You know those people with always-clean homes? The kind where you can drop by whenever and their place is always sparkling and spotless? It’s safe to say we all have one of those friends that makes keeping a beautiful and tidy home look effortless. What’s their secret? We have 9 habits to help you get that effortlessly clean home too!

1. Make the bed

When you’re waking up in the morning, smoothing the sheets and fluffing the pillows can be the last thing you want to do. But it's one of the easiest ways to make your home look clean and tidy! Studies have also shown that making your bed every morning increases your productivity through the rest of your day. Try to make your bed before you run out of the house each morning, or at least pull the comforter up to the pillows and smooth out the creases. Better yet, do a quick spray of the Wrinkle-B-Gone to smooth and refresh your sheets. That way, you can crawl into a fresh, clean bed after a long work day.

2. Wipe down handles and light switches

Some of the germiest places are the surfaces that everyone touches all the time, like doorknobs, faucet handles, cabinet pulls, and light switches. Since bacteria and viruses can live on surfaces for several days, it’s important to disinfect them regularly. For an easy, toxin-free clean, spray the Nellie’s All-Purpose Cleaner on a lint-free cloth or paper towel and wipe them down. It’ll take you less than 5 minutes and instantly makes your home cleaner and healthier!

3. Fold and put away your clothes

We know how tempting it is to leave your clothes in a heap on the floor when you’re getting into bed, but don’t underestimate how much cleaner your home will look if you fold, hang, or place them in the hamper before hitting the hay. Not only will your room look better, but you’ll feel better mentally if your clothes are out of sight and not strewn about your bedroom.

4. Do a quick sweep of the floors

Dust can accumulate quickly - especially if you're a pet owner! Grab a broom and do a quick sweep around your baseboards and under large pieces of furniture to nab any dust bunnies at least once a week. Vacuuming will be a breeze!

5. Wash and put dishes away

Washing dishes is easy with the One Soap, and can be fun if you put some good music on and make it a dance party! Wrangle your partner or kids to help run the dishwasher as well as dry and put away the dishes after dinner, and then rest easy knowing there’s no pile of dirty dishes to deal with in the morning.

6. Clean the kitchen sink

Studies have shown that there is more E. coli in a kitchen sink than in a toilet bowl (gross!!). As bacteria feed on the food that is put down the drain and dishes left in the sink, it’s vital that you scrub your sink daily. Use the All-Purpose Cleaner to spray the sink basin and then scrub the germs away with a clean paper towel.

7. Wipe down countertops

Like the kitchen sink, kitchen countertops are germ magnets. Since sponges and dish clothes are often loaded with E. coli, they just spread germs around and make your countertops even dirtier. Spray the All-Purpose Cleaner on countertops and wipe them down with a clean rag or paper towel at least once a day.

8. Tidy up the bathroom

It’s amazing how one quick wipe down of bathroom mirrors, sinks, the toilet, and the shower can make your entire house feel cleaner. Every evening, wipe out the sink, clean toothpaste specks from your mirror and faucet, and give the toilet bowl a good scrub while you’re brushing your teeth. Use the Nellie’s Toilet Bowl Cleaner for a sparkling toilet, and the Shower & Bath Cleaner for a hassle-free bathtub clean!

9. Put away clutter

Last, but certainly not least, put away stray papers, used glasses, and electronics cluttering your desk, coffee table, and kitchen countertops. It’ll make it much easier to start your day fresh and focused if you don’t have to deal with mail and other stray items left out from the day before.

They’ve grown from the length of your arm to a full-fledged adult, and now they’re packing up and heading to college. Are your not-so-little kids ready for the big world of university outside of the nest? We’ve got a checklist to help you help them sort everything out (because everyone still needs help from Mom once in a while).

Room Needs & Storage

Bedside lamp
Alarm clock/clock radio
Mini trash can
Storage bins
Under-the-bed storage trays
Desk lamp
Fan
Drying rack for laundry
Bulletin board & push pins
Dry-erase wall calendar (so useful for exam season!)
Picture hangers (and double-sided tape for concrete walls)

Linens & Laundry Supplies

Sheets and pillowcases
Towels (three sets of each – bath, hand, and face)
Pillows (two!)
Mattress pad (comfy beds are key to a good sleep)
Blankets (two)
Comforter/bedspread
Clothes hangers
Laundry bag/basket
Nellie’s Laundry Soda Nuggets, WOW! Stick, Oxygen Brightener, and Lamby Wool Dryerballs
Lint Brush
Mini sewing kit
 
Don't forget to send them off with hugs, kisses, and reminders to call home regularly. If you're worried about them keeping things clean on their own, sign them up for a Bundle! You can shop our bundles here!

Good things DO come in small packages! Nellie’s Laundry Nuggets contain all the power of the best-selling Laundry Soda in a conveniently small pre-measured nugget. They’re perfect if you don’t feel like measuring a scoop for every load, or for plant-based and mess-free laundry while you’re traveling. You don’t have to miss out on clean clothes just because you’re vacationing on a distant island! Don’t worry – the Laundry Nuggets are still highly concentrated, quick dissolving, rinse thoroughly, and leave no residue.

How to Use

Use just one Laundry Nugget for each regular-sized load. For HE machines, throw directly into the drum. Wash according to instructions on garments, and always be sure to test on garments that may bleed or fade.
Nellie’s Laundry Soda is safe for HE and standard washing machines. If the Nuggets have hardened, simply roll between your fingers and soften them up before use.

There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh laundry. But did you know traditional fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain ingredients that have been linked to cancer and organ disease? Yikes! Thankfully, Nellie is here to save the day with the Lamby Wool Dryerballs. Made from 100% pure New Zealand sheep’s wool, the Dryerballs act as a soft and silent fabric softener that lift and separate clothes, cutting down on static and drying time. Still want a scent for your load of laundry? Keep reading for our guide to our Scented Wool Dryerballs!

Lavender

Scented with 100% pure lavender essential oil, the Lavender Scented Wool Dryerball is perfect for your sheets and towels. Studies have shown that the scent of lavender calms the nervous system, lowers blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature, as well as alters brain waves to a more relaxed state. Lavender can also help with mild insomnia and provide a better quality sleep. Ideal for bedding and your favourite pajamas!

Citrus

A blend of lemon, lavender, pine, lime, geranium, and rosemary, the Scented Wool Dryerballs in Citrus are perfect for your work clothes to help keep you going through the day. Citrus essential oils have an incredible balancing effect, as they can both calm and boost your senses, as well as aid in greater focus and alertness. Citrus can also stimulate creativity, settle a racing mind, and uplift your spirits. Work stressing you out with a big presentation to the boss? The smell of citrus will help to calm and ground you.

Simply Fresh

Perfectly suited for your everyday items that you want to keep fresh without using toxic chemicals, the Simply Fresh Scented Wool Dryerball is a blend of rosemary, Tunisian neroli, and lavender. Legend has it that Greek scholars used rosemary to enhance their memory when taking exams, so this one is ideal for situations when you need to focus and use your memory, like school or work. Tunisian neroli essential oil is known for its antidepressant properties, and is great for managing all types of negative emotional conditions and states of anxiety. Launder your favourite work shirts or school uniforms with the Simply Fresh Scented Wool Dryerball for clarity and peace of mind through your day.

When most people think of a product that has the power to lift stains, brighten whites, and disinfect fabrics, most will think of conventional bleach. It might get your clothes looking bright, but you run the risk of dangers to your health and the environment!

What exactly is bleach?

Bleach is a chlorine-based corrosive substance that uses a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite to turn coloured organic compounds into colourless ones. It’s a corrosive substance that – even when diluted – can cause burns, irritations, and damage home surfaces. Since bleach is strong enough to kill some of the worst bacteria, it makes sense that it poses a risk to anyone that uses it! It can especially be harmful to babies, young children, and pets, as their immune systems can’t fight off the harsh chemicals.
Serious effects of bleach can include skin burns, respiratory problems, damage to the nervous system, asthma flare-ups, headaches, and vomiting. Bleach is not only toxic to humans, but to animals and our environment! Bleach is a known contributor to water pollution. When it makes its way into our water systems, it reacts with other minerals and elements to create a host of dangerous toxins that can take years to naturally break down. Even the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has banned the use of bleach in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and schools. Shouldn’t we do the same in our homes?
Thankfully, the answer is easy – Nellie’s Oxygen Brightener brightens your whites and penetrates stains without hurting you, your family, or the environment! Thanks to the power of oxygen, our formula strips away dirt, grit, odour, and grime. The chlorine-free formula is colour-safe, septic safe, hypoallergenic, environmentally-friendly, and biodegradable, just like all of Nellie’s products.
How can you use Oxygen Brightener around the house? Click here!