Uncategorized – Page 959 – Plain and Not So Plain

21 days to a more natural home series part 11….fabric softener

amy / 06/29/2013

Fabric softener and dryer sheets may make your clothes feel soft and smell fresh, and they help prevent your socks from sticking to your blouses, but they also do something much worse.

This is something I have gotten rid of in our life. We have no need for it. Our laundry has washed fine for the last 5 years without fabric softener. My family is used to how their clothing feels, adding a chemical to make them softer they don’t really need.

What many people might not know is that fabric softeners and dryer sheets are actually really bad for you. Why? Because they contain a lot of chemicals that the EPA has classified as dangerous. And because we use dryer sheets at the end of the laundry process, these chemicals don’t get wiped off our clothes until our skin wipes them off.

On day 2 of our series I have listed many of the real dangers associated with toxic cleaners, fabric softener is rated on that list as well. I would definitely avoid this product and choose a more natural approach for your families health.

So why do you use fabric softener? I don’t know. But I do know that there are many natural alternatives. Fabric softener leaves a film on your clothing. It covers your dryer vent screen, which you need to wash periodically or will cause a fire.

Here are alternatives you can do to help “soften” your clothing, if you feel the need.

add a cup of vinegar to your rinse water

use wool balls in the dryer, these can be homemade or purchased, they are about the size of a tennis ball and shorten dryer time

day 12 of our series we will be looking at natural spot and stain removers

“Mom, I am bored….there is nothing to do” part 1

amy / 06/29/2013

Have you heard these words come out of your child’s mouth lately? I know with the summer break from school there has been more free time in my children’s day. That has led to more discontent, more arguments, and more “Mom, I’m bored, there’s nothing to do…” syndrome. Really??!??!! With 8 other children home all day and your bored???Makes me want to turn from vacation and head straight into a new school year. What’s a mom to do?

Well I could quickly rewind their life. Taking away all media influences which means no TV no internet no cell phone. I put them in a box and never let them see the outside world again. Yeah that will never work .

or I can take a step back….

I need to exam my life and see if I am struggling with discontent in any area. Do I struggle with unrest? Do I need to be constantly amused with the latest movies, newest music, or that top-selling christian book? Do I have to be involved in numerous activities that take me outside of my role as mother? Do I feel I deserve a vacation or time away each week with friends?

All these things show discontent in my life. I am not happy in my calling so I need to fulfill it in other ways. What will I be teaching my children?

What kind of appetites will I be creating in my children that they will carry into their adult lives? Do I want them to constantly feel that they need free time and social time with friends/media?

Of course not I want my children to learn happiness in the home. Quietness and simplicity are very healthy appetites to encourage in our children. I want my children to value and enjoy the pleasure of simplicity, to enjoy the ordinary tasks in life. Instead of always looking for the extraordinary.

Our modern society provides many quick escapes from boredom,. In movies, internet, games, and social media circles these have all replaced simplicity in the home. We need to remove these escapes to allow for a bit of boredom, to foster some creativity in our children.

It’s amazing how numb our culture has become to the simplicity’s of life. Our children need to be taught to be bored, to foster creativity in their lives.

After about a few days of media fasting your children will begin to play together, create together, and will look forward to spending time with one another.

Look for part 2 tomorrow to see how we as Mothers can help spark that creativity in our children