Tag Archives: cleaning

Mar30

Spring Clean Your Life!

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Spring Clean Your Life!

Spring has well and truly sprung, and there is now no time like the present to get the spring cleaning done. Don’t worry – you don’t have to reach for the mop and bucket just yet. It’s more in the sense of clearing out your wardrobe, makeup, and even your lifestyle to make way for bigger and better things.

Clothes: Quite a few of us are holding on to clothing items that we no longer need – either due to nostalgia, wanting to fit into them at some point in the future, or pure laziness for not clearing them out. It’s a vicious cycle that we often find ourselves in, but you will benefit so much more for having more of a bullet-style wardrobe than having clothes hanging around for the sake of it. They would be much better suited on another person or going to a better cause. Have a look through and sort out your wardrobe. If you have been holding onto something longer than a year without wearing it (taking into consideration season changes, which can affect how often you wear a certain item), you don’t need it cluttering your storage space.

Offer unwanted clothing around to your friends, take them to a charity shop, list them on a site like eBay, or give to a school or community project. There are a whole host of places that will take your clothes from you with no questions asked and no extra strain upon yourself. This shouldn’t leave you short of things to wear, but it’s a good excuse to get shopping for more updated items to line your wardrobe with. There are online clothing boutiques  available for you to get your staples from, and it’s never been easier to order from the internet. It gives you more choice than going into a store and saves on fuel, too.

Hair: This is more about going over the products that you have related to your hair and thinking about whether you need to replace, replenish, or reuse what you’ve already got. Hairbrushes need a thorough clean out of all of the build up of loose hairs that accumulate within them, but this should be done more than yearly for hygiene’s sake. It also provides a great time to rid yourself of any bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, and all other products which you’ve gotten to the bottom of but still are clinging on to with the hope that you can squeeze one more use out of them. It’s time to throw them away!

On the back of bottles there is usually a time span for the amount of life that they are meant to have once opened (e.g. 12 months, 24 months for the most common examples), but if you’re at the end of the bottle and you’ve been hoarding it for a long time, it only makes sense to throw it away and buy a new one. If your brush is missing bristles, your comb has a few teeth missing, and shower scruffies are reaching their straggly last days, it’s time to replace these, too – for the benefit of your hair and body over anything else.

Makeup: Makeup should regularly be sifted through and sorted out, but a spring clean gives a great opportunity for you to remember to do so. This goes for the things that you use to apply the makeup with, too – brushes should be cleaned with designated shampoo or a mild baby shampoo if you don’t have the proper stuff – it does the same trick. Go through everything thoroughly, and if it’s looking a bit gooey, cakey, doesn’t glide on correctly, or isn’t holding the same pigmentation as it was when you first bought it, it’s time for it to move on to a better life … in the bin. This is more for your health and safety than anything else; there have been a lot of skin conditions which have been attributed to wearing makeup that has gone far past its best-by date.

Friends: You shouldn’t have to wait until the spring to rid yourself of any toxic friends or family members that you may have, but it sure does get you thinking about it. Those who are in your life only to give you a hard time or bring you down aren’t worth keeping – no matter how long they’ve been a part of it. You want to surround yourself with people who don’t necessarily have the same interests as you (as that would be boring and leave little to no time for debate and reasoning), but have the same moral principles as you and the same vision for their life. Seek out the friends who can keep secrets and not use them for gossip, those who are kind, hard-working, and motivated without stepping up and over people to get to their place on the career ladder. Think about what you look for in a friend and hold the people you surround yourself with to those standards.

Your Environment: There are certain things around you in your home which will need a fair bit of TLC and a spruce-up, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be all about keeping it clean. Simply decluttering your bedroom can have a massive effect on how you lead your life and your mood when you first get up in the morning. This can then impact how your day goes. Choosing new bed sheets, picking new ornaments and pictures to be hung, and even moving furniture around your bedroom can be a great take on the spring clean – and a better way to get you feeling focused, motivated, and ready to take on the months that lie ahead. Spacing it out so that your room has more of an open, airy feel is akin to the freshness that this season brings, rather than the cozy and muted winter that we have just come out of.

Isn’t this version of spring cleaning loads better than actual cleaning?!

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Mar28

Miracle Maintenance For Your New Bathroom

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Miracle Maintenance For Your New Bathroom

So, you’ve recently had some bathroom upgrades? Good for you. Too few of us treat our bathrooms with the love they deserve. And, having a good looking bathroom is as important as any other room in the house. More, in fact, because it gets so much use! But, getting the place looking the way you want it is only half of the battle. Because of the very nature of the room, it can be harder to keep things looking nice. There’s water, muck, and other things we’d rather not mention… As such, your bathroom is going to start looking grubby sooner than you anticipate. That’s why we’re going to look at how to keep it looking better for longer. Your bathroom is worth it!

Water, Water Everywhere: Water is the biggest problem because, in short, there’s a lot of it! As most of us know, large amounts of water do not mix well with beautiful decor. You have to tackle splashing, condensation, and general water build up. Within no time, your wallpaper will start to peel or your paint will become bubbly and faded. There’s not much that you can do about the amount of water in the bathroom. You have to wash, after all. I mean, your bathroom is important, but not that much!

But, there are steps that you can take to reduce the damage. The less water that escapes from your shower, the better. That’s why it’s worth looking at something like this stunning range of shower enclosures. Keeping the water contained will make a huge difference. It’s also worth investing in a bath mat. That way, your floor is safe from any puddles. And, don’t forget to turn your extractor fan on whenever you’re washing. The more condensation you clear, the better.

Of course keeping your bathroom dry is important but the quality of your water is also something that should be looked into. Hard water, for example, can be especially damaging to your hair, skin, and clothing. A wide range of salts feature water softening properties and that is a great place to start as they often come in a convenient tablet form. You might have to try a few different options for the best improvement but it will be well worth it once hard water is eliminated from your beauty routine.

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Grab a towel, STAT!

Clean, Clean, CLEAN: The reasons for keeping your bathroom clean are evident. But, cleanliness aside, cleaning will ensure that your decor and appliances stay spick and span. You should give the room a once-over every few days to keep things looking sparkling. Letting this slide will lead to yellow toilet bowls and moldy bath tiles in no time (ew!). And, once you let these problems grow, they’ll be a lot harder to solve. It’s also worth looking into the best cleaning methods. This is especially important when it comes to getting between your tiles. It’s not an easy job, but it’s important that you stay on top of the problem for floors so clean you can eat off of…But not really though, please!

Redecorate Regularly: You heard right, we’re afraid. Despite your best efforts, there’s going to come a time when you have to redecorate. There’s a reason so many people have peeling paint in their bathrooms. Blame that good old damp again! But, peeling paint is not going to fit with the beautiful look that you’ve created for your bathroom. The good news is, is that it’s a small room to decorate, so it shouldn’t take an enormous amount of time. Save any leftover paint you have from the first time around and as soon as you notice your paint is suffering, consider redoing it again. It’s the only way to keep things perfect!

The throne room may not be your favorite room to maintain for obvious reasons but with proper care and a little TLC, you can keep your bathroom looking better, longer!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar17

Spring Is At The Door. Are You Ready?

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Spring Is At The Door. Are You Ready?

Spring is nearly here! If you believe the calendar, spring should be with us by the 20th of March. In truth, it has already started in some areas. And unfortunately for some, they might have to wait until April. But you can definitely safely say that spring is on the way. Forget the cold and the snow of the past winter, the sun is coming back and the flowers are starting to bloom. Nature is finally taking over, the birds are singing again and skirts are getting shorter. There is no doubt about it: The nation is getting ready to welcome spring. Best of all, you can already find some yummy chocolate eggs in the shops, so this is another good reason to eagerly await the changing of the seasons. But are you ready for it?

Spring Cleaning:

What is spring without the unavoidable spring cleaning? Some might say that it could be a lot nicer not to have to clean the house from bottom to top, but let’s be honest: It’s part of a good home maintenance practice. Start by decluttering your home from everything that you have accumulated throughout the winter and that you don’t need any longer. Whether you decide to throw unneeded items away, sell, or give to charities is your own decision. But you will see clearer once the unnecessary items are out of the way. Then, you can start washing and cleaning in depth every room and every piece of decor and furniture. This also includes your carpets. If you knew what a welcoming terrain dirty carpets make for dust mites and other unexpected guests, you’d probably wash it more often, too!

Spring Starts Outside:

But in truth, spring begins outside your house. You should be gathering new ideas for your garden to capture the essence of spring in your backyard. Whether you are looking to give a new character to your outdoors with customized decking or by building a barbecue area, it’s important to start with the basics. Clear your garden from any weeds and other dirt that has accumulated over the winter. This will help you to reevaluate the space and maybe bring some exciting landscaping changes. Get creative and your backyard will be the talk of the town in no time.

Get Your Spring Wardrobe:

Last, but certainly not least, is your closet. It’s time to remove those thick knits for a lighter spring wardrobe. You will be delighted to know that this year, the spring fashion is set on practicality and neutral colors. The denim jacket is making a comeback, as well as nude and powder rose color schemes for shoes and accessories. And remember to maximize your basic white tee for the season: It’s an essential of your warm weather wardrobe. If it’s too cool to wear a t-shirt only, throw a military jacket on top. It will keep you warm and trendy! Fashion this season is promoting classic and simple lines: A modern silhouette under the sun. What is there not to love?

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar8

Simple Changes For Better Spring Cleaning

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Simple Changes For Better Spring Cleaning

Famously, around this time of year many people often go to work on cleaning their houses as good as possible. Of course, in real life you need to do this much more often, but it is still worth having one really deep clean around this time of year. Even if it is just to make yourself feel better in the home, it is totally worth it. If you do it right, you will probably find that everyone who lives there is much more relaxed and able to feel comfortable in the new found cleanliness, so for that reason alone it is worthwhile. If you are about to embark on your own spring cleaning project, make sure you bear the following in mind for a better, cleaner result:

Declutter First: To clean your house in the best way possible is to be logical about the order in which you do it. This means that you should make an effort to clear anything that doesn’t need to be there first. Decluttering is something that people often skim over, thinking that they are doing it right, when actually their methods are not anywhere near as effective or lasting as they could be. Consider that, although it is perfectly fine to simply stow things away in clever storage spaces, it is even better to get rid of anything that you might be able to part with. You might choose to sell such belongings or give them away to charity; either way, this is a much better long-term solution to your space problems.

Deep Washing: The main thing to remember about spring cleaning is that it needs to be as deep as possible. This will probably mean, in most circumstances, that you will need to use equipment and tools which are different than the ones you normally use. If you are used to using usual household products, then you might want to think about trying to use something different for your spring cleaning. For example, getting your hands on a decent pressure washer to clean the carpets with is likely to be a great idea, as it will pick up dirt that you didn’t even know was there! If you have never used one before, don’t worry – you can learn more about pressure washers here before you start!

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^ So thankful for my dryer!

Room By Room: Another major mistake that people make is to clean the whole house in one go. This might seem to make sense, but it is much more effective on the whole if you simply go from room to room, fully cleaning each one as you go. You need to make sure that you are happy with one room before moving on to the next, as this is how you can ensure that you have cleaned all of the necessary areas as deep as possible. With any luck, you won’t need to do so again for quite a long time. Now, get to spring cleaning!

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Looks like a successful spring clean to me!

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Feb23

Make Your Time-Worn Home Sparkle Like New

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Make Your Time-Worn Home Sparkle Like New

When it comes to retail therapy, shopping for little ways to improve your space – whether furniture or paint – always seems to bring about the flutter of excitement. It’s that chance to renew your space with something wow, whether it’s just a little knick knack or big pieces of new treasure. A piece of something new can make your home feel like it just got a makeover. But what happens a couple of months down the line, when your dog has chewed the sofa cushions, your kid has drawn on the walls, or feet have scuffed the upholstery?

Well, before you tut and head out of the door, ready to spend more money on the same thing, why not learn how you can maintain what you have and help your old house sparkle like new again. All it takes is a little ingenuity and some tender, love and care.

A Little Bit Of Polish: There is no simpler way to make your old wood furniture look brand new than to give it a good old polish. Chances are you haven’t done this in a long time, or ever before, in which case you are going to be blown away by the results. However, before you get started, you are going to need the right polish to get the right finish. As a general rule of thumb, if your furniture is well finished, then use a wax or paste, whereas if your furniture is old teak, then a lot of the time oil alone is the best option.

The Relaxation Room: Yes, we are talking about your bathroom. This is your chance to soak in the tub, relax amongst the bubbles, and escape the stresses of life. However, the simple addition of a house plant isn’t going to be enough. So why not give your bath, basin, and shower a good scrub and really make them sparkle. The other thing you can do to upgrade this sanctuary is to go with some renovations by Tile Regrouting. And then, as a little extra something to make your bathroom pop, hang a big, bright, and gorgeous piece of art on the walls. The results will be stunning.

Care About The Wood: Leave your house and then walk back into the front door. If you are wowed, then that is great. But if it all seems a bit flat, then why not get the oil and wax out and bring your wooden floors back to life. Make them shine. This is the first thing you will see when you come home and it will therefore have a huge role to play in how your house feels. But don’t stop there. Head into the kitchen and look at your counter tops. Chances are that they are plagued with scratches and stains of all sorts. The way to bring them back to life is to get the sandpaper out and rub your tops new. Just make sure that you use some food safe oil to protect them from staining easily and to protect you from getting ill.

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Feb20

Monday Update: Spring Cleaning Edition

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Monday Update: Spring Cleaning Edition

Hiii everyone and happy Monday! The weather in Ohio has been insanely springy these past few days which is crazy, because our winters can be brutal. The sixty degrees and sunny weekend had me outside reading while listening to music, driving with the windows down, and taking my precious pups on long walks. The warm weather also resulted in a hard bite from the spring cleaning bug which left me with a much cleaner closet and desk which I am so happy about!

I didn’t really have any intention of spending my Sunday evening spring cleaning but I wanted to find a spot in my room to display my college degree, which is what began the process. I still haven’t found the perfect spot to put it but I did manage to clean off my desk and clear up some of the clutter in my closet so I guess my degree display can wait! Over the winter, my desk turned into more of an additional storage unit as opposed to an actual work space. Between multiple jobs and random odds and ends, my desk became the piece of furniture where paperwork, knick knacks, and whatever else I couldn’t find a specific space for in my room went.

The most obnoxious thing on my desk, though, was a cute container full of accessories like beanies, gloves, and bandanas that I had no idea where to house in my room. I knew that if I found a spot for them, that I would clear up a lot of additional space so I decided to create my own accessories drawer in my dresser. As I opened up the drawers and tried to figure out what I could condense into a shared space, I found hope in my very bottom drawer. I cleared it out and gave all of the items in it a new home, and then created this little nook for my clothing accessories:

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I’m admittedly not the best at DIY solutions for storage problems and decor but I was really happy with my idea for an accessories drawer. It definitely helped free up my desk top clutter and I was able to put all of my outfit extras into a space where they wouldn’t collect dust and are easily attainable. I was able to finally see accessories that I haven’t worn in forever that were shoved into the bottom of my original container, which was really satisfying and left me feeling like I just returned from the mall with all of these old but new goodies.

Hopefully, I find a suitable place to put my degree soon but I would still say that this cleaning sesh was a success!

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Spring Cleaning Edition! What is the weather like in your neck of the woods today? Who has started some early spring cleaning for themselves already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb17

How You Can Include Your Bookcase In Your Spring Cleaning Regime

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How You Can Include Your Bookcase In Your Spring Cleaning Regime

Hi everyone and welcome to the next addition of my Think Spring guest bloggers series brought to you by Christie from Christie Adams Writer. When we are thinking spring, one not so fun thing that inevitably comes to mind is cleaning! Spring cleaning to many is a must, though, so this post from Christie will teach you how to incorporate your book (or CD and movie) shelves into your cleaning to do list. Take a look:

How You Can Include Your Bookcase In Your Spring Cleaning Regime (your excuse to buy more books)

Spring is on its way. Well OK, I admit winter is still hanging around, it seems to get later every year doesn’t it? Anyway, a bit of forward planning never hurt anyone. Spring cleaning your home, cleaning the car, yep, ticked that box? How about reinvigorating your bookcases? I’m not talking a quick whizz over with a feather duster, I’m talking a proper spring clean. If your book collection is a library you may need to break this up a bit, but it’s do-able, honest.

  1. Take a good long look at what you have, then take the books off the shelves:

A good way to ‘see’ things clearly, is to take a photograph or two and put them on one side. You’ll need them later. Taking out the books will probably surprise you. You will find ones you never knew you had. Those beloved sneaky books that have hidden amongst much read favorites. To make it easier and less stressful later on, sort them into two piles:

  1. Keep
  2. Maybe I could let these go

 Don’t know where to start? I try to live by William Morris’

‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful’.

The focus will be to cut at least 10%, if not more. You may at this stage also find the odd one you really don’t like. It may have been a gift or a bargain bucket buy. If so, create a third pile somewhere out of sight. You can bring them back into the room when you get to stage 3.

WARNING – DO NOT start flicking through the pages, if you do, you are doomed and will never finish the task in hand!

  1. Clean the shelves and fix any loose or broken bits:

Think serious Health & Safety here. Books are HEAVY. If your bookshelves are not safe and securely fastened it could really hurt someone, or worse. Yes, sadly, people have been crushed beneath falling furniture.

http://www.wikihow.com/Secure-a-Bookcase-to-a-Wall

Once they’re safe, fixed, and empty, you need to assess if they are what you want. This is the time to get reinspired. Remember those photographs I told you to put on one side? Now get them out and take a good close look. Be critical, be detached. If you saw those shelves in someone else’s house, would you love them? Aspire to own them? Want to embrace them in a big hug? OK, a bit difficult to imagine but you should understand the sentiment.

This is the time to repaint, rebuild, extend, downsize. You could go truly minimalist/tiny house and choose to let go of it all and move to a fully electronic reading habit. If so, jump ahead to stage 3 in this post.

Happy? All done? Fantastic, now on to the hard work.

(You could swap stages 2 and 3 if it suits you to focus on your collection, rather than your space or furniture.)

  1. Create a collection of loved literature and beloved battered books:

Now this can be a difficult bit, because it’s time to sort out what you want to keep and what you can let go. Go back to your books in those tidy piles (you did leave them tidy didn’t you?) and begin the process according to these guidelines:

Keep – you can look lovingly at this one, smile, then move on to the second pile.

Maybe I could let these go – you need to sort through these and divide them again into three piles:.

  1. Sell – if you have rare books, first editions, signed copies, then do your research. Contact an expert. If you’re lucky you could pay for a new book, a holiday, or your house! Otherwise, garage sales or online auction sites are your friend.
  2. Donate to charity or friends – do you love a book but know you’ll never re-read it? Why not write a hand written ‘no spoiler’ review note and place it in the book before you donate it?
  3. Reuse – note, there is not a ‘bin’ pile. If you do have any books that are truly falling to pieces why not create some book art (get on Pinterest people, it’s amazing what you can do with the pages of an old book). Your local school or art college may take them off your hands. Final option? Recycling center.

If you find it difficult, recruit a book buddy or cleaning companion, offer them a brew and get cracking.

If you have an electronic ebook/audio book copy, do you need the paperback? Do you have books about garden design but now live in a small apartment? Will you ever learn to play the guitar? No? Then sideline the ‘how to’ book.

Fashions change. Technology moves on. Maps and text books get out of date. Learn to let go people! This cleansing can take as long as you need but once you start you’ll be surprised by how easy it is. Make sure it doesn’t drag on, be decisive, and reach or pass that 10% target.

  1. Decide on how you will arrange your ‘new’ beautiful bookcase and beloved book collection:

Now, you’ve done the hard bit. You should have a (slightly?) smaller collection. It’s time to decide how you’ll show them off and care for them. Will you go ‘library style’ and sort by genre then alphabetical? How about color, blue next to purple, red next to pink etc? It can look awesome if you embrace the idea fully.

Do you have truly gorgeous bound books, how about those being at eye level so you truly enjoy the sight of them every day? Kids books? They need to be accessible to little hands. On the alternate side, you need to put ‘valuable’ (I know they all are, but stay with me here) books away from direct sunlight and away from little hands.

Libraries put books on end for a reason, it preserves them and protects them. Make room for them all stood up, not lying flat. You can be as innovative or traditionalist as you like. You can scribble down ideas, draw out detailed plans, or just move books into yet more piles so you can keep track. I’ve got a small section of ‘will read then let go’ books, too.

  1. Fill The Gaps! Now is the time to celebrate the space you’ve created, by filling the spaces with new books:

Yes, you’ve done it! Your new clean and empty shelves are calling out to be filled. Dust off your books and put them back in their newly well planned home. I start with the big books, which may only fit on one of many shelves. Also, that’s often the safest. You recall I told you to fasten the shelves securely, this is important. If the shelves are not secured (WHY NOT!!) always start at the bottom when refilling. DO NOT make them top heavy by starting at the top.

Just remember your home should be somewhere that you love. Somewhere you’re proud of. Somewhere you feel at home in. I’d love to see how you got on, and how you display your books. When you’ve finished take a picture and share it with me on social media.

You May Also Like:

http://www.christieadamswriter.com/how-to-organise-your-bookshelf/

Get in touch with me from your next coffee shop or library:

^^^ Thank you so much again to Christie for such a helpful and well thought out post! Again, please be sure to check out her blog and give her page some love! What is on your spring cleaning check list? How many books do you have in your collection? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a gorgeous OOTD from K.M. at Ankhor You!

Feb14

Spring Clean Your Way To a Healthy Mind

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Spring Clean Your Way To a Healthy Mind

We’re only going to whisper it, since it’s still pretty chilly out there, but…spring is just around the corner (!!!). And you know what that means: no, not lazy Sunday strolls hand in hand with your loved one, we’re talking spring cleaning! But don’t worry, because we’re going to be talking about it in a different way. Specifically, how you can use your spring cleaning as a way to reach a healthier state of mind – for both yourself and your family. That’s right – we’re suggesting you declutter your home, get rid of the mess, and adopt a minimalist lifestyle, both in your home and in your mind:

A Calm Mind: It is easy, all too easy, to acquire a large number of material items in the 21st century. Things are cheap so we buy them without much of a second thought. We have space and a need to hold on to signs of our success, so we hoard our items. But by hoarding our items, what are we really doing besides clogging up our home and denying ourselves of a pure mind? Take a look around the house, gather everything that hasn’t been used in the last 6 months (unless it’s sentimental), and contact samedayrubbishremoval.com.au to take it all away. We can’t function with stuff piled up around the house. When it’s gone and things look orderly, you’ll find it much easier to adopt a happy, carefree state of mind.

Space for Passions to Grow: Have you ever had to live without a television or the internet? If you did, you’ll remember the feelings of boredom, and then shortly after those feelings were replaced by a burst of creativity. Boredom brings out the best in us, it really does. It’s an opportunity for passions to grow and for us to do things that we never usually do. Getting rid of your junk is the same as getting rid of the television and changing the wireless internet password. With an empty home, where will your imagination take you?

Bringing the Family Together: Decluttering isn’t just good for you, it’s good for your partner and children, too, both on a personal level and as part of the family. With less distractions, you’ll find yourself naturally gravitating towards one another. Instead of living “alone together”, under one roof but decidedly different lives, you’ll be able to enjoy the rich and joyful moments of a calm space together. You’ll find you’re more interested in playing childish games with your kids, and they’ll naturally feel calmed by the serene surroundings you’ve created during the spring clean.

Boosting that Confidence: Maintaining a neat, uncluttered, orderly home also has one more benefit: it will boost your confidence. That’s a certain confidence we can draw from being in control of our surroundings, of knowing that we’re not tied down by the things that we own. Everything in your home has a purpose, you have already decided that. Instead of being owned by your possessions, you own them – and you’ll soon find this control seeping into other areas of your life, too.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb10

Give Your Bathroom Some Sparkle

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Give Your Bathroom Some Sparkle

When you have a big family, the house can tend to get messy, over-run and the household chores can seem like a never ending list which just gets bigger and bigger with every hour. The bathroom is one of the most used and frequented rooms in a house, with everyone using the toilet, needing to shower or take a bath, and clean their teeth in the morning and night. A Sunday evening can be a frantic time in the bathroom. The children need to be washed before school starts on Monday, parents want to either take a quick shower or relax in the bath before the work week begins again – and this can leave the bathroom is disarray and needing some desperate TLC.

If your bathroom could do with some touch ups, a little tidy up, or a makeover, there is no need to break the bank by purchasing expensive additions. In the end, these will get used just as much and you may find yourself buying the same expensive product or additions time and time again. There are measures that you can take to ensure that your bathroom looks and feels welcoming and tidy by simply taking the time to put energy into it, doing your shopping in different places, and researching.

When it comes to the toilet, a supermarket brand bathroom cleaner (preferably anti-bacterial) will do the job just the same as bigger, more expensive brand names. If it’s a spray product, all you have to do is squirt it a few times over and into the rim and over the toilet seat. Then wait 30 seconds and wipe clean with some paper towel. You should also ensure that the toilet flush handle is sprayed, too, as this can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Always, after spraying, put some bleach (again, supermarket brand but ensure it is thick bleach) down the toilet to eliminate germs. If you have a problem with your toilet, and it tends to cause blockages, then ask friends for advice first – the chances are they will say, “I know a good plumber near me who can sort that for you,” and you may even get a discount after being referred by a friend.

If your bathroom needs a bit of a revamp, visit discount shops and invest in bright fake flowers, candle holders, tealights, or even some quirky, funny prints that you can frame and put on the walls. Instead of buying expensive odor eliminators, simply leave the window open for a few hours every day, when you’re in the house, of course!

When it comes to the bath, limescale and dirt can build up quickly. Try running hot water and leave it in the bath for 10 minutes, without any cold water added to it. Once the water is released, use a limescale cream and rub it over the bath. Then leave it on for 10-15 minutes and wipe clean with a clean rag or paper towel and watch that bathtub sparkle!

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Feb7

Steps To Take For a Toxin-Free Home

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The environment that we live in can set the tone for us and how we deal with things. If we live in a cluttered and messy environment, then the chances are that we will lead cluttered lives. If you find that you are always frantically looking for things at home and are regularly late for appointments, it could be that you need to look at your home environment first. Making it more organized can lead to living a more organized life. The same goes for our health. Our home can set the tone for how healthy we will be. There are other factors, like food and exercise that will play a role. But there are many toxic things that we bring into our homes that can have a knock-on effect. It can be hard to be healthy when the place that you spend most of your time isn’t a healthy place to be.

So what can be done? It can be nearly impossible to be completely free of toxins but these tips will help make your home that much safer:

Rethink Your Flooring: You might be surprised to hear that some carpets are made from toxic chemicals. Some conventional carpets are made from synthetic fibers, that quite often can be petroleum based – think about what they might emit. The chemicals and fibers could be responsible for breathing problems like asthma, as well as be responsible for allergies. It is important to look into this if you have carpet, or are thinking about getting carpeted floors.

You can still get carpet, just make sure that you look for a certain type. The best are cotton or wool rugs as they are natural fibers and not synthetic. They should still be cleaned regularly, though, as they can house mites and dust that can aggravate allergies. Natural wood flooring could be a good idea, too, as it doesn’t need toxic glues to keep it all together.

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Rethink your flooring!

Ditch Your Scented Candles: As much as we love them, scented candles can do us more harm than good. A lot of brands are made using paraffin wax, which is a byproduct of oil refinement. Which does really make you think; do you want that in your home? All is not lost, though. Just look for options that are non-toxic. Candles made from beeswax or soy are much better, toxin-free options. However, if you just like your home to smell good, then you could think about diffusing your favorite essential oils in the home. They are so good for the air quality in your home, which in turn, can be fantastic for your health. Candles add the element of coziness, though, so you might like to use a combination of both in the home.

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Flickr Image

Replace Old Roofing: Back in the day, a lot of homes were built with things like asbestos tiles in the roof. But it was all done before it was shown that asbestos can be detrimental to your health. It is crazy to think now that they even considered it a viable material. A lot of homes have had the tiles removed, but not all. So if you think you may have some in the roofing of your home, then now is the time to get rid of it. You need to dispose of it safely, though. There are recommended guidelines as to how to get rid of it all. Then you know that the fibers won’t be inhaled or linger in your home. If so, it could lead to ill health, including a type of cancer like mesothelioma. If you have had asbestos in your home previously and think that you might have become sick as a result, then there are options for you. Speak to your doctor, of course, but it could also be worth speaking to a lawyer to see if you could get any compensation. If you are interested in this, then you could look at the following link to see how to go about it: www.RobinsCloud.com/mesothelioma-lawsuits/choosing-a-mesothelioma-lawyer/.

Throw Away Plastic Bottles: We get told so much that we need to drink more water but there are plastic water bottles that can be bad for you. They can contain toxins that can leak into the water that you then go on to drink. This can be especially true when bottles are left in hot environments. It makes the plastic become softer which in turn can mean more toxins escaping into the water. Even some BPA-free bottles still contain other chemicals, though that is a better option than any old water bottle. But, better still, is the option to use glass or metal bottles. They can be harder to find, but they are going to be much better for you in the long run.

Along the same lines as plastic bottles, it is time to stop eating out of plastic containers too. If you use leftovers, then consider swapping out your plastic containers to glass ones. How many of us heat up leftovers in the microwave, still in the plastic container? Like with the water bottles, heat, especially from a microwave, can make the plastic softer and weaker. I think we’ve all noticed how flimsy a microwave meal package becomes after it has been in the microwave. But those plastics and toxins can leak into our food. So if you truly want to improve your health and quality of life, then you should think about eliminating plastic containers from your home. If you get ready made meals, then take them out of the packet before heating up. Heat them in an oven rather than a microwave, too.

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Trash these ASAP!

Check Your Paints: If your home is painted, rather than wallpapered, then make sure that you look into what kind of paint you are using. The strong smell of paint can often indicate to us that it could be harmful, but we still all use it, right? I’m not saying don’t decorate your home, just that you need to be more wary about what paints you use. A lot of paints are described as containing VOC (volatile organic compounds). Doesn’t sound too drastic, does it? Wrong! It can wreak havoc on your breathing and aggravate asthma or respiratory issues. Make sure that you are looking for paints that are labelled as non-VOC. These are often water based paints, so they tend to need to be repainted after a little while. But it is a small price to pay for better health, isn’t it?

Cleaning Products: Cleaning products are intended to be strong to kill bacteria – we hear all about it in their advertisements. But as a result, they can be harmful to us. If you wipe your table using a chemical filled cloth and then eat something from the table, you are going to be ingesting all of those chemicals and toxins, so they need to be avoided as much as possible. You can still clean and get rid of bacteria in your home by using some simple and natural ingredients. You’ll be surprised at how well something like lemon, white vinegar, and baking soda can clean! Essential oils are great for cleaning, too. They can be used in a spray bottle with water and have even been shown to eliminate MRSA in hospitals. So you know you’ll still be making your home clean and safe, as well as healthier for all of you. This post has some information on the best oils to use if you’re not sure: www.helloglow.co/10-best-essential-oils-for-green-cleaning/.

Check Your Bedding: Have you ever thought about how much your bedding can affect your health? I’m thinking that is not very likely. First of all, when something is dyed unnaturally, it can have detrimental effects. The reason it can affect us so much is because it is so close to our skin and for such a long while. Anything that we put on our skin, including things like shampoo and makeup, has an effect on our body. Whatever we put on our skin goes into our skin cells and quite possibly, into our bloodstream. So if you are lying on sheets that have been bleached, that is touching your skin and could have a negative effect.

There is a whole range of things that can affect our health, from large home renovations to small cleaning projects. Have a think about your health and if any of these options would be a viable choice for you. When you make the effort, your body and overall health will thank you for it.