it’s monday which means there’s usually talk of messes.  today, i thought it would be fun to chat about un-messing.  and by un-messing, i mean cleaning.  like it or loathe it?  it’s debatable, i know.  it’s one of those jobs that is never fully done and starts un-doing the minute it’s done.  so let’s discuss.

when it comes to cleaning i’m always on the lookout for products that work well, are natural, and, of course, affordable.   from my experience this combination is hard to come by (especially in the middle part of the country where i live).  i’m by no means entirely green but i’m slowly making changes where i can.

i currently have a few faves from The Honest Company that i think you might like too.  I’ve known about Honest for sometime but i got to know them at ALT this past year.  i kind of took a big sigh and nodded with a giant yes when i heard their approach to going green, “make small changes and over time it makes an impact.”  for most people it’s hard (and not accessible) to change everything all at once.  and if you are considering, it’s the price tag that usually makes the final decision for you.

so, for me, instead of getting rid of my old cleaning products, i decided to add in.  i simply tried a few new ones before i threw out the old.  i ordered a few things from Honest and have been using them for several months.

these two cleaning products have become regulars + work like a charm + i’ve even found a secret use for both of them :

Multi-Surface Cleaner : like its name it works on multiple surfaces.  i like using it on granite, high chairs, the kitchen table and toys.

my secret use : stainless steel.  i don’t know about you but i’ve bought many pricey stainless steel cleaners over the years and none have wowed me.  i was pleasantly surprised at how well the Multi-Surface Cleaner worked on my stainless steel fridge.  smudges be gone.

Dish Soap :  love it for dishes, yes and yes (and feel so much better knowing my littles cups are cleaned with non toxic soap.  i do a lot of hand washing so this is big for me).

secret use : carpet cleaner.  who knew?  remember my new land of nod rug?  well it’s already seen its fair share of spills.  one winter day it was hot chocolate splattered everywhere and another random day it was smothered cuties crusted into the carpet.  both stains came out with the Dish Soap and a little water.

have you tried Honest?  i’d love to hear what products you love and how you use them.

a few products i’d like to try next are the Healing Balm (i heard some people are using it on their crows feet and blemishes – for real) and the Conditioning Mist (for both myself and my kids).

you can sign up for the subscription service here.

confession : i was always afraid to sign up for a subscription and not sure if i wanted that many products, that often.  but, honestly, it has been perfect.  if you bundle your products, you save more,   and you can mix cleaning, baby, and bath and body products.  you can even change your shipping frequency between 4, 6, or 8 weeks (as needed).  and the best part is that you can easily make selections and updates on the Honest Baby App, which i’m slightly obsessed with.   a few clicks on my phone and ta da everything shows up at my door.

if you’d like to give Honest a try check out their free trial.  and, La La Lovely readers can enjoy $10 off a $40 minimum purchase on first-time orders only (one per customer) with code LaLaLovely10off40.  expires may 20, 2013.

this post is sponsored by Honest.  all opinions are my own.