Monday, January 21, 2013

Cleaning

SEE Disclaimer Below:

Ammonia -- I don't use 
Turtle Wax - I love (great for alot of things in house)
Fabric Softener Sheets -- Great for wiping down the bathtub after bubble baths
Rubbing Alcohol -- Germ Fighter; Takes off marker stains, Use to wipe down greasy kitchen hoods and other kitchen surfaces that get greasy (check for use on granite because I don't have granite in kitchen).
Peroxide - (Not regular peroxide, but food grade peroxide that you dilute MANY times)  Caution ... can cause severe burns if not properly handled when diluting - but this is an awesome cleaner, can be used to run in humidifiers (See my post regarding how to do this safely).  Great for cleaning and disinfecting kitchen counters, appliances that have a finish that won't be hurt by using this, the bathroom - shower, tile floors, tiled walls, toilets, counters, door knobs, you get the drift.
If I could only have one cleaner this would probably be it.
Bleach -- It has it's uses, just use in moderation and with caution, not that great for the eco system

Lysol -- I like the lysol in the bottle that you dilute, but recently I have had an allergic reaction to the scent and I've been using that my entire life.  It's economical and great for disinfecting.
Soap -- Don't use bar soap on laundry, if you are out of washing detergent, use shampoo or liquid dish detergent instead.
Baking Soda - for carpet stains, in the fridge. odor absorber; washer - cleans and keeps from smelling, also can be added to brighten/whiten clothes and remove odors, along with borax
Coffee -- 1/2 cup ground coffee in open bowl to absorb odors 

Windows - Soap/Water and newspaper
Hair Spray - Ink Stains and a few other stains
Orange Peels - The oil from the orange peels is a great cleaner  and can be diluted and used as an astringent in a pinch
Lemon (See orange peels)  -Also great air freshener
Natural Air Freshener --  Lemon Thyme Plants, Lavender Plants  (Keep in pots inside, just brush your hand across them for a natural air freshener).
Indoor Air Quality -- see Natural Air Freshener -- also grow mint in water in window sills, also a great air freshener (do not let water get yucky)!
Air Ferns and some other house plants help the indoor air quality, reminder though, don't overwater and don't let the under pans get moldy and yucky

Think about heavy fabrics, carpets, curtains, linens, etc. If you are like me and love draperies, curtains, bedspreads, etc, it doesn't really occur to us how many negative affects we can get from those; dust and chemicals that come embedded in the fibers or the materials like glue and adhesives for carpeting and flooring.  If you re redoing your home you might want to consider hard wood flooring versus carpeting, and for rugs, use ones that can be laundered or cleaned easily.  If you have heavy rugs, some of  those can typically be cleaned by taking outside, placing them on a cleaned cement walkway and cleaning with water hose after they have been vacuumed totally.  Do not use chemicals on them unless you are a pro
Keep the water flowing until the rugs are clean (i.e., no more dirty water coming from them).  Then allow them to dry thoroughly.  Do not clean this way if your rugs are not suppose to be cleaned like this unless you are willing to chance ruining them.

As with all posts on the internet, MAKE SURE you are not allergic to any items before trying them, research on your own to make sure you want to use these products, and make sure you know they are safe for your surfaces BEFORE you use them.

What works for me may NOT be the best solution for YOUR NEEDS.



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