How to Keep Your Cubicle Clean: 5 Tips for a Tidy Desk

Let's be real: The 9 to 5 grind is tough! Having a dirty desk makes it even tougher. That's why it's crucial to make your cubicle, desk, register area, or whatever work space you use as joyful, comfortable, and calming as possible. This means keeping it cute, clean, and organized. Here are my top five tips for a tidy desk and cubicle.

Always use a coaster under your mug. Coffee rings are gross and can be hard to remove.

Stop eating at your desk. Okay, I realize this is impossible. Honestly, I probably eat something at my desk every day but I try to keep it at a minimum and at least get up for meals. Less desk dining means less cleaning up. It also means you'll be healthier due to less mindless snacking and getting more steps in to walk to a break room or cafeteria to eat lunch.

Pick a color story to make things look more cohesive and tidy.

Keep only the most useful and joy-sparking items in your work space. Everything in and around your desk should be serving your productivity. What's useful and joy-sparking depends on your job, your unique values, and your personal style. Think about what makes you most productive when deciding what to keep, replace, or toss.

• Keep important memos, manuals, and notes in a binder and/or in store in a incline vertical file sorter with decorative file folders.
• Keep your favorite photos of your family and pets. Use magnets and frames to display them vertically.
• Replace your boring stapler and tape dispenser with a stylish set, like this rose gold one. 
• Toss things that are literally trash like used disposable coffee cups and pens that don't work.
• Toss things that are obsolete like printed office memos from last week and manuals for programs you are no longer using.
• Keep items that you need but don't use repetitively throughout the day in desk drawers and on the shelves under your desk. Use small bins, hanging files, and (my favorite) up-cycled copy paper boxes and salad greens containers to keep storage organized.

How to Get Coffee Stains Out of Mugs [Video]

Wanna refresh your coffee and tea stained mugs quickly and naturally?

It took me less than a minute to take this mug from "Yuck" to "Yes" using baking soda and water.

First, I sprinkled some baking soda inside the mug and added a few drops of water to make a paste. The baking soda to ratio water I used was probably 1:1, so about 1/2 Tbs baking soda and the same amount of water. It's best to start off with less water then add more as needed.

The Best Way to Get Fuzz Off a Sweater [Gleener Review]

Seven years ago, I showed you guys how to remove balls of fuzz and lint from a sweater using a pumice stone. It's gets the job done but I notice it takes off a lot of yarn and leaves a wispy halo of upset fabric on the garment. For this reason, I have been hesitant to use this method frequently.

I was excited to discover Gleener de-piller at Vogue Knitting Live. It's (self-) described as the "The Ultimate Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover". Ok, "excited" might be an exaggeration, as I was a little put off by the $20 price tag. Gleener is a plastic hand-held tool that has a fabric shaver on one end and a lint brush on the other. Should a hunk of plastic cost $20?

Months later I looked (like really, looked) at a beloved cable knit sweater. It was truly natty and unwearable but thought of dragging a crude pumice stone across this precious object made me anxious. A few days after that, deep in the bowels of my accessory drawer, I found an expensive hand-knit scarf covered in huge, disgusting fuzz balls. I hadn't worn it in years, probably because it was so gross. The Universe was telling me to invest in Gleener so that I could enjoy the nice things I already had, which is basically like saving money. I ordered a deluxe set that came with replacement "edges" (shavers) and a cute travel case.

Is It Worth Buying a Roomba or Ecovacs Deebot? [Review]

I love my Miele Compact Canister Vacuum. It's easy to move around. It sucks up practically every manner of debris and species of dust bunny thanks to its wonderful suction and various attachments. I can break it down into three parts for easy storage in my crowded closet. I've had my Miele for almost ten years and view it as one of the wisest purchases I've made. Whenever I go to someone's home and see they also have a Miele, I know we belong to the same tribe to savvy clean enthusiasts.

Yes, the Miele vacuum is amazing but there is one thing it can't do: It can't turn itself on and vacuum. This is why even if you have a fancypants vacuum that you love, you probably want a Roomba. But should you buy one?

Sadly, I don't have a Roomba so I can't advise if you should buy one. However, I was gifted an Ecovacs Deebot a few years ago. Ecovacs Deebot is an alternative brand of robotic vacuum that cost half the price of a Roomba. Deebots have a 4-star rating on Amazon just like Roombas too.

Should you buy a Deebot? Eh, depends.

If it's important for you to have your floor vacuumed and you can't/won't do it but a housecleaner isn't in your budget, then you should absolutely get yourself a Deebot. If that's not your only concern, here are a few things you should know before investing in a robot vacuum.

You have to do a lot of prep work to make it safe for the Deebot to vacuum. You have to pick up any cords that the Deebot could get tangled in. You may have to move furniture like chairs that Deebot could get stuck between the legs of. You must make sure there's nothing on the floor that is valuable and can be knocked over or sucked up. You've got to pick up the pet dishes so Deebot doesn't crash into them and make a mess. You absolutely need to make sure that one of your pets hasn't pooped, peed, or vomited, otherwise the robot could spread the mess all over the floor.

IIN's Spring Cleaning Guide [Free Printable!]

Looking for a fresh and holistic take on self-care? Get the new Spring Cleaning Guide from Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

A healthy home is as important a part of self-care as diet and exercise. (Just think about how light you feel when you enter a freshly cleaned room or think about how down you feel when your home or office is messy.) This FREE exclusive guide will help you:

• Cleanse your home using ingredients right from your pantry.
• Balance the energy flow in your home to nourish your mind and soul.
• Enhance your quality of life!

My favorite part of the guide is "5 ways to use house plants to enhance your quality of life." I knew plants are useful for cleaning the air of toxins, but I was surprised to learn that plants increase dopamine production in the brain, which contributes to feelings of happiness, enhanced cognitive ability, and even heightened creativity.

Check out the free spring cleaning guide now while it's still available. (It's downloadable and printable too!)  

Leave a comment and let me know if you feel a connection between your home and your personal well-being.

Olivia Lovejoy is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.   

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How to Clean a Coffee Grinder

If you've ever used your coffee grinder to grind whole spices, you know how gross your next cup of coffee can be if you don't clean it out well enough before you use it again. But do you know the easiest and most effective way to do it?

Here's the best way to clean your coffee grinder after grinding spices:

DIY Poop Secret: Natural Toilet Freshener Spray [Sorta Like Poo-Pourri]

Yeah, everybody poops, but if you don't feel like broadcasting your bowel movements to the world (or even those on the other side of the door), try this recipe for DIY Poop Secret.



Poop Secret is a totally natural spray that goes directly into the toilet before you go. It creates a powerful barrier of wonderful smelling essential oils that envelop your poops, and their associated stink, as they land in the toilet water.

Before you go thinking I'm a genius, I didn't invent this spray. It's based on Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray.

Okay guys, here's the recipe. Now you can eat all the collard greens and flax seeds you want. Keep some in your purse and you'll be the best studio apartment guest or tiny office mate ever!

DIY Poop Secret: Natural Toilet Freshener Recipe

You'll need:

• 4 oz spray bottle
• 1 tsp witch hazel (Substitute rubbing alcohol in a pinch, but it's kinda toxic)
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin
• 25 drops essential oils of your choice (I used a combo of 10 drops lemon and 15 drops peppermint)
• 1/2 cup distilled water (minus 2 TBS)

Video: DIY Natural Mold Killer Recipe

Yes you can kill mold and mildew without chlorine bleach! I finally uploaded this video I made last year and forgot about. (Oops!) Check it out to see one super simple recipe for a super mold (and mildew) killing spray.


Hate videos? Okay. Read on for the recipe.

How to Remove Cat Hair from Upholstery [VIDEO]

Tired of going through a dozen sheets of sticky paper on your lint roller only to still be left with a massive amount of pet hair on your furniture and clothes? Don't feel like lugging out the vacuum and its upholstery attachment every time you need to spot clean fur from your favorite chair?

Check out my latest video to see how to quickly and easily remove cat hair, dog hair, rabbit hair, ... any kind of pet hair (or pet fur, if that's what you'd rather call it) without a lint roller or vacuum!

Infographic - Guide to DIY Green Cleaning Products

I'm smitten by this lovely visual guide to making DIY cleaning products.

The photo illustrated collection of simple recipes shows how to make eleven completely natural, non toxic solutions: toilet bowl cleaner, grout cleaner, laundry detergent, fabric softener, stove top cleaner, burnt pots and pans, carpet stain remover, wood polish, two all purpose cleaners, and air freshener.

Check it out and try a new recipe today.

How to Make a Natural Car Air Freshener

Looking for an all natural, non toxic air freshener for your car?  You can make your own!

You'll need:

• fabric (I used craft fur)
• paperboard or paper
• marker or fabric pencil
• yarn
• glue
• hole puncher
• scissors
• essential oil(s)

Reluctant Person's Guide to Eco-friendly Spring Cleaning

Psyched about spring cleaning? Not really, but gonna do it anyway? Here are some awesome resources I created to help you get it done without going bonkers.

Make a Personalized Spring Cleaning Checklist
My list of 15 questions will help you brainstorm and create your own checklist for cleaning, organizing, and downsizing this spring. Get started!

7 Tips for Spring Cleaning Success
These tips will motivate you and help you stay on track to meet your spring cleaning goals. Tip #1: Treat Yo' Self! Read all the tips here.

Get a Quick Start on Green Cleaning
Still using regular ol' cleaning products? No bigs. You can easily make this spring the season begin your transition to healthier, eco-friendly products. Check out the resources page on my blog to find posts that will teach you the basics of green cleaning. Grab my eBook to learn even more!

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop or buying my green cleaning eBook. Thanks. 

Green Cleaning Essentials Shopping List

Wanna start making your own non toxic cleaning products? Begin here.

Keep these things on hand and you'll be ready to use the safe and effective DIY eco-friendly cleaning techniques I share on this blog and in my eBook, Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning. You probably already have a lot of them in your pantry. 

Sign from last year's workshop at Whole Foods Market University Heights

Most Grocery stores:

• Baking Soda
• Club Soda
• Cream of Tartar
• Distilled Water
• Vegetable Oil
• White Vinegar

Natural/Health Food Store or Amazon:

• Dish detergent (from a green brand)
• Castile Soap (liquid, unless making powdered detergent)
• Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds 

How to Clean Copper Pots

The Winter 2013 issue of Edible Rhody features a story about Jim Hamann, a beekeeper who lovingly refurbishes vintage copper pots.

Gorgeous copper pot photo via Adam Liaw.

If you've got copper cookware that could use some TLC, try Jim's recipe for natural copper polish.

• 1/2 c white vinegar
• 1 TBS salt
• 3 TBS flour, or enough to make a thin paste

Got burned food in your copper pot? Don't scrub it or you'll ruin the soft tin lining. Jim recommends removing burned food from a copper pan with hot water and a squirt of dish soap.

If you have inherited any copper pots from your granny, I suggest you heed Jim's advice. Did you know those things are superexpensive? I just saw a set of copper cookware for $1,500 on Amazon! Hot damn!

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop or buying my green cleaning eBook. Thanks.

How to Disinfect Without Chemicals

You don't need dangerous chemicals to kill germs. Here's how to disinfect bathroom, kitchen, and other surfaces naturally:

1. Cleaning and disinfecting are two different processes. Some products both clean and disinfect, but they must be done separately.
2. Not everything needs to be disinfected, but good spots to pay attention to are toilet seats and flushes, the floor near the toilet, handles to anything, door knobs, cabinet and drawer pulls, light switches, and other things that are touched often. Also disinfect counter tops and cutting boards after preparing meat and seafood.
3. Do not disinfect marble or stone surfaces. Germs can’t grow on those surfaces and the disinfectant is likely to damage the natural stone.
4. Always clean before disinfecting. Remove debris and scrub/wipe surface with a cleaner. Rinse if necessary.
5. Spray surface with a disinfectant. DIY options include the “It’s tea time sucka” cleaner (the recipe is in my book), undiluted vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. If you prefer store bought cleaners, Seventh Generation makes a wonderful line of botanically-powered disinfecting cleaners, including Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner in Lemongrass Citrus.
6. Leave on the surface for 10 minutes.
7. Wipe clean and dry with a different cloth.

What's one area of your home you always make sure to disinfect?

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop or buying my green cleaning eBook. Thanks.

How to Brighten a Coffee & Tea Stained Mug

I love this mug. If you visit my house and I serve you a beverage in this mug, it means I love you too.

Ever since we started cleaning my mug in the dishwasher, I noticed it doesn't look as bright. The insides are have a dull brown tint. It is certainly not guest worthy.

Fortunately, I know of two easy ways to brighten up a coffee or tea stained mug without chlorine bleach or harsh chemicals.

How to Clean Stinky Uggs Boots

I was reading Leslie Reichert's book The Joy of Green Cleaning and discovered this treat for winter feet: Ugg Boot Deodorizer.

All you need is baking soda, corn starch, and your favorite essential oil to make this all natural boot freshener.

Hard Water 101: What it is, How to Tell if You Have it & How to Live with it

Hard water literally means water that is "hard" or difficult to create lather or suds in when using soap or even detergent. This is cause by higher mineral content in the water. Folks who live in mountainous regions or use well water usually have hard water, but according to Borax website, over 85% of homes have at least slightly hard water.

Jolie Kerr, The Hairpin's Ask a Clean Person columnist offers this wonderful description of hard water:

Hard water contains a high mineral count. It's not harmful to humans, though it is harmful to machinery in that those minerals build up, leaving what's called "scale" or "fouling" — colloquially, we often refer to it as scum. Hard water also doesn't play as nicely with soap as does soft water, resulting in a distinct lack of lather without the aid of a water softener designed to reduce the calcium, magnesium and etc etc etc minerals that are found in hard water.

A sure way to know if you have hard water is to contact your local municipal water supplier. (Find them via Google.) They should have a water quality report on their website or available by request. They could probably answer your hard water question over the phone too.

Hard water can't affect your health but it can make life a little difficult, especially when you're trying to wash clothes. Borax website explains: "When you add detergent to hard water, some of the detergent combines with the calcium and magnesium granules that settle to the bottom of the washing machine, where it washes harmlessly down the drain without cleaning your clothes."

How to Keep Headphones Neat & Untangled - VIDEO

I've decided November is all about making my life less complicated and more organized. To this end, I have two things to share:

Firstly, I am now posting my blog related videos on my personal YouTube channel along with my nerdy home movies. Starting now all my videos will be shared there. It just makes sense for me to use one account instead of wasting time logging in and out of different profiles. (Don't worry, I won't remove any videos from the Olivia Cleans Green channel. I just won't be adding any content there going forward.)

Secondly, I posted a new video: How to Keep Headphones Neat & Untangled. No more pulling your headphones from your purse in a jumbled mess! You can also use this wrap for the USB cord.



What choices have you made lately to simplify your life?

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop. Thanks.

How to Hand Wash Garments the Easy Way

I loathe washing garments by hand. For this reason, the clothing in my wardrobe falls into three categories: machine washable, things that officially aren't machine washable but I put in the wash anyway, and sports bras.

Oh sports bras! I only own two. I could buy more, but I don't enjoy undergarment shopping so that leaves me with three other choices:

• Go braless some days. (Hello itchy nipples!)
• Wear the same skanky bra. (Ew!)
• Don't exercise more than twice between laundry sessions.  (I'm studying health & wellness so I know that's not the best idea.)

Okay, I guess there's a fourth option: Wash my sports bra by hand. My inner child wants to throw a temper tamtrum at the very thought of it. At least she used to. That was before I cracked the lazy girl code for hand washing. Wanna know my secret?

Hand wash delicate garments in the shower.
(Click here to tweet this "secret"!)

Seriously. I don't know about you but I love a long shower after I exercise. When I hand wash my sports bra in the shower the reward is built into the chore. So fun! Plus, I was gonna take a shower anyway and it takes two minutes extra at most.

I just rinse the sports bra under water. Then I squeeze liquid soap onto it. I use my tea tree face soap, which is nice because it's got antibacterial (and therefor funk fighting) properties. I rub the soap into it a little. Rinse. Squeeze out the water. And finally hang it from the shower head to dry. (If you're washing something super delicate that can't be squeezed just roll it in your bath towel and squeeze that to remove excess water before hanging.)

Do you love or loathe hand washing? Would you wash your clothes in the shower? 

Thanks so much for reading this blog entry! I hope it was helpful. Wanna keep nerding out about creative green living? Let's stay connected: Newsletter // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest // Bloglovin' // YouTube

Consider supporting this blog by shopping via my Amazon shop. Thanks.