Category: Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

A green home is a happy home! 

Going green doesn't have to be expensive.  All it takes to make your home healthy, safe, and green are simple changes in your life.  Here are some tips to help you get started:

Find eco-friendly alternatives to harsh chemical cleaners, which can cause health problems and pollute the environment. Several brands of non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products are available at both natural grocery shops and chain stores.  Better yet, make your own using baking soda.  Baking soda is a cheap and effective all-purpose cleaner, scourer, polisher, and fungicide. Switch to natural disinfectants such as tea tree oil or citrus oils. Try borax and white vinegar as a toilet bowl cleaner. 

Skip the cleaning products altogether and switch to micro fiber cloths designed to attract dirt on their own.  A damp cloth can clean glass, stainless steel, brass, wood, and ceramics. A dry cloth is great at wiping away dust.  

Minimize the use of pesticides in your home.  Instead of using repellents, keep insects out by sealing cracks and holes around doors, windowsills, and baseboards. Keep food stored away and kitchen and eating areas as clean as possible.

Grow your own salad greens, veggies, and herbs. A garden can help reduce soil erosion and reduce air pollution. Grow plants that don't use a lot of water.  Instead of using toxic pesticides or chemical fertilizers, try organic and earth-friendly products. 

Learn to compost to reduce landfill waste.  Mix yard trimmings with your coffee grounds and leftover fruit and veggies.  This combp makes a great soil enhancer.    

Water your garden in the early morning or evening when it's cooler.  Water evaporates more slowly when it's cool. Water that's been used in sinks, bathtubs, showers or the washing machine  can also be used to water the garden, if it contains only biodegradable soaps.

Grass cuttings act as natural fertilizer when they decompose. So take advantage of them. 

Ditch disposable razors for reusable ones. Swap plastic cups and paper plates for ceramic ones. Choose reusable food containers over plastic wrap. Choose rechargeable batteries over the conventional single-use kind. 

Look on labels for recycled products like toilet paper.  Choose food items like cereals and crackers packaged in recycled cardboard.

Donate used toys to a worthy organization. Host a clothing or book swap. 

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.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Baking soda is well known as a natural and safe household cleaner.  Baking soda can also be used to kill mold in your home.  Unlike other mold killers which contain harsh chemicals, baking soda is mild (pH of 8.1) and harmless to your family and pets.

Besides killing mold, baking soda also deodorizes, so it can also get rid of the smell mold leaves in your home.  Baking soda also absorbs moisture to help keep mold away.

Vinegar is sometimes used along with baking soda when cleaning up a mold problem since vinegar kills different species of mold than baking soda.

To kill mold, add 1/4 tablespoon of baking soda to a spray bottle containing water. 
Shake the bottle to dissolve the baking soda into the water.
Spray the moldy area with the baking soda and water solution.
Use a sponge or scrubbing brush and scrub the mold.
Rinse the surface with water to remove any residual mold.
Spray the area again and let the surface dry.  This will kill any left over mold and prevent mold from returning.

You can also use a cloth instead of a spray bottle.  Just soak a cloth in water, add 1/4 tablespoon baking soda to it, and scrub the moldy area.  Rinse and repeat if necessary.

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.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Trying to remove blood from clothing or furniture? Gently rub hydrogen peroxide into the stain.

If you are having trouble with soap scum build up try switching to liquid soap. The talc in most bar soaps is the cause of buildup.

Is your shower curtain beginning to get discolored and moldy? Toss it into the washing machine with some white vinegar.

Cleaning the inside of a microwave can be a tough job because the food particles are baked on and hardened. Place a mug or measuring cup full of water inside the microwave for about 2-3 minutes. The hot water should steam the inside of the microwave, softening and loosening those hardened food splatters. Spray the inside of the microwave with your favorite cleaner and wipe it down.

Have some gum stuck under your table? Put some ice on top of it to harden it and pry it free with a dull knife.

Use club soda or seltzer water to clean chrome.

Try using a paintbrush to get to hard-to-reach places while dusting.

Clean the lint trap on your clothes dryer after every dryer load. Too much lint in the trap makes the dryer work longer and harder to dry your clothes, and excessive lint in the dryer vent can start a fire if it should overheat. Use the narrow crevice nozzle of your vacuum cleaner to suck up as much lint as you can from the area surrounding the lint trap.

Hairspray will often get pen ink stains off of clothing and upholstery.

Are you trying to remove a dirty ring around the collar of a blouse or shirt? Try rubbing a little shampoo into it. Shampoo is made to remove body oils so it's ideal for the job.

To keep yourself entertained while you clean, try listening to books on tape. The time will pass much faster and you'll be able to catch up on all that reading you've been meaning to do.

Here is a great mix for cleaning windows and mirrors: In a 32 oz spray bottle mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar with ¼ cup rubbing alcohol.

Going green is easy to do, and most of the ingredients are already in your kitchen. Here are some easy recipes for cleaning products that you can make at home.

Drain cleaners.  A simple solution of 1 cup baking soda poured into the sink or tub, followed by 1 cup vinegar should keep your drain flowing freely.

Mold remover.  Eliminate mold by spraying with vinegar at 5% concentration, or by scrubbing with a non-ammonia detergent such as borax, hydrogen peroxide, or tea tree oil.

Healthy air freshener. For a lemon-fresh smell in the air, mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle. Spray! 

Flea control. Wash your dog with 1/4 teaspoon of an essential oil that is insect-repelling, such as citronella, cedarwood, eucalyptus, rosemary, or bay leaf, with 1 teaspoon of a chemical-free shampoo and 1 cup water. Pour it over your pet, let it dry a little, and then rinse.

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.  To learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Here are some quick and easy tips to get you through your summer.

--When you head to the gas station to fill your lawn mower gas container, place this container inside a heavy-duty plastic bag then inside a plastic bucket. Secure it to prevent it from tipping during travel.

--A handy trick for cleaning hands outside: Cut off an old pair of panty hose just below the knee. Slide your soap slivers into the toe part. Tie the top end around an outdoor faucet.  It is a quick way to wash outside.

--Cut off the rest of the leg part just below the panty and place over your cotton dust mop for an inexpensive and reusable "Swiffer". The panty part makes an excellent polishing cloth for shoes!

--For grass stains, pour liquid dish soap onto stains and allow to set overnight. Rinse and wash as normal. Be certain to rinse out the dish soap before laundering, otherwise it may cause too much foam in your washing machine. This also does a great job on soccer and baseball uniforms, and on extra dirty socks.

--Underarm stains on shirts seem to worsen when we sweat. Before washing, saturate the underarm area with a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide to water. Allow to set 30 minutes, then wash as normal. If you have been using bleach to whiten clothes and they are now graying, switch to peroxide. The first time pour 1 to 2 cups peroxide in your washer as it fills along with your detergent. Add the clothes and soak for 30 minutes. After the initial cleaning 1 cup works fine.

--For dusting mini-blinds, put a clean old cotton tube sock over one hand. Spray with a bottle filled with a liquid soap and water mixture.  Turn the slats of the mini blind down and wipe over the slats turning the sock as it soils. Reverse the slats and walk around behind them and repeat. To clean the cords, grab a can of foaming shaving cream and gently dab on the cord. Wait 20 minutes then rinse.

Green cleaning can help keep your home sparkling clean and healthy.  And, most of the ingredients you need are already in your kitchen cabinets.  Here are some cleaning products that you can make at home:

Natural drain cleaners. Pour 1 cup baking soda, followed by 1 cup vinegar, into the sink or tub. After some bubbling and fizzing, your drain should be flowing freely.

Non-toxic mold remover. Eliminate mold by spraying with vinegar at 5% concentration, or by scrubbing with a non-ammonia detergent such as borax, hydrogen peroxide, or tea tree oil.

Healthy air freshener. For a lemon-fresh smell to deodorize the air, mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle.  

Eco-friendly flea control. Wash your dog with 1/4 teaspoon of an essential oil that is insect-repelling, such as citronella, cedarwood, eucalyptus, rosemary, or bay leaf, with 1 teaspoon of a chemical-free shampoo and 1 cup water. Pour it over your pet, let it dry a little, and then rinse.

Organic furniture polish. Two cups of olive oil and one juiced lemon in a glass makes for a natural furniture oil. After testing on a small section of your favorite furniture, apply with a soft polishing cloth and buff to a shine.

Green cleaner. A simple mixture of 1/2 teaspoon washing soda (sodium carbonate) and 1/2 teaspoon liquid Castile (vegetable-based, not animal-fat based) soap mixed with 2 cups hot water in a 16-ounce spray bottle makes for an all-natural, all-purpose cleaner that can be used on most surfaces.

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.  to learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Salt is a common household product that is not appreciated enough for its cleaning properties. Mixing salt with alcohol (1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol) creates a great product for tackling grease.

Salt is also a fantastic stain remover.  To clean spilled red wine or to clean blood stains, pour a generous amount over the stain and watch it absorb and lift the stain.

What are your favorite natural green products that you clean your home with?   Do you have any house cleaning recipes for using baking soda, vinegar, lemon or salt?  Share your thoughts with Maid Brigade! 

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.  to learn more about the hidden allergy and asthma triggers in your home, log on to greencleancertified.com/greentv.

In a recent survey by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, about 20 percent of the U.S. population suffer from allergies and asthma, and their conditions are exacerbated by the tiny dry particles floating around our homes.  The natural response to this is to keep our homes sparkling clean, but unfortunately some of the products we use to rid our home of allergens contain irritating ingredients themselves. 

Dust mites, mold, and pet dander are major issues for allergy sufferers, but chemical fumes from cleaning products and spray air fresheners can also be major detriments to your household's air quality.

For allergy sufferers, the best types of cleaning products are those that are non-toxic.  "Green" cleaning products are better for those with allergies, but read the labels carefully, as some of these products still contain irritating substances.  Some of the best anti-allergy cleaning solutions can be found right in your own home.  Baking soda and vinegar work wonders in the natural cleaning world.  Homemade solutions made from these products can help keep your home spotless and clean for a minimal cost and at a minimal hazard.  If the smell of vinegar bothers you, add some drops of lemon juice to your solution. 

Most toilet cleaners use very strong chemicals like hydrochloric acid or chlorine. Undiluted vinegar works just as well and won't put a bunch of harsh chemicals in the air.

For cleaning surfaces, use a spray bottle that contains one part vinegar and one part water to naturally disinfect countertops and other surfaces.  Do not use this on marble countertops;  specific cleaning products are required for marble surfaces.

To fight nasty odors, mix some baking soda and water and apply to a microfiber cloth for scrubbing dirt and stains.

For allergy sufferers, try to avoid using chemical cleaning products altogether.  All that is really needed for efficient dusting is a good, clean microfiber cloth.

Many modern homes also contain carpeting, and while it may be pretty and pleasant to bare feet, carpet is a haven for allergens.  If you can't lose the carpet, you will have to aggressively clean your floors to reduce the amount of dust mites and other allergens who live there. 

To reduce the amount of pollen coming into your home and sticking to the carpet, try and mandate a "no shoes indoors" policy for all.  Each day, vacuum high traffic areas with a HEPA filter vacuum.  Vacuum other areas every few days at least.  Don't forget about bath and area rugs.

Consider buying or renting a vapor-steam cleaner, which is very effective in wiping out germs, grime, and dust from floors, furniture, drapes, tiles, countertops, and more without aggravating allergies.  Be sure that the machine is a vapor steam-cleaner instead of a water-extraction cleaner which uses a chemical cleaning solution and water, since those types can contribute to mold and mildew.

Dust mites are the chief indoor allergy culprits.  They thrive on moisture and live off of human skin.  Wash all bedding and sheets on the hottest setting at least once a week to control the dust mite population in your pillows and sheets.  Don't forget about the kids' stuffed animals.  Launder them on the hottest setting.  If they cannot be washed in hot water, put them in the freezer for a few hours, then wash them in cold water.  This will help get rid of dust mites.

Home cleaning should be an important part of your allergy management plan.  Cleaning reduces the amount of allergens in your home, which should help to alleviate your allergy symptoms.

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