The human mind is a terrible thing to waste. Many people go to great lengths to keep it healthy and functioning with memory being the top priority. There are a lot of foods to help improve memory and to keep your overall brain in good health. However, there are other foods that are just plain bad for your memory and one food products stands out more than the rest as the worst food to improve your memory. According to a scientific study, sugar is the worst food you can eat when it comes to preserving your memory.

Certain studies were conducted, resulting in an interesting discovery. In short, sugar has the ability to “rewire” the brain. This sounds like a pretty dramatic prospect, but it’s true in some cases and if certain habits are unresolved. Naturally, the brain relies on a concept called “neuroplasticity”. This term describes how a brain typically learns from everyday habits, which is why in some cases it’s so hard to kill a “bad habit”. The brain remodels and rewires itself whenever you start and continue a new habit. Sugar consumption is no exception. Actually, if anything, sugar consumption is more at risk for rewiring your brain due to the intense “reward” it gives your brain every time you consume it. Think about it, what are you going to make a habit more of: eating broccoli or chocolate?

In the same way, sugar rewires your brain and messes with your memory skills. Enough sugar consumption leads to negative effects of the hippocampus-the part of your brain where all the memories are stored. When sugar affects the hippocampus, it reduces newborn neurons and it causes inflammation. The former results in memory loss because neurons are responsible for encoding new memories. In short, if you want to preserve your memory, reduce your sugar intake.

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==> Popcorn Does This to Your Brain [WATCH]

“NASA Doctor Reveals Toxic Chemical in Popcorn Causes Memory Loss”

A former NASA doctor has taken it upon himself to warn individuals about a toxic chemical commonly found in popcorn and the devastating effects it can have on your brain.

If you suffer from brain fog, memory issues, trouble concentrating, lack of focus or symptoms of age-related cognitive decline you need to watch this important video right away.

The link between this brain damaging chemical and memory loss was recently discovered in a series of ground-breaking research studies.

Have you ever wondered what your poo could tell you about your health? According to research conducted by the University of Bristol, the size, shape, and consistency of your bowel movements matter. Not only that, but your stool can also tell you if your suffering from an illness or if your diet is insufficient. Read on to learn more about the dirty truth that the bigger you poop, the better.

Down And Dirty

Over 20 years ago, scientists at the University of Bristol wrote a study about the benefits of bowls movements in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. Surprisingly, the researchers even created their own Bristol Stool Chart that scores your stool on a scale of one to seven in order to determine the overall health of your digestive tract. The principal factors that impacted a stool’s score were size, shape, and consistency. Researched showed that the healthiest stool samples were long, smooth, and soft.

Diet Matters

Which country has the healthiest poop? Scientists conducted another survey that analyzed the sizes of stools from eight international countries. While the largest stool samples came from Tonga, India, and Japan, the smallest stool samples came from America, the U.K., and South Africa. Since larger poos are a sign of a healthy digestive tract, that means that the bigger, the better. Researchers reported that Tonga, India, and Japan had the healthiest bowel movements due to their focus on plant-based diets.

What Your Poo Says About You

If you’re curious about what your poo says about you, just take a look at its consistency. For example, bowel movements that have lumps and cracks show that you might be constipated, or that your digestive system is functioning very slowly. Also, stool that resembles diarrhea can tell you that your digestive system is processing food too quickly.

Trending: Can You Really Poop Out Fat?

Check out these tips to set yourself up for a financially stable retirement.

Learn How Your Financial Advisor Makes Money

While your financial advisor wants to help you, they have to get paid too. Knowing how they make their money provides valuable information about the quality of the advice they give you. Find out if they make commissions, if they receive bonuses based on how well your money does, or if they get paid a flat salary for their time.

Plan Ahead For Long-Term Care Needs

Many people don’t factor in the cost of long-term care while planning for retirement. This can be a major source of disruption to their financial retirement plan. It’s a good idea to have a plan in place. These days you can even find insurance options that cover this kind of care. By pricing out and preparing early for this likely eventuality, you can enter your golden years worry free.

Wait To Use Social Security Benefits

While eligibility for social security benefits starts as early as 62 for partial benefits, or 66 for full benefits, delaying your receipt of these benefits could pay off for you. By waiting to begin receiving benefits, you may actually receive more.

Pay Attention To The Fees You’re Paying

Most forms of retirement savings have fees attached to them. It’s important to know exactly how much of your regular contributions are being spent in covering those fees, and not in savings or investments to benefit you in retirement. Do some research and keep in mind that while some fees may be unavoidable, they should be reasonable.

Establish An Income You Can Count On

Pensions, dividends, and annuities can provide a consistent and reliable source of income. By investing enough in low-risk low-return investments, you can be confident in receiving a regular income every month.  This is the most important tip on this list. By taking a few simple steps now, you can enter retirement confident and secure.

NEXT: Boost Your Social Security Benefits. Are you aware of these changes?

Thyroid hormone imbalance can be caused by a range of issues, including vitamin deficiencies, medications, liver dysfunction, autoimmune disorders, blood sugar or digestive issues, and much more. Thyroid diseases are more common than diabetes or heart disease, too—as many as 30 million Americans live with a thyroid disease, and over half of those people haven’t even received a diagnosis. 

The easiest changes to make involve your diet and eating habits. Among the top causes of thyroid imbalance is simply eating too little in the first place. Beyond under-eating, though, there are also food items and chemicals that do more harm than good for our bodies.

Here’s what you should know about seven foods and chemicals that have been found to be responsible for thyroid issues.

Avoid Iodine At All Costs With A Hyperactive Thyroid

Iodine is one of the chemicals that the thyroid gland needs in order to produce hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine (T3 and T4). These and other hormones play important roles in our development before we’re even born; without sufficient levels of thyroid hormones, a developing fetus will not be able to guard against neurodevelopmental disorders. This chemical is an essential element in biology with an important presence in many different lifeforms.

The elemental chemical itself is actually synthesized within our bodies. Iodide travels through the bloodstream to reach the follicular cells of the thyroid gland, where it’s absorbed and then oxidized into the iodine that is used to manufacture hormones. The chemical element itself reaches a lethal dose for humans at just 2 to 3 grams, which is why our bodies have to maintain such a delicate balance.

Foods that contain high concentrations of iodine should be avoided if you suffer from hyperthyroidism. Seaweed and kelp, along with cod, shrimp, and tuna contain high amounts of iodine. Eggs contain it, as does whole milk, yogurt, ice cream, and white bread.

The opposite is true for anyone with an underactive thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism around the world, affecting two billion people. It’s also the leading preventable cause of mental disabilities in developing fetuses. Iodized salt is the most widely available combatant for iodine deficiency, and is used by 70% of households around the world. Doctors may recommend these same iodine-rich foods for patients living with an underactive thyroid gland.

Toxic Compounds Found In Packaging And Products Around Us

Many things that we use in our day-to-day lives contain toxins and chemicals that are more harmful than helpful. We may not be able to eliminate these toxic compounds from our lives altogether, but there are steps we can take to stay away from them.

Bisphenol A, most commonly known as BPA, is an organic, synthetic compound that has been used to manufacture plastics and resins since the 1960s. Polycarbonate plastics (and epoxy resins in particular) are widely used in the packaging and storage of food and beverages. The Food and Drug Administration has said that very low levels of BPA are safe, but its review is ongoing. [3] 

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recommends that you keep polycarbonate plastics out of the microwave and dishwasher; high heat can break down the plastic and allow BPA to make its way into foods. Some consumers have decided to only purchase BPA-free products.

BPA has been identified as an endocrine disruptor, affecting hormone production and causing issues for thyroid function as well. Another chemical that’s caught the attention of researchers is perchlorate, used mainly for propellants and fuel but also present in bleach and fertilizers. The Environmental Protection Agency recently identified perchlorate as a public health concern, due to its presence as a contaminant in public drinking water. [4] This chemical can also disrupt the normal function of the thyroid gland in children and adults.

Be Careful With Caffeine And Stimulants

Coffee (and caffeine in general) can end up doing more harm than good for people who have trouble with their thyroid, although studies have uncovered a wide range of findings.

Consuming coffee within an hour of taking a thyroid hormone reduces the latter’s absorption, according to findings that were recently published in Thyroid, a medical journal. People who drink coffee with their dose of thyroid medication ended up experiencing a drop in thyroxine (T4) levels of anywhere from 25 to 57 percent. The small intestine absorbed less of the T4 that was released into their bodies. [5]

A 2004 study worked with rats to test the effects of caffeine on the thyroid gland. Researchers found that caffeine ingestion at high doses dramatically increased the development of lesions on the thyroid gland in rats with iodine deficiency. The study did note, though, that small changes in thyroid function do occur between different animals as a result of simple variability. [6] In humans, a 300-milligram dose of caffeine had no effect on the plasma concentrations of T3 and T4, though, according to Coffee And Health by Gérard Debry. He concluded that humans would have to drink 20 cups of coffee in one sitting in order for caffeine to have a significant effect on the body’s endocrine and hormonal functions. [7]

Medications that alter thyroid function include dopamine agonists and amphetamines, commonly present in antidepressants and medications that treat ADHD, Parkinson’s, and many more conditions. Patients should look into all of their prescription medications and whether they interfere with thyroid function.

Replace caffeinated beverages with water and fruit juice if you’re concerned about the effects of caffeine on your body. If you still find yourself with coffee cravings, at least take extra care to avoid consuming it until an hour has passed after taking your thyroid medicine.

Stay Away From Added Sugar

Cane sugar. Dextrose. High fructose corn syrup. These are just three of the many added sugars that manufacturers use as ingredients in the food items that we use every day.

Soft drinks, syrup, jam and jelly, cookies, cakes, pastries, candy, and many other items contain these added sugars. It goes beyond sweet treats, too. Added sugars are found in salad dressings, cereal, sauces, and bread products. The added sugars found in all of these products provide our bodies with very little in the way of nutritional benefits. Sugar is digested immediately and rapidly absorbed, causing spikes in blood sugar and insulin release. If you live with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, your blood sugar may be highly sensitive to these changes‚ not to mention that hypothyroidism can produce blood sugar problems all on its own.

This does not mean that all forms of sugar are the enemy. Sugar is naturally present in fruit as fructose and in dairy products as lactose. Fruit provides your body with vitamins, water, fiber, and many more essential nutrients, while candy is just nutritionally void. Many Americans don’t eat enough fruit to begin with, and a handful of strawberries is much better for you than a bowl full of strawberry ice cream.

There are plenty of ways to indulge in occasional treats while avoiding added sugars. Instead of foods with high fructose corn syrup, for example, making use of more natural sugars might help fill a craving. Natural options like honey offer antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals; honey is still a sugar, though, so it should be used in moderation.

Be Cautious Of Soybeans And Soy Foods

Thyroid research is centuries old and still evolving. One 1933 study focused on the relationship between food and the thyroid gland. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, stated that “no organ of the body is more sensitive to food conditions than the thyroid gland.” The research concluded that “the more perfect the constitution of the diet, the more normal is the thyroid gland, both as to its size and as to its action.”

A 2006 feature in Thyroid identified concerns within the medical community about soybean products and their potential interference with thyroid function. Studies conducted involving both healthy men and women revealed very little evidence that soy products had negative effects on euthyroid, iodine-replete individuals.

Soybeans and soy products contain isoflavones—compounds found in plants with estrogenic activity that can have hormonal effects on the human body. It isn’t all bad, however; studies have ended in a wide range of conclusions, and as such, there’s a bit of subjectivity at play. Soy has been a major component of Asian diets for 2,000 years, and its presence has often been attributed to the low levels of heart disease that are found in that part of the world.

Studies have found that soy foods inhibit the absorption of thyroid hormones in patients with underactive thyroid function, however. Researchers discovered that some hypothyroid adults required an increased dose of thyroid hormone when soy products were present in their diets, though they also included that “only very modest effects” were noted during their clinical trials.

The study concluded that hypothyroid adults don’t need to entirely avoid soy foods. Instead, they should ensure that their iodine intake is adequate. As with many aspects of health and nutrition, balance is key.

Alcohol Is Poisonous, And That’s All There Is To It

Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances around the world and it comes with many risk factors in the way of disease and disabilities. [8] Alcohol has been found to be responsible for many impacts on the thyroid gland and its function.

Thyroid function is impacted by alcohol consumption as a result of cellular toxicity in particular—the same toxicity, of course, that leads to a myriad of other diseases and disorders. Consumption interferes with the stimulation and secretion processes of the thyroid gland, leading to issues with hormone production and changes in the volume of the gland. Thyroid volume is reduced in patients with alcohol dependency; those patients also experience more frequent and severe cases of thyroid fibrosis.

Studies have found complex correlations between alcohol use and thyroid function, resulting in a lack of consensus in the medical community. Researchers have had trouble conducting human studies to begin with, mainly because many participants are going through detoxification programs. Other studies simply have difficulties recruiting active drinkers to begin with.

The established conclusion is that alcohol consumption affects nearly every aspect of the thyroid gland’s function. The National Institute of Health also points out something interesting: Mood disorders are often present in conjunction with alcoholism as well as hypothyroidism. Very few studies have delved into this, but the NIH suggests that alcohol’s effects on the thyroid gland may very well change the hormonal makeup in our bodies that produce the cravings and withdrawal effects experienced by alcoholics.

Pay Attention to Dairy Products—They Could Be Good Or Bad

Milk and milk products like cheese, butter, yogurt, and ice cream all contain iodine and lactose—two things that can affect thyroid function for better and for worse. People with hyperthyroidism may want to avoid these products due to their iodine content, while anyone with hypothyroidism may want to avoid milk products due to the high insulin response that they provoke in the digestive system.

Still, as with so many findings in thyroid research, results can go both ways. Hyperthyroidism commonly triggers the body to absorb calcium from within the bones, which could lead to osteoporosis. That’s why some hyperthyroid patients may want to consume more dairy—it will help counteract those effects and force the body to metabolize higher amounts of calcium.

A study that took place in Sweden and Norway found an association between dairy consumption and an increased risk of thyroid cancer—similar studies in the United States, though, did not find the same association. Studies focusing on people with vegetarian and vegan diets have found that a plant-based diet tends to provide protection against hypothyroidism.

Many people who suffer from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a form of hypothyroidism, also experience lactose intolerance. A 2014 study published in Thyroid reported that patients who consumed a lactose-restricted diet saw a decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. Researchers concluded that hypothyroid patients should consider restricting dairy consumption in their diets. [9]

Safe alternatives to milk and milk products include almond, hemp, rice, and coconut milk, as well as non-dairy cream substitutes.

What Works For Some Doesn’t Work For All)

All of these findings should tell you one thing: Health and medicine can be highly subjective.

Not only have different studies produced widely different results, individual approaches to medicine can vary, too. One medical professional may work and think in an objective realm based solely on facts and measurements, and another may think in a more humanistic framework that pays closer attention to subjective information like a patient’s thoughts and feelings.

In the end, your health is your responsibility to monitor, treat, and learn about. If you believe that you could be living with a thyroid condition, take the first steps towards treatment by consulting a medical professional.

http://www.restorationhealth.net/thyroid-emphasis.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid#Disease

[1] http://www.thyroidawareness.com/about-your-thyroid

[2] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/

[3] http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331

[4] https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/perchlorate-drinking-water

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18341376?dopt=Citation

[6] http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01926230490431853

[7] https://books.google.com/books?id=uZaaCk-8s9sC&pg=PA397&lpg=PA397&dq=Coffee+and+Health,”+by+Gerard+Debry

[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3743356/

[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24078411

For decades heart attacks were known to be a disease for older people, Grandparents used to be the demographic that was most at risk for contracting heart attacks. Not anymore. Despite the steady decline of heart attack cases in the United States overall – due in large part to advances in medication such as statins and an overall decline in smoking – the rate of heart attacks occurring in persons under 40 are on the rise.  Researchers are now seeing an increase in cases among people in their 40s, 30s, and some in their 20s. What used to be a disease for grandparents, is now a disease affecting their grandkids as well. 

Dr. Ron Blankenstein, a preventive cardiologist Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, authored a study that saw this steady rise in heart attacks amongst younger adults. The study identified the usual risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, a family history of premature heart attacks and high cholesterol as the culprits. The study also added substance abuse as a primary factor amongst the youngest patients. Dr. Luke Laffin M.D. of the Cleveland Clinic points to lifestyle issues and type 2 diabetes as the biggest factors. Laffin attributes this to the changing millennial lifestyle, more uber eats, less cardio and increased screen time are some of the things that younger adults start from an early age and carry over to adulthood.  More and more people are becoming more and more sedentary in their lifestyles, and a proper focus on prevention and lifestyle modification would be needed to stem this rise of heart attacks in younger adults. 

Blankenstein echoes this sentiment, hammering down the point that while heart attacks are sometimes genetic in nature, a huge number of cases could be avoided with early detection, prevention, and aggressive lifestyle modification would be crucial to mitigate other potential risk factors. While the trends in heart attack patients may have changed, the old advice that used to be given to older adults remain the same, avoid tobacco and other substances that place undue stress to your heart, get some exercise, watch your diet, lose weight, and avoid diabetes and activities that may lead to it. These alone will greatly lower the number of heart attack cases in younger adults.

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A good night’s sleep is not just vital for resting and repairing your body, but is crucial for brain health too. While your body’s lymphatic system carries away cellular toxins while you sleep, helping to ward off disease, it was recently discovered that your brain has its own separate system to do this, called the glymphatic pathway. As toxins are cleared, it frees up your brain to consolidate the day’s memories so you wake up sharper. Sleeping on your left optimises this, due to the flow of cerebral fluid.

What’s more, it’s now been discovered that vital immune cells called microglia are at their most active when you sleep. This leads to better cognition, a reduction in brain disorders such as autism, schizophrenia and dementia, plus an improved ability for your brain to fight off infection and repair damage after trauma from things like a stroke or an accident. Microglia are essentially first responders, patrolling the brain and spinal cord and reacting as soon as they spot infection or debris from dead cell tissue that needs getting rid of.

Another thing your brain needs deep sleep for is hormone regulation. Cortisol, the stress hormone falls when you sleep deeply, while growth hormone increases. If cortisol stays low it keeps insulin low too, which helps with memory formation. And you need growth hormone for brain cell repair and improved attention.

So how do you get that all-important, restorative deep sleep? Routine is key – when you fall asleep is as important as how much you get, so wait until you’re really sleepy and stick to that time every night. Magnesium and omega-3 supplements will help you fall asleep as well as enhance brain repair. It helps to avoid caffeine after 2pm, as well as reducing phone or TV use an hour before bed, as the ‘blue light’ from gadgets keeps your brain awake.

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Americans will spend an average of 70 billion hours behind the wheel of a car over a year. When traveling on the road for errands, work, or road trips, it’s no magic carpet ride when a car gets stinky. Odors tend to build up over time from pets, smoking, spills, and lack of maintenance. Stop rolling down the windows or hanging extra air fresheners on the rear-view mirror. Use these hacks to get your car smelling more like it rolled off of the lot, and less like a pigsty on wheels.

Suck It Up

Invest in a handheld vacuum or pull out the extension cord for a model with an attachment. Believe it or not, smells may be triggered from mold, dirt, and grime hiding in the tightest of crevices. Even better, help eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda on carpeted areas before going over the surface with a vacuum. If you or a passenger smokes, you’ll have to open up the hood, send deodorizer through your intake valve, and give your car time to air out.

Go For Cover

When battling bad smells in a car, you have two choices. Choose to cover it up with air fresheners until you deal with the problem, or use air fresheners after giving your vehicle a thorough cleaning. When possible, use natural air fresheners to prevent a buildup of toxins in your ride. Consider placing coffee grounds, cotton balls soaked in essential oils, or some unlit incense sticks to eradicate foul odors.

Not Just For Grills

If you love tailgate parties or finding spots to grill, you may already have an odor-fighting resource nearby. Leave an open bag of charcoal briquettes in your car overnight or longer to remove toxins and noxious smells. Even better, after the charcoal removes terrible odors, you can still use it for those steaks or kabobs later.

Be Thorough

Cleaning up a stinky ride isn’t about taking care of surface issues. You may need to do more in-depth cleaning than relying on chemical cleaners, vacuuming regularly, and wiping down seats. Remove any visible trash,  and check your glove compartment, seat pockets, cup holders, trunk, and the gaps between seats to eliminate odors. You never know what may be hiding out and making your vehicle reek terribly.

Call Help

When using natural cleaners like dish soap, vinegar, or baking soda won’t remove stubborn odors, it’s time to call the professionals. Your wallet may feel the pinch, but it’s worth the price to have a clean-smelling car. If you smell gas, someone lost their lunch, or you hit a skunk, professionals may be your only hope of getting your back.

NEXT: Put This In Your Vehicle To Get Rid Of Odors

Home is where the heart is. Or at least we would like it to be. We put our personal touches throughout our homes with a sense of pride and ingenuity that reflects our sense of self and personal style. It is our personal kingdom and inner sanctum. However, we also like to keep our homes clean and conducive to living a long and healthy life. So having clean, high-quality air should be a staple in every home. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. So we’ve come up with a few tips and tricks to help our fellow man breath his/her best air, and live their best life when at home.

Practical Principles

The first thing you want to do is take a practical approach. Control what you can control. So try these practical steps out first.

1. Don’t smoke! And do not allow guests to indulge in that pastime in your house either.
2. Clean your air conditioner. Make sure your air filters are clean to avoid any asthma triggers or breathing issues.
3. No shoes in the house! Take off your shoes to avoid bringing in dust, pollen, cigarette ashes, and other harmful agents. Taking your shoes off at the door has been shown to significantly reduce the amount of pollution brought into the home.
4. Clean your carpet. Your carpet is like a sponge and should be treated accordingly. Clean it often, especially the part by the door.
5. Groom your pet. This is often overlooked but very important. Pet fur and excessive shedding can lead to lung irritation and asthma-like symptoms. So it is crucial to clean and groom your furry friend on a consistent basis. 

Righteous Remedies

Okay so now you’ve done the practical thing. Now its time to indulge in some all-natural solutions to get that crisp clean air at home.

1. Open your windows. Simple yet effective. Doing this for just five minutes a day gives the air a chance to circulate the potentially toxic air out of the home.

2. House Plants. House plants naturally help to rejuvenate and purify the air in your home.

3. Use Essential Oils. Studies have shown that essential oils such as grapefruit lemon, clove, tea tree, thyme, cinnamon, rosemary, and oregano help to eliminate the presence of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even mold. In short, essential oils are a must have.

By using these two approaches to clean air sustainability, you will be well on your way to a healthier quality of life.

NEXT: Kill All Indoor Odors, Mold & Bacteria With This!

Home cleaning is rarely at the top of anyone’s to-do list. We all procrastinate and wait “just one more day” to get to it, because home maintenance is never as satisfying as the work you put into it. While vacuuming and scrubbing dishes may never become fun, here are a few ways in which you can save time and reduce stress in your cleaning routine:

How To Freshen Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are pretty nasty places in the kitchen. Though they assist with keeping your drain clean, they can get easily clogged with food particles, grease, and other yucky stuff you do not want to smell day after day. To combat the issue of garbage disposal odor, you can use a simple DIY hack that takes only a few hours to make. 

You’re going to create lemon and white vinegar ice cubes to use in your garbage disposal. Simply freeze some mini lemon slices with white vinegar in an ice cube tray, and wait for them to freeze. Once a week or so, drop a few ice cubes into the garbage disposal and run until the ice cubes dissolve. This will help reduce bacteria in the disposal and leave your kitchen smelling lemony fresh. 

Make Your Own Carpet Cleaner

For large carpeted areas, vacuuming usually isn’t enough. If you have pets, light colored carpet, or experience a lot of foot traffic in certain areas, you will occasionally have to use a carpet cleaner to remove stains and keep the room smelling fresh. However, you don’t have to buy the harsh chemical carpet cleaners at the store. Use this simple recipe for carpet cleaner to keep your home feeling fresh. 

Fill the carpet cleaner reservoir approximately halfway with warm water. Then, add one cup of rubbing alcohol and one capful of Lysol concentrate disinfectant. Finally, fill the rest of the reservoir with white vinegar, and get to cleaning. The Lysol and vinegar will disinfect the carpet, while the rubbing alcohol will help it dry faster. Together these ingredients create a powerful yet healthy carpet cleaning solution. 

Remove Hard Water Stains From Your Bathroom

Hard water stains are the white, crusty mineral deposits that accumulate on faucets, shower heads, toilet bowls, and so much more. They can make your bathroom look and feel old, which isn’t what you want when you’re trying to get ready in the morning or enjoy a relaxing hot shower. However, you can easily remove hard water stains with one ingredient. 

To remove hard water stains, simply grab a washcloth or paper towel and soak it in vinegar. Then, wrap the area that you want to remove the stains in the towel or cloth, and wait a few hours for it to soak. The vinegar will loosen the deposits and make it easy to wipe away in minutes. 

NEXT: ‘Breakthrough Invention’ is the ultimate solution to preventing home invasions