Green Cleaning

Eating Healthy On A Budget

by Jennifer | No Comments Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Nowadays, when you think of eating cheap, you think of fast and easy as well. While it may be more convenient to eat off the dollar menu, or buy those high calorie pre-packaged meals at the store that are on clearance, you’re not really getting the best deal. What you are paying for is the bells and whistles (packaging and marketing) and all those fillers and preservatives that provide no nutritional value to you. But if you know what to look for, you can eat very well, and healthy, on a low or fixed budget.

1. Limit Meat Consumption

Meat is typically the most expensive item in your grocery cart, and designating one or two days a week to having no meat will greatly reduce your cost, and it is great for your health!

2. Buy In Season

It is possible to have those really nice fruits and vegetables that you like to splurge on from time to time, all you have to do is pace yourself and wait until they are in season. If there is something that you absolutely love and the price is right, buy in modest bulk and freeze what you don’t use immediately. Just check beforehand to see how long they will keep in the freezer, and be sure to use it all before then to avoid waste.

3. Buy Frozen Instead Of Fresh When Possible

More often than not, frozen fruits and vegetables have the same nutritional value as buying fresh, and it is almost always a great deal cheaper.

4. Make A Weekly Meal Plan

Take an hour out of your Sunday to go through the weekly grocery specials and make a list of meals for every day of the following week, and make your grocery list accordingly. This will save you a great deal of money and cut down on waste.

5. Buy Store Brand As Much As Possible

Most store brand products are almost, if not exactly, the same as name brands. Of course, there may be a few items here and there that you are certain are just not the same otherwise, but the staples such as pasta, rice, bread, etc. won’t let you down with the store brand, and you will save a great deal of money right off the bat.

For more great tips on eating well on a low budget, check out this blog from Frugal Living!

The 5 Best Uses For Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, February 23, 2012

Olive oil is a real treasure. We would write sonnets about it if we were any good at it. There are so many applications you would find useful, but we are going to break it down to the 5 best uses.

1. A Great Addition To Food

First of all, it is recommended that you NOT use extra-virgin olive oil to cook, because the smoke point can be very low, which is dangerous. This Article From Whole Foods goes into greater detail. It is, however, fantastic for adding to food once it has been prepared, such as spraying on vegetables or lean meat. It is low calorie, great for your health, and also makes a fantastic salad dressing!

2. Using It On Your Hair

Olive Oil is incredible for the hair. It is great for every type of hair. We recommend keeping a plastic bottle in the shower, and adding about a dime-sized amount to your conditioner every time you wash your hair. Leave it in for about 5 minutes and rinse clean. A few drops on dry hair will help calm the frizzies, especially on a humid day.

3. Skin Care

Just as it is great for hair, olive oil is just as great for every type of skin. Yes, even oily skin (I promise!) Keep a small bottle with your products and add a few drops to your daily moisturizer (face and body) and apply straight oil onto very dry areas, such as knees and elbows. Once a week, apply straight oil to your fresh, clean skin and leave on for 5 minutes as a mask. It will help unclog your pores and your face will feel just the right amount of soft and supple. It is also a great shaving oil for men and women.

4. Great For Cats

Adding a few drops to your cat’s food daily will help keep their coats soft and shiny, and will also cut down on those pesky hairballs.

5. It Makes A Great Furniture Polish

Forget commercial wood and leather cleaners, simply add a few drops to a soft, clean cloth and wipe your furniture as normal. It will pick up dust, remove fingerprints, help fill in scratches, and add a subtle sheen to your furniture to keep it looking brand new

For more great and completely random uses you will find helpful, Go To The Daily Green’s Blog Here.

10 Ways To Improve The Air Quality In Your Home

by Jennifer | No Comments Monday, February 13, 2012

It is a common fact that the air inside your home is more likely dirtier than the air outside. This is true no matter where you live, even if it’s a big crowded city. We spend a great deal of our time indoors, and if the air quality is left unattended, it can lead to health problems involving the heart, lungs, and allergies. Follow all of these guidelines, and you will be doing yourself and everyone in your home a big favor.

1. Keep Your Air Filters Clean

We have talked about this several times, keeping your air filters up to date is one of the best things you can do for your home. It helps keep your energy bill down, and a clean filter will keep many allergens from floating around in the air you breathe. You should replace your filters at least every 3 months.

2. Limit Burning Candles

Candles are a beautiful addition to any home, and it is perfectly acceptable to light one every once in a while for the great smell and relaxing ambiance, but you don’t want to burn them regularly. They release toxins in the air, some of which have been linked to cancer. Click Here For More Detailed Information. Having said that, beeswax and soy candles are an exception in that they release no harmful chemicals, and are safe for regular use.

3. Minimizing Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew are two very nasty culprits, and should be erradicated as much as possible. The EPA has a great deal of material about the dangers, Listed Here. If you have mold in your home, find the source of moisture (whether it be a leak in the roof, plumbing, or elsewhere) and fix the problem, then clean the mold with a strong disinfectant. On a smaller scale, it is most commonly found in the shower along the grout. Regular cleaning and proper ventillation of the bathroom should keep it away.

4. Air Purifiers

An air purifier is a great way to help keep the air in your home allergen-free. Be sure and read the directions carefully, so you know proper care of the purifier to keep it in top condition.

5. Avoid Manufactured Air Fresheners

Aerosol air freshners do give the home an instant pick me up, but aerosol is bad for the environment, and the chemicals that are used to create that great smell can be harmful, especially if used regularly. Instead, try keeping small bowls throughout your home with water in them, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. You will need to add more oil every couple of days to maintain the smell, and clean the bowls out once a week.

6. Open The Windows On A Nice Day

If the weather permits, open your windows. Even if you live in a city, that added air flow will add an instant freshness to your home. And as a bonus, saves you money on your energy bill!

7. Use Green Cleaning Products

There are so many alternatives to harmful chemical cleaning products nowadays, it is so easy to avoid them altogether. Refer to any of our blogs listed under Cleaning Products for a great way to get your green cleaning started!

8. Do Not Smoke Indoors

We cannot stress enough that smoking indoors is very harmful to yourself and others. Second hand smoke affects everyone who is around it long enough. Not to mention, it gives your home a distinct odor that many find unpleasant.

9. Don’t Give Dust Mites A Great Place To Live

Dust mites and their waste are a potentially very harmful allergen. We have talked about the dangers before, In Our Blog About Dust Mites And Their Link To Asthma we have everything you need to know to keep those little buggers out of your home, and what to do if you have them.

10). Use Houseplants To Clean The Air Indoors

Houseplants are great for improving the quality of air in your home. The absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, and they also absorb other chemicals such as formaldehyde. They add a liveliness to your home, and most common plants are very easy to care for. Here Is A List Of The 25 Best Indoor Plants.

For more great tips on improving the quality of air in your home, check out this article on thedailygreen.com on How To Purify The Air In Your Home.

Cleaning Your Bathroom In 5 Easy Steps

by Jennifer | 1 Comment Friday, February 3, 2012

Cleaning and maintaining your bathroom is not as hard as you might think. When you think of doing it, do hours of sweaty and nasty hard labor pop into your head? Well, the good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. Follow these steps in this order (to keep things sanitary and easy) and you will find that it’s really a piece of cake! All you need is a few clean rags, microfiber cloths (to help with lint and streaks,) a broom, mop, magic erasers, and cleaner. And don’t forget to go green! If you need help deciding what products to use, check out Our Blog On Creating Your Own House Cleaning Kit!

1. Mirrors

You always want to start with the mirrors with a fresh, clean rag for the best result, and spray the product directly on the mirror, followed by a dry microfiber cloth to ensure a clean finish. If you use a rag that has already been used elsewhere, you will likely have problems with streaking and smudging.

2. Counters

Using a fresh rag with the cleaning product of your choice, clean your countertops and sinks. Make sure you get underneath all items on the counters, as well as wiping off the items. Also, spot check the cabinets and clean as needed.

3. Tub and or Shower

Whether it’s a standing shower or combination tub/shower, you want to begin with the walls and work your way down. Spray down the walls and use a magic eraser if necessary to remove any soap scum, then wipe down again with a rag to smooth out. Then clean out the tub with the eraser and rags, and making sure the fixtures are clean as well.

4. Toilet

If you are using a homemade vinegar solution, you can pour or spray some in the bowl first and let sit to disinfect. Start with the tank, the sides, outside of the bowl, and the area between the tank and toilet seat. Then lift the lid and clean the seat and rim. Finish by scrubbing the toilet bowl with a brush and flush.

5. Clean The Floor

If you have carpet, simply vacuum, and use the hose attachment to go around the areas the vacuum can’t reach and over the baseboards. If you need to sweep and mop, sweep first, going over the baseboards as well. If your mop does not reach behind the toilet, use a rag to clean that area, then mop the rest of the floor. Let dry for 10 minutes and voila! Your bathroom is clean and sparkling!

Top 10 Things A Maid Service Guarantees That Independant Cleaners Can’t

by Jennifer | No Comments Friday, January 27, 2012

Having someone clean your home is a wonderful thing to do for yourself and your family. But the hard part is, who do you hire? Your neighbor’s housekeeper that she found through another friend, or a service with great online reviews? Fact of the matter is, and individual can almost always offer a greatly reduced price, but the important question is how are they able to offer this reduced price? To help you make an informed decision, here are just a few of many reasons why it is worth it to hire a service.

10) Legitimacy

When you hire a reputable service, you are going with a business that pays into all required, county, state and federal tax agencies. This means that you don’t have to worry about providing 1099 forms for your individual housekeeper and the IRS won’t come knocking on your door to collect for things you didn’t know you were supposed to pay.

9) Quality Assurance

Nobody is perfect. It is important to know that everyone makes mistakes from time to time. But when you use a service, you know that you have full support with your cleaning needs, and any issues will be addressed and fixed to your satisfaction.

Consistency

The great thing about using a service, is that they have a staff that is familiar with your home and with your needs, so if your usual cleaner is sick or can’t come in for some reason, there will be someone to help out. This way, you always know that someone will be there to clean your home on the date you request, so that say for instance you have a cleaning scheduled the day of a party at your home, you won’t be left with a whole house to clean on top of everything else you need to do.

7) Communication

However, life does happen sometimes and things do need to change. Maybe your cleaner needs to come in the afternoon instead of morning? Or maybe they are at your home and have a question about where the dog treats are for your furry friend. Someone will promptly contact you with anything that needs to be communicated between you and your cleaner, so you have the peace of mind of knowing that you have all possible information.

6) Extensive And Constantly Updated Training

Each person hired into a service undergo thorough training to ensure they are providing the same quality service as everyone else. And as information in the industry is updated, training is refreshed as needed. This means that your cleaner knows exactly how to handle every surface in your home, and since everyone is trained the same, you know that if someone different comes to your home you will receive the same service.

5) Professionalism

With a service comes the great feeling of being a star! Your business is important, and you will be treated with the respect you deserve. It’s like having a VIP pass, the service is there to meet your needs, and will maintain a level of professionalism that will make you feel great about having them in your home.

4) Access To Information About The Business

Any reputable service will have a website with extensive information about their service and anything you need to know about them. And with that website and location comes access to reviews from other people about the business, which can be very helpful in making your decision. And if you’re not sure about something, simply call and ask! Someone should be available to answer any questions you have.

3) Bonded and Insured

Before you let anyone into your home to clean, you want to make sure they are bonded. This means that if anything gets broken or stolen from your home, that you are covered. We have had many clients switch to our service because their previous cleaner stole a great deal from them and disappeared, leaving them short of whatever was taken. A service does not anticipate theft, however it is taken very seriously and every precaution is taken to ensure that you, the client, are not responsible for anything that happens.

2) Background Checks

This is also an important thing to make sure of before letting anyone in to clean your home. You want to have the peace of mind of knowing that you can trust whomever you let into your home, whether you are there or not. If you talk to anyone about cleaning your home and they do not run background checks, hang up the phone and move on.

1) The Bragging Rights!

If anything, you will have the right to say “my service…” and see how your friends’ eyes light up! In reality, you chose a maid service because of the safety and security for you and your family, along with the peace of mind of knowing that your home is in good quality hands. But they don’t have to know that!