Thailand Detox

Natural Methods to Control Fleas and Ticks

If you have pets, you have probably experienced a flea and tick problem at some point. Some animals get heavily infested with fleas and ticks but most have at least a bite or two in their lives. The most common products to control fleas and ticks are flea collars and other products that contain pesticides. The question is how safe are these for our animals?

The popular flea and tick treatments usually have an active ingredient called organophosphate, which attacks the flea’s and tick’s nervous systems. Carbamate is another chemical used to control fleas and ticks and it also affects the nervous system of the fleas and ticks. The problem with these products is they can be dangerous to our and our pets’ nervous system.

Often, people don’t take this into consideration when choosing a product to control fleas and ticks. They may believe that these products are the best and most effective treatments available. There are more natural options available to control fleas and ticks. Here are some ideas:

• Make vacuuming a priority all year round and even more so when fleas and ticks are most prevalent. You can remove a lot of fleas by vacuuming. It is important to use a clean bag on a regular basis, though.
• Make sure your pet gets baths on a regular basis with soap and water and use a flea treatment made from natural ingredients. One natural flea treatment you can make uses 2 pints of boiling water and 2 tablespoons of rosemary. After adding the rosemary, remove the mixture from the heat and leave for about 20 minutes to steep. When it is cool, strain the liquid and put in a spray bottle for easy application. Make sure your pet is not wet anymore before he goes out of the house.
• Keep your pet’s blanket and cushions clean so fleas and ticks can’t survive on them.
• Keep your grass short to deter fleas and ticks from moving into your yard.
• Keep mice out of your house because they can bring fleas and ticks with them. Things like wood piles near the house, leaf and brush piles and trash in open containers without a lid encourage the mice to move into your home.
• Comb your pet’s fur with a flea and tick comb on a regular basis to make sure you get any pests out before they can multiply. A lint roller can work if you are short on time.
• If there are fleas in your home, get a flea trap set up right away. This is usually a bulb to draw the fleas in and a paper that they get stuck to.
• Nematodes in the yard can be a good way to keep fleas and ticks out of the grassy areas.

No one likes fleas and ticks; they can be really bad for your pets. We need to be careful that we don’t do more harm to our best friend by trying to control fleas and ticks using products containing dangerous chemicals. It is better to prevent fleas and ticks from causing problems than to try control fleas and ticks after the fact.

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Dangerous Mercury and Lead in Electronics

There is so much new technology in our society that it is hard to keep track of and more are coming out every month. In the recent past, it was a big deal to have a color TV. Now the average home has several HDTVs, DVD players, computers and a few different gaming systems. Everyone wants to have the newest and most advanced technology so we end up disposing of our old electronics to make room for the new and improved ones.

It can be difficult to safely dispose of electronics. Usually people throw their old electronics in the trash can and they are taken to the landfill. This creates a dangerous situation. Electronics of all sizes are full of mercury and lead so putting them in the landfill can be dangerous to the environment.

Mercury is a very dangerous metal even in small doses. Exposure to large amounts can be fatal, and exposure to even small amounts of the chemical can lead to kidney damage, liver damage, immune system problems and damage to the nervous system. Pregnant women should never be exposed to mercury because it can harm the baby. There is mercury in many electronic parts including LCD displays, batteries, switches and circuit boards.

Lead, on the other hand, can cause problems with the development of a child’s brain. It is also linked to kidney damage, damage to the nervous system and reproductive problems. There is lead in most televisions and in many computer monitors. There can be up to 8 pounds of lead in a television or computer monitor. Circuit boards and batteries also contain lead but in smaller amounts.

How to Prevent Mercury and Lead from Getting Into Landfills

There is not likely going to be a decrease of electronics being thrown out for new, more advanced items anytime soon. That doesn’t mean we have to keep filling the landfills up with our old electronics. Many of the items otherwise thrown away can be reused or possibly recycled if they no longer work properly.

Instead of throwing out your old computer, you can simply upgrade your machine to include new technology. The problem is that not all computer manufacturers produce computers that are easily upgraded. Often, they make it hard to upgrade their machines so consumers will have to buy a new one. Consider this when you are thinking about getting a brand new computer and make sure your new machine is easily upgradable.

Your old electronics can be very useful at schools, churches and for the less fortunate. You can find many organizations and schools that are willing to take your old electronics to use in their facilities and you can get a tax write off for donating your old electronics. You are doing good for others and the environment because you are extending the life your electronics and keeping them out of landfills.

If you have electronics that are no longer any good, you should recycle them instead of throwing them in the trash. You may have to do a little searching to find a place that recycles electronics but it is worth it to protect the environment. Another option may be to return the equipment to the manufacturer if you were able to lease it instead of buy it.

The increased levels of mercury and lead that are filling up our landfills are a dangerous trend. If we all were more responsible with how we got rid of old electronics, it would make a big difference to our environment and health.

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Keep Your House Pest-Free Without Chemicals

We all love visitors, just not visitors that are bugs, rodents and other pests. No one wants flies, ants, mice or any other creepy crawly pest in their homes. Sometimes we are so desperate to get rid of these pests we do not consider the harmful effects of the chemicals we are using. We can be putting ourselves, our families and our animals in danger without realizing it.

Pesticides are effective in killing all kinds of pests they but can also be dangerous to people and animals. For example, insecticides kill bugs by attacking the nervous system. They can also affect the nervous system of people and animals, which can be dangerous. Rat poison is usually full of anticoagulants that do not allow blood in the body to clot. The way the rats die is from internal bleeding. Humans and animals who come in contact with rat poison can have a similar problem.

Pesticides and other chemicals are hazardous to us and our animals. You can get rid of pests without dangerous chemicals. Here are some suggestions:

• Keep pests from wanting to come into your home by keeping your house as clean as possible. You can have a perfectly clean house and still have pests but you reduce your risk significantly by keeping it clean. Leaving crumbs and bits of food on the floor or on your counters is an open invitation to bugs, mice and other pests. Put your pet’s food away every night to keep pests out of your house and never leave open food containers on the counters.
• Close up any openings that pests could come in. Usually, pests like mice and bugs get in through small openings like those around the pipes near the exterior of your home and at baseboards. Make sure all these places are sealed.
• Make sure your windows have screens in them so you don’t let flying pests in the house.
• Try natural home remedies for keeping pests out of your house. For example, borax will keep roaches from coming into your home and things like pepper, coffee grounds, chalk and charcoal are thought to prevent ants from entering your home.
• Don’t let fleas take up residence in your home. Keep them at bay with frequent vacuuming and watch your pets for signs of a flea problem. To keep fleas off your pets, try rinsing them with an herbal remedy made up of rosemary boiled in 2 cups of water and strained and cooled. Spray this on your pets and fleas will stay away from them and stay out of your home.
• Put out traps for mice and rats. The most affordable traps are those that snap and kill the pests. If you want the more humane approach, you can spend more on live traps but make sure you don’t let the pests out anywhere near your home or they will come right back.
• Work on your lawn regularly so you do not need chemicals to keep it looking good. Aerating and mowing frequently along with letting grass clippings naturally fertilize your yard are easy things to do.

While products with chemicals will get rid of the pests in your home, they will also put you and your family at risk so they are not worth it. You can naturally control pests without using chemicals if you are willing to do the work.

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