Category: Housekeeping

Favorite Laundry Products

Published on by emmamaxinemarinLeave a comment

We all have to do the dreaded chore of laundry, however using the right products can change your experience!

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Washing machines in today’s world are almost 90% without an agitator and 70-80% front load style. The issue with that is they take more effort to maintain.

First issue of maintenance is buildup and mildew. Wiping down the seal on your front load machine and keeping the lid/door open is a big step to help also you can combat that issue by washing your machine on a regular basis by either using white vinegar, bleach or washing tablets and a hot water cycle. This will save your machine from the buildup causes by the products you put in the machine and of course dirt and dander.

Most largely produced laundry detergent is made with animal fat as the gelling component. This way of production is quite traditional but it is not good for the washing machines of today. The animal fat gets built up in the mechanisms and causes it to wear out faster. You can help this issue by using a free and clear formula detergent or a specialty formula found at appliance dealers or repair shops.

Photo from https://www.target.com/

Personally I love the Seventh Generation Free & Clear formula!

Thank you for this great natural stain treatment guide from Wellness Mama! https://wellnessmama.com/3615/stain-treatment-reference/

As for the dryer you wouldn’t think that there is many products that would do damage but shockingly they do! Dryer sheets, fabric softener beads and other similar products contain wax or similar substances that gunk up your dryers mechanism. The best product for your clothing and machine would be wool dryer balls or the rubber ones. They both help quicken dry time, cause for more tumbling and don’t have the fillers.

Stain removers are difficult to find that are non-toxic and not filled with bad fillers. I personally use lots of vinegar and baking soda in my cleaning as I said in a previous article and they work wonders for getting out stains!

For a general rule of thumb it is just good to use the simplest products out there and to make sure to routinely clean your machines! I’d suggest writing on your calendar every month to run a cleaning cycle on your washer and to do a deep clean on your dryer by vacuuming out the lint trap and wiping down the inside drum.

How I keep house …

Published on by emmamaxinemarinLeave a comment

As a young woman only married in September 2018 and a very new mom I haven’t had a world of experience in keeping up my own household but so far this is how I have gone about doing it. I want to share this with you because even though I’m a newbie in this field I still have found some great things that are helpful!

Baking soda and white vinegar go a LONG way. I use these products for a lot of things, such as;

Clearing drains. I put a 1/4 cup of baking soda directly into the drain (less for a sink) and then pour white vinegar over top (about a cup or more until the fizzing settles) to create the chemical reaction which fizzes. I let this sit for five minutes and then will either run the hot water straight from the faucet or if it is a really bad clog I will actually pour boiling water from my kettle.

Washing windows. I mix one cup white vinegar with plain tap water in a squirt bottle to create my own, healthier, “windex.” This works super well with a microfiber cloth or if you like paper towels they work too but best if you wipe in a circular motion to create more abrasion.

Disinfectant. I will use a cup of white vinegar in warm/hot water to disinfect and de-smelly my Tupperware containers, travel mugs, water bottles and more. This is quick and simple but vinegar is really good at de-scaling these items from build up and getting rid of those nasty odors.

Laundry. When I have smelly towels I will put a cup of white vinegar directly into my washer along with my regular detergent and then come out smelling so clean! Also I will use baking soda to get out stains, it works well to mix with a little water to make a paste to get out grease stains and also mixed with dish soap for more set in stains.

Washing my face. I use baking soda in paste form to wash my face. I started doing this shortly after getting pregnant because my skin was so sensitive to all my other face washes! It really works well, doesn’t make my skin feel super tight after using it and acts as a mild exfoliant. I do of course still put moisturizer on my face when I get out of the shower but I’d recommend you try this at least once.

My second favorite thing is Grove Collaborative, which is an auto-shipment service that delivers eco-friendly home, beauty, and personal care products when you need them. It is customizable so you can get products every month or at your own desired frequency. I don’t use the auto-ship service myself but I like to order singular products at a time when I need something more than vinegar to get the job done or when I am interested in changing another product I use to a more natural item such as shampoo & conditioner.

If you’d like to check it out here is my reference code! https://www.grove.co/referrer/3510269/ (I will receive $10 credit after your first purchase with the use of this code.)