Thursday, June 2, 2011

"Is Your Kitchen Toxic From All the Chemicals You Use?"

 Want a Green Cleaning Solution! Did you know that when we use chemical cleaners, they are making your home environment toxic? Did you know that when run your dishwasher 100% of the chemicals in your water will end up in the air you breathe? (Reference: ivillage.com ""Coming Clean in the Kitchen"".) If those chemicals are in the air you breathe, they will end up in you!


What about that awful smelling oven cleaner, it's in the air, you smell it, and then you are inhaling it. Do you use a window spray cleaner to wash your windows, some contain ammonia; do you think ammonia is good for your lungs? Even some of the paste cleaners contain chemicals that are toxic to your environment.

Here are some solutions to that dilemma:

o Wash your dishes by hand, then rinse them in a sink of hot water and let them air dry. This will help eliminate the chemicals being released through the steam, from the dish washer. (Remember 100% of the chlorine in your water ends up in your air, when washing with a dish washer: and you will save on water use too.)

o You can use a natural dish washing solution: mix equal amounts of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda and Mule Team Borax together (1 cup of each) and then use 1 tablespoon of that in your dish washer. (This is better than store bought; but you still will get the chemicals that are present in your water supply into your air.)

o Open your windows when running dish washer to bring in fresh air.

o Clean your counters, tables, appliances with a microfiber dish or cleaning cloth. Microfiber cleans with only water, just wet the cloth in hot water, wipe, rerinsing the cloth again in hot water and use dish soap if needed.

o You can eliminate having to use stainless steel cleaners for your stainless steel appliances, by cleaning them with a microfiber dish cloth. Just wet the cloth, wipe and walk away.

o Wash your windows with a wet microfiber cleaning cloth or towel and dry with a second towel. Or you can mist your windows with water from a spray bottle and wipe dry. No window washing fluids necessary.

o Got some burnt on ""crud"" on your stovetop? Sprinkle on a little baking soda, and pour over it a little vinegar, let it work for a few minutes and wipe away. You may have to repeat if it is quite a large or thick spot, but this method is allot healthier than using other chemical cleaners. You can use baking soda and vinegar to make your own ""scrubbing bubbles"".

"Chemical Free Cleaning With Microfibre Cloths"

Discover a chemical free way to clean your windows, bathrooms, floors and kitchen. Many of the household cleaners we use contain a variety of harmful toxic chemicals, these chemicals have a large impact on our health and the environment. Cleaning with bleach and other chemicals always left me with a headache and smelling of chlorine.

For glass cleaning I use a courser grade cloth to clean the grime then a finer (glass cleaner) to create a streak free finish. To clean the toilets I use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, and wipe it down with micro-fibre cloth. I have a floor cleaning system that includes a micro fibre cloth (sewed onto an absorbent sponge and uses Velcro to attach to an extend able pole). The micro fibre mop picks up the littlest items of grime and wipe smears as well as staining without needing too much water, which is great for my wooden floors. I simply rinse it in warm water when I have collected enough grime!

To clean the oven I use 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of bicarb and mix it into a paste with vinegar. A great way to avoid the harsh oven cleaners that can burn and leave you feeling sick from the fumes.

I use a simple citric cleaner for the bench tops in the kitchen. The acid in the naturally occurring juice removes most of the grime easily.

Micro fibre cleaning cloths enable you to clean almost everything with just the cloth and hot water. They eliminate the need to carry around different cleaners for different uses. These cloths are a great environmentally friendly healthy alternative to cleaning without chemicals.

Chemical products leave surfaces with residues that actually attract dirt, contribute to the growth of bacteria are harmful to the environment and our families. Microfibre Cloths are a SPLIT conjugated fibre, which when the fibres are split, this creates capillary action which draws dirt, grease, bacteria, dust & allergens deep into the cloth. Most cleaning cloths are made of 80% Polyester & 20% Polyamide giving you a product that will last and has great water absorbency. The cloth is a Tricot weave, which gives a vast surface area which allows you to clean for longer without the need to rinse. Fabrics made with microfibers are exceptionally soft and hold their shape well.

Save the earth and start your chemical free cleaning now with micro-fibres

"Microfiber - The World's Best Cleaning Material","

The microfiber is also known as the ""microfibre"". This is so small and its size is 1 denier or a gram per 9000 meters. Comparing to the human hair, its diameter is only 1/100th. And if you compare it to a strand of silk, the microfiber is 1/20th of its diameter. A microfiber is composed of synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon. This has thin strand than can maintain its shape. It is made up of about 200,000 fibers in every square inch.

Nowadays, the microfibers are widely used in some industries. These are used in cleaning all surfaces. Microfibers are also used in clothes, apparels, furniture, and car seats.

As cleaning cloth, microfiber is best used in wiping or cleaning in all surfaces. Since microfiber cloth is made up of minute synthetic fiber strands, particles such as dirt, dust, and other debris are attracted easily. This cloth attracts dirt particles just like a magnet. It holds the dirt with its open spaces unlike with cloth that it just pushes around particles and not totally cleaning it. The fiber is very fine making the surfaces smudge free. Microfiber towel is also excellent in removing stains, grease, and smudged dirt. It is best used in scrubbing bathrooms, removing dust and dirt on appliances, and cleaning the interiors of cars. It can also wipe the chemically treated clothes. It performs well in cleaning windows whether the cloth used is dry or wet. This cloth can absorb up to seven times more liquid than its weight. Thus, this makes it best in cleaning glass surfaces without smudging and having no trace of residues.

Even microfiber is best in cleaning different surfaces, it also needs proper maintenance and extra care because it is prone to damages because it is used in various surfaces. It is important that the microfiber cloth is properly cleaned and thoroughly dried every after usage. The prescribed washing and drying of microfiber product must be followed to ensure its long life and cleaning efficiency.

Microfibers are found in athletic clothes and apparels. This is becoming popular in clothing industry because cloth that is made up of this is cool to wear because they say that the skin can ""breathe"". Because of this, clothes that are made up microfiber are designed for athletes especially during times of practice and extensive training where sweating and perspiration occur. In fact some well known brands, like the Dockers, use microfibers in their product lines because of the ability of the cloth to repel liquids. Actually, pants made up of this fiber are not prone to stains.

"The Benefits of Microfiber Cloths in House Cleaning"

While there are some who still prefer the use of soft cotton in cleaning, there are many who have already replaced their cleaning materials with the latest technology. So, you better check out and compare which is better, to stay in the conventional way or invest a little in microfiber and reap the rewards in the long run.

Contrasting with common cloths that are made from natural fibers, microfibers are made using tiny polyester and polyamide fibers. These are said to be the cleaning material built and suit the needs of the 21st century.

Microfiber is tremendously soft and very flexible. It can be used to any kind of service. In terms of durability, it lasts longer as compared to an ordinary cotton cloth. Washing of microfiber does not require any detergents so you will be amazed how it does the cleaning without using any soap. Also, no cleaning agent is used. As a consequence, you can save large amount of dollars from buying detergents through time.

The most important consideration that a cleaning company look at is the absorption capacity of a cleaning material. Microfiber cloth has the ability to hold water up to 7 times of its weight. Moreover, it can hold 98 percent moisture while an ordinary cloth can hold of only 70 percent. Dust and grime spots are trapped in the web like molecular structure of the microfiber thus no particles are left on the surface. The huge absorption capacity of microfiber makes it ideal when cleaning windows. It is more advantageous because it can hold liquid of up to 7 times of its weight and more so it leaves no streaks after cleaning. Microfiber is also advisable to clean any spilled liquid (water, milk, oil) because it lessens the use of paper towel thus minimizing cost to buy those cleaning supplies.

Microfibers can be found anywhere. And if you want to have one, you can check the local grocery stores, department stores or even through online shopping.

How to Use Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths are innovative, environment-friendly, and awfully effective cleaner. Those superior quality microfiber cleaning cloths have features of split microfiber. The open spaces in the microfiber produced through splitting are responsible for trapping up the dirt and holding significant amount of water.

If it will be used as dry, fold it neatly to be able to clean numerous surfaces at the same time. However, microfiber is best used when it is damped. But never use it with dripping out water. Simply wash the cloth with plain water and wring out excess water. This damp technique is very ideal for cleaning appliances, scrubbing bathrooms, cleaning car interiors, wiping down kitchen counters and other numerous cleaning applications.

"How To Clean Your Electronically Loaded Office?

Do you have an office that is loaded with electronic equipment? Who doesn't these days? That is how we function in today's world, no more electric typewriters, (some are asking what are they?) word processors and as some of you go back even farther, to the days of manual typewriters. The electric typewriters were a little more touchy about spilling things on them, but today, if you want to fry your keyboard, just accidentally dump your pop or coffee on one and you are finished.


So how do we clean that equipment? There are spray cans full of air, but they are hazardous to your health and can even kill you, by depleting your oxygen level. So now your keyboard is clean but you are dead, or you may have frostbite on your fingers. Well that won't do, so what are some other alternatives.

Another, much more healthy and green alternative to cleaning your office and your office equipment is by using microfiber cloths, towels and mops.

A microfiber suede cloth is just the ticket for cleaning your computer keyboard, monitor, CD's, printers, fax machines, even those cameras. Its fine, soft texture cleans without scratching and leaves your equipment dust and lint free. Just remember to always clean your equipment with a clean cloth, as the dirt in the cloth can scratch.

If you have windows, mirrors or pictures in your office, clean them with a damp microfiber cleaning cloth and dry them with another cloth; or for just cleaning the windows you can mist them with a spray bottle of water and dry with a microfiber cloth. Then you will have clean, streak free, beautiful windows, pictures and mirrors in your office.

Do you hate to dust those knickknacks and treasures in your office? Who has time for cleaning when you're working? But now and then we do need to clean up our offices, for dust is hard on electronic equipment, and we do need to get rid of the dirt.

One way of getting rid of the dirt is by dusting all those treasures with a microfiber cloth. The microfibers will pick up the dirt pulling it into the cloth, not pushing it around, and you don't need a spray either; sprays add pollutants to our environment, which you don't want. So just dampen an all purpose microfiber cloth or a suede cloth and wipe away. Soon you will have all those treasures clean without resorting to using sprays or chemicals.

Got a hard surface floor? Just dust or wet mop it with a microfiber mop, for microfiber even picks up the fine dust; no more vacuuming after sweeping with a microfiber mop.

So there you have it, how to green clean your office, without chemical cleaners.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

GIVE WINTER GRIME THE BOOT

Follow these quick spiff-up tips for
stained or scuffed footwear now,
and be a step ahead next season.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES:
Telltale road-salt staines on leather
Black scuff on leather or rubber
Dirty, flattened suede.

FAST FIXES

1. Banish salt lines : If your town fights icy
streets with road salt, you've surely had
"ring around the shoe," a white salt line that
appears when leather dries. Desalting products,
available at shoe-repair shops, are one option,
but it's just as easy to mix an at-home cleaner of
equal parts white vinegar and water. Soak a micro-
fiber cloth in the solution and dab the shoe. Rinse with a
water dampened micro-fiber cloth, and wipe with a dry
towel. Let the shoes dry, away from radiators or
other heat sources, which can make leather
brittle. Finally, buff with a soft micro-fiber cloth.

2. Erase scuffs: You might be tempted to scrub
at ugly black marks on leather, but they
need a lighter touch: Dip a micro-fiber cloth in water,
then baking soda, and rub the spots gently. For
rubber boots, follow the same process. Once spots are
gone, wipe the footwear with a clean, damp micro-
fiber cloth and buff dry.
3. Be suede smart: The wet cleaning remedies
that work for smooth leather aren't good for suede,
which needs to stay dry so it doesn't lose its
texture. Instead, quickly rub off overall dirt with
a kneadable eraser. (grab one from your kid's
art box), or just lightly sand away obvious stains with
an emery board. To raise the nap of suede that's flattened,
scrub briskly with a clean toothbrush or micro-fiber cloth.
If it's really matted, hold the shoe a few inches above
the spout of a steaming tea kettle for a few seconds,
then brush up the nap.

MAKE IT EASIER NEXT TIME

To keep pesky salt lines from forming, take
action as soon as possible once indoors: Before
your shoes dry off, dampen the entire leather
upper with a wet sponge, then stuff the shoe
with newspaper to help hold the shape.
Before you wear shoes and boots in messy
weather for the first time, spray them with a
water-repellent coating, which works on
both suede and leather. Spray again during
the season, after cleaning.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

COMPANY COMING AND NO TIME TO CLEAN!

Fastest Fixes

First Overhall Your Front Hall. Grab a laundry bas-
ket, storage bin, or large shopping bag to
serve as a junk receptacle, plus a plastic gro-
cery bag and microfiber cloth. Load up your
bin with any shoes, gloves, or hats that litter
the foyer. Stash hall-table clutter that could
get lost (mail,keys) in the plastic bag; put the
bag into the bin. While you're near the door,
shake doormats outside. Flip on the light for
an indoor cobweb check; flick webs off with
the cloth (don't worry about the ones too high
up-chances are, visitors won't notice them
once they see your smiling face). Take your
bin, and keep moving. (3 minutes).

Next stop! Putting your living room in order
where guests will hang out most. Keep
filling the bin with kids' toys, newspapers,
and anything else that doesn't need to be
here. Run your microfiber cloth over the cof-
fee table and other dusty surfaces, like the TV
screen. Pile magazines or books into neat
stacks on the end tables; gather all of the stray
remotes in one place. Plump up throw pillows
and chair cushions (even easier: flip the latter,
if possible). Use a clean corner of the micro-
fiber cloth to nab any obvious clumps of pet
hair or dust stuck to upholstery or carpeting.
Drape throws to hide dingy chair arms or
furniture stains. Drop off the bin in the laun-
dry room or a nearby bedroom, or hide it in a
closet; swap the microfiber cloth for a few paper
towels and move on to the bathroom. (4 minutes)

Fake a Super-Clean Bathroom; Tuck
stuff from the vanity into the cabinet
or drawers, and close the shower door or
pull your shower curtain closed. ( sure, nosy guests
may still snoop inside, but at least you've cut
down on visual clutter). Wet a microfiber cloth
to both clean and shine, and wipe down mirror, faucet, sink
and countertop. Use a paper towel that you might throw away to
go over your toilet's seat and rim. Clean up spots and hair
from the floor with more paper towels, and throw them away.
Finally, put out some fresh hand towels. Make a trip to the
kitchen with the wastebasket to dump it into the larger
trash can. (5 minutes). Now you are ready for your guests.