1. Dishwasher: Like I said above, nothing is worse than opening up your dishwasher expecting to smell nice clean dishes and then getting a waft of musty old food. Eww – Gross! All you need to exterminate this smell is 2 cups of white vinegar. I was skeptical at first but this really works. Trust me, I write from experience. To start, make sure that your dishwasher is empty then put 2 cups of white vinegar where your dish detergent would go and run it through a normal cycle. Once complete you will be amazed at how clean smelling your dishwasher is.

2. Coffee Pot: I love my morning coffee but it is such a turnoff when your coffee pot smells like old coffee, and even worse, tastes like it. This practically ruins my day! And in the morning, even worse! An easy fix is to run 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water through your coffee maker. Then run another cycle of only water to make sure you get rid of the vinegar taste. I like to do this the night before that way I am not missing out on any extra sleep.

3. Garbage disposal: Now I know I mentioned this in my last post, Germ Hot Spots part 2, but I found another way to get rid of that nasty smell so I just had to share it.  And again, white vinegar is the star. You can either simply pour it down your drain or my favorite, make vinegar ice cubes. When making the ice cubes make sure you inform everyone in your home, that way no one gets a tangy surprise in their drink! After the ice cubes are frozen, place a few in your disposal and chop those little guys up!

4. Trash Can: I have tried just about everything to remove the smells from my trash can and all that is ever accomplished is the smell being masked by a floral fragrance. I finally found something that not only gets rid of the smell but sanitizes my container as well, Steam! Yeah, that’s right steam. It’s so easy I kind of feel silly for never thinking about it before. I use my portable handheld steamer to deodorize and sanitize my trash can as well as blast off all of the dried on food particles. You will be surprised at how refreshing and new your old trash will look after a deep clean with steam. And you won’t be afraid to open the lid anymore either!

And now for the surprise… It can help many of you out there, so here it is:

5. Cigarette Smoke:  If you or a family member is a smoker, baking soda will become your best friend. To remove the smell from your carpets or upholstery all you need is some baking soda and a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Sprinkle baking soda on the area you want deodorized and let sit for about 10 minutes then vacuum up. Surprisingly, it’s that simple!

Now that you are a certified odor buster, your nose will finally be able to appreciate all of the wonderful smells of spring!

1.  The most important thing is to never call a chore “chore”, this will automatically turn anyone off. Try using words like “mission”, “challenge” or “operation” to make it sound more enjoyable.

2.  Buy child size supplies such as small dust pans and brushes, dusters and buckets.

3.  Have a chore board. Hang up tasks with a reward belonging to each task. Allow kids to pick their own chore, the harder the chore the better the reward.

4. Create an “Oh No!” bucket. For every toy your child forgets to put away put it in a bin or bucket that is on your possession. In order for your child to get the toy back, they must complete a chore before it’s theirs again.

5. Listen to music while cleaning. Put on their favorite music and start a mini cleaning dance party!

6. Make it into a game.
- Beat the clock: Set up a timer and see how many toys they can pick up before the timer goes off.
- The color game: Call out a color and have them pick up as many items in that color as they can
find.
- Commercial Break: During a commercial of their favorite television show see how many things they can
pick up before the programs starts again.

Now that you have some tips for getting your children to clean, it’s time to put those little cuties to work so you can sit back and relax and enjoy your Mother’s Day.

Like most cleaning tasks, one must ask themselves, “Where do I start”? Well just like indoor cleaning, start high and work low. And yes, I mean the windows. First wipe off any dust and debris from the glass and sills. Use a natural cleaning recipe like the one listed in our last blog “Green Cleaning Recipes” to clean the glass. Once the glass is clean enough for a bird to crash into, we need to attack the screen. If you can remove your screen use your handheld steam cleaner to blast away the dirt and grime. If you screens are not detachable you will need a few items to clean them: a wire brush, some water and baking soda. Dip the brush into a bucket of water to dampen it and then dip into the baking soda. Now start scrubbing! Once all the scrubbing is complete, simply wipe with a damp cloth or sponge.

Now that the worst part is over, we can move onto the deck or patio. Start off by clearing any large objects or debris that might be in the way and then sweep the area. Once swept, you can use an indoor / outdoor steam cleaner to tackle that built up grime that accumulated over the harsh winter. The powerful 5 in 1 steam cleaner does all of the hard work for you using CR-Motion technology. I bet you are asking yourself, “Ok great, CR-Motion technology, but what the heck is that?” Well, CR-Motion technology uses 2 counter reciprocating plates that move at a rate of 850 cycles per minute to enhance the natural pull-and-push action by adding a powerful scrubbing motion for a time saving effortless clean. Yeah, that’s right; this bad boy does the scrubbing for you in a faction of the time! Not only can this steam scrubber tackle messes on your concrete patio it also cleans sealed hardwood decks, sidewalks, drive way and much more.

Since you wasted little energy scrubbing your deck, it’s time for the furniture. After being stored all winter long your belongings probably have accumulated some cobwebs, dirt and muck. Not to worry, they can easily be restored to look like new. If you furniture is stored in your garage you can use your portable steam cleaner to clean off all of the grime in a matter of minutes. For plastic patio sets you can remove all of the filth by making a mixture of ½ cup dish soap, ½ cup borax and ½ cup peroxide in 1 gallon of water let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. After sitting, scrub your furniture with a nylon brush that is dipped into the mixture. Test a small area before attempting this cleaning method to make sure it will not harm the paint or finish. If your furniture is wicker, cleaning can be intimidating. But there is nothing to be intimidated about, it is actually quite simple. When you bring your wicker furnishings out from storage dust them with a soft brush or go over it with your vacuum. Once all of the dirt is removed you can wipe it down useing mild soapy water and a soft bristle brush (like a tooth brush) to get into all the cracks and crevices. Make sure you do not soak the furniture for it can warp. If you accidentally use too much water simply set it in the sun to dry or use a hair dryer for faster results.

The last area to clean to have your outdoor dining area fresh and sparkling is your grill. Why not clean off all the charred remains to make room for some new ones. You can use a wire brush to try and get this off but I have an easier way! Check out our blog called “Steam away the grill grime”. There are some great tips to get your grill looking like new!

Now that your space is completely cleaned and refreshed it’s time to throw some burgers and dogs on the grill and sit back and relax! Oh, and don’t forget my dinner invite!

When you go out to purchase a cleaning product and you turn the container over to read the ingredients, be forewarned that no law requires manufacturers of cleaning products to list ingredients on their labels or to test for safety. However, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requires producers of these products to list ingredients that are active disinfectants or potentially harmful but the rest is kept secret. They also do not inform us as to what happens when we use them over a period of time.

Well lucky for you, I’ve had the opportunity to research different chemicals and cleaning products to find out what damage they can potentially do:

Aerosols: such as air fresheners, window cleaners, deodorant and hairspray can include formaldehydes, phenols, toluene and other toxins. These can cause skin, eye, throat irritation and damage your lungs.

All-purpose cleaners: these contain many solvents that can cause asthma symptoms, reduced fertility and birth defects. Some products containing morpholine can cause kidney and liver damage.

Carpet cleaners: the toxic fumes can be dangerous to children who play on carpets after they are cleaned. The fumes can also cause kidney and liver damage.

Chlorine Bleach: this can cause severe irritation to the eyes and skin and can also damage the respiratory tract and irritate asthma.

Drain cleaners: this is one of the most dangerous products found in your home. They often include lye and sulfuric acid which are corrosive to the skin, airways and eyes.

Oven cleaners: they also contain lye which can cause severe damage to the eyes, skin, mouth, throat and stomach. It can be fatal if swallowed.

Now that you are aware of these harmful toxins that can be found in your home, here are some things you can do to avoid the use of them. First, get rid of these products. If the label says “Warning”, “Danger”, or “Toxic” it should go. If there is any product left in the container DO NOT pour it down the drain and DO NOT mix products. You can check the manufacturer’s instructions for proper disposal or you can go to http://earth911.org/and find a recycle center near you. Once the liquid is disposed of properly, make sure to recycle the container.  Plastic used in packaging of these products contributes to mounds of solid waste that must be land filled each year.

Now that your toxic cleaning products have been properly disposed of, you can turn to your kitchen cabinets to start a green clean.  Instead of going over a full list of green cleaning recipes,  check out our blog post called “Green Cleaning Recipes”. If you are still unsatisfied with green cleaning, steam can become your best friend! And it’s best feature – chemical free!

HAAN steam cleaners heat up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature needed to create sanitizing steam. HAAN steam has been proven to kill 99.9% of common household germs, bacteria and even dust mites in just one second! The steam also helps to sanitize your home and breaks down dried on dirt and stuck on stains to leave surfaces sparkling.

How fantastic  is it to just use the water from your tap to clean, sanitize and deodorize your entire home! Not only will you be saving money on cleaning products, you will be saving your family from exposure to harmful chemicals as well as reducing indoor air pollution from these common household cleaners.

So why not detox your home and turn to  natural cleaning with steam!

•  Earth Day began in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson
• Inspired by the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969
• More than 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day
• Over 1 billion people in 192 countries now celebrate Earth Day
• In some elementary schools, Earth Day is the 3rd largest celebrated holiday
• Only 27% of Americans recycle newspapers
• Every 1 ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees
• Americans use about 600 pounds of paper each year
• Turning off water while brushing your teeth can save up to 240 gallons of water a month
• The tin foil that Hershey’s kisses are wrapped in can be recycled
• Americans throw away enough aluminum every month to rebuild an entire commercial air craft
• Enough plastic bottles are thrown away in the U.S. each year to circle the earth 4 times
• It takes plastic cans 500 years to break down
• 14 billion pounds of trash are dumped into the ocean every year

Hopefully these facts give you some inspiration to reduce, reuse and recycle!

Now that the cleaning is done, it’s time defeat the clutter. I’m pretty sure I am not alone in this statement so let’s admit it: I hoarde clothes and shoes. Wow, it feels good to get that off my chest! If you fall into the same boat as me, you know how difficult it is to have a clean closet or dresser. With piles of clothes flowing out of drawers and sliding off hangers, I always tend to put off organizing my things. I finally found the courage and time to get this situation under control and I wanted to share my tips with you. So put on some comfy clothes, your favorite tunes and let’s get down to business.

First, like I said before, ensure you have plenty of time to complete this task. Depending on the severity of your clutter, you should allow yourself at least an hour. (Mine took over 3). And make sure you have plenty of room to go through your belongings. You may need to clear a space to start with.

Next, set up 4 different piles. You can use baskets, boxes, bags or just the floor. The first pile will be items that need to be thrown away; the second pile are things to donate or sell. The third pile is for things to go to storage and the last pile is for items that need to be put away.

Now that you have the area for your piles ready, it’s time to get cracking. When approaching an item that you can’t decide which pile it belongs in, there are 4 very important questions you need to ask yourself:

1. When did I use this last? If you can’t remember or it was not in the last year, chances are you don’t need it anymore. One way to help in this process is when you wear an article of clothing, hang it back up and place the hanger facing the opposite direction as the others. At the end of the year the items that are not facing the opposite direction need to go.

2. Am I going to need this item in the future? If there is no definite date, odds are you don’t need it. For instance, that old 80’s style bridesmaid dress in the back of your closet. If you aren’t planning on going to an 80’s theme party anytime soon, you should put that little beauty of a dress in the donate pile.

3.  How hard would it be to replace this item? Things that are not emotionally or historically important should go. This step I found to be the hardest. I have a lot of items that are important to me like the shirt I wore on my first date and some of my sports shirts from my high school days. They were hard for me to get rid of but in reality, they are only taking up space and I hardly ever wear them so I moved them to the storage pile.

4.  Does it fit? Sure, you want to lose weight to fit into those “skinny” jeans or you have your “fat” pants just in case.  Let’s be realistic, they are just taking up space. Either place them in storage or donate them. In my opinion, donating is the way to go. Instead of having to dig though storage containers, you get the chance to go shopping to replace them! This might not be the most economical way to think but hey, who doesn’t like to shop!

And if you’re still having problems deciding, check out an episode of What Not to Wear to give yourself a reality check!

Now that you are completely organized – take the trash, donate/sell and storage piles to the designated area.  I bet you will be surprise at how much free space you have and how beautiful your closet and dressers look! Maybe you will even have enough room (or money) to reward yourself with a little shopping!

First, you need to gather all of your supplies. I doubt you have them stored in your bedroom, so having them together in one place will save time and help keep you from being distracted while searching for them. Next, pick up everything off of the floor and put them where they belong. This means dirty clothes go in the hamper, and clean clothes get folded or hung up. Trash goes in the waste can, and by trash I mean all of those old magazines you have laying around that you aren’t going to read again if you ever did. All knickknacks and odd items can be placed in a basket or box to sort through later.

Now that you cleared a space to walk, it’s time to get down and dirty. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, cleaning should be done from high to low, so this means starting with the walls and ceiling. Dust and remove spider webs from the walls, ceiling, any wall art and door frames. After dusting, decided if your walls need a good washing. If so, use mild warm soapy water and a rag. Don’t forget to wash light switches and door knobs; after all these are some of the most touched items in your home. One last place to clean above your head is your overhead light or ceiling fan. If you only have a light, remove the fixtures and gently wash them. For ceiling fans, dust and wipe down the blades. I suggest wearing a mask when performing this task, because more dust than you can imagine collects there.

Next we can move to my most dreaded thing to clean, the windows. This is another great place for dust and grime to accumulate. Make sure you take down any draperies and throw them in the washer, if you have blinds make sure to thoroughly dust and wipe them down.  Now for the not so fun part, attacking the windows themselves. I am not a fan of cleaning with chemicals, so I use my portable handheld steamer for window washing just make sure that it’s not too cold out. You can also use a green window recipe that I have stated in my green cleaning recipe blog from last week. Make sure you clean both the inside and outside and get the sills and in the corners too.

Spring cleaning is a great time to wash all bedding, comforters, blankets and pillows. It is also a good time to sanitize your mattress.  Since unfortunately your mattress will not fit in your washer and dryer,  a  handheld steamer is perfect to use to help kill 99.9% of germs, viruses, dust mites and bed bugs that may be living where you sleep.  Along with sanitizing, portable  steam cleaners also deodorize soft surfaces. So, if you were too lazy to take down your window coverings, move from the mattress to the curtains to refresh.

Finally it’s time to tackle the floor. Make sure to get under and behind furniture that you may have skipped during your usual cleaning routine. Who knows, you could have a dust bunny family living in your room with you! Wipe baseboards and any floor heating units as well as legs of dressers, night stands and your bed.  Dust and steam mop sealed hard floors, vacuum and then refresh carpets using your steam cleaner with carpet tray attached.

Now that you have some things to get you started with your spring cleaning, next week we will talk about attacking the clutter and knickknacks you picked up off of the floor.

Tub and Tile Cleaner: 1 ²⁄³ cup baking soda, ½ cup liquid soap, ½ cup water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Combine all of the ingredients together in a 16 oz spray bottle and give a good shake.

Glass Cleaner: ¼ cup white vinegar and 4 cups of warm water. Combine in a 16 oz spray bottle and shake. Another green glass cleaner that we love is from The Good Home Company which comes in 3 different scents.

Drain Cleaner: Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, follow with 1 cup white vinegar. Let sit for 15 minutes and rinse with hot or boiling water.

Soap Scum Remover: Sprinkle baking soda or kosher or sea salt on an area. Scrub with a cloth and rinse when finished.

All-Purpose Cleaner: 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon liquid dish soap, and 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Combine all of the ingredients together in a 16 oz spray bottle and fill to the top with warm water.

Sink or Stovetop Cleaner: In a bowl, mix 1/3 cup baking soda and enough warm water to form a paste. Place the paste on a sponge and scrub.

Rust: Dip aluminum foil in white vinegar and scrub. Or, place baking soda directly on the rust and scrub with a toothbrush and water (make sure to wipe off any excess water to prevent more rust from forming).

Wood Polish: Mix 2 cups of olive oil with 1 cup of lemon juice. Work into furniture with a soft cloth. Test a small piece first to make sure you will not damage your type of wood.

There are tons of great green cleaning recipes and variations out there for all areas of the home, feel free to share your favorite ones with us!