Knowledge Weighs Nothing

How To Make Foaming Hand Wash With Dish Soap

Dish soap foaming hand wash

It’s the end of March 2020 and most of us are stuck at home trying to slow down the spread of coronavirus. Regardless of the country we live in, we are all getting the same basic information and instructions – stay at home – social distancing – frequent hand washing – disinfect common points of contact in the home (door handles, taps, countertops etc).

The problem with the frequent hand washing is that due to panic buying, most stores have been sold out of soap and liquid hand soap for weeks now… You can still buy dish soap (washing up liquid) in most stores though. You could obviously use a squeeze of dish soap to wash your hands in a pinch, but neat dish soap is very strong. Using it more than a few times is likely to dry out and make your hands very sore.

The good news is — you can make a simple foaming hand wash from diluted dish soap! It is probably not the best thing to be washing your hands with longterm, but if you cannot get any soap or liquid hand wash, it’s a good alternative in the short-term.

**If you need a hand sanitizer for when you are out of the home (work or grocery shopping etc), check out our simple DIY hand sanitizer post.**

How To Make Foaming Hand Wash From Dish Soap

  • You will need an empty foaming hand wash dispenser. Either rinse out an old one or you can purchase foaming pump dispensers from Amazon.
  • Some dish soap (washing up liquid)

Instructions

  • Pour some dish soap into the foaming hand wash dispenser. The amount will vary depending on the size of the dispenser. Usually, around 10% will be about right.
  • Top up with water so that’s approx 90% water and 10% dish soap.
  • Screw the pump top on and shake to mix the water and dish soap.
  • Once mixed depress several times until the foam soap starts to come out.

Note: depending on the size of hand wash dispenser and the dish soap you use, you may need to slightly alter the dish soap to water ratio to get the best foam.

**If you are also struggling to find spray disinfectant in the shops — check out our post on how to make spray disinfectant from household bleach.**

Coronavirus — When You Can, Reach Out & Help Elderly / Vulnerable Neighbours

Coronavirus Help Vulnerable Neighbours

This coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic will be difficult and worrisome for us all. It is a particularly scary time for the elderly, disabled, and those with living with existing medical conditions.

Similarly to the oxygen mask instructions on aeroplanes (put the mask on yourself first, before trying to put them on your children), in the first instance I think it is important to care for and secure you and yours. Once all reasonable preparations are taken care of, we should all then consider what we can do to help and support the elderly and vulnerable in our street and the local community.

Many old and disabled people experience loneliness and difficulties at the best of times. These are not the best of times. In many countries, people over the age of 70 are, or will soon be asked to self-isolate at home for several months. It seems sensible for people with pre-existing medical conditions to do likewise.

I know you have your own priorities and worries, but once you are sorted and in good shape, please consider reaching out to the elderly and vulnerable in your street and the local community.  It’s not just the elderly or vulnerable living in isolated areas who will struggle, people living bunched together in towns and cities can feel just as isolated and alone.

If you know anyone who might appreciate some help or support during this global pandemic, let them know you are available to help.  Just letting someone know they can call on you if needed could make all the difference…

IMPORTANT — stay away if you are ill. When offering help/support, it is important not to spread the coronavirus to those we are trying to help.

There are many ways you can help without direct contact. For example, swap phone numbers (or email addresses) and talk on the phone rather than in person. Even if you seem well, it is sensible to drop off food/supplies etc by their front door, to keep your distance. They can get it after you have left.

It is vital that you always follow hand washing protocols etc so that you do not pass on the virus on food/supplies you take around.

At all times you want to balance providing support whilst limiting contact as much as possible.

Some Ways To Help The Elderly & Vulnerable

  • Phone and say hello. Tell them to call if they need anything. Phone every few days to keep in touch. Tell them to call even if they just want some company.
  • If you don’t know them personally, talk to them at distance or leave a note (see down below) with your name and phone number. Tell them to phone if they need anything at all.
  • If they are internet savvy — swap email and messaging contacts. Keep in contact online.
  • Offer to help with errands and groceries. Offer to do their shopping and drop it round.
  • Offer to go to the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions etc.
  • Some people cannot afford to spend much on heating and food etc. Check they are staying warm and eating well. Local charities and organisations can help.
  • Offer to walk their dog if appropriate and safe.
  • Help clear snow and ice from around their home.
  • If they become unwell, recommend they seek appropriate medical advice. If required do this for them.

Reach out, connect, show compassion and respect dignity.

Viral Kindness Cards

A lovely woman from the UK, Becky Wass, created these excellent postcards below. You can download and print them out here.

Simply print some out, fill them in and post them through elderly/vulnerable neighbours’ letterboxes. *Be mindful to wash your hands etc before printing and filling in these cards.*

ViralKindness note
DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE POSTCARD TEMPLATE

Simple DIY Stink Bug Trap (Works Fast) Build One Today!

How to make a DIY stink bug trap

Stink bug traps are perhaps the easiest and most environmentally-friendly way to deal with these troublesome insects. Although you can purchase pre-made traps, they are usually overly expensive, poorly made, and some are not all that effective.  Luckily, you can easily make a very effective DIY stink bug trap for next to nothing. In fact, you may already have everything you need to make one at home for free!

Below you will find step-by-step instructions on how to make your very own homemade stink bug trap. Additionally, there is an infographic with step-by-step images, and there is also a video tutorial showing how to build your own DIY trap. Further down, we have also included some additional specific information on stink bugs.

(You might also want to check out our ‘how to get keep spiders out of your home‘ post. It contains two techniques for keeping your 100% house spider free!)

How To Make A Stink Bug Trap

Stink Bug Trap Materials

To make a homemade stink bug trap, you’ll need to gather the following items:

1 | A 2-Litre Soda Bottle
2 | Razor Blade or Box Cutter
3 | LED Lights (RECOMMENDED: pack of three LED lights on Amazon for around $7)
4 | Black Electrical Tape
5 | White Masking Tape

Stink Bug Trap | Step-by-Step Instructions

Step One | With the razor blade, cut off the soda bottle just above the label, which is typically 1/3 of the top portion.

Step Two | Wrap the lower portion of the bottle with black electrical tape. This helps focus the light beam for maximum effectiveness.

Step Three | Put the LED light at the bottom of the bottle.

Step Four | Put the freshly removed top portion of the bottle upside down into the bottom portion of the bottle to create a funnel. (See Video for Visual Description)

Step Five | Add 4 strips of masking tape from the bottom to the top of the bottle so the stink bugs have a rough surface to climb. However, do not place the tape on the interior portion of the bottle as you don’t want these critters climbing out of the trap.

Step Six | With a pen or stick, press down on the LED light to turn it on.

Step Seven | Place the stink bug trap in a dark room at night, and in the morning review your collection.

There you have it! This is perhaps the easiest – and most effective – stink bug trap.

How To Make A Stink Bug Trap INFOGRAPHIC

make a sink bug trap infographic

 

 

DIY Stink Bug Trap Video Tutorial


Stink Bug Prevention is Better than Elimination

Establishing a stink bug trap is essential to catch bugs that are in your home; however, prevention is a key player in overall elimination. According to many pest experts, exclusion is the most important method to keeping stink bugs at bay. Review your home to look for cracks in doors, windows and siding. Make sure to repair damaged screens on windows or doors and seal all unintended openings with a high-grade silicone caulk.

While many pest control companies recommend using pesticides to help control stink bugs, this is not the wisest choice. Although these chemicals can help deter stink bugs from entering your home, should they already exist, insecticidal products can kill stink bugs but then only provide other pests, such as carpet beetles, with a food source. Therefore, these harmful chemicals not only enhance the likelihood of a secondary infestation, but also cause extreme harm to the environment.

The most effective way to eliminate these pests from your home is through a stink bug trap.

Brown marmorated stink bug image

What Are Stink Bugs?

Regardless of where you live or what your climate is like, there’s an infestation coming your way – stink bugs, or brown marmorated stink bugs to be exact.

These creatures are not only determined to find their way into your home, but as its name suggests, they stink! Let’s take a few moments and learn more about these odorous bugs.

Before building a stink bug trap, it’s important to know what exactly is a stink bug? In the most fundamental sense, stink bugs are a member of the Pentatomidae insect family and feature a large, oval (or shield) shape. Its average length is 17 mm and adults typically feature varying shades of brown on both the lower and upper portions of their body. Due to its shield shape, stink bugs feature nearly the same width as its length.

To identify a stink bug, lighter shades of brown form bands around the antennae while darker shades of brown are location on its membranous, as you look toward the rear of their front wings, these two bands seem to overlap. On the head and pronotum of the stink bug, copper or blue-metallic coloration is typically found.

As you may already be well-aware, its name is derived from the odor produced from its abdomen and along the underside of its thorax. This odor is the result of a chemical reactions scientists believe is a defensive mechanism. Upon first glance, you may not immediately smell its odor; however, should the bug become startled or feel as if it’s in danger, it will release its strong odor, which can quickly fill a room.

Unlike many other insects found throughout the region, scientists are not sure which seasons are “prime” seasons for the stink bug. However, during fall and winter months, stink bugs seem to gravitate toward the warmth of a home. This is evident during nighttime when they are drawn to the heat emitted from lights, computer screens and televisions.

While stink bugs are annoying should they enter your home, they also pose a serious threat to agriculture; both small and large. Stink bugs feed on a wide array of plants; however, they seem to be drawn specifically to fruits, such as peaches, apples, citrus fruits and mulberries. They are also prone to feed on weeds, soybeans, ornamental plants and other human food sources.

Although stink bugs are not a serious threat to humans, some people can develop an allergic reaction to the chemicals found within their odor, which means stink bugs have an aeroallergen tendency. It’s important to note that individuals who crush or smash stink bugs with bare skin may develop an allergic reaction within their skin, because of this, it’s not advised to crush stink bugs, but rather use a stink bug trap. Also, should you crush this stinky creature, its glands produce a vast amount of the odorous chemical, which can be quite unpleasant, to say the least.

Be sure to check out our related post: 6 Mosquito Repellent Plants To Grow

(Image from: Wikipedia & Fyn Kynd Photography)

5 Turmeric Tea Recipes – Plus The Health Benefits Of Turmeric

Turmeric tea recipes & turmeric health benefits

You can use turmeric to reduce inflammation and pain related to inflammation. Make a tea from it is one of the easiest ways to consume turmeric. In fact, turmeric tea is often known as anti-inflammatory tea! Making turmeric tea is nice and simple, and there are all sorts of variations and adaptations of the recipe, allowing you to customize it to suit your personal tastes. Whichever recipe you use (or even if you get creative and make up your own version), it’s important that you only use good quality turmeric powder, or alternatively, you can use grated fresh turmeric root for a stronger flavour. There are numerous turmeric health benefits, and you can read more about the benefits of consuming turmeric regularly, further down the page.

Turmeric should be easy to find in your local grocery store or supermarket. Additionally, Amazon has the most extensive range of turmeric powder. We use and recommend Starwest Botanicals Organic Turmeric Root Powder from Amazon as it is organic, high quality and exceptional value.

***Please note that, despite turmeric’s benefits, you shouldn’t drink tea made from turmeric, or take turmeric supplements whilst you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If in doubt please contact your doctor first.***

Turmeric Tea Recipe Infographic

Turmeric tea recipe infographic

Check out the recipes below and discover how to make turmeric tea. Many people are concerned that making tea with turmeric is difficult, but that is not the case at all. Give one of these anti-inflammatory tea recipes below a try and see.

Basic Turmeric Tea Recipe

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of water
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • Lemon or honey (or both!) to serve

How To Make the Tea

  • Heat 4 cups of water, bringing it to the boil.
  • Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric.
  • Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for around 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and strain using a fine sieve.
  • Pour into serving cups and add lemon or honey to taste.

Turmeric Tea With A Twist Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 inch fresh ginger root, minced
  • 2-teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1-teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 lemongrass tea bag
  • 6 peppercorns (you can leave these out if you prefer!)
  • Pinch of sea salt

How To Make the Tea

  • Bring the water to the boil in a small saucepan.
  • Add the peeled, minced ginger root, turmeric, cinnamon, peppercorns (remember, these are optional!), sliced oranges, and sea-salt.
  • Allow the mixture to simmer on a medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes.
  • Add the lemongrass teabag and allow to steep for around 3 minutes.
  • Remove the teabag and pour the mixture into a mug.

Creamy Turmeric Tea Recipe

 Why not give your tea a creamy twist with some coconut milk?

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut or almond milk
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • A pinch cayenne pepper
  • ½ inch finely chopped ginger root
  • 1 ½ teaspoon of honey (or an alternative sweetener)

How To Make the Tea

  • In a pan, gently warm the cup of coconut or almond milk.
  • Mix together the turmeric, cayenne pepper, finely chopped ginger root, and the honey.
  • Add a small amount of the warmed milk and stir it into the mixture.
  • Mix well until all of the lumps have disappeared.
  • Add the rest of the milk and mix.
  • Strain and then serve.

Sweet Turmeric Black Pepper Tea Recipe

 Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric
  • Lemon
  • Freshly ground black pepper

How To Make the Tea

  • Mash the turmeric and honey into a paste (you can then store this in a jar to ensure you have it on hand whenever the need arises).
  • For each cup of sweet turmeric black pepper tea, take a heaped teaspoon of the turmeric and honey paste.
  • Top with boiling water.
  • Add a squeeze of lemon and a few generous twists of freshly ground black pepper.
  • Stir and enjoy!

Turmeric Lemon Tea Recipe

 Turmeric lemon tea combines the sweet, tangy flavours of lemon and ginger, with a gentle kick from the cayenne pepper.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 tablespoon turmeric
  • Cayenne
  • Honey to taste

How To Make the Tea

  • In a mug, mix together the lemon juice, turmeric, ginger and cayenne.
  • Top with boiling water.
  • Stir well.
  • Add honey to sweeten to your personal taste.

Additional Serving Suggestions

There are numerous ways to serve your turmeric tea, here are a few of our favourites…

  • Add a slice of orange, a dash of honey, the juice of 1 lemon, and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil.
  • Turmeric also works perfectly with a slice of apple or cucumber.
  • If you want a milder taste why not add extra water.
  • Serve chilled in the summer for a refreshing and healthy drink.

Now that you have some turmeric tea recipes to try, let’s find out a bit more about turmeric itself and the many health benefits of turmeric.

What Is Turmeric?

For centuries, turmeric has been widely used as a spice, medicine, food, and colouring agent across large parts of Asia. In India, it has been considered holy and auspicious for hundreds of thousands of years, not only due to its eye-catching colour and unique flavor but also because of the extensive range of health benefits that are associated with it. In fact, it is often referred to as the ‘Queen of Spices’!

Recent research has seen it promoted in the eyes of western science and it has been deemed as highly effective for treating osteoarthritis and various other health issues such as Crohn’s disease, stomach ulcers, skin wounds, kidney inflammation, and many, many more. It is also full of plenty of healthy nutrients such as protein, dietary fibre, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc.

A member of the ginger family, turmeric is a root that usually comes in a powdered form, although it is also available in capsules, tincture, fluid extracts, and tea.

turmeric rootTurmeric Root

Turmeric is used in many recipes, especially in curries and other Asian dishes but it’s earthy, spicy, and often bitter taste can be an acquired taste for some (although once they’ve acquired the taste, many people become addicted!). Additionally, turmeric can be consumed as a super healthy, anti-inflammatory drink – turmeric tea!

Turmeric Benefits

Turmeric health benefits

 

Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a potent antioxidant with many health benefits, most notably its anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric and tea made from turmeric are renowned for the multiple health benefits it offers, particularly when it comes to inflammation and many people use turmeric for inflammation related pain relief – helping to treat health issues such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. It can also help patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and high cholesterol, to name but a few.

Turmeric can also help to prevent the blood from clotting and reduces the often-painful inflammation caused by wounds, acne, and various other skin conditions. In fact as research progresses, more and more turmeric health benefits are being discovered.

Anti-inflammatory

When it comes to pain relief, so many people across the globe call upon anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin, to relieve the symptoms of everything from headaches, backaches, and other muscular aches and pains. Whilst these medicines are really effective at relieving the pain and inflammation caused by a whole range of conditions, they can cause many adverse side effects, especially with long-term use.

In fact, the side effects of the long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs include, but are by no means limited to, nausea, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension (high blood pressure), increased risk of heart attack, increased risk of kidney cancer, and erectile dysfunction.

But the truth is, natural home remedies such as turmeric (anti-inflammatory tea) for pain relief can often deliver the same effects as these medications, without many of the potential side effects.

Turmeric-powderTurmeric powder used for the tea

So, how does Turmeric help with inflammation?

Well, in exactly the same way as anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. These drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme, COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase 2), which causes inflamed areas of the body to become painful and more inflamed. By blocking this enzyme, the medication blocks the pain and reduces the inflammation.

Turmeric works so well because it contains high levels of a compound called curcumin, which is a COX-2 inhibitor too. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant with many health benefits, most notably its anti-inflammatory properties. However, whilst turmeric has the same positive effects as anti-inflammatory drugs, it rarely causes side effects. After all, it has been eaten and drunk across most of Southeast Asia for thousands of years without causing any problems. These anti-inflammatory properties are also at least partly responsible for all the other turmeric health benefits listed below.

Liver cleansing

As well as being a great anti-inflammatory, another turmeric health benefit is that it is also a powerful liver cleansing spice. In today’s toxin and chemical-filled world, it’s easy for your liver to become stressed and overworked. Think about it, there are toxins all around us, in our air, our food, and our water. If your liver can’t keep up with the level of toxins feeding into it, they start to accumulate in the body and can have a serious effect on your health.

As well as avoiding processed foods and using lots of natural personal care and cleaning products, you can also help your liver out by incorporating herbs and spices into your diet to support your body’s detox pathways. As well as being a great anti-inflammatory, turmeric is also a powerful liver cleansing spice. So, if you’re looking to give your liver a boost, then a daily cup of this anti-inflammatory tea could offer the perfect solution.

Prevents Cancer

It is believed that turmeric can help to prevent prostate cancer, slow or even stop the growth of existing prostate cancer, and even destroy cancer cells. Research has also shown that the active components in turmeric make it one of the best protectors against radiation-induced tumours, and it also has a preventive effect against

Relieves Arthritis

Turmeric has also been linked to arthritis, providing an effective form of pain relief to those who suffer from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as many other forms of the disease. This is because the anti-inflammatory properties that can be found in turmeric work to destroy the free radicals in the body that are renowned for damaging body cells. In fact, case studies have proven that those suffering from arthritis who consume turmeric on a daily or regular basis, experienced far more relief from symptoms such as joint pain and inflammation, compared to those who didn’t consume turmeric. Given the benefits of turmeric for those with arthritis, it is definitely worth trying turmeric tea for a week or two to see if symptoms improve.

Controls Diabetes

Turmeric is also regularly used to treat diabetes. It works by helping to moderate and control insulin levels in the body. But not only does it assist in the moderation of insulin levels, it is also renowned for improving glucose control, whilst increasing the effect of the medications that are used to treat diabetes.

Another significant benefit of turmeric in treating diabetes is that it is able to reduce insulin resistance in the body, and it’s also been suggested that it could even prevent the onset of Type-2 diabetes! It’s important to note though that, if combined with other strong medications, turmeric can cause low blood sugar, so it’s always best to check with your doctor before using it alongside any other medications.

Reduces Cholesterol Levels

It’s highly likely that, at some point in your lifetime, you will suffer from high cholesterol, especially as you grow older. However, research has proven that, by regularly using turmeric as a food seasoning, it can significantly decrease cholesterol levels. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level is paramount, as it is a well-known fact that high cholesterol notoriously leads to a whole host of serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke. If you have high cholesterol, it may be time to start seasoning your food with turmeric, or drinking some turmeric tea, especially given all the other turmeric health benefits list here.

Immunity Booster

Also known as lipopolysaccharide, turmeric can help to stimulate and strengthen your body’s immune system. This is because it is full of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents that work together to fight against colds, flu and coughs, ensuring that your immune system is healthy and strong.

If you do find yourself suffering from cold or flu-like symptoms, try one of the turmeric tea recipes above, or simply mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder into a glass of warm milk, and drink daily until you feel better.

Heals Wounds

It’s inevitable that, from time to time, we all find ourselves nursing a cut or graze caused by a silly accident. However, even the smallest cuts or grazes can cause infection or take a long time to heal.

Both a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, turmeric can also be used as a highly effective disinfectant, protecting your skin or graze against infection whilst speeding up the healing process. All you need to do is sprinkle a small amount of turmeric powder onto the affected areas and you will instantly be protected. But that’s not all, turmeric can also be used to help to repair damaged skin, treat burns and even be used to effectively treat psoriasis along with a whole host of other common inflammatory skin conditions. See also: How To Stop Bleeding With Black Pepper.

(Turmeric tea image credit: Jules)

Emergency Car Kit: 17 Items To Have In Your Car This Winter

Emergency car kit for the winter

There’s not a single person who foresees themselves needing a car emergency kit; however, should the unfortunate occur, these kits can mean the difference between surviving harsh winter nights or succumbing to the icy touch of Father Winter. While there are many items you should have in your emergency car kit, the following 15 items are essential when traversing the roadways during winter months.

Item #1 ­ Flannel or Fleece Blanket

Should you become stranded in your vehicle, a fleece or flannel blanket is essential to keep your body temperature in the acceptable range. While any type of blanket will do, flannel or fleece blankets are designed to trap heat better than cotton or polyester blankets.

Item #2 ­ Water

Make sure you have at least four litres of water stored in your vehicle, ideally it should be in several smaller bottles, so if one leaks, you haven’t lost all your water in one go. Water is a vital item for your emergency car kit, whatever the time of year.

Item #3 ­ Hand Warmers

Hand warmers are essential as they not only keep your hands warm, but you may place them inside your clothing to maintain ideal body core temperatures.

Item #4 ­ Matches and a Butane Lighter

Should you be trapped for an extended period of time, it may be necessary to manufacture heat outside of blankets and hand warmers. Matches and wind ­resistant butane lighters provide instant access to starting a heat­ generating fire.

Item #5 ­ Fire Starters

If you’re stuck in snow or wet conditions, finding acceptable wood or other fire starters can be difficult, if not impossible. Gather at least 10 old newspapers or several fire starting logs to help start a fire when stranded.

Item #6 ­ Portable, High ­Protein Food Source

Every vehicle emergency kit should contain at least 10 protein bars to keep energy levels high should you need to vacate your vehicle and traverse to shelter.

Item #7 ­ Foghorn

While every kit should contain a whistle, foghorns provide a much louder noise capable of being heard miles away. This item could mean the difference between being heard, and subsequently rescued, or being left among the frozen vegetation.

Item #8 ­ Neon Orange Flags

Should your vehicle slide off into a ditch where other travellers are unable to see, neon orange flags provide the ideal contrast to the white snow. The most important element when stranded is becoming as visible as possible by both land and air rescuers.

Item #9 ­ Pepper Spray or Taser

Unfortunately, we live in a dangerous world. Whether another human wishes to take advantage of your vulnerable state or a wild animal desires to investigate the warm creatures in the metal box, defence items, such as pepper spray or a Taser, could mean the difference between staying safe or being placed in harm’s way.

Item #10 ­ LED Lantern and Flashlights

While a flashlight is a necessity for any emergency kit, an LED lantern provides far more illumination, which may be required when walking around at night or investigating the condition of your car in low ­light situations.

Item #11 ­ Waterproof Jacket & Footwear

Should you need to vacate the vehicle to seek assistance or other shelter, waterproof clothing and  footwear are essential to keep you warm and dry whilst outside.

Item #12 ­ Bag of Sand

A bag of sand is necessary to create traction to help navigate a vehicle out of an ice and snow covered ditch. Moreover, if you must walk down steep slopes, throwing sand in front of your path reduces the likelihood of slips and falls.

Item #13 ­ Portable Shovel

Shovels are essential for any winter vehicle emergency kit as it assists in digging your car out of snow or creating pathways should you need to navigate through deep snow.

Item #14 ­ Extra Clothing

Prepare for the worst by keeping three pairs of thick socks, several scarves and a few pairs of pants in your emergency kit. Should your clothing become wet, it’s essential to
replace with dry clothes to prevent hypothermia, or worse.

Item #15 ­ A Good Book

While an emergency kit is designed to keep your body safe, a book can help preoccupy your mind should you be stranded for long durations. Avoid digital book readers as they’re only useful when powered.

Item #16 ­ A Small First Aid Kit

For obvious reasons!

Item #17 ­ A Good Quality Multi-Tool

A good quality multi-tool such as a Leatherman Sidekick is worth it’s weight in gold. It is useful for a whole range of things from repairing your vehicle, first aid, rescue and survival. Everyone should have one in their car.

Your Phone’s Camera Might Be Revealing Your Location(s) & Routines

Android & iPhone cameras revealing photo locations in EXIF metadata stored in photos

The cameras on our iPhones and Android smartphones are amazing. I use mine for everything from snapping quick photos whilst out and about, to precious family moments, through to snapping business cards, flyers, and device instructions etc.

In short, the cameras on our smartphones makes life easier and better. That said, there is a fairly major issue that not many smartphone users are aware of when they are happily snapping away and sharing photos here, there and everywhere.

Your iPhone Or Android Camera Could Be Violating Your Privacy & Security

Did you know that every Android and IOS phone geo-tags and shares location, and time/date information for each and every photo? This location information is stored in each photo’s EXIF metadata, stored within the photo itself.

This feature is TURNED ON BY DEFAULT. If you have never specifically turned it off, it is on.

I see this as a huge issue as most people are unaware that the location and time and date of their photos is included in the EXIF metadata on each and every photo they take.

Not only is this information stored in the EXIF data within the photo, but it is also incredibly easy to view.

  • On a desktop, simply ‘right click’ and view the photo’s ‘properties’ on a desktop.
  • On Android, you simply view the photo and click on the ‘menu’ and choose ‘Info’.
  • On the iPhone, you simply view the photo and click on the ‘Details’ button.

Surely, this location sharing feature should be OFF by default? AT least then, if you turn it on, you know it’s on.

I See Two Reasons This Is Problematic

Sharing Photos On Social Media

Firstly, when you share photos online, on social media or online photo albums, every photo shared is providing the date it was taken together with the specific location it was taken from.

Sure… You might think your Facebook and Instagram security settings are dialled in (are they though?), but what about when friends, families and followers share your photos. Who else is seeing them?

For Example

Example of an android camera giving away location of photo in EXIF metadata
Just chilling at home with Barney!

You’ve just posted a cute photo of your dog sleeping. You add some text -‘ just chilling at home with Barney’. Boom! You’ve potentially just given away your location AND mentioned it’s your home as well. Now friends of friends or followers (or who knows who) can see where you live.

Similar scenarios can be imagined for other locations such as your parent’s home, your place of work, your favourite family leisure/vacation places or even some secret spots, that you didn’t realise you were giving away the location of.

Not only do these photos potentially show people where you are, or where you have been; they can also tell people where you are not… If you share photos when you are away from home, people can check the EXIF data on the photo and they can see where you are specifically, and then know, for example, you are not at home at present…

With all these photos including the time/date and location, a quick scroll through your social media someone can begin to uncover your routines. Criminals must be using social media and utilizing the EXIF time/date and location data from photos to determine where people live/work and when they are not at home.

The Apps That Have Access To Your Phone’s Camera

Secondly, lots of phone apps require and are granted access to use your phone’s camera. Did you really read their terms & conditions? Do you know what they might be doing with this data, or who they might be sharing it with?

To highlight this issue, programmer, Felix Krause, created a simple ‘proof of concept’ app to demonstrate the access and information these apps are given by your Android or iPhone camera. It can literally be years worth of time, dates and locations where you have taken photos.

The Good News Is – You Can STOP this in about 20 Seconds

Turn Geotagging off on Android phones

Depending on the age and model Android phone, try these options:

Open the Camera app. Tap – the Menu button and choose – Settings. Disable the – Save location option here.

Alternatively, open the Camera app. Tap – the Menu button and scroll down until you see the setting call Geo Tag or Tag Locations (or similar) and disable it.

Some Android phones might be slightly different, but if you dig around you should find the setting.

Turn Locations Services off on iPhones

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. Choose Camera and now choose – Never, to turn off location tagging.

If you want to make sure you have disabled geo-tagging/location sharing, take a new photo and then check the EXIF data.

To do this:

On a desktop – simply ‘right click’ and viewing the photos ‘properties’ on a desktop.

On Android – you simply view the photo and click on the ‘menu’ and choose ‘Info’.

On an iPhone – you simply view the photo and click on the ‘Details’ button.

Sorted! Your phone camera will now continue to document the highlights of your life without revealing where and when they happened.

How To Perform CPR & ‘Hands-Only’ CPR (Infographic)

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) saves lives. If someone experiences a cardiac arrest or is not breathing, performing CPR until medical help arrives can dramatically improve their chances of survival.

If you have not attended a first aid or CPR course, and you have no intention of doing so, at the very least save and study the two CPR infographics below. Better yet, print them out and place them on your refrigerator so the whole family will have a basic knowledge of what to do in event of cardiac arrest or a breathing emergency.

The CPR infographics below provide basic, step-by-step instructions on how to perform CPR. The first infographic covers CPR for an adult. The second infographic covers ‘hands-only’ CPR for an adult. CPR for children is broadly the same, but check out the Red Cross advice on giving CPR to children and infants for key differences.

How To Perform CPR On An ADULT


How to Perform Adult CPR - CPRCertified.com - Infographic
How To Perform ‘Hands-Only’ CPR On An ADULT


How to Perform Hands Only CPR - CPRCertified.com - Infographic

Everyone should know how to perform basic CPR. People experience breathing emergencies and cardiac arrest in every situation imaginable. For more information on CPR, CPR courses and certification check out the Red Cross’s information and advice pages.

How To Build A DIY Generator From A Lawnmower (UPDATED)

DIY lawn mower generator

So you know getting a backup generator is a great idea, but you just can’t afford to purchase one? Well, could you afford $50 give or take, for a small backup generator?

If you search around at yard sales or your local junkyard or landfill you should be able to pick up most of the bits required to build this DIY lawnmower generator.   There are a few extras you’ll likely need to purchase, but you could bring this in for around $50.

I have listed several different tutorials below that show how simple and affordable it is to build a basic generator out of an old lawnmower engine.

Below is a great video showing how to build a lawnmower generator.

This is a really interesting and entertaining video tutorial. I think a lot of the build is overkill, but it does give you an idea of what can easily be accomplished with some cheap/free scrap parts and a little DIY skill. I particularly like the fact the generator was built onto the frame of the lawnmower, rather than removing the lawnmower engine and mounting it on another base.

Here is a different, written tutorial for DIY generator built from a lawnmower. As with all these lawnmower generators, it isn’t going to power your whole house, it won’t run your AC, heating or large kitchen appliances; it will, however, keep the lights on and power smaller electronics etc.

Additionally, here are links to two further written tutorials for building lawnmower generators for you to check out lawnmower generator tutorial from doityourself.com & and lawnmower generator tutorial from theepiccenter.com

 (Image used from Oliver Motorized)

How To Make Mountain Pies: Perfect For Campfires & Backyard Firepits!

How to make mountain pies

If you don’t know what a mountain pie is, it is basically a grilled sandwich that is cooked on a campfire, in a small device called a mountain pie maker. Mountain pies are also sometimes known as ‘hobo pies’.

A mountain pie maker is like a small cast iron skillet with a lid and a long handle. Mountain pie makers can be purchased for between $15 and $50. The one we use and highly recommend is the Rome 1705 cast iron mountain pie maker. It can be purchased from Amazon for around $20. If you purchase one, I can all but guarantee you that it will become one of your favourite things ever. In fact, you’ll probably go on to buy several… We did.

mountain pie maker
Rome 1705 cast iron mountain pie maker

How To Make Mountain Pies

You prepare your mountain pie, the same as if you were using a grilled sandwich (toastie) maker at home. We like to butter the outside of the bread (so it crisps and doesn’t stick) and then add our fillings in the sandwich. Our favourites are cheese, cheese and onion, and cheese and ham.

Once assembled, place your sandwich in the mountain pie maker, close it, and hold it in the campfire to cook (think roasting marshmallows but bigger). Cooking time can vary depending on the size and heat of the campfire so check often until your sandwich is cooked to your preference. Once you have made a few mountain pies you will get the hang of it.

When ready, very carefully remove your sandwich from the mountain pie maker. Please be very careful when doing this as the cast iron mountain pie maker is obviously extremely hot.

Now enjoy! Mountain pies are truly one of the most delicious and satisfying things you can cook outdoors on a campfire or firepit. We make them on the firepit in the back yard all the time. The kids absolutely love making them.

If you are considering getting a mountain pie maker, we have several of the Rome 1705 mountain pie makers and we can highly recommend them.

 

Home Remedy For Earwax & Ear Infections

Earache home remedy

This home remedy is actually better than some of the over-the-counter solutions you can purchase from the pharmacy; most of the drops for swimmer’s ear (mild infection) contain just isopropyl alcohol to dry and wash out the ear, but the home remedy below contains rubbing alcohol and white vinegar.

The rubbing alcohol and white vinegar combination in this home remedy work together to break down earwax, dry the ear, fight infection and soothe the pain. The addition of white vinegar makes this home remedy way more effective, as white vinegar is an antimicrobial, or antibiotic and it fights infection, that otherwise might require a prescription antibiotic.

For anything other than a mild to moderate ear infection/trapped water/wax build-up, go see your doctor first for a proper diagnosis, as you may require different treatment or stronger prescription antibiotics.

Making And Using This Home Remedy

You will need – some rubbing alcohol, white vinegar and teaspoon.

It couldn’t be easier to make – mix 1 part white vinegar to 1 part rubbing alcohol.

To use – take one teaspoon (5 millilitres) of the mixture, tilt your head to one side and pour the mixture into your ear. Leave your head tilted for 30-60 seconds and then sit upright and allow the mixture to run out of your ear. Do this twice a day to treat an ear infection and clear out earwax and trapped water.

Note – If you see no signs of improvement after 3 days, I recommend you go see your doctor. Also, this remedy is not recommended for perforated eardrums. If you have perforated your eardrum, there is nothing much that can be done other than to take pain-relief. I know this as I perforated my eardrum last year, it was very painful and took three months to heal.

I am not a doctor or medical expert – I have simply researched this very popular home remedy recipe online to a level that satisfies my own needs. As with all home remedies we post about, I recommend you do further research to be sure you are happy and satisfied before trying the home remedy.