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cleaning

5 Eco-Friendly (and Realistic) Spring Cleaning Tips for Busy Moms

April 7, 2017 by Rachel 24 Comments

Since becoming a mom two things have become very clear to me: First, is that in order to best protect my children I want to limit the amount of chemicals they are exposed to; the Second, is that my house will never truly be clean — there will simply always be toys and clothes and whatnot.

So I’m sharing the (very realistic, busy mom,) eco-friendly tips I use for cleaning our home:

  • Use cloths instead of paper towels and sponges. Sponges hold in all kinds of bacteria; and paper towels are just wasteful. So over the last year we’ve opted for EnviroCloths. They’re environmentally friendly and they don’t hold on to germs like sponges.

  • Open those windows! As soon as the weather breaks, I air our house out from all of the stale air of the Winter months. It’s inevitable that at some point over the Winter we’re all sick (and this year it was a lot of the stomach bug — ugh!). So it helps to just air everything out.
  • We clean with Bona free & simple products. They are specially formulated to be both effective and safe. I recently used the Bona free & simple Hardwood Floor Cleaner to help a dear friend clean the floors of her brand new home. The hypoallergenic formula is certified allergy and asthma friendly (and safe for their new puppy!) and removes of 93.3% of allergens from the surface of the floor.

  • Declutter one tiny space at a time. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to clean every space of your home in one day, one week, or heck, even one month! Declutter, sort, and create piles for organizing, piles for donation, and piles for trash.
  • Keep your home smelling fresh naturally. We use essential oils and diffusers in nearly every room. It’s easy, cost-effective, and safe for everyone!
  • Bonus tip! I try to schedule mini-“purge” sessions throughout the year by going through a room every few months and deciding if what occupies it is truly necessary — that goes for clothes, toys, kitchen items (like those awful plastic cups!), and more!

Tell me — what’s your favorite way to Spring clean? And then head on over to the Bona website to sign up for a $3 off coupon so you can clean your house safe and effectively, too!

And remember, life is meant to be enjoyed. So don’t stress over the toys — they will only be little for a short period of time. Let them play in the organized chaos that is life.

 

Filed Under: #MomLife, cleaning, health, money saving tips, review, sponsor, the environment, wellness Tagged With: #MomLife, being a mom, cleaning, health, money saving tips, review, sponsor, the environment, wellness

Tea Tree Oil // Review + Giveaway

March 31, 2015 by Rachel 12 Comments

Over the last several months we’ve begun to delve into the world of essential oils. It started with friend giving us a sample of an essential oil used to treat coughs and respiratory issues when Ari was diagnosed with some breathing issues last fall.

I recently started using tea tree oil to treat some skin issues. Tea tree oil, known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is an essential oil native to Australia that is catching on with increasing popularity because of its incredible healing benefits. 

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I’ve had some sort of dry skin and eczema since I was a kid. My recent skin woes have been from running. Here’s a secret: running destroys the skin on the bottom of your feet. Blah. My feet are rough and calloused and just … not pretty. So I started using tea tree oil on the bottoms of my feet, mixed in a 4:1 ratio with coconut oil. What do ya know — my feet are feeling softer!

Tea tree oil is known for its topical antiseptic and anti-fungal treatment or infection-reducing benefits. It also has antibiotic properties and helps aid against aliments such as skin infections, rashes, burns, dandruff and much more! It’s not limited to it’s skin remedies — it can also be used as an all purpose cleaner (bonus for my yogi friends? it’s safe to use to clean your yoga mat when mixed with water!)!

Apothecary Extract Tea Tree Oil is 100% pure Australian pharmaceutical grade and never diluted. Also? — check out the label. No preservatives; No artificial colors; No fragrance; No parabens; No mineral oil; No petroleum; AND No chemical solvents!

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Every large 4 ounce bottle of Apothecary Extracts (which retails at $24.99 with free shipping on Amazon), comes with a free 100 page guide on all the ways to use tea tree oil to improve your life, and replace harmful cleaners around the house.

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About Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil: 

Our Australian tea tree plantation has received awards for its industry-leading, conservation farming practices. They have the smallest carbon footprint of any producer of pure and natural Tea Tree Oil. The Australian Parliament has invited them to represent farming operators at a Carbon Farming Incentive forum. They were one of the first producers to be accredited under the Australian Tea Tree Industry Association Code of Practice. The nutrition program for the Tea Tree plants is based on organic fertilizers. When using pesticides (a necessity to ensure the health of the plants) they employ a shield sprayer to minimize any contact with the plant. Whenever possible natural crop protection products are used.

Enter to win a bottle of your own using the rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was selected to receive a bottle of Australian Tea Tree Oil for my honest opinion and review of this product. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Thank you to Apothecary Extracts and Tomoson for sponsoring this post. 

Filed Under: cleaning, crunchy granola, giveaway, green, health, homeopathic remedies, review Tagged With: being green, cleaning, crunchy granola, giveaway, health, homeopathic remedies, review, sponsor

Green Living // Green-Cleaning

March 7, 2013 by Rachel 1 Comment

We’ve been fighting off some sort of funk in our house for a few days. Chad started to come down with something Saturday and Ari was acting funny at the sitter Monday — my poor babies! 🙁

I’ve been trying to keep the germs away as naturally as possible. I wash my hands a lot and I never touch my face or Ari if I’m out in public and have touched a door/shopping cart/etc. It seems obsessive, but I’d much rather be paranoid than deal with Babycakes getting sick.

But this opens up a question: How do I effectively clean our house without introducing hazardous chemicals, while getting the “germ-free” deep-clean I’m looking for?

Well I’ve been reading The Daily Green for tips on how to use green/sustainable products to keep my family and house healthy and happy.

These days I’m exclusively using Method products for all of our daily-cleaning. It’s safe, effective, and adorably packaged.

I know there’s a give-and-take with using green products. Using products without bleach won’t ensure a germ-free house; but using bleach will ensure that my baby and husband are subjected to hazardous fumes and chemicals. So that’s a risk I’m willing to take.

But knock-on-wood, Ari D and I have yet to get sick. The Method all-purpose cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner have been lifesavers. I’ve always regularly used the Method all-purpose cleaner, but now I’ve been using it more than ever — in the kitchen, the bathroom, dining room, etc. I never have any issues with breathing or headaches when using green cleaning products, which is why I’ll never go back to the toxic and harmful products I used to use.

Filed Under: green, living sustainably Tagged With: being green, cleaning, sustainable living

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