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8 Tips to Create a Warm, Inviting and Healthy Home This Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is almost here and while you’re planning that great turkey dinner, don’t forget about sprucing up your home as you welcome friends and family to celebrate the holiday with you.

Designer Robin Wilson, founder and CEO of Robin Wilson Home, who focuses on creating healthy and beautiful spaces for her clients and has products at national retailers, offers these eight tips to create a warm, inviting and healthy home this Thanksgiving:

1. Start with curb appeal: The exterior is the first impression your guests get of your home so you want it to look clean and inviting. Add fresh mulch, trim overgrown trees and shrubs and plant new flowers, and make sure the front door is freshly painted. Always wear a mask to prevent breathing in fumes and goggles to protect your eyes.

2. Make the windows sparkle with newspaper: Yes, you read that right. Spray your windows with non-toxic cleaner and wipe away with newspaper. The high absorbency of newsprint makes it so effective at cleaning windows because it absorbs the liquid instead of pushing it away. Be careful to stay on the glass and not dirty up moldings and trim.

3. Clean the chimney and stove: This isn’t just to help Santa when he descends into your home next month. A dirty chimney is a fire hazard and can release toxins into your home. On a related note, it’s also a good idea to clean your stove before you do any intensive holiday cooking. It’s also a good time to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working and have new batteries.

4. Switch to LED lighting: If you’re doing a lot of entertaining this holiday season, switching to LED lighting will keep your electric bills down. LED lighting is the most energy efficient lighting source available. And if you have young children, LED lights are cool to the touch.

5. Get your couches and rugs professionally cleaned: sofas and rugs can harbor all kinds of allergens, mold and bacteria. And if you have dogs or cats, removing the dander will help you and your guests prevent the “wheezes and sneezes.” Plus, a good looking couch will attract your company allowing time to catchup and reminisce, or just watch the parade or football games together.

6. Put on fresh bed linens: If out-of-town family and friends are staying with you, new linens are always a nice touch. Hypoallergenic comforters and pillows are a good choice especially if you don’t know if your guests have any allergy/asthma issues. For this reason, also use nylon shower curtains which don’t off-gas like vinyl does.

7. Non-toxic cleaners this time of year: With the cooler weather, most people keep their windows shut for the next five months, keeping everything sealed up and trapped inside. For this reason, it’s especially important in the winter to use non-toxic cleaners as you prepare your home for the holidays.

8. Make it smell like the holidays: To make it feel like the holidays it needs to smell like the holidays. Consider soy candles as a healthy alternative to regular candles, which not only add a visual element and warmth, but come in a variety of scents.

*Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net by artur84.*

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Green Your Cleaning Routine in Time for Thanksgiving Guests

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With Thanksgiving just days away, this weekend will most likely be spent freshening, cleaning and sprucing up the home in preparation for family and friends! Why not ‘green up’ your cleaning routine as you mop, dust, wash the dishes and launder the sheets? “Mom” has chosen a few of her favorite eco-friendly cleaning items to make the job an earth-friendly one!

Soapberry Suds

 

Buckaroo Organics Soapberry Suds Organic Laundry Detergent

Yee-haw! Treat your linens and your guests to freshly laundered sheets and bedding! Instead of using a synthetic surfactant or soaping agent, Buckaroo Organics’ detergent contains 100% USDA Certified Organic Soapberries, which are also known as soapnuts.

According to the company, “The soapberry not only cleans, but also possesses natural fabric softening capabilities. The saponin contained in the husk of the natural berry is our active ingredient for wranglin’ tough dirt and hard to treat stains and is gentle on delicate fabrics.”

All ingredients used in the detergent are organic, natural and safe for both family and the environment. It is also hypo-allergenic and a wonderful choice for those with sensitivities.

 

Frosch Dishwashing Liquid

Frosch Aloe Vera Dishwashing Liquid

Germany’s “Most Trusted Household Cleaning Brand” is now available in the US, and your dishes will sparkle and shine for your guests on Thanksgiving Day when you use this dishwashing liquid. The Aloe Vera Dishwashing Liquid gets dishes spotlessly clean while moisturizing hands, and smells amazing!

Frosch Lavender Universal Cleaning Liquid

 

Frosch Lavender Universal Cleaner

One of “Mom’s” favorite essential oils is lavender, and cleaning with the Lavender Universal Cleaner is like breathing in relaxation as you scrub, mop and prep the household. The Lavender Universal Cleaner cleans away dirt and grease while sanitizing floors and most washable household surfaces, leaving behind only a wonderful scent!

*Companies generously provided samples and images for this piece.*

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What’s New in Eco-Cleaning?

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This Fall, choose to use cleaning products around the home that are environmentally-friendly and less toxic! We have chosen our top three picks for keeping everything squeaky clean as you prepare your home for the approaching holiday season!

What’s New in Eco-Cleaning?

CleanWell Botanical Wipes

CleanWell Botanical Surface Disinfectant Wipes

Both antibacterial and antiviral, these new wipes are formulated with a patented formulation of thyme oil that kills over 99.9% of germs botanically on hard, non-porous surfaces. To wipe up a quick spill or to disinfect your child’s toy after it has been dropped on the floor, CleanWell Botanical Wipes are a busy parent’s new favorite cleaning product!

The CleanWell Botanical Surface Disinfecting Wipes come in fresh lemon and citrus scents, and are suitable to use around the whole family, including pets. The wipes do not contain synthetic fragrances, dyes, ammonia, alcohol or chlorine.

BabyGanics Cleaner

BabyGanics Grime Fighter All Purpose Cleaner

“Mom” likes to use non-toxic yet effective spray cleaners around her home, and the newest gem to add to your cleaning arsenal is the Grime Fighter All Purpose Cleaner from BabyGanics! This is a multi-surface cleaner that gets the job done just as well as the ones that typically use harsh bleaches and chemicals. “Mom” is pleased to report that your family won’t be exposed to harmful ingredients, thanks to The Grime Fighter’s specially formulated, plant-based cleaning agents. Plus, it contains no parabens, sulfates, phthalates or toxins. You can learn more about BabyGanics, which is fast becoming one of “Mom’s” go to all-natural product lines, at BabyGanics.com.

Method Power Foam 1

Method Power Foam Dish Soap

Keeping things clean and sudsy in the kitchen sink is the new Power Foam Dish Soap from Method! Method’s new Power Foam Dish Soap is designed with an easy-to-use trigger spray bottle, which was designed to reach and clean even the toughest of spaces. As an added bonus, we all know that fun foaming soap is an ideal solution for getting kids involved in the dishwashing routine. (or any routine that involves cleaning!) The new Power Foam Dish Soap is available in French Lavender, Pink Grapefruit, and Lemon Mint and retails for $3. Visit MethodHome.com.

*Companies generously provided samples and images for this piece.*

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Introducing Ava Anderson Non-Toxic Home Collection

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Ava Home 1“Mom” has a new favorite when it comes to green cleaning products – Ava Anderson Non-Toxic! The Ava Home collection will keep your home clean but not toxic, and for “Mom,” who has two little ones, this is of the utmost importance. However, not all “green” cleaning products are created equal, and we were pleasantly surprised by the efficacy of the entire Ava Home line when testing out the products at Tiny Green Mom.

First thing to note – the incredible aroma of the cleaning products! The essential oil blend are not only powerful cleaning agents, but they make your home smell incredible right from the first spray! All of Ava’s Home products are a strong blend of the gentlest natural surfactants, minerals, and enzymes plus an essential oil blend of peppermint, lavender and tea tree oils which offer strong cleaning results without harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrance. They are the safest and best eco-friendly cleaning products on the market, and are human & pet safe as well. The ingredients are as follows: deionized water, fatty acids from plants, coconut oil, folic acid, sustainably-sourced minerals and enzymes, essential oil blend of peppermint, lavender and tea tree.All ingredients used in Ava Anderson Non-Toxic products score a ‘0’ on the Cosmetic Database’s toxicity scale- the lowest number you can be awarded.

Ava Home 2

Our favorite was definitely the All Purpose & Glass Cleaner! Blended with gentlest natural surfactants, minerals, enzymes and essential oil blend of peppermint, lavender and tea tree oils, this powerful cleaner gives strong cleaning results without the use of toxic chemicals and artificial fragrances.

We also adored Ava’s Dish Soap, which made cleaning dishes a much more relaxing experience due to the armoa! Made from naturally derived minerals, organic enzymes and biodegradable soda ash, Ava’s Dish Soap will clean your dishes without leaving toxic chemical residue.

For greener cleaning in the bathroom, the Hard Surface & Bathroom Cleaner is both family and pet safe, and cleans tough to clean areas easily!

What we also found interesting to note is that Ava Anderson is a young, savvy eco-entrepreneur! This talented and smart young woman founded Ava Anderson Non-Toxic when she was only 14. Now at 19, her collection of organic, non-toxic products enjoy a large celebrity mom following including Alicia Silverstone, Kelly Preston and Laila Ali.

To learn more about the entire Ava Anderson Non-Toxic collection, visit avanaturals.com.

*Company generously provided samples and images for this piece.* 

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Spring “Green-ing” – Four Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products to Spruce up Your Home

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Spring Green-ingSpring “Green-ing” – Four Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products to Spruce up Your Home

Cultivating a clean and healthy environment can often seem to be at odds with keeping a home green and eco-friendly as well. Many people struggle to find cleaners that are effective which do not contain harmful chemicals or are housed in non-biodegradable packing. The tension can finally be eased by opening your eyes to the cleaning power of these green cleaning machines.

Powering the Rinse Cycle

Laundry typically presents the toughest cleaning challenges. From grass stains to stubborn red wine, we often feel the desire to pull out the bleach and other unnaturally abrasive products. Resist the urge by switching over to Arm & Hammer Essentials Concentrate. This product is even effective in laundry cycles using only cold water. The price is friendly as well. For only $3.49, customers receive 50 ounces of cleaning power. Controlled testing has proven its effectiveness on everything from inks to grape juices.

Dishwasher-Friendly Suds

Planet Ultra Dish Washing Liquid is a top green contender in the world of dish washing liquids. Testing of this product reveals consistent cleaning power of dried-on food particles in addition to displaying the ability to wash the largest numbers of dishes effectively in one cycle. Planet Ultra can be a part of your kitchen arsenal for roughly $3 per 25 ounces. The compound is completely biodegradable, making it ideal for any situation where green cleaning is a necessity. Camping or mixing the soap with freshwater sources will do no harm. Like many high-quality green products, diluted mixtures of this compound is actually effective for other jobs around the house which include carpet cleaning and glass surfaces. The best carpet cleaning in Orange County is well aware of the green market cleaning supplies, making such products integral to their natural processes.

Green Versatility

The world of all-purpose cleaners is vast. Some of the claims are extraordinary, including products that claim they double as everything from facial scrubs to pet shampoos. Sun and Earth all-purpose cleaner has been shown to cut through grease like few other green products. This kind of power from natural ingredients is what to look for in an all-purpose product. For $3.80, buyers get a cleaner that can hold its own in the bathroom or on kitchen counter-tops.

Breaking Out the Big Guns

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner passes the test on the toughest stains imaginable. This product cuts its way through grime cooked onto grills and dissolves the oily stains from the porous surface of concrete floors. It is extremely concentrated, however, meaning that customers must dilute the product by mixing it with water before application.

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Five Home Remedies for Household Cleaning

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LemonFive Home Remedies for Household Cleaning

With spring cleaning upon us, it’s tempting to stock up on store-bought cleansers. Unfortunately, many of these cleansers are expensive and full of harsh chemicals. A homemaker can save money by learning to make household cleaners from what’s already at hand in the kitchen cabinets. Here are five home remedies to help with household cleaning:

1. Easy Window Washing Formula

For brilliantly clean and clear windows, all that needs to be done is to measure out a gallon of water and add four tablespoons of lemon juice to it. If the windows are really grungy, mix ammonia, rubbing alcohol and a few drops of dish washing liquid. Top up with enough water to make a gallon.

2. Unclogging the Sink

Some of the most damaging store-bought cleansers are for drains. They are full of chemicals that can cause the pipes to corrode. They can also kill the beneficial bacteria in a septic system. To gently unclog the sink, toss in about a handful of baking soda in the drain, then pour in about three cups of vinegar. Let it bubble for a moment or two, then flush it with a large saucepan of boiling water. When the boiling water runs out, flush with hot water from the tap. Doing this about every month or so should keep drains clear. Boiling water can also be flushed down the toilet now and then to loosen any clogs in its drain.

3. Treating Stains

For treating stains on fabrics, all that’s usually needed is the tiniest drop of dish washing detergent. It has everything that a laundry detergent has except brighteners. One precaution is that only a tiny drop should be used on the stain, as dish washing detergent does tend to lather up spectacularly in a washing machine.

4. A Remedy for Wood Furniture

Here are a couple of homemade cleansers to make sure that wood furniture stays in tip-top shape for a long time:

Add half a teaspoon of olive oil to a quarter cup of white vinegar. Add enough water for a pint. Also, a quarter cup of walnut oil and four drops of lemon extract is also good to rub on the wood now and then.

5. Baking Soda Rules

Baking soda is not only good as part of a drain opening formula but can be used to clean and polish everything from chrome, porcelain enamel, tiles, woodwork, coffee pots and refrigerators. Baking soda is a bit alkaline, and because of that it’s good for removing grease and dirt. If it’s made into a paste with a bit of water it’s mildly abrasive. Its mildly alkaline character is what allows baking soda to neutralize odors. When it comes to carpet cleaning in Orange County, a handful of baking soda can be sprinkled on the carpet then vacuumed up to keep the fibers fresh smelling.

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Clean Your Home Without Damaging the Environment… or Your Bank Balance

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Clean Your Home Without Damaging the Environment… or Your Bank Balance

Cleaning our homes is hardly the most fun chore in the world. If you’ve got a growing family, then you don’t need us to tell you how quickly your home can get dirty – particularly your floors! Keeping on top of your cleaning routine is important if you want to maintain a happy and healthy home.

However, it’s even more important when cleaning your home that you don’t use products which can harm the environment. The good news is that you don’t have to splash out on specialist “eco” products which cost a bomb – there are plenty of cheap alternatives… many of which we bet you have just lying around your home!

With that in mind, Flooring Supplies has come up with some great eco-friendly cleaning tips you can use. Not only will you get your home looking as good as new, you can be confident you won’t be harming the environment either.

Tea

Believe it or not, you can clean hardwood floors by using boiling water and two teabags. The tannic acid in tea creates a beautiful shine for hardwood floors. Let two teabags steep in the boiling water for a few minutes. Pour the tea into a bucket. Take a soft cloth and wring it out in the tea. The cloth merely needs to be damp, not soaked. This will enable the floor to dry quickly. Wash the floor and be ready to be amazed by the sheen… and no sticky or oily residue.

Vinegar

To remove a stain from your carpet simply mix up a solution of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts ice water into a clean spray bottle. Once applied, let the vinegar solution sit on the stain for a little while, and then wipe with paper towels.

Vinegar can also be used to clean hard water stains and soap scum from your bathtub, sinks, shower and your toilet. It sanitizes as well as cleans. Dilute the vinegar with water or use it full strength.

To clean and deodorize your dishwasher try adding a cup of vinegar to your empty dishwasher and run the cycle. Also add vinegar to the rinse dispenser instead of jet dry for streak free dishes. And it gets better – you can also use it to clean windows! Mix equal parts hot water with white distilled vinegar in a spray bottle. Dry with a soft cloth for streak-free windows,

Baking Soda

Baking soda makes a great natural deodorizer! Just sprinkle a little dry baking soda on your carpet to freshen, let sit for a few minutes, and then vacuum.

It’s also a natural drain cleaner. Measure 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup vinegar. Pour the baking soda into the drain first, and then the vinegar. Don’t worry if you see it bubble. Follow with two quarts of hot water and you’re done!

You can use baking soda to clean your oven too. Cover the bottom of it with a sprinkling of baking soda, spray it with water until it’s very damp and keep spraying every hour or so. Let it set overnight and when you wake up the next morning just scoop out the grime and give it a wipe!

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is another great product which can be used to clean your home. Try mixing lemon juice with vinegar or baking soda to make cleaning pastes. Simply cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the cut section of the lemon. You can use this lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains! You can also use lemon juice as a natural bleach too. Simply mix 1 cup of olive oil with half a cup of lemon juice and you have a furniture polish for hardwood furniture.

So there we have it – a few natural products you’re bound to have in your home which you can use to get your home looking cleaner and smelling fresher. Combine these methods with regular dusting and vacuuming – maybe even add a few pot plants too – and you’ll have a home you’ll be proud to show off.

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What Odor?

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It’s summertime, and that means sweaty clothes after playing outside, shoes that may collect lingering odors after a rain shower, and many more questionable odors. What Odor? makes it easy to eliminate smells in an instant with a blend of 41 essential oils! Not your typical toxic household odor eliminator, What Odor? is 100% biodegradable and is so gentle that it can be used on all surfaces and even on all of your furniture. The entire line of products is Non-Hazardous, Non-Flammable and Non-Corrosive, so you can use it anytime, anywhere, on anything in the home.

“Mom” loves that it gets rid of that diaper pail smell that never seems to truly leave the pail, as well as making her dog’s pet bed smell nice and fresh! This non-toxic, multi-purpose odor eliminator is a must-have for any household with pets or children!

To learn more about What Odor? and their various products, or to order online, please visit WhatOdor.com.

*Company generously provided samples and images for this piece.*

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Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day New 68 Load 4x Laundry Detergent

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68 loads of laundry done – all in a space-saving, environmentally-friendly bottle from Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day! Available in 4 delightfully-smelling all-natural fragrances, including Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Rosemary and Bluebell, Mrs. Meyer’s will clean your clothing without the harsh chemicals. Phosphate-free, biodegradable, and made with Borax and natural essential oils, “Mom” is loving that 1 tablespoon is all you need to clean a full load of laundry!

“Mom” especially loves the Lemon Verbena – it is a light citrus scent that perks you up immediately and the laundry room smells lovely after use!

To learn more about Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products, to locate a retailer near you, or to order online, please visit MrsMeyers.com.

*Company generously provided samples and images for this piece.*

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Orange Plus Gentle Cleaning Towels

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One little waterless, non-toxic cleaning towel really CAN do it all! New to one of “Mom’s” favorites brands, ECOS Earth Friendly Products, is the Orange Plus Gentle Cleaning Towels! Safe for use on skin as well as around the home, these convenient towels will clean everything from kitchen and bathroom countertops to children’s dirty hands when on-the-go! The towels smell absolutely fantastic due to the orange oil, which is also an effective cleanser, as well as aloe vera, wheat germ and vitamin E so that your hands stay soft after use.

The cleaning towels come in a small, recyclable container that packs easily or can be kept in the car for use while out and about with the family. Plus, the towels can even be recycled in facilities that can separate HDPE #2 from paper.

Why choose Orange Plus Gentle Cleaning Towels?

•pH 6.0-7.0 (neutral pH), gentle on hands
•Pre-moistened, gentle cleaning towels
•70 small (5” x 8”) towels
•Gentle on even baby’s skin, but still tough on dirt
•Non-polluting/100% biodegradable/non-toxic/natural.
•Made of replenishable/sustainable ingredients
•Plant-based surfactants we use do not harm the item being cleaned, your body or the environment
•Will not etch, scratch, stain or harm most hard surfaces.
•Contains natural orange oil, rosemary, soap bark and chamomile for a refreshing scent
•Contains vitamin E, jojoba oil, wheat germ extract and aloe vera to smooth hands
•DEA free, free of phosphorus/phosphates, mineral acids, HCl, harsh chemicals and solvents, enzymes, chlorine and petroleum ingredients.
•Contains ethanol, derived from corn
•Easy to use, recyclable HDPE #2 container and lid
•Towels may be recycled in facilities which can separate HDPE #2 from paper.

“Mom” is a huge fan of ECOS Earth Friendly Products, and these new towels are simply brilliant! To learn more about their entire line of environmentally-friendly household products, please visit ecos.com.

*Company generously provided samples and images for this piece.*

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