That's the title of a book I picked up this afternoon, at Babies R Us of all places. (Anyone who knows me knows how I dread superstores like this, and the crowds that go with them, but alas, we needed a convertible car seat for our little sprout.)
The book was the first thing I saw, and was surrounded by a display of Method cleaning products. Since becoming a mom, I've tried very hard to "go green"...which has not been easy. I threw out all the Teflon, started buying primarily local and organic foods, and even paid closer attention to the treats I get for the cats and dogs. I've never been big on using chemical cleaners, so I've always tried to go light on them. In addition to buying the book, I purchased a few Method cleaners and some shampoo/body wash for the kiddo--they're all non-toxic, never tested on animals, and safe for the environment. They're also super affordable, costing about the same as the harsh stuff.
To be completely honest, this book does have the ability to push me over the edge with all of its recommendations, including buying a PBDE-free mattress--we just got a new one and I'm pretty sure it's chock full of PBDEs. Shucks. BUT...there are a lot of doable things. And it's written in a conversational, friendly, down-to-earth, bite-size way.
So here's one for you pet lovers who, like me, are tentative about putting Frontline or other chemical pesticides on your dogs or cats.
**Cloves and eucalyptus oil, when rubbed on your dog's fur, help to control fleas. You can also feed him a few cloves of garlic every few days, which seem to work too.**
OK. So I just gave the dogs garlic (coated in feta cheese, so they'd eat it). I'm on the lookout for cloves and eucalyptus oil now. I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh, and you might want to get rid of any dog or cat toys made of "flexible PVC or vinyl". It's super toxic, and with so many safe alternatives out there, why not swap them out for something healthier?
