Posts Tagged ‘cleaning’

4 Steps to Cleaning Anything

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

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Lack of time or lack of chemical products can make cleaning difficult. The truth, however, is that a simple cleaning cloth and just a couple of other tools should be enough to clean everything around the house, yard or car. Just follow a logical few steps and cleaning should be a breeze.

  1. Gather all materials. No matter what you’re cleaning, you’ll need at least two cleaning cloths. Instead of buying a number of different cleaners for every room, get a multi-purpose cleaner and a glass cleaner. Those two should be enough for the whole house. For furniture or car interior, you might want to get a specialty product.
  2. Wet one of the cloths and gather all dust or superficial debris. You can use some cleaning product if there are stains or more stubborn dirt, but water should be enough for just dust. Dry the surface with the second cloth to avoid streaking.
  3. Repeat the procedure using an appropriate cleaning product rather than just water. This is an essential step when cleaning upholstery or dealing with mud or stubborn dirt. Using a product at this stage will also get rid of smells.
  4. Always start with the larger spaces first. Clean furniture, floors or the outside of your car. Then move on to the smaller areas and those that need attention because of stains. Small items such as figurines and collectibles should be cleaned with a dry cloth or specialty products only.

Clean the House with Essential Oils

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

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Rather than using strong chemicals and products to keep the house germ-free, there are cleaner, healthier options, of which aromatherapy may not be the most obvious. The truth, however, is that essential oils are excellent to remove odors, disinfect and freshen the house.

To make a basic cleaner, mix water with a few drops of eucalyptus, lemon, lavender or pine essential oils. Wet a cleaning cloth in the water and use it to clean all surfaces in the room, including furniture, appliances and counters. You can also put the mix into a spray bottle. Switch to a larger cloth and mop the floor with the same mix. Orange and lemon oils are especially good for the floor. Always use a new, dry cloth to go over the surfaces you clean and clear away any residues or remaining moisture.

You can also mix lavender with water and use it spray upholstery, linens and curtains to deodorize the rooms. If you spray the towels after washing them but before putting them into the dryer, you will “dry the aroma into the fabric,” so it will last longer than usual.

Do keep in mind that essential oils can be poisonous if ingested in large quantities. Pets and children are especially at risk.

How to Clean Anything Fast

Monday, September 21st, 2009

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Cleaning doesn’t have to take forever. In fact, if you clean regularly and keep your house relatively free of clutter, overall maintenance shouldn’t take more than a few minutes a day. If you’ve been stalling, though, and now want to get your house looking speck-free in under an hour, here are some tips on how to clean well and clean fast.

Have two cleaning cloths ready: one wet and one dry. That way you can wipe and dry (when necessary) in one move, rather than having to come back later to do it.

If you plan on using cleaning products, such as furniture polish or window cleaners, have a third cleaning cloth handy just for that purpose. Most surfaces can be cleaned using just some warm water, so you should have a special cloth designated just for that.

Keep your pets and kids out of the room as you’re cleaning. Always start on the corner furthest away from the door and clean towards the exit. When you’re done, close the door and let things air dry without paws or dirty shoes tracking dirt around.

Scuffmarks on vinyl floors can be removed by rubbing an eraser directly on the mark and then wiping out any lint with a wet cleaning cloth.

If you used a cleaning cloth to clean your floors, you will need to put it aside, preferably on warm water and detergent, to help get rid of bacteria. Never reuse a cleaning cloth on a completely different surface without washing it and do not take a cleaning cloth from one room to the next to prevent bacteria to spread throughout the house. Start with a clean cloth for each room.