This season, we introduced a brand via our Autumn Box that has created a bit of a stir in the Retreat Yourself Community. My my...haven't you all fallen in love VERY quickly! With good reason of course...!
Koala Eco are an ethical & sustainable Australian owned & operated brand who make 100% natural & plant based home care & cleaning products. They also pride themselves in creating no new plastic with their products - their bottles are 100% recyclable and recycled.
And did we mention the use the most incredible combination of essential oils in each of their products, meaning you'll very quickly become addicted to using them around your home!
Koala Eco helped to create a piece in our Autumn RY Wellness Mag on how to complete a full 'seasonal' clean of your home. Aka, one of those cleans that gets right into all the nooks and crevices and leaves your home sparkling, sanitise and smelling amazing.
Considering how much time we are all spending at home right, we thought we'd share it on here.
Over to you, Koala Eco...
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‘There are portions of every house that can only be thoroughly cleaned occasionally… at which time … it is usual to begin at the top of the house and clean downwards…’
In her famous Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management, published in 1861, Londoner Isabella Mary Beeton recommends moving everything out of the rooms, then:
‘Washing the wainscoting or paint with soft soap and water; pulling down the beds and thoroughly cleansing all the joints; “scrubbing” the floor; beating feather beds, mattress and paillasse, and thoroughly purifying every article of furniture before it is put back in its place …’
Isn’t it a relief that nowadays we don't have to clean according to the regimen of a Victorian householder? However, the custom of ‘spring-cleaning’—making the home spotless top to bottom—still endures.
Summer is now over, and that means autumn-cleaning can soon begin. Why not skip Mrs. Beeton’s hard graft and get ahead of the cleaning curve with Koala Eco’s suggestions for a fresh and sparkling home?
While there may be few things more satisfying than enjoying the results of an annual clean and de-clutter, for most of us the pleasure comes only after the grind is finished. Ok, so autumn-cleaning may never be entirely effortless, but we are convinced the project can be made much more manageable and—dare we say it—even enjoyable. And believe it or not, you should be able to complete your seasonal clean in just one day.
Our eco-friendly guide to this essential rite of a seasonal change includes a bit of deep down thorough cleaning, a few key fixtures and fittings, and a little bit of stress-free organisation. In no time, a home can start to feel like new. We promise that by the end of your cleaning day, you will feel relieved, and proud of your fresh and fragrant home.
But most important of all, you will have achieved this pristine living environment with Koala Eco’s all-natural, planet-friendly and remarkably versatile products, because an autumn-clean should be a healthy spritz for your home and family, not an unhealthy blitz of toxins from synthetic cleaners. All of our products are safe, non-toxic and naturally derived.
Bring Mrs. Beeton into the twenty-first century, and let the cleaning begin!
Some general tips
Dusting:
Always work from the top of a room down, vacuuming the dust that settles on the floor. Don't neglect hard-to-reach places, such as the tops of ceiling fans and window casings. Avoid using commercial dusting sprays, and try Koala Eco’s Mild Dishwashing Liquid mixed with warm water. It’s not toxic or harmful, and works a treat.
All Surfaces:
Wipe surfaces with a soft cloth dampened with water and mild dishwashing liquid. We love Koala Eco’s Dish Soap with Pure Australian Lemon Myrtle and Mandarin Essential Oil.
Books and Shelves:
Take everything off the shelves, and brush shelves and books with a feather duster. Use the dust-brush or crevice tool on a vacuum to reach into tight spots. Wipe the spines of leather-bound books with a clean, soft cloth. Our Koala Eco Mandarin and Peppermint Floor Cleaner with Pure Australian essential oils does a fantastic job on all floor surfaces and can be used in the same ratio in a bucket of water to clean all of your wooden furniture, cutting through dust and leaving a beautiful sheen.
Stainless Steel and Chrome:
Clean and polish any stainless steel or chrome fittings in your home with our Stainless Steel & Chrome Cleaner with Pure Australian Peppermint Essential Oil.
Furnishings and upholstery: Take cushions outside and beat them by hand to remove dust. If there are stains, check care labels before proceeding to clean. Use a vacuum’s upholstery and crevice tools to clean under seat cushions.
Windows, Metal Doors and Window Screens:
For sparkling windows, use Koala Eco’s Glass Cleaner with Pure Australian Peppermint Essential Oil. Metal doors and window screens respond well to warm water and our Koala Eco All Natural Dish Soap Scrub each screen with a brush, then rinse thoroughly.
Window Treatments:
Many draperies and curtains are machine washable, so check labels. Koala Eco's Lemon Scented Eucalyptus & Rosemary Laundry Liquid combines two of nature's best antibacterials in one powerful, aromatic formula. This biodegradable and eco-friendly plant-derived formula effortlessly delivers a thorough and effective wash without the use of harsh chemicals, is safe for sensitive skin and will leave your fabrics smelling fresh with aromatherapy grade essential oils. Wipe wooden blinds with a damp cloth: warm water mixed with Koala Eco all Natural Dish Soap is safe for metal and vinyl blinds.
Ensure Fire Safety:
Change batteries in smoke detectors (this should be done twice a year), and make sure units are free of dust. Teach everyone how to use a fire extinguisher and review escape plans.
Room by Room
The Kitchen:
After using a vacuum to remove dust, wipe down walls and ceilings with Koala Eco All Natural Dish Soap mixed with water. Dissolve stubborn surface grime with a solvent-free degreaser like our multi-purpose Kitchen Cleaner with Pure Australian Lemon Myrtle and Mandarin Essential Oil. This non-toxic and naturally beautiful fragranced cleaner works like a charm on kitchen cupboards, on surfaces, microwaves and in the fridge. Our Stainless Steel & Chrome Cleaner with Pure Australian Peppermint Essential Oil is an effective oven and dishwasher cleaner. Then reevaluate your dishes. Do you really use everything, or are there items you could give away? Give the trash bin a good wipe with one of our peppermint sprays and rinse.
The Bathroom:
Use our multi-purpose Bathroom Cleaner with pure Australian King of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to spritz bath and shower, clean air vents, and disinfect light switches, fixtures, and toothbrush holders. Clean and refill the soap dish. Wipe down bathroom counters. Scrub toilet. Use Koala Eco Glass Cleaner with Pure Australian Peppermint Essential Oil for sparkling clean mirrors and shower screens.
Living Room and Dining Room:
These are prime candidates for de-cluttering. Eliminate unnecessary items, then dust crown and floor mouldings and wall corners. Wipe down walls and ceilings with Koala Eco All Natural Dish Soap mixed with water. You can also use it to clean and disinfect light switches and power outlets.. Clean windows using Koala Eco All Natural Glass Cleaner. Use Koala Eco’s Floor Cleaning concentrate mixed with water for any floor surface and to polish wood furniture.
Bedrooms:
Take out anything that doesn’t belong and move to its proper location. Organise wardrobes and drawers by switching seasonal clothing and donating unneeded items. Clean and organise bedside table (s). Never got around to reading that book? Time to give it or put it away. Dust ceiling, corners, and upper and lower crown mouldings. Dust baseboards and windowsills. Clean glass and mirrors with Koala Eco Glass Cleaner with Pure Australian Peppermint Essential Oil, and dust lamps, vacuum lampshades.
Be a twenty-first century Mrs. Beeton: the all-natural and planet-friendly way.
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You can check out Koala Eco's range for yourself on their website: https://koala.eco/. They've also been so kind to extend a discount code to the RY community for 25% off their entire range online. Use the code RETREAT25 (one use per customer) before 28/02/21.