New Year is a time for new beginnings. Most of us probably make some New Year’s resolutions, but sticking with them is a different story. Over the last couple of days, as things quietened down after the holiday rush, I’ve been reading up on the best advice for achieving your resolutions for the year ahead.
Whether it is about exercising more, eating better, starting a new career, or making your home healthier and safer, the experts seem to agree on three basic tips for reaching your goal.
1. Don’t be afraid to think big. Doctors, psychologists, and sociologists say it’s great to come up with a major goal for the year as long as it is realistic and you are able to map out a plan for achieving it.
2. Take small steps. Don’t get overwhelmed; do a little bit at a time.
3. Congratulate yourself when you make small changes, but forgive yourself when you experience a setback and then, move on.
The advice seems reasonable to me. So what do you do if your resolution is to transform your home into a safe haven for you and your family?
In my experience, it starts with doing the research on what that actually means. About a decade ago, when I was recovering from cancer treatment, making healthier choices for my family became a top priority. I really began to pay attention to what was in my home and to research the products that I used. That is what initially brought me to Norwex — I was determined to get rid of the potentially hazardous chemical cleaners I used and replace them with more natural, eco-friendly solutions. Norwex offered those solutions. The unexpected bonus was that I quickly realized that I could also save time and money on my least favorite household chores with Norwex.
You don’t have to do it all at once. If 2018 is the year you want to make your home a safe haven, why not start with one small step? Pick one room, do an audit of the products you use in that room and the chemicals in them, and then begin switching them out.
I personally, like the idea of starting in the bathroom, since this was the room in which I used some of the most caustic chemicals. (See below for the great discount Norwex is offering on two of my favorite bathroom products in January.)
These are my bathroom must-haves:
Norwex Microfibers — You can complete the majority of day-to-day cleaning jobs in the bathroom using just the Norwex EnviroCloth and Window Cloth. Skip the glass cleaners, paper towels, chemical sprays and scrubs. Just use water and your 
microfibers. Because of Norwex’s advanced microfiber technology, these will remove up to 99 percent of bacteria from a surface if used correctly. (Read more about our microfibers here.)
The Norwex Mop System — Our collection of mop pads are miraculous. The dry pads lift up dust and dirt through static electricity. The wet pads absorb water to clean large surfaces. No more lugging around heavy buckets to rinse, and no more ugly streaks or yucky residue left behind by chemical floor cleaners.
Blue Diamond All-in-One Bathroom Cleaner. For the tough jobs that require a little more, I love the versatility of Blue Diamond. You can use it on any sealed surface from shower and tub to your countertops. Just use a little bit, allow it to sit for five or 10 minutes and soap scum, rust rings, makeup and toothpaste stains vanish. Organic salts and citric acid replace the strong corrosive acids in common bathroom cleaners. So, you won’t be exposed to harsh cleaning fumes anymore! If you do need to use a little elbow grease, I recommend the Kitchen Scrub Cloth, especially to help remove stubborn soap scum and grime from corners and crevices. For the toilet, squirt some Blue Diamond in the bowl, swish it around with the Norwex Ergonomic Toilet Brush, let it sit, do a quick scrub with the brush and flush. That’s it — so easy!
Consider getting started in the bathroom in January. (Don’t forget to take advantage of our customer special for the month.) Maybe move to the kitchen in February and before you know it, you’ll achieve your New Year’s resolution. Happy 2018!
