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How to Make DIY Natural Laundry Detergent

DIY Natural

Over the past year I have been gradually transitioning my family towards a more natural lifestyle. Some parts of natural living has been pretty hard, such as converting the entirety of our OTC couponed medical aids stash into a holistic medicine cabinet. But one of the easiest transitions? Making my own natural, homemade cleaners. And the easiest of all to make? Natural Laundry Detergents.

detergent1

For our family the switch was a no-brainer. Conventional laundry detergent is loaded with chemicals like sulfates, fragrances, phenols, paba, stabalizers, bleach compunds, benzoxazolyl, diaminostilbene, disulfonate, and even worse, 4-dioxane, a polysorbate-20 compound known to contribute to lung distress in newborns and young children. Worse still, some brands even contain petroleum distillates, which are linked to cancer and lung disease. 

Fortunately, making your own laundry soap is an easy process, and gives you the peace of mind to know exactly what you are washing your families laundry with! My version of natural laundry soap recipe is awesome all it gives me peace of mind in knowing I am washing my families with natural, eco-friendly laundering products.

I also love the frugality of this product. As I can make a year’s supply of detergent for under $30.00. The best part? This detergent is completely customizable, is allergy-safe, can be made scented or non-scented, is good for both standard and HE machines, and can also be converted into liquid detergent too! With Natural detergent, your not paying for water, your paying for quality laundry detergent. 

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  • Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer Brand available at most stores)
  • Borax (20 Mule Team Borax available at most grocery stores)
  • Bar Soap (Dr. Bronner’s,  Ivory, or other natural, unscented bar soap)
  • Oxy Booster (from the Dollar Tree)
  • Epson Salts (from the Dollar Tree)
  • Essential Oils
  • Scent Boosters (optional and from the Dollar Tree)

Please note, though there has been a lot of speculation as to the safety of Borax, through my own research I have found that the ingredient is a naturally occurring mineral made up of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. Borax is also used in most of the natural soaps commercially available on the market today including Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyers, and Method. I feel comfortable using Borax, of the mule team box variety, because this product is comprised of sodium tetraborate or sodium borate and not boric acid or hydrogen borate. This is a common misconception in many naturalist forums. Further, Borax is an alkaline, and some even report drinking it in small doses medicinally as an aid in rhumatory artheritis, to clear yeast infections of the skin, acne, and as a no-poo alternative to shampoo. 

Another ingredient I use, Washing Soda, sometimes called sodium carbonate or soda ash, is made from common salt and limestone or found as natural deposits. If you can’t find this ingredient locally, you can make your own from from baking plain baking soda for one hour at 400 degrees, and stirring occasionally until the baking soda turns into a grain. with this tutorial. 

I also use Zote laundry soap bars, which are made of pure organic oils to help break down organic stains, and Dollar Store Oxy Booster, to boost my blends stain-fighting power. And to scent my blend I use both Epsom salts, sprinkled with essential oils added to my blend, and for added scent boosting scent boosters from the Dollar Tree. Both boosters are optional. 

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Ingredients in Laundry Soap:

  • 3 Boxes of Arm and Hammer Brand Washing Soda, $2.98 each
  • 3 Boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax, $2.98 each box
  • 4 Bars of Zote Soap, $0.98 each
  • 2 Tubs Oxy Booster (from the Dollar Tree), $1.00 each
  • 1 2-pound bag of Epson Salts (from the Dollar Tree), $1.00
  • 40 drops of Essential Oils per pound of Epsom Salts, price varies
  • 2 1-pound tubs of Scent Boosters (optional and from the Dollar Tree), $1.00 each

Materials used to make the laundry soap:

  • 5 Gallon Bucket, with lid (on hand)
  • Scoop (on hand)
  • Gallon Mason Jars (on hand)
  • Glass mixing bowls (on hand)

Cost for one year’s supply of natural laundry detergent: $25.82, roughly about $0.05 per load!

Untitleddet 2

Natural Laundry Detergent
Yields 1
My recipe for easy, DIY, Natural Laundry Detergent.
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Prep Time
15 min
Total Time
20 min
Prep Time
15 min
Total Time
20 min
Ingredients
  1. 3 Boxes of Arm and Hammer Brand Washing Soda
  2. 3 Boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax
  3. 4 Bars of Zote Soap
  4. 2 Tubs Oxy Booster (from the Dollar Tree)
  5. 1 2-pound bag of Epson Salts (from the Dollar Tree)
  6. 30 drops of Essential Oils per pound of Epsom Salts
  7. 2 1-pound tubs of Scent Boosters (optional and from the Dollar Tree)
Instructions
  1. In one bowl, grate the bar soap into a bowl. Set aside.
  2. In a different bowl, add your Epsom salts and 30 drops of each essential oil you are using. Combine the ingredients with a fork until well blended.
  3. Add the washing soda, Borax, oxy booster, scent boosters, Epsom salts, and grated soap to your bucket.
  4. Place your lid on your bucket and gently shake your blend until well mixed together.
  5. From this point, you can store your blend in your bucket.
  6. We transfer our blend to glass 1-gallon mason jars for easy storage throughout the year.
  7. Use 3 tablespoons per load for regular wash; adjust accordingly.
To make liquid Laundry Soap
  1. Put 4.5 gallons of really hot tap water in a 5-gallon bucket
  2. Pour eight cups soap mixture into 5-gallon bucket. Stir well.
  3. Cover and leave overnight.
  4. Use 1/8 cup per load.
The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/
  So, folks that’s how I make my detergent. Have you tried making your own laundry detergent? What ingredients did you use? Do you prefer more eco-friendly options? I’d love to hear about it.

Here’s to more sustained living,

niki

DIY Organic Daily Shower Cleaner

August No-Spend Month

Hello again, savvy savers! With many of us elbow-deep in Spring cleaning projects and chores, I thought that this would be a great time to post the recipe for one of my favorite go-to organic cleaners, $0.25 DIY Organic Daily Shower Cleaner!

What sets this cleaner apart is that like it’s commercial namesake, this blend is natural, organic, and safe for all members of your family to use daily. Here’s how to make it:

DIY, Organic Daily Shower Cleaner, Only $0.25!
Hello again, savvy savers! With many of us in the midst of Spring Cleaning Chores I thought this weeks Tutorial Tuesday's Post should center around cleaning! This week I want to share with you all my DIY, all-natural, organic Daily Shower Cleaner Recipe! This blend is super simple to make, and smells as great as it cleans! With a $0.25 price tag for a month's worth of uses, this will be your new go-to daily shower cleaner, too! Here's how to make it:
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Print
Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 1/2 cups water
  2. 1 cup white vinegar
  3. 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
  4. 1 teaspoon castile soap
  5. 15 drops lemon essential oil
  6. 15 drops tea tree essential oil
  7. 15 drops lavender essential oil
  8. Spray bottle
Instructions
  1. Mix all the ingredients together in a quart-sized spray bottle.
  2. Shake well.
  3. Spray onto shower surfaces every day after use.
Notes
  1. Please note, my blend, and any other daily shower cleaner, is designed as a maintenance spray, so I would suggest starting with a clean shower first. It won’t remove built-on grime by itself, it’ll just slow down the process. Enjoy!
The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/

 

 

Daily 1-Hour Zone Cleaning Routine

HappyMother's Day

 

For me, there are lots of reasons a clean house is important to me. But the biggest reason is the sense of clarity and purpose in my day-to-day life when my house is clean.  Over the years tons of people ask how I keep things tidy and organized most of the time in our home.  So, at the risk of being labeled a crazy, OCD-prone minimalist I thought I’d share my 1-hour morning cleaning routine.

While 1-hour may seem like an arbitrary number, it’s not. I tend to spend, on average, about an hour each morning making my house sparkle. This means I spend roughly about 5-7 hours a week cleaning, nearly one work shift, per se. And though this is still a significant amount of time, it’s not nearly the 2-3 hours a day I spend as a newlywed and caretaker! However, for me, it’s totally worth spending 5-7 hours a week cleaning in order to have a house that is pretty tidy on any given day.  The simplest way to do this? Just staying on top of whatever needs to be cleaned. 

You see, I am a list kind-of-gal, so I actually have a daily checklist that I use each day, created before bed, to help me structure my next day. I keep my list in my kitchen and before I start cleaning, I always check my list! 

And when it comes to cleaning itself, I always make a point of being prepared. To save time and money (and a trip to the store), I generally make my own cleaners. And before anyone says ain’t nobody got time for that, hear me outI make cleaners because they are cheaper (literal pennies on the dollar), scents can be customized using essential oils, they help me limit the chemicals I expose my family too, and DIY cleaners are designed for multiple uses (which require me to store far fewer bottles on-hand). In the time it takes to put the family in the car and go to the store I can make a dozen cleaners at home! 

With this in mind, a few of the cleaners I make are:

General Outline:

  • Usually, I start cleaning my Master Bedroom and work my way through my home.
  • I use a large laundry basket to collect items such as toys or clothing that need to be returned to a different room as I work. After you have finished tidying every room, take 5 minutes to put away the gathered items.
  • Save sweeping/mopping and vacuuming until the end, making sure to dust (as needed first) and then do it all at once.  We have hard surface floors (hardwoods and tile), so I use an industrial dry mop from Sam’s Club to dry mop the hardwoods and a steam mop to clean the tile floors daily. I shake or vacuum floor rugs as needed. 
  • I also perform spot checks on the glass doors, mirrors, chrome, and windows at the end of the hour.
  • I keep daily shower cleaner in both showers and spray down and squeegee after each use.
  • I also add bleach to our toilet brush containers; replace the bleach once a week. This allows for easy cleanup, and for tough toilet stains, I use a pumice stone from the Dollar Tree. 
  • I carry a time from room-to-room to keep me on schedule while cleaning. 

Laundry:

  • I put in one load of laundry.
  • I remove laundry from drying racks or outdoor line and put away.
Bedroom(s):
  • 5-10 minutes are spent cleaning each.
  • I always make each bed, I’m picky that way.
  • I then quickly pick up any clothes, toys, or dishes laying about. 
  • I dust off surfaces, including the headboard, footboard, and closet doors.

Bathroom(s):

  • 5 minutes are spent on each.
  • Squirt toilet bowl cleaner around the rim of each toilet first; let sit.
  • Disinfectant sinks, tub, and shower with rags and surface cleaner. 
  • Use the toilet brush to quickly scrub toilet, rim, and seat.
  • Wipe down the toilet seat, space behind the toilet, and surrounding floor.
  • I change out hand towels, as needed. 
  • Replace and re-stock toilet paper, as needed. 

Laundry:

  • I remove laundry from washer and place in dryer. 
Living Room, Dining Room, and Office:
  • 10-15 minutes are spent in each room.
  • I quickly pick up any shoes, dishes, toys which are put in a basket to be put away later.
  • Use rags to quickly dust all surfaces.
  • Quick wipe down on furniture, table(s), and chairs.
  • Quick tidy on our desk area; all paperwork and mail is filed, if not already done so.
  • Lysol sitting surfaces.
Kitchen:
  • 10-15 minutes are spent in the kitchen.
  • I pick up any items that don’t belong in the kitchen and place them in the basket.
  • Gather any dirty dishes and put them next to sink.
  • Hand washes dishes and place dishes in the dishwasher, as necessary.
  • Wipe down all counter tops with disinfectant spray.
  • Wipe down stove top.
  • Dry and put away any hand-washed dishes.
  • Clean out and dry sink; clean dish drains as needed. 
  • I check to make sure everything is in order in my fridge and coolers; I wipe the surface fronts as I go.
Finishing Up:
  • Finishing up takes 15-20 minutes.
  • Next, starting in the back of the house to the front, I dry mop all my hard floors.  
  • I steam mop my tile floors, as needed.
  • I shake my kitchen rugs and front door mats.
  • I shake my dry mop heads out and sweep my front porch.
  • I clean glass surfaces and mirrors, as needed with a lint-free rag. 
  • I pull laundry from dryer, fold, and put away. Making sure to unplug my washer and dryer.
  • I place all cleaning rags in my cleaning rag hamper for once-a-week cleaning on Friday’s.
  • I put all my cleaning tools and cleaners away.
  • I then put away items collected in baskets while cleaning.
  • Lastly, I take out my kitchen trash and check my recycling bins.

So, that’s it, folks. That’s my morning cleaning routine.

Now, this list works for me because my home doesn’t need a truly deep, deep cleaning. If this isn’t the case in your home, no worries! Just start out a 1-hour cleaning routine after you have finished Spring Cleaning your home.

While it may take a little getting used to, once you are in the habit of a 1-hour routine each morning, you will be done in no time and freedom to enjoy the rest of each day! And if you have any suggestions on how you clean your home in a better way, I’d love to hear about it below!

 

DIY Natural Orange Cleaner!

Minimalist Meal Plan Monday's

 

Hello, everyone! With so many currently in the throes of Spring Cleaning, today I wanted to share with you my recipe for DIY, Organic Orange Cleaner. I love this cleaner because it is organic, non-toxic, child and pet-safe, and acts as both a surface disinfectant and an all-purpose cleaner. The best part? You can make a years worth of cleaner for under $5.00! And with the average cost of store-bought orange cleaner often in upwards of 3.89 a bottle, that’s a savings of $48.68 a year!

Here’s how to make this!

DIY, Organic Orange Cleaner
Yields 2
A delicious smelling, eco-friendly orange cleaner that will set you back under $5.00 for a years worth of cleaning goodness!
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Prep Time
10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 Clean, dried mason jars
  2. The peels of 6 oranges or 12 clementines
  3. 8 Cups distilled, white vinegar
  4. 1 Empty Spray Bottle
  5. 1 Funnel
  6. 1 Plastic Bowl
  7. 1 Sifter
Instructions
  1. Using a clean, dried mason jars, fill the jars 3/4 full of citrus peels.
  2. Be sure to leave 1 inch head space in each jar.
  3. Fill each jar with 4 cups of distilled white vinegar.
  4. Make sure to full submerge peels with the vinegar.
  5. Secure the cap and ring on the mason jar.
  6. Store the jar in a cool, dry place for 28 days.
  7. On the 29th day, open the jar and strain the contents into a sifter, over a glass bowl.
  8. Return the solution to the original mason jars with a funnel.
  9. Label your jar as cleaning concentrate.
  10. To create cleaning spray, add 1/4 cup of the solution to 5 cups water.
  11. Seal the bottle and shake gently.
  12. Use in conjunction with newspaper to clean most glass surfaces, including counters.
  13. To use the concentrate to clean floors, add 1 ounce to 1/2 gallon hot water.
The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/
 And if you’d like to see this cleaner made, I’ve included the live Periscope demo that my husband and I put together from our Katch.me account. 

Overall, this is an awesome cleaner. I enjoy it’s simple, organic, I know exactly what’s in it makeup, and it’s affordability is amazing as well. It’s something that has really worked well in my home. I hope you will enjoy it too!

Here’s to greener, more affordable living!

mbnlogosm

Spring Deep Cleaning Guide

SPRING

 

If you are anything like me, few events are more personally gratifying than my annual Spring Deep Cleaning! It’s an opportunity to throw open the windows, let fresh air in, and make our homes clean, safer, and more joyous spaces. For many people, however, the pleasure comes only after the work is finished. While your spring cleaning may never become effortless, you can make the project more manageable – and even enjoyable. So, let’s jump in!

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Here is my timeline leading up to Spring Cleaning and Allergy-Proofing my home each year.

Three weeks before cleaning, I request Thredup bags to donate unneeded clothing.

Two weeks before cleaning, I create my seasonal Capsule Wardrobe and utilize my Thredup collection bags.

A week before I start Spring Cleaning, I prepare my cleaners. A tip: to avoid hauling a caddie around my home during Spring Cleaning. Here’s my list of all-natural, diy cleaners I make:

The night before I start cleaning:

  •  I place the cleaners I will be using in the rooms they will be utilized the next day. Along with cleaners, I place any towels, rags, or sponges I will also be using.  I do this because as soon as I finish cleaning each room, the cleaners make their way back to my storage closet. When all the cleaners are put away I know my work is done!
  • Then I create a donation station. Three reusable bags are set up in my dining room. One to hold donation items to go to our local women’s shelter, a second bag for items at the thrift shop, and a miscellaneous bag for items that can go local animal shelter. To keep clutter to a minimum in our minimalist home, my husband takes all donations to charity the same day I clean. Also, I also pull in extra recycling bins too.
  • I also prep my clipboard. I use a clipboard to cross off completed tasks, take notes on the condition of my house, to remind myself of items I need to bring to my husband’s attention and to keep up to date with our seasonal inventory and shopping lists.

At this point, I’m ready to prepare myself to clean!

 

prep1

 

Here are the steps I take to prepare myself to start cleaning:

  1. Scheduling. I try to schedule grooming appointments and play dates around my cleaning schedule. This frees up to time to devote fully to my endeavors and to keep little hands and little paws away from cleaners too!
  2. Getting Dressed. While Spring Cleaning, I dress for the occasion. For me, this means wearing all white. Cotton shorts and a tee. This outfit is conducive for cleaning, as I am sure to become soiled, splashed by cleaners, or sweaty while sprucing. This also prevents my clothing to become a visual distracting while cleaning room-to-room. You see, white is pure, clean light. It has clean energy. It allows you to focus on your space and not yourself while cleaning. In fact, Marie Kondo, famed decluttering consultant, wears only white while cleaning, consulting, or engaging at speaking events!
  3. Vacuum. I start with light vacuuming around my whole home before even gathering my cleaning supplies. I do this because I remove my socks and shoes while cleaning. I want to be aware of how my floors feel. If there are any splinters or squeaks that need addressing I can attend to them immediately. And if your floors are clean enough to walk barefoot on, then they are clean enough for little hands and paws, too!
  4. Music. I am known to put awesome music on for encouragement while Spring Cleaning. Sometimes I even create a playlist for the occasion.
  5. Light. I open windows, light a candle, and diffuse while cleaning. This is simply to keep me happy!
  6. Meals. I know I will be too tired to cook after cleaning so I generally prep crockpot meals before I start projects so I have hot, healthy meals ready for my family when the day’s work is done.

 

prep3

 

Zone 1. My Food Stockpile and Basement

Pantry and Stockpile:

  • Canned goods: I dust cans, rotate by expiration date, and donate anything that will expire in your current month you don’t plan to consume.
  • Soft Drinks, Cooking Oils, and Cleaners: Again, I dust containers, rotate by expiration date, donate anything that will expire in your current month you don’t plan to consume, and place all oils in the fridge for summer, especially coconut oil.
  • Dried Foods: I inventory my stock and rotate jars accordingly.
  • Room: As my storage room is in my sunroom, I sweep the walls down, dust the room’s trim, clean the windows, clean the ceiling fan, clean my glass doors, and mop my way out of the room.

Basements:

  • Clean electronic air cleaner elements monthly for most efficient operation; replace filters as needed.
  • Clean humidifier elements before the next season begin.
  • Schedule furnace inspections; many areas offer free, or reduced fee inspections. Schedule appointments now!
  • Buy a 3-month supply of furnace filters.
  • Drain sediment from hot water heaters.
  • Clean windows.
  • Vacuum baseboards, floors, vents, and tools.
  • Re-evaluate your holiday, seasonal goods. Declutter, re-sort and purge as needed.

Zone 2. Inside the home:

I work from the farthest rooms in my home and work my way towards my front door. I start in my master bedroom, then onto my family bedrooms, guest room, den, living room, office, bathrooms, closets, kitchen, and end with my dining room. Here’s what I do in each area:

In my bedroom I attend to:

  • Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
  • Launder or clean all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, comforters.
  • Change or scale-back linens as needed.
  • Vacuum drapes and window treatments.
  • Clean window sills and windows.
  • Vacuum baseboards and corners well.
  • Wash down walls with a mild astringent or cleaner, and dry with a dust mop.
  • Clean out and vacuum vents.
  • Vacuum upholstered furniture.
  • Wash interior windows.
  • I have my eyeglasses professionally cleaned in Spring.

Kitchen and Dining Room:

  • Prepare the kitchen for holiday cooking; organize kitchen cabinets, paying particular attention to baking supplies, pans, and equipment.
  • Clear kitchen counters of all appliances not used within the last week.
  • Pull refrigerator away from the wall, and vacuum the condenser coils.
  • Declutter your cabinets. Clear out your cupboards of anything that you don’t use on a regular basis. Make room in your dining room, basement, or stockpile area for seasonal items, such as punch bowls and holiday dishes. Purge, recycle, sell, or donate items that have not been used in a year.
  • Zone your cabinets. I have a zone for coffee, baking, and pets; keep like items together. Creating zones in your kitchen helps to keep your cabinets organized, helps you to know where to store things, and helps you work more efficiently in the day-to-day running of your home.
  • Random clutter. Anything random left over, and not able to be placed into cabinets, think of creative, upcycled ways to display and store these items.
  • Wash light-diffusing bowls from light fixtures.
  • Vacuum drapes and window treatments.
  • Clean window sills and windows.
  • Vacuum baseboards and corners well.
  • Wash down walls with a mild astringent or cleaner, and dry with a dust mop.
  • Clean out and vacuum vents.
  • Re-season pots and pans, as needed.

Coat Closets:

  • I steam clean coats, blazers, and jackets.
  • All winter gear is laundered and then stored in baskets in the top of the closet.
  • Add cedar and tea bags to all closets to prevent mildew and bugs over the Summer months.
  • I dust upper closet shelves.
  • I vacuum and steam mop closet floors. I then allow floors to dry for 1 hour before replacing items.

Linen Closets:

  • Bundle like sets of sheets together.
  • Keep necessity items in small baskets, labeled, and clustered on a single taller shelf together.
  • Corral cosmetics on servings trays for easy removal.
  • Any mismatched items should be donated.
  • Any fraying towels should be donated; animal shelters are a great place to send unneeded linens.
  • Prevent dust from covering linen sets, by placing them inside their coordinating pillowcases
  • Antique linens are best to hang; install two hooks and a dowel rod in the bottom of a closet for hanging linens.
  • Store throw pillows and guest pillows in a top shelf basket.
  • Store towel sets in stacks for easy removal.
  • Store like items on like shelves; linens with linens, towels with towels, and the like.

A few tips for Spring Cleaning your bathrooms:

  • All cosmetics older than one year, should be purged.
  • All cosmetic sharpeners, brushes, or curlers two-years or older, should be purged.
  • All hair coloring products or kits, two years or older, should be purged.
  • All vitamins or supplement older than one year, should be purged.
  • All flu, cold, sinus, or allergy products older than two years, should be purged.
  • All essential oils three years or older, should be purged.
  • All first aid items, older than three years, should be purged and replaced.
  • All digestive aids, older than three years, should be purged.
  • Any fiber-based supplement, older than a year, should be purged.
  • Any nail lacquers that have been to separate should be purged.
  • All manicure and pedicure supplies not utilized within the last six months should be purged.
  • All paper or cotton products should be visible, organized, and easily accessible.
  • Purge your oldest towel set; towel, hand towel, and wash cloth.
  • Take inventory and re-stock medicine cabinets.
  • Clean contact lense cases.
  • Replace toothbrushes and floss.
  • Clean window sills and windows.
  • Vacuum baseboards and corners well.
  • Wash down walls with a mild astringent or cleaner, and dry with a dust mop.
  • Clean out and vacuum vents.

Living Room and Den:

  • Vacuum drapes and window treatments.
  • Clean window sills and windows.
  • Vacuum baseboards and corners well.
  • Wash down walls with a mild astringent or cleaner, and dry with a dust mop.
  • Clean out and vacuum vents.
  • Vacuum upholstered furniture.

 

prep4

 

Zone 3. Outside The House:

  • Clean and store patio furniture, umbrellas, kid’s summer toys.
  • Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks.
  • Check for breaks in exterior caulk lines around windows and doors.
  • Inspect external doors and garage doors.
  • Wash exterior windows.
  • Drain and store garden hoses.
  • Install insulating covers on exterior spigots.
  • Check gutters, rain barrels,  and downspout openings.
  • Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned, if necessary.

Zone 4. Greenery:

  • Bring flower pots out of storage; plastic pots will need to be cleaned, emptied, bleached, and air-dried.
  • Terracotta pots should be sun-sanitized, stacked, and stored on their sides.
  • Sew grass seeds, as needed.
  • Purchase bird seed, and keep feeders stocked for the winter.
  • Prep/service your lawn mower, riding mower, edger, and tiller for warm weather.
  • Pull back winter mulch, replace as needed.
  • Clean out flower beds, plant annuals as needed by May 15th each year.
  • Edge lawns and sidewalks.
  • Clean and disinfect your outdoor mailboxes.
  • Service outdoor fountains, solar panels, decorative installations.
  • Maintain your indoor and outdoor compost bins.

 

prep5

 

Zone 5. Allergy-Proofing: Now that you’ve deep cleaned your home for Spring, I advise Allergy-proofing your home for Spring too! Here are a few of my favorite tips:

  • Clean blades of ceiling fans.
  • Sort and clean any extra zones such as linen closets, utility closets and office spaces; even the best kept linen closets trap dust, which can be inadvertently transferred to bedrooms and common areas.
  • Check for mold. Bathrooms, basements and areas that are tiled can be especially prone to mold. The key to reducing mold is moisture control. Be sure to use bathroom fans and clean up any standing water immediately. Scrub any visible mold from surfaces with detergent and water, and completely dry. You can also help ward off mold by keeping home humidity levels at or around  60 percent and cleaning gutters regularly helps too!
  • Check the fur-babies! Remove pet allergens by vacuuming frequently and washing upholstery, including your pet s bed.
  • Diffuse! Using a diffuser daily can not only help to make our home healthier, by allowing ourselves to breathe in health, natural elements, but we can also help to make out homes smell as inviting by diffusing essential citrus, cinnamon, sage as well.
  • When mowing and gardening, be sure to wear gloves and a N95 particulate pollen mask (Centers for Disease Control (CDC) NIOSH rated), and to avoid touching your eyes, and be sure to wash your hands, hair and clothing once you go back indoors.

Keep in mind, deep cleaning and allergy-proofing your home from top to bottom will essentially take several days. Do not attempt to clean your entire home in a day, or a weekend for that matter. Take a week, break off chores into chunks, utilize your family for aid and resource, and give yourself the grace of time and consideration of your everyday life when completing this expansive list. Also, you can  get a head start by changing your air filters every three months and using filters with a MERV rating of 11 or 12.

My biggest tip? Be sure to  vacuum regularly to get rid of dust mites. Use a cyclonic vacuum, which spins dust and dirt away from the floor, or a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. And as always, be sure to wash bedding and stuffed animals weekly.

Moreover, consider this when devising a fall cleaning schedule:

  • Are you the kind of person who wants to do a little every day?
  • Would you rather tackle it all at once so that you don’t have to think about it for the rest of the week?
  •  Do you work full-time or are you home during the day?
  • Do you have young children at home whose chores can be incorporated into this system?

As there is no one “right way” to keep house, and so no universal cleaning schedule that will fit every household’s needs. Just sit down, take an hour, and create a system that will work best for you. Being prepared for the cooped-up winter months ahead is the long-term goals, so by adding a few small, obtainable cleaning goals a day is the way to go! This is a challenge to make your home as healthy as it is steadfast this coming season.

Also, don’t be daunted by the size of this list, many of the jobs are small ones that will go by quickly, and you’ll be so glad you took the time to do them! And if you are looking to see how I organize my year round cleaning schedule, you can also take a look at my general year-round printable list, too!

After you read through the zone lists, be sure to tailor the list to your home and yard. I encourage you to create a realistic Spring Cleaning schedule, keeping in mind that a single weekend won’t suffice, as you’ll need several days for more involved projects, such as shampooing carpets and organizing closets. Pick a plan. Create a stop and start point, whether it’s starting from the attic to the basement, outdoors to inside, or just focusing on one task at a time. Just have a plan. And be sure to enlist the help of family members.

So, folks do you have any tried and true methods for cleaning around your home this time of year. I’d love to hear about them below.

October No-Spend Month Challenge Day 8: Preparing For Cleaning Week

Hello again, savvy savers! Happy Sunday! Can you believe we are a week into a No-Spending Month Challenge! 

 A full day, a new way to find to save at home! This last week, we focused the first part of the week on pantry organization, organizing food swap days, creating meals based on pantry staples, and then switched focus to alternative pantry re-stocking methods, including starting and maintaining a coupon swap, rain-check shopping, and saving money on the grocery bill, and monthly expenses for that matter, by channeling funds from utility premiums back into your overall family/personal budgets. So you could say, last week was all about food! 

This coming week I want to change course. I want to focus on our homes. I want to focus on all of the cluttered, chaotic, dirty, overlooked blemishes that hinder out overall vision of what a simple, efficient can bring into our day-to-day existences.  This week we are going tackle the chaos that be head on.  We are going to scrub, dust,  sort, purge, evaluate, and hopefully make a profit in the process! No matter is you rent, lease, or own there is work to be done! No matter if your home is showcase worthy or disaster-adjacent, there is something can can be done to better your home this coming week! 

Paleo - it starts with your mindset!

This week will be slow. This week will seem awful. This week will leave you feeling wonderful.  

So today I challenge you two fold. First, I challenge you to make a list of four areas in your home that need organization, cleaning, sorting, or the like. Secondly, I challenge you to prepare to clean this week. 

As well, in addition to the challenges ahead of you today, I encourage you to procure from your home the following:

  • A large basket, bin, or box.
  • A clipboard with paper, or notepad.
  • A few pens, markers, or sharpies.
  • Three empty bags, bins, or boxes large enough to hold a load of laundry or like items. 
  • A handful of sponges or rags.

Nothing too dramatic today! So, be sure to have a cup of coffee or tea, take a moment to collect your thoughts, write your list, and then mosey on back here this evening to see today’s recap!

Here’s to saving,

niki-name-design

Motivational Monday’s: Why I Keep My Counters Cleared Off!

Hello again, savvy savers! For today’s Motivational Monday’s Post, I wanted to share the single biggest way I have found to keep my home clean, and that is by keep my kitchen counter tops completely cleared off! Why keep the counters empty? The kitchen is the heartbeat of our home, but when our kitchen counters are messy and cluttered, my mood, home, and family dynamic seems to feel stressed and overwhelmed, too! I truly believe, a clean kitchen is a happy and productive place to be! 

So, you may be asking, is it incontinent to not have small appliances, crocks, tools, and towels in arms reach on the counters? No, in fact I truly have not missed having my items out. The reason I decided to clear my counter tops off was that I simply felt I did not use three-quarters of the items on my counters! Let’s say for 8 hours of the day, you utilize those items for about 5 minutes, or less? So, this ultimately means that we all leave appliances plugged into sockets, for 7 hours and 45 minutes, causing not only unnecessary phantom power sources, but these same power drainers are simultaneously taking up valuable space on your counters.

Couple this with the idea that items placed in cabinets are cleaner, after all isn’t this why we place dishes in cupboards, to keep grime, grease splatters, dust, and germs off of our dishes? Why keep items on counter tops, when it take a mere 5 seconds to take those items out of the cupboard, and about 10 seconds to put those items away in the cupboard!

Here are a few more reasons to clear off your counter tops:

  1. Clear counters, mean more space, and a kitchen that feels a lot bigger than it really is.
  2. It is much easier to cook from scratch and prepare three meals plus snacks each day for your family when your counters are clear.
  3. Clear counters creates both the physical and mental space to bake, whip up homemade snacks, and cook nutritious dinners; you create a workshop!
  4. When it’s easier to cook and prepare meals and snacks, we rely less on convenience and processed foods and snacks, and eat out less often; a savings for our wallets and health!
  5. Counter tops that are completely cleared off practically clean themselves; dirty dishes go straight into the dishwasher, staples into the pantry, and then simply sweep floors and wipe down counters!
  6. A clean kitchen is motivation to keep the rest of the house clean and picked up!

And as a bonus, it is a breath of fresh air, to walk into a clean kitchen! I look forward to walking into the kitchen and being able to actually do what I’m supposed to do in there – make a good, home cooked meal food for my family.

Here are a few ways I keep my counter-tops clear:

  • I keep my toaster oven, microwave, tool crock trio, and produce baskets on a small bakers rack.
  • All paper products, wraps, and lunch items are stored in in-cabinet wicker baskets. 
  • Snacks are stored vertically in hanging baskets.
  • I keep a rack above my sink for washing accouterments and my favorite e-Pantry candles! 
  • I keep my small appliances in a bottom cabinet; grill and baking appliances on one shelf, and all others on the bottom shelf. 
  • I place my cutting boards in an upcycled magazine holder, on the side of my pantry.
  • All spices, food, and pantry items stay in the pantry!
  • Extra tools belong on my pullman cart beside my fridge!

So, I hope you all will completely clear off our counters in your kitchen and see what kind of difference it can make in our lives! If you need more practical and how-to steps to clear off your counters, including pictures from my own kitchen and how I store things, check out How To Completely Clear Off Your Kitchen Counters!

So, are your counters perpetually messy and cluttered? How do you think it would change your life to clear them off completely?

Here’s to a healthy home,

niki-name-design