Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule by Christine Satterfield RELAUNCH SALE!!

What!?  Another cleaning book!  Yes, Christine has created a wonderful resource for amping up your cleaning strategies to create the perfect cleaning schedule.  She gives reasons why we need a cleaning schedule and why we need to create our own.  She has 5 easy steps and templates to make your planning go smoothly.

Here's the exciting news!  Christine is having a relaunch sale of this great new ebook which works great for PC, Mac and iPad.

This Thursday, September 1 at 9:30am CST, a graduated pricing structure will be announced:

• 50 copies will be available for $.50
• 100 copes will be available for $1.00
• 200 copies will be available for $2.00
• 300 copies will be available for $3.00
• 400 copies will be available for $4.00
• 500 copies will be available for $5.00
• The rest will sell for $5.99

Check the Facebook page for the promo codes.

 **As an affiliate I get a small percentage from your purchase.  Thanks!**

Be sure to check out the new website: http://perfectcleaningschedule.com/

Works For Me Wednesday: Cleaning Sponges

Hey, here's a quick kitchen tip that I do.  So, you need to keep your sponges clean.  Here's my no think/quick solution that will keep a clean sponge at your sink.

1. Start with 2 sponges
2. One sponge is at the sink, one sponge is in the dishwasher
3. Fill up the dishwasher, run it and empty
4.  When you empty the dishwasher, replace your sponge with the one you washed with the one at the sink
5. Ta-da

This idea is so quick I can't believe it.  When you get tired of your sponges, just cut them up and let the kids use them for painting!

Coming up on Knowlton Nest:
1. Recipes- I took a break, but I've been cooking and now I'll be more regular about sharing
2. Works for Me Wednesdays will be featuring some healthy choices that I have made and also some giveaways

Stay tuned!

Works for Me Wednesday: Window Cleaner

I love cleaning and especially when I find good products that I know are healthy for the environment.  So I tried the window/glass/surface cleaner provided in the free recipe section of Green Clean Chic.  It's great!  I no longer will use the "blue" stuff!  Here's the recipe:

Window/Glass/Surface Cleaner (it's not natural to be blue!)-from Green Clean Chic
3 oz. distilled water
1 oz. distilled white vinegar
1/2 tsp. Biodegradable Cleanser
20 - 25 drops Lemon essential oil or Pink Grapefruit (citrus oils are astringent and
grease cutting) Shake Gently. Citrus oils and vinegar are not recommended for
use on Granite or Marble.

I'm hooked up to Real Clean Wednesdays at IDreamofClean.  Have fun cleaning!

Works for Me Wednesday: Spring "Green" Cleaning part 3

A few years ago Jeremy went to this Sustainability Fair here at the University of Washington in Tacoma. He brought home some samples and the laundry sample from Charlie's Soap caught my eye. It said- Certified Non-Toxic, Hypo-Allergenic and Biodegradeable. It also only uses a small Tablespoon of product for a large load of wash. It is good for babies and people with allergies or sensitive skin. So I bought some right before my son was born and that is the only thing I wash all of my loads of laundry with.  I have only had to buy maybe 2-4 bags for the entire year.  It's about $15 for a bag to wash 80 loads!  Be sure to say Shonda Knowlton sent you when you order.  Thanks!

Just recently I discovered Green Clean Chic which has some great cleaning products. There is a recipe for laundry detergent that I will try, but right now I'm just adding a few drops of essential oil (Rosemary and Eucalyptus) to my load along with another great "green" product for cleaning- Borax.

Here is the recipe from Green Clean Chic:
Laundry Detergent Cleaner than Clean!
3 c. Washing Soda
3 c. Borax
30 drops Lavender (antibacterial)
20 drops Eucalyptus (antiviral, gets rid of dust mites too!)
Add 1/4 cup to your load of laundry. This recipe is also safe for HE front loader
washing machines. Rosemary works in place of Eucalyptus if so desired.

I'm hooked up with Real Clean Wednesdays at I Dream of Clean.

Works for Me Wednesday: Spring "Green" Cleaning Part 2

Here are some recipes for "green" cleaning: (from Green Clean Chic)
All you need is some baking soda, vinegar and essential oils. I also ordered the Green Clean kit that has the biodegradable cleanser and 4 essential oils.

Aromatherapy Gentle Scrub Cleanser- great for sinks and tubs
1/8 c. Biodegradable Cleanser
1-3Tbsp. Distilled Water (depending on desired consistency; I like 2 T)
3/4 c. Baking Soda
Mix together then add the following pure essential oils:
20 drops of Lavender (antibacterial)
10 drops of Eucalyptus (antiviral) (Rosemary is a nice substitution here!)
5 drops of Lemon (Orange or Pink Grapefruit oils also work great!)
3Tbsp. Distilled White Vinegar (ADD LAST!!!)
Mix - consistency should be creamy.

Antibacterial countertop spray
3 oz. distilled water
1 oz. distilled white vinegar
20 drops Rosemary essential oil
15 drops Orange essential oil
This is a wonderful countertop cleaner or a great replacement for your sprays that you
would typically use when cleaning stovetops, microwaves, refrigerators, etc….

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
½ c baking soda
10 drops Lemon essential oil
5 drops Tea Tree or Rosemary essential oil
Add these to toilet, then add about ¼ c vinegar, when fizzing stops, scrub and flush.
*Lemon is a natural whitener, and Tea Tree is antimicrobial and antifungal! Powerhouse
cleaning oils!!

Also, for carpet deodorizers...Try this natural remedy. Take an empty parmesan cheese container or spice container. Fill it with baking soda and a few drops of essential oil (I used lavender). Sprinkle on carpet and vacuum up.




Take advantage of this!  I just placed my order.  Can't wait!

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Be kind to the environment inside and outside. 

Try green cleaning!  It’s easy, cost effective, and smells great!

FREE Sweet Orange essential oil with any online order placed now thru April 30^th.

Free sweet orange essential oil will be automatically included with order

www.greencleanchic.com

Floor Cleaner

15 drops Sweet Orange (antibacterial, good for sticky messes)

10 drops Eucalyptus (antiviral and disinfecting)

1 cup distilled white vinegar

2 gallons warm water

Works for Me Wednesday: "Green" Dishwasher Detergent

Well, I've been looking for some "green" cleaning options and I stumbled on Green Clean Chic through one of my blogging buddies, Holly.  I was so impressed with the products and I ordered the green clean kit which came with 4 essential oils and one biodegradable cleanser.  I immediately started using the products and my house smelled so good and clean!  Well, I wanted to see what else I could replace in my cleaning.  I consulted Holly and also found a good recipe in Super Baby Food (which I HIGHLY recommend, not just for baby food!).  Mix equal parts Borax and Baking soda and add a few drops of lemon essential oil from Green Clean Chic and you have your new "green" dishwasher detergent.  Add 1 T of this mix to the open compartment and 1 T to the closed compartment in your dishwasher.  So I tried it and it works!

PS.  Check out my other "green" cleaning posts.

Works for Me Wednesday: Spring "Green" Cleaning Part 1

 As many of you know, I am married to "Mr. Environmentalist" and I love him! He has taught me so much about being "green." Ha, not like Kermit used to sing about!!! Anyway, there are many areas in my life that I have changed as a result of my husband's influence.

Here are a few ways that we try to preserve the environment:
*Recycling- paper, plastic, bags, etc.
*Using cloth diapers for our son
*We go on walks and pick up aluminum cans and trade them in for money!
*We have several of the re-usable grocery bags.
*We grow and can much of our food.
*We buy a lot of products that don't have packaging, but if we do buy a product with packaging, we make sure we can recycle it.
*I use Charlie's Soap for laundry detergent.

But one area where I am going to start being more environmentally sound is with my cleaning products. Someone commented on my blog and I always check out theirs too and on hers I found a company with some great products that are good for the environment and also smell great in my house: Green Clean Chic. I ordered the Green cleaning kit and started using the products on Monday. WOW! Wish you could smell my house.

I started with my bathrooms- toilets and sink. Then I worked on the kitchen- countertops, sink and floor. I also added a few drops of essential oil to my laundry!

Next week I will include some recipes and more tips as I discover them.

Do you have any "green" cleaning ideas?

PS. Thanks MommyofFatith19! I love your blog!