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Beginning Laundry Care for Bachelors

12/31/2013

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By Ask Men Editors


Patience is a virtue; one that I unfortunately don't yet possess. One thing I do have, however, is expensive taste in clothing. Alas, an expensive wardrobe frequently involves extra maintenance such as ironing, which incidentally requires patience and some basic know-how.

Now ironing is not something I particularly enjoy, as it's a time consuming and tedious process. But with my cleaning bills going through the roof, it's time I started taking matters into my own hands (so to speak).

Despite my aversion for ironing, I had to question people who have a handle on ironing in order to relay this information to you. That being said, I would like to thank my mother for having me over and treating me to such a succulent dinner.

Now I hope I don't have to impart the importance of wearing wrinkle-free clothing; you could be clad in the sleekest designer gear, but if your shirt is creased, no one will take you seriously.

With that in mind, here is what I learned about ironing clothing.

ironing it all out


Step 1
The first step in successfully ironing your clothes is making sure you have the right tools for the job. You'll need a good iron, a hard surface to iron on (preferably an ironing board), and some spray starch.

Using starch will make your clothes feel crisp and look even better, while cutting down your ironing time considerably. Simply lay the garment down flat on the ironing board and spray the starch onto it from at least a foot away before you begin.

Step 2
Before you start ironing, make sure you read each clothing tag carefully to determine the fabric composition and ironing instructions for each item. Then simply choose your iron's settings accordingly.

Step 3
Remember not to leave the hot iron on the same spot for more than a few seconds, as it might burn and permanently damage your clothes.

Step 4
As well, it's best to iron clothes inside out in order to preserve the garment's color and prevent staining.

Shirts
When ironing shirts, start with the collar; move the iron up and down smoothly around the entire area. Then shift down to the cuffs and sleeves.

Finish off that shirt, and don't step out with creased pants.

Throughout the process, make sure to follow and maintain your shirt's natural creases. Once the sleeves are ironed out, move on to the buttonhole area (gradually iron around each buttonhole), after which you should move on to one of the front halves, and finally work your way around to the other front half.

Once you're done, make sure to properly hang your shirt.

Pants
When ironing pants, start with the waistband and slowly move your way down to the cuffs (or hem).

Place your slacks parallel to the ironing board and slowly move the iron up and down, working your way over the entire wrinkled areas. Again, always make sure to follow and maintain your pants' natural lines and creases.

Once you're done, hang your pants without delay.

Laundering Tips
Before even whipping out your iron, make sure your clothes are in tiptop shape because ironing a dirty shirt could permanently set stains into the fabric.

When washing your clothing, always try to use high-quality detergent and fabric softener, as they will help keep the fabric in good shape for a longer amount of time. By using high-end products, your clothes will maintain their durability, which might also render them less likely to wrinkle. Furthermore, throwing a good fabric softener into the mix relaxes your garment's fabric, decreasing the chances of their getting wrinkled in the first place.

Also, get into the habit of hanging up or folding your clothes as soon as the drying cycle is over. Take your clothes out of the dryer as soon as they are dry (they're more likely to wrinkle when their left in the dryer), and that should make your ironing task that much easier.

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Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
This holiday season give the gift of a healthier home.

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service. 

P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

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Tips on Ironing Linen

12/30/2013

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By Emily Patterson

Linen is a fabric spun from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is one of the oldest known textiles: fabric dated from 8,500 years ago was discovered in a cave in Israel. This fabric is one of the strongest textiles and becomes softer with use. Linen clothing should be hung rather than folded.




Folding repeatedly at the same point breaks down the fibers of the fabric and creates permanent creases. To prevent mildew, store linen only after it is completely dry.



Reduce Wrinkles

  • Wash linen clothing in cold to warm water with mild laundry soap. Dry linen clothing in a dryer on low heat, or hang or lay flat. If using a dryer, remove linen clothing while slightly damp.


Ironing Linen Clothing

  • Iron linen clothing while the clothing is still damp. Use a medium to high setting to press out wrinkles. Use a higher setting for heavier linen clothing. Steam or spray with water to keep the fabric damp while ironing. Iron the inside of lighter shades of the fabric then iron the outside to bring out the rich luster of the fabric. Iron only the wrong side of dark colored linen clothing. Hang immediately after ironing and allow to dry thoroughly. Use spray starch for crispness or use fabric sizing for a softer look to the linen. Protect delicate lace and cutwork with a press cloth. Use a press cloth over pockets, seams and hems to prevent press marks. Wrinkles in linen cannot be steamed out, they must be pressed out with an iron.
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Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
This holiday season give the gift of a healthier home.

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service. 

P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

How may we service you?: http://www.1greenclean.com/our-services.html

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Apple Time! Apple Recipe

12/28/2013

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by Jean Smith


Here's an easy recipe for both canned and frozen apple pie filling with some great info on comparisons of thickeners! Enjoy friends!






Each product works differently and is better suited to particular recipes depending on if it is cooked or not. Be sure to check the recipe and understand the differences before you interchange them. I use Perma-flo in my canned pie filling because of the after taste I feel Clear-jel leaves.

Here’s my recipe for canned pie filling along with a BONUS recipe from my cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats & Treats.

Canned Pie Filling

2 c Perma-flo
2 c cold water
7 c sugar
6 c water
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
24 c peeled, cored and sliced apples
*6 drops red food coloring, optional

1. In a separate bowl combine the Perma-flo and 2c water; stir until dissolved

2. In a large kettle combine the 6c water, sugar, salt and food coloring; bring to a rolling boil.

3. Stir the Perma-flo- water mixture again; then very slowly begin pouring the mixture into the boiling liquid, like adding eggs to a pudding, stirring constantly. Once it thickens to a goop, remove from heat, add cinnamon and apples.  Stir until thoroughly mixed.

4. Fill quart jars, leaving an inch head space; wipe the rims of the jar; put lid and rings on tightly.

5. Water bath process 30 minutes or pressure can at 5#’s pressure for 5 minutes.  Place the jars on a towel on counter and leave for 48 hours to ensure proper seal.

Freezer Apple Pie Filling
This recipe can be found in my cookbook, Lovingly Seasoned Eats & Treats on page 427 in the canning section.

6 c water
1 c Instant Clear-jel
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
5 c sugar
1 stick butter
16 c of peeled, cored and sliced apples

1. Combine sugar, Instant Clear-gel, lemon juice with 1 c cold water in a large kettle; stir until thoroughly mixed

2. Add remaining 5 cups water and 1 stick of butter. Cook on low heat until thick; cool.

3. Mix in apples, place in freezer containers and freeze.

*TIP: I use wide mouth quart jars for pie filling if possible because it is much easier to get out when you’re ready to use it.

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Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
This holiday season give the gift of a healthier home.

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service. 

P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

How may we service you?: http://www.1greenclean.com/our-services.html

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5 Essential Skin Care Tips for Winter

12/27/2013

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By Anhra WISHESH

The cool breeze of winter is soothing to your senses but can cause havoc to your skin. This winter, follow these simple 5 tips to prevent dryness, cracking and irritation and enjoy beautiful skin even in the cold months.



5 essential skin care regimen for a glowing skin in winter


1. Exfoliation
Dead cells tend to be dry and coarse requiring regular exfoliation, specially in the winter months. Exfoliation helps cellular regeneration and allows new and healthy skin to surface. The new skin is moist and remains hydrated for a longer time.

2. Moisturization 
Moisturize your skin daily with a good moisturizer that has ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, or  other natural hydrating element to keep your skin soft and supple during winter.  Such natural ingredients comprises of essential fatty acids required by our bodies and keep the skin moisturized the whole day.

3. Night Cream for Deep Skin Nourishment
Consider using a hydrating night cream for deep nourishment in case you have dry skin. Opt for a night creams that contain regenerating ingredients like avocado oil that would repair and penetrate deep into your skin for deep moisturization while you are asleep.

4. Wear Scarf to Protect your Face and Neck
The chilly winter breeze dries out your skin causing skin irritation and discomfort. So use a warm scarf to cover your neck, chin and cheeks. In addition, if you wear a hat or hood it would protect your forehead and head from the harsh weather.

5. Drink lots of Water
The golden rule to keep your skin hydrated is to keep your body hydrated. As reported in the Canada’s Food Guide, consume at least 30 to 45 mL (2 to 3 tbsp.) of unsaturated fats and oils everyday and drink  9 to 13 cups of water each day to keep your skin hydrated.


Most important tip is to stay happy and stress-free for a beautiful and glowing skin.

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Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
This holiday season give the gift of a healthier home.

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service. 

P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

How may we service you?: http://www.1greenclean.com/our-services.html

Tweet with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stGreenClean
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Putting Together Ikea Furniture

12/26/2013

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After spending 3 weekends in a row putting several pieces of IKEA furniture together for my new apartment, I found a few easy ways to make the whole building process a little easier. Check out some quick IKEA assembly tips, after the jump.


1. Buy an electric screw driver with replaceable bits. Skip the included tools IKEA gives you with your furniture—the small tools require you to use a lot of force, putting strain on your fingers. Simply purchasing an inexpensive electric screw driver with interchangeable bits can be a huge help. It’s better to use these over a heavy duty drill because the low power won’t damage the easily chipable particleboard. It’s also a great tool to have when you’re looking to securely mount your new furniture to the wall.

2. Use a large rubber mallet instead of a hammer. There are tons of IKEA furniture that use wood dowels to link two pieces of wood together. They usually need a good pound and using a metal hammer can damage the premade holes in the particleboard, making the wood dowels less secure. Using a large rubber mallet will help spread the force out more evenly and keep the wood pieces tight together. Make sure to get a white mallet so that you don’t leave skid marks.

3. Separate and count your pieces. Before jumping right into assembling your furniture, it’s a good idea to take a moment to separate each screw and wood dowel. Since IKEA instructions are purely visual, separating and counting all those little pieces will allow you to make sure you’re putting the right sized screw/dowel in the right place.

4. Customize before you put together. If you’re someone who enjoys adding your own personal touch to things, before your start putting your furniture together you might want to take a step back and consider what you might want to customize. Maybe you want to add a hole to a new media center for cable management or paint the backboard of a book shelf. Customizing your furniture before assembly is the perfect time to add these touches since each piece is already separated, so you won’t have to worry about things like taping or accidentally getting paint on other pieces. I bought a plain white IKEA bathroom vanity and before I put it together, I painted the backboard to add a pop of color before I nailed it into the other pieces.

5. Prep, plan and clear your space. This tip is pretty obvious, but it’s definitely important to make sure you have plenty of room to assemble everything. When building large furniture, you don’t always know what direction the furniture will grow. Making sure you have enough space to spread out will save you from being forced to work in an awkward position the more you start assembling your pieces. And be sure you can even fit the furnishings in your home; there are various IKEA based sites and apps that can tackle the process of design before you spend a single cent.

Know some other quick IKEA tips? Let us know below in the comments!

Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
This holiday season give the gift of a healthier home.

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service. 

P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

How may we service you?: http://www.1greenclean.com/our-services.html

Tweet with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stGreenClean
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15 Great Decluttering Tips

12/25/2013

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As with anything, getting rid of clutter can be made incredibly simple: just go through your stuff, one section, closet, drawer, or shelf at a time, and get rid of everything that isn’t absolutely essential, that you don’t love and use often.

Of course, simplifying a process like that isn’t terribly useful to many people who struggle with clutter. So, with that in mind, I present to you 15 fabulous tip for decluttering. These tips aren’t mine — they’re from you guys, the readers, repackaged into a useful little post.

Recently I asked you guys for your best decluttering tips … and I pulled some of the best of those (there are many more good ones I wasn’t able to use). They’re reworded here slightly, and a couple have been modified indiscriminately by me. :)

But they’re great tips nonetheless. Enjoy!

  1. Declutter for 15 minutes every day. It’s amazing how much you can get through if you just do it in small increments like this.
  2. Don’t allow things into the house in the first place. Whether you’ve begun decluttering the living space, or you’ve just completed it, stop bringing in new stuff NOW. Even if that’s ALL you do and don’t start decluttering immediately, if you can only establish one habit at a time, establish the no-more-stuff habit first. This way, when you do get to decluttering the existing stuff, you’ve already stopped making it worse. Think of bailing out a boat with a hole in it. You can bail and bail, but it won’t do anything for the leak.
  3. Donate stuff you’re decluttering, so you don’t feel bad about wasting it.
  4. Create a Joe’s Goals chart with decluttering on it — either daily, or 3 times a week. Check off the days when you declutter, and you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment.
  5. Start at the corner by the door and move your way around the room, doing the superficial stuff first – surfaces, empy the bin etc. Repeat, but do more the 2nd time around – ie. open the cupboards.
  6. Whenever you’re boiling the kettle for tea, tidy up the kitchen. If the kitchen is tidy, tidy up the next room – it’s only 3 minutes but it keeps you on top of everything (helps if you have an Englishman’s obsession with Tea as well!)
  7. Use the “one in, two out” rule. The rule: whenever you bring in an item, you have to throw away two other items. First you cheat, by throwing out two pieces of paper, but soon you will have to move to big stuff.
  8. Make your storage space smaller and more minimal. If you have lots of storage, you’ll fill it with stuff.
  9. Clothing rule: If you haven’t worn an item in 6 months, sell or donate it.
  10. The One-Year Box. Take all your items that you unsure about getting rid of (e.g. “I might need this someday…”), put them in a box, seal it and date it for 1 year in the future. When the date comes, and you still didn’t need to open it to get anything, donate the box WITHOUT OPENING IT. You probably won’t even remember what there was in the box.
  11. Declutter one room (including any closets, desks, cabinets, etc.) before starting on the next one. Spending time in that room will feel *so* good, and it will be so easy to keep clean, that it will motivate you to do more!
  12. Keep a list in your planner labeled “Don’t Need It – Don’t Want It.” When you’re out shopping and run across some kind of gadget or other item you crave, note it down on the list. This will slow you down long enough to reconsider. Also, seeing the other things on the list that you nearly bought on impulse really helps.
  13. Internalize that your value is not in your “stuff”. It is just “stuff”. And realize that your value grows when you share your “stuff”. Hoarding is a selfish act.
  14. Have someone else (who you trust!) help you go through things. They don’t have the (sometime’s irrational) emotional attachment that you might have, but can still recognize if something should be kept.
  15. Gift everything. Books you’ve read immediately get recycled among friends, family or local libraries. If you buy a new gaming system, donate your old one – and all the games.



Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
This holiday season give the gift of a healthier home.

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service. 

P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

How may we service you?: http://www.1greenclean.com/our-services.html

Tweet with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stGreenClean
Fan us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/1st-Green-Clean/171400231379
Pin with us on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/1stgreen/pins/

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18 Five-Minute Decluttering Tips to Start Conquering Your Mess

12/24/2013

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By: Leo Bauta

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” - Albert Einstein

I've written a lot about simplicity and decluttering (I can’t help it — I’m passionate about it!) and I've noticed that a lot of readers share my ideal of having an uncluttered home or workplace, but don’t know where to start.

When your home is filled with clutter, trying to tackle a mountain of stuff can be quite overwhelming.

So here’s my advice: start with just five minutes. Baby steps are important. Sure, five minutes won’t barely make a dent in your mountain, but it’s a start. Celebrate when you've made that start!

Then take another five minutes tomorrow. And another the next day. Before you know it, you’ll have cleared a whole closet or a room and then half your house and then … who knows? Maybe before long your house will be even more uncluttered than mine. We’ll have a challenge!

For those who are overwhelmed by their clutter, here are some great ways to get started, five minutes at a time.

  1. Designate a spot for incoming papers. Papers often account for a lot of our clutter. This is because we put them in different spots — on the counter, on the table, on our desk, in a drawer, on top of our dresser, in our car. No wonder we can’t find anything! Designate an in-box tray or spot in your home (or at your office, for that matter) and don’t put down papers anywhere but that spot. Got mail? Put it in the inbox. Got school papers? Put it in the inbox. Receipts, warranties, manuals, notices, flyers? In the inbox! This one little change can really transform your paperwork.
  2. Start clearing a starting zone. What you want to do is clear one area. This is your no-clutter zone. It can be a counter, or your kitchen table, or the three-foot perimeter around your couch. Wherever you start, make a rule: nothing can be placed there that’s not actually in use. Everything must be put away. Once you have that clutter-free zone, keep it that way! Now, each day, slowly expand your no-clutter zone until it envelopes the whole house! Unfortunately, the neighbors don’t seem to like it when you try to expand the no-clutter zone to their house, and start hauling away their unused exercise equipment and torn underwear when they’re not at home. Some people don’t appreciate simplicity, I guess.
  3. Clear off a counter. You want to get your house so that all flat spaces are clear of clutter. Maybe they have a toaster on them, maybe a decorative candle, but not a lot of clutter. So start with one counter. Clear off everything possible, except maybe one or two essential things. Have a blender you haven’t used since jazzercise was all the rage? Put it in the cupboard! Clear off all papers and all the other junk you've been tossing on the counter too.
  4. Pick a shelf. Now that you've done a counter, try a shelf. It doesn't matter what shelf. Could be a shelf in a closet, or on a bookshelf. Don’t tackle the whole bookshelf — just one shelf. Clear all non-essential things and leave it looking neat and clutter-free.
  5. Schedule a decluttering weekend. Maybe you don’t feel like doing a huge decluttering session right now. But if you take the time to schedule it for later this month, you can clear your schedule, and if you have a family, get them involved too. The more hands pitching in, the better. Get boxes and trash bags ready, and plan a trip to a charity to drop off donated items. You might not get the entire house decluttered during the weekend, but you’ll probably make great progress.
  6. Pick up 5 things, and find places for them. These should be things that you actually use, but that you just seem to put anywhere, because they don’t have good places. If you don’t know exactly where things belong, you have to designate a good spot. Take a minute to think it through — where would be a good spot? Then always put those things in those spots when you’re done using them. Do this for everything in your home, a few things at a time.
  7. Spend a few minutes visualizing the room. When I’m decluttering, I like to take a moment to take a look at a room, and think about how I want it to look. What are the most essential pieces of furniture? What doesn't belong in the room but has just gravitated there? What is on the floor (hint: only furniture and rugs belong there) and what is on the other flat surfaces? Once I’ve visualized how the room will look uncluttered, and figured out what is essential, I get rid of the rest.
  8. Create a “maybe” box. Sometimes when you’re going through a pile of stuff, you know exactly what to keep (the stuff you love and use) and what to trash or donate. But then there’s the stuff you don’t use, but think you might want it or need it someday. You can’t bear to get rid of that stuff! So create a “maybe” box, and put this stuff there. Then store the box somewhere hidden, out of the way. Put a note on your calendar six months from now to look in the box. Then pull it out, six months later, and see if it’s anything you really needed. Usually, you can just dump the whole box, because you never needed that stuff.
  9. Put a load in your car for charity. If you've decluttered a bunch of stuff, you might have a “to donate” pile that’s just taking up space in a corner of your room. Take a few minutes to box it up and put it in your trunk. Then tomorrow, drop it off.
  10. Create a 30-day list. The problem with decluttering is that we can declutter our butts off (don’t actually try that — it’s painful) but it just comes back because we buy more stuff. So fight that tendency by nipping it in the bud: don’t buy the stuff in the first place. Take a minute to create a 30-day list, and every time you want to buy something that’s not absolutely necessary (and no, that new Macbook Air isn't absolutely necessary), put it on the list with the date it was added to the list. Make a rule never to buy anything (except necessities) unless they've been on the list for 30 days. Often you’ll lose the urge to buy the stuff and you’ll save yourself a lot of money and clutter.
  11. Teach your kids where things belong. This only applies to the parents among us, of course, but if you teach your kids where things go, and start teaching them the habit of putting them there, you’ll go a long way to keeping your house uncluttered. Of course, they won’t learn the habit overnight, so you’ll have to be very very patient with them and just keep teaching them until they've got it. And better yet, set the example for them and get into the habit yourself.
  12. Set up some simple folders. Sometimes our papers pile up high because we don’t have good places to put them. Create some simple folders with labels for your major bills and similar paperwork. Put them in one spot. Your system doesn't have to be complete, but keep some extra folders and labels in case you need to quickly create a new file.
  13. Learn to file quickly. Once you've created your simple filing system, you just need to learn to use it regularly. Take a handful of papers from your pile, or your inbox, and go through them one at a time, starting from the top paper and working down. Make quick decisions: trash them, file them immediately, or make a note of the action required and put them in an “action” file. Don’t put anything back on the pile, and don’t put them anywhere but in a folder (and no cheating “to be filed” folders!) or in the trash/recycling bin.
  14. Pull out some clothes you don’t wear. As you’re getting ready for work, and going through your closet for something to wear, spend a few minutes pulling out ones you haven’t worn in a few months. If they’re seasonal clothes, store them in a box. Get rid of the rest. Do this a little at a time until your closet (and then your drawers) only contains stuff you actually wear.
  15. Clear out your medicine cabinet. If you don’t have one spot for medicines, create one now. Go through everything for the outdated medicines, the stuff you’ll never use again, the dirty-looking bandages, the creams that you've found you’re allergic to, the ointments that never had an effect on your energy or your eye wrinkles. Simplify to the essential.
  16. Pull everything out of a drawer. Just take the drawer out and empty it on a table. Then sort the drawer into three piles: 1) stuff that really should go in the drawer; 2) stuff that belongs elsewhere; 3) stuff to get rid of. Clean the drawer out nice, then put the stuff in the first pile back neatly and orderly. Deal with the other piles immediately!
  17. Learn to love the uncluttered look. Once you've gotten an area decluttered, you should take the time to enjoy that look. It’s a lovely look. Make that your standard! Learn to hate clutter! Then catch clutter and kill it wherever it crops up.
  18. Have a conversation with your SO or roommate. Sometimes the problem isn't just with us, it’s with the person or people we live with. An uncluttered home is the result of a shared philosophy of simplicity of all the people living in the house. If you take a few minutes to explain that you really want to have an uncluttered house, and that you could use their help, you can go a long way to getting to that point. Try to be persuasive and encouraging rather than nagging and negative. Read more about living with a pack rat.


“We don’t need to increase our goods nearly as much as we need to scale down our wants. Not wanting something is as good as possessing it.” - Donald Horban

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Do you have green or Eco-Friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
Give the gift of a healthier environment.

Imagine how much better you will feel to have a pristine and healthy working environment and all you did was make a phone call.  1st Green Clean can transform your life.  1st Green Clean is a professional firm here to manage with a superior level of detail to the cleanliness of your business.  You can also brag to your customers about your commitment to their health, office experience, and supporting the environment by going chemical free.  We work with a goal of exceeding your expectations and increasing your value. 


P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

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You Have Stretch Marks Now What?

12/19/2013

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Stretch marks, are a form of skin scarring most commonly associated with pregnancy,  short-term weight gain/loss from physical activities, obesity, and puberty. Stretch marks come form when the the middle layer of the skin that maintains shape and elasticity becomes stretched more than it can tolerate. Connective skin fibers eventually break causing scarring.




Disclaimer: 1st Green Clean and our associates are in no way guaranteeing that this method will remove or cure stretch marks.


Stretch Mark Scrub Recipe

3 Tbsp white sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
¼ C whole milk

Place the ingredients into a bowl.  Thoroughly mix the ingredients.  Saturate a body brush with the mixture and brush it onto the troubled area.  


Do you have green tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
This holiday season give the gift of a healthier home.

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service. 

P.S. Hurry! Our services are exclusive and strictly limited. Don’t miss out! 

Call now! 866-905-9002 ext. 104

How may we service you?:http://www.1greenclean.com/

Tweet with us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/1stGreenClean
Fan us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/1st-Green-Clean/171400231379

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Quick and Shiny Stainless Steal

12/17/2013

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Tools: Baking soda, warm waters, 3 soft cloths

To Do: Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with a quart of warm water until dissolved

~ Wash sink using solution and a soft cloth.  Use a toothbrush for seams and hard-to-get area of the sink

~ Rinse and wipe dry with a clean soft cloth

~ Finish by polishing with a dry cloth.  If you have hard water use a solution of half vinegar and half water to polish surface



~ Here's to a healthier lifestyle.


1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services for both large and small homes. Our concept of providing a comprehensive program, with exceptional management support is what separates 1st Green Clean from our competition.

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
Proudly serving the Washington, D.C. Metro Area since 2007.

Don't miss the timely information and tips we share in our blog and newsletter. Sign up today!http://www.1greenclean.com/our-blog.html

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Home Made All Purpose Cleaner

12/6/2013

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If you are new to green cleaning, here is a quick way to get you started.

Mix:

 ½ teaspoon of vegetable oil-based laundry detergent

1 teaspoon of borax (laundry detergent)

2 tablespoons of white vinegar

1 quart of hot water

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services
(866) 905-9002 ext.104

Proudly serving the Washington, D.C. Metro Area since 2007.

Don't miss the timely information and tips we share in our blog and newsletter. Sign up today! http://www.1greenclean.com/our-blog.html

How may we service you today?: http://www.1greenclean.com/our-services.html

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    Author

    Pharice Brown & Associates, LLC, has over 10 years of progressively responsible experience directing as many as 1,000 employees in fortune 500 companies. In this blog she will share useful information for a luxurious and healthy lifestyle with www.1greenclean.com

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