Gibson Embers

🧪 CLEAN TALK with Gibson Embers

Episode 054 • Fall Home Maintenance

🍂 BEFORE YOU FLIP THE HEAT ON…
WHEN DID YOU LAST CHECK THESE?! 👀

It’s October.

Some of us are still absolutely refusing to turn the heat on. 😂

Some of you have already caved.

Either way, fall is the PERFECT time for a little household maintenance check because there are two things in our homes that are very easy to forget about:

🌬️ HVAC AIR FILTERS

and

🚨 SMOKE ALARMS

And no…

“I’ll remember eventually” is not a maintenance schedule. 😭😂

Let’s talk about it. 👇🏻

🌬️ FIRST …. YOUR HVAC FILTER.

You know that filter you walk past for three months and suddenly think:

“Oh crap… when did I change that?” 😂

ENERGY STAR recommends CHECKING your HVAC filter every month, especially during heavy heating and cooling seasons.

If it looks dirty?

Change it.

And as a general minimum guideline, many standard filters should be replaced at least every THREE MONTHS.

EPA notes that many manufacturers recommend roughly every 60–90 days.

BUT…

there is no magical universal calendar date for every house.

🏠 WHY CAN ONE HOUSE NEED A FILTER CHANGE FASTER THAN ANOTHER?

Because filters don’t all get dirty at the same rate.

Things that can affect how quickly yours loads up include:

• how often your HVAC system runs
• pets
• dust levels
• indoor air quality
• smoke or other airborne particles
• the type of filter you use
• the manufacturer’s recommendations

So don’t just blindly say:

“It’s been 90 days.”

LOOK AT THE FILTER. 👀

😳 WHY DOES A DIRTY FILTER MATTER?

Because your HVAC system needs AIRFLOW.

A dirty filter can restrict that airflow and make the system work harder to heat or cool your home.

ENERGY STAR specifically warns that a dirty filter can:

• increase energy use
• reduce airflow
• contribute to dirt buildup in the system
• and potentially contribute to equipment problems or early failure

So that little rectangle of fuzz is doing more than collecting dust. 😂

🍂 WHICH IS WHY FALL IS A GREAT CHECKPOINT.

Before your furnace or heat pump starts running regularly:

✔️ Check the filter.

✔️ Replace it if it’s dirty.

✔️ Make sure you’re using the correct size and type for your system.

✔️ Check the manufacturer’s recommendations.

And if you cannot remember the last time you changed it?

That is probably your answer. 😂

🚨 NOW LET’S TALK SMOKE ALARMS.

Because this one is not about keeping the house cleaner.

This one is about SAFETY.

NFPA gives us a really easy rule:

ONCE A MONTH.
ONCE A YEAR.
ONCE A DECADE.

🚨 ONCE A MONTH:

TEST your smoke alarms.

Push the test button and make sure the alarm sounds properly.

Not:

“I can see the little light blinking, so we’re good.”

Actually TEST it.

🪫 ONCE A YEAR:

If your smoke alarm uses a STANDARD REPLACEABLE BATTERY…

replace the battery at least once a year.

And if the alarm starts chirping because the battery is low?

Don’t wait for your annual reminder.

Replace it.

🔋 BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 10-YEAR SEALED BATTERIES?

Different situation.

Smoke alarms with nonreplaceable, long-life batteries are designed so you do NOT periodically replace the battery.

If one of those alarms starts giving a low-battery warning…

you replace the ENTIRE alarm.

Which brings us to…

🚨 ONCE A DECADE:

REPLACE THE SMOKE ALARM.

Even if it still looks perfectly fine.

Even if the test button still works.

Smoke alarms don’t live forever.

NFPA recommends replacing them when they reach about 10 years old.

So here’s your homework:

TAKE IT DOWN.

Look for the manufacture date on the back.

If you discover that thing has been protecting the house since flip phones were popular…

it might be time. 😭😂

🔥 AND FALL IS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO DO THIS.

We’re heading into the season when:

• furnaces start running again
• fireplaces get used
• space heaters come back out
• candles get burned more often
• people spend more time indoors

So before everybody gets cozy…

take ten minutes and check the things designed to keep the house running safely.

🖤 THE BOTTOM LINE

Your fall maintenance checklist does NOT need to be complicated.

🌬️ HVAC FILTER:
Check it MONTHLY.
Change it when dirty.
At minimum, many filters should be replaced around every 3 months unless the manufacturer says otherwise.

🚨 SMOKE ALARM:
TEST monthly.

🪫 REPLACEABLE BATTERY:
Replace at least yearly or sooner if it chirps.

🔋 SEALED 10-YEAR BATTERY:
Do not replace the battery replace the entire alarm when needed.

🚨 SMOKE ALARM ITSELF:
Replace about every 10 years.

And honestly?

October 7 sounds like a pretty good day to go check all of them. 😂🍂

💬 LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

Be honest…

WHEN DID YOU LAST CHANGE YOUR HVAC FILTER?! 👀😂

And do you know how old your smoke alarms are?

No judgment.

Clean Talk is simply here to remind you before your house does it for us. 😭😂

✨ 𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔? ᥫ᭡

© 2026 Gibson Embers. Original written content. All rights reserved.

🧪 CLEAN TALK with Gibson Embers

Episode 053 • Cleaning Science

🧼 I JUST CLEANED THIS…
SO WHY THE HELL IS IT STICKY?! 😭😂

You mop the floor.

You wipe the counter.

You clean the table.

Everything LOOKS clean.

Then you touch it and…

STICKY.

TACKY.

GRABBY.

And now you’re standing there wondering:

“HOW DID I CLEAN IT AND SOMEHOW MAKE IT WORSE?!” 😭😂

Well…

sometimes the problem is not leftover dirt.

Sometimes the problem is leftover CLEANER.

Let’s talk about it. 👇🏻

🧪 FIRST — CLEANING PRODUCTS ARE FORMULAS.

Most cleaners are not just “water with a little soap in it.”

They can contain things like:

• surfactants
• builders
• solvents
• chelating agents
• fragrance
• polymers
• conditioning or shine agents

All depending on what the product is designed to do.

And the important part?

Some cleaners are designed to be:

✔️ sprayed and wiped away

✔️ diluted at a specific ratio

✔️ rinsed after use

✔️ or left on the surface because they’re specifically formulated as no-rinse products

Those directions matter.

A LOT.

🧼 SO WHY DOES A SURFACE FEEL STICKY AFTER CLEANING?

One common reason:

TOO MUCH PRODUCT.

More cleaner does NOT always mean more cleaning.

If you use more product than the formula or surface actually needs…

you may leave behind more material than your cloth, mop, or rinse water can remove.

Then the water evaporates…

and some of the product ingredients stay behind.

Congratulations.

We cleaned the dirt…

and left the cleaner. 😭😂

🚿 SOMETIMES IT JUST WASN’T RINSED ENOUGH.

The American Cleaning Institute specifically notes that some cleaning problems happen when cleaning solution isn’t rinsed off thoroughly enough.

If the product is supposed to be removed or rinsed and some of it remains…

you can end up with:

• tackiness
• streaking
• haze
• dullness
• residue

And once that residue is sitting on the surface?

It can start collecting MORE soil.

😳 YES — A STICKY CLEANER FILM CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THINGS LOOK DIRTY FASTER.

This is one of my favorite parts of this episode.

If a sticky coating remains after cleaning, airborne dust and everyday soil can cling to it more easily.

Kärcher specifically warns that overusing some floor care products can create a sticky coating that binds dust.

So the floor you cleaned yesterday?

May start looking dingy again faster because the RESIDUE is helping dirt stick.

RUDE. 😂

🧽 AND PRODUCT CHOICE MATTERS TOO.

Not every cleaner belongs on every surface.

For example, dish soap is designed to work great in a sink where it gets thoroughly rinsed away.

Use too much of something like that on a floor…

and you can leave surfactant residue behind.

That doesn’t mean the product is “bad.”

It means you may be using the wrong product for the job.

Cleaning chemistry is VERY context-dependent.

💧 WHAT ABOUT NO-RINSE CLEANERS?

This is where we make an important distinction.

Some products are specifically formulated to be used at the correct dilution and allowed to dry without a separate rinse.

Those are different from cleaners that REQUIRE rinsing.

So Clean Talk rule:

READ. THE. LABEL. 👏🏻

If it says:

DILUTE 1:16?

Do that.

If it says:

RINSE?

Rinse.

If it says:

NO RINSE REQUIRED?

Then follow those directions.

The manufacturer formulated the product around those instructions for a reason.

🧴 WHAT ABOUT USING A LITTLE EXTRA “JUST TO MAKE SURE”?

NO, MA’AM. 😂

This is one of those cases where:

MORE ≠ BETTER.

Too much cleaner can mean:

more residue

more rinsing

more streaking

more tackiness

and sometimes MORE dirt sticking afterward.

That is literally the opposite of what we were trying to accomplish.

🧪 SO HOW DO YOU FIX A STICKY SURFACE?

FIRST:

Figure out what kind of surface you’re dealing with.

Then:

✔️ Check the cleaner’s directions.

✔️ Make sure you used the correct dilution.

✔️ If the cleaner requires rinsing, rinse thoroughly with clean water.

✔️ If buildup has accumulated over time, you may need several passes with clean water to remove old residue.

✔️ Use clean cloths or mop pads so you’re not redistributing old product.

✔️ Avoid mixing random cleaners to “fix” the problem.

And for delicate or specialty surfaces?

Follow the surface manufacturer’s care instructions.

🖤 THE BOTTOM LINE

If something feels sticky AFTER you cleaned it…

you may not have a dirt problem.

You may have a RESIDUE problem.

Too much product.

Improper dilution.

Incomplete rinsing.

Old buildup.

Or the wrong cleaner for that particular surface.

So before you pour MORE cleaner onto that tacky floor thinking:

“Clearly this needs another round…”

STOP. 😂

Because sometimes the solution to too much cleaner…

is absolutely NOT more cleaner.

💬 LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

PLEASE tell me I’m not the only one who has mopped a floor and then walked across it barefoot thinking:

“WHY DOES THIS FEEL WORSE THAN BEFORE?!” 😭😂

Where do you notice sticky-after-cleaning residue the most?

Floors?
Counters?
Tables?
ALL OF IT? 👀👇🏻

🙋🏻‍♀️ YOUR QUESTION COULD BE NEXT!

Have a cleaning mystery driving you nuts?

DROP IT BELOW. 👇🏻

You ask.

I research.

We all learn. 🧪

✨ 𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔? ᥫ᭡

© 2026 Gibson Embers. Original written content. All rights reserved.

🚨 UNHINGED DISCUSSION — EPISODE 51

I Don’t Need Another Cup. And Yet… Here We Are.

I would like to formally discuss the cup situation happening in American households.

Because I KNOW I’m not alone.

I have cups.

Plenty of cups.

Honestly?

An unreasonable amount of cups.

Cups with handles.

Cups with straws.

Big cups.

Little cups.

Coffee cups.

Iced coffee cups.

Seasonal cups.

Cups that keep things cold for approximately three fiscal years.

Cups I forgot I owned because they’re currently living behind OTHER CUPS.

There is no shortage of drinking vessels in this home.

And yet…

I walk into a store.

I see a cute cup.

And suddenly my brain goes:

“Ohhhhh. We need that.”

WE?!

WHO IS WE?!

Because the cabinet at home is currently holding a staff meeting about overcrowding.

I will literally pick it up and say:

“I do NOT need another cup.”

Which SHOULD be the end of the interaction.

But no.

Now I’m inspecting it.

Does it fit in my cupholder?

👀

Does it have a good straw?

👀

Is it a cute color?

👀

Oh s**t.

IT HAS A HANDLE.

Now we’re in dangerous territory.

And don’t let it be seasonal.

Because apparently putting a tiny pumpkin on something completely erases my ability to make financially responsible decisions.

“But I don’t have a FALL cup like THIS.”

Ma’am.

You have six.

“That one’s burnt orange. This one’s more of a cinnamon.”

GET AWAY FROM ME WITH YOUR FACTS.

Then I bring Cup #47 home and have the AUDACITY to stand in front of the cabinet like:

“We really need to organize these.”

No.

WE need to stop BUYING THEM.

But will we?

Absolutely not.

Because someday I’m going to walk into Target and see a sage green tumbler with a cute little handle…

and apparently everything I’ve learned here today will mean nothing.

Thank you for attending today’s completely unnecessary discussion. 😂

👇🏻 How bad is YOUR cup problem?

A. I have a reasonable amount.
B. I have favorites for different beverages.
C. We’re running out of cabinet space.
D. Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to.
E. I bought another one this week. 😭

And if you’re an A…

I don’t understand you, but I’m happy you’re here. 😂

✨ Who says clean has to be boring?!
Gibson Embers 🖤

© 2026 Gibson Embers Original written content. Not to be copied or reused without permission.

🎤 SESSION 020: YOUR AUDIENCE IS NOT STUPID. STOP CREATING FAKE URGENCY.

Because ma’am… 😭😂

“ONLY TWO LEFT!!!”

Then somehow there are still two left four days later.

“LAST CHANCE!!! SALE ENDS TONIGHT!”

Tuesday morning:

✨ SALE EXTENDED!!! ✨

Wednesday:

“Okay guys, REALLY the last chance this time!”

Susan.

At this point, “last chance” has had more farewell tours than Cher. 😭😂

And I’m not talking about legitimate urgency. If your sale ends at midnight, SAY IT. If you genuinely have three left, TELL PEOPLE. If registration closes Friday, absolutely remind them.

I’m talking about manufacturing panic because somebody on TikTok told you FOMO converts.

Your customers are not idiots.

When every launch is:

🚨 URGENT
🚨 ALMOST GONE
🚨 LAST ONE
🚨 FINAL HOURS
🚨 NEVER COMING BACK

…and then the exact same offer reappears next Thursday wearing a different Canva graphic…

people notice. 😂

And eventually you train your audience NOT to act quickly because they’ve learned:

“Eh. She’ll extend it tomorrow.”

THIS is actually a good business lesson underneath the unhinged part: real urgency builds trust; fake urgency destroys it.

And you all already know the closing:

👏🏻 Thank you for attending my TED Talk.

The coffee is in the lobby. LAST CHANCE to get some… until I put another pot on. ☕🤣

© 2026 Gibson Embers Original written content. Not to be copied or reused without permission.

🖤✨ SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY TAKEOVER! ✨🖤

One of my favorite parts of owning Gibson Embers has been meeting so many incredible small business owners along the way.

So today… I’m turning the comments over to YOU! 🖤

If you own a small business, I want to hear all about it!

💬 In the comments, share:
🖤 Your business name
🖤 What you make, sell, or the service you provide
🖤 Up to 3 photos
🖤 Your website, Etsy shop, or social media link (links are welcome!)

Whether you’ve been in business for 10 years or you’re just getting started, this is your chance to introduce yourself to an amazing community.

🤍 And if you’re shopping today…

Take a few minutes to scroll through the comments.

You might discover your next favorite candle maker, baker, crafter, boutique, artist, woodworker, author, photographer, or service provider.

If someone catches your eye…
🖤 Give them a follow.
🖤 Leave a kind comment.
🖤 Share some encouragement.
🖤 Support another dream.

Because behind every small business is a real person chasing something they believe in.

Today isn’t about competition…

It’s about community. 🖤

Let’s fill these comments with amazing businesses and make some new connections!

⬇️ Small business owners… your turn! Introduce yourselves below!

𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔. 🖤

© 2026 Gibson Embers Original written content. Not to be copied or reused without permission.

🖤 ORDER UPDATE 🖤

Just a quick update for anyone who currently has an order with Gibson Embers:

I promise, I am over here working on them. 😂🖤

I’m trying to get everyone’s orders made, labeled, packed, and shipped out as quickly as I possibly can.

Life has been lifeing pretty hard over here the last few months, and I’ve had to learn how to pivot and adjust in ways I definitely didn’t plan for. But please know that your orders are still being processed and I am actively working through them.

If you’ve messaged me and I haven’t responded yet, I am not ignoring you, and I’m definitely not running from you. 😂

My inbox stays extremely full, I get a ton of messages every day, and right now most of my time has been going into physically getting orders finished and out the door. I just haven’t had the chance to sit down and work through every message the way I normally would.

So if you’re waiting on an order:

It’s still coming.
I’m still working.
And I’m doing everything I can to get to everyone as quickly as possible.

I appreciate your patience more than you know, especially during a season where I’ve had to balance business with a whole lot happening behind the scenes.

Thank you for continuing to support Gibson Embers, for trusting me with your orders, and for giving me a little grace while I work through everything. 🖤

I’m here. I’m working. And your order absolutely has not been forgotten. 🫶🏻

Who says clean has to be boring?! ᥫ᭡

#ᥫ᭡

🍁