2. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide

Transcription

1

2 2. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide

3 3. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Copyright 2014 Rebecca Heriz All Rights Reserved No part of this book may be republished, reproduced, copied, or shared in any form without prior written consent of the author. This guide is meant for each individual who downloads it. Forwarding this guide or copying it to a blog or website without permission is a violation of copyright. This is a free guide. To share it, direct friends to the website to download their own copy.

4 4. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Table Of Contents: Shopping List...5 Ingredient Uses...5 Bathroom...6 Get The Kids Involved...7 Tile Grout...8 All Purpose Spray...9 Wood Polish...10 Windows/Glass/Mirrors/Stainless Appliances...11 Floor Cleaner...12 Room Spray / Deodorizer...13 Mold Killer...14 Upholstery Cleaner...15

5 5. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Shopping List Baking soda Regular White Vinegar Basic H Cleaning Concentrate Hydrogen Peroxide Lavender Oil Clove Oil Orange or Lemon Essential Oil, or Orange Peels Bran Nylon Stocking Spray Bottles (You will need a dark bottle for hydrogen peroxide, and dark glass bottles for lavender oil spray, and clove spray. Bottles for Basic H and vinegar can be plastic and need not be dark. Find dark bottles on Amazon) Essential oils, prior to proper dilution, should be kept out of reach of children. Ingredient Uses Baking Soda - scrubbing White Vinegar - wiping surfaces, or with baking soda for scrubbing, fabric softener Basic H - general cleaning, dusting, degreaser, produce wash, floors, walls, windows, appliances Lavender Oil - room spray (kills germs, promotes healthy sleep) Orange / Lemon Oil, or Orange Peels - Dusting Clove Oil - killing mold, room deodorizer Bran - Upholstery cleaner (NO KIDDING! This blew me away the first time I tried it.) Nylon Stocking - Scrubbing tubs, shower walls, sinks.

6 6. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Bathroom: Sprinkle some baking soda around the sink, tub, shower, toilet etc. then spray with vinegar. Scrub as soon as the vinegar hits the baking soda. The baking soda will foam up, and that oxygenating action does some of the scrubbing for you! It s sort of like those Scrubbing Bubbles, but without all the harsh and hard to breathe toxins. When doing the toilet, use the baking soda / vinegar combo in the bowl, then wipe the surfaces with vinegar or Basic H. The BEST thing to scrub with is a piece of nylon stocking (panty hose). When you get a run just cut the stocking into 6-12 inch pieces. You can see-saw the nylon around faucets to really get into the hard to get spots. Nylon is gentle but abrasive so it s great for cleaning the tub. Do not spray vinegar around faucets, as it is corrosive and can destroy soft metals. It s fine for the vinegar / baking soda mix to rinse down the drain, but don t scrub the metal drains with it (like I did... and ruined the drain in our bathroom sink). I ll provide a better option in the All Purpose Spray section below.

7 7. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide GET THE KIDS INVOLVED! Have a child get into the tub, then sprinkle some baking soda all over the tub. Give your child a spray bottle of vinegar and let them have a great time spraying and watching the bubbles happen. While it s bubbling have your child rub the tub with a scrub brush or piece of nylon stocking. This gets them excited and involved in helping with the cleaning, and the bubbles will tickle their feet. And the best part? It s totally safe and toxin free! My 5 yr old helps me out in this video, by cleaning my tub and he actually enjoys doing this! CLICK HERE --> <-- I m totally comfortable having my kids use vinegar or Basic H to clean. My kids can dust, clean wood furniture, do windows, and help with the floors. I m too much of a germaphobe to let them help with toilets, and they don t do mirrors yet either. They love helping.

8 8. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Tile Grout To whiten grout and kill mildew, use a combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. I use dark spray bottles for peroxide, light ruins it (that s why they sell it in those dark brown bottles.) Get a dark spray bottle from your hardware or garden store. If you can t find any, try Amazon. Sprinkle the area with baking soda, then spritz with peroxide and wait. OR make a paste with the soda and peroxide and apply to the area. Wait at least 20 minutes, or up to 24 hours, then spritz again with the peroxide and rinse. Peroxide kill mildew and will whiten tile grout and white porcelain. It s perfect for sinks, tubs and showers. NO BLEACH NECESSARY! If you wait several hours before rinsing, you may want to spritz periodically to keep the paste moist so it works better. I have a tile floor in my shower, so I sprinkle the soda, spray, then rinse during my next shower.

9 9. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide All Purpose Spray: White vinegar and water, 50/50 mix, in a spray bottle, can be used for spraying most surfaces. Because vinegar is acidic, it is corrosive, and over time it can damage some surfaces (stone or stone composite counters, and metal faucets) so we switched to Basic H for most general cleaning. Basic H (aka BH2) is more economical and greener too. You d need 24 gallons of vinegar to get the same amount of cleaner that s in 1 16 oz bottle of Basic H. Basic H All Purpose Spray: 1/4 teaspoon of BH2 in 16 oz water, in a clean spray bottle. 1 bottle of concentrate makes 48 gallons of all purpose cleaner. Use on kitchen counters, bathroom counters, faucets, floors (all types), window sills, walls (safe for paint), wood furniture, cabinets. Safe for every surface. It s organic, so you can also use it as a soap spray for killing bugs in your garden, as well as a produce wash. WHERE TO BUY: Get Basic H2 16 oz bottle HERE

10 10. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Wood Polish: Vinegar and water, 50/50 mix, in a spray bottle with 5-20 drops or orange or lemon oil. I like using real orange peel too, but it gets old over time and it s a pain to get it out of the spray bottle. In the end, it s easier using essential oils. If you want to try the peels, you only need the peel from 1/2 of an orange. The citrus oil polishes wood and helps the dust stick to your cloth. (And helps reduce the vinegar smell.) For cleaning water spots off of wood furniture, use the all purpose mix of Basic H. My oldest son, Cannon, when he was 6, cleaning the dining room table for me. I m going to be so sad when they don t enjoy this anymore!

11 11. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Windows / Glass / Mirrors / Stainless One or two drops of Basic H concentrate in 16 oz of water, in a clean spray bottle. This costs less than a penny to make, and works better than Windex according to my cleaning lady. Use on windows, glass surfaces, mirrors, metal faucets, and stainless appliances. To dispense just one drop of BH2 use an eye dropper, or store some concentrate in a squeeze bottle like this one, found HERE TIP: Use a new, empty spray bottle. Do not use an old window cleaner bottle. The Basic H will combine with the old cleaner, essentially pulling it off the walls of the bottle, and it won t work well.

12 12. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Floor Cleaner: If you have an electric kettle, or coffee maker, clean them periodically with vinegar. Simply run 4 cups of vinegar through a coffee pot, or boil vinegar in your electric kettle to remove any scale that s built up in there. Rather than dumping out that nice hot vinegar, clean with it! If you don t have an electric kettle or coffee pot, just heat up a cup or 2 of white vinegar in the microwave or on the stove. Pour a small amount (3 oz) of the hot vinegar on your kitchen or bathroom floor, then use a dry mop to scrub and wipe up the grime. Work your way around the room until finished. I ve done this on real stone / slate tile and linoleum or vinyl tile, and wood floors and it works great. If you re worried about your floor, let the boiled vinegar cool a bit, then test it in an inconspicuous area. TIP: Got leftover hot vinegar? Use it to give the toilets a quick scrub. Grab your baking soda, sprinkle some in the toilet, pour in some vinegar, then scrub with a toilet brush or sponge.

13 13. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Room Spray / Deodorizer: Lavender spray is fantastic in bedrooms. Lavender contains over 200 antimicrobial compounds, it s soothing and stress relieving, and helps promote better sleep. Add 20 drops of lavender essential oil to 8 oz of water in a dark glass spray bottle. Spray bedroom air, pillows and bedding to help kill germs and relax kids (and grownups too). Extra Tip: Spritz legs with the lavender spray before bed, to help relieve stress and promote a restful sleep. Clove Oil is great as a room freshener and deodorizer. I used this after changing diapers or after potty training accidents. Clove is very potent, a little goes a long way. Only 5 drops in a spray bottle with 8 oz of water. Add 2 or 3 drops of orange oil for a really nice orange spice blend. Great for pet odors too!

14 14. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Mold Killer: Bleach does not kill mold it just makes mold white. Bleach does not penetrate to the roots and is highly toxic. There are a couple of other options that kill mold without releasing harmful fumes. Oil of Clove and hydrogen peroxide actually kill mold, penetrating the roots.....and clove smells SO MUCH BETTER than bleach! Not only does hydrogen peroxide kill mold but it whitens too! I use it in the toilet and for cleaning white ceramic sinks and tub tile if they ve gotten stained. To use clove oil for mold, add 5 drops of oil to a spray bottle of water, at least 8 oz of water. Spray the area, allow to sit for a full 24 hours, then scrub and rinse. This works for interior walls, exterior, decks, showers, wood etc. This kills mold and is great for penetrating surfaces. You can also spray the air to help eliminate mildew smell and musty air. Just be careful as the clove oil, even this tiny amount, can stain white fabrics. I was using the clove method in my shower, as a post shower spray to help prevent mildew, and after a few treatments I noticed some yellowing on the shower walls. I now only use it in my shower on occasion. If a shower is really bad, or if there s mold on bathroom walls, treat with the clove oil first, then use the peroxide paste I mentioned in the Tile Grout section if necessary for whitening. To maintain a mildew free shower, spritz with hydrogen peroxide after each shower.

15 15. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Upholstery: This is so cool! You re going to make a bran ball with bran, white vinegar, and the foot of a nylon stocking. Put about a half cup of bran in a bowl and add a little (about a teaspoon) white vinegar. Stir and add vinegar if needed, to get the consistency of oatmeal. It shouldn t be too wet, just enough to get the bran damp all over. Next scoop the bran into the foot of the stocking and tie a knot to keep the bran contained inside. Trim off excess stocking. Bran is gently abrasive and absorbent, the nylon is also abrasive. This is hands down the greatest upholstery cleaner ever! I couldn t believe how well it worked on my Mom s old off white upholstered wing back chair. Scrub upholstery with the ball, like scrubbing with a sponge, then blot with a damp cloth. At first I didn t see a difference with my Mom s chair but the next day all the dirt and grime was gone! You can also scrub rugs and car upholstery with it. Store the ball in an airtight container (ziploc, pyrex etc) and add a few drops of vinegar when needed to keep it moist. Make sure the bran you buy isn t loaded with other ingredients, as this may cause discoloring. You can get Bob s Redmill bran on vitacost.com, use THIS LINK to take advantage of a $10 off coupon (Restrictions apply, $30 order minimum, check the site for details.)

16 16. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide About Me: Hey, I m Rebecca, a former city girl who moved to rural Maryland with my high school sweetheart and our two little boys. Due to health challenges from Multiple Sclerosis, that were complicate by both pregnancies, I decided not to return to my corporate job. Now I stay at home where I run a business while raising two of the cutest and most creative boys ever! After my dad passed from cancer I started detoxing our home. I started with skin care and shampoo, and then reluctantly started to get rid of the conventional cleaners. I completely doubted that safe cleaners would really work. Not only did I find several safe options, but soon learned how to make my own cleaners which saved tons of money and worked even better than the expensive green cleaners! To my pleasant surprise, simply changing how we clean the house has actually improved my MS symptoms! It s also nice not to have to worry about locking up the cleaning supplies, or keeping them way up high out of reach, because my kids can actually clean with everything I use and it s completely safe for them. It is my pleasure to share these recipes with you, in the hopes that they will help you create a safer and healthier home for you and your family. Not to mention, a healthier wallet!

17 17. Toxin-Free Cleaning Guide Affiliate links provided for your convenience. If you purchase any products from vitacost.com, don t forget to use THIS LINK to take advantage of the $10 off coupon. Currently, the $10 coupon applies to orders of $30 or more. There seems to be restrictions on certain items that are already discounted. Check the website for more details. Items purchased through the Shaklee link provided have a money back guarantee, that never expires. If you are unhappy with anything purchased at HealthyHome.myShaklee.com or MyLittleVitaminShop.com, you can contact Shaklee for a full refund. Need help? me at: clientcare@rebeccaheriz.com Dark spray bottles on Amazon: Click HERE Keep an eye on my blog, rebeccaheriz.com, for more cleaning tips, recipes, nutrition info, and craft projects for kids. Everything a Mama needs to provide a healthy, creative home. If you have any questions about the guide contact me on my blog HERE, or through social media: Facebook. Twitter Instagram Pinterest YouTube