There are few things more important than family. This New Year, make some family resolutions to strengthen the family ties.
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When the back-to-school season is upon you, it may mean rush hour for some parents. While some schools may take a few weeks to resume, others may have already resumed. No matter where you live, having a student in your household can be really hectic.
It usually brings relief to some parents that their children are resuming school. With the kids gone, it would mean the house would become a lot quieter. For other parents, it can be a frantic situation, which they usually dread.
Autumn is one of the seasons that comes with a whole lot of stress and chaos. So I’ll be sharing with you some of the great ways in which you can cope with the stress. With these tips, you can make going back to school a whole lot easier. Once the little ones are gone, you can then have a little free time for yourself.
Most of these tips come from research gotten from cleaning professionals. According to these professionals, you can save yourself the stress by doing the following;
Doing your deep cleaning at this time might not really be the best of times. You could, however, re-organize and de-clutter your home. Get rid of the paper pile, do your laundry, and maybe even empty out your trip bags. The cleaner your house is, the easier it would be for you to clean it up.
If these tasks feel overwhelming, then you could hire a cleaning service. They can help you get the job done, at affordable rates. They could even help you do the dishes if you’re not up for it. They can be your back-up solution for relieving stress.
Your family command centre should be a spot in your home that everyone sees on a daily basis. It could be the dining room, or kitchen or wherever is best for the family. This command centre is where all the bulk of the housework will be. Your kids can put their backpacks and school supplies here. You should also have a drawer for books and documents in the command room. In it, you can arrange all the books and documents, so they don’t end up being littered everywhere.
In the command rooms, you can also keep track of events, birthdays and parent-teacher meetings. It is the engine room where all the major issues can be sorted out.
Most parents love to keep and treasure memories of the achievements of their children. But sometimes, it can get a little crowded having all the graded papers and the artwork flying around. The best thing to do in this situation is to store up the graded papers in a box or bin. You can go through them at the end of the year if you feel like reminiscing on your kids’ efforts. You can also decide which one you’d keep and those you’d throw out.
Artwork of kids can be a serious debacle for parents when it comes to cleaning up. You could also do the same thing you did with the graded papers; store them up. You can then reminisce on them during the end of the year. At this point, you’ll decide whether to keeps the artworks or not. You could also teach your kids about recycling, by teaching them when to keep the old thing and when not to.
Homework sessions are one of those times both parents and kids hate. You’ve got to admit, it’s no one’s favourite time of the day because it can be very exasperating. But there are a few tricks you can use to make the process a bit easier.
You can make a homework station with everything your children would need to complete their homework. Not only is this idea very helpful to them, but it is also a great way of preventing them from wandering around. Thus, supplies like books, pencils and their sharpeners are examples of some of the things your homework station should have. You might also need to get some calculators, crayons, tissues and glue. Have on the station as well, a caddy, or a coffee tin where you can put all the supplies.
First of all, I would recommend very strongly, that you put at least 5-10 bucks on your kid’s lunch account. That way, your kids won’t go hungry if they forget their lunch-packs or you forget to pack up lunch.
When you want to pack lunch for your kid, you might want to get plastic shoe boxes. Inside these boxes, you’d put the food items your children would need for lunch. Some of these supplies include; cheeses, meat, pretzels, and some cheese crackers. The list can go on, according to your preference. Put each of these boxes in the space allocated for them in the cabinet of your fridge. You could even have one with sweets and candies in them.
If you have smaller kids, you can label these boxes with a number stipulating how much lunch they can take to school.
You should be conscious of putting your kids in a routine of dropping their lunch boxes on the kitchen counter. It doesn’t have to be the counter. All you have to do is ensure that your kids keep their lunch boxes in safe places.
A good time to prepare for a new week is on Sunday evenings. It would be an ideal time to restock on your supplies. Once you restock, you can then bag up all your kids’ lunches for the weekdays. This idea makes your weekdays a little less stressful than it would have been. You can also prepare their outfits for the week, and you can let your kids help you. They know what they want to wear; your job is to make sure it’s not inappropriate. You’re also there to ensure that their clothes are organized.
Having a bedtime routine sure does save you from all the droopy eyes in the morning. Once your kids get used to this routine, you’ll see that waking them up will become much easier. Go online and get a sleep chart that can fit your schedule, if you’re not up for making one yourself.
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For many people, natural and green means the same thing. While this may be true in some instances, it isn’t always the case. Which is why, you would most often than not see people going to the organic section saying he/she is going clean. There is however, a difference between them.
Green is usually associated with the coinage; “going green”. It deals mostly with sustainability or an eco-friendly condition. So going green would mean, saving the planet from global warming or saving the seals or animals. It is basically an environment discussion that aids promote environmental growth.
Green could also mean young, lively, fresh, and growth. When products are labeled “green” have a rested mind because they are not harmful to the environment. Some of the benefits of green products is that, not only do they improve safety and health, it enhances environmental protection. Thus, while noxious fumes and smoke from gas-using cars causes pollution, electric cars are considered green.
Thus, in order to be certified as green, the product will need to prove, through a series of test that it is healthy to both the humans and the society.
Although the world is a digital place, most people still use papers which are gotten from trees that are cut down, thereby causing deforestation. Luckily, with the mobile phones and other electronic appliances, you can stop wasting paper. Studying online and taking notes with your gadgets is much more appreciated
When getting your groceries, opt for reusable bags rather than paper bags that you may end up throwing out. It is not just wasteful, but it is grossly unnecessary.
Rather than throw out the bottles when you’re done drinking it, wouldn’t it be best you refilled it? Or better still you can save it to store up other things like ground sugar and cleaning mixtures. This is a very thoughtful green practice.
Papers, plastics and other non-biodegradable materials need to be recycled, to avoid landfilling. Thus, it is important for citizens to make use of the recycle bins around them.
Always learn to shut down the appliances that use power when you’re not using that appliance. Turn off the bulbs in the room, the TV and the fans, when you’re not using them. This practice will help reduce the electrical surge in your home, making it eco-friendly.
Buy what you need and just that. Sometimes, you might fall into some over-buying spree, which is not bad in itself. The problem is, people tend to make it a habit. When you buy just what you need, you’ll be saving some cash and going green at the same time.
You could also borrow and rent stuff rather than buy. So you could rent DVDs or camping tents, saving you a lot of money. Electronic downloads of movies and music is preferable to hard copies.
Walking and cycling is very healthy and does not in any way exude noxious fumes that are harmful. Cultivate the culture of walking or biking. It is a healthy green practice.
Using energy efficient light bulbs like the LED or CFL bulbs is recommended for green practices. They might be more expensive, but not only are green, but also last five times longer than the regular bulbs. They are also brighter and they don’t affect the eyes as the regular bulbs would.
For those that are not allergic to seafood, it is a food option for you. Avoid harvested or farm fishes. They have in them all kinds of additives. Thus eat only fish caught from the ocean.
Livestock farming produces lots of greenhouse gases to the environment. Cattle generates more global warming greenhouse gases than even vehicles (United Nations Reports). The need to improve the diet of the animals to reduce the enteric fermentation is needed. This reduction of enteric fermentation will reduce the methane emission which will be very helpful to the environment.
There are over a million beauty products out there with lots of chemicals in them. It is very important therefore that your find products that come with environmental brand seal
12 consider your water usage
Finally, it is important to know the amount of water you use. Don’t use so much water because it actually is harmful to the environment. Don’t leave the water running while brushing or shaving. Reduce the time length you take to shower.
These are just a few practices you can adopt if you want to go green. It is not as hard as it may seem. Just start and help the environment
Natural could also mean, emanating from nature. It relates to the features of plants and animals, developing at their own pace and terms. Natural products can also means that it is gotten from nature or produced naturally. Yes, these products contain chemicals, but they are natural chemicals and are in no way added artificially.
The word natural is usually used mostly when labeling products. Most often than not, these products are not as natural as they are portrayed to be. According to the USDA’s food safety and inspection service define natural in regards to poultry and meat products as products with no artificial ingredients. Natural products do not have added color and its processing level is only minimal. Thus when products say their products are natural, it means it has little or no artificial product.
Some natural products include; baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, borax, essential plant oil, natural soap and even natural essential oils such as jojoba and olive oil.
When these ingredients are added to any substance either as preservatives or coloring, it means they are natural. Also consider that the products themselves are natural.
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Cleaning your home is something you should do regularly. There are some times however, when your supplies might be doing more harm than good. It might begin to corrode your furniture and household appliances or make them look old. So today, I’ll be showing you some useful natural cleaning tips for cleaning your home. These tips are not only effective but also highly hygienic. They are also very simple and something you can learn in no time. It also helps you save a ton of bucks, going to get the commercial over-the-shelf products.
There are many products you may want to use, but basic amongst them is the baking soda, vinegar, citrus fruit and borax amongst others.
The toolkit you’ll need includes; an empty spray bottle, baking soda, citrus fruit, vinegar and borax. You may also want to get hydrogen peroxide, castile soap, cornstarch and tea tree oil. You could also get other kinds of scented essential oil to add fragrance to your mixture.
Part of the toolkit will include a microfiber cloth or an old t-shirt made of cotton. Avoid using paper towels, it is more wasteful.
Chances are that you probably have all these (or most of them) supplies at home. Thus you may not need to get most of them save cash.
Using the spray, you can do a lot of cleaning. The first mixture you can try out is the water and vinegar mixture. Fill your spray bottle with half water/half vinegar. Later on in this article, I’ll tell you the cleansing property of all these ingredients. Most people don’t like the smell of vinegar, so you could add your essential oil that smells nice. You could add lemon or lime scented essential oil to give your mixture that love scent. You can use this mixture to clean surfaces like the dining table, mirror, sink, bathroom tubs, ceramic tops and hobs. So long as it is water friendly, you can clean it with your mixture.
Although it is not part of my toolkit list, it is also one essential ingredient you can use for natural cleaning. It is actually an excellent alternative for polishing your furniture. You can use just about any kind of olive oil. Simple polish the surface gently with the olive oil and allow it to dry up. Dabbing an oil cloth in the oil and polishing the surface will do the trick. You can also add lemon juice for a good smell. A squeeze of lemon for a quarter of a cup of olive oil will do the trick.
Castile soap is both non-toxic and biodegradable will brings it under the definition of “natural”. This soap is suitable for lot of things; washing the dishes, as a laundry detergent, hand wash, ground/floor wash, and even as a shampoo
All you need to do is to mix four parts of the soap in an old container and mix. Alternatively, you add ¼ cup of vinegar, if you want a sparkly floor. The water should be hot. Squeeze the castile soap generously into the water.
Castile soap has in it oleuropein, which is a cleaning and antibacterial property. The soap is made from plant oil and it is very skin sensitive. The oil in it penetrates the pores and cleanses the skin. Finally, it has some ant-radical property, that is, it is an antioxidant with vitamins A and E. Thus, it helps to protect against skin deterioration.
Bicarbonate soda is very good for cleaning. First of all it deodorizes a bad smell, by absorbing the smell till it is completely gone. It also comes in hand in taking out grease. When it is wet, it fizzes so it can effectively penetrate the grease, thereby taking it out. It is also a very good and gentle abrasive. You can use it to clean your bathroom. However, it will leave residues in your bathroom so you can use a vinegar spray to shine it up.
Baking soda is also very good in cleaning oven. It is also very perfect for unclogging your drains. Using the baking soda in your oven is easy. You simply let your oven cool down when you’re done using it. Let it still be a little warm, and then you sprinkle the bicarbonate soda on the floor of the oven. Add a little water to it and let it sit for half an hour. The grease and particles in the oven will come out easily afterwards. For drains, all you need to do is to sprinkle the soda down the drain and pour some vinegar to it. The mixture will fizz for a while then it will dislodge the grease in the drains.
Baking soda contains hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and sodium each of unequal proportions. It is odorless and colorless and has deodorizing properties. It also has dissolving properties and can evaporate when put in water. It reacts to acid because of the alkalinity in it, which is why it is perfect to unclogging drains.
Mildews and molds are something people don’t like to see in their homes. One for the very reason that it is a health hazard is a very serious reason to get rid of this mold. Secondly, it is really disgusting to look at.
Mix your white vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oilin a spray container. Spray the mildew or mold with the mixture and let it sit for 30 minutes. Gently scrub it off afterwards, using warm water.
White vinegar is a natural disinfectant. It is relatively ideal for home cleaning. It also acts as a solvent. It has deodorizing properties as well. It is mildly acidic and aids in effective cleaning.
Natural cleaning tips and mixtures is something that you should definitely use and encourage. It is safe and healthy, easy to make and an affordable option.
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Most times, finding and hiring a cleaning service you can rely on may seem daunting. There are many services to rely on, each with their different service plans, mode of operation, and price range. Just thinking about the stress can get you lost in the process. Therefore, before you want to go into hiring a cleaning service provider, there are questions you must ask. These questions will help you understand the nature of the cleaning service’s job. It will also help you make a decision on the company you will want to use in the end. Here are some of the questions;
It’s not just good intentions and honesty and carrying mops and buckets that will make a cleaning business what it is. Yes, you should look out for these things, but mainly, they have to be professional. Cleaning is a serious business; you’re entrusting your home to strangers. Ensure the cleaning have been in this business for a while, so as to ensure that it is sustainable. You should know that 50% of these businesses shut down within the first year of their inception. By the fifth year, over 90% of these businesses will have shut down completely. I’m not saying that you should completely ignore the newly established firms, no! The thing is you should be certain that they are stable and can do the work effectively.
Ensure that the cleaning service’s insurance coverage is very good. Proper insurance coverage is very vital in choosing a cleaning service to hire. It is not advisable to contract an uninsured company because then you’d be putting your furniture at stake. Yes, the uninsured company might seem cheap, but it is a risky venture. They might damage your furniture, woodworks and all your stainless steels; what do you do then? They may not be able to compensate for the loss; so it is safer with an insured company.
The ideal thing to do is to make a written policy (done by the company), as to how to replace the damaged goods.
There should be a workman’s compensation for all the employees. It is the law in Colorado. Despite this law, only a few cleaning service providers actually do this because it is too expensive. If an employee is injured in your home, it might open you to unwarranted litigation. The risk might even be more if you go on to hire an independent maid; that would technically make you the employer.
The company should know the background of their employees. But how do they do this background check? Does it follow references? Does it do a full background check on the employees? Is there proof of authenticity and are they willing to show you the proof? If it an individual cleaning service; are they willing to provide evidence of their background? These are things you must consider when hiring a cleaning service.
There are, however, very few independent cleaning persons out. But if by chance you happen to meet one, you might as well ask these questions. Ensure you know about their criminal history
Most companies out there hire just about anybody willing to work that they neglect to train them. And even when they are trained, the training is usually very sloppy. Where the cleaners are not trained, then there might be some issues. To know which companies are best, you’ll see their training program. They are usually documented. Training would ensure quality consistency and it also reduces staff turnover (those who clean your home)
This question is not only important but necessary to ask. Different companies specialize in different things and so it is important that you know what they do. You should know the kind of service you are paying for. Some confusions you may encounter may be in regards to washing dishes and cleaning the bed, cleaning the fan blades and window panes. Rather than remain confused, you should just tell them what you want out of the cleaning contract.
Cleaning companies would only offer you specific discounts if you plan on using them again. And you would only use them again if you’re pleased with their work right? It means therefore that, if you’re not pleased with the work then there is no need to get them back. If however, it is a reputable cleaning firm, they would do the right thing by fixing the problem. Some may even go the extra mile of funding your money back. Now those are the kinds of cleaners you should work with.
Find a company that would provide their own supplies and equipment. If you provide them, the employees will be more likely to misuse what you give them. They, however, are less likely to misuse the supplies provided for them by the company.
Also when you’re the one providing the supplies, you then incur more expenses than you would have. Your bill should cover everything concerning the cleaning. The employees will also most likely use the equipment with care if it comes from the companies. They know that if they damage any equipment, it comes out from their pay.
Cleaning plans are offers given by these cleaning companies telling you about their various programs. One of the several cleaning plans will be the one where you can retain the company cleaning services. So you can draw out a plan on when the cleaning service can come around. It could be daily, weekly or monthly, depending on your agreement.
Cleaning your home can be tasking sometimes, but so is looking for a suitable cleaner. Luckily, with the list of questions above, hiring a cleaning service would be more effective.
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Everyone usually desires to look clean and smell good. You feel more comfortable that way. It is because of this need to remain clean that most persons carry sanitizers around. The hand sanitizer is now a useful accessory for everyone. It has a very heavy fragrance and it is just the right size that can fit into your pocket. You can also but this sanitizer in your bags and purse can carry them around. The sanitizer comes in handy because the world today is filled with germs and it’s better to remain safe and clean.
Some of the ingredients used to make the hand sanitizers on the market are the Ethyl alcohol and Amino-Methyl Propanol, and they are effective for killing germs. The Ethyl Alcohol is purely alcohol; it is perfect for killing germs and can dry the hand quickly. It’s presence in other cosmetic products allows the effective absorption of other ingredients. Following from that analogy therefore, anything thing mixed with Ethyl Alcohol moves freely and faster through the skin and bloodstream.
Yes, it might be true that the alcohol in the hand sanitizer dries out very quickly; a little part of it enters the skin. A research was done on an adult using a high amount of sanitizers and high levels of alcohol were seen in their bloodstream.
Amino-Methyl Propanol is yet another chemical ingredient present in the hand sanitizer. It is also easily absorbed by the skin (thanks to Ethyl of course). The Environmental Working Group (EWG) said that its toxicity level is quite high and irritates the skin. It also gives out some respiratory effect, but other than that, it is good to use.
Another thing you may want to know about hand sanitizers is that it has a lot of fragrance. These fragrances are actually the combination of other several chemicals that may be harmful. In light of all that has been said, it becomes important to evaluate your usage of hand sanitizers.
Unfortunately, not a lot of persons may want to give up using over-the-shelf hand sanitizers; which may be harmful. Thankfully, your usage of hand sanitizers should not come to an end because of all these outcomes. With a DIY hand sanitizer recipe, you can make your own hand sanitizer. It very easy to do, and the ingredients you’ll need are very affordable and safe. Plus, you can add an extra skill to what you’re already doing.
There are two DIY hand sanitizer recipes; one is the gentle hand sanitizer, and the other is the stronger hand sanitizer. So you can make either one, depending on what you want. Let’s start with the gentle hand sanitizer
This sanitizer is herbal and it doesn’t dry the skin immediately. But it actually refreshes the skin, thanks to the aloe-vera in it. The making of it is so simple that even kids can easily learn to make it. You can even make it in the container you plan on storing the gel, so you don’t have to transfer from one bowl to another.
Some persons may not want to use the gentle hand sanitizer so the alternative is the stronger one. It works just like the over-the-shelf hand sanitizer would, but without the triclosan. This recipe comes in handy for those who work in germ-infested areas like, doctors and engineers. This recipe is not kids-friendly, hence, should not be used on kids
And that’s how you make a DIY hand sanitizer.
Ensure you check with your doctor or healthcare practitioner, as to the safety of the DIY hand sanitizer before you start using it. They will tell you if the essential oil is good to use. You should know also that aloe-vera gel is a stable substance for counter storage. So it is either you make this hand sanitizer in small quantities, or you get a commercial brand hand sanitizer.
Using the commercial sanitizers isn’t recommended because it irritates the skin and it sometimes smells weird. It also contains high levels of alcohol that is very bad and too strong for children to use. So you could as well make your own gentle hand sanitizer for you and your kids. You could also make a stronger hand sanitizer for yourself that you can use when you’re in the public place. The strong hand sanitizer also comes in handy at home for those who change baby diapers.
You can avoid and limit bacteria around you naturally. You don’t have to use commercial brands. With the steps above, you can begin to make your own DIY hand sanitizer.
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It’s that time of year again! Soon the cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and more will be arriving to celebrate another wonderful season of giving, loving, and sharing. You’re just about done with preparing your home for the holidays when the kids burst into the house with their feet covered in snow, mud, and salt. Before you can stop them, they’ve left a trail of destruction all over the main floors in your house! You groan as you take stock of the damage. With a deep sigh, you roll up your sleeves and get started cleaning.
When tackling hardwood floors, start by sweeping or vacuuming dirt and dust. If there is heavy mud, gently wipe up with a paper towel to remove as much of the soil as possible. Next, use a tennis ball to remove any scuff marks found on the floor. Once the floor is prepped, add hardwood cleaner to your hot mop water and be sure to mop with the grain of the wood. Let the floor dry thoroughly before walking on it.
If you have tile flooring, you will want to give the floor a deep clean bath with a mixture of baking soda and water (until it creates a paste). To get into the grout, it’s best to have a scrub brush like the Libman Floor Scrub for that deep clean. For everyday cleaning, a microfiber mop works the best when preparing for holiday guests.
How to prepare for holiday guests with laminate flooring is quite simple. First, sweep or vacuum your floor to remove any loose debris. Next, you’ll want to gently mop your floors with a stick mop like a Swiffer or a Bona Laminate Spray Mop. Be sure to let the floor dry thoroughly before applying any shine polish.
With carpet, it’s important to pretreat any stains before vacuuming or deep cleaning. To do this, create a paste with one part baking soda to one part vinegar. Apply to the soiled areas and let rest for two to three hours. If you have pets, using a wet rubber brush will help loosen and remove embedded pet hair. Once the carpet is prepared, vacuum as normal.
To preserve the life of your floors and get them deeply cleaned, use a rubber broom to remove dust and dirt. Next mop the floor with a microfiber mop and let dry completely. Once ready, apply a light amount of floor polish such as Quick Shine Floor Polish, to the surface and use a sponge mop to move it around. Before applying further coats, make sure to let each coat completely dry first.
Perhaps the easiest and stress-free way to clean your floors for the holiday season is to hire a professional cleaning service. Not only will it save you time and allow you to focus on other preparations, but you’ll know that your home will be handled by people who know what they’re doing and enjoy it. You’re guaranteed beautiful floors. What more could you ask for?
The big day has finally arrived. Guests poured in from all across the state. You welcome them all with hugs and kisses. You know that all your hard work was worth the effort when they rave about your beautiful home. You also know that when the holidays are over, you’re probably going to call a cleaning service to clean up this mess. It’s time to leave it to the professionals.
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