“A well-loved home will always be a bit of beautiful mess!” ~ Melissa Michaels, author of The Inspired Room blog
“Home is the nicest word there is.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
“It’s so good to be home.” ~ Unknown
“Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home.” ~ Mother Theresa
“Our home should inspire us to go out into the world to do great things & then welcome us back for refreshment.” – Melissa Michaels
We don’t often talk about how cleaning our homes contributes to making our homes a sweet place to be… but a clean home is a big part of creating a place to inspire us. I believe our homes should be a little slice of heaven on earth. It should be a place you love to be in and feel comfortable to invite others to visit. Although mess can be beautiful and a sign of life… you still need a clean home. But clean does not require chemicals or need to take lots of time. Norwex provides cleaning tools to help create a safe haven, without chemicals, green-clean solutions that save time and money. Norwex products also equip you to clean less so you can live more because they are simply to use. One of the top-10 favourite Norwex products is the Cleaning Paste! It is a versatile, hard-working, long-lasting, phosphate-free, smartly-packaged FANASTIC product!
Cleaning Paste is so versatile it deserves a list (though not exhaustive) of different ways you can use this top-10 product:
Clean Cameras at your Dairy Farm (read the testimony)
Remove Stains from Hard Surfaces
Clean White Fridge Door Handles
Remove Crayon, Pencil, Marker from Hard Surfaces
Make Chrome Shine
Clean Stainless Steel (but NOT brushed stainless steel)
Clean Campers and Boats
Clean Coffee Makers and Kettles
Cleaning Paste is an easy-to-use, long-lasting (typically one year or longer) hard paste. Simply wet an EnviroCloth or Spirisponge and with a circular motion, clean the dirty surface then rinse the surface with water and dry with an EnviroCloth or Window Cloth. The best thing… is that paste is a safe, environmentally-friendly product that you can use to effectively clean a variety surfaces in your home.
Cleaning Paste is so easy to use and versatile it will quickly become one of your top-10 Norwex products! Leave a comment about how it helped you create your “home sweet home” by providing some “elbow grease” to your mess.
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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 has lots of great products!!! Some of them are similar and can create confusion about how to properly care for them and when to use them. The Kitchen Cloth and EnviroCloth are two of awesome products that can often get confused. This post is designed to remove any confusion and answer any questions you may have.
How are the Kitchen Cloth and the EnviroCloth the same?
Both cloths have the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following proper care and use instructions.
Both cloths are woven from microfiber that is 1/200th the size of a human hair.
These tiny microfibers, that are woven together, pick up even the tiniest particles and trap them between the tiny microscopic spaces between the fibers.
Both cloths are embedded with micro silver called BacLock™ which is an antibacterial agent for self-purifying purposes only. The Baclock™ agent inhibits odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth.
I have sold Norwex since 2006, this is prior to the launch of both the Baclock™ agent and the Kitchen Cloths. The Enviro cloth stood alone. Back then, without Baclock™, the Enviro cloth certainly remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following proper care and use instructions. The incredible microfiber cleans the surface, the Baclock™ agent inhibits odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth within the cloth.
Just by using water, surfaces will be streak-free, polished and shiny!
They both hold up to seven times its weight in liquid and grime.
How are the Kitchen Cloth and the EnviroCloth different?
The weight and density of the amount of woven fiber woven in these cloths is different.
One EnviroCloth has 10 million feet or 3 million meters of microfiber in one cloth. If unravelled, one cloth would reach from Winnipeg, Canada into the Gulf of Mexico. The EnviroCloth is woven tighter and is 35% more dense.
The Kitchen Cloth does not have the same amount of microfiber and is not woven as densely as the EnviroCloth.
As the weight of the EnviroCloth is heavier, it absorbs much more than a Kitchen Cloth.
As less fiber is woven into the Kitchen Cloth, the EnviroCloth can clean and pick up more particles… for a longer period of time and off a greater amount of surface area.
More Microfiber, means more fibers to pick up dirt, grease and moisture giving more cleaning power.
The EnviroCloth comes in 4 great colours, including: grey, red, blue & green. The Kitchen Cloth is available in an assortment of 7 trendy colours, including: pomegranate, latte, sea mist, salmon, blue, graphite & orchid, plus they have matching Kitchen Towels to complement any home decor.
Some homeowners like to colour code their home with the tea towels, using one colour for drying hands and another complementary colour for drying dishes.
Use the Kitchen Cloth for light cleaning around your home. Give your surfaces, including; stainless steel, enamel, ceramic, glass, chrome, granite, marble, quartz tile, wood and china, a streak-free polish with just a Kitchen Cloth!
For heavier cleaning, or as a chemical replacement around your home, I exclusively recommend the EnviroCloth!
Mistaken Identity:
Given the name, Kitchen Cloth, many homeowners assume this cloth is intended for washing their dishes in soapy water. That is not the case. For the best performance and care, I recommend you exclusively use it with water. Unfortunately, if you regularly submerge the Kitchen Cloth in soapy water, the soap will coat the microfiber and micro silver Backlock™ agent embedded within the cloth, making it ineffective to inhibits odors from bacteria and your cloth may start to smell. When customers reach out to me, because their cloths smell… this is over 90% of the problem.
How long are the cloths good for?
This has been the riddle I’ve said to my customers since 2006…
When you get a new cloth, write the date on the tag. When the cloth is two years old, cut off the tag, the cloth is now a rag!
Norwex cloths can be reused around your home for up to 10 years. After two years, the EnviroCloth is still effective for detailing the inside of your vehicle, wiping your patio furniture and dusting around the home. But if you want to know for sure that the cloth is being used to its full capability as a chemical replacement and that it still has the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from a surface when following the proper care and use instructions, I recommend you use a cloth that is less than two years old.
Care Instruction:
Launder in the washing machine and dryer regularly.
Launder with lint-free laundry.
Avoid fabric softeners, bleach and other chemical cleaning products.
Wash in hot water.
For best results use scent-free laundry detergent.
Deep Cleaning Cloths:
Put all of your microfiber cloths in a sink or a large pot.
Sprinkle a scoop of Norwex UPP Ultra Plus Power Laundry Detergent over the cloths.
Pour boiling hot water over the product.
Stir a couple times and allow it to soak.
Repeat this process until your water stays clean after soaking.
How long does the micro silver last?
The micro silver is embedded into the cloth. It can not be laundered out and it can not separate from the Microfiber. Read this post: How is Silver Embedded?
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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.
Why would I use Dryer Balls instead of dryer sheets?
How can I get fresh scented laundry without dryer sheets?
I get asked lots of questions about the Norwex Dryer Balls and the Fluff & Tumble Dryer Balls. Hopefully this post will answer any questions you might have about our beloved Norwex Dryer Balls.
Why would I use Dryer Balls instead of dryer sheets?
Answer: According to Scientific American, “traditional dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners contain some of the most harmful ingredients, including; benzyl acetate (linked to pancreatic cancer), benzyl alcohol (upper respiratory irritant), ethanol (linked to central nervous system disorders) and chloroform (a neurotoxin and carcinogen). As our clothes cover our skin, these ingredients are both inhaled as well as absorbed into our skin.” Norwex’s dryer balls offer a chemical free option…. isn’t that wonderful!!!
Why did my green Dryer Balls crack?
Answer: The green Dryer Balls are made from a high-grade PVC plastic that is sensitive to change in temperature. It expands in the heat and contracts in the cold. The reason Dryer Balls crack is because someone (probably not you) likely left the Dryer Balls in the dryer on a cold day. Think about it, if you leave you dryer balls in the barrel of your dryer they will get cold — almost as cold as outside due to the outside vent attached to your dryer. When you turn your dryer on, it gets hot quickly, causing a drastic temperature change in the dryer ball, sometimes enough to cause it to crack. Solution? Store you dryer balls in your laundry basket.
Why did my green Dryer Ball tips turn black? Are they ruined? Will they stain my clothes?
Answer: Green Dryer Balls will slowly take on the colour from clothing, therefore, turning the tips dark. Don’t worry, they still work like they did when the tips were bright green. In fact, in my house, we have been using the same Dryer Balls for the past 10 years and they are still doing their job! The Dryer Balls will not stain your lighter clothing either… so even if they aren’t as pretty as they used to be, they don’t need replacing.
Why do I still get static?
Answer: Static is caused because hot items are chasing each other around in a confined space… it is physics. The reason that traditional dryer sheets work to reduce static is that they coat the clothing with chemicals which stops them from sticking together. The Norwex Dryer Balls add space clothing to allow for quicker drying (saving you electricity costs & reducing wrinkles) and therefore static can occur if you over dry your laundry. A few static-reducing tips: Reduce your drying time by 25%. Reduce your drying temperature. Remove light weight or synthetic fibers as soon as they are dry, or wash similar fibers together so they dry evenly.
How can I add a fresh scent to my laundry?
Answer: The Norwex Fluff & Tumble Dryer Balls are made from 100% natural wool and are perfect for adding pure essential oils to your laundry for added scent and medicinal benefits. How? After your laundry is dry, remove 2 of the Fluff & Tumble Dryer Balls and apply 2 drops of pure essential oil (like Lavender) onto each ball. Simply rub the Dryer Ball in your hands and toss back in on the air fluff cycle (so you don’t damage the oil) for 10 minutes. Your laundry will smell heavenly.
For heavy soiled and smelly laundry – like from pig or dairy farmers, oil field workers, urine scent from working with children or geriatric patients and even bad sweat scent from working or your workout clothes – there is Odour Eliminator. Just place one capful of this amazing enzyme-based cleaner in with your wash cycle and it will remove all unwanted scent.
Which Dryer Ball is better? The green Dryer Ball of the Fluff & Tumble?
Answer:Check out this previous post for a comparison of Norwex’s Dryer Balls.
Norwex Dryer Balls a wonderful, effective, environmentally-friendly tool to reduce the chemicals in your laundry room. Have any more questions not covered here? Leave a comment!
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.
Bathrooms are areas in our homes that need cleaning on a regular basis. Bathrooms harbour bacteria, soap scum, hard water stains and sometimes stink. Bathrooms are small enclosed areas, so the cleaners we spray onto the surfaces in our bathrooms also get inhaled into our lungs. Want a new way to tackle your bathroom? The first time I ever really thought about bathroom cleaners, was when I was pregnant with our first child, and my husband offered to clean the shower! He didn’t want me inhaling the strong fumes while in the enclosed space of our shower stall. I realize now that if you should avoid something because you are pregnant, you should ALWAYS avoid it. No one should be inhaling chemicals when cleaning their home.
Bathrooms require a ‘heavy duty’ clean but with Norwex you won’t compromise your health or your environment to do it. The Blue Diamond All-in-One Bathroom Cleaner is one the Top 10 favourite products. Like its name suggests, Blue Diamond is designed to replace dozens of traditional bathroom cleaners without harsh chemicals but still delivering deep clean to all surfaces, eliminating odor-causing bacteria and germs, plus removing rust stains, water stains & soap scum. Your bathroom will shine in no time!
Blue Diamond is a thick, highly-concentrated formula, phosphate-free, alkyl phenol ethoxylates-free, and fragrance-free. It contains organic salts and citric acids to replace strong corrosive acids and is readily biodegradable — even the container is recyclable!!!!
The fact that this gel product is scent free, is huge!! I have a number of house cleaners who exclusively use this product. Two ladies shared with me that the product they previously used — which are common store bought cleaners — gave them bleeding noses from the constant exposure. Many of us dislike cleaning one or two showers…these ladies clean that many and more each day! Since switching to Norwex, they no longer have this issue. Over 13 years ago, I vividly recall pulling the edge of my shirt over my nose, to avoid inhaling the fumes.
Here is why Cindy Highland, USA, loves Blue Diamond:
“My father lives in Nebraska – VERY HARD WATER. All of his sinks feel like sand paper. I used the Blue Diamond at full strength on his sink, using my EnviroCloth. I let it sit for about 10-15 minutes, paying special attention that it didn’t dry. Took a scrubby and voila!!!!! The sink is as smooth as a baby’s bottom. That sink is at least 30 years old and has never been so smooth! I’m totally sold.”
You can clean all the surfaces in your bathroom with this product. It is both a cleaning agent and a descaling agent in one with the ability to cling to all surfaces.
TOILET: Squirt a thin stream in your toilet, work around the toilet with the Ergonomic Toilet Brush, let sit for 5 minutes and flush.
SINKS, SHOWERS & TUBS: Pre-wet surface. Apply a light stream on surface and immediately spread with EnviroCloth or Bathroom Scrub Mitt, rinse immediately.
PORCELAIN: Dilute 1 part Cleaner : 7 parts Water. Apply a light stream on surface and immediately spread with EnviroCloth or Bathroom Scrub Mitt, rinse immediately.
NATURAL STONE SURFACES: Do not use.
I am often asked, what is the difference between the Blue Diamond and the Descaler? There are two kinds of housekeepers and Norwex has the solution for them both!!
Those who clean their home weekly…use the Blue Diamond.
Gel product, you can dilute.
Those who clean when they see it’s needed…require the Descaler. (Watch for a post coming soon.)
Spray product, you never dilute.
So next time you (or your hubby) tackle the enclosed areas of your bathroom, breath confidently. Come armed with an EnviroCloth or a Bathroom Scrub Mitt and this amazing Blue Diamond Cleaner to make your bathroom shine!!!
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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.
What is Norwex? Is Norwex new to you? Or are you wondering what Norwex product would be great to add to your collection? Look no further. Let me share the top 10 favourite Norwex products that will get you well on your way to transforming your home into a safe haven. These are the products I sell the most, they are tried-and-true, and have become the cleaning staples in my home for the past 10 years.
EnviroCloth — It is the cloth that started Norwex and has the ability to remove up to 99% of bacteria from surface when your following proper care and use instructions. They are simple to use and simply clean your home with just water.
Window Cloth— A Norwex staple that used along side the EnviroCloth to polish surfaces and windows. Use the Window Cloth dry to polish the surface after wiping with a wet EnviroCloth, or mist your windows or mirror with water and polish to a streak-free shine!
These two cloths are amazing and are best friends. When working side by side they can clean and polish anything in the home! Not to mention how fast I clean my house now and everything stays cleaner longer! These are the first two must-have items to purchase when you start your Norwex collection.” ~ Meighan, Illinois, USA
Blue Diamond All-in-One Bathroom Cleaner — This highly concentrated cleaner is perfect for all your bathroom cleaning needs. It has both cleaning and descaling properties without corrosive fumes to remove hard water deposits, soap scum, rust spots and leaving all the surfaces in your bathroom shiny. ** do not use on natural stone.
Descaler — This Descaler consists of natural acids to effectively remove mineral deposits, soap scum, lime/scale, calcium and rust stains without damaging the surfaces with scrubbing. It makes your taps & drains, your shower doors & curtains, shower stalls & bathtubs all SHINY. Spray Descaler on the desired surface, wait 5 minutes and wipe with an EnviroCloth or Bathroom Mitt to reveal a perfectly clean surface. TIP: Put a little Descaler in a plastic bag and attach it onto your shower head with an elastic band…come back a couple hours later to sparkling clean spray nozzle! ** do not use on natural stone.
Vintage Body Pack — This 3-pack, super-soft, Norwex Microfiber Cloth pack is perfect for cleansing your face and body gently, yet thoroughly. It is perfect for sensitive or mature skin and works to cleanse skin and remove excess oils, exfoliate acne and blackheads with just water.
Superior Mop Collection — The versatile mop system comes with both the dry mop pad and the wet mop pad for a complete floor cleaning system. The dry mop uses static electricity to attract the smallest particles as you first go over your floor in a figure eight pattern. Then quickly clean out the dry mop pad with a few strokes of the RubberBrush into the garbage. Grab the wet mop pad (which has self-purifying qualities of BacLock™ technology), rinse with warm water, roll to wring it out and then clean your floor without any chemicals. The mop is designed for linoleum, vinyl, laminate, wood, marble & tile flooring and will leave each surface streak free.
Cleaning Paste— Affectionately known as “elbow grease in a jar”. This product’s active ingredients include: marble flour, natural soup & coconut oil. Use it with a Spirisponge or EnviroCloth to clean and polish chrome, stainless steel, porcelain, burnt on food, rust stains, coffee pots, glasses, food-ware products, bathtubs and tiles and lawn furniture. It is fantastic! *not for use on brushed stainless steel.
Dusting Mitt — Can be used wet or dry to effectively and quickly dust all areas of your home, without any chemicals, including; blinds, screens, fans and vent covers. The Dusting Mitt uses static electricity to trap dust and allergens in the mitt. It has Baclock™ in the cloth goes to work to self-purify and inhibit odors from bacteria, mold and mildew growth in the mitt. For dirter jobs, spray a mist of water on the mitt and wipe down the surface.
Fluff & Tumble Dryer Balls — These 100% natural wool dryer balls are a fantastic alternative to using chemical-laden dryer sheets to reduce the static in your clothes, reduce your drying time and you can add the beautiful scent of essential oils to the Dryer Ball to freshen your clothes.
Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent — An awesome detergent that is highly concentrated, stain-fighter, safe for all linens, colour safe, safe for both HE and conventional washing machines, free from phosphates, filler, perfumes and is 100% biodegradable. What more could you want in a clothes detergent?
Give one or all ten of these top 10 favourite products a try. Post below, how many of these products do you own? Let me know how they have made your home a safer haven.
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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.
I am so excited about the New Norwex Products for 2016! This year Norwex has made some of it’s favourite products even better… more versatile and more environmentally friendly. Take a moment to see what is new and if it could better your Norwex collection.
Microfiber Variety Pack (MVP)
It is a 3-pack of the most favourite Norwex cloths in a compact size (16 x 16 cm), including; the famous EnviroCloth, Window Cloth & Body Cloth. They are small which makes them a perfect size to introduce a new friend or to just always have the right cloth right in your bag.
Shower Gel & Body Lotion – New Size Available
Norwex’s fantastic Body Lotion & Shower Gel are now available in a larger family size (500 ml)! Nothing smells better than these AMAZING products!
The Shower Gel is a gentle foaming cleanser for your skin, made from the derivatives of fruit sugar, sweet pineapple, coconut & lemon; complete with aloe vera to moisturize and nourish your skin. This product is proudly organic and certified by both BDIH & Natrue. It is still available in the original convenient 200 ml size.
The Organic Body Lotion is a perfect match for the Shower Gel and is made from natural botanicals including coconut oil, grape seed oil, aloe vera, sweet almond oil, shea butter and vitamin E. This lotion will leave your skin feeling wonderful and is certified organic from both BDIH & Natrue. It is also still available in the original convenient 200 ml size.
Ergonomic Toilet Brush & Holder – New & Improved
The Ergonomic Toilet Brush & Holder was improved to include an antibacterial agent to inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold, keeping the toilet brush clean (not to mention ergonomic to reach all those little spaces)… Isn’t that smart?
Air Freshener Bags – New & Improved
These Air Freshener Bags add long-lasting freshness to the needed areas in your home… without chemicals! Bamboo, which is fast growing and sustainable, is the secret ingredient… it is turned to charcoal and is able to absorb odours, mold or mildew-causing moisture. During the day time, it naturally recharges. They last for 2 years and then can be used as a natural fertilizer. The improved part is that you can replace the charcoal insert… making it an even more sustainable product! They are available in 2 convenient sizes.
Let me know if you have any products you would like to see Norwex create and distribute. These products are proof that Norwex continues to create solutions to make homes safe havens.
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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.
