How To Clean Your Dryer Lint Screen

A simple solution that will remove the oils that build up on the dryer lint screen.

A Review Of My Book By The Healthful Truth

Here is a review of my book by the Healthful Truth. Thanks Lily!

The Joy of Green Cleaning

Posted on December 2, 2012

I have a dream…that one day my home will be completely free of harsh chemicals! I was raised to use these toxic chemicals. My mother says “If you’re not using Clorox, it’s not clean!”. My mother even uses it in her dish water especially when someone gets sick in the home. I thought this was how it was done! (Sorry Mom!) Now I cringe when I smell bleach. Lysol All Purpose Cleaner gives me a raging headache.

What is my “why” when it comes to green cleaning? I didn’t actually start to make green, non-toxic changes until I became pregnant and started thinking about my daughter’s health. I thought about how she would be crawling on the floors absorbing toxic chemicals through her skin and mouth. They would be present on her clothes and inhaling these chemicals that kill brain cells, cause cancer, and irritate your skin. If you have kids you know that their skin is very sensitive and their guts are very permeable and these chemicals would quickly get in to her blood stream and wreck havoc. Not only did I think about the cleaners but also the baby products like shampoos and lotions. Another reason

why, is that we over do it when it comes to anti-bacterial products. We have been raised to think that killing all bacteria is good for us…WRONG. Most people don’t realize that there are good bacteria and bad bacteria. Antibacterial cleaners kill everything leaving the strongest bacterias to survive and get stronger. This results in the creation of super bacteria that become resistant to the antibacterial agents you use to kill them. You may actually be doing more harm to yourself by using these harsh chemicals to kill them then what the bad bacteria you are trying to kill may do to you.

So all this non-toxic talk brings me to my latest blog post which is really a book review of The Joy of Green Cleaning.  I absolutely love this recipe book! It’s a great handy resource book for green cleaning.  It was written by Leslie Reichert aka Green Cleaning Coach whose mission is to teach and encourage others in the art of home-keeping and green cleaning. In her book, Leslie explains what is the big deal about greening your cleaning. She says that most regular cleaning can be done without any toxic chemicals. It is true that you can clean with non-toxic items already in your pantry such as baking soda, vinegar, sea salt, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide.

Read more here...

Safe Germ Killers

Bleach is a household cleaning product for one reason. It is very effective in killing that bacteria on your countertops or other surfaces in your home. However, not only is bleach toxic to those micro-invaders but it is also terrible for you and your family, especially when it finds its way from you countertops to your food. There are better, safer ways to protect yourself from salmonella, e-coli, and other scary bacteria. Below is the link to watch part 2 of my 10 part video series to help you get a safer, green cleaning home.

http://www.greencleaningcoach.com/ar/safe-germ-killer

Not only will the tips in this video save you some money as you will be able to use common home ingredients but you will have the added benefit of knowing that the cleaning supplies you are using aren't harming the health of you and your family. The fact that creating your own cleaners can be fast, fun, and easy is just a bonus.

Spring Cleaning - Get the Family Involved

Spring cleaning will go a lot faster if you have some help. Having a clean house isn't just to your benefit, it's something the whole family can appreciate. So get them working with you and you will see that winter dirt disappear in no time.
Make a Plan

The best way to make sure everyone is working is to have a plan. This will keep everyone on track. If you have children who are prone to comparing their workload, ensure your kids have their own tasks. Then they can complete them without comparing time.

Have the Right Tools
By making sure that you have the right tools you can make your tasks much simpler as well. Vacuuming will be easier with the right attachment, steamers will get dirt out of grout and showers, microfiber mops and cloths make water the only cleaning solution you need, and using a cycle in your dryer to get the dust off of your curtains will save hours of washing. The microfiber cloths especially work perfectly for young children. Just hand them a spray bottle filled with water, one of the cloths, and set them to work washing any glass doors, windows, or mirrors. It's a simple but useful task where they won't get hurt or make a mess. 

A "Ten Minute Tidy"
If you can't coerce your family into a whole day of cleaning, you can use one of my favorite techniques, the "ten minute tidy." I get every member of my family to clean the same room for ten minutes. Each person has their own tasks, and since I have five in my family, it's just like I cleaned for 50 minutes. It takes a lot of time off of my workload. 

The "little cleaning box" Is Big News!

Don’t you just love samples? What about opening presents? And that special excitement when you see a package in the mailbox? Don’t you love trying new products? If you answered “yes” to all of these questions then signing up for the little cleaning box will be just what you should do!

The Little Cleaning Box is a “members-only” subscription website where you can try before you buy the newest and coolest new cleaning products. For $10 a box you get access to the tips, tricks and tutorials on how to make cleaning greener and easier – and who doesn’t want that! You also have access to online shopping with monthly specials and free shipping. The best part is the quarterly brown box that is mailed directly to you - filled with 4-5 full sized samples. These are the highest quality cleaning products available for your home.

As inconceivable as it may seem, there are NO laws protecting you dangerous chemicals that are being used as ingredients in common household cleaners that are more than likely sitting under your sink right now.
And it’s the mission of Leslie Reichert, the idea lady behind the LittleCleaningBox.com,  to protect families and pets from hidden toxins and health risks that are commonly found in household cleaners that are being used EVERY day all over the world.
Which is why she wants to send you the Little Cleaning Box, a collection of green cleaning samples that she has personally used and tested. Everything in the box has Leslie’s “Fast… Green… and Totally Clean” seal of approval.
And you can receive these samples each quarter for less than what you would spend on one full-sized bottle of laundry detergent!
So go check out www.littlecleaningbox.com and get started on a cleaner, greener home right now!

Goodbye to Grease How To Video

On your quest to achieve that lovely spring clean you are at some point going to have to enter the kitchen. There are just so many places that food buildup hides here, and your stove is no exception. If you have trouble getting rid of that troublesome grease in your grease plates, the video below will make your job a lot easier. It's springtime, and the last thing you want is the grease leftover from the Thanksgiving turkey hanging out in your kitchen. With the few tips I give in this video, you can quickly move on from the stove with enough time to tackle the larger tasks of Spring Cleaning.

A Start to Spring Cleaning

As the sun starts to shine more and the air starts to smell like rain and flowers instead of snow, I always seem to get this itch. I look around my house and feel the need to do something, anything, to make the season come to my home. It doesn't matter that spring starts months after the new year; sometimes spring feels more like a fresh start than New Year's day. Perhaps it's because this is when you can see those baby bunnies hopping through your garden, troublesome though they may be, or because you can see those daffodils you planted last fall starting to poke out of the soil, but the whole world seems to be starting anew. And with this new birth comes my desire to bring at least some of that energy to my home. Step #1: Spring Cleaning.
It's not a new concept but spring cleaning if taken too seriously and on too grand a scale can seem daunting. To help you on your way I'm going to be posting a few blog articles a week with a few short helpful tips to keep you going.
So here commences my first tip. Everything around you is turning green. Why not make your cleaning products do the same? Since you are going to be using a lot of different cleaners throughout the cleaning process, you will want to use something that isn't going to make you feel less than up to the task. Signs that your current cleaning products may be negatively effecting you can include breathing problems like asthma attacks, headaches, rashes, or even a propensity to become sick and recover slowly. I have a friend who was diagnosed with Lupus because of a severe rash she had, but later she discovered that the cause of her rash was just left over detergent in her clothing. As a result she switched to a green detergent and has been better ever since.
If you are concerned about financing the switch, I find that the cost actually comes out to be more affordable. Though the cleaning products may seem tocost more, they last longer. By making the switch you are not only sparing yourself the chemicals but you are also helping the environment. It's the best way to celebrate the coming of Spring, by doing your part to ensure that the season will be just as beautiful in the years to come.

"Subscribe" To Greening Your Cleaning

Spring cleaning is just around the bend and it's a great time to try some new things, especially if you are a newbie to green cleaning. Or maybe you just want to stretch your wings and try something different. Either way I know you want to better your home by not only creating a nicer environment but also one that is free from toxins and poisonous chemicals. Not sure where to start? I have created a program that will get you on your feet and give you some momentum.

I've put together the Little Cleaning Box. This is a collection of hand-picked samples that will be delivered to your door once every three months. In the first box I've included samples of 4 different scents of Mrs. Meyer's Dish Soap, 2 pods of Grab Green Laundry Detergent, a Skoy cloth which does the work of 15 rolls of paper towels, Modern Mermaids glass and all purpose cleaner, and a sample Just Bee... laundry bag that takes the place of toxic dryer sheets. All of these samples are delivered to your door for just $10.

This is a simple, easy, and affordable way to tap into the newest and best green cleaning products. Or a great way to try out some products that you wanted to try  but didn't want to make the commitment of buying a large amount. All the products in the little cleaning box have been hand-selected and I highly recommend. And the best part is you get a new "little cleaning box" every three months so there will be plenty of great products you'll get to try!

Also, if you are having trouble finding the right gift for that special someone, the Little Cleaning Box can be the answer. Not only will your friend or family-member get the original box but they will continue to receive "little cleaning boxes"  all year long. It's the gift that will keep reminding them how much you really care! And if your sending them the "little cleaning box" it means you care A LOT.

Mopping Up With Martha Stewart Living Radio

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.

Out With Allergies - from Shape Magazine 2011

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.

Day 10 Time to get serious about cleaning!

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 12 - Get the pantry ready for Thanksgiving

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

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!

Eco Dorm Necessities

We are putting together "Eco Dorm Kits" for college kids to take to school. Since my daughter was a freshman in college last year - I have the "pulse" on the green things they need at school. Here is a quick rundown of some cool products. You can check the links for more info and we'd would love to help you with any questions.

Skoy Cloths- instead of paper towels
Charlie's Soap -a great laundry soap that is green and earth friendly. One bag with last the semester
Eureka stick broom - vacuum without electricity- uses a rechargeable battery.
Mrs. Meyers green cleaning starter kit - a perfect size for a small dorm room
Fresh Wave Dorm Kit - Most college kids use Fabreze to "clean" their dorms. A better- all natural product that removes smells is made by Freshwave and they just came out with a Dorm Kit- actually it's called a Stinky Dorm Kit!
EVA shower curtain so you don't have any VOC's in your bathroom!
And if they really want to be green, you can give them a copy of the book: The Joy of Green Cleaning- which is a recipe book for going green.

Buy yourself some tissues made from recycled paper products at Whole Foods or Trader Joes and you are set to take the trip to college!

The Daily Green does the Math

Save $28 on Green Cleaning Products

Article by Leslie Reichert

Recently, Johnson and Johnson was asked to remove two ingredients in their baby shampoo. If baby shampoo has nasty stuff in it, what do you think is in your cleaning products? Along with knowing what's in your cleaners, you can save money by making your own.

Let's compare the cost of making our own all-purpose cleaner with a gallon of cleaner purchased from the grocery aisle. Here's the math: a gallon of white vinegar will be $3, and if we are being fancy, we'll use distilled water, which will cost us another dollar for a gallon. Combine those two ingredients. Pick up a bottle of essential oil for $4, which will give you enough fresh scent to last a year or more, since you only need to add a few drops to each batch of cleaner you make. All told, we've spent just over $4 to make two gallons of cleaner, or about $2 per gallon.

Now let's go to the cleaning aisle and buy a name brand pine cleaner. We will be paying around $3 for a 12-ounce bottle. There are 128 ounces in a gallon, so we will have to multiply the cost by 10 to get a gallon. So, if we've done our math correctly, we would save just shy of $28 by making our own (the difference between $30 and almost $2).

And the best part is that we KNOW what is in our homemade cleaner. If you can't give up the smell you're used to, trick your nose and use a pine essential oil. You'll still get great quality of cleaning, along with a fresh scent.

This example is just some of the money you can save by making your own cleaners. The underlying advantage is that you won't be surprised someday when a manufacturer is asked to remove a chemical ingredient from the cleaner you've been using around your children and pets. Play it safe and try using a green homemade cleaner. Everyone will be glad you did.
For more green cleaning recipes download the e-book "The Joy of Green Cleaning" or purchase the spiral-bound recipe book from Amazon. (Put in coupon code DG09 for the e-book and get 10% off.)

Let the Sun shine in!

Happy Memorial Day!

If your house is like mine today, the sun is trying to get through some pretty dusty screens and some very dirt windows. No problem. I have a quick solution that only takes minutes and our windows will be crystal clear.

You will need a bucket of hot water, a "blue" microfiber cloth, two large looped microfiber cloths and your vacuum with a hose attachment.

Start off with a dry large looped microfiber cloth. This will "dust" your screens perfectly, without taking them all out and washing them. (For years I have watched my neighbors waste a whole day removing all the screens, lining them up against the house and wash, rinse and dry them. My system is faster, easier and works better!) Wipe this dry cloth over the entire screen. Dust the screen like a piece of furniture then vacuum up anything that might drop on the sill and the floor.

Next, wet your blue cloth and wring it out really well. The "dryer" it is, the better it works. Use a system of wiping from top to bottom on the inside and side to side on the outside. That way if you missed a spot, you know where to look.

If your windows are really dirty, use the second large looped microfiber cloth, wet and go over the window first and clean off the big dirt. Then use the blue one to finish the cleaning.

That's all you have to do to clean your windows! I know it sounds too easy but it really works. I can do all the windows on my first floor in less than an hour. And it's easy, no streaks, smears, or lint. And no black fingers from the newspapers grandma told you to try!

I'm not crazy after all!

Did you see this article the other day?

May 1, 2009 -- Up to 48 toxic chemicals commonly used in everyday consumer products have shown up in blood and urine samples of five prominent women environmental activists, according to a study by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization devoted to protecting human health and the environment.
"Testing was primarily targeted toward products used in everyday consumer products that have escaped regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act," Anila Jacob, MD, MPH, a senior scientist with the organization, said at a news briefing.
The findings, according to Jacob and others from Environmental Working Group, offer more proof that the Toxic Substances Control Act is antiquated and needs a major overhaul to protect Americans from the adverse effects of chemicals found in everyday products.

Here is the link to the entire article: http://www.webmd.com/news/20090501/household-chemicals-may-show-up-in-blood?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The only way to really know is to make it yourself. Need a good resource for how to start? Check out THE JOY OF GREEN CLEANING

Three Reasons to Green Your Cleaning

When you talk to people about green cleaning, some will roll their eyes and say that what they use in their own homes doesn't make a big difference.

But any difference makes a big difference.

And it's not just about the Earth. Yes, our environment is very important and that is one of the "big three" reasons to go green. The other two reasons are closer to home. The main reason is for yourself. I've waited for 50 years for things to be about me- and finally when it comes to green cleaning- it is. Since you are the one breathing in the cleaners you are using, don't you think they should be something very safe? And what about your skin! It's the biggest organ you own and all the products you use go directly through your skin and into your bloodstream. So make greening your cleaning personal. Do it for yourself. And the third reason is for your family and pets. Just because the chemical you cleaned with has dried doesn't mean it's not still there. And if your kids are running around in bare feet, they are absorbing those chemicals that are still on the floor. Also, the pads of our pets paws are not made to be exposed to the toxins in cleaners either. They also absorb everything into their bodies through their "feet".

So Green Cleaning is for 3 reasons: yourself, your family and then the Earth.

Do it for all of them!

Check out some great green cleaners at

www.shopgreencleaning.com

Any difference makes a big difference!*

A "Dirty Dish Rebellion" in Washington

On March 28, the Boston Globe reported there was a revolt happening on the other side of the country. In Spokane, Washington people are "smuggling" in their old dish washing detergent. Spokane County has passed a law requiring people to use green cleaners! By 2010, the use of phosphates will be banned throughout the entire state!

This is a good law for the water system, but it's not good if people can't find a green cleaner that works. People in Spokane are not happy with the alternative cleaners. So they are crossing the borders and smuggling in their old detergents. I think the real problem isn't the cleaners themselves, but the water that doesn't let the soap work as well. But I know a solution. A tablespoon of salt! I use a larger grain salt, like sea salt or kosher and it softens the water and works on tough crusted on food too. You can add the salt to some borax and have a super cleaner booster for your dishwasher that can really work. I love the Mrs. Meyers dish soap so much that I want to share it with you. I'm going to give away the new spring cleaning kit- Snap Pea! Sign up to follow my blog down at the bottom right and I will pick the winner on April 30, from those that sign up! Good Luck and Happy Cleaning!

Don't take my word for it....

See - You've got to try green cleaning to learn how easy it really can be.....

"I'm a believer !!!

I purchase your starter kit with the Skoy and Micro Fiber towel.
That little blue cloth is a "jewel".

The morning after the meeting I tried the cloth on one window----by the time I finished all the windows
the mirrors and then I did my gallery of pictures in the hallway.
I glowed as much as my work did.

Now if you knew me you would know that I can not keep a secret
Everyone I have met since, has gotten a full explanation of my cleaning
experience and my "little blue cloth". I will be up after the holiday to purchase
one for my daughter and daughter-in-law.
Thanks again!"

Phyllis S. Uxbridge, MA