One of the most important appliances to consider before you head away on holiday is the fridge. This is a big electricity guzzler, so applying some simple tricks before heading out the door is a worthwhile task.
Fridges run more efficiently when full. So one easy, out-of-the box, idea is to cram it with jugs or other containers full of water. Another way to reduce the amount of electricity it uses is to clear it out and switch to a warmer setting. A combination of the two might be your best bet if you're only away for a week or so.
Refrigerators and freezers set just a few degrees lower can cut down on energy use by as much as 25 per cent, according to experts. In fact, many people set their fridge-freezers too low in any case - the ideal temperature for a fridge is between 3 and 5 degrees. Freezers should be set at -18 degrees.
If you have more time, and you are lucky enough to be heading off on a longer trip, it might be worth emptying your fridge, defrosting the freezer, and switching the entire thing off. Defrosting everything might be a pain, but over the course of an extended trip it could save a fair amount of electricity. You can also consider packing up the food and taking it upcountry with you saving you on energy bills and money needed to buy more food.
How to Save on Electricity when Using Your Fridge
23 common Kitchen Items to Get Hair Healthy
Here are 23 common
kitchen items to get
hair healthy
1) Extra Virgin
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is one of those must have
ingredients to get hair healthy. It is
also versatile as a beauty product and
makes a great hair care treatment
because of its richness in fatty acids
that moisturize and treat the hair and
scalp.
It is ideal as a deep conditioning
treatment for dry, damaged hair or
coarse hair. It also makes an
excellent detangling and moisturizing
treatment for thick, curly and kinky
hair types.
2) Carrots
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient if
you’re looking to grow and strengthen
your tresses, and carrots are jam
filled with beta carotene, an excellent
source of Vitamin A.
To make your very own carrot oil from
scratch, check out this recipe from
Ygoy . Another alternative is to simply
purchase all natural carrot oil, which
is often more potent.
3) Eggs
To get hair healthy and grow it long,
you need to minimize hair loss and
shedding by strengthening hair
strands. Protein in the hair is the
chemical compound that affects the
strength and structure of the hair.
Eggs are a great source of protein
and make a great weekly hair mask
especially when combined with other
natural ingredients such as yogurt,
honey or avocados.
4) Honey
Honey is another one of those
versatile ingredients that make great
as a beauty treatment. In hair care,
honey helps to retain and draw water
to the hair keeping the scalp and hair
strands moisturized.
It can be combined with other natural
ingredients to create a mask. Or can
be used alone or mixed with your
favorite natural oil as a deep
conditioning treatment.
5) Yogurt
If you’ve ever purchased one of those
hair growth vitamins, then you have
noticed biotin as a top ingredient on
the list, that’s because Biotin plays a
major role in maintaining healthy
scalp and growing healthy hair.
Yogurt is an excellent source of Biotin
and also contains other vitamins and
proteins that make it a great
treatment for hair. To use, simply
blend yogurt with other natural
ingredients or oils to create a hair
mask.
6) Peanut oil
We often hear of olive oil, argan oil or
castor oil to get hair healthy, but one
of the better and lesser known
natural oils for hair care is peanut
oil. Peanut oil is filled with essential
vitamins such as Vitamin E, A and D
that help to grow strong, healthy
hair.
It is ideal for curly hair types, coarse
and dry, damaged hair. It can be used
alone as a hot oil treatment.
7) Mayonnaise
You’ve most likely heard of
Mayonnaise as a homemade treatment
for deep moisturizing, to get hair
healthy. It is filled with protein which
is known to strengthen hair strands
for longer, shinier hair.
8) Avocado
For dry hair and scalp treatment, try
the ultimate avocado mask. Avocado is
a yummy vitamin filled goodness that
can be easily blended with other
natural ingredients such as yogurt or
egg yolk as a luxurious hair
treatment. Its use in homemade hair
care dates far back to the days of
early Egyptians.
9) Raw Apple Cider
Vinegar
Vinegar is another multi-use product
that has a ton of great benefits. It
helps to balance pH levels and bring
hair and scalp to normal acidic levels
which plays an important role in
growing healthy hair.
In homemade hair care, it works
great as a hair rinse, an alternative
to shampoo, as a dandruff treatment
or simply a mixture with other natural
ingredients and essential oils as hair
treatment. To use a hair rinse to
revive dull hair and make it shiny,
simply mix with equal parts water,
spritz onto hair, leave on for several
minutes and rinse.
To use a shampoo alternative, you can
mix with baking soda to create a
paste and apply mixture onto the hair
and scalp. Leave on for a few minutes
and rinse off thoroughly.
10) Baking soda
Baking soda can be used in homemade
hair care to cleanse the hair. As
previously stated above, it can be
mixed with apple cider vinegar and
used as a alternative to shampoo
11) Beer
This might come shocking to a lot of
people as I know it did me, but who
knew that good ole’ beer can make a
great hair treatment. That’s right,
beer works great a hair rinse to
replenish moisture to hair. According
to TruthinAging.com , beer is filled
with B vitamins and proteins that
coat the hair, draw in moisture and
repairs damaged hair. These nutrients
are found in the malt and hops.
To use, simply pour some beer into a
glass and let is sit to room
temperature levels. Then with finger
tips simply apply to hair and scalp in
small sections. Then blow dry as
usual.
Beer also makes a great hair styling
treatment and can be used as an
alternative to hair spray by simply
spritzing onto the hair.
12) Banana
For those with dry, damaged hair,
banana is a great treatment to get
hair healthy again. It is an excellent
source of essential vitamins that
nourish the hair. It can be easily
mixed with other natural ingredients
such as yogurt, egg, avocados etc to
make a luxurious hair mask.
13) Ghee butter
I wrote about ghee butter as a hair
conditioner in a previous article and
from first hand experience, I can
attest to the benefit and
effectiveness of ghee butter. It
works especially well on coarse, dry
damaged hair as a deep conditioning
treatment.
14) Garlic
Garlic is an excellent treatment to
combat hair loss and promote healthy
strands. To use, you can simply cut
garlic into tiny chunks, put into a
glass container with a bit of water
and leave overnight to extract the
juices. Use the tonic as a pre-
treatment by applying it all over the
scalp before shampooing. To increase
the effectiveness, put on a hair cap
and sit under the dryer for about 20
minutes.
15) Lemon
Lemon is an all purpose product that
is well known for its lightning
properties. In hair care, it can be
used as rinse and also a natural, hair
bleaching treatment. To use, simply
mix with a bit of water, apply to hair,
and it is recommended to sit under the
sun for increased effectiveness.
16) Cayenne Pepper
Apparently cayenne pepper is an
excellent ingredient to aid in hair
growth. It is said to work by
improving circulation and blood flow
which aids in regeneration and
growth. It is often mixed in natural
hair oils and massaged onto the scalp.
17) Onions
Similar to garlic, onions work to
prevent hair loss and promote hair
growth. Use in a similar fashion as
garlic, by cutting into small chunks
and extracting juice. Or you can
simply rub cut onions onto sparse
areas of the hair.
18) Rosemary
Similar to cayenne pepper, rosemary
works to stimulate hair follicles and
promote hair growth. It is a powerful
herb that has been used in natural
hair care for decades to get hair
healthy and strong.
19) Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea can be used a natural
way to lighten the hair or as a rinse.
To use, simply apply tea mixture to
the hair and scalp. It can also be
mixed with other essential oils.
20) Red wine
Want to a natural way to become a
red head, well reach for a glass of red
wine. That’s right, red wine can be
used a natural way to add a subtle red
tint to your hair. To use simply apply
red wine to damp hair, put on a
shower cap and wait 10-15 minutes.
Voila! Red hair in an instant.
21) Grape juice
Similar to red wine, grape juice can
be used a natural hair dye to
brighten, dull brassy tones on blondes
and to get rid of the dreaded orange
hair. You can simply mix with equal
parts hair conditioner and leave on
hair for 20-30 minutes, rinse
thoroughly afterwards.
22) Tomato Juice
The benefits of vitamin A in hair care
is stronger, healthier hair. Tomatoes
are an excellent source of this vitamin
amongst others and works as a great
treatment for severely dry, damaged
hair. Simply mash raw tomatoes to
extract juices and apply directly to
hair or mix with other natural
ingredients.
23) Extra Virgin
Olive oil
Last but not least, extra virgin oil is
one of those absolute necessities in
natural, homemade hair care to get
hair healthy. It can be used in a
variety of ways. Apply it to freshly
washed and conditioned hair as a hair
oil, mix with other natural hair
ingredients or use as a hot oil
treatment.
Homemade DIY Natural Hair Conditioner
Recipe 1. The Base : Yoghurt (plain) , Banana (baby food), Avocado (creamed)
The base of your natural conditioner needs to be thick enough such that it does not drip off your hair but at the same time be able to be spread easily enough to coat the hair strands.
2. Ingredients for slip : Olive oil, jojoba oil
If you want to detangle your hair with your natural conditioner, then it would be a good idea to add some oil to the base of your choice. A more liquid oil e.g olive oil or a liquid wax e.g jojoba oil is generally a better option than an oil that is more viscous (e.g castor oil) or one that changes from solid to liquid with low heat (e.g shea butter or coconut oil). However, if you intend to use your conditioner warmed up, then it is perfectly fine to use any oil of your choice.
3. Ingredients for moisture – humectants: Glycerin, honey, aloe vera
Humectants purely for moisture are probably best used during the leave in process rather than during the conditioning process. However, there is no harm in using them during the conditioning process. Glycerin, honey and aloe vera are all natural humectants. You can add any of these to your base in a quantity of your choosing. As you will be rinsing off the hair conditioner, most of the humectant on the surface will also eventually be washed away. Therefore, even if you do not particularly like glycerin in a leave in, you may find that in the conditioner mix, it is perfectly fine.
4. Ingredients for strength – protein: Gelatin
If you would like to have some hydrolysed protein in your hair, then you have to slightly break the rules of non-modification and select gelatin to add to your base. I do know that there are people who promote eggs as a natural protein conditioner but it is not really clear if the size of the protein in eggs can really work as well as a hydrolysed protein.
5. Extras – fragrance (essential oils), increase fluidity (coconut cream/milk)
Finally, if the consistency of your final mix is too thick, consider adding coconut cream or milk to it. The liquid here contains some oils from the coconut and therefore adds both fluidity and slip. Plain water may cause some of the oils added to the base to separate (surfactants in commercial conditioners help prevent this, but we don’t have them in the natural options). If you would like some fragrance, do consider some essential oils.
Natural Remedies For Rashes and Large Pores on the Face
Yogurt for skincare ?!
How To get rid of rashes and large pores?
√√√Rashes ::
1.Apply this yogurt on Clean face for 10-15 mins
2.Apply yogurt and lemon peel mask 5-10 mins
Duration 3-4 days and you will enjoy the results
√√√Open pores :::
1.)Rub ice cubes on the pores
2.)Apply yogurt on the face
----If you want to glow and get rid √√√of darkspots
1.)Mix of tbs of Sandalwood and yogurt as a mask .
10 Great Benefits of Yoghurt For Your Skin and Hair
1. Conditions Hair
If you are tired of the chemicals found in store-bought conditioners and are looking for a natural alternative, yogurt can help condition your hair and make it more manageable.
What You Need
4 tablespoons yogurt
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
2 tablespoons coconut oil
What You Have To Do
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
Apply the hair pack to your strands, and let it stay for an hour.
Rinse thoroughly using a mild shampoo.
Why This Works
Because yogurt has moisturizing properties, it helps repair dry and damaged hair (9). It leaves your hair conditioned and makes it more manageable.
2. Reduces Hair Fall
Hair fall happens for a number of reasons. One of which is the hair follicles not receiving proper nourishment. Using yogurt, which is full of nutrients that are good for your hair, can help stop hair fall.
What You Need
½ cup yogurt
3 tablespoons ground fenugreek seeds
What You Have To Do
Combine the yogurt and the fenugreek seeds together.
Using a brush, apply it to your strands.
Keep for an hour, then rinse with a mild shampoo.
Why This Works
Due to the presence of vitamin B5 and D, yogurt helps nourish the hair follicles (10). This helps prevent hair loss.
3. Treats Dandruff
Dandruff is a common problem, but which can be avoided with the topical use of yogurt.
What You Need
½ cup yogurt
What You Have To Do
Massage the yogurt into your scalp.
Let it rest for 20 minutes, and rinse with a mild shampoo
Why This Works
One of the main causes of dandruff is fungus. A fungal infection can make the scalp produce flaky skin. Yogurt, which is a natural anti-fungal, helps removes all signs of dandruff
4. Moisturizes Skin
If your skin needs a boost of moisture, you can try using a yogurt face mask to rejuvenate your skin.
What You Need
4 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon honey
What You Have To Do
Add all the ingredients to a bowl, and mix till the consistency is more or less even.
Apply the mask to your face and neck, and keep it on for 30 minutes.
Rinse with cold water and pat your skin dry.
Why This Works
When yogurt is applied topically, it increases the moisture content of the treated area . This makes skin more elastic and improves brightness.
5. Reduces Wrinkles And Fine Lines
As time goes on, your skin starts to show signs of aging. You can combat the wrinkles and fine lines by using a yogurt scrub on a weekly basis.
What You Need
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon oats
What You Have To Do
Add the oats to the yogurt, and wait for it to get mushy. Stir to get an even consistency.
Apply it all over your face and neck, and massage using gentle, circular motions.
Keep the scrub on for 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
Why This Works
Yogurt has lactic acid, which works well as an exfoliator (2). It removes the topmost layer of dead cells, revealing brighter and younger skin.
3. Fights Acne
Yogurt is considered to be an effective home remedy for fighting acne. Using plain yogurt on a regular basis can help you get rid of pimples.
What You Need
1 tablespoon yogurt
cotton balls
What You Have To Do
Dip the cotton balls in the yogurt and apply it to the affected areas. Once you use a cotton ball on an acne, dispose of it. Don’t use it for application over another area. This may cause your acne to spread.
Keep it overnight and wash your face with cold water in the morning.
Why This Works
The high amounts of zinc and lactic acid present in yogurt make it a potent cure for acne
7. Fades Blemishes And Pigmentation
Acne and pimples can leave behind scars that take a long time to fade. Using a combination of yogurt and lemon juice can help to get rid of them faster.
What You Need
1 tablespoon yogurt
½ teaspoon lemon juice
What You Have To Do
Combine the yogurt and the lemon juice in a bowl.
Apply the mixture to the affected areas. Avoid getting it in your eyes, for it might sting.
Keep it on for 15 minutes and rinse with cold water.
Why This Works
The reason yogurt helps fade blemishes and corrects uneven pigmentation is because of its lactic acid content (4). Lactic acid removes the topmost layer of skin, which promotes the growth of new skin cells. This effectively reduces the appearance of pigmentation.
8. Reduces Dark Circles
A sleepless night and good old genetics are the reasons behind dark circles. Using yogurt can help reduce them.
What You Need
1 teaspoon yogurt
cotton balls
What You Have To Do
Dip the cotton balls in the yogurt.
Gently dab it under your eyes.
Keep it on for 10 minutes and rinse.
Why This Works
Yogurt helps reduce dark circles because it has anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces puffiness. The lactic acid in it also reduces persistent dark circles (5).
9. Treats Skin Infections
Skin infections such as ringworm or athletes’ foot plague a number of people. If you are looking for an all-natural remedy, then you can give yogurt a try.
What You Need
1 teaspoon yogurt
gauze
What You Have To Do
Apply the yogurt over the infected area and warp it with the gauze.
Repeat this procedure twice a day till the infection goes away.
Why This Works
Yogurt has probiotics that help get rid of skin infections caused by pathogens such as yeast
10. Soothes Sunburns
Sunburns are caused by the UV rays of the sun. It damages the skin, resulting in redness and sometimes, blisters. Using yogurt topically can help heal the sunburned areas.
Why This Works
Applying yogurt to sunburned areas cools it down . This is because it is rich in zinc and has anti-inflammatory properties