This is the Vacuum You Are Looking For

My vacuum has been dying. Again. Story of our life, right? Which is why I accepted a chance to try a new vacuum. I didn't think it would be that great, but the value was listed as more than a couple hundred dollars, so maybe? Anyhow, my opinions quickly changed. Let me show you why! 

*Disclaimer: I was sent this product free in exchange for writing my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions about it are my own.*

All the best features...

First off, this comes from a company called Levoit. I had never heard of them before. Mention a Shark or Bissell, and I know exactly what you are talking about. But this? Nope. Apparently, they are higher-end products. 

This particular one hangs on the wall, allowing for better storage. I love that it doesn't take up more space in an already limited home. It also means that it can be put wherever I need it. Which is the laundry closet zone for me. I will say that my husband used his own anchor pieces as the flimsy ones included didn't want to truly hold up as well. 

While it is lightweight, they did not skimp on quality. How do I know? My technically-minded husband put it together for me and was praising its quality parts. Coming from him, that is high praise! Being lightweight was important to me though. Why? Because my pain has made a lot of the cleaning more difficult. While I love having 4 kids capable of helping me, it is never to my standard. This vacuum helps me do at least that chore with minimal pain increase. 

The quality has greatly shown in how well it gets up the dust, dirt and other crud from the floors. We have 2 kinds of carpet in this old house of ours. The standard kind runs through the hallway and our sons' room. But the rest of the areas in the house with carpet are this indented squares style that I can't wait to replace. Stuff gets in the grooves and this makes the floors feel and smell dirty still. But I have noticed a great difference since using this new vacuum. 

Another feature I have enjoyed is that it lights up as you vacuum. Do I vacuum in the dark? No. So why does it matter? Even with lights on, there are areas that are dark, like some corners and under some furniture. This lights up the path I'm going in so I can make sure nothing is on the floor in front of me in those darker areas.  

A tangle-less brush?! I didn't know this existed, but I have been loving it! We have 6 people in this house and every single one sheds to some degree. Hair getting caught in the vacuum meant either I or my husband were having to clear the brush too often. 

This is a battery-powered device. However, the battery charges quickly and lasts me through the whole house. We have 5 rooms and a hallway. I can get the whole place done without needing to stop for a charge. 

The head swivels with amazing ease. I love getting into all the crevices and corners. Even under chairs. The filter pops out easily so that I can knock off anything holding on in the tank. Then you just click it back into place. You can also get replacement filter kits on the website. And the extensions are so easy to swap out! Everything is a single button click from taking apart or putting together. If I need to switch between the speed settings as I go, I can do so without stopping what I am doing. It is right there where my hand holds it. 

Where can you find these?

Well, there is the company website HERE. That is where I learned they are currently on discount for about $150.  

You can also get them on Amazon for the same price, but with the possibility of free shipping.  

Green Spring Party Time!

We have all heard the term 'Spring Cleaning'. It is that time of year when spring comes around and we feel the need to clean out our homes. There are many origin stories of why we do this, but my favorite is the simplest one. All winter, we are mostly kept indoors due to dreary weather (even in the south). So when the sun comes shining and bright, and the temperatures turn perfect enough for opening windows, we get busy. Cleaning out the dullness with the dust, making everything glimmer with hope of a renewed year! But we need to be careful of what we use for this task. Not all cleaners are equal - or safe for that matter. Which is why I'm happy to introduce you to Rebel Green and EarthKind. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products free of charge in exchange for hosting a party and writing a review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions are strictly my own.*

How clean do you go?

I like to think that I keep my house clean enough all year around. That I don't slack and let things go. That's what I like to think. But truth be told, I have my times when this is not so. SHOCKING, I know. But even though I'm OCD and a neat freak, winter is a hard time for me. I get cold easily, which causes the arthritis in my back and legs to flare up. So I prefer to spend my days wrapped in a fleece blanket, sitting on a heating pad, near a fireplace that is burning well. Not washing dishes and vacuuming floors. 

But we all know that with the changing seasons there are illnesses (take the Covid-19, for example) and plenty of dust to clean away. So when spring-like weather gets close enough, I spring into action. (Pun totally intended.) I even enlist my kids to help. Dusting rags (or old socks with holes in them) get passed out. Everyone finds a spot to dust. I get those fan blades wiped down. Sometimes they help wipe the countertops too. The three oldest children even do their own laundry. This is a must for parents who want their kids to know how to care for themselves and be independent. But what about that microwave and the baseboards? Or how about pest control? Spring brings warmer weather, it's true, but then the bugs start coming out again. And then inside if you live in an old, leaky house.

However, there is a beware attached. 

Not all cleaners are safe for children to handle. Take bleach, for instance. The fumes can be quite toxic. Sure, it can destroy all traces of DNA and leave something clean enough to eat off of, but it can be dangerous as well. So how can we get our kids involved without putting them in harms way? We need products that clean, but are safe. Something green is usually the way to go. Which is where Rebel Green and EarthKind come in. These are family friendly products! Rebel Green is all around the house products while EarthKind is the environmentally safe pest control options. 
Both of these companies are woman owned. Both want to be as organic as possible. Both are dedicated to being safe for family, pets and the earth. 

Rebel Green

Let's talk about Rebel Green first. They use functional essential oils to create the scents. Their products range from produce cleaners to household cleaning. Fresh produce often comes with dirt, pesticides, waxes, fungicides and hand oils - just for starters. Did you catch the hand oils part? Yep, 20-30 hands touched your apple before you did at the grocery store. Ever stop to think about whether those hands were clean? Washing these things away allows us to truly enjoy the natural flavors fully, without the worry of also catching something. The household products are without any toxic chemicals that can be dangerous to people and the planet. No parabens, phosphates, petrochemicals, synthetic perfumes, dyes, chlorine, ammonia or chemical brighteners. So many of these things are toxic to our skin and health. And definitely not helping the planet either. It is believed that phosphates actually dry out your skin. With us having to wash hands so much, we need things that won't dry us out. Their hand soap is perfectly balanced to clean our hands while keeping them moisturized at the same time. However, if you feel that isn't enough, they also have a cream! My daughter has been helping me by keeping the microwave clean. I still remember the first time she did it by grabbing a spray bottle that I had put bleach in for mold spraying... Talk about the fumes when I opened the microwave later! I thought it would take days to air out and be usable again. But now, she uses the Rebel Green All Purpose spray. And it smells so good every time! I have the Lavender Grapefruit scent. Calming while cleaning! Then I have the laundry detergent. It is 3 times concentrated, so I only need an ounce to do a load. And they have so many options. Like baby, delicates and even a sports wear one.
Their desire is to stay local. I love their philosophy of getting everything made here in the USA. Why have manufacturing exported to another country, just to have to buy their "products a one way plane ticket back to the States". This is smart business thinking. Not just for them, but for our local economy as well. They save money on shipping, lower costs and offer more jobs here. 

EarthKind

Now we come to EarthKind. They are committed to providing pest control options that are safe for everyone. They work with nature, not against. Harmony, not harm! Before checking out their products, I would kill any bug that comes inside. However, these products are pouches that are designed to repel the little critters without the use of poison. Works for me. I usually get my husband to kill the spiders or roaches. I get bugged out for the rest of the day/night. So, win-win! The founder and creator of EarthKind started out by creating the Stay Away Rodent product. She wanted to keep mice away, without having to use poison and kill them.

As she pointed out, everything is a part of the ecosystem. They all play a part. So in order to maintain the balance, you need to keep them in their place by repelling them from yours. The little pouches can be kept in a cute container to keep them discreet. 

I also like the nifty little mosquito spray. It is perfect for pockets, purses and bags.

Set up your cleaning routine!

I printed out checklists to help me keep focused. There are daily ones, nightly ones, weekly and monthly ones. This website has a great grouping that is perfect, no matter what kind of experience you have. I use lists to keep me focused and on track. Now is the time to really get dedicated. This corona virus has changed how we think of being clean. Touching our faces, touching commonly used items and how we wash our hands has come front and center to everyone's attention. Sickness prevention starts with the home. Besides the rules that have been passed down, we need to secure our homes first. So check them out! And let me know what your favorite chore is in the comments below. If you don't have a favorite (don't like cleaning?) then tell me your least favorite!

Spring cleaning? Not my favorite chore....

Its that time of year when cleaning out the clutter is necessary. We were preparing for a move but it seems that wasn't happening just yet. As I packed, I came across things that we never use, don't need anymore, or just don't want. I took a bag filled with old movies to Hastings first. While they didn't take everything, it cleared out a chunk of space and gave me a hefty bit of store credit so I can get the things I actually want. Those movies were ones that we had but either never watched or didn't even know why we had them. I also have some books that I tried cashing in, but was told I'd get .75 for each. While browsing posts by the Krazy Coupon Lady, I came across one she had for de-cluttering the home. She had a link for a website you can sell your books on and see how much you'd get for each one. Sadly, I'd get the same price as if I sold them at Hastings or Half Price Books. I'm thinking I'll list them on Listia or eBay instead.

Listia is a credit-based trading site. No money is exchanged for the items themselves, though you can have buyers pay the shipping. You instead get credits that can only be used on the website to "bid and buy". It's auction styled like eBay.

As for clothing, I have a large amount of boys and girls clothing that my kids have outgrown. I've just been tossing them into bags and piling them up. I tried Craigslist. Didn't get any hits off that. I tried posting to a local swap page on Facebook without much luck either. My last resort will be ThredUp. You just order a prepaid postage bag and when you get it, stuff it with clothes to send back. You can look up what types or brands are accepted. Whatever they don't buy, they will donate to a local charity.

I have to do some other organizing around here. Since my husbands Lego hobby is taking over more and more of the small apartment we currently share, I'm packing away my own stuff to make room and see how much I have so I'll know what kind of truck to rent when I move the kids and I out next year. I found some cool tips to help make extra space from the Krazy Coupon Lady. Here's a post on getting organized.

So here's to making room and maybe making money to boot! Let's get rid of the clutter and make more space for the things we enjoy. 

Lysol® Power & Free™ spray and wipes review

I'm a BzzAgent, in case you didn't know. They allow people who love to try new things and talk about them, test out products or services in exchange for sharing the knowledge with anyone and everyone! The latest product I was given to try was the new Lysol Power and Free spray and wipes cleaners.

I love Lysol. I don't know when the first time was that I came in contact with it... but I know I'm a consumer for life. I also love bleach. Bleach kills and destroys ANY germ in my opinion. Did you know bleach can actually "tamper" traces of some evidence. (Don't get any ideas.) But the smell of bleach is dangerous. You need to have it diluted OR have the windows and doors open to clean with it. Now, Lysol does have a cleaner with bleach. And I have that... but my husband and kids complain about the smell. (Whereas, I'm basking in the fresh scent of CLEAN!) So, I was pretty excited when I heard about this one. I really do love the scent. Its light and refreshing. And it has Hydrogen Peroxide. Ever get a cut or scrape and have your parents clean it with hydrogen peroxide? Watching those millions of bubbles get to work pushing out the contaminants in the wound to prevent infections was my favorite! I know... I'm a weirdo. But this is the same idea. Spray your surface, it bubbles up, wipe it off. Voila! Clean surface.
No need for cleaning gear: masks, gloves, eye wear. There will be no tears. Your fingers won't get raw and chapped - or bleed. And breathing this in won't have you gasping for oxygen. And best of all - it carries the well known Lysol promise of killing 99.9% of germs.
And for the wipes, they are soft but strong still. I wiped up a very messy stovetop with only one wipe. (And my husband in the background telling me how much he prefers the smell to my normal bleach routine.) Overall, I see a great product that I look forward to using around my family.
Here's to healthier living! And happier if you are like my boys and husband who don't like the side effects of bleach 8-P.