Posts Tagged ‘green cleaning’

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.

Why Plant-Based Cleaning Cloths are Better

Monday, September 21st, 2009

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There are a number of cleaning cloths in the market, made with a variety of materials and meant to last anywhere from a few cleanings to over 1,000. Bullywipe belongs to the second group. Long-lasting plant-based cleaning cloths have other benefits besides their durability. For starters, they’re greener. Made without animal by-products, they can be used without the addition of chemicals. In fact, this type of fiber often works best without anything other than water added to it. Plant-based cleaning cloths have a natural surface that is perfect for scrubbing without tearing or damaging delicate items.

Another major advantage of a plant-based cleaning cloth is that they don’t produce lint. This is essential when cleaning upholstery or paper-based products, which would attract link and could be ruined if cleaned with other products.

Finally, Bullywipe can be washed and hung to dry over and over without the need for chemicals, bleach or special detergents. In fact, you can throw Bullywipe in with your general laundry and rest assured that both your clothes and the cleaning cloth will come out looking as new.