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Jan/13

25

Quick Cleaning Checklist

If your house is a wreck, spare your time to clean it up. Decide how much time you can spend. This will help you set up your cleaning schedule. Be realistic about what you want and can do. A lot of people prefer to put off cleaning as long as possible, but it’s better to maintain your home in order and clean regularly. Do a little bit every day so that the work doesn’t pile up. It’s up to you what style to choose, but it’s recommended to have major-cleaning day a few times a month.

First, wash your glass. The home can only sparkle when all the windows and mirrors are clean. You will need a solution of warm or hot water, dish soap, rag, sponge, or squeegee. After cleaning the surface wipe it down with lint-free paper towels. If you want to clean your glass in an environmentally friendly way, use vinegar and water to clean the surface.

Be cautious with all-purpose cleaners. Do not mix them. They aren’t always safe for every purpose. Thoroughly read labels before purchasing the solutions. Make sure they fit your needs and are safe to use in your home.

Vacuuming is the most effective and easy way to clean up all the dust and crumbs that accumulate on your floor. If you have pets, vacuum daily. Carpet is also a breeding ground for fleas that why it’s a necessity to vacuum and clean it regularly. Mop your floor. Use good rag mop, hot water and the appropriate cleaner for your floor.

If you wash your dishes using dishwasher, it’s recommended to load it completely and run it right after you use your dishes. It’s always much easier to wash your dishes right after using them as the food juices won’t have a chance to dry and harden. It’s better to hand-wash big plates that don’t fit well in the dishwasher. Fragile things also should be hand-washed.

There are a lot of cleaning tasks around the house. We all know that it’s much easier to keep your home in order when all the family members are incorporated in cleaning and organizing. Delegate the tasks. Someone can be responsible for emptying trash bins and taking out the trash. Someone can keep track of what is happening in the kitchen. Cleaning the kitchen table, microwave and toaster may be in his/her list of responsibilities. Another person can be responsible for changing bedsheets, pillowcases, etc.

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Dec/12

27

Make your own air freshener

Store-bought air fresheners are easy to use, but are they safe? If you want your home smelling good, learn how to make your own homemade air fresheners. Besides saving you a lot of money, homemade air fresheners are 100% more effective than store-bought ones. Homemade air fresheners actually do away with household odors instead of just covering them up.

Homemade air fresheners are not only free of chemicals, but they are made of things you are probably already cooking with. Try to make your home smell amazing with just a few ingredients on your stovetop. You can always switch up the ingredients to achieve even lower costs. Such homemade air fresheners cost next to nothing, but are much better than any store-bought air fresheners.

Vinegar and baking soda are great room fresheners. Vinegar deodorizes, while baking soda absorbs odors. Essential oils also make effective air fresheners. You should mix several drops of Lavender oil, for example, with tap water. Then, shake the mixture up, and spray it into the air. You will get a nice flowery smell.

To make another homemade air freshener you will need items that you probably place in your garbage disposal any way: lemon, lime and orange peels. Fill a small saucepan and place the cut up peelings in it adding a couple inches of tap water. Place the pan on your stove on “low” heat. Pay close attention, refilling with water as necessary. Discard after two days. Your house will have a clean, citrus aroma.

If you want to get rid of nasty-smelling cooking odors, mix up a solution of apple cider vinegar and tap water (1:1). Dampen a dish towel with the solution and wave the towel around the air. The smell will be gone.

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You spend a lot of your time in a living room. That’s why this room should be clean, free of dust and dirt. The place should be cleaned using safe and environmentally friendly cleaning products. Most cleaning products contain dangerous ingredients, which are usually not listed on the labels. One of the best ways to stop using cleaning products found in stores is to start making your own. It’s even far less expensive and just as effective. Most ingredients for homemade cleaners can be found in your kitchen. These products also can be found in your supermarket or in natural foods stores. Some can be ordered online.

Before you’re going to make your own cleaning products purchase a few spray bottles. A poor quality bottle is a recipe for disaster. That’s why buy only quality bottles that you can use many times. Be sure to label your mixtures. Whether homemade or store bought, keep products out of children’s reach. All cleaners should be kept in high places or locked cabinets.

First, collect all newspapers, old magazines and throw them into the wastebasket. Next, collect any glasses and dishes around the room and put them away or into the dishwasher. Begin your cleaning by dusting with a damp cloth. Wipe off picture frames and mirrors. You can make a mixture of 1 teaspoon olive oil per 1/2 cup vinegar and apply it with a soft cloth. Note that while vinegar is wet it has a slight scent , when dry, it leaves no odor. Though natural, cleaning products can irritate your skin, so use gloves.

Don’t forget to polish your furniture. Mix olive oil and vinegar in 1:1 ratio and polish with a soft cloth. Clean your windows. Put 3 tablespoons vinegar per 1 quart water in the bottle. Shake well. Then, vacuum the major traffic areas.

Use environmentally friendly cleaning products! Protect your family!

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Oct/12

30

How to get rid of pet odors

Your beloved pet is a member of your family but let’s be honest having pets definitely increases the amount of housework you have to tackle. Also, pet odors can ruin an enjoyable visit by your friends or relatives to your house. If you want to try aerosol fresheners, don’t even think about that. Aerosol fresheners don’t eliminate odors; they simply mask the unpleasant odor.

There are certain aspects of life with pets that can be a challenge.Even if your pet is your best friend, you can’t deny that sometimes you’re puking cleaning after it. If your pet lives in your room, definitely place a litter box in your room. Don’t forget to replace the litter every so often. And don’t forget to give your pet the occasional bath before going to bed or just when it’s more scratchy or oily.

When you’re going to clean up after your pet, find the source of the smell andgather a few cleaning solutions. It’s recommended to clean the spot with vinegar and water (2:1 ratio) before you use anything on it. Other cleaning solutions may destroy the enzyme, so it’s better to clean it with a solution of vinegar and water several times, and only then use other cleaner. Your cleaner should knock the source of that nasty smell out and leave a fresh scent.

Prior to use any cleaner test it on an inconspicuous spot to make sure it does not convert your spot into the stain. Also be careful using ammonia and some other strong-smelling chemicals.

There is a plenty of widely available products that can eliminate the smell of pets and their waste. It would be wise to start with the small bottle to see which cleaning solution offers you the most improvement. Stubborn pet stains and odors will likely need a chemical attack. But be careful with chemical cleaning solutions. They work extremely well, even on old stains and odors, but they are not always safe for your health and health of your pets.

What works for you? Please share your ideas in the comments below …

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Washing machines need washing, too! You will not wonder why if you imagine all the grime and dirt that cycles through your washer on a daily basis. It would be good to clean your washing machine two or three times per year. If you want to clean away bacteria, mineral deposits or soap scum from the wash basket, use the vinegar and bleach. If you live in a hard water area such cleaning procedure should be done every three months.

So, let’s start the cleaning process. First, fill the washer with hot water. Then, add 1 quart of chlorine bleach and let the washer work for few minutes. After that let it sit for an hour. After one hour, run the washer through the longest spin and wash cycle. Right after that fill the washing machine with hot water and add 1 quart distilled white vinegar. Let work for a minute, and sit for one hour again.

While it is soaking, dip a sponge in the vinegar water and clean the lid, the knobs, and the exterior of your washing machine. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your washer. Buff the exterior.

If your machine has built-in dispensers, clean them too. If you can’t remove the dispensers from the washer, warm 1 cup of vinegar in the microwave. Pour it into the dispenser. To loosen any build up allow to sit it for a while. After an hour, run the longest spin and wash cycle again. Now your washing machine should just shine!

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If you are a pet owner you just can’t skip the process of cleaning urine stains and smells. So, if you’re responsible for dealing with dog urine accidents, get down on your carpet and find that offensive urine spots.

No one likes a smelly carpet. But if your dog pees on the carpet it definitely leaves an unpleasant odor. Do you want to get rid of it quickly and inexpensively? Follow the next steps.

If you find the area that is still wet you should first attempt to absorb the dog urine. Place several layers of paper towels over the wet area and tread on it. Try to soak as much of the dog urine as possible.

The vinegar will neutralize the ammonia in the dog urine. Mix a solution of white vinegar and water in a proportion 1:1. Use a scrubbing brush to work the mixture into the carpet. It will ensure the mixture penetrates the carpet fibers below. Then place paper towel above to absorb the vinegar mixture. Wait until the stained area has dried. Then sprinkle baking soda over the soiled area.

Take a teaspoon of plain liquid dishwashing detergent and mix it with a half cup of hydrogen peroxide. This home remedy for cleaning dog urine from carpets or rugs is very easy and inexpensive. In addition, it method works even if the urine has dried and is old. Try this solution on an inconspicuous area before use. Pour the mixture over the baking soda. Work the mixture into the carpet using a scrubbing brush. Then leave the area to dry. Once the area is dried, use a vacuum cleaner to pick up the baking soda. You may need to repeat the cleaning process if the areas have been heavily soiled with dog urine.

Your carpet smells fresh and is free from urine odor!

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May/12

28

Keep Your Bedroom Clean

No matter are you rushing to work or not, make sure you have made your bed. You can make your bed right before or after your morning shower (breakfast). The well-made bed will definitely inspire you to deal with other messes around your house.

At first sight a made bed may not seem like a high priority, but with some time you will notice the difference. You will enjoy your smoothing sheets and plumping pillows, when you will slip back under the unruffled covers.

To keep your bedroom clean you should have some supplies at hand. Store your dusting mitts and microfiber cloths, mops, disinfecting, glass and surface wipes in a night-table drawer. You will use these supplies for dusting your electronics, floors, furniture, and other knickknacks. You will need some duster for tackling cobwebs behind your bed and other hard-to-reach places.

Don’t forget about cleaning your mirrors. Sparkling clean mirrors add beauty and elegance to any room. So, gather your mirror cleaning supplies and clean your mirrors. You can use white vinegar, a spray bottle, a plain soft cloth, a microfiber cloth, or a towel. After you finish cleaning all the glass or mirrors in your bedroom, switch to cleaning your windows. Clean and sparkling windows can enhance the appearance and add beauty to your bedroom.

Use your blow-dryer to remove dust from your lampshades and curtains. Put everything into its place. Hang clothing and put away jewelry. This will also take a few minutes. Throw out old magazines and newspapers. Wipe and disinfect your telephone.

Spend some time on cleaning your computer. Clean and disinfect the keyboard using an all-purpose wipe. Don’t forget to unplug the keyboard before cleaning. Wipe down your monitor except the screen. Take a dry or slightly damp microfiber cloth and remove fingerprints from the screen. It’s recommended not to use any chemical cleaners on the screen.

At the end, clean the dust that has fallen on the floor. Mop the floors or vacuum the carpeting.

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When disaster strikes your property, you have a lot of things to take care of. If your home has experienced a fire damage, stubborn smoke odors may deeply penetrate your carpets, drapes, ceilings, walls, furniture and other surfaces in your home. The odors caused by fire are very harmful to the health of the residents that’s why it’s necessary to let them out of the house. Then, you should perform some smoke odor removal methods to get rid of these unpleasant odors. It’s quite difficult to get smoke odor out. That’s why you may need a professional help.

You can hire professional odor removal services to get rid of the odors caused by the fire. These companies do restoration after fire using special equipment. Oftentimes, these odor removal services cost a fortune, that’s why people prefer to remove the  smoke odors themselves. If you also want to save your money, try to immediately perform the following tips after a fire in your home. We hope our advices will help you get rid of smoke odor more quickly and thoroughly.

Keep all doors and windows open to promote good ventilation in the home. This will help you get the smell of smoke out of your house. If your home still smells of smoke, take the following steps.

Fill several bowls of vinegar and let stay there without anyone in the room for a few hours. Put more of these vinegar bowls in areas of your home which have been severely damaged by fire. Vinegar always works effectively in smoke odor removal so you have to use this eco-friendly cleaning product in your smoke clean-up process. Also, you can try to use fresh coffee grounds to get rid of bad odors. Leave opened can of coffee in your closed room for a few days.

Dip a damp cloth in warm water mixed with vinegar. Clean all walls, furniture, ceilings, cabinets (inside and out), appliances. Wash curtains, clean furniture and carpets with professional cleaning solutions. Make sure you clean up as much as possible. Remember that you should actually destroy the odor molecules, not just mask the odor.

If the odors stubbornly remain even after your initial clean-up process, you should search for professional smoke odor removal solutions currently available in the market. Choose a strong solution that will work in a short time. Follow the instructions in the label when you apply the treatment.

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If you are looking for safe ways to clean your home, you should rid your home of toxic chemicals. Clean your home with natural cleaning products. This will save you money, improve your health and reduce your carbon footprint. Face a day of cleaning with environmentally friendly cleaning solutions.

Products that contain petrochemicals, bleach, ammonia, anything toxic, neuro toxin or carcinogenic are harmful to both us and the environment. That’s why it’s recommended to use non toxic cleaning products. By the way, these powerful, biodegradable, personally safe cleaning solutions are extremely effective. Make some small changes to your cleaning habits. This will definitely have a positive impact. Clean your home quickly, efficiently and naturally! Everything from pet messes and smells, rings in the bathroom, to red wine stains on carpets or hard water spots can be eliminated with proper cleaning solutions.

Cut your household costs and environmental impact by using affordable environmentally friendly cleaning products. There is a plenty of cleaning solutions you may use to clean your home in a green way. We want to place emphasis on the most traditional and easy to get cleaning products. Be sure these products will get your home gleaming.

Baking soda

Baking soda is a perfect cleaner. It is great as a deodorizer. You can place a box in the refrigerator, laundry room and anywhere else to absorb odors. A mixture of baking powder and water (or white wine) can tackle red wine carpet stains.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a great natural solution that can be used to make your home sparkle. Use the lemon to scrub dishes, surfaces, and stains. Be aware that lemon juice can act as a natural bleach. Also, you can make cleaning pastes by mixing vinegar or baking soda with lemon juice.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product, disinfectant and deodorizer. Vinegar is perfect for killing bacteria and germs. All you need is to mix a solution of equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and you have a solution that will clean most areas of your home. Nevertheless, it’s recommended not to use vinegar on marble surfaces. You can also mop the floor in the bathroom with a vinegar/water solution.

Don’t hesitate to clean your home the old fashioned way. Use eco-friendly cleaning solutions and be amazed at the fresh shiny results. If you want to reduce your packaging waste, don’t buy a new bottle of cleaning solution every time. Purchase cleaning products that offer a refill option. Don’t throw our your old clothes. Cut them up and use as cloths for polishing and cleaning.

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What common pantry items do you use to clean your house? We all have heard of cleaning with lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar and even toothpaste, but what about cleaning with condiments? You may be amazed that in addition to the function of cooking your favorite foods and desserts, condiments like olive oil, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and syrup are also of valuable use around the house. All these condiments can help you keep your home spick and span.

Ketchup

Ketchup has been proven useful in returning tarnished brass or copper items to their shiny state. Apply the ketchup to a rag and rub onto tarnished brass or copper cookware. Let sit for a minute and then rub off gently. Ketchup’s acidity will lift and remove tarnish and give the item that extra shine.

Mayo

Do not throw away the leftover mayonnaise. Use it in cleaning up wooden items around your house. Rub a dab of mayo on the mark. Let it sit for few minutes and wipe it away with a damp cloth. In this way you will remove crayon or paint marks from your wood furniture. So, next time you are planning to throw away that left-over mayonnaise or ketchup, think again. You can use these condiments in an efficient way.

Oil and Vinegar

Oil and vinegar aren’t meant only for your salad. Vinegar is a versatile product that can do everything. From cleaning your dishwasher to removing wallpaper you can rely on this condiment. Also vinegar can be used to remove burnt-on food stains. You can clean your microwave by combining 1/2 cup distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe mug. Then, microwave for 2-3 minutes and wipe clean. Vinegar can also be used in softening clothes during machine wash. If you want to give your furniture an extra polish mix oil and lemon juice, two parts to one.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice is very useful in keeping brass items as new and shiny as they were before. Add salt to lemon juice and rub onto brass pieces. Oil and lemon juice can be combined in a 2:1 ratio. Use the mixed solution to give that extra shine to your furniture.

Homemade products

So, you can make your own cleaning products using oil, salt, vinegar, salt, water, etc. Don’t spend a lot of money on commercial cleaning products that can be even dangerous for your health. Make your own cleaning products using household items. For example, antibacterial soap is a toxic cocktail of chemicals that are harmful for your health. That’s why it’s better to use natural soap or make your own. If you want to make your own soap that’s safe for you and your family, gather the following ingredients: your favorite bar soap, washing soda and borax.

Whiten your teeth naturally without the use of chemicals

Everyone wants white teeth. But no one wants to fill their mouth with dangerous bleaching agents. Do you know that you can whiten your teeth naturally? Mix 1 ripe strawberry with 1 tsp baking soda and spread the pinkish paste on your teeth and leave for 5 minutes.

Homemade Beauty Products

Researches show that women absorb up to 5 pounds of damaging makeup chemicals every year. If you want to stay young and healthy, choose products made with organic ingredients. You can save your money by using condiments like olive oil or coconut oil to care for your skin. Apply them just before bed time and you will be amazed what they can do for your skin.

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