My Top 10 (and least expensive ways) to keep it clean

1. Shop seasonal and freeze.  I love the abundance of fresh fruits and veggies we can get in the summer months.  Prices are so much lower on organic berries (especially pick your own).  Plus everything tastes better.  My neighbor just brought over 2 freezer bags of fresh corn kernels that I can add to soups and chili this winter.  Blueberries are another great one to freeze and add to smoothies or even cereal in the winter.  It is also fun to shop seasonal in the fall and winter and get creative with root veggies! 

2. Try homemade cleaning products.  I posted an all purpose spray on the blog that you can check out.  What I love about homemade cleaning products is that they work and are made with ingredients you most likely already have in your home.  Water, vinegar and baking soda go a long way.  Vinegar and water work wonders on glass and stainless steel.  Actually, vinegar and water work on just about anything (including toilets).

3. Go glass! Switch over your plastic tupperware to glass.  This is a one time investment with huge benefits.  I love glass for food storage and you can even reheat in the oven up to 350 degrees.  One less reason to use the microwave! This Rubbermaid set is perfect and easy to store. 

4. Buy in bulk.  I think people often have a negative connotation with purchasing in bulk but I love it.  It is so much cheaper and the product is just as good.  My favorite bulk items are organic oats, organic quinoa, whole wheat pastry flour, nuts, nut butter, and spices.  

5. Keep the EWG dirty dozen list stored on your phone.  This is a great reference when trying to figure out what to buy organic while shopping. 

6. Start a garden in the summer.  We are fortunate to have extremely generous neighbors with a green thumb.  We do have a small garden with tomatoes, lettuce and plenty of herbs,  A great way to use up your herbs is to store them in ice cube trays with olive oil.  You can add a cube to just about any dish in the winter.  I also love to make tons of pesto at the end of summer because it freezes so well.  We also planted blueberry bushes this year which has been fun for the girls. 

7. Check your personal care products.  This is something that I have learned a ton about since joining Beautycounter.  We don't think of our skin as our largest organ.  What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in it.  Start small, you are investing in yourself.  Think about the products you use every day (deodorant, shampoo, face wash, moisturizer, toothpaste, etc).  The EWG has a wonderful app called Healthy Living.  Download the app to find out the score of the products you are currently using.  You may be surprised! And don't forget about the many uses of coconut oil and olive oil on your skin. 

8. Remove shoes before entering the home.  This is such a simple task with HUGE benefits.  Our shoes carry in a ridiculous amount of bacteria that gets transferred all over your house. GROSS! 

9. Drink water.  Another no brainer!  Purchase a good quality water bottle and take it with you wherever you go.  My favorite water bottle is the S'well Bottle.  It's stainless steel and keeps water cold all day.  Water increases energy, helps with digestion, flushes out toxins, helps boost immunities, and so much more. 

10. Educate yourself.  This is something that we don't do enough of.  At least I don't.  Make sure you are reading labels when it comes to food, personal care products, clothing, cleaning products, etc.