Some people have always had house cleaning services, some are new to the experience altogether. Here are a few hints and tips to get prepared for your initial clean and regular services. It's relatively expensive. The cost of cleaning is directly proportional to the cost of cleaning products, wage for workers, overall quality of services, and the size and condition of your house. Rates will vary greatly from "mom and pop" businesses to large national franchises. Smaller compa

If you are looking for ways to reduce the harmful chemicals in your household, assessing your cleaning products is a good starting point. Many people keep harsh, toxic cleaners in their homes, but few read the labels and use or store them safely. If you have read the labels you may have noticed that the most toxic products only list warnings and note a website to find out the "disclosed" ingredients. Naturally Clean has listed both the instructions for use and ingredients for

Before moving to Charlotte, the longest I lived in one house or apartment was two years (aside from my childhood home). I've turned moving into an art form of perfectly timed box collecting, newspaper curation, and streamlined loading and unloading - like a conductor of a well-tuned orchestra. Here are some of my tips to keep organized during a big move. 1. Plan ahead Don't put off packing until the day before the big move. Once you have secured your new home, you'll have a b

Elevated dog bowls are a great way to help your dog digest his or her food better and reduce strain on joints and neck. I searched in stores and online for a simple elevated stand for my dog's bowls that was also stylish and blended with my home decor. I came up empty handed so I came up with my own solution that was very easy and required very little skill or tools. First, measure how tall your bowls should be off the ground to suit your dog's height. Here's a guide I found

I have been using shower gel or body wash for as long as I can remember. Bar soap makes my skin feel gross and it creates way more soap scum in the shower. I'm also quite loyal to my brands so when my local shop phased out my favorite, I wasn't sure if I would ever be clean again. Until I came across a recipe using Castile soap. Castile soap is natural, vegetable-based, mild soap safe on all surfaces. Most people are probably familiar with Dr. Bronner's which is basically nam