Green Cleaning

Tasty Banana Muffins That Are Good For You!

These fantastic muffins only have about 150 calories and 5 grams of fat each. Not bad, considering most muffins have at least 300 calories a piece. They don’t have any butter or oil, and are so tasty you will want two of them, and that is ok! The recipe yields about 15 muffins.

You will need:
-1 1/2 cup flour
-1 cup of quick oats
-1/4 cup sugar
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-2 tsp. baking powder
-1 tsp. baking soda
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1 egg, beaten
-3/4 cup skim milk
-1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
-1/2 tsp. vanilla
-1 tsp. maple extract
-1 cup mashed bananas (about 3)
-3 tbsp. ground flax (optional, but it doesn’t affect the flavor and is really great for you!)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees farenheit. Mix all ingredients together by combining wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately, then slowly incorporate the two together until you have a smooth batter. Spray muffin pans with non-stick spray, and insert muffin cups. Fill each cup about 3/4 of the way, and bake for 18-20 minutes on the center rack. We have found that 18 minutes is best, but it really depends on your oven.

If you would like, you can add one of these to your muffins:
-raisins, 1/4 cup
-chocolate chips, 1/4 cup
-blueberries, 1/4 cup
-pecans, 1/2 cup

Enjoy! I know we are!

How To Remove Wax From Your Carpet

We have come across this problem many times, where a client calls saying the candle fell over, and now there’s bright red wax on the clean white carpet. It happens to pretty much everyone at some point, and we think it’s important to know how to remove it. It’s actually very easy!

All you need is paper towel and an iron. It is described well In This Article By The Same Name.  So don’t panic, and in no time your clean carpet will be good as new!

Cleaning For A Reason Week Begins Today!

As we have mentioned before, we work with the organization called Cleaning For A Reason that provides free house cleanings for women with cancer who are undergoing treatments. We are very passionate about this, because having a clean home while dealing with cancer is so important, but can be almost impossible to manage with so much to handle already.

Starting today, in conjunction with the Mayor of Plano Phil Dyer, we are thrilled to announce that this Cleaning For A Reason Week. For more information, Go Here To Our Press Release!

How To Deep Clean Your Bedroom In 8 Steps

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 Basebaords

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

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!