Cleaning

Grove Collaborative Review

Please note, I am a grove affiliate and received products to facilitate this post. I am also a long-time Grove Collaborative shopper at home. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

If I could describe my current season of life I would say that I am a striving minimalist. A minimalist who craves simple beauty, uncomplicated living, and natural products within my home to keep my family safer each day. Which is why I buy many of our home’s cleaning, beauty products, and household staples from Grove Collaborative.

Grove Collaborative is an online, mail order subscriptions service that provides consumers with top quality, earth-friendly products. They have passed the most rigorous standards for businesses that prioritize social, environmental, and community wellbeing. With every product sold being rigorously tested the effectiveness and environmental impact.

Many of their products are sustainable. Providing customers with transparent supply chains, recycled contents, recycled content-based formulations, all with a social mission to help save the rainforest of South America. As with each purchase you are working with Grove Collaborative to replant trees on the continent. A mission that warms my zero-waste heart! You can find out more about their company efficacy and values here!

Grove Collaborative first came onto my radar a couple of years ago when a fellow influencer I follow reviewed her first shipment from Grove, and I instantly knew I needed to order for myself. I recently received my latest box of Grove products, which I must admit, is very much like opening a present to myself each month.

In my current order I received:

Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Purpose Everyday Spray (lemon verbena)
Mrs. Meyer’s Hand Soap (lemon verbena)
Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Soap (lemon verbena)
Grove Collaborative paper towels
Grove Collaborative Facial Tissues

Keep in mind, your first order may look different from mine. As when you currently sign-up for the service you’ll receive a 5-piece gift set. Including a set of Mrs. Meyer’s, including dish soap, hand soap, and hand lotion, plus a pretty tray or cleaning caddy to keep everything looking tidy.

When placing your order, if you purchase $40.00 worth of products you will also receive a bottle of Grove Collaborative Hand Sanitizing Spray (blood orange scent), a $3.95 value.

Subsequent orders over $40.00 will also receive different bonus gifts, each with a retail value of at least $2.99. In the past, I’ve received additional bottles of hand sanitizer, dish brushes, dish brush replacement heads, Grove Castille soap, or lip balm.

Something else to consider is the cost of shipping. There are two tiers for Grove customers. You can elect to become a VIP member, their exclusive membership group. By participating as a VIP shopper, you will receive free shipping and a free quarterly gift, valued at $5.00 or more.

The cost of the VIP membership is $20.00 each year and all new members placing their first order (with minimum orders for delivery being $10.00 or more for VIP members) will automatically be placed into this program for one month. But you can cancel your membership at any time. Shipping for non-VIP members is a flat fee of $2.99 for each shipment.

If you have a large family and plan to place orders monthly, you’ll want to stay with the VIP program.

Then there’s the matter of future orders. New VIP customers are automatically set up with “auto shipments” but don’t let that scare you away! You can modify your shipping options for future orders at any time. You can change the date of shipments, delete products you won’t need, or add additional products as well. You can skip, delay or cancel auto shipments at any point too.

You’ll also receive several email notifications before your order ships to allow you to charge or delay orders in your cart.

As for the products themselves, I have found that Grove’s prices are comparable to that of Target and Amazon Subscribe & Save but with a much larger selection of B-Corp products. Essential for those like myself who live beyond a reasonable driving distance of small town living. A true value and convenience!

I’ve also tried the following products from Grove Collaborative and have loved them:

The above-mentioned Mrs. Meyer’s products
Method Anti-Bac Toilet cleaner
Method Hand Soap
Grove Reusable Snack bags and Sandwich Bags
Grove Collaborative aprons
Grove Collaborative glass spray bottles

My favorites? The Grove Collaborative glass spray bottles! They help me create and properly store many of my favorite DIY cleaners I love to make at home!

And while I love the name brand stuff, including the seasonal lines of Mrs. Meyers products, the Grove Collaborative items have really been the showstoppers. The quality of the bottles, towels, coconut scrubbers and cleaning products have been top notch. I’m looking forward to trying out more! They look adorable sitting on my sink-side cake stand!

So far, I’ve been really impressed with my Grove Collaborative experience and if you are interested in giving it a go, you may consider using my referral link. You still get great prices and in addition, you would receive a 5-piece gift set (instead of the usual 5-piece pictured above) with your first order. A total win-win for fall cleaning at home!

Now I want to ask, have you tried Grove Collaborative at home, and if so, what has been your favorite products? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

Better Tips For Clearing Clogs at Home

Disclosure: I am being compensated for sharing this information. All opinions expressed are my own.

We live in an older home, and as a result, we’ve been no stranger to plumbing problems! When we first moved into our home, we attempted to cut off many problems at the pass by purchasing sewer-friendly toilet paper and by making sure no one in the family placed anything in the toilet that didn’t need to be there to maintain our city sewer system.

Unfortunately, we still experienced a lot of problems with clogs in our sinks, slow to drain bathtubs, as well as leaky pipes. While my husband has been able to fix many of our minor plumbing issues himself, there were several times last year when we had to call out the guys at Roto-Rooter. They did a great job of replacing several lines of corroded copper piping, which has prevented us from having excessive clogging issues since. But like other homeowners, we still experience the occasional clogs, and for that, we rely on Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover®.

We all know Roto-Rooter has been a trusted name in plumbing for 80 years. Now they have a line of sewer and septic products for home and professional use with more active ingredients than other leading brands. The Roto-Rooter line of products includes their Gel Clog Remover, Hair Clog Remover, and Septic Treatment.

The Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover contains 25% more active ingredients than the national leading brand and it works by powering through standing water to remove stubborn hair clogs and soap scum from bathroom sinks, tub, and shower drains on all types of pipes 50% faster than other brands.

It’s also very simple to use. First, with the cap secured, you should shake the bottle. Then you add about 16 oz. of the product directly into your drain and let stand for ten minutes, or longer for bad clogs. Then flush with hot running water for an additional minute and that’s it! I used the product just the other day in our bathroom sink, and I was very pleased with the results!

Also worth noting, Roto-Rooter products are available at a number of retailers, including Walmart, Lowes, Kroger, Tractor Supply, Dollar General, Shoprite, Meijer, and more! Making it convenient for pick-up on your next trip to the market or local retail chain.

Clear a Clogged Drains at Home with Roto-Rooter Products:

When your drain is clogged, you have a few options you can use to clear a clogged drain.

Option one: The kitchen plunger. You will plunge, plunge, and plunge some more until you have finally unclogged the drain. This method is labor intensive depending on the nature and stubbornness of the clog.

Option two: Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover. Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover is the for easiest and fastest way to unclog your drain. The Gel formula is stronger than other brands as its thick consistency easily powers through standing water to remove even the most stubborn of clogs.

To use, simply pour the clog remover directly into the drain and wait at least 5 minutes to see if the clog has drained; it may take up to overnight to unclog the drain.

The Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover is my family’s go-to method for clearing drains at home and to clear a clogged drain and is the only clog remover we purchase because we know that it works fast. We trust that Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover to get the job done.

Roto-Rooter guarantees that their products work, or it’s free. I like a company that stands behind their product. If you have a clog that Roto-Rooter Gel Clog Remover couldn’t power through, then go to their website to learn how to get a refund.

Now, friends, I encourage you to learn about Roto-Rooter and their complete line of products check out my post here, or you can go to their website for plumbing issues that arise in your own home this season.

Friends, what do you use to clear a clogged drain? Have you used Roto-Rooter products? Tell me your experience with Roto-Rooter in the Comments!

Spring Cleaning Must-Dos That Will Save You Money

It’s okay to admit it, we all love spring cleaning! Normally, deep cleaning the house is a drudgerous chore but when the seasons turn and the sun decides to put his hat on, this once menial task takes on a new sense of purpose and significance.

The good old fashioned spring clean is actually a time-honored tradition going back centuries, echoed across a range of cultural and religious traditions. In Jewish customs, for example, the Passover represents a particularly special time for the Jewish community as it marked the end of their bondage in Egypt.

In various Christian traditions, including Catholics, who clean their parish churches altar the day before Good Friday. While those in the Greek Orthodoxy clean the house vigorously for the week before Lent.

Likewise, the Persian New Year celebration of Nowruz coincides with the first day of spring and traditionally involves a process of “shaking the house”, spring cleaning and spending more time with family and friends.

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It’s quite telling that the spring cleaning instinct transcends barriers of culture, tradition, and geography.

Of course, it’s also human nature that the longer days, and the warmer and more hospitable weather would fill us with a renewed sense of hope and optimism. It speaks to something primal in our psychology, telling us that it’s okay to come out of our caves and start foraging for food now that the crops have begun growing on the trees for us to harvest and enjoy.

It’s a time when we cast aside the old and all the psychological and emotional trappings that come with it. We rid ourselves of clutter and the psychological barriers that it places upon us and invite in the new with a sense of newfound optimistic cheer.

But while the act of spring cleaning can be psychologically liberating, it also presents us with an opportunity to carry out some much-needed maintenance which will save us a lot of money throughout the coming year.

Thrifty households will find all sorts of ways to save money this season, and by incorporating some of the following activities into your spring cleaning regimen, you can ensure a year of prosperity without any unpleasant home maintenance surprises lurking around the corner:

Clean the pool

If you’re lucky enough to own your own pool, this is usually a symbol of wealth, prosperity and success… But this doesn’t mean that you’re above saving good money on pool care if you can.

Good maintenance is essential to maintaining a healthy and beautiful pool. But in the colder months when it sees little or no action it’s not surprising that many owners let their pools go to seed. Nonetheless, before you start using the pool again, get a professional like ABC Home and Commercial Pool Services to give it the once-over.

A pro will be able to clean and maintain your pool in a way that ensures you won’t have an expensive repair in the summer months.

This could mean something as simple as skimming out debris and ensuring that the water is pure and clear. It could also mean testing the pool’s pH, chlorine levels, alkalinity, calcium hardness and cyanuric acid to ensure that the composition of the water in your area doesn’t damage the intricate workings of your pump.

If necessary they can even drain the pool and wash it in acid to ensure a flawlessly clean look. Sure, this may require an upfront cost (unless you’re prepared to put the time and effort into doing it yourself), but it will give you a perfectly healthy and crystal clear pool that’s just perfect for the spring.

Clean out your AC

You’ll likely become a lot more reliant on your AC as the summer months approach. But if you don’t put the effort into ensuring that your AC is clean and well maintained now, it’s likely that it could cost you a great deal later in both repair costs and in unwanted medical bills.

Spring is a perfect time to carry out a deep clean and service of your AC unit to make sure that it’s functioning optimally and doing its job in filtering out pollutants and allergens. Replace the filters to ensure that harmful dust, pollen, and animal dander aren’t getting into the air in your home and interfering with your health.

Cleaning your AC unit will also help to rid the internal workings of harmful bacteria like the Legionella Pneumophila which results in Legionnaires disease. These nasty bacteria can enter your body through moisture particles in the air from an unclean AC unit.

While you can clean out your own AC unit; a pro will be able to tell you what you can do to make it as energy efficient as possible and make savings all year round.

While you’re at it, take some time to give your ductwork a thorough inspection as this too could end up costing you a small fortune in wasted energy (and even risk damaging your unit itself).

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Turn the clutter into cash

Removing clutter is an essential and psychologically important aspect of spring cleaning.

Clutter is a surprisingly oppressive presence in the house and it can not only make concentrating difficult, it can aid depression and anxiety. But as tempting as it may be to throw it all straight into the trash, could at least some of it be turned into cash?

Clean and lightly worn clothes are pretty much always of value to someone on eBay as are your books, DVDs, and CDs. If you’re prepared to inventory them, post them online then keep them somewhere out of sight and out of mind until they’re all sold you can kill two birds with one stone.

Keep an eye out for unwelcome guests

It’s unlikely that you’ll be getting as comprehensive a look at your house as this in a few months, so while you’re cleaning and scrubbing every room of the house, keep an eye out for signs of unwelcome guests who could prove troublesome in later months.

Knowing how to spot signs of flea larvae, bed bugs or the early signs of termite infestation could save you a small fortune in professional exterminators’ costs later on down the line, while also giving you the peace of mind of knowing that only your family and guests will be enjoying the ambience of your home this season.

7 Tips For Pet-Friendly Spring Cleaning

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveTheseCleanPaws #CollectiveBias

If you’re anything like me, a house only becomes a home when a cat resides there. As an adoptive cat owner, I know first-hand that owning cats brings companionship to my days, helps me to be a more empathic person, and to have an overall better quality of life.

It goes without saying that I love cats. Particularly my cats, Boo Radley and Shadow. They are the most loving, thoughtful friends a gal could have. But with all that love and compassion comes floors stained by dirty paws, the air full of fur, and not-so-clean litter box areas in my home.

Luckily, Spring is right around the corner and now is the perfect time to Spring clean the areas my pets utilize the most throughout my home.

But before I start any seasonal cleaning project, I always make sure my cleaning caddy is stocked with all the products I need to help my pet’s areas sparkle at home.

My go-to? My local Target, of course! Because all of the pet-friendly products I need including Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ Multi-Cat Scented Litter with the power of Febreze™ Freshness is within driving distance of my home. Making it my one-stop-shop for all my pet care needs each Spring season!

I love buying Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ because it helps me keep my cat’s paws cleaner and my home fresher in the process too!

It’s my go-to litter because its low dust formula is perfect for reducing litter box tracking in my home. A must for my family as two of our litter boxes are located in my home kitchen!

What I love most about Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ Litter is its special blend of larger particles that are designed to stick less to your cat’s fur and stay in the box.

Plus, with a 10-day odor control guaranteed for multiple cats, this is the litter to buy for multi-cat households like my own!

What’s even better? Currently, there is a Target Cartwheel offer that will be running from 4/1-4/7. So be on the lookout for this offer to save even more at Target on Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ and your other pet care needs.

Now, generally speaking, my cats require little cleaning in their litter box and feedings stations, these areas in my area still require Spring cleaning. And they may in yours as well.

With that in mind, here are 7 tips to help you get started with Spring cleaning your cat’s areas in your own home this coming season.

1. Deodorize your surfaces.

When starting pet care Spring cleaning at home I always start by deodorizing all the surfaces my pets frequently touch. This includes using baking soda and 5-10 drops of my favorite pet-safe essential oils, added to a salt shaker, to deodorize soft surfaces including couches, carpets, and pet beds. I let the baking soda sit on the surfaces for one hour and then vacuum the surfaces clear.

I also use a steam mop to clean all tiled and wood surfaces in my home as well. Paying extra attention to lower surfaces my pets walk across each day.

This also includes my cats feeding station. I like to use Spring cleaning as an excuse to give these areas a thorough going over. Including their food dishes, water fountain, and food trays.

2. Toss stuffed toys in the washer.

Washing your pet’s toys can help them from to keep them from getting stinky. Including small, plush cat toys.

I like to add the toys to a washer, on the hot water setting, and then allow them to air dry naturally. This also includes collars, blankets, and carrier inserts. Making sure to wash each item as directed on its tag.

3. Give your cats a good grooming.

Brushing your pet is essential for proper coat maintenance and for keeping your homes clearer too. Especially in Spring, where furry coats can trap pollen particles on your pets and can spread these particles throughout your home. Trapping these potential allergens in your home.

It goes without saying that long-haired pets need combing regularly to remove any knots or tangles that can potentially become painful matters. Spring is also the time of year when pets shed excess fur.

Regardless if your pet is a long or short haired variety, a good brushing each Spring is a great time to groom your pet and prevent loose, allergy-triggering fur from flying about your home!

4. Dust with a microfiber cloth.

Removing pet dander and hair from furniture and other surfaces is as simple as using a microfiber cloth.

A must-have for every pet parent, like microfiber fabric, use static energy to pick up hair and dander than rags.

I use microfiber to tackle out-of-reach surfaces that may be covered with cat furs like light fixtures, fan blades, and vents with a ladder or extendable duster. Spots that can harbor allergens.

5. Wash plastic and metal food dishes in the dishwasher.

Pet food and water bowls are one of those things that slip our mind to clean – they’re used every day, but not by us.

Place plastic pet bowls in the dishwasher for a much-needed clean. Making sure to run them through the extra-duty cycle and sanitize rinse for extra Spring cleaning power!

6. Sort through your pets toys.

Spring is a great time to sort through your pets toys. Making sure to discard or donate unused toys and to stock up on new toys that might need replacing!

7. Deep clean your litter box areas.

While most cats need little training when it comes to using their litter boxes, due to their innate desire to dig and bury their waste, making cats clean, conscientious, fastidious pets. But that doesn’t always mean their fastidious nature means they are the cleanest when coming out of their litter box areas!

Each Spring I like to remove my litter boxes and give them a deep clean. Including removing all litter, hosing my boxes out, and letting them air dry. While my boxes are drying I like to give the litter box surrounds a deep clean with DIY lime-infused cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

Making citrus-infused cleaner is super simple to make too! Here’s my go-to recipe:

Citrus-Infused Vinegar Cleaner:

Combine the peels of four lemons or limes into a quart sized mason jar.
Fill mason jar to neck with white vinegar.
Seal and store for one month.
When ready to clean, strain and add to glass spray bottle.
Use full-strength to clean shower stalls or diluted for windows and countertops.

Once my cat’s litter boxes are dry, I like to refill my boxes with clean litter. As I previously mentioned, Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ Multi-Cat Scented Litter. I find that Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ is a low-maintenance, high-quality, affordable cat litter solution.

It’s the best litter for our cat’s needs. I also love that it’s pleasantly scented with the power of Febreze™ Freshness making it a winner in my book!

So, everyone, those are my seven tips for Spring cleaning your litter box and pet feeding stations at home. Now I want to ask, will you be Spring cleaning your feeding areas and litter boxes this season? Will you be using Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ in your litter boxes at home? I’d love to hear all about it below!

Connect with Fresh Step Clean Paws™ Online:

Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | Instagram

*Febreze and the Febreze Freshness logo are registered trademarks of The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio used under license by The Clorox Pet Products Company. © 2018 The Clorox Company.

Shark IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cord-Free Vacuum Review

Disclosure: This review is sponsored by Shark. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you!

Convenience. My go-to mantra when it comes homemaking and cleaning. As a work-at-home blogger, I need valuable cleaning products that help me maintain my home each day with little effort or difficulty. Helping me get back to juggling the myriad of other hats I wear each day!

When it comes to cleaning convenience at home, one thing is for sure. Cordless vacuums are key. They give you the freedom of movement that upright vacuums simply can’t provide.

However, all cord-free vacuums are not made the same. Some cordless vacs, particularly stick-vacuums, work well enough but lack floor nozzles. Leaving you unable to tackle everyday messes, such as sugar, cereal, crumbs, and coffee at home.

Many cord-free vacuums are limited in their functionality. Geared for use for only one type of flooring, either carpeting or hardwood floors. As most homes include both types of flooring, this is very problematic in design.

Others aren’t able to reach under furniture. And, worse still, as every cordless vacuum runs off battery power, few cordless vacuums provide power packs with enough power to allow you to finish cleaning an entire floor of your home. Making you chose between cleaning or charging each day.

With so many issues surrounding cordless vacuums, it’s hard to know which vacuum to choose from reviews. However, there is one cordless vac that eliminates all these problems – the Shark IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cord-Free Vacuum.

What I liked about the vacuum:

Upon opening the vacuum, it’s easy to see how sturdy and well designed the Shark IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cord-Free Vacuum is.

This vacuum can help you clean every surface of your home. From household floors and stairs to playrooms, vehicles, workshops, and sheds, this vacuum has you covered. With the durability and power of a standard vacuum with the convenience of a stick vac.

The IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cord-Free Vacuum delivers a powerful clean with dual brush rollers that work in tandem to clean carpets and hard floors while providing you with the ability to customize the needed suction levers for both surfaces depending on your specific cleaning needs.

Weighing in at only 8.7 pounds, this Shark delivers the power of an upright vac with the ease of a stick vac. Making it easy to move from room to room with ease. Perfect for busy gals like me!

Cleaning Tools:

This vacuum also features several awesome attachment tools, including its MultiFLEX Wand. This wand is unique to the IONFlex cordless vacuum and features technology allowing the wand to bend halfway across the main cleaning tube. With just a single press of the unlock button, the hinged cover opens up, revealing a bendable hose. Perfect for high cleaning.

The MultiFLEX Wand also allows you to maneuver in and out of tight spaces. Such as under cabinets and beside major appliances, all without bending over or having to move heavy items in order to clean unsightly debris out of the way. Particularly important for those with back issues or for more heavy-duty preparatory cleaning during the holiday season.

You’ll also receive a duster-crevice tool. This 8-inch combo attachment features soft bristles and a tapered nozzle to help you dust narrow spaces. Moreover, you can customize your dusting with this tool by sliding the duster head. This takes you from brush to crevice dusting instantly.

In addition, the vacuum comes with an anti-allergen dust brush, which works well for removing fine dust from decor objects, such as picture frames, figurines, lampshades, bed frames, and books.

If you’re a pet owner, like me, you’ll appreciate the included multi-tool that can not only lift piles of debris from carpets but also removes pet hair from fabric without damaging fabric or clog your wand. Altogether eliminating the need for wasteful, expensive lint rollers at home.

The dust cup is also easy to open. Just press the wand-release button to open the dust cup lid. Perfect for emptying your dust cup in the compost bin or when your hands are full with little ones or fuzzies at home.

Power and Performance:

In terms of overall daily cleaning performance, this cordless vacuum works incredibly well. Utilizing dual brush head technology, with both a strong-bristled brush is able to reach deep into carpet fibers and a softer roller brush that not only draws in large debris but also lightly polishes hard floors.

With both brushes, you’ll be able to bring in larger dirt and debris to the surface. Since they operate in unison, you get the benefits that both brush rolls provide no matter what type of floor you’re cleaning.

The IONFlex also features a brush roll indicator light that glows green when the brushes are in working order and red when they are jammed, so you’ll know right away if your brush heads need cleaning. Saving you the time spent on troubleshooting.

Removing the brush rolls is also super simple. Simply slide the two door-access buttons and pull the tab to release the brushes.

As we all know, every flooring requires a different level of care. Which is why Shark integrated its Smart Response technology, that gives users the ability to adjust the vacuum’s power settings.

From the display panel, you can choose from among two surface settings and two suction settings. Making the brush rollers spin faster for high-pile carpeting or slower for hard surfaces. You can also control the suction strength. Ther’s also the extended run-time feature. Perfect for doubling the battery life between charges during daily 1-hour power cleaning.

I also love that with just one touch of the release button, you can detach the handle and canister from the wand and floor nozzle, instantly turning the floor vacuum into a handheld vac. This allows you to clean everywhere around your house, including ceiling fans, door frames, cabinets, mantles, and more.

Battery Life:

With the Shark IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cord-Free Vacuum, you get twice the length of vacuuming time without battery-life restrictions as this cordless vac comes standard with two batteries, so your vacuum will always be charged. Making you ready to go at a moment’s notice for all of life’s mom moments.

Both power packs come with a rechargeable 25.2-volt lithium-ion battery and Single Battery Charging Dock. Allowing you to charge a single battery while using your additional power pack in your vacuum while the other battery is charged and waiting to be swapped.

Each power pack is equipped with a battery light indicator, so you check its power status at a glance. It’s also worth noting that it took me only 3 hours to fully charge a depleted power pack at home.

Shark’s integrated Smart Response technology gives the ability to quickly switch over to heavy-duty vacuuming too. In extended runtime mode, you can get about 23 minutes’ worth of vacuuming time before the battery must be recharged, without sacrificing speed or dirt-lifting performance.

Best still, each power pack comes standard with its own individual 2-year warranty. Should either power pack fail to charge, Shark will replace your pack for free!

In terms of performance, this cordless stick vacuum works incredibly well. It glides across carpets and doesn’t drag on tiled or wood surfaces. Making it even easier to keep my hard surfaces clean at home!

Storage:

Storage, especially for those living with minimal available storage space, is super simple with the IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cordl-Free Vacuum. As this vacuum can be lowered and folded in half, it allows you to store the freestanding vacuum in small areas such as pantries, closets, or playrooms.

When you are ready to return the wand to its upright position, pull the handle until the hinge locks into place.

Warranty and Affordability:

The IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cordless Vacuum also has you covered with a 5-year warranty on all parts except the batteries, which again, have a separate warranty.

This Shark Cord-Free Vacuum is also affordably priced. With a price point nearly $100.00 less than its next comprehensive competitor. Making the IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cord-Free Vacuum is your best-buying bet this holiday season.

While I’m an already existing Shark owner, having purchased and used their products in my home, including their standard, upright vacuums, steam mops, and handheld steamers for nearly a decade, I’ve been over the moon with this IONFlex 2x DuoClean Cord-Free Vacuum. It’s upped my cleaning game beyond measure. Taking it to a whole new convenient level!

Friends, I encourage you to check out this awesome product and the other awesome Ninja and Shark products for your gift-giving list this year!

lean Cordless Vacuum. And, if you’re looking for other cleaning tips, check out my cleaning tab for more frugal tips too!

Now, I want to ask, are you currently a Shark user at home? What has your experience been with the brand? I’d love to hear about it below!

Connect with Shark:

5 Freezer Cooking Clean Up Success Tips

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScrubWithDots #CollectiveBias

Growing up, my grandmother never liked to have anything on her kitchen countertops, so I’m pretty sure that’s where my love of clean countertops originated. Couple this with becoming a minimalist a year ago, my need to maintain spotless countertops at home has become less a hobby and more a life narrative. Especially during all-day freezer cooking sessions!

Why all day freezer cooking sessions? Well, if you’re anything like me, there are no scarier times in your home than the 5 o’clock what’s for dinner debate. The scenario of having to decide what to cook can be a daunting task for even the most prepared home chefs. Which is why Fall freezer meals are my go-to dinnertime prep each Autumn season!

There’s nothing better than being able to provide my family with a hot, nutritious, affordable meal. Now, it goes without saying that I adore freezer cooking meals, with just one exception, the clean-up.

Try as I might, I things start to pile up in my kitchen. You know how it goes. Ingredients come out. Things get messy. Counters get cluttered. Splatters confetti your otherwise serene kitchen landscape. Dishes in the sink pile up. Life happens. Especially in the midst of a kitchen teeming with dirty, baked-on pots, pans, and dishes!

As you can see, the one area in my life I’m less than neat at is cooking. I’m what you could call an all-in, full-contact domestic goddess. A typical afternoon of cooking for me involves grease spatters, crumbs on the floor, and a pile of dishes that far exceeds both sides of my kitchen sink. From the blinds to the baseboards, nothing in my kitchen seems to be exempt from stains and spills.

It’s always a balancing act. Do you cook all the meals your family will enjoy, only to spend the rest of your evening scrubbing saucy, stained lasagna pans? Or cook just enough meals, in hopes of limiting the mess that will inevitably be created.

For me, I go with the creating of meals. Which makes finding better, more practical ways of cleaning-up my kitchen all the more imperative in my home. Now that I’ve gotten my new Freezer Cooking Clean-Up routine down to a science, and I’d like to share some of my favorite 5 tips for Freezer Cooking Session Clean-up Success.

Prep your kitchen for cleaning success: For me, it’s also important to keep effective, affordable cleaning methods by my side during each freezer cooking session. So when I’m heading to the store to purchase any last-minute ingredients I’ll need for my freezer cooking sessions I also plan to pick up all the cleaning products I’ll need as well.

Recently, my go-to cleaning sponges have been the new Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Dots Sponges and the Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Dots Sponges from my neighborhood Dollar General store.

My minimalist kitchen hosts cooking appliances with specific cleaning needs. Needs tailored to both Non-Scratch cookware and Cast Iron pots and pans, I love that the Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Dots Sponges help keep my non-stick pans and induction burner clean as a whistle while the Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Dots Sponges work great at breaking down even the toughest stains on my heirloom cast iron pans!

I like to pick up the Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Dots Dishwands and Scotch-Brite® Dishwand Refills 2-Packs. Both products that utilize scrub dot technology to effortless lift off even the grimiest of sauces, spills, and splatters from my cookware, utensils, spoon rests, and even had the power to help tackle stains from the surface of my sink itself!

In fact, all of the new Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty and Scotch-Brite®Non-Scratching Scrub Dots Sponges and Scotch-Brite®Dishwands can clean almost everything in my kitchen. Even items that I previously would have to soak or scrub. such as glasses with milk protein deposits or wine deposit film. Both particular pet peeves of mine.

This awesome cleaning line is also easy on my budget too! The entire line of Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots Sponges and Scotch-Brite®Dishwands are affordably priced! With both the Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Dots Sponges and the Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Dots Sponges priced at only $2.75 for Sponge 2-pk and $4.35 for Sponge 4-pk and the Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Dots Dishwand and Scotch-Brite® Dishwand Refill 2-pk. priced at only $3.00 respectfully! And at that price, you just can’t go wrong!

Even better, from 10/4 through 12/31, you can save $1.00 off any two Scrub Dots items with a new Coupons.com printable coupon offer!

Isolate spills: Instead of walking over to the trash can or compost bin with handfuls of peelings and scraps, keep a garbage bowl on the counter next to where you will be working. This will not only help you isolate your messes to a single location, which will keep kitchen floors cleaner, but will also save time and prevent slippery floors during freezer cooking sessions too! Especially important when mini chefs are helping you out in the kitchen!

Prep your cutting boards: did you know that wiping down cutting boards with lemon juice can help to naturally sanitize cutting boards at home? And that wiping down clean, dry cutting boards with kosher salt before cooking will help future foods from sticking to wood surfaces? I like to prep my cutting boards with both a lemon and salt treatment the night before freezer cooking sessions. This helps to ensure my prepping surfaces are their cleanest the next day!

Bring in a recycling bin: For cooking projects where I’m using a lot of canned or boxed goods, I’ll take a recycling bin and set it right on the right side of my kitchen counter. This allows me to clean and deposit my recyclables without having to leave my kitchen during freezer cooking sessions where heat sources are actively in use!

Have a sink full of soapy water ready: I love to start each cooking session with a sink full of hot, soapy water full of dishwands and sponges. This sets not only the mood for cleaning success but also helps me to quickly address spills and splatters that will inevitably happen during all-day freezer cooking sessions.leaning up spills immediately will help prevent bigger messes and help prevent kitchen falls and accidents on slippery floors and to tackle stains created on small and major appliances with little to no effort. As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Especially when it comes to cleaning up messes in the kitchen!

Immediately cleaning up spills will not only help prevent bigger messes from forming but can also help you prevent kitchen falls and accidents. As the adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Especially when it comes to cleaning up messes in the kitchen!

This past weekend, with my new Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch sponges and Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Dishwand by my side, I was able to create a month’s worth of creamy, ooey-gooey Italian-style freezer meals this past weekend. I cooked, assembled, and froze Skinny Chicken Alfredo, Fall-Inspired Spaghetti Carbonara, and Meatless Monday Baked Alfredo. All meals that are as delicious as they are super simple to make. The best part? They were all created using one DIY base sauce recipe, my Skinny Béchamel Pasta Sauce!

This sauce is a delicious blend of both rich and modest ingredients. Like in traditional alfredo sauces, I use salt and organic butter. Where this sauce gets its skinny cachet is its use of gluten-free flour base, use of soy milk in lieu of whole milk, almond milk instead of heavy whipping cream, and a special surprise ingredient, tofu!

I cook each batch of sauce separately to prevent curdling and separation. I always start by adding butter to a medium skillet over medium-low induction heat. To this, I add my flour and stir until a smooth roux forms. I continue to cook until the roux turns a light, golden color, in about 4-5 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the soy milk, almond milk, and tofu. Break up the tofu into the blend until smooth. Heat blend until almost at a boil. Then add the hot milk to the butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking with a rubber spatula until smooth. Bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes, stirring constantly, then remove from heat. Season with salt, nutmeg, and a dash of fleur de sel. Then your sauce is ready to use!

Now that your sauce is finished, you can turn this base into different pasta meals. Again, I used my Béchamel to make Skinny Chicken Alfredo, Fall-Inspired Spaghetti Carbonara, and Meatless Monday Baked Alfredo. Here’s how I used this sauce to make these three meals:

Skinny Chicken Alfredo:

Ingredients added to Béchamele sauce:

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup grated good organic parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded organic Italian blend cheese
1 8-ounce chicken breast; cut into strips
2 teaspoons organic olive oil

Directions (per tray):

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Now bring 1-gallon pot, boil 8-cups filtered, salted water to a boil.
Cook 8-ounces of good spaghetti pasta in the salted water.
Once al dente, carefully drain and remove from your pot. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast in a teaspoon of organic olive oil; we used a pre-cooked chicken breast we smoked this summer at home.
Once your chicken breast is cooked, remove it from your skillet, cool, and cut into strips. Set aside.
Next, add your drained pasta and Béchamele sauce to your pan and bring to temperature.
Then add your pasta, sauce, and seasonings to your freezable bakeware of choice.
Top with chicken strips and shredded cheese.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees until your cheese is bubbly and light brown in color.
Cool for one hour, then top with foil. Label your dish accordingly. Freeze for up to six months; four servings per pan.

Fall-Inspired Spaghetti Carbonara:

Ingredients added to Béchamele sauce:

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground ginger
1 pinch ground allspice
1 pinch ground cloves
1/2 cup grated good organic parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded organic Italian blend cheese
1 8-ounce chicken breast; cut into strips
1 cup organic mushrooms
1/2 cup cooked turkey bacon; cut into bite-sized pieces
2 beaten organic, free range eggs
2 teaspoons organic olive oil

Directions (per tray):

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Now bring 1-gallon pot, boil 8-cups filtered, salted water to a boil.
Cook 8-ounces of good spaghetti pasta in the salted water.
Once al dente, carefully drain and remove from your pot. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast in a teaspoon of organic olive oil.
Once your chicken breast is cooked, remove it from your skillet, cool, and cut into strips. Set aside.
Using this same pan cook your turkey bacon and mushrooms.
Once finished, cool and cut into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
Turn heat off of the pan.
Next, add your drained pasta and Béchamele sauce. Toss sauce with pasta.
Then add beaten eggs, parmesan cheese, and seasonings. Toss to combine. The residual heat will cook your eggs through.
Add your pasta and sauce to your freezable bakeware of choice.
Top with chicken strips and shredded cheese.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees until your cheese is bubbly and light brown in color.
Cool for one hour, then top with foil. Label your dish accordingly. Freeze for up to six months; four servings per pan.

Meatless Monday’s Baked Alfredo:

Ingredients added to Béchamele sauce:

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
1/2 cup grated good organic parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded organic Italian blend cheese
1 cup mushrooms; I used half portabello and half white button mushrooms.
1/2 cup chopped organic spinach
2 teaspoons organic olive oil

Directions (per tray):

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Now bring 1-gallon pot, boil 8-cups filtered, salted water to a boil.
Cook 8-ounces of good spaghetti pasta in the salted water.
Once al dente, carefully drain and remove from your pot. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook your mushrooms a teaspoon of organic olive oil.
Once your mushrooms are cooked, add your spinach and heat through.
Turn heat off of the pan.
Next, add your drained pasta and Béchamele sauce. Toss sauce with pasta.
Add your pasta and sauce to your freezable bakeware of choice.
Top with shredded cheese.
Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees until your cheese is bubbly and light brown in color.
Cool for one hour, then top with foil. Label your dish accordingly. Freeze for up to six months; serves four per pan.

Friends, those are my three favorite Béchamele sauce-based freezer meals for the fall! While it goes without saying that that was a lot of work this past weekend, it was worth it knowing I now have a freezer full of yummy, ready-to-bake meals on hand this season!

And the only thing better than ready-to-go meals is knowing how simple my kitchen clean-up will be! With the Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty and Scotch-Brite®Non-Scratching Scrub Dots Sponges and Scotch-Brite® non-Scratch Dishbrushes cleanup took just minutes. Comparing to the hours spend scrubbing dishes, pans, counters, and floors before finding these products!

Making this new line the true hero of my freezer cooking session this past weekend! I’ve been so inspired by the ease of cleaning this past weekend that I’m already looking for new recipes for my next mega freezer cooking session online! And if you’re looking for additional freezer cooking recipes at home, be sure to check out my other freezer cooking recipes here!

I encourage you all to pick-up the new Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Dot sponges, Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratching Scrub Dots Sponges, Scotch-Brite®Dishwands, and Scotch-Brite® Dishwand Refill 2-packs while in-store at your local Dollar General. Because with Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty and Scotch-Brite®Non-Scratching Scrub Dots Sponges, you’ll no longer have to choose between a clean kitchen and the convenience of hot, fresh meals at home this Fall!

So now I have to ask, do you have any great tips for keeping your kitchens cleaned and your countertops cleared during freezer cooking sessions at home? I’d love to hear all about them below!

Find more #ScrubWithDots inspiration here!

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5 Tips For Zero-Waste Cleaning at Home

Disclosure: This post contains my personal affiliate links. All opinions are mine alone.

I’ve learned so much on my journey to becoming a zero-waste household this past year. Especially when it comes to cleaning. While there has been tons of trial and error along the way, one thing has remained true throughout my process, my understanding that a house is not truly clean if the process of maintaining my home results in all kinds of unnecessary waste.

While traditional cleaning methods rely on various chemical products, plastic bottles, paper towels, plastic bags, sponges, disposable wipes, and a ton of unrecyclable stuff, it just doesn’t have to be that way. You can alter the way you clean at home to be less wasteful, more frugal, and less time consuming too! Here are my five tips for getting started with zero-waste cleaning at home!

1) Rethink your cleaning tools: Start your zero-waste cleaning by first minimizing the number of ingredients and the tools required to keep your house clean. This will also help to limit the waste generated by the cleaning process as a whole. Things you’ll need include:

Bagless electric vacuum. Makes it easy to compost dirt and debris when emptied.
Wooden-handled straw broom and whisk brush. Long-lasting and biodegradable!
Galvanized steel dustpan.
Glass spray bottles for DIY cleaners.
Glass and stainless steel shaker. Readily found at Dollar Tree stores.
Mop with a wooden handle and washable head. For dust mopping wood floors.
Steam mop with washable pads for mopping all non-wooden surfaces.
Washable cleaning cloths.
Pumice stone. Naturally, scours toilets bowls without scratching.
Galvanized bucket. Purchased at feed stores for half as much as plastic buckets.
Collapsible basket. Used to pick-up items while cleaning and tidying.
Tapioca scrub brushes. One for cleaning dishes and another for cleaning grout.
Squeegee. Used to clean glass, shower doors, and tile. Also found at Dollar Tree stores

2) Create a cleaning routine: Cleaning routines are by no means new business. But creating cleaning routines based on how you clean and not what you clean it. A zero-waste cleaning routine relies on durable, lasting, renewable tools that can be washed and reused.

Once you have your tools, place your cleaning gear in the rooms they will be used, as opposed to one central cleaning space. This will keep you from wasting valuable time while cleaning having to go from room to room finding your cleaning tools. Next, you’ll want to create a routine based on your habits. For example, start your daily cleaning not in the morning but after dinner. This way you’ll start your days off with a clean home which will motivate you to keep your homes clean throughout the day. I start by cleaning my kitchen, followed by bathrooms, and high-traffic areas such as dens, living rooms, library, office, playrooms, and entrance ways. Bedrooms, on the other hand, can be tidied in under a few minutes each morning before you start your day.

Keep in mind, cleaning routines work best in organized spaces. If your home is super cluttered, start there. Once you’ve maintained your cleaning routine for a full season, it will become easier and over time you can even start to eliminate seasonal purges and tedious weekly cleaning sessions. When I started zero-waste cleaning a year ago it took numerous hours to clean my 3,000 square foot home. Now, I can clean my entire home in under an hour and tidy my house in half that time. Remember, cleaning is habitual and will take to master. Aim for consistency, not perfection.

3) Minimize the number of cleaners you use: When I first started my zero-waste journey I found my home to be in full possession of no fewer than a dozen cleaners. Each purchased because corporations and advertisers reassured me that I needed a specific solvent for each and every cleaning need in my home. With an average cost of nearly forty plus dollars each month! I soon realized that this was as far from the truth as could be. My favorite zero-waste cleaners are:

Baking soda. A true a workhorse. It can do almost anything – cleaning, scrubbing, absorbing odors, clearing drains, shining silver, killing mold and unclogging drains (when used together with white vinegar), in DIY dishwasher tabs, and many more uses. Buy it in bulk in reusable containers or in bulk bins to get the most bang for your bulk and less impact on the planet! I add it to topping shakers and keep it in my bathroom and kitchen for scrubbing and scouring.
Castile soap: Castile soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s, can be purchased at many bulk food stores in reusable containers or online. A few drops go a long way toward disinfecting surfaces and leaving your house smelling amazing, especially if you use peppermint- or lavender-scented soap. I use castile soap to wash my dishes, to mop wooden floors, to creating dusting spray, to wash my pets, and to clean our cars.
Coconut oil: Coconut oil, purchased in bulk, is good for removing stains from upholstery and carpets, polishing patent leather, removing chewing gum, cleaning shower scum, and for polishing stainless steel and stone countertops. Coconut oil is also naturally antimicrobial and so it’s great for rubbing into bamboo cutting boards after washing for extra disinfecting!
Vodka: Vodka, when mixed with cedar and lavender essential oils, creates the best fabric refresher!
White vinegar. This agent disinfects surfaces, softens fabric in the wash, cleans toilets, removes wax from vegetables, cleans floors, removed calcium buildup, and clears drains. You can also make your own vinegar cleaner. Three go-to varieties include:

All Purpose Vinegar Cleaner:

1 Cup Warm Water
1 Cup White Vinegar
Mix together in a spray bottle for use.

Scented All Purpose Cleaner:

1 Cup of Warm Water
1 Cup White Vinegar
10 drops essential oil of choice.
Mix together in a spray bottle for use.

Citrus-Infused Vinegar Cleaner:

Combine the peels of four lemons or limes in a quart sized mason jar.
Fill mason jar to neck with white vinegar.
Seal and store for one month.
When ready to clean, strain and add to glass spray bottle.
Use full-strength to clean shower stalls or diluted for windows and countertops.

4) Utilize the power of the sun and wind: Fresh air and sunshine should not be overlooked! The sun is the ultimate zero-waste cleaning tool! Laying cloth items in the sun to dry, known as sun bleaching, is a natural way of disinfecting fabrics and killing most surface contaminants. Opening your windows and airing your home out on non-windy days (to avoid dust contaminants coming into your home), is another way to help you live a healthier life while simultaneously reducing your need for toxic aerosol air fresheners.

5) Invest in good zero-waste cleaning cloths: I’m a firm believer in using the right tool for the right job. This is especially true for cleaning. You should always invest in good cleaning cloths to clean, polish, and sanitize your home. You will also need a few to get started.

Bar towels: Great for drying dishes without lint.
Drying mats: Used to air dry non-dishwashable items.
Shammy towels: Used to clean electronics without scratching.
Microfiber towels: Used to clean heavy spills, counter tops, general cleaning, and more.

My favorite microfiber towels? e-cloth. Because with e-cloth you can clean many surfaces in your home with just good old tap water! My favorite thing about e-cloths? They are also reasonably priced. My 8-piece home cleaning kit cost under $40.00. This is nearly a 1/4 of my annual cost for paper towels just a few short years ago! This is such a small cost for what you get, making e-cloth my go-to zero-waste cleaning cloth brand at home. If you’d like to learn more about the e-cloth 8-Piece Home Cleaning Set, click here.

So, friends, those are my 5 favorite tips for zero-waste cleaning at home. I hope they will challenge you to rethink the way you clean your home. Now I have to ask, do you already use any of these tips at home or do you have zero-waste cleaning tips you’d like to share as well? I’d love to hear about them below!

5 Tips For Zero-Waste Cleaning at Home

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Clean the pool

Clean out your AC

Turn the clutter into cash

Keep an eye out for unwelcome guests

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1. Deodorize your surfaces.

2. Toss stuffed toys in the washer.

3. Give your cats a good grooming.

4. Dust with a microfiber cloth.

5. Wash plastic and metal food dishes in the dishwasher.

6. Sort through your pets toys.

7. Deep clean your litter box areas.

*Febreze and the Febreze Freshness logo are registered trademarks of The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio used under license by The Clorox Pet Products Company. © 2018 The Clorox Company.

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