Better Basics for the Home 
Product Description: - These days, more and more people are saying no to better living through chemistry and yes to a lifestyle that is less toxic and more environmentally friendly. This trend toward a more natural lifestyle has become something of a crusade for Annie Berthold-Bond. After developing hypersensitivity to even very low concentrations of chemicals, Berthold-Bond was forced to rid her life of as many toxins as possible.
It wasn t until I had to be away from chemicals that I began to realize how many we lived with. The extent of the contamination is startling-- from hair spray and floor wax to dandelion killers and plastic shower curtains and other products that line our hardware stores and supermarket shelves. This book represents the culmination of her search for a more sustainable lifestyle. Taking her cue from an earlier time, Berthold-Bond, former editor-in-chief of Green Alternatives for Health and Environment, offers over 800 simple and practical alternatives to common household toxins, covering everything from skin care to gardening. And the good news is that adopting her suggestions and formulas isn t hard at all. Mixing up face creams or wood stain isn t much different than cleaning the windows with vinegar, soap, and water instead of using Brand Name X, or making a cake with flour, eggs and milk instead of buying a mix, she asserts. With a few simple staples we can clean our houses, wash our hair, rid the dog s bed of fleas, and do many other things as well. If you have your doubts, here is her formula for metal polish: 3 teaspoons salt, 1 tablespoon flour, and enough white distilled vinegar to make a paste. Scoop the paste onto a clean sponge, and polish the metal clean. Rinse with hot water and buff dry. Sure, these days it s literally impossible to lead a life that is completely toxin-free. But you can significantly reduce your exposure, and picking up a copy of Better Basics for the Home is a great way to get started. --Amazon.com
Customer Ratings: - Very good. This is a weighty tome and, since I bought it for the cleaning solutions contained within, I have only referred to parts of the book and I m not sure I anticipate ever using the advice on building materials! However, there are a number of extremely useful and practical recipes for eco substitutes for day to day cleaning, many of which I now use to great effect. It s an American book, with lots of evidence and arguments cited coming from US sources (understandably). I was initially concerned that this would mean that many of the ingredients may be more difficult to find in the UK but I am able to source all of them with relative ease. Well worth the money, this book is invaluable if you want to dispense with standard chemical cleaning products.
- Excellent. Easy to follow and make receipts. A mine of information and a bible for anyone seeking a life with less chemicals and toxins. A must for anyone looking to be greener. Brilliant
- a revelation. SIMPLE - I do wonder how the supermarket shelves are stocked to the ceiling with such toxic and ineffective rubbish. Absolutely everyone should read this book along with a little research of their own.
- A very practical reference and instructional guide.. I found Better Basics to be a very practical instructional book for making my own blends of home and body care mixtures, and Ms. Berthold-Bond included an extensive list of suppliers for the less common ingredients. Next to the phone book and a favorite cookbook, this is the 3d most-consulted book in our house. It is well worth the price, and I intend to share several with friends and relatives who understand the value of making our own, like our ancestors did.
- Very Comprehensive. I am new to attempting to run a green household. I have found this book invaluable. The recipes are straight-forward & easy to implement. Provides all needed information without extraneous rambling. I may eventually want to know the chemical properties and interactions for everything, but this book provided that info on a need-to-know basis only. Also, the author doesn t waste time attempting to convince the reader of the benefits of going green or of the detriments of not being green: she simply states the facts, which are convincing enough. Very well done. I think I ll be buying many more for gifts.
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Better Basics for the Home (ID: 0609803255)
