Burnt Pans & Smoke Smell

Oops, I did it again.

Put a pot of chopped cabbage, carrots and kale on the stove to simmer. And a pan of cranberries, to make juice. I put less water in that pan, so the juice would be concentrated. Then went outside to do a chore, which took longer than I anticipated.

Coming back in I realized my mistake. The house was full of smoke from the now char-burned cranberries, unrecognizable in the scorched blackened pan. The soup ingredients were fine, there had been plenty of water in that, and the pot was much larger.

I brought the burnt pan outside, filled it with soapy water and left it and the lid to soak overnight. Then proceeded to set up window fans to draw the smelly smoke out.

The damage was done, because when I returned home from work the following day the first thing I noticed was the burnt smell. Oy!

Smoke is one of the worst things to permeate your home, because it clings to unsealed ceilings and walls and is nearly impossible to get rid of without sealing and painting over it. It may go away with time, you have to wait and see. But I didn't want to smell that every time I come home. I am highly smell-sensitive and I knew I wouldn't be able to tolerate it.

I told a friend about the pan and she said she throws out pans she burns food in. I may end up having to do that, but I am going to try and save it. Here's what I am trying for both pan and residual smoke smell.

PAN: Soaked it in soapy water overnight.  The next day I tossed out the water and rubbed vegetable glycerin all over the interior of the pan, which was burnt all the way up the top, all sides, and especially the bottom. I rubbed it on the inside of the pan lid, which was also black-burned. My thought was that would soften the charred debris to make cleaning possible.

SMOKE SMELL:  I filled a large kettle part way with herbal basil vinegar I had made last summer. I added a quarter cup of borax/washing soda (be careful doing this, the washing soda is sodium carbonate, which reacts with vinegar like sodium bicarbonate- baking soda- does. The pan was large and only partly filled with vinegar, so when I added the dry ingredients they bubbled and fizzed, but not to overflowing). I then set that to simmer. After it boiled down a bit, I added the rest of a cleaning solution I had made to wipe down the walls and surfaces of the kitchen and living room and hall. As I stated already, I hate stinky smells and do everything I can to try and eliminate them.  The cleaning solution had borax and soap nuts and essential oils in it.

If you try this you might want to go outside while it simmers, or leave a few windows part open,  because vinegar is strong. Just don't forget to check on it often. You don't want that simmering off and burning the bottom of the pan again!


 

The Refrigerator Challenge

It's not easy being friends with someone who's a green cleaning freak. This I know.
I am sure that over the years I have been an  annoyance to some. I can live with that.

One example is when I deep cleaned the downstairs of a two-story residence, where someone had lived for many years in, let's call it 'less than pristine conditions.'  The entire place had to be completely overhauled, to the point walls, ceilings and floors had to be removed and replaced. Were the appliances able to be saved? They still had years of good service in them, but were unclean to the point of wondering if they could be restored and made to smell clean. Big challenge.

The man who owned the building knows my green ethic, but doubted it could do the job. He bought heavy duty (ie, harmful chemical) cleaners and was using them on the part he was cleaning and he wanted me to use them too. I asked him to let me do it my way and see if we could reach a satisfactory clean.

Because he is both a friend and had time to indulge me, I was able to work on the refrigerator over a period of days. If this had been a residential cleaning job for someone I didn't know I never could have done what I did, because it took hours and repeat visits to achieve satisfactory results. This is something people can do in their own homes, but not something a person could do for a one time deep clean in conditions that happened over years. It took time to get that filthy and it takes time to undo that.

My approach to the fridge was to clean it several times. Each time the build up of dirt, grease and nicotine lessened. Yes, the interior was scummy with nicotine build up, as were the surfaces of the entire apartment, making the 'tear out and rebuild' necessary, among other factors. I was amazed that nicotine coated the fridge interior. Each time the door was opened the stink of mildew and old nicotine wafted out. Each time I returned to the place my first job was to soak the interior with a blend of ingredients that included Sal Suds, Borax and Washing Soda and let it set while I moved onto the rest of the place. When I got ready to leave I rinsed it down with an essential oil blend, wedged a block of wood at the door, so it would stay slightly open, then left it to air out.

One day we took every single removable piece and then some off, to soak and scrub in the sink, then I went at all the cracks and crevices with the same cleaning blend I used for the surfaces. I spent hours on that fridge, over several days. And it worked. By the end of the remodel the appliance was not only pristine, there was no trace of odor even after it was plugged in, turned on, and door kept closed.

I don't know whether a chemical cleaner would have been able to do that and in my experience it would not. Yes, it would probably cut through a lot of the grease and nicotine, but I don't know that it would thoroughly remove the residual smell that always seems to return to appliances that haven't been kept clean over time. It is also my opinion that the chemical cleaners themselves leave behind an unpleasant odor that taints surfaces and absorbs into materials and plastics. An example of this is a washing machine, which has rubber seals and components that absorb the smell of detergents over time. A lot of people have smelly washing machine interiors. Mine does not smell. At all. It has remained clean and free of the mildewy, chemical odor detected in a lot of machines. It is because I don't use the laundry detergents stores sell. They are made by chemical corporations and contain harmful petro-chemical substances. Petro-chemicals give off an odor over time as they build up in your clothing fibers and washing machine.    

Candy Made Elsewhere, Cleaners Made Here

Standing at the register at Old Navy while my daughter did a return, I busied myself reading the labels on a display of candy, to see where they were made. Sour Patch. Swedish Fish. Others I can't remember the name of, but are popular candies. Made in Mexico. Thailand. Spain. China. Turkey. 
Five brands of candy, made in five different countries. Just in one display at the register.


None made in the USA.

I'm not implying that those candies are unsafe. We simply don't know, because they are being made in countries where manufacturing is under the governance of that country. Maybe some have strict guidelines and enforcement protocol. Who knows?

I don't know that even if the food/candy was manufactured here that it would be safer.
The Consumer Protection Agency, the FDA, the FTC. All the agencies that are thought to protect us from harmful substances in foods and products are agencies that are severely underfunded. The USA has been historically lax in regulating chemicals and substances, lax in testing for safety. The European Union bans and disallows hundreds of substances and chemicals from being put in the foods and products their consumers buy. The USA does not. We are on our own to decide what to buy and buyer beware. 

Shopping has become an unpleasant experience. No matter what store you go in, they are all filled to the brim with cheaply made stuff. Cheaply made stuff has always been available, but it used to be you could also find well made things as an alternative. That no longer feels so. Why is that? Where has all the quality gone? Everything is made to not last.

The quality control went away when manufacturing went away. And now you can't even buy candy that was made here at the register. Everything is made elsewhere and shipped here.

What does that have to do with cleaners? You have to read the labels on everything, including household cleaners. They are made here.  Ever wonder why that is?

The corporations that make them are chemical, industrial, military, and fossil fuel industries. There are tons of petro-chemicals in everything. These industries make and sell 'cleaners' that are anything but clean. They are by-products of the industrial military chemical companies, and they end up in products we buy without ever giving thought to what is in them and whether it is harmful to us, our children, our pets, the environment. This is what we've come to, and this is what must change.  


It is yet another stark reminder that something that feels very not right is happening all around us.

Savvy Shopping Advice

How To Be A Savvy Shopper

1. Shop with a list
2. Stick to the list
3. Do your homework before going into the store and stay strong


Before you enter the store, pause, take a deep breath, then remember this: Every product and every aisle is designed to entice you to buy something other than/or in addition to what you went in for. Don't fall for it.

Americans are bargain-loving easy spenders. We've lived with a lot of years of prosperity, and most don't know how to avoid the influence of corporations. Did you know they spend a lot of money on behavioral, psychological and social research to plot and plan ways to change and sway your purchase habits?  That alone makes me determined to not fall into the trap they continually set for us.

A poet, describing her poem, said "The better part of me knows that I should avoid consumerism and materialism, but I can’t resist the instant gratification!" 
Actually, she can resist it, if she insists it. 

Once you grow your awareness, be proud when you don't fall for the gimmicks, or the enticements of extra percentages off your purchase to 'sign up for a store card.'  Remember, there is no store, no corporation, no one who is looking to extend a bargain to you. They are always, without exception, looking to hook you with 'buy more to save more' bullshit. Think about it.

Think about it.

Dr Bronner's

I rarely promote companies, but this is one of the few I recommend and support, both as an ethical  green cleaners company and as a model for ethical business practices. Here are some of the reasons, ask exemplified on their website.



Dr Bronner's is:

~Dr. Bronner’s soaps are 100% true pure-castile soaps. The high-foaming lather comes from their high coconut oil content, which creates a more luxurious and richer lather than any detergent could ever produce. “Pure-Castile” is your guarantee that what you’re using is a genuinely ecological and simple soap – not a complex blend of detergents with a higher environmental impact due to the waste stream created during manufacturing and the detergents’ slower biodegradability. Unfortunately, many synthetic detergent blends are deceptively labeled as “Liquid Soap” even though they contain no real soap whatsoever.

We do have one product, Sal Suds, which contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, and Lauryl Glucoside. Sal Suds is an all-purpose household cleaning product, and is not intended for use on the body. Cruelty-free and biodegradable, It is a balanced formulation of naturally derived surfactants that are mild and gentle on the hands.

~Dr. Bronner’s becomes largest personal care company certified under USDA’s National Organic Program. Pioneers 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Institutes progressive business practices: 5-to-1 compensation cap between top salaried employee and lowest-wage warehouse position—100% health coverage—all profits not needed for business dedicated to progressive causes and charities.

~they have always had, and continue to have, a commitment to organic & fair trade projects around the world, supporting organic farming practices, fair wages, and economic development.
~certified cruelty-free (never tested on animals)
~personal care products and cleaners are all vegan
~their palm and coconut oils are fair-trade, sustainably acquired, and are not from producers involved in the clearcutting and deforestation of tropical forestlands. They purchase from growers who are all certified organic— no agrochemicals (chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides) are used, and soil fertility is replenished naturally using compost, manure and mulching with crop residues. 
~Dr. Bronner’s partners with coalition of parent, consumer, health and environmental groups to demand labeling of genetically engineered foods.
~After growing 1,100% over 15 years, Dr. Bronner’s moves into larger factory. Commits to becoming a zero waste operation. 
~Emanuel Bronner believed that a company has a responsibility to “Share the profits with the workers and the earth from which you made it!” His son Ralph called this approach Constructive Capitalism and we practice it in every aspect of our business—from the products we make, throughout our supply chains, to our dedicated activism and charitable giving, to our relationships with employees, customers and suppliers. It’s important to us that our products have a real and positive impact on the people and communities worldwide that make them. 
AND CHECK THIS OUT - What is it like to work there? 
They value their employees, who are treated 'like family' in their family run business. Dr. Bronner’s caps the total compensation of the highest-paid employees and executives at five times that of the lowest-paid position, and there is no difference between the benefits offered to company leaders and those offered to every single full-time employee. All employees receive 15% of their salary paid annually into a retirement/profit-sharing plan, up to 25% of their salary as a bonus, and a no-deductible PPO health insurance plan for their families—meaning we pay the complete health premium and all deductibles so there’s no out-of-pocket cost for employees. We also cover half the cost of approved childcare venues up to a total of $5,000 for each family.

Trusted Names Aren't Trusted Just Because They Say They Are

What this post is about is insanity, which comes in many forms, and if you read/listen/aren't completely out of touch; you know/sense/feel that insanity is accelerating all around us.

The insanity of 'products' is clearly illustrated here. As in all things, there is bad news/good news. Bad news is when you learn that something you have bought and used or is sitting on your shelf is actually 'bad' for you and your family. Very frustrating, right? Well, what if you could turn the energy of frustration into the energy needed to do something about it? The Good News (see, already there's good news!) is: You Can!

Here's a little tutorial on how.

CHAPTER ONE -  A LITTLE ON LABELS, BRANDING, FALSE ADVERTISING

(yes, we start with bad news, so we can look forward to the good that comes after bad  ツ

 
Everyone's heard of Johnson & Johnson and due to heavy advertising we've been conditioned to think of them in terms of their catch phrases which sound nice:   'family owned' 'mother trusted' etc etc.

*IRONY STATEMENT 
Even as J&J continue to manufacture and market BABY POWDER they are in the midst of a huge class action lawsuit alleging the primary ingredient in BABY POWDER, which is TALC, has caused ovarian cancer in women who used the product over time. (note: let that statement sink in. I know, I know, you get it, BABY powder, a product made and marketed to women for their BABIES, which J&J we now read below allege to care about)
*Oh, and just this week, the first week in June, the news reported J&J 'lost' and the claimants 'won.' We all lose, but that's another perspective so I'll let it go for now or this blog will be a book!!!!

A glance at the label in photo 2 below where they've printed the words in bold letters 'OUR BABIES WILL INHERIT OUR PLANET'. I take issue with two...no three things about this statement...
1. they are misleading the purchaser into assuming J&J care about babies and/or the planet
2. it is not OUR planet. we are tourists, travelers, guests here. WE DO NOT OWN THE PLANET. we are tasked with being good stewards of it, for ourselves and for the generations of all life here and to come, not just human life
3. don't be taken in by catch phrases written like this, or said by a soothing voice on a commercial with lovely music in the background as companies like this 'play to' your empathies. NO COMPANY has to tell us we love our babies, we know this without their BS

NOTE: I am on a roll. You may have to go get a cup of tea or stand and stretch. This is a marathon of perspective, but I promise, worth it.

CHAPTER TWO HOW TO READ AND NOT READ A LABEL

It is actually fascinating to actually read a product container. Of particular note is both what it says and what it does not say. Savvy consumer that you are or will become, you're onto the bastards! They won't be able to fool you anymore, or if they do, it will be really harder to do. 

Here is a picture of two J&J products. Both baby powder. Both have a clean looking straight forward front label, not much wordiness. The product on left only tells you it is 'silky soft skin'. The one on the right, it is 'soothing aloe and vitamin e' that 'gently absorbs moisture to keep skin dry and soft'.  It also tells you 'pure cornstarch.' Why, you might ask, does product on left not tell you it is talc?  Could it be that the people who refer to themselves as 'family owned and operated' don't want you be acutely aware that it contains talc?  I don't know. Neither do you. All we know is one product refers to an ingredient within and the other, which was/is under a class action lawsuit, does not (on the front label, anyway, which is the part most people glance at without thinking about. Companies know this about you.) 
 

Now let's take a look at the backside. Oh, hey, it WARNS you not to allow your baby to inhale the product. Are you serious? You have a wriggly baby your trying to sprinkle powder on and the product ALWAYS goes airborn...if you don't remember it does, try sprinkling some right now. whoa! it's all over those air molecules!!

AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES. Okay, so we can't breathe or get it in eyes. Again, airborne!

The TALC product is two ingredients, TALC and FRAGRANCE. We already have been warned about TALC, it apparently causes CANCER. And the second ingredient is a big problem too. Google 'fragrance in skin and body care products' and learn what people with sensitivities to allergens already deeply know: the word FRAGRANCE on a product ALWAYS means ARTIFICIALLY DERIVED. It is a synthetic, petro-chemically manufactured additive. ALWAYS.

Look at the label on the right. It is the one that front label had 'pure cornstarch' on. But read the back label and see it contains more than pure cornstarch.  It contains tricalcium phosphate, fragrance, and tocopheryl.
It also states 'AVOID CONTACT WITH OPEN FLAME'
Okay, you usually don't have open flames around the babies changing table so that seems logical enough to be able to avoid flames. I guess except if someone is dumb enough to smoke cigarettes while changing baby. I'm sure it happens.

But being curious, I try calling J&J to ask what exactly is flammable in baby powder, but it is a Saturday and they are closed. Their recorded message advises you how to lull your baby to sleep with a J&J bath, a massage and quiet time. It also advises you that if you are calling with a medical emergency to hang up and contact the ER. Again, makes you ask how many medical emergency inquiries a consumer might be making to the manufacturer of BABY PRODUCTS.

Curiosity still aroused I decide to experiment. I light a match and sprinkle regular straight untainted corn starch on it. Nothing happens. okay, won't be setting the baby on fire with corn starch.

Then I sprinkle J&J BABY POWDER on a lit match flame. SPARKS FLY!!!!! WTF? Now I want to know what is flammable in the friggen powder people are sprinkling on BABIES!!!!

 
So there. You know enough about J&J to not buy their products. See how simple this is going to be? Learn what companies not to buy from and you don't have to worry about decyphering their product or labels. 

Here is the label for a PETROLEUM JELLY. This is not a J&J label. But note that the product is 99.96% petroleum, and the rest, we presume, is FRAGRANCE, because after all, petroleum tends to stink like petroleum and who wants to smell like a derivative of what you fuel your vehicle with????

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A lot of manufacturers encourage you to rub MINERAL OIL over your baby's skin, to make it baby soft. Ironic isn't it? Trying to get baby's skin to be baby soft....hmmmm....anyway, yes, back to J&J here, the label tells us the product is MINERAL OIL and FRAGRANCE (oh, that again)  and it warns you not to ingest OR INHALE the product.  Okay, so take a clothespin and clip it on your and your babies noses and hold your breath while you apply a product that neither of you should be smelling and see how well that works for all involved.

ahem. What is MINERAL OIL anyway? Turns out:

1. a distillation product of petroleum, especially one used as a lubricant, moisturizer, or laxative.

There you are. PETROLEUM again. That shit just keeps infiltrating into a plethora of 'consumer' ie, 'people!' products...and into BABY products...and well, we see where all this has been, is, and is going. 

ABOUT J&J:  Common sense suggests that the company, being run by people after all, have had babies born into their families. They love them, I am certain of that.

So why would people make and sell and promote products for your and my babies that they have to label-warn us about? They do not have to make products with synthetic ingredients, with petroleum and fragrances. Petroleum is a limited, non-renewable, polluting 'resource.' I don't even like to call it that. I think we should re-source the ingredients in products made for BABIES!!! Our most precious renewable irreplaceable resource.  Let's stop sprinkling and smearing flammable, un-inhalable crap on them!!!

OOPs, sorry. I know you know this.


Damn! Let's get onto the GOOD NEWS please. I am getting despondent and I am an anti-despondent personality type. There's always a way out or past all the madness!!


The purpose of this post is not just bring forward awareness about products, it is to reassure you and I that there are alternatives to EVERYTHING.  It is so empowering to educate ourselves. We hold SO MUCH POWER and it goes untapped when we buy from irresponsible, profit-motivated companies.

Let us begin today to co-support one another with inquiry, exploration and dissemination of good information so we empower each other to make informed decisions and informed purchases. Many of you are already on this journey. Let's step it up to the next level.

Go Us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Read This If You Hate To Iron

Do You Hate To Iron Clothes?

SOLUTION:  Do it outside!
You'll get your daily Vitamin D. A tan. Fresh Air. Your clothes will smell divine, hanging outside in the sun and fresh air.  You get to spy on your neighbors while ironing and no one will be the wiser. 

It's Ironic how fun it is to iron outside