It’s clean…or is it?

Don’t you wish that when you wiped a surface, it was clean? Wait…do you think that it’s clean? Would you use your dish sponge, which is one of the main places bacteria love to live in your house, to wipe your countertops? Wait…do you?

If so, then we have got to chat!

Let me explain, to clean something is to remove soil or residue from a surface. Crumbs on the counter? Bam! Now they are in the trash…CLEAN.

Sanitizing is the removal of potentially harmful microorganisms, such as E. Coli, from a surface.

Disinfecting is a complete elimination of all disease-causing bacteria or pathogens from a surface.

So, next time you cut raw meat on your cutting board and think that since you washed it with a soapy germ-infested sponge and now it is clean, think again. It may look and smell clean, but it is a healthy clean?

Some easy recipes to help disinfect and sanitize your house naturally include:

Thyme

-Thyme is a natural disinfectant and has a very fresh scent. A good recipe idea is to add one part of thyme to eight parts of water in a spray bottle. (If you’re thinking it is too much water, what do you think manufacturers add to their products? Look it up, it’s mostly water.) Make sure you allow the surface to dry thoroughly.

Tea Tree Oil

-Tea tree oil can be much stronger than chemical ingredients when it comes to killing bacteria. It has even been known to effectively fight MRSA when used by infected patients. Mix the tea tree oil in water, the same way as the thyme recipe.

Hydrogen Peroxide

-If you’re friends with us on Facebook, you know that I love using hydrogen peroxide in place of bleach. It is so easy to mix, so easy to clean with and it is natural! Mix a half and half solution of water in a dark colored spray bottle. Make sure it is the darkest spray bottle because light can break down the components in peroxide and turn it into water. You can use this recipe in the bathroom and in your laundry! Remember, peroxide is bleach so use on your whites for brighter socks!

Tell us what you think! Visit us at www.facebook.com/Miraclean Happy cleaning!

For those who follow Miraclean’s Facebook page, you are familiar with Tackle It Tuesday.

Every Tuesday morning I post an area to clean and give recipes and tips on how to clean those areas using all-natural products.

This past Tuesday, I decided to tackle my bread cabinet. I call it my bread cabinet, but I have holiday dishes, stuff I’ve never used from my wedding: like a cheese dome (seriously), books of all my recipes I’ve acquired over the years and bread.

I quickly realized that in order for me to organize this area of my kitchen, I was going to have to clean out another cabinet; the one above the oven. Now, that’s a challenge!

That cabinet was full of three different sugars, two bags of flour, random Tastefully Simple products, pancake mix, Metamucil, you name it, it was in there.

The entire process did not take long because once I start throwing stuff away, I cannot stop! I love it. It may sound silly, but it is very liberating to not feel tied down. I always get that feeling of, “well, I haven’t used it…EVER…but what if I may need it?”

I’ve learned to hush that voice and start throwing away or donating things I do not need anymore. See that keyword, NEED. It’s not a want. I don’t need thousands of tupperware containers when I cook for two, so I keep about 12 and throw the rest away. I don’t need three sets of dishes because I never host dinner parties and thankfully the friends that I do have come over for dinner aren’t looking at my place settings. (Even though, I do make sure it all matches because I’m weird like that.)

I think people get tied down to that feeling of “one day I’ll need this.” I’m sure one day I will throw a dinner party. And one day I will be mad at myself for giving those dishes to my cousin when she bought her first house. (I highly doubt it, but it could happen.)

My point is, don’t get so tied down. Use what you need. Keep enough stuff to fill the space you have. I have a two bedroom, one bathroom condo. I have a small storage unit outside and I’m in an upper unit, so I have an attic. I have never been in my attic. Ever. I don’t want to. Whenever I purge the shed and have my “I NEED ROOM” moment, it’s out with the old and in with new.

With such a tiny house, I don’t have room for a whole cabinet dedicated to nothing but Tupperware, but somehow my cabinet is full of Tupperware. Time to purge. I’ll give some to friends and throw away containers where the lids are missing or the container is warped or out of shape.

I am a total freak when it comes to organization. I love little baskets that hold everything from my car keys to hats, scarves, gloves, etc. I love the over the door coat racks and shoe organizers. I will admit that my house gets disorganized, like every other house you live in, but I try to make it point to have a place for everything and everything in it’s place.

Next time you feel the need the purge, just remember you are purging for a reason. You need to make room. So, make room. Throw it away, pass it along to a friend, donate it. Whatever ‘it’ is, if you know you haven’t used it in a long period of time, you probably never will. And, if you do throw it away and a few years later kick yourself for it, you can always buy another one.

I am a fan of anything that makes my life easier. After cleaning houses for seven years, you can imagine I’ve tried just about every “spray it and forget it” or “we do the work for you” product out there. Very few have made the cut, but these are the products I cannot live without. (And, in no way was I compensated for any of these products. I just love them!)

1. Swiffer extended duster. By far, my favorite product of all time. Being 5′ 2” I need all the extra arm space I can get! This product allows easy cleaning for fans, cobwebs in corners, shelving, picture frames and more! If you buy the dusters, you’ll notice they bend and conform easily to fit into tight spaces you wouldn’t normally be able to reach. I love the citrus scented duster refills, but they are not all-natural. 🙁
2. Magic Eraser. There is a lot of controversy regarding the Magic Eraser. First, I like it. It removes soap scum in one swipe, it is the only product I know that can remove just about any scuff mark, sticky residue, crayon and more off of walls. It seriously is magic. I’ve done my research and it’s murky. The product is not all-natural, but the only time it is hazardous is if ingested or filed down to a powder and sniffed. (NOTE: please don’t eat sponges or file them down to a powder to snort. It’s unbecoming.)
3. Microfiber towels. These all-natural little towels are tough. They are great for dusting because they attract the dust. The texture helps to shine mirrors and chrome fixtures. It’s also very helpful getting fingerprints off of stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. I couldn’t live without these little guys.
4. Rubbermaid Reveal mop. I have been through some mops! I’ve had the old-school mop heads that you stick your hand in the mop to wring it out. I’ve had the expensive Swiffer mops that constantly caused me to buy replacement pads, juice, batteries, you get the gist. This Reveal mop is awesome! It has basically a water bottle that you can put whatever concoction of product you want. (I usually use vinegar and water.) Pop the water bottle on the mop and with a few squirts, you’re finished before you know it! The mop head is a reusable microfiber and it is all-natural. (YES!)
5. Melaleuca products. These products are wonderful. They are all-natural, chemical-free and safe to use around children and pets. Actually, it is one of the only cleaning products that your child could drink an entire full concentrated bottle and if you call poison control they will tell you not to worry about it. How much safer could you get?! They have a variety of products for every room in your home. Check them out.

And there you have it! A few of the products that I cannot live without. What are some of your favorite cleaning products?

For the past three weeks, I have dubbed Tuesday “Tackle It Tuesday”. I like it. It gives me the chance to keep up with some areas around the house I wouldn’t normally clean.

Today, I wanted to give you my awesome recipe for cleaning out an oven without those dangerous fumes.

First, remove the racks from the inside of the oven and preheat to 200 degrees. The heat will help those stubborn stains get clean.

Create a paste using baking soda and water. Do not make the paste too watery. Spread paste throughout oven and oven door. Let sit 15-20 mins.

Use a pumice stone (yes, one those things you use to get dead skin off your feet) in a circular motion over baking soda mixture. Do not worry, the stone will not scratch the ceramic or the oven door.

For really stuck on stains, add salt to the baking soda mixture. Salt is a natural abrasive that will help loosen up that dried food.

*I must admit that I had not cleaned out my oven in (mutters) years, so there was some stuck on food that salt and baking soda was not doing the trick. I took the dull side of a butter knife and scraped the last little bit that wasn’t coming clean. Again, nothing was scratched…perfectly safe.

Wipe everything with a warm, damp rag and a drop of dish soap. Dry with a clean towel.

If the glass on the oven door is streaky, spray a vinegar and water solution and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping dry. Be sure you have removed all the baking soda from the area BEFORE spraying the vinegar solution. If not, you’ll notice the volcano effect.

And that’s that. Let me know what you think. Don’t forget to post before and after pictures. Here is my before and after picture.

Let’s get the cat out of the bag sooner rather than later. I clean a lot of houses..usually three to five houses daily. By the time I get home, the LAST thing on my mind is cleaning my own house.

I’m not a clutterer and I usually clean my house over the weekend, but come over on a Wednesday or Thursday and it’s looking a little rough. With that being said, I decided that I was going to tackle the grout in the shower today.

What’s the big lead up? You need to know the background before you check out this picture. (Scroll down for picture.)This is a before and after shot all-in-one. On the right side of the photo you can see the clean, disinfected, sanitized grout and on the left…well, that’s the before. Alright, alright. Now that you know my big secret, how did I get it so clean?

Miraclean’s amazing steam vapor cleaner! Yes, amazing! This machine heats water to a santizing 375 degrees. That is hospital-grade clean! No chemicals, just water. That makes it safe for your family and the environment.

Once the grout is cleaned, if you keep up with it, it will stay that way! First rule of thumb, when having any tile and grout work performed, make sure the company you have hired reseals the grout. This will help prevent future build-up…or at least delay the build-up for a little longer.

Second, grout is very porous. So, when you take a shower be sure to wipe down the grout. It is easy and takes seconds of your time; which will save you time when it comes to cleaning.

Lastly, hydrogen peroxide is basically bleach. Combine one part peroxide and four parts water in a spray bottle and scrub grout as necessary. You can use an old toothbrush to help loosen the build-up. (Another helpful hint: add 6oz of peroxide to a load of white laundry. Trust me, you will never use bleach again!)

So there you have it. Keep that grout clean and dry for a longer lasting clean! If you need help, call us (803-366-1766) or shoot us an email (miracleancarpet@yahoo.com). Swing by our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Miraclean) for more tips or visit our website (www.miracleanonline.com) for a couple of free gifts.

Oh, and here’s my shameful shower pic.