Norwexing your Thrift Store Finds

How To Fill Your Home At A Bargain
(Author: Guest Aimee Lyons of DIY Darlin)

Want to enjoy being surrounded by unique furniture pieces that will not break the bank? Two words: thrift store! Bargain shoppers already know that buying used can save tons of cash, but there is also something satisfying about snatching a deal and then turning it into a part of your home. When you do, you’ll want to clean up your new-found treasures and Norwex is the perfect solution. Here are some great tips on shopping outside of traditional retail to make people’s trash your personal treasures, and using Norwex to clean and refresh those new ‘finds’.

Taking care of your thrift store snags

You’ve no doubt heard stories about once-in-a-lifetime finds. While we won’t all stumble across a hidden fortune, we can extract maximum value out of the things we do bring home.

Let’s start with the basics. If you buy a cozy blanket for the sofa, wash it first using Norwex laundry detergent and Norwex dryer balls. Doing this makes sure the find is clean and ready to use, no matter what it is! Toss these mini marvels into the dryer with a quick rub of essential oils, which will help eliminate any lingering thrift store scent.

Start with a mix of Norwex detergent (liquid or powder), stain remover, odour eliminator and water in the eco-friendly Norwex Forever spray bottle. Use an enviro cloth for scrubbing power. This is great to spot clean any items, including for example an upholstered piece such as a sofa.

If that doesn’t do the trick bring in a professional. If the cost is low enough, the extra $100 to $300 you’ll spend on cleaning will give you a like-new piece for a fraction of the cost of new living room seating. Your total cost will vary depending on the size and material of the piece and how much you paid at the thrift shop.

What to buy used

You may be wondering “What are the best things to buy at a thrift shop?”. While there’s no definitive answer to that question, there are a few things to keep consider when you are out and about. Furniture is the big one. In addition to sofas and upholstered items, you can find tables, chairs, and desks aplenty. You can use your Norwex Household Package Plus to dust and remove dirt and grime from glass, stainless steel, chrome, and more. Insider.com asserts that a quick coat of paint can take your used pieces from drab to fab.

Picture frames are another excellent acquisition. Buying antique wood or metal frames can help you create a unique photo display. Vintage dishes and coffee mugs, candlesticks, and mirrors also make excellent additions to your eclectic decor. Clean them all with Norwex enviro cloth and/or Norwex dishwashing liquid.

When Is ‘New’ Better?

While there are limitless possibilities for the fun things you can find at your local thrift shop, there are a few things that are best bought new. Mattresses and pillows are good examples. If you do decide to purchase a used mattress at the store, look for a tag that shows that it has been sanitized, and confirm that it is legal for the retailer to sell a used mattress in your state. As a final refresh for a ‘new to you’ mattress you’ve brought home use the Norwex Mattress Cleaner, and continue to use it monthly to help keep the dust mites at bay.

Thank you Aimee Lyons for this valuable information!

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Cleaning Hack – Fireplace Doors

It’s March, time to spring clean all around the house right? Well maybe not – I’d rather be outside enjoying the warm weather! One job I can get done really quick is cleaning my fireplace doors. I use a Norwex basic package, some water and Norwex Ultra Power Plus laundry detergent (UPP).

Watch how I clean my fireplace doors in less than 5 minutes!

Here are written instructions

1. Spray bottle of UPP – Add about 1 teaspoon of UPP to an 8 oz. spray bottle, fill with water. Shake to dissolve.
2. Put a wet enviro cloth under the door to be cleaned, this will catch the drips.
3. Spray fireplace door with the spray bottle of UPP. Let it sit for about 2 minutes. (The creosote will start to run off the door when the liquid starts to work. This is where your enviro drip cloth comes in handy.)
4. Now take your enviro cloth and wipe the door clean.
5. You may have to repeat the process if your door is really dirty.
6. Use your Purple Polish (Window) Cloth to dry the door to a streak-free shine.

NOW – go take a break! You deserve it for being so smart!

Deep Cleaning Demonstration

For those of you who like a visual I’ve created a Deep Cleaning Video so you can see the process. I borrowed two really dirty cloths from customers (thanks Kay and Andrea). Watch these cloths come clean right before your very eyes!!

Keep this in mind:

• You can boil water on the stove and add the cloths to clean them. I don’t use this method because I would walk away and the cloths would end up permanently stuck to my pan! I prefer to boil the water and pour it into a bowl or sink.
• Remember also that the gunk in your cloths builds up over time, in layers. To remove all that gunk you will likewise have to soak your cloths multiple times, each soak will remove more layered gunk.
• Stains do not affect the working power of your microfiber – they are just stains. This will happen when you use your cloths for cleaning. When you are done deep cleaning there may still be stains. Don’t panic. Just launder and use.

Here are the written Deep Clean Instructions from an earlier post.

 

Care and Feeding of your Norwex

There’s not a lot to it. All you need to do is properly wash and dry your microfiber when it gets dirty. Use Norwex Laundry Detergent for best results, but that isn’t necessary.

1. No bleach
2. No fabric softeners or dryer sheets

That’s it! Simple.

Download and print as your reminder

Q. How often should you wash your Norwex?
A. Wash when it gets dirty. If you use it regularly wash every 1-2 weeks. Or if you prefer wash it every time you use it.

Norwex microfiber is good for 500 washings, so you can  “Keep It Clean” however you prefer.

Results

When you spend your hard-earned dollars on a product, you want it to work right? I get it – I’m the same way. I will tell you I was not too thrilled that my first purchase of Norwex was going to cost me over $30. I mean, how could those cloths do any better job than what I was getting from my recycled rags I was using at home? BOY was I wrong!!!

Enviro cloth and Water!

Norwex microfiber gets results. A picture is worth 1000 words…

Deep Clean your Norwex

Many of you have Norwex microfiber that you’ve used and abused, wiping up spills and messes all over the house! Has your Norwex become stiff, smelly or crusty feeling? If so chances are the microfiber has gotten full of gunk! Let’s get it cleaned up – here are the instructions. (Deep Clean no more than 4 times annually.)

1. Get a heat-resistant bowl, or plug up a sink.
2. Gather your Norwex cloths that need a deep clean.
3. You’ll also need some Norwex Laundry detergent.
4. Boil enough water to fill your bowl or sink.
5. Put about 1/4 teaspoon of Norwex Laundry Detergent in the vessel.
6. Pour a small amount of boiling water on the laundry detergent to get suds started.
7. Put the Norwex cloths in the vessel and pour boiling water to fill.
8. Soak until cool. Stirring occasionally.
9. Rinse cloths until water runs clear.
10. Repeat as necessary until water is clear.
11. Launder cloths and pop in the dryer when process is complete.

Watch the video

Let me know if it worked!!