Photo Credit: jade007

After a weekend of sharing, conversing, eating, and relaxing, it’s time for a post holiday clean-up.  While I strive to “clean” while I’m prepping and cooking, I reserve the “deep clean” for after the guests have left. This also gives me an opportunity to start the new year fresh by getting organized.  So what am I doing to get our home clean and ready for the new year? Here are some of my best tips for our post holiday clean-up:

1.  Don’t try to do it all in one day.  I have a routine where I focus on one area of the house each day. I set small, attainable goals and try to spread cleaning tasks out throughout the week.

2.  Pay attention to the germiest areas in your home.  Germs love the kitchen and the bathroom, filled with food, moisture and other environments conducive to their existence.  These are the areas where I use my disinfecting wipes to ensure that all germs have been eliminated from our home, particularly since we’re right in the midst of cold and flu season.

3.  Get everyone involved.  Whether it’s simply ensuring that my son understands the importance of cleaning up his toys each day or encouraging my husband to be a cleaner cook, involving each member of the family in the clean-up process can take the load off of one person.  When everyone pitches in, clean-up can be achieved quickly and efficiently.

4.  Keep it simple.  Cleaning doesn’t have to be elaborate, particularly if you maintain a regular regimen. One or two all-purpose cleaning products that can be used in multiple areas of the house on multiple surfaces will help save time and money.

5.  Be mindful of your carbon footprint. Think about those items you are throwing away and evaluate if they can be recycled or repurposed. *Tip* Check out Glad’s line of composting and recycling bags that help keep waste out of landfills.

How do you approach clean-up once you’re done celebrating?

Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

Product samples provided by Clorox, Snuggle, All, Glad, Vanity Fair, Dixie, Pine-Sol, Angel Soft, and Brawny

For the last few weeks, I’ve been using affresh cleaner’s Dishwasher and Disposal Cleaner.  The tablets, which are activated with water, remove odors from surfaces such as hoses and pumps. They also work in your disposal to remove stuck-on particles which can create odors.

Prior to using affresh, I had not actually cleaned the dishwasher or disposal, although I had every intention of doing so. One tablet in the disposal (which takes about 5 minutes) and two in the dishwasher (which requires one dishwasher cycle) render my disposal and dishwasher clean with a fresh scent.  Once the dishwasher is clean, it’s more efficient at cleaning dishes, particularly dishes that have been sitting for awhile.

Depending on your needs, you may be able to simply use affresh once month, which is what I found to be sufficient.  At present, only one scent (lemon) is offered and I’d like to see the company offer a variety of scents and an unscented version mostly because the scent will linger after you’ve cleaned the dishwasher and disposal. Using affresh is easy and hassle-free.

affresh cleaner’s Dishwasher and Disposal Cleaner retails for approximately $6

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of affresh and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Photo Credit: Affresh

About a week ago, I popped in a Dishwasher & Disposal Cleaner from Affresh into both dish-washing locations.  The dishwasher requires two tablets which are placed in the main detergent tray and at the bottom of the dishwasher.  I then ran an empty load according to the directions. To clean the disposal, I placed a tablet into the drain, turned the hot water on, and ran the disposal for 15 seconds. I also ran hot water down the drain to complete the cleaning process.

Cleaning both areas was quick and uncomplicated and the directions were straightforward. It’s been a little over a week and I can still smell the lingering lemon scent.  So far, I’ve been happy with the result with regards to odors but am not sure yet how to evaluate whether or not we’re keeping residues and build-up at bay. Stay tuned for an update.

By simply using the Dishwasher & Disposal Cleaner for a month, you’ll help keep odors and build-up at bay.  A package of six tablets retails for $5.99 and is available at retailers nationwide.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of affresh and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Do you ever doubt your dishwasher?  I do.  The eco side of me says to take all of those dirty dishes, no matter how many days they’ve been sitting there, and load them up without turning the water on.  The germ-a-phobe side of me insists on rinsing…even scrubbing that caked on food off.  In reality, I typically fall somewhere in the middle, despite the fact that the manufacturer of our dishwasher advises owners not to rinse before loading (it’s also greener this way).

My husband and I have tried a variety of dishwasher gels and powders and have never found one to be effective.  We prefer the  pre-filled tabs/pacs that combine the washing and rinsing agents and easily pop into the dispenser.  I have only tried one brand which we like and use, but was open to trying Cascade’s Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs to see how they compare.

These ActionPacs combine the action of both a powder and a gel to tackle tough cleaning.  The combination pre-treats, fights stains, and rinses away food particles while removing grease and preventing leftover residues.  To test the effectiveness of Cascade’s Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs, I had to leave a pile of dirty dishes (no rinsing allowed!) overnight (gasp!).  I can’t stand a sink of dirty dishes so you can imagine how difficult this was.  I loaded the dishwasher the next day, mostly without rinsing and then put these little ActionPacs to the test.

Now, I will say that having used a dishwasher for many, many years, I know there are several things that can assist in ensuring your dishes come out clean and spotless.  I routinely run an empty load with vinegar to clean out the dishwasher and had done that about 2 weeks prior to my 24 hour challenge.  I also ensured that the rinse agent chamber was full (when this is empty, the dishes don’t come out nearly as clean).

Voila! With minimal rinsing (I guess I sort of cheated?), my dishes came out without any food residues.  I don’t rinse everything, but some foods like oatmeal really stick if they’re not rinsed off right away.  I was quite pleased with Cascade’s tough cleaning action and ease of use.  Now…if only a company would develop a greener dishwasher tab/pac that actually works at getting those dishes clean!

For more information, just visit Cascade!

I have a few sample packets to giveaway (5 to be exact).  If you’re interested, just leave a comment!

No compensation was received for this post. Products for review (including a gift card) and giveaway were supplied by Cascade, P&G, and Walmart.

Having children means coming to terms with their little messes.  Whether it’s my daughter throwing her Cheerios all over the living room, or my son emptying his sand-filled shoes on our floors, there is never a dull moment when it comes to domestics!  Thankfully, Dyson’s Digital Slim Vacuum is versatile enough to handle these not so teeny messes. Check out how we’ve been using the powerful cordless vacuum:

As you can see, Dyson packs power and versatility into the machine.  I don’t even think I need to use my full-sized vacuum downstairs anymore since I don’t have carpet.

Can you think of other ways to use this innovative cordless vacuum?

Dyson’s Digital Slim Vacuum retails for $299 and is available at Walmart.

Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

Photo Credit: Dyson

We live in a two story house with carpet upstairs and tile/laminate flooring downstairs.  Because of the different types of flooring in our home, we need a versatile vacuum that is powerful and efficient.  For the last few weeks, I’ve been using Dyson’s brand new Digital Slim Vacuum.  It’s slim, lightweight, and more powerful than I would have expected a cordless vacuum to be.  The vacuum is powered by the Dyson digital motor which spins up to 3 times faster than conventional motors.  What this means is that it’s powerful enough to remove even the finest dust particles from hard floors and ground-in dirt from carpets.

At first glance, you may not recognize that this is a cordless vacuum.  That is because the vacuum has a motorized floor tool (aka a brush bar like many conventional vacuums) with anti-static carbon fiber brushes for hard floors and stiff nylon brushes for carpets.  Even when you’re striving to reach awkward spots, the cleaner head stays flat for constant floor contact.  The 26 inch, detachable, long-reach wand makes it versatile enough to reach places like under the fridge, in between the seats in my car, and even my mini-blinds.

Because we have carpet upstairs, we leave all of our shoes at the bottom of the stairs. While this doesn’t eliminate things like dust, it does help prevent stains and germs from being tracked up into our bedrooms.  As I mentioned in a previous post, we own Dyson’s Asthma & Allergy Upright Vacuum.  I really like this vacuum…but it’s heavy and not something I enjoy lugging up and down the stairs.  At present, we leave it stored upstairs and use it for our carpeted areas.  This means that we rely on a broom to pick up dirt, dust, and crumbs on our floors downstairs.  While I realize it’s not feasible for most people to own two vacuums, it’s been nice using the Digital Slim Vacuum downstairs to clean up as opposed to the broom.

I have to admit that when I first read that the lithium-ion battery pack allows for 15 minutes of constant suction, I wasn’t sure if that was average or not.  After some research, I did learn that this is pretty typical for a hand-held vacuum.  The Dyson difference is that there is constant suction.  I have an older hand-held vacuum that probably lasts about that time but towards the end of the charge loses it’s power and suction rendering it pretty much ineffective.  If you run the Digital Slim Vacuum at the higher suction, the time is reduced to 6 minutes.

Later on this week, I’ll highlight a few cleaning tasks I have managed to accomplish with Dyson’s new Digital Slim Vacuum. Here is one of Dyson’s engineers discussing some information about what goes into designing and testing this new vacuum.

Dyson’s Digital Slim Vacuum is available at Walmart and retails for $299

Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Allison Greene. Congrats!

Did you know that something you likely have in your cabinet can kill most mold, bacteria, and germs?  I’ve heard that vinegar (white distilled) is an effective cleaning agent.  But to be honest, I haven’t used it as much as I should.  If you’re wondering what you can use vinegar for, check out 1001 Uses For White Distilled Vinegar!

A couple of weeks ago, I started using Windex’s Multi-Surface Vinegar cleaner.  The cleaner is made with vinegar and cleans everything from glass and windows to countertops and appliances.  Since I pretty much stopped using conventional cleaners, I’ve noticed that I’m more sensitive to their smells when I encounter them outside my home.  Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar is comprised of an ammonia-free formula which means it doesn’t have the harsh scent of conventional, multi-purpose cleaners.

I’ve mostly been using the cleaner in the kitchen and bathroom because I like those areas in particular to be clean and germ-free.  I’m particularly happy with how it’s cleaned the soap residue in my shower.

Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar Cleaner is effective enough to use on a variety of surfaces in your home which means you don’t have to use anything else if that is your preference.

The one thing I would like the company to do is disclose the complete list of ingredients on the back of the bottle (if I missed it, I’d love to know).  More and more I’m looking for companies to be completely transparent about their products.

For more information, just visit their website.

Win It! One of you will win a prize pack that will include Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar, a reusable bag, and digital photo frame.  Simply leave me a comment with something you learned from the site.  This isn’t mandatory, but I’d love to know (in the comments section) how you feel about conventional companies manufacturing “green” products.  Comments will close on December 20, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  US Residents only.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Like me on Facebook

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.   Review and giveaway items supplied by the company via Family Review Network.

Over the years, I’ve tried a number of different eco-friendly cleaning products to find the one that gets the job done.  Method is a brand I’ve used off and on throughout the years because it’s effective, affordable, and most importantly safe!  In the midst of cold and flu season, Method recently launched their new botanical antibacterial line.

I can get a little crazy with the disinfectants, particularly during this time of year. Method’s new line includes All Purpose Cleaning and Disinfecting Wipes, an Antibacterial Bathroom Cleaner, and an Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner.  Traditionally, chemicals like bleach and triclosan were used to kill viruses and bacteria like influenza A, H1N1, E. Coli, and Salmonella.  Method has partnered with CleanWell to create a botanical formula that kills 99.99 percent of household viruses and bacteria. The thyme and essential oils-based disinfecting technology kills germs on hard, non-porous surfaces like door knobs, sinks, faucets, toilets, garbage cans, food prep areas, children’s toys, high chairs, and changing tables.  Additionally, the bathroom spray is formulated to target soap scum and hard water stains while the kitchen cleaner is formulated to cut through grease and grime. Of all places, the bathroom and the kitchen are those likely to be highly concentrated with germs however, you could technically use all three products around your home to kill germs.

I tried out each of the three antibacterial products and found them to be pleasant in smell, effective, and easy to use.  I like the fact that I can use the cleaners on my children’s toys, high chairs, and potty.   I’ve often found that eco-friendly cleaners don’t “clean” as well as conventional cleaners. But I was quite impressed with how well the kitchen cleaner worked on my stove.

Method’s line of Antibac cleaners retail for $3.99 each and can be purchased at Target, Whole Foods, and select retailers nationwide. For more information about the company, including their sustainability practices, just visit their website.

This Wednesday the 17^th Jennifer, aka, @thesmartmama and Method, will host a Twitter party from 10p-11p EST.  Simply follow the @methodtweet and @thesmartmama for your chance to win some prizes.  The hashtag for the night will be #ecowed.

Win It! One of you will win a Fight the Flu Kit, courtesy of Method. Simply leave me a comment with something you learned on the site.  Comments will close on November 30th, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Like me on Facebook

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.  Products for review and giveaway were supplied by Method via Green & Clean Mom.

Earlier this year, I was invited to the Natural Products Expo in Southern California.  The invite mentioned that Bill Nye the Science Guy would be in attendance, discussing the science behind an innovative new cleaning tool called the ionator HOM.  This hand held appliance uses ionizing technology to convert ordinary tap water into a cleaner and sanitizer.  This could very well be the only cleaning product you’ll ever need (apart from a heavy-duty cleaner for tough dirt and stains).

The ionator HOM is capable of cleaning mirrors, stainless steel, wood, whiteboards, granite, glass, carpet, clothing, tile and more.  What makes the product so distinct (and appealing to this germaphobe of a mom) is it’s ability to kill 99.9% of harmful bacteria including H1N1 influenza A virus, Salmonella, MRSA, and E. coli.  How it does this, I’m not entirely sure.  But you can check out the Activeion website to watch Bill Nye the Science Guy discuss the technology behind ionator HOM.

In essence, electrically charged ionized water attracts dirt like a magnet to help lift if from the surface, allowing it to be wiped away.  In six seconds, nearly any nonporous surface can be clean AND microbe-free.  The Activeion technology is irreversible and completely breaks down the walls of bacterial cells, pathogenic viruses, and other germs…hence it’s disinfecting power.

Using the ionator HOM is so easy, it’s hard to believe that it’s actually working.  You simply fill the device with tap water (not distilled or purified water).  It’s recommended that surfaces be pre-cleaned, particularly if they’re heavily soiled and you want to disinfect.  You simply spray at a distance of 3-4 inches for 6 seconds and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Use it on any room and any surface.

The ionator HOM doesn’t use chemicals, which means there are no residues, smells, or harmful ingredients.  Its healthy for you, your family, and the environment.  While I do find the price to be  steep at $179.99, it’s justifiable, considering that you’ll not likely have to invest in other cleaning products.  Here is a video I made demonstrating the ionator HOM:

For more information about ionator HOM, just visit their website!

No compensation was received for this post.  A product sample was provided via MomSelect to facilitate this review.

There are a lot of household chores I don’t mind doing.  Dishes…just rinse and let the dishwasher do it’s magic. Throw the clothes in the washer and let the machine get all of the stains out.  Mopping and vacuuming…at least I burn a few extra calories. But the bathrooms?  UGH!  My husband and I “take turns” cleaning the shower and the toilets…our two least favorite cleaning activities.  It’s never a quick or easy feat scrubbing soap and mildew off.

While I primarily use eco-friendly cleaners, there are occasions when I turn to products like Scrubbing Bubbles if I can’t get something clean (which most often occurs in the bathroom).  And the reality is, because neither my husband or I particularly enjoy cleaning the bathrooms, we want products that are going to get the job done ASAP.

Scrubbing Bubbles recently introduced their Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer, which includes a one-touch continuous sprayer that provides better coverage for the bathroom (I actually use it in the kitchen around the sinks as well).  The cleaners work for days and you can purchase refills for the reusable Power Sprayer.  In essence, their cleaners work to keep your bathroom cleaner longer (up to four days) via an invisible grime barrier that is activated when the surfaces get wet.

I’m not typically a fan of cleaning products with scent, however, the fruity scent is mild enough to be tolerable. The thing I like best about this cleaner is that I don’t have to spend as much time scrubbing to get the grime off.  I can spray it on surfaces, walk away while it works on dirt, then come back and use a brush to complete the cleaning process.  You can use Scrubbing Bubbles on tiles, tubs, sinks, showers, countertops. and fixtures.  Be sure to read the label for surfaces that wouldn’t be appropriate for the product.

Win It! One of you will win a Minimize Morning Madness Gift Basket which includes the Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer, Starbucks Via, mug, travel alarm clock and AquaNotes.  Simply leave me a comment with something you learned on their website. Comments will close on July 5, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.  I received a gift basket, courtesy of the company.