Dehumidifiers are a wonderful appliances for wicking extra moisture out of the air in your home… especially in hot, humid climates. They are also designed to reduce allergens like dust mites, mould & mildew in the air and are effective to control condensation in damp basements and bathrooms.
But take a peek in the water reservoir tank of your dehumidifier… you may not like what you find. Dehumidifiers have the tendency to grow bacteria and mould if they are not cleaned on a regular basis. The water and moisture that your dehumidifier absorbs tends to calcify and contain bacteria and other air-born materials which leave a difficult residue to clean. Yuck!
Aren’t you glad that Norwex can come to the rescue again with a simple and environmentally-friend solution? The above photo is of my dehumidifier… it obviously was in need of a good cleaning! So, I filled the reservoir with water and added a scoop of Norwex Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent and let it soak overnight. Check out the results!
I simply emptied the reservoir, took my EnviroCloth and wiped the dehumidifier clean. So easy!
Seriously, I don’t know what I would do without my Norwex products! They are amazing! The water stains, the calcification, the bacteria, the mould… all gone. Do you have an amazing “Norwex-to-the-rescue” story? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
School is back into full swing… all the lunch boxes, new clothes and school supplies have been bought, labeled and delivered. You’ve done your part, right? Yes! But… let me ask you, have you ever wondered if their school is a safe haven – safe from chemicals? Schools work really hard to keep our kids safe and their environment healthy. But there are a few simple Norwex solutions that could help your kids reduce the amount of chemicals they come in contact with at school.
Hand Washing
Schools often encourage kids to use hand sanitizers or perfumed, chemical-laden soap for hand washing before snack & lunch times. Of course hand washing is very important and schools work hard to instill this important life habit… but research shows that some antibacterial agents, such as triclosan and parabens, though they fight germs, are toxic to our health. On friday, September 2, 2016, Environmental Working Group (EWG) was pleased to release,
WASHINGTON – The federal Food and Drug Administration announced today that triclosan, a toxic chemical ingredient associated with hormone disruption in people, will no longer be allowed in antibacterial hand soaps, which EWG noted as a significant success.
“This decision by the FDA is a huge victory on behalf of human health and the environment,” said Ken Cook, co-founder and president of EWG. “EWG has been conducting research and advocating for this exact federal government action for nearly a decade, and our work, as well as that of other public interest groups and many of our supporters, has finally paid off.”
“EWG research found industry adding this sketchy, endocrine-disrupting germ killer to all kinds of soaps and even to toothpaste. Nine years ago we found it at disturbing levels in San Francisco Bay,” Cook added. “Worse yet, EWG studies detected the stuff in breast milk and in bodies of teenage girls. Clearly this is an industry that needed a good, swift kick in the triclosan. It took far too long, but today the FDA delivered.”
It is obvious that the governments and producers are starting to realize the importance of protecting people from dangerous chemicals. That is great to see! Let me tell you how using Norwex products can help reducing our chemical consumption by with great alternatives. Read the ingredients in those those cute, travel-sized hand sanitizers before you send them to school with your kids. Antibacterial formulas are not all they are cracked up to be and good old-fashioned hand washing with soap is the best way to rid harmful bacteria, while allowing the body to naturally maintain a healthy immune system. But when water and soap are not readily available or there are 25 kids ahead of you in line for the sink, the Norwex Timeless Natural Hand Cleaner is a good alternative. It is made from pure raw organic aloe, lemon fruit extract, rosemary & lavender which all have natural antiseptic qualities to combat bacteria, while providing nourishing moisture to the skin with eucalyptus globules leaf and spearmint extracts. It has been certified by EcoGruppo and NaTrue for its organic properties. Another plus… it only takes a drop or two to clean your entire hands – It’s organic, free from chemicals, only requires a small amount, smells wonderful, leaves hands moisturized – what more could you ask for? (by the way, Norwex also has a wonderful Peppermint Foaming Hand Soap – that is pure soap, not antibacterial, in foam form so it lasts longer – for at home).
School Bag Lunches
The daily task of packing lunches is another part of the school routine and a wonderful opportunity to pick items that will add to the health and nourishment of your kids. As we all know, it is important to choose fresh fruits and veggies… but did you know that some produce is ‘cleaner’ than others? The EWG is a non-profit organization that works to empower people to live healthier lives by researching and educating to raise awareness and help drive consumer choice and civic action. The EWG group has identified which produce is heavily doused in pesticides and which produce is not. They have developed a handy list to help you make the BEST choice for your lunches.
They recommend that we should pick produce from the Clean 15 list and avoid the Dirty 12 as much as possible when you are unable to buy local organic produce. The Norwex Fresh Produce Wash is perfect for times when organic is not an option, or your kid really loves having strawberries in his lunch (when they are not in season). The Fresh Produce Wash is a plant-based, biodegradable, concentrated wash. It not only removes unwanted residues from fertilizers, wax, dirt, oil & bacteria, it does not require scrubbing, it leaves no aftertaste on your fruit and it even extends the shelf life of the produce. Did you know that you should wash fruit that you peel too…like bananas and oranges? Now your kid’s lunch box is a safe haven!
Clean Work Space
School desks or work spaces are full of germs, that tend to multiply and grow. Instead of using the standard disposable, chemical-laden wipes in the attempt to control these germs, consider tucking a damp Travel Pack Cloth (in a Reusable Wet Wipes Bag) in your kid’s lunchbox. Within seconds your child can wipe down his or her desk and have a perfectly clean surface to eat on, work on, rest on… you get the idea. They could even wash their little hands with it before they dig into their lunch.
School is a great place, with many individuals who work hard to teach, protect, guide and help our kids. As parents, we can do our part too. Norwex has a lot of great solutions for our daily needs that protect our kids when they are at school. Check them out.
Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
What about the carrot sticks or lettuce leaves that tumble from the colander into the sink? Surely the sink, which is regularly doused with soap and water, must be cleaner than the floor, which is regularly defiled by the feet we use to stand at the sink — right?
“Wrong, wrong, 500 times wrong”, says Environmental Microbiologist Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., an assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona. While the floor may be crawling with 1,000 bacteria per square inch, the sink typically hosts around 500,000 bacteria per square inch — and she’s seen sinks that had millions more than that. “The sink is a ready source of bacteria just from washing off hands as well as food, which may carry fecal bacteria.” The number of bacteria it takes to make us sick depends on the type, but Reynolds says that it takes between 100 and 1,000 bacteria to transmit salmonella, which is the most frequently reported cause of foodborne illness.
Reynolds says our kitchen sinks are often dirtier than the toilets of public bathrooms, which may be regularly scrubbed with powerful disinfectants. “If you dropped something in the toilet at the gas station, would you rinse it off and eat it? Use the same mentality for your sink.”
Our kitchen sinks are where we wash everything from our hands, to doing the dishes, rinsing out your kitchen cloth, to washing veggies & fruit, to cleaning the thanksgiving turkey and even soaking your Norwex EnviroCloths to deep clean them. The kitchen sink is a busy place. As it is harvest time… some of our sinks will be especially busy. Before you dump your beautiful harvest of carrots, potatoes, turnips, apples or cherries into your kitchen sink, consider how clean your sink really is and why it is important.
The World Health Organization (WHO) works with 150 countries to help them “ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people”. They are committed to combatting disease as well as ensuring food, air & water safety. They empower people to do their part in ensuring food safety in our homes…
So how do your keep your kitchen clean and safe? Norwex’s Global Mission is improving quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our homes. Cleaning your kitchen sink properly and without chemicals is a simple way to improve our quality of life.
Seeing as the average kitchen sink can be 500 times dirtier than the average kitchen floor, let me give you a few Norwex tips on how to ensure your sink it really clean. Did you know that Norwex not only provides clean solutions, but their solutions are time-saving, effective, chemical-free, environmentally friendly? That is awesome!
Rinse your sink with hot water.
Wet a Norwex Spirisponge and dab with Cleaning Paste. Cleaning Paste has only 3 active natural ingredients (marble flour, natural soap, coconut oil). The Cleaning Paste will remove stains and bacteria, while leaving your sink shiny.
In a circular motion, clean the entire sink from top to drain. Spend a little extra time cleaning the ridges of your drain to remove any build up.
Rinse with hot water.
Wipe dry with flat-folded EnviroCloth. EnviroCloths will remove unto 99% of bacteria from a surface when used properly.
Repeat as needed.
This should take you no longer than 90 seconds from start to finish and the end result is a clean, food-safe sink!
Watch this:
I love Norwex’s quick, simple, affordable, effective and environmentally-friendly solutions for our day-to-day cleaning needs. With all the research revealing how dirty our sinks are and how it can negatively effect our health, Norwex offers a good solution!
Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
Summer is all about finding a little adventure, spending time together, creating memories and enjoying your community and the outdoors. Norwex’s Global Missions is, “Improving quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our homes”. As we work hard to protect our world and our homes, let’s take time to enjoy it as well. Summer is a perfect time to do just that. In a city as large as Edmonton, there is always a lot going on during the summer months. The city has so much to offer, why not find a few free things to do with your kids. As summer is in full swing, here are a few ideas…
This summer has been so warm and glorious, it is time to try out a new spray park. Raising Edmonton listed their favourite parks… so jump in the car and try a different spray park outside your community.
Edmonton has a vast trail system, over 160 km, through its beautiful river valley. Evening summer bike ride adventures could be your next family tradition. Check out the city trails map.
Edmonton hosts many different festivals in the summer from sports to music to cultural festivals… there is something for everyone. Bring a picnic basket and blanket to watch the Dragon Festival from the side of the river, or go downtown to watch the Cari West Parade, or head down to Hawrelak Park and enjoy the entertainment at the Servus Heritage Festival.
Try out a new sport like Disc Golf. There is a free course at Edmonton’s Rundle Park.
Take in the beauty of nature by walking the Clifford E. Lee Natural Area boardwalks or find a breathtaking view of the river by walking over the Fort Edmonton Pedestrian Bridge on the west side of Edmonton.
Don’t forget the amazing free Edmonton Public Library programs Read. Create. Explore… keep your kid’s nose in a fun book during the summer months.
The summer days are long… but the summer goes by FAST. Enjoy every day with your kids, getting out and spending time together is what memories are made of!!!
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
“Soft, like a baby’s bottom”… This saying only tells part of the story about babies’ skin. Of course baby skin is soft — it is the best!!! — but it is also delicate, fragile and needs to be protected from chemicals in our environment.
Skin is a very important multifunctional organ that provides our bodies with a barrier function, mechanical protection, thermoregulation, immune surveillance and it prevents the loss of body fluids. Healthy skin plays a role in keeping babies alive. It was previously thought that the skin barrier function reached its maturity at about 34 weeks gestation (still in the womb). However, recent data shows that newborn skin goes through a gradual process of maturity in its environment and continues to develop until 12 months after birth —that is all the way until their first birthday!!! Skin care is important during a baby’s first years of life as studies show that baby’s (6-13 months old) and toddler’s (17-24 months old) skin has higher skin reactivity and absorption than adults.
The newborn’s skin is very naturally sensitive, thin and fragile. The skin of the premature newborn is even thinner, therefore highly permeable. This increases the risk of toxicity from the absorption of chemicals. This skin is also more easily attacked mechanically. For example, a baby’s bottom is in constant contact with diapers and being wiped with baby wipes which can cause repeated removal of top layer of skin cells. This increases the permeability of the skin and chance of skin rashes and infections. The health of a newborn’s skin is so important to the overall health of the child.
Norwex’s Global Mission is to: “Improve quality of life by radically reducing chemicals in our homes.” This mission does not only apply to how we care for our homes but how we care for our bodies. The shelves at the supermarkets and drug stores are lined with chemical-filled baby products. Even with the knowledge of cancer-causing agents, these can still be found in some of the most “trusted” companies baby products. Isn’t it wonderful that Norwex provides alternative skin care products. Here are a few chemical-free products that will keep your babies clean and safe.
Baby Hooded Towel Set: It is the perfect size for babies and toddlers; it is super absorbent, super soft and super cozy, just what their sensitive skin needs. It is constructed with microfiber and has Norwex’s exclusive Baclock™ agent to inhibit odors from bacteria. It also comes with a matching face cloth.
Baby Body Pack: It comes with three baby-sized face or body cloths. They are super soft and gentle on your baby’s skin. They are constructed with microfiber and has Norwex’s exclusive Baclock™ agent to inhibit odors from bacteria growth.
Bubble Bath: All kids love bubbles at bath time!!! Norwex’s bubble bath is made from 3 natural ingredients — water, caprylyl/capryl glucoside (a natural foamer) & natural wild cherry fruit extract. It is non-allergenic, biodegradable and a gentle cleansing agent. Plus, it is FUN!!!
Body Lotion: This chemical-free lotion is good for the whole family and is certified by BDIH and NaTrue for its organic and natural properties. It smells wonderful and is loaded with a variety of natural botanicals like coconut oil, grape seed oil, aloe vera, sweet almond oil shea butter and vitamin E.
Take the time with your sweet baby to massage this wonderful lotion into their skin… they will feel loved & comforted, their circulatory system will be stimulated and you will be at ease knowing that there are no chemicals being absorbed into their perfect skin.
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
Recently my family hosted a delicious lasagne dinner for our extended family. It was a full house — with approximately 40 people in attendance. We needed a lot of lasagne that night! We baked a few in the oven and a few (my husband’s brilliant idea) in the barbecue. Not only did we cook a lot of lasagne that night, we made a lot of mess in both my oven and barbecue! The lasagne exploded all over the place!!! Lucky for me, Norwex makes a great Oven and Grill Cleaner.
Here are pictures of my personal oven … Before & After.
I did included step-by-step cleaning instructions in an earlier Spring Clean post… but thought that if you have a busy family or a lasagne party, or are hosting Thanksgiving dinner and need to clean up the bottom of your oven before cooking the turkey, or you were ready to put the barbecue away for the winter season, this enzyme-based cleaner will make your oven/barbecue clean and look brand new!
Did you know that the “self-cleaning” cycle in your oven releases toxic lingering fumes in our homes making it an unhealthy for our families and especially our small children and small pets?
Here’s a little ‘how-to’ refresher:
Cleaning the oven used to be an enormous task but with Oven and Grill cleaner, simply turn the oven on to 175°, once it is preheated turn the oven off. Spray the Oven and Grill solution on the racks, walls, base, door and glass window. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes. Wipe it clean with a Spirinett and then an EnviroCloth. These targeted enzyme breaks down any burnt food or residue in your oven or on your racks and turns it into a black liquid which is easy to wipe clean. Never before has cleaning your oven been so simple or toxic free!
What shocks me every time, is how my Norwex EnviroCloth rinses clean after wiping up these significant messes!!
Cleaning your barbecue is also made simple with Norwex Oven and Grill Cleaner. First roll your barbecue on to a tarp to catch any drips from the cleaning solution and black char from your barbecue. It would be awful for the cleaning process to damage your deck boards. Next, preheat your barbecue to approximately 175°. Turn the barbecue off. Then, spray the Oven and Grill cleaner on the racks. Wait for approximately 10 minutes, when you return, wipe down the rack with a Spirinett and then with an EnviroCloth. The EnviroCloth will also do beautiful job of cleaning/polishing the stainless steel exterior of your barbecue.
So if you missed the cleaning fever in the Spring or your summer has been filled with hosting backyard barbecues or lasagna has been exploding in your oven, Norwex has a safe and easy solution… again.
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
