Everything we use at home becomes our environment:

              In Whitby Shores and Ajax Lakeside communities, and, in fact, throughout Durham's Lakeshore Communities,  we live in a wonderful natural setting, close to the lakeshore, near the Lynde Shores Conservation Area and Wetlands.  The variety of birds and animals living in close proximity to our communities is a reminder of the delicate balance that exists between development and preservation.

             Most of our activities, in and around our homes, affect not only the environments around our communities, but also the environment inside our homes:  the surfaces we touch and walk on, the air and scents and fumes we breathe, and surfaces and containers we eat and cook food from every day.  Whatever we bring into our homes, from dirt and pesticides and oils on our shoes and clothing, synthetic air fresheners and cleaners that we think make our homes "fresh and clean", eventually end up inside our bodies, and our children's bodies.

             For example, have you noticed the hinges of  the inside doors in your house, often have a black stain that seeps out onto the doors and frames.  It is from a lubricant the builders apply, after installation, in many new homes.  If you touch it, it comes off on your fingers-- if your children touch it, it goes from fingers to mouths.

A quick and easy fix is to pull out the hinge pins, wash them, and give them a light coat of Vaseline.  This will prevent any squeaks for years to come, and it won't seep out, stain the doors, or evaporate into the air you breathe.  And it is pretty much non-toxic.  Pure mineral oil works just as well, and is great for many lubricant uses, from bike chains to chopping blocks-- and it doesn't go rancid like some vegetable oils can.

             More to come next month..