Category: Healthy Home

Why Are HEPA-Filtered Vacuums Essential to Your Home Cleaning?

Posted on October 11, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter is a high quality type of air filter designed to capture small particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander. These filters are incredibly efficient, trapping particles as small as 0.3 microns with a 99.97% efficiency. HEPA filters are known for their ability to improve indoor air quality, which is essential for a healthy home.

As a professional cleaning service, we use HEPA filtered vacuums because of the immense benefits for our cleaning teams and our customers. Here's why:

Improved indoor air quality: HEPA filters trap and remove a wide range of airborne particles, including allergens, dust mites, and mold spores. This can lead to significant improvements in indoor air quality, especially for people with allergies or asthma.
Reduced risk of respiratory problems: Exposure to airborne allergens and other irritants can trigger respiratory problems such as asthma attacks and allergic reactions. By using a HEPA filtered vacuum to remove these particles from the air, you can reduce your risk of developing these problems.
Cleaner, healthier home: HEPA filtered vacuums remove more dirt, dust, and other allergens from your carpets and floors than traditional vacuums. This can help to create a cleaner, healthier home for you and your family.

Maid Brigade's cleaning professionals are trained to use HEPA filtered vacuums effectively and efficiently. We understand the importance of proper vacuuming techniques and the significance of HEPA filtration in the cleaning process. We have always been committed to the highest quality cleaning supplies, including vacuums that improve indoor air quality! If you are looking for a cleaning company that can provide you with a cleaner home and a healthier home, Maid Brigade has 30+ years of experience to bring you exactly that.

Why Our PUREcleaning System is Safe for Your Home & Family

Posted on September 20, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

If you want your home cleaning to be the highest standard in the industry in terms of cleaning quality and safety, PUREcleaning is the way to go. PUREcleaning is our unique cleaning process from Maid Brigade that guarantees the healthiest, safest, and most advanced cleaning.

PUREcleaning Is Safer and Better for All

Made out of an exclusive formula with salt water and electricity, the electrolyzed water (e-water) used in PUREcleaning protects your home, family, pets, plants, and the cleaning crew.

PUREcleaning is a combination of unique, gentle, and effective technology and processes. The key to this green technology is the cleaning agent used. This cleaning process makes Maid Brigade a better and safer professional cleaning company for your home and health compared to other alternatives. It’s effective on any kind of surface - from precious baby toys to food preparation areas. Along with being the safest, electrolyzed water is more effective than all other available cleaning products, which often uses harmful chemicals. By innovatively mixing salt and electricity, this state-of-the-art e-water cleaning solution effectively goes beyond green.

Combine this technology with the processes of actually carrying out the cleaning sessions at your home, and you get the complete PUREcleaning system.

The Three-Step Process Is Comprehensive & Effective

The first step involves removing all the surface area of dirt, dust, grime, and other debris. The use of HEPA-filtration vacuums for 4x improved air quality ensures 99.99% dust and dirt removal from all surfaces of your home.

After the initial removal of dust, debris, grime, and irritants is done, it’s time for deep cleaning using the proprietary PUREcleaning electrolyzed water and color-coded allergy-free, antibacterial cloths to eliminate cross-contamination between rooms.

Unlike regular cleaners that bond with dirt and grime, PUREcleaning e-water breaks them, enabling our crew to easily and completely eliminate them with color-coded cleaning clothes.

No dyes, chlorine, phosphates, or any other questionable elements that are commonly used in other everyday cleaning agents.

In the next stage, if requested, our crew carries out an additional layer of disinfection by spraying the PUREmist e-water with a handheld sprayer on the most sensitive and most used areas and surfaces of your house, like doorknobs, table surfaces, cabinet handles, and other such surfaces.

That’s why, apart from being safe for you and your family, the PUREcleaning cleaning equipment and processes are totally safe for our Maid Brigade team. Being totally safe to breathe and touch, the e-water enables our cleaning crew to carry out their daily duties without any concerns and with full confidence.

In this spirit of maintaining the safety and health of our cleaning teams, we would like to commemorate National Housekeeping Week 2023. This is the opportune moment to express our gratitude towards all the members of the housekeeping community who are working diligently to keep families safe and healthy worldwide.

We also like to ascertain that, like always, Maid Brigade takes the wellbeing of our employees as seriously as we take that of our customers. And we sincerely appreciate their hard work to the fullest.

Pet-Friendly House Cleanings by Maid Brigade

Posted on May 30, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

We love pets, and we want to make your home the paw-fect oasis for you and your furry loved ones. That’s why we have designed our cleaning services that cater perfectly to homes with pets. If you are learning about which cleaning service company to choose for your pet-friendly home, we are here to share why Maid Brigade is the best choice for your home and family.

Special Care for Homes with Pets

When you have a pet at home, we take extra measures to keep them safe while we handle the house cleaning. We carry out the cleaning so that our teams are as non-intrusive as possible to them. Having new people come into your home can be a stressful experience for pets. We will communicate with you prior to your cleaning to ensure we’re all on the same page. Some of our team members are pet owners themselves and care deeply for our customers pets, as if they were their own.

Safe, Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

While taking care of your home with pets, you can feel confident knowing that the cleaning products and equipment we use are completely safe for your pet family members. Our proprietary PUREcleaning system uses the safest and most advanced cleaning products. All of our cleaning solutions are EPA Registered, FDA Approved, and safe for pets upon application.

Pet-Loving Cleaning Crew

Our cleaning staff has lots of experience working in homes with pets. Their long years of experience plus genuine care for customers’ pets means your home and furry family members will be given the best care. In our conversations before your cleaning we can discuss your pet and what your preferences are when it comes to having our cleaning crew visit at your scheduled time.

We Know How to Clean Homes with Pets

Pet hair, dander, and odor can be one of the most challenging parts of cleaning homes with pets. Our industry-leading HEPA-filtration vacuum equipment, powerful electrolyzed water (e-water) solution, and trusted cleaning experience will give your home a top quality cleaning.

To ensure the healthiest environment in your home with pets, find your local Maid Brigade today and schedule your cleaning for your home’s well-being. Our pet-friendly, trusted, and reliable employees are always there to make the best cleaning happen for you!

How a Clean Home Helps Tackle Asthma and Allergies

Posted on April 28, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

May is the Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. This month is the peak of the asthma and allergy season. About 1 in 13 people is living with asthma in the United States. But there are some factors in your home that can affect your asthma and/or allergies - regular house cleaning is one of them.*

Common Asthma and Allergy Triggers in the Home

A variety of factors in the home environment can trigger asthma and allergies. Here are some of the most common causes of asthma and allergies in the home:

Dust and dust mites are the most common trigger of asthma and allergy symptoms.
Mold growth in damp areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.
Pets, especially cats and dogs, shed dead skin cells (dander) and fur.
Pollen from trees, plants, and weeds often finds their way into our homes.
Some household cleaners, such as bleach and ammonia, release fumes.
Cockroaches, mice, and other pests can also cause allergic reactions.
Poor indoor air quality due to pollutants such as radon and carbon monoxide.
Perfumes and fragrances in household products, such as air fresheners and laundry detergents.

It’s important to identify and address these common causes of asthma and allergies in the home. Regular cleaning, proper ventilation, use of air purifiers, and allergy-proof covers and curtains can all be helpful.

Regular Home Cleaning Leaves Your Home Healthier for Longer

As you can see, almost all the common factors or causes of allergy or asthma symptoms found in the home can be effectively handled by regular, consistent house cleaning. For example, a biweekly cleaning schedule will prevent harmful buildup of dirt and dust that may contribute to asthma and allergies.

Regular cleanup prevents dust, dust mites, and grime buildup in critical areas like ceiling fans, light fixtures, air conditioning vents, air ducts, blinds, draperies, window frames, and seals.
Your mattresses, pillows, bedding, bedroom carpets, and upholstery are the important areas to keep clean when you have asthma or allergies. Regular washing of these items will help keep them fresh and clean.
Keeping your food storage and preparation areas clean removes the possibility of pests.
Regular cleaning also eliminates the possibility of mold build-up in the bathroom, kitchen, and basement.
When it comes to dealing with pet fur and dander, there’s simply no alternative to regular home cleaning sessions once a week or even more. Properly filtered vacuums like Maid Brigade's HEPA filtration vacuums will lift pet dander, dirt, dust, and debris while also helping improve your home's air quality.
Along with good ventilation, regular house cleaning also helps in keeping the overall air quality of your home pure by removing the amount of pollutants from your house.

Maid Brigade Offers the Best Cleaning for Asthma and Allergy

As part of our cleaning service, we use green cleaning equipment and processes to ensure you get only the best for you and your home environment.

Our cleaning methods limit dust displacement to an absolute minimum.
Color-coded, allergy-free, and antibacterial cloths eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination between rooms.
All the vacuum equipment uses HEPA filtration vacuums for 4x improved air quality.
Electrolyzed water solution kills mold, mildew, bacteria, and viruses, reaching areas regular cleaning and traditional pump sprayers can’t.
No toxic, or harmful chemicals are used during any phase of the cleaning. You will have no residues or overpowering fragrant smells.
We ensure that the cleaning products we use have no artificial dyes or scents.

It’s important to recognize the impact of Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month in spreading awareness and helping individuals struggling with these conditions. At Maid Brigade, we are committed to doing our part. For over 35 years, we have been assisting our customers in finding comfort and feeling healthy in their home as well as sharing the impact of how a house cleaning service can benefit your overall well-being.

*You should always consult your doctor regarding your health and any medical concerns.

Why PUREcleaning is a Safer Choice than Traditional Cleaning Products

Posted on March 21, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

A lot of modern cleaning solutions take the approach that the more chemicals they contain the better – what better way to kill bacteria and harmful germs? Yet product recall after product recall shows that more chemicals aren't necessarily the solution to the problem. Millions of bottles of Fabuloso have been recalled, with Laundress and Pine-Sol amongst the impacted cleaning products.

In fact, the driving issue behind these recalls is the presence of bacteria in the cleaning product itself. Pseudomonas are bacterial organisms found in water and soil and can impact human health. Pseudomonas present a unique risk to people who rely on external medical devices, have respiratory conditions, or live with a weakened immune system. It can enter the body through broken skin, the lungs, and the eyes. These bacteria can cause bloodstream infections, as well as pneumonia and a range of other infections.

It's time to change the way we think about cleaning products and consider the power of non-toxic cleaning products. They are the safest solution and more effective than you might realize.

What is PUREcleaning?

PUREcleaning, exclusive to Maid Brigade, is one of the most advanced cleaning systems available today. It is an industry-leading solution that makes every environment safer, whether it's your home or office. It's a multi-point process designed to remove debris, dirt, and germs with a non-toxic solution. The first step is removing debris, dirt, and allergens by dusting and cleaning all of the surfaces using microfiber cloths. We have a color coding system to prevent the risk of cross-contamination between rooms. We use HEPA filtration vacuums to improve your indoor air quality.

Gentle, yet powerful non-toxic muti-surface cleaner.

Electrolyzed water is the next step in the process – it's a clean, non-toxic solution that kills bacteria, viruses, mold, and mildew without the presence of dyes and powerful chemical odors. Electrolyzed water combines the power of salt and electricity to produce a non-toxic, gentle cleaning solution that cleans and disinfects. It breaks down germs the moment it makes contact which fully sanitizes your surfaces. It offers a complete clean and does not leave a chemical residue.

The final stage employs Maid Brigade PUREmist®, which is a powerful EPA-registered disinfectant. This is dispersed using a hand-held sprayer that kills germs to keep your children and pets safe. This mist is applied to every surface in your home and can reach into the nooks and crannies other cleaning products can’t reach. PUREmist® kills germs on contact and bonds directly to surfaces.

Benefits of PURECleaning Products Compared to Traditional Cleaning Products

Traditional cleaning solutions contain a wide range of chemicals and rather than breaking down germs, they bond with them. This means that no matter how hard you wipe or how much elbow grease you apply, you leave harmful residue behind every time you clean. Your home becomes a safe space for bacteria, allergens, and dirt.

One of the major drawbacks of using traditional cleaning solutions is that chemicals leave powerful odors. For anyone with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues, this can trigger attacks. PUREcleaning doesn't leave a chemical odor, but it does deliver on clean.

Studies have shown that eco-friendly cleaning solutions reduce the health risks of professional cleaners, with traditional cleaning solutions resulting in higher levels of respiratory, dermal, and even musculoskeletal symptoms.

Choose a Cleaning Service that Offers Eco-Friendly Cleanings for Your Home

With traditional cleaning solutions now at greater risk of contamination of the very thing they are designed to protect against, non-toxic cleaning solutions provide you with the safest cleaning possible. An eco-friendly cleaning is safe for the environment, and more importantly, they are safe for your environment. You can rely on non-toxic solutions to kill germs and keep your home crystal clean.

Additional Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html
https://www.webmd.com/children/features/safer-cleaning-products

How to Prepare Your Home for a Professional House Cleaning

Posted on February 28, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Preparing your home for a professional house cleaning is easy with Maid Brigade by your side. Preparations simply mean making sure our teams can effectively clean and reach all areas of your home when we provide our services.

With a few basic things in mind, preparing for a cleaning session would be a piece of cake!

Make Cleaning Areas Accessible

Ensure the areas that need to be cleaned are ready to be handled by our cleaning team. This means removing any personal objects that you don’t want to be meddled with from the countertop, floors, and other surfaces.

Communicate Your Expectations

If you hired an independent cleaner, you would need to spend a lot of time preparing your house for cleaning. On the contrary, our professional cleaning services ensure you do not have to worry about taking care of all the nitty-gritty details.

Just let us know your expectations beforehand. A few examples include:

Which areas to focus on the most?
Are there rooms you prefer we don't clean this time around?

Integrate Your Preparations with Morning Routines

When you schedule regular cleaning service from Maid Brigade, such as, weekly or biweekly, the most effective way you can sustainably manage the preparatory tasks is to tie them with your morning routines.

Doing small tasks, like organizing any personal items, ensuring the cleaning team has easy entry into your home, and calling us about any special instructions will make your scheduled house cleaning go smoothly.

A Few Other Essentials

Here are a few basic things that you probably have already taken care of, but are important to your house cleaning experience.

Allow access to your professionals as per your security system.
Make sure to tell our team about any pets so we can ensure they are safe during your cleaning.
If you prefer, arrange your house cleaning when it is least disruptive to your routine.
Let us know ahead of time about any special tasks you're looking for.

Maid Brigade is a professional house cleaning company with 35+ years of experience. Our PUREcleaning system is safe, non-toxic cleaning and disinfection. Learn more about PUREcleaning!

Preparing the house for professional cleaning is the easiest when you choose Maid Brigade. Our mission is to make it simple and hassle-free for you.

Hiring a Professional Cleaning Service

Posted on February 6, 2023 by oi_admin - Healthy Home, Healthy Soul

Having a clean home and living space is important but hiring a professional cleaning service can be quite daunting. There are many advantages to finding the right cleaning service near you, plus they offer many advantages over competitors.

We will look at some of the important factors to consider when making your selection.

The Benefits of a Professional House Cleaning Service

It is important to understand the advantages of a cleaning company that employs a team of full-time professionals who are insured, bonded, and certified.

When you find the right house cleaning service, you can expect a professional and reliable experience. Staff are trained and have the experience, equipment, and solutions to do the job safely and effectively. Owners monitor your satisfaction and assess their team members frequently. The best ones have a solid reputation built over many years of service in local markets.

Another advantage of working with a professional team is you don’t have to worry about missed cleanings. Vacations, illnesses, or vehicle troubles won’t impact you as they customer since they have other professionals with the same training to fill-in. Independent cleaners may not. Another advantage is that the trained teams work faster than a single individual and will be in and out of your home in less time.

Creating Room in Your Budget for a Professional Cleaning Service

While a professional cleaning service might appear a bit more expensive at first glance, there is more to the story. Apart from the advantages mentioned above, the reliability and professionalism will provide more value throughout your relationship.

There should be no hidden costs or surprise fees. Your quoted price for maid service should include everything from labor to house cleaning equipment to the cleaning solutions. This will allow you to properly budget.

How Frequently a Home Should Be Cleaned

Professional maid and cleaning services will give you an option of how often you want your home cleaned. You often have the option of “weekly”, “biweekly” (every two-weeks), and “monthly” (every four-weeks). Professional services have a standard of cleaning that they want to establish and maintain, so it will likely cost more for the first home cleaning. After that, you will have cleaning service in a specific day of week and at a consistent price to know and budget.

Weekly Cleaning Services

Weekly service is the most frequent cleaning that most professional cleaning services offer. This will keep your home’s condition in top share and your workload to a minimum. Now if only someone could do the laundry!

(Note: If you need daily service, then call your local Maid Brigade to discuss.)

Biweekly Cleaning Services

BiWeekly is the most popular cleaning frequency. It means every two-weeks and is a more budget-friendly option. Cleaning service every two weeks is priced slightly higher than weekly because it’s been longer since the team has been in your home to clean, but it’s still a high-value option.

Monthly Cleaning Services

Monthly cleaning service occurs every four-weeks vs the same date of each month. This is a distinction you need to know. Maid service every four-weeks is the most expensive cleaning frequency. Because of the time between cleanings, it will take the maids longer to complete their tasks. This means that the cost will be greater per service for clients.

Why Maid Brigade is the Best Choice for Professional Home Cleaning Services

Maid Brigade has been in the house cleaning business for over four decades with numerous locations across the U.S. and in Canada. We have dedicated teams of skilled and experienced cleaning professionals and have a great reputation for reliability, performance, safety, and innovation.

Our teams are fully insured, bonded, and certified.

PUREcleaning - Safe, Non-Toxic Cleaning Solutions

It is not enough for the home to simply be clean and tidy. It also needs to be disinfected. Unfortunately, the solutions used by many companies contain toxins that are left behind in your home after the service is complete. This is why Maid Brigade developed and uses the innovative PUREcleaning system.

It is a powerful, safe, and non-toxic method of effectively cleaning and disinfecting your home. This technology is exclusive to Maid Brigade and further proof of our commitment to you and your family.

Maid Brigade offers a range of flexible and customizable cleaning services. Contact your local Maid Brigade for a quote or more information.

How To Deep Clean Your Kitchen

Posted on October 22, 2019 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

I don’t know about you but I spend most of my time trying to keep my kitchen clean and clutter free. I’m doing things like; putting things in the dishwasher, picking up papers on the counters and constantly vacuuming up dog hair. Deep cleaning? It’s not on my radar. Let’s look at some of the places in the kitchen that probably haven’t been cleaned in a long while.

Cleaning the Refrigerator, Freezer, & Sink Disposal

Refrigerator ice/water dispenser - Drip trays are a breeding ground for bacteria. It’s actually be called the “dirtiest place in the kitchen.” To clean this area, wipe out the drip tray with a dry, clean microfiber cloth. Then remove any buildup in the drip tray by filling it with distilled white vinegar and allow it to soak for 10 minutes. Mix 1 tbsp. of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water and place the mixture inside the dispenser tray. Rinse the dispenser and wipe it with a dry microfiber cloth.

The freezer – Even if you have a self-defrosting freezer, you occasionally need to turn off the power and clean the entire area. Crumbs and droppings along with dust and dirt need to be removed. By turning up the temperature, you’ll be able to wash the freezer walls without the moisture freezing on your cleaning cloth. Use warm soapy water to wash the floor and walls of the freezer, then rinse completely. Let it air dry before turning down the temperature.

Disposal – Food particles and gunk build up on the blades of the garbage disposal. A simple way to clean the blades are to freeze some lemon peels and place them, with some salt, into the disposal. Run the disposal until they are gone. Your disposal will be clean and smell wonderful.

Cleaning Your Cook Top & Microwave

Stove – Clean the stove from the inside out. If you have a self-cleaning oven, follow the directions and let it do the dirty work. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, you can use a paste of baking soda and water, and spread it on the walls and floor of the oven. Then spray it with distilled white vinegar. Let it sit overnight and wipe clean.

The top of the stove – The best way to clean the top of the stove is to remove all the pieces of the stove top and start scrubbing. Try not to use anything aggressive as you can scratch the finish. Once it’s completely clean, use a clean damp microfiber cloth to leave it sparkling clean.

The bottom drawer of your stove – This is one place that hardly gets cleaned. Remove all the items of the drawer then use your vacuum to remove crumbs and dirt. Wipe the drawer with soapy warm water and a microfiber cloth. Let the drawer air dry.

Microwave – A quick way to clean the inside of your microwave is to put a bowl of hot water with lemon juice in the microwave and turn on the power until it starts to boil. This can be from 2 to 4 minutes. Let the bowl sit in the microwave for 5 more minutes. Open the microwave and wipe the walls and the base clean with a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning Other Areas Around the Kitchen

Cabinet Knobs - Kitchen knobs hardly get cleaned even if you wipe the cabinets frequently. Use some hydrogen peroxide on a microfiber cloth to remove buildup and germs.

Floors – Cleaning your floor with a sponge mop actually leaves buildup on the perimeter of your floor. For a deep cleaning, get a bucket of hot water with a few drops of dish detergent and get down on your hands and knees. Give your floor a good scrubbing. Use a microfiber cloth and a scrubbing sponge for tough spots. You can also use a steam machine to deep clean the floor.

Chairs and table – Wiping down your table after dinner is probably part of your routine, but when was the last time you “deep cleaned” your kitchen chairs? And how about the base of the table? When you are ready to deep clean your table and chairs, start with a bucket of hot water and a microfiber cloth and wipe off dust, grime and grease. Don’t bother with a cleaning product. Using the hot water and microfiber will leave the table and chairs clean without a film from a cleaner.

Light fixtures – A quick tip to deep cleaning your kitchen light fixtures is to pop the glass shades into the dishwasher. The hot water and agitation will remove built up dirt and grease. They will come out of the dishwasher sparkling clean.

For more information from DIY green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert, visit https://www.facebook.com/GreenCleaningCoach/

Monthly Home Cleaning Checklist

Posted on September 27, 2019 by oi_admin - Healthy Home

Every season our homes tend to build up dust and dirt that we might not see immediately. While weekly or bi-weekly cleanings will keep your home looking clean regularly, it's the areas in your home that aren't always easiest to get to that will need seasonal care. For this reason, it's important to do a deep clean every month to keep your home healthy. Scheduling a deep cleaning in a different room in your home each month will let you rotate your cleaning and keep your home truly clean.

These are the things you want to clean in each room monthly. This list is outside of your regular cleaning chores:

Take down the curtains and place them in the dryer to knock the dust out of them. If the dust is excessive, you may need to pop them in the washer.
Using furniture movers, pull all the furniture away from the walls. Also remove pictures from the walls. Using a dry microfiber mop, wipe all the walls and ceiling to remove the dust.
Remove any glass light fixtures and place them in the dishwasher.
While the furniture is pulled out, use a vacuum and clean the woodwork and the carpet behind the piece.
Before putting the furniture back, use a microfiber cloth and dust the back of the piece of furniture.
Using a wet, fine-woven microfiber cloth go over the inside of the windows as well as the window frames.
Place the furniture back and dust it completely including the sides and fronts.
Vacuum all fabric furniture completely, including the seat pillows, sides and base.
Any knick-knacks can be deep cleaned by placing them in the dishwasher.
Use a paintbrush to remove dust on lamp shades. Then go over the shade with the upholstery tool on your vacuum hose

Additional items for bedrooms:

When deep cleaning bedrooms, place bedspreads in the dryer to remove dust.
Vacuum books on bookshelves.
Vacuum under the bed.
Remove the sheets and vacuum the mattress. On a quarterly schedule you should also flip the mattress.

For more information from DIY green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert, visit https://www.facebook.com/GreenCleaningCoach/

Cleaning Stainless Steel from the Inside Out

Posted on August 21, 2019 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Healthy Home

cleaning the stainless steel in your kitchen

In the late 1960s and into the 70s, the favorite colors for our appliances were earth tones which really meant they were different shades of brown. You would find kitchens with Avocado Green, Harvest Gold or Almond appliances. In the 1980s, black fronted appliances became the rage. The black shiny surfaces were very difficult to keep clean and showed every streak and smear. Late in the next decade stainless steel started to appear in designer kitchens. Stainless is a favorite in kitchens even today.

Stainless steel was discovered in 1913 by Harry Brearley of England. It was known as “rust-less” steel. This was the first stainless steel. Even though stainless steel is rust proof, it is not oxidation proof. When the metals in stainless steel are exposed to oxygen, they oxidize and leave a film or stains that need some special care to remove. Let’s look at different ways you can clean your stainless steel.

Daily cleaning – One of the easiest ways to keep your stainless steel clean and “print” free is to use a microfiber cloth and water. The best type of microfiber is a very fine woven cloth made especially for cleaning windows. Start by using a clean microfiber cloth, wet it with water, and wring it out completely. Wipe over the entire appliance and then dry the appliance with a large looped (dry) microfiber cloth. Your stainless steel will be print, streak, lint, and smear free.

Deeper cleaning – If you have a stainless steel stove, you need to use a gentle degreasing cleaner to remove the grease before following the daily cleaning regimen. A quick DIY recipe for a degreaser is to mix distilled white vinegar with a drop or two of dish detergent and place the mixture in a spray bottle. Remove the control knobs on the stove by pulling them straight off, then spray with the degreaser. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe the area with a damp, large looped microfiber cloth. Once the stove is grease free, follow the daily cleaning method above.

Deepest cleaning – If you find your stainless steel doesn’t look clean after wiping it with a microfiber cloth, you may have oxidation that needs to be removed. You can use a tablespoon of baking soda mixed with a ¼ teaspoon of olive oil and rub it in the direction of the grain of the stainless steel. You will notice your sponge turning black. That is the corrosion being removed from the stainless steel. Rinse the cleanser completely from the metal and dry with a microfiber cloth. Once the stainless steel is dry, apply a very light coat of baby oil over the surface of the appliance. This will seal the metal and will temporarily stop the oxidation process. If the appliance starts looking cloudy or has a film, you can applying more baby oil before going through the entire scrubbing process.

Interior cleaning of stainless steel appliances – When cleaning the inside of any appliance, using little or no cleaner is recommended. Instead, use a microfiber cloth and water which will thoroughly clean the inside of all your appliances.

A tip for the microwave - When cleaning the microwave, you can place a tablespoon of lemon juice into a glass of water and microwave it until it starts to steam (2 to 4 minutes.) Once you see the steam, turn off the microwave and let the steam and lemon juice sit on the walls and floor of the microwave. The acid in the lemon juice will work to loosen food particles inside the microwave. Wipe the entire inside of the microwave with a wet, large looped, microfiber cloth. Make sure to let the interior air dry before closing the door.

For more information from DIY green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert, visit https://www.facebook.com/GreenCleaningCoach/

How to Clean Cast Iron, Wooden Cutting Boards, & More

Posted on July 25, 2019 by oi_admin - Green Cleaning Tips and Tricks, Healthy Home

After years of trying to clean those “hard to clean” kitchen items, I’ve found that it’s really not the technique but the tools that make the task easier. Things like cast iron or wooden cutting boards have been around for hundreds of years but just recently technology has caught up to make them easier to clean. Let’s look at some simple methods of cleaning these hard-to-clean items and then we will look at some new tools that make cleaning them very simple.

Cast iron – One thing to remember when cleaning cast iron is that it is a very porous metal. If you use any type of soap on cast iron, it will absorb it and then leech it back into your food when cooking. One simple way of cleaning your cast iron without soap is to use salt to give it a good scrub. The salt used with a sponge will work to remove any built-up food on the pan. And it will rinse right off the pan and leave it free from chemicals.

A new alternative for cleaning cast iron is a product called CM Scrubber. It’s made of chain mail – which is the same technology used in the Middle Ages to make armor. This simple chain mail scrubber is made of woven metal links that work to scrub the cast iron without chemicals. All you do is use the metal scrubber on the pan and rinse. It’s truly amazing how easy it makes it to clean your cast iron pans.

Wooden cutting boards – Wooden cutting boards are also very porous, but research has shown that the wood actually works to kill bacteria left on the wood. This does not mean we don’t have to clean the wood after using it. A simple solution to clean a wooden cutting board is to cut a lemon in half and them dip the open end of the lemon into some table salt. Use the lemon and work the salt over the wood to clean and disinfect the cutting board. The acid in the lemon along with the scrubbing action of the salt will clean the cutting board without using harsh chemicals.

A cool tool to use on the cutting board is called a Skoy Scrubber. It’s made in Germany and is aggressive enough to scrub the wood without hurting it. If you use this scrubber you don’t need to use any chemicals to clean the cutting board.

Fine china – If you have very expensive china and don’t trust your dishwasher to clean it without damage, there are some great cloths and sponges that will work to clean them gently and completely. My favorite tool is called a Skoy cloth. It’s a cross between a paper towel and a sponge. These cloths are made in Germany, just like the Skoy Scrubs, from a by-product of paper. They are strong, yet gentle and are perfect for washing your fine china.

Expensive crystal – To avoid having film and spots on your fine crystal I recommend washing them by hand. You can use the Skoy cloth and a gentle dish soap to wash them and then rinse with warm water. The best tool to dry the glass is a fine woven microfiber cloth. Don’t let the crystal air dry as that’s where you get spots. Instead rinse and then try right away with the microfiber cloth.

Tall thin vases – You can wash vases in the bottom drawer of a dishwasher but here is always that white film in the bottom of the vase that just won’t come off. A simple trick it to sprinkle table salt into the bottom and drop in some ice chips. The salt will melt into the ice and turn into a scrubber. Swish the salt/ice combination around for a few minutes then rinse with hot water. The salt will scrub away all the film.

For more information from DIY green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert, visit https://www.facebook.com/GreenCleaningCoach/

How Often Should You Clean Bedroom & Bathroom Items?

Posted on June 13, 2019 by oi_admin - Healthy Body, Healthy Home

Ever since it was reported that Oprah has clean sheets on her bed every day – the rest of us wonder if that’s the standard we should be striving to achieve. If we had a staff like Oprah, we could have our sheets, towels and even our shower curtains changed daily. Sheets and towels absorb sweat, dead skin cells, body oils, drool and other body fluids. If they aren’t washed frequently, sheets and towels become a breeding ground for dust mites, mold and mildew. So, let’s balance our dreams of having the ultimately clean bathroom with practicality and see if we can determine how often we should be cleaning things in our bathroom and bedroom.

Towels – Hand towels in a bathroom should be changed out daily as they get used a lot. Towels used after a shower should be washed every other day. In between uses, the towels should be hung so that they can dry out completely throughout the day. Mold and mildew can start forming a few hours after using the towel.

Washcloths – Washcloths can be on the same cleaning schedule as your bath towels. Washcloths collect dead skin cells with each use so more than two uses are not recommended. They can be washed with the bath towels using hot water to help disinfect them.

Bath mats – Bath mats should be washed once a week. They accumulate dust, fibers, and hair as well as dirt from the floor. Washing once a week keeps them clean and fresh. It also helps to battle any mold or mildew that could be forming inside the mat fibers.

Plastic shower curtains – Plastic shower curtains should be cleaned once a month. Soap scum and mildew build up on the inside of the plastic. You can place a shower curtain in the washing machine and it will come out looking brand new. Just put the shower curtain in the wash using hot water and two bath towels. Add a touch of laundry detergent to the washer as well. Wash and rinse the shower curtain on a regular cycle. Hang the plastic shower curtain back up as normal to allow it to air dry.

Use your dishwasher --A quick tip for cleaning things on your vanity is to enlist your dishwasher. Your toothbrush holder, towel caddies, toothpaste holders and even brushes and combs can be popped into the top drawer of the dishwasher. Use the regular dishwashing detergent and a regular washing cycle. The items will come out clean and disinfected.

Sheets – Most experts agree that sheets should be washed at least once every other week. If you have night sweats or tend to sweat more than the average person, you should wash your sheets once a week. Make sure to wash your sheets in a gentle soap versus a detergent. Detergents can cause skin irritations. They don’t rinse totally out of your sheets. Soaps, on the other handwash completely out of the fabric.

Blankets – Blankets need to be washed frequently, but not as often as sheets. Blankets can become infested with dust mites. Most experts recommend washing blankets monthly in extremely hot water and drying them on a hot setting in the dryer. The high heat will kill the dust mites. If you deal with a dust mite allergy, you may need to wash the blankets more often.

Comforters – Down comforters can be cleaned on the same schedule as blankets. Down comforters are very difficult to wash and dry so if you want to remove the dust and allergens quickly, you can pop the comforter directly into the dryer and set it to the hottest setting. The dryer will remove the dust and the hot air will kill the dust mites.

Pillows – Pillows are not usually on our list of things to wash. But they can become extremely infested with dust mites as well as body oils and fluids. To prevent the pillow from absorbing fluids and oils, you can use a pillow encasement that will keep the pillows clean and keep dust mites away from the pillow filling. The encasement is much easier to wash than an entire pillow.

Quilts – Hand made quilts need special attention. They needed to be washed with care. You can place the quilt in the dryer on a hot setting for a few minutes to kill dust mites and remove the dust. You can also use a clothesline and hang it outside in the bright sunlight to help keep the dust mites at bay.

For more information from DIY green cleaning expert Leslie Reichert, visit https://www.facebook.com/GreenCleaningCoach/