FitSugar

Clean Your Cans

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:25:00 -0800

Before opening canned beans, meats, fruits, or veggies have you ever thought about the top of the can? Just close your eyes and try to picture the life of the can in your hand. It went from factory to truck to store, and was probably touched by at least 3 different people before making it to the shelf. I don't even want to think about how many customers picked up that same can too. Maybe the can dropped on the floor and a kid picked his nose and then put it back on the shelf.

As if that isn't gross enough, who knows how long that can has been sitting there, just collecting dust and germs. And when you go to open the can, the top always slides into the food, so all that nasty junk becomes part of your dinner.

Here's an idea. Always wash and wipe off the top of your can before you open it. You'll have piece of mind knowing you got rid of all the dirt, and your food will be spared bits of dust and bacteria.

The same goes for soda cans and pet food. They can get just as grimy.

Jo-Sha Wipes for Your Yoga Mat

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:30:00 -0800

Those yoga mats can get pretty nasty after a bit of upward and downward dogging on them so it's a good idea to clean up your mat every once and a while, many people recommend using an alcohol wipe.

Problem is, nothing ruins a good om like the lingering smell of alcohol. You should definitely try Jo-Sha Wipes ($14.95 for a pack of 20), which naturally cleanse and disinfect while the aromatherapy soothes the senses. The wipes do not contain alcohol or other harsh chemicals. But how does it clean? Well the pure essential oils they use are naturally anti-bacterial, naturally anti-septic, and naturally astringent. Besides being gentle and natural, the essential oil formulation makes Jo-Sha Wipes smell very, very good. They are even gentle enough to use on your hands if you want!

Wiping oil all over your mat sound like a slippery situation? Essential oils are much different in texture from say, Olive oil. In fact, the moisture from the wipes will dry very quickly and evaporate completely, leaving the surface of your mat intact. Buy them online at JoShaWipes.com.

Kitchen Cleanliness: Disinfect Your Cutting Boards

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:30:00 -0800

I think we need to talk about the germ-infested cutting boards in your kitchen. All those cracks and crevices are housing millions of bacteria that could make you very sick.

Glass cutting boards are the most sanitary because they're the easiest to keep clean. You can even pop them in the dishwasher which is good news when it comes to ditching germs. Too bad they ruin your knife edges and make you crazy with their annoyingly loud chopping sound.

Wooden boards are easy on your knife and your ears, but tend to crack and get deep grooves so they are impossible to clean thoroughly.

You can always spring for bamboo cutting boards, which my friend YumSugar highly recommends since they're stronger than regular wood, but more expensive. Let Rachael Ray show you how to get stains off those boards using salt.

Whatever material you choose to chop on, they should be immediately washed after each use in hot soapy water and disinfect often. Want to know how? Then read more

About once a week (or more often if you get really grossed out), dilute 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 quart water.

You can also use a vinegar solution - mix 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water.

Flood the surface with whichever solution you choose for several minutes.

Rinse with water and allow to dry completely.

And another thing - If a cutting board becomes deeply carved or scratched up - replace it.

Tongue Scraper

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 02:01:02 -0800

Twice a day we brush, floss and use mouthwash so our mouths feel minty fresh and clean.

Brushing and flossing our teeth gets rid of all the extra food and sugar and junk that gets left in our mouths after eating. Leaving it in our mouths would cause cavities, which we know we don't want - that's why we brush in the first place.

But what about our tongues? Don't forget to brush that too. If you find that brushing it doesn't quite get the job done, try using a tongue scraper.

Just hold on to the two ends with your hands. Place the curved metal part as far back as you can (you don't want to make yourself gag), and gently press the metal into your tongue as you slide it forward towards the tip.

You'll be amazed at what you find scrapes off. Rinse your tongue and the scraper too. Repeat a couple more times if you feel the need.

If you didn't get one from Santa, fear not since tongue scrapers are not only easy to use, but cheap too - $6 or less. They come in all shapes and colors. Want to see the variety? Then read more

What's the Deal With: Traveling With Liquids

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 02:00:00 -0800

If you're planning on flying somewhere this Thanksgiving, don't let all the Transportation Security Agency's strict rules make you crazy. Here's the basic gist:

On September 26th, the ban on liquids, gels, and aerosols was changed. Now you can carry on your toiletries, packed in a quart-size Ziploc baggie, one bag per person.
Each individual item has to be less than 3 oz, and fit easily in the closed bag.
Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed.
If you have too many toiletries to fit in the small baggie, you're going to have to check it in your suitcase (bummer).
Of course, if you have a medical condition or a baby, there are no limits on amounts of liquids or prescription drugs for you. Just make sure you speak with the security people about it.
You're only allowed to bring beverages purchased near your gate after you pass through security.

Fit's Tips: People = Germs. It's an unfortunate truth. Get yourself a travel size hand sanitizer and keep it in your purse to de-germ at every possible moment - just make sure it's 3 oz or less.

Get Physical: Deep Clean Your Home

FitSugar — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:30:00 -0800

Deep cleaning is not just for Spring. I also like to scrub my house down before Winter sets in. It is inevitable that you’re going to be spending more time inside, and it's nice to hang out in a clean house. It is great idea to get the dust out from those hidden spots you rarely sweep or dust, as is scrubbing down the walls and windowsills to get rid of any mold that might be growing. Cleaning up those common allergens can help reduce allergy symptoms, which is always a good thing.

So rally your partner, your hubby, or your house-mate and clean up your living space. Make your home a place you want to hang out. Make you house cozy.

To see how many calories you can burn cleaning, just read more

Here is an estimate of the calories you will burn per 30 minutes of each activity, if you weigh 140 pounds.

Activity	Calories Burned
Sweeping the floors	79
Washing windows	149
Scrubbing counters	111
Light dusting	79
Picking up and putting away toys, etc.	95
Making the bed (this should not take you 30 minutes!)	63
Folding laundry	63

Fit’s Tips: If you are hosting the Thanksgiving Day meal, I recommend cleaning your home this weekend, so you can check it off your list and focus on the fun stuff like food shopping and cooking.

If you are looking for some ways to clean your house without using icky chemicals, then check out these ways to clean green.

Source

Add Your Desk to Your Spring Cleaning List

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0700

If Spring cleaning is in your future, and even if it's not, don't forget to add your desk to the list of things needing a cleaning. In fact, you should really clean your desk every single day. Why, you ask? Well experts claim that there are some 10 million bacteria under your hand when it's resting on your desk and desktop bacteria can stay alive for up to three days. Yuck.

So wipe your desk (mouse, keyboard, phone, etc.) down every day and also try to eliminate some of your germ attracting clutter (picture frames, stacks of paper, lotions, etc.), which is responsible for making women's desks germier than men's. The easiest ways to ward off germs from your workspace aside from decluttering and giving it a daily wipe down? Wash your hands throughout the day (especially after using the bathroom, sneezing and eating) and try to avoid eating at your desk if at all possible.

Fit's Tip: If you have a reusable water bottle that you keep on your desk, by sure to wash it daily as well, as germs love to live in moist places.

Source

Aroma Therapy + Cleaning = Mrs. Meyers Clean Day

FitSugar — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Life is about making messes and then cleaning them up. Often making the mess is more enjoyable than cleaning the mess, but I have found cleaning up with Mrs. Meyer's Aromatherapeutic Cleaning Products make that little competition a toss up.

These cleaning products are heavily scented with fragrances of either Lavender, Lemon Verbena or Geranium, but not cloyingly so. The aroma of the sprays, counter wipes and dish soaps is so pleasing, you find yourself going the extra mile with your cleaning, just to keep the aromatherapy going.

On the "green" tip these products pass the sniffy test too. They are made from naturally derived ingredients whenever possible, like corn, sugar cane, coconut and palm or safe synthetics when necessary. The packaging is recyclable and the products, often made in concentrated formulas that require smaller amounts clean effectively, are biodegradable too.

You can shop by fragrance on the Mrs. Meyer's website or use their store locator to find a store close to you if you prefer to sniff before you buy. The products are on the pricey side, a 16 ounce bottle of dish soap costs $4.99 - but for the calming pleasure they bring it is worth it.

Food Review: Clean Cravings Gluten-Free Crusts

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I experimented with a gluten-free diet in college for a variety of reasons. My strongest memory from that period of my life was missing pizza. Crust was a digestive curse. Now if Clean Cravings and its line of crusts had been around, things could have been much different. The brand has created a line of crusts made without wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, yeast, soy, corn, sugar, peanuts, or nightshade vegetables. For folks with food allergies, this is a blessing.

To see how Clean Craving mini crusts taste and their caloric content, read more.

	1 5-inch crust	1 5-inch crust (rosemary)
Calories	160	160
Total Fat (g)	1.5	1.5
Saturated Fat (g)	0	0
Cholesterol (mg)	3	2
Sodium (mg)	280	290
Carbs (g)	34	34
Fiber (g)	3	3
Protein (g)	2	2
Calcium (mg)	2 %	0 %
Iron (mg)	6 %	4 %

These crusts have a satisfyingly moist and chewy texture, and they're full of nutty flavor with subtle sweetness. Use them to make pizza, top them and serve as appetizers, make sandwiches, cut and toast them and serve with dip, or eat them on their own. As far as gluten-free foods go, I've tried my fair share, and these really do taste good. So far, my favorite way to eat them is to smear on a layer of pesto, sprinkle some mozzarella cheese, and add a slice of tomato. Pop it in the toaster and this savory snack tastes warm and chewy with a hint of crispiness. You can buy a three-pack of five-inch minis for $5.99, or a single 12-inch crust for $7.99 - definitely not cheap, but to avoid stomach cramps and still eat tasty foods, I'd say they're worth it.

Healthy To-Do: Burn Calories While Spring Cleaning

FitSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Spring has sprung, so now it's time for some Spring cleaning. Maybe dusting and organizing clutter is not the most exciting way to spend your weekend, but you'll feel so much better you'll feel when it is all done. Go ahead and clean out your closet, dust under your bed and on top of the fridge, vacuum your mattress to get rid of dust mites, and open up the windows to get some fresh air circulating. A huge plus is you'll also be burning some major calories too. To find out how many read more.

These calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.

Activity:	Calories burned per 30 minutes:
Mopping or sweeping the floor	85
Dusting	85
Gardening/weeding	140
Ironing	74
Doing laundry	73
Mowing the lawn	163
Mowing the lawn (push mower)	172
Raking the lawn	125
Rearranging furniture	101
Washing dishes	85
Washing the car	101
Washing windows	85
Cleaning out the garage	101

Source