'Tis the Season for Whites

I have a problem. My two year old has perfect skin. Skin that absorbs the sun and transforms it into an instant tan. Her little arms and legs are already as brown as nuts and we're not even halfway through May.
The problem is compounded by the fact that her hair is also soaking up the sun, leaving her with perfect bleach blond locks. But wait, it gets worse. With her perfect beach girl look, she takes the white shirt to a whole new level. And if I put a white sundress on her? Well, Jimmy Buffet could write his next hit song.

So where's the problem you may ask?







She's a very messy child.

I use to rely on Shout or Oxi-Clean stain removers, but they both contain chemicals I don't want in my home or on my child's clothes. So the hunt has been on for an effective, natural stain remover. I've tried a few, but none that quite did the job. They probably would have been just fine for the typical stains, but like I said- she's very messy. Then I found Biokleen's Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator. It promised great things so I ordered a bottle and waited anxiously for it's arrival.

It arrived via USPS last Thursday, and wouldn't you know, Olivia (my daughter) hits a clean streak. Not a soiled shirt to be found. By Saturday I was getting desperate. I was dying to experiment. (Sad, I know.)

Just when I was about to stage a horrific grape jelly accident, she came through for me. Green marker, strawberry sorbet, and a mysterious brown stain on the strap of her shirt that I never really identified. (Probably best.) The stains sat for nearly two days as I was not about to clean on Mother's Day.

So last night was my big moment. Once she was asleep in her bed, I treated the stains on the shirt pictured above. Following the instructions, I left it for 5 minutes while the clear liquid soaked in. The smell was heavenly- the clean scent of fresh lime juice. I tried not to appear too giddy as the strawberry stain immediately began to blur. However, five minutes later the brown mystery blob didn't seem to be effected at all. I tossed the shirt into the wash feeling a little disappointed. There was no way that brown thing was going anywhere. I skulked off to my bed and watched my latest recording of Medium.

This morning I dug the whites out of the washer to throw into the dryer before running out the door. (Yes, I admit to not line drying ALL of the time.) I shook out the shirt to take a look, prepared to soak the brown stain some more before washing it a second time.

What brown stain? The shirt was SPOTLESS!






Finally, a stain remover that I can rely on. Here's my review in tidy points:

What I love:

• The smell. Fresh and not too overwhelming. Opening the bottle is like opening a bottle of lime juice, only with a faint scent of clean soap thrown in. Very nice.


• All natural plant based ingredients, none from animals.


• Gentle- not harsh. If you spill it on your hands you are not compelled to run to the sink for a scrub down. Great for those with allergies or sensitivities.


• Completely environmentally friendly- won't harm rivers, streams, plants or wildlife. Even safe for using around birds!


• Multiple uses include treating pet stains and odors, carpet stains and odors (preferred product of professional carpet cleaners all over the country!), general cleaning and odor removal in bathrooms, diaper pails, drains, garbage disposals, garbage cans, and perfect for removing mold and mildew stains and odors!


• Not tested on animals.


• Rapidly biodegrades and is Ozone Safe.


• It's high concentration means fewer fillers, less waste, less packaging, and less energy used in shipping.


• Non-Toxic


• IT WORKS!!

What I don't love:

• This is tough as I am so happy with this product right now I am having a hard time finding fault. I would recommend getting the spray bottle. I have the capped bottle and ended up using much more than necessary. The price is a little higher but it does go a long way.


• Not yet readily available in local stores. You will probably have to order this product on line.
  

I did some research and found a few good deals on-line:

Biokleen Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator with Sprayer, 32-Ounce Bottles (Case of 12) $88.99, Amazon.com
That's a lot of clean for more than a 25% savings! If you want to stock up this is a great chance.


Bi-O-Kleen Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator with Live Enzyme Cultures Foaming Action Sprayer, 32 FL OZ, $9.49, Drugstore.com


Overall, I give this product an A+. I can't wait to try more of their products. I'm a Biokleen convert!

Great Deals Today on Amazon.com

If you are a fan of Mrs. Meyer's products you can stock up today on Amazon.com for next to nothing!

Here are a couple of the deals they are currently running:

Mrs. Meyer's Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Basil, 32 Ounce Bottles, Case of 6 $7.49!
That's is about what you would pay for one bottle at the grocery store! Shipping for that order is only $5.95.

Mrs. Meyer's Shower Cleaner, Basil, 22 ounce Bottles, Case of 6, $5.99!
I believe that is cheaper than what I can buy 1 bottle for at my local store. Shipping is $13.12 for this order but still a steal!

Grab them fast because they don't always keep these deals up for long.

My Favorite Natural Products for the Laundry Room

When my two year old started developing asthma last year I set out on a mission to control it naturally whenever possible. In my research I found that some of the biggest irritants to the respiratory system were sitting in my laundry room. You know the ads that show the mom taking the towels out of the dryer, burying her face in them and breathing in the heavenly fresh scent of her clean laundry? I see those ads in a whole new light after learning that the reason those perfumes are added is to cover up the strong fumes put off by the harmful chemicals that those detergents and softeners contain.


There are many informative articles out there on the dangers of detergents and fabric softeners so I won't go into it here. (I will however provide links at the bottom of this post if you would like to read a few.) These heavy fragrances are made up of a combination of chemicals that gain passage to our bodies through the nose when we inhale them and through our skin when we wear clothing that has been saturated (washed) in them. These chemicals are known to irritate the respiratory system, among other things.


That was enough information to inspire me to find a new laundry detergent, stain remover and for the occasional use with blankets- a safer fabric softener. It is a difficult task as my toddler is a very messy girl that inflicts a variety of stains on her clothing. I am still testing out stain removers and fabric softeners, but I have found my detergent and am loving it.





Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent


What I love about it:

• Scented with 100% whole essential oils and botanical extracts which won't irritate my child and smell great! I love the blue eucalyptus & lavender.



• Non-toxic



• It's made in the US



• Lists all the ingredients in plain English- no secrets



• All natural plant-derived ingredients



• Not tested on animals



• Works best in cold water- really it does- which is better for the environment and my budget!



• Company is socially responsible

What I don't love:

• It's a few dollars more than Tide and Cheer (my previous products). BUT, Kroger always has promos going with their products and when you buy them there you will almost always get a coupon printed out with your receipt to use on your next purchase. It's usually $1 off which helps! ALSO, I do get more loads out of each bottle. It's very concentrated and unlike other brands that claim the same, one cap goes a long way.

If you have tried this product, please leave a comment on what you loved or hated about it as well as any useful tips in improving it's effectiveness.

Two great resources:

http://www.householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/


http://www.herc.org/news/perfume/risks.htm

My Journey to the Greener Side of Life

I've always been a fan of loving the earth. In elementary school I was taught about recycling and cleaning up our beaches. And then science class would end and we would go enjoy a lunch of preservatives, dyes and pesticides.
Being a mom has opened my eyes to the flaws in our modern day thinking. We work so hard to keep pollutants from our streams and hazardous chemicals out of the oceans, yet the average person has no idea what the main ingredients of laundry detergent or dish washing liquid are. We think heating up a frozen lasagna is giving our family a home cooked meal and juice boxes are a healthy addition to our child's lunch box. The more my own eyes have been opened about such things the more I have grown to view modern conveniences with more scrutiny.
I find myself thinking, "How did Granny or her mother before her do this back in the day compared to how most people do it now?" More often than not the old fashioned way is the better option for our children and for our earth. Isn't it funny how the old way is suddenly the newest thing?
Old fashioned is making a comeback! And it's been a long time coming...