Learn How To Clean Your Windows - With Just Water

Here is one simple tool that can make cleaning your windows a snap. I only wish I had found this while I had my house keeping service! I never agreed to clean windows because they are so hard to do correctly. We'd spend hours spraying glass cleaner and trying every kind of paper towel so we could avoid streaks and lint. This blue cloth does it all!

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

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.

Share The Green!

"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.



E-cloth - a chemically free super "hero"

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!

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!

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

You CAN do windows!- No Fooling!

With the newest technology and some simple tips, washing windows can be a cinch! Put away the spray bottle of window cleaner and those paper towels. Get yourself a high quality microfiber cloth- we call it the "blue cloth"- and a bucket of warm water. That's all you need. Don't believe me? Just take my challenge. I guarantee - cleaning your windows has never been easier! And if you don't have pop out windows -here is our 50-50 window cleaning system:

Unlock and fully open the window. Using your blue cloth, wash the outside of the exterior sash. Clean it as far as you can reach. Now push both sashes to the bottom and wash any part of the exterior sash you couldn't reach from the top. Next, pull the interior sash up 1/2 closed and wash the top half of the interior window. Now, push both windows to the top and pull the interior window 1/2 way down and wash the bottom half. That's it- your windows are cleaned from the inside- safely and easily.

It's the start of the Holidays!

Whether you like it or not, Halloween is the official start to the Holiday season. Our tip today is to start cleaning for the holidays now! Let's start with the windows. Since we will be turning our clocks back this weekend, our days will be getting shorter and darker. So let's let in as much light as we can.

I recommend taking out the screens and vacuuming them. Then store them in the basement or garage for the winter. Screens block out a lot of the natural light and I promise you won't need them during the winter.

Next we want to wash the windows. But we are not going to spray them with anything... and no paper towels or newspapers. We are going to just use a microfiber cloth made especially for windows. I guarantee you will only have to wipe the window with the cloth and it will be sparkling clean! No streaks, no smears and no drying.


If your windows are really dirty on the outside, wash them with warm water and a rag then go over them with the "Blue cloth". It really works and it is totally GREEN.

Away with spiders!

It's that time of year again. Cool nights are bringing the spiders to your windows, and they are desperately trying to get inside where it is warm. Now is the time to vacuum the window screens with your dusting brush and wipe down the sills. Then try this all natural recipe to spray on window screens and sills to keep the spiders outside where they belong.

You will need, 1 cup of vegetable oil, 1/4 cup of dawn liquid soap, 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Mix oil, soap and extract in a container. Now in a spray bottle put 1 tablespoon of the mixture for every 1-cup of water. Shake and spray your spiders away.

No Glass Cleaner- No Paper Towels- Ever Again

I don't do windows, well I didn't until I found this "blue cloth". Its a miracle and now I don't mind doing windows! All I need is water and the cloth. No toxic chemicals, no paper towels to deal with, and no streaks or lint. I now can have my kids do the windows without worrying about them spraying the dog with the window cleaner. Or using is for hair spray like some kids I know... Although I do miss using the excuse that I can't do the windows because I'm out of papertowels and toilet paper, doesn't really work well. NONE NEEDED!
Oh, you can also do your granite, chrome, mirrors and even the inside of your car windshield with it. My husband, who never cleans anything, stole it to clean his truck. He won't admit he took it, but I saw it under the front seat of the truck through the spotless window (which has never been clean!) Like I said before, it's a miracle- that my husband is cleaning and that the cloth actually works.
You can find it at http://www.vacuumlady.com/cgi-bin/vl.pl?action=shop&other=tools