Little Green Dot

Category: Home

Hotel Vintage

Yesterday my Green Living partner and I met at Hock Siong & Co for our business meeting – a bit of a fun change!

It’s a big warehouse of second hand furniture and accessories, tucked away in an industrial area…

Inside it’s full of random…stuff. Remnants from hotels, you’ll find pieces with lots of potential – you just need a little styling and a little creativity. So many great chairs, just dying to be reupholstered!

There’s a huge kitchen section!

And just all kinds of bits and pieces…

There’s this 5 foot tall industrial steamer, which, I had no idea what I could possibly use it for, but I really wanted to bring home! I just couldn’t think of a good enough reason to explain this one to my husband, but man I wanted it!

It’s a pretty fun place… definitely worth checking out!

Hock Siong & Co
153 Kampong Ampat (near Tai Seng MRT)

July 6, 2012
Green Cleaning

Singapore: There’s a brand new green cleaner in town! This brand is from Brooklyn NY, they’re a small business with big plans to help clean up the earth! They make all of their products with earth-friendly ingredients and lovely scents. If you are looking for hardworking but safe household cleaner – Check out Common Good – that’s if you’re not already making your own of course!

all images are from Rockstar, which is where you’ll find Common Good sold!

Rockstar
8 Grange Road, Orchard Cineleisure,
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p.s – If you want to have a go at making your very own household cleaning products, come join me at my Green Living workshops where we get hands on and learn how to detoxify our homes!

July 4, 2012
Make It: The Best All-Natural Mites & Mold Killer!
This comes from experience – my household became increasingly allergenic throughout the months. My husband would get these sneezing fits, my daughter developed what are called “allergic shiners” and there were lot of snuffly noses all around. When we were outdoors, we were fine, but the moment we came home, the symptoms started! Here I wanted my home to be a safe haven for my family, but it seemed that it was actually making them sick…

What was causing this?

Dust is a mixture of dirt, skin cells, dander, spores, mites and other living compounds which, under the right conditions can begin to multiply. In my case dust was flying in from a construction site next door. With the rain and heat, the house became an ideal climate for mold, mildew… and I suspect… dust mites to breed!

Here’s the thing – normal housework alone will not help – if the spores find a porous wet surface to grow in, simply wiping it clean is not enough, you must kill it from the roots. Equally, vacuuming alone will not eliminate mites. They have velcro like hairs on their legs which anchor them in place…the little buggers.

Mites

Dust mites thrive on dead human skin cells in bedding, carpeting and upholstery. These microscopic animals multiply by the thousands in warm and humid conditions – pretty much Singapore, all year round! Dust mites are the most common cause of allergy from house dust.

Mold

Molds reproduce by releasing tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are moist. About one in three people can have allergic reactions to mold.

The recipe

There are plenty of cleaners that use chemical agents to combat these little terrors, but I definitely don’t want to add another toxic element into the mix!

I did my research… and I have found an all natural solution! Tea Tree Oil. This oil is amazing! It is a triple threat – antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal! This means it kills bacteria, viruses and fungus that harbor in our home and can cause all kinds of health issues. Tea tree oil is a volatile compound, which means it even kills bacteria just when sprayed in the air! You’ll want to use it all over your kitchen!

I created my Bye-Bye Mites & Mold spray and I now spray it on my soft furnishing to keep dust mites away. The idea is to create an inhospitable environment for them. I also periodically spray it on my daughter’s wooden dollhouse (where a mold once grew), in my closet, the air-con and anywhere it gets musty (shoe closet) to deodorize and to keep beasties and mold from growing.

If you think that you might have mold & dust mites or want to make sure that you don’t get them – you’ll need a powerful, all-natural cleaner.

Take action and make it yourself!

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Bye-Bye Mites & Mold – All-Natural Mites & Mold Killer Recipe
2 cups water

2 teaspoons tea tree oil

1 dark bottle (not crystal clear – oils are light-sensitive)
Mix, shake and spray on affected areas. Spray periodically to maintain a clean environment. It has a strong odor, but that’s because it’s powerful – and the smell will dissipate after a short time.

Spray Mattresses, linen, curtains, upholstery and carpets to keep mites away

Spray anywhere that mold and mildew grows or would happily grow (musty closets, bathroom and rooms)
Warning: Tea Tree Oil is highly concentrated. It is safe when diluted and in small amounts, even applied neat on the skin..but it should be used carefully! Always buy high quality, pure essential oil – you get what you pay for. Keep away from small hands and paws, never ingest and keep your home well ventilated when you spray.

Tip: Re-purpose an old cleaning bottle

I bought my Tea Tree Oil from The Skin Pharmacist
image source
January 27, 2012
Making Friends With a Weed

Meet Rosie, our shy plant – her leaves close when you touch them. I transplanted her from the curbside – without gloves (ouch!) and ignoring the confused looks from the neighbors – I know it’s a weed!

We planted her in a pretty pot, trimmed her thorns and now we feed her blended up veggie scraps from the kitchen. She is, I suspect, the best cared-for weed in the neighborhood! She sits on our breakfast table and every morning my daughters tickle her leaves to watch her curl up…

It can be hard to get kids excited about plants. In fairness, it can be hard for adults to get excited about plants too – they take a while to grow, they don’t do much of anything, and they are all to easy to forget…and subsequently neglect. Rosie is different. Actually, she’s the first plant that my daughter has named – and when it comes to connecting with nature – I think that’s pretty promising…

January 25, 2012
{diy} Anti-Bacterial Hand Scrub Recipe
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Hi, if you’re here because of the coronavirus pandemic, you’re in the right place! I’m Militza, and I’ve been teaching safe and natural homemade alternatives to conventional skincare for almost 10 years.

The advice below is up-to-date, but when you’re done reading, you’ll find more information and resources on my Instagram account, @littlegreendot.

Stay home, and stay safe! ?

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When you come home from the outside, or in my case from the questionable sand-pit at the park – you really want to scrub and disinfect your hands clean, but hand sanitizers can really dry out your skin…

Many antibacterial soaps are loaded with harsh chemicals, that can not only irratate our skin, but cause environmental damage. Look out for a common ingredient triclosan, which can contaminate streams and has even been linked to increased occurrences of antibiotic resistance…

[irp posts=”11918″ name=”It’s official – antibacterial soaps have been kicked to the curb!”]

Here’s a recipe to make a moisturizing scrub which will safely clean away dirt and bacteria and leave your hands feeling lovely and soft! It’s gentle enough to use every day!
Anti-Bacterial Hand Scrub
1 cup fine sea salt (sea salt is best – it is high in minerals which are beneficial to our skin’s health)
Pour sweet almond oil until it forms a thick consistency – it should look like a granita or snow-cone
20 drops lavender essential oil (relaxing) (or lemongrass essential oil (invigorating) – both have a lovely scent and are anti-germicidal)
10 drops tea tree oil (– a powerful disinfectant – it is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal!)
Simply scoop out a bit, rub your hands, rinse and pat dry.
Your skin will be clean, sanitized and feel amazing!
Store it in a container and keep it at home by your sink or wrap it up in a jar as a gift – makes a lovely hostess gift!
Where to buy your ingredients (Singapore):

You will need to stock up your natural beauty pantry with a few ingredients, but once you buy them you can then use them for a multitude of recipes for body and home.
- Sea Salt – most supermarkets. If you can only find large crystals, you can always whizz it up in the blender for few seconds.
- Sweet almond oil and essential oils – The Skin Pharmacy, Lemongrass House, Naturaworks – or check around some of your favorite natural food shops (make sure that the sweet almond oil is cold-pressed)
- Jars – for any product that you make with essential oils, you’ll need to store it in a dark colored container as oils are light sensitive. Check out Massage Supplies Warehouse or re-use a bottle from home. (I’ll use mine up pretty quickly, so I’m not worried – but if you want it to keep – it’s best dark.)
Make it yourself and make it green!
January 18, 2012
End Junk Mail Today!
Junk mail is a big problem in my home in Singapore.

Well, it was.

What was so frustrating, aside from a mailbox full of ads, was seeing all this paper, ink and dye going to waste. The natural resources consumed, the toxic chemicals used – all for that piece of paper to reach your mailbox in a vain attempt to capture your attention… 44 percent of junk mail is thrown away unopened, but only half of that (22 percent) is recycled.

I came across an article that explained how to opt out of receiving junk mail in Singapore and decided to give it a try… the answer was so simple!

If you want to end junk mail today – here’s how I managed to cut it out and control the amount of waste that goes through my home:

How to stop receiving junk mail in Singapore

Here’s what you do:

1. E-mail Singapore Post with your details ([email protected]) and ask to be removed from their advertising list

– or –

2. Go to the SingPost website and opt-out on line: Go here

Make the following selections in the contact form:
- Service Type: Postal
- Category: Advertising Mail
- Sub Category: OPT-OUT Service
You’ll be given a second form to complete with your address and contact details:

Complete the form in full and send it off to SingPost.

– then

3. Wait for a response and look out for a little green sticker to magically appear on your mailbox!

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1 month later, I’ve only received three pieces of junk mail – where I used to get three a day!

I love it when they make it easy for us to be green!

Happy de-cluttering!
January 6, 2012
The Year of Simple Imperfection

Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and awe in nature. It is authentic, simple, uncluttered and a celebration of the marks that time, weather and use leave behind. Wabi-sabi is flea markets, handmade, it’s aged wood, untreated paper, unfinished hems. It reminds us that we are connected to the world around us – and like those objects, we too are imperfect, natural, changing and transient. Through wabi-sabi, we learn to embrace liver spots, wrinkles, rust, and frayed edges, and the journey of time they represent.

For 2012 I seek to embrace this way of life. To live simply, eat mindfully and create an environment around myself which speaks of those things that matter most to me: living a full, meaningful and connected life, even if it leaves a few marks along the way…

I look forward to sharing this journey with you along the way. Happy 2012!

photos via: apartment therapy, carolineboneham, greigedesign, bayaderka, cannellevanille, everlytrue, wabiisabii

January 4, 2012
Behind The Brand – Idocare
For this week’s Behind The Brand, I met with Humaa, the creator of Idocare – a brand new line of eco-friendly cleaning products. We talked about what led her to an unexpected change in career direction, how she built her business, and her motivations to create something that makes the world a little better.

Now, I really imagined Humaa to be some kind of industrial chemist or mad scientist – I mean, who else formulates cleaning products? But I was so inspired to learn that it was the creation of a Mommy fuelled by the passion to keep her baby safe.

Humaa’s story is something that I think we can all relate to – traveling a certain path in life yet still searching to find what makes us happy. Sometimes it’s about not being scared to pursue the thing that grabs your imagination, even if it leads you somewhere quite unexpected. It might not make for the most conventional life, or the easiest, but it can definitely make the most impact!

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It all began in London, where Humaa studied law. Upon graduation, she returned to Singapore, but when she began to practice, she just didn’t love it. Later, in the advertising world, she found the same thing. Finally, after becoming pregnant, she decided to become a stay-at-home Mom. She became concerned with the toxic chemicals being used in her home and wanted to find safer options – but what she found in Singapore was just too expensive. This is when the idea for Idocare came to her.

She began to research and study, determined to create her own cleaning solution, and she realized that by getting rid of certain toxic chemicals she could improve the health of her home and, even just a little bit, the health of our planet.

But imagine if everyone else did the same! Well, that’s exactly what she set out to make happen!

Humaa realized early on that for people to make the switch to more natural products, they would not only have to cost the same, but also work, smell and feel the same as what people were used to from their conventional products.  To achieve this, she had to strike a balance – by figuring out what mattered the most to her and what would be easiest for consumers to adapt to their life. She thought about which problems she hoped to improve and what she absolutely would not work with.

With that, Humaa had a very clear idea of what she wanted to put out there:
1. Something safe for the body: free of parabens, NPE’s and optical brighteners.
2. Something safe for our environment: free of phosphates and in line with the Zero Waste Philosophy.
3. Something effective: working just as well as conventional cleaning products, if not better!
She definitely set the bar high, but she has a strong motivation! The whole process took well over a year – from research, to finding a reliable manufacturer and developing the formulation. Even the manufacturer was learning along the way – until then they had only made conventional cleaning products, and getting good results with new ingredients took a lot of trial and error. But finally, they got it right – creating a high-performance cleaning product that’s non-toxic, natural and safe! This goes to show, you don’t have to succeed the first time, or even the tenth time – you just have to keep trying.

Humaa has put all of herself into this – it’s in the product, the packaging, the design and it’s in her contribution to the effort.

the earth has taken care of us and now it’s our turn to take care of it

I agree! Thanks, Humaa !

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I’ve been using Idocare products for a couple of weeks now, and here’s what I think:

Summer Citrus Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

Simply put, it cleans your dishes as well as any other dishwashing liquid I’ve tried. Even better, it’s concentrated so that a little goes a long way, and it uses less water, energy and packaging to produce. Why not use something that is effective and has less of a negative impact? It makes sense to me!

Lavender Fields Concentrated Laundry Detergent

This has turned out to be fantastic for soakings. My daughter is a little monkey and is always covered in all sorts of messes – her clothes bear the marks of adventures with food, paint and puddles. What I’ve been doing is soaking her clothing in a solution first and then washing in cold water and done – clean and ready for the next adventure!
September 1, 2011