Getting Kids to Help Around the House

     People are asking how to get kids to help around the house. The draw to computers, TVs and the like are distancing families more and more and it breaks my heart. Personally I'll be glad when 2009 comes along with the forced digital TV. I refuse to buy one or the converter box. The TV goes off and good riddance. I've been listening to the radio for most of my news and will continue to do so. The vulgarity, violence and degrading way programs treat women needs to stop. Nor do I put it past these digital TVs to have added circuits that will track our phone calls etc. I don't trust them and won't have it in my home.

     Oops I got off on my soap box again. Let's get back to these chores. First of all children, young children in particular are like baby ducks: lead, they follow. You can't expect them to pick up their room, set the table or help with dinner when the house is cluttered, needs a good cleaning and dinner is always late because of distractions.

 Start them young and praise them often   

   Step one is to start young - very young. Even a one year old can put their toys away. And insist they do just that. They are not allowed another toy until the one they are playing with is back in its proper place. Yes you will need to show them how several times and help them but doing these things together can be a lot of fun. Make it a special time. Don't do it for them just because you are tired and don't want to wait for them. Your being tired is not their fault. They are slow and will also follow your wonderful example of patience.

     Next remember young children won't do things up to your expectations. A one year old will miss the toy box and a two year old won't get things in there neatly. By age four they can be shown how to do a neat job. In the meantime encourage them. Words like "Wow Gracie, how did you do that? You got the teddy bear in the box – way to go." It doesn't matter if it was the right box, praise her for her efforts.

   Criticism is the key to killing the joy of helping 

     This is the single most important thing to remember through their growing years. Kids of all ages will soon stop helping if they are criticized at every attempt. Praise them and give them tons of hugs and personal time with you and not a financial or material gain. Keep the allowance out of it. Yes a lot of people will object to this but allowance should not be a part of chores. There are exceptions if they need to earn money to pay for fees for school or clubs etc. Those should be extra chores after their primary chores are finished.

     So what happens if the child does not do his chores? Well you must do them for her. That means you don't have time to take her to ball practice or whatever and if she doesn't have time for chores she certainly doesn't have time to watch TV etc. Stick to your commitment on this one. It's difficult when they do have practice and must be there. They don't go until the chores are finished. If the activity is right after school, the TV, computer IPod whatever stays off until homework and chores are finished. No exceptions. Giving in even once means you have lost face and will be pushed to the limit from there out. Yes I found out the hard way.

Start Young  

    The time to start with children is when they are very young. Even two year olds can clear their plates and take them to the kitchen. Saying something like, "Julie, I'm taking my plate to the kitchen bring yours and we'll rinse it off." Kids love to play in water so have them pull a chair or stool up to the sink and rinse off the dishes.

     Next, set up a chore chart. You and your child can choose chores that are age appropriate and they can set their chores each day. Then set one for you as well. Remember kids learn by example. So put up your own chore chart and each of you mark off each day when yours are done. And perhaps Mom or Dad's treat for getting their chore done is a 5 minute quiet time – no interrupting or a soak in the tub. Learning to respect your quiet time will teach them respect.

     Each evening before your child goes to bed, his room is to be picked up and his chore done.  

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2007 All rights reserved worldwide.

Cleaning Awnings

 

This applies to awnings on RVs and homes as well. Be sure to brush all the debris off your awning first. Next mix a bucket of hot water adding one fourth cup of borax and just a bit of liquid laundry detergent. Dump the bucket of water on top of the awning and spread it across the awning. Roll the awning up and let that set for 30 minutes. Unroll, scrub, rinse and allow to dry. Rolling the awning up for 30 minutes allows the cleaners to soak both the top and the bottom of the awning making it much easier to scrub them.

 

This article may only be rewritten with credit given to Mary Findley and referencing her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide

 

Removing Grass Stains from Clothing

 

Whether grass stains come from kneeling down on grass digging weeds out of your yard or from your youngster sliding to catch a fly ball in left field, removing those stains is a simple matter. As soon as the clothes are removed rub on an ample amount of liquid laundry detergent then let them set overnight. Toss them in the wash!

 

Air dry the clothing to make sure the stain is gone. Heat sets a stain and oh can it cause an ugly mess. This process works equally as well for red clay stains. Grease and oil responds better to liquid dish soap. Unless you want your laundry room to turn into a bubble bath, rinse the clothing first when you use liquid dish soap!

 

This article may only be rewritten with credit given to Mary Findley and referencing her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide

 

 

Cleaning Mini Blinds

 

Design Life Products recently sent information about a holding device for mini-blinds, which hold the blinds on a shower wall with suction cups. I have not tried them as yet but the design of these MiniMaids looks inviting. This is a much easier process than hammering 2 nails into the back of your home like I have suggested in the past.

 

To clean your blinds, simply hang them from the hooks. Turn the slats so they face downward. Beginning at the bottom, spray them thoroughly with CleanEz or a foaming tub and tile cleaner spraying your way to the top. WAit a few minutes until the cleaner begins to drip down. Wipe the blinds with a wet sponge, spray them with the shower head, reverse the slats and flip the blind to the other side. Repeat. When you are finished, dry them with a towel and re-hang. The entire process should take less than 15 minutes.

 

They are sold mainly in mail order catalogues or call 847-266-7783 for purchase information.

 

This article may only be rewritten with credit given to Mary Findley and referencing her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide

Neat tricks for nylon net bags

Here is a little tip that might come in handy for those of you who camp, travel or just around the house. Rather than toss those little mesh bags that some grocery stores use to hold fruits and veggies - like avocados - into the trash toss them in your kitchen drawer. They are wonderful for holding small handfuls of grapes, berries, cherries etc to wash. No more losing them down the disposal.
Tuck two or three bags inside one, twist tie the other end. Use it as a scrub pad for scrubbing pans or cookware. These are wonderful for camping trips, on boats or in RVs not only for scrubbing pans but hands too! Double them for added strength, tuck a bar of soap inside and it will clean anything including childrenJ. It's easier to hold onto the bag than a slippery bar of soap.

Sponge Paint brushes aren't just for painting

The next trip to your hardware store, grab 3 or 4 each of several different sizes of sponge paint brushes. They are so handy for cleaning into those hard to reach areas like the corners of window frames, slats in convection ovens, slats in the vents on ceilings of RVs, corners of refrigerators drawers – just those little nooks and crannies where I usually remove my glasses and what dirt I don't seen doesn't need cleaning! Oh and don't forget in-between the keys of your computer keyboard. Please don't ask me how that came to mind as I shove the little dust bunnies aside to see the keys.

Kick the Habit of Wearing Shoes indoors

How many of you are now in the habit of kicking your shoes off at the door to keep the dirt off your floors and outside where it belongs? Um that's not many hands and yes the kids can be taught too. Just gently take them back to the door and sit them down until the shoes are setting on the mat by the door.

Extra Tread on Slick Surfaces

For my Rvers, boaters and professional cleaners who clean slick surfaces like those of boats or Rvers who need to be on top of the roof or professional cleaners hosing down large warehouse spaces: Grab a pair of the "sticky" Tevas. They are around $50 or so. They have only been sold mostly to boaters for that added footing needed to prevent landing bottom side up in the water. I tried on a pair and they will work quite well for roof walking on RVs, ware house cleaning, for kids around the pool this summer or anywhere slick surfaces might be a preface to bruised tailbones. They would even be great for taking showers at camp – TEVA's are far cooler for kids than flip flops. Yes I'm going to email the company and purchase stock!

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2007 All rights reserved worldwide.

The Dirty Side of Lawn Work 

 

 In some parts of the country Spring may not come for another 5 months but for those who have dug out of the snow and frozen pipes you now have spring yard cleanup to start. As common with most gardeners, you start a project and find a dozen others that need immediate attention. This means washing your hands between jobs.

 

A handy trick for cleaning hands outside: Take an old pair of panty hose, cut off above the knee and slide your soap slivers into the toe part. Tie the top end around an outdoor faucet for an easy way to wash hands outside. The panty part makes an excellent polishing cloth for shoes. Old panty hose also make wonderful tomato stake ties.  For you men who don't wear panty hose, several layers of cheese cloth work just as well just make sure it's long enough to tie around the faucet. Rubber-band the cheese cloth just above the soap to prevent it from falling out.

 

 

Remove Soap Scum from Showers/Water Spots from Glass

 

Removing soap scum from showers can be an all day job with all the scrubbing, waiting for product to work and so on. Our TerraPlus is an industrial strength cleaner that removes the hardest water spots and soap residue buildup in minutes not hours.

 

Alternately boil apply distilled white vinegar to glass shower doors every 10 minutes for an hour. Then scrub with a non-scratch pad like Scotch Brite pad.

 

Clean Soap Residue: To remove soap residue apply a concentrated cleaner wait 45 to 60 minutes. You will need to return to the shower every 10 minutes to wipe the cleaner back up onto the walls as it drips down. Then scrub with a non-scratch pad like Scotch Brite. You will need to repeat this 2 or 3 times to remove all the residue. TerraPlus will remove the residue in 2 to 3 minutes and one application

 

Prevention is key to speedy housecleaning. Switch to liquid, glycerin or all natural soap to prevent soap scum buildup in showers and tubs. The talc in most bar soaps causes that problem. Simply by changing soaps you will eliminate 80% of your current shower cleaning problems.

 

This information may only be used with proper recognition given to Mary Moppins referencing www.goclean.com.

 

 

Vacuuming and Caring for Your Vacuum

Last issue covered selecting a new vacuum but what about caring for the vacuum you have?  Vacuums are such troopers. They keep working week after week when the majority of us – yes me included J do nothing to take care of them until their wheels start squeaking.  

Cleaning or Replacing Beaters and Bags

*NOTE: I tape a note to the front of my vacuum with the date I changed the belt and the beater so I don't have to track down or remember the last time I did it.

Before you begin vacuuming, check the beater if your vacuum has one. Remove any strings or debris that wind around the beater. If it is soiled clean it using our CleanEz. It removes dirt and grime in one quick swipe. If you don't remove the dirt your carpet will. Also remove any dust or dirt that has collected in the housing unit where the beaters attach to the vacuum. The vent needs attention as well. Replace the beater if the brushes seem worn.

Most important though, replace your belt at least once a year. They stretch with use, which means the beater cannot properly clean your carpet.   

Next check your bag. Vacuums loose their suction ability when the bag is filled. Micro-particle bags are available for those with allergy or sinus problems. They claim to prevent dirt from escaping. I have never used them so I cannot tell you if they are effective or not. 

How often should you vacuum? 

This is a general guideline only. Your vacuum schedule will differ depending on your families circumstances

Carpet manufacturers recommend vacuuming wall-to-wall carpet daily. I feel it depends on traffic. With children and pets, high traffic areas may need frequent daily vacuuming. Light traffic areas usually just need a weekly cleaning. Daily vacuuming is designed to prevent dirt from being ground into the carpet lengthening the time between shampoos.

How to vacuum - The art of vacuuming

Ok art is stretching this a bit far but there are right ways to tackle your carpet. And there is my way and that is to walk into a room and sweep it with a glance!

Before Vacuuming: Pick up chucky objects first keeing an eye out for small toys, if you have children or little reminders from your pets if they roam your home. These things hide in carpet and sneak into your vacuum with not so pleasant aftermath.

Pre-treat most stains with CleanEZ. Not only is it an industrial strength cleaner but an excellent stain remover for both carpet and clothing. CleanEz pulled gum out of my truck carpet in less than two minutes. Spray on CleanEz diluted, onto the spot. Wait only a minute or two, blot then rinse with one-quarter cup white vinegar per quart of water.

If you have a two story home – start vacuuming on the second floor. On all floors start at the back of your home working towards the center so you don't accidentally drag dirt over freshly vacuumed carpet.

First pull out your furniture if you didn't do this while dusting.  Start at the back of your room, vacuum behind the furniture replacing it as you go. Work your way out of the room. The carpet and rug industry recommends going over each area 4 times - twice in each direction. Well theories are wonderful but do vacuum slowly so your vacuum does have time to inhale the dirt.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

 

 

Selecting a Vacuum Cleaner

Selecting a Vacuum Cleaner

Hardly a week passes that I'm not questioned about the selection of a vacuum cleaner. Personally, I have found the Miele canister to be an excellent vacuum. I have used dozens of vacuum in years of professionally cleaning homes and I'm very pleased with the Meile. It's expensive but has done a wonderful job.

Carpet Stain Remover: My New CleanEz is proving to do an excellent job removing all kinds of stains from carpet. The new trick at rest stops is to drop fresh gum at your car door. Yes I stepped in it smearing it all over the carpet of my brand new truck. CleanEz removed the gum in a matter of a minute and I was on my way. 

Here is an article from the Carpet and Rug Institute on selection of a vacuum cleaner. Their website also contains a list of their Green Label approved vacuums. Interestingly enough Eureka vacuums are not included in the list.

"High performance vacuum cleaners have a significant impact on improved indoor air quality (IAQ). At the same time, vacuums that effectively remove and contain soil while keeping the carpet looking good will help carpets last longer. So, ultimately, better performing vacuums provide a greater return on your investment and ensure a healthier indoor environment.

Recognizing the need to identify superior cleaning equipment, CRI introduced its Green Label Testing Program for vacuum cleaners in 2000. This program tests two general categories of vacuums: a) general purpose vacuums approved for use on all conventional carpet styles; and b) vacuums specifically approved for use on carpet with a low pile, or surface texture, measuring approximately 1/4 inch or less.

To qualify for the Green Label, these vacuums must go through a stringent testing process that measures three key performance factors:

• Soil Removal — The vacuum must remove a set quantity of soil from carpet in four passes
• Dust Containment — The vacuum must not release more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter of air. This protocol evaluates the total amount of dust particles released by the brush rolls, through the filtration bag and via any air leaks from the system, and is more stringent than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards
• Carpet Appearance Retention — The vacuum should not affect the appearance of the carpet more than a one-step change based on one year of normal vacuum use

Vacuums meeting the above protocols, which have been peer reviewed by scientists, can display the CRI Green Label on packaging, merchandising displays and on the machine itself. Since the launch of this test in 2000, CRI has certified more than one hundred machines in the following categories: backpacks, canisters, central systems, and uprights.

Ultimately, proper carpet maintenance is assured and made significantly easier with high quality machines that are CRI Green Label-certified. This important testing program has raised the bar for all vacuum cleaners on the market, resulting in cleaner, longer-lasting carpet and improved IAQ."

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

 

 

 

Your 15 minute Guide: Get a Grip on Housework  

 

Several times a week new ideas for short 15 minute jobs will be posted to help you get a Grip on Housework now that you have your house decluttered. You did keep that New Years resolution - right? There are so many good articles out about how to declutter your home but few teaching you step by step how to clean once you gave booted out the clutter. Hopefully these short 15 minute jobs, presented several times weekly will help you get a Grip on Housework one chore at a time.

 

When you clean, it's best to start with high places so any dust can settle on lower areas. You don't want to vacuum the floor then have dust from ceiling fans falling on your freshly vacuumed carpet.

 

#1 15 Minute Cleaning Job- Ok so you spray painted the cobwebs yellow and black last Halloween and it's finally time to take down the decorations. Grab a barely damp towel place it over Mary Moppins Cleaning Head or over a broom and sweep them down. I find it far faster to use lightweight terry towels rather than feather dusters for cobwebs since you don't need to stop to clean cobwebs out of the duster. Why clean them twice? Toss the towel in the washing machine.

 

Those of you with textured ceilings, popcorn ceilings and wood beams think this is one job you don't have to do since the cobwebs smear everywhere - well you don't get off that easy. Attach a metal paint roller to our extension handle. Now buy several replacement lint rollers made for clothing and place them over the roller. The cobwebs stick to the tape without smearing into the surface. Some stores also carry ready made lint rollers. I have not tried them yet but they look like they should work and would be far easier than lint rollers.

 

These ideas may be used only with giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com.

 

Mary's Top Five do ahead Spring Cleaning Tips:

Spring Cleaning doesn't have to start in the spring and shouldn't wait until you are busy painting the house and working on the yard. Now is the time to get a step ahead of it.

Cleaning your computer: First of all how long has it been since you last took the cover off your computer to dust it with the cleaner you can purchase at office supply stores? Ouch that one hurt huh? Yes I'm a nag about these things. Cleaning extends the life time of your computer keeping it running at top speed the entire time of its life.
Removing the casing should be done monthly but few of us have the time. Don't drag your feet or you may find you feet hitting the gas peddle to the electronics store for a new computer. Clean all screens including the newest screens with a 50/50 solution distilled water to rubbing alcohol.

My top 5 "don't wait for spring cleaning" chores:
1) Deep Cleaning: Each week when you vacuum pull the furniture out from the walls in one sector of your home ie the bedrooms, living area or dining area. Then scratch one spring cleaning chore off your list. Our dry sponge http://www.goclean.com/dry-sponge.htm is wonderful for removing dust and dirt that has collected along the walls.
Wrap a damp towel sprayed with a bit of CleanEz around one of Mary Moppins mop heads http://www.goclean.com/mops.htm and quickly and easily dust baseboards. It even does a fast and easy job dusting the back of cabinets and bedroom furniture. The less you have to crawl around on the floor the faster you will clean.
If you smell any musty odors, CleanEz does an excellent job killing mold and mildew even in carpets. Our Pure Ayre for Marine http://www.goclean.com/cleaners.htm kills all mold and mildew odors. The Pure Ayre for Home works exceptionally fast to permanently rid your carpet, bedding or furniture of urine or fecal odors. These are all on sale for 20% off for readers only.
2) Clean the clutter: We recently had the carpet re-stretched in the bedrooms of our home, which means moving everything out of closets, pulling drawers out of dressers to move them etc. Only having been in this home for five years it was shocking how much "stuff" had accumulated. I need to pay closer attention to my own advice "If it's not a family heirloom or could become one and it has not been used for over 3 or 4 years, give it away or have a spring garage sale. This is an easy step when you are pulling furniture out from the wall. Plus you have a couple of months to get the items marked for your garage sale!
3) Cleaning drapes: Clean your drapes with our dry sponge or your vacuum attachment. If the drapes are not to large consider removing them and taking them outdoors (if possible) and give them a good shake. Many people also take them to a Laundromat and put them in the dryer on "air" to draw out the dust. Having tried both I vote for shaking them outside. It took far less time without chancing death by dryer if the dryer is not working properly.
4) Cobwebs under the eves: Removing holiday lighting around your home also provides an excellent time to turn off the lights on cobwebs. For those of you living in the plain states like Colorado your lights and cobwebs may need to wait until spring. Hopefully you have dug your way out of the nasty storms. Professional pesticide companies use Mary Moppins mops to quickly remove those cobwebs without the dust and dirt falling in their face. Alternately use a broom to knock them down.
5) Clean and Condition Kitchen and Bathroom cabinets to prevent cooking oils or bathroom steam from penetrating the wood, which will dry and crack the wood. Bathroom cabinets turn a grayish color. Our one step Wood Cleaner and Conditioner keeps them in top shape if used regularly. Then dilute it 5 parts water to one part Wood Care to use as a regular cabinet cleaner. Discover what it does for your furniture as well. It removes scratch marks on furniture.
Clean acrylic faced cabinets using a barely damp soft cotton cloth. These cabinets have a very high gloss shine that looks like the floor of a basketball court. Most cabinets have a gloss shine but Acrylic cabinets look like they have 10 to 15 layers of finish and they do.
This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

©Copyright 2006 Mary Moppins All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Charging and care of your cell phone battery

From my local cell phone provider: Recharge the battery every night whether it needs it or not. Batteries only have so many "lives" to live before they die. One life means running a battery nearly out before recharging it. It only takes a few times before the life of the battery ends and you then turn over $35 or $40 for a new battery.

Extend the life of your battery by charging it nightly and if you are going to be on your cell for an extended period of time, plug it in if possible. He also told me that unlike batteries of years past charging them nightly does not wear them down but now prevents that from happening.

He also reminded me to use my car charger as little as possible if at all. Car chargers are hard on batteries and wear them down quickly.

Also stay away from the converters that convert a car charger to an outlet charger. That is the fastest way to give your poor cell phone battery a heart attack and insure its immediate death.

Yes this information is brought to you by personal experience. I was in a small town for a show and left my outlet charger at home. Not wanting to spend 2 hours in the car to charge the phone, I headed to the nearest nationally known electronic store since I thought they would carry high grade products. Well those thoughts blew away right along with all the tumbleweed in town when the wind stirred. This particluar converter allows you to plug a car charger into the base and then into an outlet. Only the directions don't warn you about sudden death caused by electrical shock. Stay away from those converters. Purchasing a new battery is how I learned about the charging tips!

Happy New Year!

Keep the environment green and clean

When I lived in the Midwest it was customary to carry a bag of sand in the car for those times when we took corners a bit too fast on snowy roads and found ourselves in a snow bank. Poured under the tires, sand gave me enough traction to get me back on the road again.

Since travels now take me over the mountain during winter months. Carrying sand or kitty litter is not all that appealing since I've taken a strong stance of treading as lightly as possible on Mother Earth. Instead, explore the idea of using wild bird seed. It's natural and the birds will appreciate your thoughtfullness.

*Note: Lindsey very kindly wrote to let me know that the birds would not eat all the seed. The following spring the seeds would sprout with the potential of introducing foreign grasses, which would disturb the eco system and that sand is far better to use. Thank you Lindsey for emailing. I should have been aware of this problem since I live in Oregon where Scotch Broom was introduced many years ago. It has destroyed so much of our natural habitate.

In addition, head to the hardware store or a capet company and purchase a large size carpet sample. They generally run around $2. Place that in a plastic bag. It doesn't take up much room on the floor of your backseat or trunk of your car. If you need to stop and put chains on your car, the carpet sample will keep your legs dry. Tuck it inside the plastic bag when you finish so it won't soil your car.

Mary Findley's Top Three Rules for Speed Cleaning

1) Buy the best equipment you can afford. Men, when you go to buy tools do you head to the local dollar store for your tools or do you go to Sears for Craftsmen and then a good quality hardware store for DeWalts, Makitas and Snap On?

Head out to the garage ladies and take a look at the tools on your husbands workbench. The majority of people do not use these tools every week let alone every day. The majority use them maybe once or perhaps twice a month and some even less than that. Even if they use them twice a year they still buy the best on the market. Why? Because men especially know high quality tools do the job, they do it right the first time and they don't brake in the middle of the job - exceptions noted.

So why are you using poor quality tools to clean your home, car, Rv etc when you use them daily if not more often than that? Look at your broom closet. How many mops have you thrown away in the last year because they just didn't work and you gave up. How many bottles of cleaners do you have hidden on the back shelf because the ad on TV made it look so wonderful and you found out it would be wonderful if it would even clean a smudge let alone real dirt.

Good quality tools cut your cleaning time down to a third of the time. They last for years not weeks and when you finish, the surface is actually clean and it sparkles. You will save hundreds of dollars a year just by buying top quality tools.

2) Give your product time to work. It takes time for a product to dissolve some grease and grime. Spray your cleaner on the surface then wait 5 to 15 minutes depending on the dirt and your cleaner. For those of you using my new cleaners 1 to 2 minutes is more than enough time.

3) Prevention, prevention, prevention. Wipe down surfaces regularly even those that don't get that dirty like window blinds. Done monthly cleaning window blinds is a five minute job. Put it off - well cancel all plans for the afternoon. This holds true for any household cleaning job.

This article may only be rewritten giving full credit to Mary Findley with Mary Moppins www.goclean.com. World wide rights reserved.

Removing Wax from Carpets

Cleaning wax from carpets takes time and dilligence yet can be avoided with a few easy precautions:
1) Don't move a lit candle or one that has just been extinquished
2) Leaving a lit candle burning near any kind of flamable material will cause a fire. They do not belong on window sills, near lamps or walls or on top of covered tables.
3) Always place a holder under all candles whether or not they are in glass containers.

Remove candle wax safely from carpet:
1) Freeze the wax with ice cubes placed in a zip loc bag
2) Chip off what you can with a blunt knife
3) Grab an all white paper towel and a hair dryer
a) most cleaning experts recommend an iron. Use an iron only if you like brown scorch marks in your carpet.
4) Begin heating the the wax with the dryer set on medium to high heat.
5) Blot the wax as it melts with the paper towel.
6) If you insist on burning red candles please don't email me asking me how to remove the red dye from the carpet. Heat sets a stain and that red dye is permanently heated into your carpet. If you burn red candles put them up where little ones and guests can't move them.

This article may only be used giving full credit to Mary Findley, owner of Mary Moppins and using her website www.goclean.com

Cleaning Lace Tablecloths

As lace tablecloths and runners age, they often darken. Returning them to white again can pose problems. Regular chlorine bleach usually makes matters worse. Instead, fill a sink with lukewarm water adding 1 to 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide - make sure the bottle is fresh. Peroxide does loose its "umph" after a few months - adding a tablespoon of borax. Soak for 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly and dry on heavy towels.

A book that keeps on Giving

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cleaning” http://www.goclean.com/bookclean.htm coauthored by Mary Findley. This is one gift that will keep giving for years to come just as our mops and other products continue to do. We gladly ship all our products direct to their recipient and even tuck in a gift card as well!

Cleaning for unexpected guests
So this is the busiest time of year. Your best friend calls after just arriving in town and wants to come by for an unexpected quick visit and will be there in an hour. Your home is still disgruntled from putting up all the decorations and you are elbow deep in cookie dough. Where do you start?
If you have a laundry basket (a large plastic bag or box will work just fine) start at the front door and make a quick swoop through each room where you will probably be entertaining. Starting at the front door enables you to see what they will see when walking in the door. Time? 10 minutes.

With the larger items out of the way, tuck excess magazines etc into a spare bedroom or closet picking up books or shoes along with them. Don’t use the hall closet since you hang coats there! Time? 8 minutes.

Clean fast with environmentally safe cleaners

Next grab our Benya, it cleans and shines most hard surfaces except wood. Give the kitchen counters and guest bathroom a quick once over. If your microwave needs cleaning tuck a coffee cup half full of water inside and heat it up for 2 minutes then squirt a bit of CleanEz inside and quickly wipe it out. Time? 12 minutes. – How do I know these times? Experience J
Benya is one of very few glass cleaners that will not smear or streak. It removes grease and fingerprints from black refrigerators and appliances and leaves a wonderful shine on counter tops.

You will love using Clean Eze for hundreds of cleaning chores. It’s a wonderful stain remover for carpet and clothing doing an awesome job cleaning awnings and even removes black streaks off RVs and motorhomes. It is the best I’ve ever used as an all purpose cleaner and the best part is highly concentrated.

Run the vacuum if needed only on traffic areas and grab a cotton dust cloth wiping over only the visible areas using our Wood Care diluted. Time? 15 minutes.

That leaves you 15 minutes to put on a pot of water for hot tea and scatter a few holiday decorating books on a dining room table, opened in hopes of them being a good distraction. When the door bell rings you are ready to share new ideas you have for holiday decorating over a cup of warm tea and the magazines.

Cleaning showers and soap scum

Ah but they might stay over for the night and the shower needs a quick clean. Our brand new TerraPlus removes soap scum and hard water spots in under two minutes with little or no scrubbing and even removes oil from driveways or garage floors. TerraPlus is the only product I’ve ever used that doesn’t back down from the really tough cleaning jobs. It’s fast, effective yet environmentally safe just like Benya and CleanEz.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Mary's Quick N Easy Cleaning Tip

Clean mini blind and window blind strings by squirting a bit of foaming shaving cream in your hand. Use your fingers and cover the string. Wait 15 to 20 minutes and rinse with a damp cloth dipped in 1/4 cup white vinegar per quart of water.

Holiday Cleaning Tips

Cleaning chores can be so much easier during the holidays with a few tips to prevent problems. Here are some of my favorite cleaning tips to help maked holidays a bit less hectic.

1) Avoid pet accidents: If guests are coming for dinner and have small children or pets, purchase a couple of holiday plastic table cloths. Turn them upside down and place them on beds where toddlers will be sleeping. Then put a bath towel on top of the table cloth. The towel catches any “accident” that might happen and the plastic saves the mattress. This works well for fabric furniture where they might be sitting or sleeping as well. Turn it plastic side up under their chair at dinner or as a wonderful place for them to play games etc. It keeps toys and games confined to one area.
2) Cleaning spills on floors: Keep a Mary Moppins mop http://www.goclean.com/mops.htm handy during meals with a dampened towel over the mop head. When spills happen, and they always do, it takes but just a minute to mop the floor and return to dinner. Since the mop head needs no rinsing, you simply toss the towel in the washer.
3) Clean the fireplace and hearth: Fires crackling in the fireplace warm the heart and home. Be sure to clean the chimney to prevent house fires. Clean the soot stained glass carefully using a single edge razor blade. Our new TerraPlus will clean the rest. Just be sure to rinse well with vinegar and water. The cost for a concentrated 32 ounce bottle is $24.95. The introductory price is $19.95. You can order by calling 800-345-3934. Terra Plus also cleans soap scum off shower walls and hard water marks off sliding doors - quickly! It works as fast as phosphoric acid only it is environmentally and human safe. Grease stains in the driveway soot stains on bricks? TerraPlus to the rescue.
4) Treating dry wood: With the furnace running and fire places burning, wood furniture and cabinets dry quickly as does vinyl and leather furniture. Be sure to treat your wood with Mary Moppins Wood Care http://www.goclean.com/wood-care.htm. Treat your Leather or Vinyl with our Leather Care. http://www.goclean.com/leather-care.htm. We are doing a holiday special when you buy both bottles you receive $1 off each bottle. Both deep clean and condition and can be diluted for weekly use.
5) Removing candle wax: Be sure to read about using candles and what to do with wax that has dripped onto a surface on my website http://www.goclean.com/wax.htm. It is just too long to print here. And while you are there copy the entire stain removal guide so you have instant access to remove most stains. There is a complete stain removal guide in my book “The Complete Idiots Guide to Cleaning.” http://www.goclean.com/bookclean.htm. It encompasses nearly every stain on 7 different surface including fabrics. And you will learn my speed cleaning tips which are quite handy this time of year!
6) Red wine and punch stains: Please resist the temptation to treat red wine stains with white wine or seltzer water as you hear from so many cleaning experts. Both are difficult to remove from carpet and leave a sticky residue behind. Instead buy a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide and the day of your dinner or party, mix a 50/50 solution of peroxide to water and keep a second bottle of a 1 to 4 mixture of white vinegar to water handy. When those spills happen, same thing with red stains caused by punch, spray with the peroxide mixture – wait 10 to 15 minutes blot and rinse with the vinegar solution. Stain gone and no sticky residue to attract dirt.
7) Keep the carpet clean: Don’t hesitate to ask your guests to remove their shoes when they come in your home. Let them know ahead of time that your home is shoe free and to bring a pair of holiday socks or slippers for their feet and to get creative! The laughs from all the colorful toes are a hoot!
8) Have a wonderful and safe Holiday season!

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

Get Rid of Broadleaf Weeds

Unless you can dig deep enough to remove the entire root of a broadleaf weed, they grow back in a matter of weeks. Fall is a great time to treat these weeds as they are beginning to go dormant for the winter. You can use toxic weed killers to get rid of them but the safe natural way is to pour one-third to one-half cup of distilled white vinegar on the very center of the weed. Do not water it in. The acid action of vinegar kills the weed down to the tip of the root.

Freezable Pie Crust

Freezable Yummy Pie Crust Recipe

3 Cups sifted flour                        1 egg slightly beaten
1 teaspoon salt                             5 tablespoons ice cold water
1 ¼ cup shortening                       1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

Sift flour and salt together. Cut in shortening until the size of small peas.
Add egg and mix lightly. Do not stir pie crust. Flip it with a fork. Stirring pie crust turns it tough.
Combine water and vinegar – sprinkle over flour mixture and toss lightly again avoid stirring. Mix just enough to blend all ingredients.
Pour onto a piece of cling wrap to gather the dough together. Divide equally into 4 parts, gently flatten slightly on a sheet of wax paper. Flatten only enough to store easily.

Makes 2 double 9" or 10" pies. Refrigerate 6 weeks or freeze for 6 months. Bring to nearly room temperature before rolling out dough. When you roll out dough, use a pastry cloth and roll gently from one edge to the opposite side to keep the crust flaky. Never flatten by hand.

This is a wonderful way to get a bit of a jump on the holiday season if you bake pies.

Do Ahead Cleaning Tips for the Holidays

Cleaning Tips for the Holiday Season
Make a Holiday Cleaning List
Make a promise to keep a piece of paper handy and jot down what you normally do during the holiday seasons, baking shopping, decorating etc. It will help you keep organized. As you write down the things you normally do it becomes easy to see where perhaps you could cut back and be a bit less harried this holiday season.
We actually stopped decorating a tree several years ago. Instead I take soot and peanut butter balls, press sunflower and other wild bird seed into them and head for the woods. Climbing a ladder, we string our tree with goodies for our squirrel and winged friends. No I'm not saying give up your decorated tree. I'm just saying that there isn't a child – no matter your age - who doesn't enjoy a romp in the woods that smells of freshly fallen leaves. A mug of hot cocoa from the thermos warms the hands as you wait for the winged ones to squawk their thank you.
Now let's get a jump start on cleaning for the holidays.
You need fast ways to get those chores done. Start cleaning in the bathroom, the most time consuming. Our Erase It for Bathrooms http://www.goclean.com/erase-it.htm makes short work removing rust, hard water and iron from toilets. The Erase It http://www.goclean.com/erase-it-all.htm for tile grout removes those hard water deposits, soap scum and mildew.
When my new products arrive in a few days, our CleanEz will quickly remove hard water spots on glass shower doors and the TerraPlus will knock soap residue off the shower walls in minutes. Then coat both your toilet, shower walls and doors with Advantage http://www.goclean.com/advantage.htm and cleaning this holiday season will be a breeze.  
Advantage coats surfaces so soap residue and water sheets down the walls and doors of your shower. It also make surfaces slick so residue doesn't stick in a toilet. You will appreciate the true value of this after company leaves and you have house cleaning the next day. You can also use a product like Gel Gloss in the showers and toilets although it will probably take two to three coats.
Next in the bathroom, pour a cup of distilled white vinegar in the toilet twice a month to prevent the pinkish residue as well as hard water from forming.
Clean your chandeliers
This is the ideal time to clean the chandeliers since they are also so very time consuming. For chandeliers with baubles spray those with a cleaner found at lighting stores. It dries without leaving residue. Move furniture and put down plastic then old terry towels. Spray the baubles and just let them drip dry.  After they have dried wipe the arms with jewelry cleaner and that job is done for another six months.
Cleaning Mini Blind
Usually mini blinds cleaned now will stay pretty much dust free through the holidays – exceptions noted. Take an old but clean all white cotton tee shirt or one of our lint free towels, http://www.goclean.com/towels.htm and dampen lightly with a bit of vinegar and water. Turn the slats facing down toward you. Wipe over the slats starting from the top and work your way to the bottom. Now reverse the slats, pull the shades out and walk around behind them and repeat from the back.
The weather has gotten cooler and snowing in some areas so be sure to clean your chimney and your air ducts. I do not like getting emails asking how to get rid of smoke damage from fires. There isn't a winter that goes by that I don't get at least two or three such emails and they break my heart because these kinds of fires are preventable as are ones started with candles – next issue.
Spray around the exterior of your home for mold or mildew that might have started growing. Mold and mildew finds its way into your home where it can cause serious allergy problems especially during the winter. It is also very difficult to clear your home of mold and mildew. So it's far easier to seal any cracks in the foundation and kill that mold before it gets inside.
This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.
 

Cleaning Pots and Pa

Cleaning Pots and Pans

So what do you do about those pans sitting in your sink that need cleaning? Let's take a look at some quick tips for cleaning cookware. With a few precautions, those pots and pans no longer need to clutter your sink.

Number one rule: no pan should be preheated on high heat. It may take 30 seconds longer to heat a pan on medium heat, but the lifespan of the pan will increase twofold and your sanity triple fold.

Number two rule: More house fires begin due to a pan being left on a burner especially those preheating or with food deep frying. Please be extra cautious this upcoming holiday season when we tend to forget about the stove when guests arrive.

Cleaning Copper: Tomato paste removes tarnish from copper cookware, kettles, trivets etc. Try pouring salt on a lemon sliced in half to clean copper. Toothpaste will work in a pinch.  Toothpaste makes swift work polishing jewelry. I've found tomato paste works the best and fastest with copper.

Care of Cast-iron: If you are having stomach problems it may be coming from your cast iron cookware. Cast iron is very porous. That black is food bacteria that seep into the cookware. Well it seeps back out during cooking. If your stomach is sensitive or you have ulcers or acid reflux, your cast iron cookware may be the culprit.

Remove the black from the outside by spraying the bottom and sides with a product we will have by mid Oct. It's called TerraPlus and will take that black off without toxic chemicals.  Place plastic down on a back porch or garage and cover with paper. Spray the pan, letting it set two to three hours. Wipe with newspaper and rinse with vinegar and water. Although you are not supposed to wash the inside of cast-iron I recommend it to remove what food bacteria you can. Wipe it down with olive oil when you finish.

How to clean stainless steel: Wash with dish soap to clean. Cameo found in the grocery along with the silver polishes is designed to clean keep stainless steel pans, bakeware or appliances looking new. Fine scratches can be covered up by rubbing with fine steel wool then buffing with a soft cloth. This is true for stoves, appliances and sinks. They can be shined by rubbing with white vinegar. Never use bleach on stainless steel because it leaves stains.

Coated cookware. If food is stuck simmer water in the pan with a bit of dish washer detergent and a dash of salt. Clean with hot water and mild detergent. Never use high heat when cooking with coated cookware.

Loose your marbles? Try looking in the bottom of your double boiler or under your vegetable steamer. If they are hidden there, it's because they want to remind you that the water in the pot is getting low by rattling around.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

Fall Round UP

Fall Round UP
     Before we delve into fall cleaning and some tips and trips there, several of you have been asking me why your washcloths and dishcloths continue to harbor odors after they have been washed. If I previously passed along this tip, ignore this paragraph. We have quite a few new members and I would like to pass this along to them.
     A gentleman at a recent rally, who worked in a laundry detergent plant told me that some powdered laundry detergents, including theirs, are made from saw dust that has been blown and treated. Saw dust has no cleaning abilities. It cannot rinse clean and it sticks to terry towels. That is one reason why towels scratch the side of vehicles when used to dry them. After I switched to a natural powdered detergent from a health food stores, my clothes are cleaner and my dishcloths and washcloths have ceased to smell.
      I suspect the sawdust is also the reason why cotton tee shirts, knits etc gets balls on them and become rough looking when they are laundered. And it would make sense that the sawdust would wear down fabrics quicker. I now turn knit shirts, pants, jeans, sweaters etc inside out and wash most everything on permanent press. It saves on water and electricity and my clothes don't seem to be wearing as quickly.  Pretreat stains with Bi-O-Kleen.
Fall cleanup tips:

1. Swimming pool: For the hard water line - use our Erase It for Bathrooms http://www.goclean.com/erase-it.htm  to remove those lines. It is faster than a pumice stone and won't scratch.


2. Add a quick sparkle to windows and screens. Clean screens by wiping with our Dry Sponge, use dry not wet http://www.goclean.com/dry-sponge.htm.  A one-inch paint brush whisks dust from window frames. Remove film on windows with a solution of three parts rubbing alcohol, one part white vinegar and six parts water.


3. Have your air ducts and fireplace chimneys professionally cleaned and clean the fronts of screens and glass enclosures to fireplaces. Be sure to check the date of your fire extinguisher! Do you have one on every level of your home and one in the garage? Are they easily accessed? Do you have a ladder to hang from your window for your second story?


4. Remove tree sap on patio furniture by freezing it with ice. Chip off what you can with a putty knife then apply a bit of concentrated Bi-O-Kleen. Let that set 20 to 30 minutes then clean with one-quarter cup of white vinegar to a quart of water.


5. Fabric patio furniture: Add one cup 20 Mule Team Borax and one-third cup laundry detergent to a bucket of warm water. Saturate the cushions, wait several minutes then scrub with a medium bristle brush. Rinse and air dry. Wipe them down with hydrogen peroxide if they mildew when stored.


6. Umbrellas: Open and brush off all dirt particles. Starting at the outer edge working towards the center, spray a section at a time with a foaming tub and tile cleaner. Foaming cleaners cling to vertical surfaces giving the cleaner time to dissolve the dirt. Scrub, rinse and air dry.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

Quick Cleaning Tip of the Day

This is not about cleaning house but your yard! Still struggling with broad leaf weeds? Simply pour half a cup of distilled white vinegar on top of the center of the weed. The weed will eat itself to death and be gone in a week or two. Mother Earth will fill in the hole. All without pesticides!

Blanket Care

Blanket Care
How to clean your wool, cotton and synthetic blankets
Autumn is close at hand and I'm sure for those of you who have sweltered through this summer it can't come soon enough. And that is just my point. It is warm out and the best time to wash the blankets and spreads since they can be put out to dry.
Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning. If you machine wash your bedding  be sure it will fit the washer with room to spare for effective cleaning. Otherwise the bedding will not come clean. Usually the large capacity washers at the laundromat are your best bet and faster since you can run 3 or 4 loads at one time.  (Always clean these tubs before using them)
To Clean Wool Blankets: Some wool blankets can be machine washed in cold water with much caution. Check the tag first. Dry clean when specified. Wash wool blankets in "Brown Sheep Shampoo." I recently learned that Woolite changed the formula. It is no longer considered safe by the yarn wool associations for cleaning wool. They recommend The Brown Sheep Shampoo made by the Brown Sheep Company.
Machine wash wool blankets by filling the tub with cold water and adding a small amount of the "shampoo." Pretreat any stains and clean the binding around the outer edges of the blanket with Bi-O-Kleen  (remember it's on sale) Let that set 15 to 30 minutes. Be especially gentle if the blanket is old and the binding could tear easily. Let the blanket soak for 30 minutes before allowing the cycle to run. After the wash cycle finishes allow the blanket to spin for just a minute then advance the timer to the deep rinse cycle. Then let the cycle finish.  Lay the blanket on a table outside or in your garage on top of some clean towels.
Or alternately fill the bathtub with cold water adding ¼ cup of the Brown Sheep Shampoo. Let the blanket or spread soak for 30 minutes, agitate gently then rinse in a tub of cold water adding a cup of white vinegar to help extract the shampoo. Rinse them a second time in plain water.  Do not wring. Fold them in half then roll them up to help remove most of the water while the blanket is still in the tub. Then roll them up placing large bath towels on top of the blanket as it is rolled to absorb the moisture.
Cleaning Cotton and Acrylic blankets can be machine washed in cold water and dried on low. These blankets dry faster without the expensive cost of electricity by hanging them outside to dry. They can be draped over a rail after the rail has been covered with plastic or hung on a taut line.
Cleaning Nylon Flock blankets like Vellux, can be washed in cool water. They dry quickly outside or in the dryer on medium heat. If you machine dry them do remove them promptly so set your kitchen timer as a reminder.    
Now you have your bedding ready for holiday guests giving you one less hectic thing to do during the holidays that are more than rapidly approaching.
This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

Cleaning a car interior

                                                        Cleaning a Car Interior    

     This is the third of a series of articles about cleaning your car. This one covers the interior. See the two articles below for tips on washing and waxing your car. You will also find helpful tips on how to clean and care for tires.
     Thank you to all who tried our Advantage http://www.goclean.com/advantage.htm and wrote to tell me how excited you were with the difference it made on the shine and looks of the finish of your vehicle. Now let’s tackle the inside and get that area sparkling as well.
     Get rid of car odors:
     First of all for anyone with odor problems, there is a product called Pure Ayre www.pureayre.com – they can tell you where to buy it – that is the most incredible odor remover I’ve ever used. From mold to pets to cigarettes it has permanently eliminated them all.
-         A dry eraser like what is used on dry erase boards does a fast job removing the film that builds up on inside windows. Alternately spritz a bit of rubbing alcohol on a clean dry cloth then wipe over the windows.  
-         A foam paint brush reaches into those small areas like cup holders that can be tricky to clean. Dip it in a diluted solution of our Bi-O-Kleen http://www.goclean.com/bio-kleen.htm wipe those areas then dry with one of our Swifter Towels. http://www.goclean.com/towels.htm#swifter.  They don’t fall apart like paper towels or even shop towels and can be machine washed and dried many times to save you money. The foam paint brush is also thin enough to clean the open storage areas on the sides of your doors.
-         Vacuum carpet regularly and put down protective mats to keep the original carpet in good condition. The rubber backed mats are wonderful to protect the floor against rain soaked shoes, spills and pets who occasionally get a bit overly excited about their trip in the car.  
Remove carpet stains
-         To remove most stains from carpet or cloth seats, spray on our Ion-A-Clean http://www.goclean.com/ion-clean.htm let that set about 20 to 30 minutes and blot. It’s an amazing stain remover and never needs rinsing. It even removes oil and grease.
** Go to http://www.goclean.com/stainremovalguide.htm to learn the proper way to remove a stain.  
      -         Vacuum the ceiling of your car to remove dust that accumulates in the cloth.
-         There simply isn’t anything better to use on any leather, vinyl or ultra leather seat than our Leather Care. http://www.goclean.com/leather-care.htm   Out of the 8 or 9 I tested, this is the only one that deep cleaned. The others removed dirt from the surface but none removed the imbedded dirt. It cleans and protects in one step. It will remove some ink stains and most blue jean dye. It can be diluted 1 part Leather Care to 6 parts water for regular cleanings.
-         If you have young children or pets take a plastic table cloth cut it in half and cover the seats with the fuzzy side up. The fuzzy side catches at least the small drips and spills while the plastic protects the seats.
This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

Car Care Part 2 Wax

Car Care Part 2 - Waxing

     Last issue we talked about the care and washing of the exterior of a car.  Let's cover the basics of waxes, polishes and sealants for your vehicles.  Next issue we will cover the interior care.

     Test your vehicle for oxidation twice a year by rubbing wax on one spot on your vehicle for several minutes. Any paint that comes off on your rag indicates oxidation problems, which will tell you one of two things:  

1)     If you are applying your wax often enough. Four times a year is best especially if your vehicle sits outdoors full time. If you are applying your wax only once or twice a year, you may need to treat it more frequently.

2)     Or two - if the wax you are using contains a low grade of petroleum distillates. Most wax contains petroleum distillates. There are high grade and low grade petroleum distillates. A company doesn't necessarily have to tell you that it contains petroleum distillates if it contains less than I believe it's 6 to 7% distillates. If the bottle does say it contains distillates you don't know if it is low or high grade until you start to oxidize. Given time, a low grade distillate will deteriorate the clear/gel coat sealant on a vehicle, which then causes oxidation and eventual deterioration of the paint.

     If the bottle you have does not say it contains petroleum distillates or if it says that it contains aliphatic hydrocarbons beware. Write or call the company and ask for the MSDS sheet - material safety data sheet. The name petroleum distillate is often hidden behind other names such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, which is one of two hydrocarbons making up distillates. I have also seen it as hydrocarbon, petroleum or mineral oil.

     My Advantage does not contain petroleum distillates or hydrocarbons. I have it specially formulated for me to not contain distillates because first of all paints have changed in the past three years and they are now lead or Chroma based paint, which is not as hard as lead based paints. Water or Chroma based paints will oxidize within 3 to 4 months if they loose the clear/gelcoat finish. Lead based paints take up to 18 months or longer to oxidize.

     Also Avery and 3M who manufacture the decals and striping used on many vehicles specify not to use products containing distillates as they dissolve the adhesive that holds the decal or stripping to the side of the vehicle. That is why you often see them peeling off and oxidizing.

*NOTE: If the striping is oxidizing then use a foaming tub and tile cleaner to restore the color. This works well on cars, trucks, RVs, boats, motorcycles etc.

     Be cautious about using any wax or protectant containing silicone or Teflon if the product contains petroleum distillates. If the product contains a low grade petroleum distillate, it will deteriorate the gel coat causing the vehicle to oxidize. Only the vehicle cannot be repainted because nothing sticks to silicone or Teflon. An acid remover can be used to remove the silicone or Teflon but it very rarely removes 100% leaving you with an oxidizing vehicle that cannot be repainted.

Word of caution: If a wax company refuses to tell you what is in their product to protect your vehicle, you should not be using it. Many claim it is proprietary information. Ask for the MSDS sheet. If you notice a reference saying "if the product reaches a temperature of 150 degrees it will turn to formaldehyde and silicate dioxide" beware. Silicate dioxide only occurs when a 50/50 solution of silicone and water are mixed and brought to a temperature of 150 degrees.  

     If your vehicle is oxidizing then you need a sealant. Look for a treatment that says for heavy duty cleaning or "for removing oxidation." Advantage has also been formulated to remove mild to medium oxidation and old petroleum distillates as well. As a result the color is deepened and the shine is remarkable.  

     If a product states that it is a wax, it is made from carnauba. Protectants are made with polymer. Carnauba actually seals the surface. If the body of the vehicle is metal carnauba works quite well. Fiberglass - used on boats, RVs and some cars - however, must breathe. If it is sealed by carnauba wax it prevents the fiberglass from breathing. Over time that causes fiberglass to yellow. Polymers give the UV protection like Carnauba but without sealing the surface. A polymer based protectant is best for all surfaces and recommended for fiberglass.

Follow these directions when applying Advantage or any product:

1)     Always use Advantage or any product when the vehicle is cool and out of the direct sunlight. Otherwise the product will solidify quickly and cannot protect the surface as it is designed to do.
2)     Never wash your towels in powdered laundry detergent unless it is from a health food store. I have been told by a man who worked for one very large detergent company that their laundry detergent was specially treated sawdust. That is why it won't rinse clean out of clothing or towels, why it can leave skin irritations and why it will scratch your vehicle. Use liquid detergent instead then pour some white vinegar in the rinse cycle to remove all soap.
3)     Never wash or protect your vehicle using a circular motion. You don't sand wood against the grain of the wood or else it will scratch the wood. Same thing with your vehicle. A vehicle of any kind is painted with a left to right sweeping motion so work with the grain of the paint for best results. Work right to left and left to right.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide
 

Car Washing Tips

Car Washing Tips

Wash your vehicle in the morning or evening to avoid water spots. You must dry quickly to prevent them from forming. Yes I hear continuously the marvels of how wonderful microfiber towels are drying a vehicle. I've hollered good and loud for many years about the problems associated with microfiber. DO NOT use it on any kind of sealed, finished or painted surface including walls, vehicles, floors, furniture, cabinets etc. Microfiber is made of 85% polyester, which is plastic.

Plastic scratches. If you want to use it on a vehicle (or any other surface other than glass) that is up to you just be sure to order several bottles of my Advantage to remove the oxidation when it sets in because the gel coat is now gone. Don't wait for your vehicle to oxidize before you order it though. Advantage keeps your vehicle looking better than it did in the showroom!  

Use only Woolite or baby shampoo to wash your vehicle including RVs. Some detergents like Mr. Clean, Simple Green and even dish soap can leave a residue that is difficult to rinse clean. Over time they soften and damage the clear or gel coat finish. Our Lambswool Mitt is one of the best on the market and is far thicker and plusher than most you find in automotive supply stores. It's gentle and will not scratch like most brushes.

Lambswool To Wash

Most brushes will scratch when you apply a bit of pressure to clean the dirtier areas. The bristles collapse, leaving you without the soft protective flagged ends. Paint manufacturers recommend lambswool for vehicles newer than 2002. The paints have changed from lead based to either Chroma based or water based. If a lead based paint looses its gel or clear coat finish, it won't begin oxidizing for around 18 months. Chroma and water based paints being oxidizing within two to three months. This happens because a Chroma or water based paint is not as "hard" as a lead based paint.

Clean the windshield wiper blades monthly to prevent them from smearing the windshield when in use.

Apply a very, very light coat of Advantage to your windshield. Glass is porous so when the bugs hit they dry into the pores making them difficult to remove. Advantage coats the glass so the bugs can't penetrate into the pores. If you are using a wax that contains petroleum distillates do not get it on the gaskets. Distillates will dissolve the rubber and cause your windshields to leak.  

Clean gaskets with a stiff bristled toothbrush. To help with bug removal on the front of your car, apply Advantage twice a month until you have 5 or 6 coats of a protective layer built up.  

Clean Your Car Tires

Tires require regular cleaning. Rubber naturally oxidizes with time. That oxidization causes the tire to appear like they are cracking. Grab an SOS pad and scrub the tires four times a year to remove the oxidation.

If after scrubbing, the tire is still cracked and is under warranty, have them inspected. If you apply a tire treatment you have just voided your warranty since the treatment will be blamed for the problem. Goodyear and Michelin have both issued warnings not to use any kind of treatment on their tires. Many of the tire treatments contain petroleum distillates, which deteriorate rubber. The problem is if the bottle contains less than 7% distillates the manufacturer does not have to make the disclosure. Their MSDS sheets will hide the name petroleum distillate behind other names like aliphatic hydrocarbon, hydrocarbon, petroleum, mineral oil to name a few or they may simply say it's proprietary information.  

Rule of thumb - If you don't know what is in a product don't put it on your vehicle. What you don't know will hurt – your wallet that is.

*NOTE: when you go to purchase a new vehicle and the tires are shiny and you want the vehicle insist the dealership change the tires. That shiny surface is petroleum distillates and the tire warranty has been voided even before you drove it off the lot.

Wheel Care

if you have aluminum wheels I found two products at a recent trade convention that did an excellent job cleaning and polishing them. Met-All and Flitz seemed to out perform the others I tested. Both can be found at automotive stores. Yes I know there are others that are quite good. If you are using a good polisher then stick with what you are using.

Any vehicle that has a sealed wheel – these are very shiny and are on newer RVs and some cars and trucks - can only be cleaned by using mild detergent. Any kind of metal polish will remove the finish. To make wheel cleaning a bit easier, head to a department store for a toile bowl brush or bottle brush made with the cotton fibers. They work into the holes and crevices so cleaning is much easier.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.

Cleaning Clogged Dra

Cleaning Clogged Drains

The drains plug up, they smell and a host of numerous other annoying things happen inside those dark tunnels generally when you have the least amount of time to deal with them. This brings me to my main point and driving point behind all cleaning – prevention!

There are preventive tips you can take that will greatly help keep your drains from clogging.
1)      Switch soap. Oke you Irish Spring (etc) lovers hand over your bars of soap. That white residue you get on your thumbnail when you run it across the bottom of the shower? Well it is soap build up caused by the talc in bar soap.

Guess what? If it's sticking to the shower wall, it's also sticking to the walls of your drains. The soap residue builds up in the drains followed by hair clinging to the soap. Then water can't drain out quickly so that causes green slime. Then you pour toxic drain cleaner down there which goes straight to the city sewer system, which can't process the millions of gallons of that stuff it gets every day so it comes back to your home for your cooking and drinking pleasure. Would you cut that out? And take the rest of your toxic chemicals to the dump for proper disposal. Trust me your health will love you for it and so will your checking account.

2)      Once a month pour one cup Bac Out down all your drains at night right before you go to bed. Bac Out http://www.goclean.com/bac-out.htm are made with active enzymes that "eat" away at bacteria. It's wonderful for kitchen drains to prevent clogs there as well. It "eats" any food that sticks to the sides of the drains keeping those drains clear and preventing them from smelling.

How to unclog your shower and tub drains:
1)      First pour one cup of baking soda down the drain after removing the plug in bathtubs
2)      Follow with one cup of distilled white vinegar
3)      Wait two to three hours and flush with hot water – repeat if needed
4)      That night pour Bac Out down the drains to finish the job. You don't need to flush with water.
5)      Follow step 2 above in the prevention section

How to unclog sink drains:
1)      Turn off the water to the sink and place a plastic bucket under the sink drain
2)      Remove the stopper from the sink  and then remove the curved plumbing fixtures just below the sink.
3)      Use a bristled bottle brush to clean the pipes you just removed and down into the drain as far as it will reach. If you pipes are heavily clogged you may want to use an augur. Pouring baking soda on the brush will help clean the drains even better as will borax.
4)      Replace the pipe and the stopper
5)      Mix the baking soda and vinegar in a quart size bottle. Shake thoroughly to mix and very quickly pour down the drains. That will work down into the rest of the pipe and bubble and fizzle the slime off the drains. Wait  several hours then flush with hot water.
6)      Now pour two cups of Bac Out  Out http://www.goclean.com/bac-out.htm into the drain (one cup if it is not clogged) right before you retire for the night. The enzymes will finish "eating" away the remaining residue. Bac Out is healthy for the sewer systems and your septic tanks. They help "eat" all solid waste helping to keep the entire system in balance like I talked about in my last newsletter.concerning holding tanks and our bodies.
7)      Follow step two above in the prevention section and do this monthly. Not only will this eliminate the frustration of clogged drains it will also keep the toxic chemicals out of your drinking water after it cycles back into your home from the city sewer system.
8)      You will find healthy green cleaners on my web site including the best carpet stain remover you can buy. Ion-a-Clean. http://www.goclean.com/ion-clean.htm. You will love what this does for stain removal and it can be used on Granite or Marble counters and is excellent for people with chemical sensitivities or who have had cancer and should not be around any kind of cleaner.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at http://www.goclean.com. Copyright @2006 All rights reserved worldwide.