MadWash

Lifestyle blog for the curious

How to Emotionally Handle an Economic Crisis

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In life there are ups and downs. This applies to both personal affairs as well as the global economy.

Before an economic crisis happens, it is important to find a strategy to keep afloat and at the same time allowing you to find opportunities to exit the downturn better than when it started.

So no matter if it is a personal crisis or the next global economic depression, here are 4 tips that can help you.

1. Focus more on increasing your income and reduce your expenses

Reducing your expenses is great, but it could be limited if you are uncertain of what things you’d want to give up. While increasing your income has virtually no limit.

Looking for ways to pay less for the things you need is fine. But there comes a time when more effort may be required to reduce your expenses without drastically changing the way you live.

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Redirect your energy and resources on increasing your income. It’s easier if you can find work that you enjoy or start a side-business that requires little to no investment.

2. Accept responsibility for the situation

Mind you, I’m not saying that it’s necessarily your fault. But the only person who is responsible for getting ahead is yourself.

Graciously accept all the help you get, but do not rely on others. Do not expect the government, your friends, your boss or anyone else to take responsibility for you.

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.”
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating healthy foods may be a simple way to boost your spirits and can very well have a positive impact on your mood.

Medical researchers are studying the connection between nutritional choices and the effects on mood and mental health. According to Sherry L. Pagoto, PHD, professor at University of Massachusetts Medical School, “The link between emotions and eating is no myth.”

4. Do not to watch the news

If you are a regular consumer of news you’ve probably heard recently of something to worry about regarding the current economic situation, politics, disease or violence. The media is good about reporting bad-news; because it makes money. Very seldom do we see positive stories on the news.

The interesting thing about this is that when bad news happens, it spreads faster than good news.

News awareness won’t make you happier. In fact, today’s news channels are infinite sources of negativity. All this negativity can damage your emotional well-being and health.

Don’t worry about missing important news. We live in the information age and it highly likely that you’ll hear of news that is of concern.

Unplug from your electronic devices and spend time with family and friends. Or simply do something that makes you feel good.

Reasons to Plant a Survival Garden

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Survival Gardens, better known as Victory Gardens, were necessary during World Wars I and II when many young farmers were called to serve during the war and as a result food production decreased globally.

Citizens were asked by the government to supply for themselves in an effort to prevent food shortages and help keep food costs low for export to U.S. soldiers. Many American families learned the basics of sustainability in an effort to support their country.

Fast-forward 40 years and we reach the peak of consumerism and waste during the 1980’s; a time when convenience items and ”bigger is better” were staples in the typical American home. Gone were the days of getting your hands dirty and connecting with the earth.

Victory Garden

Tack on another 30 years and Americans are facing a new World War, only this one isn’t a foreign enemy with a face and a gun; it’s the economic crisis, global climate change, dwindling energy resources, failing health systems and unregulated food manufacturing.

Yet, through the bleak and darkness of this modern chaos; a ray of light has punched through, and it is growing quicker with each passing day. A movement by many American Preppers returning to the earth; blazing a trail to food sustainability and survival – the return of the Victory Garden.

Some families have taken it upon themselves to prep a Survival Garden; where at least 60% of the food and energy consumed is produced by the home and its family using sustainable resources.

For other families, it is simply growing a few tomato or pepper plants on the back porch, maybe a few fresh herbs in the kitchen. All doing their part to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.

Whether in a home or in an apartment people are getting creative about supplementing their food budgets with better quality, home grown products, while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint, relieving stress, reducing their dependency on big business and factory farming and increasing their health.

How to Wash Trainers In A Washing Machine

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You’ve likely spent a lot of time and effort – and possibly money – into getting the perfect pair of trainers. No doubt you’ll want to keep them looking their best. Washing trainers by hand can be hard work, especially when stains set in and they get covered in stubborn mud that won’t come out. That leaves one likely option; the washing machine. Is it okay to wash trainers in the washing machine though? Well, the good news is that many different kinds of trainers can be safely washed in the washing machine.

Today we’ll be looking at the different kinds of trainers you can safely wash in the machine and how to actually go about doing it. Your trainers will look just as good as new by the time you’ve finished cleaning them properly.

Can I Wash my Trainers in the Washing Machine?

Trainers are a little different from regular shoes. While shoes are generally made from animal materials such as suede and leather, which can’t handle the water inside of a washing machine, trainers are made from synthetic materials. They are made from polyester, nylon, and other similar materials. These materials are more hard-wearing and are better able to resist the damage caused by a washing machine.

Even so, it’s important to take note of the instructions found on the care label of your trainers. This label should outline whether or not the trainers can be safely washed in a washing machine. If the label doesn’t say that it’s okay to use machine washing, then don’t do it. Your trainers will thank you. You may also want to avoid machine washing expensive trainers, in particular running shoes. These trainers are made with technical materials that may get damaged in the wash. Once again, if in doubt just check the label.

How to Wash Trainers in a Washing Machine

Without any further ado, here is the simple step-by-step instructions for washing trainers in a washing machine;

  1. Start by taking the laces out of the trainers. Give them a little bit of a hand clean by scrubbing off excess mud and dirt from them. You can do this with a wire brush or an old toothbrush. This makes things easier on the washing machine and allows the machine to effectively remove any remaining dirt and grime.
  2. Ideally you should put the shoes – and their laces – in a mesh laundry bag, which is then placed inside the washing machine. This prevents the trainers from getting caught on the inside of the drum in the washing machine.
  3. Washing trainers is going to be noisy given how much they’ll bang against the side of the drum. You can reduce the noise by adding some towels to the wash with the trainers. This helps reduce the impact of the trainers hitting the drum. The towels offer a layer of protection for the trainers.
  4. You should wash the trainers at a cold temperature. This prevents the colors from bleeding and fading out. It’s recommended that you keep the temperature below 80F for the best results. When it comes to detergent you should use a high quality color one. Add it to the drum with a dosing ball alongside the trainers before starting the wash cycle.

How to Dry Trainers

You’ll need to dry your trainers once you’ve washed them. You may be tempted to just put them right in the tumble dryer for the fastest possible drying. That would be a mistake. The heat from a tumble dryer can do a lot of damage to your trainers. It can melt the glue that holds them together and increase the risk of breakage. It’s best to leave the trainers to air dry outside, provided that the weather is good. There’s no point in leaving them outside to dry in the rain. This also helps ensure the trainers dry at the right shape and are still comfortable to wear when they are done

It’s entirely possible to wash your trainers in the washing machine as long as you do it properly. Make sure that the trainers are suitable for machine washing by checking the label. Remove the laces and pack them away in a wash bag, and wash them on a cold cycle for best results. With a little care and attention to detail your trainers will soon like good as new!

How to make coffee at home without coffee maker

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When I was growing up, the only coffee that anyone drank in my family, was so-called ‘Turkish Coffee’. It had nothing to do with Turkey and I’m pretty sure if you go to Turkey, you won’t find this particular coffee there. I think the name originally came from an old advert, which featured an exotic man with a turban hat. The advert was for one of the main coffee brands that were then available in Czechoslovakia and since there were not that many coffee options, the name just becomes popular as a name for a coffee.

In those days (I’m talking the 80s & 90s here), people also didn’t have any coffee machines, so even people who would now consider themselves coffee connoisseurs would drink coffee like that.

How to make a good coffee in a mug

  1. Put freshly grounded coffee beans to your favourite mug (I use 4 teaspoons for about 350 ml of water, but I like my coffee fairly weak, so you’ll probably want to up the amount of coffee).
  2. Bring water to boil in a kettle on a stove
  3. Leave the water to cool down a tiny bit (I wait about 30 sec to 1 minute)
  4. Pour over your coffee
  5. Stir & leave for few minutes (the coffee grinds will settle at the bottom of your coffee cup)

Enjoy!

Don’t forget you still have the coffee grounds at the bottom of your cup, so don’t drink absolutely everything!

Extra tip – once your coffee is brewed you can pour it to another cup over a fine sieve to catch the coffee grounds. I always warm up the second cup, by leaving boiling water in until I need to use is, as pouring your coffee from one cup to another will cool it down. If you are careful, you can also omit the sieve and just pour it carefully into another mug or use a muslin cloth or similar to prevent the coffee grounds getting into your perfect cup of coffee.

 

If the idea of coffee grounds in your cup, puts you off, plus it’s fair to say, that the coffee is still brewing as you drink it, which changes the flavour, there is another way to prepare freshly brewed coffee without the grinds.

In the saucepan boil enough water for your coffee plus a little extra. This is a brilliant option if you are making coffee for more people (the cup method can be a little bit too fiddly for this).

 

How to make a good coffee on a stove

  1. Use 4 teaspoons per person (cup) and 350ml per person (cup) or more coffee if you like your coffee stronger
  2. In a large saucepan bring the water to boil and add your coffee
  3. Switch off the heat and don’t let it boil over
  4. Leave the coffee for five minutes or until the coffee grounds sit at the bottom
  5. Carefully pour your coffee into your mugs making sure that you leave the coffee grounds in the saucepan. Or if you have a ladle, use it to refine your pouring technique.
  6. Add your favourite milk or sugar & enjoy!

How to remove old cigarette smoke smell from the house

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I don’t smoke, but I have recently inherited a flat, that was used by my father, who was unfortunately heavy smoker.

The flat was very untidy and stuffed full of furniture, household items, old food and lots of other things accumulated over the years. We knew that this was going to be a challenge to clean, tidy and make this flat habitable again.

The old smoke was one of the last things that needed addressing. I’m pleased to say, that although this was not an easy process, we have managed to get rid of the old cigarette smoke smell. And here is how we’ve done it:

This blog post has now moved and you can now find the whole article on https://www.practicalfrugality.com/how-to-remove-old-cigarette-smoke-smell-from-house

A Quick Guide to Snoring Remedies

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Snoring is common in adults and does not necessarily mean that you have a health problem. However, it is a sign that better lifestyle habits are required such as good nutrition and exercise.

Sometimes snoring can be a sign of a disorder called sleep apnea. This means you have periods where breathing stops partially or completely for more than 10 seconds while you sleep.

Remedies to stop snoring:

Don’t Drink

Reduce alcohol consumption, especially before bedtime. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in the throat which in turn makes snoring more likely.

Eat a Light Dinner

Avoid heavy and difficult to digest meals. Indigestion and heartburn interfere with the flow of air which makes breathing noisy. Try some remedies to improve digestion and relieve heartburn.

Sleep on your side

If you sleep on your back the tongue and palate fall behind the throat and block the airway. This causes the person begins to snore. To prevent this from happening, sleep on your side. In the Book of Home Remedies Mayo Clinic, it is recommended to sew a tennis ball to the back of his pajamas so that when the person mouth turns up while sleeping, the ball the uncomfortable and forced to turn aside.

Mint and Eucalyptus

Known for its expectorant powers, both plants open the airways and soothe the throat. An effective mix is to take essential oils, mix equal parts water and spray the headboard of the bed before going to sleep.

Try Onions

A grandmothers remedy that may help. Onions are a natural decongestant and obstruction of the airways is one of the causes of snoring. Cut an onion in half and sprinkle salt on it. Then place it on a plate on your nightstand.

Olive oil

Take 2-3 small sips of olive oil along with warm water before bedtime. Olive oil helps in lubricating the tissues of the nose and throat and in turn help keep the trachea open.

Maintain Ideal Weight

Even being a bit overweight can cause snoring. Obesity is one of the main reasons why a person snores. This tip can not only help you stop snoring but also to improve the quality of life in general.

Information on MadWash.com is for education purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of a professionally trained doctor nor substitute conventional medical service. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, talk to a physician.