We love to cook but all that action in the kitchen can leave behind a greasy buildup that tough to cut through. That’s why we rely on this simple homemade kitchen degreaser that’s easy on your wallet, easy on the environment and easy on your health.

Every time you cook with fats or oils, teeny tiny particles disperse into the air and land on kitchen surfaces.  These particles coagulate and become a sticky film which is both unsightly and a fire hazard so, you should clean your kitchen surfaces regularly with this homemade degreaser.

In a spray bottle combine…

1 part white vinegar

1 part lemon juice

1 part water

1 tsp dish soap

But what makes this concoction such an effective grease fighter?  Well, I thought you’d never ask…

Vinegar contains acetic acid and lemon juice contains citric acid.  Both of these are incredibly good at breaking up fatty substances like kitchen grease.

A couple things to keep in mind, when cleaning with this mixture, you should always spray it on a cloth and then apply it to the surface.

Neither lemon juice or vinegar should be used on natural stone as they can damage it.

And, like with any cleaning product, you should spot test it before use.

Are you on the hunt for a more natural cleaning solution?  Share your request in the comment section below.

Is your closet a calamity?  We’ve got some clever ways to help your control the clutter and keep your clothes looking crisp…

Now it’s no secret that closets and clutter go together like peanut butter and jelly but why is clutter such a bad thing?  Well…

Researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute used MRI and other measurement tools to monitor brain response and task performance while people were exposed to organized and disorganized stimuli.  The results were clear: A person’s ability to focus and process information is seriously compromised in the presence of disorganized stimuli or CLUTTER.

Want to keep a suit together or store your stuff more efficiently?  Use the tab from a can of soda to double up your hangers.

Want to stop your tops from slipping off their hangers?  Place a rubber band around either side and it will stay put.

Want to organize your ties or belts?  Buy shower curtain hooks and create a simple chain.  Then hang them from a pant hanger.

Want your pants to hang without a crease?  Cut a straight line down a paper towel tube and place it over the hanger.

Do you have a great organization tip you’d like to see featured on the show?  Share it in the comments.

Your cosmetic brushes are constantly in close contact with one of your most valuable commodities…YOUR FACE!! So, today we’ll show you how to brush up on brush care…

Did you know that almost 75% of us NEVER wash our makeup brushes? Here’s why we should start.

Your makeup can contain millions of nasty bugs like E.coli, staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa – all of which can make you sick. And of course a makeup The Cost of Winstrol Injections Online brush is the perfect vehicle for transporting those bacteria to your face, eyes and mouth.

Ready to get cleaning?

STEP-BY-STEP

1. Start by running your brushes under warm water.
2. Then add a drop of baby shampoo to the bristles to help remove dirt and oil.
3. Gently swirl the bristles on a piece of paper towel to remove excess product.
4. Rinse thoroughly and swirl the bristles again on another clean paper towel.
5. Finally, hang your brushes to dry upside down so there’s no pooling of water inside.
6. Brushes should be washed like this AT LEAST once a month but once a week is better.

Hopefully these tips will help you give that brush bacteria the brush off for good!!

Your makeup may be responsible for miracles in the mirror but it’s also home to millions of menacing microorganisms just waiting to get in your face. So we’re cleaning out our cosmetics bag in an effort to shake up our make up.

Some women have a hard time letting go…of their cosmetics that is! In fact, one study showed that women were known to hang on to their eye shadow an average of seven YEARS!! And it’s the very same story for things like foundation, mascara and lipstick which all have a shelf life.

So the first step in our cosmetics clear out is learning how to say goodbye…

Start by pitching any items that are dried up, smell funny or have started to separate. These are tell-tale signs that items are past their prime or have been contaminated…

Contamination happens easily with makeup as it’s in contact with your eyes, mouth and fingers, which are chock full of all kinds menacing microbes like E.coli and staphylococcus aureus. Leave these bugs multiply and we put ourselves at risk for nasty breakouts and ugly eye infections.

Now that we’ve got that sorted it out, it’s time to get sorting.

Mascara has the shortest shelf-life of all cosmetics because the risk of transferring bacteria back and forth from the eye to the tube is so great. Three months is the general rule of thumb.

Eye pencils can be kept for up to two years but before you sharpen them before use to ensure a clean tip.

Because powder products contain little water, they are a less likely place for bacteria to breed. Eye shadow will keep for up to two years as will powder blush.

Lipstick can last for one or two years but remember that while sharing is caring, cold sores suck so keep your tube to yourself.

Concealers that are applied directly to the skin or that have applicator wands should be tossed within one year because they come into direct contact with your skin.

Liquid foundations can last between six months and a year. Keep your fingers away from the opening and apply them with a disposable sponge or brush that you wash regularly.

And just think, now that you’re all done your detox, you have an excuse to buy lots of new makeup…Not that you needed an excuse.

There’s a very good reason the dishwasher was invented…Because doing the dishes by hand really sucks!! That being said, there are a couple great tips and tricks that can make the process a little easier on you.

First, you’ll want to start with your water as hot as possible. Hot water helps break down particles of food more easily, dissolves oil and grease and helps to eliminate germs on your dishes.

Then, it’s time to add your dish soap. Have you ever wondered how dish soap actually works? Well, I thought you’d never ask.

Each soap molecule is comprised of a head and a tail. The head of the molecule is hydrophilic which means it’s attracted to water while the tail is hydrophobic, meaning it’s attracted to oil an grease. When both these attractions happen, the water and the grease become linked allowing you to use friction and gravity to separate them from the dish. Shampoo, body wash and soap all work in a very similar way.

Phew…Now that we have that sorted out, it’s time to tackle the dishes. But where do we start?

The general rule is from the mouth outwards, meaning the items you have closest to your mouth should be washed when the water is hottest and cleanest.

In my house, I like to start with glassware, followed by flatware, then plates and bowls, serving spoons, serving dishes and finally pots and pans.

For pots and pans that are particular tough to clean, before I start with the dishes I fill them with water and few tablespoons of baking soda and bring them to a boil on the stove.

Instead of using the rubber drainer that comes with your drying rack, opt for a high-sided baking sheet which will trap water and is more resistant to mildew. Just empty it after use.

Once you’re finished, you should clean your sinks with a solution of half water and half white vinegar.

And voila!! Dishes are done and you’ve got the rest of the evening to yourself. Pour a nice glass of wine…you’ve earned it!

Let’s be serious…Sometimes things at home just stink! But there are some simple and natural solutions that will improve odours and leave you wanting to take a deep breath…

FOUL FREEZER

If your freezer’s smelling foul, place whole coffee beans in a clean cotton sock and tie it at the end. The beans absorb the odour…But won’t make a great tasting brew so discard them afterwards.

MUSTY BASEMENT

Banish bad basement smells with an onion…Seriously! Just cut an onion in half, put it on a plate and leave it in the basement overnight. It will work to absorb the musty odours.

SMELLY SINK

Is bacteria causing your sink to stink? Well take a trip back to third grade science class – pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain and follow it up with half a cup of vinegar to kill bacteria neutralize the odour.

FUNKY FABRICS

Household fabrics like upholstery and drapes can really start reek after a while thanks to the presence of odour-causing germs. But commercial fabric fresheners can take their toll on your well being…

A 2009 study of a popular commercial fabric deodorizer found it contained 89 different air contaminants including some that are toxic to the brain, nervous system and immune system.

So why not make your own? Simply mix one part water with one part vodka and give your fabrics a spritz. Odours will disappear and the vodka smell will disappear as it dries. You can even add a couple drops of essential oil to leave a nice fresh scent behind.

Do you have a household tip you can’t live without? Share it in the comments.

If you’re on the hunt for a greener grout cleaner than you’re in luck! This super simple recipe will work against mildew, soap scum and any nasty germs that are calling your bathtub home.

More importantly, it does NOT contain harmful chemicals that could put your health at risk.

A 2009 study by the Environmental Working Group found that one commercial bathroom cleaner contained 146 air contaminants. Some of these have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues and hormonal interference. It also contained formaldehyde, toluene, and benzene – all of which are components of gasoline. Not exactly the kind of stuff you want to be showering in…

To make an effective tub and tile cleaner, you really need three main components: an abrasive substance, a substance that can break down mineral deposits and a disinfectant.

For this recipe we’ll be using:

• ½ cup baking soda
• 2 tbs water
• 2 tbs eco-friendly dishwashing soap
• 5-10 drops of essential oil (optional)
• 2 tbs white vinegar

The baking soda is a mild abrasive as well as a natural deodorizer.

The white vinegar is a disinfectant and has also been found to prevent the growth of mold.

Lemon, rosemary and tea tree oil are all known for their antiseptic properties and can add a really pleasant smell.

Whip the cleaner until it has the consistency of frosting and then apply to a sponge and scrub away! Be sure to spot test first to ensure its safe for your particular bathroom surfaces.

Do you have any homemade cleaning recipes you adore? Share them in the comments.

Today we’re airing out our dirty laundry…quite literally!

We all know the kitchen and bathroom are notorious for harbouring nasty bugs but did you know your washing machine is a major germ hotspot? Why you ask? Well…it actually has a lot to do with these…

Microbiologists at the University of Arizona estimate that each pair of worn underwear contains about a tenth of a gram of poop…So that if you’re washing just a load of unmentionables, there are about 100 million E. coli alone floating in your wash water. Eeeew!! In that same load you might also expect to find the likes of rotavirus, norovirus, hepatitis A and salmonella.

So what’s a girl to do? Well the first thing is to ensure that you’re using hot water when washing things like undies and towels. The water should be between 140 and 150 degrees to kill germs.

Second, once every few weeks, run an empty cycle and with few cups of white vinegar added.

While the dryer can kill some of the germs still lurking after a wash…The sun is even more effective. So if you have the luxury of a clothesline, hang your clothes to dry outdoors and the uv rays can take care of any bugs that have been left behind.

Also, don’t recontaminate your clean clothes by placing them in the same basket that held the dirty stuff. Think about color coding your baskets…Blue for dirty and white for clean.

Finally, always wash your hands after handling laundry to ensure you’re not spreading germs around the rest of the house.

Happy washing!!

Do you have a great household tip everyone should know about? Share it in the comment section below.