Norwex With Isaac & Shirley...

♫ Tis the season to eat strawberries... tra la la la....♫

2010-10-13T03:14:00.000-07:00

Strawberries are in season now...
My children loves them.... I enjoyed them a lot myself! (but loathe the stain they get on the children clothing).

My baby enjoying her yummy-juicy-treat!

My 12 months old baby tries to get some each time she sees her older brother and sister enjoying such a juicy and yummy treat! For some reason, I remembered somewhere that I had read about "when should we introduce this lusciously-red-juicy fruit to young children." And this is my partial findings:-

When Can My Baby Eat Strawberries? (excerpt from www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com)

It will come as no surprise to discover that the strawberry is the most popular type of berry in the world - in addition to their vibrant colour, beautiful heart shape and nutritive qualities, strawberries taste absolutely delicious!

Sadly, though, there is one negative aspect to strawberries - and that's the fact that they're one of the foods most commonly responsible for allergic reactions.

Reactions to strawberries (Please note - this information should not be taken as medical advice and - as with all new foods - you should discuss the introduction of strawberries with your child's doctor).

The most common reaction to strawberries is itching or a rash where the fruit comes into contact with the skin (usually around the mouth). Occasionally, reactions to strawberries can be severe and may involve swelling of the throat.

Strawberries can also cause hives elsewhere on the body and some parents find that giving their children strawberries can cause the symptoms of asthma and eczema to worsen.

In some babies, eating strawberries can contribute to nappy/diaper rash - a reaction to the acidity in the fruit rather than an allergic response.

But what really got me is the final passage:

"Strawberries are on the Environmental Working Group's list of the 12 foods most commonly found to be high in pesticide residues. If you choose to buy non-organic produce, then you need to take special care with strawberries - washing them thoroughly or even soaking them - to minimize the risks that pesticide residues pose to your baby.
We recommend, however, that you buy ORGANIC strawberries wherever possible."

Now being in this "Eco-friendly" business long enough to know what Environmental Working Group (EWG) stands for. I am glad to have been informed about the pesticide residues that can be found in this yummylicous berry. While I am not always accessible to getting fresh organic produce, I am glad that once again, Norwex has the answer for me and it is called - NORWEX FRESH WASH.

Norwex Fresh Wash is specifically formulated as a safe, effective alternative for cleaning fruit and vegetables, protecting produce from damage during storage or transport and extending produce shelf life by 2 to 3 times. It has all natural ingredients (Orange extract, water, ascorbic acid, Yucca schidigera (plant), citric acid) - the orange peel extract and natural exzymes naturally break down dirt, pesticide/fungicide residues, bacteria, hidden fungi, wax and oils.

So what do I do when I come home from the grocery store?

Step 1: Dilute 5 sprays per cup of water I usually use a large bowl or put about 3 inches of water in my sink and spray Fresh Wash about 25 times into the water.
Step 2: Soak fruit and veggies for about 3 - 5 minutes.
Step 3: Lay produce out on Antibac Tea Towel (they are super- absorbent and absorbs the moisture away from the fruit and veggies) to dry or use Antibac Tea Towel or the Veggie Cloth to dry your produce to remove even more waxes or residues. The Veggie Cloth is also amazing at scrubbing the wax off apples. Package and store your produce.
Step 4: Diluted Fresh Wash can be stored in the fridge and used up to 1 week.

And voila! The next time you can't buy organic produce, just use Norwex Fresh Wash to protect your family from harmful pesticides!

*And additional info for those "techy people":

Testing Profile for the Fresh Wash

Organism Tested	Fresh Wash Concentration	Reduction %/LOG	Organism ID/Testing Method
Legionella pneumophila	2%	>99.0000%	ATCC 33152
Serratia marcescens	2%	>98.0000%	ACM 5669
Staphylococcus aureus	2%	10⁴	NCTC 6571
Escherichia coli	2%	10⁴	NCTC 10418
Clostridium perfringens	4%	10⁴	EN 13704
Listeria monocytogenes	2%	10⁵	EN 1276
Salmonella typhimurium	2%	10⁵	EN 1276

February 2008 Tech Talk

by Candi Bezte, Norwex Science & Technical Advisor

Who are you sleeping with...?

2010-08-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

Asthma, Eczema, Hay Fever, Bronchitis, Inflammation of the Mucous Membrane, Itchy Red Eyes, Headaches, Sinus Pains, Fatigue, early morning fits of excessive sneezing, even a feeling of Depression when you wake up, you well may be sleeping with the enemy - Dust Mites.

Dust mites... dust mites... those crawly little creatures...Actually "little" is probably not the right word for it.

your not-so-friendly-sleeping partners

Dust mites are microscopic. About 50 of them can fit on the head of a pin. (see pic). Dust mites feast on the fungus that grows from dead skin cells and animal dander. The average adult sheds about 15 lbs of skin cells per year; 80% of that is shed in bed.
On average, one dust mite produces 50 fecal pellets daily .These droppings are the most common cause of dust -related allergies. Approximately 80% of asthmatics are allergic to dust mites.Guess what? It’s not the Dust Mites causing the allergies; it's the feces they leave behind. (Yep - dust mites do poos!)
There are millions of dust mites in your home, which live in your furniture, carpet, bed, bedding, and even your children's stuffed toys.
Did you know that 10% of the average pillow’s weight is dust mite feces?

Norwex Mattress Cleaner

So we are blessed that none of our children are asthmatic or allergic to anything in particular - having said that we do understand the need to clean our mattress, pillows and carpet regularly. Especially when we were toilet-training our toddler son, we left a toddler-potty in his room (the room is carpeted) so that he could use it at night time. Because he was still learning, he didn't always "aim" rightly, and the carpet area in which we place the potty begins to smell. And then came along Norwex Mattress Cleaner.
We sprayed it on the "targeted area" and voila! The smell was gone!
We were so impressed with the product, immediately we ended up stripping our bed sheets, use it on our mattress, the children's, the couch, everything we could think of! Definitely one of our favorite Norwex products by far!

So how does it work you asked?
Norwex Mattress Spray is a chemical-free bio-neutralizer containing microorganisms whose job it is to eat organic matter. This includes dust mites and their feces. In simple words, it is "releasing the good guys to eat the bad guys".

It uses a Zinc complex with microorganisms to encapsulate, neutralize and eliminate unpleasant organic odours and waste. 1 ml of the product contains 20 million bacterial spores, which are natural born and defined as class 1 (meaning free of all pathogen bacteria).

BENEFITS

Gets rid of dust mites and their feces (VERY allergy-causing in many people - snoring, coughing, etc.) and can eliminate allergic reactions
Gets rid of urine smell and staining (extremely well- perfect for children mattress or pets)
Only product on the market for elimination and removal of all organic waste inside the mattress
Environmentally friendly and biodegradable
Dual function: By use of Zinc complex and micro organisms unpleasant odours and organic material are encapsulated, neutralised and eliminated.
Minimizes bacteria and dust mite growth
Continues working until all organic material is removed
Quick and easy to use
Cleans where other products are unsuccessful

It saves you money in getting your mattress professionally-cleaned!

We are sharing this piece of info to you because in August, we are offering a special deal called the Allergy Pack. It could just be the right product for your upcoming Spring Cleaning and even now.........

Oven Cleaning Much...?

2010-06-29T23:36:00.000-07:00

Unless you are a Cleaning-Fanatic, most of us dread the job of cleaning until we really "have to". That's why we love having dinner parties - having families or friends over, not just the social side of things but our home always transformed to a more "welcoming" state. Less you think I am a messy person, it is a tough world to keep the home tidy at all times when we have 3 lively children aged 4 years old and under!

I have started our venture in blogging on our Life with Norwex and always tell our clients; "We don't rave about how good Norwex is because we are selling them, which in fact, we are selling it because they are so GoooOD!"
Recently, I (Shirley) went and did a Norwex home presentation for a close friend who had never hosted any "party-plan demonstrations" in her life! It was quite an honor to actually get the opportunity to show her how amazing Norwex is and she was just blown away by the presentation and products!

Anyway, Winter has well and truly set in, while most families will thoroughly enjoy a warm roast meal during this time of the year, facing the aftermath of the meal - A DIRTY OVEN could be dreadful. So I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to share the 3 INCREDIBLE INGREDIENTS TO A HAPPY OVEN! (4 if you want to add WATER!)

1. Spirinettes (set of 2) - When you look at them, you would think they are just an ordinary looking steel wool that you can get from your local supermarket. But the truth is - they are not. While the ordinary steel wool cuts your finger - these Spirinetts don't.They are made of thin, flat, curly strands of rust-proof stainless steel, and they are completely chemical free. They are hardy little things, that last and last. We have been using one for over a year and they are looking abit ratty from use but it doesnt affect their scrubbing performance at all. These faithful little balls (not quite ball-like after long usage) just keeps on cleaning - despite its physical appearance. We have used it on saucepans and fry pans that intensive chemicals have given up on! But the best job for them is your OVEN GLASS DOOR!!!

THE BIG QUESTION IS: DO THEY SCRATCH?
We normally HIGHLIGHT the WORD: WET whenever we used this Spirinetts in our demonstrations. When used WET, Spirinetts won't scratch MOST things. There are exceptions however - Spirinetts should NEVER be used on stainless steel appliances, under any circumstances - even wet, they WILL scratch stainless steel. If you are really concerned about scratching, I always recommend testing it on a small, inconspicuous area first. I would also recommend that you scrub lightly at first before going crazy with it! You could also try using the Norwex Spirisponge , which is another great scrubber, but not as powerful as the Spirinetts.

2. Kitchen Grease Cloth (Charcoal) - The Kitchen Grease Cloth is a waffle-weave microfiber cloth that is used for wiping counter tops, stoves, etc. It is non-abrasive, durable and excellent for picking up grease. In short, this Cloth loves what you hate: GREASE! It feeds on GREASE and it excellent on our stainless steel gas stove, stainless steel range hood.... it shines these high-grease-expose kitchen appliances with just WATER! Use it to clean your OVEN today!

3. Norwex Oven and Grill Cleaner - Most newer model ovens have the "self-cleaning feature". (NOTE: the Norwex Oven Cleaner CAN be safely used in a self-cleaning oven - just don't use the self-cleaning heat and the Norwex Cleaner together!) But most of us would still be using an Oven as old as us! Of all chemicals that I despise, those Oven cleaning chemicals have to be on top of my list! The fumes that come with those nasty chemicals will intoxicate the entire house and all windows had to be flung wide open! So when the Company release this new product into the range - I was so "surprised". How effective could a chemical free product be a removing months (or years for some household!) worth of burnt on food??? Well as the verdict turns out, I was amazingly impressed by how FAST, EASY and EFFECTIVE (minus the nasty fumes as well!) this product works!

I manage to put the product to the test again yesterday when I went to Newstead to do a Norwex presentation. When she opened her oven door, I wasn't a bit shocked - in fact beaming with joy for the chance to WOW her! Let me show you some glimpses of the BEFORE & AFTER effects.

BEFORE

AFTER
JUST USING SPIRINETT & WATER

AFTER
WITH NORWEX OVEN & GRILL CLEANER

I must say the pictures do not show much justice to the actual oven, also, the oven has a double paneled glass door, so we really need to unscrew the door to get to the 2nd layer of the glass to really clean on both sides. Having said that, all these was done in less than 15 minutes! (of scrubbing time- because you do need to let the formula to work.

Additional WOW FACTOR of this amazing product: (my personal experience shared in italics!)

Self scouring action means less scrubbing when you clean ovens, broilers, hoods, pots, pans and fryers
Effectively removes baked-on fats, oils, grease, proteins and carbohydrate residues of animal and vegetable origin
Produces a "super-cling" foam that penetrates through the heaviest grease and baked-on foods.
ODORLESS, so there is no fear of breathing harmful fumes! HOWEVER, I found that this does have a somewhat"fumish-spray back" effect - there is a very fine mist in the air that lingers for a while, and though it's non-toxic, it might cause you to cough or sneeze when you breathe it in. So I recommend just holding your breath while spraying and turn your range hood on!
Water-based, non-caustic cleaner safe for use on stainless steel, ceramic, chrome, Formica®, plastic, iron, aluminum, and painted surfaces.
Bio-based, natural and biodegradable - this non-corrosive formula contains enzyme formulation.
pH 9 creates an alkaline solution (non-acidic). Although it's non-corrosive, I still recommend hand glove for those who might have sensitive or dry hands.
Concentrated formula: Saves money - cost is only a fraction of most ready-to-use products. This is absolutely true! Although the price seems rather high at first, the bottle will last for many applications.
(NOTE: although highly concentrated, the product CANNOT be diluted. It does not mix with water well, and loses its cleaning efficacy quickly when diluted.)

Oven Cleaning Directions:

Preheat oven to 38°C and turn off before applying product. Pre-heating the srface will energize the microbes and enzymes to work faster. NOTE: Don't over heat your oven! If you did, the formula will evaporate and may not worked well. The cleaner should remain nice and wet on the surface!
Apply undiluted Oven and Grill Cleaner to top of oven first, then to the sides, and lastly to the bottom.
Allow cleaner to work for 5-10 minutes. If you've let it sit too long and it's dried, simply use a spray bottle with water and mist the surface again - it will make wiping up the mess much easier.
Wipe with damp Kitchen Grease Cloth and rinse thoroughly with potable water. Stubborn deposits may require more than one application and a scrub with a Spirisponge or Spirinett.
After cleaning, heat oven to 95°C for 10 minutes prior to use.

Barbeque Cleaning Directions

While grill is warm, use spatula or flat blade to remove excess grease and food deposits.
Apply undiluted Oven and Grill Cleaner onto the grill - allow to work for 5 minutes.
Lightly scrub with a spirisponge, then rinse surface completely with water.
After cleaning, heat Barbeque at 95°C for 10 minutes before using.

Once again, HAPPY GREEN CLEANING from us....

Do You Have A Green Toilet Like Ours?

2010-06-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

Winter has crept in slowly and steadily... with the weather getting colder and colder...
We don't know about you - but the colder season means more time spent at home... more CLEANING to do!

Well, the good news is NORWEX makes the experience easier and helps when we are not using chemicals
we can then include our children to join in the "fun" of cleaning!

Our favorite product from this Month's Special had got to be the Sanira Toilet System ! At a good discounted price (only in June) you need to get hold of this amazing product...

Read on why...

"You decided to clean your toilet. You squirted about 30-40 ml of chemical (normally the one which Quacks!)and let it sit in the toilet bowl for a good few mins. You alarmed your entire household, "Don't use the toilet. I'm just about to clean it." Less than a few seconds, "But Mum... i need to go to the toilet so badly."............................. Flush! There goes your 30-40 ml of chemicals... and here we go... Let's make attempt number 2.
Squirt another 30-40 ml of toilet cleaner."

Does the story above sounds familiar?

Well, at least to us anyways. We were so glad when Norwex include the Sanira System and here are some amazing facts

about this product.

Sanira Toilet Brush and Refill

A biodegradable, vegetable based cleaning agent.
Both the brush and cleaning solution are produced from environmentally friendly raw materials.
Most commercially available products take 30 days to break down; the Sanira takes about 48 hours and is therefore far better for the environment.
The brush provides proper application and the solution within the dispenser lasts 1 toilet about 1 year, if you clean twice a week.
(The first system comes with a year supply). The brush has no cavities where bacteria can thrive so it will not contaminate the surfaces you are cleaning.

The correct amount of solution is dispensed each time.
Simply press brush into the holder for about 4 seconds to fill the brush with the disinfectant.
Flush the toilet.
Then scrub and let the solution sit on the surface for 10 mins before flushing away.
To clean, simply rinse the brush after each use and place into holder.

Sanira System is the perfect answer to magnesium.
Magnesium carbonate and other carbonates disolve at ph4 and below.
The ph in the Sanira System is around 2 - thats why its so wonderful!!!

- patented hygienic system for cleaning and maintenance of toilets

- patented channel-system on the brush ensures direct and correct amoutn of soap from the refill to the brush

- economic to use. Only 10% of normal dochage is necessary when cleaning, meaning 3-4ml of soap each time

- Brush and soap made from environmentally 'correct' plastic

- The soap is based on natural degradable washing active agents originating from vegetable sources

- Allergen controlled perfume is added to the soap, and gives it a pleasant fragrance when in contact with the water in the toilet bowl

- The ph of the soap is 1.8-2.0. It removes and prevents the formation of lime and rust in the toilet

- The brush stays hygienic after use because of the patented channel system and stays clean and fresh for many years

- This is also because of the content of the soap that will prevent bacteria growth to some point.

We are sure that you will be pleased with Sanira Toilet System and at 25% discounted price! It is just too good to be true...

But it is true.

* Join our team this month in spreading Green Cleaning at only $49.95. Ask us how today!

Till next time,

Isaac & Shirley Stingle

Norwex is growing rapidly here in Australia! Be a part of this amazing company! Be a part of my team! Only * $49.95 start up - ring us for further information!

April Is The Month To Join the Norwex Family...

2010-04-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

Wow... i just came back from my monthly Norwex state meeting and was amazed by the amount of info that was shared there. Well done, Janilla Dal Santo!

And guess what?? It only costs $49 to join Norwex Australia this month! Usual price is $149.

Check out what the Starter Kit entails... pretty amazing!

An excerpt taken from our website at www.cleaningwithnorwex.com.au on THE NORWEX OPPORTUNITY:

Work From Home - Become a Norwex Consultant!

The World is going GREEN and Norwex is leading the way!

If you have ever considered starting a "work from home" business, I encourage you to consider joining with Norwex! Norwex is one of the fastest growing home based business opportunities available, with tremendous growth opportunities for its consultants!

Norwex is a direct sales home based business opportunity that allows you to feed your entreprenurial spirit.

A Basic Norwex Consultant kit costs only $149.00 in Australia! You earn 35% commission on your sales, OR get your own products at 35% discount! (which in this month of April..you can get it at just $49)

Why Norwex?

What better line of work could you possibly be in, than promoting products that are healthy, environmentally friendly and superior to any other "green cleaning" products on the market?

We know it's time for a reduction in our use of household chemicals. Many of us have been disappointed in the effectiveness of the green cleaning and hygiene products currently on the market. But Norwex products are different. Ask anyone who's tried them! Norwex products are 100% effective, and offer a way for each of us to contribute to the reduction of household chemical use.
Whether you live in a small town or a major center, you need to do your part in reducing chemical use. Norwex is something you can "do" for your own health, your family's health and the health of your planet! You can use Norwex, and by becoming a consultant, you can share Norwex with others!
Norwex Enviro Products and green cleaning are still a relatively new concept in and ever-growing segment of the market. Imagine if you had been able to start with Tupperware or Avon in their first ten years of operation? Where would you be today?

Top 10 Reasons to Become a Norwex Consultant

Improve the quality of life of people across the globe.
Make money as you build your business with Norwex.
Very low start up costs.
One of the HIGHEST commission rates in the home party business.
You get a 35% discount on your own Norwex products!
You set your own work hours, and can build your business as BIG as you want to.
Norwex provides 100% customer satisfaction - our customers are our top priority!
Norwex offers a 60 day satisfaction guarantee on all their products, and 2 year warrany on all their microfibre.
Norwex covers the cost of a very generous consultant and hostess incentive plan.
We provide FABULOUS assistance, support and product training to our consultants. You are not alone while you work at home.

Over the past 10 years, Norwex has experienced exponential growth in Canada & the United States, and is currently experiencing that same growth in Australia! There is no better time to join than right now!

If you would like to get involved in a fabulous 'work from home' business, and join a highly motivated team of Norwex consultants, please us today and we will email you the Norwex sign-up forms immediately! :)

Go Green with us!

Yet another step "Greener"...

2010-02-24T16:17:00.000-08:00

Well well well.... this one is abit exciting!

We received our new car (not new new, year 07) on 8 February 2010! We were looking for another "rocket" for a couple of weeks and never really thought we would go another step greener by getting a Hybrid car!
But sometimes things do come our way for a bigger purpose and this could be one of those occurrences...

I (Shirley) went to Honda Showroom and was greeted by a nice Sales Manager; Esther Crick. I have never done anything quite as random as that afternoon... just walking into a showroom and expect to pick my dream car up just like that! (Honda has always been an all time favorite)

Isaac happened to be working across the road that afternoon too... we were "ummp and arring" about getting an Oddysey to ship our family of five with a 7-seater family-bus-that-doesnt-looked-like-a-family-bus!

But i think we will be jumping ahead of ourselves if we took that offer. I have learnt to buy for what we need NOW than for the FUTURE.

So there you have it... our Honda Civic Hybrid drives like a dream... each time i drive it.... i feel so loved and blessed!

Some amazing facts about our "BlueFavor".. the name we gave to this car:

Make: Honda
Model: Civic Hybrid
Transmission: CVT (continuously variable transmission)
Engine: 1.3-litre, inline 4-cylinder hybrid petrol + electric motor
Seats: 5
Safety: 6 airbags (driver and front passenger front and side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags), ABS

The electric motor did it for us! For someone who is conscious of energy usage and wanting to save a few dollars on an economical yet practical vehicle, our Honda Civic Hybrid became the answer. We have now gotten used to the fact that whenever we stopped at a red light -the engine switches off!
At first it was a little unnerving (we have been warned by Esther though!) but it demonstrates to us that we are saving on petrol.

Oh! And the engine is so refined and quiet... our children does not even realized we went out for our date nights in the cool of the evenings.... leaving them with a babysitter of course! :)

Stingles Going Green...

2010-02-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

This will my first attempt to blog my super exciting adventure/journey since Norwex has arrived into our family! We have been amazingly blessed by these Cleaning Products that only requires pure water to clean since June 2009.

Since then, we have been busy sharing these great products around Launceston (the city where we live) and now outside of Launceston! Our journey with Norwex has educated us so much more on protecting our family (from harmful chemicals), looking after our environment and thinking AHEAD for our future generations...

Now, I have never been known as a "green" person - apart from my passion in recycling..and making sure that we separate the recyclable and the rubbish before we throw anything inside the bin (maybe that was it!), but after Norwex came into the picture.... everything make so much more sense!

We were amazingly blessed with our third baby last September and were introduced to using some modern cloth nappies...they were just amazing! I wished we have started using them with our first born...but it is never too late to do the right thing! :) If you want to check out those amazing cloth nappies that we have been bragging to our friends, you can check them out at www.biobums.com.au Some interesting "Did you knows?"

Did you know:

One million tonnes of nappies are thrown away every year - that’s 8 million nappies every day.
Each child uses a total of 5,850 nappies in their lifetime - that weighs the same as an average family car!
One baby fills up 40 black sacks of rubbish a year.

So there you have it! I love it when i have so much more room in my bin the day i stopped using disposable nappies! That's another green step from us i guess! :)