Ditching Chemicals? Discover the Incredible Cleaning Power of Lemons!

You know the old saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade"?  We are putting a twist on Bayes likes to keep it simple for you.  From our organic cleaners to simple remedies like the ones below, we have your health covered. 
things and say, "When life gives you lemons, use them to clean your house!" There's a lot of talk out there about natural cleaning and the toxicity of common house cleaning chemicals.  It can be overwhelming with all the options but

So if you're ready to ditch chemicals, discover the incredible cleaning power of lemons.

Odor Destroyer

Even garlic, fish, mothballs and that disgusting gunk in your garbage disposal can’t stand up to lemon juice’s odor-eliminating power. Use a cut lemon or fresh-squeezed lemon juice to remove bad smells from your refrigerator, cutting board, microwave or practically any other surface. You can even add it to the cooking water of stinky foods like cabbage, or just simmer lemon peel in water on the stovetop as a natural air freshener.

Glass Cleaner

Lemon juice will make hard water stains, debris and other marks on glass disappear. Use straight lemon juice on a sponge for tough jobs, or dilute a few tablespoons in a cup of water and spray it on. Wipe it off with newspaper for totally transparent windows (that might just kill a bird or two.)

Stain Remover

Sweat, mildew, berries, wine, oil – pretty much any substance that leaves a stain on fabric can be removed with good old lemon juice. Durable fabrics can be rubbed with a paste of lemon juice and salt while more delicate fabrics might require a gentler touch, saturating the stain with lemon juice and then washing it out.

Toilet Cleaner

When mixed with household borax (not the insecticide kind), lemon juice can remove even those stubborn rust stains from the toilet bowl. Make a paste of borax and lemon juice and apply it to the stain with a scrub brush or sponge. Let it sit for up to two hours, then scrub away. 

Bayes is happy to give you the tips to better living. That's why we like to make it simple for you!  Bayes was created through the inspiration of nature's organic uses and the people's need for ease and dependability, like that in our Organic Granite Counter Top Cleaner! Use these and many others, to make your home a healthier one! From our homes to yours, Have a Happy New Year!

Give the Usable Gift of Organic Cleaning Supplies as a DIY Kit - Here's How!

Give the usable gift of green cleaning supplies for Christmas by putting together your favorites tools and products (in your price range).  Give a handful of ingredients that are needed to make some of your favorite recipes.  Put all the items in a cute container and you will have the perfect hostess, Christmas gift or other holiday or birthday gift.  This even makes a simple thank you gift if you have a friend that enjoys home keeping!

Gather together some of your favorite items to clean with and put together a unique and personal gift this holiday season!  Here are some of our most recommended ideas:

• Bayes Organic Granite Counter Cleaner (of course!)
• a small caddy or container 
• sponges
• dish cloths and dish towels
• white vinegar
• castile soap (bar and liquid)  – you can find the little travel sized castile soap in the travel section at Target.
• spray bottles
• metal tins
• essential oils
• baking soda
• epsom salts
• twine, tape or ribbon for cute wrapping and details
• a personalized card with a description/instruction for each made item

Making a special cleaning kit of organic materials is a wonderfully thoughtful gift for anyone interested in boosting their health and quality of life.  Bayes supports your green living choices with our own selection of organic cleaning supplies. Visit us and see what we have for you!

3 Elegant Tips for DIY Holiday and Christmas Decor

Decorating for the holidays can be a fun and
enjoyable event that the whole family can be apart of. What you need are ideas on how to do it yourself, but have it turn out classy and high quality. Escape the need to use cheap dollar store products and think outside the box for your holiday and Christmas Decor. Here are some tips for Bayes, to you!


The Focal Point
If your tree is the center of attention already, then why not also make it your room's focal point? Capture that picture-perfect moment with elegance and color in you presentation. You can line gifts around the base of the tree and keep the wrapping monochromatic, minimal, and consistent. Shades of pink will easily steal the attention of onlookers! 

Elegant Upon Entry

All great decorating stories start at the entry way. Remember the holiday color palette is yours to play with! Stick to the traditional color scheme or mix it up. Try being inspired by precious metals and the snowy whites of winter. There’s something so inviting about the combination of warm greens, silver, and whites. Use a combination of ribbon, garland, and pine cones and even mardi gras beads along doorways, hand rails and staircases for an entry way holiday color pop! 

Light the Mantel
A white or wooden mantel is an open and ready canvas for holiday decor.  Choose berry wreaths with wreaths of other natural materials such as birch, money tree branches or the likes.  Then place glass votives with tea light candles along them for a wintery warm and inviting glow! 


We hope you are having a lot of fun preparing for the coming holiday. At Bayes, we look to serve you well with our organic cleaning supplies, specifically, our top selling organic granite counter top cleaner! Please get in touch with us for your green giving needs! 

Happy Holidays!

Save Money with These Creative and Frugal Christmas Shopping Ideas!

Christmas shopping is in full swing and if you're like us, you don't want to spend your savings. One way to be green as a family is not to spend on unnecessary items. But you don't want to sacrifice the quality of your giving as well.  Below, are a few tips to saving money while adding genuine heart to your holiday giving. 

Be the Gift: Depending on your skill set, you can offer coupons for your services.  And if you feel that's too slight, offer a menu for them to choose from - or even consecutive services, like housecleaning, massage or hair cuts. You'll get to give a gift without spending any cash, your receiver gets to save money and you've not only given a service, but also your time, which is far more valuable.  It’s a win-win for both.  Another idea is to give a child in your life a gift certificate to spend the day together.  You can then spend that time going to a park, bike riding, or numerous other things that are light on the pocketbook but full of great memories.

Get Organized: Be organized about your Christmas shopping; write down who you need to buy for, and how much you’ll spend on each person.  Then, stick to that number.  Make a commitment to yourself that you won’t go over budget.  If you start shopping early, hunt for the deals, and incorporate creative giving, you’ll be able to get a lot more for that budget number too. 

Be a Deal Hunter: Does your family always go out to eat for Christmas?  Maybe you or someone else in your family could host a potluck instead.  Have to travel to see family?  How about driving or taking the bus instead of flying?  Or maybe you could fly out to see family after the holidays and get a cheaper ticket price.  Knowing the best tips for getting the cheapest flights can save you hundreds of dollars. 

Invest in Health: Without our health, we are nothing!  Invest in a the health of a loved one! Buy them a wholesale membership for a nutritional supplement or essential oils company - allowing them wholesale access to the therapeutic products the love and enjoy! 

Give Clean: Green families do well to pass on the gift of clean!  Create your own cleaning supplies for your loved ones, made of natural, organic ingredients, or buy direct from Bayes. The toxic ingredients in conventional household cleaners are wreaking havoc on our health, and it's time we take more control of our health (and the health of the environment) with organic cleaning supplies. Easy to make and more affordable to buy than you may think.

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to put a dent in your savings, and it doesn’t have to be a stressful event.  With a little planning and preparation, it can even be fun. 

From all of us at Bayes, happy holiday shopping! 

Have You Stopped To Find Out If Your Christmas Tree Has Been Sprayed With Pesticides?

Picking out a Christmas tree is a favorite tradition this time of year. The whole family will likely be involved and have a different opinion about just how big to go! Should it have soft or prickly needles? Is it the right shape? Everyone will have an opinion, but finally you’ll all agree on the perfect one. 

Even if you are a family committed to green living, it's easy to forget to consider whether or not your tree has been grown organically. Don't worry, that's normal. Of the 24.5 million real Christmas trees purchased in the U.S. every year, only 1 percent are grown organically. That doesn’t give you very good odds for finding an organic one. And, it likely means the tree in your living room was sprayed with pesticides. Do you really want to breathe that in? 

Christmas trees and pesticides

Conventional growers spray a variety of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides on Christmas trees throughout their long life cycle. (It takes a typical Christmas tree 5 to 10 years to grow to maturity!) Many of the pesticides approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency on your Christmas tree have been linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, neurotoxicity, organ damage, reproductive/birth defects, asthma, and more, according to Beyond Pesticides, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.

The big but here though is that with zero studies on the effects, there’s no real way to know if residue from pesticides can harm you. Still, for those of us who try to live an organic lifestyle, it would be nice to find a tree that hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals.

Turns out, that’s quite the challenge. Most trees you see at big box stores, city lots or big garden centers are conventionally grown. The majority of the trees have been shipped from big plantations in Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington State, New York or Virginia.

Finding an organic Christmas tree

If you want to find an organic Christmas tree, your best bet is to check with a local grower. Ask how the tree was raised. If you look at tree farms where you can cut your own tree and farmers markets, you’ll also be more likely to find a sustainably-grown tree. Here are a few more resources to help you find an organic Christmas tree:

Beyond PesticidesThis nonprofit group provides some sources for organically-grown Christmas trees as well as up to date information about pesticides.

Green Promise
This website provides a list of organic Christmas tree farms by state.

Local HarvestFind farmers markets, family farms, CSAs and farm stands in your area. Local Harvest also lists sources for organic wreaths.

Bonus: If you do score an organic tree, it likely won’t have been sheared into the conical shape that’s the industry standard for Christmas trees today. Yours might have a more old-fashioned look, with imperfect branches and a more relaxed frame. There’s something quite nice about that though, wouldn’t you say?

Benefits of a real tree

Don’t worry if you already bought a conventional Christmas tree. Real trees (even non-organic ones) are at least a better choice than artificial trees. Real Christmas trees are often grown on land that isn’t suitable for other crops. And while it may seem like an artificial tree is the most sustainable choice because you can use it longer, the average family uses an artificial tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it sits in a landfill and pollutes the environment. If you do have a real tree, don’t forget to reuse it after Christmas. We have some great ideas to reuse your Christmas tree. Most cities also offer curbside pickup for recycling Christmas trees. (Thank you, Organic Authority, for your wealth of information!)

We at Bayes, are committed to your health, which is why we try to keep you properly informed, for your health and the health of those in your homes.  That's also why we've developed our extensive line of organic cleaning supplies, which happen to make great holiday gifts; like our granite counter top cleaner! We are confident that you will find fabulous gifts and a great tree for your green home this Christmas season!  

Happy Holidays!

5 Simple and Nurturing Ways to Minimize Thanksgiving Stress!

As much as we all love to celebrate with loved ones, what do we do with the stress that comes with hosting or even contributing to a holiday dinner. But the stress can be avoided with careful planning and consideration of everyone's needs, not neglecting your own.  At Bayes, we highly value the health of your home and family, and stress management should definitely not be forgotten. 

So here are 5 simple and nurturing ways to minimize Thanksgiving stress:

Create a Game Plan.

Don't wait until the last minute to do your shopping. You run the risk of getting stuck in crowds and not being able to get the items you need. Because you're planning ahead, you'll probably purchase a frozen turkey. Remember that depending upon the weight, a turkey can take up to five days to thaw in the refrigerator. Give yourself and your bird enough time to reduce this possible stressor.

Prepare Your Space Ahead of Time. 

When you're cooking a meal to this magnitude, you're going to need extra space in the fridge and on the counters. Take this opportunity to do a little "fall cleaning" and pitch old condiments, leftovers and other items you don't need in the fridge.

Delegate Tasks. 

A good head chef knows that a strong team is needed to achieve good service. You're no different. Assign duties to family members you know will want to help. Whether it be bringing a side dish, watching the little ones so they aren't underfoot while you're cooking, or simply setting the table, the list of ways others can bring relief to the day is endless.

Get Enough Sleep. 

It might seem counter intuitive, but making sure you get enough sleep can help combat the additional stress you may be under. Don't vary your sleeping schedule. Simply plan around it so your body remains in its natural rhythm. While you may have to get up a bit early on Thanksgiving Day to get the turkey in the oven, if you're well-rested from the previous nights, it won't take as much of a toll on you.

Prioritize

Remember what's important. Take time out to enjoy the day and have some fun. Start a new tradition of playing a game, telling favorite jokes or simply taking a walk together as a family. While the meal may seem like the big part of the day, the most important part is spending time with your loved ones and giving thanks for all you have.

Your emotional and mental health care should be at the top of your list when striving to live consciously and in a naturally healthy way. We are here to support you in the big and little ways we can. This is why we've developed a line of organic cleaning supplies meant to deeply clean, condition and care for your home and kitchen.  

This Thanksgiving, take care of yourself in the best ways possible. From us at Bayes, to you, 

Happy Thanksgiving!

7 Family Friendly Tips for a Green Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a well known American holiday based on tradition and togetherness. Why not use this as a chance to create your own family traditions and pass on the sustainable and earth friendly values with your own family?  Traditions start in the home. They start with you.  Here are seven family friendly tips for a green Thanksgiving.

RRR

To make your Thanksgiving celebration as green as possible, start with "Reduce, Reuse & Recycle!"  You can reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying only as much as you need and choosing products that come in packaging that can be recycled. Carry reusable bags when you do your shopping, and use cloth napkins that can be washed and used again. Recycle and compost all leftovers. Many things can be reused or put into use for the following seasons! Think ahead.

Buy and Eat Local

Buying only locally grown food is one good way to have a green Thanksgiving. Locally grown food is good for your table, your health and the environment. Locally grown food tastes better than food that has to be grown and packaged for maximum shelf life, and it requires less fuel to reach store shelves. Locally grown food also contributes more to your local economy, supporting local farmers as well as local merchants.

Choose Organic 

Using only organic food for your feast is another good green Thanksgiving strategy. Organic fruits, vegetables and grains are grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers; organic meat is produced without antibiotics and artificial hormones. The result is food that is better for your health and good for the environment. Organic farming also produces higher yields, increases soil fertility, prevents erosion, and is more cost-effective for farmers.

Plant a Tree

Trees absorb carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming—and give off oxygen in return. Planting one tree may not seem to make much difference in the face of global climate change, but small things do matter. In one year, the average tree absorbs roughly 26 pounds of carbon dioxide and returns enough oxygen to supply a family of four.

Make Your Own Decorations

With a few simple supplies and a little imagination, you can make great eco-friendly Thanksgiving decorations and have a lot of fun in the process. Colored construction paper can be cut or folded into simple Pilgrim, turkey and harvest decorations. You can also make your own clay and then shape and mold it into acorns, pumpkins or other holiday symbols. 

Bring in the Spiritual Side

The Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving fled religious persecution in Europe to seek a better life in America. The Thanksgiving holiday was established to provide a national day for all Americans to give thanks. Even if you follow no particular religion, however, Thanksgiving is a good time to count your blessings, beginning with the many ways the natural environment sustains and enriches our lives. As part of your green Thanksgiving, make time for prayer, meditation, reflection, or perhaps just a walk in the woods to contemplate and give thanks for the wonders of nature.

Say Thank You

In the end, whatever you do on Thanksgiving, be sure you take the time to say thank you and set your heart to an intention of gratitude. Make this a time to say thank you to the people in your life who matter most and, if possible, to spend time in their company. Life is short so make every moment count. If distance or circumstances don't allow you to spend Thanksgiving with your loved ones, be sure to find a way to be in touch with them to tell them why you are thankful to them and how they make your world a better place. 

Bayes supports family and green living through our contribution of quality organic kitchen cleaning products, including our granite counter top cleaner.  (You may need a few bottles after this weeks festivities!) 

From all of us to you, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Thoughts: Simple Creative Ways To Practice Gratitude in Your Busy Life

Thanksgiving is a time when the greenest of families should be gathering together in gratitude and togetherness. Gratitude is a big word, but a vital one for the growth of the heart.  In the light of the coming holiday and knowing our busy schedules, we want to share some simple ways to bring gratitude into your daily life and thoughts. 

Developing your sense of gratitude isn't just a trend or a pop-psych fad. It's vital for your overall sense of well being and depth of your life quality. 

The truth is, we could all use a little more tender care and grace. Through self love, self forgiveness, appreciation and extension of the same, our lives will feel more full and fluid. We cannot always control what happens around or to us, but we can control our response and perspective.

Thanks to the lovely people at Mind Body Green, we have a fantastic list to share with you, of 14 creative ways to practice gratitude in your every day life. 

1. Write a handwritten letter to someone you've never properly thanked. Send by mail or hand-deliver; don't email.

2. Create An Appreciation Calendar. Each day, write five things you're grateful for and put it on a calendar.

3. Turn everything into a gift. Instead of your normal morning coffee, think of that cup as the gift of coffee. The gift of laughter. The gift of a smile.

4. Focus on something you're looking forward to and be grateful.

5. Say "I'm grateful for you," to everything you touch today.

6. Enjoy the little things. With a small task you do today, such as washing your hands or texting a friend, ask yourself how your life would be without it.

7. Look in the mirror and say, "I appreciate you," or, "I'm thankful for you."

8. Reach out to an author whose book has changed your life and share your gratitude in an email or letter.

9. Share a positive post on social media about a friend, company or product you truly love.

10. Spend five minutes with your hand on your heart, appreciating you and all of your hard work.

11. Donate your time or money to an organization or charity you believe in.

12. Make a list of ways you've impressed yourself lately. Think about what the challenges in your life have taught you. Be thankful for the blessing in the lesson.

13. Call your parents or children and tell them you appreciate them.

14. Send love to a force bigger than you, and give thanks to your higher power.

Your healthy life is our highest priority at Bayes.  Connect with those you love, including yourself today and practice these steps toward gratitude.  We also welcome you to stop by and enjoy the line of organic cleaning products we have to offer you. 

Have a thankful day!

Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner? How to Have a Stress Free Kitchen this Holiday Season:

The holidays coming, for many, mean a lot of hosting and entertaining. Make sure you're prepared for a holiday of family, friends and food without the added stress or concerns. After all, the host should be able to relax as well, not just cook and clean and maintain chaos!

Be Oven Ready
Make sure your oven is ready for the marathon of baking about to take place! Wait until after the big feast to do any deep cleaning in the oven. You don't want to exhaust the appliance and have it burn out before the pies are complete! Rather, give it a thorough manual wipe down beforehand with your best non-toxic cleaner. After all, we don't any toxic residue to be baked and absorbed into the mushroom green bean casserole!

Clean the Refrigerator
The fridge can be quite a treasure chest of old and forgotten food. Take this week to compost produce gone bad, consume leftovers and give the shelves and drawers the cleaning they deserve. Not only will you have a better idea of what is needed to purchase before the big day, but you'll also have the room to store both ingredients, finished dishes and the leftovers that will follow!

Checklist Your Spices
We can run out of or be low on our most common spices and then find we don't have them when we need them. And who wants to rush off to the store for a container of cloves the morning of thanksgiving? Since we'd rather avoid the rush of that crowd, let's be prepared. Go through your spice rack and take inventory. Throw out what's old and make a list of what needs to be restocked. You'll be so happy you did.


Prepare to clean
We love our granite counter tops. It's great to toss the common cutting boards and chopping blocks and know that we have so much counter space to slice, dice and prepare our beloved feast. But all that cutting and temperature change will add up. So it's good to be prepared with your own bottle of Bayes Organic Granite Counter Top Cleaner and Conditioner. You decided to get those granite counter tops for a reason, so use them well but remember to care for them too!

We hope your Thanksgiving feast is one to remember... for the beauty and not the craziness! Please stop by Bayes and see how you have more organic products to be thankful for this year! Have a wonderful holiday.

Give the Gift of An Eco Kitchen this Christmas!

If you've been worrying about what perfect gift to buy for your family or loved one, consider making
your kitchen more eco friendly!

Eco friendly kitchens allow for more sustainable practices to be in order, allowing your family a high quality kitchen experience with the added peace of mind that comes with knowing you are doing your part to keep the planet clean.

A great way to do this is to install granite counter tops. Have you heard about them? They are an incredibly affordable way to keep your kitchen green.  Here are the benefits:

-Durable
Granite is a great countertop material because it's incredibly durable. It's difficult to scratch it, allowing it to take a great deal of abuse from heavy cooking, entertaining, family, children and pets.
It's also ideal as it can handle high temperatures

-Style
Because granite is a natural substance formed over time, each piece has its own unique charm, color and patterning. This means, that no matter where you install your granite countertop,  you can be assured of it's one of a kind individuality. However, there are still enough similarities that will allow you to color match easily to any cabinet and hardware.

-Easy to Care For
Granite countertops are not only long lasting but also resistant to bacteria and easy to care for as well. To clean on a daily basis, you just need some gentle soap, warm water and a soft sponge.  For regular care and maintenance, you want to make sure you also condition the granite countertops as well. For this purpose, we at Bayes, have developed an organic granite counter top cleaner that will not only clean but condition and seal the counter tops for the best, most durable lasting finish.

Granite counter tops ad both style and usability to your home, not only bettering the quality of life you enjoy in the kitchen, but adds value to your home as well.

We hope you are as excited about gifting granite counter tops as we are.  As you consider what to give your loved ones this holiday season, we hope you will gift them the gift of a green home.

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Simple and Fast Ways to Have a Green Life and Home

Don't be intimidated by all the information on green living! You can incorporate these simple and fast ways to have a green life and home into your daily routine and rest assured knowing you are improving yours and the lives around you! 

Recycling

Recycling in the home starts with finding out where you can take old newspapers and cardboard in your community to get it processed into new products. Many communities have recycling programs that make it easy for residents to put their old paper and cardboard to good use. If your community does not have an official paper recycling program, then check with a local church or civic group to see if they are running one. You can also recycle old plastic and glass food containers or reuse them by washing them out and using them as storage containers around the house. Before you throw anything out in your home, make sure that you cannot find another use for it and reduce the amount of garbage that goes into your local landfill.

Composting

Most people throw out old food and scraps from the table and never give it a second thought. But when you have a composting system in your backyard, you can turn those old food scraps into fertilizer or even a material that can help repair damaged parts of your lawn. You can also include lawn clippings and leaves in your composting system to create a comprehensive source of organic material. You can create a compost pile in your backyard, or you can invest in a more advanced composting system that will create the materials you need for your lawn and garden.

Water Conservation

In some parts of the world, there are water conservation laws that dictate how residents of those areas can use water. But everyone should be conscious of water conservation and preserve the water we have. Instead of allowing rainwater to flow into the ground, you can develop a rainwater collection system and use it to water your garden or your lawn. This saves you money by allowing you to water your landscaping without using your house spigot. You can save the dishwater from when you do the dishes and use that to water the lawn or clean up accessories around the home. Conserve water and you will save money and help your community.

Energy Conservation

There are many things you can do to conserve energy in your home. Always be sure to turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use. Invest in new doors and windows when the old ones have become drafty and unable to help regulate the temperature of your home. If your home appliances are 10 years old or older, then replace them with more energy-efficient models. You may also want to think about adding alternative energy sources such as solar panels and windmills. An extreme measure is purchasing an electric car and charging station. These alternative energy sources will reduce your reliance on electricity that is generated using fossil fuels, and it will also help to lower your monthly energy bills.

Cleaning Supplies

Sometimes being green at home is not about saving money. Sometimes it is about using supplies that are safe for the environment and safe for the family. For example, home cleaning supplies that use harsh chemicals can get into the water table around your home and contaminate your property. Those harsh cleaning supplies can also leave behind a residue that can get on the hands of your children and possibly cause disease. Instead of using those harsh cleaning chemicals, you should use more environmentally friendly cleaning solutions. There are many different kinds of cleaning solutions you can make from household items that have no dangerous chemicals at all. By learning to make our own safe cleaning solutions at home, you are teaching your children a skill that they can use when they grow up to save the environment and keep their children safe as well.

This is where Bayes comes in.  We know that you have a lot of options for better green living, and we want to make sure it's as simple as possible. This is why we developed our line of organic cleaning products. We want you and your home to be as healthy as possible. Stop by today and see what we have made for you!

Give Your Kitchen an Eco Makeover With These Easy 7 Steps!

It's important to have an eco friendly living space and the kitchen is a great place to start! 

We spend so much time and energy use in the kitchen, so giving your kitchen an eco makeover will actually make a significant difference in your contribution to the environment and your health! 

Here are your 7 easy steps:

Switch to all eco-friendly cleaners and detergents

For dishwashing detergents, switch to ones that are phosphate-free, or make your own solutions using common household items such as lemon juice and baking soda for cleaning the sink and other parts of the kitchen. You can put it in a spray bottle filled with water. Stop by Bayes, as well for our organic cleaning line, including our granite counter top cleaner and conditioner! Making your own eco friendly cleaning supplies or buying them from a supplier is easy to do and well worth the time and investment! 

Audit your units and equipment.

Auditing your units and appliances will not only help you save energy and money - it can also help you get rid of appliances and gadgets that you no longer need. Lean toward products that are made of eco-friendly materials. Support companies that produce kitchenware and products such as cutting boards and food storage containers that are made from totally recycled materials. Cabinets and other kitchen units can also be replaced with more durable ones so they can last longer and can often be found at recycling centers for home improvement.

Go for high energy rating appliances.

If you are considering replacing certain appliances like refrigerators, it is always better to consider the A++-G European Energy Label rating system. Other low energy efficiency rated white goods may be cheaper, but they consume large amounts of electricity. This means that although you save money by purchasing cheap white goods, you’ll end up spending a relatively higher amount in the long run because of high electric consumption. If you don’t want to buy new one, you can either insulate it on the sides or regularly clean the coils at the back so you can keep your refrigerator’s energy consumption to the least amount.

You can also explore other low-energy units such as eco kettles, which boil only the water you need and keep the rest in a tank so it can be used later. It also has the ability to heat water in three different temperatures. So if you need warm water for your herbal tea, you don’t need to waste energy by heating the water to 100°C.

Recondition your oven

Experts suggest the use of convection ovens over conventional ovens. It is due to their ability to circulate the heated air around the food being cooked which takes shorter time and reducing required temperature which tantamount to low energy consumption. On the average, you’ll drop your energy use by about 20%.

Compost and recycle

Another great way to achieve a green kitchen is to make use of a composting and recycling bin. Kitchens can be designed or redesigned in a way that gives it access to a garden compost bin. This way, leftover food can be re-used as fertilizer.

Planning your meals can also help in reducing waste by keeping you from buying food you won’t eat. You can also plan to use leftovers in cooking different food recipes.

Reduce plastic and unnecessary packaging 

Instead of using plastic cling wrap and re-sealable bags to store and cover food, you can use lidded containers. You can also try using reusable plastic containers as long as they are not made of harmful chemicals. In this case, refrain from using plastics labeled with recycling codes 3 – 7 as they are less stable. Rather, consider the use of glass jars instead of plastic containers. Gallon-size jars are also great for storing bulk items. Aside from its reusability, it also won’t allow chemicals to leach into your food.

Use dishtowels instead of paper towels

Try to use cloth towels as much as possible. They are inexpensive, washable, and has less carbon footprint.

Eat more vegetables

Another easy way to make a kitchen more eco-friendly is to try vegetarian food a little more often. Raising livestock has more destructive impact on the environment than putting up a garden with plants and grains. Besides, all the leftover food can be buried in the compost pit you can use for your garden.

Put some plants inside your kitchen

Plants make homes more cozy and inviting. Not only do plants beautify your kitchen, plants also help regulate carbon emissions from your cooking stove. You can also plant culinary herbs in the windowsill!

In the end, what’s more fulfilling than staying in a clean and environmental-friendly space? Achieving this is now totally possible as you can explore several options to go green. Giving your kitchen an eco makeover certainly takes time, effort and investment, but is totally worth it in the end, both for you and the world! Stop by Bayes and join us in our commitment to a healthier, cleaner kitchen!

Cleaner Air, Improved Sleep and Other Reasons Your Health Needs an Air Purifier!

Plants play a great key in air purification, but our busy lives bring in more germs and

toxins than plants can handle alone! Modern air purifiers are strong enough to tackle some of the smallest toxic challenges.  We gathered the top ten reasons why your health needs an air purifier.  Get out the pen and paper. This is important!

Gets rid of volatile organic compounds

Volatile organic compounds or VOCs are chemicals that at normal room temperatures have high vapor pressure. Some VOCs are harmful to human health, especially if accumulated. Anthropogenic VOCs such as that found in paints and other coatings are especially harmful. Persistent exposure to VOCs, especially indoors, has been found to be linked to increased incidences of cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Thankfully, air purifiers are able to remove VOCs as well, keeping our living environment safe.

Removes common air pollutants

Here are only a few of the common air pollutants you may find in your living environment:
- Pet allergens
- Dust Mite Allergens
- Plant spores
- Bacteria
- Fungi and mold
- Pollen
The most common air purifiers use HEPA or High Efficiency Particulate Air filters to remove common air pollutants. These filters are able to remove 99.7% of all particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. These include all of the above-listed common air pollutants.

Gets rid of insects 

One not so commonly known benefit of air purifiers is that they are able to remove mosquitoes and other pesky little insects that may otherwise be difficult to get rid of without toxic sprays.

Removes germs

There are some air purifiers that come with germicidal filters – these will help get rid of common germs.

Removes odors

Some air purifiers come with carbon filters – these help absorb odors and leave your house smelling fresh. This is especially helpful for those who live with smokers in the house and for those who want to cook with an open kitchen.

Improves mood

Personally, I found my mood improving significantly after I got an air purifier. It feels good to be able to breathe clean air. I found myself getting agitated less and became much better able to control my temper.

Reduces stress

The corollory to the previous point is that your cortisol levels will also decline, helping to reduce stress and leaving you more relaxed throughout the day. This in turn improves your productivity, allowing you to get more done.

Improves sleep quality

Your sleep quality will also improve with an air purifier in the house. Air purifiers typically generate some white noise – I have had no issues with this and in fact found it very helpful in aiding sleep.

Better air circulation

Ever had that unpleasant feeling of sitting in a stuffy room with poor air circulation? Air purifiers, depending on their ADR or air delivery rating, typically fully circulate the air in the room up to 5 to 6 times per hour.

Negative ions

Negative ions are usually found in nature. They naturally clear the air of common air pollutants by attaching to positively charged articles. They also have a relaxing effect, and create the feeling of being in a rainforest. Ionic air purifiers generate the same negative ions and allow you to experience these benefits even at home. {Thank you, Janet Miller, from www.sustainablesuburbia.net} 

The quality of air in your home is a vital ingredient to your health. With new home chemicals, old home VOC's and all the toxins in between, make sure you choose one that's right for your family. At Bayes, we are committed to your health. We provide top quality organic cleaning materials for the whole home.  From us to you, we salute to your health!