Author: oi_admin

As I lock up the house for the evening and begin walking towards the bedroom, I reflect on the long day I had and how I cannot wait to snuggle under the covers in my bed, turn on the tv and relax. The closer I get to my bedroom door, the happier I get. The only thing that could ruin this yearning desire to relax in bed is to walk into a filthy dirty room.

There have been many times in my life where I have come home to a messy bedroom. After a hard day at work or even after a fun night out with friends, the last thing I want to do is look at piles of clean laundry sitting on the bed waiting to be folded, or stacks of paperwork piled high on the night stand next to this morning’s empty coffee cup and leftover breakfast plate. Whether we want to believe it or not, a messy environment can put us in a negative, unhealthy state of mind.

Over the years, I have learned quite a few cleaning tips that have saved me time and saved my sanity!  One of these cleaning tips is that if I spend a few minutes each day doing four small tasks, I can come home to a clean bedroom forever!

1. Consolidate trash and dirty laundry. Clean up food wrappers, trash, and empty cups and glasses from your dressers and nightstands each night before you go to bed. Put dirty clothes in the laundry. Because my home is a two story home, at the end of the night, I hang a small plastic “universal” trash bag in the main hallway near the bedrooms and place an empty laundry basket next to it. This makes it easier for my kids and my husband to get rid of their dirty clothes and their trash. All in one convenient place. For them AND me.
2. Make the bed. Hands down, if you make your bed, your room will look 50% more clean than if the bed wasn’t made. The “bed making” process itself doesn’t have to be perfect, but the bed sheets and blanket should be neatly organized on the bed each day. No excuses!
3. Light dusting. Wipe down dressers, nightstands, baseboards, lamps, mirrors and counters. The easiest way is to grab a dry microfiber cloth for the furniture and a dry microfiber mop or cloth for the baseboards. Dusting doesn’t have to be an “all day” project either. If you start doing this daily, it will soon take just a minute or two.
4. To vacuum - or not? Vacuuming floors is an easy way to keep your home looking clean and healthy. But, carpet manufacturers warn against daily vacuuming. Generally, whole room vacuuming once or twice a week is sufficient. So, each day make a judgement call. If you spilled baby powder on the floor this morning, vacuum that area. If not, ask yourself again tomorrow.   Big cleaning tip: when you do vacuum, use a HEPA filter vacuum, which picks up and keeps the dust instead of releasing it back into the air.

Always remember to put everything back in its place, especially clothes and shoes. To freshen up the air in your bedroom, place small cotton balls dipped in lavender essential oil in the corners of your bedroom. For allergy sufferers, investing in an air purifier can help reduce the amount of dust particles in the air.

If you have extra time and want to spend it cleaning your bedroom, you can always tackle the inside of the closet and the dresser drawers. Learn the art of seasonal de-cluttering. Give away unused or unwanted items to those in need. Organize the items in your dresser drawers so they are easier to see. Make some room in your closets so you can go out and reward yourself with clothes you always wanted. Keep a small “pamper me” basket on your nightstand. Fill it with your favorite book, some hand cream, and maybe even some nail polish.

Always remember, the key to keeping a tidy bedroom is to clean up after yourself. Begin by incorporating these cleaning tips and  four easy tasks into a schedule that works best for you.

The kitchen is the core of the home. It's where we drop off our books and bags after a long day at work. It's where we share our most personal secrets, our best (and worst) home cooked meals, and special occasions formal or informal, planned or spontaneous. The kitchen is the place to be, which is why it needs to be cleaned often.

Each night before I go to bed, I do a quick but thorough cleaning routine, making sure the germs from the day are wiped away and the kitchen is ready to tackle a fresh day's crumby counters, sticky messes, and burnt on food. I usually begin this cleaning routine right after dinner while the kids are doing their homework and getting ready for bed.

I follow this routine religiously and my kitchen regularly looks like I spent hours cleaning it when, in reality, it only takes about 30 minutes each night. You can have similar results too, if you...

Do these 5 things nightly for a sparkling clean kitchen:

1. Clear and clean the counters. Because the countertop is used for cooking, unloading groceries, placing mail, and storing appliances, it may harbor more germs than you think. The kitchen countertops are definitely one of the areas to clean often and after each use, most importantly before and after prep work for cooking. To reduce bacteria from harboring, be sure to clean and dry each countertop. A microfiber cloth, some warm water, a sprinkle of baking soda and some dish soap will keep any kitchen countertop safe and clean.

2. Wipe down the sink. The sink should be wiped down at least once each day. For copper sinks, simply wipe down with a microfiber cloth, warm water and some dish soap and us another cloth to dry the sink.

For stone sinks, add some lemon juice to dish soap and warm water. Clean with microfiber cloth and pat dry.

For stainless steel or porcelain sinks, sprinkle some baking soda in your wet sink. Use a microfiber cloth to scrub and an old toothbrush to clean around faucets and drain. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

NOTE: Never use acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon juice on marble!

Don't forget the cabinet beneath the sink. Wipe the cabinet door with vinegar and warm water. Dry thoroughly. Check inside since leaky pipes or small insects may be hidden from plain view.  Spot clean cabinet liners. Throw away spent sponges instead of saving them to prevent mold growth. Rehang kitchen gloves on small hooks placed inside the cabinet and stow the day's plastic bags in an empty tissue box or plastic container.

3. De-gunk the stove and oven. Keeping the stovetop and inside the oven clean can be a breeze if you make a habit to wipe them down each night. The top of the stove can be cleaned the same way as the countertops, with warm water and dish soap. For tougher stains sprinkle on baking soda and gently scrub, rinse, and wipe.

After the oven cools, take a damp cloth and wipe the inside of the oven. Adding baking soda, warm water, and mild dish soap can help remove tougher stains. Just a quick wipe each night can reduce the “torture” of the seasonal deep oven cleaning that we do every four months!

4. Pantry patrol. Check the pantry, refrigerator and freezer for spills, open food boxes and containers nightly. It's far easier to clean up a spill right after it happens than to find it a week later, after it has spread and dried over an entire shelf of food! Once again, warm water, dish soap, a dab of baking soda and a damp microfiber cloth can clean up any spill fast and easy. Making sure all cereal and snack boxes are tightly shut in the pantry will keep bugs and ants away.

5. Sweep the kitchen floor. It's a must last thing each night to keep the dirt and dust to a real minimum. Mopping the floor each night is not needed, and who has time anyway? Just sweep with a good bristled broom, or vacuum on heavy days with a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner to keep your home a lot cleaner.

Finding your own routine for tidying up your kitchen can save you time and energy in the long run. Start by figuring out which areas of the kitchen are important to you to keep clean and incorporate a quick and easy cleaning strategy that can fit into your busy schedule. Save the deep cleaning for another day and concentrate on just keeping your home germ-free, healthy and tidy.

A pot of fresh rosemary by your kitchen window provides easy aroma therapy to boost your mood and promote healthy living.

Did you know that some of your favorite scents of the season can also work wonders on your mood? Here are four natural scents that not only keep your home smelling clean and festive, they also boost merriment AND mental health in some important ways. These therapeutic aromas are part of a natural healthy living strategy and the best part is, they can be found right in your own kitchen cabinet:

1. Cinnamon. One of my favorite holiday scents. It reminds me of the good ole days, when my sisters and I would help my mother make all kinds of Christmas cookies for the big Christmas feast. My mom’s kitchen would smell like gingerbread and cinnamon for hours after baking! One small whiff of cinnamon can actually sharpen your attention span and improve your working memory. But don’t over-do it. Only a small whiff is needed!
2. Rosemary. Another lovely scent, for any season really. Rosemary can also help to improve your memory. Before you begin your next busy day full of working and running errands, remember to “stop and smell the Rosemary.” After all, a few smells of this natural essential oil and you’re more likely to remember future tasks when its necessary.
3.  Vanilla. Ahh Vanilla. The sweet smell of holiday time, relaxing time, and dessert time all wrapped up in one! Smelling a little vanilla essential oil can leave you feeling calmer, more relaxed, and happier. Sounds great, right? It also works wonders for anxiety.
4.  Peppermint. Good ole peppermint! The Christmas holiday would never be the same if the air we breathe and the candy we eat doesn’t emit our classic “peppermint candy cane” smell! The best part of this essential oil is that peppermint helps curb your hunger and make you feel more energized.  Getting a small “whiff” of peppermint throughout the day helps keep you feeling full, not hungry, which, in turn, allows you to reduce your caloric intake throughout the day. The minty aroma of peppermint increases your energy, so try using it before a workout, a run, or even before an early morning work shift or a final exam!

Feeling good is what the holiday season is all about, so why not take advantage of that by adding some essential oils to boost your energy and your mood!  A few drops is all you need.  To get your entire home smelling natural and festive and to promote healthy living, dab a few drops of each essential oil onto a cotton ball and place them around your home.

Looking for other holiday tips? Hop on over to our Pinterest board: Holiday How To's.

Keeping a "clean" home reduces exposure to environmental toxins that can cause health problems.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “follow your nose?” When it comes to environmental toxins, we should follow our noses. Why? Because the number of synthetic chemicals that we are exposed to can be alarming. And so is the toxic material they contain.

There are over 80,000 synthetic chemicals in use today, so it's no wonder that when we are inside our homes, in the office, and even at school, we are exposed to all different kinds of synthetic chemicals by inhaling them in the form of VOC’s, or Volatile Organic Compounds. These VOC’s are the off-gassing from perfumes, upholstery, paints and cleaning chemicals. They are found in our drinking water as pesticides, and even in our toiletries, creams, cosmetics, and shampoos.

Environmental toxins, indoors and out, can be dangerous to our health. Neurological problems, developmental problems, reproductive problems, respiratory problems, liver, kidney and blood problems can result from unhealthy or long-term exposures to these toxins. Health problems may range from something as mild as a headache to something as severe as dementia.

We need to protect our families and ourselves, but how can we reduce our exposure to the environmental toxins found all around us? Why not start at home!

My home is my sanctuary. I try and keep it as clean as I can so my family and I can stay as healthy as we can. Here are a few things that I do at home that help lessen our environmental toxin exposure:

1. Leave it at the door. As soon as I get home from work, I leave my shoes by the front door and I change my clothes. In fact, my husband and my children have learned to do the same thing. I also wash my face and my hands to get rid of any extra germs that have come home with me.

2. "Clean" up your sleep: Each bedroom in my home contains a bed with allergy-free mattress, mattress cover, pillow, and pillow case. During my weekly “bedding” cleaning, while the bedding is in the laundry, I like to air the mattress out by opening a bedroom window. Also, all of our pajamas are organic cotton.

3. "Clean" up your clothes: After bringing clothes home from the dry cleaners, I unwrap the clothes right away and I hang them out for at least one to two days outside. When ironing, we use steam to remove the wrinkles in our clothes. No starch needed! I clean all my laundry with Borax and white vinegar. My clothes come out nice and clean everytime!

4. Air exchange: I try and open some windows as much as possible to air out the house and let the fresh, clean air come in.

5. Power down: My family has finally gotten in the habit of unplugging all electronics and appliances when we are not using them.

6. Clean green: I only clean with non-toxic green cleaning household cleaners. It really makes a difference in reducing toxins.

7. "Clean" bathroom cabinet: I use only natural, preservative-free skin products. There are just too many preservatives in cosmetics and skin care that contain phthalates, parabens and formaldehyde. Our deodorants are also non-aerosol. Every day I treat myself to a great tasting probiotic yogurt. It boosts the immune system and keeps me “balanced.”

8. Re-clean: I got into the habit of washing my hands often each day, with soap and warm water. Castile soap is a great germ fighter.

9. "Clean" air: I use natural smelling essential oils to make my home smell clean.

10. Tools are everything: I have a really good HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner that works wonders when I am cleaning my home. I also use microfiber cloths to clean each room of my home. My water system contains a carbon filter which helps reduce the contaminants in the water.

11. Clean intake: I drink one glass of lemon water each day. I also spice up my food with pepper instead of with salt.

12. "Smart" phone use: I try very hard each day to reduce my toxic exposures by limiting smart phone use.

Once you get the hang of reducing environmental toxins in the home, you will realize what a great step in a healthy direction you've taken, for yourself and for your family!

What is confined but takes up a lot of space and is filled with all sorts of things? You guessed it…our indoor air!

We need air to survive, we cannot breathe without it. Which is why our indoor air must be as healthy as we can make it.

Americans spend about 65 percent or more of their time somewhere indoors. If the indoor air we breathe in everyday is contaminated with toxic chemicals and endocrine-disrupting pesticides, we are harming our bodies more than we know.

Past research has shown that toxic pollution inside the home is about 2 to 5 times higher than outside. This means that for the majority of our days and our lives, we are spending our time in toxic environments.

Research has also shown that indoor air can contain about 19 different compounds, and dust can contain about 26 different compounds, including bacteria and fungi species.

The primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes stem from indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles that we cannot see. Not having enough adequate ventilation indoors can increase indoor pollutant levels. By bringing in fresh outdoor air occasionally indoors can help remove emissions and air pollutants.

Believe it or not, the air inside our homes can be polluted by formaldehyde, radon, lead found in house dust, shed skin cells, fire-retardants, chemicals, fragrances, and volatile organic compounds. Dust mites, mold pet dander and other allergens may also be “floating around” our homes.

Four of the most common chemicals found in the air in homes are:

Phthlates, which are endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in hair spray, fragrances, and nail polishes.

Alkylphenols, found in laundry detergents, all-purpose and disinfecting cleaners, hair color, spot removers, spermicides, and hair care products. Alkylphenols have been known to mimic female estrogen hormones in the body.

Parabens and Phenols, which are found in many household products.

Pesticides, which are dangerous chemicals that still manage to get into our homes from the outside.

It is probably impossible to keep a “100% dust-free” home, but it is possible to reduce dust to a minimum by getting rid of carpets, investing in a high-quality air purifier, and placing doormat by each entryway. Controlling the moisture level in your home by keeping your air temperature low will also help reduce moisture in the air. Installing exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens, ventilating attics and crawlspaces, and cleaning evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refrigerators also helps.

Be sure there is no mold lurking in your home, especially in the bathrooms or basement. Vacuum with a HEPA filter vacuum, and reduce dust mites by washing bedding often and in hot water. When cleaning your home, use non-toxic cleaners to reduce the toxin level in the air.