Many essential oils have antibacterial and antiseptic qualities, which means they can kill bacteria and other microorganisms that can infect the skin and cause pimples.  Spearmint or peppermint. Peppermint or spearmint may be irritating to some. Start with one drop/quart of water. Both peppermint and spearmint contain menthol, which has antiseptic and immune-boosting properties.  Thyme boosts the immune system and has antibacterial properties. It also increases circulation of the blood by opening up blood vessels.  Calendula accelerates healing and has antimicrobial properties.  Lavender is soothing and can help with anxiety and depression. It also has antibacterial properties.  Tea tree oil. Test an area of skin free of acne first. Tea tree oil can irritate some people's skin, which risks making the acne worse.  If you don't have essential oils, you can substitute 4-5 tablespoons of the dried herb of the respective oil. The result will be messier but just as effective. Since different people have different reactions to essential oils, experts recommend that you test any oil on a smaller portion of skin before using it in a full bath. Add one drop to eight ounces of water before soaking a cotton ball in the water. Squeeze out the cotton ball, then apply it to a patch of skin. Make sure you test each oil separately since you won't know which causes the irritation once you mix them. Make sure your bathtub is clean, then fill it with water. Hot water won't harm the essential oils you'll add, so make it hot enough to be comfortable. If your skin did not have any reaction to the sensitivity tests, start with 5-10 drops of the oil in a full bath. You can increase to 10-20 drops if the 5-10 drops do not have any effect on your skin. If you want to turn the aromatic, herbal bath into a real spa-style treat, you can even add up to a cup of sea salt to the bath. You want to give the oils/herbs plenty of time to take effect. Soak in the tub for around 20-30 minutes. You will want to rinse off thoroughly with clean water before getting out of the tub. This is especially the case when using herbs in the water. After you get out of the bathtub, pat your back dry instead of scrubbing your back with the towel. Then, get dressed in cotton clothing. Scrubbing your back may irritate your skin.

Summary: Purchase antibacterial essential oils. Test the essential oils on your skin to make sure you're not allergic. Fill your bathtub with hot water at your desired temperature. Add 5-10 drops of essential oil to your bath. Soak in the bath for 20-30 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly. Pat yourself dry with a clean towel.


Weekly vacuuming prevents dirt from building up. Use a high suction vacuum that does not have a brush. Berber is a looped carpet and a brush will snag and damage your carpet.  If your vacuum has a brush, turn the brush off when vacuuming. Vacuums with a beater bar should also be avoided. Vacuum up dirt as soon as you see it. If dirt sits on top of your carpet, it will eventually work itself into the loops of the carpet and it will be difficult to remove it. Simple things like removing your shoes when you enter your house or placing mats around doors and other high-traffic areas will go a long way in keeping your Berber carpet looking sharp. Do not allow eating and drinking in rooms that have Berber carpet.  Children and pets make keeping your Berber carpet more difficult as they are more likely to cause stains and snag the carpet. If possible, limit their time in the areas that have Berber carpet.  You can also cover areas with large rugs or place blankets on the carpet when your children are playing on the floor. If you have pets, keep their claws trimmed to avoid snagging your carpet. Berber is more stain resistant than other types of carpet. If you spill something on your carpet, you have an opportunity to take care of it before the substance penetrates the fibers of your carpet. Oils are much harder to remove from Berber carpet than other types of spills because oil is easily absorbed by Berber.  Time is the most important factor for preventing stains. If you can absorb the spill, you are much less likely to have a stain. It is best to call a professional cleaner for an oil spill.

Summary: Vacuum your carpet regularly. Prevent damage in the first place. Clean up spills as soon as possible.


Red meat is the largest known food source of easily-absorbed iron content. Organ meats in particular, such as liver, are especially high in iron. Don’t worry, vegetarians, you have many options, which will be discussed later.  Iron in meat is known as heme iron, which comes from the hemoglobin in the animal tissue.  It is more easily absorbed when eaten than plant-derived sources of iron, at about a 30% rate of absorption.  There is no iron in fat, so you should have no qualms about choosing extra lean ground beef or trimming the excess fat off your roasts and steaks. Iron content examples:  beef chuck roast, 3.2 mg per 3 oz.; ground beef, 2.2 mg per 3 oz.  For these examples, keep in mind that a male over age 18 should consume 8 mg or iron per day; a non-pregnant female age 19 to 50 should consume 18 mg per day. Generally speaking, seafood is not as substantial a source of iron as red meat.  However, particular items like canned clams and cooked oysters are among the most-iron rich foods of any type.  Shrimp and sardines are also good sources of iron; salmon and tuna have somewhat less, but also offer valuable nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids. Iron content examples:  canned clams, 23.8 mg per 3 oz.; sardines, 2.5 mg per 3 oz. These white meats provide solid amounts of heme iron, although not as much as red meat or higher-iron seafood options.  Turkey is a good choice, providing more iron than chicken or ham. If you enjoy liver or other organ meats (like turkey or chicken giblets), you’re in luck - these can provide substantial amounts of iron. Iron content examples:  liver / giblets, 5.2 - 9.9 mg per 3 oz.; duck, 2.3 mg per 1/2 cup. As non-heme iron sources (not contained in hemoglobin), the iron content in grains (as well as beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and so on) is not as well-absorbed when consumed -- usually less than 10% absorption, compared to 30% for heme iron.  It still counts toward your overall intake, but it should not make up the entirety of your iron consumption.  Practically all breads, cereals, and anything else made from grains offers iron content.  However, iron-fortified breads and breakfast cereals are the best choice if added iron consumption is your goal Iron content examples:  fortified dry cereals, 1.8 - 21.1 mg per 1 oz; fortified instant hot cereal, 4.9 - 8.1 mg per packet. Even if you do consume meat, picking up iron from non-meat sources like beans, nuts, and vegetables can only help, and will offer a host of other healthy vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.  Proteins like soybeans, lentils, kidney beans and chickpeas are solid sources of non-heme iron.  So go ahead and pick the tofu burger if you aren’t a meat-eater. Dark, leafy greens like spinach and kale, dried fruits like apricots, prunes, and figs, nuts and seeds such as peanuts and pumpkin seeds, potatoes and rice, and brewer’s yeast and molasses are among the many sources or iron available to vegetarians and omnivores alike.  Iron content examples:  cooked lentils, 3.3 mg per 1/2 cup; cooked spinach, 3.2 mg per 1/2 c.; roasted pumpkin seeds, 4.2 mg per 1 oz.
Summary: Eat lean red meat. Select iron-rich seafood. Mix in pork and poultry. Go for more grains. Choose vegetarian options.