Using These Simple Living Tips Will Reduce Your Stress Greatly!

When life seems to hit you at every angle, it can be easy to cave under the stress.  Getting your kitchen cleaned may be the last thing on your mind. But at Bayes, while we lessen the stress on your health and home with our natural cleaning products, we do so because we know that you don't need extra things to be concerned about - you have enough on your plate.  So if you're ready to lighten your load, use these simple living tips to reduce your stress greatly. 

Stop multitasking.  

This first step is the simplest and best way to start reducing your stress, and you can start immediately. Clear your desk  or list of things to do that can distract you. Pick one thing to work on. Do only that. Remove distractions such as phones and email notifications while you’re working on that project. If you’re going to do email, do only that. This takes practice, and you’ll get urges to do other things. Just keep practicing and you’ll get better at it.

Simplify your time. 

A hectic schedule is a major cause of high stress. Simplify by reducing the number of commitments in your life to just the essential ones. Learn to say no to the rest — and slowly get out of commitments that aren’t beneficial to you. Schedule only a few important things each day, and put space between them. Get out of meetings when they aren’t absolutely essential. Leave room for down time and fun.

Move your body.

Do something each day to be active — walk, hike, play a sport, go for a run, do yoga. It doesn’t have to be grueling to reduce stress. Just move. Have fun doing it.

Develop one new healthy habit this month. 

Besides getting active, improving your health overall will help with the stress. But do it one habit at a time. Eat fruits and veggies for snacks. Floss every day. Quit smoking. Cook something healthy for dinner. Drink water instead of soda. Pick one and be devoted to it.

Calm down.

What do you enjoy that calms you down? For many people, it can be the “get moving” activity discussed above. But it could also be taking a nap, or a bath, or reading. Other people are calmed by housework or gardening. Some people like to meditate, pray or take a nature walk. Find your calming activity and really try to do it each day.

Have fun! 

Find ways to have fun each day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Play with children & play sports. Board games are fun. Whatever you choose, be sure to laugh.

Get creative. 

Throwing yourself into a creative activity is another great way to de-stress and to prevent stress. Writing can be wonderful, but others like to paint or play music or sketch or make pottery or do interior design or build things.

De-clutter and clean.

Take 20-30 minutes and just go through a room, getting rid of stuff you don’t use or need anymore. Look around at anything that’s cluttering up a room, and get rid of it or find a better place for it. Find an area of the home and deep clean it - set to a timer. When you're done, you'll have a peaceful, clear environment for work, play, and living. 

Bayes knows you don't need more things to do on your plate, which is why we suggest making things you DO have to do, simple, healthy and enjoyable.  This is the mission behind our organic cleaning products. We keep things real and good because you deserve it! 

Easy Tips to Make Your Cleaning Routine More Green!

We all want a cleaner and healthier home and while many people are intimidated by cleaning in general, there are simple ways to ensure that your home is a cleaner and fresher place to live.  

Here to make your cleaning more enjoyable, here are some easy tips to make your cleaning routine more green. 

BETTER AIR QUALITY
It's surprisingly common to find that the air inside the home is more toxic than the air outside. It's because the toxins and substances that insulate homes (which is a good thing) are strong and being off gassed on a general basis. Keeping windows open as often as possible allows fresh air in and keeps toxins flowing out. This is especially important when cleaning your home.

BAKING SODA CLEAN
Baking soda not only removes those strange smells coming from your fridge, it's also a great odor-eliminator for your carpet. Just sprinkle on a little baking soda to soak up some of those odors and then vacuum it up.

NATURAL AIR FRESHENERS
Skip the store-bought air fresheners and instead try boiling cinnamon, cloves, or any other herbs you have a fondness for. Fresh chocolate chip cookies also have been known to create a friendly aroma. Also, plants may not make your house smell different but are good for filtering interior air--pretty much any broad green leaf plant will do. Peace Lilies are a favorite choice.

LEAVE IT AT THE DOOR
Imagine what's on your shoes at the end of the day. Everything from car oil, antifreeze, animal waste, pollution, pollen, (and who knows what else) into the house is especially common for kids and other critters that spend time on floor level. Keep the sidewalk out of your home with a good doormat and a shoeless house policy. Many green buildings now include entryway track-off systems as a means of maintaining a healthy interior environment. Less dirt also means less sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming, which means less work, water, energy, and fewer chemicals. You can do it!

GREEN CLEANING PRODUCTS
As the health and environmental impacts of conventional cleaning products become more thoroughly understood, more and more brands of healthy, green, and effective cleaning products have started hitting the market and competing for that coveted place of honor under your sink. Many of these products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum). 

Bayes decided to go into business out of a desire to meet the need that so many people are asking to be filled.  Our cleaning products are organic, non-toxic and gentle on the spaces in your homes. We encourage you to make small steps to big change in your home as you make your cleaning routine more green. 

Hate Your Messy Kitchen? How to Enjoy a Cleaner Kitchen With Less Work!

Every now and then, it's both wise and necessary roll up your sleeves and really do a deep clean on your kitchen. But how do you maintain that beautiful shine on a daily basis without obsessing and going crazy? Well, rest assured, that it's entirely possible, and today, we are going to share some simple tips to help you keep your kitchen clean on the daily; without the extra elbow grease!

Prepare Your Cooking Canvass

This one is so simple and helpful.  Before you dive into a cooking masterpiece, make sure your dishwasher, sink  and counter tops are empty and cleared; that way, you can rinse and load dishes and utensils right away instead of leaving them to sit out for a few hours (to get all crusty, stay overnight and haunt your morning!) Call in your reserves too!  If you have a partner or children in the home, ask for help.  If you're eating dinner, contribute!

Clean As You Go 

Now that your sink and dishwasher are empty and waiting, cleaning as you go is less intimidating! (And cleaning up after dinner will be a quick piece of cake!) 

Don't Forget the Sink

Just because the dishes are out of the sink doesn't mean you're done! Use a little of your dish soap or a little baking soda and vinegar as you gently wipe the thin layer of things accumulated on the sink.  This reduces smells and buildup. Added bonus, if you have a garbage disposal, throw an orange or lemon peal inside and let it run! The enzymes will kill the what's resting near the top of the drain and will leave a fresh fragrance behind as well! 

Oil Your Boards

If you use wooden or bamboo cutting boards, it's good to maintain them about once a month and it only takes about 5 minutes.  Just pour about a TBSP of oil onto a paper towel or hand towel and massage on to the board, working the oil into the grooves. The same can be done for wooden utensils.  This saves time, money and allows your board to last much longer! 

Have the Right Tools and Keep Them in Reach

Don't you hate when you're all geared to clean and all you find is window cleaner? ... or dish soap? I'm not saying you need every cleaner known to man, but its good to have a few good cleaners to keep the job easy and efficient. For example, always have a degreaser for stove top burners.  Every home needs an all purpose cleaner, and you can even make your own with vinegar and some essential oils. Lastly, don't be the person that runs out of sponges and keeps using the sour one.  You'll thank me later!

Care For Your Counter Tops

Clear the clutter, folks. Counter tops loose their open appeal when they're lost in the piles that hide them! Clutter makes a kitchen feel chaotic and claustrophobic, whereas tidy and clear counter tops are invigorating and inspiring. They are also very inviting. They inspire you to cook, instead running from your kitchen to order fast food instead. Start by clearing the clutter and you'll see what I mean! Also, if you're one of the lucky ones to have granite counter tops, you have a fantastic, multi-use material to take care of.  Be sure to have Bayes Granite Counter Top Rejuvenator on hand. It conditions the counter tops in a non-toxic and gentle but durable way. Keep extra sponges around. 

It's far more simple than you may think.  Just start with a few ideas each week and work them into your routine.  I promise, you'll see the difference. Then, at the end of the month - see how much easier that BIG deep clean will be!