Ten tips to spring clean in less than six hours

Growing up, do you remember your mother or grandmother doing her Spring cleaning? Do you remember how thorough it was? Cabinets were emptied and cleaned. Throw rugs went out to be aired. All the windows were cleaned. A good week of solid cleaning ocurred. Who has time for that these days? Most of us don't.

In our rushed daily lives, cleaning takes a back seat to more pressing needs. Unfortunately our homes today need more of grandma's touch than older homes ever did. New construction has made our homes very air tight. Therefore germs can build and breed in our recirculated air and on our floor and furniture surfaces.

To get the benefit of "grandma's clean" without the time commitment here are ten effective cleaning tasks that will do the most to get germs out of your house in less than six hours.

1. Open the windows - As simple as it seems, the best way to get germs out is to circulate fresh air throughout your home. Time commitment - 5 minutes

2. Steam clean your carpets - Carpets are a breeding ground for germs and allergens. As an added bonus having your carpets steam cleaned is environmentally responsible as chemicals are not involved. Hire a professional that only uses steam and skip the rental cleaners. Time commitement - 5 mintues (the time it takes to make a phone call)

3. Clean major traffic doors - Finger prints, mud and dirt build up all winter long. You can't help but see them every day as you go about your life. Cleaning these highly visible areas will go a long way to freshening up your visual space. Clean with a simple solution of baking soda and water. This solution is gentle on surfaces yet effective. Best of all there is no lingering odor or chemical exposure. Time commitment - 60 minutes (assuming 10 minutes per door and 6 major doors)

4. Eliminate odors - Open a box of baking soda and leave it in windowless rooms and closets. Baking soda will absorb orders and leave the air fresher than a chemical freshener. Time commitment - 5 minutes

5. Toss it - Throw away the lonely mitten without a mate, the scarf that your kids will never wear, the snow pants that don't fit. Don't pack away stuff that won't get used next year. While it is still in sight, deal with it. Toss it or give it away. Time commitment - 10 minutes

6. Attack the kitchen - Clean all surfaces with a baking soda and water or a vinegar and water solution. Wipe away fingerprints from cabinets, stubborn spills from appliances and scuff marks from base boards. You spend a great deal of time in the kitchen even if you don't like to cook. In many houses the kitchen is the heart of the house. Focusing time here will pay off more than in lesser used rooms. Time commitment - 60 minutes (upbeat music is mandatory for this one)

7. Change the curtains - Remove heavy winter drapes for lighter sheers or go "naked." More daylight will brighten your spirits and liven up your entire home. Time commitment - 60 minutes (if you have a lot of windows like I do)

8. Clear out the vanity or bathroom drawers - At least twice a year you should review your toiletries and toss expired cosmetics and personal care items that have just been there too long. This is an area where clutter can build up quickly since you are typically rushed in the morning. Time commitment - 30 minutes (if you have to think how long its been there - toss it)

9. Get a few house plants - Green house plants can brighten up spaces or make them feel more serene. As an added benefit, plants clean the air. If you already have house plants, give them fresh soil and fertilizer. Trim off dead leaves and branches. You will just feel better with healthy foliage around you. Time commitment - 60 minutes (to go to the store or repot existing plants)

10. Refresh your personal area - Everyone has a favorite spot in the house. Chances are this is the place where clutter reigns - magazines that need to be tossed, piles of paper that need to be dealt with, etc. Since this is your personal refuge, cleaning this area will greatly impact your mood and leave you feeling refreshed. Time commitment - 60 minutes (I am assuming you are a bit of a pack rat or indecisive here; motivational music is needed)

Six hours and you are done. You can accomplish this easily over the course of the weekend. Come Monday you are fresh and ready for a terrific spring and summer season ahead!!

Grapefruit Oil

Now that warmer weather is on its way you are most likely feeling your spirits rise. Grapefruit oil will help stimulate this wonderful feeling even on rainy days. Grapefruit oil has been shown to have an uplifting positive affect on your mood.

It is a helpful oil when you want to curb your appetite resulting from stress or depression. If you are like most women, eating, even when you are not hungry, is a defense mechanism to deal with stressful situations and an overall feeling of depression. The busy activity associated with spring can bring these feelings on. By uplifting your mood, you can decrease the craving for comfort food.

Grapefruit oil has also been shown to clear oily congested skin which is one of the downsides of warmer weather. Grapefruit oil dissolves fat and stimulates the metabolism of adipose tissue. Its astringent-like qualities are useful in cleansing the skin and removing the oily residue.

Grapefruit oil is one of my favorites. I call my pink grapefruit lotion my "happy" lotion. I use it every morning to get ready for the long day ahead. I keep more at my desk for whenever I need a little pick me up. Discover the wonderful benefits of this oil for yourself. You can find special grapefruit products at our store http://www.beautywithacause.com/ or pick up a bottle of essential oil at your local healthfood store. I get my essential oils from http://www.jeansgreens.com/.

April Special - Gavin's Gift

Our special for April is a continuation of the celebration of spring and of youth. Our Passion & Purpose customer has asked to be anoymous but has a wonderful story to share. Ten percent of the sales for April will go to Gavin's Gift. Gavin is a three year old boy who was diagnosed last month with leukemia. Gavin's family is still coming to grips with the new reality they are faced with and how Gavin will be effected. Fortunately, Gavin has a wonderful support network of friends and family who focus on Gavin "the healthy boy" and not the "little boy facing a life-threatening disease." As Gavin's father is also a friend of mine, I will match whatever is raised through the website.

Preferred customers and their passions drive Beauty with a Cause

We are very excited to announce our new Preferred Customer program, Passion & Purpose. Preferred Customers now get to express their passions to the B-cause community by picking the monthly special and the charity that will receive 10% of all sales for a month.

Our debut Passion & Purpose customer is Tami. Tami loves lavender and has requested we create more lavender scented products so...

This month's special is SPRING SHOWERS. This is a limited edition, lavender scented shower line. We are offering our body wash, our shampoo, our conditioner and our body lotion in lavender scent. We use only essential oils to scent our products. You can get these items in a full size set, in a travel size set or as a la carte full size items.

In addition Tami has selected the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation to be the recipient of 10% of March's sales. At the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation one hundred percent (100%) of every dollar contributed to the Research Foundation helps support more than 406 awards at over 164 research institutions across the country, all working toward a day without diabetes. To find out more about this foundation visit their website here.

To purchase these items, visit our web store at http://www.beautywithacause.com/. Thank you Tami for being a Preferred Customer and sharing your passion with all of us!