Cleaning Your Cleaning Tools: How to Clean a Mop Head

How to Clean a Mop Head

Have you ever wondered if the mop you were using to clean your floors was actually spreading germs around instead? This might be true if you are not cleaning your mop properly after each use. While some mop heads can be cleaned easier than others, we will touch on the three main mop heads: cotton loop, sponge and microfiber pads.

Rinse and Repeat

After you are finished cleaning your floors (or in between large areas) rinse your mop thoroughly in hot water and a cup of white vinegar. Repeat until water is completely clear. You can also rinse in plain, hot water, then soak the mop head or microfiber pad in full strength lemon* juice (don’t rinse). Hang outside in the sunshine* for maximum disinfecting power when possible. If not, allow to  dry thoroughly in between uses.

Wash those Germs Away

The most effective way to clean a mop head is by tossing it in the laundry. Microfiber pads and some removable mop heads (except for sponge heads) are machine washable but it is always a good idea to check the manufacturer’s instructions before washing. After cleaning your floors, rinse surface dirt off with hot water then simply toss in the wash using a non-toxic green, laundry detergent with a cup of white vinegar. Wash mop heads and microfiber pads separately from your usual laundry on the hottest setting.

Dishwasher Double Duty

Since washing your sponge mop in the washing machine is not an option, the next best thing is to use your dishwasher! The dishwasher does a terrific job of cleaning your sink sponges and can do the same for your mop head. After cleaning your floors, rinse away surface dirt with hot water, squeeze out excess  and place on the top rack of your empty dishwasher. Add  a cup of white vinegar to the detergent cup and run on the hottest setting. Once the cycle is complete, squeeze out excess water and set aside to dry completely.

*Both lemon juice and the sun will have a mild bleaching effect on colored fibers.

Operation Organization: How to Organize Your Home

Have you ever looked around your home and felt overwhelmed by the clutter invading your space? Toys, games and puzzles are all over the floor. Mail is piling up on the table. Pencils, crayons, and coloring books are messily shoved into the drawer just to get them out of the way. If that describes your home, here are several tips on how to organize your home.

First recognize that everything in your home should have its own place. If you don’t believe that, you will never get organized. Second, understand that every home, no matter how big or small, can be organized. Third, take action. Thinking about organizing your home won’t actually get rid of the clutter. So, without any further ado, here are tips on how to organize your home.

Home sweet decluttered home. Does your home often look like one huge playroom filled with coloring books, toys, stuffed animals, sippy-cups, building blocks, school supplies and dirty clothes? If you’re tired of having to tip-toe through the maze of mess, the first thing to do is to buy a few storage bins. Some families like colorful plastic bins, others prefer wicker or wood. Choose a kind that fits the décor of your home. Then find a place for the bins that make it easy to take items out and put them away. If your child is frequently playing on the living room floor, it may make sense to put a bin by the side of the couch or if you’re constantly cleaning up DVDs, place a bin near the TV.

Since clutter doesn’t magically find its way to the bins, involve your kids in decluttering your home. One way is to play “Let’s Go to the Toy Store.” In this game, you are the cashier and your kids are the shoppers. The merchandise is the toys on the floor. Put a bin on the floor near you and tell your child to go shopping. As they bring you the toys, tell them how much each costs, take their play money, and then have them place the toys in the bin. The floor will be clean of toys in no time. Another way is to play “I Spy.” Describe a certain toy on the floor – “I spy something brown and fluffy”—and then have your child put it into the bin when found.

Mail time! Sometimes mail isn’t always opened on the day it arrives and it just keeps piling up. One way to help keep the mail pile from getting out of control is to place two baskets or decorative containers near the front door. One container should be for important mail such as bills and statements; the other would hold mail that can be read at a later date. Recycle what you can and throw out what you don’t need.

Organize your mornings … at night. Do you ever feel rushed in the morning? Then don’t wait until morning to get your “morning” chores done. Make lunch the night before school. Get your clothes and your family’s clothes ready before you go to bed. Make sure your kids put their shoes, sneakers, and backpacks in the same place every time. Then, when you say “It’s time to go,” you aren’t searching the house trying to find these important items.

Organize your car. Technically, your car isn’t part of your home, but it is a huge part of your life … and having an organized vehicle can be just as satisfying and beneficial as an organized home. And keeping your car organized is all about having a place for your things. An inexpensive container is usually sufficient to hold a first-aid kit, hand sanitizer, tissues, activity books, and anything else you may need in a pinch. It’s also helpful to keep a small plastic bag for garbage. Think about how much cleaner your car would be without all the candy wrappers, coffee cups, and runaway Cheerios.

As you think about how to organize your home (and your life), don’t hesitate to re-purpose items you already own. Mason jars and mugs can hold pens and pencils, and a fruit basket can easily become a magazine holder. And, of course, it never hurts to give away (or throw out) items you no longer use.

How to Make Your Own Cleaning Products

These mix-it-yourself cleaners use environmentally friendly ingredients — like baking soda and vinegar — and are cheap, cheap, cheap! So if you've run out of your favorite cleaning solution, don't run to the store — try one of my standbys instead. If you're not sure it's right for the surface, test it on a small area first.

Glass Cleaner

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup white or cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70 percent concentration)
• 1 to 2 drops of orange essential oil, which gives the solution a lovely smell (optional)

Great for: Windows and mirrors

How to use: Combine ingredients and store in a spray bottle. Spray some solution on a paper towel or soft cloth first, then on the glass. To get smudge-free glass, rub vertically on one side and horizontally on the other. Hint: Don't clean windows on a hot, sunny day, because the solution will dry too quickly and leave lots of streaks.

Heavy-Duty Scrub

• Half a lemon
• 1/2 cup borax (a laundry booster; find it in the detergent aisle)

Great for: Rust stains on porcelain or enamel sinks and tubs

How to use: Dip lemon into borax and scrub surface; rinse. (Not safe for marble or granite.)

Grease Cleaner

• 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia mixed with enough water to fill a one-gallon container. (Sudsy ammonia, which has detergent in it, helps remove tough grime.)

Great for: Oven hoods, grills

How to use: Dip sponge or mop in solution and wipe over surface, then rinse area with clear water.

All-Purpose Cleaner and Deodorizer

• 4 tablespoons baking soda
• 1 quart warm water

Great for: Kitchen counters, appliances, and inside the refrigerator

How to use: Pour solution on a clean sponge and wipe.

Last-Resort Clothing Stain Remover

• 1 gallon hot water
• 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent
• 1 cup regular liquid chlorine bleach (not ultra or concentrate)

How to use: Use only on badly stained washable or bleachable garments. Mix and pour ingredients into a stainless steel, plastic, or enamel bowl (not aluminum). Soak garment for 15 to 20 minutes. If stain is still there, let it soak a bit longer, then wash garment as usual.

White-Ring Remover

• One part white non-gel toothpaste to one part baking soda

How to use: Dampen a cloth with water, add toothpaste mixture, and rub with the grain to buff over the ring. Then take a dry cloth and wipe off. Use another soft cloth for a final shine. Polish as you normally would. Not safe for unfinished wood, lacquer, or antiques.

Dishwasher Stain Remover

• 1/4 cup powdered lemon or orange drink

How to use: To remove rust from the inside walls, pour the powder (which contains citric acid or citric acid crystals) into the detergent cup and then run a regular cycle. Repeat as necessary.

Marble Cleaner

• Mild dishwashing liquid (non-citrus-scented)
• Warm water

How to use: Mix a drop or two of detergent with 2 cups warm water. Sponge over marble and rinse completely to remove any soap residue. Buff with a soft cloth; do not let the marble air-dry. Caution: Never use vinegar, lemon, or any other acidic cleaner on marble or granite surfaces; it will eat into the stone.

Brass Cleaner

• White vinegar or lemon juice
• Table salt

How to use: For non-lacquered brass, dampen a sponge with vinegar or lemon juice, then sprinkle on salt. Lightly rub over surface. Rinse thoroughly with water, then dry well immediately with a clean soft cloth.

SAFETY TIP

Never combine ammonia-based cleaners with chlorine bleach or products containing bleach, such as powdered dishwasher detergent. The fumes they'll create are extremely dangerous. Before doing any mixing, read the product labels first.

How To Get Rid Of Mildew In Your Bathroom

To remove mildew from the corners of the tub, dip cotton balls in bleach and let them sit, when you finish cleaning the bath, remove cotton and rinse well. The mildew will be gone.

Don't let mildew grow in the corners of your bathroom! See VideoJug's top tips on how to get rid of mould and leave your bathroom sparkling clean

Step 1: You will need: 

• rubber gloves 
• cream cleaner 
• a metal scourer 
• a household sponge 
• an old toothbrush 
• a tub or bucket 
• and a cloth 

 Step 2: Prepare

Fill a tub with hot water and place it by the shower. Use the soft side of a household sponge to dampen down any areas afflicted with mildew.

 Step 3: Scrub

Squirt a generous amount of cream cleaner onto the abrasive side of a house hold sponge. Then get scrubbing. Jacqueline recommends a cream cleaner as it clings to the effected areas, making it easier to remove the stains. Unfortunately there is no quick fix for mildew, it's all down to elbow grease. If the mildew is very bad switch to a metal scourer, this is more abrasive so will require less scrubbing. 

Squirt on more cream cleaner and keep scrubbing until the mildew starts to lift. 

Use an old toothbrush for the hard to reach areas. Again squirt on the cream cleaner and get scrubbing.


Step 4: Rinse
Once the mildew has started to lift wipe down with a cloth. If the area still looks heavily stained scrub again. Keep going until you are happy with the result.

Keep ahead of mildew so it doesn't become a problem. Every six months spray your bathroom ceiling with a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Peroxide is a safe bleach and won't harm the environment or your lungs. Find larger quantities of peroxide at beauty or medical supply stores. 

Spray the mixture on and leave it. No need to rinse or scrub. If you currently have mildew, follow the above directions. Wait two hours and respray. Then wait 24 hours and spray a third time if necessary. 

Bathroom Cleaning Tips

• Always keep an all-purpose cleaner and a sponge in the guest bath so you can sneak away and clean up when unexpected company shows up.
• • Keep a squeegee in the shower so everyone can wipe it down when they are done (this will help prevent mildew).
• • Steam helps to loosen build-up so why not clean while you're in there?
• • Disinfectant can be used on everything in the bath except the mirror.
• • Don't forget doorknobs and switchplates.

Cleaning Shower Mats

•  Dip a stiff brush in a kerosene and warm water solution to clean bath and shower mats.
   Easy Bathroom Cleaning
   Clean after a steamy bath or shower. The walls, fixtures, etc., will be much easier to clean because the steam will have loosened the dirt.
  

• For dark stains (like rust) rub with a paste of borax and lemon juice.
  
  Once a month, pour one cup of baking soda, followed by one cup of white vinegar down the drain. Wait an hour and flush with warm water. The combination fizzles away most of the buildup. Works for shower, tub and kitchen sink drains as well.Cleaning the Sink
  
  
  
  
  
  Bathtub Rings
  To avoid bathtub rings, don't use oily bath preparations. Use a water softener if you live in a hard-water area. Rinse the tub immediately after bathing.
  
   If a ring does form, wipe it off with undiluted ammonia (wear rubber gloves) or a wet sponge generously sprinkled with baking soda. Rinse clean and wipe dry. For a more stubborn stain, scour with automatic dishwashing detergent or rub with a cloth dipped in vinegar.
  
  Cleaning with Rubbing Alcohol
  
  Rubbing alcohol will clean the caulking around bathtubs. It also shines chrome and glass. Liquid chlorine bleach (1/4 cup to one gallon) will also clean caulk.
  
  
  
  Cleaning Toilet Bowl
  Clean the toilet bowl while you're away by pouring in 1/4 cup bleach and leaving it until you return.
  
  Keep the toilet bowl ring-free by pouring a half-gallon of white vinegar in it once a month. Let it soak overnight before flushing.
  
  Don't use bleach if you're already using a tank-held cleaner that's released when the toilet is flushed. The two may react chemically.
  
  To avoid clogging and odors, pour one cup baking soda down the bowl weekly.
  
  Ring around your toilet? Again, alkaline deposits cause those nasty rings. Depending on the hardness of your water, pour one or two cups of white vinegar into the toilet once a month to eliminate the problem.
  
  Toilet bowl rings - Here I take a deep breath and plead with you to follow these instructions. Repeat. Follow these instructions. Do not deviate or you will scratch the inside of your toilet bowl. 
  
  Turn off the water flow to the toilet and flush to remove the water. Saturate a couple of heavy duty paper towels with white vinegar or the Orange Citrus Cleaner. Place around the edges making sure all areas are covered. Keep the towels damp for several hours, even overnight, until the water spots start dissolving. Then scrub with a stiff nylon brush.
  
  If the white vinegar does not dissolve the whole ring, go to a janitorial supply store or a hardware store and purchase a pumice stone and a stiff toothbrush. Dampen one end of the pumice stone and keep it wet. 
  
  Gently, very gently, rub the pumice stone across the lines. When enough pumice builds on the sides, switch to a stiff bristle brush to continue working. Rub gently until the deposit disappears. Pumice will scratch the toilet. Use it only one time and cautiously. 

A few Odor-taming Tips

During nice weather, just open the windows! Let fresh air blow through.

To perfume the air naturally, cut a lemon in half and set the cut halves in an inconspicuous place, or rub a bit of vanilla on a light bulb

Most folks know that keeping an open box of plain baking soda in the refrigerator will neutralize bad odors. Sprinkle some into the bottom of the trash can and into the trash bag itself for similar results.

Half a cup of baking soda in two quarts of water and a soft cloth or brush also work well for cleaning the fridge, as well as scrubbing down and freshening the tub, tiles, sinks, drains, trash cans, and toilet bowls. For stronger disinfecting properties, scrub with a strong vinegar solution.

Fresh or leftover coffee grounds will also absorb unpleasant odors in a fridge, microwave, or cupboard. They’ll also sweeten the air inside your car or its trunk. For use in the car, place the grounds in a covered plastic container with holes punched in the lid.

Boil two parts water with one part vinegar in a microwave-safe container to remove bad smells from your microwave. The vinegar smell itself dissipates quickly.

Add half a cup of vinegar to a quart of water and allow to simmer on the stove for a few minutes. This will remove smell of burnt food and many other odors from your kitchen (and burned-on food from your stainless steel pots.)

Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and set it overnight in a lunchbox or wastebasket to remove built-up food odors.

Grind leftover citrus rinds in your garbage disposal to sweeten it. Or dump half a cup of salt down the drain and turn on the disposal. This loosens caked-on food and helps neutralize odor.

You can get most smells out of carpets, rugs, and upholstery (including vehicle interiors) by sprinkling liberally with baking soda. Leave the baking soda in place for several hours, then vacuum or shake it out.

Human/pet urine or vomit on carpets and upholstery can be trickier. If you can get at it immediately, blot first with a towel, then spray the area with a 3-parts cold water/1 part vinegar solution and blot (but don’t rub). Repeat several times if needed, until the smell disappears. The vinegar odor will dissipate in a few hours.

Old-timers swear by this method for removing set-in odors and stains from carpets and upholstery. It works especially well on pet urine and skunk smells. You might want to test for color-fastness by soaking a small, inconspicuous area with the solution and leaving it for 24 hours before you treat the area with the stain.

• Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves.
• Gently mix a quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, a quarter-cup of baking soda, and a teaspoon of liquid soap in a plastic container. Don’t mix far in advance or store in a closed container.
• Pour or spray the solution directly onto affected areas and allow to sit for 24 hours before blotting excess liquid. Allow to air dry.

Removing Pet Stains from Carpet

There are methods and substances that can rid the odor associated with these types of accidents, and remove the carpet stains entirely. Here are some tips for removing pet stains from carpet:

• First clean up the initial mess. If the mess is a stool, pick it up with gloves and dispose of, and if it is wet- simply use the blot method to soak up the moisture without smearing or scrubbing. Blot and blot until the carpet is quite dry and carpet stain is removed.
• Sometimes the stain may be dried on the carpet fibers, the best way to treat this type of carpet stain is to moisten it. You can do this by applying a special carpet stain cleaning product specifically targeted at pet stains. To discover old urine stains in your carpet, you might want to use a black light, which you can purchase at a home supply store. A black light will usually show even old urine stains in your carpet. Turn out all of the lights in the room; use the black light to identify soiled areas, and lightly outline the areas with chalk on your carpet.
• To neutralize the odor and spot you will need to try several different tactics. Avoid using ammonia based products to clean dog urine. One of the ingredients of dog urine is ammonia and your pet may well be encouraged to re-offend in the same area because they smell the ammonia. So you can utilize this proven urine odor removal method. Simply create a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and ½ warm water. Spray this solution liberally onto the spot. Allow it to soak for several minutes and then proceed with the blot technique until stain is gone and spot is almost completely dry. When the area has almost dried sprinkle a good handful of baking soda over the soiled area. Mix half a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of mild liquid detergent. Ordinary liquid dishwashing detergent is suitable. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and slowly pour the hydrogen peroxide and detergent mixture over the baking powder. Work the dissolving baking soda well into the carpet, first with your fingers and then with a scrubbing brush. Allow the area to dry completely and then vacuum thoroughly.

Removing Coffee Stains from Carpet

Coffee stains can leave a carpet “dirty” or “brown” if not treated properly. It can cause the carpet to have a yellowish-brown tone that is quite noticeable. After blotting the dampness and coffee from the carpet you will want to follow these simple steps for removing coffee stains from your carpet:

• Dry the spot as well as possible with a dry cloth by blotting. If there is a substantial amount of spillage you can make sure you are not spreading the stain by changing cloths when they become saturated with the beverage.
• Try the mixture of vinegar, water, and Dawn detergent first with the spritzer method, rinse, and repeat.
• There are several products that are sold in such stores as Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreen’s, and other retail chains that sell specific cleaners for this type of carpet stain. Again testing a small patch of carpet in a less visible area is a good idea. Use product as directed, and beware some chemicals are harsh- wear gloves when using them as a precaution.
• There are certain types of carpets such as Polypropylene that will respond safely to a carpet stain treatment of water and bleach. You can create a mixture of 1/4 cup of bleach to 1 ¼ cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray the stained area, soaking it thoroughly, blot, rinse with warm water, and repeat until the carpet stain disappears.

Frugal Friday: Kitchen Cleaning Tips

A quick trip to the store to pick up a handful of kitchen cleaning supplies can quickly get out of hand. Between the high costs and toxic chemicals of many store-bought cleaning tools and cleaners, alternative solutions often turn out to be the smarter ones for both your home and your wallet. Here are a few ways to spend less on a clean kitchen.

1. DIY products

A simple online search for homemade cleaning products will leave you with hundreds of recipes, blog posts, tips and advice from frugal and environmentally conscious bloggers across the Internet. You’ll find inexpensive, kid-friendly alternatives for dishwashing detergents, disinfectants, general cleaners and anything else you might need to keep your kitchen looking fresh. Many of these solutions are safer for your home and easier on your budget than store-bought cleaners. Experiment with a few to find what works for you, and you may never go back to the expensive stuff.

2. Use what you have

By wisely using what you already have at home, you’ll think twice before purchasing unnecessary cleaning tools. This could be as simple as grabbing some scissors and making extra dishrags out of old towels. Or, instead of reaching for a new sponge, boiling the one you have with some baking soda, soaking it over night in white vinegar or just throwing it in the dishwasher, which will rid it of germs and help it last longer. And next time you’re peeling a lemon, don’t be so quick to throw the peels out. Putting them down your garbage disposal will freshen it up while clearing away food. These are just a few basic ways to take advantage of what you already have at home to cut down costs on extra supplies at the register.

3. Shop smart

There may be certain cleaning products that still need to be purchased from the store. Whether you need ingredients for your homemade solutions, or you’re just uncertain about the effectiveness of homemade hand soap, it’s best to go prepared. Make a list of exactly what you need and do some research on available sales and coupons before heading to the store to make your purchases. This will help you save money by avoiding impulse buys as you walk the isles full of supplies and products in search of the ones you actually need.

What to Look for in Green Cleaning Products

You use them to keep your house clean and safe, but soap and other cleaning products can actually be one of the biggest sources of dangerous toxins and chemicals in your home. Most household cleaning products contain a variety of manufactured chemicals that are potentially hazardous to the health of your family and the environment. For example, most solvents contain toxic volatile organic compounds (VOC), and detergents are made from phosphates that damage the environment. Fortunately, there are a range of non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products available to help with everything from cleaning your oven to soap scum removal to laundry.

General Cleaners

The most important thing to look for when choosing eco-friendly cleaning products is to ensure they are made from naturally occurring, non-toxic substances. Be sure to avoid cleaners containing phosphates, chlorine, and VOCs, all of which are toxic to humans or damaging to the environment. Instead, look for products that use plant-derived surfactants (the class of chemicals that act as cleansing agents). One of the most popular natural surfactant is d-limonene, which is derived from citrus. Others include lauramine oxide, TEA lauryl sulfate, and caprylyl/myristyl glucoside. These naturally occurring substances make excellent all-purpose cleaners for the kitchen and bathroom. A few suggestions include Tree Life home soap and Cloverdale all-purpose cleaner.

Soy-based cleaners also provide a safe alternative to toxic solvents. The active cleaning agent in soy-based products is methyl soyate, which is derived from soybean oil. Methyl soyate is most effective as a solvent, so it is an excellent, non-toxic option for removing grease and soap scum. It is sometime combined with the natural surfactants listed about to make an all-purpose soap. Soy cleansers can sometime warp plastics, so only use them on hard surfaces such as linoleum, porcelain, or granite.

Laundry

Eco-friendly laundry detergents are also available. Most will be made from coconut- and corn-based surfactants, and many will also contain natural water softeners. An added benefit of green laundry detergents is that they are free of the perfumes and other additives that can irritate your skin. Detergents are not required by law to list specific ingredients, so make sure the label specifies that the detergents is free of toxic chemicals (particularly phosphates) and other additives.

Also look for powdered oxygen cleaners to use as an alternative to bleach, which can be irritating to the skin, throat, and eyes and can permanently stain clothes. Oxygen bleaches use oxygen instead of chlorine to remove stains, and are made from either hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate, or sodium porborate. They won’t permanently stain fabrics and don’t release the toxic fumes that make regular bleach dangerous.

Enzyme Cleaners

Another alternative to common toxic cleaning products is to use enzyme-based cleaners. Enzymes are proteins that are necessary for most cellular processes, including decomposition. Enzyme-based cleaners work because they include specific enzymes that help break down organic material such as grease, dirt, and oil. They are especially good at removing the stains and odors left behind by pets. Enzyme cleaners are completely non-toxic and biodegradable.

When shopping for any kind of cleaning product, look for the EPA’s Design for the Environment label. Products carrying this logo have had each ingredient screened by the EPA, which has determined that the chemicals are the most environment and health friendly available.