Ology Review - Exclusive Walgreens Brand #OlogyPledge

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We all know that eating healthy is very important, but what having a healthy home and environment? Are there things you do to help keep you, your family, your pets and environment safe? One simple thing you can do is make the switch to eco-friendly, green products like those from Ology!

About Ology:
Thanks to our friends at Moms Meet we got to review 3 amazing products from Ology. Ology is a Walgreens exclusive brand and makes household cleaners as well as paper, personal care, and baby products. We got to try out the Ology Laundry Liquid Detergent, Paper Towels and All-Purpose Cleaner. All of the Ology products are designed to give you peace of mind. They contain no harmful chemicals and are 100% tree-free! That means that their products are safer for you, your family, your pets, and the environment! Ology avoids toxic chemicals, and uses sustainable raw materials and nature ingredients during their production process.

Ology Laundry Detergent:
Detergent is a sensitive area for our family, literally! All 4 of us have sensitive skin and will either break out or get itchy when we use many of the detergents, soaps, cleaning products, lotions, make ups and even sun tan lotions on the market. I first used the free and clear scent Ology 2x Laundry Liquid Detergent on my children's clothes, yes I totally used them as guinea pigs. Not only did the detergent get out the tough stains on their clothes, but neither of them broke out or got itchy. So I washed my clothes and my husbands next and neither of us broke out either. I was totally sold!

Ology Laundry Detergent Highlights: 

• Works in both HE and regular machines and is formulated to thoroughly clean all types of loads (regular, delicates, and woolens).
• Available in a free and clear scent as well as a spring lavender vanilla scent, both of which are derived using only natural ingredients—nothing artificial.
• Contains no dyes, artificial fragrances or phosphates.
• Contains no ammonia, chlorine bleach, DEA (diethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine), parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, and SLS/SLES.
• Made using plant-based and mineral-based raw materials.
• The bottle is made from 100% post-consumer materials.
• Never tested on animals and do not contain any animal byproducts.
• Endorsed by Healthy Child Healthy World, a national leading independent nonprofit organization, dedicated to the protection of children from harmful chemicals.
• Affordable retail price of just $6.79.

Ology Paper Towels:
I generally use inexpensive rags or old clothes and socks to clean with because they are more environmentally friendly and cheaper. They can be washed and reused many times before they have to be thrown away. But there are times that paper towels come in handy and they are certainly more sanitary when cleaning dirty bathrooms.

Well now we have our solution to paper towels because Ology Paper Towels are 100% tree-free and they are whitened with H202, a non-chlorine based bleach. The paper towels are made from a readily renewable sugar cane husk which is quick-growing bamboo that regenerates in as little as 6 months. Plus they are ultra absorbent and biodegradable. The paper towels are available in a 2 pack for $3.99 and there are 65 two-ply sheets per roll and each sheet is 11 inches by 8.9 inches.

Ology All-Purpose Cleaner:
This was my favorite product out of the 3!!! Why you ask well because it works amazingly well and the children can use it too! I generally use vinegar to clean with because it is inexpensive and safe for the children and pets, however it doesn't always get tough grease and grime cleaned. When our Ology package arrived the cleaner and paper towels were used immediately. You see it just so happened that we had family and friends coming into town for vacation and they were all staying with us. That meant the house needed a deep cleaning and my little ones were going to be in charge of scrubbing walls, baseboards and counters. I had nothing to worry about as I handed them the Ology All-Purpose Cleaner bottle because it is suitable for use on most household surfaces including kitchen counters and stove tops. And since the cleaner is free of harmful chemicals I didn't need to worry about them getting sick. Ology cleaner is plant-based and does not contain any harsh solvents, dyes, ammonia or artificial fragrances. And what's even better is that it works GREAT and cuts through grease and grime with one swipe, plus it smells great too (meyer lemon and lavender). My walls, counters and base boards never looked so good after being cleaned by a 8 and 7 year old! The Ology All-Purpose Cleaner retails for $3.99 per 26 fl oz bottle.

Take the Pledge:
Ology has won over our family and will hopefully win over yours. If you have been inspired to make positive changes in you home I encourage you to submit a pledge for a chance to win a $100 Walgreens Gift Card. Simply visit the Ology Pledge Page on Green Moms Meet for details (or read below). Then make a pledge and share it on social media with hashtag #OlogyPledge (you can also include a photo or video). If you wish to submit your pledge privately visit this link.

Links to follow:
-Walgreens Website
-Walgreens Facebook
-Walgreens Twitter
-Moms Meet Website

Where to purchase:
You can purchase Ology products at your local Walgreens. Prices vary on products (the laundry detergent is $6.79, paper towels are $3.99 and all-purpose cleaner is $3.99)

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC. or the manufacturer of the product.

Save Valuable Time With Homejoy Cleaning

I am a wife, mom, blogger, social media guru, teacher, nurse, cook, chauffeur, coach, secretary and maid...but I really dislike that last title. In all honesty the last title is the one that I try to avoid! My house is by no means filthy, but I don't spend nearly enough time doing a deep cleaning like I should. But what if there was an easy way to find an affordable professionally certified cleaning company to do it for you?

Well there is and their name is Homejoy Cleaning!

Homejoy Cleaning offers services currently in San Francisco, New York, Boston, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Austin, Boca Raton, Dallas, Miami and many more major cities around the USA and even Canada.

The company was founded in 2012 by a brother-sister duo Aaron and Adora Cheung. They are based in San Francisco and match professional cleaners with clients in need at nearly half the price. Isn't the internet amazing?

Homejoy offers affordable cleaning solutions for everyone including the mom with many hats, the busy college student or the savvy business owner. Homejoy charges $20 an hour for a basic cleaning service, with a variety of other offerings like laundry and fridge organization. They also offer a 100% guarantee.

Homejoy is simple to use:

1) Enter your zipcode.
2) Select rooms, square footage, extras you want to add and number of hours, and whether or not you will provide cleaning supplies.
3) Enter your contact information.
4) Choose your appointment time.
5) Enter payment information.
6) Review your order.

Homejoy will then dip into their network of certified professional cleaners and assign someone to tackle your home!

Now I don't know about you but I am all about saving money and time! Thanks to Homejoy you can do both. You will no longer have to spend hours searching for a reputable and affordable cleaning service, because it will be done with just a few clicks. And afterwards you can get back to focusing on more important things like spending time with your family.

Flush To Paradise - Get A Dazzlingly Clean Toilet With Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Who would have thought that flushing could be paradise? When I saw this Balls Dream Band video for the first time I just knew I had to share it with you. I love creative commercials and actually have a YouTube channel set up with commercials that I love, so I can watch them over and over again on days I need a good laugh.

A stay-at-home mom's work is never done. There is cleaning to be done, meals to cook, blog posts to write, a husband to spend time with, children to tend to 24/7 (especially if you are a homeschool mom), and the list goes on. Cleaning is definitely one area that I am always looking for help in! I don't know about you, but I dread cleaning the toilets...mostly because a certain little someone always miss's. I am always looking for great cleaning products, or ways to make chores a little more easier and fun! Well after watching this video you will definitely see your toilet in a whole new light!

The Balls Dream Band is back with a fun, creative commercial. With one flush you will be whisked away to a paradise where The Balls Dream Band will show you how sexy a clean, hygienic toilet can be. Your heart will race as you meet four very handsome gentlemen cleansing foam, anti-limescale formula, dirt  protector and extra freshness. Each represents an active ingredient in Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care. Together these 4 provide you with a dazzlingly clean toilet...well I wish it was really them that came and cleaned the toilet for me!

Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care is a powerful toilet cleaner with four powerful active ingredients:

• Cleansing foam: cleans the toilet with each flush
• Anti-limescale formula: prevents the build-up of limescale stains
• Dirt protector: helps prevent toilet grime
• Extra freshness: for a pleasant, fresh fragrance

These 4 balls work together to keep your toilet clean for up to 4 weeks. Just pop it in the toilet!

I don't know about you, but I will definitely be thinking about something else now when I clean my toilet, which won't be nearly as much thanks to Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care!

What to know more? Simply scan the QR code below or click here.

After you watch the video be sure to have some fun with the Balls Dream Band! Share The Balls Dream Band video with your friends, Paradise Yourself, or share funny messages and photos of The Balls Dream Band.

Sign up for promotional offers here. And then leave a comment letting me know your thoughts about the commercial.

Marvelous Cleaning Tips For The New Year

This New Year cleaning resolution tips post is brought to you by Mr. Clean as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.

Made with Tagxedo.

I am a stay at home, homeschool mom. That means that my two kids are pretty much always home (well expect for when we are out on a fun adventure) making messes. And boy can they make messes, they are like little tornado's. I am also a wife, blogger and social media manager so when I am not helping the kids learn I am busy working or spending time with my husband. After tending to the kids, my husband and work there is little time left for household chores.

I am always looking for ways to streamline cleaning, organization and meal times. And since the New Year is right around the corner it is a great time to make those cleaning resolutions.

Here are some of my MARVELOUS cleaning tips:
All of these tips help make cleaning go more smoothly in our house and help free up time for me and the rest of the family. With these tips implemented cleaning is no longer dreaded and mundane.

Make cleaning easier in 2014 by.....

1) Getting the ENTIRE family (including the kids) involved in cleaning and organizing. This is my number one tip for a reason! With a little perseverance and teamwork household cleaning and organizing will no longer be difficult and exhausting. Don't be afraid to ask for HELP around the house even when you don't think you need it. Start children out at a young age. Even a 1 or 2 year old can help out by picking up toys and dusting. Letting children help to clean up messes, fold the laundry, wash the dishes, etc will teach them valuable life skills, perseverance, patience, time management and the value of helping others. Children need to understand that as a family it is everyone's responsibility to clean up and help out around the house not just mom's. I have even had my children help with breakfast, lunches and dinner and they are only 6 and 7 year's old. Also did you know that learning to do tasks, helping out around the house, and being relied on by others in their family can help build self confidence and self esteem in children?

If you need some ideas on what kinds of chores your children can help out with be sure to check out my Top 10 Kids Chores post.

2) Utilizing the one minute rule. If there is something that needs to be done and takes less than one minute to do, do it immediately rather than waiting until later. Doing a small task right away will help alleviate more work later. A few toys and books or a little spill on the floor only take one minute to clean up!

3) Breaking up chores throughout the week and taking a little time each day (even if it is just 10 minutes) to clean and tidy up. Perhaps you focus on one task (like laundry) or one room a day. Anyway you choose to do it you will save yourself from having to take an entire day (or two) to tackle all of the chores at once.

4) Making chores fun...yes I totally just said chores and fun in the same sentence. This is especially important for children. Listen to music or turn cleaning up into a game. Heck even dress up as the cleaning bandit.

5) Making sure you have helpful all purpose cleaning products like Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle gel that helps get rid of tough dirt with one swipe and very little muscle. Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle can be used on all surfaces porous and non-porous and provides 2.5x more power than regular all-purpose cleaners. It doesn't contain phosphates, chlorine, bleach or ammonia so it's great for people like me with sensitive skin. And it's perfect for both household and commercial use. Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle not only gets your counters, floors, toilets, stoves and tables sparkling clean but it also leaves them smelling good too. This awesome product is around $5 and comes in lemon scent, Febreze meadows and rain scent, Gain original fresh scent and lavender scent with the grease fighting power of Dawn. The Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle bottles come with a unique dosing cap to make sure there is no waste. You can dilute Liquid Muscle in water or apply it directly to a sponge or surface. This cleaner really packs a punch and penetrates dirt and grime like no other.

Here are a couple photos showing how well it worked on our foyer hardwood floor, a floor that sees the most traffic in our home. And my children's filthy toilet (little boys really are kind of nasty). And the kitchen linoleum.

Make sure you not only have great cleaning products but also the right cleaning tools (make sure some are child sized). Stock up on Magic Erasers (perfect for kids), sponges, spray bottles, brooms (adult and child size), mops (adult and child size) , feather dusters and dust pans. I have found that Dollar Tree has a great selection of child sized cleaning tools including brooms, mops, dust pans, feather dusters and spray bottles. For children be sure to also use safe cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, and plain water in spray bottles so there is no need to worry about them coming in contact with harsh chemicals. These inexpensive household products work great for cleaning walls, mirrors and windows. Which are all simple chores for children to help with.

6) Purging clothes, shoes, toys, household items etc. every couple of months (or quarterly).  If you purchase something new be sure to donate an old item. Decluttering can really help make cleaning and organizing much easier in the long haul.

7) Making organizing simple, even for kids. Use storage drawers, plastic shoe boxes and canvas bins for organizing toys and other materials. Label drawers, boxes and bins so everyone knows exactly where to find things and put things back!

And if you are still dreading cleaning in the New Year and need a little laugh to get you started here you go:

I thought it would be fun to ask my Facebook Followers their best tips too and here they are: 

• The rule of 3 (or 4, or 5, or 6 whatever) works wonders. Pick a number and whenever you enter a room you put that many things away or throw them away , and before you leave the room you take 3 things with. Going around the whole house for a few hours this way will get it clean, but it also helps maintain clutter if you do it as part of your normal routine. KM from kmlogan.com
• Make it a part of your routine. 15 mins in the morning and 15 mins at night will get a lot done over time and you won't be overwhelmed. Set a timer and clean for that amount of time and when it beeps, you're done. It's amazing what all you can do! Stephanie from burbstoboonies.blogspot.com
• I combined two things people hate...exercise and bathroom cleaning. Maybe for laughs. Stacey from layeredsoul.com/bathroom-exercises-to.../2013/05/
• My best cleaning tips: 1. Use music to give you energy and make it less boring 2. Always tidy up for 10 minutes (set the timer on your phone!) before you go to bed so you can wake up without feeling overwhelmed by the mess 3. Have a nice basket in every room for easy toy clean up 4. The more organized a home is, the easier it is to keep clean so go room by room in January and get rid of junk, create systems, etc. Alisha from thesavvybump.com
• I keep a 3 gallon pail in my laundry room with a scoop of oxyclean and filled with water. Clothes that need pretreating go straight into the pail to keep stains from setting - and even a small child can put their soiled clothes in it. Also, a sponge/soap wand filled with a squirt of dishsoap and the rest white vinegar makes a great day to day tub cleaner and is easy to give the shower a quick scrub while/after showering. Adrienne from abiglittlefamily.com
• I have a laundry basket that I carry around with me when I clean. Anything I find that isn't where it belongs goes into the basket for the owner to claim and put away. Saves me a lot of time running around. Chrissey A.
• I periodically pour boiling water and baking soda down my drains. It keeps them running fresh and clean, you can add vinegar too. Lilith D.
• For the ceilings, walls and corners, I have a small spray bottle with water and peppermint. I spray my fluffy duster that has an extender pole and duster all the hard to reach areas where spiders tend to go. They do not like peppermint and it keeps them spider and web free for months. I also wipe down my window and door frames and sills with the peppermint to discourage them from coming in. Lisa from thehappyclownwithafrown.blogspot.com/
• I try to spread out my laundry during the week by doing at least 2-3 loads a day. Not only does it keep me from getting overwhelmed, it helps me plan days when I can't/don't want to do laundry (i.e. hubby's days off - Sunday). I also *try* to deep clean one room/area a day so I don't spend one entire day cleaning & getting exhausted. Annette from www.inallyoudo.net/
• Have the kids help by cleaning up their areas. Also I read once that it's best to tackle the hardest & most disliked task first and get it out of the way. Melissa D.
• Everything has its place! We use small containers to organize in the bathroom. Taralyn from keepmovingforwardwithme.com/2013/04/day-2-bathroom-organization/
• I hate to clean the shower/tub so I like to get it done quickly. I keep a magic eraser in there and do a quick swipe on the walls and tub a few times a week while I'm in the shower. No need for deep scrubbing when you give it a quick swipe a few times a week! thesunnypatch.blog/
• Save money use vinegar\water and essential oils (for scent) to clean. I use it for all my cleaning. Sarah H.
• The boys pick out their chores at the beginning of each week and they are responsible for them. It helps a ton. Dayna from lemonlimeadventures.com/
• Having a schedule for cleaning really helps me do a little bit every day and not get overwhelmed - but I also thinking having kids involved with chores from an early age is helpful. At 2 it is already habit to bus their dishes, put away their laundry, help with groceries, etc. We did one post about watering plants. Erin from bambinitravel.com/Pages/Activities/activityitem.php?id=35

Have a great and clean New Year!

This is a compensated post brought to you by Mr. Clean. Mr. Clean is kicking off the New Year with the launch of a new product called Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle, a new multi-purpose, multi-surface concentrated cleaning gel that delivers superior cleaning performance on and off the floor. Be sure to like Mr. Clean on Facebook and follow @RealMrClean on Twitter.

Linking up with: List It Tuesday, ABC Blogging