Global Hand Washing Day {Product Review}

Did you know that next Tuesday the 15th of October is Global Hand Washing Day? If you don't believe me Google it (after you read this post of course). 

It seems crazy to have a whole day dedicated to Hand Washing but when you begin to understand the benefits of the simple act of washing your hands, you can see the importance of promoting it.

I was heartbroken to learn that each year diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections are the cause of the deaths of more than 3.5 million children under five. Washing hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before touching food helps reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal disease by more than 40 per cent -but sadly, simply washing hands is not regularly practiced by everyone around the world. 

I don't know about your kids, but my kids always "forget" to wash their hands. I hear them in the toilet, then suddenly they appear in the room. Knowing I haven't heard a toilet flush, or the taps running, I ask them "Did you flush? Did you wash your hands?". These questions are met with a rolling of the eyes (or a look of sudden realisation) as they run back into the bathroom. Thankfully I was recently sent some products from Dettol to trial for our home to create healthier home. We received a bottle of Dettol's  Sensitive anti-bacterial hand wash which is great for cleaning up grubby little hands. When they have finally gotten around to washing their hands, at least I know they are germ free and won't be spreading disease. 

I don't use a lot of chemicals in our home, but there are times (especially with kids) that a germ killing product is required. I was also sent the Power & Pure multi purpose spray which I really like. So far I have used it on the benches, on the floors and in the bathroom to kill off any nasty germs. It has a nice smell and I know that the surfaces I have used it on are 99.9% germ free.

I also love that Dettol's Mission for health is committed to not only the health of my family, but the health of children around the world. Save the children and Mission for Health have joined forces to bring a child health and hygiene project to Indonesia. I'm hoping and praying that these programs can save lives simply by teaching people to wash their hands.

Do you struggle to get your kids to remember to wash their hands?

This is a sponsored post and I was sent these product to review. All opinions are entirely my own as are my random stories.

Why Pumpkin is Evil and How to Fight it (in the Laundry)

It's raining here at the moment and that means my washing pile is growing by the minute. Sometimes I honestly wish that we lived a simpler life with only one outfit that we washed every night (ok that would only be good for washing and not great for anything else really).

Call me crazy but I quite like washing clothes. We have a massive old reconditioned washing machine that we picked up from some guy whose front yard to filled with old appliances. I absolutely LOVE it! We had two front loaders prior and they both died after 4-5 years. I wasn't sad to see them go because they made way for my massive washer. I can fit at least double the amount of clothes in this one.

The only thing that makes washing a burden for me is when I can't get stains out of my clothes. So I was excited when I was asked to review Vanish Napisan Oxi Action Powder. In my clumsiness, I spilled my glass of wine on our throw rug (I think it was while watching Offspring and laughing at Billie) and ended up with a red wine stain which looked a little like blood. The good news for me is that Vanish Napisan Powder gets it out no problem. It is also good for Coffee stains and my personal favourite puree pumpkin. When my girls were younger, all their little clothes had orange stains on them that just wouldn't budge. 

See, pumpkin IS EVIL

They only thing that would work is Napisan. I'd soak them as per the instructions on the box and they'd be gone. I also had a very special trick I used for the very stubborn stains. After following the normal soaking with Napisan, place the clothing in full sun. After the clothes were dry the stains disappeared like magic! 

I love this product and always have it on hand in my laundry. If you don't use it, I think it is worth a try.

Do you have a great tip for removing stains?

This is a sponsored post and I was given the product to try, but all opinions are my own.

The Next Best Thing to Having Cleaning Fairies in Your Home.

My friend Katrina recently became a consultant for Norwex. When she told me I had no idea what it was all about but I agree to be her guinea pig party hostess. I was happy to listen about the products and buy a few cloths but I didn't really think a party for cleaning products would be all that exciting. I was wrong.

I do love a clean house but I'm not into spending lots of money on cleaning products. I was hoping she was offering the secret to having the cleaning fairies to do it for me, but she showed me the next best thing.

Norwex (if like me you haven't heard of them) are a company that makes a cleaning range which has a range of micro fibre cloths and mostly relies on tap water to clean your home. The great thing about this is that is means less chemicals around the house.

At my party, Katrina showed me what the Enviro cloth could do for my windows. I have sliding glass doors which are constantly covered with grimy finger prints. For added impact, Katrina drew some lovely designs with lipstick on the glass. She armed herself with paper towel and Windex and I used the Enviro cloth with water, followed by the Window Cloth to polish. These cloths are amazing. The lipstick was no trouble for it and I was done way before Katrina (she used a million sprays of Windex and a stack of paper towel). Even days after she left, my glass (cleaned with the Enviro cloth) was so clean it looked like there was no glass at all.

Enviro cloths

I also got a Kitchen Dish Cloth. This one is used for the dishes and you can even do benches, dinner table and the high chair. I used to use a blue chux style cloth and there is a massive difference. I have a glass dinner table which used to make me cry every time I cleaned it. It would only look nice if I got windex and paper towel. Since I got the cloth all I am doing is wiping it down of food scraps and it is honestly sparkling. Even my hubby has noticed the difference.

Dish cloth

My absolute favourite has to be the Bathroom Scrub Mitt. I have two bathrooms and a downstairs toilet and sink. So it usually takes ages to clean it all. Not with this Mitt. It has a textured side to get the soap scum off and a soft fluffy side to wipe up dust and other debris. I used to spray with chemicals, then scrub, the wipe with a cloth (to get the dust off, then get paper towel and dry it off so it was shiny. Now I use the scrub side, then the fluffy side (only with water), then I wring it out and use the fluffy side to mop up any excess water. It is so much easier and looks sparkly. This one is a special for party hosts though so you will need to book a party.

Bathroom Scrub Mitt 

I recently got the Norwex mop with the wet and dry pads. I am loving it so far. The dry one picks up everything (much better than a broom). The wet pad is perfect for me as it just needs to be sprayed with water and then straight onto the floor. It is much easier than making up a mop bucket (so I can easily mop spills up straight away and it is not such an effort to mop the whole floor).

Mop

I got a some other products but those are my favourite. One of the other selling points for Norwex is the fact that the cloths are Antibac which means a cleaner home and they are also made of microfibres which helps to attract the dust and dirt. 

If you are living in Sydney or Canberra and want a Norwex demonstration you can contact Katrina and she would love to show you these products. If you don't want to have a party, but want to try the products Norwex offers a 60 day money back guarantee. SO if you hate them (unlikely) you are not stuck with them and you get your $$$ back. 

I hear that the best thing to do is to buy the home conversion kit. It is a little pricey but in the long run it saves you money (when you become addicted and keep calling your dealer  consultant for more and more Norwex).

Please also visit (and like) her Facebook page which you can find out more about the range and all the wonderful things they can do. You can also visit her website: https://katrinalawson.norwexbiz.com.au/

I have written this post because I have seriously been impressed by the range but I am also keen to help a friend out with her business venture. I may get a cloth or two out of it.....(wink, wink, Katrina??).

If you are not in Canberra you can contact another friend of mine Celia (celia.chew@gmail.com). She is based in the far north coast of NSW (around Byron Bay), or both Katrina and Celia can arrange postage to you.

Have you heard of Norwex? What do you think about it?