So, you know I’ve been on the green bandwagon, or at least, I’ve been trying to get on board. I mentioned to another organizer on Twitter that I was having a bit of trouble finding green products that cleaned as well as the harsh chemical stuff. It turns out that not only does she know a thing or two about green cleaning, but she’s also written a book about it. Of course, what was I to do but ask her to share, share, share! I hope you’ll enjoy the green tid bits from our guest blogger, Candita Clayton. Check it out…
Unlike like my blog hostess Deb, cleaning is not really one of my favorite things to do. So you may be wondering why I would write a book about green cleaning. Well, I wrote Clean Your Home Healthy: Green Cleaning Made Easy (Morgan James Publishing, April 2008) to help people make educated decisions about the cleaning products they use in their homes. I am truly a green loving girl and my quest to support eco-conscious companies who use naturally derived ingredients and safe manufacturing practices is a personal passion. In my career as a professional home organizer, I have discovered time and time again that an organized and clean living space can reduce stress, and help every daily routine run smoothly. So with spring cleaning on everyone’s mind, let’s consider greening up your cleaning routine.
Some things you need in your green cleaning arsenal:
• All Purpose Cleaner – I love a product from Better Life called “What-ever!” It works on every surface and really works! Find it at www.cleanhappens.com.
• You can whip up your own all purpose cleaner by filling a spray bottle 1/2 white vinegar, ½ with water and a few drops of nice smelling essential oil like Lemongrass and Tea Tree (found in natural food stores).
• Hydrostatic and Microfiber Cleaning Cloths – These babies are a god send! They can be used to dust with no chemicals at all, and can also be used over and over for surface cleaning. They can be found in Target and other big box stores.
• Bonami – This natural cleanser contains no harsh chemicals and has been around for years! Works like a charm when you need to clean your sink, tile and anything that requires a little abrasive action.
If you are having trouble letting go of your traditional cleaners…baby steps! You can start by implementing some green cleaning products and slowly let go of your traditional cleaners.
Why do it?
You will feel better. Harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia which are found in most traditional cleaning products can cause respiratory distress and pollute your indoor air. Protect yourself, your family and your pets by making the switch.
For a complete list of companies, products and ideas about cleaning your home healthy, check out www.cleanyourhomehealthy.com and www.yourlifeorganized.com/blog for monthly giveaways.
About the Author
Candita Clayton founded her company, Your Life Organized LLC, in 2001, after the birth of her second child. Since then, she has been dedicated to helping people improve their home environments and their lives through the power of organization.
Connect With Candita: Web | Twitter
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Welcome to the very first installment of my video interview series with “busy people.” I hope you like these very candid interviews about how busy people keep it together…and how tricky that can be for them sometimes. First up is Lindsey Mastis (you might remember she interviewed me last month). Enjoy!
Back in February, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lindsey Mastis, a Digital Correspondent with WUSA9, a local DC television station. I turned the tables on Lindsey and put her in the hot seat. I asked her to talk about her busy lifestyle and some of the things she does to keep her life in order.
Did you know that a Digital Correspondent (DC) has more responsibilities than the average correspondent? A DC is in front of the camera, behind the camera, carrying the camera and tripod…and, oh yeah, they edit their own footage. Lindsey also makes time for networking both online and at social events, and, at the time of this interview, was training for the 10 mile Cherry Blossom race. She’s got a full plate in front of her.
When I sat down with her, I found out that she’s a pretty organized person. She’s a great planner and she takes about 20 minutes to make her lunch for the entire week. She also likes making oatmeal for breakfast because it’s quick and easy and doesn’t interfere with her morning routine. I also found out that she’s a fan of lists…grocery lists, to do lists, etc. She’s an organizer’s dream! How cool that someone with a busy lifestyle can find a way to keep it together AND have fun.
Check out the video below to see my full interview with Lindsey…
…and be sure to check out her website at www.lindseymastis.com. You can also read her tweets here. Also, thanks to Connie, the person behind the camera!
Btw, I’m not a fan of seeing myself on video AT ALL. My hair’s a mess and what’s up with my hands??? I need to sit on them to keep them under control! Oh well…I’m organized…except for my hands. =)
I love to shop! There, I said it! I would shop everyday if I could, even if I bought nothing, I’d still go just to peruse the aisles. But let’s face it, shopping with kids totally sucks the fun right out of it! There’s usually a small window of opportunity for shopping, and once you have exhausted every diversion to keep your children happy campers, that window closes, goldfish are dumped all over the cart, smashed into the floor by your cart wheels, and you dart for the door, before anyone realizes you are the cause of a less than pleasant shopping environment. As a result of the aforementioned, I have become more and more accustomed to shopping online, over the years. Christmas shopping is the best online, but I do admit to doing it year round, out of sheer convenience. If you, too, are an online shopper, have I got the site for you!
Ebates Do you know it? Do you use it? For me, it’s kind of like a no brainer. I have been using it for about 2 years now, and have received cash back (in the form of checks) totaling over several hundreds of dollars, just for going through their site. Here’s how it works. All you do is go to Ebates and create an account. From there they have a list of over 900 stores you can go to, anything from The Gap, to Target, to Home Depot and The Container Store. You name it, they probably have a store for it. Once you click on the store name, it directs you right to the store’s site, and you complete your transaction as you normally would. Depending on the store, they have a “percentage back” that you get, anywhere from 1 percent to 20 percent. Some of the percentages may not seem like a lot, but it adds up, especially if you do a lot of online shopping. My thought is, if you are going to shop online anyway, why not get something out of it, right? Everything 3 months they send you a “Big Fat Check” from all your transactions. It’s that simple. Also, if you refer a friend, you each get 5 bucks for signing up, with no limit to how many people you refer. Again, no brainer!!! So, log on to Ebates and start shopping!!!
Disclaimer: While I am a huge promoter of shopping any way you can, please be warned that too much shopping may result in unwanted clutter. Over zealous shoppers will be reported to D. Allison Lee immediately!!!
“Research shows that about 80% of people who make resolutions on Jan. 1 fall off the wagon by Valentine’s Day.”
[The New York Times • December 31, 2008]…but it’s not too late to work on those resolutions to get organized!
Watch the video to find out why.
Thanks to Angie Goff (@omygoff on Twitter) for the interview! Click here to check out Angie’s blog.
- The secret to keeping your New Year’s resolutions — is there a magic formula? (thehappinessproject.com)
- New Year, New You? Nice Try (thenewyorktimes.com)
- A Resolution That May Stick: Spending Less in ’09 (thenewyorktimes.com)
- Still no stinking resolutions: 1st Quarter goal update (realmendriveminivans.com)
- Why New Year’s Resolutions Rarely Work (shoppingblog.com)
It’s back! That’s right, folks, it’s time to gather those stacks of papers and old mail and head out the NBC4 Safe and Secure Community Shred event which is again sponsored by Shred-It and PNC Bank. The event will take place in Maryland at the Prince Georges Community College.
Now’s your chance to finally get rid of all that paper clutter…well, at least some of it. Here are the details…
Date: April 4, 2009
Time: 8 am-11 am *Cars must in line by 11 am • You must drive – no “walkers” allowed
Location: Prince Georges Community College • Parking Lot B 301 Largo Road, Largo, MD 20774-2199 • 866-973-7576 • 301-336-6000
What Can You Bring?
Up to five boxes of:
- Personal Papers and Mail
- CD’s
- Old Credit Cards
*Commercial or business items WILL NOT be accepted
More Helpful Info
Visitors need drive on campus from the Prince Place entrance only (off of Campus Way South). You MUST drive – no “walkers” allowed. For more information about NBC4 Safe and Secure Community Shred, call the college’s Office of Development at 301.322.0858 or visit NBC4′s web site at www.nbcwashington.com.
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