Natural Mosquito Repellent

Natalie Norbut / July 7, 2015 / Comments are off for this post.

This past weekend was of course, the 4th of July. And, like millions of other Americans, I celebrated our nation’s Independence Day, outdoors at a barbecue. Unfortunately, my friends and I weren’t the only ones enjoying a 4th of July feast, everyone seemed to be getting eaten alive by mosquitoes! Eventually, somebody ran to the nearest open pharmacy and picked up bug spray. After using the repellent on our arms and legs, not only did we all reek of the chemicals in the spray, but we all felt sticky and gross until we eventually just hosed it off. It became a bit of a catch 22, “Do we stink and feel gross? Or do we get bitten?”….Many of us decided to just deal with the bites.

If this happens to sound like typical summertime problem to you, then I suggest you take a look at this recipe for an all natural homemade bug repellent spray, from DIY Natural.

Natural Homemade Insect/Bug Repellent Spray

Natural Insect Repellent

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of one or a combination of the following: witch hazel or vodka (find witch hazel here)
2 tablespoons of one or a combination of the following: grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil, or neem oil (which contains natural insecticidal compounds) – (where to buy these oils)
½ teaspoon vodka as preservative (if not already using)
100-110 drops essential oils (where to buy 100% pure essential oils)

Sample Bug-Repelling Essential Oil Blend:

55 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil (reported by the CDC to be a good natural substitution for DEET in repelling insects, but not recommended for use on children under 3 yrs.)
15 drops cedarwood essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil (if using, choose Lavandula angustifolia– “Lavender (40-42) essential oil” does not have the same insecticidal qualities)
15 drops rosemary essential oil

Directions:

Add carrier liquids to small spray bottle (3 or 4 oz. works well so there is room for shaking). Add essential oils. Shake well before each use. Natural bug repellent will need to be reapplied every few hours for maximum effectiveness.

Sanitizing Your Hotel Room

Natalie Norbut / June 23, 2015 / Comments are off for this post.

It is summertime, which for many families means family vacation time. Unless you happen to be visiting friends or family members and staying at their home for your vacation, chances are good you will be spending a portion of your time in either hotel or motel rooms. This can be an uncomfortable situation for some people, especially when it comes down to the overall cleanliness of the room they are staying in. One way you can put your mind at ease, is to take it upon yourself to sanitize the room. This article from How To Clean Stuff.net, gives you several tips on how to do just that.

How to Sanitize a Hotel Room

Maybe you have seen the news reports and undercover investigations where the investigator shines a black light around a supposedly clean hotel room and discovers germs, bacteria and sometimes even worse lingering inside it. This has happened even at some of the most upscale hotel chains. In order to avoid a hotel room nightmare – or at least a preventable illness – follow the steps below.

Inspect your room before unpacking.

Remember, no one should have to spend the night in a room that has obviously, whether intentionally or not, been overlooked by housekeeping services. If your room is found to be unsatisfactory, you are well within your right to ask for a new one. So, as soon as you enter your room, take about ten minutes to have a look around.

Check the floor, bedding and furniture for any stains, hairs, crumbs and debris. Take notice of any insects or any food or waste that could attract them. Then check the bathroom for the same thing, as well as for mold, mildew or leaking water. Check the toilet and bathtub or shower for cleanliness and make sure all toiletry items – soaps, shampoos, shower caps – are sealed and not left over from a previous guest.

Lastly, look at the air conditioner and heat vents as well as the access panel to the bathroom fan. Make sure there are no strange smells or dust and debris around the ducts that could aggravate any allergies or otherwise inhibit your breathing. This could make for a very uncomfortable stay.

If you asked for a nonsmoking room, check for any smoking paraphernalia, such as an ash tray.

Also note if there is a stale cigarette smell in the room. IT is possible that you have been given a smoking room by mistake or that the previous guest decided to smoke in the room anyway.

If you find anything that alarms you, alert the front desk to your concerns immediately and offer to point out the issues in person. Most likely the attendant will be more than willing to work with you to remedy the problem. If not, request to speak to a manager. If this still gets you nowhere, consider staying at a different hotel and writing a stern letter to the president of the company when you get home.

Sanitize and Sterilize!

Even if your hotel room passes the initial inspection, or perhaps your second room in your hotel does, you have no reason to believe that this hotel room is completely sterilized and spotless. Thus, you should still take the following advice into accord to protect your health.

Be wary of small but commonly used items.

Things such as the phone, television remote control, light switch, door and drawer handles and telephone are small enough that they can be missed by hotel cleaning staff, yet touched enough by guests that they can be teeming with germs. Best to bring along a travel-sized pack of antibacterial wipes and clean the surfaces of these items before you use them. Or, alternately, you can cover each device with a clean, resealable plastic bag that you bring from home. Well, with the possible exception of the light switch.

Ditch the bedspread:

Unlike the sheets, the bedspread in your hotel room may not be washed after every guest, mainly because it is a bulky and a pain for the staff members to carry in and out of the room and it takes up a lot of space in the washing machine. If your hotel bed has a comforter or bedspread on it, you may want to toss it aside and place it on the floor or in a chair. Then either cover up with the sheets alone or use your own blanket that you have brought from home.

*If the comforter has a removable cover on it, chances are that it is washed regularly. Removable covers are considerably less obtrusive and are fairly easy to throw in the washing machine.

Don’t use refillable water glasses

Many new reports have shown that these water glasses are not properly cleaned and sterilized in between guests. Sometimes they are just given a quick scrub in the bathroom sink and then placed back on the counter as if they were new. There is no way to tell if this is the case at your hotel, short of shadowing the housekeeping staff. Instead of taking your chances, bring your own glass that you know is clean or use a disposable plastic cup.

Keep your hands germ free

Whenever you touch a surface in your room that may be of questionable cleanliness either wash your hands with hot water and soap or use a bottle of hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer is available in travel sizes at most grocery stores and drug stores so it is no big deal to throw a bottle or two in your handbag or suitcase.

Make sure your feet stay off the floor

Sure, you may want to make yourself at home, by never walk around your hotel room barefoot. It is doubtful that the cleaning staff shampoos and sterilizes the carpet between guests. Instead, wear socks or slippers at all times. And consider wearing flip flops or shower shoes in the bathroom for similar reasons.

Voice your opinion

Odds are that you are more likely to have cleanliness issues if you stay at a lower-class hotel than a higher class one. However, no matter where you are staying, you are entitled to a certain standard of health and sanitation. Don’t be afraid to speak up if there is a problem. Better to be known as a nagging guest than to later wind up sick or even hospitalized.

Tips for Conserving Water

Natalie Norbut / May 26, 2015 / Comments are off for this post.

Yesterday was Memorial Day, which just happens to be the unofficial start to summer. With the mercury rising, water usage will also be rising. Whether it is used to keep grass lush and green, or just used as a way for the kids to cool down on a hot day, the amount of water used by the average person does increase significantly during the summer months. While some of this increase in water usage may be unavoidable, there are plenty of ways to better conserve your water this summer. Here are several tips from Seventh Generation, on how to cut back on water usage in and outside of your home.

Saving Every Drop in the Bucket: 15 Water Conservation Tips

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 30 states started May with conditions ranging from abnormally dry to exceptional drought. California alone has one year of surface supplies left before its reservoirs run dry. Mother Nature, it seems, is getting miserly with her spigot. And that means the rest of us must conserve all we can.

By now, the thirsty denizens of water-starved states know the basic water-saving drill. But shorter showers, brown lawns, and dirty cars aren’t the only tricks in the tank. Here are some water conservations steps you may not have thought about:

Outdoors:

Let your grass grow. Taller grass preserves more soil moisture and needs less water. Leave your clippings where they fall to act as mulch.
Start saving whatever rainfall you get in a rain barrel connected to your gutters. Use it to water your garden and houseplants, and for outdoor cleaning purposes.
Or plant near the house and drain your gutters straight into your garden.
Leaky hoses are big water-wasters. So tape your hose connections at the tap and wherever extensions meet.
Capture your grey water, the “waste water” from washing clothes, dishes, and the like, for your garden or lawn. (Think big buckets!) If you’re using non-toxic, biodegradable detergents and soaps, it’s fine to use.
Wash pets and other dirty things on the lawn where waste water will enjoy a second life.
Collect the water emitted by central and window air conditioners. Even in arid areas you’ll get up to five gallons per day.

Indoors:

Recycle water. For example, save your cooking water in the fridge and reuse it a few more times or turn it into soup. It can also water plants. So can old water from pet bowls, vase water, water bottles and more.
Wash produce in a bowl of water not under the tap. Then recycle that water!
Put your tableware in storage leaving out just one glass, mug, bowl, and plate for each family member. This will cut down on unnecessary dishwashing.
Stick a pitcher of water in the refrigerator so kids and others can pour a cold glass without running the faucet first.
Ration your laundering. Items like towels, pants, sweatshirts, sweaters, etc. don’t need washing after every use.
Stash a bucket by your bathtub and save what runs while you wait for hot water.
In the shower, turn off the water while you wash your hair or shave.
Stick a sealed half-gallon container of water in each toilet tank to displace some of the water inside and flush with less.

These water strategies may seem like a drop in the bucket, but remember: when no drops fall from the sky every drop you save is worth its weight in liquid gold.

Easy Tips for Green Cleaning

Natalie Norbut / May 12, 2015 / Comments are off for this post.

When it comes to cleaning up the house, many people still reach for whatever chemical cleaner is sitting under their sink and just spray away,sometimes using several different traditional cleaners for very similar jobs, not realizing that there are plenty of safe and natural cleaning supplies already in their home. In fact, with just a few simple ingredients, which can be found in most homes, you can tackle a plethora of cleaning tasks. In this article from BLOGS.NaturalNews, they discuss 14 easy green cleaning tips that will assist you in getting your home clean without the need for any chemical-laden traditional cleaners.

14 Easy, Green Cleaning Tricks

Harsh cleaners are commonly chosen to get house cleaning done. Most people are used to using bleach and other harsh chemicals because they feel that that is the only way to get the job done right. They don’t even realize there are healthier ways to get your house clean that won’t put toxic pollutants in the air while still getting great results. You can easily keep your space clean and sanitary the green way with vinegar, salt, lemon juice, baking soda and a few other ingredients found around your house. Here is a look at 14 easy, green cleaning tricks for the whole house.

Glass and Mirrors

Most window cleaners are made with ammonia but you can actually clean them effectively using a half gallon of water and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice mixed together. Use a lint-free rag, cloth diaper, old cotton t-shirt or a microfiber cloth to get the best results. Avoid using paper towels, regular rags that leave lint or newspapers that will leave a mess. You can also clean mirrors with vinegar and water mixtures.

Furniture Polishing

Polish for wood, metal and other surfaces are made with some of the most poisonous chemicals. Polish is made with petroleum distillates and solvents which are hazardous. Instead, try a mixture of 2 parts olive oil, 1 part lemon juice and apply it to your wooden furniture with a soft cloth. If that’s too oily, Care2 says you should reverse the formula to use more vinegar or lemon juice and less oil. It’ll shine and smell great. Of course, always test a small area first as you would with any of your traditional cleaners.

Bathroom Tips

For the showers in your home, mix baking soda and all-natural dish soap to remove soap scum from shower doors. Clean the tub by letting vinegar or lemon juice and hot tap water soak for a while before scrubbing with a brush. Use a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and water to clean the shower curtain, which will also help deter the growth of mold (turn on fans when showering to suction the steam and moisture out of the air too). Synergy Maids recommends cleaning the toilet and sink with vinegar and baking soda rather than bleach and then mop the floor with vinegar.

Kitchen Tips

For the kitchen, you’ll want to wipe the faucet with a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol to make it sparkle. If you have granite counter tops, wipe off the grease and debris with a dishcloth dipped in warm water and mild dish soap. To disinfect and shine, take a mixture of half rubbing alcohol and half tap water and wipe it clean (Make sure your granite has a good seal) . For sticky messes, use a drop of lemon essential oil with a cotton ball or rub with a lemon rind.

For your pots and pans, cut a lemon in half, spray it with water, sprinkle with salt and then scrub with the lemon. This is a safer and very effective way to clean. If you have grease on the stove, try baking soda which will also work on counter tops. Stainless steel sinks will clean well with baking soda and a damp sponge.

Floors

For vinyl floors, simply dip your cloth into lemon juice and rub it on stained areas. For carpets, make sure you vacuum thoroughly and then clean the carpets with a steam cleaner. If it’s just spots, spray with a vinegar and water mix, place a damp cloth on it and let a clothes iron sit on it for a few minutes at a time until it comes up. You can also mix salt, borax and white vinegar to place on stained areas before vacuuming.

Metal Work

Metal work that needs attention can be cleaned the green way as well. Most metal polishes for brass, copper, chrome and stainless steel contain ammonia and acid. Clean copper and brass the green way using salt, vinegar and flour. Make a paste with the three ingredients, rub it onto the item with a soft cloth, let it dry out for an hour and then wipe it off with a clean cloth.

When you’re ready to clean your home in a healthier way, try these easy green cleaning tips to get the job done effectively without allowing toxic chemicals to get into the air you breathe.

The Harmful Effects Bleach Can Have On Children

Natalie Norbut / April 16, 2015 / Comments are off for this post.

Bleach, a very common cleaning supply and one that can almost surely be found in most homes in the U.S., may be extremely harmful to your children. While most people are well aware of the dangers of ingesting bleach, or allowing it to come in contact with the eyes or skin; not everyone is aware of the potential dangers “passive exposure” to bleach may have on their children. In this article from Medical Daily, these potential dangers are discussed.

The Dangers Of Household Bleach: Kids Exposed To Cleaner May Experience Respiratory Illness, Infections

Yes, bleach can be quite dangerous if ingested by a child — but a new study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine suggests that even just “passive exposure” to the chemical in the home is associated with a higher chance of childhood respiratory illness and other infections.

The researchers examined over 9,000 children between the ages of 6 and 12 throughout 19 schools in the Netherlands, 17 schools in Finland, and 18 schools in Barcelona, Spain. They measured their levels of exposure to bleach, then attempted to test the negative impact it had on their health. Parents were asked to complete questions about the frequency of their children’s flu, tonsilitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis, and pneumonia during the past 12 months. They were also asked whether they had used bleach in some way to clean their homes once a week.

Interestingly, the authors found that nearly 72 percent of respondents from Spain used bleach frequently in their homes, while only 7 percent of Finnish households did. Spanish schools, meanwhile, were cleaned with bleach regularly while Finnish schools were not. Researchers found that the frequency of infections among children was linked to higher amounts of bleach use by parents at home — and the differences were quite evident when it came to the flu, tonsilitis, and other infections (the risk of flu was 20 percent higher in bleach households, and the risk of recurrent tonsillitis 35 percent higher in bleach households). The risk of any other infection happening again was 18 percent higher among the children exposed to bleach.

Bleach and other cleaning products might damage the lining of lung cells, causing inflammation and making it easier for infections to occur, the authors argue. Of course, it’s been known for some time that common household cleaning products aren’t meant to be inhaled or ingested; just breathing in your typical Lysol spray can make you feel dizzy or nauseous. But the study reinforces the importance of being aware of the adverse side effects of bleach and other household items.

The American Lung Association suggests sticking to soap and warm water as opposed to bleach or ammonia, as it may often do the trick just as well. For scrubbing floors or sinks, use baking soda to really get the gritty dirt out of the cracks. And vinegar mixed with water is a good glass cleaner.

“The high frequency of use of disinfecting cleaning products may be of public health concern, also when exposure occurs during childhood,” the authors write in their conclusion. They also noted that the frequent use of these products was often “caused by the erroneous belief, reinforced by advertising, that our homes should be free of microbes.”

Source: Casas L, Espinosa A, Borras-Santos A, Jacobs J, Krop E, Heederik D. “Domestic use of bleach and infections in children: a multicentre cross-sectional study.” Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 2015.

Safely and Naturally De-Ice Your Walkway

Natalie Norbut / January 16, 2015 / Comments are off for this post.

It is now the middle of January, two weeks into the new year and all across the country many people have been, and will continue to, deal with bitter cold weather and snowy/icy conditions. It’s the time of year when many of us get a chance to burn off those holiday pounds by shoveling or pushing a snow-blower. And, while shoveling and snow-blowing may get rid of the bulk of the snow in your driveway or on your walkways, they won’t take care of the ice which can be a slipping hazard. The answer to that problem is deicers. Unfortunately, the most common deicer (salt) can be hazardous to your pets, plants, and driveway/walkway.

Luckily, there are several safe and natural deicers that can handle the job of making your driveway/walkways slip-free. Listed below are a few examples of alternatives to salt which are safe, natural and effective.

“Kitty Litter”- If you happen to own a cat, or know someone who does, this is an effective way of keeping your footing on those icy surfaces. While kitty litter won’t actually melt the ice, it does create traction for a far less slippery surface.

“Coffee Grinds”- This effective no-slip solution can be found in just about any kitchen in the country. The dark colors of the coffee will also help absorb more heat and therefore help with the melting of the ice.

“Organic Salt-free Deicers”- If you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, salt-free organic deicers, work just as well as salt but won’t harm your pets or plants.

“Alfalfa Meal”- This may actually be the most effective all natural deicing solution. Not only will it create great traction and assist in melting the ice, it is also often used as a fertilizer, so no worries about it coming in contact with your plants.

While some of these may not work as quickly or effectively as salt, they are a safe and natural alternative.

Several Places Flu Germs May Be Lurking

Natalie Norbut / December 16, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

There is absolutely nothing fun about being bed-ridden with a bad case of influenza. This also just so happens to be the heart of flu season. So, how do you defend yourself against catching the flu this year? Well, avoiding contact with people who currently have the virus is always a good idea, as is quickly disinfecting areas and materials that have come into contact with an infected person. Carrying around a portable bottle of hand sanitizer, is also a very good idea. And of course, trying to avoid contact with objects which are known to be covered in germs, ie., subway poles and stairwell banisters. But what about those lesser known, somewhat hidden areas where flu germs may lurk? Luckily, Market Watch, has a list of 7 unexpected places flu germs may be hiding.

Don’t touch anything this holiday season

This flu season is expected to be a particularly nasty one due to the strain of virus that’s being reported, and as careful as we try to be, there are germs lurking in some surprising places.

Although reports of influenza are low compared with previous years, Americans should brace for a particularly bad strain, according to an official health advisory released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “This season, influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been reported most frequently and have been detected in almost all states,” the advisory said. H3N2 is associated with higher hospitalization rates and more mortality has been observed, especially among older people, very young children, and persons with certain chronic medical conditions, the CDC reported.

If that wasn’t bad enough, microbes that cause norovirus — which in turn leads to vomiting and diarrhea — as well as other infections lurk right under most people’s noses.

Here are 7 odd places to watch out for hidden germs:

Airplane food trays and seat pockets

The bad news for planes with quick turnarounds: nasty bugs can last for days. The sinister sounding Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (more commonly known as MRSA) lasted longest (168 hours) on material from a seat-back pocket while the bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 (also known as E.coli, which can cause kidney problems) survived longest (96 hours) on the material from the armrest of planes, according to research presented to the American Society for Microbiology earlier this year. Restrooms in planes where space is cramped is also another hotspot for germs.

Subway turnstiles and bus ticket machines

Most people (at least during flu season) are careful about touching stainless steel poles on subways and buses, but don’t often think about subway turnstiles and bus ticket machines that are arguably touched by even more people, says Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona. “They don’t routinely disinfect these machines,” he says. Commuters are 6 times more likely to develop an acute respiratory infection if they traveled recently by bus or tram, according to a 2011 study by the University of Nottingham in the U.K. and published in “BMC Journal of Infectious Diseases.”

Office coffee stations and water coolers

Smart people keep their distance from sick colleagues, but then use the same coffee machine or water cooler. Germs like hard surfaces and can find their way to 40% to 60% of common surfaces in offices, hotels and health care facilities in just 2 to 4 hours, says Gerba, who recently conducted a study on how viruses spread in the workplace. He presented its results earlier this year at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Washington, D.C., an infectious disease meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. Obviously, avoid doorknobs and other people’s keyboards.

Liquid soap in washrooms

While it’s a good idea to open the door of a washroom with your sleeve, there’s one other piece of equipment that should be avoided like the plague: Soap dispensers. Liquid soap itself can become contaminated with bacteria and 1-in-4 dispenser machines in public restrooms are contaminated with bacteria, including fecal matter, according to a 2011 study published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. “Washing with soap from dispensers with sealed refills significantly reduced bacteria on hands,” the study found. Failing that, bring your own.

Aisle seats in planes, trains and theaters

When traveling by bus, train or plane this holiday season — or even when visiting a theater — think twice before choosing aisle seats. These are the seats that will be touched most often by other people as they’re trying to find their own, Gerba says. In 2008, members of a tour group experienced diarrhea and vomiting in an airplane flight from Boston to Los Angeles. Other passengers who suffered secondary infections were either sitting next to those infected — or unsuspecting passengers seated in aisle seats, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Salt and pepper shakers

There’s often no point in washing your hands before a meal (thereby avoiding doorknobs and soap dispensers), and picking up clean cutlery — and then using condiment holders that have often not been washed. A 2008 study by researchers at the University of Virginia examined 30 people who were showing symptoms of the common cold and were asked to identify 10 surfaces they’d touched in their home over the previous 18 hours: more than 40% of the surfaces tested positive for rhinovirus, the most common virus to cause the common cold: All salt and pepper shakers cited by participants tested positive.

Exercise equipment at the gym

Bacteria loves moisture, especially sweat, but one study found that rhinoviruses still cling to exercise equipment — even after cleaning. A final thought for germ-phobic people who are afraid to travel this holiday season: Many colds and flu are spread around the home, says Elizabeth Scott, associated professor at the Department of Biology at Simmons College in Boston. But it’s always good to leave the house prepared. “When I am traveling, I always carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer and use it many times,” she adds.

A Few Alternative Cleaning Solutions

Natalie Norbut / December 2, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

If you’re against traditional cleaners and into saving money, chances are good you’ve tried to come up with some alternative cleaning solutions for your home. While items like vinegar, lemons, and baking soda may be common knowledge for the experienced DIY cleaner, there may be a few items lying around your home you weren’t aware could handle certain cleaning tasks. Here are a few examples of some of the more unusual natural cleaning solutions from the good people at Green Cleaning Magazine.

5 Unusual Natural Cleaning Solutions

Are you fed up with buying expensive products that sometimes don’t manage to do the trick at all? Is your space under the kitchen sink full of bottles with warning signs that make you wonder if washing off a stain isn’t also washing your health?

Don’t dismay—here are 5 ideas for green cleaning that uses safe, everyday products as effective cleaners:

• Alcohol: you might be surprised that alcohol is a great cleaning tool. It is useful in many areas—from disinfecting and cleaning to defrosting windows. It does wonders in cleaning bathroom and toilet areas, making sinks shine and disinfected.

It is the weapon of choice when it comes to ink and permanent marker stains. It is also effective on cleaning mirrors and tiles. Remember that although this product is getting more and more reputation, it is still not largely found in the cleaning aisle of many supermarkets. If you are familiar with it and want to give it a try, it might be necessary to do a little research on where to find it in your country.

• Cola: believe it or not, the liquid joy of millions of people around the globe actually has great cleaning potential. One of the most well-tested uses is toilet cleaning—just pour the drink, wait for an hour, scrub with a brush and then flush for sparkling result.

Cola is also great for removing rust and refreshing objects, due to its phosphoric acid ingredient. Are you a coin collector? Consider soaking the pennies in the drink to make them shiny as new.

• Vinegar: a true champion when it comes to natural cleaners. It is well known for usage to combat mold, mildew, and a ton of bacteria that can be harmful for human health. It can disinfect glassware, washing machines and coffeemakers. After proper soaking, it can free the showerhead from any mineral deposits. Combine it with some baking soda to make an effective drain cleaner.

• Lemon: great for cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing countertops. It can easily remove stains off many types of surfaces, glassware, and cookers. We are all aware of smells that can linger on our skin for days, such as when dealing with raw fish. Lemon can remove the odor easily. Try dropping a lemon slice in your garbage disposal, too, for a fresh smell.

• Toothpaste: a truly unexpected usage of common toothpaste is as a cleaning agent. It can be used to shine up bathroom and kitchen chrome. It does wonders in polishing silver and cleaning CDs.

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