Cleaning Products

The Ultimate Green House Cleaning Kit

by Jennifer | 1 Comment Thursday, August 25, 2011

It’s easy to clutter your cabinets with cleaning products of all kinds, usually with specific purposes, and often with harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your family and pets. The good news is that you don’t need much to keep your house clean, and you don’t need a lot of money to do it. Going green has never been easier! Follow these guidelines, and you will have everything you need to keep your home fresh and clean.

Tools:

-A small or medium sized bucket to keep everything together, organized, and portable.
-One toilet brush for every bathroom.
-An extendable duster (Like this, for example,) for ceiling fans and cobwebs.
-A broom.
-A mop, such as the Sh-mop or a steam mop such as this one.
-Rags.
-Microfiber cloths.
-Magic Erasers for the stubborn grease, soapscum, and grime.
-1 spray bottle.

Products:

-White distilled vinegar.
-Essential oil of choice. We recommend peppermint or tea tree oil.
-Baby oil for stainless steel if you have it. To see how it works, click here.
-If you have hardwood floors, we recommend Bona.
-If you have granite, marble, or other natural stone countertops or floors, we recommend Method Daily Granite Polish.
-Also, for the natural stone surfaces, you don’t want to apply any vinegar to them, so keep Clorox Green Works Wipes handy in case raw meat or other potentially harmful substance gets on the counter/floor.

To make your all-purpose cleaner, simply add two tablespoons of vinegar with two or three drops of essential oil to a spray bottle, and fill to the top with water. Label properly, and keep refridgerated. Discard any unused product after 6 months. This all-purpose solution will be your go-to product for almost everything, and is also a natural disinfectant, so it is ideal to clean counters, laminate or tile floors, and even toilets.

How To Remove Pet Stains With Vinegar

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, August 18, 2011

If you have read some of our previous blogs, you know by now that we are big fans of Vinegar. It is antibacterial, anti fungal, leaves behind no residue, and is 100% green. If you have pets, you know that from time to time your little friend will leave a little mess behind, and Vinegar is especially useful for removing the stain and killing all bacteria and potential viruses.

All you need is 1 cup of vinegar per quart of warm water. You can use it straight from a bucket, or put it in a spray bottle and save what’s left for Around The House Cleaning. Pick up whatever “gifts” your furry friend left as much as you can, and blot the area with a dry cloth. If you choose to use a clean cloth, get it wet with the vinegar solution and generously dab onto the mess. If you are using a spray bottle, simply spray the area until soaked. Let it sit a few minutes, then simply blot the area with a new, clean cloth until the area is clean. Let dry, and repeat if needed.

The newer the mess, the easier it is to clean, and will usually all come up with one application. For older stains, like under the bed or the back of the closet that you were just cleaning out, it may take several tries to get it all out, and it would be useful to let the vinegar solution sit for a few hours. But rest assure, once the area is clean, it will be safe to the touch, and the money you save by using vinegar as opposed to carpet cleaner will make it impossible to be upset with your pet.

Click Here for more information on removing pet stains with vinegar.

At Bit a Bliss we are dedicated to providing extraordinary maid service in Plano, Frisco, Dallas and the surrounding area.  Everyone deserves a Bit a Bliss!  www.bitabliss.com

 

A Room To Room Guide On The Uses Of Magic Erasers

by Jennifer | No Comments Friday, August 12, 2011

In our previous blog, we talked about What A Magic Eraser Is Made Of, and here we are going to give you some helpful tips on getting the most out of this handy product. They cut cleaning time to a minimum, and are especially useful for the big jobs. We especially love that they are safe to use on almost every surface you can think of.

In the Bathroom:

We love how easily an eraser can remove soap scum. For mild buildup, simply get it wet and rub over the surface until clean. For heavy jobs, spray everything down with Scrubbing Bubbles or your favorite bathroom cleaner, and scrub until everything is gone, then wipe over with a damp cloth to finish. It is also effective on counters and sinks. If there are spots on your mirror that won’t come off without scraping, simply wipe them away with a dry eraser.

Kitchen:

Magic erasers will clean your stovetop with ease, getting all the grease and stuck on food. For cleaning an especially dirty microwave, spray it down with your favorite all purpose cleaner, let sit a few minutes, and simply wipe away with a damp eraser. It will also help get the grime out of the sink, counters, and spots on the cabinets and floors. It is safe to use on walls, so you can remove cooking spots from the backsplash.

Living/Dining/Bed Rooms:

If there are spots on the blinds, they can be removed with a damp eraser. They are also great at removing any grime or buildup on your baseboards. Furniture can often leave grey or black marks on the wall, and gently going over them with a damp eraser will take it off. Lastly, they will remove and smudges from doors and switch plates.

The uses for Magic Erasers are endless. We are constantly discovering new ways to get the most out of them. Here’s a few more Uses To Consider. Just be careful, the product can be mildly abrasive, so for big jobs it is best to wear gloves to protect your skin. And if you are ever unsure about using it on a surface, do a spot test first. Happy cleaning from all of us at Bit A Bliss!

At Bit a Bliss we are dedicated to providing extraordinary maid service in Plano, Frisco, Dallas and the surrounding area.  Everyone deserves a Bit a Bliss!  www.bitabliss.com

 

What Is A Magic Eraser?

by Jennifer | 1 Comment Friday, August 5, 2011

Magic erasers, generically known as dirt erasers, are by far our favorite tool in cleaning. Its applications are numerous, and we highly recommend every house keeps them in their personal cleaning kit. But what exactly is a magic eraser? It is actually used for home insulation, among other related things, but was discovered to be a fantastic cleaning tool. Visit the Wikipedia page on magic erasers here.

At Bit a Bliss we are dedicated to providing extraordinary maid service in Plano, Frisco, Dallas and the surrounding area.  Everyone deserves a Bit a Bliss!  www.bitabliss.com

 

The formal name can be a little deceptive, as it is called formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer, in short melamine foam. We know what you’re thinking, “Oh no, formaldehyde!” But don’t worry, the chemical is not present in the product, nor is any other dangerous chemical for that matter. Think of it like sodium chloride, or table salt. For further explanation of the safety of magic erasers, click here.

Why Chemicals in Cleaning Products Can Be So Harmful

by Jennifer | No Comments Tuesday, July 5, 2011

We’ve all heard over and over again that chemicals in cleaning products are harmful, and we should buy green instead. The FTC is putting stricter regulations on what is considered “green,” (To see FTC guidelines, click here) and it seems like almost everyone is on board, from product lines claiming to want to help the environment, to health enthusiasts who know we can all do better.

But why exactly are chemicals so bad?

-Chemicals are released into the environment through evaporation and being rinsed down the drain, thus prolonging our exposure, and damaging our eco-system.

-Even mild exposure over a long period of time can be harmful, because many chemicals are “bioaccumulative,” meaning they do not exit the body for a long period of time, and can eventually build up to toxic levels.

-Chemicals cause bodily harm, ranging from mild to moderate skin and eye irritation, to an increase of allergy attacks, as well as respiratory illness and permanent nerve damage.

-It is especially harmful for children, because even though they may not directly consume the cleaners from the bottle, exposure can still do a variety of damage. Their small bodies cannot fight off the chemicals as adult’s can, so it is exactly like they are being made vulnerable to a far greater concentration of the product. Also, their hands are constantly in their mouths, so anything they touch has the potential of being consumed.

-Keep in mind, the “active ingredients” are not the only culprits. “Inactive ingredients,” a.k.a. all those extra ingredients listed that you can’t pronounce, can also contain carcinogens and neurotoxins.

Click here to find reviews and information on certified green products

Here are a few previous blogs of ours to help you make your own products!
Green Cleaning For Your Baby
Cleaning With Lemon Juice
The Power Of Cleaning With Vinegar