HKpowerStudio

Creatively Organized Spaces

Friday Summertime Fieldtrip Fun!

by Filed Under: Uncategorized 2 Comments

I rarely do Friday Fun posts with my field trips to creative and inspiring spots anymore:( I think Summer is a great excuse to share the fun (Friday or any day).

We have not had a traditional vacation this summer and when you live 15 min’s from the beach, life is kind of like a vacation all the time! On our trip to Maryland I did stop to smell the roses (so to speak)at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (Richmond VA)…

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

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…and took in a bunch of art museum’s in DC-5 in one day, including the Renwick, Hirshorn, Freer & Sackler, and East Wing of the National Gallery of Art! It was inspiring and I miss all the museums on “The Mall”!

DC Art Museums

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You will probably see images from my travels pop up in my blog posts and the graphic’s I create…I love photography and when I can find a quote or thought that aligns with an photograph I too, it’s like serendipity! Almost none of the photo’s I use for my business are stock photography and I’m pretty proud to be able to express my creativity in this way with my photo’s!

DC Flowers & Gardens

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The muddy river metaphor

by Filed Under: Organize, Productivity, Tips & Resources, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

I was recently reading one of my favorite authors, Mark Nepo, as he described lack of clarity as a muddy river. The muddy river is a helpful metaphor to illustrate how clutter can run through our minds, our homes and our business.  Standing in a muddy river, everything seem so unclear, which can cloud our actions and decisions.

When you’re stuck in a muddy river and unclear how to move forward, find stillness.

Our vision, inspiration and flow of life become clouded when we are unclear about the stuff that surrounds us in our homes and lives. Like a fast running current, we can’t see the bottom. The silt and rushing waters make it virtually impossible to find our ground. When we are uncertain we can become stuck!

I might risk dipping my toe into the running waters, right on the edge, while feeling safe from the vantage of the shore. Stop and take it in. Inch by inch trust your feelings, and sensations. Act based feelings rather than making decisions based on external forces.

[bctt tweet=”Our feelings are our most trustworthy guide as we move through the process of letting go” username=”hkpowerstudio”] (of clutter, of grief, of old patterns).

How do we get unstuck? By learning to trust our feelings. It doesn’t always come naturally. Our culture teaches us to lead with thought, not feeling! This is when it’s most important to stop, cut through the thoughts. Pay attention to what is underlying and recognize how we feel.

When we pick up a sentimental item, can we identify the feeling that object evokes? Is it joy, bitterness, saddness, or nostalgia? Does it evoke memories; good-bad or mixed? It’s important to invite and honor how we feel about our stuff. By doing so, we can take honest action in the decisions we make about keeping or getting rid of stuff.

The muddy river metaphor as tool…

Setting our intention is a helpful tool when we begin to make decisions about releasing clutter. Once we are more in tune with our feelings we can decide how we want space to feel. We create that space and those feelings by making decisions and only allowing what evokes those feeling into our space.

Setting an intention is as simple as deciding and acting from a place of alignment! 

The process of getting clear about your clutter might proceed something like this:

  • Go into a clutter filled space with a journal or piece of paper to take notes.
  • Sit in the space for about 5-10 minutes and notes how the space feels. What emotions come up?
  • Pick up objects and invite a response based on how you feel. This is like testing the waters. Some people are physically impacted by touching items, others are more visual.  It’s good to try both and take notes on how yoyu respond.
  • Decide how you WANT to feel in the space. Write down these feelings and set an intention to create that feeling!
  • Begin the process of clearing objects and clutter that are not in alignment with your intentions and how you want to feel.

Use the muddy river metaphor to help you gain clarity in your decision making process. When we understand how clutter makes us feel, we can act on decision making from a place of intention. We then create a space that reflects the feelings we want rather than being stuck with what we have unintentionally created by indecision.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or not sure where to begin and need some guidance with this process, please email me to schedule a call so we can talk more about how I can help.

In the meantime you might want to check out my Clutter Action Plan!

Create a Practical Command Center

by Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 3 Comments

Today, I’m sharing ideas to Create A Practical Command Center. Since this month is all about kid-friendly organizing in the home I think it’s important to have a place where you can collect everything needed to “take command” of schedules, stuff and tasks for your family!

I’m going to break it down by why, where and what! Not every command center (and there are thousands on Pinterest to choose from!) will have what YOU need.

Create a Practical Command Center

[bctt tweet=”Get inspired by others but don’t get stuck repeating someone else’s idea of success.” username=”hkpowerstudio”]

Do you need help to Create a Practical Command Center?

Let’s start with your why. Defining the reason you need to create a command center is the first step!

  • Perhaps you’re losing things or can’t keep track of them, feeling overwhelmed, feeling rushed and you’re juggling too much information!
  • Mail is tossed everywhere including the kitchen counter, the coffee table, the dining room table or some other horizontal surface which means when you go to pick up, things get misplaced.
  • You have a hard time getting out the door with everything you and your family need.
  • Maybe you can’t locate homework or school paperwork & neither you nor your kids know where these things belong.
  • Do multiple schedules (both parents and kids) have you scrambling, missing appointments or running late?
  • Always looking for last minute gifts because you missed that party invitation? information for your babysitter or other important items you need regularly.

The next important step in creating a practical command center is knowing what you need to include.

Creating A Practical Command Center

  • Mail sorting station-which might include trash, recycling bins and shredder-with individual slots for household members
  • Calendar or schedule-either a traditional paper system or a white/blackboard calendar. Decide what information will be included on this calendar. Maybe it’s just for the kids and family activities (sports, parties, Dr’s Apts, school events etc). Each family member or category can be assigned a color for easy tracking.
  • Charging Station
  • Grab & Go Kid Stuff-If you have small children, having extra supplies in a cabinet, ready to go is a great time saver. Include activity books, diapers, bug spray, change of clothes or other essentials for small children.

Create a practical command center

  • Bags, backpacks and other gear-if you have the space you can incorporate cubbies, baskets or hooks for storage. This area is for regularly used shoes, bags and purses and is a great place for people to drop items without cluttering up the main part of the house. Something similar can be set up in a closet, with an organizer hanging inside the door. Label each household member’s hook, cubical or shelf. Practice regular weekly to tidying (putting things away, cleaning out bags etc).

Creating a Practical Command Center

  • Key Hooks
  • Basic utility items-this can be a drawer or a hanging organizer with things like batteries, pens/pencils, chargers, scissors, notepads, a hammer/screwdriver, tape measure and anything else you use regularly. Identify what you want to keep where so it doesn’t turn into a “Junk drawer”!
  • Fun stuff-a bulletin board, white/black or magnetic board, or hanging system for artwork and fun messages!
  • Lists-to do, grocery or chore charts for parents and kids.
  • Household Binder-this is a great place for emergency contacts, vital household information (for babysitters etc), schedules, invitations and more! If space is limited you can create a command center in a binder! Just use different tabs for the different information you need to keep track of and keep it in a central location.

We all have different needs and when you know why you need some sort of command center it will give you insight into what to include. If you look at the list above and you say to yourself that you only need a couple of the items I included as examples then you can focus on creating a system that includes only what you need. Sometimes we get sucked in by other peoples systems because they have shared how great they work (for them) or we think it looks so incredible!

Being specific and simplifying your home management system will set you up for success!

Now that you understand why and what you need for creating a practical command center, let’s identify where this system should be.

Depending on your home and space considerations, here are a few places you might want to put a command center. If you don’t have space to put everything in one spot, that’s okay. Paperwork, mail, electronic’s, your binder or supplies could go in one area and hooks for keys, clothing and gear could go someplace else.

  • Near the front door
  • Mudroom
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry Room
  • Hallway or other central location
  • Closet or niche-including the inside of the door
  • A simple binder or portable bin (accordion file, file tote etc)

Here are a few tips to help you identify how to install your command center.

Go Vertical to get things up off your counters and on the wall. You can use the side or inside of a cabinet. If you have a lot of shelves, bins etc to hang, create paper templates and tape them up until you’re happy with the arrangement. This will save you patching unnecessary holes!

  • Hooks-anything from command to fancy decorative hooks
  • Shelves-floating or brackets, for small lightweight items
  • Baskets and bins-from shoes to paperwork, corral it in bins 

I love to use these clear pockets for small stuff (bug spray, glue, gloves and more!).

Create a Practical Command Center

Label things and assign lower spaces for small kids, upper spaces for adult stuff you don’t want the kids to get into!

Keep it simple-eliminate un-necessary clutter. Maintain your new system by assigning one day a week for a quick tidy up. Friday’s and Sunday’s are both great days for this 15 min assignment. After a few weeks or month keep it simple and eliminate the unnecessary clutter of items you are not using. Start simple and if the system works, expand upon it and get creative to make it as beautiful as it is practical!

Need additional help identifying why, what and how to create a practical command center? Give me a shout and let’s see how I can help you create a perfect command system for your household!

A cozy and tidy girls room makeover

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In this cozy and tidy girls room makeover there were actually two spaces. Our goal was to create boundaries and storage for clothes, homework and personal space for a 13 year old girl. This is something important to every kid going into teen years!

A Cozy and tidy girls room goals::What’s Important? Boundaries, age appropriate space, homework space, easy to maintain systems, room for clothes, comfort, cute, cozy and private.

Organizing can help establish rules, show your kids you trust and value their choices and create age-appropriate systems. This space wasn’t really working all that well and didn’t feel right for her needs as her interests and maturity level change.

cozy and tidy girls room

This young lady has a really cool space, with a cozy bedroom and open “hangout” and homework area outside her room that she wasn’t really using. It always helps to evaluate how your kids use their rooms. Then you can create “zones” for them to do homework, hangout with friends (if you allow that), read, get dressed and sleep. Her desk, printer, a chair and large dresser where in the space outside her room, which also serves as a cut through to the bathroom and a guest room. Since her room has glass windows instead of walls, privacy is also an important issue! Curtains were ordered to eliminate this problem. With her help, we cleaned out her dresser and closet, the nightstand and small table at the end of her bed and decided what items (less used etc) could be kept in the dresser outside her room.

Her small built in closet cabinets also present a bit of a challenge.We re-arranged the contents to make putting clothes away easier.  We moved the sports equipment and the second night stand below out of the room (clutter collectors).

She’s got her own bathroom (lucky girl!) with ample storage and we discussed keeping toiletries in the bathroom, not the bedroom (for the most part).  As I organize with kids, I use it as an opportunity to learn why they do what they do and try to guide them to making choices that perhaps they did not realize were available, better or more appropriate? I hesitate to say right or wrong and I always defer to the parents house rules (which I determine before we begin) as well as teaching kids basic sanitary and hygienic systems (like no food in bedrooms?).

cozy and tidy girls room

By attaching a few command hook inside her cabinet doors we freed shelf and drawer space. Go vertical whenever possible! These hanging pockets and hooks held small accessories she uses regularly, like sunglasses, her wallet, an umbrella etc. We moved shoes from the floor into the closet drawers and accessories like bags and hats to the dresser. We displayed her trophies and ribbons on a shelf above the dresser, rather than crammed in drawers and boxes.  cozy and tidy girls room Since her desk was not being used in the space outside her room, we moved it to the wall opposite her bed. She now has space to do her homework in her room, on her bed or at her desk.

She’s taken to keeping things organized as much as a pre-teen takes to anything! She continues to come up with her own clever organizing solutions.

Kids love their space and value how great it feels to be organized, which creates lifelong value!

I LOVE to help kids get organized and most of the time they LOVE to be organized! Kids love structure and they love to be heard. When I work with them, I ask a lot of questions and listen so that I can help create systems that will work for them (and their parents). When we learn good organizing systems we are more likely to remain active in creating and maintaining organizing solutions!

Do you need help creating order in your kids rooms this summer? I’d love to work with your family to establish lasting organizing systems your kids will use for a lifetime! Get in touch today for a free Discovery Call.

Moving Advice for Gracious Living

by Filed Under: Move Management, Organize Leave a Comment

My dear friend Celeste has a lovely blog filled with an assortment of observations to enhance your modern life! She was kind enough to allow me to share her pearls of wisdom and Moving Advice for Gracious Living here with you…

From the desk of Celeste B.
Moving? A friend of my acquaintance is a master at it. She has undertaken and supervised 5 moves in 6 years in New York City as well as many others during her adult lifetime, including a recent one to the coast of Maine, of all places!
Anyhoo, I have managed to glean some very helpful tips from her as to how to maintain sanity and equilibrium in general during the process, without excessive medications. She also advises to save cocktail time until the end of the packing workday which I feel is entirely sensible given the chances for mishaps. Of course if you can afford to have your movers wrap, box and load all your worldly goods then this will not pertain to you and you may as well not upset your routine happy hour in any way.

MOVING ADVICE FOR GRACIOUS LIVING

The truck rental and movers have scads of boxes and material of all kinds. Bite the bullet and pay for them for a couple of reasons: the boxes are uniform in shape, they are in new condition, they are available in one place and they can be returned if not used.

If you must scavenge boxes elsewhere, be choosy about their condition. Set up a temporary area in every room for wrapping and boxing, preferably on a table of convenient height with good lighting. Gather your supplies: pens, stickers, wrapping paper and legal pad. That last is paramount. Make a list. Number every box (see above) and make a fairly detailed list of the contents of each box. If that sounds like a lot of work, I can only say that it will be worth it when you are trying to find the toaster and coffee maker among the jumble of everything. When you plainly number boxes, write it on at least four of the six sides, otherwise you will certainly be looking at stacks of boxes with a number only on top. You will be able to assign arrival rooms to boxes by number at any time if you haven’t stickered them with a color code scheme for the movers. And Ladies, protect your hands from the drying effect of wrapping paper by wearing gloves. That paper draws all the moisture from your skin!
Don’t fill a box beyond its limit and be mindful of weight. Using another box won’t hurt a thing and will safeguard against possible tragedies. Books are a good example. Just because a box will hold them all does not mean it is appropriate, that’s why there are mover-designated book boxes which are about the size of a liquor box, a perfect restraint against overloading. Use your blankets, towels and pillows to cushion items. Use that sticky paper tape to seal boxes, not the flimsy plastic type better used for mailing. Don’t be shy about sealing the bottom with two strips of tape.

Don’t feel that everything must be boxed. Movers deal with oddly shaped items all the time, but do wrap them if they are vulnerable.
Let us not forget that we have too much stuff in general and that de-accessioning as much as you can will allow you to be less of a slave to possessions. Grandmother wisely reminded me that the Latin word for possessions is impedimenta. Find a good consignment
shop and breathe easy.
Smooches,
Celeste

 

Your Moving Guide to Uproot With Ease

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Make Moving a Breeze

Moving can be one of the most exciting events in your life. New city (or just a new zipcode), new terrain, new people – for many the perfect way to hit reset on life. But that free spirit mentality only lasts so long once confronted with the realities of moving. Then comes the stressors of a new job, finding a place to live, new social circles, not to mention the move itself. Moving is considered one of the top stress activities in life but with this quick guide we hope to help make moving a breeze.

Are you flying, driving, shipping or towing your belongings? As the to-do’s pile up, the dollar signs follow, but armed with the right tips you can avoid some unforeseen hiccups on the road.

Uproot with Ease, Your Guide to Make Moving a Breeze

Location, Location, Location
– Moving on a whim? Do your research. How does the cost of living compare? Job market? Weather? These characteristics will all factor into your overall happiness post-move.
– No car? Check out the new city’s walkability score and how effective their public transit systems are first.
– Yes car? If the climate is different where you are headed you may need to make some adjustments to your vehicle such as all-season or snow tires. It is also worth taking note of parking. While many cities may offer street parking, some may require you pay for a garage.
– Weather change? While your instinct may be to layer up for cold weather or pare down for warmer climates ahead of time, it may be worth it to wait. Unless your are headed from 80 and sunny to 10 and snowy, scope out what residents are actually wearing. That born and bred neighbor will likely be able to give you better advice than a weather forecast.

The Long Haul
– Driving? Plan your route, and a backup, ahead of time. If your travel time amounts to multiple days pinpoint where you would like to stop and stay. Try to avoid big cities during heavy traffic times and trade off drivers if possible. Also remember, it’s a road trip! Maybe you can check out some landmarks or the largest ball of yarn en route!
– Towing? Consider your options. There are many different moving services providers today including U-Haul, Budget, etc. Companies offer multiple sizes in vehicles from minivans to mac trucks, but check to see if your nearest location offers the size you have in mind, and if they allow you to drop off the vehicle at a sister location.
– Shipping? When you consider the cost of a rental, gas, and hotel stays for some moves, shipping your belongings may make more sense. Companies like Pods and U-Haul offer such services which can include storage and the option of them packing the unit for you.

Make Moving a Breeze

New Digs
– Renting? If Craigslist is your go-to consider additional sources like Trulia, Apartments.com, as well as local realty companies. Many real estate companies include lists of available properties, but call and find out if there are others soon to be available that are not showing on the site. Also inquire as to whether maintenance is performed between tenants, what is expected in terms of personal maintenance, can Fido come, and what may or may not be included in the rent price, i.e. electric, water, etc.
– Brand new? Explore the different neighborhoods, preferably during a trip pre-move. Does the social scene cater to young adults or established families? How convenient are things like laundry, groceries, etc?
– Downsizing? Do a purge before the move. Donate any clothing, kitchenwares, furniture that either won’t fit or won’t belong. Chances are you will be doing another overhaul post-move.

Getting Social
– Exercise? Join a local yoga studio or fitness club. Running and cycling meet ups are not only a great way to meet people, but also to explore your new home. Use the MINDBODY App or head over to the local recreation center to find activities near you.
– Networking? Whether it’s through a social-based platform like Meetup or a local “young professionals” group, there are a number of online sources to network in a social or business setting. Two personal favorites are Meet My Dog and Supper Club.
– Lend a hand? Volunteering will not only give you all those positive feels, but getting out in the community will help you learn more about the city and its residents. Not sure where to go? Volunteer Match can help with that.

Most importantly, keep an open mind. Living in a new place gives us the opportunity to learn more about ourselves and this great, big world we live in. Don’t let the burden of packing and hauling and unpacking cast a shadow over the new people you will meet and experiences you will have. Plan ahead and take the plunge!

Favorite Moving Tools & Tips

by Filed Under: Move Management, Organize, Organizing Projects, Tips & Resources 1 Comment

Today, I’m sharing a roundup of some of my favorite moving tools and tips. These include basic supplies and tried and true tips to help every move run smoother.

  • A Small accordion or tickler file folder for all your important moving-related paperwork (including your inventory, moving contract, supply and to-do list, real estate agreements, etc.)
  • Notepad for inventory or digital file for inventory (of boxes and contents)
  • Sticky notes & painters tape-use these for identifying where items will go. Painter tape will not stick permanently to surfaces.
  • Eco-Friendly Boxes- Look for boxes with recycled content that can be reused repeatedly!
  • Durable packing tape-I like scotch or Staples brand and prefer clear with a handled dispenser. Some packing tape is very thin and flimsy. Check before you buy!

Favorite Moving Tools & Tips

  • Bubble wrap for very fragile items.
  • Packing paper (you can use newspaper, but it leaves your hands dirty). A mix of recycled newspaper and new packing paper is a nice compromise.
  • Blankets, pillows, towels, and other textiles can all be used to cushion and add padding to fragile items.
  • Scissors, box cutters & permanent markers with bold tips in black and color (color code boxes-use RED for fragile items, etc)
  • Trash bags-Kitchen size and larger-clear for donations and recycling
  • Cleaning supplies-glass cleaner, paper towels, gloves, rags, multi-purpose cleaner, sponges, goo-gone, and wood cleaner are all useful for wiping things down before you pack or as you unpack and put things away
  • Snacks, water/beverages, and a small assortment of paper plates and utensils- better yet, keep reusable items out for each household member and have a “kitchen kit”!

Is there anything I forgot that you think is essential to have on hand? I would love to hear your contributions! If you’re feeling overwhelmed about any upcoming move, please get in touch with me to schedule a quick consult call to learn how I can help!

Makeover Monday:Escalators on my bookshelves

by Filed Under: Books, Home, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Systems & Techniques Leave a Comment

I’ve been super busy lately and haven’t shared many makeovers:( But I’ll be back soon with loads of great before and afters. In the meantime, here’s a quick Monday makeover from my own Living Room with color Escalators on my bookshelves!

Escalators on my booshelves

OCD Bookshelf Organizing: Color Escalators on my Bookshelves!

I’m sure you’ve seen this kind of thing before and I actually love to group books within color “families” but one evening last week I was laying on my sofa looking at this bookshelf thinking, I need to give this a serious update! I love color and I love order but this was just feeling way to rigid, would you agree?

Makeover Monday:Escalators on my bookshelves

I also have this other shelf in the same room with my collection of cookbooks and pottery, so I worked on both shelves together, bringing some of the books to the other shelf and some of my pottery to the taller shelf. Color is still a big part of the finished arrangement but there are no longer “escalators” of colors…running across each shelf:)

Makeover Monday:Escalators on my bookshelves

Instead, there are groups of books by color, size and subject, arranged in both vertical and horizontal manner to break up the space and create display vignettes that show off some of my pottery and other favorite objects (crystals, this vintage capiz shell globe etc).

My lawyers bookshelf still contains my cookbooks and some other books, as well as more objects and collections. I have a lot of feathers that I love and have to keep out of the way or the cats will steal them! So, my feather collection remains behind glass as well as some of the more delicate porcelain and pottery pieces.

Makeover Monday:Escalators on my bookshelves While I was at it, organizing and re-arranging…I also took the opportunity to purge a bag full of books for donations. I love books and I still have more books not shown but I can’t bring myself to part with the many books I refer back to again and again. What do your bookshelves look like? Would you like to share them with me on social media? If so please find me on IG or FB and share your bookshelves with the hashtag #creativelyorganizedbooks!!

Trying to cram in as much as you can…

by Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, Inspiration & Education, Productivity, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

We all have more ideas, hobbies, dreams and wishes than we may realistically ever be able to achieve. Though if your like me your trying to cram in as much as you can! In the past week I’ve taken some time off of work to do something I always love to do at this time of year, garden and garden related volunteering (I’m a Master Gardener!). 

I value the freedom and flexibility of owning my own business so that I can shift gears when I need to and escape to pursue a passion or hobby that may not be related to Organizing or even my Art! But we creative’s can be very tempted by bright shiny objects, new ideas, new materials, the latest gadgets and tools…and they don’t necessarily help us execute our creative ideas in a more fulfilling way.

Sometimes, more is just a big distraction and excuse to not get to work on our own making and art.

I am totally guilty of this as my brand new sewing machine sits in my studio barely used and a warp is on my loom, only barely begun with a new weaving project. There are also times when stepping away from what we work on daily to “Take a Beauty Break” (as my friend Lisa would say), is a great way to reset the soul and give us clarity and focus again!

I’m not suggesting that we should not ‘invest’ in new tools and materials when we need them but as any gardener, quilter or knitter knows, sometimes you have to use up the stash before buying more!

Casting our ideas and creative focus in too many directions can leave us scattered.

Having too many creative pursuits, ideas and materials around us can be a distraction. A tip I often suggest is to pack up one or more different materials (supplies) and put them away for awhile (a few months or longer). Allow yourself to focus on one or two burning creative ideas! If your a writer, you can collect thoughts for future writings into a “NEXT” folder (the suggestion of a great PR person I recently met). If you find that you are not called back to these supplies, then donate them, sell them or give them to a friend. They may be just the inspiration someone else needs to set their ideas on fire!

cram in as much as you can

By setting some of our ideas and creative pursuits aside, we make space to focus on what we really want to be creating. We distill our creative energy to be  more potent and concentrated. Have you ever had to say no to some of your creative ideas for awhile in order to focus on your current creative direction?

An Easy Guide to detox your cleaning routine

by Filed Under: Home, Inspiration & Education, Uncategorized, Wellness & Mindset Leave a Comment

It’s springtime! Before you load up on green smoothies, start with this easy guide to detox your cleaning routine.

Nothing beats a crisp spring day to make you feel more rejuvenated after a long busy winter with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Spring is also the time to open the windows and let fresh air in to motivate our spring cleaning. While that cross-breeze may feel fresh, the chemicals in many cleaning supplies are not. To protect your family and the environment here is a helpful guide to going green with your cleaning supplies.

detox your cleaning routine

Chemicals To Avoid:

Chlorine & Ammonia – These active ingredients can irritate the skin as well as the respiratory system, and when mixed, can create hazardous fumes.

Phosphates – Some examples include nonylphenol and octylphenol which can lead to algal blooms. Protect our marine life!

Phthalates – Often found in fragranced products, phthalates can be absorbed through inhalation or through the skin and are known endocrine (hormonal) disruptors.

Triclosan – Also suspected to be endocrine disruptors, triclosan is more commonly associated with antibacterial products, which are generally to be avoided, and is known to promote the growth of drug-resistant bacteria.

2-Butoxyethanol – These compounds contribute to respiratory problem in addition to such serious conditions as narcosis, pulmonary edema, and liver and kidney disfuntion. Unfortunately the EPA does not require this ingredient to be listed, but it can most often be found in window and multipurpose cleaners.

Chlorine – The body’s response to chlorine can be as minimal as a respiratory irritant to as severe as a thyroid disruptor. To minimize your chlorine consumption check out the ingredients in store-bought toilet bowl cleaners, laundry whitening, mildew treatments, and scouring powders.

Sodium Hydroxide – This extremely corrosive chemical can lead to serious burns on the skin and eyes. NaOH is often found in drain and oven cleaners.

Perchloroethylene “Perc” – Now classified as a “possible carcinogen” by the EPA, perc can also cause dizziness and inhibit coordination. This neurotoxin is often found in upholstery and carpet cleaners and dry-cleaning solutions.

Reputable Products: Green Gear

E-Cloth – These nylon and polyester cleaning cloths pick up 99% of bacteria without absorbing any of the grime, so a quick soak in hot water and the E-cloth is back in action.

The Duop – This “bucketless mopping” gadget has a ball-and-socket joint with a detachable microfiber cloth that can washed and replaced making it one of the cleanest and greenest mops on the market.

Reputable Products: Green Brands

Dr. Bonner’s – Try their Castile Soaps and Sal Suds

Seventh Generation – All Purpose Cleaner, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Bathroom Cleaner,  Shower Cleaner, and Glass & Surface Cleaner

Our House – Sanitizing Surface Cleaner & Shiny Surface Cleaner

Naturally Yours – Enz-Away; Basin, Tub and Tile Cleaner; and Gentle Soap

Eco-Friendly DIY All-Purpose Cleaner:

  • 1 cup distilled water
  • 1 cup white distilled vinegar
  • 1/2 lemon juiced (optional)**
  • 15 drops essential oil (opt for calming scents like eucalyptus and lavender or something zingy and citrus based)

Mix all ingredients in a 16 oz. spray bottle, shake up and get cleaning!
**If using lemon juice, store cleaner in fridge between cleanings.

There are some products on the market that hit the mark on eliminating some but not all of the ingredients listed above. Each person’s sensitivity to chemicals and ingredients is individual and it’s best to research the ingredients on any product you are using before determining if you find the ingredients tolerable. When we are educated about our choices we make better choices! I also don’t want anyone to feel they have to dump everything down the drain and start from scratch. Maybe you make this transition gradually or all at once, the choice is yours.

Sources:

Green Cleaning Coach

Organic Consumers

Experience Life

Live Simply

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Creatively Organized Spaces by HKpowerStudio Inc. is not qualified to give legal, tax, accounting, financial, medical, or therapeutic advice, and any services, content or products are solely provided for informational purposes only.

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