Homekeeping By Liz

Spa day for James. . One of the reasons I bought my little steam unit was for the purpose of steam sanitizing the tools and equipment I use for work. I loooove it! . It gets into all the little sneaky places behind the cord and around the handle, and it’s great for cleaning and sanitizing the accessories. . #homekeepingbyliz #cleaningup #spadayforjames

How to get sticker residue off your stainless appliances! . I keep a little spray bottle filled with liquid coconut oil on hand. Spray or rub a bit of coconut oil onto the sticker residue....massage it in good and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe it off with a damp rag, give it a good wash with hot soapy water and buff up with a dry rag. This method works for other things as well....getting sticker residue off jars, plates, etc. For particularly stubborn sticker residue on jars, sprinkle some baking soda on after you’ve let the coconut oil sink in and rub that in as well. Bye bye, stubborn stickers.

It’s the little things..... I love my cleaning tools, and I found this great little collapsible bucket to use for work! It folds down nice and flat, but pops up into a handy 5 litre bucket! Perfect size to cart around when I’m working. Because little buckets of fragrant soapy bubbles....

I made my own re-usable wipes to keep on hand! It’s upsetting to see all the plastic and disposable products being used for the sake of staying safe, not to mention all the toxic chemicals being liberally sprayed around and slathered on skin. There are ways you can do your part and help lessen the impact these crazy times are going to have on the environment. Cheeks Ahoy has a great tutorial on how to fold your cloths so they pop out the lid. I made my own solution... using ingredients I had on hand. For the solution I used: 1 cup water 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp Castile soap 5 drops of an essential oil blend (I used Purple Aegis from Purple Essentials) Shake up the solution and pour half into a jar....add the cloths and pour in the rest of the solution. I keep an extra jar on hand to pop the used cloths into. See more

My low impact kitchen. . I have a mason jar with a re-usable pump that I fill with a favourite soap that I purchased by the gallon, a bar of my new favourite kitchen hand soap (basil/lime from @purple_essentials ....truly lovely), my kitchen scrub brush and a lovely little hand crafted solid soap dish bar that I purchased from @honey_pot_wraps at the farmer’s market. My soap dish is made of reclaimed materials and is great for keeping my soaps dry! Mason jar pump, dish brush and soap dish are all from @_shades_of_green . I’m far from perfect in my efforts to minimize my impact on the planet, but small steps are better than just standing there! #rawjuicyliving #lowimpactkitchen #youcandoittoo #changeforthebetter

I’m in love with these cloths I purchased at Shades of Green. They are made in Canada by Cheeks Ahoy, and they are available in a variety of sizes and colours. I purchased a variety pack and a pack of the two ply unpaper towels. They are great for a number of uses around the home, replacing items such as paper napkins, Kleenex and paper towels. I can’t wait to try them out for general cleaning! #rawjuicyliving #shadesofgreen #cheeksahoy #shoplocal #canadianmade #environmentallyfriendlyoptions #greencleaning

Kitchen play of a different kind. . I enjoy making my own cleaning products almost as much as making food. And....the cleanup is much easier. . A few drops of essential oil in a jar of baking soda makes for a nice sink scrub. Rinse away any residue with a few squirts of vinegar and your sink is shiny clean! . Today I made some spearmint baking soda and a sprayer full of peppermint vinegar. Minty fresh, squeaky clean and safe for the environment. #rawjuicyliving #clean #homekeepingbyliz #fresh #healthyhome

I wanted to share a simple DIY recipe for making your own wet wipes! This recipe is super simple and contains items you likely already have in your kitchen. Two cups of water, one tablespoon of Castile soap, 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil and about 10 drops of essential oils of choice....naturally antibacterial choices are tea tree, citrus, oregano. I have a blend I like to use called Purple Aegis by Purple Essentials.....it’s their lovely version of the popular Thieves b...lend. Shake all the ingredients up in a jar....pour some liquid into an empty jar and squish some paper towel into it, making sure the liquid is absorbed. Keep going until your jar is full. I used about 24 sheets of paper towel and half the liquid for one 500 ml. jar. The oil in the wipes renders them less drying than other wipes on your hands, and they are much safer for the environment too! See more

I don’t think I need to tell you that these are turbulent and crazy times. With all the talk of hand washing and sanitizing I wanted to share one of my favourite home made germ busters! This is something I carry on a regular basis in my cleaning bucket, and such a simple thing to do! I simply put some liquid coconut oil in a small spray bottle with a few drops of a natural germ fighting essential oils blend. My personal favourite is purple aegis blend from Purple Essentia...ls! It’s their version of the popular Thieves blend with the added yumminess of Frankincense! My hands are left feeling soft and smelling nice. Please keep local merchants, artisans and small businesses in the forefront of your mind in these times...there a lot of businesses being hit economically right now, and supporting local helps keep the economy healthy and local businesses afloat. @purple_essentials is a Qualicum Beach business....orders are placed on-line with a pickup location in Qualicum Beach.. #rawjuicyliving #rawnomad #supportlocal #naturalsanitizer #simple #purpleessentials #grateful See more

People often ask what my secret is for making windows and mirrors sparkling clean. It’s super simple.....club soda! I buy a big bottle of club soda and pour it into a small spray bottle. It leaves glass nice and clean with no residue, and it’s non-toxic!

I found myself feeling quite sick after being exposed to a number of toxins at work this afternoon. The culprit? Everyday household items that many people don’t see as toxic! Every single room I cleaned this afternoon contained solid air fresheners, synthetically scented candles, cans of spray air deodorizers or open boxes of dryer sheets. After about an hour of being exposed to so many toxic chemicals I began having reactions such as dizziness, headache, itchy eyes, ...nausea, extremely itchy scalp and shortness of breath. By the time I left I literally felt poisoned. Many people don’t realize that some of the chemicals in these products are actually poison...some are known carcinogens and hormone disrupters! There are compounds in these products known as VOC’s, or Volatile Organic Compounds. These are oil based particles that dissipate into the air and will settle on and attach to fabrics, skin, etc. They aren’t necessarily toxic.....but in the case of synthetic scent and the products they are found in they certainly can be! The toxic VOC level will build up in the home as these products continue to be used...as they settle on walls, in carpets, etc. it can take WEEKS after cessation of use for the air to clear. Immediately after such an incident I come straight home to shower and wash all clothing that I’m wearing.....the smell of my hair after I left was enough to irritate my eyes. I really feel for people with actual allergies....every time something like this happens it strengthens my resolve to educate people on healthier ways to clean and love up their homes. #rawjuicyliving #rawnomad #homekeepingbyliz #boycotthouseholdpoisons #votewithyourdollars #enoughisenough See more

Doing some Fall cleaning and topping up my cleaning supplies today! It’s important to do a good Fall cleaning before the harsher weather sets in. Open up your windows to let the fresh fall air and sunshine in, and scrub away! I’m making a bottle of furniture polish today.....in a small 250 ml. bottle I’m adding a few drops of lemon essential oil, one teaspoon of olive oil and two tablespoons of vinegar. Add warm water to the bottle and shake it up! The lemon and vinegar clean the surface and the olive oil helps to re-condition and leave it shiny! I have used this formula on both wooden furniture and on leather. Shine on! #rawjuicyliving #rawnomad #homekeepingbyliz #shineon #goeco #makeyourown #nontoxic

I love to buy cotton tank tops from the thrift shop for cleaning in. They are a great layering piece, easily fitting under other articles of clothing. They tend to cost between $1 and $3, and when I am done with them I either turn them into cleaning rags or upcycle them into re-usable rag bags! The green striped one with the yellow tassel was an upcycle project that I now use to carry cleaning rags in. The tassel is made of old t shirts as well. Fast fashion is one of the largest polluters on the planet, and it’s crazy that we continue to buy items like tank tops new when the thrift shops are bursting with quality used clothing.

The view from this afternoon’s office. So grateful for the view and the fresh ocean air. I cleaned for someone new this morning and the air inside the home was so toxic from VOC buildup from cleaning products and synthetically scented candles and perfumes that I had a headache, nausea and burning eyes after only two hours. . There’s nothing good about synthetic scent....many of them contain KNOWN carcinogens and hormone disrupters, and some were born of experimentation with toxic waste and chemical warfare from war times. I’ll stick to the natural smells of Mother Nature, thanks.

One of the staples I keep in my cleaning bucket and my purse is a tiny glass bottle of hand sanitizer! I love how each essential oil company has its own variation of thieves blend. The thieves blend got its name from a blend of oils that grave robbers in the Middle ages used to coat themselves with as protection from the plagues and sicknesses of the corpses in the graves they were robbing. . I use blends from various companies for in my cleaning supplies, but I keep ...a special bottle of Purple Aegis blend from Purple Essentials for my hand sanitizer. I love their beautiful addition of Frankincense to their expression of the blend. I put a bit of liquid coconut oil in a tiny glass spray bottle with a few drops of Purple Aegis....I keep a bottle in my purse and one in my cleaning bucket. According to Greek mythology, an aegis was an animal skin worn over the garments of the gods as an extra layer of protection, and some sources say it was the shield carried by Zeus. I like this story much better....because I AM a domestic goddess, after all. . NOT a grave robber......#rawjuicyliving #rawnomad #supportlocal #handcrafted #smallbatch #purpleessentials #domesticgoddess See more

Where in your everyday life can you make more responsible purchases? My first choice would be to stop using rubber gloves all together, but cleaning professionally means I need to have something to protect my hands. Do you ever think about the manufacturing practices of something as simple as the rubber gloves you wear to do dishes or clean with? I love these gloves.... the rubber comes from a responsibly managed plantation and its workers are paid premium wages. In add...ition, the packaging is made from recycled materials and are recyclable. Natural latex will break down over time when disposed of properly. Start questioning where some of your daily use products come from and who is behind the product. It’s easier than you think to make a difference..... #rawjuicyliving #rawnomad #makechange #goeco #think #votewithyourbucks See more

I stopped buying baking soda in boxes and started buying it from the bulk bin at the local health food store. My problem was finding something to replace the single use plastic bags I was using from the bulk department. I found these fabulous little sacks at Shades of Green in Parksville.....each little bag holds just the right amount to re-fill my jar with that I use for cleaning! I fill the jar halfway with baking soda, add a few drops of essential oil (today it’s the Te...rminator blend from Green Valley Aromatherapy....one of my faves for cleaning and a VI company!) and mix it in with a fork. I add the rest of the baking soda then stir it up again. I use this as a non toxic scrub for sinks and tubs.....a spray with vinegar fizzes away any residue and leaves the surfaces sparkly clean. #homekeepingbyliz #plasticfreejuly #pladticfreeforever See more

I do NOT consider these good for the environment OR zero waste. In honour of #zerowastejjuly I intend to do many more posts on this page to help people make more informed choices when it comes to products for the home. Read ALL of the wording on the box....any time you see the words odour guard or odour shield, fresh scent, etc. you can be pretty certain that there is toxic synthetic scent involved. There is absolutely no need for scent in garbage bags and ESPECIALLY not compost bags! . The toxins from the chemicals go into rhe ground when the bags compost. Toxic franken-bags brought to you by the fine folks at Glad and Febreze. . #justsayno #zerowasteincludestoxicchemicals

With all the celebrations coming up in the summer, it's time to re-think the use of fireworks. They may LOOK pretty....but they are toxic to the environment, they frighten pets and wildlife and they spew pollutants into the air and waters. As humans evolve, so must the ways we "celebrate". I was just reading a thread in which someone expressed concern for setting off fireworks into the air, especially at this dry time of year and with the tragic consequences of fires in... the BC interior. The response of the fireworks co-ordinators?? "They are lit off a barge in the ocean." As if that's okay! The pollutants and garbage have to land somewhere.....pollutants are spewed into the air, and responding that "it's okay because it's in the ocean" is leaving me feeling stunned at such a response. We need to find different ways to celebrate other than causing further damage to the planet. See more

Cleaning mindfully is an act of love. Before I leave a place I go through and mindfully, gratefully clean each area that I’ve used. The pretty bed where I laid me head to rest each night. The front entryway that witnessed me go out about my daily business each day.....and welcomed me home each night. The bathtub that I relaxed in and fragrantly soaked away any aches, pains and worries. The kitchen......the heart of the home. The place where I prepare foods that will no...urish my body and the bodies of the little critters I tend to and love. Our homes protect and nourish us....in a sometimes baffling and scary world, they can be a peaceful sanctuary. Cleaning them mindfully and with love is a sacred act....it takes time, but it can be like a moving meditation. The next time you clean, do so with mindfulness and gratitude. #rawjuicyliving #rawnomad #mindfulcleaning #withloveandgratitude #nontoxic #pure #loveyourhome #sacredspace See more

All set up for tonight’s workshop at Shades of Green!

Less than a week away! Space is limited and pre-registration is required....we hope to see you there!

On April 3 I will be co-hosting a workshop at Shades of Green on green cleaning! All registrants will take home their own custom bottle of home made spray cleaner. Space is limited....so looking forward to it!