You know those people with always-clean homes? The kind where you can drop by whenever and their place is always sparkling and spotless? It’s safe to say we all have one of those friends that makes keeping a beautiful and tidy home look effortless. What’s their secret? We have 9 habits to help you get that effortlessly clean home too!

1. Make the bed

When you’re waking up in the morning, smoothing the sheets and fluffing the pillows can be the last thing you want to do. But it's one of the easiest ways to make your home look clean and tidy! 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, do a quick spray of 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. Wipe down 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 regularly. For an easy, toxin-free clean, spray the Nellie’s 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

We know how tempting it is 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 hitting the hay. 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

Dust can accumulate quickly - especially if you're a pet owner! 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 the 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 after dinner, 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 even 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 Toilet Bowl Cleaner for a sparkling toilet, and the Shower & Bath Cleaner for a hassle-free bathtub clean!

9. Put away clutter

Last, but certainly not least, put away stray papers, used glasses, and electronics cluttering your desk, coffee table, and 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.

Maybe we’re old fashioned (or simply hygienic), but we think the place responsible for cleaning you should be pretty clean too! Nellie’s line of bathroom products not only provides exceptional eco-friendly cleaning power against bathroom dirt and grime, but it leaves the room smelling great too – all without harsh chemicals, phosphates, dyes, perfumes, and no SLS or SLES! Keep reading to find out how you can get a green clean for your bathroom.

Shower & Bath Cleaner

Cleaning the shower or bath is no fun, no matter how good your cleaning playlist is. Cut back on the scrubbing with the Shower & Bath Cleaner. Use it as a daily cleaner as well as a general deep clean. Simply turn the nozzle to the ‘ON’ position and spray away! For general shower cleaning, spray the entire area and allow the solution to set for at least 30 seconds to loosen the dirt and soap scum. Scrub with a non-abrasive sponge if necessary, and then rinse and wipe clean. For daily shower cleaning, mist all wet surfaces (including the shower curtain) right after your shower and allow to dry. Don’t use on natural stone, marble, brass, or damaged/cracked surfaces.

All-Purpose Cleaner

The All-Purpose Cleaner truly lives up to its name – you can get an eco-friendly clean from the kitchen, the hallway, your outdoor space, and more! In the bathroom, it’s ideal for counters and any other surface that gets toothpaste marks and finger prints. The lemongrass scent provides an exceptional cleaning power against household dirt and grime, all while being free from harsh chemicals, phosphates, dyes, perfumes, and no SLS or SLES. Wipe away all that dirt without hurting you, your family, or the environment!

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

When it comes to the place you put your cheeks, you want to keep it as clean as possible! Nellie’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner has our signature refreshing lemongrass scent – much better than what’s normally going on in there! Get eco-friendly cleaning power and long-lasting performance without any nasty chemicals. Simply flush the toilet to wet the bowl area, and squeeze the bottle under the rim. Allow to set for a few minutes, and then scrub with a toilet brush and flush to rinse!

At Nellie’s, we want you to be able to clean your whole home with eco-friendly products – we couldn’t just stop at laundry! Our lemongrass-scented All-Purpose Cleaner gives you exceptional cleaning power against household dirt and grime, but without any harsh chemicals, phosphates, dyes, or perfumes, and contains no SLS or SLES. Just what can you use the All-Purpose Cleaner on? Keep reading to find out!

Kitchen

When it comes to the kitchen, the All-Purpose cleaner is truly versatile! Wipe down any surface from your counters, stove top, kitchen cabinets, to the inside of your fridge. Wherever there’s a spill or smudge, the All-Purpose Cleaner tackles it like nobody’s business.

Outdoors

Summer is officially here, and that means patio season! Keep your patio furniture sparkling clean by giving it a wipe-down with the All-Purpose Cleaner. You’ll get a fresh lemongrass scent, and won’t have to worry about getting any dirt or dust on your linen pants from your lounge chair. Plus, like all Nellie’s products, the All-Purpose Cleaner is biodegradable and totally eco-friendly – no need to worry about using harsh chemicals outdoors! For any heavy-soiled areas, spray and let soak for 30 seconds before wiping, and repeat if necessary.

Hallway

Hallways get a lot of traction in the home – they often lead to the favourite rooms in the house! That means lots of handprints, smudges, and scuffs on the walls, especially if you have little ones running around. Spray on any smudges and gently wipe away to reveal cleaner walls, naturally! Want to make sure it won’t damage your paint? Just test before using by applying to a small area first.

It’s safe to say we all have a favourite use for oxygen (hint: we wouldn’t be here without it!), but did you know oxygen has a second favourite use? Nellie’s Oxygen Brightener uses the power of oxygen to penetrate stains and strip away dirt, odor, and grime to keep your colours bright and your whites white. The chlorine-free formula is colour-safe, septic-safe, hypoallergenic, environmentally-friendly, and biodegradable. But even better, it’s a multi-use product! What else can you use the Oxygen Brightener for? Keep reading to find out!

Pre-Soak or Hand Wash

To penetrate deep stains or to hand wash delicate items, use your Oxygen Brightener. Separate whites from colours, and use only one tablespoon of Oxygen Brightener along with Nellie’s Laundry Soda in 10L (2.5 gallons) of WARM or HOT water. Soak for 30 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. If you’re pre-soaking, follow with wash in your machine with Nellie’s Laundry Soda.

General Stain Remover

Oxygen is powerful – you can use it on things other than fabrics! Create a solution using 1 tablespoon of Oxygen Brightener per 500ml (16oz) of water. Use on upholstery, fabrics, kitchen floors, counters, trash cans, and all other water-washable surfaces. Apply the solution to the stain, wait 1 to 5 minutes, and then scrub with a sponge or blot with a towel. Rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry. Ta-dah! Stain free in no time.

Carpet Spot Remover

Spills happen, but whether it’s coffee, wine, or worse, don’t worry! Simply create a solution of 1 tablespoon of Oxygen Brightener per 500ml (16oz) of water. Soak up any excess liquid before applying the solution to the stain. Use just enough solution to cover the stained area. Wait 1 to 5 minutes, and then soak up with a white towel. Repeat if necessary, and then rinse thoroughly with water and blot dry. Once the area is totally dry, hit it with the vacuum. If the pesky stain is deeply set in your carpet, try using your WOW Mop! The oscillating pads tackle tough stains effortlessly.
Oxygen is powerful – too powerful for wool, silk, or leather, so don’t use it on those! We also don't recommend using the Oxygen Brightener on jewelry, latex paints, or wood.

We wash our clothes to keep ourselves, our families, and our favourite items smelling and feeling fresh, but there is actually such a thing as washing too much or too little! There are downsides to both: laundering your clothes more than necessary can shorten their lifespan and ultimately wear them out more quickly, and washing them too infrequently can be unhygienic and lead to bacteria growth. Yuck! Here are our general laundry guides for you and your family:

For your clothes

Bras: After three to four wears

Underwear: After every wear, of course!

Stocks and stockings: After every wear

Sports and swimwear: After every wear

Jeans: five to six wears, although some advocate washing as little as possible

Tops: One to two wears

Dresses: One to two wears

Pants, skirts, and shorts: Three to four wears

Jackets and blazers: Five to six wears

Coats: Once every two months of wear, and before storing away for the season

Pajamas: Three to four wears

Get your clothes fresh and clean, but don't sacrifice your health and the environment! Wash clothes (and towels, bedding, etc.) with Nellie's Laundry Soda, and remove tough stains with the WOW Stick. If your clothes need some extra brightening or whitening, choose Nellie's Oxygen Brightener instead of toxic bleach.

For your kids' clothes

Washing your kids' clothes doesn't need to be a massive chore! Most experts say you can wash their clothing along with yours anytime you see stains or they don't pass the sniff test. The problem is that kids tend to get dirtier more often than adults do, so those stains and smells come up more frequently. Here's a handy guideline: the lighter and softer the fabric, and the closer it hugs the body, the more you need to was it. But as long as you don't notice dirty patches or stains, kids can wear clothes multiple times before they're ready for the laundry pile, just like you.

For your baby's washing

It seems like the hamper is constantly overflowing with onesies, blankets, burp cloths, bibs, rompers, and tiny adorable socks! Unlike grownups, who typically wear one or two outfits per day (not to mention wear an item of clothing more than once before washing), babies are mess machines with their spit up, drool, diaper leaks, or the dreaded blow out. Because of this, it's not uncommon to change their clothes as much as 5 times per day! So when it comes to washing your baby's clothes, there are two schools of thought:

1) Wash one load every day because it can be done quickly and won't pile up

2) Wash everything once each week so that you only have to spend one day dealing with laundry

Whichever one you choose, make sure you're washing with Nellie's All-Natural Baby Laundry Soda, which is formulated with baby's soft skin and messy mishaps in mind. Thanks to a concentration of sodium percarbonate for natural brightening, as well as the addition of pure vegetable soap, there is no need for an additional whiteners or brighteners. The stain-fighting formula is effective on cloth diapers and removes stubborn baby stains such as milk, baby formula, and spit-up. The formula is derived from plant-based and mineral-based ingredients and is non-allergenic, leaves no residue on fabrics, and contains no fragrance.

In the dryer

When drying your laundry, use the Lamby Wool Dryerballs to cut down on drying time, soften fabrics, and reduce wrinkles, naturally! Then, smooth out any remaining wrinkles and creases with the new Wrinkle-B-Gone.

Of course, these guides don't apply when excessive sweating or accidental spills occur, or to those that have different hygiene preferences.