I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

Every time I check my email, there is an advertisement at the top of the page stating "You babyproof everything else... Why not your floors?"

It's an add for Swiffer WetJet.
It also states "Swiffer WetJet can kill 99.9% of bacteria".

Now I'm not saying that it doesn't do that. But if they expect me to believe that the chemical soup they call cleaner and want me to smear all over my floors is baby proofing... well... I have to take issue with that.

1. Man made chemicals are not healthy for my baby to ingest, which is exactly what is happening every time he touches, tastes and smells chemical cleaner.

2. Bacteria becomes resistant to chemicals. Ever heard of Superbugs? As a registered nurse, and I encounter them everyday. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, so if bad bacteria is exposed to a chemical that does not kill it, the bacteria can develop resistance. Precisely why chemical cleaners regularly need to be "New and Improved" (read "Stronger and Deadlier).

3. Not all bacteria is bad. Immunity is built by being exposed to a small dose of bad bacteria that our bodies were created to defend against. Good bacteria helps defend our body.

4. Read the fine print. The ad clearly (in very tiny font) states that you must use as directed to ensure these results. That includes allowing the chemical to sit on the surface you have cleaned for 10 minutes. Unless you saturate the floor, I suspect it dries faster, therefore not killing 99.9% of bacteria.

So, I like to think that if you are going to criticize something, you had better offer up a better idea.

Norwex Enviro Products are the answer to my strong desire to clean my home and keep my family safe - without chemicals.

1. Norwex microfibers use just water to clean 99.9% of bacteria from surfaces.

2. Norwex Antibac Microbifer contains antibacterial silver embedded into the microfiber. Bacteria do not become resistant to the silver, because the action disables the bacteria from reproducing.

3. Microfiber picks up good and bad bacteria from the surface you clean, but leaves no residue behind, therefore leaving a surface more suited for good bacteria to return to.

4. Norwex Antibac Microfiber has some fine print too... All Norwex microfiber products have a full 2 year money-back guarantee. This means that if in that period of time your Norwex Antibac microfiber cloth degrades, Norwex will replace it.

To learn more about this safer option, click here.

I am shocked and amazed - and so happy to share this:
We have very hard water, and honestly, due to my refusal to use conventional chemical cleaners, I have learned to live with hard water spots and mineral build up.

I was not expecting this kind of result.

I have added some instructions below, but I (read them after the fact) sprayed it on to the dry glass, left it about 8 minutes, then cleaned it off with a damp Enviro Cloth, and polished with my Window Cloth.
See for yourself...





Norwex DeScaler is entirely natural, made of ingredients that are formed from bacteria found in our very own bodies, as well as orange extract.

There are no synthetic colours or dyes. This means that it is more biodegradable and is better for our long-term health and the health of the environment.

It also means that it isn’t that attractive to look at, but it sure does an amazing job!

The trick to using the new DeScaler is to mist it on (it may spread better if the surface is slightly damp first), and wipe it with a damp Enviro Cloth within 5 minutes (1 to 2 minutes is likely enough) – it does not need any more time to work, and if left on the surface for too long, can dry to or even temporarily stain the surface – to fix this, just spray more on, wait a few seconds, then wipe away.
You may use far less of this product than our previous version.

Please note that although this product is natural, yet some people may still be sensitive to it.

My dear husband and I have very different views when it comes to using household chemicals. For the most part, these matters fall into my jurisdiction, therefore I get to make the call.

But last month we went away camping.

Preparing to leave, my DH announced that he was going to dump the old gasoline for the boat in "the back 40", since we and the pets would be away for a week. I was horrified, and assured him there must be some way to deal with this waste other then poisoning our backyard!

Long story short, the gasoline came on holidays with us, and home again.

Any suggestions???

My triumph came later in the week, when I beat DH to cleaning the boat. He had somehow managed to slip some "Marine Spray Nine" into our cart last shopping trip, dazzled by the claims that it "Kills Viruses". It also cost $16 for the bottle.
I reminded him that he could use an Enviro cloth to do the job, if he wanted to actually kill viruses without harming the other living creatures coming into contact with the boat (like, say, his family, for example). He stated he didn't want to ruin the cloth. I suspected that I could do the job, with lots of remaining life left in the cloth, but hey, we're going on holidays. Pick your battles, I reminded myself.

I had the inspiration to clean half the boat with my Enviro cloth, just to see if it did as effective a job as the spray. But I couldn't stop at half. The years of grimy dirt were literally wiping away with just water. And the glass was coming so clean with my Window cloth, I really got excited about getting the boat in the water. I cleaned the whole boat. And no, the cloths are not ruined. Stained maybe, cause dirt is dirty.

DH was so thankful, he didn't even regret not getting to use his chemicals.

At least I know our local toxic roundup will take the spray.
Sigh...

I'm sure there is a name for it.
I'm not sure I want to know what it is...

There is something in me that stops me from doing a thing if there is any doubt in my mind that I will be able to complete it, exactly as I envisioned.

It effects everything from writing this first blog (it has to be witty and insightful),
to cleaning house (I must do it from top to bottom, eco-wise),
to sending thank you cards (I have to make it from scratch, including a clever note or photo),
to calling someone just because I'm thinking of them (it might be too early, or late).

But now that my curiosity is piqued, I just had to look. And here's what I found:

neurotic perfectionists are "unable to feel satisfaction because in their own eyes they never seem to do things [well] enough to warrant that feeling of satisfaction"

Reminds me of the old adage "Good intentions pave the road to Hell".

This blog is to be my rebellion.

My intent is to write with thoughtful abandon, on many topics, hopefully many that you will connect with.

Here goes nothing.