Category: Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Summer!  A perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and catch up on family time and relaxation!

But what about the house cleaning?  If you’re like me, house cleaning is not on my priority list during the summer months.

But it has to be done….and done right.  So what should you do?

The answer is simple.  Learn how to power clean your home quick and efficiently so you can enjoy the lazy days of summer!

Power cleaning is an organized and efficient way of cleaning in a short period of time. Ultimately, the better you get at power cleaning, the more time you can spend enjoying your summer activities.

Here are some ways to get you started on the right track of efficient home power cleaning:

1. Set up a regular weekly cleaning schedule and stick to it.  Trust me, this could change your life for the better!  If you learn to stick to a basic cleaning routine, things won’t get so out of control.  Once this happens, all the other necessary homemaking tasks will not seem so overwhelming or take so long. Whether it’s a morning routine, a nighttime routine, or even a 10 minute “frenzy” routine, learn to stick with it if it works.

2. Dress the part and dress for success.  What you wear to clean is important.  Create your own comfortable, washable, “cleaning uniform” that is easy to move around in.  Don’t forget form fitting gloves and comfy shoes!

3. Invest in well-made cleaning tools to clean your home with.  Good quality gloves, microfiber cloths, brushes, and mops can help make cleaning easier.  To lessen your trips back and forth to the cleaning cabinet, prepare a cleaner’s bucket filled with all tools, cleansers, brushes and color coded microfiber cloths needed to do the job quick and efficiently.  Have the microfiber mop and vacuum nearby.  Don’t forget to include a plastic bag for trash.

4. Simplify your cleaning products by eliminating clutter in your own cleaning basket.  Most jobs can be done using the following types of cleaners:

-         Glass/multi-surface (make your own by combining 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, 2 1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar)

-         Heavy duty/degreaser (make your own by combining equal parts of washing soda,castile soap, vinegar and warm water)

-         Powdered abrasive (make your own by combining 3 cups baking soda, 1 cup vinegar, 3 cups warm water)

-         Tile/Grout (make your own by combining 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts water)              

5. Stay Motivated and focus.  Limit distractions while cleaning.  Don’t stop cleaning to check emails, talk on the phone, or watch your favorite soap opera.  Cleaning time will definitely slow down!  Instead, keep your cleaning time energized by playing your favorite upbeat music, or better yet, lessen the boredom of house cleaning by cleaning with a buddy.  After all, teamwork is especially helpful when it comes to changing sheets and making beds.

6. Clean in a logical order.  Think through your order to see if it works for you.  Usually I start upstairs and clean each room top to bottom.  Don’t circle a room more than once.  Clean everything in your path before you move on.  For example, in the bathroom, stand in front of the sink, spray and wipe the mirror, scrub the sink, wipe down the counters and polish the fixtures all before moving from that spot.

7. Learn to use two hands when cleaning.  Get into the habit of using both hands to attack cleaning tasks.  For example, spray the mirror with one hand and wipe it down with the other.  Scrub the counters with 2 cloths, one in each hand.

8. Free up some space.  Set aside a few minutes a day to clean out a new closet, cabinet, or drawer and donate items you no longer use or need.

9. Wrap it up.  Return cleaning tools to their proper areas.  Throw out trash.  Put soiled cloths in the laundry.  Check product levels and buy whatever is needed ahead of time.

10. End your cleaning by spraying your home with a natural homemade scented spray. Combine 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons undiluted vodka, and 20 drops essential oil into a spray bottle and spray. 

Learning the art of power cleaning and sticking to a routine that keeps your home maintained on a daily basis will help you feel less overwhelmed and can free up some time for you to enjoy the summer by doing what you want to do.

Believe it or not, pets can have allergies too.  And trying to find what is triggering those allergies can be overwhelming.

If your pet suffers from allergies, one of the best things you can do for your pet is to try and limit his exposure to environmental pollutants, especially in your home.  This means switching your toxic household cleaners to safer, non-toxic, green cleaners.

Natural green cleaners will lessen the number of toxins your pet is exposed to and help reduce potential allergen triggers.

Because pets are close to the floor, cleaning your floors with non-toxic ingredients is very important.  To clean wood,vinyl, linoleum, or ceramic floors, add one cup vinegar to one gallon water.  Wipe dry with a microfiber cloth or mop.

For window and mirror cleaning, add four tablespoons lemon juice to one gallon water.  Pour into spray bottle and spray.  Wipe with a microfiber cloth.

To clean surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, sprinkle baking soda on surface and wipe with a damp microfiber cloth or sponge.  For tough spots, add salt to the mix and scrub.

For  grease or mildew stains, spray the area with lemon juice.  Let sit for a few minutes.  Scrub and rinse.

Make your own natural disinfectant by mixing together two cups water, three tablespoons liquid soap, and 10 - 15 drops of tea tree oil.  Pour into spray bottle and spray!

To clean your oven, make a paste of baking soda and water and spread evenly throughout your oven.  Let it sit overnight.  Rinse off with a warm microfiber cloth.

To unclog drains, pour a half cup baking soda into the drain, followed by two cups boiling water.  For tougher clogs, pour a half cup vinegar after the baking soda.  Cover drain.  Wait a few minutes.  Rinse by pouring one gallon boiling water down drain.

For polishing wood furniture, add two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice. Apply it to your furniture with a microfiber cloth.

Use Borax to clean your laundry.  For whiter whites, use vinegar instead of bleach.

When vacuuming, ALWAYS use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Switching your household cleaners to non-toxic green cleaners is an important step in reducing allergens in the home for your family and for your pets.

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.