Bliss Home Care Services is very excited to announce the launch of a range of natural cleaning products that are now available for purchase for our clients, friends and those who care about keeping their home clean with only natural cleaning products.

These natural cleaning products are ones that we and the Bliss team have been using for years when cleaning our and our client’s homes. We made a conscious decision when we started our business over 15 years ago that we would only use Australian made natural cleaning products. We conducted a lot of research and sourced this range that has been certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA is an independent body who assess the products to ensure they meet environmental, human health, ethical impact criteria.

There has been lots of research that proves toxic chemicals are harmful to our health and the wider environment. There is absolutely no reason to still be using any toxic cleaning products that are harmful to your and your family’s health. In our blog, 7 Reasons To Choose Green Cleaning, we discuss how you can switch to natural cleaning products in your home. It will not only save time and money but you will dramatically improve the lifestyle for yourself, your home, family, pets and the planet.

 

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Choose Our Natural Cleaning Products

1. Do not contain hazardous, dangerous, toxic or polluting ingredients
2. Free of all known or suspected carcinogens
3. Do not contain phosphate, ammonia, butyl cellusolve, aerosols or acid
4. Products are biodegradable
5. World class certification by GECA
6. Are cruelty free and not tested on animals
7. 100% Australian owned and made
8. Produced in compliance with current Good Manufacturing
9. Are septic tank, grey water and black water safe
10. Company with all Australian standards.

The range of natural cleaning products currently available include:

 

 

Let’s take a closer look at why the technology behind these products is so effective and why the products work so effectively…

Bio Bacterial & Enzyme Technology  

These biological cleaning products are made up of “good” living bacteria to break down and liquefy soils such as fat, proteins, carbohydrates and grease while simultaneously eliminating odours. When this type of bacteria cleaning product is applied, the microorganisms begin to digest the waste and the “good” bacteria in turn multiply. The soil is broken down and continues to break down the soil into smaller pieces, until there is nothing left.

Bacteria use the enzymes they produce to break down complex waste into simple compounds, which it then consumes, thereby completely eliminating grime, waste and odours.

The bio bacterial cleaner makes cleaning quicker and easier. The product keeps on working even after you have finished cleaning.

As always, nature provides the answers. For good health and a naturally clean home, look no further. To purchase or learn more about these products click here.

So you’re looking for a house cleaning service to clean your home? This is your private sanctuary and we understand the importance you place on a quality clean, your privacy and ensuring you get the best results.

At Bliss Home Care Services, we can proudly say there are a few things that set us apart from other house cleaning service companies you may encounter. We are a family run business and take pride in our reputation and the quality of our service. We place a huge emphasis on training our team, quality control and only using green cleaning products so that your home, our employees and environment is safe and cared for.

Below we shed some light on what you can expect when you engage with Bliss Home Care Services.

You set the priorities

We will come to your home and go through your expectations and needs with you, find out what you want cleaned, what you don’t want cleaned and assess your home so that we can provide you with a thorough quote. If you have a specific day, time or expected hours of cleaning you want to work with we will do our very best to meet your requirements. We provide you with a detailed quote and an hourly rate - we are very transparent in our services. It’s only fair to you and to our cleaners that the expectations are set accurately so that there is no room for misinterpretation.

The first clean may take a little longer

Yes, that’s correct. When we first attend to cleaning a new home we may take a little longer. This is because we provide a thorough clean of each area of your home or the areas that have been agreed to.

If you choose Bliss Home Care as your cleaning provider, we take the time to attend your home with our dedicated cleaner to provide a detailed brief of expectations and on-site training. We also do spot checks to ensure that our cleaning standards are always maintained at our expected high standards.

We will ensure that every surface is spotless so that you can get on with enjoying your time in your home with those you love. From then on we will continue to provide cleaning services to maintain the areas of your home with our high cleaning standards in the agreed timeline.

Our team of employees are fully trained

We do not hire contractors or independent operators. We take pride in hiring quality cleaners and the Bliss team we have created who provide a quality cleaning service. Because we hire employees you can rest assured that you will have a regular cleaner who has been police checked, is covered by WorkCover and is ethically trained.

The Bliss team are all thoroughly trained in our processes and procedures for using our eco-friendly cleaning products. You know you can rely on a consistent team of cleaners rather than strangers and different people coming into your home each week or fortnight. This also means a high level of consistency with the standard and quality of your regular clean.

We only use Australian made eco-friendly cleaning products

We are passionate about the environment and keeping your home safe from toxic chemicals. Using quality green cleaning products and showing our team how to use them effectively is important to us. In fact, we use the very same cleaning products in our own home.

We don’t cut corners by replacing products with cheap commercial cleaners and our employees are known for providing a quality service and never cutting corners to work faster. Commercial cleaners are known for being full of toxic chemicals which can be detrimental to your health.

All our products are sourced locally and certified by the Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA are an independent body that provide certified products with ‘tick of approval’ that demonstrates these products are better for the environment, have a lower impact on human health and have been ethically made.

The Australian made high quality products we use are free of toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your family and pets and because they have been tried and tested, we know they work. You may like to read our article 7 Reasons to Choose Green Cleaning to find out more about why you should choose green cleaning products over traditional cleaning products.

So whether you’re after a regular clean, a one-off spring clean or a vacate clean you can rest assured that we will develop a house cleaning service plan that works with your priorities and requirements.

 

If you’re in the midst of moving, you know how stressful and time consuming it can be. The end of lease cleaning is often the last thing on your mind. However, it is important to leave the home clean, particularly if you’re a tenant so that you can have your bond returned in its entirety.

In this latest blog we are sharing with you our End of Lease Cleaning Checklist so that you can work your way through each area of the home. It’s no secret, dust, dirt and grime builds up over time in corners, hard to get to areas and under furniture that is often too difficult or heavy to move so the cleaning is best done when the home has been vacated.

Hallway
 Clean walls, floors and skirting boards
 Remove any nails and hooks from walls (repair and repaint if required)
 Remove any cobwebs
 Check light-fittings and replace any light bulbs not working

Living Room
 Empty all cupboards and wipe down shelves
 Clean walls and floors, removing any nails and hooks from walls (repair and repaint if required)
 Clean window ledges and windows (both inside and outside)
 Clear sliding door tracks and ensure doors are cleaned inside and out
 Ensure curtains or blinds have been cleaned and are in working order
 Remove any cobwebs in corners, wipe down skirting boards
 Check light-fittings and replace any bulbs not working
 Dust ceiling fans and heating/cooling outlets

Bedrooms
 Empty all cupboards and wipe down shelves
 Clean walls, remove any nails and hooks from walls (repair and repaint if required)
 Clean window ledges and windows (both inside and outside)
 Ensure curtains or blinds have been cleaned and are in working order
 Vacuum and steam clean carpets, remove any stains if required
 Remove any cobwebs and wipe down skirting boards
 Check light-fittings and replace any bulbs not working
 Dust ceiling fans and heating/cooling outlets

Kitchen
 Empty all cupboards and wipe down shelves and cupboard doors
 Wipe down splashback, remove grease and grime
 Clean cooktop, removing any stains and build up of grease and grime
 Clean the oven including oven walls, oven racks and baking trays
 Clean the rangehood, including filters and ensure it’s in working order (including light)
 Disinfect sink, taps and plugs, ensure no blocked drains
 Clean dishwasher and wipe down door, ensure working properly
 Wipe down benchtops and cupboard doors
 Clean walls and floors, particularly where the fridge was placed
 Clean window ledges and windows (both inside and outside)

Bathrooms
 Clear and clean all shelves and drawers
 Remove any mould from tiles, grout, walls and ceiling
 Clean vanity, bath, shower and shower screen
 Polish and clean taps and showerhead
 Wipe down benchtop and cupboard doors
 Polish mirror, clean windows and window sills
 Dust ceiling fan and ensure it’s in working order
 Disinfect and clean toilet and toilet seat

Laundry
 Clear and clean all shelves and drawers
 Wipe down splashback, benchtop and cupboard doors
 Remove mould from tiles, grout, walls
 Disinfect and clean laundry trough
 Clean laundry door (inside and outside)

Outdoor Areas
 Clear and clean the porch, verandah or alfresco
 Remove cobwebs from exterior walls, windows and eaves
 Mow lawns, pull weeds and ensure garden has been maintained
 Sweep path and/or driveway and garage including garage door
 Replace any broken outdoor light bulbs and check they are working
 If you have pets ensure any pet droppings have been collected and cleaned
 Remove any rubbish, kids toys and pet toys from front and back yard areas.

We hope our End of Lease Cleaning Checklist helps you work your way through to a clean home and always remember to use natural cleaning products to protect yourself and the environment. If you’d like to read our 10 Natural Home Cleaning Hacks article, click here. To make cleaning easier we suggest carrying all your cleaning supplied in a portable holder (such as a bucket or tub) to make it easier to move them from room to room.

If you’re finding it difficult to find the time for your end of lease clean, the team at Bliss Home Care Services can get it sorted for you. Our attention to detail will ensure that the property is in immaculate condition. Enquire now about our end of lease cleaning services. Email us or call us on 03 9383 1363.

Spring has definitely arrived and it’s the perfect time to spring clean your home and dust away the winter blues.  As passionate advocators for natural, chemical free cleaning we want to share our spring cleaning list and some natural solutions with you so that you can make the most of the health benefits and enjoy your rejuvenated and refreshed haven.

General Home Areas

• Use a microfiber cloth to dust your blinds and wash curtains. Microfibre holds dust particles rather than just moving them around.
• Open doors and windows to cleanse the air in the home.
• Clean your windows with a natural solution of white vinegar and water. Mix one part of water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle and use a lint free cloth for best results.
• Shake out your rugs and then vacuum. Place them outside in direct sunlight to kill any bacteria build up.
• Dust all internal surfaces, ceiling fans and behind furniture where there is a build-up of dust.
• Remove dust from external window furnishings and remove any cob webs.

Bedrooms

• Rotate or flip your mattresses.
• Open windows to clear and clean the air in the bedrooms.
• Wash your bedroom linen, including pillow cases, doona covers and kid’s soft toys.
• Place pillows, bed spreads and doonas in direct sunlight to kill any bacteria.
• Declutter and organise your wardrobe. Refer to our Tips for Organising Your Home

Kitchen

• Wipe down cupboard doors to remove grease build up. Combine 1 cup warm water with half cup baking soda. It’s a great natural degreaser and works very effectively.
• Clean out your fridge, wipe down shelves and compartments with a natural solution. Mix together two parts warm water with one part vinegar and a few drops of lemon essential oil in a spray bottle.
• Empty, wipe down and reorganise your kitchen cupboards. Refer to our Tips for Organising Your Home
• Thoroughly wash and dry your kitchen bins to ensure there is no germ build up.

Bathroom

• Thoroughly wash bathmats and towels that may have collected dust over the winter months.
• Steam clean your taps, shower, grout to kill mould and bacteria. Steam cleaners use plain tap water that is heated to a high temperature to be effective.
• Make a scented scrub for your bath, sink and shower base. Mix half a cup of baking soda, half cup of vinegar and five drops of bergamot or lime oil for a scented scrub.
• Use undiluted white vinegar to wipe down high-germ areas such as the toilet, door knobs, waste bins and tiled floors.

Laundry

• Clean and dust under washing machine and dryer. Lots of dust collects in these areas.
• Clear out filters in your washing machine and dryer for cleanliness and efficiency. Lint builds up over time and can have disastrous effects.
• Clean out cupboards, wipe them down with a natural water and vinegar solution. Reorganising and decluttering will help you find things when you’re in a hurry.

Living Areas

• Wash and thoroughly dry blankets, throw rugs and cushion covers.
• Place pillows outdoors in direct sunlight to kill any bacteria. Wash if required.
• If you have a fireplace give it a good clean so there’s no soot remaining.
• Vacuum furniture to remove crumbs, dirt and dust build up.
• Open windows and air out the living area. Use a diffuser with your favourite essential oils to invigorate a sense of freshness.
• Dust any pot plants and take them outside for fresh air, sunlight and a good watering. Bring them back into the home to purify the air in your home.
• Clean and dust around electrical items with a microfiber cloth. Be sure to use a dry cloth for safety reasons.
• Declutter and reorganise your living space. There’s nothing that breathes new life into a room. Get rid of things you no longer need or use.

Just remember that supermarket chemical laden cleaning products are not going to do you or your family’s health any favours. Always opt for natural cleaning solutions that you can make yourself. Most of the time you have all you need in your cupboards at home and at a fraction of the cost too.

Now that you have our spring cleaning list, it’s time to get started. It doesn’t have to be a huge chore, get the whole family involved, share the tasks and make it fun. Turn up the music and dance your way through each area of the home. You’ll feel great once it’s done and you can all sit back and enjoy the sunshine streaming through those gleaming windows.

Do you feel like you’re living in chaos? Can’t seem to find anything? Sick of looking through piles of things only give up on finding that item?  Keeping your home organised and neat can be tricky, particularly when we’re busy and rushed. But it doesn’t have to be difficult and organising your home will make you more efficient, give you time to rest and relax and also make the task of keeping it clean faster and easier.  Here are 28 genius tips for organising your home to keep each area of your home organised, from your kitchen to living areas to bathrooms and bedrooms and everywhere in between…

Having an organised home is refreshing.

KITCHEN TIPS

1. Utensil drawers can quickly get messy and only take a few minutes to organise. Pull everything out and group things according to size. Place all the larger items together and use containers for the smaller items so they can be easily located.
2. Use large cardboard or plastic containers to store packaged items to avoid these being spread across shelves taking up lots of room. For example, in one container group together different types of pasta and rice, in another group together packaged items such as crackers, nutrition bars and nuts, in another group together tinned items such as tuna, beans and beetroot. You’ll know exactly where to find each item when you’re looking for it.
3. Chopping boards and baking trays can be difficult to access when piled up on top of each other. Try stacking these vertically for easy access. If you’re handy you can even create vertical dividers to keep these separated and even easier to access.
4. Drink bottles can be difficult to store, but magazine holders tilted on their side enable you to stack these in the pantry or cupboard. Simple, effective and inexpensive.
5. Do you have a stack of take away menus that you throw in the cupboard or drawer? Use a plastic sleeve folder to store them all in the one place. When it’s take-out night you know exactly where all the menus are.
6. Hang a shopping list or note pad inside your pantry or cupboard door so that you can make a note whenever you are low or run out of a product. Before you pop out to the shops grab the shopping list and never forget another thing.

LIVING AREA TIPS

1. Invest in storage ottomans for a triple treat. You can use these as extra seating, a coffee table and storage space! You can use storage ottomans to store extra cushions, blankets, magazines and any board games. Your items will still be accessible and all in one place with added benefits.
3. Gadgets and electronics should have a place in your living area. Use a basket or box in the living room where these can be stored. It makes tidying the room faster as you can drop them into their home and you and other family members will know exactly where to find them when needed.

BATHROOM TIPS

1. Do you find it difficult to grab that bottle at the back of the cupboard without knocking over everything in front of it? Adding a lazy Susan to your bathroom cupboard will help you store extra shampoo, creams, deodorants and give you easily accessibility.
2. Keep your make up brushes or hair brushes in a jar or small vase on a bathroom ledge or in the cupboard. You will know exactly where that brush is when you’re looking for it, rather than rummaging through drawers.
3. Use drawer dividers to keep things neat and tidy in the drawers. Group things together in your drawers which helps keep smaller items neat and accessible when you’re in a hurry.
4. If you have young children, you’re probably sick of the bath toys that roam the bathroom. These can be stored easily and effectively in a laundry wash bag. Hang the bag on a suction cup hook and they will also drip dry one bath time is finished.

BEDROOM TIPS

1. The space under your bed is area you don’t want to waste, especially use this to maximise the space in a small bedroom. You can easily store away non-essentials or seasonal items such as blankets, sheet sets or mattress and pillow protectors under your bed to make more room in your cupboards.
2. Kids’ rooms are often strewn with toys. Consider a colourful cube storage system that can be used to sort out groups of toys. It will add bright colours to a kid’s room and enables you to keep things tidy with a few simple steps. It may also encourage kids to help you out. Allocate them a coloured box to fill with all the Lego, Barbies or stuffed toys.
3. Declutter your dresser and make use of the space wisely. Use a tray to store special things on – a favourite photo frame, perfumes and jewellery. Make use of small pretty dishes or bowls to keep trinkets or jewellery in one place.

WARDROBE TIPS

1. Cleanse your wardrobe by getting rid of anything that no longer fits or you haven’t worn in the last 12 months. If you’re getting rid of clothes you can make a few extra dollars by selling them or donate them to a charity.
2. Once you have cleansed your wardrobe organise your clothing into groups – group pants, shirts, dresses, etc. You can then even organise these again by colours, length, occasion and seasons.
3. If the wardrobe space is tight consider storing away non-seasonal clothing to make room for what you need this season. For example, in summer you can store away heavy winter coats and jackets, woolen jumpers, gloves, scarves and hats.
4. Knitwear should be folded as they can lose their shape when placed on hangers. Stack them neatly on shelves but avoid high piles which will just spill and create more mess. If you do have lots of space between shelving use movable cubes to create extra shelving.
5. If you have bedside drawers, se containers or dividers to keep things separate and neat. Drawers can quickly become cluttered and messy but dividers work a treat.
6. If you love accessories such as scarves and belts consider adding a towel rail to the inside of your wardrobe or unused wall area in your wardrobe. You can hang your scarves, belts, ties and any other accessories neatly. The bonus is they will be visible and easy to access.

LAUNDRY TIPS

1. Create a laundry station. Depending on the size of your laundry you can either stack pull out baskets or have 3 side by side baskets for your dirty laundry. Use these to separate your dirty laundry by colours, dark clothing and white clothing. This is a space and time saver.
2. When you’re cleaning, save yourself lots of trips to the laundry cupboard by using a durable caddy or box to store your regular cleaning supplies. Keep all your favourite green cleaning supplies, brushes, cloths and gloves in there and take it with you when you move from room to room.
3. Struggling to find sheet sets and pillowcases? Fold your sheets and store sets inside one of the pillow cases and stack these in your linen closet. You will be quickly be able to identify the sheet set and know that everything you need is in the one place.
4. Once you’ve done the laundry use laundry baskets for each family member’s clean laundry. Simply place each person’s items in their own basket to make the task of putting clothes away easier. When not being used, the baskets can be stacked away in the laundry.

OFFICE/STUDY TIPS

1. Where there is lots of wiring and cables in the office or leads plugged into power-boards it can be difficult to know which one you are unplugging. Label the cords so that you can easily identify which one is for each electrical item.
2. When you purchase a new appliance or electrical item store the manuals and warranties in a clear plastic folder and store in your office or study. This way you will know exactly where the details are should you need to locate them or refer to instructions.
3. Maximise office wall space by using floating or hanging shelves. These enable you to place prized possessions or books while not taking up any of your floor space.

If you feel that the task of organising is overwhelming, simply start off by tackling one cupboard or one room at a time. Once you’re done working your way through each room of your home, you will feel a renewed sense of serenity and the chaos will dissipate, making it much easier to you’re your home clean and tidy.

Let’s face it, cleaning is not most people’s favourite chore, however it’s something we must do to keep our sanctuary of home fresh and clean. While there are hundreds of toxic cleaning products on supermarket shelves you could buy to do the job, the reality is the ones that work most effectively (and are not harmful to you or your family’s health) are those that you will find in your pantry and cupboards at home.

We are incredibly passionate about health and hygiene and looking after the environment for our future generations. With this in mind we’d like to share with you the 10 most effective natural home cleaning hacks for you that will have your home sparkly clean in no time at all.

10 Natural Home Cleaning Hacks to Keep your Home and the Environment Clean:

1. Sparkly Bathroom Taps

While you’re brushing your teeth simply use a little extra toothpaste and rub it over your bathroom taps. Let it work while you clean your pearly whites. With an old toothbrush that you no longer use, simply brush over the taps and surrounds. Rinse with warm water and not only will your teeth be sparkly clean but your bathroom tapware too!

2. Bacteria Free Showerhead

Half fill a small bag with undiluted white vinegar and tie to the end of your showerhead with a twist tie or something similar. Vinegar is a cheap and natural cleaning product that is effective on bacteria and mildew. Ensure that the showerhead is submerged in the vinegar and leave it overnight. In the morning remove it carefully and dispose of the vinegar before taking a shower.

3. No Chemical Toilet Cleaner

Vinegar is also an effective cleaner for the toilet bowl. Pour 1 cup of undiluted white vinegar in the toilet bowl and let it sit overnight. In the morning simply sprinkle the bowl with baking soda or borax and use the toilet brush to scrub away any stains and bacteria. You can also use undiluted vinegar to wipe down the toilet seat to eliminate urine stains and odour.

4. Odour Free Chopping Boards

Chopping boards can harbour odours, stains and bacteria without you even realizing. These can easily be scrubbed away with a little salt and half a lemon. Simply sprinkle your chopping board with 2 tablespoons of salt. Cut a lemon in half and use it to scrub the salt in circular motions over the chopping board. Rinse with warm water and you’ll have a naturally clean and deliciously zesty smelling chopping board. Ensure you allow it to completely dry before storing away.

5. Toxic Free Refrigerator Cleaner

Now a refrigerator that stores your food should be the last place you use toxic chemicals. The chemicals can penetrate your food and cause harmful side effects. Instead, clean your refrigerator (inside and outside) with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water. You can use a spray bottle for the mixture and simply wipe with a damp cloth.

6. Effective Microwave Cleaner

Easily clean microwave stains and spills by mixing half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of water in a glass bowl. Simply microwave for 2-3 minutes or until it boils and with a soft cloth wipe away any built up stains with ease. Be sure to use caution when removing the bowl of boiling water.

7. Grease Free Rangehood

Rangehoods often accumulate grease and grime over time. They feel sticky and grimy to touch and seem impossible to clean, but there is a simple and effective way to bring them back to life. Firstly remove the mesh part of the rangehood and take it to your laundry trough. Sprinkle it with baking soda and submerge it in warm/hot water with the baking soda for 2 hours. If it’s too large to fit in completely do half and then repeat on the other side. Rinse well and take outside to dry completely. While these parts are soaking and drying sprinkle a clean sponge with baking soda gently clean the rest of the rangehood. Ensure to wipe it completely clean so there are no streaks, it will look brand new again.

8. Deodorising Carpets and Rugs

If you have children or pets you’ll probably notice they spend lots of time on the floor playing all sorts of fun activities. While vacuuming will enable you to pick up any dust, dirt and crumbs left behind, you may also like to naturally deodorize and freshen the carpets and rugs. Don’t subject those you love most to harmful toxic chemicals. Instead create a mix of baking soda and a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Place these in an empty jar, give it a good shake, make holes in the top and sprinkle over the carpets and rugs. Wait for 30 minutes and then vacuum away.

9. Streak Free Glass Cleaner

Simply mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle for an effective glass cleaner. This is one mix that you can use for multiple purposes around the home, so be sure to keep one on hand. Spray your windows, glass doors, glass table tops or any other glass surface with the solution and clean with a lint free cloth for a streak free clean. Just be sure not to walk through the glass door next time you use it!

10. Fabric Softener

Why use chemical laden fabric softeners in your laundry when you can use a simple and effective household product? Simply add a cup of white vinegar to the final wash or rinse water. It acts as a fabric softener – it softens clothes and removes the static. Vinegar is not only effective but is much cheaper and less harmful that fabric softeners.

Steer clear of the harmful toxic cleaning products on the supermarket shelves that promise everything but in reality deliver harmful effects to your family, your pets and the environment. Make a conscious effort to protect your sanctuary and those you love most by adopting natural home cleaning habits. As you can see it doesn’t take a lot of money or effort to change your ways.

Are your cupboards full of cleaning products from supermarket shelves? These seemingly innocent and friendly looking products harbor many chemicals and toxic substances. They are covered up with lovely fragrances, bight packaging and promises of easy cleaning, but at what cost?

The toxicity in many traditional cleaning products are astounding. There’s a wide array of soaps, detergents, bleaching agents, polishes, glass cleaners, and specialized bathroom cleaning products that disinfect and make things germ free but these contribute to indoor air pollution and are poisonous. Some cleaning agents can cause respiratory irritation, watery eyes, chemical burns and others have been associated with chronic, long-term effects such as cancer and respiratory illnesses.

There are healthier ways.

Going green is a personal choice. It’s one that is embraced by individuals who become aware how harmful these toxic products can be. It’s embraced by those who want to live a longer healthier life, those who want to create a better environment for their family and pets and those who are concerned about our planet and want to make a difference.

At Bliss Home Care, we’re incredibly passionate about spreading the benefits of going green. In our own homes and our clients’ homes we only use green cleaning products.

Here’s 7 reasons why you too should choose green cleaning products over traditional cleaning products.

1. Improve indoor air quality

You can dramatically improve the indoor air quality of your home by removing harmful toxins and pollutants. In particular, if you have young children or any family members who have respiratory ailments such as asthma this will be a breath of fresh air. You should also regularly open doors and windows for ventilation and add indoor plants to your living areas which help to reduce carbon dioxide levels and increase humidity.

2. Avoid harmful effects with green products

Traditional and commercial cleaning products pose risks such as chemical burns to your skin and eyes. Always avoid any cleaning products that come with warnings on their labels – why would you knowingly bring these into your home and use them? Green cleaning products are not corrosive and must meet strict standards in Australia regarding inhalation toxicity, combustibility and skin absorption. Always choose green products to avoid harmful effects to your health.

3. Save money by making your own

You can save considerable amounts of money by mixing and using your own cleaning products. There are 3 simple products that you will mostly likely already have in your kitchen pantry that you can use to keep your home sparkly clean without the toxins – bi-carb soda, lemon and white vinegar. Take a look at our earth friendly cleaning blog for ways you can incorporate these into your cleaning regime for safe and effective earth friendly cleaning: https://blisshomecare.com.au/earth-friendly-cleaning/

4. Make cleaning easier

You don’t need a whole arsenal of toxic products to keep your home clean. Tackle your cleaning with green products that you can either make yourself (as detailed above) or consciously make the decision to choose green cleaning products. Green cleaning products generally have multiple uses rather than having to switch between products for different areas of the home. For example, vinegar can be used to clean mould and mildew, as a window cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner just to name a few.

5. Make cleaning safer

Choosing to use natural cleaning products means you will make cleaning safer - not just for yourself but also during pregnancy and when you young children. Kids love to help out and get involved and green cleaning products, particularly those you make at home, are safe enough for them to use. You won’t have to worry about gloves, you won’t have to lock up harmful cleaning products, you won’t have to worry about poisoning or toxic cocktails.

6. Create a cleaner and greener environment for future generations

When you go green, you are reducing your carbon footprint. By reducing the amount of pollutants you use, you are reducing the amount of harmful toxins that get washed away into our waterways and environment. This will have a huge impact on the environment and will create a cleaner and brighter future for future generations and our planet.

7. Become a green role model

Once you begin using green cleaning products and methods you will realise how effectively they work and how beneficial it is to your health and lifestyle. Don’t be shy about your green cleaning ways - spread the word! Tell those you care about how easy it is and how you do it. You’re setting a great example for others and also encouraging future generations to opt for a brighter and healthier planet.

Make a conscious decision to switch green cleaning products and practices in your home. Not only will you save time and money but you will dramatically improve the lifestyle for yourself, your home, family, pets and our planet.

Start by taking small steps to going green and you will make a BIG impact in the world.

Summer is all about being outdoors, having fun in the sun, firing up the BBQs and celebrating the holidays. Over the cooler months we often neglect the outdoors by spending more time indoors. Now that Summer is here it’s time for outdoor cleaning and enjoying the sunshine, warm days and balmy nights. Here are 10 outdoor natural cleaning tips to get your outdoor area looking its best, ready for entertaining and all the fun that Summer brings!

• Door and window screens

Have a brighter outlook of the outside world by cleaning your door and window screens. Dip a damp wire brush into baking soda and scrub away, rinse thoroughly with a damp sponge and you’re done!

• Windows

Crystal clear windows are a must and white vinegar is just what you need to get them that way. Mix two parts warm water to one part white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray directly onto windows. Then wipe dry with a clean, lint free cloth.

• Outdoor furniture

Outdoor furniture can easily get neglected but can be effectively cleaned with a simple baking soda solution. Use one cup of baking soda mixed with some warm water, wipe on the furniture, then rinse off thoroughly.

• Decking

Protect your deck from germs and mould by spraying it with undiluted white vinegar. This will also clean, disinfect and get rid of any stains it might have.

• BBQ

Stubborn charred remains on your BBQ racks? Apply some baking soda and then dab with vinegar which will start it foaming. Let it sit for a few minutes then rinse thoroughly before use.

• Kiddies pool

Time for the kiddies pool to come out and be cleaned so that it’s ready to be filled and splashed about in. This is easily done by mixing equal part white vinegar to water and scrub with a soft brush, then rinse.

• Pool and beach toys

During the off season the kids pool and beach toys will have accumulated some musty smells. Get them clean by washing them with a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda to 1 litre of warm water.

• Gardening tools

Lime and salt aren’t only margarita ingredients - they also remove rust! Get your gardening tools rust free by laying them on some newspaper and sprinkling them with table salt. Squeeze some lime liberally all over the salt covered rust and allow it to sit for three hours. Scrub the mixture off using the remaining lime and rinse under running water. Make sure to dry them thoroughly to avoid more rust!

• Clothesline

There’s nothing worse than seeing a clothesline with dirt or grime, which is of course going to transfer to the clothes you’ll be hanging out there now that it’s summer! This can easily be cleaned by mixing a solution of equal parts warm water and vinegar, then wiping down each line removing all dirt and allowing to dry.

• Pavers

Dirty and stained pavers aren’t a good look and you need to get them nice and clean for all that entertaining you’ll be doing! Spray undiluted vinegar onto the pavers and make sure they are thoroughly soaked. Leave them for an hour and although you’ll notice the dirt will have loosened, you will need to scrub away with a wire brush to get them really clean.

Now you’re ready to sit back, relax and enjoy your time and summer!

We all know that our actions can really impact the environment, and although most people would like to do what they can to make it better, they believe that green living can be hard - we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be!

Here are some simple actions that will make your home environment greener and healthier for you and your loved ones and will also benefit our amazing planet.

Grow your own veggie patch

What’s better than heading into the backyard and grabbing some fresh veggies that taste great, along with the knowledge that they are free of chemicals? Not only will your body thank you but so will the planet for reducing contamination to the environment.

When choosing what you’d like to grow, it’s a good idea to make a plan so that you can stagger the sowing of seeds to give you a constant supply of those fresh and seasonal veggies! Get the kids involved too – you might find that they eat more vegetables seeing as they helped create them.

Create your own compost

When you’re done creating your veggie garden and have reaped those benefits, you can use those, along with other food scraps to create compost (your free organic fertiliser) and reduce landfill waste!

You can invest in a compost bin or you can just start a pile in a heap on the ground. It’s a good idea to keep your compost moist, not wet, and add food scraps, lawn clippings and coffee grounds to the mix.

It also will require some aerating so turning the compost with a fork once a week will help it along. Decomposition time varies and is dependent on what you’ve used to create your compost and the moisture and aeration of your heap. When it all looks and smells like very dark soil your compost is ready to be used. Use it in your garden to create an abundance of healthy soil for your veggie patch.

Improve the air quality in your home

There are a few things you can do to improve the quality of air within your home, making it much healthier for your family to live in and is beneficial for the environment!

Firstly, you need to get rid of all those toxic cleaning products that are plentiful on our supermarket shelves these days. Healthier options are always available - one of which mixing a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water which cleans and disinfects!

Another thing that you can do for the air quality is to invest in a cold air oil diffuser. Using a variety of natural oils in a diffuser can neutralise chemicals and bacteria, eliminate the need for any synthetic air fresheners and keep your home smelling amazing!

We strongly recommend not to use air fresheners and avoid scented cleaning or laundry products that don’t disclose their fragrance ingredients on the product label. These products may trigger allergies and often contain suspected endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates  and synthetic musks.

If we all do our little bit it will collectively amount to a lot - so do yourself, your loved ones and our environment a favour and start living green today!