Would you be interested in saving $1,200 a year? You can sure this savings for a vacation or dinners out and at the same time eliminate many toxic chemicals in your home and help the environment.

Borax is a naturally occurring alkaline mineral that does not contain phosphates or chlorine and is not harmful to washing machines, plumbing or septic tanks. It has no toxic fumes and is safe for the environment, however it can irritate skin and, of course, it should not be ingested. Borax is available in the grocery store in the cleaning isle.

• Borax can be added to washing machines to pre-soak stains, or added with your regular laundry detergent to make it more effective.
• It will also clean and deodorize hand washables, cloth diapers, baby clothes, refrigerators, bathroom fixtures, garbage pails, mattress odor, even sparkle fine china.
• Deodorize your toilet by sprinkling 1/4 cup of Borax in it. Clean with your toilet brush and let stand for 30 minutes or overnight. This will also clean and deodorize the toilet brush as well.
• Mix 1/2 cup Borax wth a gallon of hot water for a cleaner and disinfectant.

You can also use Borax to get rid of fleas, ants, mold and even in the dishwasher. Need more helpful hints in using Borax, go to  http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/115/1/Handy-borax-tips.html

Ok... so you want a little more insider's details. Borax, also known as sodium borate or sodium tetraborate,  and is mined in the Mojave Desert (Boron, California), other US states, in Chile and Tibet. It can also be created synthetically from other boron compounds. The mining side of borax production isn't all that earth friendly, but compared to some other chemical compounds used around the home, it's likely lesser of the many other evils, so it's a "greener" choice. Borax used in all sorts of products - pesticides, insulation, makeup (yes ladies... it goes on your face), detergents and other cleaners. In our house we have recycled cellulose fiber for roof insulation that's been treated with Borax in order to make it flame retardant. The other side effect of this treatment is that it discourages vermin from nesting and kills insects.

This is one in a series of helpful ideas we share with you designed to save you money, increase the value of your home, and help our environment.  Win the day!

Contributed by Al & Dee Allegue
Contact Us | (228) 374-0002 | www.alndee.com
Complimentary Mississippi Gulf Coast Real Estate Search

Collecting Rainwater 

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 Did you know that during moderate rainfall, the normal sized roof on a home eliminates 160 gallons of rainwater per hour? Or that 40% of water used during dry months is used outdoors?

One 55 gallon rain barrel can fill within 2-3 hours during a normal rainfall. If you were to capture this  water, what could you use it for? You could save a few dollars and at the same time help   the environment.  Here are just some advantages of rainwater collection:                                  

• Garden and plant irrigation (rainwater is natural and without chlorine)
• Washing cars and outside equipment/furniture
• Cold water toilet flushing
• Washing clothes
• And rainwater can be purified with other processes

It's not difficult. Harvesting rainwater has been around for centuries. Here how it's done: As the rainwater flows into your gutters and downspouts, a small reservoir attached to a downspout captures and diverts the water to a barrel. That's it!

For our friends who just to have more information and see pictures of what a non-intrusive water collection system can look like (meaning you don't want a 55 gallon barrel in your back yard!), we have attached the following link http://www.cypressdesigns.com/?gclid=CJmP5ZC50JsCFVeE7Qodjj7JJg

This is one in a series of helpful ideas we share with you designed to save you money, increase the value of your home, and help our environment.  Win the day!

Contributed by Al & Dee Allegue
Contact Us | (228) 374-0002 | www.alndee.com
Complimentary Mississippi Gulf Coast Real Estate Search