Handmade by Mums Who Care
 What our customers love about our amazing cleaning
products We have the best customers, who are just as committed to a healthy environment and a healthy home as much as we are. From the feedback we get from them, here are the best things about our products. Our products smell amazing One woman told us her husband loves walking into the house after milking and smelling the beautiful aromas from our products ‘floating through’ the house. Another happy customer noted that she wants to keep cleaning because she loves the smell of the cinnamon and tangerine surface cleaner so much! (Is it really that good? You’ll have to try it and find out!) Fly off surface cleaner Due to the sheer volume of feedback, this product has a category all of its own. Not only do people think the smell is ‘heavenly’, but it actually is effective at keeping the flies away. The formula removes fly spots easily and helps to prevent the flies from returning. This is a definite favourite! Our products are gentle on the skin As anyone with sensitive skin can attest, a new cleaning or self-care product can result in dry, red, itchy and painful skin. A change in anything can result in a flare-up of dermatitis or psoriasis. Dream Eco Products have been designed to be gentle on you and your skin so you can use these safely. Some products even are good for the skin, with essential oils offering benefits to skin health. Our products are effective With our products leaving floors smelling ‘lovely, clean and fresh and shiny too’ and customers saying that our products are ‘some of the best products I’ve ever used’, you know that you’ll be able to replicate those results in your house. As one woman said, Dream Eco Products ‘actually make cleaning a pleasure’. How amazing (and can she come and clean our homes for us?)!
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We understand it might seem impossible to declutter your home. Research shows that
decluttering your home actually decreases cortisol levels (that’s the chemical in your body that makes you feel stressed). A cluttered house can also make you feel like you don’t have everything under control. Worryingly, crowded homes may contribute to children’s inability to regulate their emotions and behaviour. But you know this, because it affects you too. So is there a trick to easily learn how to declutter your home? Declutter one day at a time This isn’t a project you can do in one day. While you can make a dent in it with a big effort, this is really a long term project. There are a couple of strategies- one is that you throw/ recycle/ give away one thing a day for as long as required. Another one is the ‘Minimalism Game’, where you remove one thing on day one of the month, and add one thing a day, so that by the 31 st , you’ll remove 31 things…. That’s 496 things! Involve the kids Get your children involved. Ask them to contribute the things they don’t play with/ fit/ use any more. Even better, tell them that you’ll donate the goods to your local op-shop, so that their old stuff goes to someone in need. You’ll be surprised by how giving children can be (and also, how resistant they may be to removing some fairly innocuous things from their lives). Imagine how accomplished you will feel To be able to open your wardrobe and see clothes you actually wear, hanging tidily. Easily opening and closing drawers that aren’t packed to overflowing with t-shirts, or broken kitchen implements or dead batteries. Going into the garage and being able to access all your car doors easily. This kind of clutter takes up space in your brain and it’s tremendously empowering to remove it. It gives you more energy and it makes you feel like you’ve achieved something. So if you’ve been putting off decluttering your home, start today, with just one object (maybe even start with your plastic cupboard). Even a flood starts with a single drop of rain. Ammonia, bleach and chlorine
Some cleaning products are toxic to your pets. Ammonia, bleach and chlorine can cause your pet skin and eye irritation and breathing problems. Chlorine in particular is heavier than air, and so it will naturally affect your pet more than you as they are closer to the ground. Citrus and cats Cats don’t like citrus. That includes orange, lemon and citronella. While it won’t harm them, it will make them avoid that spot in your home- which makes it ideal to deter a feline. If you have a cat that urinates on a certain spot or scratches a piece of furniture that they shouldn’t, a spray of citronella/ water on the area will deter them. Some essential oils Some essential oils can be highly toxic to our pets. Cats in particular can suffer from exposure to some oils as their livers don’t metabolise some compounds. These include tea tree, peppermint, pine, eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon and clove oil. Dogs can find cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, tea tree and pennyroyal to be toxic/ irritating. Be very careful when using diffusers and essential oils around your animals. Fragrances Animals can be affected by a range of artificial and natural scents. If you use air fresheners, deodorisers, scented candles, incense or potpourri, these can irritate cats and dogs. This irritation can appear as sneezing and coughing, but can also give your furry friends headaches and nausea, liver and kidney damage and even cancer. Birds in particular can be more sensitive to scents, because their bodies are so small. Fly spray Fly spray is not toxic to cats and dogs, but much like humans, they may find it irritating. Avoid spraying around them. However, if you have fish or an aquarium, be very, very careful when using fly or bug spray of any sort, including daisy derivative pyrethrum. Even small amounts of fly spray can kill your fish or aquarium inhabitants. Keep your pets safe Use natural-based cleaners. This lemongrass based cleaner will deodorise and clean without irritating your pet. It also has the benefit of having slightly catnip-esque effects. If you have fish tanks and want to avoid fly spray, use this Fly –Off surface cleaner. This will control pests without having to resort to fish-killing chemicals. To kill mould and mildew, this cleaner is vinegar based which is safe for use around animals. Also, remember that dogs have more than 220 million scent receptors, and cats have 45 -80 million. Humans have only five million. Next time you’re using a strong cleaning product and it bothers you, imagine how much worse it will be for your pet. If unsure, put your pet outside before starting any cleaning. Cleaning the toilet isn’t fun. It’s also a task that uses chemicals like bleach,
which can be harmful to the environment. So Dream Eco Products have created toilet bombs- a simple way to clean your toilet effectively, safely and without scrubbing for hours. What is in our eco-friendly toilet cleaner bombs? These toilet bombs contain sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), citric acid (found in lemons), tapioca starch (to make the balls stick together) and coco glucoside. The coco glucoside is a product that helps de-grease and it’s a by-product from coconut oil – no palm oil here! How do these toilet bombs work? Simply pop one of these toilet bombs in the toilet bowl and leave for as long as possible. Overnight is best as this gives it time to work its magic. Then, give the bowl a quick scrub and watch the stains disappear. You can also pop one of these in the cistern to dislodge build-up and dirt. The sodium bicarbonate and citric acid work together to de-scale, de-rust and easily eat away at any stains and build-up. The citric acid is a natural whitener, so it leaves the bowl sparkling clean and white. Three scents available There are three different fragrances available; all using essential oils to not only impart scent but also to harness natural cleaning powers. For instance, cinnamon and tangerine, one of our most popular scents, is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Our lemongrass and lime range is great for smelly bathrooms as lemongrass is a natural deodoriser, leaving your bathroom smelling clean. The pine and sweet orange range is fresh smelling and naturally anti-bacterial. Toilet cleaner safe for septic tanks Because we don’t use bleach or surfactants, our toilet bombs are safe for septic tank systems and the natural environment. So you can easily clean your toilet, knowing it’s safe in all septic systems. Last year, California became the first state to legally require manufacturers of cleaning products to disclose their ingredients. It means that every chemical, every fake scent, every input in the cleaning formula, has to be included on the ingredients list.
Why does this matter? With the Roundup case in the media and recent studies showing that our long-trusted bleach is actually harmful to our health, it’s becoming clear that we simply don’t know what’s in our cleaning products, and we don’t know the implications of what we are using. The active ingredient in Roundup is Glyphosate, which has no side effects in humans but has been demonised. Yet we’ve happily used bleach for years, exposing ourselves and our children to it. This step of demanding complete transparency allows (mostly) women to take steps to protect themselves and their families from harm-causing compounds and potential allergens. Why is this important for New Zealand? Currently in New Zealand, manufacturers aren’t required to disclose precisely what is in their products. Some known hazardous chemicals are to be listed, but only if they are over set limits. Manufacturers can claim that their ingredients are confidential and that disclosing their formulas risk exposing their trade secrets. However with the increased bogus claims of ‘fake’ green or eco-positive claims alongside increased understandings of chemicals that are harm causing, it’s time this practice was made clean. The New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust You may be familiar with the clean, green, environmental choice tick that is present on a range of cleaning products. This is the closest thing New Zealand has to identifying everything on a labelling list. However it still is not clear what is in the products. While known endocrine disruptor phthalates are excluded, fake fragrances are still allowed. We simply do not know enough about the outcomes of use of these. You can trust us. Here at Dream Eco products, we list all our ingredients on our labels. It’s right there for you to see. We’ve researched and studied the chemicals and we only use the ones we know are safe. In a world of fake, we offer cleaning products that we KNOW are safe- so we know we can be 100% transparent with our customers. Essential oils are excellent for cleaning- not only are a number of them naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, but they offer extra benefits for your health and home.
Lavender An antibacterial oil, lavender oil is gentle and smells amazing. Known to alleviate headaches and help with sleep and alleviating depression, it is excellent for use in the home. Long used by the Egyptians and Romans for bathing and purifying, its antibacterial and antiviral qualities make it an easy contender for the top five cleaning essential oils. Lemongrass Anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-septic, lemongrass is a great essential oil to have around the home. The best part about it is that it is a natural deodoriser. Wipe down benches to remove food and cooking smells, or use in the bathroom to banish any lingering unpleasant odours. It’s also a natural insect repellent! Eucalyptus Anti-microbial, this is the oil that many people turn to when colds and viruses strike. Eucalyptus oil helps to relieve colds and coughs, cleaning airways and helping with decongesting. A spray around the home helps to disinfect the air in the home- and also to deter flies and other pests. Orange and lemon citrus oils Citrus oils contain a compound called myrcene (also found in hops, this is an essential ingredient in beer!) that make them great essential oils for cleaning. Orange and lemon oils are anti-septic, anti-biotic, and it smells great- many modern cleaners have orange-based scents. It’s also excellent at cutting through greasy kitchen dirt, making this an ideal addition to any eco-positive cleaning regime! Cinnamon We know cinnamon is delicious, great to eat as part of a healthy diet and it smells amazing. But it’s so much more than that! Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years for its Ayurvedic health benefits, including anti-microbial and antifungal benefits. It’s also a deodoriser, making it a great part of your cleaning regime. You want a cleaner that is effective, yet eco-friendly. It is entirely possible to satisfy both of these requirements- and even add some health benefits too!
Eco-friendly cleaning product Dream Eco products have developed their all-purpose cleaner with no harmful chemicals, no artificial scents and phthalates, and nothing that can’t be used around children and pets. Safe for septic tanks, gardens and bees, everything in our products we have road tested and used in our own homes, with our families. Unlike bleach, which can cause irreversible lung damage, our products are safe for people and the environment. Effective all-purpose cleaner Our cleaner works wonders on all surfaces, for all your needs. Bathroom porcelain, kitchen stainless steel and all bench tops- stone, concrete, marble, formica, laminate and timber. Dream Eco cleaners are also excellent for wiping down painted timber skirting, windowsills, door frames and doors. Extra benefits for your home and health We have five amazing scents, which all offer a range of benefits beyond cleaning. Our fly off cleaner has eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils which smell fresh and also deter flies from landing (or even entering) your home. Our stain and mould cleaner uses the power of vinegar to kill mould and mildew, including the roots. It has lemon and lavender essential oils so the house still smells fresh and clean after using it We have three other beautiful scented all purpose natural cleaners. All harness the power of essential oils to smell amazing and provide extra benefits to your house and health. Lemongrass and lime is great for a home that has odour issues- lemongrass is an odour repellent – use in your bathroom and kitchen to minimise smells. Our cinnamon and tangerine all-purpose cleaner is one of our best sellers because the cinnamon essential oil is not only anti-bacterial, but infuses a warming , delicious scent throughout your home. If you want your home to smell crisp and fresh, the pine and sweet orange cleaner refreshes and leaves your house smelling sweetly citrus.  Lazy Cleaning Tips for Busy People
This is giving you permission to be lazy. Life is busy and exhausting and cleaning is important… but not at the expense of all your free time. So, spend 20 minutes making your house look cleaner, then have a cup of tea. Vacuum more than just the floor A vacuum cleaner – and all its attachments- are awesome for cleaning shortcuts. A quick five minute whizz around the house and it’s amazing how much cleaner the whole place looks. Use the fluffy attachment to dust the top of electrical sockets, skirting and (if you can get it high enough) window sills and door frames. Then, the upholstery attachment is great for a quick swipe over the couch and chairs- easily removing crumbs, fur and debris. If you have a telescopic attachment, it’s great for removing spiderwebs on the ceiling (and spiders, if you’re not keen on dealing with them in any other way). Stop your fridge from smelling awful Pop a small container with a few tablespoons of baking soda in the fridge. The ultimate lazy cleaning hack, it absorbs smells with no effort from you! Make the house smell nice Dust has a certain musty smell, and we don’t notice it in our own homes as we become accustomed to it. But isn’t it amazing on the warm summer days how lovely the house smells after being open to the sunshine all day! We can’t replicate that in the middle of winter, but use a lovely naturally scented cleaner (our customers love our warm cinnamon and tangerine surface cleaner) to wipe down surfaces and the house will smell delicious (and clean). Lazy cleaning for windows Washing windows is one of the most painful cleaning tasks possible. If you can, it’s best just to pay someone else to do it. Failing that, a spray of white vinegar and a microfiber cloth removes dust and greasy fingerprints easily. It makes the house look surprisingly cleaner and brighter. And if you ever need some cleaning motivation, watch a few episodes of Hoarders, you’ll suddenly find cleaning a much more attractive prospect.  Kids create a lot of mess. It can be overwhelming and feel like it’s impossible to manage. If you need to learn how to declutter your home, follow the simple 1-thing-a-day rule or play the minimalism game.
How to Declutter Your Home Is It Possible With Kids? We know it’s hard. Children have the potential to create a lot of mess, which you try to clean up…. But it can be never-ending, overwhelming, you’re exhausted and the prospect of cleaning is completely unappealing. We understand it might seem impossible to declutter your home. Research shows that decluttering your home actually decreases cortisol levels (that’s the chemical in your body that makes you feel stressed). A cluttered house can also make you feel like you don’t have everything under control. Worryingly, crowded homes may contribute to children’s inability to regulate their emotions and behaviour. But you know this, because it affects you too. So is there a trick to easily learn how to declutter your home? Declutter one day at a time This isn’t a project you can do in one day. While you can make a dent in it with a big effort, this is really a long term project. There are a couple of strategies- one is that you throw/ recycle/ give away one thing a day for as long as required. Another one is the ‘Minimalism Game’, where you remove one thing on day one of the month, and add one thing a day, so that by the 31st, you’ll remove 31 things…. That’s 496 things! Involve the kids Get your children involved. Ask them to contribute the things they don’t play with/ fit/ use any more. Even better, tell them that you’ll donate the goods to your local op-shop, so that their old stuff goes to someone in need. You’ll be surprised by how giving children can be (and also, how resistant they may be to removing some fairly innocuous things from their lives). Imagine how accomplished you will feel To be able to open your wardrobe and see clothes you actually wear, hanging tidily. Easily opening and closing drawers that aren’t packed to overflowing with t-shirts, or broken kitchen implements or dead batteries. Going into the garage and being able to access all your car doors easily. This kind of clutter takes up space in your brain and it’s tremendously empowering to remove it. It gives you more energy and it makes you feel like you’ve achieved something. So if you’ve been putting off decluttering your home, start today, with just one object (maybe even start with your plastic cupboard). Even a flood starts with a single drop of rain. Winter is miserable enough without a damp, cold house affecting your health. Remove mould effectively, keep your heatpump running efficiently, and you’ll house will be a warmer, healthier place.
Winter brings a whole set of maintenance and cleaning issues that aren’t a problem in summer. Luckily, there are simple fixes to remove mould, make your heatpump run more effectively, and clean up slippery decks and pathways. Karcher Water Vac As a child, I remember being sent around the house with a rag and being made to wipe up the condensation from the windows. I hated it because my hands got cold and wet. The new Karcher Window Vac sucks all the water inside the machine without having to touch the window yourself, saving your hands the chilblain-inducing experience. It also gets ALL the water, keeping your home drier and stopping mould from forming. Clean Your Heatpump or HRV system If your heatpump is struggling to heat your home, it could be due to blocked filters. Next time you vacuum, remove the filters and gently give them a good clean. Also, vacuum the entire unit to suck up any stray dust. Pop outside and brush any cobwebs or leaves away that have accumulated around the unit. You might even need to trim back some branches. Making sure the unit is clean makes the heatpump work more efficiently and will save you money on your electricity bill, as the unit doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job. A heatpump also helps to remove dampness in the air and acts as a dehumidifier, great for reducing mould and mildew inside. Your HRV system needs a service every two years in order to work optimally, give your local service provider a call. Remove Mould and Mildew The worst thing about winter is that mould and mildew form, sometimes no matter how much you open your windows and clean. If you find mould appearing, do NOT use bleach or bleach-based products. They simply bleach the mould, making it look like it’s gone… while the roots remain alive. Kill the entire plant using white vinegar. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, use our stain-remover. While it still has the natural bacteria-and-mould killing power of vinegar, it has a lovely scent. Blast Your Deck & Paths In winter, the dampness and lack of sunlight encourages moss growth outside. It can make paths and decks treacherous if left unchecked. It’s tremendously satisfying to use a water blaster to clean away the build-up of dirt and slime on surfaces outside, and usually a good weekend task that makes you appreciate your outdoor area again, while making the walk to the washing line easier. |
AuthorPatrice Archives
November 2018
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