Speed Clean the Kitchen Part II    

     Hopefully your kitchen drain is free of smells and dirt no longer clings to the refrigerator coils. Are you ready to tackle the rest of the kitchen? Well grab a couple of terry towels, your diluted bottle of CleanEz  or Benya  and let’s tackle the rest of the kitchen.

      Finding time to clean the entire kitchen at one time can tax some folks as it often takes as long to clean the kitchen as it does the remainder of the home. Tackle these ‘bog ya down’ jobs separately and you’ll zip through the rest of the kitchen. Tuck a diluted bottle of CleanEz under the sink along with a terry towel. Every night after dinner grab the CleanEz  and the towel then clean one shelf or drawer of the refrigerator before tucking away leftovers. By the end of the week your fridge is clean saving time on precious weekends.

     Various counter tops require different cleaners. CleanEz works great on Formica type counters. Cleaners like CleanEz, Simple Green, 409 etc should never be used on tile, marble, granite and Corian or composite counters. Eventually they etch the finish, dull shine and attack your wallet repairing the damage. Benya  is an excellent choice for these surfaces. 

     The night before cleaning the kitchen, tuck items on the counter top into drawers or cabinets. If you haven’t already, watch my speed cleaning video http://www.goclean.com/videos.html <http://www.goclean.com/videos.html> . It’s the last video.

 Here are the Precision Cleaning steps to take in the kitchen:

1)      Fill a coffee cup half full with water and nuke in the microwave for 3 minutes on high to steam and soften any stuck on food.

 2)      Grab the toaster, pull out the crumb shelf and dump the contents then wipe the toaster.

 3)      Put a rubber mat on the bottom of the sink and fill it with hot soapy water. Start soaking the stove grills and pans. Those of you with flat stove tops get to ignore this step. On the flat top stoves pour a bit of hot water with a squirt of dish soap on any dried on dirt and let it soak.

4)      Start at the left side of the kitchen. Pour CleanEz or Benya onto a cloth. The right hand will grab this cloth to clean the counters while the left hand follows with a dry towel. Follow the video and wipe your way around the kitchen. Re-dampen the towel when needed.

5)      Use the damp towel to clean around the door and inside lip of the dishwasher. It will probably be necessary to spray the knobs to remove dust collected there.

 6)      Next wipe the outside of the microwave and turn your attention to the inside. The food has softened from the steaming coffee cup of water so wipe it down. Since the microwave can have some dirt, I usually use a third towel to wipe it down to prevent the crumbs from getting wiped over counter tops.

7)       It’s stove time. Clean the soaking grates with a 0000 steel wool pad and scrub the pans. Turn them upside down on a dish towel to dry as you attack the stove. Whether your stove is flat or has the grates, spray the top and let that set a bit while you wipe down the front.

8)      Sprinkle a bit of baking soda in the sink, scrub rinse and dry. Except for the floors, which were covered in an earlier ezine, the kitchen is done. The floor article is on my blog, which can be accessed from the front page of my website.   

 

This article may only be copied referring to Mary Findley and her website at www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide.      

 

Clean the Kitchen

People often ask how to speed clean a home. Catch my video on how to use both hands to clean the kitchen, which applies to bathrooms and dusting as well. Two hands is faster than one. www.goclean.com/videos.html Scroll down to Mary Moppins Cleaning Kitchens.

Apply my number one speed cleaning rule: “Give your product time to work” to all areas that need a little cleaning boost like food burned onto the top of your stove. Spray CleanEz or your green cleaner on the surface, wait 3 or 4 minutes then wipe. Dirt and grime wipe right away if the cleaner is given time to do the work for you.

Let’s tackle some of the more troublesome areas as they should be cleaned prior to the rest of the kitchen.

Smelly disposals:

1) Dampen a sink or toilet bowl brush with diluted CleanEz then sprinkle on a bit of baking soda. Scrub the inside of the disposal to remove odor causing food particles.

2) Head to a pet store for Nature's Miracle that removes pet stains and odors. The enzymes ‘eat’ bacteria that clog drains. Pour half the recommended amount into both kitchen drains before retiring for the night. Yes this works for all drains in the home.

Refrigerator coils must be cleaned twice a year to keep the motor from quickly wearing down.

1) Start with a curved bottle brush and clean around the coils. It's handy to clean around the bends and curves of the coils. Use care not to puncture them. Then vacuum the coils with the brush attachment of the vacuum cleaner.

2) Some refrigerators have coils that run along the length of the bottom. The only way to clean them is to rent an air compressor and blow the dust off the coils.

3) Next wipe the fan blades.

4) Don’t forget to pull the panel off the front and clean it. Dip a sponge paint brush in hot sudsy water to clean the louvers of these panels.

Clean and Condition Kitchen Cabinets twice a year to prevent cooking oils from penetrating the wood, which damages the finish. Our one step Wood Cleaner and Conditioner keeps them in top shape if used regularly. Dilute it 5 parts water to one part Wood Care for those weekly wipes.

Wood Care brings the color back to wood and helps remove scratches and greying in bathroom cabinets. If you are not using Wood Care then look for a petroleum distillate free, bees wax based cleaner and conditioner. Be leery of using olive oil on wood furniture or cabinets. Food oils turn
rancid when exposed to air for any length of time. These oils can gum up the finish.

Microwave filter: It's easy to overlook cleaning this filter when cleaning the microwave, which will be covered in another issue.

1)Put a rubber dish mat on the bottom of the kitchen sink. Fill the sink with hot hot water and squirt in some organic liquid dish soap. Soak the filter for 15 minutes to loosen the grease and oil. Rinse and dry. Wipe down any exposed surfaces surrounding the filter with CleanEz by spraying it on a cloth then clean the surface. Never spray anything around the filter area as the liquid drops can penetrate through to the motor and damage it.

The next set of blog posts will cover the remainder of the kitchen.

This article may only be copied giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website, which contains dozens of handy tips www.goclean.com.

         How to Clean Patio Furniture

     The hot summer days and harsh weather takes its toll on patio furniture. Let's take a look at safe ways to clean this furniture.

This post deals with fabric furniture. My next post will teach you some shortcuts for plastic and wood furniture. 

Cleaning Chair Cushions

1.       Remove the cushions and lay them on a clean flat surface with a piece of plastic under the cushion for protection.
2.      Grab a soft brush and give grit and dirt the brush off. 
3.      Pre-treat stains by squeezing juice from a lemon onto the stain and sprinkle with salt. Work in the cool hours of the day so the lemon juice has time to work on the stain. Allow to dry.
4.      Grab an ice cube and freeze any tree sap or other sticky residue that has taken up residence on these chairs. Gently scrap off the residue with a plastic spatula.
5.      Next mix a capfull of CleanEz in a quart of warm water.
6.      Dampen a clean cloth in the mixture and wipe down both sides paying extra attention to the stains. Wait a few minutes and gently scrub. Warning! This fabric can be damaged by aggressive scrubbing. It is better to saturate the fabric let it set a few minutes than scrub too hard.  
7.      Should any stains remain, retreat with the lemon juice.
8.      Rinse with plain water and let it dry in the sun, which also lightens stains.   

How to Care for the Patio Furniture Frames
1.      First clean powder coated, aluminum or plastic frames with a 1 to 1 solution of vinegar to water. Just like aluminum wheels, furniture frames tarnish. Vinegar does a fair job cleaning aluminum. Use a good aluminum polish to remove oxidation. Use caution when working around the fabric seats and back with aluminum polishes as the fabric discolors.
2.      To help retard the discoloration of aluminum frames and make them a snap to clean, apply two thin coats of Advantage a petroleum distillate free, polymer based car, boat, RV and truck protectant. Spray the protectant on a cloth away from the fabric to avoid staining the fabric then wipe on the frame. Protectants leave a nice shine on aluminum and powder coated frames making future cleaning a snap.
*Caution: Never use ammonia, alkaline cleaners, baking soda, TSP or other harsh cleaners to clean aluminum as these cleaners discolor it, which is difficult to remove.  

Clean the Umbrellas

1.      Remove the umbrella then open and prop it on the ground. Use a soft brush to remove debris.

2.      Freeze any tree sap and scrape to remove.

3.      Clean as you would the fabric chairs only saturate soiled areas and let them set a bit before scrubbing.
4.      Clean and polish the rods as you do frames of chairs.

This article may only be used giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at www.goclean.com. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cleaning Wood, Laminated and Cork Floors

     How to Clean Wood Floors: Use caution on wood or laminated floors when you choose both a cleaner and a mop. The wet swiffer type mops, microfiber mops and vegetable oil cleaners like Murphy’s all damage these floor surfaces. Unfortunately you do not know if a product will damage a floor until it is too late. Most wood floors, not all but most, can be sanded and refinished. Laminated floors require replacement.   

Caution: Never use self- wringing mops on these floors as the excess moisture works between the boards and warps the edges.  

     Vacuum or dust mop any hard surface floor prior to mopping them. Wood, laminated and cork floors scratch easily so fine grit must be removed. Raise the beater bar of your vacuum to prevent damage to the floor.   

      As much as my heart is torn by this, some wood floor manufacturers require you to clean their floors with their cleaner. The use of any other cleaner voids the warranty. During my years professionally cleaning homes, food grade distilled white vinegar and water safely cleaned most wood floors except for older floors.   

    Grab a terry towel, toss it over a Mary Moppin’s mop then fill a 32 ounce spray bottle half full of water. Add ¼ cup distilled white vinegar then finish filling with water. Lightly spray the towel with the vinegar and water solution or the solution required by the manufacturer, and mop the floor. This adds enough moisture to the towel to damp mop but not enough to warp the boards.   

    Dust mop older wood floors laid prior to the mid 1970’s. Occasionally they can be damp mopped as above. Use a barely damp cloth to wipe up spills or clean soiled areas. These floors must be treated with a floor paste wax like MinWax at least twice a year to maintain the finish.

     Care of Laminated Floors: Treat these floors as you would hardwood floors. They tolerate a bit more moisture but go easy as excess moisture tends to dull the finish. Laminated floors cannot be sanded and refinished so take care with the products and tools used to clean them.

     Caring for Cork and Bamboo Floors:  Light from window or doors fade cork and bamboo floors.  Keep these areas covered with light colored throw rug. Dust mop cork floors only then spot clean with a barely damp cloth. If the floor must be mopped use very little water as you do for wood floors.

     Vacuum regularly with the beater bar raised. Put felt protectors under all chairs and table legs as these floors dent easily. Never drag a chair across a cork floor. Lift then move the furniture.  

This article may only be copied giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at www.goclean.com. Copyright © 2012 Mary Findley   All Rights Reserved Worldwide

How to Strip and Wax a Linoleum Floor

     If your linoleum or vinyl floor remains dirty even after a thorough scrub then it's time to strip and wax. Head to a local janitorial supply company for a bottle of eco-freindly floor stripper, a jug of non-yellowing wax and a nylon scrub brush.

     Open the windows and turn on the fan. Follow bottle direction to remove all the old wax, buildup and dirt in a 4 x 4 section. Then treat the next 4 x 4 section giving the first spot 10 to 15 minutes to dissolve the sealant. Scrub with a nylon brush then repeat covering the entire floor. Mop with a terry towel dipped in 1 cup distilled white vinegar per gallon of water. Using a fresh terry towel rinse again with plain water.

     Apply a thin coat of wax uing a third terry cloth towel.  Allow to dry thoroughly thenapply a second coat. Sometimes a third coat is necessary.

This article may only be copied giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide. Copyright @2012

Cleaning Hard Floor Surfaces Part 1

Cleaning Hard Floor Surfaces

Part 1

     There are a few precautions on floor care. First, throw away self-wringing mops. You don’t wash your face with a dirty washcloth so don’t expect a floor to come clean with a dirty mop. Dirt left on self-wringing mops recycles itself on your floor causing a buildup that gradually dulls and destroys the finish. Avoid microfiber mops as microfiber is made with 80% polyester or plastic. Plastic scratches and will scratch the finish off your floors, furniture, cabinets, car and the paint off walls.  

     Use 100% cotton terry cloth towels. Old 100% cotton bathroom hand towels are perfect. Or cut bath towels in thirds and hem. I developed my mop from professionally cleaning homes for 12 years. It holds terry towels in place to mop floors, dust cobwebs, do windows or even dry off RVs. And it lasts for years to save you money while cutting cleaning time. Otherwise toss a terry towel over a sponge mop head.

      No more sore backs to clean your floor. Prevent injury to your back when you mop a floor by grabbing the mop from the top rather than underneath. Grabbing the top of the mop handle keeps your back straight. Since it’s hard to describe how to do this catch my video on my website. It also shows you a few other tricks to speed cleaning.  

 Linoleum and Vinyl Floors

      Use warm water only to avoid detergent buildup. Most detergents contain phosphorous which sticks to a floor worse than tree sap to bare feet. That residue builds up, destroys the sealant and you end up with the unpleasant task of stripping and waxing the floor.

      If your floor requires a cleanser, use a small amount of CleanEz  or other organic cleaner. Fill a spray bottle mostly full with water then add ½ capful of CleanEz. Spray the traffic areas before you mop. The loosened dirt mops right up as you clean. 

      It’s not so groovy.  Some linoleum floors contain deep grooves that even pre-spraying won’t loosen. Dip a nylon scrub bush – one that attaches to a handle - into a bucket of water and 2 to 3 ounces of CleanEz. Twice a year give the floor a good scrub. Rinse with 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar mixed in one-half gallon water.

 Tricks of the trade: Remove black heel marks with a dab of rubbing alcohol or toothpaste. Gum comes off by freezing it with ice. Oil and grease dissolve with concentrated CleanEz. Dab on wait 7 to 8 minutes then wipe. Reapply if needed then rinse with vinegar and water. Any wax that has dripped on the floor can be melted off using a hair dryer. Wipe away with a white paper towel.  

 Marble, Tile, Slate and Composite Floors 

     Use hot water only on any stone or composit floor. Detergents and acids, like vinegar, pit and damage these floors. Marble must be immediately dried to prevent water spots. Mop in small sections and dry immediately. One a year a very small amount of CleanEz in a gallon of water can be used on tile floors for a more thorough cleaning. Do not use on marble or composite flooring.  

     Seal grout in stone floors to help prevent stain, which can be tricky to clean especially if the grout has color. My Stain Eraser forGrout  removes stains without taking the color out of colored grout.

 Side note: When you look for hard floor surfacing, lean towards linoleum and not vinyl. The off gassing from any kind of vinyl including flooring lingers for years contributing to cancer, asthma, lung and respiratory ailments. Also opt for real wood flooring rather than laminated due to the fumes emitted from the adhesive used in laminated floors. If adhesive is used during installation request a less toxic adhesive and leave the home for several days.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website at www.goclean.com. Copyright @2012 all rights reserved world wide.

How To Clean an Electric Razor

By Mary Findley

     Electric razors need cleaning too. All too often a small brush is quickly passed over the blades. If you have lost the brush that came with your razor, grab a 1/4 inch short bristled painters brush. Gently brush the blades then remove the head and very carefully brush the cutting mechanism. Once a month dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and clean the blades. This extra chore keeps blades sharper far longer.

 



Quick Clean Tip for the Kitchen 

By Mary Findley

      Every evening after dinner clean a spot in the kitchen like a countertop, the stove, microwave or sink. By the end of the week most of the kitchen has been cleaned and it only takes a few extra minutes each evening. I keep a spray bottle of my diluted CleanEz under the sink along with one of my terry cloth towels making it quick to grab, clean and go.

How to Remove Hairspray

     One of my most frequent questions I receive is how to remove hair spray stuck to counters, floors and mirrors in the bathroom. Stop and think about this. You breathe the sticky mist which means it is stuck to your nasal passages, lungs and other internal organs, which is not healthy for you or other members of your family. Switch to an organic gel if you need to use anything.   

    Remove hair spray by boiling straight distilled white vinegar. Wipe on and let it set several minutes then repeat several times until the residue is removed. If that doesn’t work then try rubbing or denatured alcohol. Do not use vinegar on tile, marble, granite or corian type surfaces. It will dull the finish.

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



Green Up the Laundry

by Mary Findley



Here are three easy ways to green up laundry days.

1) Run only full loads with the shortest wash time. For clothes that need extra wash time let them soak in the washer for 15 minutes before starting the wash cycle.
2) Remove and hang your clothes while they are partially damp to save on electricty. I love this because after hanging barely damp clothes I brush them with my fingers to 'iron' out the wrinkles so ironing takes only minutes if needed at all.
3) Use eco friendly detergent. Bio Kleen is my favorite. Use even less than what is recommended then add 1/3 cup of distilled white vinegar. Vinegar boosts the cleaning ability of the detergent plus it is a fabric softener and eliminates static cling. No need to buy dryer sheets or expensive laundry softeners.

This article may only be reprinted giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com.

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

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.

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

     I attended a recent fire and safety seminar at a rally down in California. Mac McCoy "The Fire Guy" is a retired fireman and paramedic. Everything I thought I knew about putting out a fire and escaping a burning building went up in smoke - literally during Mac's demonstration.


     Outside Mac doused a large board with gasoline and lit it on fire. He attempted to put the fire out with the standard fire extinguishers found in hardware stores. They are filled with a powder he reignited. Further the powder is toxic and spreads everywhere. It was all over the fence, the pavement and you could see it drifting for some distance including onto his clothing. Inside a home it penetrates into places like electrical outlets and damages things like plastic found on kitchen appliances like microwaves. Due to its toxic nature, a hazmat team must be brought in to clean.

     Mac then demonstrated a fire extinguisher containing foam. After extinguishing a fire he relit the foam and it failed to reignite. Nor did the foam spread like the powder. It's so safe that he even sprayed it on himself and ate a small bit.

     He said most fires start in the kitchen and advised against using baking soda. Baking Soda must be poured directly over a flame putting clothing in direct contact with the flames. Instead, grab a large pan lid. Start at the chest and use the lid as a shield pushing it toward the flaming pan. This separates the flame allowing you to safely put the lid on the pan. If you bring the lid from the top of the pan, the flames separate and catch your clothing and nearby woodwork on fire.

     Next Mac recommended storing the extinguisher on top of the counter but away from the stove so it can be reached without the flames catching your clothing on fire. Always leave a pan lid on the counter when you cook. Set your timer for 45 seconds when you turn the stove on to preheat a pan as a reminder that the pad is preheating flammable oil.

     Mac instructed us to sleep with the bedroom door closed. It takes 10 to 15 minutes for fire to burn through a solid bedroom door. Touch the door knob and door to make sure it’s cool before opening it.

     Always crawl on the floor to move around the home. Smoke inhalation, which settles in about waist high, kills more people than the fire itself. Mac emphasized the importance of planning an escape route and where to meet once you are outside the home then practice to make certain your plan works. If you have small children or disabled family members decide who will help whom out of the home and how. Then practice so everyone knows their job.

     Read more articles on Mac's website www.macthefireguy.com/Home-old.htm. You can order foam extinguishers from him as well. Call him for guidance on what extinguishers are best for you. You'll need one for each bedroom, the kitchen and I also bought one for my truck. I would have burned to death 10 years ago had my truck caught on fire after I was hit head intentionally. It rides in one of my cup holders where it's easy to reach.

     Don't forget to put a sparkle on your windows with Benya, our February special. Usually $19.95 it's now $14.95.

This article may only be copied giving credit to Mary Findley and her website http://www.goclean.com/. All rights reserved worldwide.

Prevent Holiday Disasters

     Recently I was recently a guest on the Martha Stewart Living Radio Program, which is always a pleasure. As we discussed removing holiday stains, the listening audience decided to play “stump the expert.” Let’s discuss a few suggestions to prevent accidents and stains during the holidays.

1) Avoid serving salads and drinks that contain red, orange, purple or green food colorings. If temptation draws you like a warm winter fire, keep a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide handy. Mix it 50/50 with water in spray bottle. Fill a second bottle with 1 part distilled white vinegar and 4 parts water. Spray red wine or food dye stains immediately with the peroxide/water mixture. Let it set 5 minutes then rinse with the vinegar/water solution to neutralize the effects of peroxide. Persian, silk or wool carpets or area rugs should be professionally cleaned.

2) Clean the chimneys and flues to prevent fires.

3) Don’t over look cleaning the furnace ducts as they have also been know to catch fire.

4) Always place a holder under candles. Never move a burning candle or one that has just been blown out. Hot wax leaves a nasty 3rd degree burn and stains that resist removal.

5) Keep a current fire extinguisher close at hand. Know how to use it! Any extinguisher more than 4 years old should be examined to make sure it’s in working condition.

6) Purchase a couple of white plastic table cloths if pets or young children are coming to dinner. Place them upside down on beds, furniture or the floor where they will be sleeping, playing or sitting. The fuzzy side helps catch spills or accidents and the plastic side prevents the liquid from absorbing into the surface. Purchase a bottle of Nature’s Miracle at the pet store to remove urine odor and stain from any surface – safely without toxic chemicals. Dilute my concentrated CleanEz to remove the rest of the stains like food, grease, oil and dirt.

7) Keep a lid on the counter to place over a pan should it catch fire. Tuck a bag of wet terry towels in a plastic bag under the kitchen sink. They put out kitchen fires faster than baking soda and quickly clean up spills.

8) You’ll find Mary Moppins mop to be one of the handiest gadgets not only for the holidays but year round. My mops use ordinary terry towels to mop floors or dust cobwebs or even dry off RVs or boats. They last for years to save hundreds of dollars buying mop head replacements. Why not give yourself or someone else the gift of time this year? They cut cleaning time up to 80%!

This article may only be copied giving credit to Mary Findley and her website http://www.goclean.com/. Copyright @2011 All rights reserved worldwide.



New Virus

     There is a new virus going around. I received an email from ICI Investments last night saying I was going to be sued for sending unwanted emails. There was an attachment so I felt it was a virus. To make sure I emailed ICI from their website. They responded this morning that it was a virus and are going to take action against the sender for using their company name illegally. No matter how threatening or inviting an email looks do not open these attachments or the email. Delete them immediately.



Go Green for Fall Cleaning 

     Dust mites thrive in damp dusty areas especially humid climates. If you suffer from headaches, sinus or bronchial congestion then it’s time to send these little bugs packing. More time is spent in the bedroom than any other single room of the home.

     Yes it is important to declutter the bedroom, I’ll cover that in my next post, only right now the weather in most areas are ideal to haul the mattress outside for a good old fashioned cleaning. My prayers to those caught in the wildfires or in the path of the East Coast storm.

     Mattresses are the favorite hiding spot of dust mites. If possible take the mattress to the back patio, lean it against the house and pound it good with a broom like Grandma used to do on the farm. Wear a face mask as the dust does fly.

     Vacuuming helps, only it can’t reach the inner sanctions of a mattress. I often read to wrap mattresses in plastic only that means breathing in the toxic fumes all night from the dozens of chemicals that comprise plastic. Rather, enclose the mattress with a thick cotton spread then launder it frequently. Breathing chemicals eight hours a night can contributes to toxic bioaccumulation in the body especially the lungs, sinuses and nasal cavities.

     Air out your mattress while you pull out the frame of the bed, dust it, clean the baseboards and thoroughly vacuum. Then pull out dressers and clean behind them as well.

This article may only be copied giving full credit to Mary Findley and her website www.goclean.com. All rights reserved world wide copyright@2011

Fall Green Cleaning

     This morning I spoke on Martha Steward living radio program about greening your fall cleaning. Since I’m way behind in my blog posts due to a hectic summer and early fall, I’m going to start by posting tips for fall green cleaning. Let’s start fall cleanup by airing out your home to rid it of toxins that build up inside the home.

     Open the back door or one window if you live in an apartment. Aim a fan so the breeze blows out the door or window. Open windows on the opposite side of your home. The fan pulls fresh air through the open windows and circulates it through the home to move stale musty air out either the door or window.

     Air fresheners should be removed and disposed of properly. They work by numbing your sinuses, which leads to sinus congestion, headaches and polyps. If you like a light scent in your home, place a cinnamon stick in a plant, many of which help remove toxins from the air. Pick up a copy of my book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Cleaning for more ideas to improve indoor air quality.

This article may be used by giving credit to Mary Findley and her website goclean.com. Copyright @2011

Back to Cleaning

     The past few months have been busy ones with successful trade show presentations as well as articles being submitted to magazines. My blog posts will pick up once again and yes I'll cover ways to pick up the clutter and organize your home, office, RV and the boat as well.

   To start though there is a wonderful website called TheFamilyGroove.com. These ladies are so energetic and totally love what they are doing to help families especially those with young children. Check out their latest post about my company, Mary Moppins at http://www.thefamilygroove.com/blog/?p=3058. Stay tuned for more cleaning tips. I'm on another roll to clean up our Earth! Mary Findley

Online Radio Interview

 

Want to learn more about Mary's book The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Cleaning? Listen to her radio broadcast with Don McCauley all day today May 24, 2011 at http://www.theauthorsshow.com:80/