Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Save Money and Our Earth   
By Mary Findley

     I literally see green, a good thing, whenever someone mistakenly says to me, “One person can’t make a difference.” A smile hits my face as I tell them so far the mops that I have manufactured and sold over the years have kept over 250,000 mops out of the landfills because they last 8 or 9 years with no mop head replacements. Then I start expounding on concentrated green cleaners and how they reduce oil and fuel needed to ship ready to use cleaners. One person can make a difference especially when you raise awareness in several million households. Each of us doing our part positively impacts our Earth. Let’s take a look at ways you can save money and reduce this thing called carbon footprints.

     1. Millions of boxes are shipped each day. Shippers regularly put the packing slip in a packet on the outside of the box, which serves no purpose. Request the shipper put the packing slip inside the box, which saves billions of them a year. This reduces energy and natural resources for manufacturing and fuel to ship them.  

     2. Purchase bulk groceries whenever possible and take your own re-useable bags. Every box and every piece of paper is another tree cut down and fuel needed for transporting the trees. Precious fuel and energy is used for manufacturing and shipping boxes. For instance, a jar of the herb basil may cost around $8 for an ounce. Wash the empty bottle then refill it with organic bulk basil for $1 an ounce. Buy bulk cereal, spices, rice, nuts, noodles etc to save upwards of $400 a year.   

     3. Use cloth napkins rather than paper napkins. Again think packaging, trees saved, the toxic chemicals used to treat the pulp and the reduction of fuel used in shipping. Did I mention the cost savings to you?

     4. Speaking of paper, switch from paper towels to the re-useable towels found in most grocery stores. These towels can be laundered 60 plus times. Each towel replaces an entire roll of paper towels and they are great for windows, and polishing.

     5.  Buy your meat from the butcher behind a meat counter and say no to prepackaged meats, which come on Styrofoam plates with absorbent padding.

     6. Yes Styrofoam paper plates and cups are  handy for parties and picnics only they are killing our Earth.  Instead, invest in washable plates to take on picnics or when you entertain at home. Carry extra water to rinse them and store them in your cooler. The parks departments will thank you for the reduced waste as well.

    8. Slow down when driving. Every 5 mph reduction in speed adds a mile per gallon to your fuel economy.   Are your car tires properly inflated?                

  10. Turn to organic, concentrated cleaners like Mary Moppins’ CleanEz – a concentrated all purpose cleaner and Benya, a streak free window cleaner, Wood Care and Leather/Vinyl Care. All are concentrated. Benya makes 10 quarts of window cleaner for a$60 savings. CleanEz makes 32 quarts for a $360 savings. Mary’s Mops last an average of 8 to 9 years for a savings of $400.   

This article may only be shared giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com. Copyright worldwide @2012

Friday, March 16, 2012

Laundry Day Blues


     Did you know that most laundry detergents contain fillers like sawdust? No wonder your skin itches and your drains clog. Switch to organic laundry detergents. Bio Kleen is my favorite.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Twelve Most Essential Cleaning Tools 
by Mary Findley

     Folks often confess that their cleaning arsenol consists of supplies they bought, used once and stored in the attic for the next garage sale. They have separate cleaners for toilets, showers, baths, carpet stains, clothing stains, 5 window cleaners that all streak, every cleaning gadget ever advertised and none of this stuff works, Let's widdle this down to the necessities and take the confusion and expense out of cleaning. The following list has is geared to a typical home.


1) Start with a divided tote tray found at hardware stores. Do not use cleaning aprons unless you like trips to the doctor to straighten your neck due to the weight. Or worse email me asking what to do after bumping a sprayer and the cleaner ruined your antique coffee table.

2) A large plastic cup to hold a plastic scraper, stiff bristled toothbrush, non-scratch pad or other small cleaning tools.

3) A plastic container with holes in the lid filled with baking soda. You can also use a clean, plastic parmesan cheese shaker. Use baking soda to scrub sinks, tubs and shower floors and toilets.

4) A gallon of vinegar. Use to remove hard water stains in the sink and add a bit to your diluted concentrated cleaners. Vinegar boosts the cleaning ability of a cleaner. If your concentrated cleaner calls for one ounce per quart of water add ¼ cup of vinegar and use ¾ of an ounce of cleaner.

5) Toilet bowl brush – do not use the ones with the metal ring as the metal part scratches.

6) Sink brush

7) Two clean spray bottles for dilution – three if you use my Wood Care. It’s the only wood cleaner and conditioner on the market that can be diluted.

8) A concentrated eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner like my CleanEz. They clean most counter tops, appliances, toilets, showers, tubs, clothing and carpet stains. No you don’t need separate products to do these chores. Concentrated cleaners save you a bundle of money so look for concentrates.

9) A streak free, concentrated bottle of glass cleaner. I carry a good one called Benya. Make certain it does not contain acids or ammonia so it’s safe for Corian, granite and marble countertops.

10) Color coded towels. I use blue terry towels for the bathroom, white for the kitchen and a green one for the floor. Then baby diaper cloths for dusting and lint free towels for windows. Windows and glass are the only safe surface for microfiber. Buy the expensive microfiber cloths. The cheap ones leave lint and smear.

• Note: I use color coded towels because they are faster. You’ll dig for hours looking for the right towel to clean the bathrooms, or kitchen or dust. Don’t waste the time. Color code your towels for fast cleaning.

11) A good mop. Of course I’m a bit prejudice but I feel the one I manufacture is faster and outlasts anything on the market. Plus it does cobwebs, walls, windows and dries off cars, Rvs and boats. Again do not use microfiber mops unless you like replacing or refinishing flooring.

12) A good vacuum cleaner. Here is where we may part company. After using Kirbys, Hoovers, Eurkea’s and half a dozen others during my 12 years professionally cleaning, I’m hooked on the Meile canisters. This is a personal choice but I’ve been very pleased since switching to Meile. They are expensive and worth every penny.

Lastly always refill your bottles when you finish cleaning. That way they are ready to go for spills or quick clean up.

This article may only be copied giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at www.goclean.com. Copyright © 2011 Mary Findley All Rights Reserved Worldwide