Green Cleaning

Choosing The Right All-Purpose Cleaner For Your Home

by Jennifer | No Comments Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Every home needs a good all-purpose cleaner. It will keep you from having too many products, since it can clean multiple surfaces. But with so many out there, how do you choose which one is right for you? Whether you are looking to change the one you have, or are just completely lost on the idea of products, here are a few guidelines to help you choose.

What Type Of Surfaces Are In Your Home?

If your home is mostly laminate and tile, almost any type of cleaner will work, as those surfaces are designed for durability. If you have granite, marble, and other high end surfaces, you want to be very careful about what you choose and make sure your cleaner is safe for those surfaces.

Do You Want Green Cleaning Or Chemicals?

Hopefully your answer is green, because you can clean just as effectively without chemicals, and it is safe for you and your family and pets. But some people love the smell, and don’t have children or pets, and that’s ok as long as you are very careful and use sparingly. If you do choose to use chemicals, we recommend watering them down if possible. Antibacterial cleaners are typically just as effective at killing germs when diluted, but read the labelling carefully to make sure, and don’t ever mix chemicals to avoid creating a highly toxic product that can seriously harm your health.

Now that you have answered these questions, we have a few suggestions for what will work best for you:

-If your home does not have high-end surfaces and you want a green cleaning, try putting 2 tbsp. of vinegar in a spray bottle, fill with water and add a couple drops of peppermint oil, and you’re ready to go! Just be sure to shake the bottle before use. Vinegar is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. For stuck on messes, let it sit for a few minutes and then scrub.

-If you have high-end surfaces and want a green clean, we recommend Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaners. They are safe to use on any surface, and it comes in a concentrated formula that you dilute yourself, so the bottle will last ages. If you do not clean regularly, we find that using a magic eraser with the cleaner does wonders!

-If completely natural isn’t your thing, try Clorox Green-Works. It is mostly green, but not 100% and is safe to use on all surfaces.

Why I’m Glad I Went Green With My Home Cleaning

by Jennifer | No Comments Monday, July 2, 2012

Going green with the products you use in your home is a great idea for you, your family, and your pets. Something just happened in my life that is a great example of the benefits of using as little chemicals as possible, and I wanted to share it with you.

My sister-in-law Katelyn has this adorable little dog. Fleas are a big problem in their area, so she is diligent in keeping up with his flea medicine. On his last treatment, she went with a different brand because it was on sale, and almost immediately her entire body broke out into these painful, itchy welts. Flea medicine is designed not to be washed off easily and spread throughout the body, so before she knew it, there were traces of it all over the house. Everywhere she sat, even laying in her bed, made her break out more. So she spent the evening at a friend’s house so her mother could try to clean everything, and she realized that even being away, she was still having reactions to things that never used to bother her, such as fabric softener on bedsheets, and bleach that had been used in the bathroom.

In my home, we use a homemade all purpose cleaner with vinegar, water, and peppermint oil (Click Here for a guide to making your own green housecleaning kit.) We even make our own laundry soap, which you can cheaply and easily do by following These Easy Instructions. We have two children, so we like to keep our home free of unnecessary chemicals, especially when what we use is just as/even more effective. And the money we save is a great perk!

We invited Katelyn to stay with us until everything was ok for her to go back home, and during her stay here she has not broken out, and the welts all over her body are quickly subsiding and becoming less irritating. I’m glad we made the choice to stop wasting our money on standard cleaners, and the fact that my home is the only place Katelyn can be without breaking out is a testament to what a better choice it really is.

For other ways to green your home, check out our blog on Keeping Chemicals Out Of Your Drain!

How To Deep Clean Your Bedroom In 8 Steps

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, March 15, 2012

It can be easy to skip out on deep cleaning your bedroom. After all, it’s not a kitchen or bathroom, right? Ok, maybe it’s not as intensive as deep cleaning one of those, but you spend more time in it than any other room, so it deserves some TLC here and there. If you are cleaning your home on your own, we recommend doing this deep clean quarterly, then keeping it up with dusting and spot cleaning in between. For this deep cleaning, we recommend opening your windows a little to keep the air circulating, so there will be minimum resettling of dust.

1. Use An Extendable Duster To Clean The Ceiling

Before you do anything else, dust the ceiling fan, crown moulding, and remove any cobwebs with an extendable duster. This way, everything will fall onto surfaces and your bed before they are clean.

2. Clean Your Bed

Strip your sheets and bedskirt, and throw in the washer. If anything is dry-clean only, take it a day or two in advance so that it will be ready today, and use your backup linens/comforter in the meantime. Take a spray bottle with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda filled to the top with water and spray on your mattress and pillows until slightly damp. This will remove unsightly odors and freshen up everything. You can add a little scent to the baking soda mix if you like, but if you are sensitive, just leave it as is. Make your bed at the very end of your deep clean, making sure the mattress and pillows are completely dry.

3. Clean Blinds, Windows, and Sills

Carefully dust your blinds and window sills with a microfiber rag, to minimize tossing dust up in the air. With a clean rag and a spray bottle with 2 tablespoons vinegar, a few drops of essential oil of your choice (optional) filled to the top with water, remove any spots from your blinds, windows, and sills.

4.  Doors, Door Frames and Switchplates

With the Vinegar solution, go around and clean all door frames, doors, door handles, and switchplates. These are commonly touched areas that can harbor viruses and bacteria. Vinegar is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, so it will not only make those areas look sparkling, but will sanitize them as well.

5. Dust Wall Decor

With a microfiber rag, dust every item on your wall carefully. If possible, gently pull the decor away from the wall and dust behind it.

6. Dust Furniture

A good trick is to take every item off of your dresser and tables first. This way, when you put everything back, you are less likely to put everything back as clutter, and find a new home for everything you don’t need sitting out. Go around with a microfiber cloth and dust every piece of furniture, including the sides and any detail work. Don’t forget the headboard and footboard! As you put all decor and necessities back on your furniture, dust each item as well.

7. Wash Your Baseboards

Using the vinegar mixture and a rag, wash all basebaords. Move furniture away from the wall if possible.

8. Vacuum/Sweep And Mop Floors

If you have carpet, use the hose attachment of your vacuum to go around all edges, corners, and underneath all furniture before doing the main area. If you are sweeping and mopping, be sure and get every possible nook and cranny.

How To Clean Your Oven With Baking Soda

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, March 8, 2012

I found this great video on youtube.com that I had to share! It gives a step-by-step on effectively cleaning your oven with baking soda and water. No chemicals, no self-cleaning cycle, nothing dangerous. If you have read some of our previous blogs, you know that we are big fans of cleaning with simple, green ingredients. And this is about as simple as it gets!

The 5 Best Uses For Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, February 23, 2012

Olive oil is a real treasure. We would write sonnets about it if we were any good at it. There are so many applications you would find useful, but we are going to break it down to the 5 best uses.

1. A Great Addition To Food

First of all, it is recommended that you NOT use extra-virgin olive oil to cook, because the smoke point can be very low, which is dangerous. This Article From Whole Foods goes into greater detail. It is, however, fantastic for adding to food once it has been prepared, such as spraying on vegetables or lean meat. It is low calorie, great for your health, and also makes a fantastic salad dressing!

2. Using It On Your Hair

Olive Oil is incredible for the hair. It is great for every type of hair. We recommend keeping a plastic bottle in the shower, and adding about a dime-sized amount to your conditioner every time you wash your hair. Leave it in for about 5 minutes and rinse clean. A few drops on dry hair will help calm the frizzies, especially on a humid day.

3. Skin Care

Just as it is great for hair, olive oil is just as great for every type of skin. Yes, even oily skin (I promise!) Keep a small bottle with your products and add a few drops to your daily moisturizer (face and body) and apply straight oil onto very dry areas, such as knees and elbows. Once a week, apply straight oil to your fresh, clean skin and leave on for 5 minutes as a mask. It will help unclog your pores and your face will feel just the right amount of soft and supple. It is also a great shaving oil for men and women.

4. Great For Cats

Adding a few drops to your cat’s food daily will help keep their coats soft and shiny, and will also cut down on those pesky hairballs.

5. It Makes A Great Furniture Polish

Forget commercial wood and leather cleaners, simply add a few drops to a soft, clean cloth and wipe your furniture as normal. It will pick up dust, remove fingerprints, help fill in scratches, and add a subtle sheen to your furniture to keep it looking brand new

For more great and completely random uses you will find helpful, Go To The Daily Green’s Blog Here.