Miraclean – 803.984.9383 | Tag Archives: all natural

10 reasons you shouldn’t clean your own house

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

You are busy! We know that. That’s why we don’t think you should have to clean your own house. Imagine that. To walk in to your home knowing the bedsheets were all changed, the showers are clean, the floors are no longer sticky. Isn’t that nice? And now you can have some time to yourself before the hubby and the kids come home and destroy it all in a matter of minutes. (Because, face it, that’s what’ll happen.)

Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t be cleaning your own house:

1.) Be honest, how many arguments have you and your family gotten into regarding cleaning? It’s like trying to pull teeth. No one wants to spend their limited weekend time scrubbing toilets. I’m not saying you should let your family trash the house to avoid an argument of cleaning, but straightening up a bedroom or playroom is not the same as cleaning a bathroom. Of course, kids should have some responsibilities depending on their age and how much they can handle, but seriously, how many times have you and your hubby argued over who did the last load of dishes? Avoid the argument completely by having someone else do the work for you!

2.) As stated earlier, you only get a matter of hours over the weekend to spend it with your family. Enjoy that time. Go out to eat or take a weekend trip away. Maybe go to Carowinds for the day.

3.) Try something new. If one of your major complaints is that there isn’t enough time in the day, give yourself more time. By hiring a cleaning service, usually a team can complete an entire house cleaning in about three hours. Take those three hours and meet a friend for coffee, or try a new restaurant that just opened. Go skydiving! The possibilities are endless but wouldn’t you rather do any of those things than clean your house?

4.) Take time for yourself. Could you imagine getting a massage or a mani/pedi, then coming home to a clean house?! You could get a head start on that best seller you’ve been dying to read!

5.) This is probably the most important piece of information I tell our customers, so listen up. Some people think there is a real stigma to hiring a cleaning company. Here’s my advice. How much is your time worth to you? Think about it. If you can pay between $80-$100 per cleaning and you can have fresh bedsheets and clean bathrooms in less than three hours isn’t that worth it knowing that it will probably take you all day to do what we can do in a matter of hours? How many times have you been cleaning an area and two minutes later your kids dump a box of Legos on the floor. What is the saying? Cleaning the house when the kids are home is like trying to brush your teeth while eating Oreo’s.

6.) Get rid of that, “I swear I JUST cleaned this!” feeling. You know what I mean. You sweep and mop the kitchen floor and in run the kids, “I’m hungry! She’s looking at me! He won’t let me in his room!” Before you know it you’ve got crumbs all over the counters and little footprints all over your freshly mopped floor.

kids interfere with cleaning

7.) I don’t know about you, but occasionally I find myself asking “How can we live in this mess?” Not that my house is disgusting, but yes there are areas that get cleaned more than others. Summertime in the South means that my fans are on high circulation constantly! It’s those times where I flip I switch and realize there is about a pound of dust on each fan blade and jeeze someone should clean that. Then the germaphobe in me kicks in “Oh wow, we’ve just been breathing in this mess for weeks! How can we live in this mess?!” Hiring a cleaning company can help because they follow a guideline to make sure areas you don’t think about, like ceiling fans, get dusted on a regular basis.

sheldon

8.) Who wants to clean? Seriously. After taking the kids to and from school, soccer practice, dance lessons, cooking dinner, going grocery shopping, doing laundry, planning the upcoming week, who has time to clean anymore? If you find yourself thinking, “if only there were a few hours more in a day,” then we are the cleaning company for you!

9.) This is the excuse I used to tell my mom when she would have me make my bed in the morning. “Why? I’m just going to sleep in it again tonight?” I’m 28 years old and I still don’t make my bed….ever….because of this same reason. So what’s the difference between that and the rest of the house? Why clean when it’s just going to get messy again, right?

unmade bed

10.) Lastly, leave it to the pros. There is no stigma in getting some extra help around the house. We know you are busy and we know you are responsible for an ENTIRE family! That’s a lot to keep up with nowadays! Take some stress off your plate and let us help. We use a 66-point checklist to make sure your home is sparkling clean. (Here it is, if you don’t believe me.) Plus, our customers say we clean their house better than they would any way.

And there you have it. Ten reasons why you shouldn’t be cleaning your own house. We would love to take some stress off your plate! We use all-natural products that are safe to use around kids and pets. All of our employees are bonded and insured. We have tons of references and we are probably already cleaning someone’s house in your neighborhood! Schedule your free estimate today by calling Kristin at 803-366-1766.

Vodka isn’t just for drinking

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Vodka isn’t just for drinking anymore!

It can actually be used around the house to help make cleaning a little easier. It is cheap and it’s a good solvent, much like lemon juice. Vodka is also non-toxic when used as a cleaning agent.

Here is our top 10 list of things you can clean using bottom-shelf vodka:

1.) Save yourself money by spritzing your “dry clean only” garments with a 50/50 vodka-water dilution between dry cleaning to remove odors. Since vodka has no smell once it dries, you won’t go into work smelling like a brewery.

2.) Clean your spectacles. Vodka is also a great glass cleaner, but it is NOT for use on coated lens.

3.) Get up that sticky stuff! Got sticker residue on your favorite frame? Maybe the kids have concocted some science experiment in their bedroom making everything sticky. Whatever the case, pull out the vodka!

4.) Keep flowers lasting longer than ever by adding one tablespoon vodka, one tablespoon sugar and then fill the vase with water. The vodka kills bacteria that will form in the vase and sugar gives the flowers nutrients.

5.) Got smelly feet? Use straight vodka as a foot soak. It eliminates odors, even the worst stinky feet!

6.) In a pinch for a quick hand sanitizer? Spritz some vodka on your hands and rub them together. Then, spritz your mouth because, hey, that needs santizing, too! 😉

7.) Vodka can also be used as an anesthetic and disinfectant by helping achey teeth, open blisters, cold sores and minor wounds.

8.) Get those diamonds sparkling! Use straight vodka to clean your diamonds, emeralds and other crystallized gemstones. Put vodka in a small bowl, add jewelry and let sit for 5 minutes. Dry your pieces then watch them shine.

9.) Fight oil build-up in your hair by adding an ounce of vodka to your shampoo bottle. Since it is odorless, you won’t smell like a bar after you get out of the shower.

10.) Kill weeds by adding one ounce vodka, a few drops of dishwashing soap and two cups water to a spray bottle.

Have you tried these tricks? Do they work? Did we miss something? Tell us at www.facebook.com/Miraclean

My favorite all-natural beauty products for under $7! (You’re welcome)

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

I care about the small things. I worry about what I put into my body. I believe that all-natural is better, but I also believe in educating yourself and trying out new products. That’s why Melaleuca fits my lifestyle.

I have found a way to combat my biggest issues, like acne and bad breath, using Melaleuca. Today, I am sharing my top three beauty products…and they are all under $7!!!

First impressions are everything. Unfortunately, I have had acne rosacea my entire life. It is so embarrassing. I would cake make-up on my face in high school to cover up the bumps, redness, just all around grossness of my face. I tried Proactiv. I tried every face cleanser in the drug store. Nothing worked. I remember one day I was sick and I went to the doctor. As I am freaking out because I was just diagnosed with swine flu, he says, “Yea, you’re sick and I’ll give you an antibiotic but would you rather we talk about your face because your breakouts are really bad?” I ran out of the office crying. It’s embarrassing and if you’ve never had the opportunity to be the pimply faced kid in school, you have no idea what I’m talking about.

One of my very first purchases when I joined Melaleuca was the Clarity face wash. I was excited to try it and skeptical because why would it work when I was on medication in the past for the same thing and even the meds didn’t work?! Within a few uses, I noticed the redness was starting to fade on my face. My skin got a little dry and flaky but nothing that I wasn’t already used to. Plus, if you buy the face wash and moisturizer, it works wonders. I’m not saying my face is completely healed. I have a lot of scarring that is probably never going to go away. Certain areas are still red, like around my cheeks and the temples of my forehead, but when it comes to the overall look, my skin is so much healthier!

A little TMI, but just to let you know how this next product has helped me, I have always had sensitive gums. No matter how soft of a bristled toothbrush I buy, my gums always bleed. It’s gross and I hate it, but I’ve never found anything that works, so it was just the way that it is…until I found Melaleuca. I’ve been using a regime of mouthwash and toothpaste that has helped my gums extremely!

So much so, that I no longer bleed when brushing my teeth. Too bad I didn’t find this product earlier in my years. It was so embarrassing when I slept over at a friend’s house or we had a girls’ night and everyone was getting ready in the bathroom and here I am spitting blood into the sink. Gross! I bought a tube of mouth polish and mouth rinse from Melaleuca and I could see a difference immediately! I could taste a difference, too, as the Melaleuca products are all-natural and the mouth rinse has a fresher, crisp taste than Listerine.

I love fresh scents, but I can’t buy anything floral, old-lady smelling, or musky. I used to buy unscented, for sensitive skin body wash. It was the only body wash that didn’t make my skin break-out. Sure, I wanted to smell like coconuts or vanilla and honeysuckle, but my skin wouldn’t let me. One bottle of Body Satin later, I can smell like whatever I want! Right now I have the Island Sunset scent which my boyfriend loves because I smell like the beach and it reminds him of home. The rich lather suds up just as well as my over-the-counter stuff. I love it because it gets my skin soft and the smell isn’t overpowering.

If you’ve been blessed with having no health/allergy problems and none of these issues relate to you, then congrats and I’m super jealous. If you are like me and you know the embarrassment of these issues, I urge you to try these products risk-free. Everything is 100% refundable. If you are not happy, you will be reimbursed everything, including your $29 one-time membership fee. Give yourself a break and shop smarter, shop safer and save money with Melaleuca.

Guest blogger: Take control of the chemicals around you

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

I have known Bree for about four years. We started off as networking pals and grew to really enjoy each other’s businesses because we are all about informing people to make healthier choices. Bree is an RN (and that’s just one of her many credentials) so she knows her stuff! I received her newsletter and couldn’t wait to pass her featured blog on to you all.

It’s not very often that we hear about a connection between our personal care products and our mood, but there is definitely a very important connection! Believe it or not, what you put on and around your body is JUST AS IMPORTANT as what you put in your body. And these days we are easily bombarded with an excess of unhealthy chemicals that can affect our health and happiness.

Since WWII, over 80000 chemicals have been introduced into our world. Did you get that? 80,000 chemicals!! These chemicals are used in industrial products, personal care products, cleaning supplies, furniture, cars, and even your food.

These chemicals are NOT required to be tested for safety. In fact, for every 1500 chemicals that are introduced, about 10 are tested. None of them have been tested for synergistic effects, meaning what happens when two different chemicals react when mixed together in a product.

Many of of these chemicals are known or suspected carcinogens (meaning they increase your risk of cancer)

Many of these chemicals are known or suspected hormone disruptors, which can result in insulin/glucose imbalance (diabetes), leptin imbalance (resulting in weight gain and difficulty losing excess weight), depression, and higher risk of cancer

Most people believe that some agency somewhere is looking out for our safety and all of these products have been deemed safe. That’s not the truth!

There is no agency that’s sole responsibility is to test for safety of our personal care and cleaning products. It is left up to the companies that make the products (and make money selling the product) to report safety of their products. So while the companies may know something is potentially not safe, they will say something along the lines of “the amount is too small to affect you” without taking into consideration how much you use, how often you use it, and everything else you use.

On average, a woman puts 215 chemicals in or around her body EVERY MORNING…125 of those are suspected hormone-disregulators or carcinogens! That’s why it is so important to educate yourself and make better choices for you and your family!

It is impossible to live in our world and avoid all of these chemicals altogether. But you can make a BIG IMPACT by controlling what you can control.

You may have unknowingly been exposing yourself and your kids to many different cancer- causing, hormone-disrupting chemicals every day. Now’s the time to clear this junk out of your home and away from your family. Detoxing your home can save you ALOT of money too.

Begin by paying attention to the labels and not buying products that list the ingredients mentioned in the picture above. Choose natural products over chemical products. (Note: this process can easily feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Begin by changing out just a few items at a time.)

To sign up to receive Bree’s newsletter, visit her at http://www.vitalityhealthcoach.com/ and don’t forget to try her Clean Eating Challenge!

Quick and easy way to make your own dryer sheets and save money!

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

I wash a lot of laundry.

A lot.

My clothes, the dog’s stuff, towels that I use while cleaning homes, everything. The towels are probably the toughest because I have some that can’t go in the dryer and others that require certain attention. Terry cloth towels are tough, but they can get crazy static cling!

Once I decided to take the green plunge in my own house, dryer sheets were a big no-no. I started using balls of aluminum foil.

The problem was that they require a lot of aluminum foil to get the right size and they shrink in the dryer. (The girls would make fun of me as they started finding little aluminum balls in the clean towel piles.)

I needed something that would last, something I wouldn’t have to buy a ton of throughout the year, and something that would eliminate the static cling. And of course, the wonderful folks at Pinterest were ahead of me.

This is my easy-to-make, easy-to-use tip to saving you money in the laundry room!

Today we are going to show you how to make and use wool dryer balls.

These little guys are easy to make, they last for years, and they take static cling out of your clothes just as good as a dryer sheet. (of course they are natural and most dryer sheets are not). All you need is some Fishermen’s Wool.

Once you’ve got your felting Fishermen’s Wool, wind the wool around your fingers, and then pull off and wind around itself. Keep going in circles, winding and flipping the ball every now again. This should take about an hour, but you’ll never have to do it again.

Plus, here is your result, a 4 oz. wool dryer ball. Isn’t that rewarding?!

Almost finished! Tie the loose end of your wool dryer ball to another piece of yarn to prevent it from untangling because now comes the washing part.

The more dryer balls you have, the better it works. Six to eight is a good number. Put three balls in one nylon stocking, tying them off each individually. Then, put both sets of nylons in a pillowcase and tie the pillowcase shut.

Place in washing machine on HOT water. Wash whatever else you can with the pillowcase. Note: it may take more than one washing, but you really want to get the dryer balls felting.

LAST STEP! Gently remove the pillowcase and nylon from the wool dryer balls. Be careful because the wool fibers will work their way out of the nylon.

At this point, you can use a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the wool. The more dryer balls you have, the less static cling and they bounce around separating clothes which dries clothes faster.

How cute are these guys?!

I’ve only started using them, but they seem to work pretty well. Of course I’ll update you with my results after using them for a few weeks. Have you ever tried this trick? What are your laundry tips? Tell us at www.facebook.com/Miraclean.

I can wear white clothes again!

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

Oh, laundry day…it feels like every day is laundry day. I’ve got to wash the towels I clean my customers house with, plus my clothes, plus the dog’s bedding, plus my bedding. It never ends! I don’t even want to think what it would be like if I had children! (Big props to you Mommies out there!)

I know this may sound silly, but my pup is actually responsible for me being so picky as to what products I use to treat those stains that pop up. Capone is 7 years old. I’ve had him since I bought my house and I’ve also had his allergy issues, his surgery issues, and everything else that comes along with being a pet owner.

When he was a puppy, he had to have extensive (and costly) surgery due to a rope dog toy in which he chewed the pieces of rope off, swallowed them, and they somehow got wrapped around his stomach.

Ever since that day, I have to monitor EVERYTHING this cute booger does. He is on a strict dog food diet, he cannot have any rawhide bones (the vet is afraid the rawhide will prick his tummy), and on top of all that, he has very bad allergies, so I have to wash his bedding regularly.

His skin is so sensitive that if I use an off-the-shelf brand of detergent, he will be scratching all night, which means no sleep for either of us.

I debated making my own laundry detergent, but who has the time?! Sitting there shredding soap bars was not how I wanted to spend my weekend.

Then, I found it. MelaPower, an all-natural laundry detergent with no formaldehyde, no petroleum distillates, and no bleach! Could it be true? (Of course, because it is made by the awesome scientists at Melaleuca, an all-natural, wellness company that has been around for 28 years!) Ok, back to the point.

I have very sensitive skin, but my sensitivities are not as bad as Capone.

“Ok, so let’s try it,” I thought.

Wow! I cannot believe how well this detergent works! Just one or two pumps and I can do entire loads of laundry. That’s ½ a fluid ounce per load. Such a money saver! And, it leaves my clothes so soft with no strong scents. So, I decided to expand my laundry experience.

I bought the stain remover, fabric softener and dryer sheets! (Sidenote: did you know a University of Washington researcher found that scented laundry products emit hazardous chemicals? Researchers examined the air vented from dryer vents and found 25 volatile organic compounds, including seven hazardous air pollutants! It is no wonder we look for alternative products to use in our laundry!) All those air pollutants are being released in our homes! No wonder my pup was breaking out in rashes when I used the off-the-shelf stuff.

Now, we are a happy, healthy, itch-free family. He has a blanket that I call his girlfriend. He totes her all over the house and I have to wash her at least once every week. He snuggles with his blanket, puts it in his mouth, sleeps with it and we’ve had no problem.

My clothes are soft, they smell great and they don’t make me itch, either! Stains come out so much easier using the PreSpot than when I was using chemically-manufactured products. I found that with the other stuff I was spraying, letting it sit, re-spraying, scrubbing with a toothbrush, blotting with a towel, etc.

This PreSpot is amazing! All I do is spray the stain one time and you can already see it working!

Check out my little boo-boo I had during my fantasy draft party this year. I got a little barbecue sauce stain on the front of my white Cam Newton jersey (go, Panthers!), I got a lot of red wine spilled on the side and I even found a pen mark on the shoulder. (Seriously, why do I wear white?!)

But, I didn’t fear it. I came home after a five-hour draft party at a friends’ house, sprayed down my stained jersey, threw it in the dirty white clothes hamper, and forgot about it. This morning, as I’m cycling my laundry, I found the jersey and the stains were so faded you could barely tell they were there! I knew where to look, so they still visible to me. (My boyfriend said I was crazy because he couldn’t tell…silly boys!)

So here is it. The before and after. The stains were treated with PreSpot and washed with MelaPower. Amazing results, right? Especially since I waited one week to wash the dang jersey!

You can have these results too! I’m telling you first-hand these products have changed my life and made my cleanings so much better! I use the cleaning products, the laundry products, the hair care line, and next week I am ordering the tooth polish and mouthwash.

I only order a few items at a time, as I know I’m getting low on something. Last week, it was shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, so I ordered from Melaleuca, my products were here in two days and BAM I’ve got all-natural new products. I noticed I was getting low on deodorant, toothpaste, and mouthwash, so that is what I will be ordering next week and I cannot wait! It makes me feel so good knowing that I am taking a conscious stand on what I’m putting into my body and bringing into my home.

Come join me for a webinar or message me if you would like to try these products. Everything is backed by a 100% empty bottle satisfaction guarantee! There’s no risk. Get your home toxic-free with these all-natural products. Don’t forget, Melaleuca even has a men’s line, kids line, and vitamin and supplement line!

Oh, and who is a coupon clipper? You will love this! You receive Loyalty Points on every purchase that you can redeem for FREE products! New members will also receive $100 in FREE products! (Btw, I bought my deodorant with my Loyalty Points! If it’s free, it’s for me!)

What are your thoughts? Let us know at www.facebook.com/Miraclean

My favorite cleaning product

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

Do you ever get something new and try it on everything? Maybe it’s a new tool or maybe, if you’re like me, it’s a new cleaning product. Being the skeptic I am, maybe I want to see if it can really do everything!

As most of you know, I buy all of my all-natural cleaning supplies from a wonderful wellness company that use scientifically-proven natural ingredients to keep your home safe and clean. I recently decided to get the Value Pack, a gift basket of sorts with various top selling products.

One of those products was a heavy duty cleaner called Melamagic and a degreaser called Sol-U-Mel. Both products are made using tea tree oil, a natural disinfectant, deodorizer, and essential oil.

I googled a few recipes to get me started and I was on a roll. I decided to try a capful, yes a small capful, in a load of laundry. My towels came out smelling so fresh! I mixed up an all-purpose mixture of the two, again using a couple of capfuls each and filling the rest of the spray bottle with water.

I sprayed everything in the bathroom and wrapped the showerhead in a mixture I poured in a plastic sandwich bag and tied to the showerhead with a hairbow. I sprayed my countertops in the kitchen, then I got to my stovetop. A degreaser. Let’s try it.

So, I went a little crazy. I started with the top, then I opened it (my mistake there!), then I took the coils off and soaked the drip pans in a mixture I made, again with just a couple capfuls of each.

And it worked! With very little elbow grease, I might add. I couldn’t believe it. The stove is older than I am, so there are a few spots where you can tell I need to go back, but for the most part I sprayed, let it sit, and wiped it up with no problem. It even worked on the control panel, leaving this beautiful shine!

Want to play with all-natural products? Sign up with this fabulous company that produces over 300 products including a men’s line, kid’s line, gluten-free foods, laundry and more! Think of it as an all-natural Sam’s Club or Costco. Join me and millions of others who have made the switch!

Want to join in on a short 30-minute webinar to learn more about the products? Click here!

The easiest way to DETOX your home

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Kristin Posted in General Announcement .

I’m so excited that my hands are literally shaking as I type this! As many of you know, I love posting all-natural tips and recipes you can use around your home for safe and effective cleanings. Well, have I got a treat for you!

The wellness company that I purchase my all-natural cleaning products from is running a promotion that I think all my green Moms are going to love!

First, let me give you some background information. This wellness company has been around for 28 years! They’ve received hundreds of awards and have patents and scientists testing new products every day.

We are talking over 300 products all made naturally, with no chlorine bleach, no ammonia and no formaldehyde. How is this possible?

Have you ever heard of tea tree oil? (If you are a regular customer of mine, this should sound familiar.) Tea tree oil is an essential oil taken from the leaves grown on the melaleuca tree in Australia. This oil kills bacteria and fungus, and helps reduce skin reactions. Tea tree oil has antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties.

What does that mean for you?

Because of its antiseptic properties, tea tree oil can help treat skin blemishes. In fact, face and body washing products containing 5 percent of tea tree oil is more effective than products that contain 5 percent benzoyl peroxide.

Did you know tea tree oil is proven to treat athlete’s foot, mites, scabies and head lice? In a 2008 study, tea tree oil was more effective against head lice than permethrin, a popular pharmaceutical remedy. In fact, shampoo with 5 percent tea tree oil is effective treatment for dandruff due to its ability to treat Malassezia furfur, the most common cause of dandruff.

There are safe, effective, all-natural ways to keep you family safe. Think of this wellness company as an all-natural version of Sam’s Club or Costco.

We’ve got a cleaning “aisle” and every product is made from safe, natural ingredients. How many times have you had itchy, watery eyes, or began coughing because of the fumes in most cleaners? Not with these products!

Oh and did I mention that everything comes in concentrated bottles. That’s right! One bottle of concentrate gives you SIX bottles of product! We’re talking $5.60 for one bottle of concentrated bathroom cleaner. That’s six bottles of product for $5.60. How much would you pay for six bottles of Tilex? A lot more than $5.60!

Another “aisle” in this store is bath and body. Tea tree oil, when used in beauty supplies, gives you soothing, penetrated and antiseptic properties. In fact, the number 1 selling product in this company is hand cream that is 7 times more effective than Eucerin! The toothpaste contains xylitol, a natural sweetener that is proven to help people suffering with gum disease. The mouthwash contains no alcohol, so there is no burning sensation. The company has a men’s product line with body wash, shaving cream, bar soaps, etc. and they have a kids line, too!

They even have an organic food “aisle” that contains cereal, popcorn, granola bars, vitamins, meal replacement shakes and more! Did I mention that all these products are gluten-free?!!!

Want to check out this company for yourself? Join the next 30-minute webinar to learn more. There are four webinars held every day this month! Visit the calendar and pick the day and time that best suits you.

So, how much? All these “aisles” of over 300 products that are all-natural and safe can be yours for $1! That’s your membership fee. $1! You will have access to every product. You will receive $100 in free product. You will have peace of mind knowing everything you buy is guaranteed with a full money back refund from the company.

But, you’ve got to hurry! They are only offering the $1 membership fee until August 20. So, click here to see the webinar schedule and if you would like to make a conscience decision to start using these products, let me know and I can sign you up!

Do you have any questions or concerns? My phone is always open at 803-366-1766 or my cell at 803-984-9383. If you prefer email, mine is kristin@miracleanonline.com or if you’d like to join us on Facebook, ‘Like’ www.facebook.com/Miraclean.

Three tricks to keeping your home dust free!

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Does it feel like your house is always dusty? Even after you JUST cleaned?

It takes dust particles, on average, 10 minutes to settle. Check out this picture. The picture to the left was taken immediately after I finished sweeping a set of stairs in a customer’s home. The picture to the right is exactly ten minutes later. All that dust had to land somewhere.

So, how do you keep your home cleaner, longer?

Try using a dryer sheet on baseboards, blinds and furniture. Since the dryer sheet banishes static, the dust will attach itself to the sheet, making dusting a breeze. The dryer sheet will also coat the surface as it cleans, forming a cleaning shield against dust. Not all dryer sheet brands are a natural way to clean, but they all can be used to make cleaning a breeze! You could use new or used dryer sheets. (Get another use out of it before throwing them away.)

After you’ve given your home a good dusting, try to keep it that way. Remember to change your air filters accordingly. Studies show that single occupants should change their air filters once or twice every year; family of two or more without pets should change their filters every 90 days; add a cat or dog and you should change them every 60 days; add more than one pet or allergies and you should change them every 30 days.

While dusting, flip your air conditioning unit/thermostat to fan.

After you’re finished cleaning, find new ways to keep your home dust-free. For example, paper causes a lot of dust, so keep files and papers in one central location. Pets cause a lot of dust, hair and dander. If you have pets, make sure you are vacuuming at least once every week. If you live on a dirt road or if there is a lot of construction around your house, keep your doors and windows closed.

What tricks do you use to keep up with the dust at your house? Tell us at www.facebook.com/Miraclean

Eliminate that ‘boy smell’ in the bathroom

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Last week, I posted a blog about how to keep your tile and grout clean. (Check it out here if you missed it!)

That stemmed a lot of bathroom questions from you, so I decided to answer those questions this week.

The most popular question was how to keep the ‘boy smell’ out of the bathroom. You know what I mean, right? It’s probably the main reason you avoid going into the kids’ bathroom. 😉 Well, let’s help solve that problem.

First, you guessed it; it starts with a deep cleaning.

Step 1: Mix a paste of baking soda and lemon juice. If you don’t have lemon juice you can use water but lemon juice is a great disinfectant and great for removing odors. The consistency of the paste should be about that of pancake mix.

Step 2: Spread the paste all along the bottom of the toilet {where it meets the floor}, the toilet seat, and any other area that gets a lot of over spray.

Let it set for about 10-15 minutes.

Step 3: When the timer expires spray the dried paste with white vinegar and let it fizzle. Once it is done fizzing wipe it up with a damp cloth.

It’s very important that you don’t forget about the walls and/or cupboards on either side of the toilet. It’s easy to remember to wipe the floor and the toilet but the walls and cupboards will also get sprayed and they will need to be wiped down regularly too. Spray them down with vinegar, let it for a few minutes and wipe them down.

Cleaning the toilet, floor and walls at least once a week, with these steps, will keep the smell at bay.

Another trick is making mini air fresheners and discreetly placing them in the bathroom cabinets, behind the toilet bowl, or on the top lip of the shower.

Use old baby food jars or small canning jars. Pour baking soda into jar until 1/4 to 1/2 full. Add 8 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil(s). Poke holes in jar lid with an awl or ice pick. Decorate the jars with ribbon, fabric, or however you like. If you’ve lost the lid, cover top with several layers of nylon net, tie with ribbon, and voila! You’ve got DIY room freshener! (Add more essential oil as needed). Shake or stir it every now and then to freshen.

Another freshener trick is to place a few drops of your favorite essential oil in the toilet paper roll, as seen here. Your bathroom will smell pleasant with every roll.

As mentioned in last week’s article, keep antibacterial wipes under your bathroom sink for easy access when messes arrive. These are perfect for quickly wiping the toilet seat, cleaning globs of toothpaste, or a quick countertop wipe down before guests arrive.

Here’s a great recipe for making your own antibacterial wipes!

Use any type of old towel, rag, tshirt, etc. to cut into rags and finish the edges to make them wipe sized.

Next, fold the wipes and placed them in an old wipes container.

Mix:

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vinegar
10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Finally, just pour the water/vinegar/essential oil mixture into the tub, completely saturating the wipes. It might help to flip the pile over one time so that the wipes on the bottom get completely soaked.

There you have it. A few tricks to getting rid of that ‘boy smell’. Did we forget something? What’s your trick? Talk to us about it on Facebook www.facebook.com/Miraclean