicate skin.

How to use Laundry Egg?

It is recommended to clean away any traces of previously used detergents or fabric conditioners from your machine using ecoegg Detox Tablet. Then, simply fill the larger half of the egg with the two types of mineral pellets. Close your egg so that it ‘clicks’ before placing it in the washing machine drum with your clothes.

How does the ecoegg Laundry Egg work?

The mineral pellets in the ecoegg Laundry Egg are non-biological and do not contain any petrochemicals, enzymes, bleaches, phosphates, parabens, SLS/SLES, palm oil or microplastics. The white mineral pellets are made up of biodegradable surfactants, stabilizers, builders, and binders. These are the pellets that do most of the actual cleaning. The dark grey mineral pellets are tourmaline. The pellets work together in the water to clean your laundry for optimum results. This method effectively draws dirt from your clothing fibers and soften your clothes by changing the pH. Together, they work effectively leaving your laundry clean and fresh without using harsh chemical detergents. In addition, the physical mechanic of the egg case helps to remove dirt from your clothes, much like a traditional hard bar of soap (or even a stone) would have done.

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Thu, Jan 14, 2021 0 Chamomile tea, best known to help you sleep

Chamomile tea history goes back as far as ancient Egypt, where it was used as a cold remedy. This tea has been used for centuries as part of traditional medicine to treat anxiety, insomnia, and relieve stress. Chamomile tea is probably the most well known for a Peaceful Night's Sleep.

Thu, Jan 7, 2021 0 Create your Amazon Baby Wishlist and save up to 20% Discount

How does the Amazon Baby Wishlist work?

Having a baby demands a lot of your time and being organized is imperative. Whether you're getting ready For Your Baby's Arrival or have already welcomed your new baby into the world, the Amazon Baby Wishlist is a smart way to keep track of everything you need.Here's how:

"Amazon Baby Wishlist gives expectant parents access to over 100,000 baby items, ensuring they can fully personalise their list and benefit from:

Recommendations of top baby wishlist products
Curated lists of popular products to make shopping for baby easier
Share list with friends and family at the click of a button via social media or email
Thank you list to easily track gifts
Universal Wishlist: Easily add items from any website for one easy to manage wishlist using Amazon Assitant
Free shipping for Prime members"

Sun, Jan 3, 2021 0 How to grow fresh air - Top 3 Air purifying plants, featured by NASA

"The NASA Clean Air Study was a project led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) to research ways to clean the air in space stations. Its results suggested that, in addition to absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis, certain common indoor plants may also provide a natural way of removing volatile organic pollutants (benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene were tested).

The study further suggested that efficient air cleaning is accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet (9.3 m2) of space, but was conducted under sealed space station conditions and research conducted since has shown mixed results in the home or office."

2021, January

A touch of velvet dahlia collection

Acer palmatum

Japanese maple

How does the Amazon Baby Wishlist work?