Making your holiday safe(r) for your pets

The holidays are stressful; let’s just get that out of the way first. What – with gifts to buy, decorations to put up, family issues to deal with, cookies to bake – it can be exhausting. It’s easy to forget that others in your household might find it stressful, too. I’m talking about your animal companions.

From their perspective, the holidays can be one long food and drink fest, filled with amazing and scary sights and sounds. There are the new and unusual foods available for snatching, abandoned drinks to sample, seasonal decorations that may look (or actually be) good enough to eat and the people . . . all the people who come to visit. It’s enough to put the most easygoing animal over the edge emotionally and physically. Below are some things to keep in mind regarding your animal companions as you prepare for your home’s holiday season.

Holiday Plants and Flowers

For many, it doesn’t feel like the holidays without the seasonal plants and flowers that beautify surroundings. However, the beauty of many plants and flowers hides a dark and potentially deadly secret.

Poinsettia – Long maligned as highly toxic to animals, the poinsettia, in reality, isn’t poisonous. Still, you don’t want your animals taking bites out of your lovely plants!

Holly and Mistletoe – Both rank as moderately to severely toxic. If eaten, possible side effects include, diarrhea, generalized gastrointestinal upset, vomiting and excessive drooling. Seizures, coma and death can be the result of holly berry ingestion.

Lilies and Daffodils – These include amaryllis, daffodils, narcissus and paper whites. The flowers of lilies are highly toxic to cats, although the stems and leaves will also make them quite ill. These plants are so toxic to cats that even a tiny amount that’s eaten will cause severe symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney failure, convulsions and, quite possibly, death. Daffodils are toxic to both cats and dogs, especially the bulbs. While they are beautiful and may have a wonderful scent, having these plants around during the holidays just might not be worth it.

Christmas Tree – Pine and spruce trees are only mildly toxic, but can cause stomach upset and gastrointestinal issues. However, most animals don’t eat enough of them to be much of a factor.

If the thought of no flowers or plants at the holidays makes you crazy, consider buying silk ones instead. Silk plants and flowers are much more realistic looking now, especially if seen at a bit of a distance. A bonus is that they also last forever and aren’t interesting to curious animals.

Decorations and Packages
Lights, garland, tinsel and beautifully wrapped gifts all provide your animal companions with plenty to play with and chew on. You may have to sacrifice a magazine-worthy decorated home for one that keeps your pets safe and away from those tempting glass balls, yummy smelling candles and all things sparkly.

In addition, while a Christmas tree may look picture perfect with all the packages placed underneath it, you might consider waiting to put them there until just before you open them. Animals, especially cats, seem fascinated with pretty packages. (Can you blame them?) Oh, and any food items that you’ve wrapped (like that fruitcake you’re regifting), will be discovered by your curious canine, who will sniff it out and sample it. Dogs don’t have the same issues with fruitcake that people do. Never put your pet’s gift under the tree. He will find it.

Food and Drink
If you or a guest happens to leave something delectable unattended, your dog (and maybe cat) won’t have any issues having a quick nosh. This might make their mouth happy, but their stomach will probably have other ideas. When your dog or cat eats unusual (not their normal) foods, he runs the risk of getting sick – or worse. It’s also important that your animal companion not be exposed to foods that could truly harm him. Most people know you shouldn’t feed a dog chocolate, but grapes and raisins can be toxic, too. Did you know that?

Alcohol and animals don’t mix. And it could only take a small amount of liquor to make your animal companion sick. Drinks, such as eggnog and punch, can also wreak havoc on delicate digestive systems. Do you really want your animal companion to be throwing up, just as you sit down to a holiday feast? I wouldn’t think so. You can either keep your animals away from your guests by putting them in a safe place in your home or be vigilant about what’s left sitting around, if you want your pets to be part of your holiday festivities, then inform your guests that feeding the animals is not OK and ask that they cooperate with your rules.

Guests
Speaking of guests, new and even familiar people coming into your home can be stressful for your shy cat or dog. Shelter your sensitive animal companion in a safe, quiet space until your guests leave. It’s far better to have your animals feel safe than being upset and possibly getting sick because of stress.

Watch out for that Tree!
If you have a Christmas tree, secure it to the wall or ceiling so it can’t be toppled by your tree-climbing feline. Also, make sure the water reservoir of a live tree is covered securely. Your dog (and even cat) may see this as a second (or third) water bowl. It’s a bad idea for him to drink from this, especially if you use tree preserver.

Animals like ornaments, so decorating a tree can be a challenge. Consider buying child/animal safe ornaments and placing those on the bottom third of the tree. That way, if the ornaments are knocked or pulled off, they won’t break. In addition, they are easy to replace, especially if someone decides to chew on one.

Putting a bell or two at the bottom of your tree might be the best thing to occupy your cat. By having the bell be the focus, your cat may be less interested in climbing. I have a friend who does this each year. She’s reported that she’s heard the bell ringing in the middle of the night – a sure sign the cats are entertained – and not tree climbing.

Katie's Peachy Clean is a green house cleaning service founded in Tulsa, OK

Peachycleantulsa.com

918-640-3019

Katie@peachycleantulsa.com

🎄🎄 Holiday House cleaning Specials Tulsa, OK 2016 🎄🎄

I actually started this special in the beginning of November but I have been so busy and booked I haven't had the time to post about it. I have a handful of openings left in December so now is the time to call or email and reserve your spot!!

Katie@peachycleantulsa.com

Eco-friendly and pet-friendly! We specialize in disorder, dissary, and utter chaos. If you just can't seem to get your home "ready" for the cleaning lady, I'm the maid to call!! I will show up when I say I'm going to, if I somehow get abducted by aliens, I have enough sense to pick up the phone and let you know. I'll be there with my can-do attitude and my own green cleaning supplies and equipment - including vacuum. 

*Ends January 31st, 2017 so try us out now for this one-time great low price!!

$60 - 3 hours of house cleaning (100-130 dollar value)
$75 - 4 hours of house cleaning (130-150 dollar value)

*depedning on the size and condition of the home we may not be able to get everything finished in time 
*you can see everything my cleanings entail on my website and we will do what we can in the hour frame you choose 

Fine print:
-1 time use per household
- Can't be used for move in/move out cleanings
- Does not include refrigerator/freezer cleaning
-Does not include oven cleaning 

*I service Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Coweta, Catoosa, Owasso, Glenpool, Bixby, Jenks, and Keifer 

Katie Hampton
918-640-3019 (call or text) 
Katie@peachycleantulsa.com (email is my preferred method of contact)
peachycleantulsa.com

DIY SPRING CLEANING - BATHROOM

Let’s face it-no one likes to ‘Spring Clean’. It involves a personal and up close confrontation with you, your stuff and your shopping habits. We buy stuff-it seemed like a good idea at the time but months later…there it sits unused, possibly expired or growing like a science experiment gone horribly awry.

The worst offenders are the kitchen and bathroom-in that order. Let’s deal with the bathroom shall we? If you can commit 10-15 minutes a day, you’ll have this room in order inside of a week. If you’re ambitious, you can do this in about an hour.

We’ll start easy and work our way to difficult. You’ll need a trash bag, a good will box and the cleaning products of your choice.

1. Medicine cabinet/Under Sink Cabinet- if it’s more than a year old, if you can’t remember why you have it or it’s a I *might* need this someday-toss it. Wasn’t that simple? Now wipe out the cabinet, the shelves and the door-front and back. 

The goal is not to rush out and buy replacement stuff you will throw away next year. Instead, free up some other valuable bathroom real estate by putting items in the medicine cabinet. Besides, the bathroom is the WORST place to keep medicine…and perfume. Humidity really does a number to both of ‘em.

2. Sink Counters/Toilet Lid-this is valuable real estate. If it’s cluttered with decorative stuff aka dust collectors, time to thin out the herd to the best pieces (read: pretty AND functional) and put the rest in the goodwill box.

If your counter is a wasteland of hair/skin/personal products, throw out the stuff that isn’t working for you. If you have gadgetry that you meant to use but didn’t-goodwill. Broken gadgets go in the trash. No you’re not going to fix them one day…no really you aren’t.

Tip: Sticking to personal care products that work for you-even if they are pricey-saves you money in the long run.

Wipe down the counter, sink and faucet. Cross it off the list!

3. Toilet-first things first. If you have a drop in, clip on or any other kind of toilet cleaner/freshener in there-THROW IT OUT. No it’s not my green cleaning showing. The drop ins eat away at the inner workings in your toilet tank. They don’t clean or freshen anything…and yeah it’s bad for the environment-mainly yours.

If you have toilet lid covers/toilet rug and a pee smell-these are probably your main offenders. Throw ‘em out and don’t replace them. Your other 2 offenders are the seat itself and where the toilet meets the floor. Toilet seat-remove and soak in tub or replace.

Spray the entire toilet top to bottom and let it sit for a few minutes. Wipe it top to bottom making sure to get all the nooks, crannies, behind the toilet and the baseboards/floor surrounding it. If you did not use your toilet brush in this process-THROW IT OUT. Wipe down the seat that’s been soaking in the tub, replace it and…you’re done. For pee smell try rubbing alcohol, Listerine or a pet enzyme spray for urine.

4. This leaves-the bathtub. Take EVERYTHING out. If you don’t use it-pitch it. That includes the shower caddy. If you don’t use it. what’s the point in adjusting it every so often? If you hate your shower head-this is a great time to replace it with one you love. If you have shower curtains, replace or throw in the washing machine along with the bathmats/rugs.

Now to the actual cleaning-you’re going to be tempted to use a bleach based tub and tile product if you have grout mold, caulk mold or any other kind of black icky going on. Bleach is going to leave tell tale spray marks and you’re still going to have to get in there and scrub at it.

An easier way is to just get in the tub and start scrubbing from top to bottom with…are you ready?? A mixture of liquid dish washing detergent and water. Dish washing liquid is safe for all surfaces and will cut soap scum like nobodies business. If you need a little extra oomph, use that box of baking soda from the kitchen and/or a magic eraser. If after this you still have mold, try hydrogen peroxide.

Glass shower doors-if they ‘feel’ clean after cleaning but still look bad, it’s probably hard water stains or etching. If you can live with it great-if not-try Bar Keepers Friend and expect to really scrub at it. To keep your glass fixtures scum free a little longer, use Rain-X. I don’t recommend using furniture polish on glass as it may over spray into the shower/tub…it will definitely come off the glass first time you shower.

To help keep soap scum away permanently-throw out your drugstore bar soap and switch to a liquid shower soap or a quality handmade soap.

Put the bathtub stuff back, wipe the front and back of the bathroom door, mop the floor and turn out the light on your way out.

…and if all else fails…Call a professional. peachycleantulsa.com. Private Independent Green Maid Service in Tulsa, OK.

Should you hire a housekeeper?

If you're so busy that you run out of clean socks, or find yourself spending more time scrubbing floors than playing with your kids, it might be time to at least consider hiring a bit of help around the house.

We all know how stressful and time-consuming everyday life can be when you have a home, a family, and a full-time job. With only 24 hours in the day, keeping the house clean, the groceries stocked, and the laundry moving can feel like an impossible feat.

And if you're frugal, hiring some help might seem out of the question. After all, why should you pay someone to do a task you can easily do yourself?

Firstly, if you have someone come clean your home on a regular basis you can focus on the daily stuff - wiping down counters, picking up toys, laundry, and dishes. And instead of feeling overwhelmed because you have so much more to do you can relax because no matter how busy life gets, your housekeepers visit is never more than  few weeks away.

Here are some signs you might need to hire a housekeeper:

You're planning your life around avoiding chores

Working part-time or full-time can take a toll on your body and your mental health, and that's especially true if you're also running a household and taking care of kids. And sometimes the "extra," mundane stuff is enough to make you downright miserable.

If you find yourself wearing the same clothes for days in order to avoid laundry, or stopping by McDonalds for dinner to avoid dirtying up more dishes or your kitchen, it might be time to hire some help.

Your husband is down to his last pair of underwear

This has happened to me more than once. After working several 8-hour days in  row, I realized that no one in the house had any clean dress socks or underwear for work the next day. So instead of coming home from a long day to relax, I had to spend some late night hours doing laundry instead.

This is a telltale sign that it might be time to outsource something - anything. When you don't have enough hours in the day to keep basic laundry items clean, something has to give.

Your weekly pay is 4x or more than what you would pay someone

When you aren't earning a lot, paying $100-$400 for a housekeeper can be out of the question. But, what if you earn considerably more than what you would pay someone else?

This is an important question to ponder if you're thinking about hiring help. Lets say you pay $130 every other week for a house cleaner to clean your house from top to bottom for four hours. If you invested that time into overtime at your job or your side job, could you make that much or more? If the answer is yes, then it definitely makes sense to hire some help.

You're missing out on quality time with your partner, spouse, or children

When you work full-time and have a family, sometimes the weekends are all you've got left. But, would you rather spend your Saturday afternoon doing something fun with your family - or watching life go by while you deep clean your kitchen and lint roll your couch?

The fact that there are only 940 Saturdays from the time your child is born and they day they turn 18 means you should spend that time making memories. If you spend that time cleaning instead, you could live to regret it.

The bottom line

While it's important to save money for the future, it's equally important to have a happy life today. And some times, that means figuring out what you can and cant do - and hiring help when you can't be everywhere at once.

So if you're struggling to keep up with your to-do list, give yourself permission to at least explore the idea of hiring help. And remember, if always running on empty, it might actually make sense to hire someone to mow the lawn, clean your house, or deliver your groceries.

There's only 24 hours in a day, and its up to us to make the most of them. And sometimes, that means being smart enough to realize we need time for ourselves and our families more than anything else.

Katie's Peachy Clean
Eco-friendly green house cleaning in Tulsa, Oklahoma
918-640-3019
Katie @ peachycleantulsa.com
peachycleantulsa.com