Tips and Tricks

Scissors that come apart

We had a pair of scissors by Chicago Cutlery that separated for ease of cleaning. We replaced them this week and found the new ones look the same but do not come apart. So I have removed the link to the Chicago Cutlery scissors. Brand doesn't matter to me. What matters is that scissors that come apart are a great deal cleaner than ones that don't. Here are some I found online:

• Wüsthof Come-Apart Kitchen Shears
• J.A. Henckels International Take Apart Kitchen Shears
• Wiss W8TA 8-Inch Utility Scissors with Take Apart Design

Q-tips

I store these in a ziploc bag to help keep them clean. I frequently use some soaked in diet tonic water to wipe out my outer nose. This is faster and less involved than irrigating my sinuses and helps tide me over until I can do that properly. I sometimes do this with either peroxide or diet tonic water mixed with peroxide. But too much peroxide can cause nosebleeds and it is generally harsher on the delicate lining of the nose. So I don't do that very often anymore.

Flush it

I often flush paper towels we have used for cleaning. I also flush Q-tips that have been in my nose and tissues I have blown my nose in, including the ones I use when I irrigate my sinuses. At first, we only did this for really bad tissues and Q-tips but it was so helpful that we do it regularly these days.

Take nasty items out of the house promptly

We have gotten very picky about making sure that the trash goes down to the dumpster promptly for some items. One example: Feminine pads. If for some reason it is not practical to take it out promptly, I put it in a ziploc bag before trashing it and/or double or triple bag the trash. Cardboard boxes are another item that goes out promptly.

Calcium promotes clotting

I read on Wikipedia that calcium is necessary to start the cascade of chemical events for blood to clot. I have had good success with taking 400mg to 1000mg of calcium citrate to help stop nosebleeds. (I have never had a lung bleed, but I would think it could help with those as well.)

Copper is antimicrobial

We use only copper pot scrubbers. They don't get as nasty as sponges or Brillo pads or other things I have tried. Only later did I learn that copper kills microbes within about an hour. So stuff just doesn't grow on copper the way it can on a lot of other surfaces. We also bought a copper-based paper towel holder. We feel that "paper is evil" but we go through a lot of paper towels. The copper paper towel holder helps keep the paper towels cleaner. This has been so successful, we plan to buy more copper items in the future.

Ziploc freezer bags

I put lunch items in them to take to work, store dry-goods in them that originally come in cardboard boxes (like cereal) or paper bags (like flour), and use them for all kinds of things (like storing Q-tips). We routinely keep several sizes on hand. I rarely store leftovers in them and I rarely put anything wet or moist in them. I also store papers in ziploc bags to protect us as much as possible. A two-gallon bag will let you store quite a few papers flat, without bending them at all.

Three things to remember about diet

If you don't do any other dietary things, I would recommend you at least do these three:

1. Switch to Celtic Sea Salt (I have tried other brands of seasalt. They just don't do the same thing for me.)
2. Switch to healthy oils. Oils make a big impact, for good or for ill.
3. Eat a less acidic diet.

Three things to remember about lifestyle

1. Less is more.
2. When in doubt, throw it out.
3. Leave your shoes at the front door.