Miraclean – 803.984.9383 | Tag Archives: disinfect

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!

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!

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

The number one question our customers ask us

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Kristin Posted in Cleaning Tips .

Scrub less. Organize more.

Answering your questions about keeping hard to clean areas cleaner, longer.

The number one question we are asked is how to keep a tile and grout shower clean in between cleanings.

Today I will share with you our top three recipes for keeping that pain in the butt tile clean.

First, let’s start with some tips. The best tool you can invest in is a squeegee. It only takes a matter of seconds and, trust me, it’s worth it in the long run. Squeegee the glass shower door and your tile and the shower will stay cleaner longer.

Second, leave the light and fan running for as long as possible. Mold and mildew love a wet, humid, dark environment. By leaving the light and fan on for a few extra minutes, you are giving your bathroom time to dry. Don’t forget to pick up wet floor towels and hang them to dry.

Lastly, keep the bathroom clean by not letting it get dirty in the first place. Put things away. Do you leave your curling irons and straighteners on the counter to cool on your way to work? Install a hook and hang them so you have more space. After work, wrap them up and stick them under the sink. Store all your make-up in one location. Get a basket to capture easy to reach items you use on a regular basis. Keep wipes under the sink for a quick countertop clean-up. By having all these items easily accessible, you’ll have no problem keeping everything in its place.

I am not saying you will never have to clean your bathroom ever again. I’d be out of a job! However, by keeping up with the mess, the globs of toothpaste in the sink, the pinkish colored grout that you were pretty sure was white when you moved in, your bathroom will stay cleaner longer.

When it gets time to do a heavy scrub down cleaning, here are three of our favorite, all-natural, homemade recipes.

1.) Mix ½ cup baking soda, 1/3 cup lemon juice, ¼ cup vinegar in a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Mix well. Spray throughout shower and let it sit for one hour. Respray, then use an old toothbrush or grout brush to scrub. Rinse shower with water and dry shower with a clean towel.

2.) Mix 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, 3 tablespoons lemon juice in a spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Be careful when spraying as hydrogen peroxide is a natural alternative to bleach and will stain fabrics. Spray mixture throughout shower. Scrub grout with an old toothbrush or grout brush. Rinse shower with water and dry shower with a clean towel.

3.) Mix 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle. Sprinkle your favorite abrasive (baking soda, Bon Ami) on your discolored areas. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Respray and you will notice a paste forming. Use this paste to scrub the grout clean with a brush. As with the other recipes, rinse shower with water and dry with a clean towel.

Another option to cleaning bathrooms is by cleaning with steam. Steam mops and accessories are becoming more popular as a natural bathroom cleaner. Water is heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit; hot enough to kill germs and bacteria. Not only will your surfaces be cleaner, they will be disinfected and sanitized, too! This method is perfect for bathrooms, changing areas, fitness equipment, daycares, kitchens, and more.

To learn more about steam vapor cleaning, call us at 803-366-1766 to schedule a free estimate in your home or office.

Check out these before and after shower pictures. We used our steam vapor cleaner to get this shower looking good as new!

We can use the steam vapor cleaner on linoleum floors, too. Check it out!

Look at this fridge! There is nothing we can’t clean! Not only is it clean, but it is also sanitized and disinfected!

Call Kristin for your free estimate at 803-366-1766 or email us your questions at Kristin@miracleanonline.com . Don’t forget to like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Miraclean