Life can get pretty hectic, especially when you have two young boys running around the house like I do, so it’s understandable that sometimes, we don’t always clean our homes as thoroughly or as often as we’d like to. Even I’m guilty of sometimes finding a “science experiment” in the back of the fridge or smoking up the house because I forgot the clean the oven after the last time I made a pie. (Seriously, no matter what I do, I always seem to end up with blackened apple gunk on the bottom of the oven!) I’ll bet that there are even some appliances that you’ve pretty much never cleaned because you just never really think of it. Here are a few of the worst culprits I’ve found for that, the most overlooked appliances when you’re cleaning around the house.
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The Fridge
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It’s bad enough to accidentally shove something to the back and then find it weeks or even months later sprouting fuzz thick enough to comb (ick!). But add to that the occasional spill or dribble or leak and you’ve got a sticky, disgusting mess on your hands. At least once a season, preferably more, set aside some time and take everything out of your fridge, every single thing. As you do this, throw out everything that’s moldy, expired, or just isn’t going to get eaten. Then, wipe down the inside of the fridge with warm, soapy water. Use a paste of baking soda and water to scrub off any stubborn stains. Don’t forget to pull out all of the shelves and drawers to get to every nook and cranny. Use a damp cloth to rinse everything off, dry everything, then put all of the food back, sorting and organizing as you go. Repeat this procedure with the freezer compartment, working quickly to keep your food from thawing while it’s out of the freezer.
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The Oven
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Most ovens have a self-cleaning mode these days, and if yours does, use it. When it’s done and cooled, wipe out the inside with a damp cloth and use a mild cleaner to wash off the inside of the door. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, try scrubbing it with a paste of baking soda and water and a sturdy scrub brush. Don’t forget to wipe down the stove top while you’re at it. If you’ve got an electric stove, make sure to pull the burners out and clean the little trays underneath, too.
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The Coffee Maker
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To get rid of any buildup inside your coffee maker, mix one part vinegar and two parts water, pour this into the machine, put in a clean filter, and run it through a brew cycle. Then, run two cycles with just water to rinse out all of the vinegar (nobody likes that in their coffee!). As for the pot itself, scrub off stubborn stains with, yes, a paste of baking soda and water. (It’s amazing what this one simple concoction can do.)
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The Garbage Disposal
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We put all sorts of nasty stuff down the garbage disposal, so it probably shouldn’t be surprising that it can get pretty gross down there. To keep everything running smoothly and keep any funky smells at bay, first, unplug the disposal, then turn it on to confirm that it doesn’t work. Then, use a flashlight to peer down in there, and use a pair of needlenose pliers to pull out anything you see stuck in there. Next, plug the disposal back in, then dump a dozen ice cubs and a half-cup of rock salt in there. Run the disposal with the water on for a minute or so. Now, pour in a half-cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar and let it fizz for about 15 minutes to kill off any germs. Run hot water down the disposal to rinse it out. If you want it to smell extra-nice, finish by running some citrus peels through it.
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The Dishwasher
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It doesn’t make sense, right? I mean, the dishwasher is supposed to wash things, and it has hot, soapy water run through it all the time! But you can still get lots of buildup in hidden spots, and some of that might even start to come off on your dishes after a while.
To whip your dishwasher into shape, clean out any debris that has collected in the bottom, wipe down the gasket around the edges of the door, then dump a cup of baking soda in the bottom and let it sit overnight. In the morning, throw in a cup of vinegar, then run the dishwasher on its hottest cycle.
I like to think that I know a fair bit about cleaning; after all, I’ve spent plenty of years earning my stripes with cleaning services. New York City can be a pretty dirty place, but like most people, I do my best to keep my home neat and clean (though having two young boys in the house can make that a challenge!). But even I’m not always perfect, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s occasionally overlooked something that really could have used a good scrubbing sooner. You might think it’s not a big deal, but the little things you forget to clean can actually come back to haunt you, making you sick. Here are some reminders for you: Have you cleaned these things lately?
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Dish Towels
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We use the towels in our kitchen every day to dry our clean dishes, but we don’t always clean the towels themselves as frequently as we should. And since these towels are often damp, they make a great breeding ground for germs. To keep yourself healthy and your dishes perfectly clean, make sure to hang your dish towels up so they dry thoroughly after each use. Also, don’t keep using the same towel day after day: Throw it in the washer every day or so and switch to a fresh, clean one.
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The Fridge
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I’m pretty sure this one is everyone’s guilty secret: You buy groceries and shove them in the fridge, and as you do, those old containers and half-eaten leftovers get pushed farther and farther toward the back, turning into science experiments instead of food. And even the good stuff you just bought can make your fridge filthy if it happens to leak or spill. The fridge can easily turn into a happy home for mold and bacteria if you’re not careful. Make sure to keep on top of things to prevent someone from getting sick. Every month or so, take everything out of the fridge, throw out all of the bad stuff, then before you put the fresh food back, scrub the inside of the fridge thoroughly with either your favorite all-purpose cleaner, hot water and dish soap, or a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in a quart of water.
Taking your own canvas bags to the grocery store can help save the environment, but if you’re not careful, it can be bad for your health. Loading up those bags with groceries week after week can leave behind residues from food and packaging that are laden with germs, especially if those bags had carried meat or dairy. To keep from toting bacteria along with your purchases, throw your canvas bags in the washer once a week. Also, make sure that when you buy germy things like meats and fish, you get them wrapped or even double wrapped in plastic, so they don’t leak onto your bags and your other groceries.
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The Ceiling Fan
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Look up: What do you see? If you’re in a room that has a ceiling fan, the answer might very well be “allergens.” After all, when’s the last time you dusted the blades of your ceiling fan? It can be a pain to do, and since you can’t see the tops of the blades, it’s easy not to think about them. But keeping them clean doesn’t have to be a horrible chore if you’ve got a spare pillowcase around. Simply pull over a stepladder to get up close to the fan, put the pillowcase over one of the blades, then drag it toward you to pull the dust off of the blade and collect it inside the pillowcase. Repeat with each blade and you’ll have a clean, dust-free fan in no time.
Here’s a spot at the office you might not have thought of. Do you drink your morning coffee out of the same mug every day? If so, you might be drinking more than just cream and sugar with your coffee. Office coffee mugs can get pretty disgusting, and it’s easy to get busy at work and forget to clean yours. But even if you did give it a good scrubbing in the office kitchen, that’s not always the best idea. The sponge you used was used by everyone else in your office, and it sits there by the sink damp all day, breeding germs. To get your mug truly clean, take it home every day and run it through the dishwasher.
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To keep your spaces looking like you hired professional cleaning services, New York City residents should take a top-to-bottom approach to cleaning, like the pros do. When you clean any space, whether it’s a room of your home or your office cubicle, start at the top and work your way downward, turning around in every direction and running your eyes around the space every once in a while as you work to make sure that you don’t miss a spot. There are so many places where germs can be hiding, and they’re not always the biggest, most obviously visible spots. If you’ve overlooked one of these frequently forgotten areas until now, don’t beat yourself up about it; just take care of it now, and you’ll be on your way to a cleaner, healthier living space.
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This Is The Most Versatile Natural Cleaner In Your Home
Almost everyone has a bottle of white vinegar sitting in the back of a kitchen cupboard, and some people probably don’t even know how it got there: It’s just always been there, somehow, gathering dust. Maybe you pull it out once a year to make Easter-egg dye, but other than that, it mostly sits neglected behind the vegetable oil and the salt. A lot of people don’t seem to realize that vinegar is good for a lot more than your child’s science-fair volcano, though. Vinegar is also one of the best, most versatile cleaning products in your home. I’ve touched on it before, but here are a few of my favorite ways to clean with vinegar.
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Unclog Your Drain
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If you have a sink that’s been draining slowly, vinegar can help you speed up the works. First, dump a half-cup to a cup of baking soda down the drain. Next, pour in a half-cup of vinegar, then quickly cover the drain with something (a plate or a wide coffee mug will do) so nothing can come up out of it. Walk away for a half-hour. Then, uncover the drain and run hot water down it for two or three minutes. This should help clear out your pipes. (If you’ve got a particularly nasty mess down there, you might need to repeat this a couple of times.)
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Let the Sun Shine In
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You don’t need to spend money on glass cleaner, not when you have an effective (and much cheaper) solution right in your pantry. Mix equal parts vinegar and warm water and use that to clean your windows. Not only will it get the glass clean, but this solution won’t leave streaks behind.
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Go With the Flow
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Have you ever noticed that after a while, the water coming out of your shower head seems to go in every direction but down? Vinegar can help fix that problem. Just pour some vinegar into a plastic zip-top bag and tie it tightly around the shower head so it’s submerged, then leave it overnight. In the morning, you’ll have a much more effective shower. While you’re in there with the vinegar, you might as well wipe down the shower walls, too, as vinegar can help prevent mildew.
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A Little Bit Softer Now
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Believe it or not, vinegar can even replace fabric softener. Just add it to the rinse cycle of your washing machine: It will strip soapy residue from your clothes and leave everything soft and fresh. Some moms also swear by this trick to strip residue out of cloth diapers that have become less absorbent over time.
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Debugging the House
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While a lot of people are big fans of vinegar, insects, especially ants, decidedly aren’t. Take advantage of this fact by spraying vinegar around the edges of your doors and windows to keep bugs from wanting to come in. (Incidentally, while white vinegar is the star of the cleaning show, cider vinegar is good for getting rid of bugs, too: If you put some cider vinegar in a glass, add a drop or two of dish soap, and leave it out on the counter. It will trap gnats.)
It seems like just about everything is bad for you these days. Sitting all day at work is bad, but so is standing all day. Sugar is bad for you, but corn syrup might be a lot worse (and let’s not get started on artificial sweeteners). Butter is bad, so you should switch to margarine … no, wait, never mind, that’s worse, too. And going to work is definitely bad for you, especially if you work in a “sick building.” So maybe you should just stay home and eat a salad, right? Not necessarily: Staying home has hidden hazards, too. But you don’t need to panic. Just learn what to look out for and be proactive to ensure a safe home.
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Cool as a (Moldy) Cucumber
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It’s awfully nice to be able to crank up the air conditioning on a hot summer day. But when’s the last time you had your ducts cleaned? That cool air can create condensation in your HVAC system, which can lead to mold. Those cool breezes could be carrying spores that cause respiratory problems.
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Clean the Cleaner
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People normally rely on a vacuum cleaner to help suck up dust and other allergens. But if they don’t have a good-quality filter, they might just be spewing this stuff back into the air. A vacuum with a “HEPA-like” filter isn’t enough: Make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter for the best air quality in your home. If you’re hiring a cleaning service, make sure that their vacuum filters make the grade. They could be bringing these substances from other people’s homes and blowing them around in yours.
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Clean the Cleaning Products
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The vacuum isn’t the only possible culprit when it comes to things you use to clean your home that can actually make you sick. Most of the typical cleaning products people buy at the store contain all sorts of harmful chemicals. Worse still, most people don’t follow all of the safety precautions advised on their labels, like wearing rubber gloves or ensure adequate ventilation. The best way to fix this problem is also the cheapest: Use green cleaning supplies, which you can make yourself from ingredients you might already have around the house.
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Beware of Radiation
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Did you know that your home could actually contain unsafe levels of radioactivity? The culprit is radon, which comes from the natural breakdown of uranium, which is naturally found in soil. Radon can seep into your home from the ground and build up over time, and prolonged exposure to high levels of radon brings a high risk of lung cancer. That’s scary stuff! But don’t panic: There are things you can do about this problem. First of all, knowledge is power; get yourself a radon test kit and follow the instructions that come with it to find out the radon level in your home. If it turns out that you have a problem, you’ll need to hire a contractor to install a radon remediation system. Unfortunately, it won’t be cheap, but it’s certainly worth the investment considering the potential consequences.
Earth Day is here, and this annual observance reminds us to do our best to take care of our home – our planet. We only get one, after all! (Well, unless we someday colonize Mars, of course.) Conservation shouldn’t just be a once-a-year thing, though. While it’s great to celebrate Earth Day by doing something like attending a roadside cleanup event or planting a tree, there are plenty of things that you can and should be doing all year long, right in your own home, to save our precious natural resources and prevent pollution.
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Lights Out
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Have you ever walked into a room and found the lights on, the TV on, maybe even a video game console on with the game endlessly paused, while your kids have moved on to doing something else in another room? Yeah; me, too. But I do my best to get the boys to turn things off when they’re done with them, and you should, too. While you’re at it, make sure that you turn off the lights whenever you’re the last one to leave a room. These simple steps can save a lot of energy!
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Turn Off That Faucet
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Did you know that for a family of four, leaving the water running while you brush your teeth can waste 200 gallons of water a week? That’s no drop in the bucket! Turn the water on to rinse your toothbrush, but leave it off while you’re actually brushing, and you’ll do a lot to conserve this precious natural resource. Another way to save water is to take quick showers instead of baths.
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Set it and Forget it
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It amazes me that some people still don’t have programmable thermostats in their homes. They’re not at all difficult to install or set up, and you can save a ton of energy, not to mention a ton of money on your utility bills, by making this one simple change. It’s amazing how much energy you can waste when you forget to turn up or turn down the heat or air conditioning. It’s also easy to turn up the heat too high or set the air conditioner too low in the heat (or cold) of the moment; with a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature to maximize energy efficiency and then not have to touch it ever again.
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Shed Some (Efficient) Light
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Another source of energy waste in the home is your light bulbs. It’s bad enough when someone leaves a light on in a room that nobody’s in, but even when you’re putting the light to good use, if it’s coming from an incandescent bulb, you’re using a lot of power when you don’t have to. Replacing your old bulbs with compact fluorescent ones can save energy and money. Better yet, invest in LED bulbs; they cost more, but they use hardly any electricity compared with regular bulbs, and they still have the same light output.
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Waste Not, Want Not
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It’s easy to throw a lot of money in the trash by being wasteful. Literally. Just think of the food waste we produce. People waste tons of food every year, but one way to cut down on that waste is to carefully plan your meals for the week before you go grocery shopping. Another good idea is to turn your food scraps, peels, and such into compost. Even apartment-dwellers can start a compost bin, and the result is rich fertilizer for plants and less trash in your garbage can.
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A Breath of Fresh Air
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You could use air-freshener spray to make your home smell nice, but that’s a whole laundry list of chemicals that you’re spraying into the air. Instead, and since it’s so nice out at this time of year, open the windows for a while to air out your home and make it smell nice and fresh. Alternately, if it’s a chilly, rainy day, bring a small saucepan of water to a simmer, then add in whatever spices, herbs, essential oils, and/or fruit peels you like. It’s an all-natural air freshener!
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Clean Your Cleaning Routine
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Of course, while you’re getting rid of chemicals, you might as well get rid of all the rest of the toxic cleaners you have in your home. Instead, try using green cleaning staples like vinegar and baking soda. You can clean almost anything in your home with one or both of these simple, eco-friendly substances! And better yet, they’re both pretty cheap, much less expensive than those name-brand cleaning products.
All of the gifts have been unwrapped, the fancy foods have been eaten, and your holiday guests have gone home. You raised a glass as you watched the ball drop at midnight, and now, here you are at the start of a new year. January is a time for a fresh start, a time when everyone wipes the slate clean and starts over, vowing to change their lives for the better. Why wait for spring to do spring cleaning when you can change your home for the better now, and start the year with both a clean slate and a clean living space? Now’s the perfect time to deep-clean your home, and here’s how you should do it.
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Make a Plan of Attack
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This isn’t going to be a quick cleaning: Plan on at least two days to get everything done, maybe three if you’re trying to clean while the kids are around (and adding to the mess, of course). Deep-cleaning a home is best done in stages, so once you’ve blocked out the time to do it, do a little advance planning before you dive in. Are you more of a room-by-room cleaner or a whole-house type? Either approach is fine if you do it in an organized manner.
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Cut the Clutter
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The first thing you’ll need to do is a regular tidying up. Walk around the house and pick up your messes, putting everything in its place. Do the basic stuff, like washing the dishes and putting them away and taking out the garbage. And make sure that you’ve picked up all of those cardboard boxes lying around from Christmas and put them in the recycle bin. Once you’ve gotten the obvious messes out of the way, you can focus on the more in-depth cleaning.
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Take it From the Top
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The best approach, whether you want to go room by room or take on the whole place at once, is to start at the ceiling. After all, dust falls downward, so you wouldn’t want to vacuum the carpet before you clean the ceiling fan! Start with the highest part of the room, and don’t neglect anything. Sweep the cobwebs out of those high corners. Dust the tops of your kitchen cabinets. Clean the ceiling fans and the light fixtures. And if you’ve got air vents near the ceiling, clean those, too.
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The Eyes Have it
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Now, take on everything that’s at eye level. Clean all of the windows, including dusting the window ledges. Wipe down the mirrors, too. And take down all of the curtains, wash them, dry them, and re-hang them. Dust any shelves that are around eye level. And don’t forget to dust the decorations, too, like the tops of picture frames and wall hangings.
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Hands-On Job
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Next, move down to the areas that are right around where your hands are, around waist to hip level. Dust everything around this height. Scrub down all of your counter tops and sinks. Strip the bed, wash everything, and remake it. Clean the coffee tables and nightstands, and don’t forget to clean the upholstered furniture: Vacuum it and give it a good steam-cleaning or at least spot-cleaning. Now’s also a good time to scrub the shower(s), bathtub(s), and toilet(s).
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Getting Underfoot
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Finally, it’s time to tackle the floor-level stuff. Dust the baseboards first. Then, sweep and mop all of your hard-surface floors, and vacuum all of the carpets and area rugs. As a last step, sweep your entryway (if you’ve got porches, sweep those, too), and shake out your welcome mats.
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Carpet Cleaning Can Make All the Difference: A Guide to Less Bacteria
Bacteria are tiny microorganisms that exist virtually everywhere on Earth. The only places devoid of bacteria are the ones that have been manually sterilized by humans. While you cannot see bacteria with the naked eye, they are visible under a microscope. Carpets are one part of the home that’s particularly likely to harbor potentially harmful bacteria, but careful cleaning can help reduce bacteria levels in your carpets and other areas.
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What Are Bacteria?
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Bacteria are single-cell organisms. Bacteria fall into three different categories according to their shape: round, cylindrical, and spiral. Most types of bacteria multiply via binary fission, replicating their DNA to create new cells. A few types of bacteria reproduce by a process called “budding.” As bacteria reproduce, they usually vary their genetic material for future survival and to enable them to adapt to their surrounding environment.
Some types of bacteria are beneficial, while others are harmful. The human digestive system is home to specific types of beneficial bacteria that help with digestion and help to keep the immune system strong. Other bacteria can be detrimental to human health, causing illnesses and infections. Escherichia coli and streptococcus are among the most common harmful bacteria. Once a bacterium enters a host, it will try to multiply quickly. Sometimes, a person may have immunity to a specific type of bacteria, either naturally or from a vaccine.
When immunity is present, the body will eliminate the bacteria without illness occurring, but if it is not, the person will fall ill:
The bacteria will multiply quickly, and symptoms of infection will occur. Antibiotics may be necessary to help the body eradicate the bacteria.
Carpets can trap and hold dirt that people track into the house on their shoes, and outdoor pets may also bring in germs on their feet. Bacteria can hide in the carpet fibers, and it may also settle down into the padding and backing of the carpet.
Carpets hold much more dust and dirt than hard flooring because they are much more porous. The norovirus is a particularly common carpet-dwelling germ, and it is often responsible for causing gastrointestinal problems for humans.
It can remain alive in carpet fibers for up to six weeks, and when people walk over the carpet, the bacteria can become airborne. Salmonella could also be lurking in carpet fibers, tracked in on shoes.
If carpets become damp, campylobacter bacteria may fester in the carpet fibers. This type of bacteria is often found in moist environments where mold and mildew are thriving. For this reason, experts usually recommend that anytime carpet, padding, and backing become fully saturated, replacement is necessary.
Regular vacuuming is crucial for keeping carpets clean. For best results, vacuum carpets one or two times per week with a vacuum cleaner that has a high-efficiency particulate air filter to capture as many particles as possible. At least one cleaning per week should involve four minutes of vacuuming over every square meter of carpeting.
Steam cleaning is effective for removing bacteria from carpeting, and this method is preferred because it does not introduce excessive moisture during the cleaning process, which could lead to mold issues. So-called “dry steam cleaning” is another option for carpets, and this method is beneficial because it saturates the carpet less so that the backing does not get wet. It’s possible to rent steam cleaning equipment, or you could hire a professional to perform the work. Steam cleaning carpets twice each year is the general recommendation to keep flooring clean.
Anyone with pets or small children and those with environmental allergies may wish to steam clean their carpets more frequently to reduce the number of allergens and bacteria in the fibers.
Spring has sprung, and with the weather warming up, it’s time for one of the busiest times of year for those in the cleaning business: the annual rite known as spring cleaning. It’s time to let in some fresh air, clear out the cobwebs, and deep-clean everything. But for those who don’t clean for a living, the task can seem pretty overwhelming: Clean the whole house, now, just when it’s getting nice out and you’d rather be outside playing with the kids than inside scrubbing the sinks and shampooing the carpets? It doesn’t have to be that way, though. After all, there’s no rule that you have to do all of your spring cleaning in one day or even one weekend. Breaking it up into little tasks can make a daunting job seem a lot more manageable.
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Do Just One Thing
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Think about all of the little messes all over your house. Now, pick one, and go clean it up. Maybe it’s that sink full of dishes that have been piling up. Perhaps it’s the water-spotted bathroom mirror. Maybe it’s the table where you tend to throw your junk mail until it starts to slide off of the pile and onto the floor. Or maybe it’s the junk drawer: Come on, you know you have one, that one drawer we all have where all sorts of random junk tends to end up, from tape measures to butcher’s twine to thumbtacks to tweezers. Just clean one spot. It won’t take that long, and if you keep doing that every time you have a few minutes, keep cleaning up one more place, eventually, you’ll have the whole house tidy.
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… Or Do Two Things At Once
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Better yet, embrace the art of multitasking. You could be super-productive this way: Throw a load of laundry in the washer, then go do the dishes while the clothes are washing, then put the laundry in the dryer, then scrub the bathroom until the dryer stops. Or you could be less productive, but make the work more pleasant, by doing something fun while you work. For instance, take that basket of clean laundry to the living room and fold it while you’re watching TV, or put on your favorite music and dance while you dust.
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Share and Share Alike
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You could also take a divide-and-conquer approach. You might assign each family member one room to clean. Or you could give each person one chore, like cleaning all of the windows in the house or vacuuming all of the rugs. Better yet, involve the kids by making a game out of cleaning. You might have them race to see who can fold the most laundry (neatly, please!) by the time the basket’s empty, or see who can find the most expired foods to pull out of the fridge. Or you could send them on a scavenger hunt through the house: Give them a list of things to get rid of, such as a broken toy, a too-small shirt, a dried-out pen, and a piece of junk mail, and see who can collect everything you need to throw out the fastest.
Spring has sprung, and with the weather warming up, it’s time for one of the busiest times of year for those in the cleaning business: the annual rite known as spring cleaning. It’s time to let in some fresh air, clear out the cobwebs, and deep-clean everything. But for those who don’t clean for a living, the task can seem pretty overwhelming: Clean the whole house, now, just when it’s getting nice out and you’d rather be outside playing with the kids than inside scrubbing the sinks and shampooing the carpets? It doesn’t have to be that way, though. After all, there’s no rule that you have to do all of your spring cleaning in one day or even one weekend. Breaking it up into little tasks can make a daunting job seem a lot more manageable.
Do Just One Thing
Think about all of the little messes all over your house. Now, pick one, and go clean it up. Maybe it’s that sink full of dishes that have been piling up. Perhaps it’s the water-spotted bathroom mirror. Maybe it’s the table where you tend to throw your junk mail until it starts to slide off of the pile and onto the floor. Or maybe it’s the junk drawer: Come on, you know you have one, that one drawer we all have where all sorts of random junk tends to end up, from tape measures to butcher’s twine to thumbtacks to tweezers. Just clean one spot. It won’t take that long, and if you keep doing that every time you have a few minutes, keep cleaning up one more place, eventually, you’ll have the whole house tidy.
… Or Do Two Things At Once
Better yet, embrace the art of multitasking. You could be super-productive this way: Throw a load of laundry in the washer, then go do the dishes while the clothes are washing, then put the laundry in the dryer, then scrub the bathroom until the dryer stops. Or you could be less productive, but make the work more pleasant, by doing something fun while you work. For instance, take that basket of clean laundry to the living room and fold it while you’re watching TV, or put on your favorite music and dance while you dust.
Share and Share Alike
You could also take a divide-and-conquer approach. You might assign each family member one room to clean. Or you could give each person one chore, like cleaning all of the windows in the house or vacuuming all of the rugs. Better yet, involve the kids by making a game out of cleaning. You might have them race to see who can fold the most laundry (neatly, please!) by the time the basket’s empty, or see who can find the most expired foods to pull out of the fridge. Or you could send them on a scavenger hunt through the house: Give them a list of things to get rid of, such as a broken toy, a too-small shirt, a dried-out pen, and a piece of junk mail, and see who can collect everything you need to throw out the fastest.
Spring is upon us and so is allergy season. We can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, until that familiar tingling in the nose sets in. Along with spring comes seasonal allergies, and for those who also suffer from severe allergies and/or asthma, this is a particularly difficult and dangerous time of the year. In some cases, allergies to spring’s pollens and dust can turn into allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, and for asthmatics serious breathing trouble. You don’t have to seal yourself into a bubble, however, to avoid the discomfort of spring allergies. Keep things clean and fresh and be surprised at the difference it makes.
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Allergy-proof Your Cleaning Products
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Before you dive into your spring-cleaning, it’s important to look at what you use to clean first. This might surprise you, but your cleaning products could actually be causing your allergic reaction more than seasonal allergies. Studies show that perfumes can trigger allergies in some people and are definitely bad news for asthmatics, so dump the air fresheners, scented detergents, furniture polish, everything, and opt for natural, unscented cleaners instead.
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Scent isn’t the only thing that might be irritating to you and your family. Certain ingredients that were once thought as fantastic for cleaning are also detrimental to those suffering from seasonal allergies and asthmatics. Even if you do have unscented cleaners, check the labels for ammonia, bleach, calcium hypochlorite, chlorine, D-limonene, formaldehyde, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium lauryl sulphate. Don’t be surprised if your cleaning products fail to list the ingredients, and if they do, turn them in during your city’s next hazardous waste collection.
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As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, there are plenty of simple, affordable, and natural cleaning options out there that will clean, sanitize, and freshen your home without harsh allergy-inducing chemicals. If you don’t want to purchase natural cleaners, make your own using ingredients such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemons, olive oil, salt, and white vinegar. Check out my post “When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them in These Amazing 14 Ways” for recipes.
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Spring Clean Your Allergies Away
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Once you’ve removed the irritants from your cleaning supplies, it’s time to clean. As you know, pollens and dust multiply exponentially in the spring and summer months. This is in part due to everything blooming and in part due to your doors and windows being open. Cleaning tasks that could have been put on hold in the winter cannot be set aside in spring, particularly if you are suffering from allergies. It’s time to roll your sleeves up, put on a mask if cleaning exacerbates your allergies, and follow these tips
Start outside. It does you no good to clean the inside of your home from top to bottom if dirt and pollen is going to be tracked in from the outside, particularly if you have carpeting to trap the irritants. Keep your driveway, walkways, front porch, and patios swept clean to avoid additional dust being tracked or blown into your house.
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Reduce your clutter. Speaking of dust, there is no better dust trap than a ton of knick-knacks, bookshelves full of books, boxes everywhere, magazines, newspapers, piles of clothes… I could go on. If your house is cluttered, it’s dusty, not to mention a lot harder to clean. Reduce your clutter to avoid dust traps. You don’t want the dust and you definitely don’t want the mites.
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Replace mattress covers and pillowcases. Speaking of dust mites, replace your mattress covers and pillowcases with dust-proof covering. It’s also wise to replace your bedding with hypoallergenic, natural options to ensure that your allergies are not being triggered at night during your sleep. The same goes for your blankets and comforters.
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Wash them weekly. Aside from protecting your mattress and pillows from dust mites, you should also wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly in your washing machine’s hot cycle, and your blankets and comforters monthly. Use unscented, hypoallergenic, biodegradable laundry detergent and soften your bedding naturally with white vinegar or baking soda.
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Don’t dry outside. It admittedly saves energy to avoid using your dryer and air-dry your laundry, but as your linens and clothing are sun drying, they are also picking up pollen from the air. When your allergies kick up, dry everything in the dryer using the lowest heat setting possible to save energy, and skip dryer sheets – those are all kinds of trouble, including causing allergic reactions.
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Trap the dust. Speaking of the dust and pollen outside, you need to trap the dust and pollen inside while cleaning; otherwise, it’ll just be released into the air and settle onto your floors, furniture, and décor. Use damp clothes to wipe everything down instead of dry dusting, and make sure your vacuum has a good HEPA filter that traps dust instead of kicking it into the air.
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Watch for mold. Keep your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any other area in your home where there is moisture as dry and clean as possible to avoid mold growth. Mold is a primary allergen and can be extremely hazardous to everyone’s health, particularly if you or a family member suffers from asthma. Air out damp environments and keep them clean.
If you find after practicing these cleaning tips that your allergies aren’t getting any better, you may have to take drastic steps, such as redoing your flooring, curtains, and blinds to avoid allergy triggers like carpeting and heavy drapes that cannot be washed regularly. You might also have to keep your doors and windows shut and run your air-conditioning instead of allowing fresh, yet pollen-laden, air inside. I hope you don’t have to do this, because a beautiful spring day needs to come into your home. Either way, ease your seasonal allergies by keeping everything clean and dust-free.
Cleaning a fireplace is never easy. This is particularly true for limestone fireplaces.
The sedimentary rock limestone is composed mostly of aragonite or calcite, two crystal forms of calcium carbonate. It is commonly used in North American and European architecture. The readily available nature, durability, and ease of manipulation make limestone popular as a building material. Limestone fireplaces are beautiful structures and regular cleaning is required to keep them that way.
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Preparing Limestone Fireplaces For Cleaning
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Step 1: Limestone is soft and porous, so care must be taken in its cleaning. If dust is present, use a soft bristled brush or a soft brush attachment connected to a vacuum to remove it.
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Step 2: Keep items like cigarettes and vases filled with water away from the area, as these can cause damage.
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Cleaning Limestone Fireplaces
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Step 1: Dampen a clean cotton cloth with a mixture of dish soap and water. Never use chemical or abrasive cleaners, spray polishes, or wax, as they will damage the limestone.
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Step 2: Dab the cloth onto the spot on the fireplace. If necessary, scrub in a circular motion. This process can be used whether the spot is due to dirt or is a stain from substances like wine or coffee. When cleaning limestone, it is important not to soak through the stone because this may leave a permanent stain.
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Step 3: Allow the area to thoroughly dry. If the stain is not gone, reapply the solution, using a clean area of the cloth. Scrub gently in a circular motion for several minutes until the spot or stain is removed.
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When purchasing a new fireplace made of limestone, make sure that a sealant is used to prevent stains. A limestone hearth should be sealed twice, allowing the first coat to dry completely before applying the second. The best sealants will not change the color of limestone fireplaces. After a reapplication about six months or a year later, no further sealing should be required.
If you watch TV at all, then you have probably seen the show “Hoarders.” It features true stories about people who compulsively hold onto anything and everything. Hoarding comes in a variety of extremes, but most hoarders cannot let go of unnecessary items. As they cling to things, the piles grow as high as the ceiling, and this compulsion begins to directly impact their everyday life.
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For one family, hoarding was something to be proud of. TLC spoke to a mom who would hoard anything that held a memory. As her daughter begged her to change, her son followed in her footsteps. It was shocking to watch the mom smile with happiness that her son was now clinging to objects. As the family worked together to overcome emotional issues, they were able to gain the strength to start cleaning and uncluttering their home.
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Hoarding for many is a way to feel in control in an unstable environment. As they collect and add possessions to their life, they feel like they can hold onto objects even if relationships fall apart. Oprah Winfrey took part in an effort to help hoarders, deciding to dive right into the wreckage and help families out of the mess. As her cleanup crew started tossing the garbage and junk at one home, they came across black mold. It was trapped beneath the piles and grew safely for years. The mold was incredibly dangerous, and a few of the workers had to be treated for rashes caused by the mold.
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Another woman felt connected to everything she came in contact with. This could be anything from candy wrappers to pets. She would hoard it all and never throw away anything. TLC came to the rescue when her co-workers complained about her constant smell. Her house was so buried in filth that her clothing and hair permanently stunk no matter how often she showered. As the clutter and piles were removed, the bones and remains of her cats were discovered. It sounds disgusting, but it is the sad reality of extreme hoarding.
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If you feel the itch to cling to things that are unnecessary, start cleaning it now before you’re buried in it. Here are six things you can do to tackle a hoarding problem.
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Clean One Closet at a Time
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If you start going through the entire house tossing whatever your foot hits first, things are going to get messy fast. Start in one room and sort through the closet. Slowly move through the rest of the house.
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Toss it Once
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Don’t set things aside to be tossed later; do it now. Those things will only take up space and get harder to keep organized later.
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Have a Garage Sale
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A garage sale is a great way to get rid of items while getting something in return. Set a date for a month or two later, and gather as much stuff as you can together. The garage sale date will motivate you to work hard, but it will also hold you accountable for getting it done.
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Only Have One Collection
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You might have collected cows as a child, porcelain dolls as a teen, and comic books as an adult, but you need to limit yourself to one collection. It will free up cluttered shelves and lighten anxiety.
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Clean, Recycle, Reuse, Donate, and Toss
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As you go through piles of clutter, sort items into groups. Some things will need to be cleaned, others can be reused or recycled, and items you no longer use can be donated.
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Place it in a Box
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If getting rid of that stack of magazines is causing you heartache, stick it all in a box marked “Toss in six months,” and then write the date at the bottom. When six months rolls around, if the box has not been opened, without looking inside, throw everything into the trash.
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Cleaning out clutter and piles of unused things can be very therapeutic and freeing. Don’t let hoarding take over your life; get the help you need and tackle it while it can still be tackled.
The big winter freeze is coming. During it, you’ll likely want to harness the cozy comfort of your fireplace. If you want to enjoy the warm glow during the holidays, it’s best to maintain and clean your chimney, woodstove, and fireplace now. At least once a season, you should give everything a good cleaning: Un-inspected and unclean chimneys are the one of the top sources of residential fires in New York state. To increase the efficiency of your fires and make your home safer and more comfortable for everyone, clean these items thoroughly before starting to use them again.
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Cleaning the Chimney
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Let me be clear here and state that this is not a DIY project. Even the DIY Network doesn’t recommend doing this yourself. There are several reasons why: You’d need to climb on top of your roof. The stuff that you’d be cleaning up is a caked-on residue of ash and soot called creosote, which can irritate the skin and eyes, so proper masks are needed. And everyone’s chimney is a little bit different, and expert knowledge is required to find the problem areas. (Remember, if it’s not cleaned and inspected properly, a clogged or damaged chimney can cause a fire.)
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Before a professional pulls in the drop cloth and starts to suck up the debris with a high-powered vacuum cleaner and those characteristic bristles (which always remind me a bit of a Charles Dickens novel), they’ll inspect the lintel, bricks, and damper, and they’ll look at the inside and outside of the chimney for cracks. This routine inspection is important because a damaged chimney can be even more problematic than a dirty one.
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How often should you call a professional to check it out? It depends on a few things, including the frequency of use and the type of wood burned. It should at least be done once a year, or when the caked-on creosote is about a quarter of an inch thick.
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Cleaning a Woodstove
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The actual woodstove may be something you can clean yourself, on the other hand, and a dirty stove won’t operate as efficiently as a clean one.
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Cleaning a woodstove’s chimney, called the stovepipe, may be another process that should involve a professional once a season, as this also involves getting up on the roof. It’s a bit simpler than a proper brick chimney, though. Just be sure to take the proper safety precautions and to don safety equipment (such as gloves, goggles, and a mask).
After removing blocking firebricks, then removing the top of the pipe on the roof, you’ll need to scrape the creosote with a putty knife at the top and then use a chimney brush to loosen buildup. This will fall into the woodstove, which can be scooped up as you clean the box.
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The secret to cleaning the stove itself is to let your stove and its contents cool completely, so that it’s cold to the touch and there are no embers inside. (To be completely sure, knock around the ashes a bit to see if there are any embers.)
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Dumping out the ashes:
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Make sure that you have a drop cloth around the stove and that your receptacle is metal rather than plastic. It should have a cover, so that any potential embers can be smothered. Scoop out the ashes into the container, close it, and then let them sit for 48 hours before throwing them out. Sometimes, stoves like this might have a tray for the ash: If so, check that as well.
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Cleaning the glass: Here’s a little trick for you: Dampen some newspaper and place it in the white ash. The white ash contains calcium carbonate, which is a mildly abrasive liming agent, so you can clean with it. Take your damp newspaper covered in the ash and rub it on the glass of your stove. Then, wipe the excess away with a clean, soft towel.
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Vacuum the box: Using a heavy-duty vacuum, you can suck up the debris around the corners of the box and around the seal. Also, check out the smoke shelf while you’re doing this (which is at the back and top of the woodstove).
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Clean the exterior of the stove: Using a combination of vinegar, water, and soap, clean the exterior if you have a ceramic stove. If your stove is cast iron, don’t use this solution: Use a stiff brush and a vacuum cleaner instead.
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Cleaning the Fireplace
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Cleaning up your fireplace is the simplest thing to do yourself and can help your fireplace be more efficient and safer. That being said, it’s still a good idea to don a pair of rubber gloves and put on a face mask and goggles so you don’t irritate your skin or eyes with the creosote.
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Safely removing the ashes: When you’re cleaning a fireplace, use some of the same tips as with a woodstove. Make sure the ashes are dead and cold, and then gather them into a metal container with a lid and let that container sit for 48 hours before throwing them away. Be sure to sweep the sides of the fireplace, and suck up the rest from corners and tight areas with a heavy-duty vacuum.
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Clean the grate: Remove and scrub down your grate with a wire brush for a bit. That simple motion will remove the majority of the gunk.
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Clean the doors: If you have glass doors, you can use the same technique as above: Use a damp cloth and white ash, and then wipe away the excess. I’ve heard you can also use a solution of vinegar, water, and ammonia, but the ash works fine.
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Clean the exterior: For firebrick exteriors, create a cream out of equal parts dish soap and salt. Place it on the exterior and let it sit about ten to 15 minutes. Then, scrub it away with the wire brush.
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With all of these different cleaning tips, the best tip is to be proactive: Burn the right types of woods. Don’t burn “green” wood, wet wood, pressure-treated wood, particle board, or any woods with chemicals applied to them. Seasoned, dry wood is the way to go. Doing this will often result in less creosote.
The one thing I love most about Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas is the decorations hung on the doors mixed with the special colors the seasons bring. Once the big day comes and goes, I am always left a little sad. The decorations must go and be put away for an entire year. Then it’s time to clean. I always feel accomplished when I take a messy room and make it sparkle, but it can be a little sad when it involves putting away exciting and spooky decor. It can also be hard trying to fit awkward candles and wreaths in boxes, but with the right tips, you can store your stuff quickly and neatly.
Plan Ahead
The first step starts at the store before a holiday. While looking at that wicked witch on Halloween, ask yourself “do I have room to store this?” If your storage space is already lacking breathing room, squeezing in another decoration isn’t going to be easy.
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I understand the temptation to add to your Halloween or Christmas collection; who can turn down that adorable Advent countdown calendar? If you must buy it though, and I know you must, go through your old ones and donate items that no longer fit your style or are usually left in the box anyways. Plan ahead so you will have room for new things.
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Organize
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Once you have decided which items to keep or donate, it is time to clean-up and organize. Buy totes that match for Halloween; such as orange or black, or Christmas with red and green. I can’t tell you how many times we have opened box after box looking for holiday decor.
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Trust me when I say it isn’t easy opening 23 boxes of Christmas, Easter, and Valentines hoping with each one to “please be Halloween this time.” Clear boxes work great too and always, always label. Keep awkward items, that can’t fit in totes next to all the Halloween decor so they are easy to find. Label entire shelves and sections for specific holidays so you don’t have to go looking through closets or storage space.
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If space is still an issue, take items out of individual boxes to open up room in the totes. Use specific holiday rags, towels, rugs as packing paper. With the right arrangement and a little work, you can get your holiday decorations organized to fit nicely in your storage space.
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There are many different ways to organize; check out these links for more ideas to get your Halloween decorations packed up and stored neatly.
How to Organize Halloween Decor Halloween is over and now it is time to pack up those plastic pumpkins and scary skeletons. Read about the best ways to organize your decorations and keep them safely stored.
Packing Halloween Decorations Year after year you add decorations to your home, and soon there are a few you might not be too fond of. Before packing everything into storage, ask yourself these simple questions to see if it is something you should keep or trash.
Storing Seasonal Decorations This blog post goes over how she organizes even the most awkward holiday decor that is only used once a year.
10 Unique Holiday Storage Ideas Decorations come in many different sizes and incredibly awkward shapes. Check out these creative storage ideas to help open up room in your garage.
How To Best Prevent and Disinfect Your Home Against Winter Illness
When harsh weather hits, it tends to correlate with some pretty severe illnesses along with your regular cold and flu viruses. Illnesses in general just seem to linger longer in the wintertime. There are a lot of ways you can take care of yourself as well as ways you can take care of your home. If you have small children or elderly people living with you, it’s especially important to take at least some of these steps to prevent the spread of disease:
Preventing Illnesses 101
Make sure your cleaning supplies disinfect. This might seem obvious, but I’m honestly surprised that many people don’t do this. If you don’t see familiar phrases like “antibacterial” or “kills 99% of germs,” your cleaning supplies might not actually be disinfecting. I talk about a lot of DIY cleaning supplies, but during this time of year, it’s time to break out the bleach!
Use and teach kids proper hand-washing methods. Doctors have found that the type of soap doesn’t really matter; it’s the amount of time you spend scrubbing under hot water (at least 20-25 seconds) that’s important.
Stop sharing your drinks, utensils, and foods. You shouldn’t really do this anyway, but especially in the wintertime, don’t share.
Scrub your bathroom and kitchen more frequently. These are the places that most often have and spread germs, so during the wintertime, you might want to up the ante.
Keep germs out of your entryway. In the city, you’re likely constantly using public transportation. Don’t touch anything you don’t have to, obviously. But no matter what you do, you’ll likely have some germs on you when you get home. Where do you put your keys, your coat, your phone, and your shoes, and when do you wash your hands? What is your entrance routine like? When you clean, trace your steps. Clean the surfaces you touch first when you walk in the door.
Continue to exercise, sleep on a regular schedule, and eat well. If you exercise, you’re giving your immune system a good boost.
Launder winter clothing before you start using it. People sometimes forget to launder their scarves, which go directly near their faces! Regularly toss items like gloves, hats, mittens, scarves, and coats in the washer when you can.
Stop bad face-touching habits. Biting one’s nails, rubbing one’s face, or rubbing one’s nose or eyes can all be considered to be bad habits that spread germs.
Get fresh air every once in a while. When it’s not too cold, open your windows. Getting fresh air flowing can help to prevent breathing in the same germs over and over.
Clean these places that you touch often and don’t think about:
Remote controls
Your phone
Your purse or briefcase (exterior and interior, especially the bottom where you set it down)
Doorknobs and locks
Handles and knobs of dressers, kitchen cabinets, etc.
When doing laundry, use a hamper (don’t hug the laundry to your chest), and then wipe down the hamper with a disinfectant once everything’s in the wash.
Create a space for your loved one to be sick and try to avoid contact with them. Contain that person to one room of the house, like their bedroom.
Give them plenty of tissues or a space to throw up. Then, be careful when throwing out the garbage, and do it frequently. Don’t leave dirty tissues all over the floor.
When they’re better, clean the trashcan they were using.
Clean the heck out of the bathroom or any other shared space that they have with you.
Clean the bedside table or anything else they might have touched.
Sick, sleepy people sometimes seem like they need to be cuddled, and it’s hard to resist the urge. Leave them alone and go sleep on the couch for a bit. Sleeping together will just make you sick. (I’ve done this and regretted it.)
Throw out their toothbrush and give them a new, fresh one. Clean your toothbrush holder, too.
If you use a loofah, use bleach to clean it, or just throw it out. If you use bar soap, make sure to rinse it off before using it.
Control the air quality. Circulate fresh air, or at least make sure you have a clean air filter. Humidifiers often help people recover from a cold.
Santa Claus is coming to town so give the house a good cleaning before he arrives. Cleaning the house before decorating it for the holidays makes everything much easier. Get the entire family involved, assigning tasks to your spouse and children. This is a great way for kids to earn allowance money for holiday gifts and it keeps the hubby or wife from doing too much holiday shopping.
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Declutter the house before cleaning it, removing items from areas that will soon feature holiday decorations. If you have extra room available in closets or drawers, place these items there or wrap them and put them into storage containers. Otherwise, put the items together on a table and put them into boxes after you empty these of holiday decorations.
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Give the house a through dusting, carpet cleaning, and floor mopping. Wipe down walls and cabinets and clean the windows so your holiday candles will shine into the darkness. Now is also a great time to clean out kitchen cabinets, the refrigerator, and freezer. This frees up space for holiday goodies and ingredients for the big meal. Throw out expired items and donate unwanted nonperishable food to the local food pantry. Organize cabinets so everything will be easy to find when preparing the holiday meal.
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If guests will be staying overnight during the holidays, place fresh bed sheets on the beds and give the room a thorough dusting and carpet cleaning. Clean the guest bathroom, make sure it is stocked with soap and shampoo, and hang out holiday towels and washcloths. Add a small basket of toiletries like a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, and hair spray so guests can use whatever they forget to bring.
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After the home is clean, let the decorating begin! Keep cleaning products on hand because some holiday decorations may need dusting or cleaning. Once the house is decorated, get out the holiday china, silverware, and glassware, inspecting it to see if any items are dirty. Special cleaning products and techniques must be used on these items so treat everything with care.
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Once these chores are completed, make the holiday cookie list. Prepare the treats throughout the weeks before Christmas so there is always something to enjoy. Friends, neighbors, and co-workers will love receiving these goodies to munch on while they are doing their own holiday cleaning and decorating. Keep your own house clean through Christmas by giving it an occasional dusting and vacuuming.
It’s coming: the onslaught of relatives and visitors who stampede into your home during the holiday season. Sure, we love them. Sure, we’re really excited to finally have everyone in one place. But when it comes to cleaning, most people are in a lose-lose situation. We lose when we don’t have the home clean enough, to the disgust of prissy and persnickety relatives. (Does anyone else have a relative who swipes random surfaces to see if there’s dust?) We also lose when we have to police our guests on taking off their shoes, using a coaster, and avoiding spills. So we should keep things clean, but we shouldn’t do anything while people are around to ensure that things are clean.
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The holidays can be a really tumultuous time for your rugs, surfaces, and kitchen. Just because you’re playing host doesn’t mean that your whole home has to suffer. But it doesn’t mean you have to slave away without enjoying yourself during the actual parties, either. If you think ahead and have a game plan, you can break out of that lose-lose situation and stress less during that time between Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas.
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The Carpet:
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Keep your entryways and high-traffic areas clean easily. The secret is throwing out rugs. Really! Just get two different decorative holiday rugs and switch them out after the family has left.
You can also put doormats both outside and on the inside, and encourage your guests to wipe off the salt before stepping inside.
Brush your dog outside. Do a deep clean of pet hair before people come over.
Oh, no! Your guests dropped their wine glass. Blot it with a homemade detergent of one teaspoon of clear dish soap without bleach in a cup of warm water. If it’s red wine, follow that up with three-percent-strength hydrogen peroxide.
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The Dining/Living Rooms:
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A few days ahead of time, clean your china and glassware.
Polish your fancy silverware. Remember, never put silver in the dishwasher. Hand-wash it separately from stainless with non-lemon-scented dish soap.
Set your table with chargers for about a week ahead of time. Then, when you go to set it, just wipe away the dust. This tip is less about cleaning and more about training your family and early visitors to not use the dining table as a dumping ground for bills, mail, homework, and etc.
Deep-clean these rooms: It’s where your guests will be spending the majority of their time. Dust all surfaces. Then, polish wooden surfaces with this cheap DIY wood polish. It makes messes easier to clean later.
De-clutter and dust before you decorate. Decorations get in the way of dusting your surfaces, so pick them up and clean them before you put stuff there.
Switch out your tree skirt. One can get covered in pine needles or just filthy from tree water, broken ornaments, and spills. Keep a separate, laundered one for the big day.
If someone gets sap from the tree on your upholstery, blot it with rubbing alcohol.
For those with metal menorahs, stick them in the freezer and flick off the remaining wax.
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The Kitchen:
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Before you get ready to stuff tons of food into your fridge, give it a deep clean. Toss out old or unnecessary condiments, and wash surfaces. This will leave more room for leftovers later.
Make sure your garbage disposal is clean and works well. It’s likely going to get a lot of use. Also, make sure all drains aren’t clogged by using this homemade drain cleaner recipe.
When you inevitably spill something on the stove, don’t stress. Pour salt on the mess. Let it soak up the liquid, and then wipe it away after your guests have gone.
Have someone take out the trash before, after, and during the hullabaloo. Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of a fresh bag to avoid bad
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To make your entire home smell good in the morning, brew good-quality coffee. Your guests will probably want some, and it hides unpleasant aromas. Another way to keep your house smelling amazing is to have a simmer pot on the stove.
When working with poultry, clean everything multiple times and wash your hands thoroughly!
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Bathrooms:
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If you have the option, encourage your guests to stick to one bathroom. Then, give that one a really deep clean both before and after.
Your towels might be a bit musty, especially when you have special, decorative towels that come out once a year. Freshly launder your towels. To get rid of the musty smell, wash them twice, first with baking soda, then with regular detergent. If they’re clean but you just want them to smell nice again, just put them in the dryer for 15 minutes with a fresh-scented dryer sheet.
Clean the toilet with leftover soda. Let it sit and then brush it away.
Be kind to your guests by leaving a fancy candle, air freshener spray, or some other way to hide any smells.
Also, make sure they have plenty of liquid hand soap.
Clean out your medicine cabinet. Yes, people will look. Remove everything, wipe down the shelving, and put back cleaned items that haven’t expired. Make sure to buy medicine people might need, such as basic first aid supplies and antacids.
Wipe down your mirrors with vinegar and newspapers.
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Guest Bedroom(s):
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Launder the sheets and bedspreads and maybe even the pillows if they smell moldy.
Remove clutter and make sure your guests have room and safe surfaces to place their things.
Baseboards are noticeable and usually gross. Wipe them down with a dryer sheet.
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Miscellaneous:
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Wash your windows. When the sunlight comes streaming in, the fact that you forgot to clean them becomes very obvious. Also, launder or vacuum your curtains.
Make sure your guests have a place to hang their coats: Make space on your coat rack or in your coat closet.
When opening presents, have extra bags ready to contain discarded wrapping paper. Also, encourage children to both open presents and play in one area of the house. This will allow you to catch up on cleaning without finding random toys everywhere.
Blow-dry your wreaths on the cool setting to get rid of dust.
Polish doorknobs and knockers. Welcome your guests from the moment they knock on the door!
The bathroom is not the easiest room to clean in the home. Mildew likes to grow in this moist area and there are crevices and components that require some advanced cleaning methods. Knowing some bathroom cleaning can make the job easier. The result will rival those provided by a professional cleaning service.
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Shower mats get dirty from soap scum and dirty feet. Clean the mat using a stiff brush dipped in a solution of warm water and kerosene. Bath oils create rings around the tub so minimize their use and rinse the tub following bathing when they are used. Tub rings can be removed with undiluted ammonia or with baking soda applied by a wet sponge. Extremely tough stains can be treated with a cloth dipped in vinegar or scrubbed with automatic dishwashing detergent.
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Rubbing alcohol is an excellent cleaner for bathtub caulks and it makes glass and chrome shine. If mildew accumulates in tub corners, dip a cotton ball in bleach, apply it to the area, and allow it to sit while cleaning the rest of the bathroom. Remove the cotton ball and rinse the area, which should now be mildew-free.
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Keeping the bathroom disinfected helps to kill germs. In just a few minutes each day, everything but the bathroom mirror can be disinfected. In small bathrooms, a sponge and all-purpose spray cleaner can be used to quickly clean the floor when there is no time for mopping. A fresh cut lemon works wonders on light stains in the sink, while lemon juice and borax handle dark stains such as rust.
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Lining the wastebasket with a fabric softener sheet or dabbing perfume on light bulbs creates an instant air freshener.
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Drains can be freshened by pouring about ½ box of baking soda, followed by ½ cup of white vinegar, down them. Cover the drain for several minutes and then flush it with cold water.
Spring cleaning is a common chore and by March, many people have amassed an impressive inventory of cleaning products in preparation for the big event. However, there is no reason to wait until spring to do major cleaning. We can do it now when the weather is cold and we are stuck indoors. When spring arrives, we can enjoy the beautiful weather up close, rather than through a window being cleaned.
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During winter, we track snow and salt into the home, the fireplace blasts ashes, and the heater is in overdrive, leading dust and debris to swirl around indoors with no escape. A thorough winter cleaning makes the home healthier and gives us a break from the typical routine of watching television or reading. With a practical cleaning plan in place, the house will be ship-shape in no time.
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Cleaning or changing the furnace filter monthly improves energy efficiency and indoor air quality. While addressing the filter, assess the cleanliness of the furnace. Vacuum up dust bunnies, wipe off grime, and dust the surface with a clean cloth. Consider having a professional clean the air ducts to improve furnace efficiency and reduce airborne allergens, germs, and dust.
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When salt water melts, it creates a white sheen on hardwood floors. On snowy days, leave footwear in a boot tray by the door. Mop hardwood floors according to the manufacturer instructions. If your finished hardwoods are old, a mopping with warm water followed by drying with a clean towel is sufficient. Carpet cleaning is also necessary because salt gets trapped in carpet fibers. The dirtiest carpets may require steam carpet cleaning.
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Indoor air is dry and warm during winter, creating a lot of dust. Regularly dust indoor surfaces completely and do not neglect window frames or ceiling fan blades. Dusting light fixtures can brighten the indoor environment, which has a positive psychological effect. The same holds true with cleaning windows, which may have accumulated soot due to burning candles or using the fireplace. Use commercial window cleaning products or combine vinegar and water for a homemade cleaner.
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Walls and ceilings accumulate dust and dirt and the kitchen ceiling may have a film due to cooking fumes, smoke, and moisture. Add a few drops of gentle dish soap to a bucket and fill it with warm water. Use a clean cloth or sponge to wipe the walls and ceiling with a small amount of this solution, stopping if any streaking or discoloration occurs.
How To Keep Your Outdoor Living Space As Clean As Your Indoor One
We keep our indoors clean, but what about our outdoors? Outside often falls by the wayside, until we holler at the kids to quit tracking dirt inside.
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Summertime is outdoor fun time, so you want to keep your backyard and patio areas clean and accessible, not only for the times when you have family and friends over but also to prevent everyone from tracking dirt inside the house. Let’s talk about how to keep your outdoor living space as clean as your indoor one.
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Clean the Glass
Let’s begin by cleaning the outsides of your windows and all glass accents in your yard decor and patio furniture. Mix a solution of water, white vinegar (a cup should be more than enough), and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap or baby shampoo in a bucket. Using a soft cloth or sponge, wipe down all windows, outdoor table glass, lantern glass, patio light glass, and so on until clean. Rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth.
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Furniture’s Next
Now it’s time to clean the patio furniture. A general cleaning recipe that is safe for all types of patio furniture is 1 teaspoon of biodegradable dish-washing detergent and 1 tablespoon of borax mixed in 1 quart of warm water. Using a soft sponge (not a scrubber sponge, as that will scratch aluminum and plastic furniture), gently wipe down all furniture surfaces until clean. If your patio seats and umbrella are made of canvas, you might be able to remove the material and machine-wash it. If not, wipe that down, too, and rinse everything with fresh water when done.
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Don’t Forget the Grill and Fire Pit
Summer means barbecues and evenings around the fire pit, or at least, it does for me. Make sure these important components of the perfect backyard party are clean and in working order for warmer weather. Clean your grill with baking soda and lemon juice, clean your barbecue’s working components per the manufacturer’s directions, and make sure your propane tank is full and ready to go. The same goes for your fire pit; it’s best to clean it per the manufacturer’s instructions if it’s fueled by natural gas or propane. If it’s wood-burning, clean out the ashes and wipe down the safety grill.
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Patio and Deck Time
Now that everything else on your patio is clean, it’s time to clean the patio itself. Carefully move all of your outdoor furniture and decor to a safe place. This includes potted and hanging plants and any other types of decor. Do not turn on the hose and wash down your patios and decks. Rather, sweep everything clean to avoid dirt and grime being stuck onto the patio and deck by moisture. Once you’ve swept your patio and deck, clean them according to their material. In other words:
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Wood: Wooden decks and patios are a tough bird when it comes to cleaning them naturally. You want to clean them, but you don’t want to use a power washer or acidic cleaners, as they might damage the wood. For this, I recommend going to your home improvement store and selecting an eco-friendly wooden deck cleaner and protectant.
Concrete: You can usually clean your concrete patios with a simple solution of dish soap and hot water. Take a stiff broom and work on the areas that are particularly dirty, and then rinse lightly with a hose. You don’t want to waste too much water, so rinse as sparingly as possible. For tough stains, try adding baking soda or borax to your cleaning solution.
Stone or Brick: Here’s another patio surface you do not want to power-wash; it’s certain you’ll ruin your stone. Rather, clean your stone or brick patio with warm water and dish soap (about a tablespoon will do). Try cleaning dirtier areas with a soft cloth or sponge first to avoid damaging the stone. If that doesn’t work, use a soft-bristled nylon push broom and then rinse everything clean sparingly with fresh water, and replace your furniture and décor when dry.
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That’s it! You’re done and ready for some summer fun in the sun and cool relaxation in the evenings. A sparkling clean patio and backyard area invites your friends and neighbors to stop by for a wonderful visit, and it makes family time outdoors even more special as well!
16 of the Last Things You Want to Hear From a House Guest
Your house guests have arrived with big smiles, but behind those grins are snarky comments about your home. From the moment they walk in, you are greeted with passive-aggressive remarks about the carpet, dusty shelves, dirty dishes, and cluttered cabinets.
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While we all do our best to keep our homes clean, sometimes cleaning tasks are forgotten or saved for later. I love having company, but the ones who compliment and appreciate my hospitality are my favorites. We have all experienced the house guest who isn’t quite so friendly. Here are 16 things a guest might say that will make you cringe – and 16 ways you can prevent that from happening.
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The guest walks in and looks at the carpet with their nose scrunched up: “Do I really need to take off my shoes?”
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While my carpet isn’t brand new, it certainly won’t get your socks dirty! Instead of worrying about replacing your carpet, do a quick vacuum in the front room to let guests know you keep your carpets clean.
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While staring at a streak of food on your couch, they ask, “Is leather hard to keep clean?”
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Kids spill, adults spill, and sometimes, our pets spill. There are going to be messes that you didn’t even realize happened. Try to do a quick walk through your house to check for hidden messes before your guests arrive.
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They intentionally wipe a finger across the furniture: “I didn’t even realize it was dusty until I touched it.”
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Some places in my house get dusty seconds after I finish dusting! It is completely frustrating, but I have found a quick dusting with a feathered brush goes a long way. I save more detailed dusting for only one day a week or twice a month.
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Rubbing the glass in a picture frame with her shirt, they ask, “Who is that a picture of? It’s hard to see through this glass.”
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Picture frames are so easy to forget to clean. I never realize they are dirty until someone else is looking at them. Put them on a monthly cleaning list to remind yourself, and prevent embarrassing T-shirt cleans.
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Pointing towards several hand prints scattered across the doors, a disgusted house guest says, “Your kids must love those doors.”
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Kids love to touch glass doors, and while you might clean them daily, little hands quickly find them again. I wish I could give you a remedy, but instead, I can only suggest enjoying those prints before you wipe the last one away.
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Staring at a dirty spot on the carpet, they sweetly say, “I vacuum my floors every day.”
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I try to vacuum my floors daily, but sometimes I simply don’t have the time! If you are struggling to keep an entire house clean, only vacuum the main areas and save the bedrooms for later.
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After walking by a heaping pile of laundry, they ask, “Are you doing laundry soon?
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I only do laundry once a week, and by the end of the week, the load is huge. Building a laundry shelf to hold several baskets is a great way to keep laundry off the floor and organized.
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Glancing over at a full sink of dishes, they question, “Is the dishwasher broken?”
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When the dishwasher is full, dishes can often sit in the sink waiting for an empty spot. Instead of only using the dishwasher to clean your dishes, wash the larger items by hand and get them all done at once.
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Pointing to the obvious streaks on the mirror, they ask, “What kind of cleaner do you use on your glass windows?”
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Some cleaners are terrible. This is something you have to test and try on your own; you will find what works best for you, so you can proudly look in a streak-free mirror.
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The kids’ toys are everywhere, and your guest becomes concerned about their safety: “I almost tripped on something in that room.”
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Whether it is toys or some other item, nothing is more annoying than a guest who can’t walk around or over something. Focus on keeping clutter out of the main rooms and off the floors, and leave the messes behind hidden doors.
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With a slow, dramatic glance around your cluttered home, your guests decides to bring up your more-organized friend: “Have you ever been to Jane’s house? She just keeps it so clean.”
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I keep my house clean, but there are days where it doesn’t look its best. I always save my deep cleaning for the day before a guest arrives; this ensures that it will be looking its best. I scrub down the bathrooms, clean inside the refrigerator, mop the floors, wipe down the doors, finish the laundry, and vacuum the entire house.
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Food, dishes, and other random items are scattered on the counters, so naturally, they ask, “What did you have for dinner?”
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Oh, the dinner question. To avoid this awkward question, clean up the dishes right after eating and get that dishwasher running.
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The microwave is an embarrassing mess, and your guest sneakily hints towards it: “Do you have a paper towel I can put over my food in the microwave? I wouldn’t want this food to splatter all over in there.”
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Paper towels work great at preventing microwave splatters, but sometimes, they fall off, and within seconds, the microwave can be destroyed. For a quick clean, heat a cup of vinegar and water in the microwave. Everything should wipe off without scrubbing hard or working your muscles.
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Then there are the guests that don’t even try to hide their disgust: “What’s that smell?”
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Sometimes homes stink, and you might not even know it. For a fresh smell in your home, heat a pot of water with orange peels and cinnamon sticks. It will get rid of bad odors and make your home smell lovely.
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There are few blankets on the couch, several books, and a couple of children, but your guest is looking at your couches like a nasty infection: “I don’t really feel like sitting.”
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We live in our house and actually use our couch! Of course there are going to be people and blankets on it! Have a basket for blankets and a basket for books and knick-knacks, so you can quickly clear the couch for house guests.
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The dishwasher left some water streaks on your glasses, but your guest can’t help commenting: “Are these dishes clean?”
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Water streaks are nothing but an innocent streak of clean water. They can’t hurt anyone, but they also aren’t a pretty sight to see while you are drinking. Make sure you add a glass cleaner when you run the dishwasher to prevent streaks, but washing and drying glass cups by hand is a sure way to prevent streaks.
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I always try to have my house looking its best before anyone arrives, but even at its cleanest, I have still heard the remarks. When people want to find something mean to say, they are going to find it.
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Do your best to get your house clean, and then sit back and relax. If your guest still has something rude to say, let it go and enjoy your fresh-looking home through positive eyes.
It finally happened. After a rather warm start to our winter, NYC has been hit with a cold snap. This has left us New Yorkers bundling up ourselves and our homes. We’re freezing, but many of us still manage to lose our cool when we see the energy bill. No matter whether your home is an apartment or a house, there are steps you can take to make your home warmer and safer while still saving on energy. Try some of these tips and tricks.
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ONE. Sew an adorable DIY draft-stopper for your door. All you need is a bit of fabric (which can be anything from a knitted tube to old jeans) and a filling (which is often rice, beans, pillow filling, or even old plastic bags). Sometimes called “draft snakes,” these easy-to-make tubes can be crafted into any design. They’re meant to be placed at the seams of doors and windows to help stop the steady stream of cold air flowing in. . TWO. Reverse your ceiling fan. Ceiling fans can help keep you cool, but they can also help increase the airflow of a room to keep you warm. Turn your fan clockwise for more HVAC effectiveness. . THREE. Wrap your windows in plastic. This project is cheap, easy, and only requires a hairdryer. Simply buy some plastic and place it over your tightly closed windows for a surprisingly effective layer of insulation. If you don’t want to buy or install the admittedly gaudy plastic coverings, thick curtains can go a long way as well. . FOUR. Turn down your water heater. You probably don’t need your water to be scalding hot, as this can waste a ton of energy in the winter. Lower your heater to about 120 degrees. . FIVE. Clean your chimney, fireplace, or stove. You probably should have done this already, but having a clogged or poorly maintained fire area can really suck a lot of heat out of your house. If you’re not using it, make sure it’s shut.
. SIX. Invest in insulation. If your home is really wasting heat, it might be time to insulate your attic and/or basement. In the basement, you can cover up windows and insulate crawl spaces. In the attic, old insulation may be the source of your woes. You can also better insulate your pipes and even insulate your electric outlets, which tend to leak heat.
. SEVEN. Better manage that thermostat. I’ve always been told that keeping the thermostat at one low, manageable temperature and not changing it was the best policy, but new thermostats can be programed to lower the temperature when you leave and raise it when you come back. Technology is so neat.
. EIGHT. Open your curtains during the day. If you have an apartment that faces the sun (or a room in your house that faces the sun), opening up the curtains during the day can bring in sunlight and thus warmth. It’s the cheapest and easiest thing to do to help make your place warmer. But don’t forget to close the curtains at night to provide better insulation.
NINE. Make sure your vents and heat sources aren’t being blocked. If you have an old piece of furniture on top of your best heat vent in a room, that’s probably going to damage the furniture over time as well as keeping it from being warm in your room.
. TEN. Surround yourself in comfortable blankets. The old dad-worthy advice to “put on a sweater” works to some degree. Bundle up indoors: You don’t have to blast the heat until it’s 70 degrees. Make sure there are plenty of comfortable, welcoming blankets and throws for guests to bundle up with, and tuck in when you’re home.
. ELEVEN. Lock your windows and doors. You likely do this anyway, but making sure that your windows and doors are locked creates a tight seal that can also lock in the heat.
If you’re still experiencing very low temperatures indoors and you live in an apartment, it might be time to talk to your landlord about other options, like sealing off ducts, replacing filters, or simply checking the furnace.
Whether you live in the city or in a neighborhood, the luxury of having a large yard is becoming quite rare. For garden lovers, the lack of a yard can be a painful curse. It doesn’t seem fair that the city life automatically disqualifies you from growing something beautiful. While I don’t have the greenest of thumbs, I welcome the presence of plants in my home for their many healthy and positive benefits. Growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers in and around the home is a very fulfilling hobby, but you don’t have to have a huge piece of land to enjoy it. Instead of planting out in the backyard, you can plant up – yes, up, right on the top of your roof. If you can’t plant up, then bring the garden indoors. With a little guidance, hard work, and seeds, you can be seeing green no matter where you live.
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SAFETY AND RULES
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Before starting any project, you need to talk to your landowner, structural engineer, and city to get approval and advice. Rooftops are a little more complicated than an indoor garden, and ensuring the structural system can support the additional weight of soil and plants will make your garden a safe place to walk. Fencing needs to be added to protect the people on the roof and passers-by on the sidewalks below. Anything from a bucket to a shovel could be bumped off and cause serious harm to anyone standing on the ground level. Make sure to follow any regulations and laws: A project done the wrong way can end up costing you thousands in fines.
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SELECT SOIL
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Along with safety comes the decision of the type of soil to use for your plants. Soil can be incredibly heavy and place too much weight on a roof. A planting medium can be used in place of soils to lighten the weight load. For indoor plants, buy a regular bag of soil from any garden store and place it in your planting containers.
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PICK YOUR PLANTS
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Picking plants is my favorite thing about gardening; it allows me to express myself through the various plants available. Herbs, lettuce, zucchini, tomatoes, kale, green onions, and snow peas are going to be your easiest plants to grow both on the rooftop and indoors. Herbs love to be propped up in a kitchen window and thrive in a small pot with lots of sunlight. Larger plants such as watermelon, broccoli, and cauliflower don’t grow well indoors and should be avoided in rooftop gardens as well.
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GATHER CONTAINERS
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Choosing containers really depends on what you want. You can recycle something as simple as a yogurt container or buy your own potting plastic containers. Before placing any plant or seed inside, make sure there are holes in the bottom. Small holes allow for drainage, so excess water can easily escape.
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CHOOSE A WATERING SYSTEM
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Indoor plants are a little tricky to water properly. Too much water can wash out a seed, while too little can kill the plant. Drainage holes will allow excess water to get out, but spraying a mist daily will keep the soil moist while preventing water from flushing out the seed. Rooftop gardens give room for a little creativity in watering systems. A hose can be run up the side of a building and attached to drip lines. Drip lines take a huge work load off of your hands, and keep the water spraying equally.
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BRING ON THE LIGHTS
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Rooftop gardens have the luxury of being drenched in sunlight all day long. Indoor gardens can be placed appropriately to receive the most sunlight possible; remember, windows are your best friend. Setting up fluorescent lights above your plants will help them grow faster and stay in a comfortable warm climate. Play around with the lighting and watch your plants reaction. If they are thriving and continually growing, you are doing it right. When the first hint of green pops up from a planted seed, you will feel a rush of both pride and excitement. Gardens make it possible to eat healthy while providing positive endorphins from hard work and accomplishment. If I can grow something in my home, then I know you can grow many tasty plants inside yours.
The Feng Shui of Cleaning, Minimize Your Clean Time with These Design Tips
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Harmonizing your environment is the philosophy behind feng shui, and whether you’re a cynic or a true believer, there’s something to be said about achieving balance in your life. I’m no feng shui expert, but I do know a thing or two about set-ups, and I bet you’ve never thought about how arranging your furniture can affect your ability to keep your house clean. Intrigued? I hope so, because nothing is more rewarding than finishing your chores and looking over your sparkling environment. If you find you are putting cleaning off because it takes too much time, however, you likely don’t have a balanced environment. Let’s talk about feng shui (when it comes to cleaning, that is) and how you can maximize your space while reducing your cleaning time.
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Arranging Your Furniture
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Perhaps one of the most important things about making your housecleaning easier is how you arrange your furniture. Sure, it might look cool to have an eclectic set up with a ton of pieces scattered oddly about in your space, but an unorganized space is impossible to clean. Like feng shui, simplicity is crucial when arranging your furniture to create an easy cleaning space, and you should keep a few things in mind.
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Placing your furniture up against walls not only maximizes your space and makes smaller rooms look larger, but it also makes keeping the area clean easier. It’s much quicker to vacuum a large, square space than to attempt to vacuum between (and under) numerous pieces of furniture scattered about. Another benefit is not having empty space behind your furniture to collect dust, leaving you with the necessity of squeezing between the sofa and wall to clean the area.
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Using larger pieces of furniture also helps. First, it’s much easier to arrange less furniture in a uniform and easy-to-clean manner than a ton of smaller pieces. Second, larger pieces, such as your sofa and bed, look natural pushed up against the wall. Included in this mix is a larger, rather than smaller coffee table. What is easier to dust? A large coffee table placed in front of your couch or several smaller tables scattered throughout your living space. You see where I’m going with this.
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Worried about moving larger furniture when it’s time to clean underneath? No need. Furniture casters come in all shapes and sizes and make rolling your items out of the way while cleaning a piece of cake.
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Easy-to-Clean Surfaces
The size and arrangement of your furniture is only half the battle. Some surfaces are simply easier to keep clean than others, that’s the bottom line. While that suede couch might look elegant in your new living room, your Labrador’s fur sticking to it is going to quickly become a huge frustration. So, what surfaces are better for quick and easy cleaning than others are? Consider this.
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Do you have pets? If you do than you might already know that carpeting just works better with pets than hardwood floors for the simple reason that the fur sticks to carpet rather than floats around. Vacuuming a carpet cleans it quickly and easily, and acrylic and polyester fibers are generally the easiest to keep clean. Having your carpet treated with a stain guard also makes cleaning up unexpected messes a breeze.
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You probably don’t want carpeting in your kitchen or bathrooms, however, so let’s talk tile surfaces. Sure, it’s nice to have the old-fashioned tile pieces spaced perfectly and held securely with grout… but what about that grout? When thinking easy-to-clean flooring surfaces (and countertops), think seamless, because nothing gets dirty quicker than tile grout. For your floors, stained and sealed concrete, linoleum, or sheet vinyl is the way to go. These surfaces sweep and mop easily and do not have hard-to-clean seams.
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For your countertops, think granite, stainless steel, quartz, or laminate. Again, no seams, easy to clean with the appropriate cleaners, and if you set your sink low into them, you can just sponge spills and messes directly into your sink. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.
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Cleaning is a chore, but it doesn’t have to be a huge burden. If you arrange your furniture with a sense that larger empty spaces are easier to keep clean, use casters to easily move the pieces once it’s time to clean underneath them, and select materials that are low-maintenance, you’ll find the perfect harmony between keeping your house clean and enjoying quality down time. Sounds like the perfect feng shui to me.
Years and years ago, I dreaded getting stains. It was always a devastating day to find a dirty spot on my clothes; I knew it would never come out. Sure, I threw it in the washing machine, praying the stain would melt away, but the stain was always there to stay, and that shirt went into the garbage. I wiped the tears away and promised I would never let anything get on my clothes again. It was a promise I could not keep. Food, grease, mud, and ink always traveled my way. Then, after the pile of stained clothes reached an alarming height, I decided it was time to face my fears. I grabbed all of the cleaning tools in my house, called up my mom, and began fighting the stains. Cleaning stains can be done, but don’t be afraid to try out different methods. Here are the trickiest things to get out of clothes and some steps used to eliminate them.
Dirt
Years ago, I went on a four-wheeler ride through the mud. When we got home, I was covered from head to toe. I was ready to throw everything in the garbage, but I decided to give it a cleaning chance. The first thing you should do is let the mud dry completely. Once it is dry, shake your clothes until all of the excess dirt is off. Take a vacuum and vacuum the stained area to remove the rest of the dirt. Now, you will be left with the stain. Apply laundry stain remover to the area, and let it soak for a good 20 minutes. Fill the bath tub and let your clothes soak in it for another 15 minutes. Last, grab a laundry brush (or use your fingers) and scrub the stained area. Once the stain looks to be gone, throw it in the washer for a final cleaning.
Sweat
I often dress up for special occasions in a buttoned-down white shirt, and my skin and sweat always stain the inside of the collar. It is gross-looking, but it happens to everyone. To remove that brownish color, spray stain remover around the entire collar and let it sit for 15 minutes. Grab an old toothbrush and coat it with liquid laundry detergent. Scrub the stain and toss it in the laundry machine.
Wine and Juice
If you’ve ever splashed grape juice or wine on your shirt, you’ve probably instantly thought, “Well, now this shirt is ruined.” Although purple and red stains are the hardest to get out with regular stain remover, it doesn’t mean your favorite clothes are garbage. First, boil a large pot of water. It might sound bizarre, but boiling water works great at removing berry stains. Pour the water directly on the stain and allow it to strain through the shirt quickly and into a sink.
Food Stains
Most food stains come out quickly with laundry stain remover, but there are still those tricky ones. If you’ve ever been chowing down on a hot dog and dripped mustard on your shirt, then you know how hard mustard is to get out. Mustard has dye in it, so before rubbing the stain into your clothes, blot the area carefully to remove it. Next, grab vinegar, dish soap, and water and create a cleaner. Laying an old towel beneath your stained area, pour your mixture on the stain. It should soak into the towel, but a little scrubbing is still necessary.
Ink
I don’t know how many times I have had to clean ink from a white dress shirt, but for some reason, I continue to put pens in my pocket without caps. I have become an expert at removing the ink. Like with a mustard stain, you will need to lay the stained area on an old towel. Stream water onto the shirt and blot the area. The stain will seep through the clothes and into the towel. Next, add a little liquid laundry detergent and gently rub the area. Pour on more water to rinse the rest of the stain out.
Oil and Grease
Cleaning oil and grease stains takes a lot of muscle, so grab your strongest pair of arms and get ready. To effectively get rid of oil or grease, as soon as the stain happens, run, not walk, to the bathroom. Grab the hair spray and spray an excessive amount on the area; most of it will immediately come out. Then wash it with the shampoo sitting in your shower. Scrub, scrub, and scrub some more. The stain will be gone, and you can breathe again; getting out stains is hard work!
Whenever a stain happens, don’t immediately toss it in the trash: Give cleaning a fighting chance. Sometimes, the strangest things work, and other times, that stain just needs a good scrub.
You probably receive many compliments about your hardwood floors, especially if they are the original version included with your older home. As with any flooring surface, you need to clean hardwood floors to keep them looking great and extend their lifetime. This is where many people get confused because they have no idea what products to use. Did you know there are natural methods to clean hardwood floors?
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Though hardwood floors may be good for your health and the planet, they sure do get dirty easily. Commercial products will give the floor a thorough cleaningand may even provide some sealant. However, you can get equally great results (and save money) by cleaning hardwood floors with natural products you have in your cabinets.
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If your floor is sealed, get out a bucket, fill it with warm water, and add a bit of vinegar. Mop the floor with this solution, wringing out excess water from the mop before using it on the floor. This will clean the floor and if you prefer a streak-free look, you should dry the area with a towel before it has a chance to dry on its own.
To provide a sealed floor with an excellent shine, combine one part vegetable oil with one part white vinegar. Get a rag and rub this mixture on the floor as if you were waxing your car. The resulting shine is incredible and will last for a while. If your natural wood floor is unsealed, spread on linseed oil using a rag, allow it to soak into the floor, and then use some more oil to mop the floor.
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Natural products from Seventh Generation and Method are also available to clean hardwood floors. If you are not the mixing type but want to be eco-friendly, try one of these. They cost more but do not harm the planet. Whichever you use, the floor will look brand new and the compliments will continue flowing.
12 Landscape Tips To Make Your Outdoor Space Eco-Friendly
While being focused on creating an eco-friendly indoor space, sometimes, we forget to create an equally eco-friendly outdoor space. Luckily, the summer is the perfect time to make your outside space as green as possible. It doesn’t matter whether you have a lawn or just a window: Making your available outdoor area natural, efficient, and eco-friendly can be really easy and fun. Try any of these tips:
When creating an eco-friendly space, it all goes back to the three “R’s” that we were taught in school: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Container gardening is all about reusing. Use any of the things that you look at every day and pile up in your bins: plastic bottles, egg crates, tin cans, etc. (I personally love starting seedlings in egg cartons because they’re the perfect size.) This awesome New Yorker created amazing window gardens out of plastic bottles and tubes using hydroponics. For city-dwellers with only a window serving as their outdoor space, window farmingusing bottles is a new and attractive option.
There are locals who have only a window, and then there are others who have a bit more space, but not much: balconies, fire exits, or small outdoor areas. Maximize the green in those spaces by creating a vertical garden rather than a horizontal garden. Trust me: It’s a great way to decorate your space while reusing materials.
Get rid of a water-guzzling, boring green lawn.
Many people in New York City don’t own a bit of green, but some may be lucky enough to have a small lawn. For those who have a lawn, eliminating grass may be the better thing to do. Green lawns are not only water-guzzlers (they need frequent, regular watering to stay healthy and verdant) but gas-guzzlers (most people have to use gas or diesel lawnmowers to maintain them). Cut the sprawling homogeneity with some colorful ways to re-imagine the classic suburban landscape: walkways, sculptures, raised garden beds, or something unique to you!
… Or use an old-school mower.
Don’t want to get rid of that classic green? In that case, swap out your motorized mower for a push mower and get better exercise while you take care of the lawn.
Xeriscape to the max.
“Xeriscaping” might sound like the landscaping done on a far distant planet, but it really means landscaping for better water conservation. Wasting water damages the environment, and xeriscaping tactics like irrigation can help avoid it. Follow xeriscaping advice like remembering to water your plants in the morning rather than at noon, as evaporation rates are lower in the morning.
Light your summer evenings outside with solar-powered lights.
Introducing solar-powered mood lighting to your outdoor space is one of the cheapest ways to “go solar.” You don’t have to spend a lot, and you don’t have to increase your energy bill. (There’s also the old-school, romantic approach of candles, which don’t waste electricity.)
Collect rainwater in an old bin.
This is something that’s really become big in California due to the drought, but it can always be done here in New York, too: Reduce the amount of water you’ll need to use later by collecting rainwater in bins. This cuts down on your clean water usage, and rainwater is perfect for gardening.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle your way to amazing art pieces. Be creative and create something fun out of weather-resistant junk like bottle caps, plastic bottles, old spoons, or repurposed furniture.
Use organic weed killers, and pull weeds regularly.
You don’t need to spray toxic chemicals everywhere to take care of your lawn or garden. There are plenty of alternatives. Salt and vinegar kills plants effectively, for example.
Invite the “good” bugs, and avoid using unnecessary pesticides.
Prevent problems with plant-chomping bugs by planting marigolds to attract pest-killing ladybugs.
Plant native species.
This is one of the absolute best things you can do for the environment: Respect the natural, local ecosystem by planning native, or at the very least non-invasive, species. Don’t worry: Wildflowers look just as nice as the non-native species.
Reduce food waste and get free fertilizer.
If you have the room and time to start a compost pile, do it! It’s a great way to reduce your non-protein-based food waste. Create a compost pile in a box or bin, and occasionally turn and aerate the pile. Months later, you’ll have reduced the amount that you’ve thrown out and have nice, organic, nutritious soil. This reduces the amount of manure you’ll need to buy, which comes from diesel-guzzling farms.
Today I woke up and got ready for the day. Things were going good; I got dressed, made my bed, and headed to the bathroom. As I began brushing my teeth, the water in the sink slowly rose higher and higher. I turned off the water to give it a moment to drain, but nothing moved. The water sat silently, and I stood there waiting with a mouth full of toothpaste. It had to go down eventually, right? With my eyes squinted tightly, I could almost see the water level lower. As the seconds ticked by and my gag-reflex kicked into gear, I ran from the bathroom towards the kitchen to free my mouth and finish brushing my teeth. The drain was definitely clogged. It happens to everyone, but it sure throws off your routine when it does. Here are some natural ways you can get your drain cleaned and prevent future unwanted clogging.
Prevent Clogging
One of the easiest ways to clog a drain is with hair, especially in the bathroom. Hair loves to stick to hair, and a big wad of it is going trap itself in your drain. For showers and bath tubs, you can actually buy drain covers that catch hair. Other drains have small holes to prevent hair and other larger debris from escaping down the drain. Be aware of what you place in your sinks, and don’t wash whatever is in there down with water.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking soda is an amazing natural cleaner and deodorizer. Use one cup of baking soda with a cup of vinegar and watch science happen. The chemical reaction helps loosen the clog and cleans the drain out with intense foaming. If the clog doesn’t dissolve the first time, don’t be afraid to rinse and repeat.
Salt, Borax, and Vinegar
Borax is one of my favorite cleaners in the laundry room; it eliminates odors and helps my clothes get cleaner. Using ½ cup of salt and ½ a cup of borax mixed with 1 cup of vinegar can work wonders on a clogged drain. This drain cleaner does take a little patience; let it sit in the drain for an hour before running the water.
Boiling Water
This is one of the simplest drain cleaner methods that people don’t seem to think about. It works great in the kitchen sink where oils harden inside the drain. If the water is hot enough, it can heat the oils just enough to wash them the rest of the way down the drain. For this method to work best, boil several pots of water and flush them down quickly together.
A week or two before my drain completely clogged up, there were plenty of warning signs that my drain was due for a cleaning. The water wasn’t running down smoothly, and it always took a few seconds for it to drain small amounts of water. As soon as the water slowed, I should have grabbed my box of baking soda and my bottle of vinegar. Drains are going to clog; it is what they do! Continually cleaning your drain is a sure way to prevent clogging, and it also keeps away unpleasant odors lurking in the pipes. Whenever you scrub down your bathroom or polish your kitchen sink, remember to add the drains to the list. It only takes a few seconds, but is a sure way to prevent clogging in the future.
Elementary schools in Manhattan and throughout the country are filled with sticky surfaces. Each day, hundreds of students, teachers, and administrators cross these thresholds to encounter flat surfaces that are sticky. There is more to stickiness than meets the eye, especially from the perspective of a cleaning professional. While most of us envision a sticky surface resulting from spilled glue or beverages, cleaners use the word “sticky” when referring to what a flat surface attracts.
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Flat surfaces like desks, tables, and shelves are magnets for clutter, creating an environment that looks messy and may be unsanitary. These surfaces take on a sticky quality because an item placed on them typically remains there for a while, essentially stuck in place. A single item seems to attract other items and a pile quickly develops. Cleaners facing piles on flat surfaces within school environments have their work cut out for them.
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Thorough cleaning cannot be performed unless a surface is clear. The process of removing clutter creates a surface that is “slippery” and able to be cleaned. Author and decluttering expert Francine Jay introduced the slippery surface concept to get people to clean up their piles. She says we should imagine that flat surfaces are slick so nothing can stick to them. These surfaces should be viewed as activity, not storage, areas.
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In schools, flat surfaces exist for students to do projects and for teachers to create lessons. From the perspective of janitorial services, flat surfaces exist for cleaning. An item placed on a flat surface should only remain there if it represents an activity being performed and it should be removed once the activity is complete. According to Ms. Jay, everything placed on a slippery surface should be moved to a storage area or taken when exiting the room.
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Cleaning professionals should reinforce the message that only a clear surface can be cleaned. Teachers, administrators, and students must realize that to be healthy, a school environment must be clean and cleaning cannot be accomplished when piles reside on flat surfaces. Administrators should provide a sufficient amount of dedicated storage space for items that tend to find homes on flat surfaces.
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School-wide decluttering events are formal ways to get rid of the piles. Students and begin viewing clutter differently and this perspective may carry over to their personal environments. With flat surfaces cleared, the cleaning process can proceed unimpeded, creating spaces that are visually appealing and hygienic.
Many people are choosing to live in a more environmentally-friendly manner. They minimize waste, recycle whenever possible, and use products that are eco-friendly. When it comes to cleaning products, consumers often do not think of those used to clean the carpet. Just like there are eco-friendly window cleaners, there are carpet cleaning products for the environmentally conscious household. Whether consumers do the cleaning themselves or hire a professional, they should look for these.
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The Home Depot subsidiary ChemDry cleans carpets using carbonated bubbles rather than harsh chemicals. The company reports that no harmful enzymes, solvents, or detergents are involved and the process consumes a fraction of the water used by other companies. ZOOTS, one of the Inc. magazine top 50 green companies in the U.S. , uses only the purest cleaning solutions when cleaning carpets.
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There are plenty of other cleaning companies that use eco-friendly solutions for carpet cleaning. Look in the phone book or online and you should find a few, whether you live in a large metropolitan area or a small town. Get basic details regarding the environmentally-safe products used and then compare these to find the best option for your home or office. Some companies charge more when these solutions are used but the benefits often outweigh the cost.
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For those who prefer to go it alone, there are homemade solutions and products available in stores. Keeping carpets clean minimizes the need to call in a professional. Carpets can be spot cleaned with a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar. Spray this onto the stain, wait a few minutes, and then remove it with a sponge dipped in warm, soapy water. Difficult stains can be treated with a paste of vinegar, borax, and salt that is left on the spot overnight and vacuumed up the following morning.
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To remove food spills or pet odors from carpet, sprinkle baking soda on the spot, allow it to sit overnight, and vacuum the next day. Eco-friendly carpet cleaning foam uses ¼ cup liquid soap with a vegetable oil base and three tablespoons water. Whip these ingredients into a foam, rub the substance on the spot, and then rinse.
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Consumers can find eco-friendly cleaning products designed for carpets online or in stores. Simple Green offers its Clean Building Carpet Cleaner Concentrate in one gallon bottles. This environmentally preferred product sells for under $25. Earth Friendly Carpet Shampoo is chemical and bleach-free and a 40 ounce bottle costs less than $7.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them in These 14 Amazing Ways.
Lemons make a great centerpiece and air freshener.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them in These 14 Amazing Ways
I have to admit that I love the proverb, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” because in the cleaning business, you’d be surprised how useful this amazing citrus fruit really is. One of the things I take pride in with my business is how we use natural and environmentally friendly cleaning techniques to ensure that our service is safe and effective. Lemons give you the power to clean and sanitize as if you were using bleach or other harsh chemicals without the nasty smell and side effects, especially to those who suffer from respiratory issues. What’s even better? You can use the entire lemon, so nothing is left to waste. Has life given you some lemons? Read on to learn how you can them in 14 amazing ways.
Move Over, Baking Soda: Lemons work wonders in deodorizing your refrigerator and are more economical than that box of baking soda. Remove any spoiled food from your fridge, soak a sponge in lemon juice, and place it in the unit for three to four hours. You’ll be surprised how nice everything smells once you’re done and guess what? Your sponge is now deodorized and sanitized, too.
Toss the Air Fresheners: Lemons also freshen your rooms better than those expensive and irritating (if you suffer from allergies) air fresheners. Trust me, this even works if you have pets. For tough odors, cut a few lemons in half, place them in a bowl cut side up, and set them in the offensive room for several hours. For a more permanent freshener, leave the lemons whole; they still freshen the air, and you can grab one when you need it for something else.
Keep the Fire Burnin’: I’m on a roll, so let’s keep talking odors. Everyone loves a warm and cozy fireplace in the wintertime, but one of the questions I am asked most frequently is how to eliminate fireplace odors. After time, your fireplace emits an unpleasant odor no matter how clean you keep it. Cut some lemons in half, scoop out the meat, and toss the peels into the flames. Voila! A deodorized fireplace.
Keep Your Marbles: If you have marble surrounding your fireplace, or anywhere else in your house, you know how easily this porous material stains. If your tried-and-true marble cleaner has failed to remove the unsightly marks, try lemons – carefully! Cut a lemon and dip one half of it in salt; scrub your stain with the “lemon sponge” and then rinse very, very well, as the lemon’s acid can damage marble if there is any residue.
Brass Knuckles: Lemons also work wonders on your brass, chrome, copper, and stainless steel… anything! Again, you’re going to be using lemons and salt (or baking soda if you prefer), but this time, squeeze the lemon juice out of the fruit and mix it with the salt to make a paste. Apply the paste to what you’re cleaning, allow it to sit for a few minutes, rinse with warm water, and polish dry.
Don’t Scratch the Glass: If your coffee pot is showing its age and your wine decanter has an unhealthy purple hue, you probably need to do some cleaning. You could clean your glass serveware with detergent and a scrubber sponge, but you’ll scratch it. Rather, cut a lemon in half and rub the juice along the stained surface. Allow the juice to sit for several hours and then rinse to a sparkling-clean shine.
Microwave Explosion: We’ve all left something in the microwave too long only to have it explode and leave a smelly, crusty mess. Again, harsh cleaners are not a good idea, particularly since you cook food in the appliance. Grab a microwave-safe bowl and squeeze 3 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice into 1 1/2 cups of water. Nuke it on high for five to 10 minutes and wipe the condensation, along with the mess, away.
La Cucaracha: There’s nothing more horrifying than walking into your kitchen and seeing ants or roaches scurrying about. Take a fresh lemon and squeeze the juice directly on your windowsills and door thresholds. Cut up the rinds when done and toss them just outside the door. Identify any holes or cracks where the creepy crawlers are entering and squeeze lemon juice there, too. Mop your floors with lemon water.
We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Bleach: Bleach can literally be deadly, especially to those with weakened lungs; never mind what it does to the environment. Sure, you want your whites white, but you don’t need to use harsh bleach in your laundry. Add 1 cup of lemon juice to your washing cycle and watch it clean and deodorize your clothing. It also works well on those kitchen and bathroom linens that mildew.
Put Forth a Good Face…: I’ve been talking a lot about how lemons works wonders when you’re cleaning, but they’re good for you, too. If you have acne or blackheads that are distressing you, lemons have antibacterial properties perfect for your skin. Slice a lemon and rub the juice on your face; it might itch a little but be patient. Allow it to rest on your skin for a few minutes and then rinse clean.
… And Body: Yes, lemon juice works wonders on the rest of your skin, as well. My wife makes a homemade body wash with lemon juice, and her skin is beautiful. She mixes lemon juice, yogurt, and lavender oil, and the concoction works wonders in cleaning and moisturizing her skin. Plus, when using this as a body wash you aren’t putting harsh and dangerous chemicals on your skin that might burn and irritate it.
Finally, the Hair: If you suffer from dandruff or other scalp irritations, lemon might just be the ticket to sooth your stressed scalp. Just as it does for your face and body, lemon mixed with certain ingredients can provide antibacterial properties, and cleanse and moisturize your scalp. Try mixing coconut oil, honey, and lemon juice for your irritated scalp, and see the difference!
Lose the Burn: I cannot swish alcohol-laden mouthwash in my mouth for 60 seconds every morning; no thank you. Fortunately, lemons freshen your breath and balance your mouth’s pH level. Take fresh-squeezed lemon juice and swish it around for a minute. Spit it out (or swallow it for even greater benefits) and then rinse your mouth with clean water after five minutes to remove the acid from your teeth.
Down the Drain: So, what do you do with all the leftover lemon rinds from using lemons for the 13 reasons above? Slice them and run them through your garbage disposal to clean and deodorize it. Contrary to popular belief, you can also compost lemon and other citrus peels, so if you have a compost pile, check to make sure they’ll work well with your mix and add them to it.
As you can see, lemons are unbelievably useful for cleaning, sanitizing, deodorizing, and even taking care of you. I am a firm believer in cleaning and sanitizing in ways that are good for the environment, humans, and pets, and lemons are a key ingredient in many of our cleaning products. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and then use the remaining juice and rind in some amazing ways.
Have you seen those “nose-blind” commercials? I have, too, and I think it’s true: Some pet owners really just live in a stench they’re not aware of. Many dog and cat owners take precautions to avoid a stinky house, like making sure the dog doesn’t track in mud or hastily brushing the cat hair off of the couch before guests come over. On the other hand, some of the most important things a pet owner can do to prevent bad smells are done on a nearly constant basis and not right before people come over. Here are some things one can do to get better control of pet scents, from urine to that oh-so-familiar wet dog smell.
The Secret to Fresh Kitty Litter
Changing the litter frequently is important, but if you’re living in a small apartment in NYC where the scent can travel across the whole space, it might not be enough. Buy a covered litter box, one with plenty of room for a cat to move and turn around, to prevent the spread of litter across your floors. You don’t need to buy a ridiculous technological wonder, just a cover. Also, give your cat a little entryway to wipe off its paws. Don’t forget that the box itself needs to be wiped down and cleaned every once in a while in addition to being freshened with new litter. The box itself should also be replaced about once a year.
Having a Clean Carpet
The secret of making sure your carpet won’t stink is to not let accidents sit around. Try to get pet messes up as soon as you possibly can. After picking up as much as possible with paper towels, you’ll want to cover up the scent to avoid future accidents there (as pets I’ve known over the years tend to pee in the same spot after that if you don’t get it up well enough). A mixture of distilled vinegar, water, and baking soda will allow you to blot up stains and get rid of the smell quickly. The next thing to do for set-in stains or major odor problems is to steam-clean your carpet. In very extreme cases, if you’ve already done the whole steam-cleaning thing and you have a very bad stench still (I’m talking to the landlords of New York here), the best choice might be to spray the subflooring with vinegar. Vinegar will neutralize the odors.
Getting Rid of Pet Odor in the Couch
A favorite trick is to get up pet fur with a squeegee or a damp rubber glove. After getting the hair off, though, the odor often still remains. Take off what you can, like pillow covers and cushions, and wash it with laundry detergent and a quarter-cup of apple cider vinegar. For the upholstery that you can’t take off and launder, spread baking soda on it overnight. After that, vacuum the powder away. Now, it will just smell fresh!
Tips for Pet Cleanliness
A veteran pet owner can often spot the difference between a normal pet smell and a strange smell, and a bad odor in your house from your pet might be caused by its poor health. Make sure your dog is regularly bathed. Check its ears for infection, its teeth for oral hygiene issues, and its skin for any hot spots. The same goes for cats. Older cats may not be able to clean themselves as well, so a bathing regimen might be necessary. In general, pets should be checked and looked after with the aid of an occasional vet visit. Some owners have told me that even changing their dog’s diet has resulted in a change in their smelliness. Some essential oils, like rosemary and eucalyptus, have been known to help prevent fleas and ticks and will make your house smell great at the same time.
Washing Your Pet’s Toys and Items
The source of the stink might be the thing your pet uses the most, like your dog or cat’s bed, for instance. If your dog has a favorite chew toy, giving it a rinse or a wash might not be the worst idea. Check their beds, their favorite blankets and towels, their food trays, and also the item that many owners forget about: your pet’s collar. Pet food itself also has a certain aroma, so store that in an airtight tin rather than the loose bag it often comes in.
A few years ago I was talking to my sister about plants. It might sound like a strange topic of discussion, but it is something everyone should think about. She has a beautiful home that is filled with detailed decor, lovely furniture, and plastic plants. I asked her why she chooses to decorate with fake plants instead of living ones. With a shrug she said, “Why would I want a real plant when the fake ones look the same but require no work?” She asked an important question and one that cannot be ignored. While plastic plants may (sometimes) look better and lack the maintenance of watering, weeding, and care, they can often release chemicals found in plastics. Ironically, living plants combat these same chemicals so the air is safer to breathe. I don’t think people recognize all the toxins within the walls of their homes. Even while using green cleaners, there are still pollutants hiding in your furniture, bedding, flooring, and walls. Here are twelve plants you can safely add to your home and additionally enjoy the healthy benefits they offer.
1. ALOE
This is my favorite plant, and might be the reason it is first on this list. The Aloe plant has a unique cactus look and is small enough to fit comfortably in a kitchen window. You might know it by the gel you rub on your sunburns called Aloe Vera, but it does more than just heal burns and cuts. It clears the air of chemicals often found in cleaning products, such as benzene and formaldehyde.
2. BAMBOO PALM
This is one of the best plants around for cleaning the air of formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. This plant looks great as an accent piece in a living room or bedroom. It sucks the chemicals right out of furniture, carpet, and glues, making it a safe and clean place to relax.
3. AZALEA
It is amazing where formaldehyde can be found, and this shrub helps tackle away this toxic chemical hiding in plywood and even the insulation in your walls. The Azalea has gorgeous flowers and survives well in colder temperatures. Place it on a porch, in a well-lit basement, or a sunny garage for it to grow best.
4. SNAKE PLANT
While deciding on which plants to put in which room, this one loves the environment of typical bathrooms. The steam and lack of light will help it continually grow. The bathroom is filled with items containing formaldehyde. The Snake Plant will clean the air from chemicals found in toilet paper, cleaning products, deodorants, and other personal items.
5. CHINESE EVERGREEN
This beautiful plant is like a built-in filter. Not only is caring for it incredibly easy, but it works hard to filter the air of pollutants while removing toxins. I would love to have a couple of these neatly placed in the highest traffic areas of my home; it helps the air flow as it cleans it.
6. SPIDER PLANT
This plant was made for people like me; I wasn’t blessed with a green thumb. The long thin spidery leaves and white flowers are strong enough to withstand neglect occasionally. This plant takes benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and even carbon monoxide out of the air so it is healthier to breathe.
7. GERBER DAISY
This beautiful little flower is a favorite for many, but beyond its stunning colors is the ability to ward off benzene and trichloroethylene. Place it in the sunniest room in your house and enjoy deep breaths of fresh air.
8. CHRYSANTHEMUM
This beautiful flower would complement a brightly lit kitchen or as the centerpiece on a dining room table. The greenery and blooms both work together to filter out that nasty benzene that is a common ingredient in glues, plastics, and dishwasher detergents.
9. ENGLISH IVY
Every home looks stunning with a dash of Ivy, but the benefits of English Ivy are…well…really unique. A study concluded that this little plant has the skills to reduce airborne particles containing fecal matter. It might sound gross, but I wouldn’t want that floating around in my house. Changing diapers and using the bathroom releases fecal particles, so I would keep a plant close by these rooms to ensure the air is clean.
10. GOLDEN POTHOS
If you need a plant to hang from the ceiling, along a stairwell, or even inside the garage, this is the one. As a fast growing vine, it battles away the popular formaldehyde found in many products right inside your car or garage.
11. WEEPING FIG
This stunning plant looks great in any room. It takes a little work to keep it growing healthily, but the rewards are worth the effort. Often the carpets, fabrics, and furniture in your home contain small amounts of chemicals that are emitted into the air every day. The Weeping Fig battles away benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde so you can relax on your furniture and floors without a single worry.
12. WARNECK DRACAENA
This indoor plant can grow to be 12 feet with proper care and love. Varnishes, stains, and oils found in furniture and woods release pollutants that the Warneck Dracanena attacks like a champ. If you suffer from constant headaches and migraines, this plant might relieve chemical-induced headaches.
Not only are the healthy benefits hard to pass up, but plants create an energy that can be very therapeutic. I love walking into my home and seeing nature inside my doors. It helps me stay positive during the winter months and makes my home feel cleaner. Yes I am terrible at watering them, and sometimes the weeds are noticeable, but man do I love the feeling of breathing clean air. Like my constantly beating heart, I often forget about all the hard work my plants do during the day and night for me. The beautiful green and bright seasonal flowers are a reminder of the clean air I get to breathe from simply having plants in my home.
Image Courtesy of Veggiefrog (Flickr)
Cleaning Tips For Homes With Pets
Over 40 million homes count pets among their occupants, which means there are many people cleaning up after their animals. Pet accidents, vomit, and everyday occurrences like hairballs and shed fur make things challenging for pet owners. If you can relate to this, follow these tips when cleaning your home and things will be much simpler and more harmonious.
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Potty training is one of the best things pet owners can do to make their lives easier. It should take place within the first 90 days and if successful, should prevent indoor accidents. If small pets must be left alone for long periods, a potty training pad is recommended. If an accident does occur on a floor or carpet, it should be immediately cleaned up using the proper cleaning solution. Carpet cleaning is most effective when an enzyme cleaner is used.
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Dogs and cats tend to shed, keeping their owners busy with sweeping and vacuuming. Hard floors should be swept or vacuumed daily and mopped as needed. Vacuuming frequency depends on number of pets. The recommendation is once per week for each large pet or human. Therefore, carpets in a three-person, one-dog household should be vacuumed every other day. A deep carpet cleaning should be performed when carpets appear dingy or vacuuming does not remove debris.
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Some pets, especially cats, find a piece of furniture and call it home. To avoid having to vacuum this item every day, place a towel or blanket over it. This protects the upholstery and keeps the pet cozy. Remove this covering weekly, wash it, and replace it. If pets sleep on the bed at night, keep the bedroom door closed during the day or put a cover over the bedding and wash it weekly.
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Use pet-friendly cleaning products when dusting, wiping, and mopping surfaces. Otherwise, pets may lick or breathe the substance and become ill. If you must use cleaning products that contain bleach, prevent pets from accessing the area during cleaning and wipe the surfaces with water after applying the bleach cleaner.
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Keep an old towel or rag by the door pets use for outside access. Wipe paws before permitting the animal to reenter the home. During winter, wipe paws with water to remove salt from them. Purchase a low-profile mat for both inside and outside this door. When pets walk over it, loose dirt will be removed from their paws and deposited on the mat.
Several years ago, I noticed that the first few months of the year were always my lowest. After the holidays were over, the winter months felt downright depressing. One of the ways I battled this emotional slump was by brightening my home with several plants. It added a touch of natural green inside the home when outside was still dead and bare. Not only were my spirits lifted, but I also began to experience the health benefits of keeping plants inside. Here are eight of my favorite houseplants that can make your home cleaner and cozier.
Aloe
This plant didn’t mistakenly end up in the first slot; I love it so much that I own three of these babies. If you snap a leaf, you will see the aloe goo leaking out. Put a little on your finger and be mesmerized by the silky texture that is surprisingly not sticky at all. Rub the ointment on burns and sores to help remedy the pain and accelerate healing. Healing is not all aloe does; it cleans the air by absorbing toxic chemicals while increasing oxygen levels.
Peace Lily
Even the name emits a sense of relaxation and calm. The Peace Lily cleans the air of benzene, trichloroethylene, and the dreaded formaldehyde. I have a soft spot for all lilies, and having this one in my home adds an extra bit of charm.
English Ivy
Mold can be very toxic when in homes, and it can often be hiding behind walls and in the ceiling. A great place to grow English ivy is in moist bathrooms with stinky toilets. Having it in a room for just a day can decrease airborne mold by up to 60% and airborne feces by 58%. How amazing is that?
Snake Plant
If you are new to the plant world, the snake plant is the ideal beginner one to grow; it is almost impossible to kill. I have a few of these in rooms that don’t have a lot of sunshine. As it grows and thrives, you get to receive the benefits of toxin removal without putting in a lot of work.
Rubber Plant
Here is another easy plant to care for with very little watering and light required. Formaldehyde doesn’t stand a chance with a little rubber plant in the room; removing this deadly toxin is its main skill. The only downside is the leaves can be toxic, so I always keep it above my kitchen cabinets away from the reach of visiting pets or children.
Spider Plant
The spider plant is a pet-friendly plant that looks great on the surface of a table or shelf ledge. If you place this plant in a 200-square-foot room or smaller, it will absorb carbon monoxide, styrene, and benzene from the air effectively. It is a filtering monster that doesn’t require backup plants for aid in clearing the room of toxins.
Croton
With colorful foliage and an elegant look, croton is a plant that is hard to not love. The maintenance requires a little more watering and bright light, but the toxin removal and cozy aura make it worth it.
Pothos
Pothos is a fun vining plant that is easy to grow in dim light. Hanging a few baskets up with this stunning plant will allow its white and green vines to grow freely and make your home feel more like home. The most important thing when choosing a plant is choosing something that fits your needs and desires. You don’t have to buy dozens of plants to enjoy the benefits of toxin removal and cozy greenery in your home.
A few years ago, I had some family staying at our home. While watching a movie, one of my nephews stood up in the middle of the room and began puking. I will save you the details, but know it was not a pleasant sight. A few minutes later, his brother joined in. We all stood around in shock; they had obviously come down with the stomach flu. No one likes getting sick, but I must confess that I am a really big wimp when I do catch the dreaded bug. Eager to defend my home, I grabbed my bottle of cleaner and several rags, ready to clean up. In the next two hours, I began sanitizing every surface in the house. The two boys remained in the guest bedroom, and I warded off the germs from spreading any further. After a couple of days, we anxiously waited for the icky feeling in our stomachs to arise, but it never did. Our cleaning had defeated the flu! Whether you are sick from a common cold or a nasty stomach flu, you should always clean your home in these seven ways to keep your home healthy and your body strong.
CHANGE THE SHEETS
When I am sick, my bed becomes home to both me and my germs. Grab the sheets, blankets, and pillowcases and toss them all in the washer. Even clean up bedding that doesn’t have germs to get all of the laundry done at the same time and ensure that no germs make it out alive. Let them soak for an extra 15 minutes; this will help the water loosen any residue. If your pillows are due for replacing, use this sickness as an opportunity to get new ones.
THROW OUT THE TOOTHBRUSHES
Toss the brushes and buy yourself some new ones. You can get inexpensive ones at the dollar store, but the toothbrushes are the first things that need to go; don’t even bother trying to clean them.
SANITIZE DOOR KNOBS
Door knobs are opened and closed all day long by the sick and healthy people in a home. Wipe them down with a cleaning product that contains bleach to disinfect them completely. Wiping off knobs will keep the germs from spreading to others in the home who are not sick.
SCRUB THE BATHROOM
The bathroom is my second home when I have the flu and is the first room I clean during recovery. It helps to clean it several times while you are sick to ensure that those germs aren’t making their way out.
WASH CLOTHING
Do all of the laundry in the house, but don’t forget any clothes you were wearing while sick. It always helps me to do a “sick” load of laundry full of towels, cleaning rags, rugs, clothes, and sheets. Clean up laundry to make sure every load is full and water is not being wasted.
CLEAN REFRIGERATOR AND MICROWAVE HANDLES
The refrigerator and microwave handles are often forgotten, but if you are like me, they are opened up more than any doorknobs in the rest of the house. Scrub them down, and don’t forget to wash containers inside the refrigerator, too.
CLEAN VACUUM FILTER
I typically vacuum the entire house after recovering from the flu, but I forget about the filter. After vacuuming the floors and rugs in your house, make sure you remove the filter and clean it, too. You don’t want any germs trapped inside the filter of your vacuum.
Most viruses can only spread by entering your body through your mouth, nose, or eyes. You might keep your hands clean, but as soon as you touch a dirty surface, you have the germs on your hands. Rubbing your eyes, wiping your nose, or eating a snack are ways germs can enter your body. The best way to prevent the spread is to completely get rid of them on all surfaces. Once the flu has coursed through your body, get your house cleaned up to keep your body feeling healthy.
I do love buying candles (especially during that financially dangerous time of year between Halloween and Christmas), but I’d go bankrupt if I bought every single candle or scented wax contraption I found attractive. Also, I know many of my customers in NYC can’t even light candles due to policies in their apartment complexes. So I’ve complied this list of more affordable and more innovative ways to make your home smell much better without having to use pricey sprays or devices. These are some of the top hacks I’ve tried: Some will introduce a new great scent, and others will take away bad scents.
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Infuse Better Scents With Simmer Pots
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Once upon a time, this practice used to be far more common. I remember seeing these a lot as a kid. All it involves is putting a small saucepan or pot on the stove, placing ingredients in it, and then letting it warm (or simmer, hence the name) and infuse the whole house with a nice smell. It’s one of the things grandmothers like to do around the holiday season, but it seems like it could be coming back in style. During the summer months, you can mix rosemary and lemon to deodorize your house. During the winter, mix cinnamon sticks, orange peels, bay leaves, a handful of pine needles, and cloves for an amazing Christmas-like smell. (Just be sure to remind your guests that that pot is not for eating or drinking. It’s almost gotten me into a lot of trouble.)
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Use the Pure Power of Baking Soda
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Baking soda is magical. It is the deodorizer and can make just about anything stop smelling bad. As I’ve pointed out on my blog before, you can sprinkle it on a carpet or bit of furniture and then vacuum it up for a deeper clean and a better smell. Some people have taken to leaving it cooking in a slow cooker all day so it can suck up the bad smell of an entire room.
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Hack Fans or Air Filters to Blow Your Favorite Scent Around
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Put nice-smelling dryer sheets on top of your fan. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your air filter. It will blow around your favorite scent for a few weeks.
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Make a DIY Spray
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I’ve seen a bunch of recipes for this and have tried a handful of them. Simply mixing some essential oils with water works perfectly fine. I also like this recipe; it mixes lime juice, water, and the all-powerful baking soda.
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Use the Best Part of Waking Up
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Coffee beans offer a cute way to decorate, and they also can infuse your home with a fresh scent. Get a plain glass container (almost any shape will work here) and put whole coffee beans in it. For added power, put a tea light in it. When the light is lit, it will warm the beans.
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Sew Simple Sachets
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Here’s another thing that fell out of style and is gaining steam again: sachets. I’ve made some, and I like to leave them around in my dresser or closet. Some people put them in their shoe rack, which is a good idea, too. Fill a small cloth bag with whatever herb you like. I tend to just mix rice with a few drops of essential oils. Sewing these things is pretty easy.
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Create Smudge Sticks
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Smudge sticks tend to have a spiritual component. They’re for basically smudging out bad spirits from the home. But for a humble cleaner who tends to follow his nose, they just infuse the home with a great smell. Just bundle rosemary and sage together into a stick using string, then either hang it up or burn it for a smell so good it’ll chase away spirits (spirits of stink)!
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Hang Eucalyptus in Your Shower
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This trick has been circulating online for a while, but it works! Hang a bundle of fresh or dried eucalyptus from your showerhead. It’s like a menthol tablet for your bathroom.
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Make Your Own Potpourri
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Mix dried lavender and rose petals. Sometimes, potpourri is that easy. A cheaper alternative might include bringing in fresh pine cones and arranging them artfully in a bowl.
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Desperate Times, Desperate Measures: Use Vinegar
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For when your house is incredibly stinky, leaving out a bowl of vinegar can suck the smell out. It’s super-powerful for when you’re in a bad-smelling situation. It also stinks itself, so don’t do this right before friends come over, please.
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Target Your Worst Offenders With Cat Litter
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Some places in the home naturally become horribly stinky over time. Leaving out fresh cat litter might seem a bit strange if you don’t have a cat, but it works just as well as baking soda. Put some in a sock and then put it in your mud room or with your stinky shoes.
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Use the Cheapest Hack Ever
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Something that works as well as baking soda and cat litter is something that might be hanging around your house as garbage: newspaper. Crumple up newspaper in balls and stuff them in your most stinky containers to get bad smells to go away.
Keep Your Home Clean All Summer Without Breaking a Sweat
The last thing you want to do during the hot and humid summer months is clean your house. Even if you have air conditioning and aren’t afraid to use it (some people’s electric bills skyrocket during warmer weather), the thought of working up a sweat when it’s already 100 degrees outside isn’t appealing to anyone. My solution to keeping your home clean once the mercury begins to rise is simple: Prevention! Use these tips to help prevent dirt in the first place and you’ll be left with an already-clean house without breaking a sweat.
Keep Humidity Under Control
When you combine the steam from your morning shower and the warmer summer months, you get the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Your laundry room can also become warm and sticky when it’s hot outside. Utilize the exhaust fans throughout your home to dehumidify these rooms after use, and use oscillating and ceiling fans in other rooms where air needs to circulate. In extremely humid environments, purchase a dehumidifier.
Stop the Dirt-Trackers
The kids are outside playing, and you and your partner are outside getting the garden warm-weather-ready. When it’s time to come inside, disaster may very well ensue on your floors and carpets. Purchase quality doormats that are designed to catch all of the dirt when people wipe their mucky shoes or bare feet on them and spare yourself having to clean the grime that inevitably is tracked into your home after a day in the summer sun.
Keep the Damp Outside
Whether you have a pool or live near a body of water, wet swimsuits and towels are sure to wreak havoc in your clean home. Set up drying racks outside on your back porch, and if privacy allows, have the kids change out of their wet gear, dry off, and put dry clothes on before coming inside. If privacy doesn’t allow, have them change in the laundry room to limit the mess, and put the suits and towels outside on the racks to dry prior to washing.
Don’t Stop With the Suits
Pool toys, floaters, ice chests, and all of those other summer accessories that make fun in the sun even more fun also get dirty and should not be dragged into your clean home. Have your kids line up their pool toys and floaters on your patio or lawn once they’re done using them. Empty any ice chests you’ve used outside as well. Grab a bucket of vinegar and water for a safe cleaning solution and wash everything, rinse, and then let it finish drying in the sun before putting it all away.
Close it Up
You holler it all day long: “Close the door! The air conditioner is on!” But leaving doors and windows open during summer months causes more problems than just a higher electric bill. As I mentioned earlier, the best way to avoid having to break out into a sweat cleaning your house during hot and humid weather is to prevent dirt in the first place, and keeping everything closed leaves dirt, dust, and pollen outside and your home clean inside.
These are just a few things you can do to limit the need for housecleaning when the weather heats up. Besides, when it’s warm outside, who wants to be trapped inside? It’s much better to dive into the pool with your kids than dust and vacuum, so heed these tips, put on your swimsuit and sunscreen, and break a sweat by relaxing and having fun in the warm summer sun instead.
Are you out of cleaning supplies? That’s likely not a problem. The kitchen and bedroom are full of common items that can be used to help you clean. I’ve written a lot about the awesome power of vinegar and the truly diverse array of things baking soda can clean (not to mention the stuff you can do when you combine the two), but here are some other interesting common household items you can clean with. If you’re trying to stay cheap and clean at the same time, give any of these options a try:
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Bread
If you have little kids as I once did, you’ll notice that those little fingerprints can get everywhere. They’re especially obvious on white walls. Some white bread will take out those greasy, dirty stains. After tearing off the crusts and folding the bread into a ball, you can rub the marks to remove them.
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Mayonnaise
As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post, greasy, gross mayo can actually be helpful when cleaning. It’s great for polishing wooden surfaces, especially when you have dried water rings. Olive oil and salt works well for this, too.
Toothpaste
It can clean your teeth, but it can also clean your silver. Squeeze a small amount on a rag and polish with it. After rinsing, it’ll sparkle as much as those pearly whites. Other items that can clean tarnished silver include everything from corn starch to tin foil to chalk. You really don’t need to buy silver-cleaning products, people!
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Mouthwash
Fill the cap of your mouthwash and pour it in about a gallon of water, then mop vinyl or tile flooring with it. (Don’t use it with wood.) The minty germ-killer can also help to kill germs beneath your feet.
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Newspaper
A natural odor-killer, old newspapers can help to ward off many bad smells. Some people stuff them in their shoes to help them keep their shape and a decent smell. Others, like me, like to occasionally line their garbage can with newspaper to prevent bad smells. My favorite way to clean with old newspapers is to wipe down windows with it; it’s less expensive and more effective than paper towels. If you’re too “electronically minded” for newspaper, you could wipe down your windows with unused coffee filters as well.
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Kool-Aid
Please don’t feed this to your kids, but buy some lemonade-flavored packets to clean your toilet bowl with. Let it sit for a while before brushing and flushing. I haven’t tried this yet, but it may be just as effective as Coca-Cola.
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A Tennis Ball
Rubbing a new tennis ball onto a surface will clean away scuff marks on tile, woodwork, or vinyl. Add a bit of water and rub away!
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Old, Clean Socks
The next time you encounter either a mismatched glove or sock, don’t throw it out. Use that lonely item that’s been cleaned to do your dusting. Just put it on your hand and wipe down the blinds. Afterward, try your best not to chase your spouse or kids with the filthy sock-puppet you’ve created.
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Shaving Cream
Plain, foaming shaving cream can be used for many things. It’s a real help when trying to remove stubborn grease stains from a carpet, as the foam helps to break the grease down.
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Used Dryer Sheets
Besides just generally smelling good, dryer sheets can help to clean the baseboards of your home. The anti-static properties makes these items a great item to dust with. Also, you can shine metal faucets and appliances with them.
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Baby Oil
You don’t need to have a baby to have and use baby oil (and if you do, you won’t need to buy an extra cleaning product). This is yet another option that shines wooden furniture. Use it on your metal appliances to buff out a good shine. In addition, you can wipe down a cleaned shower to help dirty water roll down the drain so you won’t need to clean as often.
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Vodka
When you need a miracle cleaner, turn to your liquor cabinet. Sharpie and ball-point pen stains are the worst, but vodka can help you get them out of your upholstery. It can kill mildew, cut soap scum, destroy stains, and get rid of goo on jars.
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Lemons
There are quite a few things you can do with lemons. Try cutting one in half and adding salt to clean your wooden cutting board or butcher block. Polish your fancy copper items in your kitchen with it. Attack the worst food stains in your plastic containers, on your dishes, or even in your microwave by combining lemon juice with water.
I research and constantly study up on cleaning products. When I tell people this, I can always see their lips twitch with a smile. It is cleaning! What could I possibly be researching? As we learn about products and the direct impact they have on our health, we can determine which ones will be safest to use while getting the job done correctly. What works and what doesn’t can be hard to figure out when there are so many myths out there. One of the most common cleaners is bleach. It is also the cleaner with the most myths floating around it. It kills germs quickly and people spray it on everything without thinking about the consequences. While bleach is awesome at killing germs, it isn’t so great at breaking down build-up on surfaces and wiping them clean. Learning about the myths behind cleaners and cleaning methods can help get your home shining and germ-free.
Many people grab a bottle of cleaner and begin spraying down everything in sight and then wipe it off quickly without reading any labels. While some cleaners are great at one job, they might be terrible at another. Before spraying a product, read the label. You don’t have to have a cleaner for every little job, but there is no universal cleaner either. Another misconception is cleaners only need to be sprayed and wiped off. All products need to sit and soak on a surface to properly sanitize and cleanse a surface. One myth my mother raised me believing was bleach works best in hot water. It wasn’t until later that I discovered hot water and bleach can turn your whites a yellowish tint. I am always surprised to find a new myth that somehow snuck past me for years, but it happens to everyone! Here are ten myths that might be fooling you.
BLEACH IS THE BEST CLEANER FOR ALL SURFACES IN A HOME
VINEGAR IS A GREAT DISINFECTANT AND GET RID A GERMS BETTER THAN OTHER CLEANERS
Bleach vs. Vinegar to Kill Germs Vinegar can help remove guck and junk off surfaces, but it doesn’t kill all those might germs, such as raw chicken juice, as well as bleach.
USING MORE DETERGENT IN THE LAUNDRY MEANS THE CLOTHES COMING OUT CLEANER
Does More Detergent Make for More Clean? While extra detergent can help with heavy soiled clothing, it often can leaves soap residue that will have to be washed off.
Laundry Mythbusters This is a fun article that covers several myths surrounding washing clothes and getting them their cleanest.
VACUUMING CAN WEAR OUT YOUR CARPET IF IT IS DONE FREQUENTLY
Vacuum Carpets Daily to Keep Them Cleanest I have certainly heard this myth before, but the best thing for your carpet is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Read why you should give it a quick vacuum every single day.
ALL “GREEN” LABELED PRODUCTS ARE SAFE TO USE ON ALL SURFACES
What Makes a Green Product Safe There are many products on the shelf and many are labeled as “green,” but a label doesn’t guarantee it being safe for your home or around children.
Green Cleaning Myths Reading the back of the label can give you hints to products safeness, but sadly every ingredient is not required to be listed. Learn about the myths behind green products and how to make sure you are buying what you need.
IF IT SMELLS CLEAN IT MUST BE CLEAN
Changing the Smell of Clean Many people are surprised to discover that after scrubbing down a bathroom with homemade cleaners, the bathroom is both germ and odor free.
What is the Smell of Clean? I loved this article as it so eloquently explains how the safest clean is completely odorless.
HAVING YOUR CARPET STEAM CLEANED CAN CAUSE IT TO MOLD AND STINK
Carpet cleaning myths People often worry about their carpets smelling moldy after having them professionally cleaned, but here is why you should get them cleaned and not worry.
Myths About Getting Your Carpet Cleaned Once you have your carpets cleaned, you’ll be wondering why you had waited so long. Don’t worry about mold, or ruining your carpets, getting them cleaned is healthy and completely safe for your floors.
HOMEMADE PRODUCTS DON’T WORK AS WELL AS CLEANERS FOUND AT THE STORE
Myths About Green Products Vinegar mixed with baking soda does wonders to hardened food and soap stains. Read what vinegar can get clean or you.
Green Cleaning Myths If you are wondering how vinegar could possibly clean your bathroom tub, grab a bottle and read about these popular myths.
THE “COLD” CYCLE IS ALWAYS THE BEST CYCLE TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES
THE WASHING MACHINE IS CLEAN INSIDE BECAUSE IT CLEANS ITSELF
Germs Lurking in Your Laundry? You would think if the washer could clean your clothes, it could scrub itself along with the laundry. Unfortunately this is not true. You need to scrub the inside of your washer too.
It’s time to get in there and take care of one of the places you visit every day! Photo by Przemo_W
Autumn is the perfect time of year to really get in there and give your whole car a deep clean. It’s not too hot like the summertime, when air-drying a car might result in spots and soap streaks, and it’s right before the frigid winter months. When you’re living in NYC, you understand: salt, dirt, snow, and ice can slowly destroy your vehicle. Make sure your car’s exterior is in good shape and its interior is comfortable during the winter by focusing on doing the hard work now.
Hand-Wash Your Car With a Soft Sponge
Even according to the experts, the best car wash is a hand-wash. However, instead of using the popular solution of dish detergent and water, invest in an actual car wash solution; dish soap cleans the car but strips away protective wax coatings. If you do decide to use dish soap and water, be sure to wax your car right after. Also, don’t just use a kitchen sponge, which can scratch your car; get a nice, soft sponge made for this express purpose. I’m not about needlessly spending money and would often rather do a cheaper, DIY project, but it’s important not to cut corners when you’re treating your car’s paint.
Wax On, Wax Off (Or Make Your Kids Do It)
Every few months (or whenever possible, really), put a fresh coat of wax on your car. This will help protect your vehicle from the relentless salt and snow that will happen over the next few months.
Clean Your Vents With an Air Compressor
This is very important. A thin layer of dust may have accumulated in your car, but make sure that it’s not all coming from the vents. You can either use an old toothbrush or a foam paintbrush to clean between the plastic parts of the vents, or you could be like a professional and blow out the whole vent system (including the ducts and the vents) with compressed air. This is also a good time of year to replace your air filter, too. If you’re trying to reclaim that “new car smell,” then this is one of the best things you can do.
Find All of the Trash
There are several people out there who may not have anything to pick up in their car, but if you have kids, a long commute, or simply not a lot of time, you’ll want take the time to pick up your trash. Remove water bottles, tissues, napkins, ticket stubs, or anything else that might be hiding in the crevices. Check under your seats, in cup-holders, and between the seats and the consoles. To alleviate this problem in the future, it’s sometimes easier to have a trash receptacle inside of your car. It could be a plastic bag or a small container.
Detail the Upholstery
Make sure you completely remove your floor mats and vacuum underneath. You can also vacuum your upholstery (especially if it’s fabric), and make sure to get into the nooks and crannies like the seams of your cushions or near the seat-belt connectors. Pour some baking soda over the surface of your upholstery if you want to catch more filth and have a nice, clean smell after. If your fabric is stained, there are several things you could do. For seat stains, use diluted all-purpose cleaner, a scrub brush, and some elbow grease; you’ll be surprised at what comes up.
Clean the Mats
If your carpeted floor mats are filthy, you may be able to throw them in the washing machine. If you have sticky, icky rubber mats, simply attack them with your hose for a while. If they’re really, really gross, attack them with a scrub brush and some detergent.
Create a DIY Air Freshener
Do you have baking soda? Do you have essential oil? Do you have a spare mason jar? Do you have a spare bit of fabric? (If you’ve been experimenting at all with any of the exciting things on Pinterest in the past, then you likely have all of these things.) Use this recipe to create an air freshener that will keep your car smelling much better than any of those cheap, dangling fresheners (and it won’t get in the way while you’re driving).
Clean Your Headlights
I’ve not tried this yet, but supposedly, you can clean your car’s headlights with toothpaste, water, and an old cloth. I believe it, though. Toothpaste sure is a miracle cleaner. You can clean your headlights with dish detergent or window cleaner as well.
Get Rid of Rust
Rust is a menace that will slowly destroy the value of your car. This DIY project requires an investment: paint that’s similar to your car’s original color and a “rust-killer” or primer. This is certainly worth it, though, if you’re living in the northern part of the country. Rust will often keep spreading, and the salty winter months will only make your rust worse. Take the time to clean up and fix this now and you can save a real headache later.
Remember that besides cleaning, you’ll want to do several other things to winterize your vehicle, such as checking your wiper blades, your tires, and your air filters. Something that a professional can do for you (I don’t advise doing this yourself) is an under-body coating, which protects all of the parts underneath your car with a coat of sealant. With these tactics and these tips, you can have a more comfortable and safer winter in your car!
Spring is here, and for most, it is a favorite time of the year. Why shouldn’t it be? The sun is shining, the flowers are in bloom, the birds are chirping, and the days are such that you can actually go out and enjoy some fresh air. Spring is also the time to refresh, not only yourself from being locked indoors all winter but also your home. Spring cleaning might seem as if it is a task that will take the fun out of spring, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, spring cleaning can be something the entire family can enjoy. If you get motivated, dive in, and get it done, you’ll not only have a wonderful sense of accomplishment but also the time to do the things you really want to during the spring, so follow these tips to turn spring cleaning into a less daunting task.
Motivate and Delegate
Without the ambition to do it, spring cleaning will become like climbing Mount Everest. You cannot hope to get your spring cleaning done if you aren’t motivated to do it in the first place. I won’t even get into how hard it will be to encourage your significant other and kids to pitch in if they aren’t inclined to do so. There are some easy things you can do to motivate yourself and your family, however.
Sitting down with each family member and discussing a reward for completing spring cleaning tasks is your first step. The best way to motivate your family is to find out something each person really wants and then agree to it as a reward for completing spring cleaning. Does your son want the latest kill-’em-all video game? OK, he can have it when he finishes his chores. Does your daughter want a shopping spree at her favorite clothing store? Same thing. And your hubby can have his shopping spree at the hardware store or tickets to the ballgame once he finishes his list, too.
Next, agree on the chores together. Sometimes, the best way to motivate others is to let them do the chores they want to do. The bottom line is that your house and yard need spring cleaning, so it doesn’t really matter who does what as long as it all gets done. Sit down as a family and make a list of all of the chores. Draw straws, or numbers, or whatever to determine the selecting order, and then each pick a chore you want to do until the list is covered. It’s fair, and everyone gets to do at least something they don’t mind doing.
Agree on a set schedule together. Once the chores have been divvied up, it’s time to make a plan for completion that is realistic and agreeable to everyone. There’s nothing more deflating to motivation than having a list of chores that will take you all day. That isn’t fun no matter how you justify the work. Set up the chores so that they will get done but everyone has time for other things. If you’re planning on doing your spring cleaning during the spring break, for example, set a couple of hours aside each for everyone to work on their chores, and then have some family fun. Be realistic in your scheduling and allow for some down time; otherwise, everyone will become unmotivated very, very quickly.
Operate and Compensate
You’ve divided the work and scheduled it; now, it’s time to crank up the volume and get cracking. What’s your family soundtrack? Do you all have a favorite movie? If so, put on the soundtrack and enjoy the music while working. Do you all agree on an artist or band? Probably not, but if you’re lucky enough to do so, play that music. Otherwise, create a playlist of everyone’s favorite tunes and play that. Music is incredibly motivating when you’re cleaning; this is why I allow my staff to play music when they’re working. So crank up the volume and jam!
Help out where you can. If you finish your list early, help the rest of your family with their list, and encourage everyone else to do the same. The bottom line is that spring cleaning has to be done, so why not help each other accomplish the end goal? Helping out once your list of chores is complete for the day is very motivating for everyone else. Teamwork is gratifying and encourages people to produce results. This is why projects are completed more effectively through teamwork than when someone tackles something alone.
Celebrate. You’ve done it. You’ve completed your spring cleaning chores. Sure, you set up individual rewards, but why not go out and celebrate as a family, too? After all, you worked together to get the job done, so celebrate together. Go to your favorite pizza joint and order an extra-large with all of the toppings. Then, hit the movies, miniature golf, or another fun family activity. Spring cleaning is a daunting task, but you planned it, tackled it, completed it, and deserve an entire day of fun together to reward yourselves for it.
CHECK OUT THESE GREAT SITES FOR CLEANING RELATED TIPS FROM CBS, "Cleaning Building Services, New York Inc."
It’s easy enough to run to the store and load up your cart with cleaning products and tools, but sometimes, it’s simpler, cheaper, or just more satisfying to come up with your own DIY approaches to getting things done, including cleaning the house. I enjoy trying out new cleaning hacks and am always pleasantly surprised when one of them works. I’ve preached the gospel of making your own cleaning products before, but what I haven’t really thought about before is how I could make my own tools for cleaning, too. So I did a bit of thinking and a little research, and I came up with a few ideas that are worth a try.
Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose
This one’s a bit of a cheat, but it’s a basic idea that can definitely help you save on cleaning supplies. Get some microfiber cloths (you can usually find them in the car-care section of any big-box store) and cut them into whatever sizes you please, then use them to do all of your household cleaning: wipe up spills, dust the shelves, polish the furniture, even scrub the dishes. Rather than going through tons of paper towels, you can just pop them into the washing machine and re-use them. And while you’re keeping things out of the trash can, next time you’re ready to replace your toothbrush, don’t toss it out: Keep it and use it as a tiny scrub brush. Toothbrushes are especially good for cleaning grout between bathroom tiles, but they also make great jewelry-cleaning brushes and can fit into just about any other dirty nook or cranny in your house.
DIY Wipes
It’s pretty tempting to buy those cans of disposable cleaning wipes, since they’re just so convenient for quick cleanup jobs. But they can be pretty pricey, so one good idea is to make your own. First, buy one can of wipes and use them up, but save the can. Then, use a roll of paper towels and your favorite cleaning solution to refill the container. Just make sure to take your time pouring in the cleaner: You can add more if the towels are too dry, but it’s harder to take it away if you’ve added too much. When you’re done, pull the cardboard tube out of the center and you’ll be able to pull the towels out the top just like store-bought wipes.
Double-Duty Vase Scrubber
I know I always have trouble cleaning out the insides of bud vases; they’re just so skinny. But here’s an ingenious idea: First, get a sponge and cut out two small pieces. Next, cut a slit in the side of each piece, insert a small rare-earth magnet, and sew the slit shut. Now, you can soak them in soapy water or cleaning solution, then put one inside the vase and the other on the outside. They’ll attract each other through the glass, so you can move the outside one up and down and clean the inside and outside at the same time!
No Swiffer, No Problem
A lot of people like those little Swiffer dusters, but who needs those when you can make a great duster yourself? Just get yourself a bit of fleece fabric and cut it into bits, then use a hot glue gun to attach them to a short wooden dowel. Not only is this a great DIY substitute, but you won’t have to keep buying refills for it. Just toss it in with the laundry when it gets too dirty to use.
Get Crafty, Get Clean
Here’s something I had no idea you could make yourself: scrubbing pads to get your pots and pans clean. If you know how to crochet, these are pretty easy to make (and if you don’t know how, this might be good motivation to learn). All you need is some nylon netting cut into strips and a crochet hook. It takes a bit of practice to get the hang of making these, but once you get used to it, you’ll be able to make them quickly and easily for yourself or as gifts.
