Here we are yet again with another blog centered around cleaning. Children love to make a mess, but cleaning? Yea it isn’t their strong suit. It can be a challenge to keep things clean, neat, and orderly when you've got young children at home, but it's not impossible. Start teaching your kids how to clean when they're young and you won’t end up cleaning their room for them when they're 17! 

The Basics 

When teaching your little ones about the world of cleaning you have to start small. Our bodies are amazing!  Day after day, they work hard to digest food, pump blood and oxygen, sending signals from our brains, and much more. However, there are tiny invaders that tend to make our bodies sick. We call them germs. Germs are found all over the world, in all kinds of places!  The four main types of germs being bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. They invade plants, animals, and people, and sometimes they can even make us sick. Once germs are inside of us, they stay there. They eat our nutrients and can produce toxins that can be harmful to us. So how do we protect ourselves from germs? Cleaning! Remember the words that germs fear soap, water, and disinfectants. Now that you know the facts about germs, let’s learn some ways to make your kids part of the solution, rather than the problem. 

Expectations 

 Little kids may not have the coordination or dexterity to neatly make their beds every morning, so a good first effort may be to have them pull the comforter up to the top of the bed! It is important to be proud of the little things and not to expect perfection on the first try. Give kids a timeframe to focus their attention and get the task done. 

Chores can be fun! 

Make housework fun by incorporating games into various chores. If your kids feel like 30 seconds is a lifetime when washing their hands, pick a catchy song to dance and sing to whilst they’re doing it as a distraction to make the time fly by. If your kids are a bit too old to believe the idea of “tiny monsters” that live inside your body, why not turn arts and crafts into a valuable learning opportunity. This will give an accurate enough representation of what germs look like underneath a microscope

Chore Chart 

Chore charts are great as they encourage kids to go above and beyond expectations in keeping the house neat and organized as well as being recognized and celebrated for kind, generous, or helpful behavior! Add a smiley face for every time they washed or brushed teeth or made bed and offer a fun reward at the end. 

No Redo’s 

The last thing you want is to send your child a message that their work wasn’t good enough. They can grow discouraged and defeated by the task leaving them less likely to attempt the same task in the future Try to be as supportive and encouraging as possible when teaching your kids how to clean. Even if the job isn't done precisely, you should thank them for their effort rather than insincerely praising them for a less-than-successful execution. Then practice the task again together and offer helpful hints that will result in more success! 

With the introduction of face masks into daily life, comes a series of questions for consumers; When am I required to wear a facemask? How does it stop the spread of Covid-19? What type of fabric is most effective against germs? How should it fit? How should I wash my mask? These are all important to consider when purchasing a face mask and wearing it. Today I will do my best to answer some of the questions listed above and try and discern what face masks are the best.

Why Wear a Face Mask?

Covid-19 spreads from person to person through droplets from the respiratory system. It’s important to keep in mind that a face mask may not protect the wearer, but it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others. Many cities across the U.S still have order in place keeping people quarantined at home. Others have opened up greeting the need for masks to be worn. Check out the ordinances from your local government about specific face mask requirements in public. 

Wear and Tear

Everyone needs instructions sometimes. Wearing a face mask isn’t rocket science, but it is just as important. Always wash your hands before putting on your face covering. Fit the mask snugly around your nose and mouth to avoid germs spreading. Not just you mouth people, this is a big one. Germs can spread from your nose too! Never ever touch your mask in public, there’s no telling what could be on your hands. Most importantly don’t forget to stay six feet away from others. 

Good, Better, Best 

After the first wave of Coronavirus in the U.S, hospitals across the nation faced a serious lack of N95 respirators and other medical grade face masks.This problem created a new market that has swept across the country. Face masks are everywhere. From surgical grade masks, cloth covers, bandanas and more, the American economy has jumped on the opportunity to sell to its citizens. With hospitals claiming the higher grade masks for medical work, people began to get crafty. Creating all types of coverings using different fabrics. Some worked good, others better, but only one could be the best. Let’s break down the results. 

Let’s start with the basics. Everyone has seen those single use, standard PPE surgical masks. Originally invented to be used by healthcare professionals, these masks are effective in reducing the risk of infection. Surgical masks are made of non-woven materials of different thicknesses and with the bility to protect you from contact with liquids. While a surgical mask may be effective in blocking splashes and large-particle droplets, by design, it does not filter or block very small particles in the air that may be transmitted by coughs or sneezes. These masks are single use and are effective for a limited time before they become too contaminated. 

N95 Respirator ‘s are made for healthcare workers and only healthcare workers.The mask is a tight fitting face covering that protects from the smallest of particles. These masks are the best of the best. Protecting the wearing from 95% of particles in the air, these masks are reserved from primary health care workers who are directly fighting the covid-19 pandemics. However, there are still really good masks out there. 

Bandanas are not one of them. Gaiters and Bandanas are the least effective form of face covering on the market. Loosely covering and bandana style face masks are the least effective at protecting yourself and others. Avoid these if you can. 

100% cotton masks give you the best of both worlds. They are reusable which is more eco-friendly than the alternative single use option. Cotton masks are also breathable but do tend to trap sweat and moisture. Cotton is also blended with an assortment of other materials to make it incredibly effective against the spread of partilces to and fro. 

Polyester masks are great, they stretch, molding to your face. They can also be customized to add personality, but are not always easy to breathe in. 

Modal masks are the most breathable and reduce sweat but get dirty easy and can occasionally rip. 

Whatever mask you may choose, remember, you are not only protecting yourself but those around you. 

Welcome back to the second part of our housekeeping series of blog posts. We hope that you were able to utilize some of the tips from our first post. We have even more information to help keep your household neat and clean. Keep in mind, we are not professionals, but love to clean and have picked up tips over the years that we want to share with you. 

Declutter

Before you start cleaning, put away anything that isn't where it belongs. This will save you time before you clean instead of trying to do both things at once.

Tidy Up 

Heaps of garbage, dirt and grime would be overwhelming for anyone. It is helpful to pick things up as you go. Pick up after yourself and encourage other members of your household to pitch in and help. Start with shared spaces, clear counters, put food away, use a feather duster and take a vacuum to the floor. Don’t forget the dishes in the sink. Little things at a time help manage mega loads and eliminate stress. 

Deep Cleaning

One of the most wonderful times of the year. All jokes aside this isn’t something you’ll need to do every single day. Usually you’ll need to deep clean your household once or twice a year. This is the time to really roll up your sleeves and tie your hair back. This type of cleaning is the most thorough and may take a few days, so divide your home into sections and conquer one area at a time. Clean carpets, dust elevated surfaces and wash windows and window frames. It is also the perfect time to check for mold and mildew in damp places to avoid getting sick. Don’t forget to sort through clothes in closets and giveaway clothes that no longer fit or you no longer need. Last but not least, clean those baseboards and walls. They get dirty too!

“New House” Smell

There’s nothing quite like the smell of a new house. Too bad it doesn’t stay that way for long, or can it? If you use all-natural cleaning products, your place shouldn’t smell like chemicals, post-cleaning. Making your own cleaning agents at home can help with this too. Using cleaning agents like vinegar, baking soda and adding some essential oils will get rid of grime while keeping your home smelling fresh and new. 

The Proper Tools 

You can’t clean a house with a toothbrush. Having the proper cleaning supplies will make your home drastically cleaner. You don’t need to have fancy supplies either.  All you really need to keep your home spotless are; quality microfiber cleaning cloths, sponges, a scrub brush, a plastic scraper, a vacuum that can clean hard floors and carpets, a microfiber feather duster and mop. 

Pet Odors

We love furry friends, but their fur and dander doesn’t necessarily love us. Use a lint roll to remove excess hair from surfaces. To remove pet odours from carpets, use a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray the carpet. Cover the vinegar-soaked area with baking soda and let it dry. Sweep and vacuum up the excess soda. The mixture actually pulls the odour out, leaving your home fresh. 

Don’t you hate it when you think you’re done cleaning, only to find a mess on the floor? It’s frustrating and disheartening to see a never ending mess of clutter. Just when you think you're done cleaning, get down on eye level and examine your home. By getting a new angle, you can see if you still have any crumbs or dust that needs to be cleaned up

Hopefully some of these tips will help you and your household keep your space clean.