Toss Those Harmful Dryer Sheets in the Trash!

Did you realize that while you're trying to make your family's clothes snuggly-soft and static-free you may be doing more harm than good?

It's true: Many commercial dryer sheets are loaded with chemicals and fragrances that can be absorbed into the skin and have nasty side effects. Some of the chemicals are even listed on the Environmental Protection Agency's Hazardous Waste list! And those chemicals are being absorbed into your skin and into your bloodstream.

You won't find a list of 'ingredients' on the package of most dryer sheets; but, according to SixWise.com, here are some chemicals that have been found in dryer sheets and mainstream fabric softeners:

Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer

Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant

Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders

Limonene: Known carcinogen

A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage

Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA Hazardous Waste list

Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders

Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic

Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders

Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

There is a safe alternative for you and your family.

Shaklee Dryer Sheets are completely safe and non-toxic. They are also better for the environment because they are recyclable. They're veggie-based. They're biodegradable. And they even split in two in the dryer for fair and just distribution of soft, static-free goodness to every, last humble pillowcase.

Here's a little more information on these innovative new way to keep your clothes soft and static-free:

  Comparable to Snuggle^® and Bounce^®  Pure Essemcials^TM Dryer Sheets at softening and    static reduction.* Plus, you can throw the whole thing in the recycling bin.

• Softens clothes and helps prevent wrinkles.
• No fragrance.
• Effectively reduces static cling.
• Uses vegetable-derived softening agents.
• Safe with all washable fabrics.
• Tear in half during the drying cycle to distribute softness
  throughout the load.
Clean Credentials
• Nontoxic
• Natural
• No fragrance
• Biodegradable sheets
• Recyclable sheets

* This performance comparison was conducted on May 19, 2010, and is valid only for the named products marketed at that time. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Eco-licious Mama Events!

Eco-licious Mama was featured at the National Association for Balanced Moms Mom-Diva Shopping Event this month! There were lots of moms, lots of shopping and lots of pampering! We won't talk about the "lots of eating" that we did, lol!

It is so exciting when moms decide to Get Clean of toxic cleaners and say hello to a new, healthier clean! Congratulations to all of the new Go Green & Get Clean Mama's out there!

This pack featured the yummy and wonderful baby and children products! My daughter loves the Incredivites Vitamins and the Mighty Smart DHA Chews! We also displayed the Multi-vitamin and Stress Relief Complex for the Mama's! Those are must haves according to this Mama! Who doesn't want a less stressed out mommy?!

The Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit - This one basket is equal to over $3,400 in traditional cleaners! Wowwwweee! And did I mention it's completely safe and chemical-free! And matches or outperforms 20 National brands! ... I could keep going lol!.. it's used at the White House and NASA!!

Lots of moms purchased this Basic Non-Toxic Starter Pack! It is the perfect way to start "Getting Clean!" It has the Basic H2 Super Concentrate and the three accompaning spray bottles to fill up with water and then the Basic H2. This kit will save you thousands of dollars too! Don't believe me? It lasts most people 1-2 years and is equal to over 5,800 bottles of Windex!!

I love attending events and talking about how much I love Shaklee and telling other Moms how much they will love it too!!

For product details and information, please visit my Shaklee website at: www.embraceyourlife.myshaklee.com

Eco-licious Mama was featured on

Dinker & Giggles!!

Check out the article:

"Eco-licious Mama: Tips on Eco-friendly Cleaning Products"

Thank you Dinker & Giggles for spreading the word about toxic chemicals!

Cleaning Your Carpet Naturally with Amazing Results

Let's talk about clean carpet. If you're a parent like me, clean carpet is far and in between. Between the milk or juice that finds it's way out of the "spill-proof" sippy cup, food being thrown by my toddler, cheerios and cheddar bunnies scattered throughout the floor, and occassionally dragging the wagon or strolling the stroller onto the carpet, my carpet is dirty!! It gets dirty easily because it is old carpet, so see, it's not all my fault lol! :)

I am always hesitant to have a professional carpet clean because most of the cleaners are extremely toxic. My mother-in-law was so kind and gave us a Bissell carpet cleaner and I was super excited because now I can clean the carpet with my Shaklee products and know that it is completely safe and non-toxic!

Carpet cleaners can be extremely toxic to children, who tend to play and crawl around on carpets. The fumes given off by carpet cleaners can cause cancer and liver damage. Carpet and upholstery cleaners accounted for 5,397 poison exposures in 2005. The majority of these exposures, over 3,500, involved children under 6.

Source: Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' Nat'l Poisioning and Exposure Database


                              

I'm sure you are thinking, "How clean can natural products really clean carpet, right?" Not to mention very old and very dirty carpet! Here's how I did it:

I used my Basic H2 all-purpose super cleaner, Basic G Disinfectant (this gets rid of bacteria, mold, odors, etc.) and Nature Bright brightener. I know that water is disgusting and that wasn't even my entire carpet but I to show you so you can see how well the products work! :) There are still a few areas that I should have pre-treated, especially the entry, but I just wanted to do a quick clean and disinfectant of the carpet.

Cleaning Your Carpet Naturally:

1 Tablespoon of Basic H2 per gallon of water

1 Tablespoon of Basic G Germicide per gallon of water

1-2 scoops of Nature Bright depending on how dirty your carpet is

Any time you use the Nature Bright on carpet, make sure you go back over it with water and don't let it sit on carpet without every wiping it up after the stain has lifted. It will continue to lighten and brighten so it's best to make sure you wipe/soak it up and blot with water after it has removed the stain/pre-treated. Of course if you are going over it while cleaning the carpets, that is not necessary.

Pre-treating: About a week before I cleaned the carpet there were two horrible stains caused by my adorable, innocent toddler! :) She got into my loose powder blush and then threw a blackberry onto the carpet which completely smooshed into the carpet. I used the Nature Bright dissolved in hot water and kept applying every couple hours as needed. The stains were so bad, I had to repeat the next day. I knew the stains would come out because Nature Bright is a miracle worker, I just had to apply it a few times.

Here is the stain from my make-up. That's my daughter's hand to show you how big the stain was. The left picture was before using Nature Bright. The right picture is after I applied Nature Bright one time so you can see that the stain started to fade quite a bit. 

This was after two applications of the Nature Bright. The carpet was so clean that it was lighter than the rest of the carpet which was another reason why I needed to shampoo the entire carpet.

This was the blackberry stain. The right picture is after one application of Nature Bright. This stain took three applications of Nature Bright. I really didn't think it would come out but it finally did!

 

Now onto the carpet clean before and after photos:

Before  and  After



                                                                          Before:

After:

Before pictures of the entry - This was sooooo dirty and stained I didn't think anything would come out!

                                                         After pictures of the entry:

                                      

Vunerability of Children Related to Typical Household Cleaners

If you haven't decided to make the change to non-toxic cleaners and remove all chemical cleaners from your home, I hope these statistics will help you make the change to a healthier home!

Why are children so vulnerable?


Children exposed in the womb are at greatest risk of all. Because cellular structures change so rapidly during embryonic and fetal growth, a toxic exposure at the wrong moment can permanently alter further development... Government and university scientists are currently investigating the possibility of a connection between fetal exposures to toxins and developmental disabilities such as ADHD.

Children are highly vulnerable to chemical toxicants. Pound for pound of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air than adults. The implication of this is that children will have substantially heavier exposures than adults to any toxicants that are present in water, food, or air.

Asthma is the most common serious chronic disease of childhood.

Children's metabolic pathways, especially in the first months after birth, are immature. Their ability to metabolize, detoxify and excrete many chemicals differs from adults.

Carcinorgenic and toxic exposures sustained early in life, including prenatal exposures, appear more likely to lead to disease than similar exposure encountered later.

There are over 80,000 chemicals registered with the EPA and fewer than 20% of them have been tested for toxicity.

Organic pollutants are 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside. According to the EPA, sources of organic pollutants from household cleaners include: solvents, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, cleansers and disinfectants, and air freshners. Health effects from organic pollutants include: eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; and damage to liver, kidney, and cental nervous system. Many organic compounds are known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans.
Source: U.S. EPA

Source of data: Data Related to Typical Household Cleaners. Compiled by Shaklee Corporation. For all sources, see Shaklee Article.
Sources: U.S. EPA, New Chemicals Program, Landrigan, P.J. & Weiss; Natuional Research Council

Shaklee Cost Comparison with Other Brands!

Below are two Shaklee Cost Comparison with other well known brands. The first comparison focuses on more of the "green" cleaners and the second has more of the traditional cleaners. Remember when you are comparing Get Clean with "green" companies or cleaners, "green" means better for enviroment, not necessarily better for you or your family! It is crucial that you look for products that are "non-toxic".

Shaklee Get Clean is both green and non-toxic. Basic H2 has the highest "green" seal of approval by being Green Seal Certified!

To see the comparisons larger, please click on the comparison charts.

Nature Bright Brightener and Whitener

I got a little crazy with my bag of Nature Bright this weekend and decided to put it on everything I could think of. Lucky for me, much of my house is a lot cleaner and brighter than before! Yay! Something magical happens when you leave this powder on something or soaking overnight, it's crazy but it's true. You wake up amazed!

 I received a recent review from a new customer after trying the

Nature Bright brightener:

"Nature's Bright just passed its first test. My son had a gnarly stain in his karate gi that I could not get out for the life of me. I soaked it, then threw it in the washing machine and .... It's GONE!!! Woo hoo!!! :) Love this product already!"

                          

How does it work?
Instead of chlorine, natural enzymes and active oxygen in Nature Bright re-brighten laundry, de-stain upholstery and way more. Nice.
Removes soil stains 13% better than OxiClean^® Versatile Stain Remover Powder, and is comparable to Clorox 2^® Stain Fighter when used as a laundry additive durin6g soaking and washing. Comparable to OxiClean Versatile on overall soil removal when used as a laundry booster.*

Here is how I use Nature Bright:

Stains in the carpet - be careful with this though... your carpet will be so clean that it makes the area around it look dirty so make sure you blend it well or clean your entire carpet after. And don't forget to blot the area with water after it soaks, because Nature Bright keeps brightening and brightening. :)

Cleaned the shower head - Heard about a fabulous idea to get a small plastic ziploc bag, fill it 3/4 with water and a half scoop of Nature Bright (or a full scoop if it's really dirty), put it around the shower head and wrap a rubberband around the top so the shower head is submersed in water. I left it on overnight and the next morning it was bright, white and clean. Amazing!

Shower curtain and bath mat - Before I go to sleep once a week, I throw the shower curtain and bath mat into the washing machine and let it soak with a little detergent and a half to full scoop of Nature Bright and let it soak overnight. Then I wash it in the morning and it is like new... this says a lot for having a white shower curtain and white bath mat! I have a fabric water resistant shower curtain as an alternative to the plastic PVC curtains that outgas chemicals in your home. I love it and it's so easy to throw in the washing machine and lasts so much longer than the plastic ones.

Cleaned and brightened the caulking in the bathroom - I made a paste with the Nature Bright powder and water and used a sponge to dab it around the caulking in the shower, baseboards and toilet. Make sure the paste is thick enough that it doesn't run off the surface and covers the surface you are trying to clean. I left it on overnight.. well, I actually left it on two nights in a row because I didn't have time to wipe it off the next morning.. but like I said, it just keeps brightening! :) Once I left it on overnight, I wiped it off with a sponge and all of the caulking was drastically whiter... I am regretting that I didn't take before and after photos, sorry!

Toilet Bowl - To clean the toilet, I use a scoop of the Nature Bright, I spray the entire bowl and outside with Basic G germicide and then add a few drops of concentrated Basic H2. You can brush it around or just let it soak overnight. In the morning, brush and flush! I sometimes add a tiny bit of Nature Bright and Basic H2 the next morning before cleaning the toilet, but usually it's not necessary.

Laundry - I threw in a half a scoop in with my daughter's clothes and whites for easy stain removal without having to pre-treat. If you have really tough stains, you can soak the item first then wash.

There are so many uses for Nature Bright! You can even use it outside on your patio furniture! For a full usage guide, send me an email, i'd be happy to send it to you!

Here is a friend's blog post photo of her kitchen sink before and after Nature Bright:

http://scrappy77.blogspot.com/2011/02/shaklee-before-and-after-pictures.html

For more information on Nature Bright, see my website: http://embraceyourlife.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00305

Want to save over $13,500 by changing the way you clean?

I have the simplest way for you to save over $13,500 by switching to Shaklee's Basic H2 concentrated cleaner!

Yes, you read that right! Talk about money savings, I don't know how it gets better than that! I am so passionate about this one little 16 oz. bottle of cleaner that I had to post about this famous product one more time! You will never go back to traditional cleaners after you try this, guaranteed! Most Basic H2 customers say their bottle lasts about 2 years! I'm going on 18 months and not even half way through the bottle! I love love love this and promise that you will be amazed at how it works on everything!

SHOW ME HOW I SAVE:

You will save over $13,500 in window cleaner! One 16 oz. bottle of Basic H2 is equal to over 5,824 26 oz. bottles of windex. Every time you fill up your window and mirror spray bottle, it costs you less than one cent!

One 16 oz. bottle of Basic H2 is equal to 48 gallons of toxic-free super cleaner.

You would have to spend over $12,000 to get the same amount of clean as one 16 oz. bottle of Basic H2. You would spend:
   -Nearly $482 for the equivalent amount of all-purpose cleaner
   -$12,250 for the equivalent amount of window cleaner
   -$144 for the equivalent amount of degreaser

See my Basic H2 review here.
Learn more about Basic H2 and product details here.

ShakleeBaby - The Shaklee Difference

Babies are the most precious gifts in the world, and it's up to us to keep them safe and healthy. Chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfate-ingredients that can be skin irritants or endocrine disruptors have turned up in shampoos, lotions, and baby washes. They may also contain harmful chemical by-products such as 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, which is known as a "probable carcinogen". Choose only the best for your baby and see why Shaklee is always safe, always gentle, and always healthy.

                  

Click here to see my website for information on the Shaklee Baby line.

More Amazing Cleaning Before & Afters!

Since my recent post about the Get Clean Scour Off, i've been trying to think of impossible jobs to use it on to see what happens. I took the Scour Off outside and tested it on my husband's poor bike that has been outside for two years uncovered, wet, and quite sad. My poor husband who custom designed the bike figured it was ruined and so we've just left it outside. I know, don't know what the logic is there??

I used a scrub sponge and the magical Scour Off and it's like new! I could not believe two years of rust, like built on rust, never coming off, rust, came off so easily! If I were you, I wouldn't believe it. How could anything take off rust like this? So I took a little video when I started to clean. A neighbor started talking to me outside so I had to stop filming, sorry! Please don't mind my daughter making funny faces, that wasn't planned, I promise. :) Don't forget, this scouring paste is non-toxic and made with cherry pits.

                BEFORE PICTURES:

 AFTER:

                                  BEFORE:                                                         AFTER:

BEFORE:

This is AFTER the Scour Off, but as you can see, I only cleaned the front two bars, as compared to the rusty two back bars.

I should have samples of Scour Off soon! It's the best!

http://embraceyourlife.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00430

Basic H2 - May just be the best, safest, and cheapest cleaner ever!

Love My Basic H2!

It's a money and time saver, health must, and incredibly powerful cleaner!

I cannot talk about cleaning products without raving about Basic H2! I really don't understand why everyone doesn't have a bottle of this in their home. It is extremely powerful, incredibly safe, has more than 1,000 uses, and one bottle will last you years!

Let me tell you about the best part: It's super concentrated, and when I mean super, I mean one 16 oz. bottle is equal to over 5,800 bottles of windex!! This bottles makes 48 gallons of all-purpose cleaner. Astonishing, I know! I've had mine a year and a half and I've used up maybe 1/12th of the bottle.        

I'm all about saving money, so let me break it down:

Window and Mirror Cleaner - Costs less than 1 cent per 16 oz. spray bottle

All-purpose Cleaner - Costs less than 3 cents per 16 oz. spray bottle

Degreaser - Costs less than 17 cents per 16 oz. spray bottle

To get the same amount of clean as one bottle of Basic H2®, you'd have to spend:

• Nearly $480 for the equivalent amount of all-purpose cleaner
• $13,500 for the equivalent amount of window cleaner
• $128 for the equivalent amount of degreaser

I love that this is a streak-free, no-rinse, no-residue formula. I can go from room-to-room and wipe down everything with only two bottles! Let me tell you how much time it saves being able to use one product on everything and not worrying about my daughter inhaling fumes because she's standing right next to me. From mirrors and windows, wood, countertops, appliances, walls, etc. this will clean it all and with little effort on your part. This is absolutely the best mirror and window cleaner out there! It's the craziest thing to spray cleaner that has no smell or weird residue.. it's honestly like you're spraying water but it cleans great!


Here are a few uses!  Contact me for exact instructions and dilution:

1. Fruit and Veggie Wash - Put your fruits or veggies in a bowl with 2-3 drops of Basic H2 and warm water and let them soak for a few minutes. Come back and you'll see all the dirt in the bottom of the bowl! Sometimes i'll even use my all-purpose cleaner and spray my veggies, scrub and rinse!
2. Use it to clean your car, no need to dry your car off, it's streak free!
3. Removes wallpaper easily
4. Removes gum from anything
5. Natural Insect Repellant and helps your plants and flowers flourish
6. Removes crayon and permanent marker
7. Keeps your knives sharp, add a couple drops when sharpening your knives
8. Great for cleaning your coffee maker, removes build-up
9. Mix a couple drops of this with Scour-Off Paste and it makes a Super Scouring Paste! I know, like the Scour Off isn't enough on it's own! :)

I'd love to hear about your favorite uses of Basic H2!

Post a comment and share your tips with us!

Check out more info on Shaklee's Basic H2 at my website:

http://embraceyourlife.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku=00015

A Healthier Way of Cleaning

How clean is your house really? I'm not talking about sparkling countertops and floors you can eat off of, i'm talking about the air inside your home that you and your family breathe. A five year study conducted by the EPA found that pollutants from household products made the typical American home two-to-five times more polluted than the outside air. It seems that we are always worried about smog and chemicals in the air we breathe outside, but what we didn't know is that we are risking our health in the comfort of our own home. Products like oven cleaners, carpet cleaners, chlorine, glass cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and all-purpose cleaners contain harmful and toxic chemicals. These chemicals can lead to cancer, liver damage, asthma, respiratory problems, and has many health related risks.

Here is a scary statistic for you: According to a 15-year study presented at the Toronto Indoor Air Conference, women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home. The study concluded that this was a direct result of the increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products.

So I know, you are thinking, but we have used these products for years, right? Maybe not. Think of when your great grandparents were growing up, how many cleaning products do you think they had in their home? A lot of people cleaned with vinegar, baking soda, soap and water. Can you imagine what the household cleaning product aisle looked like 100 years ago compared to now? Now there are cleaning solutions for everything and you have the option of endless different scents with each cleaner. Do you want cleaner with Febreeze, cleaner with bleach, fabric softener with lasting beads or extra fragrance, detergent for dark clothes, detergent for cold cycles... the list goes on and on. There are other options... safe, chemical-free, and non-toxic incredible cleaners that outperform many traditional brands.

I take pride in knowing that I am doing my best to get rid of as many chemicals that I can in my home for my family. My husband grew up having asthma and has always had issues with bronchitis every time he gets sick so it is important to me to avoid respiratory irritants in our home. Imagine replacing all of your cleaners with a simple and concentrated cleaning line that has no harsh chemicals and is completely safe, natural and non-toxic. There are alternatives to the fumes and harsh chemicals! The best part is you will actually save money in making the switch! I love that I can clean right next to my daughter without having to worry about her being exposed to chemicals or fragrances. Here's to a healthier home and a healthier family!

Take a look at this video for more info:

http://embraceyourlife.myshaklee.com/us/en/whynow.html#/cleanhome