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Category Archives: green cleaning
The time for gift giving is rapidly approaching.
If you are looking for something ‘outside the box’ then I suggest you check out the Holiday Gift Sets at mrsmeyers.com!
While some may think giving cleaning supplies as a gift could send the wrong message, I believe it can CHANGE LIVES. Good cleaning products not only make cleaning enjoyable, but they change the atmosphere in your home. I am constantly spraying down surfaces and doing dishes just so I can smell my Mrs Meyers products. Since using Mrs Meyers products, 95% of the people who come into my home comment on the amazing smell and cleanliness of my house.(please do not randomly stop by to test this theory!)
In conclusion, if you have any loved ones that enjoy cleaning or need to clean, I suggest you take my advice and order a Mrs Meyers Holiday Gift Set. If you are too scared to gift cleaning supplies for holidays then I urge you to buy a couple Holiday Sets anyway because they would make amazing bridal shower or housewarming gifts! You can’t beat these deals.
My order has already been placed. (For my own use!)
Large Gift Sets=$24.99
Each Set Includes:
Liquid Hand Soap, 12.5 fl oz, 370 ml
Liquid Dish Soap, 16 fl oz, 473 ml
Countertop Spray, 16 fl oz, 473 ml
All Purpose Cleaner, 32 fl oz, 946 ml
Surface Scrub, 11 oz, 311 g
Room Freshener, 8 fl oz, 234 mL
Wrapped up nice with a bow
Basic Gift Sets= $9.99
Each Set includes:
Lavender Dish Soap, 16 oz
Lavender Countertop Spray, 16 oz
Lavender Liquid Hand Soap, 12.5 oz
All gift sets come in Geranium, Lemon Verbena, Lavender, and Basil.
Did I mention…
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products provide an effective alternative for people who are concerned with the environmental effects of conventional cleaning products. Our formulas combine natural essential oils with leading-edge cleaning know-how to provide an enjoyable, safe experience for our customers.
• All of their liquid products are biodegradable
• Some of their powder products contain minerals that do not biodegrade, but do break down into non-harmful decomposition products and return to the earth as they left it.
• Their products do not contain ammonia, chlorine, glycol solvents, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, artificial colorants, phosphates or petroleum distillates.
• Packaging is recyclable and we use 25% post consumer plastic in our bottles.
• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products are not anti-bacterial and that is by design. We believe in the homes of consumers, good soap and water are all that needed to keep things clean. This does not hold true in health care or food service environments, but for the average household the benefits of anti-bacterial products do not outweigh the risks. Our products are very effective cleaners and offer comparable and in some cases better soil and dirt removal, but do not offer the anti-bacterial benefits of products containing chlorine bleach. Products containing chlorine bleach are harder on the environment when they are disposed and also pose a risk to consumers in the fumes that they could potentially form. There is a growing body of evidence that points to the formation of “super organisms” that are resistant to anti-bacterial products because the world is using too many of these types of products. Lastly, if one chooses to use an anti-bacterial product they must pay close attention to the usage directions as most people spray and wipe, rather than spray and allow the product to work 2 – 3 minutes and then wipe up. Contact time is very important in these types of products.
• They manufacture according to exacting personal care standards in a cosmetic-grade cGMP facility.
- Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products are safe to use in the presence of children, pets, and expectant women. There are no solvents, no petroleum distillates, no bleach, no phosphates and no ingredients that could cause harsh fumes.
By now you should know that the Bella Girls have a love affair with the cleaning products named after this lady.
Yes, there really is a Mrs. Meyers. She knows a lot about cleaning …which all of us Bella Girls love to do. (Except, possibly Keighley who pretends to clean for the sake of her husband’s sanity.) And we all like our cleaning products to smell great and at the same time be environmentally safe.
Thelma Meyer (mother of 9), the inspiration behind Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day product, shares her tried and true tips for getting your home sparkling clean using natural products. Here’s her favorites along with a few recipes I found that use these natural cleaners.
“Vinegar: Since it’s an acid, vinegar will lift dirt easily. It doesn’t have the best scent in the world, so I don’t use it for much. I will run vinegar and tap water through the coffee pot two or three times through every once in a while to clean out the insides.”
I agree with Mrs. Meyers-I think that vinegar stinks. So here’s an idea for getting rid of the smell.
Odorless Vinegar
Ingredients
1 part vinegar
1 part water
Several mint leaves
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and let the mixture stand for three days, leaving it uncovered.
Strain and bottle for cleaning purposes only. (keeping in mind that this preparation is a diluted form of vinegar).
“Lemons: While they are also acidic, lemons have a refreshing, nice fragrance. Cut one in half and run it around the faucet.”
Since I hate to find a fresh lemon each time I want to use one, I thought it’d be fun to make a “bottle” of your own lemon cleaner? This lemon cleaner spray is great for both kitchen and bathroom surfaces. It works double duty, cutting grease and grime while killing germs.
Lemon Cleaner & Disinfectant
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon borax
1/2 teaspoon washing soda
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Directions:
In a pint spray bottle, combine the ingredients.
Add 1 cup very hot water and shake well to mix and dissolve the dry ingredients.
To use, simply spray on the surface and wipe off with a sponge or rag.
This solution can be stored indefinitely.
P.S. Here’s washing soda, just in case you’ve never heard of it.
“Baking Soda: This kitchen staple is naturally abrasive for getting out really tough stains.”
You can use it directly on the area you want to clean (like a natural “Soft Scrub”) or you can mix in with other ingredients. Here’s an idea:
Homemade Oven Cleaner
Ingredients:
Baking Soda
Water
Dish Detergent
Directions:
Fill a spray bottle with water and spray oven generously.
Generously sprinkle baking soda over the water. Leave overnight.
The next day wipe out much of the baking soda and grime.
Soak a sponge in hot water, squeeze out excess water and scrub the inside of the oven.
Sources: iMag|Oldenbuzz.com|easy-homemade-recipes.com|washingsoda.info
I came across these quick cleaning tips from Simple magazine and realized that I’ve been doing these for years. So I thought that I’d take it one step further and “green” up the products used for cleaning. Just another step in eliminating products that contain harmful chemicals.
Place a couple of dryer sheets (even used ones work) in the bottom of the trash can to absorb spills and mask odors. My new favorite dyer sheets:
Mrs. Meyer’s dryer sheets-they smell delicious!
Switch to liquid soap or glycerin bar soap. The binders in traditional bar soaps are the main cause of soap scum and contribute to clogged drains.
Dr. Bronner’s fair trade, organic hand and body soaps. Read the list of ingredient-they look safe enough to eat!
Line the bottom of the microwave with 10 or so paper towels to protect the turntable. Take the top one off after each use.
7th Generation Organic Paper Towels (Be sure to check out all the other paper products that this company offers. Also, check prices for this product at Amazon where you can purchase these paper towels in bulk.)
Run the bathroom exhaust fan or crack open a window while you shower—and for at least 10 minutes afterward—to prevent mold buildup.
Don’t have an exhaust fan? Then add a fan to your bathroom to help ”air” it out. It’s so much safer than having to use a mold eliminating chemical.
Eradicate hard-water stains in the toilet by pouring in a cup of distilled white vinegar once a month. Let sit overnight, then flush.
Wipe down tile walls and glass doors after showering with a small flexible squeegee to curb soap scum.
Happy Cleaning!
Debs
These are all things I’ve found, seen, bought or learned this week. Time to get inspired.
Saw this piggy bank at velocityartanddesign.com and am now trying my hardest not to buy it. (I need to wait until next paycheck) I have loose change in practically every drawer and on every shelf in my house. This Piggy would be the perfect solution. I think if I left this piggy bank on the console table in my entryway people would feel the urge to empty their pockets full of pennies… it could be a goldmine!
I could have the $26 I paid for it back in a matter of weeks!
Meyer’s has SEASONAL SCENTS! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Debs brought her latest Meyer’s purchases into the office yesterday and we went crazy. If you live in AZ, I know that Home Goods is carrying Meyer’s Christmas scents… just don’t go until tomorrow because I’m going there today. I have yet to check out the local Targets, Walmarts, or Sprouts so if anyone sees Meyers Seasonals at one of those location please give us a shout-out. People let the Meyer’s watch begin!
I swear on my Piper, that once you try Meyer’s Natural cleaners you will NEVER go back. I can hardly talk about Meyer’s without my voice raising and my heartbeat racing.
Ahem.. that sounded a bit inappropriate. I swear my love for Meyer’s is strictly cleaning.
I have a horrible habit of biting my nails. It’s one of the ways I manifest my anxiety, seriously. It started my sophomore year of high school and has been my constant companion since. Usually if I paint my nails with polish my biting stops however recently it’s lost it’s touch; chipping off the polish has become another self-soothing anxiety practice. Well if that doesn’t make me sound crazy, last weekend I was walking through the nail products at Walmart looking for a new fall polish when I saw a box of Real Life Petites on clearance. I don’t know what came over me, but I grabbed that box and strolled over to the checkout counter. Surprisingly these Real Life nails have to be one of my best finds of 2010! Where were these during the high school dance days? (I would always go and get acrylic nails because I thought they were sophisticated and my nails would be paper-thin for the next 8 months. Plus what a waste of $30.) I can’t believe that I actually bought press-on nails and they look great.
I’m happy to say that I’ve only chewed off 2 press-ons this entire week. Having these babies on have helped me notice when I tend to start gnawing.
Sarabande
I want this framed and hung in my house. The colors are exquisite.
Largo
Handel you were such a HOTTIE!
Before I came a European History major I took history classes for fun. One semester I had a history professor who would spend the last 10 minutes of class lecturing on classical composers while playing their music. It was life changing. I’ve always liked classical/instrumental music… all of which I attribute to my parents because they were crazy enough to take rambunctious kids to see famous pianists, broadway plays, and the AMY GRANT holiday concert! Anyways, this past week I have listened to famous composers via my iPhone every night while I lay in bed and I’ve remembered how much I LOVE classical music.
The above songs are by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) a German-British Baroque composer who is famous for his operas, oratorios, and concertos. Handel was born in Germany in the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti.
You Are Welcome
~ky