Competition Winner

Back in the early months of the year, we ran a competition asking all our newsletter subscribers to email us with their preferred choice of colour for our new Bamboo/Cotton Towels. We had a huge response, some rather interesting suggestions, but remarkably most feedback requested our chosen colour... we then went ahead and produced our best selling towels in Charcoal.

Congratulations to Daniel who was our lucky winner. Daniel will receive a set of Charcoal Towels shortly.

Bamboo Towels are very soft and absorbent. Unlike bamboo bed linens, a bamboo towel is generally a bamboo/cotton blend. The added cotton does not increase absorbency, but gives a feeling of loft. Our bamboo towels come in bamboo bath sheets, bamboo bath towels, bamboo hand towels & bamboo face cloths

Bamboo is 100% sustainable, making our bamboo towels some of the most eco-friendly towels on the planet.

Towels will be on sale online from Monday 20th October 2014.

Controlling your garden bamboo

Even though I love bamboo as a plant, garden screen and an environmentally responsible raw material, the strength and tenacity of this plant can also be its downfall if it’s in your garden and you do not wish to harvest your bamboo for mass textile production for products such as linens and towels.

Controlling your garden bamboo

While bamboos are usually a good, ornamental plant, here are some of the problems encountered and if grown without caution, can become problematic and take over your patch:

Bamboo shoots may pop up anywhere in the garden: neighbouring land or even through solid barriers, such as in patios and conservatory floors. Most weed-suppressant groundcover fabrics will not stop bamboo spreading

The problem tends to be with the invasive types of bamboo. These bamboos spread via long rhizomes, which help the plant to colonise new areas

The clump forming bamboos can also grow out of control, but do not tend to spread as much as the running bamboos

Digging

Non-chemical methods involve digging out clumps of bamboo and restricting the size. This can be difficult with very large plants, or on heavy soil. Use a sharp spade to dig up the entire clump or to remove sections from the edge of the clump that have grown beyond the limits. Sever the rhizomes as you go, lifting and removing them with a fork or trowel. If you wish to keep the plant, consider planting it inside a physical barrier like a pot or raised bed.

Chemical control

You can use a weed killer to remove unwanted growth, or the whole plant. The larger the plant, the more difficult it will be to completely kill it, and it may take several applications of weed killer to succeed

Removing the whole plant

With very tall bamboos, which can be difficult to spray, cut down canes to soil level in late winter and then apply a suitable to the young growth in late spring and early summer. Several treatments may be needed

Alternatively, cut canes to ground and treat with a stump and root killer. Treat foliage of any regrowth as soon as possible.

Respect your bamboo… it has a mind of it’s own.

How clean is your bathroom?

Poor bathroom hygiene can present a health risk to the entire household. When not cleaned properly and often, a dirty bathroom becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and germs that spread illness through the house.

Following some basic hygiene rules can prevent germs from spreading. It involves keeping surfaces clean and dry and removing possible 'breeding grounds' for germs. The regimen is not just healthy; it's considerate to all family members. The dirt and germs you leave behind can linger and spread illness to other family members.

Personal Hygiene
 Teeth Brushing
Overall bathroom cleanliness begins when you clean yourself. Replace your toothbrushes every three months. Don't let your toothbrush hang in the holder with other family members as germs can easily spread this way. And never share a toothbrush with anyone. That's the quickest way to spread infections.
 Hands
Wash your hands thoroughly each time you use the bathroom. Germs spread quickly by touch. Instruct all family members to wash their hands with warm, soapy water after using the toilet. Educate young children early about the importance of toilet hygiene.
 Drying off
Use disposable towels to dry your hands instead of a cloth towel that everyone would use. By using disposables, you'll be throwing away germs instead of spreading them. Communal towels contain bacteria and viruses that cause illness.
Bath towels should be changed and washed regularly. Hang them up to dry after use; the longer they remain wet, the more germs will collect on the towel. Try using bamboo blended towels which are not only anti bacterial and anti-fungal, but are soft and luxurious as well. And most importantly, environmentally totally sustainable.

Surfaces

All bathroom surfaces should be cleaned regularly. These include the door handle, faucets, toilet, sink, floor and shower/bathtub.

Shake water from the curtain after showering to prevent buildup of mould and mildew. Always leave the curtain open so water evaporates. Clean the curtain liner once a month.

Occasionally remove your showerheads and soak them overnight in vinegar or a commercial cleanser. This removes the build-up and dirt that clogs the head and contaminates the shower water.

Be especially careful when cleaning the toilet, especially if a family member is sick. All toilet parts should be cleaned regularly including the seat, rim, lid, bowl and flushing handle. Always wipe the toilet seat with tissue before and after using.

Author: Laura Toursoulopoulos Follow us on Google+