Author: oi_admin

Hand Sanitizer: Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on October 7, 2015 by oi_admin - Healthy Body

Flu season is already here! Hand sanitizer is part of a good defense against germs.

If you've ever used a hand sanitizer and afterwards felt like your hands were stickier and dirtier than before, don't you wonder...Is the sanitizer bad? Is the alcohol drying up in the gel? Have I used too much gel? Am I doing it wrong?

The truth is, most people don’t really know the proper way to use a hand sanitizer. And with flu season already here, knowing the proper way to use hand sanitizer is more important than you think.

Washing your hands with warm soap and water is by far the best way to prevent the spread of flu and virus germs. But really, how many times throughout our busy days do we actually have time to wash our hands? This is when hand sanitizers can be beneficial.

Alcohol-based sanitizers must contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective against germs. Squeeze enough of the product into the palm of your hands to wet them fully. Only a few drops are needed to completely cover your hands. Rub your hands together for about 20 seconds or until they are dry. Make sure when rubbing the sanitizer on your hands that you reach all surfaces of your hands, even between your fingers. The sanitizer is only effective if all the liquid is rubbed into your hands!

If soap and water is not available, and your hands are visibly dirty, you may need to wipe them with a wet wipe or towelette first before applying hand sanitizer.

If you like the idea of using a hand sanitizer for extra protection against germs, but don’t prefer to use alcohol based sanitizers, there are a few homemade recipes using essential oils that you can make. Certain essential oils can be just as effective as alcohol because of their antibacterial properties.

Try this recipe for an effective alcohol-free hand sanitizer:

Fill a small, recycled soap or hand sanitizer bottle with 2/3 water. Add one tablespoon of aloe vera gel, and ten total drops of cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, lavender lavender, thyme, rosemary and/or lemon essential oils. Fill the top of the bottle with water, and shake to mix. Spray sanitizer onto hands and rub in for ten seconds.

Because my family and I spend a lot of time in the car driving to work, going sports games and running errands, I like to keep a spray bottle mixture of castile soap and water and some wash cloths. A big fan of Thieves products, I also keep their hand sanitizer in my bag as well.

When shopping around for hand sanitizers, keep in mind the following helpful tips:

Alcohol-based sanitizers should contain 60% alcohol. Only a few drops are needed to cover and sanitize hands.
Sometimes hand sanitizers can sting if you have cuts or scrapes.
If you prefer natural ingredients look for witch hazel and essential oils.
Hand sanitizers and gels are only effective in sanitizing hands, not cleaning dirt off hands.
Moisturize hands often when using alcohol-based sanitizers and gels.
If you smoke, avoid lighting a cigarette after applying hand sanitizer because the alcohol content is flammable.

Finally, proper handwashing is the best way to remove dirt and germs from your hands. Hand sanitizers can remove flu and virus germs but are not 100% effective. Hand sanitizers should only be used as a supplement to hand washing.

3 Simple Ways to Prevent the Spread of Flu

Posted on October 5, 2015 by oi_admin - Healthy Body

Kids are more vulnerable to flu viruses than adults. Help them understand how to stay well this flu season.

Brace yourself! Because flu season 2015 - 2016 is just beginning and kids, the elderly and the chronically ill are more prone to becoming infected with the flu virus than you or me. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already estimated that about 36,000 people in the United States alone will die from the flu this year. That number could increase, all depending on how many flu strains are resistant to the antiviral medications. Pretty scary stuff!

As an overprotective mother of my three children, I cannot stress the importance of educating them about the flu and what they can do to prevent it. As a nurse, I have already started taking precautions since the odds are I will be surrounded by flu and virus germs where I work.

For those that want to steer clear of this lovely virus this season, there are things that you and your family can do to prevent the flu from entering your home and attacking your family.

Educate your family about the flu.

The flu is a respiratory illness. It is contagious, and it is caused by influenza viruses that affect the lungs, throat, and nose. It can present a variety of symptoms, such as muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, sore throat, cough, stuffy or runny nose, and fever of 100 degrees F or higher.

The flu virus is spread through droplets of an infected person when they talk, cough, sneeze, or even touch objects and surfaces. Believe it or not, flu germs can travel about six feet away.

Avoid contamination.

Stay away from people that are sick. It’s an obvious tip, but sometimes it can be the hardest thing to do. Try not to come within six feet of a flu-infected person or touch things they have touched.

For that matter, don’t share drinking glasses, utensils, snacks, or other items with anyone, because the flu infected person may not show symptoms. Don’t touch surfaces that might be contaminated such as light switches, telephones, faucets, doorknobs, counters, flush handles, TV remotes and computer keyboards or mouses.

Use an antibacterial cleaner to clean high-touch surfaces where germs can be transferred from person to person – like countertops, light switches, doorknobs, computers, remotes, keys, and even refrigerator handles. Clean your kitchen sponges and towels often.

Keep your hands clean! Wash with soap and warm water for fifteen to twenty seconds and rinse well. Dry hands thoroughly after cleaning them. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day especially before and after eating; after petting animals; before and after school or school activities like recess, gym and labs; after handling cafeteria trays, touching vending machines or door handles, or disposing of trash; and always, always always after using the restroom! If you can’t wash, use a hand sanitizer or a wipe.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Stay healthy: keep hydrated so your mucus membranes stay moist. After all, the mucus keeps bacteria and germs from piling up in our bodies! Get some good sleep, manage your stress, eat a balanced diet, exercise, and drink fluids.

3. If you become infected, make the chain of infection stop with you.

Once the virus enters your body and you become infected, symptoms begin to appear within 1 to 4 days.

Keep lots of tissues available in the home. When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. After use, be sure it ends up in the garbage pail and not laying around on the countertops.

No tissue handy? Try sneezing into the fold of your arm (the inside of your elbow). Avoid sneezing into your hands.

You are contagious for 5 - 7 days after showing flu symptoms. Stay at home…you need to rest anyway.

Avoid contaminating high-touch surfaces and have someone clean these frequently while you are sick.

In closing, the risks of flu complications are serious – bronchitis, sinus or ear infection, and pneumonia. If you do become sick, take recuperation seriously. Get as much sleep as possible. Keep hydrated. Visit your doctor: antiviral medicines work best within 48 hours of the first presence of symptoms.

How to Get Your Kids to Care about Germs

Posted on September 23, 2015 by oi_admin - Healthy Body

Do kids know about all the places they can pick up germs? Do they CARE?

The facts: Americans touch about 300 different surfaces every half hour. Eighty percent of infections are spread through hand contact. About 22 million school days are lost each year due to contagious illness.

Germs (microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses) are found in all sorts of places like your home, your car, at school and even in your office. The good news is that a majority of these pathogens are not harmful. The bad news is that the ones that are harmful are either bacterial or viral, which can cause all sorts of ailments ranging from the common cold to a potential life-threatening infection.

At school, kids are exposed to a variety of contagious germs, such as colds, flu, respiratory viruses, strep throat, hand foot and mouth disease, eczema, rashes, and many more.

Now that our “kiddies” are back at school, it’s time to face the fact that contagious germs are always present in their everyday routine. Everything from doorknobs, cell phones, desktops, and computer keyboards will all be harboring the germs we try so hard to fight. Even at home, when those germy shoes touch our welcome mats and the backpacks pile up on the countertops, the germs begin to light our homes up like a beautifully decorated tree.

Most adults are well informed on the spread of germs and the effects they have on our health and most of us know how to wash our hands and when to clean and use hand sanitizer. But do our children even know what a germ IS? Are they washing their hands properly, or at all? Do they even care about something they cannot even see with the naked eye? Unless we follow our children around all day long, we may never know the real truth.

What I do know is that if we keep educating our children at home, they have a better chance of learning how to take care of themselves. Now, where do we start?

How about with a joke about germs: “Why did the germ cross the microscope? To get to the other side!”

For the youngsters, since they love the “good guys” and dislike the “bad guys,” we can explain how germs live everywhere, on our skin, teeth, hair, pets, clothes and toys. We can talk about the bad germs and how they can make you cough and sneeze, which can spread to your family and friends. Youngsters can learn to get rid of the “bad guy germs” by washing their hands. Teach them that by washing their hands they will keep themselves healthy.

For our tween generation, there is a wonderful science experiment using hand lotion and glitter. It’s quite messy, but it shows how germs (the glitter) easily spread to all the things that you touched, and that quickly wiping your hands with a towel will get some of the germs off, but most of them stay on your hands. The experiment shows how proper handwashing removes germs easily.

No matter how old our children are, the message is the same:

Wash your hands throughout the day, especially before you eat, after you use the bathroom, after you touch animals, after you sneeze, use the phone, or play with your toys. Wash your hands also when you come home, after you play outside, or use the computer.

Wash your hands first by wetting them with water. Next put soap on your hands. While rubbing your hands together, count slowly to twenty, MAKING SURE you get the back of your hands, fingers, wrist, and fingernails. Next wet your hands to get rid of the water. Finally, dry your hands.

When washing their hands with soap and water may not be an option, teach youngsters to wipe their hands well with hand sanitizer. Kids usually find it easier to use sanitizer than washing their hands because it’s quicker and convenient in a classroom environment or during after-school activities. Throw a few bottles in the kids' backpacks and have them keep one in their locker, one in their gym bag and one in their desk. Be sure to instruct them on how to use it properly.

When tissues seem to be scarce, covering your cough or even sneezing into the crease of your elbow also helps prevent the spread of germs. Immediately washing your hands after is even better! Repetition and reinforcement on these issues may be needed for the younger generations.

If at all possible, teach your children not to touch their face, ears, or even nose that much throughout the day. Germs love to enter these access points into our bodies.

5 Common Places Where Kids Meet Germs

Posted on September 23, 2015 by oi_admin - Healthy Body

The water fountain.....Great place to refresh? OR great place to meet germs?

If there is one thing I try and teach my children, it is to WASH THEIR HANDS throughout the day. I have been a nurse for the last twenty years. Back when I was 14 years old, I was cleaning boats for a living. At 16 years old, I expanded my horizons and started cleaning homes. I have seen and cleaned many surfaces, filled with germs and bacteria of all kinds. If there is one thing I learned from all this cleaning, it is to wash my hands. And I wash them at least six times a day. After all, you never know what you are going to pick up, and when!

People don’t realize how many surfaces they actually touch, from when they wake up in the morning to when their heads hit their pillows at night. It’s more surface touching than you think! How many surfaces that you have touched throughout the day do you think are actually clean? Not too many, which is why, when it comes to my children, I need them to be educated and aware about the surfaces they touch and why they need to wash their hands throughout the day, to keep from getting sick and also to minimize the number of germs they bring home to our family.

There's a long list of places that can harbor all sorts of germs, but these are the top five places that children may be picking up germs:

Playgrounds. Fun for kids but playgrounds are filled with children’s oozing bodily fluids that have been spread from one monkey bar to the next. Past research shows blood, urine, mucus, and saliva have all been found on playgrounds. Kids love to wipe their eyes and put their fingers in their mouths and noses, leaving a trail of germs throughout the park. And you wonder why kids get the sniffles? To lessen those playground germs, carry wipes, soapy water in a bottle, or even hand sanitizer and wipe your children’s hands often.
Soap dispensers. Kids try and do the right thing after going to the bathroom by washing their hands. What they don’t know is that the soap dispenser that holds the handwashing soap may be contaminated by fecal bacteria. Because the soap dispensers are not always cleaned, bacteria tends to grow from the soap scum buildup. Plus, the bottoms of the dispenser are touched by dirty hands, which harbor all sorts of germs all day long. To lessen this mess, teach your children to scrub their hands thoroughly for about 15 seconds with warm water. Using a hand sanitizer afterwards can help as a backup. To turn off faucets, grab a paper towel and wrap it around the faucet handle.
Public water fountains. A germ-attracting favorite of mine! I stopped drinking from water fountains back when I was in elementary school and we tested our school water fountain for germs in science class! The spigots on these school fountains host millions of bacteria. Avoid drinking from public fountains as much as possible. Have your child bring their own beverages with them to school.
School cafeteria trays and desktops. I don’t know which one harbors more germs. Both places usually are not cleaned by anyone. Occasionally, the cafeteria trays are wiped down, usually with the same one damp rag that also wipes down the cafeteria countertop and each lunch table. I am not even sure the sides of the tray are ever cleaned, just the face of the tray. The trays are then placed on a surface near the trash cans. Schools, shopping centers, airplanes, buffets, and even indoor play areas for children all use trays and all harbor germs and bacteria. Lessen these germs by bringing your own food, wiping down the trays with clean, hot, soapy water and a wipe, or avoid using the tray at all. Always teach your children to wash their hands thoroughly after eating.
Shared condiments and school supplies. Anything “shared” can be an issue, especially for children. In public eating places, be aware of what is lurking on that ketchup bottle or napkin dispenser! Most people don’t wash their hands before sitting down to eat in public restaurants. In school, kids share pencils, crayons, glue sticks, and pencil sharpeners all the time! Have your child bring their own supplies and use them as much as possible. Teach them the “appropriate” way of not sharing their supplies. When dining out, wash your hands before eating, and with a clean wipe or soap and water, wipe down the condiments that are placed on the tables that you think you will be using.

Educating your children on germs and proper handwashing can help your whole family live healthier lives!

National Housecleaning Giant Closes One Day After US Department of Labor Ruling on Misclassification of Contract Workers

Posted on July 27, 2015 by oi_admin - News

New infographic explains how using independent contractors puts consumers at risk.

Just one day after the US Department of Labor published updates to federal classifications clarifying its definitions of employees versus independent contractors, one key player in the new “gig economy” bows out. HomeJoy, a click-to-consume app-driven company that pairs house cleaning providers with consumers in need, conceded its bid to revolutionize the home services industry in a press release issued July 17^th, saying the outfit will shutter operations effective July 31. The quick exit is seen by cleaning industry insiders as a harbinger of more backlash against companies that outsource home services to contract laborers. These companies sub-contract their work, usually to individuals, in an effort to control expenses and maximize shareholder earnings. The problem is, this model thrives at the expense of the worker and the consumer. A new infographic sponsored by national housecleaning service Maid Brigade illustrates the 5 biggest pitfalls a consumer faces when hiring a house cleaning company that sends independent contractors to do the work.

When Injury Occurs

HomeJoy and other companies using contract labor are able to avoid many large expenses required of companies with true employees on the payroll, most notably worker’s comp insurance. It is assumed that the contractor maintains his or her own policies however in reality many contract workers forego such a major expense, instead gambling against the odds of injury on the job. “In the unfortunate event that injury does occur, contract cleaning workers may seek (and get) medical reimbursement from the owners of the home they were cleaning when the injury took place,” warns Bart Puett, president of Maid Brigade.

Tax Liability

Homeowners may also be liable for Social Security, Medicare and unemployment taxes and penalties for the contract workers who do not make accurate and timely payments to the IRS each quarter themselves. Since the contract worker is not employed by the housecleaning company that dispatched them, the IRS may deem that the homeowner is the employer of that cleaner and therefore responsible for these taxes. The risk of finding a surprise tax bill in the mailbox is slim for most consumers who have cleaning help but the fees and penalties can be costly, not to mention the professional and social stigma that accompanies real or perceived tax evasion.

Don’t Get Taken to the Cleaners

Ernie Hartong, CEO of the Association for Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI), advises homeowners seeking help with house cleaning to do their homework. “Homeowners should do their due diligence before hiring a house cleaner or professional cleaning service. To avoid the pitfalls that can occur when someone is working in your home, ask to see a copy of the company’s business license and insurance policy before hiring,” cautions Hartong. “A professional company should gladly provide these to any consumer who asks.”

Maid Brigade is the only house cleaning service that is Green Clean Certified® with more than 400 franchise service areas in the United States and Canada. A leader in house cleaning since 1985, Maid Brigade is the green cleaning industry leader and has a longstanding legacy of providing quality customer service and consistent and thorough cleaning using the most advanced techniques and equipment. The company has also implemented a consumer advocacy program in response to reports from the Environmental Protection Agency linking chemicals in traditional cleaning products to a wide range of health risks. All Maid Brigade cleaning professionals are employees of the company not independent contractors. Maid Brigade is member of ARCSI.

What type of Clutter Personality Are you?

Posted on April 15, 2015 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no wait…its clutter!

Clutter. It creeps up on you when you least expect it. It lives in corners, closets and countertops. Just when you thought you were rid of it, it comes back. Will there ever be an end to all this clutter?

Let’s face it. Clutter happens to all of us, some more than others. Research has shown that about 1% of our population are known as hoarders, while the other 99% suffer from some sort of stress due to clutter at least once in their lives. Clutter can cause lost paperwork, missed deadlines, unnecessary storage rental, lost valuables or even duplicate purchases.

So how do you conquer all this clutter? Start by looking at yourself. What personality type are you? What is your way of thinking when you clean, sort and organize? Figuring out which clutter personality you might fall under just might help you solve your organizational issues and improve your habits.

The Deceiver. Your home seems to be in order, but don’t look too close. You live the “out of sight, out of mind approach.” Instead of decluttering, you store items in hidden places, like the garage, the closets, and the laundry room. My advice: Make time to clean by creating a chore schedule. Stay abreast of clutter by organizing regularly.

The Supplier. “You never know when you are going to need it,” are the words you live by. Your home is filled with all kinds of “extras,” from large rolls of twine, plastic containers, spare pieces of wood, spare parts of old electronics and Keeping old air conditioners, televisions, cracked planters or dishes that you plan to fix in the near future are scattered throughout your home. Having a house full of “spares” that you might need someday is a true sign of the Supplier. My advice: Only buy what you need. Learn to say “no” to extras. Limit your storage space to a few storage boxes only. Donate the rest.

The Storage Closet Keeper is a lot like the Supplier but on a different level. The Storage Closet Keeper has multiples of everything. You don’t have one hairbrush, you have three. You don’t have one type of moisturizer, you have four types, not including the facial moisturizers. There are at least four bottles of shampoo and conditioner in your shower. The Storage Closet Keeper keeps multiples of common household items where one is only needed. Look around. Do you own five pairs of scissors, have multiple sheets sets or an abundance of dishes? You live for the “buy one get one free” sales. My advice: Donate, donate, donate! Learn to stay away from items on sale that you don’t need. Lessen your shampoo bottles by using only one in the shower at a time.

The Frugal Deal Hunter. Buying in bulk is the only way you shop. You see nothing wrong with having a year’s supply of pizza sauce, toothpaste, and toilet paper stocked up in your home. You always shop with coupons and never pay full price. You buy things just because they are on sale and you got a great deal. You are proud of your inventory! Saying no to a good thing is not your personality. You hunt for the best deals, discounts, freebies and sales and keep everything. You’re an accumulator. My advice: Limit your purchases to only what you use. Try not to overwhelm yourself. Keep your pantry organized to prevent canned food from expiring before you use it.

The Can’t Let Go Memory Keeper holds on to anything with a story. All the kids' art projects, cherished items, photos and baby clothes are neatly tucked away. You have trouble letting go of a loved one’s items, even if the items are not your taste. You have boxes of special mugs, collectibles, love letters, or clothes that remind you of the past. You tend to keep things just because of the way they make you feel. My advice: Keep only treasured items that remind you of your most cherished memories. Instead of saving all of your items from the past, take a photo of each and display them in a memory book.

The Electronic Guru. When it comes to anything electronic, you’re the “go to” man. You keep bins filled with old devices, gadgets, cords, cases, and cables, even if they are outdated and you won’t use them. My advice: Label and store what you really need for the future. Since you will not use every device, charger, or remote you have collected, donate them. Recycle used electronic boxes after the warranty has expired. Store cords by wrapping the cord with a label specifying the gadget they belong to with masking tape. This way you can find exactly what you need quickly and easily.

The Unorganized Perfectionist. You have too much stuff but it’s all organized to perfection. Your collection of 75 clown figurines and 100 silver spoons is gleaming, dust free and perfectly displayed. Your 20 photo albums are arranged chronologically. Your three bookcases of fiction novels are sorted in alphabetical order. Your collection of books makes you look smart, even though you never read any of them. You keep running out of room for all of your new collections. My advice: Keep only the books you love to read and donate or give the rest away.

The Good Intentioner holds onto things until the right time. You have a stack of newspaper clippings for a friend. You have a pile of stuff in your laundry room you’re saving for your next yard sale. You have to find the other shoe before you can donate the pair to a thrift store. You’re waiting until you find the time to sell it on ebay or craigslist. My advice: Don’t hold onto items that you plan on giving to someone longer than one week.

The Scattered Brain. You have too much stuff and it’s scattered everywhere. You bring in the mail and drop it on a stack of papers on your kitchen counter. Your clothes are neatly stacked and stored on the floor. You can’t find your favorite DVD, only the case. You tend to lose things on a regular weekly basis. You seem to buy a new version of something you already own because you need it right now and can’t find it anywhere. My advice: Fold and put laundry away right after washing it. Lessen the amount of clutter on the countertops by finding a place for each and every item. Donate the rest.

As soon as the task of cleaning up the clutter is mastered, it no longer is an issue. Understanding why your clutter is happening in the first place should motivate you enough to maintain good organization skills that will help you lead a clutter-free life.

Fresh New Take - 20 Ways to Overhaul Your Spring Routine

Posted on March 31, 2015 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Refresh, organize, revitalize...

...three small but powerful words to live by.

Every now and then I take a step back and look at my life. Most of the time I am happy with what I see. However, there are times I need to re-evaluate and find a fresh new way of dealing with things that don't seem to be going my way.

Recently Maid Brigade has partnered up with Organizing U Home Organizers and Working Moms Against Guilt, to make our lives a little easier , a little more healthy, and a lot less stressful - all to improve our overall well-being. Our fresh, new "Lookbook" is filled with 20 of the best tips - things like how to declutter and how to refresh your living space - to help you jump into the spring season in tip top shape, physically, mentally, and environmentally green!

Check it out and let us know how you like it: Fresh New Take: 20 Ways to Overhaul Your Spring Routine

The Latest Trends for a Green Lifestyle

Posted on March 28, 2015 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

About ten years ago I decided to change my lifestyle into a greener, more eco-friendly way of life. I thought it was going to be one of the toughest things to do but it wasn’t. Of course, after the first few days, when “change” is at its toughest, it was difficult at times, but after a few weeks, the transition of going green was one of the healthiest things I did for myself, my family and our environment.

Becoming green isn’t just a New Year’s Resolution that comes and goes, it is a permanent lifestyle change. You can start out small by sorting and recycling your cardboard, aluminum, glass and plastic into separate bins. Once your recycling becomes a daily habit, add another change, for example, water conservation into your routine. There are so many things to choose from, all depending on how environmentally conscious you want to be. Where should you start this wonderful change? How about on your phone!

The newest wave in 2015 for the environmentally conscious person are apps on your phone that will help consumers make environmentally-friendly decisions. For example, www.thinkdirtyapp.com compares ingredients in beauty and cosmetic products. While shopping, just scan the barcode to see if any of the product’s ingredients are known carcinogens, neurotoxins, or hormone disruptors.

How about finding info on where to buy the most sustainably grown vegetables? www.shft.com/foodtripping can do just that! Food Tripping is a GPS based app that points you towards the local farmer’s markets, cafes and juice bars.

Then there’s www.irecycle.com, an app that shows places where you can properly dispose household items like cell phones, grills, and paints.

In 2015, why not make your home a smart home? This year’s latest trends makes being green a lot easier at home. Smart thermostats will automatically adjust the climate in the home to save energy and can be controlled remotely from your phone. Remote controlled windows will soon be able to shut out heat on demand. Electric meters and appliances like refrigerators will be connected to the internet to help track how much energy is being used in the home every day. Having a smart home is useful in developing more efficient habits while reducing energy bills.

When it comes to food, growing your own is very beneficial. Attend a seed swapping event to see what it’s all about. Get used to brazing, curing, fermenting, and brewing your foods. Learn to compost all leftovers.

We all know that using solar panels is a better way to heat our homes, and driving hybrid vehicles are better for the environment. To help decrease the amount of waste created each day, here are some things to consider:

Conserve water when washing dishes, brushing teeth or shaving. Pre-soak dishes to reduce the amount of water spent on scrubbing the tough spots clean. Check for toilet leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color ends up in the bowl, replace the flip valve on the inside of the toilet. Turn off lights when not in use.

Always use reusable bags.

Buy a household plant to improve air quality and remove toxic indoor chemicals like trichloroethylene, benzene and formaldehyde.

Stop buying bottled water.

Buy local and eat organic.

Plant a tree.

Ride your bike more.

Collect Rainwater.

Make your own natural household cleaners.

Go Paperless.

Become an advocate.

Be a voice. Many famous celebrities lend their time and effort to causes that make this world a better place. Businesses pay attention to these causes and most of the time respond with safer, more eco-friendly products. Those businesses that don’t respond positively can be encouraged to do the right thing by not buying their products. A good consumer boycott is the best and swiftest way to get companies to change. We all can make a difference in what happens to the planet.

Shortcuts to Keeping Your Home Clean

Posted on March 18, 2015 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Some days are busier than others, and on those days, although I have every intention to clean my home as planned, I tend to push the cleaning task aside. This is when all those “quick cleaning tips” I have learned along the way come in handy.

For instance, multitasking, doing two things at once, makes tidying time go quicker. When watching TV, I am either folding laundry, going through school papers, sorting mail, updating my calendar, or cutting out coupons. When I am on the phone, I am sweeping or picking up “stray” items around the kitchen and dining room and putting them away. In a half hour show or a ten minute phone call, I can accomplish quick de-cluttering chores that help make my home look tidy.

Every home also has their “hot spots,” you know, those spots in the home that seem to attract piles of all sorts of things. The hot spots in my home are the dining room table and the kitchen counter. Everything from backpacks, snacks and school memos, to newspapers, mail, and magazines, seem to pile up daily and quickly. For me, tackling the hot spots in my home first eases a lot of stress throughout the evening.

Organizing these areas first cuts down on my clutter and gives me some much needed room to prepare and serve dinner. Stopping clutter at the front door is a major step in keeping my home clean. Shoes, jackets, lunch boxes, gym bags, donated bags of “hand-me-downs,” headsets, cell phones, you name it, wind up near the front door. To tackle this mess and keep it at bay, I placed a coat rack in the entry way directly by the front door for back packs, hoodies and jackets that are used each day. I also mounted a plastic shoe rack inside the front entry closet door for shoes, sneakers, hats and gloves. These two items alone help keep my entryway neat and all the items needed daily are easy accessible.

Every night I do a “five-minute sweep” through each room before I go to bed. I take a laundry basket and go through each room of the house, placing anything in the basket that doesn’t belong in that room and putting away the items that do belong in that room. The five-minute sweep doesn’t take long to do at all. When my laundry basket is empty, I go to bed with the house looking tidy.

Sometimes lack of cleaning time means taking shortcuts which help make the most of your time. For example, if you see fingerprints on the front window, just grab a damp microfiber cloth and wipe off the fingerprints instead of cleaning the entire window. Grab a dry microfiber cloth and just dust the furniture that is readily seen, like the accent pieces in the entryway and the living room. Vacuum only the high traffic areas when cleaning time is limited. Grab your paint brush or your lint roller to get the dust off lampshades and blinds quickly. Only clean the things that are dirty. If you are following a cleaning schedule and today’s task is to clean the refrigerator, inspect the refrigerator first. If it doesn’t need cleaning, then skip it. Cut yourself some slack. Maybe you did such a great job cleaning the fridge last time that it doesn’t need to be cleaned yet. When cleaning time is short, only clean what needs to be cleaned.

Using the proper cleaning tools can definitely cut a few minutes off of your cleaning time. Microfiber cloths and mops work wonders, wet or dry. A combination of vinegar and warm water can clean windows, mirrors, and countertops. Baking soda can absorb odors in the fridge, and, combined with water, baking soda can also be used to clean the inside of the fridge. When it comes to cleaning, teach yourself short cuts and learn to do more in half the time.

Getting Your Organization Act Together

Posted on March 12, 2015 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

De-cluttering and Home Organization have an impact on overall well-being, as explored in this cool infographic.

According to some experts, about 80% of clutter in the home is the result of disorganization, not the lack of space. This is why decluttering and organizing are so important.

Throughout the years, my house has served as a home for my family, a gym, an office, a hotel for out of state guests, a catering hall for parties, and a local meeting place for all my children’s friends. As stressful as things get, I wouldn’t change one minute of my chaotic world. I have learned to keep my sanity by mastering the art of home organization.

Recently, my daughter had to interview me for a school project about organizing. She asked me four questions which I thought were quite interesting. Below are the questions and my responses to each:

The one area in my life that is always messy is…my walk-in closet. The rest of my home is pretty clean but I tend to move all the house clutter into my closet because it is the place that none of my house guests see! When the clutter begins to build up to the point where I cannot walk into the closet, I have no choice but to sort through the stuff.

I am usually most motivated to declutter when… I have a busy week or I have something to look forward to. I love to start off my week with a sharp mind and an uncluttered feeling. It helps keep my stress level low when I am organized. In fact, every Sunday night, I clean out my purse and my work bag, and I sort through my emails and delete all the junk emails. I am also motivated to declutter when I feel overwhelmed. I seem to work and think better in a cleaner environment.

The one thing I have thrown away and never regretted throwing away is… books, old clothes and stacks of papers. It’s amazing how fast all of these things pile up in my home, especially when there are five people living there! Donating used books and clothes and getting rid of stacks of papers gives me peace of mind.

The one thing I threw out but wish I could get back is… nothing! Once I decide to get rid of something I usually stick with my decision.

I have to admit, I was very interested to hear the responses from some of the other people my daughter interviewed. What are your responses to these questions? Send your comments to us!

Myths of De-cluttering

Posted on March 9, 2015 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

In the “cleaning world,” the month of March is when pre-spring cleaning usually happens. This is when we shake off the cold winter season, roll up our sleeves and open up the windows. Pre-spring cleaning is the time to de-clutter, to get rid of the old, used, unwanted items and make room for some new ones. It is a time for getting “order” back into your life and your home. After all, order in the home is a major contributor to inner calmness, and we want to be calm going into next month’s deep spring cleaning!

De-cluttering, re-organizing, achieving order, or whatever it may be, allows you to regain control of your “stuff” and your life. For some of us, this is an easy task to do. For others, it is quite difficult. And as much as we all want to keep our home in a reasonable order, some of us can’t let go of the myths associated with de-cluttering which makes our work harder than it needs to be.

Why not begin to de-clutter your home once and for all by throwing out all those excuses for hanging onto unneeded items and untrue myths of de-cluttering! Read on for more explanations of myths:

Myth 1. I get overwhelmed just thinking of organizing. While these thoughts might be true, you might be amazed at what you can do in just five minutes. While waiting for food in the microwave, you can organize a kitchen drawer. While drawing a bath you can empty some shelves in the medicine cabinet. These small acts of de-cluttering count towards your final goal of an orderly home and a happier you.

Myth 2. I have to keep my old phones, tablets, ipads and computers because someone will steal my personal information off of them. This has been a myth of mine for a while. The truth is, you can look in the manual of your electronic device for instructions on how to perform a factory reset. This factory reset ultimately reformats the hard drive which blocks all access to any data previously stored.

Myth 3. I might need that item sometime in the future. I don’t know anyone who didn’t use this excuse at least once in their life! Limit yourself to a few storage bins of things you want to hold on to. Be honest with yourself on what you think you may need because, chances are, if you haven’t used those items in the past year, you probably won’t use them at all. Donate items and give someone else a chance to cherish them like you did!

Myth 4. I like to collect things. Ask yourself, am I collecting or hoarding? A collector usually doesn’t stash items in garbage bags under beds, or stores stacks of items in basements. A collector usually collects items and stores them in a logical order, usually showing them off for all to see.

Myth 5. I like to keep items that remind me of the past. Ahh, momentos. We all have those items that put a smile on our face when we pull them out. But ask yourself, in reality, do you really need to keep all the items, or can you narrow it down to just a few? You can always take a picture of each momento and keep the pictures in a display book. This way you can cherish and share your memories with others on a daily basis. Remember, mementos work best when they’re carefully chosen, and when they don’t take up much room!

Cleaning and de-cluttering can be looked at as ways to practice living in the present moment. Do you have any de-cluttering myths you would like to share?

Don’t clean, just tidy!

Posted on March 3, 2015 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Is your house always clean and tidy? Mine used to be, but these days it get harder and harder to keep a clean home. Let’s face it. Life gets busy, and as much as we love opening our front doors and entering a clean home after working all day, we just might be faced with a few messes instead.

To get your home looking “tidy in a jiffy” follow these easy cleaning tips:

Grab a large laundry basket or bin and fill it with all the things that things that seem to be out of place. For example, toss old magazines or books that have piled up on the table. Remove junk mail, homework or toys from countertops. Pick up dirty laundry, backpacks, jackets and shoes that are not in their place.

Use old, repurposed items for storage. Use an empty napkin holder as a place for storing your bills or your mail. Turn your favorite glass or mug into a pencil and pen holder. Use a clean rectangle tray for décor by placing a few vases filled with flowers on them. Use it as a centerpiece for your side or console table.

Focus on tidying things that are on eye level. Dust off tabletop décor. Wipe down kitchen sink and countertops. Wipe down the fan once with a damp microfiber cloth, then again with a dry cloth.

Grab a lint roller and roll it all over your couches and chairs to remove pet hair. Grab a pair of rubber gloves and push all the hair up into a ball for easy catching. Here's a quick video on how to remove pet hair and pet odor from rugs - super easy!

Eliminate crumbs and dust bunnies that are noticeable on the floor. Wipe them up using a damp microfiber cloth if you don’t feel like pulling out the vacuum.

Tidy up the bathroom by wiping off leftover gobs of toothpaste in the sink or built up soap from the soap dish. Pull the shower curtain closed so you don’t see a dirty shower upon entering the bathroom.

Rub down all surfaces using a damp microfiber cloth. This method of cleaning does not disinfect, but it will keep your home looking very tidy!

Wipe down window sills and baseboards to reduce asthma and allergy triggers.

Fluff up pillows and flip over couch cushions in the living room to keep your room looking fresh. Fold your throw blanket and place it neatly on the couch.

Shake off entryway rugs outside.

Keeping a tidy home doesn’t take a lot of time. Just a few minutes of cleaning each day can keep your home looking beautiful!

What are your favorite tidying tips? Share them with us!