"Clean My Space" Author and YouTube DIY Cleaning Sensation Melissa Maker Shares Five Tips to Transition Into A Cleaner Fall Routine

"I actually love the shift in seasons because it's the best time to declutter, get organized, and focus on ways to get the most out of the day – in this case, when there's more to do and less daylight to do it in. But it doesn't have to be overwhelming," said Maker. "Making smarter choices, like using high quality, affordable natural products from NOW, can have a big impact on how successful you'll feel when it comes to taking care of your home, yourself and your family."

1. Clean and properly store summer shoes. Clean the shoes and sandals you plan to keep for the coming spring/summer season before storing them for the fall and winter. You can easily do this by using a toothbrush and toothpaste to remove dirt and stains. Be sure to test this method in a small area before doing the full shoe – just to be sure nothing gets ruined! This works well for manmade leather, leather, rubber, and foam. Use a cloth dipped in water to remove toothpaste, allow to dry entirely, and then store in breathable shoe boxes for the cooler months.
2. Keeps hands clean with a DIY foaming hand wash. Keeping hands clean, especially when headed back to school, is the ideal way to minimize the risk of illness. This fantastic DIY foaming hand soap recipe is a favorite among moms and kids, and uses ingredients that are affordable and easy to find. Simply add 1 ½ cups of distilled water to an empty foaming hand soap pump, 2 tablespoons of liquid castile soap, ½ teaspoon of a nourishing oil like NOW® Solutions Sweet Almond Oil (http://bit.ly/2tqSeFL), jojoba oil or liquid coconut oil, and add up to 20 drops of your favorite essential oils (or a mix of them).* Lavender, tea tree oil, peppermint, or a citrus blend work great for the recipe, and you can find them at nowfoods.com/essential-oils. The oil serves two functions. First, it keeps the pump lubricated and second, it moisturizes your hands while washing. For the fall, make vanilla cinnamon scented soap, using equal drops of vanilla and cinnamon essential oils.* And fun tip – if making this for a kid's bathroom, throw a few sparkles in it!
3. Wash backpacks and lunch bags. When going back to school, these school tools come out of hibernation and are ready for action. If they've sat all summer long, they'll need a spruce up. Make sure bags are emptied and that care labels are checked – if items are not machine washable, follow care instructions and remove stains by hand. Otherwise, zip up zippers and clip up clips, place the bag(s) in the wash and if you're concerned about a decal or décor item, flip the bag inside out or place in a delicates bag before laundering. Wash on a gentle cycle with regular detergent and hang to dry. To deodorize bags, let them sit out in the summer sun for a few days – the sun will zap lingering odors, nice!
4. Moisturize dry skin. As the summer fades away, skin can become drier, so whip up a simple, non-greasy moisturizer that's easily portable (and can even be spritzed on your face when you're feeling extra dry). Get a sprayer bottle (http://bit.ly/2s713ku) and mix up a solution of ¼ cup rose water, 1 ½ teaspoons vegetable glycerin, 1 teaspoon of a nourishing oil, such as NOW® Solutions Liquid Coconut Oil (http://bit.ly/2sWmJCE), and about 10 drops of your favorite essential oil (or a blend).* This is calming and moisturizing for the skin and smells heavenly. With rose water, try scents like geranium or sandalwood, but just about any fragrance will work. If doubling up on the recipe, keep the essential oils to no more than 15 or so drops. And for an alternative to rose water, filtered water works just as well.
5. Purify the air. Since cooler fall temperatures offer less opportunity to keep windows open, the drier air inside the home can start to feel stuffy. Diffusing essential oils is a simple way to help purify the air. Some favorite purifying blends are Nature's Shield (http://bit.ly/2smbXHc) and Clear the Air.  Another favorite option is Mental Focus, which is a focusing blend perfect for providing a centering atmosphere to help check schoolwork and chores off the nightly to-do list.

All NOW products are available at health food stores nationwide and also at www.nowfoods.com. To stay up-to-date on NOW news, follow them on Instagram at http://bit.ly/1P5xJSO, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT NOW®:
Founded by Elwood Richard in 1968 on the belief that natural is better, NOW has grown from a small family operation into one of the most highly respected manufacturers in the natural products industry. Still a family-owned company today, NOW provides customers with a comprehensive approach to wellness by offering more than 1,400 dietary supplements, functional foods, sports nutrition and health and beauty products. NOW is committed to offering safe, affordable products of the highest quality, and is a highly regarded advocate in the natural products industry. After nearly 50 years in the natural products industry, NOW remains committed to its original mission – to provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.  

ABOUT MELISSA MAKER:
Melissa Maker (@cleanmyspace) is an entrepreneur, cleaning expert, founder of Toronto's most popular boutique cleaning service, star of the 'Clean My Space' YouTube channel and best-selling author of Clean My Space: The Secret to Cleaning Better, Faster and Loving Your Home Every Day (Avery). Yet she hates to clean. In fact that's how her stardom started - by finding (and then sharing) simple ways to clean faster and better. Dishing out expert advice on cleaning products, tools and DIY substitutes, Melissa has given her online following the skills to become more efficient and effective cleaners. Her ability to think differently about cleaning has garnered millions of YouTube hits and has led to her appearance on the Today Show. She has also been featured in Instyle, Real Simple, and Better Homes and Gardens.

Media Contact:
Alana Horinko, 630-545-9098 [email protected]

SOURCE NOW

Related Links

http://www.nowfoods.com