You know those people who squirrel-away handwritten letters and cards? I m one of those. These small things, grocery lists and movie stubs, document our daily lives. Life, as they say, is in the details. In my desk-drawer is a manila envelope stuffed with notes from our clients over the years. Some are from new moms anxious about toxins. They know the dangers and want alternatives to bleach and ammonia. Others thank us and plead for our secrets. They could never get the fridge to sparkle like that. Our clients know we rarely use conventional brand-name cleaners. They depend on us to use healthy alternatives that won t harm their families and the environment, but will succeed in killing bacteria and making things clean. A lot of these healthy tips came from inside that manila envelope. Some are high-tech, some are folksy. Most are intended for on-the-job cleaning pros. When it comes to cleaning, life is in the details. We have made an effort to include every healthy cleaning tip we know, but there is always room to grow. Here's to healthy cleaning, Suze
General household cleaning tips In cleaning, as in life, the best solutions are often the simplest. These tips include many simple ingredients you may already have in your kitchen cupboard. For example tea tree oil, lemon oil, and baking soda are some of our favorite goto items at home and in cleaning our clients households. White vinegar is tremendously useful and effective. It is also inexpensive. Stock up on these powerful ingredients. They are used in many of the solutions in this book. Simple ingredients can be as effective as commercial cleaners. Many standard cleaning products include hazardous chemicals with a few drops of essential oil. While not always convenient, the big benefit in blending your own simple solutions is in not exposing yourself and others to dangerous chemicals. The birds and the bees benefits as well. No hazardous materials will be down into the waterways. Essential oils are not just for masking odors. They have all sorts of useful applications for cleaning. They have antiseptic and antibacterial qualities, and can be safely used in home cleaning. Just one drop of tea tree essential oil will remove the gunk left behind from sticky paper labels. Test it and see for yourself. Try using it on a recently purchased kitchen scrubber. Keep a small bottle of tea tree oil in your cupboard or cleaning caddy. Rest assured, you are armed with a powerful gunk remover. Baking soda has potent cleansing properties. It eats odors, it is a mild abrasive, and an effective chrome cleaner. If you find that baking soda is not effective enough for the job, you may not be applying enough. Use more. Use baking soda to clean and detail chrome appliances, sinks, faucets, as well as the chrome around the headlights of the car. If you get too much baking soda on the surface of whatever you're cleaning, just douse it with a small amount of vinegar. It will fizz away. Clean the chrome and glass doors of the oven and microwave with baking soda as well. Use it to freshen the inside of the microwave oven and eliminate food odors. Use a cloth dampened with vinegar and dab on a teaspoon of baking soda. Rinse with warm water and vinegar for a sediment-free shine.
Shower & bath Let's hear it for no more yucky mold in the shower stall! Mix together: 1/4 cup vinegar with 1/2 cup baking soda, and add 10 drops of tea tree oil. Spread this paste into corners and around the drain where mold grows. Let the mixture sit for several minutes, then scrub off mold with a sponge. Clean the grout with a small brush or toothbrush. Next, spread the paste onto the faucet and shower head, then scrub off with a nonabrasive sponge. Rinse with vinegar and warm water for a brilliant shine. Water spots on metal around the shower will come off with lemon oil. Lemon essential oil, or the juice of a lemon, will remove spots from enamel or plastic. Cut the lemon in half, rub onto stains and rinse.
Organizing Getting rid of clutter is like cleaning a clogged drain. Things start flowing again. While some folks keep an alphabetized file of their clothes and spices, some of us can't match two socks in the morning. Most people are somewhere in between. A few organization skills that could stand some improvement. De-cluttering your clients homes De-cluttering a house is much like de-cluttering the people s lives who live in that house. Take away bags of junk and clear the rooms of too much stuff. The result is a lot like clearing the mind of unnecessary thoughts. The principles of feng shui are based on the flow of energy around objects in a particular space. Take a good look at what is in each room, determine what your client wants and needs to keep, and get rid of the rest. There is a rush of fresh energy that enters someone s life the minute you start tossing things out. Nature is like that. Here are some simple cleaning organizing tips to help create a more structured, healthy and efficient household. Use these at home and at your clients homes. Start small. If it's really the entire attic you want to reorganize, but the thought of taking on a large space stuffed with junk is a little overwhelming, focus on one chest of drawers or one filing cabinet to begin. Obtaining immediate gratification is a good strategy for proving to yourself that you can do it. Schedule enough time to get the job done. When taking on a major organization project, whether it's an overstuffed closet, a basement, or a filing cabinet, first clear your schedule. Set your intention to complete the job in the time allotted. Take short breaks, but not long ones. Don't be tempted to stop in the middle of a project you may not get back to for a very long time. For big projects, save yourself from procrastinating by jotting down cleaning
dates on your calendar. Then stick to it! Reward yourself after you're done. Take everything out of the closet, basement or filing cabinet, spread it all out on the floor, and begin organizing. Start from scratch and clean as you go. Keep dust rags and white vinegar on hand, as well as a bottle of your favorite essential oil to clean and mitigate any musty odor. Dust or vacuum the areas you uncover. This is your big chance! You may not get the opportunity to clean these places again for quite awhile. Try not to give in to the temptation to wax sentimental over each dish and childhood toy. Make sure you are in the frame of mind to distinguish between what you really want (and need) to hang onto, and those relics whose time has come.
Prepping to organize Think about the tools you might need for your project and gather them together. If you are reorganizing a filing cabinet you may require files, folders, labels, highlighters, and a loose leaf binder. Taking on the basement? Get boxes, a tape measure, Swiss Army knife, hooks, and pens and scratch pads for making lists. Categorize as you organize Begin with basic categories such as Trash, Recycle, and Keep, but add other categories as you progress and come up with new or better ways to organize. To quickly de-clutter a room, first remove all items that do not belong in the room, put misplaced items back in their place, stack magazines, then vacuum the open spaces. Keep track of your television remote control (and your DVD and your CD player too) by attaching a strip of velcro tape onto the television, DVD player, and CD player, and the corresponding tape onto its remote control. Keep electronic devices plugged in and charged up when not in use. Corral them safely on an empty bookshelf or table, away from pets and sunlight. Extra blankets? Instead of trying to squeeze them in your overflowing linen closet, store extra blankets between the mattress and the box spring on your bed. Keep your linen closet in order by removing old sheets and towels once a year. Rip or cut them up for excellent cleaning rags. Take it out, make it easy Keep fresh trash liners handy by stashing several between the trash bin and the current liner. When you don't have to go in search for a fresh liner chances are that your trash bin will stay emptied more frequently. Stash keys, sunglasses and outgoing mail in a basket by the front door. Set out another basket for sunscreen and gloves. Spread up, not out In the home office, utilize the space above your computer or next to it on the wall. Instead of spreading out horizontally, spread up, vertically. Supplies, reference books and other items you use will stay easy to find and accessible,
as well as visually contained. Trays for small items To de-clutter the bathroom and kitchen, find small trays in which to set your hand soap, dishwashing liquid, sponges, or other small bottles that tend to gather near the sink and in the tub or shower.
I was going to do some Spring cleaning, but then I thought, I ll just have to turn around and do it again next Spring! Spring Cleaning Wash away winter blues and celebrate the sunny days with these Spring cleaning tips. Wash the windows, inside and out. Take down screens and hose them off. Clean metal sliding door and window tracks. Launder shower curtains and bath mats. Hanging them in the sun to dry helps thwart mold and mildew. Scrub mold or mildew with this natural alternative to ammonia: 10 drops tea tree, patchouli or cinnamon essential oil vinegar Launder bath rugs Keep small rugs fresh between washings by sprinkling with: 1/2 cup baking soda 10 drops of peppermint essential oil Put a drop of peppermint essential oil on your finger and rub it into the cardboard tube inside the roll of toilet paper. The gentle fresh scent will release each time the paper is used. Scrub the inside of the toothbrush holder with baking soda and tea tree oil. Scrub inside bottoms of trash bins clean. Vacuum curtains and draperies. Use the vacuum attachments to reach under tops of draperies and valances where spiders like to hang out. Take blinds down and wash them in the bathtub or outside on the driveway. Hang them in the sun to dry or blot them with a soft absorbent cloth. Dust tops of window frames while you are cleaning the blinds.
Use the vacuum upholstery attachment to clean sofas and upholstered chairs. Condition any antique wood furniture. For ultra fresh freshness lemons! In Spring, and in pretty much any season, cleaning is more inspiring with the fresh scent of lemons in the air. Lemons are natural wood conditioners and they are a natural bleaching agent, perfect for taking small stains out of wood floors or cabinets. Cut a lemon in half and rub it into kitchen cutting boards, then let them sit overnight. This removes the lingering smells of onion and garlic, and the natural lemon oils condition the wood. Clean out your refrigerator, and replace the box of baking soda kept inside. Sprinkle small amount of baking soda from the old box, and use it to wipe down the inside of fridge and shelves. Rinse with warm water and vinegar.
Make yourself at home! Clean my kitchen. Kitchen Cleaning Basics 3 Dishwashing formulas For each of the following recipes, fill a 22-ounce plastic bottle with castile soap diluted with water. Add the essential oils. Shake the bottle before each use. Use as you normally would use dishwashing detergent, except that you need less than usual, one tablespoon per sink-full. For heavy grease add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the sink and for baked-on foods, soak with hot water and baking soda. Formula 1 Liquid castile soap 15 drops lemon essential oil 10 drops lavender essential oil Formula 2 Liquid castile soap 10 drops lavender essential oil 8 drops rosemary essential oil 4 drops grape fruit seed extract Formula 3 Liquid castile soap 10 drops orange essential oil 5 drops grape fruit seed extract 5 drops tea tree oil Lime and mineral deposits For lime and mineral deposits on the kitchen sink faucet, soak a paper towel in vinegar, wrap it around the faucet for one hour. The vinegar breaks down the mineral scale, you can now wipe it off and polish the chrome. Pans with baked-on food In the pan, put a little dish detergent into an inch of water and bring to a boil,
then scrub off the baked-on food, it should come off easily. Heavy grease Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to your sink-full of water to help to cut grease. Automatic dishwasher detergent Unfortunately, we have not discovered a homemade mixture that works very well for this appliance, but the good news is that there are great nontoxic products available. Dishwasher film Run a cup of vinegar through the entire wash cycle in an empty dishwasher to remove all soap scum. Use a damp rag sprinkled with baking soda to clean the inside and outside of your dishwasher. Pour some baking soda on the bottom of your dishwasher and let it sit for two or three hours (for home use let it sit overnight). Then wipe it up. Next time you run a load, try using equal parts baking soda and dishwasher soap. Clean your silver, dishes, and machine all in one fell swoop. Sanitize cutting boards 1. Wipe board with the pulp side of a half an orange or grapefruit 2. Soak board in a solution of water and 5 drops grapefruit seed extract, wash with vinegar and water and dry. Electric can openers Use essential oil on a toothbrush and spot clean, put a paper towel soaked in vinegar on top of the can and run it through the opener, then spot clean with a toothbrush. Garbage disposal smells Toss in lemon, grapefruit or orange remains when available. Stained plastic containers Plastic storage containers stain easily. To clean, soak these containers in a strong herbal infusion of essential oil and a tablespoon of baking soda. Try this remedy on a rubber spatula too. First, soak containers in tea tree oil and baking soda, then soak in water and grape fruit seed extract. After soaking for an hour, scrub containers with some dry baking soda. The stain may not completely disappear, but not to worry, the
important thing is it's clean. Plastic stains in the true sense of the word. Eliminating smells from plastic containers Crumple up a newspaper and stuff it in the plastic container, close tightly and let sit overnight. Remove lime from kettle Boil 1/2 cup vinegar and water in the kettle and rinse. Clean phones Use a smidgen of rubbing alcohol on a cloth and wipe. Cloudy glass If cloudy glass will not de-cloud, lay potato peelings on the cloudy spots and leave overnight, then clean. Oily glass bottles Fill the bottle with a little ash and place in a pan of cold water, slowly heat the bottle in the pan, simmer for 20 minutes and let cool. Rinse with vinegar water. Or, try this for a really amazing cleaner: 5 or 6 drops of tea tree oil mixed with a little vinegar and hot water. Swish, and watch the oil coagulate into little balls. Rinse once or twice viola! Lingering kitchen smells Put an essential oil of your choice on the grill of the stove fan and run fan as needed. Barbecue grills Blend bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and vinegar, brush over grill and leave till next BBQ session, then rinse and use. Woks Never scrub a wok, you will ruin it. Woks have tiny grooves designed to trap oil so the food won't stick and to prime the metal. Wipe wok with damp cloth and reapply oil after each use. Black scuff marks Try a pencil eraser. Or, apply 2 to 4 drops of essential oil (tea tree oil is a good choice) right on the mark.
Kitchen duty General Kitchen Cleaning Formula (for refrigerator and stove top) 1 tsp liquid castile soap 1/8 cup white vinegar 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 cups water 5 drops grape fruit seed extract 1 tsp borax Combine all ingredients in plastic spray bottle. Apply generously onto appliance surface and wait a few minutes, then wipe clean. Fresh fridge Open a fresh box of baking soda to place inside the fridge every two months, then use the box of baking soda to aid in cleaning the refrigerator. Put 10 drops of your favorite essential oil on a paper towel and place on the bottom shelf of the fridge. If you like the smell of coffee, put some grounds in a little bowl and place in the fridge; this will remain fragrant for weeks. Add essential oils to the coffee grounds to experiment and change the recipe. Hang fresh dried herbs on a hook in your fridge. Or place a plain piece of bread on a plate in there. It'll absorb odors almost immediately. Refrigerator top Out of sight, out of mind. Often neglected, the top of the fridge can get dirty, grimy and greasy. Try vinegar and tea tree oil in water. If necessary, mix a mixture of 1 part ammonia to 10 parts water, apply and let soak for awhile, then clean. Mess in the microwave Food can explode and splatter cooked-on gunk inside the microwave. Cover the main mess with paper towels or a cloth doused in vinegar. Cook on high for one minute. The gunk will have softened and can then be wiped up. Use baking soda and vinegar to finish tidying up the remainder of the microwave. Sprinkle a teaspoon of baking soda on the surface. Fill a spray bottle with a small amount of vinegar diluted in water. Spray solution onto the baking soda and wipe clean.
Place a bowl of vinegar or water with a slice of lemon into the oven and heat it for one minute. Moisture will condense onto the food-splattered walls of the oven. It can then be wiped away easily. More microwave cleaning tips Combine in a microwave safe bowl: 1 tsp vinegar 10 drops lemon extract 4 oz water Run microwave on high for four minutes. Wipe off the walls with a paper towel. For a deeper cleaning: 1/4 cup baking soda 1 tsp vinegar 5 6 drops thyme or lemon essential oil Combine all ingredients to make a paste, apply paste to the walls with a soft cloth or sponge. Rinse well and leave the microwave door open to air dry for 25 minutes.
Oven cleaning Oven stains Wipe up spills right away. They get harder to clean as they bake on over time. In the oven, put down a piece of aluminum foil to catch spills. To clean up baked-on spills, drop on some of your favorite essential oil or tea tree oil, which is particularly effective on stains. Scrub spills away. Fresh grease spills Put salt or baking soda on a fresh spill. Let it sit awhile, then wipe right up. Regular Oven Cleaning Technique (every month) 2 tsp baking soda 2 Tbs liquid castile soap 10 drops orange, lemon or lime essential oil 1/2 cup of water Preheat oven to 250 degrees, turn off and leave oven door open. Combine the baking soda, soap and essential oil in a clean spray bottle, then add the water and shake well. Spray on oven walls and wait 20 minutes. Wipe clean and rinse well. Major Oven Cleaning Technique (every few months) 1/2 cup salt 1/4 cup borax 1 box (16 oz) baking soda 1/4 water 3/4 cup vinegar 10 drops lemon essential oil 10 drops of an essential oil of your choosing Combine salt, borax, and baking soda in a glass bowl. Add just enough water to make a paste. Remove oven racks, preheat oven to 250 degrees for 15 minutes, then turn off the oven and open the oven door. Leave the door open. Carefully spread the paste all over the oven walls and let sit for 30 minutes. Combine the vinegar and essential oils in a spray bottle and spray on walls over the paste and wipe clean. If a lot of baked on grease is present, you may need to use steel wool with more salt in the mix.
Overnight Oven Cleaner Technique (twice a year) 1 cup water 10 drops lemon essential oil 1/2 cup salt 1 1/4 cups baking soda 2 Tbs liquid castile soap 1/4 cup vinegar 1 Block oven vents with aluminum foil. Preheat oven to 300 degrees for 15 minutes, turn off the oven, open the door, and leave it open. 2 Combine 1/4 cup water with essential oil in a spray bottle and shake well, spray oven floor and walls with mixture. 3 Combine 1/4 cup salt with 1/2 cup baking soda. Sprinkle on oven floor, heavily where spills are baked on. 4 Mix 1/4 cup water with the remaining 3/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup salt, and castile soap. Spread this mixture onto the oven walls. Remove the foil from the vents and if possible, let sit overnight. 5 Combine the remaining water and vinegar in a spray bottle and in the morning spray onto the walls and floor and scrub with steel wool. Wipe this water and vinegar mixture away with paper towels. Oven should be shiny clean. Soak Those Oven Racks If oven is not self-cleaning, place oven racks in the bathtub with about 1/2 cup dishwasher detergent and cover with several inches of warm water. Let the racks soak as long as possible, at least 45 minutes. Rinse and dry. Soak the Accessories Too Soak all the oven accessories (burner rings, knobs, burner grills, etc.) in a mixture of 1 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup vinegar, 6 10 drops of essential oil, let soak overnight and use fine steel wool to remove loosened grime. Degreaser 2 cups water 1/4 cup Murphy's oil soap 10 drops tea tree oil or lemon citrus essential oil Combine all ingredients in plastic spray bottle. Apply generously, wait a couple of minutes and wipe clean.
The Kitchen Sink All of these formulas mainly consist of baking soda blended with essential oils. Once you find a recipe you like (experiment to find a favorite), mix up a big quantity to store in a large glass container. Keep it in a dark, dry storage space. Essential oils are diminished by exposure to sunlight. Cleaning porcelain and stainless steel Wet formula 1/4 cup baking soda 1/2 cup vinegar 3 drops essential oil, lavender, lemon, rosemary, lime or orange Combine all ingredients into a spray bottle, rinse sink with hot water, spray solution onto sink, scour and rinse. Dry formula 1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup rosemary leaves 1/4 cup dried sage leaves, ground. Combine all ingredients in an airtight container and shake well to blend. Sprinkle onto sink, scrub and rinse. Serious stain remover formula 1/4 cup borax 1/4 cup baking soda 8 drops essential oil, tea tree or eucalyptus 3/4 cup vinegar - keep separate Combine borax, baking soda and oil into a container and shake to blend. Let sit on tough stains, scrub with sponge and rinse with vinegar. Tough stains on porcelain sinks Apply tea tree oil directly onto the stain, let sit for 20 minutes, sprinkle on salt and baking soda and scrub. Rinse with vinegar. Faucets Vinegar and water, half-and-half, citrus oil for around the collar where grime collects. Polish with rubbing alcohol.
Alternative Bon Ami cleaner (in place of baking soda) mixed with vinegar and essential oil.
More kitchen cleaners Blender Cleaning Tips Squirt a few drops of liquid soap into the blender, fill halfway with warm water, cover and blend. Rinse and repeat as necessary. I wish all appliance cleaning methods were this easy! Cleaning Electric Can Opener Tip Clean the blade of your electric can opener by running a paper towel through the can opener onto the can, so it will wipe off the blade. Spot clean the rest with vinegar and tea tree oil (or lemon oil) and a toothbrush. Coffee Maker Make a solution of baking soda and water and run it through maker. Next, run one followup brew of clean water. Then mix a solution of equals parts vinegar and water, and brew this through the coffee maker. Follow this with two regular water brews to rinse. Mineral build up cut down the build up of minerals in coffee makers by putting a loofah sponge or a marble inside the water tank to attract the minerals away from the coffee maker parts. Hard water can cause lime deposit buildup in the tea kettle. Prevent lime formation with this simple trick. Pour equal amounts vinegar and water into the kettle and bring to a boil. Let it stand for 24 hours. Trash Compactor Odor Banish bad odors by grinding a half a lemon or orange rind in the compactor. Put citrus rinds in garbage bins too. Espresso Machine Here's our old reliable when in doubt clean it out mixture: 1 tablespoon vinegar 5 drops lemon essential oil 1 quart of water Combine in a spray bottle, spray on, then spot clean with a paper towel. Toaster and toaster-oven UNPLUG... then shake out and knock loose crumbs with a small, clean paintbrush. Polish chrome to an unbelievable shine with baking soda. Spray
down with our old reliable vinegar, lemon oil and water mixture (see Espresso Machine, above).
The bathroom For cleaning the bathroom, we prefer the following formulas instead of bleach. They work better than bleach, and bleach is extremely toxic and dangerous. Mold and Mildew Prevention Prevent mold and mildew from forming with this formula. Apply to shower stalls, walls, curtains, sliding door tracks, corners, window sills, and other bathroom surfaces. Regular Formula 2 cups water 10 drops citrus seed extract 5 drops juniper essential oil Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray heavily onto areas, BUT do not rinse, let sit on spot indefinitely. If you already have a heavy build up of mold and mildew use this formula to remove it. Spray onto spots and let sit for a few hours, then reapply and let sit. Heavy Build Up Formula 1 1/4 cup vinegar 3/4 cup water 4 drops cinnamon essential oil 5 drops citrus seed oil 5 drops tea tree oil Spray on area, let sit for a few hours, then rinse, reapply and let sit. Scouring Cleaners Use these sanitizing and antibacterial formulas in your bathroom and stay clean the healthy way. You can make up a large batch ahead of time and store in plastic or glass container for future use. 1 cup baking soda 1/4 cup dried sage leaves, ground 1/4 cup rosemary leaves, crushed 1 teaspoon cream of tartar Combine all ingredients in a plastic container. Shake well before using. Sprinkle into the sink and scour and rinse.
Disinfectant Formula for tough stains in sinks and tub 1 cup baking soda 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1/8 cup borax 1/4 cup grated lemon, orange or grapefruit peel Tub and Tile Formula regular 1 cup baking soda 1/4 cup liquid castile soap 2 vitamin C tablets crushed 5 7 drops tea tree essential oil Water as needed to make a paste Combine all ingredients in a plastic container. Add small amount of water and make a paste. Shake or stir well before using the tea tree oil tends to pool on top of the paste if the mix sits for awhile. Apply paste to area and scrub. Rinse well to remove all residue. These formulas are good for your hands, as opposed to commercial brands. Tub and Tile Formula soft scouring paste with lavender oil 3/4 cup baking soda 1/4 cup liquid castile soap 5 drops lavender essential oil Water as needed to make a paste Combine all ingredients into a plastic container. Add small amount of water and make a paste. Shake or stir well before using. Apply paste to area and scrub. Rinse well to remove the fine sediment left by the baking powder. Soap Scum Remover 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 2 drops essential oil of your choice try peppermint or eucalyptus oil for a real refreshing shine! vinegar Combine all ingredients in a cup, adding just enough vinegar to make a paste. Apply to the soap dish and let sit for a bit, then scrub and rinse well. Leave some vinegar on the dish overnight. Toilet Bowl Cleaning Tips
The really scary life forms are not in the bowl, folks, they're under the seat, so here are some cleaning formulas for the seat as well as general toilet cleaning formulas for the rest of the commode. Germicide Spray antibacterial 2 cups water 1/4 cup liquid castile soap 1 tablespoon tea tree oil 10 drops lavender essential oil 5 drops citrus essential oil of your choosing Combine all ingredients in a plastic bottle. Then spray onto toilet surface, wipe clean, and you're ready to go! (Just couldn't resist a little potty humor.) Toilet Bowl Ring Remover 1 cup borax 1 cup vinegar 10 drops lavender essential oil 5 drops lemon or tea tree essential oil Combine all ingredients into a bowl or container that works for you and mix. Pour all ingredients into the toilet bowl, allow to sit overnight and flush in the morning. Vinegar Brush n' Flush If hard water causes rings and mineral deposit build up in your toilet bowl, try keeping a bottle of vinegar in the bathroom, and add a 1/2 cup daily to the bowl, then give the bowl a quick brush before you flush. Vinegar is a natural water softener and will help break down the minerals before they have a chance to adhere to the porcelain. Basic Toilet Bowl Cleaning Formula 1/2 cup baking soda 1/4 cup white vinegar 10 drops tea tree essential oil Combine all ingredients, add to bowl, brush and flush! Bathroom Mirror and Faucets 1 1/2 cups vinegar 1/2 cup water 8 drops citrus essential oil Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake before using. This formula will make your mirror crystal clear and your faucets shine. It will also prevent your mirror from fogging up.
Formula 1 A powerful disinfectant 2 cups of hot water 10 drops thyme or tea tree essential oil 1/4 cup borax Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle, add borax and shake well. Spray on surface, let sit a few minutes, rinse and wipe with the following spray: Formula 2 4 parts water to 2 parts vinegar 5 drops of lavender essential oil (or a scent of your choosing) 5 drops tea tree oil Not just for the bathroom, formulas 1 and 2 above combine to make an excellent general cleaner for the whole house. Pine-scented formula 2 cups water 2 teaspoons borax 10 drops of pine essential oil 5 drops cedar essential oil Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray on whole surface, wait a few minutes and wipe clean with a damp cloth. A natural substitute for commercial pine-scented cleaners. This is the real deal!
Grout A frequent request of professional cleaners is to spend more time cleaning the grout. Usually in the shower and tub, and often on the kitchen floor. White grout might not come out. When cleaning white grout, bear in mind that getting rid of stains can be very difficult. Grout can be clean yet still be stained, and so not look clean. You get the picture. Cleaning grout can be frustrating. The best cleaning solution? Baking soda and vinegar, with tea tree oil. Works better than bleach, and for a bonus, it is a healthy alternative. Grout Cleaning Formula for mold and mildew. Make a paste of baking soda, 5 drops tea tree oil and water. Let the paste sit on the grout for as long as possible. Scrub with a stiff brush and rinse with vinegar. Rinsing with vinegar causes a crazy sudsing action. It can be a little alarming the first time, but don t worry, the suds indicate a powerful cleansing reaction. The truth is, white grout will discolor over time. Discolored grout does not necessarily indicate unclean grout. It is simply stained.
The bedroom Start at the top When cleaning a bedroom, always start at the top using the static duster on the ceilings and walls, paying close attention to ceiling fans and chandeliers. Furniture Damp wipe all the furniture with a damp microfiber cloth. The microfiber cloth is key, because it holds very little water. Other types of cloth leave excess water on the surface. Antique furniture simply dust with a dry cloth and use the particular recommended solution for sustaining the antique finish. Dust the items that are set on top of the furnishings. Carefully dust clocks and speakers or television monitors. Use a high quality paper towel and a small amount of glass cleaner on plastic or metal clocks. The Stuff Carefully move all the stuff found on and around furniture to one spot and damp mop where the stuff was. Allow dampness to evaporate. Move the stuff back and repeat around the whole room. The Floor Pay close attention to under-and-behind the bed, and in-and-around the furniture. Essential Treatment Using your essential-oil 'flavor of the month', put a dab on your finger and wipe it onto the inside edge of the door. Gives off a subtle scent detectable when entering or exiting the room. Quick once-over Pay close attention to all the glass and other shining objects in the room.
Stain Removal Tips There is no need to stock up on commercial brands of solvents. Use natural ingredients for the best results in laundry stain removal. Recipe for pre-treating a stained garment: 1 cup vinegar 1/4 cup lemon juice 5 drops of tea tree essential oil Add these ingredients to your clothes in a warm water wash. Soak for an hour before washing. Make perspiration stain removal easy by combining: 1/4 cup of vinegar 5 drops of eucalyptus or lemon essential oil 1 tablespoon baking soda Rub this mixture into the garment with your fingers or a soft brush, then launder as usual. Make up this all-purpose stain removal spray and keep it handy. When spills happen, you'll be ready. In a spray bottle combine: 1/4 castile soap 1/4 glycerin 2 tablespoons borax 10 drops peppermint or tea tree essential oil 1 1/2 cups of distilled water Shake well and spray generously on stain, then launder as usual. Stain Removal Formula 2 tablespoons cream of tartar 2 drops of eucalyptus, peppermint or lemon essential oil small amount of water Make a paste of ingredients and spread it onto the stain. Allow to dry completely, then launder as usual for complete stain removal.
Carpet maintenance Business owners and homeowners understand the importance of protecting their investments. Carpets should be cleaned professionally once a year, or by renting a carpet steamer. If carpets are not heavily soiled, there is little evidence that the high-tech van carpet-cleaning services achieve better results than just renting a shampooing machine. It comes down to whether the carpet owner wants to do it or not. If allergies are a concern, use allergy cleaning strategies. Blot spots and vacuum prior to cleaning your carpets. We do not endorse spray-on aerosol cleaners. We have seen no evidence that they perform better than the above techniques. In fact, they may discolor your carpet. Discoloration does not occur when using baking soda and vinegar. If carpet is heavily soiled, carpet cleaning equipment may be necessary.
General carpet stain removal tricks Coffee stains and carpet Red wine carpet stain Bleach carpet stain Ink carpet stain Rust carpet stain Lipstick carpet stain Blood carpet stain Pet stains It is vital for the long term health of the carpet to care for stains as they happen. The proper way to deal with a spill is to blot it up immediately. Do not rub the stain, as that will just spread it out and push it more deeply into the carpet fibers. Three ways to remove carpet stains 1 For fresh stains use plain baking soda, pour it dry on to the fresh spill but do not soak the baking soda. After it foams and bubbles, let it sit for a few minutes, then sponge up thoroughly. 2 For older stains, combine two tablespoons detergent, three tablespoons vinegar and one quart warm water. Work into carpet pile and blot dry. Repeat if needed. 3 Spray on a squirt of shaving cream, let it foam, wipe clean with sponge and rinse with damp cloth. Following use of any of the above methods, cover the spot with a clean paper towel and place a heavy item such as a floor lamp, on top of it. Once the towel becomes damp, replace it and repeat till dry. Specific Stain Removing Solutions Removing coffee stains from carpet Coffee stains and carpet are a common problem. Blot coffee stains immediately. Mix one tablespoon mild detergent, one tablespoon vinegar and one quart warm water. Apply the solution to the stained area. Let the carpet dry. In the worst case scenario, apply dry-cleaning fluid at this point, allow carpet to dry again, then vacuum.
Removing red wine carpet stain Sponge with club soda (if you drink red wine keep a bottle of club soda around), or cover with salt and let it absorb the wine. Then, vacuum up the salt using the hose attachment. If a stain remains, wipe gently with a solution of detergent, water and vinegar. Bleach carpet stain As soon as possible, blot the area. Bleach is going to discolor your carpet. You may be able to water the bleach down immediately after the spill to lessen the effect of the bleach, but this may simply spread it out more as well. Soak up as much of the bleach as possible, as soon as possible, and let dry. Your only real option is dying the spot to match the rest of the carpet. This really depends on how noticeable the spot is, if it is a bleach stain on blue carpet, you might as well dye it and blend it in, if it is a bleach stain on off-white carpet, you may be better off leaving it, because the dyed spot may end up darker than the rest of the carpet. This is really your call, since after a bleach stain you're pretty much in repair territory, not cleaning. We rarely use bleach, nine out of ten times there are safer and better formulas that don't have the destructive and poisonous qualities of bleach. Please see our section on natural cleaning for examples. Ink stain on carpet (other materials too) Ballpoint inks are all a bit different in their makeup. They contain any different number of resins, oils and solvents. It is unlikely that one solution is going to work on them all. We list some recipes and techniques here that may help entirely, or at least reduce the stain somewhat. Here is a list of known treatments. Using an absorbent cloth: 1. Spray hair spray on cloth, dab on area and blot with dry cloth to absorb ink. 2. Soak cloth in Isopropyl rubbing alcohol, dab on area and blot with dry cloth to absorb ink. 3. Soak cloth in spirits of turpentine, dab on area and blot with dry towel to absorb the ink. 4. Same as above using nail polish remover.
5. Same as above using tea tree oil. Never apply solvents directly to the stained material. Always test an inconspicuous area first. Rust Do not use chlorine bleach, it sets the rust. You have two options, as far as we have found. The first is Oxalic acid, rather toxic. The other is a product called Whink, which contains hydrofluoric acid, which is extremely poisonous, so we would try to avoid using it. However, you may find it to be your only option. We have heard that a pumice stick will work, we use pumice stones on hard water and rust stains in the toilet bowl, and it works great, so maybe try using pumice on your carpet, it can't hurt. It would probably only work on a carpet with an extremely short nap. Let us know if it works for you. Lipstick Scrape and blot excess, apply mild detergent on damp cloth. Blot don't rub. Apply ammonia on damp towel, blot, don't rub, apply white vinegar on damp towel, blot, (don't rub!), rinse with water, put paper towel with weight on top to absorb the stain, repeat blotting and not rubbing till dry. Blood stains on fabrics As soon as possible soak the spot in COLD water, do not use warm or hot water, it will set the stain.for stubborn blood stains, apply a paste of meat tenderizer crystals, leave for about an hour and rinse with cold water. For really nasty blood stains use Hydrogen Peroxide, which is the main ingredient used in commercial blood stain cleaners. Blood stains on carpet Use a paste of corn starch and water. Apply the paste and wait a few minutes and rinse with cold water. Pet stains and carpet removing pet stain from carpet (Removal of excrement, vomit and urine) After scraping off solids, use 1/2 tsp of mild detergent per pint of water and blot, then use 1/2 tsp of ammonia per cup of water and blot, follow with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water, blot again and rinse area. The ammonia repels the pet. They won't want to re-soil the area.
Ink on carpet Inks contain many different trace substances. Ink ingredients may include any number of resins, solvents and oils, so a cleaning tip that works for one type of ink may not be effective on another type. Finding a solution that satisfies you can be frustrating. However, if you love the garment the effort will be probably be worthwhile. Here are some of the solutions that work to reduce or eliminate the stain entirely. Use caution and open the doors and windows. Plenty of ventilation is recommended when working with most of these solutions. Soak an absorbent cloth with one of the following: Isopropyl rubbing alcohol Hair spray Turpentine Nail polish remover Tea tree oil Dab the soaked cloth on the affected area, then blot with a clean dry cloth to absorb ink. Do not apply solvents directly onto the stained carpet. As with any cleaning method, always test this solution in an inconspicuous corner of the room before applying it to the whole carpet.
Blood on carpet Always clean blood stains on carpet with cold water, not hot or even warm water, as that will set the stain. Soak the spot in cold water, then blot up the excess moisture. Try making a paste of cornstarch and cold water, and apply it generously to the spot. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water. The main ingredient in commercial blood-stain removers is Hydrogen Peroxide. Plain Hydrogen Peroxide is an effective cleaner for tough blood stains. Soak the stained area with Hydrogen Peroxide for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water and blot with a clean cloth. Stubborn blood stains on carpet can also be treated with a paste of meat tenderizer crystals. Leave the paste on the stain for about an hour, then rinse with cold water.
Removing red wine stains from carpet If you drink red wine, keep a bottle of club soda handy. As soon as a spill happens, remove a red wine carpet stain with club soda. This treatment is most effective when you catch the spill immediately. Another effective treatment is to spread salt all over the spill and let it sit until it has absorbed the red wine. Then vacuum it up with the hose of your vacuum cleaner. Mix together a mild detergent such as castile soap, white vinegar and water. Gently wipe up remaining stain with this mixture. I've had good luck removing red wine carpet stains by applying baking soda generously to the area, letting it sit for awhile, then sponging it up. The danger lies in getting your carpet so well spot-cleaned that the rest of the carpet looks dingy in comparison! Then you just have to clean the whole darn thing.
Pet Stains on carpet For removing excrement, urine and vomit: Lift off solids, then mix 1/2 teaspoon mild detergent or castile soap per pint of water and blot the area. Follow with 1/2 teaspoon ammonia per cup of water, blot again. Finally, mix equal parts white vinegar and water, and blot once more. Then rinse the whole area. The ammonia will repel the pet (not to mention everyone else in the room open the windows!), and the pet will avoid going in that spot again. We've used this trick when our kitties have gotten out of control in the box area. It worked very well. We also follow-up by sprinkling baking soda on the area each time we clean the box. The baking soda not only absorbs any lingering odors from your pet, it also takes away the strong ammonia scent. Your pet will sniff out traces of the odor long after you think it's gone. A cotton ball soaked in lemon essential oil can help dissipate the scent. But use all essential oils with extreme care. They are potent, and if ingested can be toxic to your pet or a small child who happens to find it. One way to use lemon essential oil safely is to soak the cotton ball, then place it in a tea ball and keep it in the area. The scent will waft through the holes in the tea ball and remain effective for a long time.
Coffee spills on carpet When possible, blot coffee stains immediately, then mix together: 1 tablespoon castile soap or mild detergent 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 quart warm water Spread this solution onto the stained area and allow it to dry. For older coffee stains, combine: 2 tablespoons castile soap or mild detergent 3 tablespoons vinegar 1 quart warm water Using a soft brush, vigorously work this mixture into the carpet. More coffee stains removing tips: Shaving cream is an effective treatment for old coffee stains. Let it foam on top of the stained carpet, then wipe it up with a sponge or damp cloth. After treating stains with any of the above methods, cover the spot with a few clean paper towels, then place a phone book, floor lamp or other heavy item on top of the paper towels. When the paper towels absorb the moisture, replace them with a few more clean ones. Repeat the process until the spot is dry.
Lipstick stains on carpet These are among the toughest stains to remove. Gather together these ingredients before you start: Castile soap Ammonia White vinegar Paper towels Several clean dry cloths Cup of clean water Lift out excess lipstick with a table knife or small screwdriver. Apply castile soap to a damp clean cloth and blot, don't rub, the lipstick stain on carpet. Next, apply ammonia to a damp clean towel or cloth, and again, blot, don't rub, the stain. Then apply white vinegar to a damp cloth and blot (don't rub) the stain. Finally, rinse with warm clear water, then place a paper towel over the spot with a weight on top of it to absorb any remaining lipstick stain. Repeat the blotting (and not rubbing!) until the spot is clean and dry.
Floor cleaning Two floor cleaning tips for common problems: 1 -To clean up a broken egg on the floor, pour salt over it and wait for five minutes. Then sweep up the dried-up egg. 2 - Use toothpaste to clean up crayon scribbles and an eraser to remove heel marks from a vinyl floor. Floors take the brunt of our activities. They endure scuffs and grime from our shoes, pressure from furniture, and all kinds of flotsam, jetsam and other dust particles looking for a home. Floors should be cleaned, and carpets vacuumed once a week. A 1/2 cup of vinegar in a bucket or sink full of warm water is an excellent cleaner for almost any floor. Take care to not get the floor too wet. Excess water is hard to sponge up, and it can cause damage. For rooms that get heavy use, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, minimize once a week cleaning chores with daily sweeping. Shake outside or vacuum small rugs, and move chairs aside so you can reach underneath tables. Pick up pets' dishes, and sweep or vacuum. Each of the floor cleaning tips below begins with vacuuming or sweeping to pick up crumbs, hair and whatnot. Use the hose attachment to get under cabinets and into hard-to-reach corners. Wood Remove bad scuffs or other spots with a drop of lemon essential oil, or tea tree oil if the wood is light-colored. Another excellent spot remover for wood is a drop of lavender oil mixed with a drop of lemon juice, applied with a damp scrubbing sponge. For entire surface, dip a soft rag into the vinegar and water mixture. Wipe by hand or attach the rag to a Swiffer mop. Never allow water to stand on floors or the wood will soften and begin to warp. Finish with a vacuum. For a perfect rinse for a freshly washed floor: Add a very small amount of white vinegar to warm water. This will remove the soap residue from the wash formula
and leave the floor shiny clean. Vinegar in small amounts is fine for wood, vinyl, tile, linoleum, brick, and most other floor coverings. Tile Damp mop with a vinegar and water mixture. Use a nonabrasive pad for scouring spots. Dry with a soft cloth. The vinegar wash will help the floor maintain its luster. If you use a different all-purpose cleaner, put a splash of vinegar in your final rinse. Grout Use a toothbrush for removing stains in grout. Spray on a tile cleaner and brush. Stone and Slate Damp mop with a sponge mop using the vinegar and water solution. Apply slowly with even strokes and enough pressure to pick up dirt. Vinyl Use a damp mop to clean, then mop a second time with the vinegar and water mixture for a healthy shine. Then vacuum. A scouring pad will remove heel marks. White vinegar in the rinse will neutralize alkalinity and make vinyl flooring shine.
Wood floor formulas These natural formulas are for wood with a hard finish that's in decent-toexcellent condition. If these techniques do not restore the original look, then it may be time to refinish the wood. Wood Formulas Hardwood Floor Wash 1 1/2 cup water 1 1/2 cup vinegar 20 drops peppermint oil Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Use sparingly, working on small sections of the floor at a time. Wipe clean and dry. Fragrant Woods Cleanser 1/2 cup lemon juice 1 teaspoon liquid castile soap 4 drops essential oil, a fragrance you like. We use pine and lavender Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. Use sparingly, working on small sections of the floor at a time. Wipe clean and dry. Fine Furniture Dusting Formula This is a great formula for general dusting. Substitute one of your favorite essential oils if you like, experiment, it's fun. 1/4 cup oil soap (like Murphy's oil soap) 3/4 cup water 5 drops tea tree oil 15 20 drops cedar essential oil Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well before using. Spray onto very soft cloth and dry with very soft dry cloth. Cleaning Wood Floor Solutions Black heel marks These can be removed by rubbing 2 or 3 drops of one of the following essential oils on the scuff mark with a soft cloth. Tea tree, cedar, eucalyptus, or citrus
Burns If the burn is only on the finish and not into the actual wood, try a mixture of: Rottenstone or ashes linseed oil 2 drops tea tree* or peppermint oil Rub into the spot and buff. *Don't use tea tree oil on dark wood. Crayon Rub in a mixture of tea tree* or peppermint oil with toothpaste, wipe clean with vinegar. *Again, don't use tea tree oil on dark wood. Grease stains on floor Place ice cubes on the spill immediately to harden the grease and stop it from soaking into the wood any farther. Once hardened, scrape off with a wooden object like a wooden spoon or spatula. If the grease penetrates the wood, apply some vegetable oil soap and a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on the spill. Blot repeatedly with clean paper towels or soft cloth.
Ceramic tile cleaning Cleaning tile in bathrooms can be a real challenge, especially when the tile hasn't been cleaned regularly. Some of the main problems are soap scum, mildew, and a rough white coating. A varnish-like stain can build up on the bottom of a shower. This dark stain is caused by body oils and soap scum, and it can make ceramic tile cleaning really tough. I've had some success removing it with commercial bleach products. One way to get rid of it is to pour liquid laundry detergent over it and let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight. Then scrub and rinse with a vinegar and water mix. Soap scum is caused by talc in soap. Ceramic tile cleaning will be made easier by using soaps with no talc. Reduce mildew build-up by applying a commercial chlorine spray every couple of weeks. For a healthy alternative Try mixing a 1/2 cup vinegar in a spray bottle of water, and add 10 drops of tea tree oil. The tea tree oil is antiseptic and antibacterial. This mixture works well but you may prefer to add a few drops of lavender essential oil to improve the smell. Sage and cedar oil smell woodsy and wholesome and work well too. All essential oils have cleansing and purifying properties, making them a naturally good choice for ceramic tile cleaning. Rough white coating on ceramic tile is caused by mineral build up from hard water. Commercial tile cleaners designed to dissolve it will work, but wear gloves, and make sure to open the bathroom window if you're working with any strong chemical product. Be especially careful in the shower stall, where the fumes can be overwhelming.