Who Knew? (I suspected)

From the NY Times: Stop Using So Much Laundry Detergent . Published July 22, 2021

If you’ve ever reached into your dryer expecting to pull out a load of downy-soft laundry only to find a pile of stiff, starchy garments, there’s a good chance you’re using too much laundry detergent.

Laundry detergent obviously gets dirt and stains out of your clothes, but if you use too much, you wind up creating a new mess. This is a result of detergent residue that hasn’t been fully rinsed out, and it can turn your previously soft wardrobe into a crunchy, scratchy, uncomfortable-to-wear load of clothes. Too much detergent also creates a surplus of suds that can prevent your garments from rubbing against one another (which helps release trapped dirt from your clothes), according to Tide’s website.

Though it seems counterintuitive, the more detergent you use past a certain point, the dirtier your clothes become.
How much laundry detergent should you actually use?

To effectively clean your clothes, you need to use only 2 tablespoons per load at most—and that’s for big loads weighing 12 pounds or more. As staff writer Sarah Bodgan and senior staff writer Liam McCabe say in our guide to the best washing machines, 1 tablespoon is enough to thoroughly clean an average load, which usually weighs around 8 pounds. And if you’re hand-washing, Sarah recommends that you use even less. “When it comes to laundry detergent, a little will go a long way.”

The amount of detergent you should add varies greatly among brands, but keep in mind that the back of your bottle might recommend that you use more than 2 tablespoons per load. “Some detergent manufacturers are going to lie on the label,” Sarah warns in a Wirecutter video about laundry stripping. “But remember, they’re selling a product, and they want you to buy more of it.”

It can be even worse if you’re using high-efficiency (HE) detergent, which is made from high-concentration, low-sudsing formulas and can be used in both traditional and HE machines. Liam and Sarah explain that HE detergents are at least double the concentration of traditional detergents. To clean your clothes, a high-efficiency washer uses less water than a traditional washing machine, so there’s even less water to dilute the detergent.

Wirecutter recommends liquid detergent only, since it’s predissolved. Though pre-portioned pods are convenient, you have less control over the amount. This can quickly lead to a buildup of chemicals and cleaning agents that stiffen your laundry. We don’t recommend powder detergent, either, since it doesn’t always dissolve and can leave behind clumps in your laundry.
The best way to remove detergent buildup (click on link to read the entire article)

Social Distance for POLE Hikers

Most people on the trail GET IT. They’re maintaining respectful distances. A few notable exceptions caused me to rethink my pole etiquette. I’ve been a pole etiquette EVANGELIST for some time now, making my intentions clear so we all have space on even narrow trails.

But yesterday’s runners, cyclists, large groups and parents have forced a proaction on my part. An optimally adjusted pole and an extended arm (angled slightly downward so it does not look like a weapon, but a friendly warning) creates a 6′ distance and alerts those who are not either paying attention or don’t care to please provide the social distance necessary to fight this pandemic. It’s either that or forego being outside.

We need to work together so we can all be safe.

Coronavirus – stay safe

Since Chemo, I have shunned handshakes. It’s hard to do and seems like rejection OR I cringe when offered a handshake and almost immediately look for the closest sink to wash up. If anything good comes from this scare, this might be it.

But in the meantime – stay safe, please!

Free weights in the gym are germ factories. I’ve used sanitizer on them for years.
I’ve washed poles with alcohol for removing poison oak oil; now I’m including the grips. I mix 90% alcohol with a little water and spray the grips. They dry quickly.
I’ve made my own hand sanitizer after finding none in stores and IMO it’s BETTER than the commercial stuff. I got the recipe on line and it’s wonderful.
– 2/3 99% alcohol – bottom line, you need to end up with at least 60% alcohol
– 1/3 aloe gel
– a few drops of an essential oil you like – simple.
note: oil might coagulate so I’ve been making infusions by adding dried lavender or desert white sage to the alcohol and letting it cure a bit before adding to the aloe.
So save your little containers.

What strategies are you using?

Shoe Insole Helps Your FEET!

My Feet, My Feet!

Hikers have FEET!  I have not used commercial insoles that come in the shoes for YEARS.  I’ve tried every insole I could find and, as I get older, my feet seem to need more help.  FINALLY, I found an insole that makes a huge difference.  I’ve been telling my hiking buddies about it and have enough people who have thanked me and raved about it, I feel I can recommend to my AdventureBuddies here:

Use the link above to search for your size. You want PowerStep Pinnacle Max. I tried the regular, but LOVE the Max.
As always, anything you order via links from this blog help support quality posts. I do not take advertising, but use affiliate links (which cost you nothing). If you subscribe, you may not be able to click thru, so please go to the blog and click from there.

Healthy Aging

To Vitamin or Not to Vitamin?

On one of my meet-up hikes, I met a retired anesthesiologist.  He told me what he had been doing (besides training for hikes and unwinding from years of administering to patients) since his retirement.  He founded and formulated a high quality vitamin designed to help active, aging bodies.

My problem with supplements is they’re not regulated.  What the heck is in them?  How do you know what/whom to trust?

I tried this vitamin regimen and feel the difference.  I’ve checked with other professionals and they agree that the formulation makes good sense.

This is a high quality formulation designed to support an active lifestyle and support aging gracefully.  At first I thought it was a little pricey, especially since I’ve previously shunned supplements.  But when I checked the cost vs. trying to purchase the ingredients separately, I realized this was a good investment in my health.    Plus they offer a 90 day, no questions asked guarantee.   So I decided I had nothing to lose and tried it.  It’s time to share with my AdventureBuddies!

More info below from their website:

The mission at Baranta Health is to formulate nutritional supplements with ingredients not readily available in our modern foods that may have benefits to augment a healthy lifestyle. The word Baranta means “Bounding” and that’s what most of our customers experience: bounding mental and physical well-being. Baranta Health supplements may provide benefits that are experiential such as increased energy, sharper focus and improved physical performance, as well as that support positive mood, promote emotional well-being  and that increase resistance to fatigue, stress & tension. Our company is committed to supporting anti-aging research through investing in joint ventures to develop nutritional products and also donating to support basic science research that leads to pharmaceutical breakthroughs for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer.

Note:  If you are getting this as a subscriber to the blog, you may not be able to use the links.  Please visit the blog and you can check out links from there.  Thank you!  www.AdventureBuddies.net/blog

Compression and Ice Speed Healing

Is this news to anyone?  Ice reduces inflammation. Why take drugs and make your kidneys and liver pay for (otherwise untreated) knee pain?  I believe that everyone should have a good ice pack at the ready!

Remember the adage:  RICE?  Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.  I’ve talked on this blog about the importance of compression and I carry a compression bandage in my hiking pack – always.  I’ve helped many a hiker with this simple, essential piece of gear.  But when I get home, it’s ice for my knee.  When I ice, I don’t hurt.  When I don’t, I often am uncomfortable the next day.  I have to remember to ice because I don’t hurt until the next day.

I’ve looked long and hard and have tried many ice packs.  I got this one recently and LOVE it.  It’s great for knees, wrists, elbows, ankles, feet (plantar fasciitis), even a shoulder.  When I first pull it out of the freezer, it’s a bit hard, but it softens quickly and stays cold longer than most.  This particular pack comes with 2 ice packs and one compression sleeve (which has a good wide compression strap.   It’s less than $3 for an additional pack making this a really good value.

Under the ice pack link is a link for a Velcro compression bandage (2 pack – one for your pack, one for home).   Compress an injury quickly (and lightly – not too tightly) to prevent swelling, reduce pain, provide support.

Lastly, don’t forget the compression bandage is in your pack – USE IT. If you can get an injury cleaned and compressed, it can make a HUGE difference. Check with your favorite medical professional or even search around the web if you’re not familiar with the benefits and methods of compression. Most medical kits I’ve looked at do not have this most essential item.

As always, order from the links on this blog.  It supports the blog and costs you nothing.  Anything you purchase after clicking thru from the blog results in a (very teeny tiny) commission – it’s called affiliate marketing and it helps support providing quality info to people who love being outside!  Thanks Hikers & Walkers!

Face Toning Exercises

A member in my Core, Cardio & More class told me about these exercises.  She’s almost 60 and looks under 40 – her face and neck look as smooth as silk.  She’s been doing these exercises for years and they work for her.  It makes so much sense to me because muscles like toning.  Practice & Enjoy!

 

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California: Car and Driver are reunited

California is a desert. Every now and then we get WEATHER.

Yesterday, we went down the coast to attend a memorial service for a dear cousin. I tell you this so you know that only a truly important event would have gotten us out of the house on a stormy day – the likes of which we have not seen in a long time.  The memorial service was deeply moving and connected us as a community of friends and relatives.

When we went to leave, Half Moon Bay frogs were SINGING. We got in our car and went NOWHERE. We were STUCK. While we were inside enjoying food, song and conversation, my car was sinking. 3 men tried to push, 3 manly-men admitted defeat. With all the weather-related events happening, AAA was over 90 minutes away but then they went to a similar street name in San Mateo instead of Half Moon Bay. So we waited, made comfortable and welcome by dear cousins.

Finally, help arrived. AAA had to get creative to get my deeply-stuck-in-the-mud front tires free – this was not a straight forward release. Then Bob painstakingly rinsed the mud from the brakes. We left behind a huge hole – sorry cousins!  Finally, we were on our way home – around 11, not 8. All this time, the weather cooperated with only light sprinkles from time to time.

Home stretch: Coming into Pacifica, we encountered a police action. The road was closed due to a mudslide. I got out of the car and politely approached one of the many policeman (some of whom were waving flashlights around seemingly randomly, getting all the drivers confused). The officer I approached  was not helpful.  Isn’t part of a policeman’s job to be polite to regular folk, to answer reasonable questions in something other than unhelpful monosyllables?  As I returned from the policeman, many people in cars scattered all over were waiting and asking ME what was happening. I could have relayed good information; I could have been a bearer of NEWS as well as good will and a collective understanding that stuff happens.

At that point, we had a choice. Go all the way back to Half Moon Bay and around – at least an hour of driving with no knowledge of what we’d encounter (the AAA driver had already told us they were pulling a car out of a ditch on the main road) OR WALK.

We parked, got our headlamps (yes, I carry one in my car – thank goodness), an umbrella and started walking. The heavens picked THAT moment (the very moment we started walking) to dump BUCKETS of water on us. We sloshed for 45 minutes in a deluge of rain, running water, puddles and debris all over the roads and sidewalks.  We had a powerful tailwind.  Pacifica frogs were SINGING.  We got home safe and sound and soaked.

The next morning, I woke up realizing all my gear (for my morning class) was in my car. Plus all the yummy food from last night’s gathering.  Highway One was still closed, but they were running one-way controls, causing big delays in the morning commute.  Bob and I braved it.  We arrived at the tail end of traffic in both directions.  Instead of over an hour of waiting, we retrieved my car in 10 minutes. It was a breeze, almost as if nature was apologizing for the night before.

Travel Safe!

Update:  Good news – no one is hurt.  Bad news – AAA tow truck driver damaged my car when he tried the first 2 times to pull it out.  Toyota says it’s irreparable, structural damage and egregious incompetence of a tow truck driver.  Sigh.

Hindsight lesson for my readers:  A simple tow out of the mud should not result in severe damage to your car.  Never again shall I ASSume that the professional tow truck driver knows what’s best without monitoring closely.

Chant for 2017

I love this chant!

I learned it from my good friend Renee

written by: Ravyn Stanfield

Holiday Gift Guide Top Pick

Our Top Outdoor Gift Idea is a HEADLAMP.  See link at bottom of this post which will take you directly to our favorite source.  Why a headlamp?   Because we care….PLUS:

For those of us who use poles, it’s a no-brainer.  Put in your pack even if you know  you’ll be done before dark.  Stuff happens OTT (on the trail). Explore caves, tunnels, enjoy!  Why this model?  Black Diamond Spot is lightweight, waterproof and has great features.   The red light is used at night so we don’t blind our buddies or lose our night vision.  It comes in great colors – get a bright one for yourself and your favorite hiking buddy.
But also use for:

• Travel ~ If you’re in a hotel room and want to continue reading while your partner wants the light out – BINGO! The aim-hinge helps your neck and posture.   (So does putting your book on a pillow)
• Safety ~ for those of us in earthquake land, we know to keep a pair of sturdy shoes under our bed, at the ready. A pair of socks goes in one and the headlamp (when not in the hiking pack) goes in   the other.  That way we have our hands available.
• Neck Health!  Reading with a headlamp is SO much better for your neck, eyes and shoulders (for so many reasons).

As we get older (beats the alternative), we need ways to stay safe.  Once you get accustomed to using a headlamp, you’ll never go back.  But – please – use it.

Note:  when in your pack – LOCK IT  so you don’t end up with a dead battery/useless headlamp.  So read the instructions and use in health!

Custom Directions:

I find the directions a little murky, so here’s a recap:  Open with the little lever on the side &  install batteries (included).   Then give yourself a tutorial:

• One press for strong spot. One press for off
• 2 quick presses for double (reading) light
• 3 quick presses for flashing lights
• Press and hold (about 2 seconds) for red (night) light

Keep pressing (4 to 6 seconds) to lock – again – VERY IMPORTANT to keep light from accidentally going on and draining the battery – blue lock light will come on.  Press and hold (4 to 6 seconds) to unlock.

Notice battery monitor – cool huh?

Once on, if you press and hold, all lights will dim.

Power tap on side will alternate between custom dimmed setting and full strength.

This really is the coolest headlamp – now practice, have fun and please USE IT.   Aim it vs. straining your neck.  If reluctant, try reading with it and we hope you think it’s the best reading lamp ever!

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