Effective, All-Natural, and Homemade

We all know that beauty products are expensive. From your name brand lotions to your drugstore lipsticks, it's difficult to find cheap, quality products that you'll reach for everyday. There's also risk that comes with spending so little on makeup, as you don't know what kinds of chemicals are going into those products. Are you tired of not being able to read and understand the majority of the ingredients on the label of your face wash? Do you want to be able to spend less on skin care and makeup? Don't worry; we've covered all of the natural DIYs for your favorite products.

7 Effective Household Uses for Borax

What is Borax? Officially, it's sodium borate, which is a salt of boric acid. It's soft, white, and a soluble crystal. Common warnings with this compound are skin and eye irritation, redness, and pain. However, a lot of products in your house have these same warnings (i.e. vinegar), but since we know how to handle these correctly, there is no need to worry. Let's take a look at some of our favorite uses for Borax.

The Organic Food Dilemma

Certain foods on your grocery list don't have to be labelled organic in order for you to want to buy them. There are plenty of produce items that make no difference whether purchased organically or not, simply due to the composition of the produce itself. Plus, organic and natural foods can be pretty expensive, and some of us just don't have the money to buy a $5 "organic" avocado. So why do we even buy organic food in the first place? The reasoning behind organically labelled products comes from the lack of preservatives and pesticides placed on the food item before hitting the shelves of your local Publix. The food you want to buy as non-organic has very little pesticides leftover, while certain foods should definitely be purchased as organic, since their non-organic counterparts have the potential to be full of chemical preservatives due to their thin protective skin. Below are compiled lists of the top ten organic and non-organic foods you need to buy on your next grocery store run.

Fresh Laundry and a Healthy Home

Laundry detergents are the source of some of our favorite scents. The smell of freshly washed laundry can be an immediate source of comfort. You feel at home when you catch a whiff of your freshly laundered linens, and it's even better when that scent follows your throughout your day. Did you know that some of the perfumes used in major detergent brands are actually composed of harmful ingredients?

An easy way to avoid these intense chemicals is to switch them out entirely. You can use a natural laundry detergent that is free of any scent, and then create your own perfect blend by adding essential oils to it. Read this article out for definitive information on what you should be avoiding, New York Times on Perfume Chemicals. Here at You've Got Maids, we stay far away from toxic chemicals. Even the air freshener that we use in your home is completely eco-friendly. You should choose a Natural Laundry Detergent from this list to take a healthy step towards living a life free of harsh chemicals. Once you have your detergent of choice, let's take a look at some of the essential oils that you can include in your wash cycle. 

Check out the rest of our laundry tips on our Ultimate Guide to an Efficient Laundry Room.

Change Your Laundry's Life 

Your clothes will smell great, they'll feel soft, and you'll no longer have to deal with mysterious chemicals in your laundry. On top of all those great perks, you will be producing less waste throughout your weekly routine. Follow this easy, informative guide that details the correct and effective usage of wool dryer balls to replace your old dryer sheets. You'll be removing part of your personal impact on the environment, which works towards our common goal of incorporating environmentally friendly practices into your daily routines.

Our Ultimate Guide to an Efficient Laundry Room will provide you with similar tips that will make your life easier. We love to help you live an easier, healthier life.

Let Your Dryer Be Hot like It Wants to Be

You already know that it is important to clean your dryer's lint trap after every use. However, there is another commonly forgotten step that routinely needs to take place. Otherwise, you risk the potential of enabling a fire to catch while you're drying your clothes. Every year there are 2,900 home fires that are reported every year due to lint blockages read more about this, through FEMA.The vent that connects your dryer to the outside world regularly needs to be brushed out, and then vacuumed thoroughly. Even if that worst case scenario of losing all of your work pants to a dryer's inferno doesn't take place, the dryer will still run inefficiently if the vent is clogged with excess dryer lint. This clogged vent will lead to a significant a waste of electricity, as well as damp clothes that never seem to dry thoroughly.

If you benefit from reading this post, check out our definitive guide to keeping your laundry room safe, healthy, and free of concern. The Ultimate Guide to an Efficient Laundry Room