Beyond shopping, wrapping, eating and the general holiday rush, we all have the nest. The homefront. The quiet place to relax and recoop. Did you know that how you clean your home will aid in the relaxing?
Harsh home cleaners are a major source of toxins and toxin exposure. When your body is being exposed to these toxins, it is working to process the toxins. While ridding yourself of the toxins, your body cannot relax. However, there are a few methods you can use to avoid the use of toxic cleaners, so when you are home, you can relax and recoop. Make this season a toxin free and peaceful season by following these simple steps.
- Use a fantastic permanent furnace filter! Save time and money by getting your home a permanent furnace filter. With a MERV rating of 9, these filters can be up to 25 times more effective than regular filters. The higher the MERV rating, the more effective it will filter dust and dustmites from your home. Trust me, this will save you time dusting. No more monthly trips to the hardware store for a clean filter (or if you don’t change it, no more glaring lectures from your furnace technician!) With a permanent filter, you simply remove the filter, wash it with soap and water, let it dry and return it to the furnace. Voila. One permanent filter costs approximately the price of a year’s supply of lesser quality, disposable filter. Save time dusting? Save time on random trips to the hardware store? It’s definitely a win-win.
- Clean regularly. I know, it’s easy to say. Martha Stewart will sometimes even provide you with a calender of what to clean when. Still, there’s truth to it. Staying ahead of the game reduces the build up of grimes and dirts that require excessive scrubbing. Vacuum once per week per person in the household. Twice, for high traffic areas. Run a toilet brush through the toilets once weekly. These activities only take 5 minutes, but certainly prevent burdensome cleaning days. As the old addage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
When all else fails, use green cleaners. Life sometimes gets out of hand, and it’s not always easy to catch up. In my case, I had a sudden husband, teenager and baby show up in my home some 3 years ago. I tell you, my house has never been as clean as I like it since. How can I wash windows, scrub floor boards when my time has been shifted to changing diapers and (now) washing crayon marks from walls, windows and coffee tables? Thankfully, my son is now older AND we have recently been introduced to the safe cleaning products It’s Enzymatic from Green Irene.
In the last two years, I tried scheduling my cleaning when my son was away with my sister or mom. Lungs in general should not be exposed to the harsh cleaning agents that are released into the air, and little lungs even more so. Keeping a clean house became quite a (burdensome) task.
This year, my son is excited for Christmas. Thanks to a December birthday, TV and my musical rehearsals, he got the message quite early. “Mom, we have to get ready for Christmas.” I have convinced him that we need a clean house –it’s the first step in preparing. Now that we have safe cleaners, he can help.
Yesterday was perhaps the most fun cleaning day I’ve had in years. With a bucket of warm water, a capful or two of It’s Enzymatic Floor Cleaner, a rag and a soft bristled brush, the toddler and I attacked banisters, floor boards, mantel and doors. Since the wood trim here is all painted white, there’s no room for forgiveness. Any missed spot announces itself: toddler fingerprints on wall, doors, and (near) doorknobs all disappeared under our attack. Most fun? The toddler wanted to participate — and I could allow him. He was so excited to share!
In the past, I’ve cleaned with baking soda, but while I continue to recommend that for cleaning grout and tile, I never loved it on my walls or floorboards. My husband seriously disliked when I cleaned with any form of vinegar and only selectively approved of my choice of essential oils. After our cleaning efforts yesterday, I (we) received compliments from both my husband and our visiting neighbor. They found the scent comforting but not overwhelming. The white was once again a clean white without the powder residue I sometimes found when using baking soda.
Coming Clean
In fairness, there are a few toddler handprints that didn’t come off the walls – and the permanent marker toddler art is still gracing the dining room wall — but that will remain the case until we find time to paint over it.
