Between the wide variety of shampoo brands on the market, scooping up little hotel shampoo bottles when traveling, and moving to new apartments or homes, the average consumer tends to collect more than their fair share of shampoo bottles. Next time you go to clean your share of shampoo bottles out, consider some of the following tips for unique ways to put your shampoo to work. Take Off A Band-Aid Taking off a band-aid can be pretty painful, so to ease the pain, apply a few drops of shampoo to the adhesive part of the band-aid and let it sit there for a few moments. The band-aid will peel off the skin much easier than normal. Hand Washing Your Clothes Instead of purchasing an expensive tailor made hand washing soap for your delicates, drop a couple drops of shampoo in to a bucket or sink to hand wash your clothes. Treat Laundry Stains Apply shampoo to a stain on your laundry; rub the shampoo into the stain, and then let it soak for a while. Then, wash your laundry as normal. Prevent Fogging In Your Swim Mask If you apply a couple drops of shampoo to the inside of your swim mask and then rinse it out, you ...

Indoor plants provide both an aesthetic quality to the home and also have health benefits. Plants are able to filter toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene and toluene, all of which can get into the house via paint and building material. In addition to cleaning the air, plants can help reduce the symptoms of depression and reduce stress. The ideal houseplant would provide some of the above mentioned benefits but also be low maintenance, meaning it would need low to average levels of light and water. The African violet is a popular houseplant and is one of the easiest flowering plants to maintain. Use a long-spouted watering can to water the African violet so as to get the water directly on the soil and avoid getting water on the flower petals. It’s recommended to use room temperature or warm water when watering this plant. Lucky bamboo brings peace, strength and luck to the home it lives in according to Feng Shui. Lucky bamboo is one of the easiest plants to maintain because it only needs its water changed every 2 weeks and as far as light goes, it only needs moderate exposure to indirect sunlight. When the leaves turn yellow or brown, that’s an ...

The algae industry is getting support from the government as a potential replacement for part of the 18 million barrels of crude oil used everyday in the United States.  The federal government has invested in the emerging biofuel and the military, big oil companies, and commercial users like manufacturers and airlines are interested in its potential. Algae biofuel is an experimental type of renewable energy that’s created when algae produce a substance that can be harvested and processed into crude oil. The crude oil is then processed at traditional oil refineries where it’s converted into transportation fuels like gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel. The biofuel from the algae can also be used to replace the oils in foods, pharmaceuticals and soaps. One benefit of algae is that it can be grown domestically, which would cut back on the amount of petroleum the country needs to import. Another benefit is that algae utilizes less carbon overall than fossil fuels do. This is because plants absorb carbon while they grow and then they release it when their fuels are burnt. The petroleum-based fuels release carbon during use. Recently, the Navy tested a river patrol boat that was powered by algae bodies. The ship ...

Calendula Cream Calendula Cream is a great natural remedy for insect bites or stings, and skin irritation. Calendula is made from marigolds and has been a skin itch remedy for hundreds and hundreds of years, helping calm the effects of bee stings, eczema and sunburns. The plants skin relieving properties are due to its combination of essential oils, which have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial traits. To use calendula cream, apply an ointment that contains two to five percent calendula up to 4 times per day on the affected area. Calendula may not be good for those who have ragweed allergies as calendula and ragweed are both members of the Aster (compositae) family. It’s suggested to apply a small amount and wait to see if any red or itchy bumps occur, which would indicate an allergy to calendula. Valerian Capsules or Tincture Valerian Capsules or Tincture are good for treating insomnia. Valerian goes back to the times of Ancient Greece, where it was commonly used as a sleep aid. Thus, it is one of the best-studied herbs for insomnia. Studies have shown that valerian decreases the time it takes to fall asleep without any of the common side effects of prescription sleep aids. Valerian is a plant-based ...

Aloe Vera Aloe Vera is good for sunburns and household burns. Aloe Vera gel soothes and cools the surface of the skin by calming the irritation and heat of the burn. Juice from an Aloe Vera plant possesses natural inflammation fighters known as salicylates. Once the pain and swelling of a burn reduce, the other ingredients in Aloe, like polysaccharides, provoke the body into producing antibodies which speed up the healing process. Studies done with Petri dishes show that fibroblasts (regenerating skin cells) reproduce up to 4 times faster when being treated with Aloe Vera. To use Aloe Vera, rub into the skin on the affected areas, repeating every couple of hours until the heat and pain start to recede. Aloe Vera tends to dry the skin, so consider using a moisturizer after the Aloe Vera has done its job. When treating a burn, avoid Aloe Vera products that also have alcohol in the ingredients because they will further dry out the skin. The bright green Aloe Vera gels use artificial colors to achieve the green hue, so it’s best to avoid those and opt for the clear products. Consider keeping an Aloe Vera plant in your kitchen. Cut parts of the plant ...