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Decluttering Tips For Making Life Easier

Posted on February 7, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Is your home filled with piles of paper on tables?  How about books so thick on the nightstand that you can't even see the time on the clock?  Are your closets so overstuffed with clothes that you can never find what you are looking for, and the clothes you do find are full of wrinkles? 

Then consider these simple steps to help declutter your home:

Junk mail.  The average American household receives about 850 pieces of junk mail every year, so it is no coincidence that paper makes up 1/4 of all landfill waste, or that the junk mail industry's environmental footprint is equivalent to the tailpipe pollution from 9 million cars.

Redeem your tables and countertops by decluttering them!  Go online and register for the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Association website.  For only one dollar, your name and address will be removed from prospective mailing lists, ending 75% of junk mail in about 90 days.

Empty those closets.  It is very easy to to clutter our closets with so much stuff, but there are also many ways to get rid of the stuff we no longer want.

Start with your closet and all those clothes you think you might wear one day.  Try them on and get rid of anything that doesn't make you look good.

Get rid of clothes by donating them, giving them to a friend, turning them into rags, or sell them.  Thanks to Internet innovations, we can make money by selling our clothes online through Craigslist, ebay, and even clothingswap.com.

Grocery shopping simplified.  The average American uses about 500 plastic bags every year.  Instead of stuffing those bags under the sink for future use, get a couple of good reusable bags and make a habit of storing them in your car so you can use them on your trips to the grocery store.

Are you tired of lugging big cases of soda and water from the grocery store only to watch them clutter up your closets and countertops?  For water, a reusable bottle and a good filter will pay for themselves in no time.  And even soda and seltzer can be made at home with simple home carbonation systems.

Even the most well-organized kitchens tend to overflow onto countertops.  One way to keep that overflow from looking like clutter is to turn it into decoration.  Get a simple decorative fruit bowl and substitute your junk food snacks for fruit.  This way, you are more likely to choose a healthy snack if it is right in front of you.  Since the majority of household waste is made up of packaging, you'll also cut down on the number of times you have to take trash to the curb.

Library books.  If you are one of those people who keeps piles and piles of old magazines or newspapers, it may be time to reintroduce yourself to the local library.

Borrowing one book at a time not only saves you money, but it will cut down on clutter. Using the library will definitely keep your home clutter free!

Clear up a little space around your home and breathe a little easier!

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household products and Breast Cancer," please watch our video at www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Declutter and Clean Your Fridge

Posted on February 1, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

While you are busy detoxing your body and cleaning out your closets, why not green clean the fridge too? Looking into an over filled fridge can be as stressful as looking into a cluttered closet.  Get rid of that food that's gone rancid in the fridge as well as the unhealthy food once and for all!

  1. First pick out the foods that are past date or you know you don't plan on eating and get rid of them. Recycle or reuse as many containers as possible. Note what you're throwing out and cut back on purchasing so much of those items in the future.
  2. Remove all the food from the fridge so that you can really get to scrubbing it. Put the food that needs to stay cold in a cooler.
  3. Using white vinegar and baking soda along with a few old rags, start scrubbing!  Make sure not to skip the shelves or drawers.
  4. Unplug and move the fridge away from the wall and vacuum under the fridge as well as the coils behind it. This is a good way to increase efficiency. The refrigerator consumes about 8 percent of a home's electricity. It is the single most energy-intensive appliance. Refrigerators use up a lot of energy while making the coldness.
  5. Use vinegar in a spray bottle to give the outside of the fridge a good scrub as well.

De-Clutter Your Home and Your Life!

Posted on January 28, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

The beginning of every year is a perfect time to start re-organizing and de-cluttering your life and your home.  But where do you begin?

Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Cupboards and drawers.  Take on manageable amounts.  Begin with a drawer or cupboard, perhaps the toothbrush/toothpaste drawer.  Throw away the extra toothpaste caps and frayed toothbrushes.  Put the head bands back in the comb drawer.  Dig the dental floss out from the back of the drawer and wipe the dried toothpaste off the drawer bottom.  Next, take on the toiletries drawer.  Stack the extra soap, shampoo, and toilet paper neatly.  Put the brushes back in the comb drawer.  Get rid of all the old hair ties that you found in the back of the drawer that you won't use anymore.  Move on to the linen closet.  Fold and stack the towels.  Sort the ratty ones from the nicer ones and tear the old ones into rags.  Put the washcloths in a box or plastic container to keep them contained.  Keep sorting through drawers and closets for as long as you can.

Clothes closets.  Tie a ribbon in the middle of the hanger rod, with all of your clothes hanging to the left of the ribbon.  After you wear something, launder it and hang it up on the right side of the ribbon.  After two months, see what is still hanging on the left and take it to Goodwill.  This method can work assuming you store your clothing seasonally, and you keep costumes, and special outfits and dresses in another place.  If you don't, this project may take up to a year until you have gone through all of the seasons.

Try and keep your closet floors for your shoes, not boxes.  This will keep your shoes from getting squished and ruined.  Closet floors are a magnet for boxes that hold things you don't know where else to put.

Basements and attics.  Out of sight, out of mind!  Moving something to the basement or attic usually means, "I don't want to deal with this now, get it out of my sight."  Attack these piles one at a time and get rid of those stacks once and for all!

Garages.  A thorough housecleaning is going to result in more junk in the garage.  There are going to be some things you just can't part with yet, but after reading about basements and attics, you wouldn't dare send the junk there!  Instead you will send it to the garage!  The garage is a project all in its own and needs time budgeted accordingly.  Begin sorting in the house so that by the time you get to the garage, you're a pro!

Remember:  The important part of de-cluttering is beginning.  Start de-cluttering today!

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com. 

Cleaning with Salt

Posted on January 27, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Did you know that salt’s granular texture makes it perfectly suited for scouring?  Table salt, sea salt, and kosher salt can all be used, but table salt is the cheapest choice.

Use salt to clean:

Artificial flowers.  Place the fake blooms inside a paper bag and pour in salt. Close the bag and shake vigorously. The salt will dislodge accumulated dust and dirt.

Glassware.  Salt won’t scratch the way a scouring pad can. To get out stubborn stains, add some salt for extra abrasion and scrub.

Greasy pots and pans.  Sprinkle salt on cookware to absorb excess grease. Dump out the salt before washing as usual.  Do not use on nonstick cookware.

Spills in the oven.  Pour salt on the spills to soak them up. When the oven is cool, wipe with a damp sponge.

Stained teacups and coffee mugs.  Sprinkle salt on the outside of a lemon peel and rub the affected area until clean.

Wooden counters and tables.  Cover grease splatters with salt to absorb as much as possible. Wait an hour, then brush away the salt.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.


Cleaning with Baking Soda and Washing Soda

Posted on January 27, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Baking and Washing Soda

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Baking soda and washing soda both absorb odors. But unlike baking soda, slightly stronger washing soda cannot be ingested, so wear rubber gloves when handling it.

You can use either baking soda or washing soda to clean the following:

Can opener.  Dip a toothbrush in a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon water and use it to dislodge gunk.

Garage floors/concrete surfaces.  Pour washing soda generously on oil and grease spots and sprinkle with water until a paste forms. Let stand overnight. The next day, scrub with a damp brush, hose down, and wipe clean.

Garden tools.  Dip a moist stiff-bristled brush in washing soda to scrub trimmers, clippers, and more. Rinse, then place in a sunny area to dry. Avoid using washing soda on aluminum tools.

Grills and barbecue utensils.  To combat tough grease stains, dip a moist stiff- bristled brush in washing soda and scrub away.

Stove burner grates.  In a dish pan, soak the grates in 1 gallon warm water and ½ cup washing soda for 30 minutes. Rinse and dry.

Stained teacups and coffee mugs.  Fill with 1 part baking soda and 2 parts water and soak overnight.  Rub with a sponge and rinse.

Upholstered furniture.  To remove odors, sprinkle baking soda on the fabric, then vacuum.

Scuffed walls.  Erase crayon marks by applying a baking soda paste (equal parts baking soda and water) to white painted walls only.  Baking soda may dull colored walls. Let dry before brushing it off with a clean cloth.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at wwwgreencleancertified.com/greentv.


The Many Wonders of Vinegar

Posted on January 27, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Did you know that vinegar can wipe out tarnish, soap scum, and mineral deposits?  Distilled white vinegar actually inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, and some bacteria, like E. coli and salmonella.

Use vinegar to clean the following:

Sink drains.  Clean drains by pouring vinegar down them. After 30 minutes, flush with cold water.
 
Floors. Add ¼ cup vinegar to a bucket of warm water to clean almost any type of floor except marble (vinegar can scratch it) or wood (vinegar can strip it).
 
Glassware.  For spotless hand-washed glasses, add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water.
 
Moldy walls.  Spray vinegar on the affected areas. After about 15 minutes, rinse and let dry thoroughly.
 
Steam iron.  To get rid of mineral deposits, fill the iron with equal parts vinegar and water.  Press the steam button. Turn off, let cool, empty, and rinse.
 
Windows.  Mix ¼ cup vinegar, 2 cups water, and a squirt of liquid Castile soap in a spray bottle. Spritz windows and wipe with a sheet of newspaper.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.


Green Cleaning with Castile Soap

Posted on January 27, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Castile soap is a plant-based soap that loosens grime and dirt from surfaces.  It is more gentle than soap, so it won't dull surfaces.

Green cleaning with Castile Soap maidbrigade.com

Here are some ways you can use Castile soap:

Washing your car.  Mix ¼ cup liquid Castile soap with hot water in a bucket, filling the bucket almost to the top. Rub a generous amount of the solution on your car’s exterior, windshield, hubcaps, and tires with a large sponge, then thoroughly hose it off.

Clean your floors.  You can mop almost any type of floor with a solution of ¼ cup liquid Castile soap and 2 gallons warm water. If the floors are greasy, add ¼ cup distilled white vinegar to the bucket. For leather upholstery, add 2 drops liquid Castile soap to 1 quart warm water. Apply to the leather with a barely moist sponge.

Cleaning marble countertops. Stir 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap into 1 quart warm water. Dampen a cloth with the solution and wipe surface. Rinse, then dry with a clean cloth.

Sinks, showers, tubs, and ceramic tile. Create a homemade soft scrubber by combining 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap and 1/3 cup baking soda.

Stovetop and vent hood. Add a few squirts of liquid Castile soap to 2 cups hot water. Apply to the stovetop, the burners, and the vent hood to cut through accumulated grease.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Toothpaste...Not Just For Brushing Your Teeth!

Posted on January 26, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

The combination of a mild abrasive, a surfactant (detergent), and an antibacterial agent makes toothpaste a potent stain-fighter and a great house cleaner! For cleaning purposes, stick with a standard paste, not a gel, and steer clear of formulas designed for tartar control and whitening., because they often contain chemicals and additional abrasives that can damage items such as fine silver.

Here are some ways you can use your toothpaste:

Acrylic accessories (like desktop organizers).  Squeeze toothpaste onto a toothbrush and work it into scratches until they diminish. Wipe residue off with a cloth.

Chrome fixtures. To polish faucets and taps in the kitchen or bathroom, smear a dime-size amount of toothpaste onto them, then buff with a soft cloth until they shine.

Scuffed linoleum. Reduce marks by scrubbing them with toothpaste and a dry cloth until the toothpaste residue disappears.

Piano keys. Rub each key carefully with a damp cotton swab and some toothpaste. Wipe dry and buff with a clean cloth.

Tarnished silverware. Put a dab of toothpaste on a soft cloth, rub it onto the tarnish, then rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.

Steam iron.  Mineral deposits can stain an iron’s soleplate. Apply a dab of toothpaste and work it into the plate. Use a clean cloth to remove residue.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please go to https://maidbrigade.com/green-house-cleaning/.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Cleaning With Essential Oils

Posted on January 25, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Did you know that some essential oils can kill bacteria and mold? Essential oils are extracted from plants and are very strong, so don’t go overboard.  One drop of peppermint oil is as potent as 30 cups of peppermint tea!

Here are some ways to clean using essential oils:

Combs and brushes. Fill a container with 1½ cups water, ½ cup distilled white vinegar, and 20 drops tea-tree, lavender, or eucalyptus oil. Soak combs and brushes for 20 minutes. Rinse and air-dry.
 
Scuffed floors. Apply two to four drops of tea-tree oil to the spots. Wipe excess oil with a cloth and rub in distilled white vinegar.
 
Gum-encrusted items. Orange oil is great at removing this sticky offender from various materials. It should not stain fabrics, but do launder immediately. Apply with a cotton ball.
 
Shower doors. Wipe scum-covered glass doors with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month. It will protect them from grime buildup.
 
Toilets. Add 2 teaspoons tea-tree oil and 2 cups water to a spray bottle. Shake, then spritz along the toilet’s inside rim. Let sit for 30 minutes, then scrub. You can also place a few drops of your favorite oil on the inside of the toilet-paper tube. Every time the paper is used, the scent will be released.
 
Windows. Mix 2 ounces water and 10 drops lavender or lemongrass oil to wipe grime off windows. These oils can also repel flies.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.

An All-Natural Green Cleaning Solution

Posted on January 25, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Did you know that the acid in lemon juice removes dirt and rust stains? It’s especially effective when mixed with salt, which makes an excellent scouring paste.  Here are some tips on how you can use lemons for cleaning:

Countertops.  Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to tackle countertops.  Wipe with a wet sponge and dry. Do not use on delicate stone, like marble, or stainless steel because it may discolor.
 
Cutting boards. To remove tough food stains from light wood and plastic cutting boards, slice a lemon in half, squeeze onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes before rinsing.
 
Dishes. To increase the grease-cutting power of your dishwashing detergent, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.
 
Faucets. Combat lime scale by rubbing lemon juice onto the taps and letting it sit overnight. Wipe with a damp cloth.
 
Garbage disposal. Cut a lemon in half, then run both pieces through the disposal. The lemon cleans it and makes it smell great.  
 
Grout. Add lemon juice to 1 or 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar, which is an acidic salt that acts as a natural bleaching agent.  Make a paste, apply with a toothbrush, then rinse.
 
Hands. When you touch raw fish or onions, the smell can linger on your fingers. Rub your hands with lemon juice, which will neutralize the odor.
 
Laundry. To brighten whites, add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the rinse cycle for a normal-size load.
 
Plastic food-storage containers. To bleach stains from tomato soup and other acidic foods on dishwasher-safe items, rub lemon juice on the spots, let dry in a sunny place, then wash as usual.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com. For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Why Microfiber is so Important in Preventing Cross-Contamination During the Cold and Flu Season

Posted on January 21, 2011 by - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Over the past few years, because of the H1N1 virus, infection control has become more of a trending topic than it ever has before.  Since germs and bacteria are all around us, it is important to be proactive in preventing their spread.

While many illnesses and infections are prevented through proper hand washing, infection control also needs to be addressed in your cleaning.

Wiping products are used in all areas of cleaning and are often crucial in helping to stop the spread of germs.  There are several wiping options known to reduce the spread of infectious germs and bacteria, such as color-coded microfiber cloths, mops and rags.  Microfiber technology is extremely helpful in preventing cross-contamination. 

For example, using red tools for toilets, yellow for sinks and mirrors and blue for windows and dusting, can help you avoid cross-contamination and spreading germs from room to room.  Color coding is a way of simplyfying your cleaning.  It is also easier to recognize what product to use and where.

Microfiber cloths and mops also contain about 95 percent of bacteria on a surface, while traditional products may spread the bacteria around. Plus, microfiber cloths and pads are easier to swap out from room to room, so they are less likely to be used in multiple settings.

Even though the initial cost is more than a cotton mop, microfiber products are washable 400 to 700 times.  Microfiber cloths can be used and reused if you simply wash them in a gentle cycle with detergent.  

What are microfiber cloths and mops made of?

Microfiber cloths consist of an interlocking blend of two fibers: Polyester and polyamide, a nylon material.  Polyester is an effective scrubbing and cleaning fiber, while polyamide is an absorbent, quick-drying fiber.

Combining the two is what makes microfiber such a unique and effective material, as they do not harbor bacteria like their cotton counterparts.  In fact, microfiber is a naturally antibacterial material.

Each microscopic strand of microfiber has been split, creating millions of tiny hooks that attract, absorb and remove all kinds of dirt, dust and bacteria.

Unlike traditional cotton and paper wiping products or cotton mops that tend to push or smear dirt and grime, microfiber actually gets underneath the dirt and germs, scraping them from the surface and trapping them until the cloth or mop is laundered.

Microfiber has become a universally used cloth because of its cleaning capabilities and cost effectiveness.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Toxic Household Chemicals and Children

Posted on January 21, 2011 by - Healthy Home

A new study published in the September 2010 issue of Pediatrics found the careless use of toxic household cleaning products continues to poison over 11,000 young children each year.

The study also emphasized that nearly half of the poisonings resulted from spray bottle cleaning products and remained high noting that bleach continues to be the product most often associated with accidental poisoning.

Although this new study serves as a reminder that it is important to securely store cleaning products out of the reach of small children, it fails to encourage the use of safer, “green” household cleaning alternatives. Even with the most conscientious parents, accidents can still happen. These accidental poisonings are less likely to occur if household cleaners are non-toxic to begin with.

Because manufacturers realize there are more and more health conscientious consumers who want to protect themselves and their children’s health by using safer, non-toxic cleaning products, they have developed a clever marketing plan aimed at influencing the purchasing public.
This deceptive advertizing concept is known as “green washing.” There are many products that claim to be non-toxic or use the word “green” on their label and in their promotional materials but are not really green at all. Green washing has become a successful ploy designed to make busy consumers think they are purchasing an environmentally safe, non-toxic cleaner.  But when you actually examine the ingredients and warnings on some of these so-called “green” cleaners, you soon realize the products are anything but “green.”

Consumers should be cautious when they see words like “eco” or “environmentally friendly” and “non-toxic” on labels because there are no standards for these terms when it comes to conventional household cleaners.

Always read the warning labels and examine the ingredients and be wary of products that don’t disclose their full ingredient list. If there are products known to contain possible carcinogens, neurotoxins or endocrine disrupting chemicals in them, they are not “non-toxic” or “green.”

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com or maidbrigade.com.  For more information on "Household Cleaning Products and Breast Cancer", please watch our video at greencleancertified.com/greentv.