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.

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.

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!

Drum roll, please! We’re so excited to announce a brand new addition to the Nellie’s All-Natural family. Say hello to your new favourite, the Wrinkle-B-Gone! Who has time to iron these days? In as few as five minutes, you can have the same effect as using an iron by just spraying the Wrinkle-B-Gone. Simply Shake, Spray, Smooth, and Snap!

This plant-based formula simultaneously removes wrinkles and freshens fabrics with Nellie’s signature lemongrass fragrance. Just like all Nellie’s products, the Wrinkle-B-Gone is free from dyes or synthetic fragrances. The spray can be used as a fabric refresher, an ironing aid, and for bedding, and is available in a 16oz spray bottle and a 3oz travel size bottle.

HOW TO USE

Using the Wrinkle-B-Gone couldn’t be any easier! Simply shake well to activate and apply a light mist to fabric. Smooth fabric with hands and snap. Then hang or lay flat and allow 5 minutes for the fabric to dry.

Also, if you’re as in love with Wrinkles the Dog as much as we are, he’ll be available for purchase soon!

Nellie’s All-Natural products work wonders on your laundry, but did you know they’re ideal for using on tough stains from beauty products? Whether it’s lipstick, foundation, or mascara you can use Nellie's products to get your clothes, linens, and household surfaces looking like new!

Maybe it’s foundation on your white collar, lipstick on your sleeve, or self-tanner on your bed sheets, we've all been there - trying to deal with a very noticeable tough stain that’s difficult to get out! Thankfully, you don’t have to use chemical-based detergents. The power of nature is strong enough to get even the toughest stains out.

Oxygen Brightener

Your sheets can fall victim to a lot of tough stains like blood or self-tanner. A warm, healthy glow on the skin is a classic summer look, but it can be difficult to get an even tan when you’re chasing the kiddos around the yard. Self-tanning products solve that issue, but then there are stains on your sheets and clothes! The Oxygen Brightener works like magic on these tough to remove stains like blood, grass, and self-tanning products. Separate your whites from your colours and add 3 tablespoons of Oxygen Brightener to your load. Wash with the Laundry Soda and watch your linens come out of the washing machine as good as new!

You can also pre-soak your stained linens before the wash by using one tablespoon along with Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda in 10 litres or 2.6 gallons of warm or hot water. Soak for 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and wash with the Laundry Soda.

WOW Stick

The WOW Stick is oil-based, so it’s idea for oil-based makeup products like lipsticks, mascara, concealer, eye shadows, and many liquid and stick foundations. Simply wet the stain, rub the WOW Stick onto the stained area, and then agitate the stain under water. Then launder using Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda. Can’t wash the stained item? No problem! Use the WOW Stick as a spot-treatment for things like your mattress or shoes.

There's More!

Did you get stains on another home surface? Use the Oxygen Brightener on upholstery, fabric, kitchen floors, counters, trash cans, and many more washable surfaces with a solution of 1 tablespoon of Oxygen Brightener per 16oz or 500ml of water.

Carpet stains? Don't worry. You don't have to rent a carpet cleaner or use nasty chemicals! For a naturally-effective spot remover, create a solution using 1 tablespoon per 16oz or 500ml of water. Soak up excess liquid before applying the solution to the stain. Use only enough to cover the stained area, wait 1-5 minutes, and soak up with a white towel. Repeat if necessary. Rinse thoroughly and blot dry. Vacuum when dry.