Archive for the 'Cleaning tips' Category

May 6, 2008 | Floors, Cleaning tips

Q (from V.): I really hope that you can help me.. I want clean floors. Let me rephrase that, I DESPERATELY NEED CLEAN FLOORS! I have dark green ceramic tiles throughout the majority of my house and I cannot get them clean. I have tried almost every product, they either a: Do nothing or b: Leave streaks and smears all over the tile. I have tried 3 different mops and countless cleaners. I would like to walk barefoot in my home without being creeped out!

A: Understandable, V.! I feel your pain. I have tile floors, and they can be a hassle to clean. Let’s see if some of these suggestions will help you.

First, it’s all in the process. Here are the steps:

1. Get up any loose dirt or grime first with a vacuum. If your vacuum isn’t appropriate for hard floors use a broom and dustpan, but the vacuum would certainly be quicker.
2. Next, fill your bucket with plenty of warm water and a cleaning solution that doesn’t use soap and doesn’t need to be rinsed (we’ll list some suggestions below).
3. Now, wringing out as much water from your mop as possible (and we prefer one of those wringable string mops - just twist to your heart’s content), mop small areas at a time, rinsing your mop in the water frequently.
4. BUT, when your mop water gets dark and cloudy, you’ll need to change the water - that’s important.
5. Mop the whole floor (or separate it into 2-3 sections if it’s a very large area), then grab an old towel and dry the floor - it’s easiest if you put the towel under your feet and shuffle around. You’ll be amazed at how much dirt your towel picks up from your cleanly mopped floor.

So, the next question. What do you use to clean your tile floor? You’ll want to avoid anything with vinegar, ammonia, or bleach, as they can each harm either the tile itself or the grout. Also avoid anything oil-based as it will leave a residue over time.

My favorite for ceramic tile is lemon juice and water (1/2 cup lemon juice in a bucket of water). Add a few drops of essential oils if you’d like - lavender is calming, or peppermint to give you an energy boost. If it’s cold season or you have allergies or asthma you might try eucalyptus. But keep in mind, if your floors are in bad condition to start with, it will take several cleanings to get the grime up.

Want something stronger? Shaklee H2 will make any floor sparkle - be it tile, hardwood, linoleum, or vinyl. Only a couple teaspoons in your bucket will do the job nicely. Other options? Mela Magic by Melaleuca has given us good results, as has Seaside Naturals All-Purpose spray.

Hope this helps! Remember though, it’s all in the process.

April 30, 2008 | Bathroom, Cleaning tips

I know that one day somebody is going to come up with a fantastic way to get hair off of the floors, sinks and counters in the bathroom. Until that day comes I’m just going to use this… (more…)

April 24, 2008 | Organizing, Food & drink, Being Green

With the worries about the potential danger of plastics on the rise I’ve decided to eliminate a lot of my plastic containers from my kitchen. You know, the ones you use for EVERYTHING! That left me with a big empty cabinet and nothing to put our left overs in. I needed an idea quick, and a thrifty one at that since I can’t afford to go out and buy all glass storage containers! Here is what I came up with… (more…)

April 16, 2008 | Bathroom, Laundry, Kitchen, Vinegar, Essential oils, Cleaning tips

We’ve just welcomed little Owen into our home, via c-section. And when the discharge nurse came to talk to me and hubbs before we left the hospital, you can imagine my inner joy as she said “No housework for 6 weeks. And stay out of the kitchen for a couple weeks too!” No housework? What does that mean? Apparently, the typical tasks of vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, scrubbing, dusting, etc., all involve (more…)

April 9, 2008 | Vinegar, Cleaning tips

With drain cleaner known to be one of the most toxic household products on the market, what to do with a clogged drain? (more…)

March 26, 2008 | Kitchen, Being Green, Cleaning tips

I can’t take credit for this one. I pulled it straight out of National Geographic’s Green Guide this week. Call me lazy, but that’s what happens when you’re 38.5 weeks pregnant…

The question was, what’s the best way to dispose of bacon or other kitchen grease? Raleigh, NC has had a serious problem with sewage backups, due in large part to people pouring grease (more…)

March 19, 2008 | Organizing, Lifestyle

In one way or another I believe there is a small amount of perfectionism in all of us. For me it’s more like a HUGE amount of perfectionism and I think it’s time for me to Get Buttoned Up!
I’m pretty sure this company has been a fly on my wall! They seem to have the perfect product for everybody. (more…)

March 13, 2008 | Cleaning tips

I have white fabric lamp shades on the lamps in most rooms of my home. When the lamps are on they show more dust than my grandfather’s apartment. My feather duster doesn’t do a good enough job on them, and who really wants to pull out the big, cumbersome vacuum attachment every time they see some dust on a shade?

Favorite tool?  A lint roller! It does the job quick and easy, and it’s small for easy storage. I’m all over that. Alternatively, masking tape or duct tape wrapped around your hand (sticky side out of course) would work in a pinch; but the lint roller is much easier. And it won’t break the bank. I promise.

March 12, 2008 | Organizing, Shopping, Lifestyle

I’m afraid I can’t take credit for this one. It’s my aunt’s idea, related to me by my mother. As it turns out, they’re some pretty smart ladies. The dilemma? Coordinating everything in the room when you’re redecorating, and making it accessible - to take with you to the fabric store, the paint store, etc… (more…)

March 5, 2008 | Allergies, asthma, Health, Cleaning tips

Spring is on its way, or maybe it’s already arrived where you are. But that also means allergy season is upon us! I don’t know about you, but that makes me cringe. Runny noses, itchy eyes and all sorts of other fun things. I’m sure Kleenex loves this time of year, but I could do without the allergies. So here are a few little cleaning tips to pass the spring with fewer sneezes. (more…)