Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products (43 page)

Changing a Headlight Bulb

I never realized how easy it was to change a burned-out headlight bulb in my car. First check to see if your headlights are covered under your warranty. If they’re not, read on.

HOW TO

1.
Make sure the car is turned off.

2.
Open the hood of your car and look for the plate at the back of the headlight. Different models have different mechanisms for opening the plate, but it should be pretty straightforward.

3.
Unscrew the old bulb and place it carefully on the car seat to avoid breaking.

4.
Screw in the new bulb.

5.
Place the old bulb in the new bulb’s box and dispose of it carefully.

6.
Turn on your car to check that the new light is working.

DETAILING

Detailing is just a fancy word for cleaning your whole car, inside and out. You can save a lot of money by doing it yourself. All you need is a couple of inexpensive household ingredients. You’ll also save time, as these recipes are super-efficient and you won’t have to waste time driving to the car wash and waiting in line. Also keep in mind that the products that are typically used at most cash washes are extremely toxic.

For cloth upholstery:
Pour 4 cups of hot water and 1 cup of washing soda crystals
^*
into a clean bucket. Wet a clean rag in the water and gently dab away at any stains.

To deodorize your cloth upholstery:
Use carpet/upholstery powder (see “Thrifty and Nifty”). Apply liberally to the seats and carpet. Close the car and leave for half an hour. Then vacuum it off.

For interiors (vinyl dashboard, doors, etc.):
Pour equal parts of distilled water and white vinegar into a sprayer. Use a clean, dry rag to wipe off after spraying.

For leather upholstery:
Place 1 cup of cheap olive oil and 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice in a small plastic cup or bowl. Dip a clean, dry rag in the oil
and rub gently into the leather. For an added lemony scent, add 10 drops of lemon or lemongrass essential oil to the mixture. Do not apply this oil mixture to the steering wheel, as it could cause your hands to slip while driving.

Deodorizing Car Spray

Never buy an interior car deodorizing spray or gadget from the gas station, as they are horribly toxic and smell pretty sickly anyway. Make your own beautifully therapeutic spray instead.

HOW TO

1.
Mix the vodka, water, and essential oils in a glass measuring jug.

2.
Use a small funnel to transfer the mixture into your bottle.

Rinseless car wash:
This is the best car cleaner I have ever used—and I’ve tried them all! The beauty is that it uses very little water, and as far as conservation is concerned, I recommend that you never hose off your car or your driveway.

Simply shoot 2 squirts of liquid castile soap and 2 squirts of dishwasher rinse aid into 2 gallons of hot water. Wipe down your car with this solution using a soft sponge. There is no need to rinse. Before the water dries, polish with a microfiber cloth. You will need to use quite a bit of elbow grease to get a shine, but it’s incredible exercise!

Tire care:
Make a paste of 4 tablespoons baking soda and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a plastic bowl. Use a large scrubbing brush to work the paste into your tires and rinse off with half a bucket of cold water.

Chrome:
For all the chrome work, mix equal parts of distilled water and white vinegar in a sprayer. Apply with a clean, dry rag and polish with a microfiber cloth.

The ultimate in DIY is gardening. It’s right up there as my tippy-top most satisfying activity. I won’t pretend it’s the easiest, as gardening requires a certain amount of patience and perseverance, but it’s ridiculously satisfying to sit down to a meal that includes produce from your own backyard. With food prices going through the roof, it also makes economic sense to pull your gardening gloves on as soon as possible.

You don’t need an enormous backyard, either. The key to good gardening is to be creative with the space and tools you have. A tiny balcony or patio can yield more than you could ever dream of. Even if you live in an apartment, you can probably find a sunny windowsill for a planter in which you can grow herbs and cherry tomatoes. If you’re in the middle of the city, I highly recommend joining a community garden. So no excuses—time to get dirty!

Keep It Simple

Many of us get put off or set ourselves up for failure by being a little too ambitious in the beginning. The key to success is to keep it really simple by:

• Choosing to plant only what you love to eat
  
• Making sure that your choice of seeds/seedlings is seasonally appropriate
  
• Making sure that the area in which your plants will grow has at least six hours of sunlight a day
  
• Creating raised beds
  
• Creating a stellar soil mix for your raised beds or planters
  

That’s pretty much it. If you live in a region that gets cold and frosty in the winter and you have the room, you should also build a small cold frame (see “Green Girls Grow!”). This will make it possible for you to enjoy greens from your garden year-round.

WHAT YOU LOVE

I happen to love arugula. I could eat it almost every day mixed with other salad greens and herbs, so I always make sure I have some at home. I also love home-grown tomatoes, so in the summer, I plant more tomato plants than I need. I quite like chard, but since I’m the only one in my family who does, I only plant a little—same with spinach.

Before you plant, look at your choices for the season you’re in and plan according to your taste. Herbs are always a good idea, as they’ll add a little something to even the most boring winter salad and you’ll use them in many dishes. Herbs are also expensive to buy fresh in the store.

SEASONALLY APPROPRIATE

I have sometimes tried to plant lettuces when I know it’s probably a bit too hot, or I’ll shove some tomatoes in early, hoping I’ll get lucky. Plants know their seasons and they won’t budge, so if you want to succeed, only plant when the directions on the seed packet say you can. It’s also a good idea to keep your eye out for seedlings in your local garden store or nursery. If they have the little plants in stock, it means they’re in season.

Although every region differs considerably, here’s what you may be able to
plant in the three main planting seasons: early spring, early summer, and midsummer.

In early spring,
you can plant these seeds directly in the soil: arugula, bok choy, chamomile, chives, cilantro, dill, parsley, watercress, beets, broccoli, broccoli raab, carrots, chard, fennel, kale, leeks, lettuce, mache (lamb’s lettuce), scallions, and spinach. Inside, you can start these seeds: basil, broccoli, eggplants, lavender, marjoram, oregano, peppers, rosemary, thyme, tomatillos, and tomatoes.

In early summer,
you can plant these when you know the nights are staying above 50°F: arugula, basil, beans, beets, carrots, chard, cilantro, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, sage, soybeans, summer and winter squash, thyme, watermelons, and zucchini.

In midsummer,
you plant outside the seedlings you have raised indoors. (If you live in an area with mild winters, you can plant outside midsummer through early fall.) These plants include: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic chives, kale, leeks, lettuce, mache (lamb’s lettuce), parsley, scallions, spinach, and watercress.

SIX HOURS OF SUNLIGHT

So many of my crops have failed because I thought I could get by on a little less sun. For example, I planted tomatoes in an area of my yard that gets about four hours of sun a day, and the plants barely yielded any fruit at all. You just can’t cheat this part of the equation.

Raised Beds

Raised beds are the best for many reasons. Regardless of the quality of the soil in your yard, you can create perfect soil in a raised bed. They also keep everything really neat and orderly, and you can build a raised bed to suit any yard size.

The most wonderful thing about raised beds is that they are very easy to create. I have made four of them, all different sizes, for my own backyard. You can create a raised bed in any shape or size. I have rectangular and square beds in my yard. I love the square one best. The following directions are for a 4x4-foot square bed.

HOW TO

1.
Drill 3 holes in the top at one end of each plank of wood.

2.
Screw the wood screws through the drilled holes, attaching the boards end to end, until your square frame is completed.

3.
On the area where you want the bed to be, remove existing weeds, rocks, and stones, and lay down your weed cloth.

4.
Lay your assembled frame on top and you are ready to fill with soil.

STELLAR SOIL

The key to successful gardening is quality soil. It has to have the right texture and nutrient balance for the plants to be able to grow and thrive. It’s much easier than you think to create perfect soil, especially with a raised bed.

To create your stellar soil mix, you’ll need to fill your bed with
¹
/
₃
of each of the following:

1. Compost:
   If you make your own compost, you’ll be all set. If, however, you need to buy it, see if you can buy your bags from different companies/manufacturers. If you need 3 bags of compost, see if your local nursery/hardware store carries 3 different kinds. The reason for this is because one company will make their compost from just
   one
   particular industry (wood, cotton, soybeans, etc.), so it’s best to mix together a variety of by-products so you get as many different micronutrients and enzymes as possible.
   
2. Coconut Coir:
   Some people use peat moss instead of coconut coir; however, the more eco-friendly choice is the coir and it’s less expensive. You can buy it in a brick, which will expand when water is added. The coir breaks up the soil, keeping it aerated. You can purchase coconut coir from pet food stores, nurseries, Planet Natural (www.planetnatural.com), or Amazon (www.amazon.com).
   
3. Vermiculite or Perlite:
   Vermiculite is a great addition to soil, as it retains moisture. However, it’s been found to contain asbestos. Although most vermiculite in the United States is now considered to be safe, it may be hard to find. If you do use it, just be careful when pouring/mixing it with your soil, as it’s really dusty and you want to avoid inhaling the tiny particles. Perlite doesn’t retain moisture, but it helps with drainage, which is really important, too. If you can’t get or don’t want to use vermiculite, stick with just perlite. You will be able to find it at most large nurseries and hardware stores.