Laundry Clothing and Baby Eczema

Nothing is in closer contact with skin than the clothes your baby wears so getting clothing and laundry right could be the single most important thing you can do for a child suffering from eczema.

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When we wash our clothes with normal synthetic detergents (bio & non bio) a residue is left behind in the fibres. This contamination increases with every wash. Studies have measured this with the increase in weight that an item gains after it's been laundered and dried. After 10 washes the fabric holds the equivalent of '1 measure' of detergent!

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People are surprised to find the reason their laundry feels stiff is actually because of the build up of detergent in the fabric. To combat this 'stiff' feeling we are sold yet more chemicals to add to our clothing in the form of fabric softener.

All these chemicals that carry the little warning of 'irritant' on the bottle are building up in the fabric with every wash, waiting to be transferred to the skin of the person wearing the clothing.

Research which demonstrates how quickly these residues transfer from the clothing and onto the skin - in 1hr up to 11% of the residue is now on the skin of the person wearing the garment.

Baby's skin is naturally very thin and sensitive, they are especially vulnerable to itching and irritation and dryness these chemicals can cause. Whilst moisturising and hydrating the skin of these poor itchy children is often helpful frequently the most dramatic change can be had from altering the clothing that is in contact with their skin all day.

Natural alternatives to detergents offer a safer way of cleaning the clothing of all babies. Eco-ball type products, soap-nuts, soap flakes or soap based powders are all solutions that not only help the skin but also the planet. Cleaning clothes with these greener alternatives also eliminates the need for a softener, another common cause of skin irritation and environmental pollution.

Clothing wise Organic clothing is always the best choice for these children, as organic certification limits chemicals used in the processing and manufacture of the garment. The organic fibres are also fatter and smoother making the clothing softer and more breathable next to the skin.

Avoiding cleaning children's clothing with these detergent chemicals will often help improve baby eczema, but greater benefits can be had from using a safer solution for the whole family as the lint and fluff from your clothing and skin all contribute to the dust in your home and in especially sensitive children even the traces of these chemicals in dust can be enough to trigger flare ups.

Laundry Clothing and Baby Eczema

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How to Remove Lime Scale Residue - An Unwanted Deposit Caused by Hard Water

Rather than rushing out any buying the latest 'must-have' cleaning product from your local supermarket, why not see if any items in your grocery cupboard can help you combat those unwanted deposits? Two fantastic liquids for just this purpose are lemon juice and vinegar. Lemon juice is often the preferred option, as it leaves a much more pleasant fragrance after the cleaning has been done. Pickling vinegar is a better option however, for particularly stubborn outbreaks. To remove lime scale effectively it should be left to soak in acid for one or two hours.

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Below are some tips on how to treat different items within your home in order to eradicate lime scale:

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Washing Machines and Dishwashers

Use a cup of lemon juice or vinegar, add this to your machine and run a normal cycle-minus the clothes! In a dishwasher pour the liquid into the bottom of the machine as opposed to using the detergent dispenser.

Kettle

Quarter fill the kettle with lemon juice or vinegar and leave for one hour. After this time top it up with water and boil, make sure that the water is poured away before it cools down. Make sure that you rinse the kettle out a few times with cold water to ensure your coffee doesn't taste funny!

Taps

Take a small cup of vinegar and cover the tap in this solution. Immediately wrap the tap with an old tea towel and hold it in place. Leave this for an hour or so, occasionally squeezing the towel to ensure acid gets into all the grooves.

Tiles

Lime scale build up on flat surfaces is far easier to eradicate. Most of the time simply scrubbing with lemon juice or vinegar will restore the surface to its sparkling former glory.

How to Remove Lime Scale Residue - An Unwanted Deposit Caused by Hard Water

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The Benefits of Soft Water - Why You Need a Water Softener

Soft water versus hard water has many benefits. Like clean shiny silverware and glassware. No one like the spotty chalky hard water spots on their silverware, glasses or dishes.

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Since shampoos, soaps and detergents do not lather well in hard water, naturally soft water or hard water made soft through a water softener restores the rich lathering cleaning ability and cuts down on the usage and costs of soaps and detergents by 75%. Also, one can return to natural chemical free healthy soaps and laundering agents. The harsh chemicals in todays soaps and detergents were invented to combat hard water and still have some lather. With soft water you will not need these chemical based cleaners.

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Hair and skin feels softer , cleaner and smoother. Detergents easily rinse out of soft water. Tests have been done taking laundry that had gone through a rinse cycle in hard water, taken these "rinsed" clothing out and putting them in clean soapless water, agitating them and watching soap still come out of the clothing. Soft water allows detergents to completely rinse out . Fabrics are also softer without hard minerals become trapped in them. Fabrics last longer and whites stay white without the dingy gray caused by hard water.

Soft water also does not leave chalk or orange rings around bathtubs and sinks. This saves time in house cleaning and embarrassment of having cleaned yet finding it difficult to remove all the hard water deposits. Soft water also preserves the life of all water using appliances such as coffee and ice makers, dishwashers, and clothers washers. Hard water wears appliances out quickly and requires more energy use as appliances do not work as well when they are corroded or clogged with mineral deposits. Savings on fuels costs and on properly working water heaters is another benefit too.

Let's look at average replacement of some of the basic appliance due to hard water corrosions; 0-water heater, faucet set, 0-0 washer/dryer set, and the entire plumbing system 00-00. The first water softeners were invented in 1912 before the advent of the modern washing machine as a basic household appliance that converts hard water into soft water which we all find desirable. It has continued to be a basic household appliance and is so appreciated by its owners that it is rare to see a water softerner sold 2nd hand, usally owners just taken them with them when they move. The benefits of a water softener are more than one would realize initially and usually involve a cost savings that more than pays for the softener in about 4-5 years and most softeners are expected to last at least 10 years, with many lasting much longer.

The Benefits of Soft Water - Why You Need a Water Softener

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Converting Hard Water to Soft Water Effectively in an Easy Way

Many may wonder how to make hard water soft but not many know how easy it is if they have any knowledge about hard water and soft water. Using this type of water for our daily chores is not the ideal way to go about because of the presence of the chemicals and the minerals you may get some kind of infection or allergy. The good thing is that there are many easy routes to get rid of this problem.

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One time tested method is to go for softening the water. Softening it is all about removing the chemicals and the minerals that are present in more than trace amounts. To remain healthy you should shift as quickly as possible to the soft water, because even without any knowledge about the effects of it you are bringing down your health yourself.

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If your drinking water has some kind of odor then it is probably because of the presence of the minerals and you should do something to get rid of that as soon as possible. Water softeners are available in the market which you can buy but do not employ them yourselves if you have no idea about them. Ask the help of someone who is familiar with the water softeners because they may know how to use them the right way.

If you use them then there is a high percentage of you having soft water for all of your needs. The softeners that are available on the market are supposed to work perfectly well. If your water leaves stain spots on the wares you use then it is because of the hard water and the minerals present in it. Once you have used the softeners on the hard water then you will see the diminishing of the stains that used to form on the silverware previously.

Converting Hard Water to Soft Water Effectively in an Easy Way

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Salt-Free Water Softeners

Your salt-based water softener can dump up to 500 pounds of salt into the environment each year, so salt-free free solutions to this environmental problem seem like a good idea. Salt is also damaging to some metals like galvanized pipe and the last thing most people want or need is a major repair on their water supply system. Because of the minimal negative effect on the environment, salt-free water softening systems are at least worth doing some research on before spending your hard earned money.

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Types of Salt-Free Water Softeners

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Electric water softeners are said, by their manufacturers, to send an electric pulse through the water that prevents scaling. There is no real claim that it will remove dissolved metals that cause hard water, just that it will reduce scale buildup. Magnetic water softeners are mostly claimed to reduce scale buildup in your pipes. Just wrap a couple of magnets at about 0 each around your pipes and some distributors claim that your plants will thrive better, some diseases will be prevented, and, oh yeah, it will soften your water, too. Well not really soften your water because it doesn't remove any dissolved metals, but make your water feel softer and act softer. Sorry, but the scientific support for these claims cannot always be replicated when discovered by one scientist and the actual studies are somewhat ambiguous and even anecdotal in nature. Electro-magnetic water softeners are just a magnet with an electrical current added. Sort of like combining the two just above. Not surprisingly, these devices are not claimed by most distributors to actually soften your water. Like the other two approaches, this type also only minimizes scale buildup in your plumbing. But the U.S. government has some positive things to say about the potential of this type of system. Catalytic Media systems use a filter media type that chemically alters and/or traps hard water compounds. Ceramic filter types are similar to what backpackers have been using for years and are usually effective to the size of cryptosporidium which is a nasty paramecium that is found in streams where there is also wildlife around. One ceramic filter system insists it is a durable, long-life system because the filter's catalyst is a non-sacrificial type. One could argue that since the introduction of a true catalyst in chemical reactions is for the purpose of enhancing a reaction, how could this really be a catalyst? Or if it is, then what is the chemistry behind the non-sacrificial reaction? Suffice it to say that a ceramic filter of high quality will have a long life but will need some cleaning maintenance and its filtration ability will be limited to its pore size. The ceramic filter's ability to filter viral material might be a major feature for some people. Reverse Osmosis is a non-salt based system that was first developed for the purpose of desalinization of sea water to become pure drinking water. It has considerable limitations, but is easier on the environment than salt-based water softener systems. Reverse osmosis has been a proven solution to providing high quality pure drinking water for about 40 years.

Salt-Free Water Softeners

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What is a Water Softener?

It seems a little strange that water is soft or hard. However, these are two recognized types of water. A water softener is a machine that removes certain elements from hard water, thus softening it and making it a little better to use.

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Hard water is water that has high amounts of calcium and magnesium. These elements can create stains on sinks and in tubs. It can also damage hair and leave skin feeling dried out and itchy. Not only can hard water be inconvenient in small ways, the buildup as a result of the calcium and magnesium deposits can actually clog pipes. A water softener can reduce the problems associated with hard water.

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A water softener removes the calcium and magnesium from water. Some water softeners also remove iron. The water softener is a machine that, when connected to the water supply, actually "softens" hard water. Most water softeners require an amount of salt for their proper functioning. Because elements are removed from the water, they build up in the softener rather than pipes. This means that the water softener requires regular maintenance.

There are different sizes and types of water softeners. The more water used by a household, the bigger the water softener needs to be. There are also three different types of water softener: manual, semi-automatic and automatic. The automatic merely requires regular maintenance. The other two types require a more active role in the removal of calcium and magnesium from the household water supply.

While soft water is great for washing and bathing, hard water is more pleasant to the taste. As a result, many people find that it is nice to have one faucet in the home that provides hard water for drinking and cooking.

A water softener decreases the overall need for strenuous pipe maintenance due to buildup. It can also provide a more pleasant way to use water to bathe, as well as preserve the quality of clothes washed in a washing machine.

What is a Water Softener?

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Tips on Tropical Fish Keeping

Tropical fish keeping can be more than just a simple hobby. It can be a way to beautify your home, teach your children about caring for a pet and provide you with something very enjoyable to watch. Tropical fish keeping is also very easy, even if you've never owned a fish before. If you're considering trying your hand at tropical fish keeping, here are some of the main items you'll need so you can begin shopping around:

· Aquarium tank

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· Aquarium stand (optional)

· Air pump

· Lighting equipment

· Hood

· Filters

· Heater

· Thermometer and water test kits

· Aquarium Gravel (2" on bottom of tank

· Aquarium Maintenance Kit

· Decorations

If you're new and inexperienced at tropical fish keeping, I strongly recommend you learn all you can about the topic and visit your local pet or fish store for help and advice prior to making your purchases on the equipment required. The type of fish you get will depend on your personal choice. Guppies and Betta are both very easy to raise, so you may want to start with them.

Choosing a tank is one of the largest decisions you'll make in your fish keeping hobby. Keeping your budget and size of your room in mind, try to get a fish tank large enough to allow your fish plenty of room. Even if you're new at tropical fish keeping, try to start with at least a 10-gallon tank. It's better to have a big tank with fewer fish than a smaller tank that's crowded. The more water surface they have, the more oxygen they'll get. Air pumps will help aerate the water and keep your fish supplied with oxygen.

While an aquarium stand is an attractive addition, you can also use an end table or some other kind of table if you're trying to cut back on costs. The expenses involved in getting started on tropical fish keeping can add up quickly! Make sure you keep your tank away from direct sunlight and heating or cooling vents. The tank should also not be near noisy appliances or machines, as they'll be stressed very easily.

Your aquarium tank can be an acrylic or glass tank. Your pet store can help you choose the heaters, lights, air pumps and hood you'll need for tropical fish keeping. While some people choose complete filtration systems, others choose to go with a simple canister or sponge filter. Filtration systems are available in three types: biological, mechanical, and chemical. The purpose of filters is to help keep the water clear, remove odors and eliminate harmful substances from the water.

Pet and fish stores offer heaters that have attached lights (fluorescent or incandescent) and hood, providing you with one complete and very convenient system.

A heater that's thermostatically controlled will help you to maintain the correct temperature in your water. While tropical fish may be very easy to keep and maintain, they do have certain requirements to ensure a healthy environment. A water test kit is a necessity for tropical fish keeping to ensure their water is the proper pH level and temperature.

Once you've set up all the necessities for your aquarium (pumps, heaters, filters, lights, etc.), you're ready for the fun stuff: selecting decorations. You'll be amazed at the many different varieties of aquarium decorations you'll find. You'll have so much fun; you may find yourself at the pet or fish store every week!

Tips on Tropical Fish Keeping

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