Tips and News from Rockin Green

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Spring is here and Earth Day is around the corner. Earth Day reminds us that we all share this planet. It reminds us that it is our responsibility to take care of it for future generations. It reminds us that there more we can do and inspires us to do better. Read Rockin Green’s tips below on making your home and laundry greener. Happy Spring and Happy Earth Day from your friends at Diaper Jungle!

How can you become greener in your home? Here’s a few things to start with:

1.    Clean Green. Use eco-friendly cleaning products like Rockin’ Green, of course.
2.    Conserve water. This can be done in many ways like turning off the water when you brush your teeth, taking shorter showers or installing a low-flow toilet.
3.    Mail. Opt for online bill pay and online magazine viewing. It’ll save trees like you wouldn’t believe.
4.    Green plants. Buy a houseplant as they can rid the air of pollutants and toxins in your home, cleaning up the air you breathe in.
5.    Recycle. I hope everyone recycles but for those who don’t – start…NOW.
6.    Light bulbs. Even if you change a few of your incandescent light bulbs and exchange them withEnergy Star bulbs, by some estimates we would save enough energy to light up more than 3 million homes for a year!
7.    Walk and ride. Whenever you can why not take a bike ride or walk instead to save on gas and emissions. Plus it’s good for the body too!

Laundry detergents and the environment

The laundry process (detergent, washer, dryer) of course impacts the environment, but if you take steps to green your cleaning process, you will do minimal damage to the all-important Mother Earth.

Here are some ways you can save energy when washing and drying your clothes.

· Wash only full loads. It almost takes the same amount of electricity to do a small load as it does a full one.
· Wash on the cold cycle whenever possible as it saves on water heater costs.
· Don’t over soap. Using too much detergent makes your washer work harder and you may have to use more water to re-rinse to remove extra soap.
· For effective drying separate heavy items (towels) and light items (t-shirts, socks, etc).
· Use automatic dryer settings and time. This will help to determine type and size load and help you save energy when using a timed cycle.
· Keep the lint filter clean. Clogged vent = wasted energy.
· Line dry your items (in the springtime sun). This one may be obvious, but it’s so great for your fabrics and it’s free, which is lovely bonus!

-Tips From Kim Webb- CEO/Founder Rockin’ Green

Pick up some Rockin Green Detergent today.

Did you hear we offer it for free with your cloth diaper order?

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

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I was visiting a friend’s house the other day and noticed she had decorated beautiful Easter eggs. They were delicately adorned with swirls and beautiful colors that danced around each egg. I was intrigued. She explained to me how she used silk scarves to dye her eggs. Check out your local thrift store for some 100% silk scarves that you can use to cut up.

Here are the basic steps:
1) Prepare eggs by either “blowing out” the eggs. If you choose to keep the eggs intact, this works, too.

2) Cut silk to fit each egg. Tie silk with the ink side toward the egg, securing silk with rubber band.

3) Prepare pot for boiling. Add eggs & 3 tbsp. white vinegar.
4) Boil eggs for approximately 15 min on a steady heat.
5) Turn water off, let eggs set.
6) Drain water, remove eggs and silk.
7) If you want your eggs shiny, add some vegetable oil by rubbing on with a cotton ball.
Voila! Natural, beautiful & unique Easter eggs made that simple!

Yeast Invasion

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There isn’t much worse than seeing your baby in pain or uncomfortable. A few weeks ago my little one suddenly had a bright red tush. Initially, I thought maybe it had to do with teething or a reaction to detergent residue. I reached out to my community of moms for tips to treat our first big rash. A few of them shared some great information and also mentioned yeast. After a couple of weeks of no improvement, a call and a visit to the pediatrician, we determined the rash was in fact yeast. We now have it under control.

A yeast rash tends to be a bit more difficult to get rid of than your run of the mill rash. It also tends to require a little extra work for cloth diapering mamas ( but, worth it right?).

Everyone has yeast in their body. Given a dark, warm, damp area (think groin, bottom and genitals) yeast will thrive. Even when you think it’s gone, it may still be lurking and suddenly flare up with a vengeance.

What to look for:

The infected area is red and elevated with satellite spots sprinkled around the diaper area.

Suggested ways to treat your baby*:

  • Change baby frequently- Yeast will have a more difficult time flourishing in a dry diaper.
  • Clean baby with water- Don’t wipe sore areas, consider using a bulb syringe or a peri bottle.
  • Air out- Make sure you are letting your baby air dry before putting on any creams and/or a new diaper. If possible let your baby hang out in the nude for awhile.
  • Diaper Cream- Apply a diaper cream.
  • Clotrimazole – Over-the-counter. Apply 2 – 3 times. Apply other creams on top to help prevent diaper from absorbing the clotrimazole.
  • Nystatin – Prescription, use as directed.
  • Calendula ointment – Spread on a thin layer of ointment every couple hours or when you change the diaper. California Baby Calendula Cream is a great product, it has many uses and can be used on a regular basis to protect babies with sensitive skin. It is safe to use with cloth, BONUS!

*Always consult with your pediatrician/homeopath.

Suggested ways to treat your diapers:

We have all heard that diaper creams can harm your diapers and decrease their absorbency. Here are a few suggestions to protect them.

While using creams you can use a liner- bio-liners, fleece, silk or disposable.

Wash your cloth diapers, liners and cloth wipes that have been in contact with the yeast and diaper creams separately.

Strip your diapers. You will want to strip them not only to remove the cream residue but to eliminate any lingering yeast. After scouring parenting sites and blogs, I have found that apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil are tried and true ways to rid the nasty yeast. Add ½ cup of ACV to a few hot washes. Also you can disinfect your diapers with the tea tree oil. You can add a couple of drops to the last rinse cycle of a top loading washer or dilute with water and add some to the fabric softener dispenser in an HE washer (refer to your washer’s directions). A caveat: regular white vinegar is not recommended, as it feeds the yeast.

Share with us your methods in your battle against yeast.

PrePEARing and SQUASHing Baby’s First Foods

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My daughter just had her four month well child check. At this appointment the pediatrician brought up introducing solids. I think I’m going to hold off to as close to six months as I can, but that’s only a month and a half away.

I plan on making my own baby food and have begun researching stage one foods and how to make them.

The pediatrician said Fall offers great introductory foods; Yams/ sweet potatoes, apples, mangos, pears, bananas, avocado, squash and pumpkin.

Shopping at your local farmers market or joining a CSA for your homemade baby food (and household) has many benefits; it tends to be more cost effective, your produce will be fresher and you are supporting your local economy. – Ok let me get off my soap box . . .

I thought I’d post a couple of stage one recipes.

Butternut Squash Puree

1 Organic Butternut Squash, cleaned of seeds and quartered.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Fill a baking pan with ¼ – ½ cup water. Place the cut side of squash down and bake until fork tender, about 45 minutes.

Once the squash is done, scoop out the flesh and puree in a food mill like Green Sprouts’ or food processor. Add water breast milk or formula to your 1oz. serving to thin to desired consistency.

This recipe will certainly yield more than one serving. Squash freezes really well and you can easily do so in 1 oz. single servings. Green Sprouts makes a silicone tray, which make it really easy to pop out one serving at a time.

Pear Puree

3 Organic Medium Pears, cored and quartered

Place pear quarters in a steamer basket in a pot filled with a couple of inches of water. Do not let water touch fruit. Steam 10-12 minutes. Pears should piece effortlessly with a toothpick.

Scrape pear to remove the skin and puree and in a food mill or food processor.

Use some of the left over cooking liquid to adjust consistency.

Freezing foods changes the it’s structure, thinning our the puree after freezing usually has the best results but again it’s personal preference. Squash is among the few veggies that is good to thin ahead of time. Pears may be gritty or watery once thawed.

Purchasing organic is personal preference. Pears are on the FDA’s “Dirty Dozen” list and squash is not.

Be sure to consult your pediatrician before introducing solid foods.