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How to Keep Your Eco-Friendly Home Clean When You Have a Pet

October 13, 2021 0

Whilst standard vacuum cleaners will be reasonably effective at cleaning up after your pets, over time they can become less efficient, leaving behind fur and odors. A ‘pet-friendly vacuum usually has extra strong suction to deep clean your flooring, preferably with anti-wrap technology to prevent the brushes from getting clogged with fur.

Welcoming a pet into your home can make it feel complete. They can offer you companionship and endless love. However, what they can also offer is a laborious cleaning routine, focused solely around tidying up their mess.

Ask some owners and they’ll tell you that owning a pet and having a clean house are mutually exclusive. However, whilst your animal companion will certainly give you more to think about when it comes to your cleaning, it is possible to maintain a clean and healthy home despite their best efforts. Follow our three simple tips to stay one step ahead of your pets and their messy habits.

Use a pet-friendly vacuum cleaner

This will be particularly important to people with pets that shed their fur more often. When talking about dogs, certain breeds, such as beagles or German shepherds, can be particularly heavy shedders, and you should devise a vacuuming regime that reflects this. Many experts recommend that pet owners should be vacuuming on a daily basis to maintain a healthy living environment.

This isn’t just to reduce the buildup of fur around the home. Particularly adventurous pets are prone to bringing unwanted bacteria and germs into the house from their travels, so a daily clean can help to mitigate the threat of illness or infection.

For the eco-conscious among you, bear in mind that some vacuums will be more eco-friendly than others. Typically, plug-in vacuum cleaners will be far better for the environment. This is due to the absence of lithium batteries, which have been found to have significant environmental impacts, particularly during the lithium extraction process.

Keep your pets clean

In this section, we’ll be referring to potentially the muddiest of pets – the dog. It may sound obvious, but cleaning your dog, especially after a particularly muddy walk, means any dirt on their paws or coat will not be transferred to your pristine carpet or upholstery. Whilst this may seem a chore at first, washing your pup will be far easier than dealing with stains you’ve let build up around the house.

Keeping your pet clean doesn’t just refer to washing away the mud, however. There are several other cleaning methods you should be considering. For some breeds, regular brushes of their fur can make a world of difference in preventing hair from getting caught up in the carpet and furniture. Furthermore, regularly washing their bed will prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria, which can not only create health problems for your pet, but also for their human companions.

Dealing with accidents

It can be one of the most frustrating parts of pet ownership. Just as you’ve finished your weekly clean, the cat decides now is the best time to have an accident on your previously unblemished carpet. Unfortunately, accidents are unavoidable. But, failure to deal with them properly can create far worse problems further down the line, so it’s imperative that you begin the clean-up efforts as soon as you notice the problem.

At times like this, stain removers can be your best friend. Whilst most all-purpose stain removers will be effective in this situation, there are pet-friendly products designed specifically to not only lift stains but also to reduce the pungent odour attached to them.

When stains are attended to improperly, or not at all, not only will your house quickly be filled with a bad smell, but in the worst cases, it can result in carpets or upholstery needs replacing. This can be a costly process, not only to your bank account but also to the environment. Improper disposal of carpets is still a widespread problem across America, with an estimated 5 billion pounds worth sent to landfills in 2017 alone. Keeping on top of any marks will prolong the life of your carpet and keep your home looking clean.

5 Easy Ways to Enhance Your Eco-Friendly Garden

October 11, 2021 0

There are so many ways in which you can take your garden in new directions. If you feel as if it’s been a long time since you did that and you’re feeling like it’s time to enhance your garden, there are some additions, in particular, that’ll help you improve the space decisively. We’re going to take a look at those additions and what they’ll bring to your garden today, so read on to find out more.

#1: Compost Bins

If you’re looking to make your garden more functional and a little more sustainable, one of the things you might want to add is compost bins. When you have the ability to complete your own composting, it makes your life a lot easier and it means that your garden and flower beds will ultimately be a lot healthier as well. That’s exactly what most modern gardeners want.

#2: Paths and Walkways

Having a range of clear paths and walkways through the garden is something else that’s generally a good idea too. This is particularly important if you have quite a large garden and you want to make the most of the space that’s available to you. Paths that make it clear how the garden flows and how to make the most of it are definitely a good thing to have in place.

#3: A Water Feature

Water features always manage to add something important and significant to a space that might otherwise be missing. There’s nothing quite like the tranquility that comes with flowing water in your garden and there’s definitely no way of artificially recreating it. If you want your garden to feel calm, relaxed and at ease, it’s definitely worth considering the installation of a new water feature.

#4: A New Bonsai Tree

If you want to add a tree to the garden that’s going to improve the aesthetic and offer some real character, you should probably consider a new bonsai tree. You can buy bonsai trees online these days, and there are so many different varieties, depending on what it is you’re looking for. A new bonsai tree can make a big difference and really add a new aesthetic to the space. You could add other Japanese features to complement it.

#5: A Vegetable Garden

Finally, you should think about whether you have the space to add a vegetable garden. This will enable you to create a space in your garden that’s fully dedicated to growing foods. You can grow different things as the seasons’ change and serve up dishes for your family based on what you’re able to grow. There’s nothing more rewarding than cooking a meal with ingredients fresh from your own garden.

Whether you want to improve the look of your garden, the general feel it delivers or the functionality it can offer, there’s something for everyone. Be sure to make the most of the additions above if you want to add something new and valuable to your garden space. Each of them will offer the space something important and valuable.

Putting Together An Eco-Friendly Routine For Your New Baby

October 11, 2021 0

Having a baby is no easy feat. You’ve got at least 18 to 20 years of care ahead of you, and for the first few years, you’ll be changing diapers and wiping up a mess every single minute of the day. But put on top of the idea that having a baby can make your household more likely to generate waste that harms the environment and the stress will pile on tenfold! 

However, being able to stay eco-friendly doesn’t have to be impossible. Sure, it’ll take a bit of thinking, but if you really would like a green routine for your baby, it’ll be manageable! And that’s what this post is here to help with. There are plenty of ways to ensure your newborn’s routine will be as eco-friendly as can be, and we’ve listed some of the most important things to think about below for you. 

Think About Diapers

Diapers are the biggest sore spot in trying to run a green routine for your newborn. After all, you’re going to go through hundreds (and potentially thousands) of them, and when you’re not using cloth diapers to keep your baby clean, that’ll generate a lot of waste. And not only that but throw-away diapers are made of material that can take a long time to break down and decompose. 

You might even find yourself spending over $1500 on buying diapers and baby wipes and bags to store all the dirty items in – that doesn’t seem all that sustainable! However, using cloth diapers is seen as the best alternative, as you’ll only have to spend money on a reusable kit once, and then wash them again and again without needing to chuck them out and wait over 500 years for the waste to disappear back into the earth. 

Biodegradable diapers are also an item to think about; they’ll take far less time to decompose, but they can be a bit more pricey per diaper. Yet, whatever you feel is best for your baby and budget, go with that option. Some parents don’t feel able to simply take off the diaper and wash it, and using biodegradable items instead helps put their minds at rest. 

Buy Toys, Clothes, and Equipment Second Hand

When it comes to outfitting the nursery for your child, you’re going to want to buy second-hand as much as possible. Not only will this help you save on money, but it’ll also help you stay ethical in your buying choices. You’ll be helping out local parents by offloading their old stuff, and you’ll be able to give your baby just as good items as those you might’ve bought from the shop. 

(Of course, some items must be bought new, such as cleanliness items and food products. But that still gives you a lot of leeway!)

So ask around. See if you know any other parents nearby who have old toys and clothes you’d love to purchase and put a notice out on social media to get the word out. Don’t worry, if you phrase it just right, you’ll come across as perfectly polite and friendly – for example, just ask if anyone is looking to unload old baby stuff and make sure you mention you’re very happy to pay. 

Aside from this, you can also join local parenting groups where people regularly post about their hand-me-downs, or you can join a general sell and swap group. Simply tap in something like ‘Mommy Group’ or ‘Baby Stuff’ into the search bar and see if there are groups local to you. Join as many as you can for a better host of deals, and then take your search to Google itself. 

Because it’s not just social media where you can score a deal. Sites like Gumtree, or Craigslist, can also help you to find gently used baby items that’ll be a big help to you. Just type ‘second-hand baby stuff’ into the search bar and then work your way through each result. 

Try Not to Panic During Uncertain Moments

Having a newborn in the house will be filled with uncertain moments. You’ll wake up in the middle of the night to hear them crying and wonder if it’s a medical issue. You’ll notice they don’t want to eat a certain food they usually love and think maybe something is wrong with their stomach. And of course, you’ll fret night and day over whether they’re too warm or cold, and if they need taking out or putting down for a nap right now. There’s a lot to worry about, but you should never let yourself panic! 

Because when you panic, you’re likely to rush out to the supermarket and buy a lot of things you think might help. But this is simply unneeded in most situations. After all, when it comes to the quandary of will lost baby hair grow back, you really don’t need to worry, as baby hair falls out a lot! 

So do some research before wasting your money by investing in any creams or lotions you simply don’t need and will never use. Take the less is more approach; falling into this brief trap of consumerism is super easy, of course, but it’s always best to stop and think, and consult an actual professional before you take any action. 

Invest in Eco-Friendly Skincare

Your baby’s skin requires quite a lot of care during the first year of their life. Of course, during their first week of life, their skin is going to be wrinkly and covered in a fine film, and you simply have to wait for this to peel off. But after this period, it’s a good idea to look into gentle lotions and creams for bath time and bedtime, while also ensuring the companies you shop with are eco friendly. 

Indeed, babies don’t even need to be bathed all that frequently, simply thanks to how little they do! They won’t be covered in dirt from a long day, and that means you can save filling up the little bathtub, which saves on both water use and the bill behind it. Seeing as you only need to bathe your baby 2 to 3 times a week, to avoid stripping their skin of essential oils, you can simply use a gentle cleanser to give their face and diaper area a quick and effective wash every day. 

Aside from this, do some research into the most popular creams, balms, and shampoos on the market. Who makes them? What are their green policies? And what alternatives are out there? If you know who you’re buying from, the power is put back into your hands, and you’ll feel much better about your choices. 

Are You Ready for a More Green Newborn Routine?

You’ve got a new baby on the way, and you want to be sure you’re not contributing to CO2 emissions any more than you have to – that’s fine! After all, it can be easy to manage when you’ve put the prep work in, and you’re sure you’re ready for the slight lack of convenience disposable products would otherwise grant you. 

And if you really believe in a green future, this is a great way to get your little one started early as well. Raise them to know that eco-friendly ideas can be easily adapted and they’ll go on for the rest of their life following your example. In the meantime, your newborn will be very comfortable in a reusable diaper!

How You Can Use Fewer Natural Resources Next Year

October 7, 2021 0

For anyone who is interested in trying to be as eco-friendly as possible, one of the most important aspects to this is always going to be using as few natural resources as you possibly can. If you are keen to make sure you are doing this, then you might be wondering where to begin. The truth is that it doesn’t really matter where you begin, so long as you are making the kinds of changes that you know you should be making.

In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the things you can do in order to use as few natural resources as possible. You might be amazed at just how much of a difference this can really make. Let’s take a look and discuss how to go about it best.

What Are Natural Resources?

First of all, it might be helpful to look a little more closely at what we mean by natural resources. In essence, a natural resource is anything that you might use for any purpose which comes from the natural world. Now, when you break down any resource far enough, it is obviously going to be made of natural stuff, and in that sense, there is nothing that is not natural. But a natural resource as mentioned in this article is more like something like wood, coal, paper, and so on.

Not all of these uses or resources are un-eco friendly, but even natural resources which can be used fairly sustainably should be used as little as possible in an ideal world. So now that we know a little about what counts as a natural resource, let’s look at some examples of how to use fewer of them in your daily life.

Save Energy

Anything that you can do, in your home, work, or other aspects of your life, to reduce the use of energy is going to mean that you are using fewer natural resources. It can be very easy to fail to appreciate where your energy is coming from – you just flick on a switch or press a button and there it is. But you need to try and remind yourself that all of that comes from a variety of natural resources, and understanding that is where this all begins to change.

Every time you go to turn on lights or put the boiler on, make sure you are thinking about what you are using and how much of it you are using too. It’s a simple case of trying to do this more and more. If you can do that, and save as much energy as possible, you are going to be doing your part to help save the planet.

Conserve Water

Water is arguably the most valuable and important natural resource of all. After all, without water, nothing else would be here, and as carbon-based lifeforms, we need it to survive at a very basic level. It is clearly very important to conserve water, but you might have got to a position of not really appreciating why especially if you have become confused about the water cycle. Yes, there is a water cycle, and the water comes round again – but using it as sensibly as possible when it comes out of the tap is still going to make a difference to how eco-friendly you are being, so bear that in mind. The more you conserve water, the better, even if that means that you radically change your patterns of behavior – such as not taking such long showers, for instance.

Change Up Your Paper Habits

Paper is another natural resource that you should ideally try to use as little as possible. If you are keen to do that, one simple way is to use reusable paper wherever possible. One of the biggest culprits of waste in the paper is the use of paper towels which you use once and then throw away. Instead of doing that, consider using something like Earthly Co. Reusable Paper Towels. That is a much more sustainable way to use paper, and you will find that you are really doing your part this way.

Go Plastic-Free

Ideally, we should aim to use no plastic whatsoever. However, that is unlikely – after all, it’s in your phone, your clothes, your shoes, and so on. But at the least, you should aim to use no single-use plastics, and this is a goal that is specifically easier and possible to do. Just this is going to make a world of difference, so get on it this year and see how you do.

3 Eco-Friendly Types of Cleaning Services

October 1, 2021 0

When hiring an eco-friendly cleaner, it’s important to have an idea of just what tasks you need help with. There are many different options available, ranging from straightforward house cleaning to more infrequent jobs, such as seasonal deep cleans or end of tenancy cleans.

You may also be looking to hire an eco-friendly cleaner for someone else, for example when they are recovering from surgery or as a treat to make life a little easier after they have brought a new child home. Think about what you need accomplished, and it will make it easier to find the perfect house cleaner for your requirements, quickly.

Regular domestic cleaning

The first kind of cleaning on offer is a general house cleaning service. This will include tasks such as mopping, vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning the kitchen and bathroom. These are the cleaning jobs that you may struggle to find time for by yourself on a weekly basis, that will keep your home feeling hygienic and manageable, even if there is mess on top.

A clean space also encourages people living in your household to keep the place a little more organised. It can feel overwhelming to look around and see cobwebs or dirty dishes, but knowing that your home has been given a thorough clean will help to keep up motivation to maintain some kind of order.

House cleaners don’t tend to take on tasks such as interior window cleaning or emptying bins, unless this is agreed ahead of time. This is worth bringing up with the people you interview, or during an initial consultation, if these are additional services you think you might need. When both parties are clear about what services they expect to be included, it saves confusion and extra cost further down the line.

Hiring someone to clean your home on a regular schedule might also be the best option if you want to cut down on administration of organising visits each week. If you have a set date and time for your cleaning service to come and carry out tasks, you will both know just what to expect, and you can look forward to a clean home.

End-of-tenancy cleaning

If you are in the position to let out a property, or even a couple of properties, to a renter, you may find that you are better off hiring a regular house cleaning service. Rather than looking for an individual, you can choose a cleaning firm, which might mean that it isn’t always the same person coming to your properties to carry out cleaning tasks, but rather employees of the same company.

A major benefit of this is that once you’ve found a service that you’re happy with, you know that their work should be at the same standard each time. There is also less chance that they will be unable to take on the work due to scheduling conflicts: there will be enough workers on their books to be able to take your booking.

These services are also good if you are the renter and need peace of mind that the property is completely clean before you move your belongings in. End-of-tenancy cleans differ from standard domestic cleaning, because the service should be priced by tasks, rather than time. It will also include a wider variety of cleaning tasks, such as interior window cleaning, white goods cleaning, and oven cleaning.

Short-term let cleaning

Similar to end-of-tenancy cleaning, a house cleaning service for a short-term let will differ from a normal domestic clean. A major difference is that short-term lets are usually furnished, so house cleaners who tackle them will be stripping and remaking beds, buffing windows and mirrors to a brilliant shine, and checking every piece of equipment in the kitchen.

Additionally, they may also have the responsibility of restocking hygiene products such as shampoo and soap, or basics like coffee, tea, and store cupboard essentials, especially if it is a holiday let. Having a contract with your house cleaner will keep everyone aware of what is expected of them.

Conclusion

With domestic cleaning, start and end of tenancy cleaning, and short-term let cleaning all incorporating slightly different tasks, it is helpful to be sure of just what you’re looking for. Making sure to be clear and upfront about your needs will lead to a great working relationship with your chosen cleaning service that can continue for as long as your needs require.

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