Category: Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Green Clean Your Allergies

Posted on April 5, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Spring has sprung and so have your allergies. For allergy sufferers, spring can be the worst season to clean the home. If your allergies are causing sneezing, sniffling, itchy and watery eyes, the last thing you want to expose yourself to are more allergy triggers like particles and pests.

What can you do to reduce these allergies? A thorough green spring cleaning! It can actually reduce symptoms, especially if you are allergic to things that thrive in an unclean house, like dust mites, mold and animal dander.

To rid your home of allergens for good, first know what you are allergic to so you are better prepared to tackle cleaning tasks that stir them up.

To get rid of dust mites that might be lurking in your bed sheets, wash your bed linens in 130 degree water weekly. The hot water will kill the mites. Remember to wash the decorative pillows and stuffed animals in hot water every 1-2 weeks.

Try not to dust with cotton cloths because they can spread particles around on surfaces which sends them back into the air. Use microfiber cloths instead. They trap dust and remove dust mite allergen that accumulates on hard surfaces.

Buy a vacuum cleaner with a hard-shell container or a bag vacuum with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters prevent smaller particles from blowing back out.

To remove bathroom mold, use a solution of borax and water.

Spring cleaning a house from top to bottom is a big job. If you are not up to the task of cleaning because of your allergies, hire someone to do your spring cleaning. Maid Brigade house cleaning services can clean your house in a couple of hours!

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.

Green Clean Your Home with Natural Cleaning Products

Posted on April 5, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

These days, there are many cleaning products to choose from. Supermarket and hardware stores are filled with different brands and types, most of them using harsh, powerful chemicals to do their job.

However, it is possible to clean just as effectively using natural green products which are less harmful to your health and the environment.

Baking soda is an effective natural cleaner and deodorizer. Mixing baking soda with lemon juice, vinegar, or even water and making it into a paste will create a fantastic all-purpose cleaner and stain remover. As a deodorizer, baking soda absorbs odors and also neutralizes them. Use it to deodorize the dishwasher by sprinkling one-half cup baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher between loads. Baking soda can also be used to help mask pet odors.

Sprinkle baking soda on carpets 10 minutes before vacuuming to get rid of any unpleasant odors that are lingering in the room. Use baking soda to clean stainless steel items, and also to remove tannin stains from tea and coffee in crockery. You can even use it to remove crayon marks from walls and wallpaper by gently scrubbing with a damp sponge sprinkled with baking soda.

Vinegar is very effective on solid stains, such as limescale and calcium deposits (soap scum) from hard water because it is a mild acid. Use it to clean the shower and the bath and even to unclog the washing machine (once a month pour one cup of vinegar into the washing machine and run the machine through a normal cycle, without clothes). Vinegar can also remove mold and mildew from bathroom tiles and shower curtains.

Vinegar is a great stain remover, whether it is food stains in pots and pans, stains in toilet bowls, perspiration from clothes, or animal urine stains in the carpet. Like baking soda, it is also a great natural air freshener. Place a small bowl of vinegar in the room or spray some into the air to help deodorize the area.

Lemon juice is mildly acidic and dissolves grease very effectively. It also has a bleaching and deodorizing effect. Use lemon juice to clean and deodorize cutting boards, clean kitchen sinks, brass, copper, or stainless steel cutlery. Combined with salt, it can get rid of berry juice stains from fabric.

Salt is a fantastic stain remover. Mix it with alcohol (1 part salt to 4 parts rubbing alcohol) to tackle grease. Use salt to clean spilled red wine or to clean blood stains.

Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh and Green

Posted on April 1, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Everybody wants a clean smelling home, which is why air fresheners are such hot selling items. But commercial air fresheners are filled with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that put toxins into the air.

There are plenty of natural, healthy ways to keep the air circulating in your home as fresh and sweet smelling as possible:

Open the windows. Open the windows every once in a while to optimize ventilation.

Sprinkle baking soda. Baking soda absorbs odors. Sprinkle a small amount on stale carpets and vacuum. Put a box of baking soda in your fridge to eliminate food smells.

Decorate your home with plants. Potted houseplants help take VOCs and carbon dioxide out of the air. Boston ferns are especially good for removing formaldehyde, and the Peace Lily is ideal for reducing acetone.

Use aromatherapy. Burning a few drops of essential oils such as lavender, lemon and verbena, in a diffuser with hot water will do wonders for cleansing the air and imparting a wonderfully natural fragrance. Make your own aromatherapy room spray by mixing 8-10 drops of essential oils with 2 ounces of water filled in a spray bottle.

Green Cleaning Tips for the Bathroom

Posted on March 31, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Here are some great green cleaning ideas for cleaning the bathroom:

To clean the shower floor:

In a large bowl, add several scoops of baking soda. Mix in liquid castile soap until the resulting paste has the consistency of frosting. After a shower, while the floor is still wet, apply a layer of paste to the floor. Allow to sit and dry for at least 24 hours. The following day, rinse off before showering to avoid slipping on the paste.

To clean shower door soap scum:

All you need is a clean, cotton rag and a bottle of lemon oil. It cuts through scum so easily, you don't even need to scrub - just wipe!

To prevent soap scum:

Almost every soap, when broken down in water, will leave a scum residue as the water evaporates. But there is one soap - castile soap - that does not leave a residue. Health food stores and even some grocery stores carry basic castile soap.

Bathtub and shower cleaner:

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the shower floor, or into the bathtub (you may want to close the drain). Then, pour vinegar onto the baking soda and let it bubble. Don't pour too much; you don't want to dilute the baking soda - just wet it. Let this sit for a half hour, and then lightly scrub with a cotton rag. Rinse with water. Letting this soda/vinegar mixture sit does help to remove stubborn stains from shower floors (especially those with a rough surface).

To clean mirrors:

Mix 1 cup vinegar, 3 cups water, and 10 drops lavender oil together in a spray bottle. Use a cotton rag for wiping (paper towels often leave tiny bits of paper and paper dust behind).

To clean mold and mildew:

Mix 2 cups water, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/8 cup tea tree oil together in a spray bottle. Keep this mixture in a marked spray bottle - spray the shower floor with this every day to prevent mold and mildew. If it's already built up - first scrub with some baking soda/vinegar and then keep up with your Tea Tree spray daily.

To clean toilet bowl brush:

Clean your toilet bowl brush by filling its container with water and dropping in one or two denture tablets.

Bathtub/Shower drain deodorizer:

Mix together 1/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 tablespoon cream of tartar and sprinkle into drain. Pour a kettle-full of boiling water down the drain to activate the cleansing, removal of debris, and odor.

Clean inside toilet:

Drop in 1 or 2 inexpensive denture tablets between cleanings to release debris and remove calcium deposits.

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.

Green Your Allergy Season

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

Spring is here, but with it comes seasonal allergies, which are affected by pollen from flowers, trees, grass, and a host of other factors right outside our windows. For allergies to seasonal things, like pollen, or those in your home, like dust mites, there's a lot you can do to minimize the misery:

Hot Water For Laundry

Wash your bedding weekly in water that is at least 130°F to keep dust mites in check. These bugs also live in clothes and carpeting, but their highest concentrations are in beds. Washing with cold or warm water will not help get rid of dust mites, and the dryer alone is not hot enough to kill all of them.

Air Filter

Keeping the air clean in your home can bring relief from pollen, mold, and pet dander. HEPA (high-energy particulate arresting) filters are most efficient. This kind of filter has been shown to remove 99% of airborne particles without producing harmful by-products. They are ideal for bedrooms and living rooms. When buying larger units, note the square footage a purifier can treat, listed on the package.

Dehumidifier

Keep your home cool and dry to decrease mold, dust mite growth and roach intrusions. One study found that levels of dust mites and other allergens dropped significantly in homes where the relative humidity was lower than 50%. To maintain this level, you may need to run your air conditioner along with a dehumidifier. However, remember to empty the unit's water often and clean it regularly, according to the manufacturer's instructions, to prevent mold growth.

Use your bathroom exhaust fan when taking a shower

This will help prevent to growth of mold in the shower. Cleaning your bathtub or shower liner is also important. Better yet, replace your liner every month or two, if you have mold sensitivities or asthma.

Keep your dryer vent clear

Build-up of lint in the dryer vent will cause an excess of dust in your house. Have your vents cleaned regularly to avoid aggravating your allergy symptoms.

Use a vacuum with a HEPA Filter

HEPA filter vacuums do not recirculate back into the air the polluting particles that the vacuum has just picked up. Make sure you have a true HEPA filter and not a HEPA-like filter. You can tell by looking at the manufacturer's test results of their filter. A true HEPA filter will have test results stating that .3 microns are 99.97 percent or above.

Get rid of clutter

Allergy sufferers need to be especially careful about controlling dust in their homes. And clutter is a major source of dust and dust mites. If you can't see your floors or walls in closets and basements, you have a clutter problem. Just as clutter clogs your house and obstructs the free flow of energy in your home, clutter also clogs your nose and obstructs the free flow of life-giving air into your body.

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.

Cleaning Tips to Reduce Allergies

Posted on March 22, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Many people have allergies to allergens both indoor (dust mites) and outdoor (pollen). Allergies are our immune system’s reaction to what it sees as invaders. When allergens enter our body, out come the sneezes, sniffles and itchy, runny eyes.

During the springtime, pollen from blooming plants pushes our system over its threshold. Cleaning out allergy triggers helps the body tolerate allergens again.

Here are some tips to help rid your home of allergens:

Cover your face with a protective particle mask before sweeping or dusting.

Buy allergy-proof casings for your mattress, box spring and pillows. Casings come in various materials, including cotton. They are made of a special material that keeps allergens in the mattress from getting in or out.

Wash your bed linens in 130˚ water weekly to kill dust mites. Don’t forget about decorative pillows and stuffed animals. Wash them in hot water every 1-2 weeks, dry-clean, or spin in a hot dryer for 20 minutes.

If you store a lot of linens that rarely make it out of the closet, clean them in hot water before use. Before you put them back in the closet, wipe down each shelf with a microfiber cloth.

Don’t dust with cotton cloths, which spread particles around on surfaces and send them back into the air. Use microfiber cloths instead. They trap dust and remove over 90% of dust mite allergen that accumulates on hard surfaces.

Use simple window coverings in washable fabrics that will keep allergies at bay. Frilly curtains and even Venetian blinds are dust traps.

Buy a vacuum cleaner with a hard-shell container, or a bag vacuum with a HEPA filter. HEPA filters prevent smaller allergen particles from blowing back out.

Change furnace filters at least once every three months. Buy filters with a MERV (Minimum-Efficiency Reporting Value) rating no lower than 8. A rating from 1-16 indicates the filter’s ability to trap dust and other particles. The higher the MERV rating, the better it works. MERV 8 catches particles smaller than most allergens. Mark filter changes on your calendar so you’ll know when to make the next one.

Rinse vents and ceiling fans with soap and warm water. They are easy to forget, but will build up quickly and torture your sinuses.

If you have carpeting, clean it with a dry method, not water and shampoo. Shampooing increases dust-mite levels. Area rugs should be dry-cleaned.

Get a dehumidifier. It is very helpful for decreasing dust mites, mold and cockroaches. If you still see mold in your house after getting a dehumidifier, use a higher setting. Clean the tray once a month.

Keep your books dust-free. Books are big dust-collectors, especially one with leather bindings.

Don’t forget about the dust bunnies under the furniture when cleaning.

To remove bathroom mold, try using a solution of borax and water. This solution helps to prevent mold growth.

Wipe the glass and edges of picture frames with a microfiber cloth to remove dust. Don’t forget the top, which you often can’t see.

If you are allergic to your pets, instead of getting rid of them, ban the pet from the rooms where you spend most of your time, like the bedroom.

Indoor plants can make a nice home for mold. Empty any standing water beneath pots. Avoid setting plants in wicker baskets. Mold loves wicker.

Hire a green cleaning company to do your spring cleaning for you. You’ll save time and avoid exposure to dust and potential cleaning irritants.

Green Spring Cleaning Preparation

Posted on March 18, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Spring is approaching, and many of us are getting ready to start our spring cleaning. For some people, this involves going out and purchasing cleaning products from the store. But did you know that there are dozens of green, inexpensive ways of cleaning out one's house, many of which can already be found in your kitchen?

When it comes to cleaning, vinegar will be your best friend. Mix one part vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle, and clean your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Vinegar not only disinfects, but it also deodorizes. Use it to clean the bathtub, counters, toilet, sink, stovetop, and kitchen floor. You can also use it as a natural fabric softener. The money you'll save avoiding harsh chemicals is definitely worth looking into.

Baking soda is another great cleaner. Use baking soda on any surface you would usually tackle with an abrasive cleaning product. Stick a box of baking soda in your fridge, freezer, closet or any other stinky area to help keep these areas smelling clean.

While borax should be kept well out of the reach of children and pets, it's a great alternative to bleach. Use this natural mineral to kill mold and bacteria, as well as deodorize clothes and remove tough stains. Warm water mixed with half a cup of borax will allow you to shine china, while pouring three tablespoons down the garbage disposal and running hot water half an hour later will clean out the disposal with ease.

Ever wonder why most cleaning products smell like lemons? Not only is the scent one of freshness, but lemon juice is also a great cleaning aid. It is most handy in the bathroom, where it cuts through soap scum and hard water deposits. By mixing one cup of olive oil and half a cup of lemon juice, you can make a polish for hardwood furniture. Additionally, sticking lemon peels in the garbage can will help keep it smelling fresh.

As you can see, cleaning without using harsh chemicals is extremely easy. It also allows you to save your money, and take care of the earth all at once. Going green does not have to be difficult or expensive. It simply requires taking the time to become informed regarding various cleaning ideas and techniques. Some of them might surprise you, but all of them will be sure to work with you to keep your house sparkling clean.

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.

Switching to Green Cleaning Products

Posted on March 16, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

When choosing to go green, look for cleaning products that combine a natural and safe eco-friendly approach with a determination to make effective and convenient cleaning products. With the rising trend in alternative cleaning products, many companies may promote themselves as green without giving consumers adequate information and proof of their claims.

A safer approach when aiming to switch to green cleaning methods is to use ingredients you may already have at home:

Lemon juice cuts through grease, removes stains, and deodorizes. It also acts as a bleaching agent when exposed to the sun. Using lemons in your cleaning routine also leaves a fresh, natural, citrus scent.

Baking soda is a natural sodium bicarbonate that is an excellent all-around cleaner that can be used all over your home. It is also a natural deodorizer, and is great for use in the fridge, basement, or litter boxes. Sprinkling it over the carpet before vacuuming is also useful in absorbing odors. Mixing baking soda with water and spreading this mixture in the oven will loosen baked on grease and grime. Safe to use around food, a baking soda and water paste is also ideal for cleaning the refrigerator.

Distilled white vinegar is about as multipurpose as baking soda. It is a natural deodorizer and disinfectant, it breaks up grease and dirt, lifts out mineral deposits, and helps cut through mold and soap scum. Use it as a spray, mixed with water, to clean windows, and even as a natural spider-repellant. Mixing vinegar with organic salts will give it extra power and scrubbing action. Vinegar mixed with hot water is also an excellent floor cleaner.

Olive oil is an excellent, all natural treatment for wood. Use alone, or mix it with lemon juice for a safe and effective furniture polish.

Plant-derived essential oils may be used for added fragrance. Some essential oils have the added benefit of acting as natural disinfectants and even antifungal agents. Eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, and tea tree oils are popular essential oils.

Non-Toxic Cleaning For Your Home

Posted on March 4, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Making your home healthier and greener doesn’t have to be expensive, or overwhelming. Here are two changes that can improve the health of your home and our planet.

Use non-toxic cleaning products. Most coventional cleaning supplies under your sink have warning and poison labels on them, which means those products contain a potent mix of chemicals. These chemicals, like ammonia, have a very powerful effect on kids with asthma and they pollute indoor air. When washed down the drain, they also pollute rivers and lakes.

Look for green cleaners that don't contain chlorine or ammonia. Choose ones that say petroleum-free, biodegradable, or phosphate-free.

Or, make a cleaner yourself.

Use vinegar instead of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains.
Vinegar also removes grease and soap buildup.
Need a window cleaner? Try diluted lemon juice or vinegar. Use borax to inhibit mold growth, boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent, remove stains -- even kill cockroaches, when sugar is mixed in.

Keep house dust under control. House dust aggravates allergies. It also contains more hazardous chemicals than you might think, including lead, fire retardants, pesticides, and other chemicals.

Vacuum frequently, getting into corners, along the floorboards, and moving furniture to get those dust bunnies.

Make sure your vacuum has strong suction and a HEPA filter so that dust and dirt go into the bag.

Vacuum at least two times each week.
Clean the vacuum bag and filter every time, so dust isn't spewed back into the air.

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.

How to Make Your Own Natural Green Cleaner for Your Home

Posted on March 4, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Sick of all those harmful chemicals in your cleaner? Use this baking soda based cleanser! Make this using ingredients already in your house.

First gather all of your ingredients. Put one teaspoon baking soda and two tablespoons white vinegar into a spray bottle.

After it fizzes up, about two minutes, mix in 1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap, a couple drops of essential oil (clove, violet, and rose work well), and fill the bottle the rest of the way with warm water. Shake vigorously until mixed.

Use this on countertops, bathrooms, children's toys and anything else you can think of. This cleaner has antibacterial properties, and it costs only about a dollar to make, plus you saved gas by not driving to the store!

Green Clean Your Home With Salt

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

Cleaning with salt is an inexpensive yet effective method for natural house cleaning. It is a mildly abrasive home cleaner that also kills germs. Here are some ways you can green clean your home with salt:

Use salt to clean up oven drips and food spillovers from the floor of an oven. Sprinkle salt over the spilt food, and then allow the oven to cool down completely. Use a damp cloth or a brush to clean up the spill.
Clean drains regularly by boiling a solution of salt and water and pouring it down the drain. This helps prevent a build up of grease, grime and bacteria.
Degrease greasy pans by scouring them with a paper towel and salt. Sprinkle the salt over the grease, set the pan aside for 30 minutes and then wipe up the salt and grease using the paper towel.
Get rid of burnt-on food from an enameled pot by filling it with an inch of water, stirring in four tablespoons of salt, then letting this soak overnight. Loosen the burned food the next day by bringing the salty water to a boil.
Remove food stains from glassware by rubbing the salt into the stain using a damp sponge. For stubborn stains, soak the glassware for 24 hours in a solution of 1/2 cup salt and 4 cups of vinegar. Wipe off the stain and wash as usual. This is also effective for getting rid of lipstick stains as well.
Make a paste of one part salt and one part lemon juice and use this to get rid of mold and mildew from kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
To get rid of rust, cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt and rub it over the rusty area. Wipe this off and allow the area to dry. Clean copper with a mixture of salt and vinegar.
Remove tea and coffee stains from countertops by rubbing with a soft cloth dipped in a mixture of white vinegar and salt.
Polish tarnished silver by spraying the silver item with vinegar, sprinkling salt and then scrubbing with a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly.

Green Clean Your Home the Healthy Way

Posted on February 24, 2011 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

When it comes to cleaning your home, it is very tempting to use products that contain ingredients such as bleach and ammonia. They get the job done, but not without doing a number on your eyes, airways, and, with enough exposure, your nervous system.

Ironically, these cleaners also pollute. Disinfectants and other chemicals washing down drains now contaminate more than two-thirds of U.S. streams. Because of products like these, our indoor air can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside.

But you don't have to sacrifice health for a clean home. Natural, non-toxic cleaners can clean just as good at a minimal cost:

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a deodorizer and gentle scrub that softens hard water, removes acidic stains, and polishes shiny surfaces like stainless steel without scratching.

Distilled white vinegar is a deodorizer, disinfectant, mild acid, and preservative that breaks up dirt, grease, mineral deposits, mold, and soap scum.

Essential oils/aromatic plant oils, like eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree, are natural disinfectants and antifungals. Pure essential oils can irritate eyes and skin upon contact, so handle carefully. (Pregnant women should consult a health-care practitioner before using).

Lemons can be used as deodorizers, stain removers, and grease cutters. They also act as a mild bleach when exposed to sunlight.

Olive oil is a natural oil that helps to nourish and polish wood.

Plant-based liquid soaps, like Castile soap, are gentle soaps made with oils such as olive, palm, and coconut, rather than petroleum derivatives or animal fat.

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.