Autumn Cleaning

It's been such a beautiful September this year - blue skies, sunshine and a hint of colder weather ahead.  With summer behind us, it's a great time of year for taking stock and getting the house in order.  Here are three good household tasks for September/October.

• Clean windows - there is still plenty of sun around to highlight dirty windows.  If yours need a clean use a glass cleaning cloth and vinegar for a streak-free finish.  
• Organise wardrobes - As we move into colder weather this is a good time to sort out, clean and pack away summer clothing.  If you have young children then out-grown clothing can go to friends and family with younger children or the charity shop.  Check warm weather clothing for missing buttons, holes, and clean and mend anything that needs it.  Dry-clean any coats and hopefully find £10 in the pocket from last year. 
• Check the linen-cupboard - This is another chance to have a clear out.  Wash picnic blankets, dry-clean summer duvets and make sure that winter quilts and blankets are ready for when the weather gets colder.  

Once these tasks are done, you'll feel totally ready for that first day of cold, wet weather! 

The Bristol Pound

I have lived in Bristol for almost 6 years now and I love it. It has a really strong independent vibe which I think separates it from other similar sized cities in the UK.
It didn't surprise me then, when I heard that Bristol was getting its own currency, the Bristol Pound. Following in the footsteps of transition town Totnes in Devon, Bristol is adopting it's own currency to encourage money to stay in the city and support independent traders.
My personal views on the Bristol Pound are slightly mixed. I think that anything that encourages people to spend their money in independent, local businesses is positive but I think that on the whole, the people of Bristol are already doing this, on quite a large scale. Do we really need a separate currency in order to continue to do so?
I do like the incentive on an extra 5% on all cash deposits in sterling however this is hampered somewhat by the 3% conversion fee if you want to change your Bristol Pounds back. Also if you receive payments via their innovative SMS method, you will have to pay a 2% fee and 1% on all on-line transactions.
With this in mind, I worry that the Bristol Pound end up being a slightly more expensive and slightly less convenient way of doing business.
I can see that as something fun, for maybe the kids to get involved with, this could work really well but for everyday businesses I'm not so sure. Watch this space!

Pet Hair Problems?

cuba gallery

Pet hair can be a real nightmare to get rid of. I personally have 2 cuddly balls of fur who are, as it is summer shedding all over the place. My sofas are a slight embarrassment and if i wear black i can't leave the house without a lint roller! One thing which makes a massive difference is using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, which is also great for those with allergies. Hoover as often as you can focusing on soft furnishings as well as floors. Also brushing your pets when they are moulting will help with the amount of hair they deposit elsewhere!

Ecover Competition

Ecover UK currently have a competition to win tickets to Latitude Festival going on on their Twitter page! All you have to do is follow them and tweet at them with your favourite feel good festival essential. I normally go to Glastonbury every year and am having serious festy withdraw symptoms so fingers crossed I'll nab it! Good luck!

Click here to go to Ecover's Twitter page

Summer Clear Out

HowardLake

With the sun in the sky why not throw open your windows and throw out your unused stuff! Nothing feels better then a big clear out. I personally believe that a tidy house equals a tidy mind so try to shift anything i haven't used in a few months. Take whatever can still be used to your local charity shop and recycle things that no longer work or are broken. Any old t-shirts that can't go to the charity shop can be cut up into rags for cleaning around your home.

Green Cleaning in Schools.

After doing a bit of research I have found out that since 2005 it has been mandatory for schools in New York State to use green cleaners! This is a fantastic idea, research has shown that poor indoor air quality directly correlates with student and teacher sickness levels with asthma being particularly effected. Children are sensitive and do we really want them to be in contact with the harsh chemicals that are used in a lot of standard cleaning products. 

Eco-Schools is a programme that is currently trying to get all schools in England to switch to using green cleaners check out there website http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/ecoschools/. 

  

Ants?

Baker_1000

Summer is here and what does summer bring? Ants! We have a bit of an ant city being built in our garden at the moment but i am too lazy and too kind to do anything to get rid of the blighters! If you have an ant problem in your home, a great natural way to deter them is to leave a mixture of either red chilli powder, peppermint or borax around their way into your house and they will avoid crossing it. Just make sure you wash your mitts after using the chilli powder!