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Keeping Chemicals Out Of Your Drains

by Jennifer | No Comments Monday, January 16, 2012

When you flush something down the toilet, pour something down the sink, or take a shower, the waste goes from your home to a water treatment plant. While the plants are very effective at giving us safe drinking water, they may not be able to erradicate all chemicals, potentially making the water hazardous to others and the environment. Everyone should know by now that is is dangerous to flush medication, but it can be easy to forget another culprit: cleaning supplies. Products such as toilet and drain cleaners may be cheap and convenient, but there are equally inexpensive (and often cheaper)environmentally sound alternatives to consider.

Toilet Cleaner

To clean and sanitize your toilet bowl, As Explained Here, simply pour 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet and let sit for 15 minutes. Then scrub with a toilet brush and flush. And since you should know by now that vinegar is our favorite all purpose, use Our Formula to clean and sanitize the outside of the toilet and the seat as well.

Unclogging A Drain

We all have to deal with this from time to time, whether it be hair in the shower drain or food backing up the sink. But with just baking soda, vinegar, and water, this problem can be easily fixed. Go Here For The Details.

Doing Your Dishes

Making your own dish detergent is easier than you think, and a whole lot cheaper than store bought cleaners. The only downside is you need to make sure everyone rinses their dishes before loading them. For the Recipe, Check Out This Link. Also, about once a month or so you will want to run your diswasher empty on a short cycle with 1 cup of vinegar to keep the system fresh and void of foul odors.

Laundry Detergent

In the amazing recipe Given Here, this green option is just as effective as regular detergent, and much cheaper. It is also so easy that it won’t take much time out of your life. What have you got to lose?

Yard Care

Going organic on your yard care is not only great for your lawn, but it keeps pesticides and other chemicals from ending up in the sewer. For more information and resources, try Organic Lawn Care 101.

Your Shower

It’s easy to think you’re not really getting clean until you’re covered in foamy lather, but the truth is you don’t need it. Those bubbles are typically a chemical called sodium laurel sulfate, and are only added because they make a the lather and a cheap detergent. They can actually be harmful to you over time, leaving a residue on your vital organs. Go to Environmental Enthusiasts’s Blog for more information, as well as easy to find product alternatives that will get you just as clean and fresh. Or if you have the time, Click Here  if you want to really go 100% natural (which will save you a great deal of money as well!)

Check out our other blog on making you own Ultimate Green House Cleaning Kit as well to keep your home sparkling without any chemicals!

Best Maid Service in Dallas, Plano and Frisco

by Scarlette | No Comments Friday, January 13, 2012

Lately I have been getting these wonderful emails from our clients and I just had to share.  The staff at Bit a Bliss really cares about the clients we serve and it shows through their hard work and great relationships with our clients.

*Clients names have been removed

Hello Scarlette,

First, Happy New Year!! We hope your holidays were good. Ours were. Next, my wife and I just wanted to give you some feedback. Plainly and simply, we are delighted with Sheri’s work! This past week our house was especially dirty from the holidays, and she did a super job! We were both impressed and delighted to find the house spic and span. The floors shined, which was quite a feat as they were especially dirty. Sheri consistently does excellent work. We want to thank her and make you aware of her excellent work.

Thanks again,

P.s. I also was home one day when she came in, and I really appreciated how kind and sweet she was to our little dog. Of course, we love him, but I was delighted to learn (without her knowing I was there) that she treats him so well.
_______________________________________________________________

Scarlette,

Just wanted to let you know what an awesome job Alberta does on our home.  She did the house all by herself today and it is sparkling.  Please let her know how fantastic she is and keep her coming to our house.

If you have had a great experience with Bit a Bliss in Dallas, Plano, Frisco or the surrounding area, send me an email and let me know.  It is a joy to know that our service is exceeding expectations!  [email protected]

At Bit a Bliss we are dedicated to providing extraordinary maid service in Plano, Frisco, Dallas and the surrounding area.  Everyone deserves a Bit a Bliss!  www.bitabliss.com

Mark’s Baked Potato Soup

by Jennifer | No Comments Wednesday, January 11, 2012

My chef husband has perfected the baked potato soup. He is the kind of man who will take a common food, and make it better. It is such a gift! This recipe is very easy and will be a great meal for your family or friends. Makes about 6-8 servings (not including seconds!)

Ingredients:

-5 medium sized baked and peeled butter red potatoes (russet will do if you have those)
-5 strips of bacon, chopped
-2 cups chopped leeks
-5 tbsp. butter
-5 tbsp. flour
-3 cups chicken stock
-2 cups water
-1/2 cup half and half
-1/4 tsp. each of black, white, and cayenne pepper
-1/2 tsp. dried oreggano
-salt to taste
-shredded cheese
-sour cream

In a large soup pot:
-Fry the bacon on med-high. Remove bacon, leaving the fat.
-Add in the leeks, reduce heat to medium and carmelize for about 5 minutes
-Add 2 tbsp. butter and 2 tbsp. flour, stir well.
-Pour in the chicken stock and water, bring to a boil.
-Dice 3 potatoes in 1″ cubes, mash the other 2, add to pot.
-Add half and half, reduce heat to low.
-In a microwave safe bowl, heat 3 tbsp. of butter and 3 tbsp. of flower for 1 minute, stir with a fork to make a paste, whisk into pot.
-With an immersion blender, lightly blend the soup to add a creamy texture, but not so much as to get rid of all chunks of potato. If you don’t have one, you can add a couple cups at a time to a regular blender.
-stir in the black, white, and cayenne pepper and dried oreggano
-taste the soup first, because the bacon fat should make it salty enough, but you can add more to taste if desired
-serve into bowls, top with shredded cheese, bacon, and sour cream.

Enjoy!

Preparing For Winter Weather

by Jennifer | No Comments Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Texas weather is famous for being unpredictable year-round. It can be 75 degrees in the morning, and 40 degrees by afternoon. If you live here, you have probably said the phrase “if you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait 5 minutes” dozens of times. But of all the wacky seasons, winter is the most dangerous. It doesn’t always snow, but you can almost always count on it to get icy here and there, and while we don’t get nearly as much as a lot of places, it can be incredibly dangerous since our cars are not typically equipped to handle such conditions and we are not in any way accustomed to that kind of driving. Although winter weather doesn’t take up any significant time period of the year (anywhere from a day or two, to a couple weeks) it is still a good idea to know how to handle those kind of conditions, on and off the road. Here are a few guidelines to help you if/when those days come.

Avoid Driving If At All Possible.

Easier said than done, right? Life doesn’t want to stop just because the weather said so. But ask yourself, is the need to get out worth the potential loss, be it a costly accident or a life, really worth it? Our rule is: if the school systems close, we do too. They won’t risk children’s lives for a day of school, why should you risk yours to go to work or run errands? Stock up your kitchen and other essentials before bad weather, so you are not forced to go out.

If You Must Drive, Follow The Rules.

Wear Your Seatbelt!

Enough said.

Check The Air Pressure In Your Tires.

If your tires are low on air, you are at a significantly higher risk of losing control in ice and rain.

Pre-heat Your Car Interior.

Turn the car on at least 10 minutes before you leave, so it will have time to warm the inside. Not only is it uncomfortable to drive when it’s just as cold in the car as it is outside, but if you are too cold you will be more frigid in stance, and more likely to press too hard on the gas and brakes and jerk the steering wheel. And being comfortable will help you focus better on the situation at hand.

Make Sure All Windows Are Defrosted And Clear Before You Leave.

You need all the visibility you can get, even if you are just going around the corner.

Check The Weather and Traffic Report Before You Leave.

Make sure you know exactly what conditions you are getting into, so you don’t find yourself stuck behind a wreck or battling a storm when it looked clear before.

Turn Into A Skid.

The same applies for hydroplaning, if you find yourself out of control of the car, slowly turn the wheel in the direction you are going, this will help you regain control.

Don’t Go Normal Speed And Don’t Slam Your Brakes For Any Reason.

Go as slow as you can without disrupting the flow of traffic, which can make things worse. Under no circumstance should you press hard on your brakes, you will lose control  of the car. If you think you are going to go into the back of a car or object, stay calm and slowly apply the brakes. It is better to hit something at a slower speed than skid trying to avoid it and potentially make it a more serious accident.

For more information on safe driving in icy conditions, check out IceRoadSafety.com Tips To Remember.

 

 

 

Keeping Your Car Interior Clean

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, January 5, 2012

If you’re anything like me, you practically live out of your car. If you’re not careful, there can be a mass pileup of trash and grime all over the place so fast you’ll wonder how it even happened. The obvious answer, of course, is not leaving anything in there at the end of the day, which is the best advice, but sometimes you just want to go straight to the couch when you get home from a long day. If you don’t have it in you to maintain your car daily, or can’t justify paying for someone else to clean it for you every week, try these helpful tips on keeping your car from becoming a hazard and an eyesore.

Keep A Trash Bag Where You Can Easily Reach It From The Drivers’ Seat.

That way, you don’t have to worry about food wrappers and miscellaneous trash ending up on the car floor. Keep extra bags under the seat, so that when you take the trash out, you can instantly replace the bag. If you have kids (NOT small children,) anchor a bag somewhere in the backseat for them to dispose of any trash they have as well.

Shake Out The Floor Mats and Vacuum The Seats Once A Week Or As Needed.

If your car regularly accomodates more than just yourself, you will want to do this once a week, to keep out any unwanted snacks, leaves, dirt, etc. from building up in your car. If you have the car to yourself most of the time, you could probably get away with doing it just as needed, but no less than once a month.

Keep Cleaning Supplies In Your Dashboard.

You always want to have baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, and window cleaner in your dashboard. Baby wipes work well for minor messes, such as removing liquid from the cupholder that spills out of the cup. Disinfecting wipes are a must, such as if you sneeze on your steering wheel. It is a good idea to use a wipe on the wheel and door handles regularly as well, to prevent spreading bacteria and viruses. Window cleaners are also a great tool. Being able to see clearly out of your winshield and windows is vital to your safety and of those riding with you. If you have leather seats, keep leather conditioner with you and give them a good wipe down once in a while, to keep them from drying out and cracking.

Go Ahead And Splurge On The Professional Cleaning Once In A While.

By keeping up with the basic maintenance of your car, it won’t be necessary to pay for a professional cleaning regularly, but it is still a good idea to do it at least a couple times a year. They will do things that you may not want to make time for, such as shampooing the rugs and upholstry, and detailing and dusting.

Keeping your car in good condition is beneficial to your health and safety, and can also have a great impact on the resale value of your car. For more great information on keeping your car interior clean, check out Ehow.com’s Article On Detailing Your Car Interior!