On the Blog

Life Hacks, Tips, Tricks... Just For You.

all-natural


The Healthy Way to Soft Laundry

Posted on


Unless you live in a nudist colony, wearing and washing your clothes is a part of regular life. Of course, some of us hang our clothes on a line to dry, but it’s safe to say that the majority of us choose the convenience of the dryer. As a result, one of the most toxic things we do on a regular basis is use fabric softener or dryer sheets. These products are full of toxic chemicals! Exposure to such toxins have been linked to skin irritations, neurological disease, cancer, hormonal imbalance, and ultimately your overall health can be impacted. Yikes!


Chemicals infiltrate the clothing we wear, which in turn gets on to our skin and is absorbed by our bodies. Some reports show that the occurrence of brain disease is growing, as well as the levels of industrial chemicals being found in human bodies. Some suggest the two are linked! Since manufactures are not legally required to include a list of ingredients on their dryer sheet packages, we have no way of knowing what kind of chemicals are being used.


Get Soft Laundry Without Toxins


Don’t worry  - you can still have super-soft and scented laundry, without subjecting your body to horrible toxic chemicals thanks to Nellie's Lamby Wool Dryerballs. Our dryerballs are made with 100% pure New Zealand wool, so no nasties! They reduce drying time by helping dry your clothes faster, so you’re saving energy and money. They also reduce static and wrinkles, all while softening your clothes, but the best part is that they’re chemical free and will last about 2 years.


If you prefer your laundry to have a fragrance, the Scented Wool Dryerballs are infused with pure essential oils and available in Citrus, Lavender, and Simply Fresh. The scent will last about 50 loads, so you can enjoy the chemical-free natural scent. We recommend tossing one scented wool ball with your four unscented wool balls to enhance your drying experience.

Read more →

Your Back-to-School Prep and Checklist

Posted on

Summer is slowly coming to a close, and soon your kids will be spending less time at home and more time in school. This is the perfect opportunity to get your house back to the clean and orderly state it was before school was out for the summer. Every household is different, but we have a checklist for a few things we should all be doing around this time of year, including the tools you’ll need.



Back-to-school clothes inspection


Put on the no-nonsense drill sergeant’s hat for this back-to-school wardrobe makeover. With your child’s help, throw out or donate anything that’s too grungy or small to wear to school again this year. Make a list of what you’ll need when you go back to school shopping in the days ahead (a new sweater, pair of pants, etc.) based on what’s heading out the door.


If school uniforms are part of the program, this is the time to start ordering new sweaters, sweatshirts, and the like.


Any stains, smudges, or plain ol’ dirt? Tackle them with the Nellie’s All-Natural WOW Stick for stains, the Oxygen Brightener for non-bleach brightening and whitening, and - of course - the Laundry Soda for giving everything a deep, natural clean.


Take that momentum and turn to the rest of the house: go through your home and make a list of anything you don’t need anymore (old school supplies, toys, furniture, old appliances, etc.). Either donate these items, sell them, give them away to friends and family, or throw them out. It’s much easier to clean with less clutter in the house!


Tidy the bathrooms


Clean out kids’ bathrooms of last semester’s grooming remnants and restock as needed.
Help the kids clean out their bathrooms of last semester’s hair gels and stretched-out scrunchies. Make sure your son or daughter has everything needed to streamline morning grooming. This is especially important if you’ve got teens. If you have a couple of kids with a shared family bathroom, avoid the “It’s hers!/It’s his!” fights by keeping it simple and taking care of the issues now.


While you're there, have the kids help you with chores by wiping surfaces down with the All Purpose Cleaner while you scrub the toilet with the Toilet Bowl Cleaner.


Create a homework space


Create a homework centre. Choose a place where each child can work in comfort and without distraction. Stock nearby drawers or cabinets with school supplies.


If you already have a place, now's the time to go out with the old and in with the new and plan ahead for paper chaos. Set up ‘in’ and ‘out’ boxes for school papers. Kids can unload backpacks and drop off papers to be checked, signed, etc. in the ‘in’ box. You can leave signed papers, money, permission slips, etc. in the ‘out’ box.



Organize and entryway backpack zone


Create a backpack drop zone near the entry door. They’re going to drop those backpacks the second they’re inside anyway, so be prepared with a place to catch them. Whether that’s in cute storage cubbies or tucked in a closet, a designated space prevents scrambling in the mornings. Be sure to give the lunch boxes a good scrub – use the One Soap for a natural and fresh cleaning.


Time for a shop


Once you have a classroom supplies list, plan a day to go back to school shopping with the kids.
Make a back-to-school shopping checklist of everything the kids would need for school, from anything to classroom supplies to lunch boxes. When you’re home, make sure that everything is neatly labeled with names.

Read more →

Getting a Head Start on Autumn: Your Cleaning Checklist

Posted on

The sun is out, the weather is great, and the kids are at home. Believe it or not, but August is the perfect time to get ready for the end of summer and the beginning of fall. Take advantage of the weather and with the extra hands around the house, and deep clean now to welcome fall and back-to-school (even better). We’ve got an easy to-do list for you, tackling everything from inside to outside and the tools and products you’ll need. Happy cleaning!




INSIDE



  • Focus on your home's ‘public’ rooms first: the living room, family room, entryway, guest bathroom, etc.
  • Clean from the ceilings down to the floors. Begin by vacuuming the drapes and window treatments, followed by cleaning window sills and window wells. Vacuum baseboards and corners.
  • Vacuum upholstered furniture. To get rid of any stains, use the Nellie’s All-Natural WOW Stick, or take to the dry cleaners if necessary.
  • Wash interior windows.
  • Clean the walls: dust, wash, rinse, and dry any painted or wood-paneled walls with a mix of warm water and Nellie's All-Natural One Soap in Fragrance Free.
  • Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to ensure equal wear.
  • Launder all bedding: mattress pads, pillows, duvets, blankets, and comforters, making sure you can tuck the family into warm and cozy beds. Don’t know how to tackle this? Don’t worry, we’ve got some how-to’s for your mattress, pillows, and duvets.
  • Straighten out your closets – declutter, reorganize, and switch to your transitional summer-autumn wardrobe.
  • Prepare the kitchen for more nights inside: clean and organize kitchen cabinets, paying extra attention to baking supplies, pans, and equipment. Give your cabinets a wipe down with the All Purpose Cleaner.
  • Clean kitchen counters of all appliances that you have not been recently used. Clean counters look cleaner, and provide more room for cutting, chopping, and prepping.
  • If you can, pull the refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum the condenser coils. For bottom-mounted coils, use a long, narrow brush to clean coils of dust and debris.
  • Spruce up the computer: dust the CPU, clean and wipe down the keyboard, and dust off the monitor with a microfibre cloth.
  • Check the dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, debris, or even birds’ nests! Additionally, make sure that the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
  • Schedule a fall inspection for your furnace – don’t wait for the first cold night!
  • Drain any sediment from your hot water heaters.



OUTSIDE

  • Clean the patio furniture and get ready to store it away along with umbrellas and the kids’ summer toys.
  • Touch up the paint on your home’s trims, railings, and decks. Use a wire brush to remove any flaking paint (be sure the prime bare wood first).
  • Check caulk around the windows and doors, re-caulk if necessary.
  • Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Fix them now with weather-stripping and door thresholds if needed to make sure you’re not dealing with a draft in a few months.
  • Wash exterior windows with a mix of warm water and One Soap in Fragrance Free.
  • Drain and store garden hoses.
  • Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary.
Read more →

9 Habits for a Clean Home and Peace of Mind

Posted on

You know those people with perpetually clean homes? The kind where you can drop by whenever and their place is always spotless? Safe to say, we all have one of those friends who makes keeping a beautiful and tidy home look effortless. Maybe even you’re that person, but if you’re not, don't lose hope. Keeping a clean home is as simple as employing a few basic habits that make tidying large messes more manageable. We've broken them down into 9 easy steps for you to do each day until they become second nature.



1. Make the bed


When you’re waking up in the morning, smoothing the sheets and fluffing the pillows might be the last thing you want to do. But one of the easiest ways to make your home look clean and tidy is by making the bed every day. Studies have also shown that making your bed every morning increases your productivity through the rest of your day. Try to make your bed before you run out of the house each morning, or at least pull the comforter up to the pillows and smooth out the creases. Better yet, you can also use the Wrinkle-B-Gone to smooth and refresh your sheets. That way, you can crawl into a fresh, clean bed after a long work day.


2. Clean handles and light switches


Some of the germiest places are the surfaces that everyone touches all the time, like doorknobs, faucet handles, cabinet pulls, and light switches. Since bacteria and viruses can live on surfaces for several days, it’s important to disinfect them every day. For an all-natural clean, spray the Nellie’s All-Natural All-Purpose Cleaner on a lint-free cloth or paper towel and wipe them down. It’ll take you less than 5 minutes and instantly makes your home cleaner and healthier.


3. Fold and put away your clothes


It's tempting to leave your clothes in a heap on the floor when you’re getting into bed, but don’t underestimate how much cleaner your home will look if you fold, hang, or place them in the hamper before bed. Not only will your room look better, but you’ll feel better mentally if your clothes are out of sight and not strewn about your bedroom.


4. Do a quick sweep of the floors.


Especially if you’re a pet owner, dust can accumulate quickly. Grab a broom and do a quick sweep around your baseboards and under large pieces of furniture to nab any dust bunnies at least once a week. Vacuuming will be a breeze!



5. Wash and put dishes away


Washing dishes is easy with your Nellie’s All-Natural One Soap, and can be fun if you put some good music on and make it a dance party! Wrangle your partner or kids to help run the dishwasher as well as dry and put away the dishes, and then rest easy knowing there’s no pile of dirty dishes to deal with in the morning.


6. Clean the kitchen sink


Studies have shown that there is more E. coli in a kitchen sink than in a toilet bowl (gross!!). As bacteria feed on the food that is put down the drain and dishes left in the sink, it’s vital that you scrub your sink daily. Use the All-Purpose Cleaner to spray the sink basin and then scrub the germs away with a clean paper towel.


7. Wipe down countertops


Like the kitchen sink, kitchen countertops are germ magnets. Since sponges and dish clothes are often loaded with E. coli, they just spread germs around and make your countertops dirtier. Spray the All-Purpose Cleaner on countertops and wipe them down with a clean rag or paper towel at least once a day.


8. Tidy up the bathroom


It’s amazing how one quick wipe down of bathroom mirrors, sinks, the toilet, and the shower can make your entire house feel cleaner. Every evening, wipe out the sink, clean toothpaste specks from your mirror and faucet, and give the toilet bowl a good scrub while you’re brushing your teeth. Use the Nellie’s All-Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner for a sparkling toilet.


9. Put away clutter


Last, but certainly not least, put away stray papers, used glasses, and electronics cluttering your desk or kitchen countertops. It’ll make it much easier to start your day fresh and focused if you don’t have to deal with mail and other stray items left out from the day before.

Read more →

The Nose Knows: Scented Dryerballs

Posted on


We all know the incredible power of scent, whether it’s the perfume your mother wore when you were a child, or a sunscreen you used at summer camp. Scent can be extremely helpful for waking up in the morning, staying focused at work, and going to sleep at night. That's why we have infused our Scented Wool Dryerballs with essential oils. Here’s a breakdown on which Scented Dryerballs you should be using and when!


Lavender


100% pure Lavender


Lavender essential oil is a popular scent thanks to its relaxing effects. Studies have shown that lavender essential oil aromatherapy calms the nervous system, lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature as well as altering brain waves to a more relaxed state. Lavender can also help with mild insomnia and provide a better quality of sleep. The scent of lavender can also reduce anxiety and depression in women with postpartum depression. The Scented Wool Dryerballs in Lavender are ideal for using when drying your bedsheets or your favourite pajamas to ensure a great night's sleep.


Citrus


Lemon, Lavender, Pine, Lime, Geranium, and Rosemary


Citrus essential oils are ideal for helping you wake up in the morning and boosting physical and mental energy levels. Citrus essential oils can have an incredible balancing effect; it can both calm and boost your senses, and aid in greater focus and alertness. Citrus can also stimulate creativity, settle a racing mind, uplift your spirits. Pine essential oil is known for being refreshing, invigorating, and cleansing, like a walk in a northern forest. Lime is ideal for adding a fresh, bright, and clean scent. Use the Scented Wool Dryer Balls in Citrus for your bathroom towels to help wake you up in the morning, as well as your work clothes to keep you going through the day.


Simply Fresh


Rosemary, Tunisian Neroli, Lavender


This blend is perfectly suited for your everyday items that you want to keep fresh without using  toxic chemicals. Legend has it that Greek scholars used rosemary to enhance their memory when taking exams. It's ideal for situations when you need to focus and use your memory, like school or work.  Tunisian neroli essential oil is known for its antidepressant properties, and when combined with its natural balancing and sedative properties it is ideal for managing all types of negative emotional conditions and states of anxiety. Along with lavender, these two essential oils help to sooth and calm any stresses from your day. Launder your favourite work shirts or school uniforms with the Scented Wool Dryerball in Simply Fresh for clarity and peace of mind throughout your day.


Whichever load of laundry you’re drying, there’s a perfect Scented Dryerball for you!

Read more →