Lifestyle Eco-Friendly Home Tips 2/28/2024 | By Cathy Hobbs Chemicals can be bad for the environment and for our health. These eco-friendly home tips from Cathy Hobbs Home Design and Seniors Guide can help you achieve a fresh home naturally. Fresh, clean, and eco-friendly. There are numerous ways to create an environment that is chemical free while also providing cleanliness and freshness. Eco-friendly ways to infuse scents in your space Consider herbs. From sage to lavender, these herbs can provide a fragrant and appealing scent. Incorporate oils. Pure essential oils are the most powerful. Add greenery. Plants and trees are not only attractive but can also help to improve the air quality and oxygen in a home. Purchase a diffuser. These popular items for the home can help to spread fragrance throughout your home for an extended period of time. Burn a soy candle. Candles that are natural help to provide a scent in a nontoxic way. Eco-friendly cleaning tips Make your own cleanser. Create a natural cleaning solution such as one made from baking soda, lemon juice and borax. Clean windows and surfaces with lemon juice, vinegar and water. Use reusable or washable rags for cleaning as opposed to disposable paper towels. Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental / vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com. ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More environmental tips from Seniors Guide 11 easy ways seniors can protect our planet Environmental problems, including climate change, affect everyone, and everyone can contribute to combatting the problems. Seniors can protect our planet for a healthier Earth, for a more healthful life for themselves, and for a brighter future for youth – and all people of the world. These easy ideas for being environmentally responsible can help us all. Environmental concerns aren’t new for those over 50. Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring” in 1962, showing how pesticide overuse was harming the planet – and people – long-term. The 1960s counterculture nurtured a growing environmental consciousness, further fueled by a 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara and the Cuyahoga River fire. The federal government passed the first Clean Air Act in 1967, and Earth Day was founded in 1970. On the flip side of 50, it’s easy to become apathetic about the Earth’s future. Unfortunately, young people don’t have that luxury. In fact, a 2021 study found that nearly 60% of youth between the ages of 16 and 25 reported feeling either “very” or “extremely” worried about climate change. More than 50% said climate change made them feel “afraid, sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and/or guilty,” 77% consider the future to be frightening, and 56% agree that humanity is doomed. These negative feelings adversely affect their day-to-day lives. Sadly, climate change is harming the vulnerable the most – including wildlife and poor individuals, communities, and countries. In reality, environmental issues affect older adults as well, giving selfish reasons for seniors to protect our planet. Besides climate disasters, environmental stresses threaten health. Seniors are more susceptible to heat waves. Pollution can exacerbate current health conditions, cause diseases to develop, and even impact undiagnosed health conditions. So what’s a senior to do? Isn’t the issue too big for individuals to tackle? Yes, and no. Yes, governments and corporations worldwide need to act, but individual actions can help. Whether you live independently or in a senior community, you can act! Read more Read More Cathy Hobbs