Get Organized this Holiday Season

Natalie Norbut / November 21, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, the holiday season is just about here. The holidays can be an extremely joyous time, filled with laughter and spent with loved ones. However, along with all of the fun, laughter, and family, this time of year can also be incredibly stressful. Organization, is one way you can help yourself cut-down on the stress this year. This article, from the good people at Enviro Maids, has several tips that will help you get organized, to take away some of the stress that comes along with the holidays.

Stress less this holiday season with our organizing tips

In an ideal world, the holidays are a stress-free time when you visit with family and friends, bake batches of cookies, and enjoy relaxing moments sipping hot chocolate curled up by a roaring fire. If you’re like most people, however, your holiday season is usually anything but relaxing — you’re busy shopping, wrapping, standing in long lines, and entertaining guests all while juggling your usual hectic schedule. This holiday, we’d like to help take some of the stress out of your holiday season. The key is early planning and getting organized. Read our list of organizing tip, tricks, and ideas. Who knows? Maybe this season you’ll have time to sit by the fire.

Organized gift-giving

Gift-giving can be overwhelming especially if you have lots of people to buy for and don’t seem to have enough time to get all your shopping done. Not to mention trying to figure out what to buy the person who has everything. Help make gift-giving a pleasurable experience with these gift organizing tips.

If your extended family has grown over the years, gift-giving can get out of control and expensive. Consider drawing names so everyone focuses on buying for just one person, or agree to buy gifts for only the children.
Shop early to avoid last-minute frantic shopping or expedited shipping fees
Not sure what to buy your teenage nephew or picky best friend? The pros at Reducethechaos.comsuggest using the Amazon.com “wish list” feature. Ask friends and family to pick items from Amazon.com they’d like to receive and have them save the items to their “wish list.” Once their list is completed, they can share it with others via email, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
When you come up with a great gift idea throughout the year, be sure to jot it down or type it in a spreadsheet. This way, when the next holiday season rolls around, you’ll have a list of ideas ready.
Stock up now on tape, wrapping paper, ribbons, and gift bags so you’ll have your gift wrapping station set up.
Wrap gifts as soon as you purchase them or wrap a few gifts each day to avoid having to wrap heaps of gifts at the last minute.
Shopping online saves you the hassle of having to fight for a parking space, navigating large crowds, and standing in long lines to pay. If you do visit a brick and mortar store, shop during non-peak times: early weekday mornings or during the early evening hours.

Organizing Holiday Meals

Plan your holiday menu as far in advance as possible. The extra time lets you tryout recipes and stock up on non-perishable ingredients in advance.
Not sure what to make or want to try a different recipe? Search websites such as Allrecipes.com or Pinterest for endless inspiration.
Cook and freeze items ahead of time.
Ask family members to contribute by bringing an appetizer, dessert, or side dish
Not a fan of cooking? Have the meal catered

Organized Cleaning

Stagger your cleaning tasks. Trying to get your entire house or apartment clean in one day is overwhelming.
Ran out of time and guest will be arriving the next day? Don’t panic, focus on cleaning the rooms and areas of your home guests will actually be using — the bathroom, kitchen, and living room.
When preparing food, spray pans with non-stick spray before cooking to cut down on the scrubbing and soaking time later

Other tips:

Make a list of all the things you’d like to get done during the holiday, then edit the list, keeping only the tasks you can realistically accomplish.
You can’t do it all; delegate whenever you can.
Leave some space in your schedule to take a break and to relax.

Maid Service for Lyons

Natalie Norbut / November 20, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Have you been looking for a house cleaning service in Lyons? Well, today is your lucky day. Clean Conscience now provides green house cleaning services in Lyons, Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, Superior and Broomfield. Whether you need a one-time clean, or recurring service, our cleaning service can be customized to meet your needs. Contact us today for a house cleaning quote

House Cleaning Service for Erie

Natalie Norbut / November 15, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Are you looking for a house cleaning service in Erie? Well, you’re in luck. Clean Conscience Boulder, now provides green house cleaning services in Erie, Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Lyons and Broomfield. Whether you need a one-time clean, or recurring service, our cleaning service can be customized to meet your needs.

Bring the Smell of Autumn, Indoors

Natalie Norbut / November 14, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

There are many things that I love about the fall season; the chilly temperature, the changing of the leaves, and tailgating at a football game are all things that make Autumn, my favorite time of year. However, the one thing that I love even more than all of the things I’ve already listed, are the scents of the season. Apple, pumpkin, cinnamon…..I love it all! There is also nothing better than coming home and having those wonderful scents fill your home. Unfortunately, in order to achieve this many people turn to artificially scented sprays and candles. However, thanks to our friends at Seventh Generation, you can forget about those sprays and candles, and make your own Autumn concoction in a simmer pot. The following article tells you what ingredients you’ll need and gives directions on how to naturally fill your home with the scents of fall.

Fill Your Home With the Scents of Fall – Naturally

As cooler air makes its way across the country, we’re reminded that the holidays are quickly approaching. From Thanksgiving decor to Christmas trees, our homes start to feel the holidays approach, too. This year, skip the artificially- scented candles and sprays and create your own simmer pot! Using fruit, liquid and spices, a simmer pot is an easy, natural way to make your house smell like fall.

What You’ll Need

4 cups of apple cider
The peel of 2 naval oranges
1 apple, sliced in half
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon of allspice berries
1 tablespoon of whole cloves
4-5 cardamom pods
1 small piece of fresh ginger
1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

Add all of the ingredients to a small saucepot and bring to a simmer over low heat. Keep the pot on very low heat for up to a few hours, allowing the scent to fill your house. Add more liquid as needed – and save the mixture in your refrigerator for up to 3 days!

Prep Your Home for the Winter

Natalie Norbut / November 11, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

With just over a month before winter is officially here, it’s time to start thinking about prepping your home for the cold winter months ahead. With the holidays soon approaching, now is probably the best time to start winterizing your home. If you are not entirely sure what you should be doing to prep your home for this winter, this article from Enviro Maids, has some great tips on how to get your home clean and safe for the frigid months ahead.

Daylight savings time ends, now the winter home prep begins!

Smoke and carbon monoxide detector test

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges homeowners to check their lifesaving devices once a month to make certain they are working properly. Consult the instruction manual for your particular model for important instructions. The NFPA also recommends replacing fire and carbon monoxide detectors every 10 years.

Furnace tune-up

Have your furnace checked by a professional once a year. If you haven’t gotten it done already this year, now is the time to get it properly inspected. Also, according to Popular Mechanics, replace or clean your furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Dirty filters can block airflow resulting in an increased energy demand — putting a strain on your furnace and on your wallet. The type of filter you choose is also important. Certain filters do a better job at trapping debris. Popular Mechanics recommends an electrostatic filter for its ability to trap around 88 percent of debris. Another great choice is a genuine HEPA filter which can remove at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles.

Switch your fan in reverse

Ceiling fans often take a vacation during the winter. After all, most people use them to keep cool in the hot months. But did you know that your fan can actually help keep your home warm during the winter AND reduce your energy bill by up to 10 percent? When fan blades spin counterclockwise, they produce that refreshing breeze that cools you down in the warmer months; when the blades spin clockwise, they create an updraft that pushes the warmer air that collects near the ceiling back down. Most ceiling fans come with a direction switch on the unit; simply flip the switch, set the fan on low and enjoy the toasty warm air.

Fight stormy weather with storm windows and doors

Swapping out your screens for storm windows and doors is a tedious task, but well worth it; doing so helps to seal out drafts and prevents the frigid outdoor air from creeping indoors.

Clear your dryer’s vent and ducts

In addition to cleaning the lint filter after every drying cycle, the NFPA recommends taking the time now to check that the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and that the outdoor vent flap opens when the dryer is operating. Be sure to clean accumulated lint out of the vent pipe, as the lint that collects in the pipes and the ducts outside your home are common causes of dryer fires.

Chimney check

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), have your wood burning fireplace inspected annually by a certified professional. The professional will sweep your chimney, remove creosote buildup (a residue that builds up on the chimney’s inner walls and can cause chimney fires) and check for any structural problems. Even if you don’t use your fireplace often, it still should be inspected before lighting it to make sure objects such as bird’s nest haven’t blocked the inside.

Seal up leaks

When the temperature dips and the winds start to howl, any leaks or cracks around your windows, doors, vents, or pipes become noticeable. Uncomfortable drafts can be remedied by installing weather-stripping or caulking windows and doors, and sealing electrical outlets. Caulk inside and out, if necessary, to prevent heat from escaping.

Other miscellaneous tasks:

Flip your mattress to ensure even wear and to extend the life of your mattress; if you have a pillow-top mattress, rotate it instead. Also take this time to thoroughly vacuum your mattress and box spring.
Make sure all heating vents are opened and unblocked. Check that large pieces of furniture such as couches aren’t blocking baseboard heating elements. Move couches at least a foot away to ensure even heat distribution.

Have Clean Conscience, Clean Your Fridge

Natalie Norbut / November 7, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Recently, we posted an article which discussed the importance of maintaining a clean and organized refrigerator. With the holidays fast approaching, cleaning out your refrigerator is as important as ever. Needless to say, many people have more than enough on their plate already when it comes to preparing for the holidays.

If you are planning on hosting this holiday season, give yourself a break and hire Clean Conscience, to get your home clean and ready for the holidays. While you are getting the rest of your home prepared for the holiday food and festivities, don’t forget to have Clean Conscience, clean out your refrigerator for the abundance of holiday food which will be filling it up.

Keep Your Refrigerator Safe and Clean

Natalie Norbut / November 4, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

When it comes to keeping your family safe from harmful bacteria, one of the most important, yet often overlooked things to do, is maintain a clean and organized refrigerator. Besides the obvious health issues that can arise from an unclean, unorganized fridge, there is also the gross-factor of gazing into an unkept refrigerator and the potential smells that may accompany it. If you happen to be interested in giving your refrigerator a little makeover, check out this article from Home Food Safety, which has tips on how to keep your refrigerator safe, fresh, and clean.

Does Your Refrigerator Need a Makeover?

When it comes to keeping your food fresh and safe, your refrigerator is your best friend. Yet we don’t always give it the attention it deserves. If you can’t remember the last time you gave your fridge a good wipe down—or it’s so stuffed you can’t find a thing in it—it could be time for an overhaul.

Here’s how to get a cleaner, healthier and more organized fridge in three simple steps:

1. Keep It Safe

Set the temperature in your refrigerator below 40°F. This keeps food cold enough to prevent bacterial growth, which can cause food poisoning. If your refrigerator doesn’t have a built-in thermometer, an appliance thermometer placed on the center shelf also will work.

2. Keep It Fresh
Making sure foods are at their peak of freshness not only protects your family from food poisoning, it also helps your food taste better.

Schedule a weekly freshness check: Once a week, toss all spoiled leftovers and packaged foods that are past their expiration date. While most leftover food is generally safe for about four days, freshness can vary from food to food. The Home Food Safety program’s app, Is My Food Safe?, can tell you exactly how long you can safely store everything from soup to steak.
Wrap it right: Make sure all meat, poultry and seafood are either tightly wrapped or stored in sealed containers. This will ensure that their juices don’t leak and contaminate other foods.
Assign foods prime real estate: Your refrigerator is specifically designed to help you store foods for maximum freshness:
- Condiments: The door is the warmest part of your refrigerator, making it best for storing long shelf-life items.
- Orange juice: Orange juice tastes best when it’s kept cold, so skip the door and stow it on an interior shelf instead
- Butter: The butter keeper in your fridge door might look like the perfect place to stash your butter, but it’s not cold enough to keep it fresh. Since butter can pick up off flavors quickly, keep it protected in its original wrapper or in a covered dish inside your fridge
- Milk: Store milk where it’s coldest, specifically the back of the bottom shelf.
- Yogurt: As long as it’s tightly covered, you can store yogurt in the interior of your fridge up to 10 days past the “sell by” date.
- Eggs: Keep eggs in their original cartons in the center of the fridge.
- Deli meat: The meat drawer delivers an additional blast of cold air. That makes it the ideal place for highly perishable deli meats and cheeses.
- Packaged raw meat: To prevent dripping which can contaminate other foods, store packaged raw meat on the bottom shelf.
- Produce: Store fruits and vegetables in the crisper drawer. If yours has dual controls, adjust them to allow for higher humidity for vegetables and lower humidity for fruits.

3. Keep It Clean

Nothing spreads bacteria faster than a dirty fridge. Here’s how to germ-proof yours:

Think soap and water: Once a week, give your refrigerator a thorough cleaning by wiping down all shelves and compartments with hot, soapy water. Then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Check all bottles and jars for drips and rinse and dry those as well.
Wipe it up: Spills can spread bacteria fast. Between cleanings, immediately wipe up any leaks or spills with hot, soapy water.
Get organized: Make food easy to find by storing leftovers in clear glass containers. Placing smaller items in the front and taller items in the back can also help. For more tips on refrigerator organization, watch this video.
Freshen it: Keep an open box of baking soda in your fridge so it will always smell clean and fresh.