Once we learn something is important, it is impossible to keep it to ourselves!
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
Teaching and educating is my passion! My desire is to stir a ‘proactive spirit’ in people regarding their choices and the danger of harmful chemicals. Many people are not aware that what they are currently using is harmful to our environment.
University of Bergen Study
The University of Bergen in Norway recently performed a study of 6000 people over a 20 year period, who had regular exposure to cleaning products. It was found that their lung function had been significantly affected as much as a person who had smoked a pack-a-day for 20 years as well as put them at a 40% higher risk of developing asthma.
The study revealed was that “the small particles from the spray [cleaners] can remain in the air for hours after cleaning. The small particles can travel deep into the lungs and cause infections and ageing of the lungs” Dr. Svanes explains. Dr. Svanes, the main author of the study, recommends “You [do] not need a lot of chemicals after all, when cleaning. Microfiber cloths may be just as effective.”
Norwex performed chamber tests to compare the number of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs or small particles) released by chemical spray cleaners and paper towel vs. Norwex Microfiber cloths and water. The results were AMAZING!!! Traditional chemical cleaners released 800 times the VOCs than Norwex products! There is no need for dusting sprays, room deodorizers, artificial fragrances, floor cleaners, all-purpose cleaning sprays… when you have a Norwex EnviroCloth and water!
Problem: Paper Towel
Let me share some information about the truth about paper towel consumption in North America… and how Norwex provides a solution.
On average, a person uses and disposes of 2,400 – 3,000 paper towels every year.
Paper towels are used in 90% of households.
The average family of 4 uses about 26 rolls of paper towels a year. That’s an annual expense of approximately $91 for a single-use, throwaway item that is clogging our landfills!
Paper towel creates 13 billion pounds of waste every year! That works out to a whopping 3,000 tons of waste daily… comparable to the weight of 1650 economy cars!!!
Most are made from virgin tree fibre and used only once.
One paper towel is often not enough for many jobs, and some brands are even bleached with harmful chlorinated compounds—not good for your family or the environment.
Residential dwellings are the largest contributor to pollution, not industrial.
Long-term exposure to many of the cleaning products you use in your home every day has cancer-causing potential.
What does it take to produce just 1 ton of paper towels? Approximately, 17 trees and 20,000 gallons of water!
In North America, we have a huge paper towel habit. 3,000 tons of paper towel waste is produced every day and accounts for the consumption of approximately 51,000 trees and 60 million gallons of water!
Paper towels, even when made of recycled materials still produce an environmental impact. The recycling process still uses water, energy and chemicals.
If everyone cut back by one sheet of paper towel per day, it would save North America 571,230,000 pounds of paper towel waste, every year. Now imagine, if, one-by-one, households began to eliminate paper towel waste altogether…what kind of impact would we see then?
Solution: 4 Norwex Cloths
Norwex is a company that provides solutions for problems like paper towel. Let me highlight a few different eco-friendly Norwex products you could use to replace your paper towel.
EnviroCloth
The EnviroCloth is Norwex’s flagship product!!! The microfiber cloth has the ability to remove 99% of bacteria from a surface when following the proper care and use instructions. It contains Norwex’s exclusive Baclock™ agent – micro silver antibacterial agent – goes to self-purify and inhibits odours from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth within 24 hours so that it is ready to use again. The microfibers in the EnviroCloth are 1/200th the size of a human hair and if unravelled, have a maximum length of more than 3 million meters (10 million feet). The splitting process that happens during manufacturing creates open spaces in the fibres and enables the cloth to lift away dust and dirt and absorb serval times its own weight in water. And it only needs water to clean; no cleaner, chemicals or sprays required.
Doesn’t that sound better than a disposable paper towel??
Window Cloths
Window Cloths are designed to be used with the EnviroCloth. Once you have cleaned a surface with an EnviroCloth, use a Window Cloth to polish it to a streak-free shine. No paper towel or window spray required. If you love clean windows, but hate how long it takes, the EnviroCloth and Window Cloth will take 50% less time to clean and leave you with better results. The Window Cloth or ‘polishing cloth’ is constructed of tightly woven Norwex microfiber with the self-purifying Baclock™ agent, is lint-free, traps dust and grime in the cloth so your surface is cleaner, only needs water so there is no “chemical muck” left behind. This cloth will change your cleaning regime.
Counter Cloths
Norwex introduced Counter Cloths as a great alternative to paper towel. They are the same size as a half-sheet paper towel, come in beautiful colours, are made from 50% recycled materials, have a super-absorbent unique new weave for quick spill clean up. These beauties are perfect for your kitchen and bathroom. They even have Norwex’s self-purifying Baclock™ agent in the cloth. Seriously, with these handy little cloths, you won’t ever grab for a paper towel again!
Napkins
For anyone who loves to use a half-sized paper towel as their dinner napkin, Norwex has an alternative for you too. On average, a family of 4 uses more than 3000 paper napkins/paper towels a year. The Napkins are made from 50% recycled materials (5 plastic bottles per set of 4) and are lovely. They come in either charcoal or peacock blue, the microfiber also has Baclock™ agent so you can use them more than once before laundering, they are quick-drying and very absorbent, plus they make your dinner table look pretty. Saving trees and dressing up dinner all at the same time… not bad.
So, what can you do?
Let me give you a challenge! Next time you start a new roll of paper towel, take a pen and write in the date inside of the roll. First, try if you can go 4 months with one roll, then 6… then try if your family can stretch one roll of paper towel to last an entire year! You can do it! Other customers have done it, I know you can do it too. Imagine with me the impact that would be realized by simply changing the way we use paper towel.
Become an Educator
Since I started my Norwex journey in 2006, thousands of Consultants have been working with me to spread the word about these amazing products. I believe Nelson Mandela’s statement about the power of education… which means, we have a lot more educating to do! Every grocery and department store has at least one aisle stocked with toxic cleaning chemicals. Only 2% of North American homes use Norwex products… we have a lot of people to educate! Join my team, become an educator and help Norwex make a difference.
Are you going to take the paper towel challenge? Leave a comment about how it went. Was it easier or harder than you thought?
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.
Getting all of the surfaces in your home as clean as possible, as quickly as possible, can be challenging. In addition, many of today’s popular cleaners contain harsh chemicals. One would assume that since they are sold in our local stores that they were tested and are safe to use.
I was shocked to learn that; “About 80,000 new chemicals have been introduced into the environment in the last 50 years. Sadly, only about 200 of these have ever been assessed for their impact on human health.” Bjorn Nicolaisen (co-founder of Norwex)
When first introduced to Norwex, I was intrigued and excited, but my husband was the skeptic. Hearing that Norwex EnviroCloths could clean the surfaces in my home without the need for additional chemical cleaning products was foreign to me. On top of that, the claim that I could clean my home in a quarter of the time seemed too good to be true. But, I loved a clean home and was more than willing to remove the chemical cleaning products from where I was raising my young family.
What differentiates the two is how “micro” the fibers in the Norwex cloth are. The cloths available at your local store generally have a fiber size of approximately 1/6 the size of a human hair while the EnviroCloth fibers are 1/200th the diameter of a human hair. It is how “micro” the fibers are that determines the cleaning ability of your cloth. If we were to completely unravel an EnviroCloth, the 2.9 million meters of microfiber would reach all the way from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada right down to the Gulf of Mexico!
As incredible as that is, there is still more cleaning ability contained within the cloth! The Envirocloth has BacLock™ in the cloth – micro silver antibacterial agent – that goes to work to self-purify and inhibit odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth. This self-purification process ensures the cloth is ready to use again within 24 hours.
The Norwex Microfiber has the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following the proper care and use instructions. The super-absorbent cloths pick up and trap everything that was on the surface until you rinse it out.
Our family was totally sold on the Norwex product collection when we learned the cloths were already being used to clean hospitals. It was this simple; if these cloths cleaned to a level high enough to pass the stringent testing required to be used at the hospital, they certainly were good enough for our home!
Key Benefits:
Cuts cleaning time by up to 75% by using only water.
No need for harmful chemicals.
Saves money by using only water.
Eliminates the need for paper towels, creating less waste.
Used them dry for dusting, it creates static electricity that lifts the smallest particles of dust and dirt up into the cloth and prevents them from resettling on the surfaces.
Did You Know?
Norwex Microfiber products are created in state-of-the-art factories with optimal working conditions. Check out my posts about China.
Most paper towels are bleached and then patterned with dyes. Drying your hands with them can leave your skin rough and cracked.
Warranty:
Two Year Warranty
60-Day Money Back Guarantee
As a leader, I was very selective in naming our Team. My group of consultants are located throughout North America are called: “The Solution Team.” Norwex is the solution! You’ll clean safely, quickly and thoroughly, using super-absorbent EnviroCloths. You’ll save time, money and the environment by using only water to clean your home. You will reduce landfill waste, prevent chemicals from getting into our waterways and protect your family’s health as you minimize dust, allergens and chemicals in your home!
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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.
Do crayon, marker and scuff marks decorate your walls? What about soap scum on your bathtubs and shower stalls? Many scrubbers are too abrasive, cleaning chemicals are toxic, and a cloth just doesn’t fix your problems.
I can relate. As a mother of three creative girls, I know what it’s like to feel as if I need to walk behind them scrubbing their trail as they go.
My good friend Carole’s daughter has had a love for art since the age of 3, which became evident when she decided to draw on the basement walls of their home. She told her mom she was making them look “prettier”.
It makes me laugh thinking about how children’s brains function; their imaginations are so precious and it is something I wholeheartedly believe should be encouraged, no matter what. However, freshly painted walls are also something you wouldn’t want to ruin…
Norwex’s Micro Cleaning Hand Pads are a safe and effective alternative to leading brand cleaning erasers; products you don’t want to leave lying around your kids.
These cleaning pads are eco-friendly and chemical-free, unlike many similar products.
They will not cause skin irritation or absorb toxins into your skin while in use!
This product is tough on stubborn stains, yet less abrasive than a scrubber.
Works great on easy-to-scratch surfaces such as: walls, plastic furniture, tile, and most kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
They are great for erasing scuff marks from the: linoleum floor, trim, molding, baseboards, interior consoles, and dashboards, patio furniture etc…
Works with little pressure applied.
How to Use:
Cut a piece off the pad – since it disintegrates with use.
Dip into warm water and squeeze out excess water.
Rub the surface with a light pressure.
**Not recommended for polished or glossy surfaces, or for brushed satin, dark or faux finishes. Not for use on auto paintwork.
I have a couple of favourite demonstrations for this product at my Norwex parties:
Take an old tea cup, with bad stains from tea…within seconds it is totally clean!
For customers with dimpled white-handled appliances…totally wipe them clean!
This is an inexpensive solution to the irritating stubborn stains and scuff marks around your home. Give it a try!
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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.
With Halloween right around the corner, festive activities are fast approaching. Costume-making, decorating and entertaining at our home are all parts of Halloween enjoyed by the whole family. Cleaning in preparation for these festivities, however…is preferred to be done quickly!
Maybe you have a dog that frequents your windows, or it’s been a while since you’ve have the time to clean, so your front windows are streaky. Do you want to give them a quick wipe down before the big night? Try the Norwex Window Cloth and an EnviroCloth for totally cleaning your dirty windows.
Norwex’s Window cloths are a fast and effective way to get your windows streak-free. In fact, because you use only water with the cloths, your little pirate or ballerina can even help out with cleaning them!
When our girls were little, I’d give them a spray bottle of water and a Window Cloth. They could clean all of our glass coffee and end tables and they thought it was fun. Well, now I have teenagers. They still clean, but the fun factor of helping “Mom” has subsided. For me, the great thing is, with age has come height; now they can clean the whole window, top to bottom!
In order to get the real-clean, and see the real-gleam of your windows, Norwex’s Basic Package is sold as a pack of two cloths; giving you a ‘washer’ (the EnviroCloth) and a ‘polisher’ (the Window Cloth)!
Don’t forget to check out Norwex’s Kids Window Cloth, perfect for little hands!
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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.
With Halloween approaching, the stress of coming up with a great costume for your kids (and yourself!) is always a struggle. I know many parents who are hesitant to allow their children to paint their faces for Halloween. With worries that their makeup will not only wreck clothes and costumes but also prove to be a nightmare to wash off. Fear no more! Norwex’s multitude of body care products will allow your children’s imaginations to run wild, making you the parents of the year.
Norwex Body Pack cloths are a natural way to remove Halloween makeup with ease, using only water! No more makeup remover will be required! These are also FABULOUS for removing all of your own makeup, even dark eye makeup, including waterproof mascara. I question what ingredients are in makeup remover, but I know one thing for sure…I wouldn’t drink it in a liquid form. Instead, let the Norwex super-gentle microfiber pamper your skin and cleanse it, by using only water!
TIP: Many people feel the need to scrub hard with a damp cloth to remove their makeup but, with the Norwex Body Pack that is not necessary. Make sure you rub (gently!) in an upward and outward motion, leaving lots of moisture in the cloth to prevent overworking your skin. Your cloth should feel wet and heavy, and feel nice on your face while in does its job!!
One of my customers is a delightful clown for kids birthday parties! She only uses the Norwex Body Pack cloths to remove her plethora of makeup!
With Norwex’s Stain Remover, no magician is needed to clean up stains; this product will do the magic! The spray is given a ‘thumbs-up’ for all types of fabrics and stains, so there’s no problem, no matter the costume! Just rub the Stain Remover on the target area, letting it soak for 1-5 minutes. Then, throw your clothes or costumes in the washing machine, like normal, and let the spray do its work. This product also works great on stains from pizza fingers, spaghetti sauce, grease, blood, and red wine – so you can entertain Halloween evening worry-free, too!
This product is also hypoallergenic, containing no dyes or petroleum solvents, keeping everyone’s skin clean and free from irritations.
There are no excuses to not get creative this holiday season; show me your wonderful costumes on my Norwex Facebook Page!
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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.
Norwex introduced Counter Cloths as a great alternative to paper towel. They are the same size as a half-sheet paper towel, come in beautiful colours, are made from 50% recycled materials, have a super-absorbent unique new weave for quick spill clean up. These beauties are perfect for your kitchen and bathroom. They even have Norwex’s self-purifying Baclock™ agent in the cloth. Seriously, with these handy little cloths, you won’t ever grab for a paper towel again!
For anyone who loves to use a half-sized paper towel as their dinner napkin, Norwex has an alternative for you too. On average, a family of 4 uses more than 3000 paper napkins/paper towels a year. The Napkins are made from 50% recycled materials (5 plastic bottles per set of 4) and are lovely. They come in either charcoal or peacock blue, the microfiber also has Baclock™ agent so you can use them more than once before laundering, they are quick-drying and very absorbent, plus they make your dinner table look pretty. Saving trees and dressing up dinner all at the same time… not bad.
