Category: Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Most of us don't realize that our mattresses, sheets, and pillows could be responsible for making us sick.  But, could the beds we sleep in every night really be dangerous to our health?

Traditional mattresses contain a variety of harmful chemicals that can create health problems in both adults and children.

Organic mattresses are healthier in that they conatin organic wool, organic cotton, and natural latex rubber.  Organic wool allows moisture to be moved away from the body during sleep, and then evaporates after you get up.  Traditional mattresses hold moisture in.

Natural latex rubber, which is found in organic mattresses, prevents dust mites and pet dander buildup, something which traditional mattresses don't do.

Here are some ways to keep your bedding healthy and green:

1. Keeping your bed pet free will help reduce the amount of pet dander on your bed.
2. To help reduce your family's exposure to pet dander, use a high-quality air purification system that employs a HEPA filter.
3. Put organic covers on all of your mattresses and pillows.
4. Move litter boxes away from the main air supply or bedroom of your home.
5. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
6. Use damp cloths instead of brooms on hard surfaces, they will hold the dust being collected.
7. To minimize pet dander, run a wet cloth over your pet as much as possible, especially after they come in from outside.  To contain loose hair, brush fur in both directions and then follow with a damp cloth.
8. Keep home humidity levels low.  Use a dehumidifier to keep your air below 50% humidity.  This should help kill dust mites.
9. Wash bedding weekly using natural laundry detergent and dry bedding on high heat.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.  Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancertified.com/greentv.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

For more information on cleaning products and breast cancer, please watch our video at maidbrigade.com.  To find out ways to protect your family's health against breast cancer, please log on to greencleancertified.com.

Resource:  www.thecleanbedroom.com

Want to find a better, less-toxic way to get rid of mold and mildew?  You're in luck!  Here are a few ways to kill off mold and mildew that are safer for the environment and for your family:

Since mold and mildew cannot live in dry air, be sure to improve ventilation in the affected areas. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you use bathroom fans, open windows and wipe down surfaces after showering. Check your air conditioner drains, pipes and faucets for leaks. Clean and dry water-damaged rugs, and replace any carpet that is obviously moldy. Since kitty litter is highly absorbent, place bowls of it in damp areas and replace them weekly.

To fight mold and mildew, mix white vinegar and water (equal parts) in a spray bottle and spray on affected areas.  Wipe clean.  For tougher areas, pour vinegar on the affected area.  Do not rinse.  

Use hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach in the laundry.  Disinfect surfaces by spraying them with vinegar, followed by a spray of 3% peroxide. Wipe clean.   

To remove mold in the toilet bowl, make a scrub of baking soda and white vinegar. To clean the bathtub and tiles, cut a lemon in half and dip it in borax.  Scrub and rinse.  Or, combine baking soda with liquid soap, scrub and rinse.   

Mix 2 teaspoons tea tree oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray on problem areas, but do not rinse off (oregonmetro.gov).

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.  Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancertified.com/greentv.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

For more information on cleaning products and breast cancer, please watch our video at maidbrigade.com.  To find out ways to protect your family's health against breast cancer, please log on to greencleancertified.com.

Most of us know that bleach is incredibly toxic to our families and our environment.

Used primarily in household laundry, cleaning and disinfecting, bleach contains a chemical called sodium hypochlorite. If bleach spills on your hands, your skin can become red and irritated. Exposure to the chlorine vapors that bleach gives off can result in irritation to your eyes and burning in the lining of your mouth and throat. If you ingest bleach, it might burn the lining of your throat. While ingestion is not fatal, it can still cause prolonged bouts of nausea and vomiting.

And although bleach is toxic, it is still the chemical of choice for whiter whites. 
Luckily there are alternatives that are much safer to use:  

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and the health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.  Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancertified.com/greentv.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

For more information on cleaning products and breast cancer, please watch our video at maidbrigade.com.  To find out ways to protect your family's health against breast cancer, please log on to greencleancertified.com.

Green cleaning is simple and affordable.  Using non-toxic, green cleaners help keep your family safe and healthy without sacrificing the sparkle and shine of a clean and sanitary home.

Here are some recipes to try:

For an everyday all-purpose cleaner, use baking soda or white vinegar. Dissolve 2 tbsp. soda or 1/2 cup vinegar in a spray bottle with a quart of warm water.  Use as you would any spray cleanser. For scrub jobs, use baking soda with a small amount of water, then rinse. You can also add 1/2 tsp. liquid Castile soap to a vinegar mix to help lift sticky stains.

To clean the bathroom, sprinkle the toilet bowl with baking soda, then add white vinegar and scrub it with a brush. Clean the tub, tile and countertops by cutting a lemon in half, dipping it in borax or baking soda and using it to scrub. Rinse and dry the surface.  Clear slow drains by mixing 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar with a pot of boiling water.  pour the mixture down the drain immediately. Flush with tap water.

For kitchen cleaning, scrub grease spots with undiluted vinegar and rock salt. Bleach out stains with hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach. Clean glass using 1 quart warm water with 1/4 cup vinegar or 2 tbsp lemon juice mixed in.

For a great hand sanitizer, mix 4 oz. of beach sand with 1 oz. of pumice powder and enough glycerin to make a moist mixture. Store in a jar or tub, and use about 1 tablespoon at a time. Soap is a legitimate disinfectant, so wash your hands with vegetable-based Castile soap. If you're concerned about infections, add 10 drops of tea tree oil to 4 oz. of liquid Castile soap.  Tea tree oil is antifungal, antibacterial and all-natural.

For furniture, walls, and floors, polish wood furniture with a mixture of 1/2 tsp olive or jojoba oil and 1/4 cup vinegar. Mix the ingredients in a jar, and use a soft rag to apply polish in small amounts. If you have crayon marks or scuffs on the walls, rub them with toothpaste and a damp cloth. Don't use toothpaste on wallpaper unless it's vinyl. For linoleum and tile floors, mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup Castile soap and 2 gallons warm water in a bucket. Mop as usual.

For healthy deodorizing, simmer cinnamon, cloves, or other spices in a small pot of water. Remove kitchen food odors by setting out a dish of vinegar or boiling 1 tbsp. vinegar in 1 cup water. Alternatively, spray cutting boards and surfaces with vinegar at night, and the odor will dissipate by morning. For carpet odors, sprinkle with baking soda and let sit for half an hour before vacuuming.

Fall is a great time to green clean your home.  School is in session, the holidays are approaching, and guests are starting to plan their arrivals.  

Here are a few eco-cleaning tips to get your fall cleaning started:  

Before firing up your furnace and/or fireplace, make sure that everything is in working order to avoid a dire situation in the dead of winter and keep your energy costs in check.

Replace or clean furnace filters, and vacuum the area around your furnace. Regular cleaning or replacing of a furnace filter increases efficiency and prevents dirt and allergens from circulating around your home. Don't forget to vacuum around heat registers also. 

Inspect caulk around windows and doors. 

Clean or replace the filters of any air purifiers or humidifiers.  This will help keep the indoor air in your home healthier.  Buy some air-purifying houseplants and place around your home too.   

Most conventional cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that can compromise the indoor air quality of your home, such as oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and drain openers.  Consider replacing them with plant-based alternatives or inexpensive homemade solutions.   

Fall is also a great time to sort through your closets and get rid of things you don't use (or wear).  

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.  Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancedrtified.com/greentv.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

According to Consumers Union, the publishers of Consumer Reports, many products that we use in our homes everyday may contain toxic chemicals and hazardous ingredients.  Here are some steps that you can take to keep your family and pets healthyier and away from harmful toxins: 

Air fresheners may contain d-limonene, a skin irritant, or petroleum distillates, which can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.

Instead, use baking soda to absorb odors, or open windows for fresh air.

Art materials  may contain a variety of hazardous substances, such as lead and other toxic heavy metals.  Spray paints may contain butane, which is extremely flammable.  Superglues may contain acetone or methyl ethyl ketone, with fumes that can irritate the eyes and affect the nervous system. Rubber cement can contain n-hexane, which can also harm the nervous system with chronic exposure.

Instead, use water-based paints and glues, and opt for liquid formulations instead of sprays to avoid flammable propellants.  When using epoxy glues, wear gloves.  Wash hands with soapy water.

Antifreeze may contain ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical that tastes sweet and is hazardous to children and pets.  Car washing products may also contain acetone or petroleum distillates, which can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.

Instead, hose off antifreeze spills.  People who are sensitive to chemicals in car cleaners should avoid freshly detailed cars until the chemicals dissipate.  Use soapy water to clean cars instead.

Drain openers may contain concentrated sodium hydroxide or sulfuric acid, which are substances that damages eyes, lungs, and skin.  Swallowing even a small amount can result in injury or death. Toilet cleaners may contain hydrochloric acid, which can also burn skin.

Instead of chemical drain openers, try using plungers to loosen clogs.  

Oven cleaners can contain sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, both of which are extremely corrosive to eyes, skin, and lungs. Scouring powder may contain chlorine bleach, which should never be mixed with other cleaners because of the risk of forming toxic gases.

Instead, use steel wool or a nonabrasive nylon scrubbing pad and baking soda as soon as the oven cools.  For tough stains, add salt.

An accidental ingestion of just one pill or teaspoonful of certain drugs can kill a 22-pound child. Even seemingly harmless vitamins and minerals can be dangerous in excessive doses.

If you have children at home, keep all medicines and nutritional supplements tightly closed in childproof containers and well out of reach. Consider using cabinet locks and latches to make the contents of cabinets inaccessible to children.

Nail-polish removers contain acetone (irritates lungs and affect the nervous system), and ethyl acetate (irritates eyes, nose, throat, and can cause numbness).  Hair-color products can contain lead (probable carcinogen and developmental toxin), or p-phenylenediamine (can cause skin reactions and swollen eyelids).

Use nail-polish removers in well-ventilated areas.  Before coloring your hair, do a patch test to see if the product causes skin irritation.

Latex house paints, when dry, can give off volatile organic compounds (petroleum distillates), that can cause headaches, nausea, or dizziness. Paint removers contain toluene (affects mental processes and behavior), or methylene chloride (probable human carcinogen; if inhaled can be metabolized to carbon monoxide in the body, leading to carbon-monoxide poisoning).

Use low odor, low level VOC paints.  When applying paints, use fans and open windows or doors to create cross-ventilation while working.

Furniture cleaners may contain petroleum distillates, which irritate skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Polishes can contain naphtha, which can cause headache, nausea, and central-nervous-system symptoms. 

Make your own furniture cleaner using 1/4 cup vinegar and a few drops of oil.

Insecticides and roach killers contain organophosphates or carbamates, which if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed in large-enough doses can cause nausea, tremors, headaches, muscle aches, and, on rare occasions, even death. Synthetic pyrethroids, analogs of a natural insecticide compound, pyrethrum, can trigger asthma attacks and are suspected of disrupting hormone activity in humans. Mothballs work by emitting paradichlorobenzene vapors, a likely carcinogen, which if inhaled can cause headache and nausea, and can be fatal if young children swallow them. Rodent killers typically contain warfarin, a developmental toxin that can cause internal bleeding.

Try Integrated Pest Management (IPM), an approach that attempts to control unwanted insects by the least toxic means:  Unleash ladybugs near rose bushes to keep aphids away. Consider electric mosquito traps that catch and kill some mosquitoes outdoors. Use an eco-friendly insect repellent.  Use ant traps and roach traps that use nontoxic ingredients that affect the bugs’ reproduction. Put seasonal clothes in airtight bags and store them in a cool place.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.  Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancedrtified.com/greentv.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

The biggest problem with germs is that you cannot see them.  Even in the cleanest homes, large numbers of viruses, bacteria and fungal spores are living and breeding there. Thankfully, not all germs cause disease, but to protect yourself and your family from harmful germs, you need to get rid of as many as possible.

Green Cleaning is just as effective as using traditional cleaning methods but is much kinder to you, your pets, your family, and the environment.  Once you adopt some simple green cleaning strategies, you will realize how easy and healthy green cleaning actually is.  Here is a Green Cleaning plan to help you get started:

Look for environmentally friendly cleaning products that contain only natural, biodegradable ingredients. They kill germs as well as detergents and disinfectants containing toxic chemicals, but are much less likely to trigger allergic reactions or cause other health problems. Does your vacuum cleaner suck up germs at one end only to blow them out at the other? If so, consider replacing it with a HEPA filter vacuum.  Use microfiber cloths, dusters and mops that pick up and hold bacteria with a single wipe. Conventional cleaning accessories often only move germs across surfaces before releasing them into the air.

Some of the facts and figures about germs are truly alarming. Did you know that a single bacterium can multiply to six million in just eight hours? Understanding how germs move around, and what conditions suit them best, gives you the advantage of being able to stop them before they make themselves at home. Knowing that germs can survive for limited periods on dry surfaces, but need moisture to thrive and multiply, will remind you why you shouldn't leave damp towels lying about.

Give your home a thorough, deep clean, paying special attention to all those cracks and crevices where germs are normally left undisturbed. Deal with one room at a time and clean systematically so you don’t make extra work for yourself by re-contaminating clean areas.

Once your home is as clean as you can make it, aim to keep it that way by guarding against further germ invasions. Germs come into your home via air, people, and pets.  It might be impossible to stop all germs, but you can slow them down. A good dirt-trapping doormat, and taking off shoes indoors will stop germs from spreading throughout your home. Close the toilet lid before flushing to prevent germs escaping from the toilet bowl.

The battle against germs is never-ending, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours rubbing and scrubbing. Target your everyday cleaning at places that are especially attractive to germs. Wipe up food spills and visible dirt without delay. In most homes, the greatest concentration of germs is found in the kitchen sink. Develop the habit of quickly cleaning the sink after each use and you will drastically cut the number of germs available to spread to the rest of the kitchen.

Green Cleaning is all about making the modern home cleaner and healthier using simple, natural products and efficient techniques. 

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.  Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancedrtified.com/greentv.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Almost every item in your home could be hazardous to your family's health.  However, for every toxic product in your home, there is a safe alternative.

Most of us believe that the government has laws that protect us from harmful products, but they do not protect us as well as they should.  

Unfortunately, many products are assumed to be safe and are allowed to be sold in the market place without adequate testing.  Of the 17,000 chemicals that appear in common household products, only 30% have been adequately tested for their negative effects on our health.  Less than 10% have been tested for their effect on the nervous system.  And, nothing is known about the combined effects of these chemicals when mixed within our bodies.  

Cleaning products are among the most hazardous substances you will find in your home.  They are so toxic that they are the only household products regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Unfortunately, there is no federal law requiring pre-market safety testing by the manufacturer, so the hazards of some products have not been revealed until after consumers have been injured.  

Air fresheners can cause cancer; irritate nose, throat, and lungs.
All purpose cleaners cause eye damage; irritate nose, throat, and lungs.
Bleach is toxic if swallowed; vapors are harmful; causes central nervous system disorders.
Carpet shampoo may cause cancer; causes central nervous system and liver damage.
Dishwasher detergent can cause eye injuries; damage to mucous membranes and throat.
Dishwashing liquid is harmful if swallowed; irritates the skin.
Disinfectants are very toxic; cause skin, throat, and lung burns; causes coma.
Drain cleaners cause skin burns; cause liver and kidney damage.
Fabric softeners may cause cancer; cause central nervous system disorders; cause liver damage.
Floor/furniture polish can cause central nervous system disorders; may cause lung cancer.
Laundry detergents can irritate the skin and lungs.
Oven cleaners can cause skin, throat, and lung burns.
Chloronated scouring powder is highly irritating to nose, throat, and lungs.
Spot and stain removers may cause cancer; causes liver damage; vapors can be fatal.
Toilet bowl cleaners are very toxic; causes skin, nose, throat, and lung burns.
Window cleaners can cause central nervous system disorders; causes liver and kidney disorders.

Manufacturers of these hazardous products are not required to list exact ingredients on the label.  For example, you cannot look at a label and be sure that a mold and mildew cleaner doesn't contain pentachlorophenol, a substance that can kill.  

Most products can be harmful during use, even when following the instructions, and mention of this danger isn't required by law.  Labeling only considers danger of ingestion.  Inhaling toxic fumes from these products may produce reactions such as headaches, fatigue, burning eyes, and runny noses.  Allowing cleaning products to touch bare skin on your hands not only produces skin rashes, it allows the toxic chemicals to go straight into your bloodstream.  Even if you don't have immediate symptoms, years later you or your children may suddenly get cancer, heart disease, lung problems, or damage to the liver or immune system, etc.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about our environment and health of you and your family.  For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to greencleancertified.com and maidbrigade.com.  Watch our video on achieving work/life balance at greencleancertified.com/greentv.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.