Monday, July 19, 2010

Pearly Whites

Awesome, Ive done it! I don't know if it's the pregnancy or not, but I couldn't work out for the life of me how to write a new post! Finally figured it out...

Anyway - I am pleased to announce that I have faced one of my fears and MADE my own toothpaste! AND it's nowhere as disgusting as I thought it would be :)

Will post the recipe and some pictures in the next few days. If you're serious about budgeting, you will love this one...works out to be about .6c a week, or around 30c a month for toothpaste. Take that Macleans!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Out Damn Spot, OUT!!

Last month I discovered our new buggy (if you count a purchase from Trade Me as being new!) had been attacked by mould as a result of living in our damp, leaky garage for 6 months.

I figured that, if it was deemed to be unsafe to load the new born babys' pram with soft toys, should they fall on her face and block her airways, then it probably wasn't the safest thing to allow other 'friends' into the pram either - friends such as tiny microbial infestations aka MOULD. Babies airways, lungs and immune systems are still very immature and don't cope well with having to breath in dangerous mouldy spores.......
With my new budget in mind, and being mindful of the fact I wanted to remove the mould with a safe product for bubs, I did a quick internet search and came up with the following quotes for mould removal:

Wet and Forget 1L - $25.00
- CAUTION always use protective equipment including mask
Exit Mould 1L - $19-25.00 - CAUTION always use protective equipment including mask
Vinegar and Water 1L - .70c

Good old vinegar and water.

.70cents

Made sense to me!

Here is a sample of the said mould......Buggy disassembled, sprayed with vinegar and water mould removal and hung in sun to dry...



and here is the mouldiest part of the buggy, 1 month later....


Not a spec of mould in site, and no signs that it plans on returning!!

I would caution that it's advisable that you still use gloves and a mask if you wish, and do this in a well ventilated area. This has nothing to do with the vinegar and more to do with the risk of breathing in the spores - especially if you are pregnant, experience respiratory illnesses or have an impaired immune function.

Unfortunately, mould can be a part of our daily lives, especially for those damp New Zealand homes. But save yourself $$$ as well as nasty chemicals by using good old fashioned white vinegar and water!!