Leslie ReichertThe Cleaning Coach

Reasons to Make the Switch -Guest Post by Service Master Clean

2012-01-24T17:57:00.000-08:00

This article was provided by Service Master Clean, providing
eco-friendly Austin commercial cleaning services.

Reasons to Make the Switch to Green Cleaning

There has never been a larger emphasis on cleanliness than there is today. From the spread of diseases to food bacteria, the daunting reality of germs are everywhere. However, what we may have overlooked in our desperate war to kill every single living thing that may or may not actually be there was the reality that although these chemicals do a good job at killing germs, they may also be causing us more long-term harm than short-term good.

Most of us have felt the sting in our eyes and burning in our throats right after spraying down our shower with a bleach-based mildew spray, so it should be no surprise that these types of cleaners can be hazardous to long-term health. What you may not know is that some of the products we use everyday don’t just contain bleach, but a variety of other harmful chemicals that aren’t listed on the bottles. Shockingly, there is no law that forces these manufacturers to list every ingredient in their cleaning products.

Butyl cellosolve, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and a plethora of other hard-to-pronounce chemicals show up in products like window cleaners, certain all-purpose cleaners, and abrasive powder cleansers respectively. Some of these chemicals have even been linked to increased cancer risk and can pollute indoor air quality. This should be enough to make the switch to green cleaning solutions, but many common household cleaners also have negative effects on the environment with their plastic bottles ending up in landfills, and as you may imagine the residual chemicals that can make their way into water supplies.

Thankfully, there are a variety of green cleaning solutions made from natural, less-harsh chemicals available at your local retailers (http://www.shopgreencleaning.com/) as well as a number of online resources that can teach you how to use everyday household ingredients to make your own non-toxic cleaning kits. (http://www.greencleaningcoach.com/) If you have no choice but to use traditional cleaning products make sure to crack a window and create good ventilation to reduce the amount of indoor air pollution.

This article was provided by Service Master Clean, providing eco-friendly Austin commercial cleaning services.

HOW-TO Video on removing stains from cups and mugs

2012-01-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

Coffee stains have a tendency to build up on the inside of mugs after prolonged use. Clean coffee stains from mugs in this free video clip. If you are having trouble seeing this video you can also go to this link: http://www.ehow.com/video_12212281_clean-coffee-stains-mugs.html

How to Clean Coffee Stains From Mugs -- powered by ehow

Thanksgiving Accident

2011-11-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

After everyone has left and you have a few days to breathe - is when you find the little accidents that happened during your Thanksgiving celebration. I got a desperate call from Sally in the Berkshires, who found a large grease stain on her fabric chair.

Sally: "I tried some baking soda and white vinegar, but the stain is still there. What can I do?"

Me: "Let's start with one simple secret ingredient that cuts through grease. It will take some patience, but we'll see if we can remove it with this first."

What's the secret ingredient? It's rubbing alcohol! Alcohol breaks down the grease. You can try it on clothes and furniture. I even suggested it to a mom with a crayon stain on her couch. Just make sure you try it in a hidden place in case it may change the color of the fabric.

Sally called back after two applications: "It seems to be working, but I can still see the stain."
Me: "If it's working, lets keep going. You'll have to be patient, but it should come out."

The next day I got a very happy phone call from Sally: "It worked! The stain is gone!"

Simple things can work! It just takes some patience.

A Simple "Cocktail" That Removes Ink

2011-11-15T14:12:00.000-08:00

The other day I put on my favorite "skinny" jeans - at least that's what they called them at the store - and went off to work. On my way down the steps my daughter asked "what's that on your butt?" Oh course I thought she was being cute and ignored the question. "No, really mom, what's on your butt?" It was a huge ink spot from a pen I had left in my pocket! Usually this would mean the jeans are now going to be a rag - but I thought I'd try out my new Stain Lifter and a few green tricks and see if I could get the stain out. I knew this was going to be crazy as I had wash AND dryed the ink into the jeans.
I knew that the "secret" ingredient in hair spray and Dawn dishwashing detergent is alcohol which break down ink. But I didn't have any rubbing alcohol so I used the next best thing - VODKA!

I used the stain lifter with the vodka and worked them into the jeans in a circular motion. I left the stain lifter on the pants overnight. The next day I worked more of the stain lifter into the jeans and rinsed them. I let them air dry - which would keep the stain from setting even more than it had.

When I came back the large stain was totally gone and the small stain was so faint that you don't see it unless you know it's there. Simple old fashioned soap and vodka did the trick!

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The NEW Bon Ami Products!

2011-11-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Bon Ami or when translated from the French, “good friend”, is exactly what Bon Ami is – a good old friend. A simple cleaner that has been manufactured for over 120 years, Bon Ami powdered cleaner was “green before it was a product category”. Bon Ami was developed as a true act of recycling. In New England during the 1880's, mines were bringing up quartz to be ground and used in the new commercial cleansers. Feldspar was separated from the quartz and discarded. TJ Robertson found that the softer feldspar was gentler than quartz so he ground it up, added soap and created the first bar of Bon Ami soap. Since then, Bon Ami has been a favorite “old fashioned” cleaner that can be used for gentle scouring without allergic reactions or sensitivities.

Bon Ami has now developed a full line of cleaners for your home. After testing these products I have found the dish soap to be my favorite. It cuts through grease and grime on the dishes and left my hands feeling soft and clean. I especially loved the citrus scent.

I also tried the new Bon Ami liquid cleanser. I probably didn’t use it correctly. I used it as a “soft scrub” type of cleaner, but after reading the instructions, I should have used it in my shower. I’m going to try it there as I wasn’t that impressed with it on my counters.

I’ve always been a fan of the 1886 powdered cleanser made by Bon Ami. This is their original formula and really only has two ingredients. It is so gentle you can use it to clean acid rain off glass windows. It leaves behind a slight invisible film that protects the glass from salt spray, which makes it a favorite for boat owners and vacation homes. I was excited to try the 5 ingredient formula and used it on my glass topped stove with a gentle sponge. By working in a circle it removed most of the burnt on crud that was stuck to my stove top. It did take a little elbow grease and some patience but the powdered cleansser got it off.

The Bon Ami All-purpose cleaner worked great on tile. I used it to clean tile floors and it left them clean and streak free. It wasn’t as good on stainless steel or black fronted appliances. It removed the grease and dirt but left some streaks and smears. It had a nice citrus scent and was easy to use. I’d recommend using it with a larger looped microfiber cloth to get the best performance.

The best way to realize how committed Bon Ami is to being green is to read about their environmental stewardship. One example is in their development of their new line of products. They decided to not add synthetic fragrances and instead ask their customers to shake the products so that the essential oils are mixed into the cleaner. This example shows how committed they are to keeping their products simple and green. With this kind of commitment Bon Ami will continue to be "a good old friend"!

Scary Stains From Halloween

2011-10-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I deal with some pretty scary stains after halloween. My kids come home and dump their candy all over my family room carpet. And every year "someone" gets chocolate on the carpet. Here is a sure fire plan that will help you should your little "goblins" get chocolate on your family room carpet!

1 Rub an ice cube over the stain so that the chocolate becomes hard and won’t smear into the surrounding fabric. Once it is hard scrape as much chocolate off as you can. Use a vacuum to lift the flaked chocolate off the carpet.
2. Wait until the chocolate warms back up to room temperature, and blot it with warm/hot water and a wet cloth. Continue to blot the stain until nothing comes off on the cloth.

3. Mix up 1 tablespoon borax, 1 tablespoon baking soda and add some club soda together until you have a thin paste and rub it from the outside of the stain to the center. Don’t smear the stain around or work in a circle – just blot and wipe towards the center of the stain.

4. Using a damp white cloth, blot the stain and continue the above process until nothing more comes off onto the white cloth.

5. If the stain is still visible you can use some old fashioned laundry soap and work it into the area.

6. You can also dilute some of the laundry soap in hot water and add a few teaspoons of rubbing alcohol and place over the stain.

7. Continue to blot the stain until it is removed.

8. An enzyme based spot remover such as Unique, which will “eat” the chocolate as long as it remains wet. Place the stain remover directly on the stain and place a wet paper towel over the area. The longer you keep it wet, the longer it will continue to work on the stain.

Removing Mold From Colored Fabric

2011-10-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a question from one of my presentations. I love your questions, keep them coming!

"I enjoyed your presentation very much. I bought your package with the book and there are some great tips that I will be sure to use.

I have one problem that I could not find and I am wondering if you have a solution to getting mildew spots out of a cotton shower curtain. Unfortunately, it has blue, green and white stripes so I cannot just try bleach. Any helpful tip you have I would really appreciate."

Thanks for the question. I think you should try working some old fashioned soap into the stain with a small brush. You could use Ivory if you have some and a small gentle brush. I've made some "stain lifters" that will soon be available on my site and you can see a picture of the brush I'm referring to. After brushing with the soap in a circular motion, use the brush and dip it into (or pour) some hydrogen peroxide onto the area. Keep brushing in a circle. Rinse and see how the stain is coming. Keep repeating until the stain is lifted. You can also let the mixture sit over night. Wash the curtain in the washing machine but don't put it into the dryer until you KNOW the stain is gone. The heat from the dryer will set the stain.

Breast Cancer Awareness- Small Changes - Big Results

2011-10-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Check out this video to learn that small changes can make a big difference. And share this video with someone you love.

Mopping Up With Martha Stewart Living Radio

2011-09-29T04:50:00.000-07:00

Today I had a great time talking with Martha Stewart Living Radio about the right way to mop your floors. Here are some tips we talked about:

Prior to mopping vacuum your floors and get up all the big dirt and hair. I prefer a canister vacuum to do this job. Make sure you have a nice floor brush as well.
Use a technique I call "bucketless mopping". You replace the bucket with a spray bottle of your favorite cleaner diluted as if it were in your bucket. We've all been taught to use a bucket but this will make mopping quick and easy.
Instead of a sponge mop that holds the dirt, use a microfiber mop with different covers for different jobs, These are the same type of mops hospitals are using to prevent cross contamination.

How to use a microfiber mop correctly:

Wet the clean cover in the sink and wring it out really well.
Place it back on the mop.
Spray your diluted cleaner directly on the floor.
Wipe the wet mop head over the entire floor.
If you like you can use a second wet mop head to rinse it. If we were in Germany - we would go over it a third time to dry it!
Place the dirty mop covers in the washer so they will be nice and clean for the next time.

You can use the same system for cleaning your hardwood floors only don't wet the mop head - use it dry and lightly spray the cleaner so that it will leave the floors sparkling clean.

Here is a homemade recipe for a hardwood floor cleaner from The Joy of Green Cleaning:

1 teaspoon dish soap
1 cup white vinegar
16 ounce hot water

Place these ingredients in a spray bottle and lightly spray the floors. Wipe with a dry microfiber mop. This mixture will leave the floor clean without a waxy build-up.

Fox TV -Living Well With Leslie Reichert, The Cleaning Coach

2011-09-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

Cleaning coach Leslie Reichert joined FOX 25 Morning News to talk about how switching to “green cleaning” can not only help the environment, but also keep families and pets safe from hidden toxins and health risks.

Watch this at My Fox Boston

A Radio Interview With Cyrus Webb - Mid Day Conversations

2011-08-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

Mid Day Conversations with Cyrus Webb

Listen to internet radio with middayconversations on Blog Talk Radio

Opps I Did It Again....

2011-08-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

While I was doing a book signing at the Whole Foods in Medford, I decided to splurge and get a Starbucks coffee. I don't do this often as I drink decaf and they usually don't have any brewed, which means I have to wait and I don't do that very ofter either! But luck for me they actually had some brewed, so I took my Grande and went out in the parking lot and

OPPS!

Tripped over my own feet and spilled the thing right down my white capri's.

Doggonnit.

I love these pants and but figured by the time I got home to work on the stain, it would be too late.

But wait!

Since I was doing a demo at Whole Foods I had a huge box of Borax in the back of my van! I got my water bottle and went to the back and sprinkled some of that magic white powder on my pants. The old lady parked next to me must have thought I was doing something very strange with my white powder and water bottle.....

As I rubbed it in I could see it starting to work -but could still see the coffee stain. There wasn't much else to do but drive home and hope for the best. Of course the entire ride, my pants were in the direct sunlight and I figured the sun and the heat would surely set the stain. I drove in the driveway an hour later and ran straight to the bathroom, stripped off my pants and threw them into the wash. When they came out - no more coffee stain.

I love that magic white powder (BORAX).

You can find it at your local grocery store. Just look in the laundry section - up on the top shelf or way down on the bottom shelf. If your store doesn't carry it- ask them to start. It's so good for SO many different cleaning jobs!

Clean Your Home Naturally

2011-08-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

The Joy of Green Cleaning – Learning to Clean your Home Naturally

August 16, 2011 By Sprout Savvy

Clean your home naturally!

Leslie Reichert knows a thing or two about cleaning your home naturally. Often referred to as, the “Martha Stewart of Green Cleaning”, Reichert has a warm and sparkling personality that makes cleaning seem fun! Her book, The Joy of Green Cleaning, is a handbook for DIY cleaners. Her green cleaning coaching skills have been sought about by many well-known websites. She is an a contributor to The Daily Green, Deepak Chopra, Woman’s Day and also a frequent home keeping expert on Martha Stewart Living Radio. Read more about Reichert at www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com. Sprout Savvy recently interviewed Reichert to learn more about natural cleaning.
What are some of the dangers associated with conventional cleaning products?

Conventional cleaning products are full of many different toxic chemicals. The companies that make these products do not need to list the ingredients. Even when they list some of the ingredients, they can hide others in the word “fragrance.” You never really know what you are spraying in your home. One example is the ingredient formaldehyde. It is found in numerous cleaning products, but rarely listed on the label.

What is a recipe for a good all purpose cleaner?

White vinegar kills 99.9 percent of the bacteria so I mix up 1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide and between 6 and 8 drops of Tea Tree oil and place it in a spray bottle. This is great for kitchens and bathrooms.

Will this cleaner disinfect and kill germs?

It will work as well as your conventional cleaners. The Good Housekeeping Institute did a test and found that vinegar killed 95 percent of mold and 99.9 percent of bacteria. You can’t get much better than that.

Does this natural all purpose cleaner work as well as conventional cleaners?

It really does, but people don’t trust it – mainly because it doesn’t smell like a “cleaner”. To help them get use to it, I suggest putting lemon essential oil into the vinegar so it smells like a cleaner and not like salad dressing. The lemon oil cancels out the vinegar smell. Most of cleaning is about the smell – people think the smell of chlorine is the smell of clean. The smell of clean really has NO smell at all.

What other products do you recommend?

There are also some great new technologies that help take the chemicals out of cleaning. I’m a big fan of high quality microfiber. I also love Ecosponges, which use the technology of friction instead of chemicals to clean soap scum off of fiberglass. Along with new technology the old fashioned recipes that my great grandmother used to use really work. My book is based around an old fashioned laundry soap that is similar to a soap she would have used back in the late 1800s. It’s pure and rinses totally out of your clothes so it doesn’t cause skin irritations like a detergent. The entire book is filled with recipes you can make to clean your home – with ingredients from your pantry. You can get a free recipe and a video on how to make it on my book site: www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com

5 Tips for Cleaning Up Old Office Files

2011-08-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

We have a guest post by a friend of mine, James Adams. He must have ESP as this is just what my office needs help with right now! We hope you enjoy his tips too!

5 Tips for Cleaning Up Old Office Files

"How did it get like this?" you wonder, as you look around your home or business office at the stacks of papers and messy old manila file folders. Your desk is so buried in stuff that you're not even sure you need any more that you have no room to work, and the thought of figuring out a way to organize it all overwhelms you before you even begin. It's dusty, it's dirty, and you're starting to be afraid of the mold and mildew that might be lurking in those old files. Fear not. Here are some tips to get your office looking like it was organized by a professional.

1. Start Small

Set yourself a goal of one area or stack of papers per day. Make an area for sorting the papers and files into "critical", "important", "file", and "dump". Old utility bills can be thrown away. Receipts that you may need for your taxes should be filed.

2. Buy Inexpensive Organizational Supplies

Stickers for color coding your critical, important, and file items make it easy to see at a glance what you're dealing with. Plastic bins with tight-fitting lids keep out bugs and moisture that causes mold and mildew. You can even use your color-coding stickers on the bins themselves, or buy bins with different colored lids so it's easier to find what you're looking for.

3. Dispose Of Files Immediately

Throw away what needs to be thrown away immediately so that it's out of your way. Depending on the type of paperwork you are dealing with, you may need to invest in an inexpensive shredder. You can find a good brand-name shredder online for as little as forty dollars.

4. Try Digitizing Your Files

Consider scanning as a means of preserving important documents instead of saving every piece of paper. If you are interested in "going green", this may be the method for you. Keeping your documents on a computer, external hard drive or CDs or DVDs reduces paper waste and eliminates to need to purchase more paper and plastic to keep it all organized. But just like your paper archives can be damaged by water, insects, or fire, your digital archives can become inaccessible too. If you choose to go the digital route, buy an external hard drive and have at least one backup. Digital hard drives are getting cheaper and can store massive amounts of information, and they have the advantage of been transportable so that all your precious information isn't in one place. There are also online storage services available so that you can access your documents from any computer yet still keep them safe from prying eyes with encryption technology.

5. Stay Organized

Once you have your office organized, make a promise to yourself to stay on top of it. Sort documents as they come in and file as you go whenever possible. Set a schedule to sort, file and toss or shred at least once a week. Keeping things neat and organized helps you be more efficient and keeps you healthier physically and mentally because you aren't surrounded by dust and mildew and you aren't being stressed out by clutter.

Tasked with writing about injet cartridges on the internet , James has learned more and more about inkjet cartridges and Canon cartridges. and other accessories as he can usually be found reviewing them.

2011-08-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to introduce you to Ava and her business; Ava Anderson Non-Toxic. Ava is a young woman that is changing the way cosmetic business works in the US. Her business has just been nominated as an Emerging Entrepreneur of 2011 by Entrepreneur Magazine! You can go to this link and vote for her company. She was recently highlighted in an article by Eco RI News. Below is the article. Watch a young woman make a difference!

Skin-Product Company Thrives Under Teen CEO
By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff

Barrington resident Ava Anderson was one of this year's Clean Water Action/Ocean State Action environmental achievement award winners. (Tim Faulkner/ecoRI news)WARREN — Read the back of the label, not the front. It's a practice most health-concious consumers follow while shopping for food, but not always when buying toothpaste, deodorant and sunscreen.

Ava Anderson Non-Toxic, a skin-care company based locally, is helping broaden the public's label-inspection habits with a simple premise: What goes on your body is just as important as what goes in it.

Trouble is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't have jurisdiction over personal-care products like it does with food. So companies don't always list every ingredient on their moisturizer or shampoo. In fact, there are some 600 chemicals that qualify as a "proprietary" fragrance or parfum that don't need to be disclosed.

So in 2009, at just 15, Ava Anderson, a Barrington resident and high school student at Moses Brown in Providence, started a for-profit business to educate consumers about the pervasive and harmful chemicals in everyday products — chemicals that if not absorbed by the body eventually wash down the drain and work their way into the environment, drinking water and food supply.

Following in the footsteps of her grandfather Charles Collis, former owner of Princess House, a successful giftware company in Taunton, Mass., Ava adapted the direct sales, party-plan approach to selling personal-care products. The person-to-person model helps deliver an alternative perspective to the feel-good branding from companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Clorox and even Tom's of Maine, companies that sell "trusted" products with unsafe and unhealthy ingredients consumers have dabbed and lathered on their skin for decades. Read more here

Grab Green Dish Detergent Is A Hit With The Cooking Club!

2011-08-01T17:51:00.000-07:00

Our eco-friendly Grab Green Automatic Dishwashing Detergent stood up to rigorous tests and now stands out among giants in the industry. The Cooking Club tested a wide range of detergents from major brands over the past three months and was thoroughly impressed. Even though almost all were comparing GrabGreen’s Automatic Dishwashing Detergent to large, non-eco-friendly brands like Cascade and Finish. Less than .5% of the testers were of the eco-friendly persuasion, and they still chose to give GrabGreen Automatic Dishwashing Detergent the highest rating possible. Not only were the testers highly impressed with the cleaning power, they were pleasantly surprised that the dishes came out spotless, even the glassware. Also contributing to the high rating was the convenience of the pre-measured pods and lusciously light fragrances. You have GOT to try this new dishwashing detergent soon. You are going to love it!

USA Today's - 5 Questions that help buy the right vacuum?

2011-07-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

In today's USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2011-07-14-vacuum-tips-from-reviewed-dotcom_n.htm) there was an article - 5 questions that can help you buy the right vacuum. I thought for sure I knew the five questions. After reading the article I found that USA Today and I don't agree on the same five questions. Let's compare notes.

USA Today thought the most important question was "how much do you want to spend?" Well if you ask my husband that question in a sales situation, he'd say "a dollar". It's really not how much do you want to spend, but how much can you afford and is quality an issue. When I'm working to help someone find the right vacuum, price is not one of my top five questions.

Question two -What are you cleaning? Well, USA Today, I usually assume that if they are purchasing a vacuum they are cleaning floors. My question is usually - What types of floors do you have in your home. I also want to know how they clean hard floors. My questions is : Do you vacuum them or use a mop? I also need to know what type of carpets they are trying to clean. Berber carpet is much easier to clean than the new "shaggy" carpet. And I need to know if they own expensive orientals. They need special care when it comes to vacuuming.

Question three - Where are you cleaning? Again, USA Today - I don't need to know where - I need to know what they are cleaning. I would rather know more about what is in the home, pets - kids - how many people are they cleaning up after. Unless you are living in a closet or a box - where doesn't matter.

Question four - How does it filter the air? Do we really need to know HOW the vacuum filters the air? Air filtration is important if you have allergies. We don't need to know HOW it filters. just that it does the best job. If someone in the home has allergies, we need to make sure the vacuum had a HEPA filter.

Question five - "How does it dump the dirt?" Bagless vacuums tend to leak dirt, so if you are allergic to dust - a bagless vacuum is not a good investment. Think about it - you are going to spend $40 on a HEPA filter to keep the dust out of your home. and then DUMPING a canister full of dust in your garbage. You are being directly exposed to the dust you are trying to avoid. Vacuum bags were a great invention in the early 1900's. They made empting the dirt from the vacuum clean and easy. We have actually gone back to the future. Vacuum bags catch allergens and protect the motor in the vacuum from leaking dust. Vacuum bags are a small investment to keep you and your vacuum healthy.

Here are the questions I ask before helping someone find the perfect vacuum
How big is your home? Do you know how many square feet does it have?
How many floors does your home have?
Do you have stairs?
Do you prefer an upright or a canister.
Does anyone in your home have allergies?
Do you have pets?
Do you vacuum your hard floors?
What type of carpets do you have in your home?
Do you have children?
Are you looking for a quality vacuum or something that will get you through until you can afford quality?
Is the weight of the vacuum an issue?
Who does most of the vacuuming in the home?
These questions give me a picture of your home and help me - help you find the right vacuum FOR YOU! To check out some of my favorite vacuums go to www.backdoorvac.com You will see some of the best vacuums on the market.

Green Cleaning Your Grill For The Fourth!

2011-06-30T05:20:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full swing which means we have moved most of our cooking to our outdoor kitchens and grills. Dinners become more relaxing and very casual. But you don’t want to be casual about keeping your grill area clean. Even though we are outside we still need to keep the cooking area free from both bacteria and toxins. Here are a few “green cleaning” recipes for you to use.

Grill Cleaner
After cooking on your grill you want to burn off as much of the excess grease that you can. Turn off the heat and let the grill cool down. Sprinkle the grill area with a light coating of baking soda. Fill a spray bottle full of white distilled vinegar and spray the entire cooking area. The baking soda will bubble which will help remove any built up grease. Continue to spray the grill and keep the baking soda moist. Wipe with a wet rag or wash in the sink.

Antibacterial Spray
Keep the areas around the grill free from bacteria by using this spray on any of the surfaces.

½ cup white distilled vinegar
½ cup club soda
½ cup hydrogen peroxide
8 drops Tea Tree oil

Mix the Tea Tree oil with the white vinegar. This will cancel out the vinegar smell. Then add the other two ingredients and place in a dark plastic spray bottle to keep in our outside kitchen.

Stainless Steel Polish

This mixture removes build up grease from stainless steel grills.
1 cup baking soda
½ cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons borax
Club soda to make into a paste

Mix baking soda, borax and lemon juice together. Add enough club soda to make into a paste. Apply the paste to the metal with a soft cloth. Rinse with plain club soda. Finish by polishing with a clean cloth.

For a free recipe from the book The Joy of Green Cleaning go to www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com You will also get a free video on how to use it!

Out With Allergies - from Shape Magazine 2011

2011-06-04T04:49:00.000-07:00

It was a real pleasure to work with Kate and the staff at Shape Magazine! I'm really glad that they realize that keeping yourself in "shape" means taking care of your environment too. Here is a small part of the article. If you'd like the entire piece, email me and I'll send you the pdf.

BE A GREENER CLEANER - by Kate Ashford
Every time you spray a cleaning product onto a surface, you breathe it in. "There are some dangerous ingredients in cleaners - such as formaldehyde and chlorine - that, if inhaled, can affect your respiratory system and irritate your lungs," says Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning. "And the risk doesn't stop when the sink is gleaming: those chemicals linger in the air for a long time." One solution: Make your own cleaner by mixing equal parts water and vinegar. This blend gets rid of dirt and kills germ without affecting your air quality.

The Steam Dynamo!

2011-06-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

I've found a great steam cleaner that gets into small places AND does your floors. Check out this video to see how well it works. You can see more about the Steam Dynamo at http://www.backdoorvac.com/steam-dynamo.html

Mother Earth News Reviews The Joy of Green Cleaning

2011-05-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

The Joy of Green Cleaning: Teaching People What a Cut Lemon and a Little Salt Can Do 5/12/2011 6:11:58 PM
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence
Leslie Reichert ’s mission is to teach and encourage the art of homekeeping and green cleaning so people can enjoy a good life. “I always love to see the faces of people when I show them what a cut lemon and some salt can really do,” she says.

Reichert, a green cleaning coach and owner of the Back Door, a vacuum and homekeeping store in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, runs the website ShopGreenCleaning and wrote The Joy of Green Cleaning, an essential resource full of tips and recipes for cleaning your home without chemicals. She turned to natural cleaning methods after running a large residential cleaning service—and seeing firsthand what the harsh chemicals in cleaning solutions can do to people’s health. Reichert sees three good reasons to green your cleaning:

For yourself- to protect your body from chemicals it is not designed to process.

For your family- because the chemicals we use in the home stay in the home—and affect our family‘s indoor air quality. Fumes from chemical cleaners can linger in the air for months.

For the Earth- to help the waterways, improve air quality and find sustainable alternatives to petro-based chemicals made from a non-renewable resource.

The Joy of Green Cleaning is packed full of great recipes for making your own cleaners. From the expected—kitchen and bathroom cleaners—to the unexpected—Ugg boot deodorizer and a sheepskin cleaner—the book contains everything you need for a sparkling clean home, naturally. It’s available at The Joy of Green Cleaning or can be downloaded as an e-book.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-home-living/the-joy-of-green-cleaning-teaching-people-what-a-cut-lemon-a-little-salt-can-do.aspx#ixzz1MKicemON

Just A Thought

2011-05-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

Why is it - when a cleaning product says on the side of the box - keep away from children and pets - we don't have any problem putting that same product on our floors where are kids and pets are crawling and walking? I had this conversation with an old friend yesterday. He was telling me how he loved his floor cleaner. It worked so well and all he had to do was wipe the floor and throw out the cloth. I showed him on the side of the box the warning about keeping the product away from kids and pets. He had an aha moment and wanted to know what he could use instead. I recommended a microfiber mop with washable covers and just water. Nothing in that water will hurt kids or pets!

Life.Style with Christine Koh

2011-05-10T04:40:00.000-07:00

Car Cleaning Tips From The Pros

2011-05-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Go beyond the basic suds for a vehicle that will shine like it's brand-new, inside and out By Arianna Cohen Posted April 29, 2011 from Woman's Day; June 1, 2011

You know the essentials when it comes to washing your automobile. Now, a few tips and products that make cleaning and organizing your car easier.

• Always wash your car in the shade. Washing it in the sun will leave soap spots.

• Lose the hose. Yes, it’s fun to spray your hose Rambo-style. It also uses a lot more water than a bucket rinse does, says Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning. A bucket will do just as good a job on everything except your undercarriage.

• Keep a bottle of glass cleaner and some microfiber towels (12 for $24.50; MicrofiberUSA.com) in your trunk. When you’ve got a few minutes, wipe down your windows and the console.

• Never know where your registration is? Sharon McRill, president of The Betty Brigade concierge company in Ann Arbor, Michigan, suggests leaving a car registration pouch in your glove compartment to protect your car insurance and registration…and make it obvious when they fall out of the glove box. We like the Case Logic Glove Box Organizer ($4.96; QVC.com), which also has three small slots for a tire gauge, flashlight and pen.

• Organize kids toys, coloring books and sippy cups with the Sunshine Kids Travel Pal ($13.99; Target.com) that sits on the seat right next to kids or on the floor.

• You'll have no more cord tangles thanks to the Kangaroo Personal Media Case ($12.99; GreatUsefulStuff.com). Slide GPS, chargers and a half-dozen cords into this small case. Its washable, bright-pink exterior makes it easy to find.

Speed Your Way to Clean

Don’t have time for a full cleaning? Just do the following 5-minute clean, suggests Paul Ponzio, Jr., president of Samaritania, operator of the CVS Samaritan vans as well as various state freeway patrols:

• Speed-wash the wheels and body with a soapy sponge. Rinse.

• Wash the windows from the outside with glass cleaner.

• Dry all with microfiber towels.

Protect Your Car

These four protective products all add to your car's resale value by protecting the paint coat—and provide a 20-minute arm workout.

• Clear Coat Protector: “Clear coat is like putting a hard shell on your car” that protects the paint from salt and rust, says Barbara Terry, a racecar driver and car columnist. “Have you seen a car where the paint looks like it’s peeling? That’s the clear coat peeling off.” Spray on and rub in. It lasts for four years or more.

• Polish: Applied directly to scratches, liquid polish actually uses microscopic abrasives to remove a thin layer of the paint, thus hiding unsightly blemishes. After the car is washed and dried, take a dry rag and apply polishing compound directly to small scratches, which will make them disappear.

• Wax: Available in liquid or paste form, wax adds a protective layer above the clear coat and polish, preventing water and grime from pooling so it wicks right off. A test to see if you need to wax: Next time it rains, if the water beads up into little balls, like water on an oily skillet, your car is fine. If there’s no beading, and the water rolls down the sides in sheets, you need to wax. Always apply wax on a clean car with clean microfiber cloths, so that dirt particles don’t scratch the car.

• Windshield Protector: This is like wax for your windshield, preventing the water from pooling. “Apply it about once a year, and it prevents water from staining the windshield,” says Terry.

Share The Green!

2011-05-02T06:06:00.000-07:00

"Hey, Leslie, I love your video. I'm going to send it to my friend in MD because just last week when I was at her house, I told her she just has to get the blue cloth!! They put a porch on their house that is all windows, ceiling to floor. She said, "What's a blue cloth?" Now she will see for herself what it is. "
From Phyllis K.

Staph Germs and Cross Contamination

2011-04-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

Staph germs are in the news. Last night and today the news channels have been blasting us with the information that there are Staph germs in our meats. They aren't even sure if cooking the meats are killing Staph! Everyone running for the disinfectant. But before you start spraying make sure you use some good old soap and hot water to get the Staph germs off your counters and your hands. Yes that's right - soap and water. And be very careful of cross contamination. Here are a few tips after working with raw meat:

Use your elbows to turn on the water faucet. If you have Staph germs on your hands you will contaminate the faucet when you turn the water on to wash them.
Get a touchless soap dispenser to get soap onto your hands. Soap and water will remove the Staph germs from your hands, but you can't touch the soap dispenser until your hands are clean.
Put any cleaning cloths you use on your counters directly into the washing machine.
Don't use sponges to wipe off the counters. If you are one of those people that has to use a sponge, you can disinfect them by placing them in the microwave - wet- for 3 minutes.
Keep a nail brush under you counter and use it to clean your hands after touching raw meat. Scrub your hands and nails with soap and hot water. Then put the brush in the dishwasher to clean it.
Make sure you wash your hands for an "alphabet". Just like we learned in preschool, sing the alphabet song so you make sure you wash all the germs off your hands.

...One Spray Bottle At A Time!

2011-04-12T04:43:00.000-07:00

"Your articles have energized me to re-evaluate my own habits and how they affect my family. You keep me motivated and engaged every day to live more eco-consciously by showing me how easy it can be to “green clean” and how effective. I must admit that your tips on vinegar are my favorite! I never knew it could be so powerful but in “How does your home smell?” you suggested a mixture with borax and vinegar to clean around the toilets and it rocks!

I never was much of a label reader until I became awakened to the many harmful ingredients we consume without a second thought. Now I make an effort to check what my family consumes to ensure that I am not ignorant of a hidden threat. That includes what I clean with, which is why I love your site! However, something I ironically never thought too deeply about was the water! It turns out that our the water we use to cook, clean and shower with exposes us to a number of toxins, one in particular that I have learned about is chlorine. While in moderation, chlorine is not too dangerous, in larger amounts or absorbed through our skin it can lead to very serious health implications. I was surprised to come across this disguised danger and feel that others may be as niave as I was which is why I wrote “A Daily Toxin – Uncovering Unnecessary Exposure to Chlorine,” in which I have explained the background of chlorine, how it is used and why we should take more precautions. I feel it is critical information especially for those raising children who are more susceptible." Renee Bedford

Renee has sent me her article and if you are interested in receiving a copy you can email Renee directly at rbedford@christmastreemarketco.com She would be happy to send you a copy. Thanks Renee - Together we can change the world, one spray bottle at a time! The recipes Renee mentions in her testimony above are found in The Joy of Green Cleaning.

Thrift Culture Now! DIY Green Cleaners

2011-04-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

Thrift Culture Now interviewed me for an article about the money you could save by making your own. Check out their article!

Learn How to Clean Anything & Everything with DIY Green Cleaners & Help from The Cleaning Coach

Have you ever looked at the list of ingredients on a bottle of Pine Sol, Pledge, or Windex? What about those commercial cleaning products that are supposed to rid your shower of mildew but require you to put a ‘temporarily out of order’ sign on your bathroom door for fear that one of your family members inhales the napalm-like cleaner within two hours of it being sprayed? It’s scary stuff and yet, week after week, people clean their homes with these dangerous products.

After 20 years of working in the cleaning industry, commercial cleaners started to take their toll on Leslie’s immune system. She had become severely sensitive to certain ingredients in the store-bought cleaning products and decided that enough was enough; she was through with using toxic household cleaners.

Using some old family recipes, those given to her by friends, and creating several originals, Leslie started mixing up natural, green cleaners and testing them in her own home. She found them so effective yet their natural scents and non-abrasive ingredients didn’t leave her gasping for breath and coughing, that she wanted to share her new-found knowledge with others.

“About five years ago, I realized my mission was to teach and encourage people about the dangers of toxic chemicals and to give them alternatives,” Leslie explains. “I decided that people need to know that there is a better way to clean. I started talking to groups of women—mothers and grandmothers—that were looking for a healthier way to clean. I work with organizations and businesses trying to get my message out.”

Since then, Leslie, also known as The Cleaning Coach, has become a popular figure appearing on television and radio shows, hosting workshops, working as a green consultant and blogging regularly about the new green cleaning solutions she’s created and answering readers’ questions. Leslie is also the author of The Joy of Green Cleaning, a cleaning bible of sorts and a must-read for any frugal living enthusiast. Currently, some of the green cleaning recipes that she has developed are being tested in a research lab at the University of MA, Lowell for their ‘cleanability.’ Leslie says so far they’re proving their merit as great, safe alternatives for toxin-filled commercial cleaners.

Anyone who's interested in making their own homemade green cleaners needs to visit Clean Green Talk (Leslie's blog) where you will find tons of tips for how to tackle common cleaning dilemmas the natural way; how to make your own glass and mirror cleaner to homemade deodorizer for Ugg boots, getting rid of the smell in your front-loading washing machine, to how to keep spiders out of your house with a natural homemade spray.

What's amazing about the green cleaner recipes that you will find in The Joy of Green Cleaning is that a large number of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen cupboard. Like Leslie says in her book, give just one of these homemade solutions a try and, before you know it, “you'll be going to your pantry for cleaning solutions instead of the cabinet under the sink.” Homemade green cleaners are also significantly cheaper than commercial cleaners.

When you consider that the homemade, natural cleaning solutions won’t damage your health and that making and using them will also save you money, switching over to the do it yourself natural route for cleaning seems like a no-brainer. Using safe products in your home have the great short-term benefits of saving you money but the long-term benefits for you and your family’s health are even more important.

“You can mix up a cleaner for 1/10 the price of a regular ‘over the counter’ cleaner from a grocery store,” Leslie explains. “Just think: a gallon of vinegar costs around $3 and will make two gallons of all purpose cleaner. If I do my math correctly, that’s1 cent an ounce! And will be safe and healthy for your family and pets! Think of what you would save in medical and vet bills.”

While Leslie says there are more and more people who seem open to trying natural cleaning products, she says a lot of people are still skeptical as to whether or not they actually work. It’s like somewhere along the way we were led to believe that nothing can be truly clean if it hasn’t been treated with a bright blue solution or a product that smells so strong your nose and eyes sting and water.

“We have been programmed to ‘kill’ bacteria in our homes and people don’t believe that green cleaners will get rid of the bacteria,” Leslie says. “Actually, they do kill bacteria—you just have to use the correct ingredients and use them in the right proportions. Vinegar kills 98% of bacteria, tea tree oil is a great anti-bacterial product and hydrogen peroxide has been used for years in the medical field. All of these are in my recipes and work great for killing germs.”

Leslie has found, however, that all she needs to do to convince people that you can remove stains, get streak-free glass, spotless counters and white toilet bowls with a natural cleaner, is to get them to try just one of her many green cleaner recipes.

“When I talk to a group, I always mix up samples of a DIY cleaner that everyone can take home and try,” Leslie says. “I also give them directions and ask them to let me know how it works. I always get positive feedback saying that it worked BETTER than their store bought cleaner. The trick is getting them to try it!”

If you want to turn over a new leaf and take a giant leap towards saving money and protecting your health, Leslie recommends you stock your pantry with a few of the green cleaning essentials: vinegar, baking soda, salt, borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, club soda and maybe an essential oil to give your homemade cleaners a nice calming scent. She says you should also check out the list of ingredients that Whole Foods created for its customers to show them how many grocery store ingredients can be used in do it yourself green cleaners.

Leslie says she loves the challenge of finding a new, better and safer way to clean, and she hopes that people will continue to give her new cleaning challenges so she can continue to surprise them when she comes up with a natural solution for even the most seemingly impossible cleaning dilemma.

“People need to know that the things we use in our homes affect our families and our pets,” Leslie says. “I have seen huge changes take place for people that make small changes, for example changing to a homemade laundry soap instead of a detergent. Little changes can make a big difference—one spray bottle at a time.”

Wouldn’t you like the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you don’t have to lock the cupboard under your kitchen sink because your toddler won’t find a stock of potentially deadly cleaners there, that your tub and shower cleaner or the solution you use to clean kitchen counters and the sink aren’t damaging your lungs, or that your laundry detergent won’t cause your children to break out in a rash?

The next time you run out of glass or toilet bowl cleaner, think about how you could green up your cleaning routine. It’s easy and you owe it to your wallet, yourself and your family. Take Leslie’s advice and walk past the grocery aisle that sells the over-priced and harmful commercial cleaners and pick up a jug of white vinegar, a big box of baking soda and a lemon instead. Happy green cleaning!

Moring Living on Martha Stewart Living Radio

2011-03-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

Maybe I'm crazy but I love talking about cleaning, no matter how early it is.Yesterday I got up really early to talk about green cleaning with Betsy Karetnick from Martha Stewart Living Radio's Morning Living Show. It was like finding my long lost sister! Betsy likes to talk "cleaning" too! Our plan was to talk about spring cleaning and how to get started. I recommended making a list - and as Betsy said - make sure it's on paper so you can ~~CROSS~~ things off it! Nothing feels better than crossing things off a list. To start off your cleaning I think you should start with your windows. I gave Betsy one of my green cleaning recipes from my book.

Here is the glass and mirror cleaner:

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/2 corn starch

2 liter bottle of club soda

You mix the corn starch in the club soda until it dissolves then add the white vinegar and put it into a spray bottle.

We also talked about using my favorite "tool" which is the Blue Cloth. This is a special microfiber cloth made especially for glass and windows. All you do is wet it with water and wring it out really well and just wipe the window. You don't have to dry it - it will dry on it's own with no streaks, smears or lint. Betsy agreed that this sounded even easier than using the DIY recipe. I said that if you like to spray and wipe, just use a bottle of water and dry the window with this cloth. You will save time and money (no paper towels) with this one simple cloth.

Lastly we talked about how to clean the floors. I told Betsy about my system for cleaning floors without a bucket. Instead I use a microfiber mop and a few covers. Just wet the covers in the sink using hot water and wring them out so they are damp. Then just put a small amount of your floor cleaner in a spray bottle and add lots of water. It will be the same concentration as if it's in a bucket. Spray the floor with the cleaner and go over it with the microfiber mop. Replace the cover when you feel like it's full of dirt. Don't rinse out the cover, just place it in your washing machine and get a new clean mop cover from the sink. This prevents cross contamination! And your not spreading dirty water on your floor.

We wrapped up our 20 minutes by talking about how satisfying it is to look around see what you've accomplished. Cleaning can be fun - when you have the right tools - and someone you can share it with - right "sista"!

Top 50 Household Cleaning Blogs - We're #5!

2011-02-23T04:55:00.000-08:00

"Need to whip your house into shape? These household cleaning blogs are the top online resources for getting in there and cleaning out any clutter, gunk or goo that’s accumulated over the years. You may think that it’s too big of a task to take on, but getting started is half of the battle and these household cleaning blogs will guide you every step of the way."

5. Happy Cleaning This site focuses on eco-friendly household cleaning products and DIY concoctions you can make for next to nothing for making your home sparkle.

Want to see the other 49? You can go to http://bit.ly/eWSgSt But you have to promise to come back now- ya here!

How To Battle Mold On Tile Grout

2011-02-22T04:15:00.000-08:00

Question of the day: Hi Coach! I'm interested in learning an alternative to bleach for mold cleaning on my bathroom tiles.
A friend from Betterfly

I have a few options for you. Mold can be a battle but there are a few things that work great. Tea Tree oil will kill the mold and the spores, so just mix a few drops in a bottle of water and spray directly on the mold and it dry. The oil will not turn the mold white like bleach so you have to scrub it with a mixture of borax and hydrogen peroxide. I mix them together into a paste and scrub with a toothbrush.

Green Cleaning goes "Full Circle"

2011-02-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

Did you know that if one scrub brush per household gets thrown out every year, there is about 120 million brushes ending up in the garbage. —120 million! And most of those brushes are made from plastics that take 1000 years to break down in our land fills. --- 1000 years. These are some really big numbers and we are only talking about scrub brushes!

Speaking of scrub brushes, a company called Full Circle is trying to make an impact on your home with out making an impact on the environment. Full Circle makes the coolest tools that work great, are sustainable AND look good. Full Circle makes my favorite brush called "Suds Up" which is made from bamboo, recycled plastic bristles and a plant-based plastic. Along with the fact that it's made up of these very sustainable materials, it's also beautiful and very functional. You fill the end of the Suds Up brush with your favorite diluted dish soap and away you go. It stands up on it's end so that the bristles air dry. Someone was definitely thinking (of me) when they designed this brush!

Full Circle has an entire line of sustainable cleaning tools. You can see more about them at http://www.fullcirclehome.com/ or to purchase them go to http://www.shopgreencleaning.com/
Make sure to enter the give-away we have! http://happycleaninggiveaway.blogspot.com/

Do your Uggs smell?

2011-02-09T09:34:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year when we wear our Uggs inside and out. I slipped on my daughter's Uggs this morning before walking on the cold tile floor (please don't tell her or she'll kill me) and they were so cozy warm. I did notice that even though they felt wonderful - they were kinda stinky! That's what happens when your feet sweat in sheepskin. I've got a great recipe for an Ugg Boot Deodorizer. You can thank me in the spring!

"Ugg" Boot Deodorizer
1 cup baking soda
1 cup corn starch
10 drops of your favorite essential oil

Mix the powder and then add the essential oil. Place the powder in a shaker container. Shake a small amount into your boots. Leave the powder in the boots over night and remove in the morning before wearing. This combination will absorb moisture and remove smells, leaving your boots fresh for your next wearing.

** This recipe is from The Joy of Green Cleaning available on Amazon.com or at www.shopgreencleaning.com Make sure your follow my blog as I'll be sharing lots of recipes from the book!

Keeping It Clean (inside the dishwasher)

2011-02-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

I have a personal relationship with my dishwasher. I saved up all my coffee money for a year (shows you how much coffee I drink) and bought a Miele dishwasher. Ohhhhh am I ever glad I did. The best thing about it is the stainless steel insides! It never looks dark and dirty in there. If you not lucky enough to have a stainless steel dishwasher - start saving - and in the meantime try these tricks to keep yours looking sparkling clean.

Look for a jar of Tang at the grocery store. Yes, they still sell it and it does a wonderful job of cleaning off mineral deposits on the walls of your dishwasher. (wonder what it does to your stomach) Just put a few tablespoons in the soap dispenser of your washer and run it empty.
Can't find Tang? The next best thing is Kool-aide non-sweetened lemonade. Put the packet in the dish soap dispenser and run with or without your dishes. If your glasses are getting cloudy then definitely run them with the Kool-aide.

Try using a product called Lemi-shine. This is dehydrated lemon juice and it works great for removing the mineral deposits on the inside of your dishwasher. Marilyn, an associate at my store, used this on her dishwasher - with her white dishes inside - and swears she got a new-looking set of dishes!

If you are enjoying this tips, I'd love it if you'd choose to follow my blog. You can also find more daily tips on www.facebook.com/shopgreencleaning

Green Spot Cleaner Beats The Big Guys!

2011-02-02T07:36:00.000-08:00

Sandra P from Hyannis said I could share our conversations about her carpet spot and my suggestion for removing it. Maybe this will work for you too!

Sandra P:
I have a very stubborn stain in my den rug. I don't know if I have ruined my chances for getting it out while trying a couple of different cleaners to try to remove it -- ~~Gonzo~~ and a commercial carpet cleaning spray.
Is there anything you would recommend -- will your general cleaner (vinegar, borax, etc.) help or maybe you have another suggestion.

Leslie:
Hey Sandra! You can try a few things but remember using a commercial cleaner can set a stain. One question first- any idea what it could be? Dirt, grease, food- just a general idea would help.

Sandra P:
I have used more than one commercial cleaner on this spot and I was afraid that I have set the stain. I have no idea what originally caused the stain. We enter the house through an outer entryway and then into the den -- and the stain is within the first couple of steps into the den. So, I assume that it is something that was brought in from outside.It really bugs me because it is the first thing I notice when I walk into the house!!!
Hoping you might have a solution.

Leslie:
Okay - let's start simple. Lets combine some borax (3 tbs) in some hot water (heat water in microwave) and get it to dissolve. Then add some club soda and top it off with 2 tbs baking soda. This should not be a paste. Place some on a clean white rag and work from the edge of the stain in. See if you get some of the stain to come off on the rag. Do not pour the mixture on the stain - it might bleed out into a bigger spot. Keep blotting and let me know if anything comes off. (this recipe is from my book:
The Joy of Green Cleaning)

Sandra P:
Leslie, What can I say? I feel that you have given me a great gift! This solution has removed the stain -- and I had a couple of other little ones in my living room that I have been fighting with for some time -- and IT WORKED ON THEM, TOO. You are a wealth of information. I am looking forward to receiving my Joy of Cleaning book. I want to thank you for giving me the time and attention and in such a timely manner.
You are awesome. I will be sure to spread the word to any of my friends who care about a clean house and convince them that there is a safe way.

Just remember, simple things in your pantry really can clean just as well as commercial cleaners. If you want to start greening your cleaning, but don't know how to get started, buy my book. It will giver you over 70 recipes that will help you take the toxins out of your home! And keep your family healthy. Together we can change the world - one spray bottle at a time!

Something Old, Something New - When It Comes To Laundry

2011-01-30T13:30:00.000-08:00

Everyone has some little trick to make laundry easier. Here's one I heard this week that I really questioned worked. So I came home and gave it a try. Here is the tip:
Place your wet clothes outside on a sunny day right on top of the snow and it will remove spots and if their white - makes them really white.

That's it! Such a simple tip. Seemed to good to be true so I gave it the ultimate test. My husbands old white bathrobe that should have been thrown out years ago. It's been turning yellow and has spots all over it. So I put it into my front loading washer with just a 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide and let it go through the wash and rinse cycle. Then I put it outside on the snow in the sunniest spot in the yard and left for work. When I came home it was frozen solid. I brought it in and put it in the clothes dryer. When it came out it was "hotel white"! Not being totally convinced that it had worked - I took it up and put it next to my new white robe and you really can't tell the difference. I don't know the science behind why it works - I just know it works. You've got to try it and let me know if it works for you!

Leslie Cleans Up On FOX News

2011-01-24T19:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the things we talked about while cleaning up at the FOX News studio. I showed Danielle some of the great new products you can use for greening your cleaning. Some of my favorites are Whatever by BetterLife and Modern Mermaids all purpose cleaner. I also brought my favorite "blue" cloth to clean all the stainless steel and glass. And instead of paper towels, try a Skoy cloth. See cleaning can be fun if you have the right tools!

Dirty Little Secrets

2011-01-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

Everyone has a dirty little secret - something you'd rather not have shared with the rest of the world. Well, mine are never left "unshared". My "tall, dark and handsome husband" loves to share my secrets - especially at church!

Last Sunday was my turn at giving the children's sermon at church. I was all ready to go until I woke up with a little "sickness". I was down for the count. My husband offered to handle it for me. He is exceptional at public speaking and can do a children's sermon with his eyes closed.

His eyes were definitely closed when he picked up the old guitar case he decided to use as a prop! It was behind the piano and hadn't been dusted in a LONG time. Not only did he show everyone at church what a bad housekeeper I can be - it also went up on our local TV station! Now everyone knows I don't clean behind the piano. My response? LETITGO! (it's the line my sweet 16 year old taught me) LETITGO! - it's one word and it's perfect. So I don't clean behind the piano. Nobody should be back there- and nobody cares! Now I just have to go back to bed 'cause I feel my "little" sickness getting bigger!

Guest Post from Eco Ellies

2011-01-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

When you find someone that thinks like you do, you love to share their work. I'm sharing this article and I think you'll find it very interesting! If you want to find out more about Eco Ellies, you can visit their blog at http://blog.ecoellies.com/    This article was written by Taylor Romanowski of EcoEllies.com
=======================================================================

     We all use them, buy them and store them in our houses; they make our kitchen’s sparkle and bathrooms sanitary, but are household cleaning products actually safe? The answer is…negative! Countless common household cleaners are far from safe – they’re bad for our health, the air we breathe and the oceans we swim in. Our environment is hurting but we can help – ditch your usual generic brands and switch to eco-friendly, organic cleaning products. It’s better for the environment, YOUR health and your families – what more could you ask for?

     Most universal cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that have serious adverse effects on humans, our households and the environment. It’s a great possibility that chemicals associated with eye, skin or respiratory irritations are sitting in your house right as you’re reading this. Everyday, bleaches, detergents and all-purpose cleaners are poured down drains, circulated through ventilation systems and disposed of improperly. Chemicals in these cleaners have tremendous environmental consequences including air and water pollution, ozone depletion, bioaccumulation of toxic substances in plants and animals and endocrine disruption in wildlife, affecting animal’s reproductive ability.
     According to Fox News, “In 1960, the U.S. government passed the Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act, freeing companies from disclosing dangerous ingredients in household products unless harmful side effects appear immediately after improper use.” After more than 50 years, these products are still being produced, and for some surprising reason, most of these chemicals have not been banned from shelves even though their dangers are known.
     Chlorine bleach must be labeled “poisonous” if swallowed, but not as “deadly” when dumped down the drain. Yet, deadly is exactly what it is, and that’s not only for our friends swimming in the deep blue sea. We hope everyone already knows not to mix products containing bleach, ammonia, vinegars and other acids – mix bleach with most generic toilet-bowl cleaners and you get the result of chlorine gas. Mix it with ammonia and you’ll get chloramine gases. Both are extremely toxic choking gases made from ingredients sitting right in your house! When exposed to chemical cleaning agents, our risk of developing allergies and cancers increases while our immune system decreases. In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “estimated that the fumes produced by common household cleaners were three times more likely to cause cancer than other air pollutants.” Yet, we still buy these products and use them in our homes daily.

Waiting for the call from Martha Stewart Radio!

2010-12-15T03:39:00.001-08:00

I love radio interviews. As I sat at my desk waiting to talk to Martha (or at least her radio station) I'm was in fleece pants and a big bulky sweatshirt. I did get up early enough to make sure my voice worked and get some caffeine in me so I sounded "perky", but no shower, no make-up and no worrying about a bad hair day.

So what do you do when your up 1 and 1/2 hours before a radio interview at 7:00 am and have had too much caffeine? Well, for me the answer was simple. You clean! I know, I'm sick but I had to do something to pass the time. And anyway my house needed it. So in when the laundry, the dishes, and even cleaned up the bathroom! It's amazing what a little caffeine can do for you at 5:30 in the morning!

I'm not going to be worth much after 5:30 pm tonight, so I'll share what we talked about now!

Automatic Dishwasher

Rinse your dishes if you aren't going to run the dishwasher right away.

When stacking the dishwasher, be very careful to not put the pots and pans on the bottom rack as it will block the water flow to the top shelf.

Use the right dish soap for your water. Everyone has different water so you have to try different soaps. You can add some table salt to the dish soap to give it a boost.

Don't put your crystal in the dishwasher as it may bump up against something else and chip.

Hand Washing

Use rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Make sure to use a sink mat to protect the dishes and prevent chipping.

Rinse the dishes with a nice dish brush if you don't have time to wash them. I like the Full Circle Suds Up Brush.

Towel dry your dishes with a microfiber drinkware towel. There is a nice one from E-cloth.

Use a green dish soap, specifically one that is scent free for your guests that may have sensitivities. Martha Stewart's works very well.

If you are going to someone else house for the holidays, bring a little gift of some fancy rubber gloves and dish soap. Then offer to help with the dishes. Many a holiday tradition revolves around sharing in the kitchen clean-up!

Christmas Mice Are Not Invited

2010-12-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

In fairy tales and Christmas stories, mice are cute and make the story fun. But in a real world, the last thing you want running around your house is a mouse. I have learned that you can use a green alternative to poisons and traps. It's simply putting peppermint oil on cotton balls and placing them where you think the little guys might be hanging out. Some of my friends have recommended putting an oil soaked cotton ball in the back of every drawer in the kitchen - just in case. How does this work? The rodents don't like the smell and avoid the area where you place the peppermint! Doesn't get any easier (and greener) than this.

The Green Cleaning Fairy (that's me!)

2010-12-03T12:28:00.001-08:00

An Article from Sara Snow

She calls herself the Green “Cleaning Coach” and Leslie Reichert spends her days encouraging people in the “art” of homekeeping and green cleaning.
From the obvious dangers like toxic chemicals under the kitchen sink to hidden hazards that can be found all around the home, Leslie helps teach simple techniques to keep families and pets safe from hidden health risks.
Here are a couple of her tips that I think are great!
Use your dishwasher to remove bacteria from your dish cloths. Just run on the hot cycle.
Clean your bathroom accessories in the dishwasher. This includes the toothpaste holder, soap dishes and even your toothbrushes to remove germs and build-up.
Instead of using a typical dusting product, try using a light dusting spray made from 2 tea bags, lemon juice and three cups of water. Just boil the water, add the tea bags and then leave them in the water until it cools completely. Put the tea mixture in a spray bottle with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Lightly spray the mixture on a microfiber clothand dust.
High chair- Use a microfiber cloth with an all-purpose cleaner which is a mixture of white distilled vinegar and seltzer water. The vinegar is a natural way to kill bacteria and germs. If you don't like the smell of vinegar, you can add an essential oil to it and the oil will cancel out the vinegar smell. Now you have a great anti-bacterial spray that won't hurt the baby.
Leslie is also author of the fantastic new ebook The Joy of Cleaning.
Learn more from this fantastic resource by visiting http://www.greencleaningcoach.com

A Little Green (cleaning) for the holidays

2010-10-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

Having people over for a holiday dinner? Getting ready doesn’t need to be stressful; it just takes a little extra planning. And cleaning up with a “green” focus will let your friends and family know you really care about them. Your home should have the aroma of your incredible meal – not the toxic fumes of cleaning products. Try replacing your typical cleaners with something natural. You may find that cleaning up before and after your party is fun without the strong smell of chemicals. Below are some green cleaning tips and alternatives to use during the holidays.

Dusting-
Instead of using a typical dusting product, try using a light dusting spray made from 2 tea bags, lemon juice and three cups of water. Just boil the water, add the tea bags and then leave them in the water until it cools completely. Put the tea mixture in a spray bottle with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Lightly spray the mixture on a microfiber cloth and dust.

Put your curtains in the dryer for a few minutes to remove dust and also kill dust mites. This is faster that trying to wash, dry and press your curtains and they will look just as fresh and clean.

Laundry-
You want to get a head start on any laundry you may need done for your dinner party. Find the table cloths, napkins and dish towels you are going to need for dinner. Keeping with the green theme, you should launder them in a homemade laundry soap. Some of the ingredients in a DIY soap are soap flakes, borax, washing soda and baking soda. You can find these items at your local grocery store or on line. This soap works well in both a front loading washing machine as well as a top loader. And your linens will be clean and fresh without any lingering fragrance from a detergent.

Mopping-
Clean your floors with the same type of mop being used by hospitals. Hospitals love microfiber mops because they clean well, get washed in-between uses and prevent cross contamination. By using a microfiber mop you can avoid using heavy, toxic cleaners since the microfiber does the work. Just a spray bottle of diluted cleaner straight on the floor and wipe it with your damp mop. You can clean of all your floors with just wipe. And you won’t be pouring a bucket full of dirty water into the water system.

Silver Polish –
Try using an old fashioned way to clean your silver. Just place a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of your kitchen sink and fill it with 2-3” of boiling water. Add a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of salt. Place your silver in the sink so each piece of silver touches the foil. The tarnish will disappear off the silver and onto the foil.

If you prefer to rub your silver with a paste, use toothpaste to make it sparkle.

Clean up-
Say yes to any offers by your guest to help you clean up after dinner. It is a great way to have the kitchen cleaned up quickly and to continue to enjoy their company. Mix up your own gentle dish soap for anything that has to be washed by hand. You can make your own by using a liquid castile soap and adding 8 drops of a pure essential oil. Try using peppermint or orange clove essential oils to celebrate the holidays.

You can also mix up your own automatic dish soap by using a tablespoon of salt, borax and baking soda. Place the mixture in the powder dispenser of your dishwasher and then top with concentrated lemon juice. You will see the mixture start to foam, so just close the dispenser lid and start the dishwasher. This mixture works with the hot water to remove all the grime on your dishes.

If you are looking for more DIY recipes for green cleaning, read the book: The Joy of Green Cleaning. It has 70 different recipes to help you make your own cleaning products. You can purchase a hard copy or download the e-book.

Green Cleaning Around Baby

2010-09-26T05:01:00.000-07:00

When it comes to cleaning baby items we have to walk a fine line between trying to get rid of the germs and not using toxic chemicals that the baby could ingest. I suggest using some DIY recipes for cleaning. These are recipes you can make at home and will work safely on items that are near your baby. We also have to remember that babies LOVE to put their mouths on everything, so we should use very green cleaners on all their items.

Here are some recommendations for cleaning specific baby items:

High chair- Use a microfiber cloth with an all-purpose cleaner which is a mixture of white distilled vinegar and seltzer water. The vinegar is a natural way to kill bacteria and germs. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, you can add an essential oil to it and the oil will cancel out the vinegar smell. Now you have a great anti-bacterial spray that won’t hurt the baby.

Toys- Use hydrogen peroxide to clean baby toys. Whether hard plastic, or stuffed- hydrogen peroxide will kill the germs, yet is safe if baby puts them in his/her mouth. Hydrogen peroxide is used in hospitals to kill germs and is also used by dentists to whiten our teeth!

Baby tub – Clean the baby tub before and after being used. Spray it down with an all-natural spray and wipe it with a microfiber cloth. The microfiber will catch and hold the dirt and wipe it right off the tub. You want to make sure you clean the tub after the bath too- just because you just never know what may have gotten into the water during the bath (if you get my drift). Babies don’t know how to control their bowels or bladder, so you need to use the antibacterial spray on the tub after the bath too.

Crib -Get a very good mattress cover for the mattress. Organic mattresses are the best, but if you can’t afford them, just buy a high quality mattress cover to keep the allergens inside the mattress. I would also recommend an organic cotton cover too. Launder it with a gentle laundry soap so that it doesn’t bother the baby’s skin or promote allergies. You can make your own laundry soap from a recipe. I have one from my Great Grandmother which has four simple ingredients – baking soda, washing soda, soap flakes and Borax. This recipe washes totally out of the clothes so there won’t be any residual detergent in the mattress cover to aggravate the baby’s skin. If you don’t want to make your own, there is a good natural soap called Charlie’s Soap that moms love for baby clothes and diapers.

Changing table – Keep a bottle of anti-bacterial spray (natural) right by the table for accidents. I also would use paper towels here – so you can throw it away right after cleaning. I know this isn’t a green solution- but it is safer than reusing a rag or cloth. The linens should be cleaned in a gentle laundry soap.

Stroller – Keep a microfiber cloth and a small spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner in the bottom of the stroller. Cleaning right when an accident happens is much easier that waiting until you get home. A simple spill will harden in the hot car, and will be 10x worse to remove. Also, a simple spot remover for spills on the fabric would be good to keep with you as well. You can make a spot wipe with vinegar and club soda with some lemon essential oil to keep handy. Just soak the mixture in paper towels and store in a zip lock bag.
Three recipes for DIY cleaners that are safe for babies and young children
They all are from The Joy of Green Cleaning. Back Door carries many of the items you need for DIY recipes.

Great Grandma’s Laundry Soap

2 cups Soap Flakes1-cup baking soda

1-cup Borax

1-cup washing soda

(Essential oil for scent 6-8 drops)

Mix and store in an airtight container. Use 2 tablespoons for a front loader – 1/2 cups for a top loader.

Daily All-Purpose Cleaner (disinfectant)

1-cup white vinegar

1-cup seltzer water

8 drops tea tree oil

1/8 cup hydrogen peroxide (will only disinfect for short time – you can add more each time you want to use the cleaner. Hydrogen peroxide is very volatile and turns to water quickly)

Spot Wipes

1/4-cup vinegar

1/4-cup club soda

8 drops essential oil – for scent

Combine all these ingredients and soak 20 heavy-duty paper towels in the mixture. Squeeze out the excess and store in a zip lock bag. Use for spots and spills as needed.

Boston GreenFest 2010

2010-08-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day at Government Center in Boston. I was glad I was asked to speak. It was a great event for the entire family. Here are some highlights of the event if you weren't able to make it in!

You couldn't have asked for a better weather day!

The Plaza was filled with people, vendors and lots of great music!

It seemed like everything was green!

I got to meet some great new friends and learn about their businesses. This is Emily form Gazelle. http://www.gazelle.com/ They are into "re-use". They will actually get you cash for your old electronics.

I also got to catch up with some old friends. This is the Bioneers by the Bay booth. They were promoting their Connecting for Change event in October. Make sure you check it out.

There was even something there for Red Sox Fans! It was the perfect event for everyone!

Healthy green thoughts for back to school

2010-08-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that "plastic" smell when you purchase a new pair of shoes or an inexpensive back pack? Imagine that smell times 30! Thirty kids that is. You child is going to go back to school with all those other kids that all will be wearing their new clothes, new shoes and new back packs. AAAUUUGGGHH the smell.

That smell is called off gassing. All the chemicals in those items are pouring their smell or gas into your children's' class room. I once had the opportunity to meet an air quality scientist from Canada that told me if we ever could test the air in our children's classrooms, we would find a chemical cocktail. No wonder our kids are suffering from an amazing outbreak of asthma and allergies.

So what can we do to help our kids get though the chemical filled first days of school? Try checking with your school district and see if they have any plans to check the air quality in the school during the first week (or days). of school. Also, try to buying "green" items and share your finds with other parents and even the PTA! Write an article like this one- or just direct your friends here - so you can raise awareness. Awareness is the best solution. No one thinks about the fact that the smells we smell from our new clothes and shoes can actually be doing damage to our kids lungs! Who would have thought!

What is a "Skoy"?

2010-06-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

I just uploaded a video about my favorite item for my kitchen. No it's now a sauce pan or even a cool new appliance - it's a Skoy Cloth! If you haven't tried one yet, you need to contact me and I'll find a way to get you one!

A Skoy Cloth is imported from Europe and it's so funny that when I talk about the Skoy with anyone from overseas, they all know exactly what I'm talking about. A Skoy is a cross between a paper towel and a sponge. It's biodegradable and very economical. I ran the numbers and one Skoy is the equivalent to 15 rolls of paper towels. Since most paper towels are running about two bucks a roll, we are talking about $30.00. One Skoy costs around 2 bucks.

A Skoy Cloth really lasts a long time. On the back of the package, it says 6 weeks but I think I'm going on 6 months or more on some of mine! Watch the video and you can learn some other ways to disinfect a Skoy and how to make it last much longer!

If you want to buy a pack of 4 Skoy Cloths, you can go here and place an order. If you use the word "skoy" in the checkout, you will get free shipping!

Happy Cleaning!

A visit to Dunia in Maynard, Ma

2010-05-17T18:06:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to spend the day with Paige from Dunia - an Earth-friendly store for your home, your body and your soul. Dunia is the perfect place to find treasures for yourself or your eco-friends. Stop in frequently as Paige has new items coming in all the time. You can see a sample of her store at www.dunia-ecostore.com but the real fun is experiencing it in person. Trust me, it is worth the trip. Dunia is located in downtown Maynard, which has some other great stores for your shopping experience. Enjoy!

Taste of the Vally 2010

2010-05-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

Taste of the Valley 2010
Our Taste of the Valley 2010 was a HUGE success! Everyone had a great time and we can't thank Friendly Discount Liquors for their great showing of wine and beer (I especially liked the Blueberry Beer - it tasted like a sparkling after dinner drink!) Make sure you stop in and check out the special pricing for the wines at Friendly's. They usually will extend the pricing for a few more days after our event!
We also would like to thank Brian's Restaurant, The Daily Bread, How Sweet it is Cupcakes, Whole Foods and In-Home Chef for their generous donations of food. Please let them know how much you appreciated their involvement!

Thanks to your donations we raised enough to provide the Summer Lunch Program enough funds to continue another year! Thanks to you- we can feed the hungry kids in the Blackstone Valley.

Look for more about the event in the Around Town Section of the Telegram and Gazette. Their photographer was snapping pictures all night. Check back on this site and see if you're in one of them! Also, please comment on this post and let us know what you thought of the evening!

Here are the winners of our raffle- Good Luck!

Ming Tsai autographed cookbook - Won by Marcia Davis
Cookie Lee Jewelry - donated by Sally Staples - 542092
The Healthy Kitchen Cookbook - 542093
Plant-It-Up herb garden - won 541713
Koopman Lumber Garden Kit - won by Liz Redden
Southwick Zoo 6 tickets - 542137
Creative Arts Studio Sketch Book and gift certificate - 541289
Plant-It-Up Floral Arrangement - 542119
Sundeen Furniture $50 gift certificate - 541671
Valley Therapeutic Massage gift certificate - 541626
Beyers 12 1/2 gallon ice cream - 542079
Blackstone National Grill gift certificate - 542006
77 Blossom Floral Arrangement - 542114
Hug Your Customer book - 541898
Little Man Bag - 541313
Lowell's Restaurant gift certificate - 542115
Mackenzie Mazur's Me and my Piano CD - 541895
Origional Cyn Jewelry - 541905
Paw Planet gift certificate - 542143
Capron Falls Gift Basket - 542141
Walmart Gift Card - 541615
Gloveables apron and gloves - 541880
Harry's Pizza gift certificate - 542063
Friendly Discount Liquors basket - 541703

Again we thank you for your support and you can pick up your items at The Back Door, 432 N. Main St. in Uxbridge, MA - Our hours are 10-5:30 Monday-Friday and Saturday from 9-3.

Good Old Fashioned Laundry Soap!

2010-04-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

I joined The Daily Grommet in showing you how to use a simple laundry soap for your clothes instead of a detergent. Check out this video below!

Fun Factor!

2010-03-11T04:27:00.000-08:00

Since I'm presenting at 5:00 (Happy Hour right?) at the GOHO Theater in Chicago this weekend, I figured I'd add a little fun to the "clean-up". What better way to reward yourself for a job well done that to mix up a Dirt Martini. No, I didn't say dirty martini- it's Dirt. My kids favorite dessert is "DIRT" which if your interested is absolutely wonderful and a cinch to make. So I thought I'd make up an adult version to share with the audience at the IHA show in Chicago. This will be a perfect ending to a long day. It has a little caffeine, chocolate, vanilla syrup and vodka. Yum! You are going to love this. Mix this up after you've done your clean-up. You deserve it!

Recipe for a Dirt Martini

1 1/2 cup water

1/4 cup coffee syrup

2 tbs. Hershey's chocolate syrup

2 tbs. vanilla syrup

1 cup milk

Godiva Powdered Cocoa

2-3 cups of ice

2 shots vodka

Place the water and coffee syrup in a blender. Mix gently. Add the milk, chocolate syrup, vanilla syrup and blend. Add in the vodka. Finally fill the blender with ice and blend on high. Using a very wet Skoy Cloth or paper towel, wet the rim of a martini glass with water by placing it upside down on the cloth. Make sure the cloth is very wet. Then dip the rim of the glass in the cocoa. Pour the martini in your rimmed glass and enjoy!

Smelly Front Loading Washer?

2010-03-04T16:30:00.000-08:00

Are you dealing with a smelly front loading washing machine? I've been getting lots of questions about the smell coming from these new washers. One of my clients actually had me come over and see if I could help. Lets take a look at what's happening:

This is the inside of her washer. It's about 2 years old, and look at the black mold around the edges of the seal. Also, the water has stained the rubber so that is has a red tint to it. This may be causing some of the smell....

But look what happens when we pull the seal out! There is a slime and soap build up all inside this area. And look at the bubbles and moisture that is there. She said she hadn't run the washer in 24 hours, yet the seal is still soaking wet inside! This is where the smell is coming from. We need to clean this out and then make sure we leave the washer door open all the time.

We scrubbed the seal with a mixture of table salt, baking soda and borax. This mixture is safe to clean with and won't hurt the clothes if we don't get it totally rinsed off. Notice how the stain is starting to come off the rubber seal. But the black mold has permanently stained the rubber.
We wiped the entire drum with a microfiber cloth, which absorbed the remaining moisture and the rest of the cleaner.

Here you can see that the "green scrub" started to remove the stains on the rubber, but the black mold has stained the seal and it's not going to come off. There are a few things you can do to prevent this.

1. Keep the washer door ajar whenever it's not being used

2. Use a laundry soap the rinses totally out of your washer.

3. Wipe the inside of the seal on a regular basis with a microfiber cloth.

4. I advised my friend to schedule her repair man to come and replace the seal on her washer. Once it's been replaced she'll know how to keep this from happening again.

Video on getting started going green

2010-03-01T13:16:00.001-08:00

Watch this video and join those that have found that DIY cleaning products really work. The Eco-Me starter kit is a great way to go!!

What to get started green cleaning?

2010-03-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Have you thought about going green with your cleaning but just don't know where to start? Here is a great place to go. The Daily Grommet highlighted a great DIY kit from Eco Me. Check out the video below and link back to The Daily Grommet to purchase it. It's a great way to start "going green".

Be Fantastic...use less plastic!

2010-02-15T14:35:00.001-08:00

We have all started trying to avoid the plastic bags at the grocery stores, but what about the plastic bags that comes with our dry cleaning? New York alone discards more than 45 million plastic dry cleaning bags every year. Some say there are 300 million pounds of single use plastic dry cleaning bags clogging up the US landfills and threatening marine and wildlife.

Want to make a difference? Ask for your cloths to be "naked" the next time you visit the dry cleaner. Instead of covering them with plastic - bring along your own garment bag. I just found "The Green Garmento". This eco-friendly cover is a hamper, duffel and garment bag! I saw the reviews on it and had to try one. It is the most versatile thing I have ever seen. It holds 10-14 garments and has a shoulder strap and handles to make getting your clothes to the cleaner easier than ever. I have fought with nylon bags and collapsible containers for years. Now I have a system to hold the dirty laundry, get it to the dry cleaner and cover the clean clothes when I pick them up! Want to win one? I have one to give away on my give-away site.

Cleaning Can Be Fun - With Robin Hardy & me!

2010-02-01T18:17:00.000-08:00

Join us as we discuss great new ways to make cleaning fun! One hour of tips, tricks and recipes you can try in your own home! We made cleaning fun, fast, green and totally clean!

Join me on The Daily Grommet

2010-01-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

If you have a minute today- join me at The Daily Grommet's blog. We talked about green cleaning and they are giving away two copies of my book. Here is the video:

Slipping into 2010!

2010-01-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

All I wanted for Christmas was to get organized and spend some extra quality time with my kids. Little did I know that slipping on the ice and ending up on crutches was how I was going to do it. I should know to be careful about what I wish for.

Aside from the pain, I'm enjoying being waited on, watching old Disney videos that I still remember the words too, and really just BEING with my family. It's also fun to direct them and coach them on how to clean - from a chair! I'm really practicing my cleaning-coaching skills this week!

I hope you have a great 2010!

(picture from bostonherald.com)

This is always the best hour in my Holiday!

2009-12-19T20:10:00.003-08:00

Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army is the highlight of my Holiday! It was really cold, but we had lots of layers and laughs. My son even agreed to the antlers!

If you'd like to donate you can call 1-800-sal-army.

They do great work! Merry Christmas!

2009-12-19T20:10:00.001-08:00

A green Christmas idea with no carbon footprint!

2009-12-18T05:06:00.001-08:00

Here is a last minute idea for those wanting to share green things with friends, but don't want to leave a carbon foot print. Try downloading your favorite book as a PDF, then attaching it to an email and send it off to a friend. No paper, No shipping- No carbon foot print at all!

If you want to share my e-book with a friend, I'm offering a $5 off coupon since I'm joining Coach DQ on WNRI this morning. She is giving my book, The Joy of Green Cleaning, away for her Holiday gift give-away.

Since there is only one winner, I have a coupon so you can download my e-book for only $5! Attach my book as a PDF to an email and send to all your friends. What a great way to save money, time and the planet.

Join me for Coach DQ's Holiday give-away! Don't worry if you can't make it, you can use the $5 off coupon to download my e-book. Here is the link - http://bit.ly/8qmEUC and just use code:CGOJT

Green cleaning in a pinch

2009-12-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have to hear if from someone else. This is from Liz R. Thought you might like to hear how simple things do really work!

"I have a funny story for you. Last weekend we ran out of dishwasher detergent and Hubby wanted me to pick some up when I was at the store. Because I'm cheap, I told him we could make our own from the recipe in your book. He was skeptical, as usual. I made the batch as per the recipe in your book (The Joy of Cleaning). We ran it with the load of dishes in the dishwasher and voila! Sparkling clean dishes. The Green Cleaning Diva strikes again in converting a skeptic to use natural ingredients for cleaning! We'll never go back to Cascade dishwashing detergent again! Thanks ;)"

If you want to see how to make the dishwashing soap she's talking about you can watch this video for the directions. Give it a try- it really works!

Thanksgiving Laundry

2009-12-02T03:51:00.000-08:00

That's really an oxymoron- Giving thanks for laundry! Never! But this year we have found some great green laundry detergents to help keep the laundry clean and green. Here are some of the new detergents now available.

Charlie's Soap

Charlie's Soap comes in a powder and a liquid. You only use a teaspoon for an entire load. This bag does 80 loads of laundry! The other neat thing is that you don't see a lot of bubbles. I know this can really make you feel like it's not cleaning, but it does a great job and rinses totally out of you clothes. It's great for people with skin allergies and sensitivities. This bag retails for $14.99

Mrs. Meyers

Mrs. Meyers Laundry Soap is nice if you like a scent. This bottle does 64 loads in an HE machine. I personally like the smell of the Lemon, but they tell me the Basil is the best selling scent. Another great green alternative. This bottle is also $14.99

Persil

This box of Persil is very familiar to anyone that lives in Europe. Persil is the European choice for front-loading washing machines. This box does 80 loads and I love the way it leaves your clothes smelling fresh and clean. This box retails around $65.00

Soap Flakes

These soap flakes are the main ingredient in my Great-Grandmother's laundry soap recipe. If you want to try to make your own laundry soap just go to my book site for the free recipe and then buy a bag of this soap. You will be very surprised how well it works- and to make it a liquid, all you need to do is add some boiling water. This bag is only $9.95

Now there's a thought...

2009-11-24T04:02:00.001-08:00

I was getting ready to set my oven to "self cleaning", and thought- why can't I put my BBQ grates in there too? I looked it up and guess what- The Handyman actually recommended this tip in their October 2009 magazine as a way to clean your BBQ! Great minds think alike.

One thing I'm going to do is scrap off as much of the excess grease before putting them in the oven. I was thinking it would be really bad if the grease caught fire like it does on my grill! But if it works, my grill will look great for Thanksgiving. I decided to make grilled veggies and since the rest of the kitchen will be crowded- I'm going to step outside, catch some fresh air and grill the vegetables! (maybe with a glass of wine!)

Finish up the floors without a bucket

2009-11-23T03:29:00.000-08:00

Whenever I clean I always leave the floors for last, and since today is our last day to clean, -let's finish up with the floors. Tip: Do any last minute dusting now so the dust will land on the carpet or hard wood floor.

Hardwood floors and tile are really easy if you use a microfiber mop and a green floor cleaner. We don't have to waste water and cleaner in a bucket either. Instead you dilute the cleaner in a spray bottle and spray it directly to the floor. Then, wipe it down with a dry microfiber mop. Your floors will come out sparkling and you don't have to throw all that dirty, chemical filled water down the drain! A green way to clean the floors!

When vacuuming a room of carpet, always pick the spot opposite the entrance and vacuum around the outside of the room first. Then I vacuum my way out of the room and don't leave anything but "Vacuum Tracks" as Tim Allen used to say. His wife liked the marks the vacuum made so he spray painted them on the carpet so he could "get them right".

I want to wish you all a very Happy, Clean and Stress-free Thanksgiving. You now have two days to concentrate on the food, fun and family. Happy Thanksgiving to you all and know that I'm very thankful for all of you!

Surprise- Today is not the last day!

2009-11-22T04:19:00.000-08:00

Our goal was to have the entire home clean a few days before Thanksgiving so you could concentrate on the food and the fun. But today is not the last day. We aren't going to clean today, we are just going to check on a few things.

The first thing is the light bulbs. Make sure all your light bulbs are bright and working. If you need to replace some, remember you should recycle the old ones. You can either take them to Home Depot or look up your recycling program at http://www.earth911/. Just plug in your zip code and it will tell you where to go to recycle anything!

Guest towels - If you are having overnight guests, make sure you have enough and they are in great shape. You can add a scent of essential oil on a cotton ball inside them so your guests will feel special.

Fresh Flowers - Think about buying some fresh flowers in the next few days. Or get a few Poinsettia plants and place them around the house. This is a great Feng Shui idea that will make your guests feel more comfortable. And it will naturally cleanse the air.

Check things outside - You might want to check on your front door mat. Do you think you need a new one? And do some little things around the outside of your home like fill the bird feeders and make sure the trash cans are put away. You want your home looking it's best - inside and out.

Check on your front hall closet - Make sure you have enough room in your closet for your guests' coats and more than enough hangers so you don't have to hang their coat over a chair. You want them to feel that their belongings are just as important as they are!

Just take a "walk" around your house as if you were a guest and see what your guests will see. I suggest starting from your car in the driveway, walk up the walk and then into the front entry way. Today is a great day to see how welcome they will feel.

Day 2 Can Green Cleaners remove bacteria from your counters?

2009-11-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

You have got to watch this video!

For today only you can buy one bottle of Better Life- Whatever All Purpose Cleaner and get one free! This special is only good for today! And you can feel good about cleaning up after that Turkey on Thanksgiving!! And if you sign up for their newsletter you have a chance to win an ipod!! Go to http://www.cleanhappens.com/ to sign up!

Day 3 Use our green scrub in the Bathroom

2009-11-20T03:31:00.000-08:00

I hope you got to take a look at the first episode of Green Clean TV yesterday. In that video I made a green scrub that is the basis for lots of different cleaners for your home. With just four simple ingredients we can clean the counters and sink in our kitchen and also clean our bathrooms. Today we are going to use that same scrub in the bathroom our guests will be using. Since we have been keeping up with it, we should only need to use the scrub in the sink and inside the toilet. That's right - this scrub is great for cleaning the toilet - instead of using a cleaner filled with acid. This is safer for you and also the water system. So in case you didn't see yesterday's blog, scroll down and watch how we make up the "green scrub" then with a sparkle sponge or skoy cloth, scrub out the bathroom sink and then sprinkle the scrub in the toilet and swish with a brush. You are going to be really surprised! If you enjoy this recipe you'll love my book The Joy of Green Cleaning. It is also a great idea for Christmas!

Watch Green Clean TV - A Green Scrub for your kitchen

2009-11-18T04:54:00.000-08:00

Follow me in the video above and we will mix up a "green scrub" that you can use in the kitchen. Today we are going to clear off our kitchen counters and scrub* them down. If you ever watch a professional chef, they always start with a clean, clear counter with only the things they will be using left out. Try thinking like a professional and clear off the clutter. Put away things you won't be using during Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy the video as you are watching the first episode of Green Clean TV! Happy Cleaning!

Day 5 Quick Clean the "playroom"

2009-11-18T03:30:00.000-08:00

AAAUGGHH! Only 5 days left! Let's clean up the "PlayRoom" today. This is the room where the adults and kids will be watching TV,playing video games and hanging out while you're in the kitchen. At our house we call this the family room, but in reality it's a play room. To clean it we are going to use our new technology. Grab a dry microfiber cloth, a damp "blue" microfiber cloth and the vacuum. Pick a spot to start and work in a circle. You can dust with the dry cloth and use the damp blue one on computer screens, flat plasma TVs, glass pictures and furniture. Make sure you dust the wood trim too. One tip I've learned when dusting is work "top to bottom-back to front" and you won't miss a thing. After you've dusted the circle - finish dusting whatever is in the middle of the room, like your coffee table and any overhead lights. Vacuum yourself out of the room and you just cleaned like a professional. This entire room should only take you 15 minutes - even if it's really dusty. Put the CAUTION TAPE up and that room is all set for next Thursday (if only we could!)

**Remember we are having a Virtual Open House this Friday and Saturday. Follow us on Twitter (@greenyourclean) and our Give-away site to win free samples and offers both days!

Day 6 How does your home smell?

2009-11-17T03:15:00.000-08:00

My kids swear that every house has a smell. They love going over to my one friends' home because is smells "homey". I want my home to smell homey too. What I don't want is my home to smell like dog, cat or any other stale smell or to smell like I just cleaned it. And you would be surprised at the number of people that are sensitive to candles and other scents, so we want to be very careful about adding smells to cover others. Here are some different tips to make your home smell fresh without using chemicals.

Start with your garbage and recycling containers. Take them outside and rinse them with vinegar and water. After they are dry, sprinkle baking soda in the bottom before putting in the bag.

Clean out your drain in the kitchen sink with a recipe from my book: The Joy of Green Cleaning. Start with two tablespoons of baking soda sprinkled down the drain, then heat up a cup of white vinegar and pour that down the drain. The mixture will foam. Let this sit while you warm up hot water in your tea pot. Once it is boiling, pour that down the drain to flush out anything that may leave a smell.

Mix up a bottle of half vinegar and half water with a teaspoon of borax and spray around the base of your toilets. Let the mixture sit for awhile and then wipe with a microfiber cloth. This prevents any smells coming from underneath the toilet.

Avoid decorating with cut pines unless you check with your guests first. Many people are finding they are allergic to real pine and may have a reaction while visiting you. Try to use the artificial stuff for your guest's sake. I'm using the real stuff to decorate the outside of my entryway.

If you have a pet, consider trying a new product called FreshWave. This product neutralizes smells instead of covering them up. You can use it as a spray or it comes in a jar that you just leave open in the room. The jar of gel will last you all the way through New Years if you open it now. It really is amazing how it works. And you home won't smell like your pet.

Day 7 Look up!

2009-11-16T03:27:00.000-08:00

I find that when we are cleaning we tend to keep out heads down and focus on anything from the middle of the room down to the floor. But today we are going to look up. Let's check for any webs or dust that are on the tops of the walls. This is an easy task, as we have some great green technologies to use and don't take much effort.

My favorite is a microfiber mop. It has Velcro on the back so I just stick a clean dry microfiber pad on the end of the mop and dust the walls and ceilings. This will only take a few minutes in each room. You can also use an ostrich feather duster to get into smaller areas like lights and lampshades. Make sure you check around the tops of your doors and windows. Cobwebs are signs of small spiders so you may want to use your vacuum with a dusting brush and vacuum around the ceiling. Your vacuum will pull off the webs and anything else (bugs) that may be hanging around up there!

Day 8 Rest,Regroup and get Ready for next week

2009-11-15T05:49:00.000-08:00

Today is Sunday - and it is a great day to stop, rest and regroup. Let's go over the list of things we've done already to be ready for your guests. You will be very surprised how much you have gotten done!

Day 20- The guest bathroom is clean

Day 19 The refrigerator is clean and ready

Day 18 The microwave is all set

Day 17 All the small appliances are clean

Day 16 - 15 Your windows are sparkling clean and the light is pouring in

Day 14 The curtains are dust free

Day 13 The dining room is dusted

Day 12 The pantry is cleaned out and ready for the big shop

Day 11 All of our dishes and glasses are sparkling clean

Day 10 Our table cloth, napkins and runner are spot free and ironed

Day 9 The entry way is clean and saying "Welcome" to our guests

Today is the day to rest and get ready for another busy week. Go over the list above and work on things you really didn't have time to do during the week. I still have 4 sets of windows to clean and I'm going to wipe down my bathroom-(darn kids). Then sit down with a good book and a glass of wine and know you are going to be ready for Thanksgiving. Now you can understand why I call my book The Joy of Green Cleaning- I didn't say it was totally fun, but once you get a system, you can feel a lot better about "keeping your home". That's why we call it homekeeping.

Day 9 Make your entry say "Welcome"

2009-11-14T05:16:00.000-08:00

People say that within 5 minutes of meeting you, they have "sized" you up. I think that happens in your home too. The first impressions of your home should be welcoming to your guests. Today we are going to work on the entry way. This includes the outside sidewalk and steps into your home. Grab a broom and sweep everything outside out of the way. You are going to have to do this again before your guests arrive, but today look at the outside of your home as if you are a guest. Do you need to get a new mat at the front door? Can you put some cut greens into that empty flower pot? Take a new look at the way your home says "welcome to my home".

Inside you want to spend some time vacuuming the stairway. A quick tip is to put on a rubber glove on your left hand and use it to wipe around the crevices of the step. The rubber against the carpet will create static and easily pull dirt out of those tight places. Also carry along a wet rag and wipe down the wood trim along the sides of the stairs.

Dust and vacuum the entire entry and take a minute to look a the lighting. Make sure all the light bulbs are working and if you have a glass cover over the lights - either wipe them or take them off and pop them in the dishwasher. They will come out sparkling clean and light up your entry way. Shake out the entry mat and think about getting some fresh cut flowers a day before Thanksgiving. Now your entry will say "we are so glad you are here! Welcome and come join us!"

Day 10 Time to get serious about cleaning!

2009-11-13T03:22:00.000-08:00

OMG! Only 10 days to Thanksgiving! Can you believe it? We have to get to some serious stuff for the next ten days. Make sure you sign up to follow my blog so you don't miss out on anything before the big day!

Today we are going to check and clean the linens for the table. Nothing is worse than taking out the table cloth an hour before the guests arrive and finding a big spot on it! So lets check the table cloth, the cloth napkins, place mats and the table runner that you are planning on using. Look for any spots or stains that need to be treated. I have always kept a copy of Martha Stewart's Stain Guide in my laundry room so I know how to treat the stains. Treat all the stains and spots then put them in the washer. I have become a great fan of Charlie's Soap, mainly because it is great on stains and it rinses completely out of the clothes. Wash everything and then before you put them in the dryer, check to make sure the stains came out. You will set the stains if you dry them - so retreat and wash again. If you are having trouble getting the stains out with just a pre-treat, try using a toothbrush and the spot treatment on the spot before putting it back in the washer.

Once they are clean - put them in the dryer for a few minutes then take them out while they are damp and iron them. The wrinkles will come right out if you leave the cloth damp and use a hot iron. Hang the pressed table cloth on a hanger until you are ready to put it on the table.

You can always avoid all of this work and take the linens to a professional laundry. Try to locate a "green" dry cleaner or ask if they will do a regular laundry and press. If you have to use traditional dry cleaning, make sure you air out everything before putting them on the table. We don't want to have any fumes mixing with your wonderful meal on Thanksgiving Day!

Day 11 - Let's make sure our dishes are clean

2009-11-12T03:25:00.000-08:00

Wow, can you believe it! Only 11 days until Thanksgiving. We need to check the dishes that we are planning on using and make sure they are clean. I have a set of special dishes that I like to use all through the Holidays and since they have been stored in the basement, I need to get them out and make sure they are nice and clean. Even if you are using your every day dishes, you should wash the entire set and make sure you are going to have enough place settings for everyone. This includes checking your silverware.

I run a special cycle in my dishwasher especially for all the holiday dishes and glasses that I'm going to use for the day. Check the rims of the glasses to make sure none of them are chipped or cracked. Place the dishes carefully in your dishwasher and use a gentle dishwashing detergent like Mrs. Meyer's Automatic Dish Detergent so they come out sparkling clean. Then put the dishes inside a cabinet or airtight container so they stay clean. If you would prefer to hand wash them - try using Mrs. Meyers new holiday scent of Iowa Pine dish soap to really put you in the holiday mood.

Day 12 - Get the pantry ready for Thanksgiving

2009-11-11T05:03:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I downloaded a basic shopping list that I found on the Real Simple Magazine site. Since then I use it to make sure I don't forget the "basics" for Thanksgiving day. Nothing is worse than realizing that you need Sweetened Condensed Milk while trying to get the pie in the oven! (been there - done that). But before you can start stocking the pantry-we need to clean it out. Take a few minutes to go through the pantry or cupboard that is going to hold your "basics" for the day and make some room. Throw out those old bags of noodles that are probably stale anyway - you really aren't going to use them and you need the room. Make sure that while you have the shelves emptied, you give them a good wipe with a microfiber cloth and some soapy hot water. Now you are ready to shop! And if you need a basic shopping list, here is the one from Real Simple. http://bit.ly/3x6byf

Day 13 Non-traditional Dusting

2009-11-10T03:27:00.000-08:00

Since we have the windows nice and clean, we need to dust the rooms we will be using on Thanksgiving. Today we are going to dust the dining room. But we aren't going to dust it with polish. Instead I want you to use two microfiber cloths and some warm water in a bucket. Yep, that's it. If you have my Green Clean Starter Pack - we are going to use both the blue cloth and the green cloth. The way professionals dust a room is to pick a point and go around the room just once. Put both your cloths in the warm water (you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil for fun) and pick a spot to start. You are going to work - top to bottom - back to front - in a circle around the outside of the room. Use the green cloth to wipe down things like radiators, wood trim and really heavy dust. You want to use the blue cloth on your glass and furniture. Make sure you wring it out really well so it won't leave any water on the furniture. I use my blue cloth to dust my cherry furniture because it only uses a small amount of water and drys very quickly. Save the table in the middle for last and make sure you wipe down the legs of all the chairs and the table. We will have to dust the room once more before Thanksgiving, but it will be a light dusting that will only take 5 minutes. We "dusted" the entire room without spraying one chemical into your air! Breathe easy today!

Day 14"Dust the curtains"

2009-11-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

The Count Down Continues- Day 14
We are counting down to a clean Thanksgiving.

I don't know about you, but when I was cleaning my windows this weekend I noticed a nice layer of dust on my curtains. So I think today is the day to "dust" the curtains. This is going to be easy. Just take down the curtains in the rooms people will be in, like the family room (oh wait, that will be the men watching football- don't bother) kitchen and dining room. Pop the curtains in the dryer and set on cool for 15 minutes. Make sure you take them out right away and hang them back up. See - That Was Easy - I need my Staples easy button!

20 Day Clean-up to Thanksgiving

2009-11-03T03:31:00.000-08:00

Do you get stressed during the Holidays? Most women have a love/hate relationship with the 5 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mainly because we are too busy and adding huge events to our schedule is not really what we need in our crazy days. But what if we were ready for Thanksgiving. Our house was cleaned and organized and we had a shopping day set aside with a list and a plan. That's what we are going to give you in our "20 Day Countdown". You will get a daily plan to get and keep your home clean for the big family day- with days set aside for shopping and even one day to relax! Sound like a plan! That's the secret - having a plan and sticking to it. So join us every day until Thanksgiving and your home will be clean for guests and you will be stress free and ready for your family and the next holiday celebration!

Day 16 - 15 The windows and the window trim- Since it's the weekend, we have to do a few big jobs. Let's look at the "bright side"! Since it's getting darker earlier, we want to let in as much light during the day as we can, so cleaning the windows is good for us and will show off our home on Thanksgiving day. If you don't have a lot of time - at least clean the inside of the windows and the trim. Also, after Sunday you can start putting up your Holiday decorations in your windows!

Here is a recipe from my book (page 47) to remove acid rain spots on the outside of your windows: 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup lemon juice - mix together and apply with a sparkle sponge. Then clean your windows inside and out with the blue glass E-cloth. You can have crystal clear windows with just water- NO WINDEX-NO PAPERTOWELS-NO STREAKS-NO SMEARS-NO LINT! Cleaning your windows can be easy!! Then use the green all purpose E-cloth to wipe down the wood window trim with just water. It doesn't get much easier.

If you don't have the cloths or my book go to http://www.shopgreencleaning.com And here is a $5 off gift certificate to help you through your Thanksgiving cleaning- just use 5off in the

checkout! Happy Cleaning!

Day 17 - The Small Appliances - they all need a good scrub. Your going to have people in your kitchen trying to help you, so let's make it look like everything is always really clean. Grab an old toothbrush, a big bowl of warm soapy water, a spray bottle filled with half white vinegar -half water and an all-purpose microfiber cloth. Let's start with your coffee maker. Begin by spraying it down with the vinegar mixture. (make sure it's unplugged) Put the glass pot in the water to soak while you take that toothbrush and scrub all the crevices of the machine. Go ahead and make a mess. We are just going to wipe it down with the warm soapy water and dry it with the microfiber cloth. Scrub, rince and dry the pot and put it back on the burner. Now let's clean the inside by running some diluted vinegar through it. Make sure you run plain water through after the vinegar! Now doesn't that look better! On to the next appliance that might be used at Thanksgiving. And don't forget to check that electric knife you only use once a year.

Day 18 - The Microwave - here's a green trick. So one of your guests is nice enough to bring a side dish for dinner, but they need to warm it up in your microwave. No matter how hard you try- they are going to see inside it, so we might as well make sure it's clean. Here's a green way to "steam clean" it. Put a cup of water with 3 tablespoons of lemon juice in a bowl and place it in the microwave. Set the microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes depending on how long it takes your microwave to boil water. Let it boil and steam, When it stops - leave the door closed for another minute or two. Be very careful and remove the bowl and wipe the inside with a sponge or towel. If you have a sparkle sponge and skoy cloth, the job will be easy. Now that it's clean, wipe it out everytime you use with an e-cloth until Thanksgiving.

Day 19 - The Refrigerator - Let's green clean out that box. You want to empty out your refrigerator so we can make room for everything we will need for the big day. Let's purge all those old salad dressings, old jars of salsa and anything else that you really aren't going to need. Once you get it so you can see in there, mix up an all purpose cleaner of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 seltzer water. Don't add an essential oil to the vinegar because we want the vinegar to remove any smells in the frig. The vinegar smell should only last about 20 minutes and will neutralize the others. Wipe everything down with a microfiber cloth and the vinegar mixture. Now your refrigerator is ready to be opened by friends or family. Without embarrassment!

Day 20 - The Guest Bathroom - Let's get that bathroom that the guests will be using clean now- and then we can keep it clean with a wipe of a blue microfiber cloth and a quick vacuum! I just did my downstairs guest bath this morning. If you are having overnight guests, clean the shower they will be using really well now and if it's being used everyday, put a squeegee in there for everyone to help you keep the soap scum away. Depending on how dirty the guest's bathroom is, you can start cleaning today and finish it up tomorrow. Getting it clean will take a little time - but keeping it clean will be easy!

Good Bye Detergent in Body and Soul

2009-10-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

Our newest product was just highlighted in Martha Stewart's Body and Soul magazine. These scrubs are perfect for cleaning baked on, dried on or just tough food stains and grease. They are perfect for cleaning your Pampered Chef stoneware - that recommends not using any soap on the baking dishes and pizza stones. Now you can get them really clean - and "goodbye detergent".

The perfect joke for "The Cleaning Coach"

2009-10-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

Always trying to make it fun!

A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail with her girlfriends when Steven - a tall, exceptionally handsome, extremely sexy, middle-aged man entered.

He was so striking that the woman could not take her eyes off him.

The young-at-heart man noticed her overly attentive stare and walked directly toward her. (As All men will.) Before she could offer her apologies for staring so rudely, he leaned over and whispered to her,

"I'll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter what it is, for $20.00......On one condition"

Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was.

The man replied, "You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words."

The woman considered his proposition for a moment, And then slowly removed a $20 bill from her purse, which she pressed into the man's hand along with her address. She looked deeply into his eyes, and slowly and meaningfully said....

"Clean my house."

Friend or flu?

2009-10-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

A friendly handshake can spread germs fast and furiously. Although it is common to shake the hand of someone you meet, if that person has just sneezed or coughed into his hand, the germs are now on your hand. Germs can pass through handshakes repeatedly all day long. If you shake someone's hand, do not touch your face until you can wash or disinfect your hand.

This is a two way street so if you sneeze or cough into your hand, immediately wash your hands with warm water and soap or at the very least, rub some antibacterial solution on them. This way, when you shake hands, you are not spreading germs. Most everyone finds the practice of sneezing into your elbow proper etiquette.

Unfortunately, many antibacterial soaps, sprays and wipes contain an ingredient called Triclosan. Although it is a great germ killer, it is actually kind of a "microbial"pesticide and not something I would want to rub on my skin or my children's skin. Imagine rubbing your hands off with these wipes and then rubbing your eye! Ouch.

Fold some paper towels (recycled of course) neatly into a Ziploc bag and spritz with some water and lemon juice. Keep these handy in your purse or your child's backpack. After you shake hands with someone or sneeze, wipe your hands off with your "green" wipes. This will help all of us stay a little greener, a little cleaner and a lot healthier.

For more green tips and recipes on making soaps, cleaners, etc. from natural products instead of chemicals, click on the link to visit: http://www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com/ or follow them on twitter: @greenyourclean

Halloween Clean-up - tips for removing chocolate stains

2009-10-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

Now that all your little goblins are home and rummaging through their sacks of candy, you better get ready for the Halloween Clean-up. Here are some things you need to have on hand to get out the chocolate stains.

1. Fels Napha Bar Soap*

2. Dawn dish washing detergent (foaming)*

3. Soap Flakes

4. Ivory Soap Bar

When your little one gets a chocolate stain on their cloths, try using the Soap Flakes or Ivory Soap first. It is gentler on the clothes and the water system. My grandmother always kept a bar a Fels Napha next to her old soap stone laundry sink. Whenever she saw a stain, she would just rub it away with that bar of soap. My mother in turn used the Ivory Soap bar and it seemed to work for her. The Dawn dish soap works well because it contains alcohol and cuts through the grease and oil in the chocolate. Make sure when you are trying to remove stains that you don't use hot water and don't put the clothing through the dryer until it's totally gone. The heat from the dryer will permanently set the stain.

*The ingredients in these are not what I would consider "green". I would consider using them for special spots and restricted usage.

Quite the mess- easy clean up!

2009-10-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

Ouch!

A glass jar of spagetti sauce on a tile floor. Not what you or I wanted to be dealing with at the end of a long day. After I got through with a few XXXXXXX, I went to grab the paper towels. Yes, shame on me, but I just couldn't figure out what would sop up all that sauce without making a bigger mess- AAhhaaa! Check out what worked better!

This was the mess after I picked up the glass.

The microfiber cloth was picking up everything as it went. This was only the first pass.

There, all clean. Do you know how many paper towels that would have taken? And the cost of the entire roll (of which I would have used most if not all of) would have been $3-$4 dollars. My microfiber cloth will be good for another 299 washings. Not bad for only $7.95

E-cloth - a chemically free super "hero"

2009-10-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

When I was introduced to the E-Cloth over a year ago, I was already familiar with microfiber. But this cloth from Europe is absolutely wonderful. I have been testing it for over a year along with a group of professionals we call "the green team". This group of testers take on evaluating any new product before it comes into our store. And everyone on the "team" loves the E-cloth.

The Back Door specializes in green cleaning products and the E-cloth is now the cornerstone of our inventory. E-cloth has a number of different products that are specialized for different cleaning jobs. The kitchen pack is my personal favorite. It comes with both a glass cloth and an all purpose cleaning cloth.

E-cloth is a very high quality microfiber engineered with a finer weave and has more cleaning edges than typical microfiber cloths. This makes it more effective on things like glass windows, stainless steel and even grease.

I do a lot of speaking around the country and during one of my talks a lady in the back of the room told us that she worked in the lab that tested the E-cloth. She saw personally that the E-cloth removed more bacteria from a counter top than typical antibacterial products. This is because the E-cloth picks up the bacteria and holds onto it until you wash it in hot water. It also breaks up and holds onto the grease that a typical rag or sponge would leave behind.

The cost savings with an E-cloth are incredible. You can reduce the amount of paper towels and harsh cleaners you are using AND save money! Say good bye to traditional cleaning and enter the new age of technology!

Our E-cloth

2009-10-19T05:13:00.001-07:00

The Daily Grommet reviews E-cloth. Check out what they say about our favorite cleaning cloth. To purchase go to www.shopgreencleaning.com

Tips from "The Moms"

2009-10-14T04:56:00.000-07:00

What can you do to make your home look cleaner than it really is?

I’ve been lucky enough to have two mom’s that have shared their homekeeping tips with me for years. Both my mom and my mom-in-law have very clean homes. Once I had a family of my own with three kids and a dog, I could never figure out how they did it. My home always looked “unkept”. So I went back to both of them and asked for a little advice. Each had some little secrets to keeping their home looking so good.

1. If you only have time for one thing- vacuum the floor. When your floors look clean everything else will look better. Even vacuum the kitchen floor. When you pick up the big dirt, the other stuff will disappear.

2. Try making your bed every day. This is for your mental health, since we usually don’t let guests into our bedrooms. When your bed is made the rest of the room will look better. And there is nothing more relaxing than ending your day in a room that looks clean.

3. Don’t pile your dishes in the sink. Put them directly in the dishwasher. Dirty dishes create negative energy, especially if they are piled up in the sink. If you can train your family to do one thing- make it that they put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Try running the dishwasher at night and empty it before you leave for the day. Then no one will have the excuse that the dishwasher was full of clean dishes.

Bed bugs, college and green solutions

2009-10-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

I had a new experience while delivering my oldest daughter to college this year. We were told to be careful and keep on the look out for bed bugs! The last time I heard about bed bugs was my dad saying, “sleep tight - don’t let the bed bugs bite”. I never took that saying literally!

But I’ve learned that over the past thirty years, bed bug infestations have become an epidemic in college dorms, hotels and household bedrooms across the nation. Mainly nocturnal, bed bugs grow to about five mm in length and are reddish-brown in color. They leave bite marks that can be easily confused with flea or mosquito bites.

Finding bed bugs in your home can be a fairly shocking event, though it seldom points to unsanitary living conditions. Exposure to these pests can occur virtually anywhere, from hotels to movie theaters. The increase of globalization, travel for work and university, coupled with the early 1970s banning of the powerful insecticide, DDT, has led to a rise in bed bug infestations.
Once they’ve made their presence known, bed bugs are difficult to be rid of. They can hide inside walls and furniture, and become dormant, living up to a year without feeding.

Exterminators often visit the same home every three to six months, despite the fact that these bugs will build up a resistance to pesticides over time. Constant exposure to pesticides can be dangerous to your health and your loved ones, leading to severe illness.

One thing you should know is that bed bugs hate steam and intense heat. The Steamboy Floor Steamer, manufactured from the Canadian-based company, Reliable, is a powerful choice in wiping out these bugs and their eggs, without the exposure of harmful chemicals. This steamer comes with microfiber covers that allow for cleaning on a diverse array of surfaces, from hard wood floors, tile, linoleum and direct use on mattresses. The cleaner is built with a triangular, swiveling head, making cleaning under furniture and in corners easy and effective.
Here are some other great tips to help rid you of these difficult pests:

1. Make sure to clear all rooms of excess clutter. This means removing piles of newspapers, books, clothes and toys if you have young children. Once driven from walls, mattresses and bedsprings, bedbugs will hide just about anywhere.

2. Don’t unpack in the bedroom. Take clothing and linens directly from the suitcase to the washer, and submerge items in hot water, drying afterward for about ten minutes.

3. Vacuum suitcases before bringing them indoors. The vacuum cleaner is also a great tool in clearing a room of bed bugs, eggs and larvae from furniture, curtains and all parts of the bed, including bed frame and slats.

4. After allowing areas that have been steam treated or sprayed with all-natural insecticide, wrap all mattresses, box springs and any and all furniture cleaned in plastic coverings, leaving the plastic on for two weeks to ensure that all bugs have perished.

The Dirty Shirt Glams the Kitchen Clean-up!

2009-09-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

We are not the only ones trying to make cleaning fun. Check out the give-away at "The Dirty Shirt".

Not only hard-working but fun to use! Sparkle scrub sponges are safe for any porcelain, glassware and non-stick surface. Will not scratch, yet tough on grime.
These sparkly sponges have added a special gleam to my kitchen and they don’t scratch my delicate coating but sure do get the grease and gunk off my dishes. I am constantly buying sponges to find just the right one and I think I have found it.

These black/leopard gloves, as seen on Desperate Housewives, have a way of making you feel glam in the kitchen. Who says the chore of doing dishes has to have you wearing the plain yellow or blue gloves sold in supermarkets? With these gloves you will feel like a dish washing diva!

The Dirty Shirt has been given the opportunity to host a giveaway of the black and leopard print gloves. See rules below to enter today!

MAIN RULE – Tell me in comments what your favorite household chore is. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)

1 Extra Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment

1 Extra Entry – Favorite The Dirty Shirt in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment

1 Extra Entry – Follow me on Twitter (button in subscribe section on on the right sidebar) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment.

1 Extra Entry – Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste – @Jentifa is giving away a pair of Leopard Print Cleaning Gloves! Check it out here http://tinyurl.com/yeatqnp. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.

2 Extra Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog.

This giveaway will run through midnight on October 11, with winner being announced the morning of October 12. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Living Better- Living Green: Life Style Choices and Your Health: Part 1

2009-09-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Today we have guest blogger, Adam Curren, joining us. Adam studied marketing at the University of New Orleans before moving to Colorado Springs in 2006. He specializes in Environmental and Personal Development Articles. His goal is to improve the quality of life for readers through the written word.
Please feel free to view more of his work: http://charactergrowth.com/

Living Better- Living Green: Life Style Choices and Your Health: Part 1

We’re exposed to thousands of chemicals everyday in our Environment, Food and Water. These harmful chemicals wreak havoc on the immune system and brain and if exposure to these dangerous toxins aren’t reduced, we’ll continue to see an increase in acute and degenerative disease. This article will highlight key areas in our lives that are exposed to numerous chemicals which have negative effects on our health. We’ll also identify a few ways that we can begin living better now.

Illness can be traced to one or more of 3 sources; Diet, Genetics or Environment. If the body is constantly dealing with toxins from many sources, there’ll be times when the body can no longer fulfill all its other major functions, leading to premature aging and disease. Ever growing research links brain disease like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Depression and Autism with environmental toxins, chemicals and altered fats in our food supply.

Diet:

The problem: There are over 3,000 chemicals added to our food supply today with another 1,000 introduced each year. Some of these include: Aspartame, Chlordane, Fluoride, Dioxins, Pesticides as well as many foods being genetically engineered. Many times these chemicals cause immediate effects such as: Headache, Nausea, Dizziness and Fatigue; but more often build up in our bodies causing long term effects such as: Cancer, Immune System Depression, Muscle and Vision Problems and Reproductive Disorders. Americans can experience up to 70 daily exposures of a class of toxic chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

A Solution: Avoiding all of these chemicals is almost impossible, but there are a few things we can do to reduce our exposure. Choose organic foods and avoid processed and artificial additives. Take the time to learn how to shop smart; buy store brands and shop the coupons. Your eating habits will likely have to change, but you’ll find that organic actually tastes better.
These toxins store up in our bodies at the cellular level and will eventually cause poor health conditions if not eliminated. One thing we can do for this issue is to cleanse the body of toxins on a regular basis. Replace your Aluminum cooking pans with stainless steel; many studies have linked Aluminum to Alzheimer’s. Eat more fruits and vegetables and try to limit your consumption of canned foods. The fresh fruits and vegetables will help kill free radicals in your body, which build up from toxins. When we begin feeding our body living – clean foods, we’ll begin to feel a difference in our overall health and vitality.

Summer is over- Flea season begins!

2009-09-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

Is summer really over? We are starting to see signs that fall is on it's way. Hot humid weather brings two things; hurricanes and fleas. Both flourish in moist humid conditions. There's nothing we can do to prevent the hurricanes, but there are some green things we can do to get rid of the fleas.

Here are some green ideas to keep the fleas out of your home:

Your vacuum is your best weapon against a flea invasion. Make sure to vacuum all the furniture and carpets where the fleas are actually living. Place a cup of table salt in the vacuum bag. The fleas will eat the salt, dehydrate and die.

Sprinkle borax on furniture and carpets. Just a light dusting will work to kill the fleas, larvae and eggs. Test the area first to make sure there won't be any color damage. Then try to let it sit for 24 hours. If it's really humid, vacuum it up after a few hours. You need to keep pets and kids away from the powdered area. A safer idea is to sprinkle the infested area at night before going to bed, then get up early and vacuum before anyone else wakes up. Make sure you throw out the vacuum bag right away. You should wrap it inside a plastic bag and take it to a trash container outside your house.

Fleas love to live in fabric pet beds. You can wash your pets bed in very hot water. Then put it in the dryer you can kill the dust mites too!

Autumn tips to keep your indoor air quality at it's best

2009-09-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

With autumn rolling in, there’s no better time to cleanse away the summertime pollen, dust bunnies and pet hair that are damaging the indoor air quality of your home. Yet these are only a few of the potential foes, as the greater hazards lie in the very cleaning products that manufacturers sell for helping with those “smelly” chores around the house, such as wall washing and floor stripping. Many commercial cleaning products contain dangerous chemicals known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that have been known to cause skin irritation and lead to cancer under regular exposure. As you prepare your home for the fall and winter ahead, consider these green tips to refresh your surroundings without compromising your indoor air quality.

Grime and waxy residue can build up over time on household floors, leading to discoloration and pollutants in the air. When stripping a floor, always make sure the area has been thoroughly swept and washed with a mild, all-natural cleaning solution, such as The Cleaning Coach’s Green Scrub, to remove as much dirt as possible before applying a green-based floor stripper free of methylene chloride. Howard’s Restor-A-Finish is also a great product for hardwood floors. Use it in just one step to remove scratches, water marks and other blemishes, giving wood its original luster and shine.

Wall washings should always start from the bottom up. Use a paint roller on an extension pole for washing ceilings. Vinegar is a powerful and all-natural resource for killing mold. Add a drop of lemon oil for scent. Tea Tree oil also works wonders on killing mold and spores, and leaves a pleasant aroma after use. When giving your walls a new coat of paint, use a non-toxic formula that is free of benzene and other VOCs.

Improving your home’s indoor air quality can also be achieved through these great tips for freshening up and airing out the rooms of your house:

Tips:

Baking soda mixed with boiling hot water can reduce the presence of odors in kitchen drains and garbage disposals. Pour down ½ cup of baking soda per 16 ounces of water to disinfect and remove food-smelling odors.

Use baking soda with lemon juice to clean and soak smelly toilet bowls and bathtubs that contain a ring of scum or rust on the interior from use and high levels of iron concentrate found in running water.

Always use a fan unit in a bathroom after a shower or bath. You need to run the fan for 20 minutes after the last mist of steam seems to be gone from the air. Steam from hot water can lead to odor-causing mold that forms on walls and ceilings.

Use a dehumidifier in your basement or playroom to remove moisture that attracts mildew and musty smells.

For basements with dry wall or plaster walls and floors, Fresh Wave is a safe and natural product for removing odors.

Invest in an air purifier, such as Summit Storm Air Purifier, to help filter out pollutants such as dust, mites and pet dander, and help you and your loved ones and pets breathe cleaner, more refreshing indoor air.

Peed Off

2009-09-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise when I got an email from someone saying my "recipe" in the First for Women magazine worked. I wasn't surprised the recipe - an SOS for a pee soaked mattress - actually worked. It was the fact that I didn't know I was quoted in the magazine! I'm not going to repeat poor Carmela Bellocchio's story - you can read about that yourself on page 111 of the October 5 issue. But I will share the recipe! And, as I said to the author- it's guaranteed to work!

Tactic to fight urine stains and smells:

First, flush the area with water. After 5 minutes, use a wet vac or paper towels to soak up the excess liquid. Next, mix up a neutralizing spray of equal parts white vinegar and water to spritz on the mattress. Allow it to dry, then sprinkle baking soda on the spot. Let it sit overnight, then vacuum it up in the morning. The odor will be gone!

Question of the Day! When to get rid of kitchen "cloths"

2009-09-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

In these economically tough times, being frugal is in. So I recommend using a system that lets you move your cleaning items "down" to dirtier jobs. Anything being used near food in the kitchen should look "new". Sponges and dish cloths can be disinfected in the microwave by wetting them and microwaving for 3-5 minutes. This keeps them sanitized. When they start to look gray or worn in any way - they should be "moved down" to cleaning counters. This can be done by cutting off one corner. Then everyone knows that this item should not be used near food or dishes. You can keep cutting off corners and the items get "demoted" to dirtier jobs. This system is used on boats to stop cross contamination. If it works with a crew on a sail boat, it can surely work for your kitchen crew!

How to make our green scrub

2009-09-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

Want to make a green scrub that will replace your Comet, Ajax or Soft Scrub? It only takes 3 simple ingredients and some essential oils if you want to have a nice scent while you clean.
This recipe is from The Joy of Green Cleaning and you can also see a sample of our laundry soap at www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com Click here to see a video of the recipe.

Here is the Green Power Scrub
1 cup Borax
2 cups salt (sea salt for more aggressive cleaning)
2 cups baking soda
8 drops essential oil for fragrance

Mix the borax, salt and baking soda thoroughly. After they are completely mixed together, add the essential oil for fragrance.
Keep this mixture in a shaker container with a lid. Use it for cleaning stains on counters and sinks. Rinse thoroughly.

Whats Your Story

2009-09-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

I'd love your vote! The winner gets a $500 Amex gift card. I'd like to donate it to the Peace of Bread Community Kitchen. Together we can help the hungry in our communty. Just click my logo below and vote for "my story".

Boston GreenFest 2009

2009-08-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

Just in case you were to busy to visit the Boston GreenFest 2009 today, I thought I'd share some of the highlights with you. With thousands of people at the event Karen Weber, the GreenFest organizer, considered this year a huge success. Take a look around with me:

The One Gallon Challenge- these cars raced 100 miles on only one gallon of gas. The race started in Greenfield MA and ended at City Hall Plaza. The technology of these cars was amazing.

Native water with minimal carbon footprint
For a drink of totally "green" water there was Native Waters from Fall River, MA. They had water that was locally sourced and was bottled in an earth friendly 100% biodegradable, compostable and recyclable bottle. This bottle is trying not to be part of the problem. The bottle is by Enso Bottles and they are proud to introduce the first truly biodegradable, compostable and recyclable PET plastic bottle on the market today. They have added something called "Ecopure" that when added to the manufacturing of a plastic bottle, allows it to be metabolized and neutralized. You can see more about the procedure at http://www.earthfriendlybottle.com/
More that a walk in the park
If you love walking you need to take a drive to Mary Cummings Park in Burlington, MA. The pictures of the park look like you would be taking a hike in NH. but just a T ride away. To see more about the park and to get directions go to http://www.cummingspark.org/

Holistic dental care!
Jean Nordin-Evans discussed the holistic approach her practice takes towards dentistry. As her website states, they want to hear you say ahhhh. Their mission is to provide their patients with exceptional holistic dental services, along with many added touches, modern treatments and time-honored healing modalities, to transform the dreaded dental visit into an opportunity for self-rejuvenation and healing. You can see more of their beautiful facility at http://www.grotonwellness.com/

Some great workshops

This one was very informative and showed us the different problems we may soon be dealing with concerning climate change....

...and we learned some history and how to green our home environment. You can see more at http://www.thecleaningcoach.us/

Going Back To School - Green!

2009-08-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

How to Keep Your Kids Green for Back-to-School
During the summer and on school vacations, it’s much easier for you to keep an eye on what your kids are eating, who they’re spending time with, and what they’re doing to relax. You – not their teachers – become their principal babysitters, allowing you to set up new house rules and daily schedules. If you’re a parent who’s trying to ease your family into a green lifestyle, the summer may have allowed you time to experiment with different eco-friendly practices, like favoring green transportation options, going on green vacations, and implementing more eco-friendly technologies and engineering solutions into your home, like light bulbs, new flooring or window blinds. But when your kids head back to school, it’s tempting for them to fall back on old habits, especially if their school doesn’t promote green practices. But there are ways to keep them on track: here are tips for keeping your kids green for back-to-school season.
Pack organic foods. In their lunches and snack bags, pack organic foods. Bonus points if you and your kids start a gardening project in your backyard and pack fresh fruits and veggies that they grew themselves.
Purchase environmentally friendly school supplies. This doesn’t just help the environment: it reminds your kids that they are being responsible even when they’re away from you.
Walk or ride bikes to school. If your kids aren’t old enough to walk or bike to school on their own, accompany them at least a couple of mornings a week to cut down on all of the pollution of a school bus or your own car. Carpool with neighbor kids if you live too far away.
Encourage your kids to recycle. Most schools at least have recycling bins in the cafeteria and in classrooms, and remind your kids to use them instead of the trash whenever possible.
Use both sides of the paper for homework. When helping your child with homework, use both sides of the paper before reaching for another sheet.
Use hand-me-downs. School supplies, backpacks and clothes from older siblings should be passed down to younger kids if they’re still in good condition.
Suggest that your kids’ teachers take students on environmentally conscious field trips. These may include a trip that just uses less energy and emits less pollution, or a field trip to a nature center or other location that promotes eco-friendly practices.

This post was contributed by Amber Hensley, who writes about the accredited online college. She welcomes your feedback at AmberHensley1980@ yahoo.com

Green Flea Solutions

2009-08-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

Is summer over? No, not really, but we are starting to see signs that Fall is on it‘s way. Hot humid weather brings two things; hurricanes and fleas. Yep, both flourish in moist humid conditions. There’s nothing we can do to prevent the hurricanes, but there are some green things we can do to get rid of the fleas.

Here are some green ideas for your pet and home.

Fight fleas from the inside out:

Sneak some vinegar into your pets water bowl.

Put some ground garlic or garlic juice into your pets food. Just a small amount can be an effective flea repellent. * Check with your veterinarian to make sure the portions you are considering are safe for your pet.

Homemade ideas:

Use a piece of cloth rope and soak it in a mixture of water, Tea Tree Oil and eucalyptus oil. Place the rope round your pet’s neck. The essential oils will naturally repeal fleas. Soak the rope weekly during flea season.

Cut up 5 lemons and place them in a quart of water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for ten minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let sit until cool. Put the solution into a spray bottle and spray directly on your pet’s fur. Be careful not to spray anywhere near his face, eyes or mouth.

Protecting your home:

Your vacuum is your best weapon against a flea invasion. Make sure to vacuum all the furniture and carpets where the fleas are actually living. Place a cup of table salt in the bag to vacuum bag. The fleas will eat the salt, dehydrate and die.

Sprinkle borax on furniture and carpets. Just a light dusting will work to kill the fleas, larvae and eggs. Test the area first to make sure there won’t be any color damage. Try to let it sit for 24 hours but if its humid, vacuum up after a few hours. Keep pets and kids away from the area. This is a good thing to do at night before going to bed, then get up early and vacuum before anyone else wakes up. Throw out the vacuum bag right away.

Wash your pets bed in very hot water. If you can put it in the dryer you can kill the dust mites too!

For more sign up for our green tips!
You can also visit http://www.shopgreencleaning.com/ for some great green cleaners