I’d like to do a post about balance, and how I work full time and also take care of the baby and cook and clean…but most days I feel like I am about 30 seconds away from dropping the ball on one or all of those jobs.

I will tell you one thing that, as long as I am able to afford it, has been amazing: hiring a green house cleaning service to come in and clean once a month. Of course, I am relatively picky about what chemicals get used in our house, and even moreso now that I have a very mobile little baby who crawls everywhere with the goal of putting his mouth on something. I am not exaggerating when I say that he licks the floor sometimes (ok, pretty frequently). So do I want somebody coming in and throwing all kinds of chemicals with names I can’t pronounce all over those same floors so he can ingest that stuff?? Nooo.

After an unsuccessful demo of another local green cleaning service, I thought I was out of luck until some friends of ours opened EcoMaids of North Dallas. I let the EcoMaids come and clean my house to train their staff (I know, I know, I am a great friend – such a sacrafice!) and it was AMAZING. I have to say that I was kinda embarrassed by the amount of dirt they removed. After they left I worked to make that cleaning last a whole month, and it did! I was happy to see them back again last month and I am looking forward to seeing them again at the end of this week.

I would like to tell you some magical things they use which I do not understand:

• microfiber cloths and mop heads: don’t require as much cleaning solution (if any), and don’t create waste because the cloths are washable
• some kind of magical bathroom cleaner that utilizes hydrogen peroxide, which made the bathroom grout I have been battling over the last few years so much whiter!
• a super powerful vacuum cleaner on a backpack 
• they actually do not use any of your water at all when they clean your house. How do they do this?? It is a mystery.

Anyway, I would highly recommend them for their efficiency, their green-ness, and their magical cleaning abilities.

Here is a sneak peek of the June specials, which are only available here
(not live on the EcoMaids web site yet):

2 Maids for 2 Hours – $69
Our maids are top notch!  Pay just $69 to have two maids come to your house for two hours.
Must mention special when scheduling service. May not be combined with any other offer, discount or promotion. Offer expires June 30, 2010

Sizzling Summer Special Saving you $100
Take $50 off your Initial or Deep Clean Service and $25 off the next two bi-weekly or monthly visits.
Must mention special when scheduling Initial or Deep Clean Service. May not be combined with any other offer, discount or promotion. Offer expires June 30, 2010

Hey Dallas, we’re new in town!  Reward Yourself for Helping Us Grow!
Refer a friend and receive a $35 OFF your next cleaning!
Cannot be combined with any other offer. Referral must state who referred them at the time of booking. Your $35 credit will be received upon completion of your referral’s cleaning. Offer expires June 30, 2010

Ya’ll mention me if you book a cleaning – I want my “Refer a friend” discount!

*NOTE: I do know the owners of EcoMaids personally, but other than the time I let their staff train on my house, I have paid for their cleaning services every other time and did not receive anything free. YET. I would totally take something for free if it was offered. Just sayin’.