"The Natural Solution" - All Natural Hot Tub or Spa Treatment That Really Works

We own a hot tub or "spa" where we live. We love using it - but it has been problematic for us to try and find an all natural sanitizer system that is easy to use and keeps the water clean and clear.

• I don't want to have chemicals in my hot tub because human skin will absorb anything placed on it directly into the bloodstream.


• What I do want is to have something safe and natural  to relax in for hours, that does NOT contain chemicals.

I have tried out many natural and chemical sanitizers throughout the 12 years we have owned our hot tub, and the best solution so far is "The Natural Solution" for hot tubs. It is really easy to use, there is no chemical smell, and it is economical to boot!  No more rashes and chemical smells on my skin either! And this product has been on the market for 30 years as well!

                        The Natural Solution 3 Month Hot Tub Water Treatment

What is "The Natural Solution" for hot tubs?

How Does Anti-bacterial Soap Create Bacteria That Are Resistant ToAntibiotics?

Using anti-bacterial soaps - including liquid soaps - contributes to creating bacteria that are resistant to anti-biotics. I have heard this many years ago, and have stopped using the antibacterial soaps altogether.

How does using antibacterial soaps create germs that are resistant to antibiotics?

I just found out the answer. I read the article "The Soaps You Should Never Use - But 75% of Households Do" by Mercola.com that has the information.

1. When you wash your hands with the antibacterial soap, the antibacterial agent (usually Triclosan) goes down the drain - however the Triclosan is not strong enough to kill all the bacteria living in your drain - so the weak ones die and the stronger ones live on and become more resistant.


2. The bacteria that survives  goes into the water system, and therefore can contaminate waterways and wildlife! The bacteria that survives include strains that are resistant to antibiotics used in hospitals.  See article "Scientists Discover that Antimicrobial Wipes and Soaps may be making You and Society Sick" by Scientific American.


3. The antimicrobial Triclosan goes into the water system as well, and will also contaminate our waterways and wildlife! Triclosan has been accumulating in wildlife, such as dolphins and may disrupt their growth and development.  See article "Are Germ Killing Soaps Affecting Dolphin Development?" by Scientific American.

liquid soap

What Can We Do?

Non antibacterial regular soap and water will kill germs well enough, so that is what I use. I do also use a liquid soap that does not contain any anti-microbials - the one I usually get just says Milk and Honey.

Tea Tree Essential Oil to Kill Mold and Mildew

Well, seeing I did some research on using chlorine bleach (see my article Chlorine Bleach) I wanted to find out if there are safer all-natural alternatives  for killing mold.  One method I did find is using  Tea Tree essential oil.  Tea Tree oil reputedly kills all types of molds.  So I figured I would give it a try.

Tea Tree Oil to kill mold and mildew

tea tree oil

How to Use:

Safety Tips for using Chlorine Bleach Around the House and How to LimitExposure to Toxic Chlorine Byproducts

Chlorine bleach has a very bad reputation as hazardous to our health. I still use chlorine bleach around the house sometimes, so I wanted to sort out all the information out there and get the real scoop on the product. Is it bad to use around the house? How is it harmful? What safety measures or precautions do I need to take?

Does Chlorine Bleach Contain Dioxins?

• When the paper industry mixes cellulose fibers with chlorine bleach, dioxins are produced which are some of the most toxic cancer causing chemicals known.  This process also generates organochlorines which enter our bodies and behave like our hormones do - which stay in the body and cause cancers - see  Organochlorines at LeafLady.org .


• Dioxins are not created when using chlorine bleach around the house.

What Are the Precautions to Using Chlorine Bleach Around the House?

• Fumes: watch out for fumes - they can cause irritation and damage to the lungs. The fumes are also one way that organochlorines enter our body. So wear a face mask!


• Corrosive action: don't let it get on your skin - it has a corrosive power that is caustic to your skin and another way organochlorines enter our body.


• Watch out for combining it with any other cleaners - they can contain ammonia or vinegar.  A combination of chlorine with ammonia or chlorine with vinegar will cause a toxic gas to form - either gas is very bad to breathe and can damage the lungs!!

Are there Hidden Sources of Toxins from Chlorine Around the House?

Products that we purchase that have been bleached can be a danger to us as well. That is because bleached paper and cotton products that touch our skin can introduce dioxins and organochlorines into our body.

So it is best to avoid purchasing bleached products such as:

• paper plates


• toilet paper


• facial tissues


• paper towels


• tampons

Also, plastic marked recyclable with a "3" is made from PVC or polyvinylchloride - which can leak these organochlorines into whatever is contained in it.

What About Chlorinated Water that We Drink and Wash With?

Many people drink a public water supply that is chlorinated. The chlorine that is added transforms into another bad toxin called trihalomethanes or THM. THM's are bad for our health and have been linked to asthma, heart disease and some cancers. See more info at ecowe.blogspot.com "The Pros and Cons of Chlorine"

Water containing chlorine that is heated can release the toxins into the air.
So beware of:

• showering


• boiling water


• hot steam from the dishwasher

So, How do I Avoid Exposure to Toxins from Chlorine?

• buy paper products that have not been bleached


• buy a water filter for your drinking and cooking water (or a whole house water filteration system would be the ideal)


• or let water sit on your counter for 1/2 hour and the chlorine will dissapate (but it will dissapate into the air that we breathe)


• put a water filter on your shower head


• do not use plastics marked recycle #3 for eating or drinking or cooking in the microwave


• buy cleaning products that do not have chlorine in them (watch out for automatic dishwashing products, tile and counter cleaners, etc)

What do "I" Use Chlorine For?

I know about the dangers of chlorine, but it sure does help me around the house with some of my chores! Because we live in the southern USA, there is a lot of rain and heat and that produces mold and mildew.  One of the things that does seem to clean mold and mildew well is chlorine bleach! I have tried vinegar to remove mold but even after scrubbing profusely, it still will not be completely gone - and that allows it come back to full dirty bloom in a shorter amount of time than when I use chlorine bleach.

We use it to clean outdoors where mold grows like:

• the patio


• the roof


• the outdoor shower


• the hot tub cover

How to Use Chlorine Bleach

bleach, latex gloves, face mask

• wear latex gloves


• use a face mask - Otherwise, the mold and the bleach will make me feel sick and tired and give me headaches. And I don't want to breath it either.  Especially in a closed area - very bad for the lungs!!


• wear old clothes


• Apply the bleach to the areas that need cleaning


• Use a scrub brush to brush the area - this helps clean it faster. And it gets the chlorine into the small cracks - which will prevent it from coming back a little bit longer than if you did not scrub it.

For additional information, see Facts About Chlorine at Body Fueling.com

Alternatives to Bleach for Killing Mold

I did read that there are alternatives to using Chlorine bleach for killing mold.  One is using  Tea Tree Essential Oil.

Tea tree oil reputedly kills all types of molds.  So I figured I would give it a try. (See my article coming soon.)

Disclaimer: I do not provide medical advise or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA. Consult your doctor before following anything you have read on this website.See my full medical disclaimer under Terms of Use.

How to Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap

foaming hand soap

　

Here is a simple way to make your own hand soap and save money, too. (It's a very frugal thing to do.) In a nutshell, all you have to do is just add water to regular liquid hand soap. This works because foaming hand soap is essentially a very watered down liquid soap.

You will need:

Cookware Varieties and Safety Issues

When it comes to cooking, who ever thought that there would be so many decisions to make on what type of cookware to use!  There are many varieties available to choose from.   There are different sizes and shapes, different non-stick capabilities, some have better heat distribution than others, and other characteristics as well.  But, did you know that many pans can leach potentially dangerous contaminants into our food?   So safety is something that we should be aware of when choosing cookware.   In this article, I've listed some of the things that you should keep in mind before purchasing new pans.      

Here are the choices available:    

1) Teflon coated pans :  These pans are coated with a non-stick "Teflon" coating.     

Using Natural Products to Clean Your Home

The best products for house cleaning are found right in your own kitchen pantry.  So you can start saving a substantial amount of money while saving the environment as well.

Baking soda and white vinegar

White vinegar is a great cleaner and it has great antibacterial properties.   Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen references numerous studies to show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar—the kind you can buy in the supermarket—kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). He noted that Heinz can’t claim on their packaging that vinegar is a disinfectant since the company has not registered it as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Baking Soda is a great cleaner because it has scrubbing power without scratching surfaces, and it can deodorize and has antiseptic and disinfectant properties.