Clean Green Talk Blog
I think we all want to know how to clean and do so safely. We also want our less harmful ways of cleaning to work well, after all that is the purpose. Leslie has been a great motivator and she is The Green Cleaning Coach. She has graciously written a Spring Cleaning Article for me and I'm so excited for you to share it with you all!
Spring Cleaning In A Pinch
by Leslie Reichert
Although spring has just arrived and it's time to start chipping away at that winter grime, I realize not everyone has the time to devote an entire day to making every inch of your house glow and shine. However, given just one afternoon you can make quite a dent in your cleaning and make your house not only presentable but pleasant. The trick is to focus on those big ticket items in your home, mainly the floors and the bathroom.
Winter is an absolute nightmare for flooring, with all of the salt and slush we drag in from the roads or even just that water that drips off of the kid's clothes after a day of sledding, but spring can be just as bad with the dirt and rain-boots. April showers may bring flowers, but they also bring mud. Your best defense against the forces of sediment creeping across your hardwood floors is a microfiber mop. Just put one of the pads on the mop, spritz it with some water, and run it over the floor. It will leave your hardwoods sparkling without having to get down on your hands and knees or dragging a slimy mop across the floor. Also, don't forget your dog's favorite rug or the carpet in the living room. Vacuuming will do a ton to spruce up the place and make it smell and look fresher. Plump a few pillows and you are all set.
Now for those bathrooms. You want to spare any guests who might stop by from a flashback to their days in a college dorm. Your bathroom doesn't need to look like you have had four college suitemates fighting over the mirror. Microfiber clothes are going to be your defense against bathroom buildup. Just spray the super blue cloth with a gentle cleaner like Modern Mermaid in the Bare Bathroom Cleaner. Wipe down the mirror, sink and vanity, then tackle the toilet with a large looped microfiber cloth. You can finish the whole thing off with the microfiber mop again.
By taking on the floors and the bathroom you will pretty much clear up your house for company and make your home feel more hospitable. However, for those odd tasks that you don't ever seem to have the time to get to, like washing the windows or organizing the pantry, keep those in the back of your mind. You can always chip away at them when you have some time, like organizing just one shelf of spices or washing just the windows in the dining room when you get a spare minute. As long as you know what you want to accomplish, you can plan ahead and eventually conquer any cleaning task that seemed impossibly time consuming.
More Information about this woman and her Green Cleaning.
Leslie Reichert is a contributor to publications such as Woman’s World Magazine and Woman’s Day, a frequent homekeeping expert on Martha Stewart Living Radio and author of the book:
The Joy Of Green Cleaning.
Leslie's Morning Living on Martha Stewart Living Radio
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 A few of Leslie's excellent cleaner recipes listed below:
Glass and Mirror Cleaner:
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 cup 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.
Green Scrub
1 cup salt
1 c baking soda
1 cup borax
mix together add a little essential oil as an optional smell factor
store in an airtight container
Be sure to label this container for safety.
Dish soap
Put 2 teaspoons of the green scrub into the detergent compartment of your dishwasher
add a little lemon juice
see it bubble
close and start your dishwasher
Laundry Soap Recipe from The Joy of Green Cleaning
2 cups soap flakes (which can be ordered from here)
1 cup baking soda
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
15 drops of an essential oil for scent (optional)
Mix together store in an airtight container
Thanks so much Leslie!
Happy Cleaning!
