If you missed it last week, I’ve recently become obsessed with microfiber cleaning. I still love all of my homemade cleaning products and still use them, but not nearly as much since I’ve found microfiber.

I love that one cloth can literally clean my entire kitchen from ceiling to floor without any chemicals. I found that microfiber cloths clean better than any other cleaning method I’d used before and since no cleaning products are needed, cleaning is much faster. Since I started using microfiber, these are the biggest changes I’ve noticed:

• Every night, my kitchen is completely spotless and it takes less than 10 minutes to do it (dishes aside…). I clean the cabinets, counters, stainless steel appliances, and even mop the floor in that time!
• While the kids are in the bathtub each night, I clean the bathroom in about 5 minutes with the microfiber cloth I have hanging on the inside of the bathroom cabinet. Once or twice a week I still clean the toilet bowl with a regular toilet brush and some vinegar and baking soda, but the mirror, counters, shower walls, tub and floor stay clean each day.
• Our entire house has hardwood floors and the wet and dry mop combination make sweeping and mopping much faster. The mop is pretty wide, so I can use the dry attachment to quickly sweep and the wet one to quickly mop. Since not much water is needed, it dries in a couple of minutes and no chemicals are needed.
• I don’t feel like the house is clean unless the windows are clean, and our backdoor is glass. The Envirocloth and the polishing cloth clean the windows, so even though I have to do this daily to keep the dog nose art and kids handprints off, it doesn’t take any time and I don’t need vinegar anymore. So far, I’ve gotten crayon, coconut oil, apple sauce, mashed banana, hairspray, butter and mud off the windows with this combination!
• Make-up removal is much faster with the body cloth, which even removes my waterproof eye makeup without a problem.
• My kids love dusting now because the dusting mitt is so fun.
• Since the cloths are different colors, I’ve designated one per room, so we won’t be using one that has been used in the bathroom in the kitchen or vice versa. This also makes it really easy to spot clean the entire house.

Why Norwex?

I looked at several brands before choosing Norwex, and chose this brand for several reasons:

1. They were the highest quality microfiber I’d seen and once I tried it myself, I was really impressed with how well they cleaned.
2. They have a 2-year warranty! So even though I use them really hard, they’ll replace them if they stop working before that time.
3. The natural antibac properties of the silver woven into the fibers put my mind at ease about using the same cloth over and over.
4. Did I mention they clean really well?

I didn’t even realize just how well they cleaned until the first time I washed them. I’d been carefully rinsing them out and drying them after each use but after about 4 days, decided I needed to wash them all. I ran a mini-load of just 6 microfiber cloths that I had already rinsed out in the sink. This is what happened:

First of all…. EWWW that there was that much dirt in my house, but I was in shock that the microfiber had pulled out that much dirt, even after I’d rinsed it out (and only in a few days!)

I’m also convinced that I’ll save a lot of money with microfiber since I won’t even need to use natural cleaning products as much. The one downside to trying microfiber is that they are slightly more expensive up front. Norwex cloths are more expensive than the bulk pack you can get at Sam’s Club, but I’ve found that the difference is well worth it.

Even though I know they are worth every penny, I wanted to make it easier for you guys to get to try microfiber if you haven’t already.

With the Mop Set, the Household Package and the Kitchen Collection, I can literally clean my whole house from top to bottom! There’s actually a special this month on the Essentials set that would give you enough microfiber to clean the house (except the mop) for a great price.

If you’re not interested in trying microfiber but still want to clean your house as naturally (and inexpensively) as possible, here are some of my favorite recipes for natural cleaners:

Make Your Own Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent-Video Tutorial
Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet [Printable]
Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent
Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
Natural Oven Cleaning
Natural Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
Easy Homemade Scouring Powder Recipe

Happy Cleaning!

Disclaimer: I am a Norwex independent distributor and do earn a small commission on any Norwex products you buy through my link. I was not paid to write this post and all views are completely my own. If you do decide to purchase any Norwex products, thank you for supporting my blog Warmly, Katie

So far, we’ve tackled cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms with all natural methods and without the use of chemicals. Next on the list: the bedrooms and general areas of the house. I included checklists for each room, including the kitchen and bathrooms, for easy reference.

For the most part, these areas often require as much organizing as cleaning, so I’ll be including some organizing ideas today as we go through the house and checklist. Feel free to print the checklists below, or you can print my Room Cleaning Checklist from my Home Management Binder and customize to each room (Free printables here). I keep mine in protective binder sheet (tape the top closed) and the kids can use them to clean each room.

Living Areas

1. Pick up everything on floors and move to appropriate areas.
2. Open windows for some ventilation or turn on an air filter if you have one.
3. Starting with the highest points (top of door and window frames) and moving down, dust furniture with a damp rag or microfiber cloth. Remember to dust lights and fan blades.
4. Spot clean any spots on furniture using baking soda and water or liquid castille soap and a damp rag.
5. Wash any blankets or throw pillows if needed.
6. Clean lamps with microfiber cloths or a damp rag with all-purpose cleaner. A hydrogen peroxide spray works to clean white lampshades.
7. Wash windows and windowsills with microfiber or 50/50 Vinegar/Water solution.
8. Remove blinds and wash in bathtub with vinegar and water or use some old rags and straight white vinegar.
9. Wipe down electronics and electronic screens with microfiber or rags with just plain water.
10. Use a damp rag or microfiber cloth to wipe down walls and switch plates.
11. Wipe down door s and door handles (use hydrogen peroxide if anyone has been sick)
12. Mop floors with microfiber or with a cup of vinegar in a gallon of water and a wet mop.

Bedrooms

1. Pick up everything on floors and move to appropriate areas.
2. Open windows for some ventilation or turn on an air filter if you have one.
3. Starting with the highest points (top of door and window frames) and moving down, dust furniture with a damp rag or microfiber cloth. Remember to dust lights and fan blades.
4. Spot clean any spots on furniture using baking soda and water or liquid castille soap and a damp rag.
5. Wash any blankets or throw pillows if needed.
6. Remove clothes from drawers, wipe down drawers and return clothes.
7. Clean lamps with microfiber cloths or a damp rag with all-purpose cleaner. A hydrogen peroxide spray works to clean white lampshades.
8. Wash windows and windowsills with microfiber or 50/50 Vinegar/Water solution.
9. Remove blinds and wash in bathtub with vinegar and water or use some old rags and straight white vinegar.
10. Wash sheets.
11. Hand pillows and mattress pads in the sun for 2-3 hours to remove bacteria and air out.
12. Dust, sweep or mop under bed.
13. Use a damp rag or microfiber cloth to wipe down walls and switch plates.
14. Wipe down door s and door handles (use hydrogen peroxide if anyone has been sick)

Bathrooms

1. Open windows for some ventilation or turn on an air filter if you have one.
2. Starting with the highest points (top of door and window frames) and moving down, dust furniture with a damp rag or microfiber cloth.
3. Take everything out of cabinets and closets and re-organize and refold. Wipe down shelves and inside with damp rag and all-purpose cleaner.
4. Scrub down and clean shower and tub. Vinegar and water works well and homemade scouring powder will work on tough scum and messes.
5. Clean outside of toilet with hydrogen peroxide and inside with vinegar and baking soda and a brush.
6. Shine mirror and windows with microfiber or with vinegar water (50/50) mix and a clean rag.
7. Wipe down counters and sink with all-purpose cleaner or microfiber.
8. Clean floor and grout (use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for stained grout).

Other bathroom cleaning tips and specific recipes here.

Kitchen

1. Open windows for some ventilation or turn on an air filter if you have one.
2. Starting with the highest points (top of door and window frames) and moving down, dust furniture with a damp rag or microfiber cloth. Don’t forget lighting fixtures and fans.
3. Take everything out of cabinets and closets and re-organize and refold. Wipe down shelves and inside with damp rag and all-purpose cleaner.
4. Wash cabinet doors and knobs with microfiber or all-purpose cleaner.
5. Wipe down appliances.
6. Clean inside of oven with baking soda and water paste (more info here)
7. Remove food from fridge and freezer and clean inside with a 50/50 vinegar and water solution or microfiber. Return food to proper places.
8. Pull out fridge and stove and clean underneath them with a vinegar and water solution.
9. Dust refrigerator coils and clean out grate at front of refrigerator.
10. Remove everything from counter tops and wipe down counters and backsplash. Wipe down each appliance and counter item before returning it.
11. Clean dishwasher by running it empty with a bowl of vinegar (more info here)
12. Clean sink and fixture with microfiber or undiluted vinegar on a wet rag.
13. Sweep and mop flour and clean grout if needed.

More specific kitchen instructions and cleaning recipes are here.

Laundry Room/Area

1. Open windows for some ventilation or turn on an air filter if you have one.
2. Starting with the highest points (top of door and window frames) and moving down, dust furniture with a damp rag or microfiber cloth. Don’t forget lighting fixtures and fans.
3. Take everything out of cabinets and shelves and re-organize and refold. Wipe down shelves and inside with damp rag and all-purpose cleaner.
4. Wash cabinet doors and knobs with microfiber or all-purpose cleaner.
5. Wipe down washer and dryer with wet rag and all-purpose cleaner.
6. Wash inside of washing machine, removing the inner part and washing in the sink if you don’t have an HE washer.
7. Remove dryer lint trap and wash with dishwashing liquid to remove film.
8. Wipe down all walls, baseboards and other flat surfaces to remove dust.
9. Sweep and mop flour and clean grout if needed.

What did I miss? Do you have a cleaning checklist? 

If you are like me and have boys, it is probably also one of your least favorite places to clean. Luckily, a checklist and some natural cleaners can make quick work of cleaning the bathroom.

Mirrors

Just like windows, mirrors can be cleaned with a 50/50 Vinegar and Water mix in a spray bottle and wiped with old rags from cut-up t-shirts or newspaper (paper towels leave a lot of residue with this method).

The easiest way, if you have them, is to use microfiber cloths (1 regular one wet, and one polishing one dry or just one regular wet one and one regular dry) to clean without the need for chemicals at all.

Counters, Tile, Shower, Tub

If you have it, you can use microfiber for all of these. I’ve even found it to be effective on soap scum in the shower.

If not, there are other natural options that work great too:

• A 50/50 Vinegar/water solution will clean tile, counters, cabinet fronts and soap scum in the shower
• A baking soda and water paste will clean stuck on gunk in the shower and tub (use vinegar instead of water for really tough stains).
• For grout, I sprinkle baking soda on the floor and spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a gentle toothbrush
• For stained tubs and really, really tough messes, this homemade scouring powder works great, though it isn’t needed for regular cleaning
• For wall tile, painted door frames, spots on the doors, outside of toilet, etc, my homemade all purpose cleaner will clean and disinfect

Toilets

About once  a week, I sprinkle some baking soda around the inside of the toilet to coat, then dump a cup of undiluted white vinegar into the water. I use a reusable toilet brush to scrub and the chemical reaction of the baking soda and vinegar removes stains and any lingering smell. This also works externally (I use on the bottom of the toilet and the floor) to remove that “boy” smell from bathrooms.

I’ve also found that the urine smell that can linger (especially with potty-training boys) is often hiding in the hinges of the toilet seat and under the bolt caps on the side of the toilet. At our house, these get removed every 2 weeks or so and thoroughly cleaned.

I finish up toilet cleaning with a spray and wipe down with undiluted hydrogen peroxide.

Air Freshening

Products like Febreeze and Lysol spray have a host of chemicals that can be really harmful, especially to children. To freshen the bathroom without the toxins, try these natural ideas:

• These two spray recipes from Keeper of the Home make easy and natural air freshening sprays
• Here is another recipe for an air freshener in a jar that you can use anywhere in the house that need freshening

Dyno-mom also has a great checklist that she uses with her kids and shares her schedule for making sure the bathroom stays clean.

How do you clean your bathroom? What is your least favorite room to clean? Let me know in the comments below!

I’ve recently had the opportunity to try using microfiber and now I’m kicking myself for not trying it sooner! (Click here if you’d like to try it too!)

A reader, Erin, sent me some great info and a few Norwex products to try out. I certainly had my doubts that a single cloth could clean everything, especially without water, and I was pleasantly surprised. I also did not know that there are microfiber washcloths, towels and make-up remover cloths, and I was excited to try those.

Erin gave a great explanation yesterday of how the actual microfibers work, and I’ve given them a tough trial at my house and they’ve lived up to their claims.

Envirocloth Antibac Microfiber Cloth

This is probably the most versatile of the cloths I tried and I literally cleaned my entire kitchen with it. I started with the cabinets and cleaned the cabinet doors. This cloth took the grease, stuck on food, and fingerprints off the cabinets (don’t you just want to eat at my house now?).

Then, I used it on my granite countertops, and they left them smooth and shiny. I actually thought they had little streaks at first, and then realized that they were the natural grooves in the stone that had been filled in with gunk until then (again, ewww).

I used the Envirocloth to polish the faucet, and used it with the polishing cloth to clean our patio door windows (not so much a fan  of our dogs’ nose art).

Since I don’t have the mop system, I used the same cloth on the floor and it got off all of our spots including: applesauce, homemade playdough, veggie smoothie, coconut oil, egg, mashed banana, and spaghetti sauce (In my defense, I had purposefully let stuck on stuff stay for a couple of days to see how the microfiber did… normally those things are not stuck on my floor!)

It left the kitchen floor clean and the hardwood floors footprint free.

The Envirocloth also did great cleaning the inside of the fridge.

Scrub Antibac Cloth

This one had a rougher texture, and wouldn’t be as good for polishing or smooth surfaces, but it worked wonders on two things I’d previously given up on: the baked on spots on my oven door and the stains on our tub that were there before we moved in. I was shocked that these actually got clean and I wish I’d taken before pictures to show you the difference!

Polishing Antibac Cloth

All of my appliances and fixtures in our kitchen are stainless steel, and it is one of the tougher things to clean naturally. The polishing cloth worked great on the windows and it did wonders for all the stainless. I just wiped them down with the regular cloth and then dried them with the polishing cloth.

I also used the polishing cloth with one side damp and one side dry to clean all the mirrors in the house and it left them streak free.

Dust Mit

For some reason, our house always ends up with a lot of dust. I also don’t like dusting (perhaps this has something to do with it…) as it always seems like just spreading the dust around. I liked dusting with the microfiber mit because it actually picked up the dust.

What surprised me was that even a dry mit on a smooth surface seemed like it was sticking a little as I wiped it across the surface, and I realized that this was because the microfibers have such thin fibers and were probably collecting on all of the dust and previous cleaning products that had been used.

The other thing I loved about this one is that the kids enjoyed dusting with it and it was a great job to assign them since there weren’t any chemicals involved and they could take turns running around the house seeing who could find more flat surfaces to dust.

Microfiber Body Cloths

I must admit, when I first talked to Erin about trying microfiber, I wasn’t as interested in the body cloths because I figured they would just be glorified wash cloths. She mentioned that she used them for her kids cloth napkins and now I can see the brilliance of this.

I kept slightly damp microfiber cloths on the table at meal times and it makes it much faster to wipe down the kids, the table, the highchairs, boosters, etc after meals.

For me, I tried a 4-day experiment with just the microfiber and no soap, and they work extremely well (even on garden dirt and sweat… not that I would know on either of those . They worked great and I can definitely see the advantage of these, especially for my chemically sensitive clients who have trouble with almost all kinds of soaps.

My favorite though was the smoother body cloth which I used to remove make-up. I usually use olive oil to remove my mascara, but if I”m tired I just leave it on and touch up in the morning (I know, I know… bad for the skin!). I also then wake up with major raccoon eyes and circles from the mascara. The microfiber removed all of my make-up, including the mascara and then just washed clean. It was less messy than my olive oil solution and much faster (plus, it didn’t waste a cotton ball!).

I also got to try the polishing paste, which worked great for polishing smooth surfaces, and the Norwex detergent, which I used to wash the microfiber. I also tried the odor eliminating spray. They were all free of harmful chemicals and the odor spray was especially great for the kids shoes, which often get muddy or wet and carry home the residual odor. Since it targets protein-based odors, I would guess that it is also good for when a person accidentally leaves clothes in the  washing machine overnight and they get that musty-almost-mildewed smell (Please tell me I am not the only one who has ever done that?)

Over-all I was extremely impressed with all of the Norwex products, and I’m definitely a microfiber convert! I also love that Norwex uses silver for the antibacterial properties. We’ve successfully treated quite a few illnesses with colloidal silver, and it is such a great idea to include the same benefits in cleaning! (not to mention that silver will eliminate bacteria that even bleach won’t kill).

I also think that microfiber will greatly reduce the amount of time I spend cleaning, which is a huge plus. With an obsessively neat husband who doesn’t even handle small messes well, and four little ones who seem to be gifted at making messes, I think the microfiber will save us all some stress! (And, there is a kid-sized mop, which would be really fun for my kids, and would help them clean in the process…)

If you’d like to try Norwex microfiber, please check out this website for more info.

[Note from Katie: As we kick of Spring Cleaning Week to clean and organize our houses in a week, please welcome long-time reader Erin, who introduced me to microfiber (which I love!) and who agreed to guest post and talk about her experience with microfiber. ]

This evening, as I was cleaning my kitchen and pondering what to write in this post, my 3-year-old son Jack, was kind enough to remind me of one of the many reasons I love cleaning with microfiber.

I opened the door leading to the basement stairway and was met with a startled, “I’m-too-cute-to-scold” grin and the rushed declaration, “Oh, sorry Mom!” Hmmm. Jack was sitting on the stairs, and the instrument he had used to draw all over the wall was laying several steps down – an indication that it had been tossed in a panic as the door opened.

Historically speaking, my reaction to this kind of event has been poor. In the spirit of honesty, I can tell you permanent imperfections mess with me. There was a time when the artistic expression of my child’s creativity appearing on one of my cream colored walls would have altered both my pulse and my demeanor. You see, in my home I am known as something of a fanatic about the condition of the walls.

My husband can tell you about my aversion to nailing things into walls for fear of leaving unsightly holes if a picture is not properly placed requires relocation. My two daughters have been sent on many a scuff-busting mission, the duration of which well exceeded their young attention spans. I have also spent an embarrassing amount of time and energy taking care of imperfections that I could do nothing about. Can you relate?

But that was the old me. Happily, adding children and years to my tenure as a mom have lightened me up quite a bit. With my first baby I may have panicked at pen on the wall, but I’m much more relaxed now. I’m better connected to the reality all things degrade, and my family and I will all be happier if I can just accept the wear and tear of life. Walls don’t really matter. That’s profound, I know, but it’s not all a matter of maturing.

I now also know microfiber can handle a lot of those imperfections that my dishes out! In addition to doing a super job at regular cleaning tasks, these cloths deal with many messes which previously would have upset my peace. Microfiber has helped me to tackle things like marks on the wall, stains on the upholstery, and seemingly ruined carpet.

So, today when I opened the door to the basement stairs, I was armed with a perspective change and microfiber. I instructed my little man about not drawing on the walls (which, I’m pretty sure he was already clear on), went to the kitchen, fetched my cloth, and in about 1 minute flat I removed Jack’s 1ft x 2 ft mural from the wall. I’m so glad I can encounter a mess, crack a smile, snap a picture, and then effortlessly wipe it all away with a cloth!

What Is Microfiber?

Generally speaking, the microfiber used in cleaning cloths is made from a combination of two synthetic polymers–polyester and polyamide (which is nylon). In the highest quality microfiber cloths, these fibers are approximately 1/100 of a human hair in diameter. This makes the fibers barely visible to the naked eye. The fibers are bundled together and spun into thread which is then woven into cloth.

When examined under magnification, an individual microfiber has a split or spoke-like appearance. The area between the spokes creates a larger surface on the fiber itself.  When the individual fibers are joined together into thread, and then woven into cloth, the result is a product that has an amazing ability to pick up and trap dirt coupled with superior absorbency and scrubbing power.

In comparison, a traditional fiber, such as a cotton fiber, is larger and smooth. Cloths made from these fibers require a cleaning agent (detergents, soaps and other chemical cleaners) to dissolve the dirt, which is then absorbed into the cloth in order to be removed from the surface. If dirt isn’t easily dissolved, it isn’t easily picked up and can be left behind. While the split fibers of the microfiber cloths are able to pick up and hold dirt, traditional fibers tend to push dirt and moisture around a surface. So essentially, if you want a cleaner surface, choose microfiber!

Why Choose Microfiber?

The use of microfiber in cleaning is growing in popularity. Microfibers are completely changing the way people clean their homes, wash their cars, mop their floors, and even cleanse their bodies. Microfiber enables people to eliminate many of the household cleaners they would typically use. Whether a person has been using commercially produced cleaning products or making their own at home, many are making the switch to a cleaning method which uses only water and a these reusable cloths. In an effort to reduce chemical exposure, eliminate waste, save time and money, and simplify their lives, microfiber is becoming an obvious choice for many.

So what does this mean for you?

It means microfiber can make you into a lean, mean, green cleaning machine! Armed with only water and a microfiber cloth, you are going to have a greater impact than when you employed conventional cleaning methods. We all know why that’s good; cleaning with water is going keep nasty chemicals out of your home and out of our air and water systems.

In time, this reduction in chemical use and waste will translate into an improved quality of life for you, your family, your community and our world. Beyond this, cleaning only with water means no dirt or chemical residue will be left behind on your surfaces, which actually means you’re achieving a “cleaner” clean. Cleaning with microfiber can also save you money as you eliminate, or drastically reduce, the number of cleaning products you buy or make. The cloths I use in my home have been tested for up to 500 washes and carry a 2 year warranty.

Surprisingly, many people have found these cloths last well past both their laundering life expectancy and warranty period. The thought of investing once, reducing the products I use for cleaning from many to few, and reusing my cloths has been quite appealing to my minimalist sensibilities. Just as you simplify and save your product usage, you are going to save in time and effort. Your microfiber cleaning products become a housekeeping ally. Less effort impacts the amount of time spent on household tasks.

Using microfibers to clean has easily reduced my cleaning time by 50%. Normal cleaning surfaces like bathrooms, walls, kitchen counters and floors are much easier to maintain and more thoroughly cleaned when using a microfiber. As an added bonus, special cleaning projects and domestic nemeses have lost their sting. Window washing, polishing the stainless steel appliances and keeping the glass top cooking range clean are tasks I have struggled with in the past, but now no longer dread. Making cleaning truly easy and actually fun is a tall order.

Don’t get me wrong, it is still work, but I’ve found microfiber has removed some of the “labor” from the more laborious job. With three kids, a home business and the joy of homeschooling, I still struggle to find the time to clean. But now, when I do find a chunk of cleaning time, I can get a whole lot more accomplished!

Where to Use Microfiber Cloths

For the record, my thoughts and opinions on microfiber are based mainly on my experience with two different brands of cloths. I started with the jumbo pack of microfiber cloths from Costco and later graduated to Norwex Enviro Cloths. In terms of quality, these cloths are on different ends of the spectrum. While the cloths from Costco were a drastic improvement over the traditional cloths I had been using, the Norwex Enviro cloths have far out performed those I purchased at Costco.

The following thoughts and examples of microfiber usage are based mostly on my experiences with Norwex. (You should know I was so impressed by Norwex that I became an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant. So of course I’m biased.) As with any category of product, performance varies from company to company and experimentation is required to determine how well different cloths can handle specific tasks.

I’d like to offer a few of my favorite microfiber uses in order to get you thinking about ways in which you might incorporate microfiber into your own home and cleaning routine.

• In The  Kitchen: This is where I use my microfiber the most. I use it for cleaning counter tops, cabinets, floors, stovetops and stainless steel appliances. The tiny microfibers do an awesome job clearing away dirt and food residues as well as tackling greasy films and messes.
• In the Bathroom: You can use a microfiber in the bathroom to easily remove dirt and residues from all surfaces. I especially like it on my shower walls!
• On Surfaces with a Shine: Windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures, granite and other shiny surfaces clean and shine easily with a cleaning cloth and specially designed polishing cloth. You’ll be thrilled by how easy it is to get a streak free shine! I’m not sure how readily available microfiber polishing cloths are, but I use the Norwex Window Cloth.
• For Dusting:  Using microfiber to dust is wonderful! The cloth picks up and traps the dust rather than sending it airborne.  Because you’re not using a traditional product when you dust, there is no chemical residue left behind to attract more dust. You will find you have to dust less often!
• On Your Floors: Whether you’re the kind of person who cleans floors on their hands and knees or with a mop, microfiber is going to thrill you. The first time I stood up and walked barefooted on my tile floor after washing it with a microfiber cloth, I was amazed. I couldn’t see the difference but I could feel it as I walked over the floor. I had no idea my old product was leaving such a significant residue. If you prefer to use a mop to clean your floors, you will find some companies make specially designed microfiber mop heads which you can dampen and use to wash your floors. The same microfiber principles apply.
• On Your Body: In our home we don’t use soap when we bathe. Instead, we use a microfiber body cloth to cleanse our bodies. I wash my face and remove my makeup with a microfiber facial cloth. I love it! I’ve never felt so clean! It can take a little pep talk to convince people to ditch the soap, but once they do, they rarely go back!
• For Stain Removal: In the same way  microfiber works to pick up dirt from the surfaces in your home, like counter tops and bath tubs, it is also very effective in less obvious areas. Microfiber is wonderful for stain removal. Using only water, I have successfully cleaned upholstery, gotten long standing stains out of carpeting, removed marks and drawings from the walls, countertops and furniture, and removed stains from clothing. I keep a small cloth in my purse for use when I’m out and spill something on myself. We’ve seen microfiber remove blood, wine, green smoothie, waterproof ink, coffee, permanent marker, fingernail polish, grease, rust, vomit, ketchup, and many others.

Bear in mind, when using microfiber cloths the general rule of thumb is to use wet for cleaning and dry for dusting. When using wet, wring out as much water as possible before cleaning. This increases absorbency as well as the fiber’s ability to pick up dirt and residue.

If you are not already using microfibers, you may now be considering adding a few cloths to your home. As you shop for microfiber, bear in mind microfiber cloths are not created  equal. Factors such as manufacturing, fiber quality and diameter, in addition to weave and desgin, can impact the quality of the cloth and thus it’s ability to perform.

Some cloths on the market today take advantage of the natural antibacterial properties of silver to give the cloth the ability to self purify. In these cases you will want to evaluate whether micro or nano silver is being used and whether the silver is added as a coating on the cloth or is embedded in the cloth. All of these factors matter, so do your research. Talk with friends and make sure you’re investing in quality microfiber products that will do a great job and last a long time.

If you have additional questions or would like to learn more about Norwex specifically, please visit my website, join my mailing list, like my Facebook page or send me an e-mail. I love to talk about microfiber and other ways to clean your home naturally!

[Note: My printable organization/planning checklists are at the bottom of the post..]

I was hesitant to use the word “organization” in the title because this is one of my weakest areas. I get emails from readers asking how I make time for family, homeschooling, cloth diapering, projects and blogging, so I wanted to share the tips and tricks I’ve found.

I am by no means an organizing/cleaning guru… and my husband would be the first to attest that I have room for improvement in this area. Currently, there are toys on my floor and dishes in my sink, but my kids are playing happily and dinner is in the oven.

During an average week, I do 5-8 loads of laundry, cook three meals from scratch each day, attempt to keep the house clean, homeschool the kids, nurse the baby 8-10 times a day and try to keep up with this blog. (and try to go to bed before 10pm.. yeah right)

Besides the obvious fact that I’m probably crazy, I’ve found that I have to focus on organization and routine to be able to keep up with it all and that I also have to accept less than perfection (*ahem* my house right now) in different areas while focusing on the more important ones.

What Started It All…

When I only had one child, I was able to keep our 1 bedroom apartment clean and cook a hot dinner before my husband got home and even managed to brush my hair and do make-up most days.

Once one child turned into two, then three, then four, it seemed like there was such a volume of work to do that I couldn’t make time to do it all.

I felt like I was constantly mentally overwhelmed with the idea of everything that needed to be done.

A friend suggested that I read a book that had helped her, A Mother’s Rule of Life, and it literally changed how I ran the household and reduced my stress load almost instantly. (Note: It is written from a Catholic perspective but is universally helpful to all moms!)

The basic idea was just that you have a routine and plan for when every job needed to get done and how it would be done. This relieved the mental energy of worrying about when you would vacuum the floor or change the air filter.

Also, rather than scheduling everyone in the family to always be doing the same activities (which I was doing) it had scheduled activities for each child (school, play, chores, etc) so the children could get used to doing these things and knowing when they needed to do things. It eliminated the “I’m bored” because they knew when I would play with them, when school would happen, when they were responsible for picking up and cleaning, etc.

What I do…

I created a rough daily outline of our day, so at any given time, I know what we should be focused on. Since my responsibilities change so much day to day, I outlined the activities I had to get done each day and scheduled time for the things that would come up each day (online orders, vet visits, playdates, etc).

I also assigned major “chores” to each day of the week so that laundry was two days a week, cleaning bathrooms was one day a week, full mopping of the house was one day a week, etc. This let me not stress about the clothes in the laundry basket or the spot on the floor because I knew it would be cleaned soon.

I have scheduled times for meal planning, catching up on emails, reading to the kids and even relaxing (yes, I schedule time to relax…)

I also created checklists of all the things necessary to thoroughly clean each room and put them on paper (sweeping, dusting, picking things up, folding, etc) . This way, when I tell one of the kids to clean a room, they can reference all the things they need to do and not just pick up the floor and call it done. (I drew pictures for each item for the little kids).

We do school in the mornings after breakfast and I work and do blog related stuff during their nap/quiet time. After dinner as a family, we clean up, bathe the kids, read books, say prayers and the kids are in bed by 8.

After the kids are in bed, I finish up work stuff and spend time with my husband.

For everything that is on the schedule, we aren’t at the age of sports and extracurriculars yet, which helps open up the schedule, and while we have a TV, we can’t even get cable in our area, so we don’t watch it.

I’m a long way from perfect at managing it all, but I’ve found that the system at least helps me keep up with it without being stressed all the time.

My “Football”

To keep all the schedule, planning, meal plans, etc organized, I have a 2-inch binder that is my “football.” Just like the President supposedly has a case with all the top security information (the football) with him at all times, this binder has all of my important information and is basically my home management encyclopedia.

In it, I have:

• My daily outline of the rough times that I’ve scheduled for everything to happen that day. This is in a plastic sheet as it is pretty static.
• My daily “Most important tasks” of my top three things that must get done that day, what I’m cooking for dinner, what my workout is, how much water I’ve drank etc. This changes daily.
• Weekly Routine: The jobs that I do each day and when they are doing during the day. Laundry, mopping, deep cleaning rooms, cleaning windows, etc.
• Monthly Jobs: This lists has jobs that happen each month repeatedly, along with jobs that only happen during a certain month (changing of the kids wardrobes, planning the garden, outdoor work, etc)
• Meal Plan: Changes weekly but is planned ahead of time so I can shop for the week all at once and pre-prepare some items.
• Room Cleaning Checklists for each room in the house
• Daily Chores Sheet for each person in the house so that when it says “Morning Chores” on my daily outline, everyone knows what he/she should  be doing.

I highly recommend the book as she walks you through the planning and organization much better than I have. If i would be helpful to you, I’ve attached my printables that I use for organization. Included are: Daily Outline Sheet, Daily Chores Sheet, Weekly Routine Sheet, Monthly Routine Sheet, Meal Plan Sheet, and Room Cleaning Sheet, along with my daily “To-Do list” Sheet.

Click Here to Download the Organization/Planning Printables

If these are helpful to you, please share via facebook, twitter or pinterest so that others can use them too!

How do you do it all? What are your best planning and organization tips and tricks? Please share, I need all the help I can get!

Of all the stain removers out there, Oxy Clean is the most natural option that I”ve found… but it is also one of the most expensive options.

Thanks to Pinterest (go check it out if you haven’t… unless you value your free time!), I found a recipe for homemade Oxy Clean and from my scientific testing (aka: my kids stains for two weeks) it seems to be as effective as the store bought stuff.

It’s also really easy and cheap to make!

Homemade OxyClean Ingredients

• 2 parts water
• 1 part hydrogen peroxide
• 1 part washing soda

I use 2 cups water, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 part baking soda. This is a liquid recipe and also reminds me somewhat of Shout spray.

How To Make:

1. Combine all ingredients and put in an opaque dark bottle. I just stuck a sprayer from the dollar store on top of the hydrogen peroxide bottle.
2. Use as a pre-treat spray on stains or add 1/4 of the mixture above (about 1 cup total) to a load of laundry, add water and let soak for 30 minutes before washing.

Also, check out this recipe for homemade laundry detergent.

What’s the weirdest stain you’ve ever had to get out? Ever made your own laundry supplies before? 

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Oil Cleansing

Use olive, coconut or almond oil with Castor oil to clean your skin instead of a harsh soap. This will cleanse your skin naturally and keep from pulling out natural oils. My personal blend is 25% Castor Oil (don’t use straight!) and 75% sweet almond oil.

How to do it: Rub a small amount of oil onto dry face and massage into skin for several minutes. To remove, Soak a clean washcloth in steamy water and place on face until it starts to cool. Gently use the washcloth to wipe your face until the oil is gone. Softest. Skin. Ever! Here’s a website with much more detailed info if you are interested

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Natural Bronzing

Until I switched to eating healthy, I never tanned well at all! I used to try all kinds of natural “bronzers” and self tanning lotions (cringe on the ingredients!) in hopes of golden skin. Now, I’m excited to be able to tan easily, but for days when I want a slightly more bronze look, I head to the kitchen…

How to Do It: Mix cocoa powder, cinnamon and arrowroot (optional) until you get a shade you like. For me, this was at least half cocoa powder, about 30-40% cinnamon and a little arrowroot, but experiment to get your skin tone. Store in a small jar or container and brush onto skin for an instant bronze look. Bonus: it smells good! You can also mix this into lotion for a liquid version!

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Food Facial Mask

No need to drop a lot of money at the spa for great skin, just rub breakfast on your face instead! Many foods are also beneficial for your skin too!

How to Do It: Use honey, plain yogurt or whipped egg whites by themselves or in combination for a great toning facial mask that leaves skin glowing.

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Naturally White Teeth

Use strawberries (I know they are red!) and baking soda as a highly effective and natural teeth whitener. Oil pulling (swishing oil in the mouth and then spitting) is also an effective way to whiten teeth.

How to Do It:Make a paste of equal parts mashed or pureed strawberries and baking soda. Put in mouthguard or tooth tray and leave on teeth for up to 30 minutes. Repeat a couple times a week until your teeth are as white as you want. To speed things up, swish with 1 TBSP of olive oil each night for 20 minutes and then spit and brush well. This supposedly helps remove toxins too, but I can certainly vouch for its whitening capabilities!

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Natural Hair Conditioner

For an occasional hair strengthening treat, mix up some other breakfast foods into a natural hair mask. This certainly isn’t one for everyday use, but it makes hair shiny and smooth and even works on really curly hair (according to a lucky friend with lovely curls!)

How to Do It: Mix one banana and one avocado and puree until smooth (great way to use over ripe bananas and avocados!). Add essential oils if Banana isn’t your fragrance of choice. Comb through clean, damp hair and put a shower cap on. Leave on for at least 15 minutes and rinse out in the shower. Go sign up to audition for a hair commercial!

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Sugar Scrub

Sugar is not good for your body. It is, however, great for your skin! Since your skin doesn’t metabolize and store glucose or fructose like your fat cells do, sugar is a great way to tighten and smooth skin! Sugar scrubs in stores are expensive! Sugar scrubs in the kitchen are not!

How to do it: Mix equal parts of white or brown sugar and olive or almond oil and add essential oils of choice (optional). To exfoliate skin, rub the mixture onto skin and massage in for a couple of minutes. Rinse off with warm water. Enjoy!

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Natural Microdermabrasion

Ever seen those ads for microdermabrasion (not even sure I’m spelling it right!). Well, they look expensive and I’m leery of the chemicals they might contain. No worries though… the kitchen can help! Baking soda is a very effective natural and gentle abrasive that pulls off dead skin cells and makes skin glow!

How to Do It: Wet face with warm water. Pour some baking soda into hands and massage into your face for at least 3 minutes. It will sting a little (its called abrasion!). Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Those are all strange kitchen ingredients I’ve put on my face, hair or skin. What are your beauty tricks and tips? What is the strangest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

Shared at Conversion Diary and Fight Back Friday

Along the way, I’ve discovered a few resources and tricks for stretching a budget while eating healthy foods, so I’ve compiled them in hopes that they can help you too!

Tip #1: Most Important Factor In Eating Healthy Without Breaking the Bank- Meal Planning!

This alone has made the biggest difference in reducing our food budget and staying on track eating healthy foods. Meal planning allows me to make some foods ahead and have them available for lunches or to re purpose for dinners.

Since meal planning, I am also able to only go to the store once a week or less and can often prepare most of the food for the week in one day, which cuts down my overall food prep time.

Here are four of my weeks of meal planning with the recipes and shopping lists:

Week of Meal Plans with Recipes and Shopping List
Week Two of Meal Plans with Recipes and Shopping List
Week Three of Meal Plans with Recipes and Shopping List
Week Four of Meal Plans with Recipes and Shopping List

The system I use for meal planning and rotating meals is simple to adapt to your own favorite foods and dishes. The meal plans above let us eat a different meal each night of the month and then repeat. I also have more seasonal plans for Summer and Fall.

To make your own healthy meal plan system:

1. Write down 14-28 recipes that your family likes that are healthy. If your budget is tight, pick recipes that are also inexpensive to make.
2. On the front of a 3×5 index card, write the meal and the recipe.
3. On the back of the index card, write how much of each ingredient is needed for this recipe for your family size. (I usually plan for leftovers for lunches)
4. To meal plan: once a week or once a month, pick out the number of meals you need and put them in order for the week. Turn them over, add up the total of the ingredients, and you have a shopping list. (just cross off any ingredients you have already)
5. Stick the cards on the fridge or bulletin board and put them away in your recipe box as you use them.

This system can help you stick to a list, and helps ensure that you always have foods prepared or ready to prepare, which limits impulsive purchasing and eating! On nights we are busy or in a rush, stir frys are my go-to dinner. Just throw some leftover meat and a few bags of frozen veggies in a skillet or wok with some butter, and viola- dinner in minutes!

Tip # 2- Prepare in Bulk

I’ve found this especially helpful with regards to meat. When our budget is tightest, I prepare a large, inexpensive cut of meat and reuse it different ways throughout the week. I always keep an eye out for items like Turkey, Ham, Brisket, etc to go on sale for these occasions.

A couple weeks ago, for instance, I found whole turkey’s on sale for 39 cents a pound, which worked out to between $5 and $6 per turkey… I bought seven. Now, when we have company, (or even when we don’t) I just stick a turkey in the oven and have leftovers for the whole week.

To further stretch the budget, use the bones of any meat you eat to make a healthy bone broth or stock. Here are some simple recipes for turkey or chicken stock and highly nutritious beef broth/stock. Both can be stored in the freezer or even canned (make sure you follow instructions carefully when using any kind of meat product) to stretch them even further.

Some examples of how to repurose the meats:

• For turkey: leftover meat is rolled in lettuce leaves for lunches, made into turkey enchiladas for dinners, slowcooked in Crock Pot for soups, added to omelets, put in stir frys etc. Bones used for broth/stock
• For Beef (Brisket, roast, etc)- leftover meat is seasoned for fajitas, put in omelets, made into barbecue, thrown in soups, made into omelet quesidillas, etc. Bones used for broth/stock
• For Ham- Roasted with cauliflower for “ham and potatoes” dish, used with bone for ham bone soup, put in omelets, wrapped up in lettuce or on salads for lunch, stir fry with cabbage for fast meal, etc

You can also prepare large amounts of ground beef, chicken breasts or any other meat you have around and structure your meals for the week around this.

Tip #3- Find Inexpensive Vegetables

Veggies can vary tremendously in price, depending on the time of year and the source. Focusing on veggies that are in season will help cut costs some.

In the winter, we use a lot of frozen vegetables since they are cheaper, and in my opinion, fresher than the “fresh” produce that has been shipped halfway around the world.

Vegetables like cabbage and sweet potatoes are inexpensive year round and can be great fillers and substitutes in recipes. I stock up on things like these when they are in season, usually buying several cases of sweet potatoes in the fall from farmers markets.

Cabbage costs just pennies a pound from farmers when in season, and can be made into sauerkraut for later use.

Winter squash also stores well and we buy this in bulk too.

Farmers markets, CSAs, and local farmers are great resources for buying inexpensive veggies in bulk. (more on that below)

Tip #4- Order in Bulk

Though there is more of a cost upfront, ordering in bulk can usually save money in the long run. we order non perishables like coconut flour, shredded coconut, olive oil, coconut oil, herbal teas, liquid castille soap, almond flour, etc in bulk from a co-op.

We also order cheese in bulk 10-20 lb blocks from an organic farmer who offers raw cheese. Finding these resources in your area can be tricky, but once you find and establish a relationship with farmers, it can be a tremendous help to the budget.

Even websites like Amazon.com offer products like shredded coconut at decent prices in bulk.

Tip # 5- Find a CSA, Farmer’s Market or Local Farmer

Websites like Local Harvest and Eat Well Guide can help you find a farmer, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or farmers market in your area. Websites like  EatWild.com have resources for finding a local supplier of grassfed beef or other healthy animals.

Ask around too! We get most of our meats and vegetables from Amish farmers, but they don’t have listings online. Check with local health food stores- many will know places to find these items locally.

Tip # 6- Grow Your Own Food

Even if you live in a big city, it is often possible to grow at least some of your own food. We have a 25 x 40 foot garden for vegetables, and also have fruit trees, grape vines and blueberry bushes in the works this year.

We are able to grow enough vegetables for summer and preserving throughout the year for our family of 5 in this space. We offset a lot of our food bill last year by growing our own, and it was much easier than I expected.

I haven’t tried it myself, but a lot of people recommend Square Foot Gardening to maximize space in small yards. Consider checking out a book on this if you are tight on space.

Tip # 7- Get Some Chickens and Even a Cow!

I’ll be writing about this more in the future, but having chickens can be a great way to save on healthy food while on a budget, especially if you eat as many eggs as we do. We go through a dozen eggs a day right now, and since the truly free range eggs are close to $5 a dozen at times, having our own chickens is helping cut down the food bill a lot.

This wasn’t honestly something I ever expected to do, but we reused an old shed to make a chicken coop and now have 18 chickens producing 8-12 eggs a day in our backyard. Websites like Backyard Chickens offer a lot of information about raising chickens, even in a small backyard.

For most people, it isn’t feasible, but having a cow can also really cut down on the food bill in the long run. Right now, we get our beef from cow-sharing, where we purchase part of a live cow and pick up the meat once it is processed. If keeping a cow isn’t for you, look for a farmer that offers (grass-fed) beef in your area.

Tip # 8- Preserve When Possible

Another factor that can really help cut down a food bill is the ability to preserve foods for use when they aren’t in season. Last year, I tried my hand at canning, and we are still enjoying the outcome.

This year, the goal is to can all of our tomato products for the year to cut down on BPA expsoure from canned tomatoes. I also plan to can applesauce by buying several bushels when they are in season and making our own. Last year, we also canned condiments and pickles, and will do this again.

Freezing is another way to preserve foods, and our extra deep freeze in our shed has been a tremendous help for storing our 1/4 of beef and veggies from the garden.

Dehydrating is another option, though it takes a while and can be a slow process, at least with my dehydrator. If money is tight, look for dehydrators and canners at garage sales and thrift stores to save money over buying new.

Tip # 9- Don’t Buy Drinks!

If you are trying to eat healthy, hopefully you’ve already cut out things like soda, canned drinks and processed juices from your food budget. If not, do it now! This alone is a big step in improving overall health.

If you have consumed much of these beverages in the past, go back and look at the percentage of your food bill that they take up. In general, buying beverages in any prepared form is an expensive and unhealthy option.

Even fruit juices cause a big insulin spike in the body, and are expensive without offering much nutrition. Pasteurized milk isn’t a healthy option either as it contains some levels or hormones, and the nutrients have been largely removed by the pasteurization process.

Cutting those items from the food budget will often free up a lot of cash for healthier options. If you aren’t a fan of only drinking water, ever… there are still some healthier and cheaper options for nutritious drinks.

• Water Kefir or Kombucha- These two beverages can be made at home for pennies and are great sources of nutrients and probiotics. Both are made with different types of reusable colonies of healthy bacteria and once you have these, they take only sugar and water to make again and again. I got my supplies from Cultures for Health, and have been very impressed. They also have some great videos explaining how to make both. Added Benefit: water kefir gets carbonated like soda, so it is a naturally satisfying sub for one of the most unhealthy drinks available!
• Herbal Teas- To help my kids get vitamins in, I make herbal teas and keep them in a large pitcher in the fridge. I order herbs like Red Raspberry Leaf, Alfalfa, Nettle and Stevia in bulk and make tea by the gallon. It works out to under a dollar a gallon, usually much less. I use about a cup of dried herbs per gallon of water, and steep overnight for the most available nutrients. The kids love it, and I love that they are getting vitamins. Bonus: the mixture above tastes similar to sweet tea, a vice of old!
• Homemade Coconut and Almond Milk- (coconut milk recipe coming soon!) I’ve found that making coconut and almond milk is much cheaper and healthier than buying them. It also lets me sneak in extra vitamins and good fats!

Tip # 10- Save Money in Other Areas

The biggest advantage to eating a healthy real food diet is saving money in other areas (like doctor bills!). We haven’t been to a doctor since we started eating this way all the time, and we all coasted through flu season no problem.

There are other areas of a budget where you can save money to help buffer the food bill also. Here are some of the way’s we’ve done it:

• We don’t eat out… ever. I admit, I love eating out. Not because the food is good (it usually isn’t) but because I don’t have to cook or clean for one whole meal. This is a big deal when you cook three hot meals a day and then have to do the dishes (and mop the floor as they case may be with a one year old!). That being said, eating out even once a month can use up a lot of the food budget at once. Saving the money from eating out lets me provide healthier options for me family at home, and  none of us miss eating out much. [The one exception here is that my husband and I go out on a "real date" every couple months when family offers to babysit, though this is usually just for salads!]
• Make expensive baby items at home: I’ve saved money by making my own Natural Homemade Baby Wipes and baby food. Both of these items are expensive in stores and healthier when made at home. In the future, I’m working on cloth diapering/wipes, which will save even more money.
• Make Your Own Natural Cosmetics/Beauty Products- This is another area to save money and get healthier options. Try using someNatural Homemade Substitutes for Conventional Beauty Products or making your own deodorant and toothpaste.
• Make Your Own Cleaning Products- This one is so easy and saves a lot of money. If you aren’t doing this already, you should be, and you probably already have the stuff at home. Try these recipes to make the switch easier:

Make Your Own Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent-Video Tutorial
Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent
Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
Natural Oven Cleaning
Natural Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
Easy Homemade Scouring Powder Recipe
Floor and Tile Cleaner Recipe

• Cut Back on Supplements- Unless you are taking a very specific supplement for a condition, chances are you can back off of some supplements when you start eating healthier. You can also get vitamins, minerals and probiotics much more inexpensively my making herbal teas, bone broths and kefir/kombucha. Your diet is naturally higher in these things too, so if you have to cut back on the supplements to eat a real food diet, consider doing this. Supplements are meant to “supplement” a good diet anyway, and you can’t out-supplement a bad diet. In general, it is better to have healthy food options than to pop pills.
• Exercise at Home or With Your Kids- Chances are you already have running shoes (or exercise barefoot… the trend is growing). If you are paying for a gym membership, consider using this money for real food instead. Do some sprints outside or learn how to do pushups at home. Make exercise fun without being a gym-rat by playing a game of soccer with the kids. Added bonus: you are keeping your kids active too!
• Do a Media Detox: If you’ve made the above changes and money is still tight, consider doing a media detox and cutting back on entertainment related expenses. We cut out cable a couple years ago, and don’t even miss it. We can watch most things online, and even signing up for Netflix is cheaper than a cable bill in most cases. Face it- the news is usually depressing and it doesn’t seem to be getting much better. Consider getting rid of the cable, newspaper subscription, new radio, etc to have money to put in healthier areas of your life. Our kids don’t get video-games either (oh, the horror!) and they don’t care… they have this great entertainment called the backyard!

Salad dressings were my former vice. I would eat Ranch on anything, in fact, I will be forever grateful to it for getting me to love broccoli. Now that we eat real foods, I keep a recipe tab specifically for homemade dressings, and have come to love these. I can even whip one up at a restaurant by having them bring me all the ingredients “on the side.”

My current seven favorite homemade dressings recipes are:

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Creamy Homemade Caesar

Ingredients:

• One egg yolk at room temperature (very important it is not cold!)
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard or mustard powder
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, finely crushed
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire
• 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• salt, pepper and spices to taste.

How to Make It:

1. Whisk egg yolk with whisk or blender on low speed.
2. Once creamy, add vinegar and other ingredients and blend until creamy.
3. Slowly add oil, stirring constantly until incorporated.
4. If it doesn’t incorporate well, your egg might still have been too cold!

Great with: Dark lettuces, chicken dishes, or on asparagus.

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Zesty Italian

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 small squirt of Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1-2 cloves finely minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp each of thyme, basil and oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

How to Make It:

1. Pull all ingredients in small jar and shake vigorously.

Great with: any salad or as a marinade.

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Tangy Greek

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
• small squirt dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp each of oregano and marjoram
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice

How to Make It:

1. Put all ingredients in small jar with lid and shake until well mixed.

Great with: dark lettuces, feta cheese, olives, and cucumbers. Also a good marinade for a cucumber and onion salad.

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Sweet Asian

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons honey
• pinch of dried ginger or 1/2 tsp fresh zested ginger root (preferable)
• spices to taste

How to Make It:

1. Put all ingredients in small jar with lid and shake vigorously. You can also mix in blender or small food processor.

Great with: Sesame chicken (as a marinade and dipping sauce), on a spinach salad with cashews, on cauliflower fried rice.

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Raspberry Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
• 2 teaspoons honey

How to Make It:

1. Put all ingredients in blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Great with: salad with feta and cashews, grilled chicken salad, marinade on pork.

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Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• one clove of garlic, finely minced
• small squirt of dijon mustard
• 1 Tablespoon honey (optional)
• salt, pepper and basil to taste

How to Make It:

1. Mix all ingredients in small jar or blender.

Great with: any type of salad or as a marinade on beef, chicken or pork.

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French

Ingredients:

• 1 squirt of mustard
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste (organic)
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon of honey (optional)
• 1/2 tsp onion powder or small chunk of fresh onion

How to Make It:

1. Put all ingredients in a small blender and blend until smooth.

Great with: any type of salad (I like it on chef salads), kids like to dip things in this dressing.

Other great things to throw on a salad:

• nuts: especially pecans, walnuts and macadamias
• olives
• chopped veggies
• chopped apples
• sliced strawberries or blueberries
• grilled or baked chicken
• sliced steak
• shrimp
• all of the above!

Did I miss any? What is your favorite salad dressing? Do you have a healthy variation? Please share below… I’m always looking for new ideas!

This post is part of Seven Quick Takes Friday at Conversion Diary and Fight Back Friday.