The Complete Idiot's Guide to Green Cleaning, 2nd Edition

TableofContents

TitlePageDedicationCopyrightPageIntroductionAcknowledgementsPart1-Ready,Set,GoGreen!

Chapter1-PrepSchool:GoingGreentoCleanChapter2-TheHitListChapter3-ToolingAroundChapter4-MIY:MakeItYourselfChapter5-ScheduleIt:CleaningChores,ThatIsPart2-Room-by-RoomCleaningGuide

Chapter6-KitchenDutyChapter7-BathroomBlitzChapter8-BeautifulBedroomsChapter9-LovelyLivingRoomsPart3-TheBigStuff

Chapter10-HittheFloorRunningChapter11-Walls,Ceilings,andWindowsChapter12-TheGreatGreenOutdoorsChapter13-MeanGreenDrivingMachinesPart4-That’sNotAll,Folks:OtherCleaningChallenges

Chapter14-LaundryRoomBlissChapter15-LooseEndsChapter16-BreatheEasierbyGoingGreenChapter17-PrecisionSpeedCleaningAppendixA-YourCompleteStain-RemovalGuideAppendixB-YourCompleteResourceGuideIndex

Thisbookisdedicatedtoallmycustomers,especiallythoseinmyearlycleaningyears,whoallowedmetocarefortheirhomes.TheknowledgeIsharewithyou

inthisbookstemsfromthoseearliestroots.

Printedonrecycledpaper

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Copyright©2009byMaryFindleyandLindaFormichelli

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Introduction

Alistof“LifeIs”statementswasreleasedin1998by“TheMotivator.”Thefirstonereads:“LifeIsaChallenge.MeetIt.”Thentheychallengeyouabitfurther:“Life Is an Adventure. Dare It,” and another favorite states, “Life Is anOpportunity.TakeIt.”Thefocusofthisbookistoteachyouhowtoridyourlifeoftoxiccleanersand“green”upyourcleaningact.As“TheMotivator”puts it sowell,youwillbechallengedtomakevitalchanges.Youwillstartonanadventureofyourlifetimethatwill land you on a healthy, healing path.Youwill be encouraged to takeevery opportunity tomove out of your comfort zone and greet a newway ofwalkingonourMotherEarth.Youwill find yourself relishing a sparkling clean home after learningMary’scleaningtricksandshortcuts.Didweforgettomentionthemoneysavingsyou’llreapwithMary’sformulasforhomemade,Earth-friendlycleaners?

HowThisBookIsOrganized

Thisbookisorganizedinfourparts.InPart1,“Ready,Set,GoGreen!,”youwillfindthebasicstogreencleaningyourhomeandtheequipmentyouneedtogetitdoneinajiffy.Youwillbetakenthroughthestepstoridyourhomeoftoxiccleanersandcleartheclutter.You’lllearnthehealthissuescausedbyvariouscleaners,howsome“organic”cleanersaren’t really organic, andways to spot the difference.There is even a chapterthatteachesyouhowtomakeyourowncleaners.Finally,you’llgettherundownonwhattocleanandhowoftenitneedscleaning.InPart2,“Room-by-RoomCleaningGuide,”you’llreceivearoom-by-roomguided tour of your house, includingMary’s time-tested and proven cleaningmethods. You’ll know which product to use in each room of your home,includingthekitchen,bathroom,livingroom,andbedroom.In Part 3, “The Big Stuff,” you’ll learn how to turn those big cleaningchallengesintofaitsaccomplis—that’sFrenchfor“awalkinthepark.”xviTheCompleteIdiot’sGuidetoGreenCleaning,SecondEditionTheFrenchalsosuggestthatafteryoufinishtheseprojects—thewindows,walls,deck,floors,andmore—youtreatyourselftoanightout.Finally,inPart4,“That’sNotAll,Folks:OtherCleaningChallenges,”you’llconquereverythingfromthoselaundrydaybluestocleaningFluffyandFidotohitting a hole-in-onewith a clean golf club to caring for the kids’ things likestuffedanimalsandhighchairs.Thensitbackandbreathealittleeasierafteryouridyourhomeofairpolluterslike air fresheners and dirty ducts. You’ll find yourself snooping around thegarden center when you learn about the plants that keep your home fresh—naturally. Oh, but don’t stop until you learn Mary’s new Precision SpeedCleaning methods. She’ll have you zipping through house cleaning in recordtime.

SomeThingstoHelpYouAlongtheWay

Toaddtothematerialinthemaintextofthebook,we’veincludedsidebarsthat

containitemsyoucanusetounderstandandimplement theinformationin thisbook.

Mary’sHandyHintsThese tips representMary’s12yearsof cleaningexperience.They’llhelpyoumakequickworkofhousework.

definition,

Theseexplaindefinitionsoftermsusedinthetextthatyoumightnotbefamiliarwith.

CleaningQuips

ind out what famous ters, actors, and come-writers, actors, andcomedianshavetosayabouttheartofhousework.Someofthesewillgiveyouagoodchuckleasyou’recleaningthetoilet!

DirtyWordsWarning!Warning!Thisboxcontainscautionsaboutcleaningpitfallsthatcancauseyoutolosetime,losemoney,or—worse—losesomeofthepreciousitemsinyourhome.

Acknowledgments

Mary’sacknowledgments:Nothingiseverachievedwithout thededicationandassistanceofmanypeople.Linda Formichelli; without Linda askingme to assist her on the first book, Iwould not have had the opportunity to rewrite the book toGreenCleaning. Imissedyourhumor, talent,andguidanceonthisrevisionLinda.Thankyoufortheopportunityandforbeingsuchagreatteacher!Youareoneofakind.MygratitudetoMicheleWells,acquisitionseditor,andJulieBess,developmenteditor, foryourguidanceandvisionduring thewritingof thisbook—itwouldnot be if itwere not for you; Janette Lynn, senior production editor, for yourvaluable insights; and toMarilynAllen,myagent—thankyou forofferingmethisgoldenopportunity.Tomyhusband,ReidFindley,whotookoverandhandled thehousewhilemyfingershappilyplayedonthesekeyboards.ToPaulandAnnEnsch,myparents,whose unrelenting faith in me has guided me to meet and exceed each newchallenge. To my grandchildren, Gracie and Joshua, this book is for your“greener”tomorrows—youaretheworldtome.To all of you who have sat through my seminars and have shared your tips;supportedmycompany;andbroughtyour laughter,hugs,andwarmth intomylife.Youareatrueblessing,andIameternallygrateful.Linda’s acknowledgments: I would like to thank the following people whohelpedmake this book—andmywriting dreams—come true: co-authorMaryFindley;editorMicheleWells;developmenteditorJulieBess;myagent,MarilynAllen; my husband, W. Eric Martin; my goal buddy, Jennifer Lawler; myparents, Anthony and Janet Formichelli; and my parents-in-law, Judith andWalterMartin.

SpecialThankstotheTechnicalReviewer

A special thank you to Theresa Peterson owner of “Maid to Order” Cleaning

Services and director of the Independent Cleaners Purchasing Alliance whochecked the accuracy of the information contained in The Complete Idiot’sGuide®toGreenCleaning.Youcanreadthisbookwiththeconfidencethatwhatyoulearnaboutgreencleaningiscorrectandprecise.

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Part1

Ready,Set,GoGreen!

Inthelate1960s,amovementbeganamongcollegestudentsreferredtoas“TheAge ofAquarius.” It was a time of rebellion against thewar inVietnam, theideologicalwaysofourculture,andtreatmentofwomen.Peopletodayarealsorebelling,butagainsttheuseoftoxiccleaners,flameandstain retardants in furniture, and chemicals being added towater supplies andfood.It’scalled“TheGreenMovement.”Inthissectionyouwill learnhowallaspectsofthegreenmovementpulltogethertoformapowerfulandhealthyally.EmbracetheentiretyoftheMovementand“LettheSunshineIn.”

Chapter1

PrepSchool:GoingGreentoClean

InThisChapter•Toxicbuildupisallabouttime•Listen,learn,apply•Reapingthegreenrewards•Tossitonceandforall

Indaysof longago,ourNativePeoplesnever thought about restoringMotherEarth either locally or on a global level. To them it was unconscionable todestroytheearth.Theytookonlywhattheyneededforsurvival,leavingnotracebehindthem.Yet within 100 very short years, our thirst for material goods has nearlyextinguished the bounties of Mother Earth. Some people feel the damage isbeyondbeingreversible.Kermit theFrogoncesang“It’snoteasybeinggreen.”WellKermit,hopefullyweallcanlearntobeasgreenasyou.Throughout thischapter,youwill read themakingsofagoodmystery thriller.Thetwistedlies,strangewords,anddiversiontacticssomecompaniespulladduptoawho-done-it—you’lllearnwherethecrimewascommittedandwithwhatweapon.A good counterattack starts with basic training at MAS—Mary’s AwarenessSchool—whereyou’lllearntosharpenyoursleuthingskills.

JointheGreenRevolution

Allthistalkofgoinggreensoundslikeayear-roundSt.Patrick’sDayparade.Byopeningthisbook,youdecidedtojointhecelebration.Byimplementingafewofthesesuggestions,youandMotherEarthwillreaptenfoldthatofyourefforts.

The small stuffmight not count elsewhere, but when your health and that ofMotherEarth is involved, the small stuff counts.Asyouwalkdown thegreenroad,bepreparedtonoticelittlethingslikeimprovedhealth,beingabletosmelltheroses(yoursinusesshouldclearup),increasedenergy,andnomoreclutter.

SmallChanges=HugeBenefits

TheWhiteRabbit inAlice inWonderland stompedandbellowed“It’s late, it’slate,it’sreally,reallylate,”thendisappeareddownahole.ExactlyhowlateitistoreversethedamagedonetoMotherEarthnooneknows.Please spare thewhining about how one person can’tmake a difference. Theauthorofthisbookisonlyonepersonyetwiththemopsshehassoldovertheyears,shehaskeptmorethan500,000mopsoutofthelandfills—andsavedtheenergyandnaturalresourcesthatwouldhavebeenusedtomanufacturethem.

PutOldHabitstoRest

From spiritual leaders to politicians to songwriters,we have been encouragedthroughout the years to climbout of that hole andmake changes in our lives.Bob Dylan,Martin Luther King, and President John Kennedy all encouragedstrengthandcouragetomakepersonalchangesforthegoodofallmankind.

DirtyWords

The American Cancer Society estimated that nearly 1,445,000 newcasesofcancercroppeduplastyear.Theyalsoestimatethatnearly40

percentofallAmericanswillcontractsomekindofcancer.

Thevitalchangesyouareabouttomakeputyouatbetteroddsofneverhearingthose dreadfulwords “You have cancer.” Think of cancer like a diet. To loseweight youmust stop eating the food that causes you to gainweight.Tohelppreventcanceryoumuststopusingtheproductsthatcauseit.GreenmeansGo. It doesn’tmean sitting through the stoplightwith old habitshangingaroundyourneckwhileeveryonebehindyouhonkstheir irritations.Itmeanssteppingonthegastomakechanges.Is Going Green going to hurt? No.Will you enjoy newfound health? Yes. IsGoingGreengoing tocost?Yes, in termsofa littlebitofeffortand replacingtoxicchemicals,personalcareproducts,andfoodwithhealthyalternatives.Theoverall monetary investment is minuscule compared to the alternative cost ofcancerandillhealth.

ANewWayofThinking

Growing up in Missouri, people often told me, “You are as stubborn as aMissourimule.”Stubbornnesscanindicatearesistantnature.Peopletendtoholdontocomfortableoldways,whicharefamiliar.Theoldwaysarenotworking.That iswhy40percentofourpopulationfacescancer. If what you are doing isn’t working, then change you must. Familymembersmightresistwhenyoubegintogogreen.Tossthemthesalespitchofyour life. If you need to learn how, listen to your kids. They pitch you everysecondofeveryday,andtheyaredarngoodatit.Thefourmostvaluablewordsinourlanguageare“Ineedyourhelp.”Usethemoftenwhenaskingyourfamilytodotheirpartingreeningyourhome.Goinggreenisanexcitingnewwayofthinking,acting,andbeinginourworld.Itisabreathoffreshairinastagnantworld.PrincePhillipofEnglandoncesaid,“Changedoesnotchangetradition.Itstrengthensit.Changeisachallengeandanopportunity,notathreat.”

YouReapWhatYouUse

Duringmyprofessionalcleaningyears,asealofapprovalwasanalienlifeformandammoniawasthestaplecleaner.Noonequestionedwhetherthefumescoulddestroyyourlungs,yourmentalcapacities,andusuallyboth.Today unless a product carries theGreen Seal ofApproval, the toxins in thatcleanercanbefarmoredangerousthantheammoniaorlyeusedbackthen.Whenitcomestochemicals,whatyoudon’tknowwillhurtyou.Onewhiffofanopenbottleofammoniaandyournosetellsyouthatitisnotasafecleanertobeusing.Chemicalmanufacturerscaughtontothesesniffingtechniquesandnowcamouflagethetoxicodorsoftheir“brews”withscentssuchas“springfresh”or“autumn rain.” Your nose no longer knows the difference between safe orpossiblecarcinogeniccompounds.Willonetoxicchemicalcauseillnessorcancer?Probablynot.Moreoftenitisamatter of buildup. Let’s say your carpet is stained. First, you use Zout stainremover.Thestainremains,soyoutryGoGetem.Nothing.Frustrated,youpouronSpotBeGone.

DirtyWords

Lookatthebackofyourhairshampoo,handlotion,orotherpersonalcare item bottles for the words sodium hydroxide or sodium laurelsulfate.Nearlyeverypersonalcareproductcontainsoneof them,yetbotharetoxicchemicals.

Theair-conditioningwasrunning,soyoukeptthewindowsclosed.All three cleaners soaked into your hands. You inhaled the fumes,

contaminating your lungs.Your facewas close to the carpet, so you breathedfumesthatgasofffromcarpeting.Pretty ugly crime scene isn’t it? The fun has just begun. Layer upon layer oftoxic chemicals build in your home. Everyday someone sprays hair spray, airfreshener,nonstickspray,oracleaner in thehome.Eachtimethatspraybottlecomesoutsodoesthewelcomematforcancer,heartdisease,nervousdisorders,asthma,emphysema,andahostofothermaladies.Thegoodnews?Therearehealthy,effectivealternatives.

SprayIt,BreatheIt

You read correctly. Sprays—especially aerosols—linger in the air for severaldays.Thatmeansdailyshowercleaners,hairspray,andairfreshenersuseddayafter day never go away. Sprays also go into your lungs more easily as youinhalethelittledroplets.Everyonehasproblemsgettinghairsprayoffabathroomcountertop.Ponderthisfor just a second. If you can’t get the sticky hairspray off your bathroomcounters,howdoyouexpect toget itoffyour lungsand liverandoutofyourarteries?Whenfumesbecomeoverpoweringinahome,youthrowopenthewindowstoairoutthehouse,suchaswhenyoupaint.Youcan’tjustthrowopenyourbodyandairitout.Yourbodyhasnowaytoriditselfofthesetoxins.According to the American Lung Association, common symptoms of usingspraysinthehomeinclude:•Headaches,fatigue,shortnessofbreath,anddizziness•Worseningallergyandasthmasymptoms•Sinuscongestion,cough,andsneezing•Eye,nose,throat,andskinirritation

CleaningQuips

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports, “Long-termexposure to some indoor air pollutants can lead to damage of thecentralnervoussystem,kidneys,andliver.”

WipeOn,WipeOff

After reading the last section, you must be asking yourself if it means I’mputtingtheaxtousingsprays.Um,yesIam.InthefirstKarateKidmovie,PatMoritataughtRalphMacchiotowaxacarby“waxon—waxoff.”“Waxon—waxoff”worksquitewellwhencleaningyourhome,too.Stopthehabitofsprayingacleanerdirectlyonasurface,especiallyvertical surfaces.Whenyou sprayavertical surface, the spraydrifts right intoyourface.Evenonaflatsurface,aspraydriftsintotheair.Pourthecleanerontoaclothandthenwipedownthesurface.Waitaminuteandwipewithadrycloth.Shouldyouneed tosprayacloth, spraydownward intothecloth.Itissafertosprayacloththanasurfacebecausetheclothcatchesthedroplets.Let’s explore alternatives for some of the more popular sprays used in yourhome.

Mary’sHandyHints

Not surewhetheryourpersonal careproducts are toxic?Checkyourproductsatwww.safecosmetics.org.Click“Howsafeareyourbeautyproducts?”andthenclickthetablabeled“skindeep.”

•Stuckonhairspray?SwitchtoagellikeAubreythatischemicalfree.Manyof the toxicchemicalsused incleanersarealso found inbodycareproducts.Sogoau-natural.•Replacenonstickfoodsprayswithliquidoliveoil.•Pulltheplugonplug-inairfreshenersandairfreshenersprays.Openthewindows,tryPureAyre(anenzymeairfreshener),orplacespicesaroundtheroominbowls.•Substituteaerosoldeodorantswithsolids.•Starchshirtswithamixtureof1teaspoonofcornstarchperhalfcupofwater.Mix thoroughly in a spritzbottle,whichputsout far fewerdropletsthanasprayer.

RansackYourHome

Herecomes that“dirty”wordchange again.Peopleaccusemeofbeingworsethanamothereaglewhenitcomestochangingtheirbadhabits.Mothereaglesusetheirwingstocontinuouslyknocktheiryoungoutofthenestuntiltheylearntofly.Sometimeswe,too,needtobeknockedoutofourcomfortablenestwhenlearningnewways.Grab several heavy plastic bags, strong boxes, and your digital camera.Headintoareassuchasyourgarage,attic,closets,shed,oranywhere“stuff”isstored.Old things collect mold, dust, dust mites, pollen, mice, cockroaches, ants,raccoons,bats,andwhoknowswhatelsethathassoughtoutyourgarage,attic,and shed for a nice undisturbed piece of real estate. If you suspect rodents ormold,wearglovesandprotectiveclothing.Removeall clothingbeforeyougoinsideyourhome;otherwise,youwillspreadthecontaminationtotheinsideofyourhome.

Mary’sHandyHints

Whenwas the last time you took pictures of all your possessions incaseoffireorflooding?Youareabouttocleartheclutteroutofyourhome. Take advantage of this time as you sort boxes to do a bit ofmultitaskingandgetyourpicturesup-to-date.

Youmightwanttocleanasyoucleartheareas,sotakealongyourcleanersandwetordryvacuum.Asyouclear theclutter,keep inmind the time test.Haveyouusedtheiteminthepast12-18months?Doesithavefamilyvalue?Doyoureallyneedit?Ifyoudon’tneedtheitem,giveittoGoodwillorhaveagaragesale.Therearetalentedpeoplewhocancreateartfromourclutter.I’mnotoneofthem,though,sodon’taskmetotakeyourleftovers!Asyoustartclearingoutclutterandtoxicchemicals,tacklethemostimportantareas first like the garage. My stamina and tolerance is revved up at thebeginningof aproject.By the time I’mmidway through, though, I couldcarelessifa20-year-oldpairofpantsevercomesdownoutofthatattic.

Garage,Attic,andShed

Withsomeproducts,the12-monthtestcanbenixed.Paintisaprimeexample.Disposeofpaintsonlyiftheysmell,haverusted,appeartohavemoldontopofthem,orarehard.Checkpaintthinners,turpentine,orthingslikewoodputtyforsignsofrustandthe“useby”datelistedonthecontainer.Iftheydon’tsmellandaren’thard,theyhavelifeleftinthem.

Mary’sHandyHints

Makesureyourpaintcansareproperlysealedbyturningthemupsidedown in aplasticbucket.Reseal the lid if anypaintdripsout so thepaintstaysfresh.

Next,graballthecleanerswithinreach.Mostpowderedandliquidcleanerswilllastseveralyears,exceptinhighhumidity.Iftheproduct’sodorhaschangedorafilm or obvious mildew is floating on top, take it to the Hazardous WasteCollectionSitealongwithanypowderthathashardened.Get ridof anyclearplastic thathasyellowed.Thisplastichasoxidizedand isgiving off toxic fumes. Take old plastic containers and out-of-date electronicgadgetstotherecycler.Properlydisposeofanythingthathasmolded.Wraptheobjectinaplasticbagtopreventthemoldfromspreading.

ClosetsandCabinets

Pickoutyourworstclutteredcabinetandcloset.ApplymythreeCs:clear,clean,and consolidate. Each week as you clean the kitchen, tackle one cabinet. Amonthlateryou’llhavespacetohidesomeofthecountertopclutter.Asyouclearyourcabinets,lookatexpirationdatesandrustedorbulgingcans.Replace anything plasticwith glass, ceramic, or stainless steel. Plastic leachestoxinsintoyourfood,whichworsenseachtimeitisrunthroughthedishwasher.Openupyourflour,sugar,oats,cereals,andanythingthatmoths,bugs,ormicewouldnibble.Takeacloselookatshelvesandclosetfloorsforevidenceofmiceorcockroaches.

Eachmonthdedicatehalfadaytoacloset.Sortthroughboxesandremoveanymoldy items or those that have an odor. Immediately placemoldy items in aplasticbagsoyoudon’tspreadthemoldthroughoutyourhome.Lookforcritterdroppings, moths, or ant invasions. Treat these infestations with nontoxicproductsfoundatnaturalgardensupplystoresorhealthfoodstores.

Mary’sHandyHints

Rather thanbeingapartof thepollutionproblem,gogreenandbeapartofthesolution.Startyourownfamilyvolunteerprogramtoreduceandreuse.

ProperDisposal

Never throw chemicals, cleaners, medicine, or any other product down yourdrainorintoyourtoilet.Storethemsafelyuntilyouhaveenoughforatriptothetoxicwastedump.Researchershave foundunsafeand shockinglyhigh levelsofmedicines in thewatersamplesofadozenlargecities.Theoldsaying“youarewhatyoueat”alsoapplies towater. Citymunicipal water systems cannot handle the overload oftoxinsdumpedinto thedrainagesystem.Whatyoupourdownyourdrainsandintoyourtoiletcomesbackintoyourwatersupplyunlessyouareonawell.If your city does not have curbside pickup for recyclable items, get yourneighborstogetherandtaketurnstakingrecyclablestotherecyclecenter.Glass;plastic (except thenumber6);allpapers (includingnewspaperandmagazines)

should be taken to your recycling center. Oil, paint, and any toxic chemicals,fertilizer, bug spray, and so forth should be taken to the Hazardous WasteCollectionSite.Adoptthehabitofmarkingthedateofpurchaseofanyitemthatmightbestoredforaperiodoftime,suchascleaners,paint,spices,andsoforth,onthesideofthe container.This tells you the ageof the itemandgivesyou agood ideaofwhentoreplaceit.

SimplifyYourLife

As small children,we filled our pocketswith pill bugs, rocks,worms, or anyinterestinglittlecritterthatwecouldcrowdintothosepockets.Gratefully, the washing machine rinsed away the smushed ones in our backpockets.Thehabitof“collectingthings”continuesthroughoutourlife.Clothinggetstuckedawayintheatticbecausesomeonemightwantthatjacket.Wewalkthroughdepartmentstoresgrabbinggadgetsofftheendaislesthataresoldforaquarterinagaragesalefiveyearslater.As long as you are greening your cleaning, jump feet first into greening yourlifestylethroughsimplification.

Mary’sHandyHints

Justsayno to impulsebuying.Stick towhat isonyour list. Impulse

buyingiscostlytoyouandtheenvironment.

Let’stakeaquicklookattheentiremanufacturingprocesstogiveyouaninsideviewastothewastedenergyittakestomakeonepieceofclothing.EverythingonEarthismadefromsomekindofrawmaterial—eveniftheitemisremanufacturedfromrecycledpartslikemicrofiber,whichisrecycledplasticpop bottles that originated from oil. First, you need energy to operate themachinery and power to extract the raw material. Don’t forget the energy,material,andthesubsequentwasteneededtomanufacturethemachinery.The rawmaterial is shipped to themanufacturingplantbya truck,whichusesfuelandwhichcoststomanufacture.Atthefactory,moreenergyandmachineryarerequiredtomanufacturetheitem.Don’tforgettherawmaterialsandenergyusedtomakethemanufacturingequipment.Afterbeingboxedwithcardboardfromatreethatwasoncethehomeandfoodsourceformanycreatures(don’tforgetthefuelandmaterialneededtocutdownthe tree), another truck hauls the product to a generalwarehouse.Yet anothertruckisneededtotakeittothestore.Youthenconsumefueldrivingtothestore,wheretheitemisplacedinapaperbagfromyetanothertreeforyoutotakeithome.Thesemitruckshaulingthegoodsaveragemaybe7milespergallon.Thenthereisthefuelandgasfumesfromtheforkliftsandthebuildingspaceandelectricityforstorage.FollowthedirectionofourNativeAmericans.Takeonlywhatyouneed,leavingnofootprintsbehindyou.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Thebuildupoftoxicchemicalsandgasesinyourhomecontributestoamultitudeofhealthissues.•Thereisnomoreimportantjobthanthatofcaringforourselves,ourchildren,andourMotherEarth.•Discard, recycle,or sell any itemyouhavenotused in thepast12months—exceptionsnoted.•Applythe3RsofGreenCleaning:reduce,resist,andresearchbefore

youbuy.

Chapter2

TheHitList

InThisChapter•Knowyourstuff•Theworstoffenders•DecipheringlabelsandMSDSsheets•Organicdoesnotalwaysmeansafe

TheCompleteIdiot’sGuidebooksaretreasuredfortheirlight-heartedapproachtoavarietyofinformativesubjects.However,thischaptercircumventshumortodiscussmajorhealthissuesconnectedtotoxicchemicalsusedinmanycleaners.Youarealsotakenonadetourtothetoxinsemittedfromfurniture,drapes,andflooring.What I call a “sick home” is a compilation ofmany toxins, not justthoseemittedbychemicals.You’ll learn how to decipher labels and readMSDS sheets with the eye of adetective.

definition

MSDS stands for Material Safety Data Sheet. Provided by themanufacturer,MSDS sheets disclose toxic chemicals above a certainlevel,theirhazards,warnings,andsafetyprecautions.

When“Green”IsBlack

Haveyoueverhadoneofthosedayswhenyouslappedyourheadbecauseyouoverlookedanimportantdetail?MypoorheadtookanothersmackonedayafterpickingupabottleoftreatmentforholdingtanksforRVsandboats.

The front of the label read biodegradable. Taking care of Mother Earth isforemosttome,andIalwaysassumedthatbecauseaproductisbiodegradableitissafetouse.ThenIsaw“Caution:Poison”andflippedthebottleovertoreadtheback.Thereinsmalllettersitread“Cautioncontainsformaldehyde.”Doesn’tbiodegradablemean thataproduct is safe for theenvironment?No, itdoes not. Many chemicals biodegrade into even more dangerous chemicals,especially if theycome intocontactwithotherchemicals.Someproducts, likestyrofoam, never biodegrade and leave what are called footprints on MotherEarth.

definition

RVsandboatshaveboth“gray”and“black”holdingtanks.Graytanksholdwaterthatcomesfromfaucetsandshowers.Blacktanksholdthestuff from toilets. Products are used in the tanks to keep them fromsmellinglikeaportablepotty.

Howbiodegradable is a product? Itwould take a Ph.D. in chemistry to knowthoseanswers.Somechemicalsbiodegradeinafewdays;otherstakehundredsof years. Never assume a product is Earth and human friendly because it’sbiodegradable.A product’s claim to be human and Earth friendlymeans about asmuch as aproduct being biodegradable. “Organic” product manufacturers are under thesameguidelinesasothermanufacturers.Theycansaywhattheywantonabottlewithlittleornoaccountability.LookforyourGreenSealsofApprovalandotherlikedesignations.Asyoulearnaboutgoinggreen,keepinmindthatsomeofthesetoxicchemicalsbioaccumulateorbuildupinyourbody.Dioxinisoneofthem.Itisafat-solublechemicalstoredforeverinyourbody.

DirtyWords

Siliconeisoneexampleofhowachemicalchanges.Whenitismixed50/50withwater—a normalmixture in carwax products—and thenheated to a temperature of 150˚F, it turns into formaldehyde andsilicate dioxide. Temperatures inside a semi truck that hauls thesechemicalsoftenexceeds150˚Fduringsummermonths.

Earlieryou learned thatonechemicaluseda fewtimesmightnotcausehealthissues. It takes consistent exposure formost problems to surface.By the timetheydo,though,thedamageisdoneoftenwithoutsymptoms.TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)callsthisbuildupbodyburden.Itis the burden our body carries as a result of repeated exposure to fat-solubleproducts.Becausethechemicaldoesnotbreakdown,itiscalledpersistentandbioaccumulatesinsideyourbody.Dioxinisagoodexample.According to the Extension Toxicology Network, “Bioaccumulation means anincrease in theconcentrationofachemical inabiologicalorganismover time.Compoundsaccumulate in living thingsany time theyare takenupandstoredfasterthantheyarebrokendown(metabolized)orexcreted.”Further, that accumulation moves up the food chain, resulting inbiomagnification. Simply put, say plankton absorbs dioxin from the water.Shrimp,whichalsoabsorbdioxinfromthewater,eattheplankton.Fish,whichalsoabsorbdioxinfromwater,eattheshrimp.Wetheneatthefish,addingtothealreadyexistinglayersofdioxinwehavepreviouslyabsorbed.

definition

TheExtensionToxicologyNetworkisaPesticideInformationProject

of the Extension Offices of Cornell University, Oregon StateUniversity,UniversityofIdaho,UniversityofCaliforniaatDavis,andMichiganStateUniversity.

Now that you know the basic background of a few importantwords thatwillcrossyourpath,let’sgetface-to-facewiththedirtysideofthesecleaners.

TheSilentKillers

Wegrowupthinkingofhomeasoursafetynet.Peoplesetasideaspecialroomorquietspotwheretherestoftheworldvanishes.Intheirquietspace,theillsoftheworldcannottouchthem,orsotheythink.Unlessyoucarefullychoseyourfurnishingsfromflooringto thepaintonthewalls,yourhomecouldbefullofelementsthatcausecancerandahostofothermaladies.Manufacturing companies are not required to tell you the contents of theirproducts. Thewarning labels on liquids are vague at best and nonexistent onclothing,carpeting,andfurniture.Physicalproblemsdon’tcropupforyears.Bythetimetheyreartheiruglyheads,itistoolate.Prevention is the key to halting cancer, nerve damage, kidney and liverproblems,aswellasotherailmentscausedbyeverydayproductswepresumearesafe.

DirtyWords

Shouldyouchoosetohavenewcarpetinstalled,stayawayfromyourhome during installation and two to three days afterwards to allow

someofthefumestooff-gas.Ventilatewell.Morethan100chemicalsare used tomake carpet, and they can cause neurological damage tothebrain.Symptoms includeheadaches,nausea,depression,memoryloss, and injury to the thyroid gland and immune system. Childrenhavehadepilepticseizuresfromplayingonnewlylaidcarpet.Betteryet,choosesafeflooringsuchaswoolorrealwood.

Youwillreadthewordpreventionrepeatedlythroughoutthisbook.Itisthekeyto good health. Face it: we all picture ourselves as being as beautiful as themodelsinthehairshampoocommercials;thatthemostdazzlingofwhiteteethcanbeoursbyusingthelatesttoothpaste;orthatourcountertopswillglimmerwiththelatestcleaner.Let’stakeaquicklookatsomeevilslurkinginyourhome.

•MightySudsshampooleavesyourhairshimmering.Acloserlookattheingredientswillshowthatitcontainssodiumlaurelsulfate.Thisnasty little chemical reacts with the plastic bottle, forming toxicnitratesanddioxinsthatleachintoyourbodyeverytimeyoushampooyourhair.•Youmightwanttobuythenewestfashionofvinylflooring.Vinylflooring is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl chloridemonomer, and ethylene dichloride. These products release literallytons of toxic chemicals every year into the environment. Thosechemicals march into your home along with the vinyl flooring.Linoleumisafarsaferchoice.•Youcan’twait togetyournewvinylrecliner.Vinyl flooringandvinyl furniture leach phthalates, which reduce sperm counts in menand damage the liver and kidneys. The off-gassing from stainretardantsaddedtofurniturefabricisdiscussedinChapter16.

Grab your microscope and follow closely as we traipse through stores for acloser look into thedangersbehindcleaners, personal careproducts, furniture,andflooring.Firstupisalookintoafewmisguidedconceptsaboutcleaners.

HiddenDanger

Ignoranceisnotblisswhenitcomestoyourhealth.Whatyoudon’tknowcanmakeyouill.Armyourselfwithdeterminationandknowledge,withthegoaltoridyourlifeofthetoxinswithinyourcontrol.Chemicalcompaniesarenotrequiredtostatethecontentsoftheircleanersonabottle. This section reveals various dangerous chemicals commonly found incleaners,soaps,andlaundrydetergents.Althoughbodycareproductingredientsare not listed, many of these chemicals are found in bath soap, shampoo,makeup,perfume,hairspray,anddeodorant.Doyourresearchandknowwhatisinyourproductbeforeusingit.Alsobeawareofthenumerousproductsthatcontainchlorine.You’llfindit inlaundrydetergent,all-purposecleaners,dishsoaps,and in thewater fromyourfaucetsifyouareonacitysewersystem.

DirtyWords

Mary’sFormula:Multipleproducts+buildup+time=healthissues.

Cleaners,Soaps,andDetergents

Thefollowingliststheseparategroupsofcleaners,thevariouschemicalsfoundinthem,andthehealthissuestheycause.Glass andWindow Cleaners: 2-butoxyethanol or butyl cellosolve, alcohols,ammonia,anionicsurfactant,ethanolamine,ethyleneglycolbutylether(EGBE),isobutane,naphtha,phosphoricacid,andsyntheticdyesandscents.

Healthproblems:NaphthaandEGBEcauserespiratoryproblemsandliverandkidney damage and depress the central nervous system, causing mentalconfusion; suspected carcinogens; eye and severe skin irritations, asthma, andlungproblems;fatalifswallowed.All-PurposeCleaners,CarpetSpotRemovers,CarpetCleaners:Ammonia,bleach, butyl cellusolve or 2-butoxyethanol, chlorides, diethanolamine, ethers,ethylene glycol, hydroxyacetic acid, hydroxides, limonene (d-limonene, 4-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexene), morpholine (extremely toxic), naphtha,perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene; ethylene tetrachloride etroleum);petroleum distillates, phenols, phosphoric acid, trisodium phosphate (TSP),volatileorganiccompounds(VOCs).Health problems: Irritants to eyes, can cause blindness; fatal if swallowed;headaches, nausea, neurological damage,memory loss; suspected carcinogens;neurotoxins; damage to blood, kidneys, and liver; severe burning of the skin;overexposure tophosphoricacid isdeadly;petroleumdistillatesare flammableandcarcinogenic.In addition, if an all-purpose cleaner, soap, or detergent is antibacterial, itprobably contains triclosan.Absorption through the skinhasbeen tied to liverdamage.

DirtyWords

For the sake of the environment and your health, stop usingantibacterialproducts.Theydonotkillgerms.Washyourhandswithsoap and water upon returning home, after using the restroom, andbeforehandlingfoodtoprotectyouagainstgerms.Antibacterial cleaners and soaps washed into your sewer system orsepticsystemkilltheenzymesthateatbacteriaandsolidwastematter.Whykillthemostvaluabledefenseagainstgerms?

Bathroom Cleaners: Ammonia and ammonia chlorides, chlorine bleach,diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, glycosides, hydroxides, limonene (d-limonene, 4-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexene), naphtha, petroleum distillates,phenols,phosphoricacid,trisodiumphosphate(TSP).Healthproblems:Seeall-purposecleaners.Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Hydrochloric acid, hypochlorite, bleach, ammonia,diethanolamine,napthalene.Health problems:Highly corrosive, irritant to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract;damages liver and kidneys; may cause vomiting or coma if ingested. Causeschlorinefumeswhencombinedwithotherchemicals,whichisfatal.Napthalenecancausecataracts,cornealdamage,andkidneydamage; isextremely toxic tosmallchildrenandinfants;andisasuspectedcarcinogen.LaundryDetergent: Alkylate sulfonate, calcium (sodium) hypocrite, sodiumtripolyphosphate and potassium metabisulfite, ethylenediamine-tetra-acetic(EDTA)anddiammonium.Health problems: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin and mucousmembranes,eyes,andrespiratorytract; liverdamage;vomiting; isabsorbedbythe skin from clothing, causing allergies, asthma, and skin rashes; does notreadilybiodegrade.Manypowderedlaundrydetergentscontainsawdust,whichisusedasafiller.Itdoes not dissolve and it clogs drains, causes skin irritations, and cannot cleanyourclothes.Dish Soap and Dishwasher Detergent: Chlorine, limonene or d-limonene,diethanolamine(DEA),sodiumhypochlorite(sodiumhydroxideorlye).Health problems: Skin irritations; phosphates pollute the groundwater;carcinogenic.Floor Cleaners: 2-butoxyethanol, ammonium hydroxide, dipropylene glycolmethylether,monoethanolamine,nonylphenolpolyethoxylate.Health problems: Eye, skin, and lung irritants; damage the respiratory tract,endocrinesystem,andcentralnervoussystem.

DirtyWords

Read labels! Look for words such as sodium dioxide. It is found inmedicine,food,carpeting,clothing,drinkbottles,herbicides,cleaners,andevenhandlotions.Thisdangerouschemicalcausescancer,mentalillness, and diabetes, for starters. Burning or heating plastic releasesthechemicalintotheair.Neverheatfoodinthemicrowaveinplasticorfreezewaterinplasticbottles.

TheRestofWhatAilsYou

Phew,youjustreadaneyefullof information.Takeadeepbreathbecauseweareabouttoexposeothertoxinsthatweaseltheirwayintoyourcabinets.Furniture Polish, Floor Polish: Benzene, nitrobenzene, petroleum distillates,perchloroethylene (tetrachloroethylene; ethylene tetrachloride); morpholine(extremelytoxic),phenol(carbolicacid);linseedoil.Healthproblems:Chronic inhalation cancause liverdamage,disruptionof thecentralnervoussystem,depression,andrespiratorytractirritation;skinandeyeirritants; never use petroleum distillates inside your home because they’reflammable,asislinseedoil.Linseed oil can contain arsenic, beryllium, chromium, cadmium, and nickel,whichareknowntocausecancer;theleadinlinseedoilcausesbirthdefectsandother reproductive problems; upon evaporation, this oil can spontaneouslycombustandcauseafire;afterusinglinseedoil,drytheclothsoutsidethehomeintheshadeandthentakethemtothetoxicwastedump;nevermachinewashordrytheseclothsbecausetheycancatchfire.DrainOpeners:Lye,hydrochloricacid,trichloroethane.Health problems: Caustic; burn skin and eyes; damage to esophagus ifswallowed; damage kidneys, liver, and digestive tract; nervous system

depressant.MoldandMildewRemovers:Sodiumhypochlorite,formaldehyde.Health problems: Burn skin, eyes, nose, and throat; cause nausea, headaches,nosebleeds,dizziness,shortnessofbreath,andfluidinthelungs(whichcanleadtocomaordeath).OvenCleaner:Benzene,sodiumhydroxide(lye).Healthproblems:Caustic; strong irritant; burns toboth skin and eyes; inhibitsreflexes;severetissuedamageifswallowed.

HiddenandNot-So-HiddenHazards

Youprideyourself inthecleanlinessofyourhome.Youmopyourfloorsoftenand vacuum the carpet regularly.What a contented feeling knowing that yourchildrenandpetshaveasafeplacetorompandplay.Ordothey?AccordingtotheEnvironmentalWorkingGroup,pets lickingtheirpawsingestlarger amounts of chemicals contained in vinyl and carpeted surfaces thanoriginally believed. They have found that thyroid disease and cancer areincreasingdisproportionatetothegeneralpetpopulation.Beingyoungand smaller, children aremorevulnerable to ill health causedbytoxins than adults.Theyplay on the floor, inhaling the off-gassing fromvinylflooringandcarpeting.Thisdisrupts thedevelopmentof theirorgansandbodysystemsandcausesdizzinessandnausea.

DirtyWords

Pregnant women are advised never to have carpet or vinyl installedbefore or during the time they are pregnant or nursing.Wait until achild ismucholder.Stoneandwoodfloorsaresaferoptions,but theadhesiveusedtolaythememitsVOCs.Beforeyouinstallnewcarpetcheckwithwww.carpet-rug.orgforcertifiedgreencarpets.

Tocomplicatemattersfurther,somecleanersreactwiththecompositionofvinylorcarpetedflooring.Cleanavinylfloorwithaheavy-dutycleanerandtheresultisadullfloor.Thecleanerhasremovedtheshinyfinishandbyreactingwiththechemicals in the vinyl emittedVOCs into the air.No tests have been done todeterminewhichchemicalsreactwiththecompositematerial.Onlyyourhealthknowsforsure.Here is an inside view into the composition of vinyl and carpeted flooring.Chapter12onflooringteachestheproperwaytocleanallfloorsurfaces.

TheUglySideofCarpet,Vinyl,andFurniture

Vinyl:Polyvinylchloride (PVC) isoneofmanywell-knownandcarcinogenicadditives in vinyl flooring. PVC releases chemical softeners called phthalates,which are common plastic additives. PVC flooring has been associated withincreasesinrespiratoryproblemsandcancer.Itishighlyflammable.AnothercommonadditivetovinylflooringisDEHP,aplasticizerusedtosoftenplastics. DEHP can damage a developing male reproductive system and therespiratorysystemsofchildren.DEHPalsocausescancerinlaboratoryanimals.Carpet:Carpetingcontainsasmanyas100+chemicals.Severaloff-gaswithinafewdays of being installed,while others take years. Someof these chemicalsincludeartificialdyes,antimicrobialtreatments,antistaticsprays,petroleumby-products and synthetics (polypropylene, nylon, acrylic), PVC, soil and stainrepellents,urethane,vinyl,andlatex.Theycancauseheadaches,dizziness,ornausea.Otherchemicalsincarpetingcancausefarworseproblems:•p-Dichlorobenzene. A known carcinogenic that causes hallucinations, nervedamage,andrespiratoryillness.

•4-PC(4-phenylcyclohexeneorlatex).Appliedtothebackofcarpet,itgivescarpets their “newcarpet smell” and is associatedwith eye,nose, andupperrespiratoryproblems.

•Mothproofingchemicals(naphthalene).Thiswasdiscussedearlier.•Fire retardantswith polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs).Can causedamagetothethyroid,immunesystem,andbraindevelopmentfunctions.

Mostsyntheticcarpetingcontainsformaldehyde.Eventhefoampadding,carpetunderlay,orfoaminupholsteryemitsVOCs.

Mary’sHandyHints

The report “Sick of Dust: Chemicals in Common Products—ANeedless Health Threat in Our Homes” can be found online atwww.safer-products.org. The San Francisco Tribune’s special reporton pollutants in our bodies is available atwww.insidebayarea.com/bodyburden.

LurkinginYourFurniture

InOctober2007,FriendsoftheEarth,anenvironmentalgroup,tested350piecesof household furniture in homes and stores throughout California. Notsurprisingly,theyfoundhighlevelsoftoxichalogenatedfireretardants.Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to fire retardants. Thesesubstanceshavebeenbannedinchildren’sclothingbutnotinfurniture.Pregnantwomen absorb them through their skin where the toxins go directly into the

unbornchild.Fire retardants bioaccumulate so what the baby receives through the placentamultiplieseachtimethechildliesonthecouch.The worst of the offenders, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), particularlypolybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) are found in both furniture foam andfabrics.Thesecancer-causing,hormone-disruptivechemicalshavebeenfoundinanimalsandhaveworkedtheirwayintodairyproducts,poultry,andfish.

Mary’sHandyHints

Covering furniture with blankets or bath towels prevents theabsorptionofflameretardantsthroughtheskin.

Perfluorochemicals(PFCs)havetestedpositiveinfurniture,Teflon,Stainmaster,and Scotchguard. Perfluoroocatanic acid, a member of the perfluorochemicalgroup,isaprovencarcinogen.Furniture sometimes is dyed with benzidine or hydrazine—also knowncarcinogens.Vinylfurniturecontainsthesametoxicchemicalsasvinylflooring.Optforrealleatherorswitchtoanalternativesafefabricfurniture.Avoid any wood furniture containing chromium copper arsenic (CCA) orcreosoteandwoodtreatedwithpentachlorophenol.Onlyuseamildsoaptoremovestainsfromfabricfurniture.Thecombinationofthecleanerandflameretardantchemicalscancauseheadachesandnausea.

UnderstandingWhatYouRead

No job ismore difficult than finding safe cleaners for your home. Loopholesprotect chemical companies from disclosing the chemical contents of theirproducts.Theyget bywith issuingvariouswarningsordon’t list chemicals atall.Theyalsodisguisethenames.Carwaxesusenameslikealiphatichydrocarbonor mineral oil for petroleum distillates. Or they tell you the content is“proprietaryinformation.”Tothrowsaltonanopenwound,chemicalcompaniesoftenputtwochemicalsinone bottle that cause like problems.Sayone chemical canmildly irritate yoursinuseswhileanotherisknownforcausingsevereasthmaattacks.Thecompanycanlumpthetwotogetherwithasimplewarning“maycausenasalirritations.”Furthermore,evenifachemicalcompanyisrequiredtotestitsproducts,itisnotrequiredtoobtainoutsidetesting.Thecompanycaninterpretitsowntestresultsconductedbyitsowncompanyanddeterminewhat,ifany,labelsorwarningsgoonthebottle.Ithasbeenwellproven that indoorairpollution inyourhomeexceeds thatofanyairyoubreatheoutside.Stay-at-homewomenandespeciallymothersarefarmorelikelytosuccumbtomajorillnessessuchascancer,hormoneimbalances,memoryloss,andimmunedeficienciesthanwomenwhoworkoutsidethehome.

Mary’sHandyHints

Never buy any cleaner or product unless the product contents areclearlymarked on the label. If you can’t pronounce thewords on a

bottle,leaveitontheshelfofthestore.

ThisThingCalledaLabel

TheFederalHazardousSubstanceAct(FHSA)stipulatesfour“triggerorsignal”words to indicate hazardous contentwithin a bottle or product. Productsmustcarrythefollowingwarningsifapplicable:•Caution—Meanstheproductisrelativelynontoxictoslightlytoxic.•Warning—Meanstheproductismoderatelytoxic.•Danger—Indicateshighlytoxicchemicals.•Poison—Tells you to ventilate the room, wear protective clothing includingmasks,anduseeveryprecautionnecessary.

Otherwordsyoumightfindonabottleinclude:•Active Ingredient—The chemical that is responsible for doing the job youneedtobehandled.

•PrecautionaryStatements—Listpossiblehazardstopetsandpeople.•EnvironmentalHazards—Tells you of any dangers to the environment orwildlife.

•FirstAidStatements—These instructyouonhowtohandlea reaction.CallPoisonControl(1-800-222-1222)forfirstaid.

There is yet another classification of chemicals andmaterials youmust know.Thesematerialsandsubstancescancontaminate,harm,orkilllivingorganisms:•Toxic—Means this product is poisonous and can be harmful to human oranimalhealth.

•Corrosive—This product can corrode storage containers or damage tissue ifcontactismadewiththeproduct.

•Reactive—Thisproductcanreactorexplodeifexposedtoheat,shock,air,orwater.

•Ignitable—Takeallprecautionsbecausethissubstancecancatchonfire,emittoxicgasorfumes,orexplode.

Alwaysreadandfollowthebottle’sdirectionsexactly.Neverthrowasubstancedownthedrain.Takeittothetoxicdumpforproperdisposal.

MysteriousMSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are as ambiguous as bottle information.Onlyhazardousingredientsinamountsabove1percentoftheproductarelistedon MSDS sheets. Unfortunately, hundreds of chemicals in far lowerconcentrationscancausetoxicreactions.MSDS sheets do tell you in detail the first aid treatment for inhalation, skinirritations, and spills and provide instructions for firefighters in case of a fire.The rest of the content is so technical youmight not be able to decipher theinformation.Sometimesyouwillfindaratingnumberedfrom0to4.0issafe,1isslight,2ismoderate,3 ishigh,and4 isextremedanger.The ratingsare listed forhealth,flammability,andreactivityorskincontact.MSDSsheetsmust lista toxicchemical’sChemicalAbstractsServiceRegistry(CAS) number.On a search engine, type “MSDS forCAS 62-9843-12” (fakenumber)intothesearchline.ThatbringsuptheMSDSsheetforthatchemicalforfurtherinformation.

OneStepataTime

Youmay feelabitoverwhelmedafter reading theabovewarnings.Remember“GoingGreen”isastep-by-stepprocess.Startsmallbytakingthestepsthatbestsuityoursituationandneeds.Inlaterchapterswe’llsuggestavarietyoffreetoinexpensivewaystoimprovethe health of your home especially with plants. When it does come time toupgradeyourfurnitureorflooring,turntoAppendixBforhealthyalternatives.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

• Make purchasing decisions based on knowledge not advertisinggimmicks.•Thewordsbiodegradable,organic,andEarthfriendlyonapackagedoesnotguaranteeitistoxinfree.•Beingeducatedaboutcleanerscansaveyourlife.

•Lookbehindthescenesofabottlebeforeusingitscontents.

Chapter3

ToolingAround

InThisChapter•Chooseyourtoolswisely•Happyvacuuming•Thegreenersideofcleaners•Rags,cloths,scrubbers,andsponges•Sweepingyouoffyourfeet:broomsandmops

PickingoutcleaningtoolsremindsmeabitofhowIevenedthescorewithoneofmycousinsdownonthefarmafterheclobberedmewithahedgeball.Hedgeballsarethesizeofasoftballandarehard,sotheyleaveanastybruise.To retaliate, I waited until this cousin entered the outhouse. After letting him“settlein”foraminute,Ipushedafirecrackerunderthebackwallandstruckamatch.Theresultingboombroughtthecousinrunningoutwithhispantsdownaroundhisknees.Mostcleaningequipmentresemblesornerycousinswithhedgeballs.Theyleavenasty bruises on the surfaces they clean. Armed with the information in thischapter, though,youcankeepaheadof thosenasty little surprises.You’ll findyourself chuckling as you pocket the cost savings and log less time on thecleaningclock.

GoodAin’tCheapandCheapAin’tGood

“Goodain’tcheapandcheapain’tgood.”Whatdoesthissalessloganhavetodowithcleaningequipment?Doesn’tanyolemopandcleanerwork?Let’s take a stroll through the garage work shop, which is usually a man’sdomain.Moveovermen,womenarewieldingtoolsandaredarngoodatit.Menlearnedearlyonthat“bluelightspecial”toolsbrokeeasily,usuallybusting

theirknucklesatthesametime.TheypromptlyheadedtothehardwarestoreforSnap On, Craftsman, DeWalts, and Makitas. Why? Because busted knucklesaren’tmuchfunandtheylosthalfaday’sworkplusthecostofthetool.

CleaningQuips

Thomas Jeffersononce said, “I’magreat believer in luck and I findtheharderIwork,themoreIhaveofit.”

Most people use their cleaning tools far more frequently than they do theirgarage tools—exceptions noted. Yet they buy “blue light specials” and thencomplainthattheproductfailedtoliveuptoitspromise.Cheap cleaning equipment can be farmore costly both financially and to ourenvironment thanabustedwrench. Just forkicks,addup thenumberofmopsyouhavepurchased in thepast fiveyears.Then count thenumberof cleanersliningyourshelf.Quitea fewof them, I’dventure tosay.Anyguessas to thecost?

TheHighCostofPennyPinching

Yourbudgetmightbetightandyoumightneedtowatchpennies.Doyourealizethatbuyinga$15mopfourtimesayearcostsyouatidysumof$60ayear,or$3,000overalifetime?Evenworse,250mopshavebeentossedintothelandfill.Let’s take thisglobal.TheUnitedStateshasmore than70millionhouseholds.Sayeachbuysfourmopsayear.Overa10-yearperiod,nearlythreebillionmopshavegoneintothelandfill.

Nowthedamagehitscloser tohome.Thesemopscan’tberinsedclean,sothedirtbuildsonthefloorandruinsthesealant.Youneedatoxicstripperandwaxtorevivethefloor.Ifthatruinedfloorisstoneorlaminate,itmeansreplacingthefloor.Flooringisoneofthemosttoxicproductsinourlandfills.

DirtyWords

Not only is energy used to manufacture the mops, but millions ofgallons of fuel have been spent in shipping the rawmaterials to themanufactureranddeliveringthefinishedgoodstomarket.

QualityMeansSpeedandDependability

TalktoacarpenterandaskhimwhyheusesaMakitadrill.Hewilllikelyreply,“With my Makita, I can sink a screw in under 5 seconds; it used to take 5minuteswithmyDrillaBit.Themotorsburnedoutsofast Ikept threespareshandy.”The same holds true for cleaning equipment. Good quality tools last you farlonger, do the job faster, and save you a bundle in replacement costs. Don’tforgetthesavingstoourEarth.

TheBuzzonVacuums

Cheap vacuums ain’t good. The motors in cheap vacuums burn out quickly,which means frequent replacements. Stores also change brands, so findingreplacementbagsandbeltscanbetricky.Withpropercare,agoodvacuumlasts20+years.Their strongmotors removemoredirt.Lessdirtinthecarpetmeanslessindoorpollutionandcarpetingthatlastslonger.

Mary’sHandyHints

Peopleoftenaskwhichvacuumcleaner I recommend.Afterwearingout nearly a dozenof them,mypersonal choice is aMieleCanister.My Miele is trouble free, inhaling dirt others missed. The othervacuum cleaner bags ended upwith dust on the outside of the bag,which meant dust was spewing back into the air as I vacuumed. Ipreferavacuumthattrapsthedust.

Before beginning your search for a vacuum, read Consumer Reports forrecommendations. Decide ahead of time which attachments are essential foryourhome.

FilterItOut

Thefilteringsysteminavacuumiskey.What’sthepointofcleaningthefloorifyour vacuum spewsdust out theback?High-efficiencyparticulate air (HEPA)filtersareexpensivetoreplace,buttheytrapdust,whichisessentialforasthmasufferers. Micro-filtration systems are an improvement over filterless systems

butarenotaseffectiveasaHEPAfilter.

Mary’sHandyHints

Janitorial supply stores can be awonderful resource for vacuums. Ifyou don’t find a residential vacuum, try a commercial vacuum.Thiswebsite compares vacuums:www.allergybuyersclubshopping.com/vacuumcleaners.

UprightVacs

Uprightvacuumsareeasiertostorethancanisters.However,canistersareeasieronyourneckandbackbecausetheheavyvacuumisbehindyou.Testdrivethemat the store to decide which suits you. Canisters do have better suction thanuprights.Plus,uprightskickdebrisouttheback,whilecanistersinhalethatstuff.

CanisterVacs

Canisterstakeupmoreroominthecloset,buttheyhaveanautomaticretrievalsystem for the cord—nomore hand-winding cords. Plus there are no tubes toassemblewhenyouneedtouseanattachment.Theyareeasiertocleanaswell.

BackpackVacs

Janitorial supply stores carry backpack vacuums. They are great in officebuildingsbut couldbe tricky inahome.Onequick turn toattendachild, andyoujustshatteredaglassdoor.

ShoppingforaVacuum

Mysoapboxgetsgooduseinthischapterbecausemanyoftheseproductsdon’tfessuptotheirpromises.Forinstance,somemanufacturerstoutthelightnessoftheirvacs—one-fingerlifting!Stop! It takes a strongmotor to lift dust and dirt from deepwithin carpeting.Lightweight does not a powerful vacuum make. You don’t need a musclemachine,butyouneedoomph in amotor and thatdoesnot comewitha lightmotor.Before purchasing a vacuum, run it up and down the aisles. Listen for anyclinkingorstrainingnoisesthevacuumspewsatyou.Takeanextensioncordtoreachhalftheaisletogetabetterfeelforthemachine.Mosthomeshavecarpetandhardfloorsurfaces,sotakethatmachinefortherideofitslife.Hereareotherissuestoconsiderwhenlookingatvacuums:• Does the vacuum kick dirt out the back? If so, that machine seems prettyworthless,doesn’tit?

•Isthereamanualswitchtotakeyoufromcarpetstoahardfloorsurface?•Sitdownandhaveagoodlookunderthehood.Howeasyisittoremovethebeaterbar tochange thebelt? Is thebeltagoodheavy-dutybeltorone thatwillbreakeasily?

•Istheredustanddirtaroundthebeaterbar?Ifso,thenthesuctionisnotuptosnuff.

•Visitthewebsitesofvariousvacuumcleaningcompaniestogetafeelforwhatyou need in a vacuum. Leave your checkbook at home to avoid beingpressuredintobuyingamachinethatisnotrightforyou.Takenotesonmodelsyoulike;thenshopathomewhereyoucanmakeapressure-freedecision.

definition

Abeaterbarisarigidbarinavacuumthatagitatesandloosensthedirtinacarpet.

Next,lookatthedisposablebag.Isitwornalongtheseamline?Istheredustontheoutsideofthebag?Istheredustinsidethecanisterthatholdsthebag?Ifso,itmeansthedustflies—insideyourhomeaswellasthevacuum.

Rags,Cloths,Scrubbers,andSponges

What?Dedicateanentiresectiontoragsandspongesinacleaningbook?Yourgarageisfullofallkindsofrags.Someofthoseragscouldsetyoubackafewbucksrefinishingfurniture.Readonfortheprosandconsofvariouschoices.

TheNot-So-WonderfulMicrofiber

Microfiberclothsaremarvelous formanyuses.Dampened, they removesomefoodstainsfromcarpetingandareunbeatableforcleaningwindowsandmirrors.Most cleaning books on themarket tout thewonders ofmicrofiber towels. Acloserlookatthefabricwilltellyoutocaveatemptor,whichisLatinfor“Itcanwreckyourfurnishings.”Microfiberismadefrom80percentpolyester,whichisplastic.Plasticscratchesthesealant,finish,paint,orcoatingoffanysurfacewithrepeateduse.Thescratchesareveryfine,soyoudon’tnoticethedamage—untilit’stoolate.

DirtyWords

The rule of thumb for using microfiber is if the surface is sealed,finished, or painted, do not usemicrofiber to clean it. This includesmarble;granite;Corian;wood;laminates;andpaintedsurfacessuchaswalls,cars,vehicles,boats,andairplanes.

Purchase high-qualitymicrofiber.Cheapmicrofiber “ain’t good.” It leaves lintandfallsapartinthewasher.

GoodOleDependableCotton

Want safe? Want dependable? Then stick to 100 percent cotton rags. Frayedhandtowelsthatlosttheirplaceinthebathroommakegreatragsforkitchenandbathroom duty. You can’t beat them for mopping floors. Leave windowssparklingbyusing100percentcottonbabydiapersorlint-freetowels.

TheUltimateDrySponges

NontoxicchemicallytreateddryspongesfirstmadetheirappearanceintheJanSan (janitorial sanitation) industry for removing soot from walls after a fire.Theyblossomed into the retailmarket forwhiskingawaypethairon furnitureand dust on lampshades. Put them to work on clothing, car seats, or fabricpleatedblinds.Cleanthembysandingthemoutsidewithfinegritsandpaper.

Mary’sHandyHints

Whenyoucleanyourwindows,useadryspongetocleanthescreensratherthantakinghourstohosedownandwashthem.

ScrubbersandBrushes

You’llneedseveralbrushes(andascrubber)tocompleteyourcleaningchores.Hereisthelist:•Whitenylonscrubbingpad;thecoloredpadsscratch.•Anoldtoothbrush.(No,youcan’tuseyourpartner’s.)Theynabthosehard-to-reachareaslikearoundbathroomsfaucets.

•Toiletbowlbrushesmadeeitherfromcottonorbristles.Useabrushthatdoesnotcontainmetalparts,whichcan leaveuglyscratcheson the toiletandcanrust.

•Kitchenbrushes.Thosemostoftenusedarebrushesforpotsandpans,sinks,andbottlebrushes.

•Threadednylonbrushesthatattachtoahandle.Theystripwaxofflinoleumorvinylflooring.Usethemonshowerfloors.

• A 1 and ½ inch paintbrush for cleaning pleated lampshades or getting intosmallareassuchascornersofwindows.

•Aceilingfancleaningbrush.

DirtyWords

I found that grout cleaning brushes don’t just clean grout—theyremove it entirely! Use a product called The StainEraser (seeAppendixB).

Ifyouonlyusebrushestobrushyourhairorteeth,gettheetoahardwarestoreandstockuponthesecleaningbrushes!

SweepItwithaGlance

Findyourselfsweepingdirtundertherug?Thissectionisforyou.It’sbesttousea 100 percent cotton dust mop on hardwood, laminated, marble, or graniteflooring. Steer clear of a dust mop made from microfiber for floor surfacesunlessyouhaveacouplethousanddollarsextratorefinishorreplaceyourfloor.Brooms with bristles will scratch these surfaces as well. Bristled sweepingbroomsquicklyscootdirtoutfromthegroutoftiledfloors,althoughvacuumingisbyfarfaster.Ifyouhavealargeareatodust,headtoajanitorialsupplystoreforan18-inch-wide 100 percent cotton dustmop.Be sure to get an extra replacement head.Theyarewashableanddustlargeareasquickly.Holdfirmandusetheword“no”repeatedlywhentheytrytosellyoumicrofibermops.Peoplelovetheirlightweightelectricbroomsforquickfloorcleanups.TheydotakeupclosetspaceandarecostlybothtopurchaseandtoMotherEarth.Theyneed replacing every 4 or 5 years and consume raw material and energy formanufacturing. Save money and our Earth by using your vacuum. Sweepingfloors with a dust mop takes a few minutes longer, but arm energy is free

whereaselectricbroomsuseenergy.Turnonsomefastcalypsomusicanddancethedustawaywithabroomordustmop.

Mops

Shoppingforamopcanbeasconfusingasshoppingforacar.Somanymodels!Somanyfeatures!Somanyprices!Theonlythingmissingisthehard-salepitch.Herearetheprosandconsofthevariouskindsofmops.Mopswithreplaceablemopheads—spongemops in particular—require excessive amounts of oil andenergy to manufacture. The manufacturing process is hazardous to ourenvironment, and the mops take hundreds of years to biodegrade, if theybiodegradeatall.

IfIt’sDirty,Don’tUseIt

When was the last time you used a dirty wash cloth to wash your face?Ordinarily,youwoulduseacleanwashclothunlessyouarebackpackinginthemountains.You use cleanwash cloths because you can’t get your face cleanwith a dirtywash cloth. So,why are you trying to clean your floorwith a dirtymop?Wewaste timeandgallonsofwater trying to forcedirtoutof self-wringingmopsandgetnowhereexceptsoakedtryingtorinsethem.Yetyoucontinuetocleanyourfloorwithadirtymopandthenwonderwhyyourfloorhasdulledandfeelsstickyandwhythemopsmellsfromthemold.Herearetheoptionsopentoyou.

CottonStringMops

These mops work well on slate floors. Never use them on wood, laminated,linoleum, vinyl, marble, or granite floors. Not only do they hold excessiveamountsofwater,buttheexcessmoistureleftinthemalsowarpstheboardson

woodorlaminatedfloorsanddamagessealantsongraniteandmarble.Thedirtleftinstringmopsdullslinoleumandvinylfloors.Hangyourcottonstringmopoutsidetodryeveninthedeadofwinter.Thefiberswill freeze, but they’ll be dry within a few days. Ever hear of freeze-driedcoffee?ManyofourCanadianfriendsdrytheirclothesbyhangingthemoutsidetofreezedry.

SpongeDisasters

Sponge mops are the most energy-consuming mop to manufacture. The mopheadmustbereplacedmonthlysobuyextrawhenyougetone.Spongesabsorbmoisturesotheydoaquickjobpickingupliquidspills.Spillsarehandledfasterandmoreefficientlywitha terry towel,microfiber towel,orregular sponge.Eachof these requires far less energyandnatural resources tomanufacture.

TwistMops

These mops actually do the twist, so put on the appropriate music. They’recalledtwistmopsbecauseyoutwistthemtowringoutthewater.Cleanfloorsinsectionsanddryasyoumop.

CleaningQuips

“Housekeepingain’tnojoke.”—LouisaMayAlcott

Like string and sponge mops, these heads soil quickly and must be replacedfrequentlysotheyarecostlytoyouandtheenvironment.

CottonPadMops

Flatmopswith100percentcottonpadscanbeusedsafelyonallfloorsurfaces.Spritz them with water from a spray bottle until they are barely damp whenmoppingmarble, granite, or wood floors. These easily clean under low areassuch as sofas and chairs if youhavehard floor surfaces throughout thehome.Becausetheyarecotton,theyaresafeforallfloorsurfaces.

TowelMops

Towelmopsuseordinaryterrytowelstocleanthefloor.They’resafeforallfloorsurfacesbecause limitedamountsofwater remainon the towel.Youcancleanthetowelseachtimeyouusethem,sothefloorsaren’trecontaminatedwiththedirtyoutookoffthemlastweek.Replacementcostsareminimal—youusehandtowels you’ve retired from the bathroom. They can also be used for dustingcobwebsandwashingwalls,ceilings,orwindows.

MicrofiberMops

Microfibermopsshouldneverbeusedonlaminated,wood,marble,granite,orother flooring that is sealed or finished. Use extreme caution on tile or slatefloors. They’re unbeatable in institutional or commercial settings where thefloorsarecontinuouslybuffedandwaxed.

PredampenedToweletteMops

Outsideoftheenvironmentalissues,towelettemopsposeextremehazardstothehealthofyourfloorsandthehealthofourEarth.Thetowelsaresothinthattheymusthavestrongcleanerstocleanthefloor.Thecleanersaredifficultatbesttorinsefromafloorsothefloorfeelssticky.Thatstickyresiduesoftensthesealant,

eventuallyruiningthefinish.The cost to replace the towelettes is quite high, and the cost tomanufacture,ship,anddisposeofthemisevengreater.Iteasilytakesthreeorfourtowelspercleaning. They are chemical-laden,meaning the toxins invade your home andour landfills.Theycanalsoremovethecolorfromtheedgesof thecarpet thatbuttsnexttothehardsurfaceflooring.Thecarpetmustthenberedyed.

BottleAttachedMops

Peoplehavereportedthattheyjustlovetheconvenienceofthesemops.Youcanmakeyourownsolutionfor themwith¼cupwhitevinegaranda teaspoonofboraxperquartofwater.Useonlywaterforanykindofstonefloortile,marble,granite,orslate.Usevinegarandwateronlyforwoodorlaminatedfloors.

Mary’sHandyHints

Byall-purposecleaner,ImeaneitherthehomemaderecipeinChapter4 or a concentrated cleaner such as CleanEz, Bi-O-Kleen, or TheCleanTeam’sRedJuice.SeeAppendixB.

SoapsandCleaningSolutions

Peoplespendyearsplayingtugofwarwiththeirbottlesofcleaners.Theywant

tochangetohealthierproductsbutBrandXiswhatGrandmaalwaysused.TheyuseGrandma’sbrandbecausetheyjustdon’tknowwhichproducttotrust.Theycomplain tome duringmy seminars about trying dozens of products, none ofwhichworked.Keepinmindthat if theproductyouareusingworksanddoesnotcontainthetoxinslistedinChapter2,stickwithwhatyouaredoing.Butifyourshowerstilllooksgrayfromsoapresidueandthetoiletdisplaysthat“ringaroundthecollar,”thenitistimetobeefupyourcleaners.Hereisalistofthebasiccleanersyouneed.

•Aglasscleanerforwindowsandmirrors.•All-purposecleaner,which tackles toilets, showers, tubs,sinks,andkitchencounters.Usewateronlyongranite,marble,ortilecounters.•AgentlescouringproductsuchasBonAmi,Barkeeper’sFriend,orCameoforcleaningstainlesssteel.• All-natural organic dishwashing detergent. No phosphates areallowedbecause theycauseamultitudeofproblems includingmold.Manystateshavebannedproductscontainingphosphates.• Distilled white vinegar. This wondrous product cleans everythingfromtoiletstowindows!•Bakingsodaorwashingsoda forscrubbing toilets,cleaningdrains,andmore.

That’sallyouneed!Younoticedthelistlackedtoiletbowlcleaners,dustingaids,andair fresheners.Theyareexpensive, toxic,andconsumeenormousamountsofenergyandlandfillspace.

Dusters

“Dustifyoumust”butleavethedustersinthecloset.Mostdustersmerelytossthedustbackintotheairwheretwodayslateritlandsonyourcoffeetableagain.Theyarehandyfordustingoilpaintingsorsmallfigurines.Hereareafewoptionsforyoudieharddusterfans.

FeatherDusters

Featherdustersaretheworstofthedusters.Inmytesting,theyleavemoredustbehind than their lambswoolcompetitors.Makecertainyourduster ismadeofrealostrichfeathersbecausethecheap,colorful,fakeonesscratchfurniturewithplasticspines.Lambswool is hard to beat for dusting dashboards in cars, figurines, and oilpaintings.Theydoagreat jobcleaningout theductsofyourclothesdryerandfurnacevents,too.

DustingCloths

Oldbutclean100percentcottonTshirts,cleanwhitecottontubesocks,or100percentcottonbabydiapersmakethebestdusters.Theyarelintfreeandeasilylaundered.EveryonehascottonTshirtsandtubesocksthathavewornouttheirwelcome,sono furthermanufacturing is necessary.Usewhat you have at home helping tosaveourMotherEarth.Thenusethemasragswhentheywearouttheirwelcomedusting.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Cheap or inappropriate tools canmake your cleaning job difficult,timeconsuming,andcancostmore,also.•Youdon’tneedasmanycleaningsolutionsasyouthink.•Besuretotestandinspectvacuumsthoroughlyinthestoretoensurethatthevacuumhasastrongsuction.•Yourchoiceofmopdependsonyourfloorsurfacestobecleaned.

Chapter4

MIY:MakeItYourself

InThisChapter

•Goinggreenissimplysimple•Essentialoilessentials•Recipes•Freshisbest

“Ifit’sgreen,it’sbiology.Ifitstinks,it’schemistry.Ifithasnumbersit’smath.If it doesn’t work, it’s technology”—author unknown. To stir up your owncleaning concoctions, youwon’t need a Petri dish to grow green “stuff” or achemistrybooktodeciphersomeforeignsymbol.Thischapter teachesyoustep-by-stephealthyways tocleanwithproductsyoumakeathome.Essentialoilswillknockyoursocksoffwiththeirvarietyofusesand how well they work. They heal sores, clean, disinfect, and deodorize tonamejustafewoftheiruses.Iamnot“Idiot”enoughtoplungeintothewholespectrum of essential oils in this book. I do pluck you into the basics fornontoxic,effectivecleaning.Check out Appendix B for ready-to-use healthy alternatives if you are not amake-it-yourselfer(MIYer).

TheBasics

Nowthatthehairsonthebackofyourneckarecrawlingfromtheshockofallthesetoxicchemicals,herecomesthefunpart:recipesforecofriendlycleaningyoumakeathome.Yourshoppinglistincludesthefollowing:•Essentialoils;seethenextsection

•Oneplasticcontainerofbakingsodawithholesinthelid•Onegallondistilledwater—tapwaterdoesnotgiveconsistentresults•Organic liquiddish soap—theold standby liquiddish soapsare toxicandsofulloffillerstheybarelycleandishes

•Thirty-fivepercentfood-gradehydrogenperoxidefromahealthfoodstore•Nature’sMiracle(foundatmostpetstores)•Borax•Unscentedfoamingshavingcream•Lemons•Salt•Flour•Spraybottles•OliveoilCheap enough for you? If any of these are difficult to find, check theYellowPagesorAppendixB.Herearea few“essential” tipsbeforeyoubrewyourownconcoctions.Unlesshandled correctly, essential oils can be irritating and the results poor.Are youready?I’mready.

EssentialOils

Essentialoilsdatebackthousandsofyears.TheGreekgoddessAthenabroughtGreeks the gift of an olive tree. They used parts of it for heat, medicine,perfume,antiseptics,andfood.Suddenlylifeflashforwardsintothetwenty-firstcenturyandthevalueoftheseremarkableoilszipspastusfasterthanmydogusedtoclimbatreeafteracat.Evenwith a long history of proven results,mention “essential oils” andmostpeoplecringeasifyouareamythicalwizardoutofthefifteenthcentury.Let’s take a closer look into the marvels of these not-so-modern wonders.Essentialoilsarederivedfromplants.Adistillationprocessremovesthepartoftheplant thatgives theplant itsessence.Thismeansvariouspartsof theplantareuseddependingonwhichpartcontainstheessence.

Mary’sHandyHints

Thenexttimeantsdescendonyourhome,pourafewdropsofOilofClovesalongtheirpathratherthantoxicantkiller.Addsmallpilesofcornmeal. Ants can’t digest it, so they die. Use a funnel to pourcornmealintoananthive.Thisworksmagicon“fire”ants,whicharefoundmostlyinthesouth.

Rose oil comes from petals, cinnamon oil from bark, and lemon oil from therind.Rubyourhandsonthepithofanorangeandthensmelltheessenceoftheorangeonyourhands.Essentialoils arevolatile because they evaporate readily at room temperature.Anoil isessential in thesense that itcarriesadistinctivescent,oressence,ofjustoneplant.Hereareafewtermsyouwillhearoften:•Absoluteoils.Extractedbyasolventwhensteamdistillationmightdamagetheoil.

•Aromaticchemicals.Essential oils, eachofwhich contains about 100of itsowncombinationofaromaticchemicals,givingeachitsownuniquescent.

•Infusedoils.Vegetableoilssuchasalmondoilwithanessentialoiladdedtothem.

•Baseorcarrieroils.Thesearealwaysvegetable,nut,or seedoils.Essentialoils are highly concentrated andmust be diluted in a base oil before usingthemontheskin.

Somecommonbasesincludesweetalmond,apricotkernel,grapeseed,avocado,peanut, olive, pecan, macadamia nut, sesame, evening primrose, and walnut.Neverusemineraloilorbabyoilbecausethesearepetroleumproductsandareextremelydangerous.Oils possess antibacterial and antifungal functions and are excellent cleaning

aidsorairfresheners.Thelistoftheirusesisendless.Andtheywork.

Mary’sHandyHints

Wikipediacontainsafulllistofessentialoilsandtheirproperties.Typeen.wikipedia.org/wiki/ List_of_essential_oils into your browser.AppendixBlistssourcesforessentialoils.

KnowYourStuff

Ifyouthinktheodorsfromyourson’stennisshoesarestrong,takeawhiffofabottleofpurepeppermintoil.Oils arehighly concentrated andcan irritate theskin,socaremustbeusedwhenhandlingthem.Hereareafewthingstokeepinmindwhenbuyingandusingessentialoils:•Organic—means a farmer cannot use pesticides, weed killers, or syntheticfertilizers. To be organic, the plant or tree must be free of all chemicalresidues.

Buyonlycertifiedorganicallygrownoils,includingbaseoils.Essentialoilsarehighlyconcentratedsopesticidesabsorbedbytheplantsandtreesareinhigherconcentrationsintheoilandcanharmyou.Ridyourlifeoftoxins;don’taddtoit.

• Therapeutic grade—means the oil has been extracted in such amanner as to derive as many of the fragile aromatic compounds aspossible resulting in a high-grade oil. Always purchase therapeutic,

cold-pressed,organicessentialoils.• Heated oils loose their potency. Cheaper, bargain oils are poorquality, are often heated, and usually contain filler oils that are notrecognizedbaseoils.Alwaysbuycold-pressedoils.• Store essential oils in amber or dark-colored glass bottles in therefrigerator. Be sure to place them inside airtight containers so theiraromaswill not affect your food.Exposure to light, oxygen, or heatcauseschemicalchangesintheoilovertime.•Always read the precautionary statements before you use essentialoils.Mostwebsitescarryinghigh-qualityoilslisttheoils’adversesideeffects.Readthem.

Thenoseknows.Smellyouroilstoensurethattheyarefresh.Essentialoilsdonotgorancid.However,carrieroilscangorancidandemitaratherunpleasantodor.

Mary’sHandyHints

Someessential oilmanufacturersusepetroleumdistillates as a filler.Distillatesarecarcinogenic.Placeafewdropsofyouroilonablottingpaper. One hundred percent pure oils don’t leave a residue afterthey’veevaporated.Petroleumsolventsleavearesidue.

OilsforCleaningandDisinfecting

Whenweweregrowingup, our folkswouldgroundus if they ever caught ussweepingdirtundertherugtoshortcutourcleaningchores.Inyearspast,peopleswept sweet smelling herbs under the rug.When youwalked over them, theyemitted their essence and gave the rooma breath of fresh air—or rather freshherb.Severaloilsnotonlywillgiveyourhomealiftofspirit,butwillcleanitaswell.The following is a listof themorecommoncleaningherbs.After this list,wegiveyoutheformulasforcleaningjustabouteverythinginyourhome.Alwaysweargloveswhenworkingwithteatreeoilorlavenderbecausetheycanirritatetheskin.Lemonandlimeoilsarefarsafer.Pineisoneofthebestoilsforcleaning.Rememberthatthefollowinglistofoilsforcleaningdoesnotmeanyouneedtopurchase all of them. Startwith one or two of the least expensive oils to seewhetheryou likeusing them.Mostoilshavedualuses.For instance,cloveoilcleansandgetsridofpeskyants.Most important, have funwith your oils.Choose the ones that appeal to you.Onlyafewdropsareneededtomakeacleanersoonebottlewilllastayearorlongerifstoredproperly.Alltheseoilsareexcellentforcleaning:•Cinnamon.Antiseptic,aswellasamindandbodystimulant.•Clove.Antiseptic,andrepelsants.•Geranium.Antiseptic,disinfectant,andcleaner.Natural insectrepellent.Useas a tick repellent for dogs and humans. Add from 5 to 10 drops to carpetshampootorepelfleas.

•Lavenderoil.Antiseptic,antifungal,andairfreshener.Repelsmoths,souseitin carpet shampoo for wool carpet. Use it instead of dryer sheets; see thesection“LaundryBliss,”laterinthischapter.

• Lemon or lime oil. Antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, and deodorizer.Excellentincleaners,furniturepolish,floorcleaner,andcarpetshampoo.

•Lemongrass.Antiseptic,repelsinsects,isagoodcleaningagent.•Orangeorsweetorangeoil.Thisoilislistedasawarningbecauseitisusedinmanycleaners.Mostorangeoilcontainsd-limonenewhichhasbeenlinkedtocancer.

•Oregano. Antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, anti-infectious, andantiparasitic.

•Pine.Cleaner,deodorizer,antibacterial,disinfectant,andantiseptic.• Rosemary. Antiseptic, dishwashing liquid, deodorizer, cleaner, and wood

cleaner.•Teatree.Disinfectant,antiseptic,cleaner,deodorizer,andairfreshener.•Thyme.Antiseptic,antibacterial,antimicrobial,disinfectant,andcleaner.•Verbenaorlemonverbena.Alsocalledlemonmyrtleit’sanantimicrobial,adisinfectant,andacleaner.

DirtyWords

Lavender and tea tree oil have hormone-like effects, which raisesestrogen levels and lowers male sex hormones. Never apply themdirectly to the skin over a long period of time.Women with breastcancershouldnotusetheseoils,evenincleaners.

RecipesfortheKitchen

If Ididn’tcarrymyown lineofnontoxiccleaners, the followingwouldbe therecipesIwouldtosstogether.Whenusingaready-madeall-purposecleanersuchasmyCleanEz,Bi-O-Kleen,orTheCleanTeam’sRedJuice,youcanstillgetalittlefunkywithitbyaddinganessentialoil.Pine,rosemary,orthymearegoodchoices.Addfrom3to4dropsperdilutedbottle.All-purpose cleaners are used to clean areas such as showers, toilets,countertops,andappliances.

Mary’sHandyHints

When mixing your own cleaners, always use distilled water. Waterqualitiesvaryevenwithinatown.Thatvariationwillputthekabootzonyourhomemadecleaners.

All-PurposeCleaner

Makesa32-ouncespraybottle.2teaspoonsborax4tablespoonswhitevinegar4cupshotwater½teaspoonlemonoil2dropspineoil2dropsorganicliquiddishsoapMix together in the order of the recipe, stirring until the dryingredientsdissolve.Pourintospraybottle.DonotuseonCorian,granite,ormarblecountertops.Corian,granite,andmarble:Donotuseanykindofcleaneronthesecountertopsbecauseitwillruinthem.MaryMoppinsBenyais one exception that canbeusedon these surfaces, or you canmix three drops of verbena essential oil in a 32-ouncebottle ofdistilledwater.Verbenaisanexcellentdisinfectantanddoesabitofcleaningaswell.Disinfectant: First spraywith3percent hydrogenperoxide.Donotuseperoxidethatismorethansixmonthsoldbecauseitwillhave lost its fizzle.Fill a second32-ouncebottlewith⅓cupofdistilledwhitevinegar; then fill itwithwater.Spray the surface

first with the peroxide solution; then follow with the vinegarsolution.Remembertomarkyourbottles.Althoughmoreexpensive,Nature’sMiracle(foundatpetstores)isanexcellentalternative.IshouldownstockinthiscompanyforallofitI sell for them. Nature’s Miracle contains enzymes that eatbacteria.Sprayonthesurface,wait5minutes,andthenwipedry.It’sevensafeforCorian,granite,andmarblesurfaces.Floor cleaners. See Chapter 10 for specifics on floor care andcleaners.Scouring powder. Sprinkle baking soda on the area to bescoured, and scrub itwith a damp cloth.Crush an oregano leafontothespotforanaromaticsmellanditsdisinfectingabilities.Dishwasher detergent. Here is a recipe that works fairly wellandcostslessthan10¢perload.NOTE:Iamveryhesitanttousea homemade dishwasher detergent because it might clog yourdishwasher.

DishwasherDetergent

1cupborax1cupbakingsoda¼cupseasalt¼cupcitricacid(availableathealthfoodstores)30dropsoflemonorgrapefruitessentialoilYou need a large bowl with a lid. Mix together the aboveingredients. Shake the dry ingredients thoroughly. Place smallbatches in the blender and pulverize. Do notmix continuously.Pourbackintothebowl,addingtheessentialoil.Storeinaglassjar.Useonetablespoonineachdispensercup.Ovencleaner.Mixwashingsodawithorganicliquiddishsoaporan all-purpose cleaner such as CleanEz, Red Juice from TheCleanTeam,orBi-O-Kleenandfivedropsofpineessentialoiltoformathickpaste.Plasterontheovenwalls.Wait30-60minutes;thenscrubwithadampenedwhitescrubpadornonabrasivepad.

Airfreshener:See thesection“NaturallyFreshHome,” later inthischapter.Drainopener:Mostkitchendrainshavedisposals,andtheusualremedyofbakingsodaandvinegarwilldamageadisposal.Savethis combo for bathroom sinks and shower drains. To cure thekitchendraindilemma,bringonequartofwatertoaboil.Turnoffthe stove and addone tablespoonof organic liquiddishwashingdetergent. Pour this amount down each drain using a funnel todirectthewaterintothedrainandnotthesink.Glass cleaner: In a new 32-ounce spray bottle, add ⅓ cupdistilled white vinegar, 1 tablespoon organic dishwasherdetergent,and2-3dropsofverbenaessentialoil.Shakethebottlethoroughlyuntilallthedetergenthasdissolved.Finishfillingthebottlewithdistilledwaterleavingenoughroomtoshakeandmixthe concoction. Eliminate the detergent should it spot thewindows.

Mary’sHandyHints

Prevention is not only key to speed cleaning, but alsokeeps you ahead of potential problems like cloggeddrains.Once amonth, pour a cupofNature’sMiracledown each drain before retiring for the night. Thenaturally occurring enzymes in Nature’s Miracle eatawayatthedebristhatgenerallyclogsdrains.

Silver polish: Put a sheet of aluminum foil into a glass bowl.Sprinklethefoilwithsaltandbakingsodaandthenfillthebowlwith warm water. Soak your silver in the bowl. The tarnishmigratestothefoillikemagic!Dryandbuff.Crystalcleaner:Usetheglasscleanerrecipe.Brass: Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle it with salt, and rub thelemononthemetal.Buffwithasoftcloth.Copper:Makeapastewithequalpartswhitevinegar,flour,andsalt.Wipe iton thecopper letting itset foranhour.Buffwithacloth.Tomatosauceworksfasterbutismoreexpensive.Aluminum cleaners: Scour the aluminum with a paste ofcalciumcarbonate,organicliquiddishsoap,andborax.

BathroomAlternatives

WhenwehitChapter7,onbathrooms,pickupmyhandypreventivetipsandI’llteachyoumyprecisioncleaningtipstozipyouthroughthebathroom.Hereisagood recipe for cleaning the shower. Or if you are like me and don’t like amultitudeofbottles,usetheall-purposecleanerrecipeforkitchens.

ShowerCleaner

1cupbakingsoda⅓cupborax½cupliquidsoap2tablespoonsvinegar1cupwarmwater4dropspineorlemonessentialoilMixsoda,borax,andsoap.Addwater,mixinguntilthesodaandboraxhavedissolved.Useafunnelandpourintoanarrowneckedbottle. Then add vinegar and oil. This recipe will bubble andfizzle just a little due to the combinationof vinegar andbakingsoda. Pour onto a damp cloth, clean the surface, and then rinsethoroughlytoavoidleavingaresidue.

Bi-O-Kleen,CleanEz,orRedJuicefromTheCleanTeamdoanexcellent job cleaning bathroom showers and tubs. Neverpurchasecleanersthatcomeready-to-use(RTU))becausethecostis high compared to concentrated products. Plus, RTU productsmean another plastic bottle headed to the landfill. Themanufacturing process to make plastics requires enormousamountsofenergy.Toilet bowl cleaner: Spray the toilet bowl with an all-purposecleaner.Sprinkleinabitofbakingsodaorborax.Wait5minutesandscrubwithanylonscrubbrush.Bathroom drains: Use the same technique to unclog thebathroom drain as you did for the kitchen drain. You can alsopour ½ cup baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup ofboiling vinegar to clear the drain.UseNature’sMiracle once amonthbeforebedtopreventanyfurtherclogs.Mildewremover:Mixa50/50solutionofa35percentsolutionoffood-gradehydrogenperoxide(foundinhealthfoodstores)towater.Call thehealth foodstore first tobecertain it is instock.Alternatively,mixenoughwaterwithboraxtoformaveryliquidpaste,adding5or6dropsoflemonoiltoaidinkillingthemold.Yourbathroomwillsmellfresh,too.

DirtyWords

Never use a toilet bowl brush that contains a metalpiece that holds the nylon bristles. They scratch thetoilet.

Wipe or spray on the mildewed areas. Wait 30 minutes andrepeat. Then wait two hours. Next, clean with straight whitevinegarandlet thatsetovernight.Donotshortcut thisrecipebymixing vinegar and peroxide together. Combined, they negateeachother’seffectivenessasmoldkillers.

HealthyDusting

Makeyourownfurniturepolishbymixingseveraldropsoflemonessentialoiltogetherwith liquid beeswax.Never use olive oil for a furniture polish or oncuttingboards.Itturnsrancidwhenexposedtolight,heat,andair.Upholstery cleaner: I have always found using foaming shaving cream (gelshavingcreamdoesnotwork)onupholstered furniturewas theeasiestway toremove stains.Liquid cleaners soak throughupholstery too quickly to removethe stain and can form toxic fumes when combined with the fire retardantsappliedtothefabric.Foamingshavingcreamsitsontop,givingtheproducttimetowork.

DirtyWords

Reread Chapter 2 for warnings about linseed oil. Stay away fromlinseedoilinbothyourownhomemadepolishandthosepurchasedinastorebecauseitwillspontaneouslycombust.

LaundryBliss

It is far too easy to damage a washing machine with homemade laundrydetergentbrews.Bi-O-KleenandTheCleanTeam’sRedJuicearebothexcellentproducts.Adddistilledwhitevinegartothewashcycle.Itisanexcellentcleanerand boosts the cleaning ability of your detergent, so you need less detergent.Howmuchless?Thisdependsonindividualcircumstancesandwaterhardness.Testing is the onlyway to knowhowmuch to use. Startwith½ cup and addmore if needed. Also add ½ cup vinegar to the rinse cycle to remove soapresidue, soften the clothes, and prevent static cling. Yee haw—nomore dryersheetsgoingintothelandfillortoxicfabricsoftenersattackingourwatersupply.Bleach: Switch to hydrogen peroxide for your laundry. Bleach turns whiteclothesdingy.Useboraxasanalternative.Moth repellant: To protect your fabrics, grab a cheese cloth and fill it withcedarchips,lavenderleaves,eucalyptus,cinnamonsticks,orbayleaves—oranycombinationofthese.Thiseliminatestheneedformothballs.

NaturallyFreshHome

Sprayairfreshenersareexpensive.Thedropletslingerforseveraldays,andasyou walk through the mist, you inhale them into your lungs. Plug-in airfreshenersareexpensivetotheenvironmentandemittoxicchemicalsasdothesprays.SeeChapter16forthelowdownonairfresheners.Let’stryafewothertrickstofreshenyourhomenaturally:•Buyaplantinstead.CheckoutChapter16forplants thatpurify theairandaddafreshscent.

•Usefreshlilies.Thesealwaysaddawonderfularomatoyourhome.•Plantaromaticflowersinyouryardorgardenthatcanbecutforflowerarrangements. Research gardening books for spring, summer, and fallbloomingflowerssoyouhavenearlyayear-roundsupply.

•Mixanessentialoilwithdistilledwaterandshaketomix.Spritzabitontothecarpet fora refreshing, inexpensive,healthyalternative to retail roomairfresheners.

•Boila50/50mixtureofwhitevinegartowaterfor10minutestogetridoflastnight’sfishyodor.Addadropofyourfavoriteessentialoilordropinaclove,bayleaf,sliceoflemon,orbitofcinnamonforawonderfulfreshscent.

EcofriendlyProducts

Companies seem to get awaywithmakingwild claims that their products arenontoxic and environmentally friendly when actually they might be just theopposite. Look for theGreen Seal ofApproval or other nationally recognizedsealsofapproval.Remember that themereactofmanufacturinganyproductplacesaburdenontheenvironment.Lookforspecificinformationonabottle.Doesitclaimtobebiodegradable? If so, does it state how long it takes to biodegrade? Look forclueslike“nophosphates”ratherthan“Earthfriendly”orsomeotherlooseterm.Then check for contradictions. If it says it’s biodegradable on one side of thebottleandhasthetoxicwarningslistedinChapter2,thenleavetheproductontheshelf.AppendixBguidesyoutoalistofEarth-friendlyproducts.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Make-it-yourself cleaners and body care productsmight take time,butthecostsavingstoyouandMotherEartharerewarding.• Making friends with essential oils is healthy for your home andhealingforyoubecausemanyofthemcureaches,pains,andillnesses.•Mosthealthfoodstorescarrycleaners,personalbodycareitems,aswellasfoodinbulk,thusreducingtheimpactofpackaging.

Chapter5

ScheduleIt:CleaningChores,ThatIs

InThisChapter

•Whyyouneedacleaningschedule•Createaschedulethatworksforyou•Dailyandweeklyto-dolist•Thebigstuffcounts,too:quarterlyandyearlychores

Do you remember the last time youmade an appointment and showed up ontime,onlytofindoutthepersonyouweretoseewasrunningtwohourslate?Orperhapsyouleftworkinthemiddleofameetingtoattendyourchild’sathleticprogram, only to find it was nearly over and no one told you about the timechange?Hmm…itseemslikeit’stimetoscheduleatimetoscheduleyourtime.Ifthatlast sentence made sense—or even if it didn’t—followme into this world ofscheduling.Youmightgetsogoodatsettingschedulesthatyou’llturnitintoapaidhobby.Thischapterteachesyouhowtomeldcleaningintoyourdailylifesoitbecomessecondnature.

TheSchedulingCountdown

Acleaningscheduleisn’tlikeapairofone-size-fits-alltights.Everyone’shomevaries in its layout, size, number of floors, and doodads. Before plotting acleaningschedule,surveytheinteriorandexteriorofyourhomeandtakenotesonthese:•All areas that need cleaning. This one’s simple: If you see it, you need tocleanit.Scaneachroomfromtoptobottommakingnoteofeverythingfromfurnituretoceilingfans.

• Items that can be stored behind glass. Tiny, decorative objects take

considerable time to clean. If you can, put them behind a glass cabinet andcleanthemfourtimesayear;it’sbetterthanweekly.

•How frequently youneed to clean each room. If used infrequently, roomslike a formal living, dining room, and spare bedrooms might need only amonthly cleaning. Rotate them on a weekly cleaning schedule so that eachroom is cleaned once a month, leaving time to clean other things likebaseboards.

HandingOutTasks

Withnotesinhand,createaschedule(wegiveyouasamplelaterinthechapter).Take into account what needs cleaning and when. Include familymembers iftheyarepresentinyourhome;keepinmindchildren’sagesandabilities.Okay,nowwheredoyoustart?Startbyrememberingthereisnorightorwrongway to set a cleaning schedule. Simply stick to the schedule you set. It willchange as children grow and circumstances change. Before you bring familymemberstogetherforchoreassignments,though,organizethecleaninglistyoumade.If you are a two-member household, weekly chores will include vacuuming,dampmopping,andkitchenduty.Thedustingandbathroomscansqueakbywithtwice-monthly cleanings. Alternate chores weekly among family members,especiallypetcare,soonepersonisn’tstuckscoopingpoopfortheentiremonth.

NamingNames

Everyone should help with chores whether they are children, spouses,roommates, or parents and adult childrenwho havemoved back inwith you.Whenyouarereadytotalktothehouseholdaboutchores,don’tapproachthemin ameekmanner. Firmly but kindly express that the choreswill be done, ontime.Any hesitation on your part sends a clearmessage that you don’tmeanwhatyousay.Yourdirectiveswillbeignored.Make this fun by gathering everyone around the table and perhaps playing aboardorcardgame.Thewinnergetsfirstchoiceastothechoreshewilldofor

the week (this needs to be consistent with the above where I mentionedswitching jobsweekly); keep going down the line. Perhaps the nextweek theloserselectsthechoresthewinnerdoesforthatweek.Getcreative,buthavefun.

Mary’sHandyHints

Assoonasachild is steadilywalking,he isoldenough toputawaytoys.Startachildyoung.Itpaysoffwith lesswhiningin lateryears.Lavishthepraiseandrememberthatkidsarenotlittleadultsandwillnotaccomplishajoblikeanadult.

LittleGreenCleaners:GettingKidstoHelp

Childrenarelikebabyducks:lead,theyfollow.Youcan’texpectthemtopickuptheir room, set the table, or helpwith dinnerwhen the house is cluttered andneedscleaninganddinnerisalwayslate.Youngchildrenwon’tdo things toyourexpectations.Aone-year-oldwillmissthe toy box. At two, the toy won’t go in neatly, but by three, most kids canmasterneatness.Encouragethemwithpraiselike,“Wow,yougottheteddybearinthebox—waytogo.”Kidsofallagesstophelpingiftheyarecriticized.Rewardthemwithpersonaltimewithyou,notwithmoney.Keeptheallowanceoutofit.Alotofpeoplewillobject.Childrenareapartofthefamily,andeachmember should contribute. They can be paid for chores beyond their weeklychoresiftheywanttoearnextramoney.Anallowanceisasetamounteachweek

whethertheygettheirchoresdoneWhathappensifthechilddoesnotdohischores?Youhavetodothechoreforhim,whichmeansyounolongerhavetimetotakehimtopracticeoraccomplishothernecessarytasks.TurntheTVandcomputeroffandmakesureyourchilddoesn’tgoanywhereuntilchoresandhomeworkarefinished.It’scalledresponsibility.Ifyourchildmissespracticebecausehedidn’tgethischoresorhomeworkdone,thenhesitsoutthenextgame.Itwon’thappenagain.Givinginevenoncemeansyoulosefaceandwillbepushedtothelimitforeverafter.

DirtyWords

Watch what you say around your children. If you express yourdispleasure towardhousework,guesswhatattitudeyourchildrenwillhave?Getridofthe“stinkin’thinkin’.”

Even two-year-olds can clear their plates and take them to the kitchen. Say,“Julie, I’m takingmyplate to thekitchen.Bringyours andwe’ll rinse it off.”Kidslovetoplayinwater,sohavethempullastooluptothesinkandrinseoffthedishes.Notsurewhichtasktoschedulewhen?Readonforthebreakdownofwhenandwhyyoudowhat.

DailyDuties

Eachdayyoufaceadozenlittle tasks thatrequireonlyafewminutesof time.Thosefewminutesarekeytokeepingyourhomefrombecomingadisaster.Youcanspendafewminutesnowcleaningorhourslaterafterthedirtbuildsup:•Putthingsawayasyoufinishusingthem.Promisingtoputitawaylaterequalsclutter.Promiseonething—putitawaynow.

• Air the beds. You sweat during the night, especially with “night sweats.”Throwbackthesheetsandairthebedwhileyoushower.

• Make the beds. Isn’t it nice to come home to a neatly made bed? Also,remember that your children copy your example so give themgood ones tofollow.

•Rinsethedishesandputtheminthedishwasheraftereverymeal.Eachfamilymember shoulddoher owndishes.My father had a rule in our homeaboutcatchingfish.“Youcatchit,youcleanit,youcookit,youeatit.”Youeatoffit,youcleanit.

•Keepaspraybottleofanall-purposecleanerunderthesink,alongwithacleanrag.Sprayanyspillson thestove immediately.Let itsetwhileyoueat; thenwipeitaway.Easy!

•Each night clean one additional kitchen surface, such as a countertop or themicrowave.By the endof theweek, thekitchenwill be cleanwith it takingyouonlytwoorthreeminutespernight.

•Startaloadoflaundryrightbeforeyoumakedinner.Beforeyouputdinneronthetable,yourclotheswillbereadytoputinthedryer.Theclotheswillthenbedrybythetimedinnerends.

•Ifyourhouseholdincludesdogs,cats,orrambunctious12-year-olds,keepfuranddirtundercontrolwithdailyvacuuming.

•Attheendofeveryday,tearoutofthepaperanyarticlesorcouponsyouneedandtosstherest,alongwithjunkmail,intotherecyclebin.

Mary’sHandyHints

Refill your spray bottles that holds your cleaner after you finishcleaning.Thenifaspillarises,thebottleisreadyforfastaction.

Theideabehinddailychoresistogetasimpletaskoutofthewaysoyoudon’tshudderandsay,“Oh,Imeanttodothatyesterday.”Keepingaheadoftheselittlethingsmeansyoudon’tneedtoxiccleanersforscrubbingthetoughstuff.

WeeklyWork

Asyoureadthischapter,themoreinvolvedchoresneedtobedonelessandlessfrequently. Weekly chores are heavier than daily chores. Monthly chores areheavier still. By the time you get to yearly chores, we’ll have you pushingbouldersuphills!Asyoulookovertheschedule,youmightneedtoshiftweeklychorestoeveryotherweek.Youmightneedtocleanbathroomsordustonlyeveryotherweek.Ifso,thenschedulethedustingforoneweekandthebathroomsforthenext:•Changeandlaundersheetsandpillowcases.WediscusslaundryinChapter14.•Gothroughtherefrigeratorandtossanythingthatsmellsbad.WecoverkitchencleaninginChapter6.

•Getacleandampcloth,squirtitwithabitofliquiddishsoap,andwipearoundcabinet handles. Oil from your hands quickly deteriorates most sealants, socleaning thecabinethandlesweeklycaneliminate theneed foranexpensiverefinishingjob.

DirtyWords

Usemicrofiberonglassonly.Microfiberhasbeentoutedasamiraclecloth, but it’s 80 percent polyester or plastic.Microfiber cleanswithwateronlybecauseplasticscratchesthedirtoffthesurface.Becauseitdoesn’t know where the dirt ends and the sealant, finish, or paintbegins,over time, it removes the sealant fromanysurface, includingwalls,furniture,vehicles,andflooring.

•Add kitchens to yourweekly to-do list.Do this if you don’t cleansections of the kitchen nightly, as we recommended in the “DailyDuties”section.FollowtheinstructionsinChapter6.• Even if you don’t need to clean your bathrooms everyweek, spotcleanthetoiletandcounter.SeeChapter7.• If you live in a dusty area like a desert,weekly dusting is amust.Sandanddustaccumulateinthegrainsofwood,dryingandcrackingit.Regularcarekeepsitintip-topshape.•Sweepanddamp-mophardfloorsurfaces.InstructionsforfloorcareareincludedinChapter10.•Cleantheblindsorday/nightshadesinoneortworoomseachweekdependingonthenumberofblindsinyourhome.•Vacuumatleastthemaintrafficareasweekly.

Somepeopleprefer to scatter jobs throughout theweek rather thancram theminto one day. If you fit this description, decide which day you’ll dust, cleanbathrooms,vacuum,anddamp-mopthefloors;thensticktothatschedule.

Mary’sHandyHints

Here’sa tip forcleaning thosepeskyVenetianblinds:barelydampen

anoldsock,putitoveryourhand,andrunyoursockedhandovertheslats.

TwiceIsNice

Youneedtodothesetaskseveryotherweektokeepyourhomeintip-topshape:•CleanthebathroomsfollowingtheinstructionsinChapter7.•Ifyoucangetbywithdustingeveryotherweek,consideralternatingdustingoneweekwithbathroomcleaningthenext.

•Thoroughlyvacuumthecarpet.SeeChapter10.•Cleanthedrippansonyourstoveandthestovehood.•Don’tforgettheformalroomsandsparebedrooms.It’s easy to push twice-monthly tasks off for another time. Keep on schedulewiththem.Pushingthembackonlyallowstheseless-frequentprojects tobuildontopofeachother.Thenyou’llfeelstressedbecauseyouhavesomuchworktodo.

MonthlyMissions

Some of these tasks are ones you might not normally think of until they goundoneforsolongthatyouhavetonoticethem:•Sweepthegarage,patio,sidewalks,andotheroutdoorareas.•Cleanpatiofurnitureduringthemonthsitisinuse.•Dustthecobwebsinsidethehouse.•Wipedownbaseboards,doors,anddoorwaysintworoomsofthehouse.Thisway,theentirehomeiscleanedtwiceayear.

•Changeorcleanfurnacefiltersiftheairconditionerorfurnaceisrunning.Dothisonceperquarterinoffseasons.

•PouranorganicenzymeproductsuchasNature’sMiracle(foundinpetstores)downeachdrainatnightbeforeretiring.Itcontainsenzymesthateatthegunkin your drain. Plus, it’s healthy for the environment because it eats nasty

bacteriainthesewers.•Wipeofffabricfurnitureusingadrysponge.•Dustwallhangings.AsI’vegottenolder,ithasbecomeeasiertospreadchoresoutabitsotheydon’tseemsooverwhelming.Sotackletwoofthesechoreseveryweekorgathertheclanforanall-daymarathon.Whenmysonwasyoungandwedidthemarathon,hegottochooseafamilyoutingafterthecleaningwasdone.

DirtyWords

Sweepyourdrivewayratherthanusingpreciouswatertohoseitdown.Hosing takes farmore time than youwould spend hanging onto theendofabroom.Gatherthekids,haveaball,andgetsomeexercisebyrakingandsweeping.

OneQuarterataTime

Ifyouare likemeandfind ithard to remember toschedulequarterlycleaningtasks,thenletthechangeoftheseasonsbeyourreminder.Otherwise,markyoucalendarforJanuary,April,July,andOctober:•Cleankitchenandbathroomcabinetswithacleanermadeespeciallyforwood.•Remove cobwebs from the eaves of the house.You can use a broom to batthem away and end up with cobweb hair, or you can grab a mop with anextensionhandleandanoldterryclothtowel.Extendthehandle,tossthetoweloverthemophead,andhaveatthecobwebs.Cobwebswillsticktoyourtowelratherthanyourhair.

•WipedownwallsforfingerprintsusingCleanEzorRedJuicefromTheCleanTeam.Never use dish soap because it leaves a residue thatwill gumup thepaintthenexttimeyoupaint.

•Cleanwindowswhenevertheylookdirtyorthestarsarenolongervisibleonaclearnight.

•Lightfixturesshouldbecleanedatleasttwiceayear,andquarterlyifyouliveinadustyarea.Somelightfixturesareattachedwithhinges.Spritzalint-freeclothwithyourcleanerandwipeitover theglass.Useaseconddryclothtodryit.Loosenthehinge,droptheglass,anddotheotherside.

•Vacuumand clean refrigerator coils and filters. SeeChapter 6 for details oncleaning.

•Cleanceilingfans.SeeChapter11fordetails.•Remove the contents of one section of your kitchen cabinets. Toss anythingunused,pasttheexpirationdate,orthatyoudon’trememberwhenyouboughtit.Cleantheshelves.

• Clean hanging chandeliers. Most lighting shops carry a spray to clean thebaubleswithoutremovingthem.Coverfurniturewithplasticandplacetowelsontoptocatchdrips.

Mary’sHandyHints

Stay focused on the chore at hand. Cleaning is not the time tomultitask.Youbuildspeedasyouclean.Everytimeyoustoptodealwiththelaundryoranotherchore,ittakestimetogetbackuptospeed.

YearlyYowls

Great things happen annually: holidays, your birthday, your anniversary—andthesespecialcleaningchores:•Twiceayear,atthebeginningofsummerandwinter,replacethefiltersinyourforced-airheatingsystem.

• Clean the lint out of your dryer vent every sixmonths to prevent fires andincreasethedryer’sefficiency.Detachtheductthatleadsoutsidethehouseandcleantheventwithabrushorrag.

•Haveyourfurnaceductscleanedprofessionally.• Check for mold in bathrooms and treat it if necessary by cleaning with 35percentfood-gradehydrogenperoxide.

•Moveallheavyfurnituretocleanbehindandunderneathit.•Cleanyourclosets.

Mary’sHandyHints

Use a wet or dry vac to clean the dryer hose. The extension tubereachesthelengthofthehose.

If time is tight, don’t hesitate to skip a weekly cleaning to attend to theseimportantbuttime-consumingtasks.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Cleaningschedulesshouldrunfuss-freeliketheyaresecondnature.• Speak positively about keeping a clean home so it is fun for thefamily.

•Preventioniskey,soattendtothedailytasks.•Keepacleaningcalendargoingsoyouknowwhoisonfirstandwhatisonsecond.

Part2

Room-by-RoomCleaningGuide

Aroomisaroomisaroom—whipoutsomeol’cleanerandaragandjustgetthejobdone.Right?Notquite.Eachroomhasitsownchallengesandindividualcleaningneeds.Fromthekitchenwhereyourshinystainlesssteeldullswithoilyfingerprints, to the bathroomswhere the “throne”may not be so royal.We’llhelpyoumeetthechallengeofcleaningeachroomusingnontoxiccleanersandsafetools.

Chapter6

KitchenDuty

InThisChapter•Attackingthegermsinyourkitchen•Scouringsinks,drains,andgarbagedisposals•Cleaningthebigstuff•Speakingofcookware

“Builditandtheywillcome.”JustasinthemovieFieldofDreams,wedoalotofourdreaminginthekitchensippingonacupoftea.Thefamilyalsogathersinthe kitchen to plan the week, talk about the day’s happenings, laugh, and ohyeah,eat.Familymembers are not the only ones drawn to the kitchen.Germs, bacteria,ants,roaches,andspidersinvadethisspaceindroves.Bacteriagrowthexplodeson any morsel of food. You don’t need a magnifying glass to find out whatinvadedtheonce-white-but-now-turned-greensauceinthebackofthefridge.This chapterprepsyou in theartof cleaninganddisinfectingevery surface inyourkitchenaunatural.Nodisease-causingchemicalsallowed.Put thekiboshon those germs without turning your home and your body into a toxic wastedump.

AliveinYourKitchen

ThisisanotherchapterwhereIturnallserious.Towit:TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionestimatesthat76millionAmericansgetsick;morethan300,000 are hospitalized; and 5,000 die from food-borne illnesses each year.Childrenarethemostatriskthentheelderly,peoplewithcompromisedimmunesystems,andpregnantwomen.At home, we lose the battle against viruses and bacteria by not washing our

hands,undercookingfood,leavingfoodsitout,andallowingmeatjuicetodripon counters or cutting boards. The germs cause nausea, diarrhea, abdominalcramping,fever,andsometimesbloodystools.Herearesomeofthelittlebugsthatmightbelivinginyourfoodandyourkitchen:• Shigellosis. Lurks in milk, dairy products, and poultry. Dirty hands andundercookedfoodscausethesebugstomultiplyinyourfood.

•Campylobacteriosis bacteria. Are found in poultry, cattle, and sheep. Thechiefsourcesarerawpoultry,meat,andunpasteurizedmilk.

•Listeriosis. Hides out in soft cheese, unpasteurized milk, imported seafoodproducts, frozen cooked crab meat, cooked shrimp, and imitation shellfish.Heatdoesnotkillit.

Mary’sHandyHints

Learn more about food-borne illnesses and prevention at thesewebsites: Fight Bac! (www.fightbac.org), The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/health/foodill.htm), andGovernmentFoodSafety(www.foodsafety.gov).

Nowthatyouhavetheidea,let’sgreenyourkitchenusingnontoxicmethodsandroustthebuggersoutoftheirhidingplaces.

SinkSecrets

Thekitchensinkrulestheroostwhenitcomestocontaminatedkitchensurfaces.Fromdirtydishestofillingthedog’sdishtopouringsourfoodintothedisposal,thesinkdoesdoubledutyabsorbingeveryimaginablegerminthehouse.You’d better sit down for this one: according to a University of Arizonamicrobiologist,thereismorefecalmatterinyourkitchensinkthaninyourtoilet.Aftercleaningthesink,wipeitwitha50/50solutionofwhitevinegartowaterfollowedbyhydrogenperoxide—theecofriendlywaytodisinfect.Ifyouneed tobatheyourbabyorpet in thesink,clean thesinkafterwardsasinstructedpreviously.Theirlittlebottomsarepreciousbuttheirfecalmatterdoesnotbelonginyoursink.Followmetoshiny,germ-freesinks.

StainlessSteel

Stainless-steelsinkstendtospotorrust.Grabahandfulofbakingsoda,asquirtof liquiddishsoap,abitofhotwater,andabrush.Scruband thendry,whichpreventsrustandwatermarks.Whenstubbornwatermarksgetyourdanderriled,layanolddishclothontopofthemarks and saturate itwithwhite vinegar. Scrub itwith baking soda.Thenremovetherustwithfresh-squeezedlemonjuiceandsalt.

CastIronandPorcelain

Thesesinksstaineasilysodon’tleavedirtydishessittinginthem.Trustme,youwillattempttobanishastainonetimeandneveragainleavedishesinthesink.Usea soft cloth todry the sinkafter eachuse;otherwise, thewater spotswillwinkatyouandwon’tcomeout.Do not use microfiber to dry or clean any sink. Made from 80-85 percentpolyester,whichisplastic,theseclothswilleventuallyscratchthesealantoffanysurface.

Mary’sHandyHints

Use rinse baskets and sink mats to protect porcelain and cast-ironsinks.

Mixapasteofhydrogenperoxideandbakingsoda,andthenrubthesinkgentlywithasoftcloth toremovestains.Steelwoolandabrasivespongepadsareonmyhit listof thingsnot touseonasink.Cleanacast-ironsinkregularlywithliquiddishsoap.

VitreousChinaandFireclay

Dryvitreouschinaandfireclaysinksaftereachuselikeyoudocastiron.Abitofliquiddishwashingdetergentdoesagood jobcleaning them.Usecautionwithabrasive cleaners because theywill scratch.Borax canbe usedoccasionally ifit’sdissolvedfirst.

Composite,Acrylic,Quartz,Marble,andGranite

Donotsethotpans,dishescontainingacidicfoodsuchastomatosauce,orteaorcoffeecupsdirectlyon thesesinksbecause theystaineasilyandacidsetch thesurface. Clean these sinks frequently with a mild detergent. Mix a paste ofhydrogenperoxideandbakingsodatoremovestains.

Corian

Thathot tomatosalsasurespicedupyour tastebuds,but it left stainsonyourCoriansink.RinsedishesthoroughlybeforesettingtheminaCoriansink.Remove stains by first soaking themwith hydrogen peroxide as you do withcompositesinks.Scrubwithabitofbakingsodaafter theperoxidehasset for15-20minutes.

Mary’sHandyHints

Cleansinkstoppersandrubbersinkmatsbysoakingtheminhotsudsywaterforanhour,adding¼cupofborax.Scrubwithascrubbrushorwhitescrubpad.

PreventGunkyDrains

After pouring grease, oil, food scraps, and who knows what else down ourdrains,littlewondertheyclogandsmell.Whentheydoclog,peopleoftenturnto drain openers that contain toxic chemicals like lye, sodium hydroxide, andsodiumhypochlorite.Herearesafealternativesforsmooth-flowingdrains:•Mixacupofwhitevinegar,½cupofwater,andtwotablespoonsofsalt inapan;bringittoaboil.Turnofftheheat,andaddtwotablespoonsofliquiddish

soap.Pourthisdownthedrain,wait30minutes,andthenflushwithplentyofhotwater.

•Onceamonth,pour twocupsofNature’sMiracle(foundatpetstores)downeachdrain(ifyouhaveadualsink)beforegoingtobed.Theenzymeseatanyfoodinthedrain.

Never use baking soda and vinegar to clear stuck kitchen drains. This comboworkswell inotherdrains,butdon’tdump itdownyourdisposal.Thebakingsoda jams theblades,damaging themotor.DebraLynnDadd,authorofHomeSafeHome recommendsusingfinemeshstrainers indrainopenings topreventclogs.

WhatDoYouMean,CleanMyGarbageDisposal?

Youputgarbagedownyourdisposal,soofcourseit’sgoingtosmell.Hereareafeweasycleaningtips:• Toss a few ice cubes into the disposal while it’s running. This scours theblades.

•Runtwoorthreelemonpeelsthroughthedisposalalongwiththeicechipstofreshenthedrains.

•Acurvedbottlebrushswiftlycleans thesidesofadisposal.Pouronabitofliquiddishsoapand thenscrubaway.Followwith thepreviouslymentionedlemonpeelsandicecubes;inlessthantwominutes,yourdisposalwillsmellfresher than a bouquet of roses.Okay, that is stretching things a bit, but theimprovedaromawillmeetwithyournose’sapproval.

ApplianceWonders

MoreappliancesendupatGoodwillduetoalackofcarethananyotherreason.Rememberthesaying“Goodain’tcheapandcheapain’tgood”?Whenitcomestimetopurchasenewkitchenappliances,buythebestqualityyoucanafford.

CaringforStainlessSteel

ThereisaplacketinasmallSouthDakotastorethatreads“Menopause:It’stheonlytimeofmylifeI’veeverbeencalledahotmama.”Thereareotherthingsthatcanbe“hot”aswell—likenewtrendsinclothingorhousehold appliances. The current trend in appliances is stainless steel. It isbeautiful as well as durable, but fingerprints and dulled surfaces can get yousweatinglikeamenopausalmoment.Takeadeepbreathbecauseasimplesolutionisatyourfingertips.Thesecrettokeepingstainlesssteellookingnewisweeklycleaning.Dirtbuildsinthegrainofstainlesssteel,dullingthesurface,soalwaysrubwiththegrain.Cleanstainlesssteel appliances once a week using undiluted white vinegar. Heat stains onstovesandovensusuallyscruboffwithclubsoda.

DirtyWords

Neverusechlorinebleachonstainlesssteel; infact,foryourhealth’ssake stop using it altogether. Avoid abrasives, including microfiber,whichwillscratch.Use100percentterryclothtowels.

Various organic stainless steel cleaners andpolishes are available.One canbefound at www.ecoprocote.com. It carries the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgencyapprovalandisEarthfriendly.

It’sHot—TheStove,ThatIs

Ifyou’reluckyenoughtohaveaself-cleaningoven,followitsdirections.Lockthedoor,turnontheself-cleaner,andit’sofftotheraces!Cleanersofanykinddamage self-cleaning or continuous-cleaning ovens.Donot use themon these

ovens.Allotherovensmustbecleanedtheold-fashionedway:manually.Regardlessofwhetheryouareusinggreencleaners,openwindows.Turnonthestovefanandwear a mask, gloves, and old clothes. Place plastic on the floor followed byseverallayersofnewspaperstoprotectthefloorsurface.MakeapasteofbakingsodaandaconcentratedorganiccleanerlikeCleanEzorBi-O-Kleen.Pasteitontotheoven’ssurfacesandletitsitforacoupleofhours.Scrub with a white scrub pad. Repeat if needed, and then rinse with whitevinegarandwater.Babyyouarecookin’andthetopofthestoveprovesit.Cleanlightmesseswithdetergent,water,andalittleelbowgrease.Layadishragwithreallyhotwaterandliquiddishsoapontopofthosesplatters.Itsoftensthemasyoueatdinner.

DirtyWords

Sprinklesaltonovenspillswhentheovenisstillhot.Thegunkwillcomerightupaftertheovencools.

Aplasticscrapercomesinhandytoremovestubbornspots,ortryabakingsodapaste.Easydoesitwiththescraper,though,becausestovesscratcheasily.Thismight sound strange, but rub the spot with non-gel toothpaste. Sometimes itworks.Weallignoretheundersideofthestovehoodforaslongaspossible.Wipedownthatareaweeklywithaclothdampenedinveryhotsudsywatersoit’snotsuchachore.Boilsomewateronthebackburnertosoftenthegunk.Fortoughergreasebuildup,bring¼cupwhitevinegartoaboil.Removeitfromtheheatandaddenoughbakingsodatomakeapaste.Squirtin1dropofliquid

dishsoapandstirtomix.Placeanoldtowelontopofthestove;thenpastethemixtureunderneaththehoodandwait15minutes.Rinsethoroughly.

Dishin’theDirtonFridgesandFreezers

When the snackmonster strikes,we all reach for the refrigerator door hopingsome tasty tidbit will quiet our growling stomach. The snack youwant is, ofcourse, at the back of the shelf and you just knocked over the mustard jarreaching for it. Go ahead and laugh. I’m not known for my neatness in thekitchen.Theinsideofarefrigeratorisamini-circuswithvarious“acts”goingonatonetime.Actone:spillshappenandwhenonefoodspillsonanother,bacteriabeginstogrow.Act two: foods also share odors.Yourmilk can endup smelling likefried onion rings. Prevent all these problems and keep ahead of food turningmoldybycleaningyourfridgeweekly.I’dratherdigdandelionsthanspendanhourcleaningouttherefrigerator.Time-consuming as itmaybe, though, it is important tokeep it clean. If food turnsrancid,gettingridofthatsmellisharderthangettingridofdandelions.

Mary’sHandyHints

The night before you do your weekly grocery shopping, clean therefrigeratorafterdinner,butbeforeputtingawayleftovers.Thefridgeisnearlyemptysocleaningisabreeze.Makeyourgrocerylistasyouclean.Wow,talkaboutmultitasking!

Mary’sHandyHints

Besuretousewarm,nothot,watertowashglassshelvesbecausehotwater can crack them.Add½ cup ofwhite vinegar to thewater forsparklingshelves.

Ifyouarelikemeandjustcan’tfindthetimetocleantheentirerefrigeratorallatonce,clean theshelvesoneweekand thedrawersanddoorshelves thenext. Ifind dividing time-consuming chores into chunks gets them done rather thanignored.Hereisaquickwaytocleanthefridge.Removelargeitemsonashelf,tossingout itemsthataregoinggreenonyou.Shoveeverythingtooneside.Washtheshelf,sides,andbackofthefridgewithwarmsoapywater;dryandthenrepeatontheothersidemovingolderfoodtothefronttoeatimmediately.A cloth dampened with white vinegar kills mildew and removes bad odors.Sprinkleabitofboraxontothevinegartowelforanextracleaningboost.Vacuumcondensercoilstwiceayeartopreventdamagingthemotor.Cleancoilsuse less energy, extending the life of themotor and saving energy.Read yourdirectionsfirst.Acurvedbottlebrushreachesthedeeperpartsofthecoil,butbecarefulnottosnagthewires.Themakersofour refrigeratorplaced thecoilsalong thebottomof the fridge.Metal panels on all four sides block access to them.We have to rent an aircompressor to blow out the dust. Check the accessibility of the coils whenbuyinganewrefrigerator.

SaveWater,RunYourDishwasher

Oh, you’ve heard the debate—dishwasher versus hand washing. Dishwashersusefar lesswater thanhandwashing.Thesmallamountofelectricity theyusepales in comparison towhat it takes to heatwater for handwashing.When itcomestosavingourplanet,lessisbest.Hereisacloserviewondishwashers.Dishes not coming out clean? Chlorine in thewater can deteriorate thewaterinletvalve,whichthenfailstoprovideenoughH2Otocleanthedishes.Startthemachineandopenitafterithasfilled.Thewateronthebottomshouldtouchthesides.Ifnot,followthemanufacturer’sdirectionsandreplacetheinletvalve.Chlorine causes far more serious problems than just clogging the inlet valve.Whenyouopenthedoor,whatyousmellistoxic,volatizedchlorine—fromthewater and your detergent. After running your dishwasher, open the windowbeforeyouopen thedishwasher’sdoor.Thenswitch toanorganicdetergent toeliminatemostofthetoxins.

Mary’sHandyHints

Tomakecleaningeasier,smartcooks(likeyourself!)cleanastheygo.Makesurethedishwasherisemptysoyoucanloaddishesasyoudirtythem.Startyourpanssoakingorevenclean themwhileyouwait fordinnertocook.

CounterEncounters

Use your own homemade cleaner or an Earth-friendly cleaner and a cottonterryclothtowel(notmicrofiber)tocleancounters.Keepallcleanersoffgranite,

marble, or stone countertops unless you like ugly pits in them. Clean stonecountertopswith hotwater only.Disinfect themwithNature’sMiracle,whichhasbeenpreviouslydiscussed.

CabinetCaboodle

Cabinetsarethemostexpensiveitemsinyourkitchen,yetnoonetellsyouhowtocareforthem.Let’sfixthat.Don’tusemicrofiberclothstocleancabinetsorwoodfurniture;itscratchesandwilleventuallystripthesealantorfinishoffanysurface,includingyourvehicles.Useclean,100percentcottontowelsforcleaningallsurfaces.Cleancabinetslocatedabovethestoveandbelowthesinkweekly.Alsocleanalldoorknobsweekly.Dustthemwithabarelydampclothonceamonth.Doyourresearchwhenselectingawoodcleanerorconditionerforyourcabinetsorwoodfurniture.Chapter2warnsyouofthedangerouschemicalscontainedinsomewoodcareproducts.Experts advise against using productsmade fromwax because it can ruin thefinish.Naturalbeeswaxdoesnotbuilduponasurface.Artificialwaxeswill.Theculpritbehindcabinetdamageisthepetroleumdistillatessomeproductsaddtowax.Distillatessoftenthefinishcausingittofeelgummyandlookdull.Waybackinyonderyears,cabinetscameinonefinish: lacquer.Nowtherearevariousbeautiful finishes.That’s thegoodnews.Thenot-so-goodnews is thateachfinishrequiresadifferenttreatment.Let’slearntherightwaytocleanthesefinishes.

WhitewashedandPaintedCabinets

Cleanwhitewashedandpaintedcabinetswithsoap,warmwater,andasoftcloth.Wood treatments do not penetrate through paint so don’t waste your time ormoneytreatingthem.Woodmustbeconditionedtopreventdryingandcracking.You might want to think twice before painting cabinets or buying paintedcabinets.

Acrylic

ThesefinishesarepopularintheRVindustryandaregainingpopularityinthehome.Theylookliketheyhave50layersofapolyurethanefinishonthemandare gorgeous. Acrylic-finished cabinets cannot be treated with a woodconditioner.Use only 100 percent cotton towels to clean them. Oil from your hands orcooking damages the finish. Clean themweekly, particularly around the doorknobs to prevent deterioration of the finish. Do not apply polish orwax, andneverusemicrofiberonthem.

TungOilandBakedFinishes

Most cabinets have a baked finish, a light glossy look. These cabinets needmonthly dusting with a barely damp cotton cloth. Clean around door knobsweeklywithwarmsoapywater.Condition them twiceayearwithwoodconditioner;otherwise, thewoodmaydry and crack. Do not use conditioners or treatments containing petroleumdistillates.Seethepreviouswarning.

Veneer

Whew, just onemore to go.Get out that cotton dust cloth andmake time forveneercabinetsonceamonth.Yes,Iheardthosegroans—sorry.Dustpenetratesintothegroovesandwilldamagethemquickly.Treatthemasyouwouldtungoilfinishes. Veneer cabinets require conditioning at least twice a year to preventdryingandcracking.Doublethatifyouliveinadryclimate.

CookwareandYou

Weallbiteoffmorethanwecanchewattimes.Dependingonthecookwareand

bakewareyouuse,youmightunwittinglybedoingjustthat.Otherthanthefoodyou eat, the cookware you use has a tremendous impact on your long-termhealth.It is well known that aluminum cookware seeps aluminum into your food.Coatedcookware?Thosechunksofcoatingthatscrapeintoyourfoodaretoxictoyourbody.Underneaththatcoatingisaluminum.AndI’vereadtherantsaboutcast-ironcookware.Thosepansstartoutsilverandayear laterareblackfromabsorbingfoodandoil. IrefusetoeatchickenfatIfried10yearsago.Yes,heatsupposedlykillsthebacteria,butI’llpass.Good cookware should be durable and transmit energy from the heat sourceevenlyacrossthepanorskillet.Thisisnoeasyfeatwhenyourstoveiselectricwithroundelements.Youendupwithheatringsonagrilledsandwich.Cookware companies talk about thermal conductivity and heat capacity.Thermal conductivity is howquickly the pan heats up. The higher the qualitycookware,thefasteritheatssoitreducesenergyusage.Heatcapacityreferstohowevenlythepanconductsheatovertheentiresurfaceof the pan. The better the capacity, themore evenly the foodwill cook. Thismeans the outer edges of your hamburger are not frozen while the middle isburnt.Herearespecificsofthemorepopularcookware.

Mary’sHandyHints

PeoplealsoaskmewhatkindofcookwareIusebecausetheyknowIstudydiet,nutrition, andcookwaredue tohealth issues.Withallmyresearch, stainless steel is by far the safest andbest touse.Stainlesssteelbyitselfflunksthermalconductivityandheatcapacitytests.The

best stainless steel cookware has layers of aluminum and cast ironcovered with several layers of stainless steel. Stainless steel testsnegativeforreactivitysoyourbodydoesnotabsorbthemetal.

CastIron

Castironwithstandshightemperatures,makingitidealforfrying.Beconfidentthatyourfamouschiliwillturnoutevenbetterwiththecastironheatretentionanddiffusionabilities.Some cast iron comes preseasoned. If not, then a protective wax coating isapplied to prevent rust andmust be removed before seasoning. Scour the panthoroughly.Cast ironmustbe seasoned toprevent rust andprovideanonsticksurface.Clean it and then apply vegetable oil. Finish by heating the pan so itabsorbstheoil.Cleancastironwithmilddetergentandreoilitbeforestoringtopreventrust.Cookingexpertssayyoucangetsomeofyourdailyironfromtheskillets.Yuk.Takethehealthyroadandgetyourironfromthefoodyoueat, likebeans,andnotabacteria-ladenironpan.Beveryawareofyourdailyironintakeifyoutakemultiplevitaminswithiron.Peoplewithliverorkidneyproblemsshouldneverusecastiron.Toomuchironin thebodydecreasescalciumabsorption,making forbrittleandeasilybrokenbones.

Copper

Liketheconductorofaworld-renownedorchestra,copperisthetopofthechartswhenitcomes toconductingheat. It isunbeatablefordelicatesaucesor foodsrequiringpreciselycontrolledtemperatures.However,theFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)warnsagainstcookingwithunlinedcopper.Themetaleasilydissolvesintofoods.Insufficientquantities,itcancausenausea,vomiting,anddiarrhea.Ifyouchoosecoppercookware,makecertainithasastainlesssteelliningonthe

insideof thepans.Thenenjoythe treasurescoppercookwarehas toofferyourkitchen.Cleanwithsudsywater.Useacoppercleanertoremovetarnish.

CoatedCookwareBeware

Slick-coatedveinsanyone?No?Thenyoumightwanttoavoidcoatedcookware.Random studies have shown that 95 percent of those tested who use coatedcookware have detectable levels of Teflon-related chemicals in their blood. Itcomesfromthecoatingthatscrapesoffduringcooking.Althoughtheheatmustbehigh,thiscookwarealsoemitstoxicfumes.Theoff-gassedchemicalsfromTeflonarepersistentintheenvironment.Theynevergoaway,buildingupinyourbody.Clean coated cookware with hot soapy water. Replace your cookware everythreeyears.Don’twaituntil itbegins topeeloffbecause itmightcomeoff insmallchucksthatyoudon’tsee.

StainlessSteel

Handsdown,stainlesssteelcookwareisbyfarthemostdurableofallcookware.Thefinishsimplywon’tcorrodeor tarnish likesomecookware.Thesurface isnonporousandtoughsoitstandsthetestoftime.I’vehadmyoriginalstainlesssteelcookwarefor36yearsanduseiteveryday.TheCookwareManufacturers’Association reports that the nickel, molybdenum, or titanium contained instainlesssteelcookwarepreventsscratchingandcorrosion.If you purchase stainless steel cookware,make sure it has cast iron sides andeither a copper or aluminum bottom for maximum heat capacity andconductivity.Stainlesssteelbyitselfisadisappointingconductorofheat.Afterfryingfood,simplyputhotwaterinthepan,coveritwithalid,andenjoyyourmeal.Foodstuckonthepanwillthenwashrightoff.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Keepthekitchenascleanaspossiblebecauseitcanhavemoregerms

thanyourbathroom.•Manyof theappliances inyourkitchencan safelybecleanedwithcommonitemsinyourcupboards,likevinegar.•KeepKPdutytoaminimumbycleaningasyoucook.• Choosing your cookware carefully will bring decades of excellentwear.

Chapter7

BathroomBlitz

InThisChapter•Eliminategermsinyourbathroom•Keepatidybowl•Scrubthetub•Cleangroutandtile

Thegodofannoyingthingsstrikesthehardestwhenitcomestotheroyalthrone—thetoilet,thatis.Thebathroomreignsasthemostdreadedcleaningchallengeinahome.Followmypreventivetipsandtheseannoyinggodswillsteerclearofyourhome.Articles on green cleaning warn about the health problems bathroom germscause. These articles totallymiss themost toxic parts of the bathroom:waterflowing fromyour shower and air fresheners.They are farmoreharmful thangermsinthetoilet.Noneedtoreachforagasmask.Tipsinthischapterlayoutabattleplanthat’seasytofollow.You’llgainimportantinsightintothedeadlydangercomingfromyourshowerandpreventivemethodsthatyoucanimplementimmediately.

ABreathofFreshAir…orNot

Oh,thesmellsandodorsescapingfromthebathroomhaveyoureachingforthecan of air freshener. Hopefully in Chapter 16, you’ll learn enough about thephthalates in air fresheners that you’ll takeyours to the toxicdump.Repeateduseofthesesprayscausesfarmoresevereandlong-termhealthissuesthanthefewgermsonyourbathroomfaucets.

DirtyWords

If you or anymember of your family has consistently foul-smellingstools or gas requiring an air freshener, it could be due to anundiagnosed disease like celiac sprue, which is intolerance to theglutenfoundinwheat,rye,andbarley.Lookseriouslyatyourdiet.Itcouldbewhatyouareeating.Dosomeresearch,changeyourdiet,andthentossthecanofairfreshener.Itcancausegraveillnessessuchascancer.

Healthy hygienicmeasures such as handwashing, alongwith a good immunesystem (yes, healthy diet), allow you to throw a one-two punch to mostbathroomgerms.Putyourphobiaaboutbathroomgermstorest.Atoiletseatisnotacommontransmitterofgermsbecausegermsliveforonlyaboutanhour.Besides,youmustcomeintocontactwitha largequantityofgermstobecomeinfected.Thoroughhandwashingsolvesthesebathroomgermcontaminations.Mold:Youreadcorrectly.Germsarenotthemajorissueinthebathroom.Moldand mildew cause far more serious health issues. Mold multiplies in dampplaces, causing sinus infections, allergies, and asthma reactions—all of whichcanmakeyouquiteill.Check formoldon thebacksideofbathroom throw rugs, in tilegrout, andonwallsandtheceiling.Ifyousneezeorwheezeinthebathroom,youmighthaveamold issue. Mold, or fungus, can develop on your skin like it does in yourtoenails. Itcan invadeyour lungsandcauseallergyproblems.Takeaggressivesteps to eliminate and prevent this potential problem. Shorter, cooler showershelp—readon.Chlorine:Ifyouareonacityortownwatersystem,therealfeariswhatcomesout of your showerhead. Municipal water is treated with chlorine, a keycomponent of dioxin. Dioxin has been rated by the Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) as being 300,000 times more potent a carcinogen than DDT.However, this danger is eliminated if the water treatment plant substitutes

chloramineforchlorine.Contactyourcitymunicipalwatersystemtofindoutiftheysubstitute.Americansingestadailyamountofdioxinthatis300-600timesgreaterthantheEPA’sso-called“safe”doseduetochlorinepollution.Ifanitemiswhite,suchastypingpaper,clothing,towels,orsanitarynapkins,theyhavebeenbleachedandthedioxinfromthebleachwillsoakintoyourskinandbuildupinyourbody.

DirtyWords

According to The United Nations Environment Program,“Organochlorines are compounds that contain carbon, chlorine, andhydrogen. Their chlorine-carbon bonds are very strong. They arehighly insoluble in water, but are attracted to fats.” So theybioaccumulateinthebody.

Dioxinmimicsa steroidlikehormone, so it fools thebody’s standardchemicalresponse into setting off a variety of physical effects. These effects includesuppressedimmunity,damagetomajororganssuchastheliver,reproductiveanddevelopmentalimpairment,infertility,birthdefects,andcancer.

DirtyWords

Whenpaperisbleachedusingchlorine,I-Dioxinisbutoneoftheby-productsofthatmanufacturingprocess.I-Dioxinisbelievedtobethesingle most carcinogenic chemical known to scientists. Useunbleachedpaper.

Whatdoeschlorineinthewaterhavetodowithyourshower?Heatexpandsasurface.Takemetal,for instance.Whenyouneedtochangetheoil inyourcarandthefilterisstuck,useahairdryer.Whenheated,thechamberexpandsandthe filterpops rightout.Whenyou shower, thehotwater expandsyourpores,whichallowsforhigherabsorptionoftheorganochlorinesandtrihalmethanes.These two chlorine by-products have been linked to endometriosis, immunesystem impairment, diabetes, neurotoxicity, birth defects, decreased fertility,cancer,liverandorgandisease,breathingproblems,headaches,nosebleeds,andreproductivedysfunctioninbothwomenandmentonameafew.Now you can take that breath of fresh air. There is a solution for chlorinatedwaterforbothyourdrinkingwaterandforyourshower.Solve theproblembyinstallingwaterfilters,butdoyourresearchfirst.Thiswebsitecompareswaterfiltersforthekitchenandshower:www.waterfiltercomparisons.com.AlsocheckConsumerGuide.

TackletheToilet

It seems to me that all these warnings about germs everywhere can be a bitheavy.WhenIwaslittle,mygrandparentshadanouthouseonthefarm.Therewasn’tahandsanitizeravailable,yetplentyofnot-so-nicestuffgotsplatteredonthewoodenrim.Wewashedseveraltimesaday,especiallybeforetouchingfood.Noonethoughta thing about germs. In fact, studies by Professor Charles Gerba of theUniversityofArizonaprovedthatthetoiletseatistheleastcontaminatedareainthehome.Anexcellentdiet,plentyofexercise,anddiligencetoproperhygieneconquers

the germs that sneak up on you in the bathroom.Usewarm, soapywater andlather up for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.” Skip the musicalmelodyoutinpublic—unlessyouhaveagoodvoiceoryourkidsarewithyou.Youcangetbywithbeinggoofyinpublicaslongasthekidsarethere.WhysingHappyBirthday?Remembermynumberone rule tocleaning“Giveyour product time towork.” It takes time for the soap to kill germs. SingingHappyBirthdayisafunwaytoremembertogivethesoaptimetokillthegerms.

KeepItTidy

Talk about germ haven. All the “stuff” scattered on the bathroom counters,towels flung everywhere, yesterday’s dirty cloths hanging from the doorknob.Nothing thoroughly dries somold creeps up on you faster than theDecemberholidays.Stashyour toiletriesonashelf inhangingbasketsorvanitydrawers.Use a shower caddy that hangs from the showerhead to hold your shampoobottles.Revyourenginesandlet’sgetintowarpspeedcleaningthebathroom.

BadRingDay

Whew, the toilet germs aren’t so bad after all. “Least contaminated” is stillcontaminated,though,solet’slearnafewtrickstobeatbackthedirtandgerms.Sprinklebakingsodaaroundtheinsideofthetoiletbowl.Pourin⅓cupofwhitevinegar,andscrubwithanylontoiletbowlbrush.ArmandHammerbakingsodanow comes in a plastic container with holes on the top, which is perfect forcleaning jobs.Refill the bottle from the extra large boxes of baking soda andsavetheenvironmentfromanothertossedplasticcontainer.Spraydown the outside of the toiletweeklywith the 50/50vinegar andwatersolution,andwipedry.Ifyouhaveyoungkidswhosometimescan’tmanagetohitthemark,youcanusethismixturetodisinfect,sokeepabottlehandyinthebathroom.

Mary’sHandyHints

UseNature’sMiracleonflooringaroundthe toiletwhere“accidents”happen.Theenzymeskilltheodorandgerms.

Ringaroundthetoilet!Don’tletyourtoiletbemockedlikethepeopleintheoldWhiskcommercial.Backthewateroutofthebowlbyputtingonarubbergloveand plunging your hand down the opening a couple of times.Grab a productcalledEraseItforBathrooms.Customerswhousethisproducthavereportedtousthatithasremovedringsnothingelsecouldbudge.

DirtyWords

Whenmysonwaslearningto“golikethebigboys,”heoftenmissedthetoilet.Helovedgames,soIinventedthe“shootitdown”gamebyplacingapieceoftoiletpaperinthebowlforhimto“shoot”down.Henevermissedafterthat!

CleaningQuips

My favorite lady of all time, ErmaBombeck, once said, “TheRoseBowlistheonlybowlI’veeverseenthatIdidn’thavetoclean.”

Workyourwayaround the ringwith theErase It.Alternatively,youcanuseapumice stone. Be very, very careful using this stone, though, because it willscratch your bowl. Dampen the stonewithwater and gently (gently!) work asmall area until someof the stone appears on the toilet. Switch to a janitorialtoothbrushorawhitescrubbiepadandfinishcleaningthebowl.

PreventionRules

After removing the ring and cleaning the toilet, spray a product calledAdvantageoryourpolymer-basedcarwax(yes,carwax)thatdoesnotcontainpetroleumdistillateson the insideof the rinsedanddriedbowl.Wipe toapplyevenly. Let it dry for 10minutes; then flush to return the water to the bowl.Polymer-based car waxes make a surface slick. We’ll leave it to yourimaginationastothebenefitsofaslicktoiletbowl!Forevenmoreprevention,onceamonthpouracupofwhitevinegarintoyourtoiletbowland leave itovernight.Themildacid in thevinegarneutralizes thealkali in the water, preventing rings from forming. How often you treat yourtoilets depends on the hardness of your water. If monthly treatment isn’tworking,thenstepituptotwiceamonth.Whenyouleavetogooutoftownforanextendedperiod,pouracupof(guesswhat?)whitevinegarinthetoilet.Coverthebowlwithplasticwrap.Plasticwraphelps toprevent thewater fromevaporating,whichpreventswater ringmarks.Thatway,youcanspendthemonthinPariswithoutworryingaboutyourtoilet!Pleaseputastickynoteonthetoiletasaremindertoremovetheplasticwrap.

Onceeverythreemonths,pouracouplecupsof3percenthydrogenperoxideinthe toilet tank. This prevents mold and mildew growth. Let it sit overnight,scrub,andflush.

RustBeGone

If rust is comingdown through the little holes in the toilet bowl, you need toclean the inside of the tank. Shut off the valve and flush it to drain the tank.Dilute a concentrated cleaner like CleanEz or Bi-O-Kleen one part cleaner tofourpartswater.Spraythesolutiononthesidesofthetank,andthenscrubwithBonAmiorBarkeeper’sFriendusingastiffbristledbrush.RemovethoseruststainsinsidethetoiletwiththeEraseItforBathrooms.Thosestainspoprightout.

Counterattack

Nowthatyouhaveputupawallcabinetoverthetoiletandtheclutterisclearedoffthecounter…um,theclutterisgoneright?No?Okay,it’stimetopullthosedrawersoutandtossanythingthathasn’tbeenusedinthelasttwoyears.Use drawer dividers to separate your things.My drawers are narrow and thedividers are toowide.A6ounce cupholds things likenail clippers, tweezers,andanytallerbutroundornarrowitemsthattendtogetlostonthebottomofthedrawer.A small wire shelf (found at the hardware store) fits in the back of themaincabinettostashbottlesthataren’tusedoften.Ihavemorethantwoorthreesuchbottlesclutteringupmycabinets.Theywillgetused—oneofthesedays.

ScrubbingtheSink

Believeitornot,theplaceinthebathroomthatharborsthemostgermsisn’tthe

toilet—it’s thesinkdrain!Onceamonthpour½cupofbakingsodadown thedrainandtopitoffwithwhitevinegar.Theresultingfizzingactionwillscouroutthedrainandeatitswaythroughanysoapscumorothergunk.Ifyouareonasepticsystem,use theNature’sMiraclebecausebakingsodawilldamageyourtanks.Onaweeklybasis,cleanthesinkwithdilutedall-purposecleanersuchasBi-O-Kleen,CleanEz,orRed JuicebyTheCleanTeam.A thinwirebrushused forcleaningbatterycablesscrubsthedrainholeatthetopofthebasinsoitdoesn’tclog up.Who me? Forget to turn off the water causing the sink to overflowbecauseIneglectedthislittledetail?Never!To clean soap scum from the sink, wipe it out with the all-purpose cleaner,undiluted.Togetridofthathardwaterringaroundthedrain,plugthedrainandpour½cupofwhitevinegarintothesink.Letitsitanhour;thenscrubwithatoothbrushandabitofbakingsoda.

OneStepAheadintheShower

Mywarningsaboutsprayingcleanersintheaircouldnotbemoreimportantthanin the shower. The particles drift directly onto your face and right into yourlungs.Evenifyouareusinganecosafecleaner,itisforeignmattertoyourlungsand will irritate them. Most bathrooms are small, confined areas. Few havewindowsthatcanbeopened.Thesmallerthespace,themoretheimpactsprayshaveonyourhealth.Spray your cloth and then wipemirrors and showers or tub enclosures. Yourbodyisnotmadetoprocesscleanerssokeepthemoutofyourface.Ifyouwere to interviewabacteriumandaskfor its idealvacationspot,you’dfind that it’snot toopicky.“Oh,anyplaceworks—thewarmeranddamper, thebetter.”Warmanddamplikeabathroom?Yes,likeabathroom.

Mary’sHandyHints

WelivedinHouston,Texas,whereitwassohumidyouweredrenchedbefore you even had time to dry off after a shower. A dehumidifierfinallywonthebattleofthemold.

Preventbacteriafrommultiplyingbyventilating thebathroom.Gotawindow?Crack it open as youbegin to shower to remove thehumidity andoff-gassingfromchlorinatedwater.Nowindow?Turnonthefanandinstallafilterfortheshowerheadthatremovesthechlorinetopreventdioxinbuildup.Wipedowntheshoweronceamonthwithstraightwhitevinegartopreventandkillmold.Ifyouliketosingintheshower,youmighthitasournoteifyourshowerwallsandglassdoorsarecoveredwithwaterspotsandsoapscum.Getbackintunebyfollowingthesetips.

FiberglassandGlassDoors

Alkalinityinthewatercausesthosenot-so-prettyspotsonyourglassdoorsandshowerwalls.Tospitethespots,twiceyearlyapplythesamepolymer-basedcarwaxyouuseinthetoiletonshowerwallsanddoors.Bothfiberglassandglassare porous. Polymer car wax puts a slick barrier on any surface, includingshower walls.Water sheets down rather than “sticking” on the walls to formunsightlyanddifficult-to-removewatermarks.Two tips on waxing the shower: first, make sure the wax does not containpetroleumdistillates,whichisharmfultoyourhealth.Neverusedistillatesinsideyourhome.Advantage,foundatwww.goclean.com,isdistillatefreeandagoodchoice.Second,avoidsprayingAdvantageonshowerwallsbecauseitdriftsontothe floor—unless you’re a fan of extreme showering. Itmakes the floor slick.

Pourabitonyourclothandthenwipeiton.

Mary’sHandyHints

Ifyou’retiredoffightingthebattleofthesoapscum,switchtoorganicor glycerin soap.Lye and animal fat in bar soaps cause the buildup.Guesswhereelse that soap scumbuildsup?Yep, inyourdrains.Bychangingsoap,yougetridofthescum,cloggeddrains,anditchyskin.

Squeegeeorwipedownyourshoweraftereachuse.Combinedwiththecarwaxand switching soap, you’ll clean the shower faster than you can sing yourfavorite melody. Clean the showers weekly using an organic concentratedcleaner.Dilutethecleaneraccordingtobottledirectionsthenpouritonatowelandwipedownthesurface.Waitafewminutesandwipeitoff.Okay,sothesoapscumrefusestobudgeandtheQueenofEnglandiscomingfora visit. Bring out both barrels: use your organic concentrated cleaner fullstrength. Pour plenty on an damp dishrag and then wipe it on the walls anddoors.Patiencenowbecomesavirtue.Waitandwaitsomemore.Gocleantherestofthebedroomsectionofyourhome.Wipethecleanerbackonthewallswhenitstartstodripdownthewalls.Everysooften,checkthewallswithafingernail.Iftheresidueremoveseasily,roundoneisalmostover.

DirtyWords

Daily shower sprays keep your shower clean. However, inside yourbody the chemicals attach to fat cells, accumulating and build layerafterlayeroftoxicresidueonyourliver,lungs,andothervitalorgans.Theyarecostlytobuyandtoyourhealth.Passthembyinthestores.

UseawhitepadsuchasaScotch-Britepadtoscrub.(Usethewhiteonesonly.Thecolored scrubbers are courser anddo scratch.)Test a spot tomake sure itwon’tscratchthefiberglass.Dampenthepadandgentlyscrub.Thisremovesthesoapbuildupandmostofthewhitemineraldepositsontheglassdoors.Nothingremoves the etchmarks themselves,but furtherdamage ishalted.Reapply thecleanerifnecessary.

TubsandFloors

Youdon’tneedchemical-ladentubspraystocleanyourtub.Afterall,whowantstotakeachemicalbath?Trythisinstead:1.Mix3tablespoonsofamildliquiddishdetergent,atablespoonor2ofborax,and½ cup of vinegar. Then add 2 quarts of water and pour it into a spraybottle.Shake.

2.Thoroughlysaturateaterrytowel,wipingitonthesidewallsofthetubfirst.Beginatthebottomofthewallandworkyourwaytothetop.

3.Wait aminute,dampenacloth, sprinkle itwithabitofbaking soda, scrub,rinse,andthendry.Repeatwiththetub.

Nowlightacandle,pouracupoftea,andtakeanice,hotbath—butonlyafteryouinstallafilterthatremovesthechlorine.

CeramicTile

The big debate: some experts claim that acids (such as our beloved whitevinegar)willetchceramictileandcorrodeit.Othersbelievethatahalf-and-halfsolutionofvinegarismuchtoomildtoharmtoday’shardyceramicfinishes.Wesuggestusingitonlyoccasionallyjusttobesafe.Here’saneasyhomemadeceramictilecleanerthatwillgetyourtilesallsparklywithoutacidorharmfulchemicals:1.Mix⅛cupofmildlaundrydetergentwith2quartsofwaterandpouritintoaspraybottle.

2.Shake(thebottle,notyourself).3.Saturateanolddishclothandwipethetiles.4.Useaheavyweightterrytoweltowipethesolution(anddirt)fromthetubandwalls. If needed, scrubwith awhite scrub pad dampenedwith the cleaningsolution.

5.Wipedrywithaterrytowel.It’s easy, cheap, and nontoxic. Why use foaming cleansers that cause healthissues?

GroutBusters

Whenit’s time toget tough, the toughgetgoingbutoftenarestoppeddead intheirtrackswhenitcomestoremovingmoldfromtilegrout.Peoplespraytoxinslikebleachonthegrouttryingtokillthemold.Theirknucklesbleedfromusingscrubbingpads,andtheyhavetocallamasseusetorubtheirtiredarms.Thatisalotofworktoruinyourhealthwithtoxicsprays.To clean dirty grout, try a product called The StainEraser,which is a flat barcreatedspecificallyforremovingmold,mildew,dirt,andstainsfromgrout—anditdoesn’tmatterwherethegroutislocated.Onyourfloor,inyourshower,orintheswimmingpool,thislittlegadgetworks.Theopenporesofgroutarewaytooinvitingformold,soapscum(agoodreasontoswitchsoap),andstains.When theyhit, they leaveanuglymess foryou toclean.IfTheStainEraserdoesn’twork,mixapasteusingboraxandplasterthegrout.Letitsitfor10minutes;thentackleitwithafirmtoothbrush.Next, spray the groutwith a solution of half water and half 35 percent food-based hydrogenperoxide,which you can get at somehealth food stores.Waitfrom30to45minutes,andthensprayitagain.Letthissitonthegroutalldayto

killthemoldandmildew.

DirtyWords

Prevention is key to eliminatingmold.Take shorter, cooler showers.Turn on the fan and open the window. Steam also dries and warpscabinetdoorsandwreckspaint.Ifyourshowercurtainislongenough,cutofftheseamatthebottomtopreventmildewbuildupintheseam.

Afteryouhavewonthebattleofthemold,headtoastorespecializingintilefora nontoxic bottle of a five-year grout sealer. You can use their spongeapplicators, but the easierway to apply grout is to head to aWestern Supplystore.Askforthesyringesusedtogivehorsesandcattleshots.Buyacoupleincaseyouneedextra.Theycomeinhandyforalotofcleaningjobs.Carefully remove the needle. Suck up the sealer into the syringe and go. Thesyringeallowsyoutoapplythesealerwithoutspillingitalloverthetile.Afterthe first application, wait five days and then apply a second coat.Congratulations!Youhavewonthewaragainstgroutmongers.

It’sCurtainTime

Plastic shower curtains are certainlymuch less expensive than other kinds ofcurtains.Theyarewaterproofsothefloordoesn’ttakeashoweralongwithyou.However,thereisadarksidetovinyl.Chapter2disclosesthedangersofvinylflooring.Vinyl shower curtains contain the same polyvinyl chloride (PVC) asvinylflooring,andthisPVCreleasesvolatileorganicchemicals(VOCs)intotheair,whichincreasesrespiratoryproblemsandcancer.Shouldvinylcatchonfire,

it’sdeadly.Addvinylflooringtothevinylcurtainsandyouhaveadoublewhammyoftoxicgassespouring intoyourbathroom.Thatdoesnot include theadhesiveused tolaytheflooringortheadhesiveinthecabinets.Bathroomsaresmallerareassotheimpactofthesepoisenousgassesmultipliesduetotheconcentration.Therearealternativeandmuchsafercurtains.Lookforonesmadewithnylon,Tyvek,cotton,linen,orhemp.NylonandTyvekarenotnaturalmaterialsbutaresafetouse.Cottonandlinenarenaturalalternatives,withcottonbeingeasiertolaunder.Althoughquiteexpensive,hempdoesnotmoldormildew—nowthereisabreathoffreshair.Itismachinewashableandlastsfordecades.Spray curtains with your all-purpose cleaner.Wait 10minutes andwashwithyourrags,whichprovideascrubbingaction.Airdry.

FaucetsandShowerheads

Mostfaucetsandshowerheadsaremadefromchromeorbrushednickel.Cleanthemwithyour all-purpose cleaner.Removewater spotswith straightvinegar.Rustspotsdisappearwithabitofelbowgrease,freshlemonjuice,andsalt.Brass,platedbrass,andgold-platedfaucetsmustbedriedaftereachuse.Theyare beautiful, but they do discolor. The discoloration is difficult to remove.Jeweler’srouge(foundatjewelrylapidarysupplystoresorbetterjewelrystores)isbestforcleaningthem.Alwaysfollowthemanufacturer’sdirections.Occasionally, remove your showerheads and soak them overnight in whitevinegartoremovethebuildupanddirtthatclogstheholes.Ifyoucan’tremovethe showerhead, fasten a zipper plastic bag full of vinegar around theshowerheadusingstringorboxing tape.Donotuseduct tapebecause itwon’thold.

DirtyWords

Do not use rubber-backedmats on any kind of flooring. They leaveyellow stains on the floor that you can never remove. Use a light-coloredcottonrugandnonslippads,whichdon’tstainthefloor.

MonstersinYourDrains

Downinthedeepdarkdredgeslaysthismurkymess.Littlewonderiteruptslikeageyser,consideringitsdailyfeedingregime.Consider this: the soapyouuse inyour showerandsink ismadewith lyeandanimalfat.Itcreatessoapscumonshowerwallsandinthedrains.Hairwashesdownthedrain,stickingtothesoapscum.Thedrainbeginstoclogsothewatercan’tdrainproperly.Itthenturnstogreenslimymold.Allofasuddenthatpoordrainrebelsandcoughsthismessbackuptoyou.Soyougrabajaroftoxicdrainopener,addingtothetoxicwasteheadedtothemunicipal water treatment plant. Yes, that is the same water with which youshower,drink,andcook.Justlikeyourkitchendrains,pouracupofNature’sMiracledownthosedrainsonceamonthbeforeretiringtoprevent theclogs.Clearcloggeddrainswith½cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar. Repeat nightly if needed.Boraxcanbeusedinconjunctionwithbakingsoda:¼cupofeach.

ReflectionsonYou:Mirrors

Mostpeopledon’tspringoutofbedreadytotacklewhateverthedaymaybring.Oneglance in thebathroommirrorand those tall talecrowsfeet tattleonyou.Youdon’tneedastreakymirroremphasizingthecrow’sfeet.Nor does your body need the toxic chemicals found in most store-boughtwindowcleaners.Thinkcrow’sfeetonyourliver,kidneys,lungs,andrespiratorytract. The diethylene glycol and ammonia found in these cleaners can turn

healthyorgancellsintoscartissueresemblingcrow’sfeet.RefertoChapter4forhealthyandcheaperalternativeglasscleaners.

LowdownonFloors

We’realmostdoneandthebattle-wearybacteriaarelookingforreinforcements.Theyhavenoplace left tohideexcept theplace that’seasiest tooverlook: thefloor.Don’t thinkyoucan juststompupanddownon the littlecritters; they’reabithardier than that. No, you need to marshal your forces for one final assault.CheckoutChapter10forthescooponcleaningfloors.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

• Proper hygiene is as important as cleaning when it comes toprotectingyourselfandyourfamilyfromillness.•Dampnessisabathroom’sworstenemybecauseitcausesmoldandmildew,warpedcabinets,andallergy-irritatingsmells—soventilate!• Never use bleach or other toxic chemicals, and always wipe thecleaneronthesurfaceratherthanspraying.• Wipe down the shower after each use; then seal grout to preventmold,mildew,andbuildup.

Chapter8

BeautifulBedrooms

InThisChapter•Maintainingyourmattress•Areyoursheetsmakingyousick?•Makingacaseforpillowcleanliness•Clearingthecloset

Whenmyson,Jason,was3yearsold,hecrept intomybedroomonemorningaround3A.M.Withoutadoubt,hethoughtlongandhardforsomethingtosaysohewouldnotbereturnedtohisownbed.Jasonputhisarmovermyshoulderandsaid,“It’sbeokMommy,I’sloveyou.”To this day, I cannot enter a bedroom without hearing those precious words.Only there are some not-so-precious things happening in the bedroom. Dustmites, mold, as well as fumes from mattresses and pillows, all contribute tohealthissues.Well,yourhomeisnot“green”untilyouputtheboottothebacksidesoftheseproblems.Youspendeighthoursadayinyourbedroom,solet’sgreencleanitandkeepittoxinfree.

ClearingClutter

IcleanedhomesprofessionallyandheardsomanyexcusesastowhytheclutterbuiltupthatIcouldwriteanIdiot’sGuideonclutterexcuses.Dustmites,mold,andmildewcling tomoisture.Aircannotcirculatearoundclutter todry itout;therefore,moisturedevelopsandsododustmitesandmold.What damage can a few dustmites cause? Dustmites invade a home by themillions,andtheylovemoisture,especiallyaroundareasthatlackbreathabilitysuch as clutter, mattresses, foam pillows, and tight spaces under the bed or

behinddressers.Thefecalmatterleftbydustmitescausesallergicreactions.Yes,youarelayingyourbodyandyourheadontopoffecalmattereverynightandthenwakinguptoastuffynoseandworse.First things first—clear theclutter.Youcan’tcleana roomwhen trippingoverbooks, dusting around toys, and vacuuming up socks. Reread Chapter 1 andransackyourbedroom.Hereareafewideastohelpyoutidyup:• Cardboard stacking boxes with pull out drawers make quick hideaways forsmaller items.Avoid plastic because it off-gasses toxic fumes. Those fumestakeyearstodissipate.

•Purchaseahangeratadepartmentstorethathooksoveryourdoorforaquickwaytohangupyourrobeoroften-usedsweatshirtsorpants.

• Do not store items under your bed because the tighter quarters are an openinvitation for mold and dust mites. Rather, look into a bed with built-indrawers.ThesolidbaseeliminatestheneedtobuyboxspringsandsavesourEarthandyourbudget.

•Wood closet organizers keep things stowed neatly away. Paint them with asealer toprevent theoff-gassingof theadhesiveinparticleboard.Betteryet,exploresecondhandstoresforshelvingorbookcases.Thisfurniturehasoff-gassed,andit’srecycledandcanbepainted.Whatawinningcombo!

MattressMatters

Here I gogetting serious again, but the toxic fumes in furniture, carpet, floor,your mattress, and pillows are no laughing matter. Most foammattresses aremadeofpolyurethane,whichoff-gassesvolatileorganicchemicals(VOCs)andcancausemanyhealthissues.Becausemattressesaremadefromflammablematerial,itisrequiredthattheybetreated with PBDE (see “Lurking in Your Furniture” in Chapter 2 for adiscussion of PBDE). Foam releases toluene diisocyanate, which can causesevere lung problems. Stain-resistant chemicals added to mattresses are alsotoxic.Anythingthatdoesnotbreathe,likedensefoam,isawelcomemattodustmitesandmold.

Switch to latex mattresses, and look for ones that are green with no toxicchemicals; check out www.latexmattresscompany.com; or you can cover yourmattress and pillows see www.achooallergy.com. They carry chemical freesheets,bedding,mattress,pillowcovers,anddustmitecovers.

Mary’sHandyHints

Ripping off mattress tags won’t hurt a thing until you discover themattress is defective. If that tag is gone, so is yourwarranty. Leavetagsonmattresses,sofas,andchairs.

Ican’tsolvetheproblemofyourpartnerhoggingthebedorthesheets,butthefollowingwillkeepyourmattressingoodshape:•Washthemattressprotectivecoveratleastonceamonth.Vacuumthemattressmonthlyaswelltoremovedustmites.

•Turn yourmattress every twoweeks to keep the padding evenly distributed.You’ll sleep better and extend the life of the mattress. One week flip themattress over; the next turn it from end to end. Consult the manufacturerbeforeflippingnewermattresses.

•Makesureyourframehasamiddlebarsupportsothemattresswon’tbowinthemiddle.

•Whenyouneed to replaceyourmattress, look forone that isnotchemicallytreatedandnotmadefromfoam.Stayawayfromfoammemorypadtoppers.Sticktocotton,bamboo,orlatex,unlessyouareallergictolatex.

Followthesetipsandyou’llbesleepingsoundly.

PillowTalk

Idon’trecommendreadingthischapteratnightbeforeyougotosleep.Itcouldgiveyounightmaresknowingyouareabouttolayyourheadonthefecalmatterleftbydustmites.Pillow cases contain dyes, pesticides, flame retardants, fertilizers (you readcorrectly),andwrinkle-resistantchemicalsthatgreetyoueverynight.Theyharmourlakes,ourstreams,oursoil,andyourfamily’shealthandcancausememoryloss.Polyester sheets and pillow cases are made from softened thermoplastic, apetrochemical,althoughthe“no-iron”sheetsandcotton/blendwrinkle-resistantsheetsaretheworstoffenders.Theyaretreatedwithaformaldehyderesin.Makesureyoursheetsdon’tsay“easycare”or“no-iron.”Turnto“greensheets”madefromunbleachedcotton,bamboo,orhemp.Searchtheinternettocomparepricesandselections.Agoodplacetostartiswww.Ecomall.com.

SneezeorSnooze

Youwakeupeverymorningexhausted,achy,andsneezing.Youwon’tfindtheculpritunderyournose—butunderyourhead.A common cause of allergywoes is what’s living in your pillow: dustmites.Dust mites are microscopic arachnids that feed on shed human skin. As weinhalethem,ourmembranesrespondandwegetcongested.Switchtoacottonorlatexpillowandthencoveritwithadustmiteprotectivecover.Adehumidifieralsohelps.Notonlydoyoubreathedustmite fecalmatterallnight,butyournose isalsodirectlyontopofachemical-ladenpillow.Thesearethesametoxinsthatoff-gasfrom curtains, carpet, and furniture. They include toluene diisocyanate andformaldehyde,whichcancauseallergicreactionsandcancer.

KeepingYourPillowPure

Afteryou’vediscoveredthebestpillow,it’ssimplyamatteroftakinggoodcare

ofitsoitkeepsitsshapeandisn’tanopendoortodustmites.Followthesetipsforacleanpillow:•Buckwheat hull pillows. When purchasing buckwheat pillows, make surethey’re “99 percent clean.”The hulls can contain excess dust,which causessinus problems. Never wash or dampen buckwheat hulls. Wash only thezippered case.Freeze thepillows tokillmitesorother crawly creatures thatmightdrop inforavisit.Addmorebuckwheatasneededwhenit“polishes”downwithuse.

DirtyWords

Neverputadamppillowintoapillowcase.Itwillmoldandmildew,endingupasanotherdiscardediteminalandfill.

•Downpillows.Mostoftenthefeathersfordownpillowsareremovedfrom living or just-slaughtered fowl. They are then bleached,sterilized,andtreatedwithchemicals.Chemicalsarethenaddedtothefeatherstoholdthemtogether.Althoughyoucanmachinewashdownpillows, they will last longer if you hand wash them. Do so bysubmerging them in the tub using Brown Sheep Shampoo, found inyarnshopsoronline.Squeezeoutalltheairandsubmergetheminthewaterfortwohours.Rinsewithatubfullofwaterplus½cupofwhitevinegar.Drythepillowsinthedryeronalowsetting,removingthemfrequentlytorefluff.•Foampillows.Handwashfoampillows in the tubusinganorganicsoap.Press on the pillow towork the soap into the pillow and let itsoak for30minutes.Rinsebyadding½cupofwhitevinegar to therinsewater.Again,pressthewaterintothepillowtoremovethesoap.Airdryonlybecausefoamwillcatchonfireinthedryer,evenonthe

airdrysetting.•Polyester pillows. They can bewashed in a front-loadingwasher;otherwise, take these pillows to a laundromat and wash them in alarge-capacitywasher.Theyarebulkyandcandamagea top-loadingwasher. Use an organic detergent that does not contain a whiteningagent or bleach.Use¼ cup ofwhite vinegar in the rinse to removedetergentresidue.Machinedryonlowheat.•Wool pillows. Follow the cleaning directions that come with thepillow.Mothscaninvadewoolpillowssosticktochemical-freecottonor latex pillows (unless you have latex allergies) for a good night’ssleep. Pillow protectors that go under pillow cases prevent hair oilfromdamagingthepillow.

MakingtheBed

Sheets and pillow cases do more than keep you comfy—they protect yourbedding and keep it clean. The bottom sheet protects your mattress. The topsheetkeepsyouwarmandprotectstheblanketfromskinoilsanddirt.Youdon’thavetomakethebed,butnotdoingsomeansthatatnight,whenallyouwant isacomfortablebed,you’ll findone that iscrumpled rather thananinviting haven. Besides, air cannot circulate around crumpled bedding, whichopensthedoortomoldandmites.

SpeakingofSheets

Launderyourbeddingweeklytoremovedust,bodyoil,andthemitesthathavetakenupresidenceinthesheets.Also,frequentlaunderinghelpstobreakdownthe chemicals that have been added to sheets.Never put new sheets on a bedwithoutlaunderingthematleasttwice.To help reduce dustmites, throw back the covers and air out your bed everymorningwhileyoushower.Welosebodyfluidduringthenight,especiallywhenweare illorduringmenopause.Thedampnessencouragesmoldanddustmitepopulations.

BlanketsandMore

Asyousnuggleupatnightunderyourblankets,makesure theyareas freeofVOCsasyourpillowsandsheets.Use100percentunbleachedcotton,hemp,orbamboo; thenenjoyasoundnight’ssleep.Cleanblanketsat leastevery3or4months,followingthemanufacturer’sinstructions.Nowthatyouhaveafreshstartonyourbeddingandpillows,let’squicklymakeyourbed:•Afteryouputonyour fittedsheet,place the flat sheeton topwith the largerhemattheheadofthebed.

•Miteryourblanketcornerthesameasyoudidfortheflatsheet.Foldthetopofthetopsheetovertheblankettoprotecttheblanketasyousleep.

•Tossthecomforterorduvetonthebed(leavingituntucked).•Finally,arrangeyourpillowsinanywaythatmakesyouhappy.

Mary’sHandyHints

Formiteredcorners,tuckinthebottomedgeofthesheet.Pickupthecornerofthesheetandbringitaroundtothesideofthebed.Putthesideofthesheetupoutofyourwayonthebed.Tuckinthepartofthesheetthat’slefthangingdown,andthenletthecornerfallandtuckinthesideof thesheetnear thefootof thebed.Done!Abedanyarmysergeantwouldbeproudof.(Canyoubounceaquarteroffofit?Evenbetter!)

Whenyoumakeyourbedin themorning,simplypull thecoversupoveryour

pillows. It takes less than 30 seconds when your bed is properly made afterchangingthesheets.

CleaningtheCloset

It’seasytogetyourselfinandoutoftightspots.Gettingtheclutteroutoftightspots insideaclosetgetsyou intobetterhealth.Youhave read that tight spotspromote moisture, mold, and dust mites. Did you realize that mold and dustmitesmigratetoyourclothing?Thathappenseasilyinclosetswhereclutterisincloseproximitytoclothing.Keepingthingstuckedontoshelvesorinsidestorageboxesreducesfloorclutter.It’seasiertovacuumafloorwhenyouhavetwoorthreeboxestopulloutratherthansixorsevenpilesofstuff.Spritzthefloorlightlywithanessentialoilthatkillsbugslikecloveorgeranium;thenvacuum.Reduce mite and mold infestation in closets by switching from carpet to apaintedcementfloororlinoleum—nevervinyl.Cedarwoodfloorshelpfightbuginfestationsinclosets.

CleantheUnseen

Talkaboutwantingtoclosethedoorbecauseifyoudon’tseethedirtyoudon’thavetocleanit.Thatprettymuchsumsupmostpeople’sopinionaboutcleaningclosets. We are so hesitant to part with our possessions that the back of ourclosets double for theGoodwill store. So,we shut the door and hope nothingtumblesdownwhenweopenitagain.

KeeptheClosetClean

Ifithasbeenoverfiveyearssinceyourlastgoodclosetcleaning,putdownthisbookandgotacklethisjob.Wepromisewe’llbeherewaitingwhenyoufinish.Followthesestepsforarefreshinglynewcloset:1.Clear all your clothes out of the closet and put them on the bed.All other

itemsgointoboxes.Remember:Ifyouhaven’twornitinthepastthreeyears,it’sgood-bye time.And,yes, it’s fine to toss thegaudyshirtyouweregivenforlastyear’sbirthday.

2.Sortyourbelongingsintothreepiles:ToKeep,ToGiveAway,andToToss.Shakethedustoutofanyclothesyouaregoingtokeepbeforehangingthembackup—butshakethemoutside!

3.Vacuumtheclosetandwipedownthewallsandshelveswithadampcloth.4.Banishmold andmildew. If the closet smellsmusty, find the source of themoldandtreatit.RefertoChapter4forrecipes.

5.CleanthefloorsaccordingtotheinstructionsinChapter10.6.Put theclothingbackandarrange it eitherper the seasonorhowoftenyouwear it.Forexample,keepall slacks inoneareaandshirts inanother.Morefrequentlywornclothingshouldbehungwheretheyareeasilyaccessible.

Mary’sHandyHints

Store shoes on a shoe rack. Some experts recommend stowing themawayinboxes,buttheyneedtoairdrytopreventmold.

Isyourclosetcleanyet?Thinkofhowmuch timeyou’ll savewhenyoudon’tspend10minutes lookingforonepairofslacks.Thensayyourfarewells toatleastamilliondustmites.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Clearingthecluttermakescleaningeasier.

•Getcreativewithstorageideastokeepthingstuckedaway.•You’llsleepbetteronacottonor latexpillowthatdoesnotcontainpetroleumproductsorformaldehyde.•Walkintoarefreshingandrestfulbedroombykeepingitpickedupandthebedmade.•Researchbeforebuyingbedding,pillows,andmattressestoeliminateoff-gassing fromaddedchemicals:checkout the resourcesection forsuggestions.

Chapter9

LovelyLivingRooms

InThisChapter•Thewho,what,when,andcareofhardwoodfurniture•Whenupholsteredfurnitureneedsattention•Caringforwindowcoverings•Allaboutknickknacks,lampshades,paintings,andmore

Thelivingroomcouldalsobecalledthe“not-so-livingroom”dependingonitsstage of disarray. After the dinner dishes are cleared and cleaned, familymembersgatherinthisroomtoread,playagame,putpuzzlestogether,orcatchuponAmericanIdol.Keepingthelivingroomcleancanbetrickywithsomanyprojectsgoingonatonetime.Allgoeswelluntilunexpectedcompanypoundsonthefrontdoorand,ofcourse,expectstohangoutinthelivingroom,projectsandall.Atripthroughthischapterprovidesthecluestocleanup,declutter,andfindapeacefulbalance.

DeclutteringtheLivingRoom

Readingaboutall thehealthissuesconnectedwithmoldanddustmitesshouldhavebeenenoughtogetyouhustlingtheclutteroutofyourhome.Buthowdoyouorganizeproject“clutter”inaroomthatisusedinsomanyways—sooften?Youreadinorganizationalarticlestomakepileswhensortingthings.Pilessuchas Discard, Keep, Goodwill, and Garage Sale. Begin your descent on livingroomclutterwiththelargestpile.Asyousort,putitemsbeingcurrentlyusedintheKeeppileuntilithaswornoutitswelcome.Next,organize theKeeppile soyou stay in controlof the clutter.Amagazinerack keeps magazines neat and tidy. Search a secondhand store for an olderchest.Theymakeattractivecatchallsforgames,puzzles,andknittingprojects.

Older furniture has gassed off toxic fumes frompaints and adhesives, plus notreeneedssacrificingtomakeyetanotherchest.Astereounitwithdoorshidesfrequentlyusedbooks.

Polish:What’sHot,What’sNot

Waxon,waxoffmighthavebeensimpleforMr.Miyagi,butit’snotthatsimplewithwoodfurniture.First,youmustdeterminewhetheryourfurniturehasahardfinishoranoilfinish.Ahardfinishisshinylikeapolyurethanewoodfloorandfeelsslicktothetouch.Oilfinisheshaveanaturallook.Runyourhandoverthem,andyoucanfeelthegrain.Always dust and polishwood furniturewith the grain of thewood to preventscratches.

DirtyWords

Stayawayfrompolishescontainingsiliconeandpetroleumdistillates.Distillates are toxic and shouldneverbeused inside thehome.Bothdistillates and silicone can soften the sealant on finishes. Call themanufacturerorlookonlineforthematerialsafetydatasheet(MSDS)beforeusingawoodcareproduct.

HardFinishes

Wood furniturewith a hard finish needs aweeklywipingwith a barely dampcloth.Dryitwithasoft,cleancloth.AproductsuchasGuardsmancanbeusedonhardfinishes.Youmighthavereadthatwaxcausesabuilduponfurniture.Weareheretodebunkthatmyth.Naturalbeeswax does not build up. The culprits are the chemicals added to the wax.Theysoftenthefinishsoitlooksdullandcloudyandfeelssticky.

Antiques

Useonlyadry,soft,100percentcottonclothlikeababydiapertodustantiquefurniture.Use a slightly damp cloth if the antique furniture has been restored.Never use a wood treatment on antique furniture that has the original blacklacqueredfinish.

Oil,Satin-Gloss,andLow-GlossFinishes

Treatoil,satin-gloss,andlow-glossfinisheswithcreamwaxesorliquidcleaningpolishes thatdonotcontainsiliconesordistillates; tryTheCleanTeampolish.Alwaysuseasoft100percentcottoncloth,suchasclothdiapers.Buffthewoodandthendryit.Howoftenyouconditionthiswooddependsonwhereyoulive.Ifyouliveinadryorhumidclimate,treatthefurniturethreetofourtimesperyear. Twice a year is fine in other climates. Increase the frequency if you seesignsofdryingorwarping.

Leather,Vinyl,UltraLeather,andUltraSuede

Refer to Chapter 1 for the dangers of vinyl furniture. If you can’t afford realleather,turntonaturaluntreatedfabricfurniture.Here’showtokeepyourleatherandvinylcleanandpreventdryingandcracking:• Never use saddle soap, strong detergents or soaps, oils, furniture polish,ammonia,abrasivechemicals,alcohol,orotherharshcleanerstocleanleather,vinyl,orultraleather.

•Immediatelycleananyspillwithabarelydampclothandlukewarmwater.Dabonabitofmildcleansersuchasbabyshampoo;thendryitimmediately.

•Dustleatherfurnitureweeklywithabarelydampcloth.•Deepcleanandconditionyourleather,vinyl,andultraleatheratleasttwiceayeartopreventdryingandcracking.

Mary’sHandyHints

Ifyouhaveyoungchildrenorpets,buyaplastic tablecloth.Turnthetableclothupside-downonfurnitureandthentopitwithabathtowel.Thetowelabsorbstheurinewhiletheplasticpreventsitfromsoakingthrough to the furniture. Use them to protect bedding and underchildren’sseatsatthetable.

You can find a good leather cleaner and conditioner inwestern supply stores.Use conditionersmade for soft leather such as vests, not thosemade for hardleatherlikeboots.Makecertainthecleanerwon’tdarkenthematerialandthatitcontainsnosilicone,petroleumdistillates,orotherharshsolvents.

UpholsteryTips

Back in the olden days, Grandma had to guess how to clean upholsteredfurniture—that’swhyshecoveredherfurniture.Today’sfurniturecarriesacleaningcode,whichisprintedonalabelunderthe

seatcushion.Nowifonlyyouknewwhat thecrypticSorX stoodfor.Here iswhatthecodesmean:• W—Use cool water only. Fabrics have changed and using even a milddetergentcanleavestains.Avoidoverwettingthefabric.

•S—Usesolventcleaner.Solventcleanersarehighlytoxicandflammable.Theyshould never be used in the home. Try foaming shaving cream. Test a verysmallspotfirst.Sprayonabit,wait5minutes,andthenblottorinse.

•S-W—Usewater-basedorsolventcleaner.Usewateronlyduetotoxiclevelsofsolvents.Youcanusefoamingshavingcream.

•X—Vacuumonly.Clean this fabriconlybyvacuumingor a “dry sponge” topreventaccumulationofdustandgrime.Rememberthataccumulateddirtisahavenfordustmites.

The use of a water-based solvent cleaner can cause spotting or excessiveshrinking. Test an inconspicuous spot first. The toxins in these cleanersbioaccumulateinyourbodyandarecarcinogenic.

Mary’sHandyHints

Whencleaningupholsterywithdetergent,rinsetheareawith½cupofwhitevinegarpergallonofwater.Vinegarremovesthesoapresiduetopreventdirtfromclingingtothecleanserleftinthefabric.Itwillstaycleanerfarlonger.

Curtains,Shades,andBlinds

After reading the dangers lurking behindwindow coverings, here is how youcleanthem.Windowcoveringskeepsunlightfromfadingfurnishings.Theykeepyour homewarm in thewinter and cool in the summer, and keep stares fromneighborsoutside.Vacuumyourcurtainsmonthlywiththeupholsterynozzleandthevacuumsetatlow suction. Use short strokesmoving from top to bottom. Always clean thenozzle first in sudsy water (air dry thoroughly) so dirt won’t transfer to thecurtain.Thinktwicebeforehavingyourcurtainsdrycleaned.Thechemicalsusedbydrycleanerscancausecancerandahostofotherailments.Iftheycanbelaundered,washthemonthegentlecycleandcoolwater.Hangthemonaclotheslinetodry.Drapes deteriorate quickly exposed to the sun so they might not toleratewashing.Theycanbeputinthedryeronairtobringoutthedust.Orhangthemontheclotheslineonawindyday.

MiniBlindBeware

Toclean them, turn theslatsdownward facingyou.Sprayasoftclothwithanall-purpose cleaner. (An old but clean cotton tube sock placed over one handmakes this job zip by in seconds.) Start at the top andwipe over the surface.Reverse the slats, pull the blinds out, andwalk behind them.Repeat from theback.Dooneroomeverytimeyoudusttokeepaheadofthebuildup.Ifminiblindshavereachedthepointofnoreturn,grabahammerandtwogood-sizenails.Measuretheblinds.Hammerthenails intothebackofyourhome1footlessthanthewidthoftheblinds.Hangtheblindsfromthenailsandturntheslats downward.Withyour all-purpose cleaner, begin sprayingyourway fromthebottomtothetop.Wipethemwithawetspongewhenthecleanerdripsfromthetop.Reversetheslats,fliptheblindsover,andrepeatfromtheback.Dry.Ifyoucan’thangthemoutside,laydownnonslippadsinthebathtubtocoverthefloorofthetub.Fillthetubwithwarm(nothot)waterandabitofhairshampoo.Cleantheslatsonebyonewithasponge.Rinseanddrythemonalargebeachtowel.Tocleandingycords,takeabloboffoaming(non-gel)shavingcreamandrubitontothecords.Wait30minutesandthenrinsewithasolutionof¼cupvinegarto1quartofwater.

WoodenBlinds

Useonlyasolutionof¼cupofwhitevinegarperquartofwatertocleantheseblinds.Follow thedirections forcleaningminiblindswithaclothorsock.Dothisonceamonthtopreventdirtfromdeterioratingthefinish.

FabricPleatedShades

Never usewater or cleaners on these shades unless you are fond of unsightlystains and damaged fabric. If you use a vacuum brush, clean the bristlesfrequently. Life should be easy, and the easy way to clean them is with achemically treated dry sponge. (SeeAppendix B for information onwhere tobuythese.)Useitdryandwipeovertheshades.It’samazinghowmuchdirt itremoves!Problems arise when bugs crawl across fabric blinds, leaving their… um…“bugspit”behind.Dampenacottonswabwithwater,andthendipitinabitofhair shampoo dabbing it on the stain. The swab prevents the shampoo fromspreadingontheshade.Letitset10minutesandgentlyblotitwithasoftclothlikeanold,clean,whitecottonT-shirt.

Mary’sHandyHints

Useadryspongeoranew1½inchpaintbrushtoremovecobwebsandothernuisancesfromthetopsofblindsandshades.

VerticalShades

The dry spongeworks best for vertical shades. You can roll themwith a lintroller, although we have found that these shades don’t collect dust like thehorizontalshades.

TheSmallStuffCounts,Too

TheseriesofbooksDon’tSweattheSmallStuffremindustoletgoofthesmallannoyances in life.However,your living room is filledwith“small stuff” likelampshades and paintings. Don’t let them get you sweating! Here’s how toquicklycleanthem.

Mary’sHandyHints

If you insist on using a vacuumbrush to clean lampshades, here’s asolution.Cutoff the legofanoldpairofpantyhoseandslide itoverthebrush.Shiftthepantyhoselegasitsoils.

Lampshades

Manyexpertsadvisecleaningclothlampshadeswiththebrushattachmentofa

vacuumcleaner.Didn’tyoujustuseit toremovedoghairfromtheLa-Z-Boy?Thedirtclingingtothebrushwilltransfertotheshade,andthestiffbristlescandamageshades.Apastryorpaintbrushmadeofhorsehairisthesafestwaytodustlampshades.Cutoffthebristles½inchfromthetopatanangletomakethemstifferforeasiercleaning.Finishwitha“drysponge.”If the lampshadecanbewashed,dosoin the tubfollowingthemanufacturer’sdirections.Metalcanrust(rememberwhathappenedtothepoorTinMan?),sodryshadeswithahairdryersettomediumheat.Herearethedirections:1.Layarubbernonslippadinthebottomofthetubandpartiallyfillthetubwithlukewarmwater,addingabitofbabyshampoo.

2.Washtheshadewithasoftcloth;thenlightlyrinseit.3.Turn the shadeupsidedownona towel so thewater runsoutof the seams.Drythemetalpartswithahairdryersettomediumheattopreventthemfromrusting.

Placeglass lampshadesandfixturesona towelonthecounter.Lightlyspritzasoftcloth,likeacleanoldT-shirt,withorganicwindowcleaner.Wipeanddryasectionatatime.

CeilingFans

Youcanuseyourhandy fanbrush,whichhas an extensionpole andbendableflat head to give the ceiling fan blades a good dusting. For a more thoroughcleaning,pullawhitecottonsockover theflatheadandlightlyspraythesockwithasolutionof¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.

CleaningQuips

“Godmade rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.”Authorunknown

Bendthedusterandthenrunitacrosseachblade.Thismethoddoesagreatjobonthebaseofthefanaswell,exceptuseplainwater,novinegar,tokeepfromtarnishinganygoldplatingonthefanbase.

Paintings

Pictures shouldneverbehung indirect sunlight or near awindowwheredustgathers quickly and sun fades the paint on an oil painting.Kitchen steam andcookingoildamagesthem,asdoescigaretteandcandlesmoke.Humidity also takes its toll on pictures, so a dehumidifier is amust-have forthoseinhumidareas.Dustglassfrequentlywithyourdrydustingcloth.Lightlysprayabitofwindowcleaneronaclothwipingovertheglasstocleanit.Neverclean near the edge because liquid could seep under the glass. Never sprayanythingintheairnearthepainting.Liquidshangintheairandcandamagetheframe.Sprayaclothandthenwipe.Uncoveredoilpaintingsneeddustingonceayear.Useapastrybrushmadefromhorsehairorboar’shair.You’ll find thematkitchensupplystores.Startat thetopandgentlybrushyourwaytothebottom.Neveruseavacuumcleanerbrushoradusterbecausethedirtandoilonthemwilldamagethepainting.

Knickknacks

Haveyouputyourknickknacksbehindglassyet?No?Thentheyneedadustingtwoorthreetimesaweekwitharealfeatherduster.Oryoucanwipethemwitha soft flannel cloth.Heedmywarnings aboutmicrofiber cloths and don’t usethemtodust.Forreallydustyfigurines,fillarubbertubhalffullwithwarmwaterandaddasquirtofbabyshampoo.Putatowelonthebottomofthepan.Soakthemforaminuteand thenclean themwith theflannelcloth.Useacottonswaborsmallfoampaintbrushtocleanthosesmallcrevices.

Placesmallclothitemsinalaundrybagwithabarelydampcloth.Runthemfor5-10minutesinthedryerontheairsetting—noheat.Oryoucanwipethemwithaclean“drysponge.”

Chandeliers

LampstoresandTheCleanTeamcarryspraycleanersthatremovedustbuildupon chandelier teardrops without needing to remove them. Move all furnitureasideandcoveranyotherfurnitureandflooringwithplastic.Placetowelsontopoftheplastictocatchthedrips.Spraytheteardropsandletthemdripdry.Astheyaredrying,wipeallthemetalpartswithabarelydampflannelcloth,dryingasyougo.Alternatively,youcanremove the teardrops and place them in a rubber tub. Spray them with thecleaner.For solid glass chandeliers, use a lambswool duster first to remove cobwebs.Wipethemetalwithabarelydampflannelcloth.Placeapieceofflannelclothovertheduster,rubberbandingitaroundthehandle.Lightlyspritztheclothwithyourwindowcleanerandgooverbothsidesoftheglass.

TVs

Alwaysfollowthemanufacturer’sguidelineswhencleaningyourTV.Unplugthesetfirst,andthenuseasoft,barelydampclothtocleantheconsole.NeversprayacleanerdirectlyonaTV.Liquidsdripintotheinterioranddamagesthecircuitsandscreen.Nevertouchthescreenbecauseoilfromyourhandscandamageit.WhencleaningaTVscreen,wipewith thegrainof thescreen;otherwise,youwillscratchthesurface.OthercleaningexpertsrecommendusingmicrofibertocleanaTVset.NeveruseamicrofiberclothonaTVscreen.Itwillscratchthecabinetandthescreen.Useasoftflannelmaterialonly.CleanaCRTcathode-raytube(CRT)TVbylightlyspritzingyourorganicglasscleaneronacloth.Carefullywipe.Liquidcrystaldisplay(LCD),plasmascreenTVs,andthenewestliquidcrystalonsilicon(LCoS)televisionsshouldneverbecleanedwithanycleaningproductorevenwater.Gentlydustthemwithaflannelcottoncloth.Keepallhandsoff

deckontheseTVs.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Declutteringmakescleaningeasier.•Thankstothemagicoffabriccodes,it’seasytoknowhowtocleanupholsteredfurniture.•Knowthefinishofyourwoodbeforecleaningorconditioningit.• With the right tools, you can keep your furnishings looking newwithoutspendinghourssweatingovereachitem.

Part3

TheBigStuff

When it comes to cleaning, the big stuff counts, too. The best of cleaningprofessionals,includingmyself,canfindahundredlittlechorestokeepusbusysowedon’thavetolookatthebigpicture.AndonlythebigstuffneedsTLC!From floors to ceilings; windows to walls; gutters to cars—these areas needproperattention. In thispartyou’ll learnhowtoshineyourcar,shapeupyourwindows, and shake out the cobwebs. Plus you’ll learn to do itwithout toxiccleaners.

Chapter10

HittheFloorRunning

InThisChapter•Rxforcarpet•Piningforcleanwoodfloors•Makingvinylvibrant•Allaboutstone,cork,andbamboofloors

Imaginehowyourfloorsmustfeelbeingwalkedon,troddedon,andunderfootallday.They take thebruntofwhatyoudrag inonyour shoes from thegreatoutdoors—things like oil from the street, dog deposits from the neighborhoodpark, and dirt and grit from your yard. When you come inside, all that getsmercilesslygroundintoyourcarpetandhardfloorsurfaces.In an attempt to make amends and return the floor to its original pristinecondition, you use the wrong cleaner and wear away the floor’s protectivecoverings.Tellyourfloortofearnomore.Bytheendofthischapter,you’llknowhowtokeep it cleanwhether it’s covered in carpet, toppedwith tiles, or housedwithhardwood.

TheCleanSweep

After youmeander across a grassy lawn, take a look down—at the bottomofyour shoes, that is.You’ll find sand,dirt, andpiecesofgrass.Walkacross thecarpetandallthatdirtstickstothebuildupofoilalreadyinyourcarpet.Thedirtandoil become long-lost buddieswho stick togethernomatterhowhardyourvacuumtriestoextractthem.That dirt builds until you either rent a machine or call a professional carpetcleanertocleanthecarpets.Youraveoverhownicethecarpetlooks,untiltwo

weekslaterwhenitstartslookingdirtierthanitdidbeforeitwascleaned.Whatconfoundedyourcleaningefforts?Everuseadetergenttocleanyourvinylfloorsandnoticedthatyourfeetstucktothefloorafterwards?Thesoapresiduedoesnot rinse clean andmakes the floor sticky.The same thinghappenswithcarpeting.The chemicals left in your carpet becomeanestingground for dirt.Likebabybirds,thedirtwon’tflythecoopuntilit’sforcedtoleave.Evenworse,thecleaningchemicalshaveprobablyexposedyoutohighlytoxicfumes.Thesamesolventsusedatdrycleanersareoftenusedoncarpets.Don’tforget the formaldehyde, lye, disinfectants, acids, and fragrances added to thecleaners.Thattoxiccocktailhasbeenlinkedtomanyailments.

Mary’sHandyHints

RevisitAppendixAforarefreshercourseonhowtoblotandremovecarpetstains.Whenyouhireacarpetcleaningcompany,remembertoget thematerial safetydata sheets (MSDS) for theproducts theyuseandmakesuretheproductsare“green.”

Bynow,youmightbefrettingoverthepastillsyou’veinflictedonyourcarpet.Don’tfret!Usethefollowingsolutionstokeepyourwall-to-wallontheball.

GetaGriponVacuuming

Chapter 3 walked you through the basics of vacuum cleaners. Hopefully the

slogan “Good ain’t cheap and cheap ain’t good” has engraved itself into yourmind forever. Say you spend $4,000 to carpet your home. To cut costs, youpurchasea$150vacuumtoclean it.Tenyears lateryouspend$5,000fornewcarpetingbecausedirthasbeenground into thecarpetandyour$150machinecouldnotbringitout,thuswearingthecarpetout.Withpropercareandagoodvacuum,high-qualityall-naturalcarpetshouldlast15-20years.Wealllovetobreezethroughcleaningasquicklyaspossible.Putonthebreakswhenyouvacuum. It takes a bit of time for a vacuum’s suction to inhale thatdeeply embedded dirt. Slowdown and take your time, especially on themaintrafficareas.

KicktheHabit

Basiccarpetcare101:ifdirtdoesn’tinvadethecarpet,thecarpetstayscleaner.Because80percentofthedirtisdruginonyourshoes,doesn’titmakesensetokickthemoffatthedoor?Oilfromthebottomofyourfeetcandamagecarpet,soslipintoapairofcleansocks.Somepeoplewithfootproblemsmustwearshoesindoors,sokeepyourindoorshoeshandyatthefrontdoor.

DirtBeware

Even if you ditch the shoes at the door, carpet tends to be a dirt magnet.Counterattack it by vacuuming high-traffic areas daily if necessary followedwithathoroughvacuumingonceaweek.Whenyousetyourcleaningschedule,consider things like pets, kids, and whether you work at home. Adjust thefrequencyofvacuumingtosuityourhomelife.Change the vacuum cleaner bag before it’s completely full. Because full bagsdumpdirt everywhere, change the bag in the garage or outside to prevent theinevitablecloudsofdust fromspewingback into theair andontoyourcarpet,thefloor,andthesurroundingfurniture.Beforechangingthebag,runthevacuumonacleanfloorforafewminutes.Thevacuum inhales any remaining dirt in the hose sowhen you pull the bag, dirtdoesn’tspewbackontothefloor.

Tape a reminder on the vacuum to change the belt two or three times a year,dependingonthenumberof timesyouput themachineintoactioneachweek.Do this twice ayear if youvacuumweekly, three times ayear if youvacuummore frequently.Wornbeltsweardownmotorsquicklyandprevent thebeaterfromdoingitsjobsothedirtstaystrappedinyourcarpet.

Mary’sHandyHints

Ifyourvacuumdoesn’tinhaledirtlikeitshould,thebagmightbefull,thebeltcouldbeworn,orthebeatersmighthavelintonthem.Ifthoseare fine, remove thehose from thevacuum.Tape anold cotton tubesocktotheendofamophandleandrunitthroughthehosetocheckforclogs.Stillnotworking?Thenit’stimeforavacuumtune-up.

TheFinalRinse

Whether you hire a professional carpet cleaner or rent a shampooer, carpetshampoo isgoing to leavea residue.Besides,mostcarpetshampoosare toxic,especiallytochildrenandpets.Insteadofshampoo,boilsomewaterandadd½cupofwhitevinegarpergallonofwater.Vinegar isnotonly agoodcleaner, but also reactivates the shampooalreadyinyourcarpetandliftsitandthedirtoutofthecarpet.Yourcarpetwillbe clean and the fibers will be soft once more. Then clean with vinegar andwateronlyforaninexpensiveandtoxic-freewaytocleancarpets.Should you decide to hire a professional carpet cleaner, have them rinse the

carpetwithvinegarandhotwaterratherthanplainwatertolifttheshampoooutofthecarpet.

TheLowDownonWoodandLaminatedFloors

Never use rubber-backed throw rugs on hard floor surfaces. They yellow thefloor,whichcannotberemoved.Useaneutral-coloredcottonthrowrugwithaseparatenonslippad.Removetherugatnightsothefloorcanbreatheifyouuseanonslippad.Homeowners love the look of hardwood floors because of their aged feel andsturdiness that brings back nostalgic days. But these floors are hard in nameonly.Bothhardwoodandlaminatefloorsscratcheasily.Sweepingwithabroomcanscratchthemifthebroompicksupapebble.Reachfora100percentcottonmopinstead.Thelongstringskeepstonesandgritfromscrapingthefloor.Forlargefloor areas, visit a janitorial supply store andpickup amightier dustmop foryourhome.Donotuseamicrofibermopasitwillruinthefloor.

Mary’sHandyHints

Woodfloorswillneed tobesandedand refinished if theyhavebeendamaged by a liquid such as pet urine thatwent unnoticed. It’s alsotimetobreakoutthesanderifthefloorhasdulledortheboardshavewarpedfrombeingmoppedwithexcesswater.

Somepeoplerecommendsprayingacottondustmopwithadustingspray.Overtime,thespraybuildsupandmakesthefloorslick.Worse,thespraycandamagethefloor.Andworsestill,thetoxicspraylingersintheairandbioaccumulatesinyourbody. Ifa spraysticks toa surface, it sticks toyour lungsandorgans,aswell.

Lovin’Moppin’

Dusting floors is a breeze.Removing sticky stainsmight be a bitmorework.Neveruseexcessmoistureonwoodorlaminatefloors.Waterworksbetweentheboardsandtheyeventuallywarp.Instead of slopping outwater from a bucket, lightly spritz a terry cloth towelwithamixture¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Mopthefloorwiththistowel, shifting the towel as neededwhen the exposed section soils. The floordriesalmostimmediately,soyou’llneverneedtodryit.Forthosestickyspots,spritzabitofthevinegarandwateronthespot,letitsetaminute,andthenrubitoffwithyourtoeontopofthetowel.Neverwaxa laminated floorandbeverycautiouswithwood floors.Waxandcleanersotherthanvinegarcandamagethesefloors.Followthemanufacturer’srecommendationsforwoodfloors.

DirtyWords

Thevegetable soap used inMurphy’sOil Soap and similar productsstickstohardwoodfloors.Overtime, itcausesthesealant tobecomegummy. Eventually, the floor needs refinishing. You can’t sand andrefinishlaminateflooringlikeyoucanwoodfloors.Youmustreplacetheentirefloor!

CountingtheRings

Wood floors that arebetween35and100yearsold requiredifferent care thantheirnewercousins.Youstillmustdustthemweeklywithacottondustmop.Toclean up small spills, use the vinegar-and-water solution mentioned in theprevioussection.Toclean thefloor,place thevinegar-and-watersolution intoaspraybottleandlightlyspritzthecottondustmopuntilit’sbarelydampened.Mopthefloorandthenlaundertheduster.Treat olderwood floors two or three times a yearwith pastewax tomaintaintheir luster.Make sure thepastewax is designed forhardwood floorsbecausenotallwaxesarecreatedequal.Testaverysmallspotfirstforcompatibility.Youcanwaxsmallareaswithahouseholdbufferoratowelmop.Forlargesurfaces,considerrentingabuffingmachineusingonlyalambswoolwaxapplicatorpad.Janitorialsupplycompaniescarrythepads.

FortheLoveofLinoleum

Use an angled nylon broom for sweeping linoleum floors. They angle intocornersanddon’tshedthewaycornbroomsshed.Plus,theyarebetteratpickingupfinedustwith lesschanceofscratchingthefloor.Makesure thebroomhassoftflaggedends.Clean linoleumfloorswitha terrycloth toweland¼cupofwhitevinegarpergallonofhotwater.Ifthefloorhasdeepgroovesthatrequireadditionalcleaning,addtwotablespoonsofboraxtothismixture.Scrubthefloorwithasoftnylonscrub brush. Never use a floor cleaner becausemany contain phosphorous orother heavy cleaners.Theydeteriorate the sealant andhavebeen connected toserioushealthissues.Ifyourfloorhasdulledandisnotcomingclean,itcouldbetimetostripandwaxit.Purchaseyourfloorstripper,sealant,andnon-yellowingwaxfromajanitorialsupply store.The supplies aremore expensive but cost far less than replacingyourfloor.Youwillbewellpleasedwiththelastingresults.

definition

Acornbroomismadefromaplantcalledbroomcorn.Fullygrown,theplantresemblesfieldcorn.Thefibrousendsaretuftedtomakeacornbroom. If you like this broom, purchase onemade in the traditionalway toprevent scratching the floor.Youcan find theseatTheNorthWovenBroomCo.(www.northwovenbroom.comor1-866-471-1117)

Strip the floor following the bottle’s directions.Rinsewith½ cup vinegar pergallonofwater.Apply thesealant,allow it todry,and thenadd twocoatsofwaxallowing thefirstcoattodrybeforeapplyingthenextlayer.Asealerisnecessarytoobtaintheproperwaxingresults.

CorkandBambooRockandRoll

Corkfloorsaretoutedtobeecofriendly,lowcarbon,durable,warm,andeasytoinstall andmaintain.Youmustprotect the floor fromscratchesbyplacing feltpaddingunder furniture.Placematsat thedoorsoyoucan removeyourshoesandavoidscratchingthesefloors.Cleanthemasyouwouldanaturalwoodfloor.Bamboo floors dent easily, so youmightwant to think twice before installingbamboo.Neverusemoistureonabamboofloorbecauseyoucanwarpthefloor.Spotcleanonly.Thisisnotafloorforahomewithkidsorpets.Bothcorkandbamboofloorsfade,especiallyinthesun.

Marble,Slate,Granite,andTileFloors

Topreventscratchesongraniteandmarblefloors,useonlyacottondustmop.You need nothing more than hot water to clean stone floors. Any kind ofdetergentorvinegarpitsthesefloors.Detergentsseepintotheporesoftilefloors

causingastickybuildupthatattractsdirtandisdifficulttoremovesotheflooralwayslooksdirty.Overtime,thedetergentsoftenstheadhesiveonthebackofthetile,causingittoloosen.Tocleangraniteandmarble floors,mopa small sectionand then immediatelydry it because these floorswater spot easily.Thesewater spots aredifficult toremove.Immediatelywipespills.Groutstainscanbestubborntoremove.Groutisporous,socleanerssoakrightthrough and strip the color out of colored grout. Use sudsy water and atoothbrush, or try The StainEraser. Appendix B tells youwhere to buy them.Sealyourgroutaftercleaningitbyapplyingafive-yeargroutsealer.Waitthreeto four days and seal it again. Purchase a syringe for large animals from awesternfeedstore.Removetheneedleandfillthesyringewithsealerforaneasyapplicator.Wefind it faster tovacuumtileorslate floors thansweeping them.Mop themwithhotwateronlyanduseaterrytowel.Likegraniteandmarble,dryceramictiletopreventstreaking.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Placearearugsormattingonhardfloorsurfaces,especiallywood,tokeepthemcleanlongerandhelppreventscratchesandmars.•Kickyourshoesoffwhenyouenteryourhomeandyouwon’tneedtocleanthecarpetsooften.• Keep from warping your wood floors by using as little water aspossible.•Vinegar andwaterworkwell on vinyl and linoleum to keep thosesurfaceslookinggreat;addjustabitofboraxifneeded.•Theonlythingsthatshouldgoonastoneortilefloorareyourfeetandhotwater;detergentsdamagethem,asdoesvinegar.

Chapter11

Walls,Ceilings,andWindows

InThisChapter•Upagainstthewall•Tricksfortrickyceilings•Prosecretsofstreak-freewindows•Fireplaceknow-how

Everythinginyourhomesparklesafterreadingthelast10chapters,right?Justdon’t look up, straight ahead, or down near your feet.We’re talking ceilings,windows,walls, andbaseboards.Thoseareaswhere ifwe removeourglasses,wecan’tseethedirt.Ifwecan’tseeit,thenwedon’thavetocleanit.Notquite.Youneedtocleantheseareas—unlessyoulikehangingoutwithdustmites and cobwebs, and all the sneezing and wheezing and possible lungproblemsthatcomewiththem.Spidersholdathree-ringcircusonyourceilings,leaving their “tents”behindwhileyour artistically talented children redecoratethewallswithcrayons.All thewhile,agoodnorthwindplasters thewindowswithmorethanabitofdirt.With the handy tips in this chapter, you’ll be fitting these chores into yourregularcleaningregimen.

CeilingCleaning

When it comes to cleaning tricky surfaces like textured walls or “popcorn”ceilings,itsometimesseemsnecessarytopullmagicaltricksoutofahat.Whenyoufinishreadingthetricksinthissection,you’llhavethemagic—allyouaddis the equipment and the armmotion (a.k.a. elbow grease).No,Mary doesn’tmakehousecallsanymore,unlessyouliveintheoutbackofAlaskaandpromisetotakehersalmonfishing!

Yourgoal is tonotonly ridwallsandceilingsofdirt,butalso ridyour lifeoftoxicchemicals.IftheailmentsmentionedinChapter2causedbysomeofthesecleanerswere not enough to get you to switch, let’s take a look at one of themostfrequentlyusedcleanersforceilingsandwalls.

DirtyWords

Whenyoucleanwallsandceilings, stayawayfromanyproduct thatleavesagummyresidueonthewalls.Thisresiduepreventspaintfromstickingevenfiveyearsdowntheroad, leavingyouwithamiserablemess.

Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is often recommended for cleaning walls andceilingsandevenrecommendedbymany“green”sitesassafetouse.Itcausessevere eye and skin irritations, asthma, as well as lung and intestinal trackirritations.Continuedusecanpermanentlyscareyeandmembranetissue.Remember:Neversprayacleaneronoverheadsurfaceslikeceilingsandwalls.Itdoesn’tmatterifthecleanerisgreenornotbecauseyourbodycannotprocesschemicalsandtheycandamageorgans.Dipyourclothorspongeinthecleaner;thenwipe it on thewall or ceiling. Here are some greenways to clean theseareas.

FlatorPainted

Followthesestepstocleanceilings,whichmaystalltheneedtopaintforseveralyears:1.Removeallwallhangings,curtains,andblinds.Movefurnituretoonesideofthe room; then lay down a canvas drop cloth. Plastic can get slipperywhen

wet,souseprecautionswhenusingit.Ifyouuseplastic,coveritwithtowelstocatchthedripsandbecarefuloutthere!

2.Mix 1 cup of borax into a gallon ofwater, and then add¼ cup of organiclaundrydetergent.Donotuseessentialoilsonwallsorceilings.

3.Cleanonesectionatatimedoingtheceilingfirstandthenthewall.Cleantheceilingandwallsusingatoweldrapedoveratowelmop.Ifyouaregoingtorepaint,amicrofibermopwillalsowork.

4. Rinse the ceiling as you cleanwith a gallon ofwater plus½ cup ofwhitevinegar.Dryimmediately.

Ifyoujustwanttoremovecobwebs,useabarelydamptoweloveratowelmopor a lambswool duster. People also vacuum cobwebs so clean them withwhatevermethodiseasiestandfastestforyou.Nowyoucanlookupatyourbeautifulceiling!

Popcorn,Textured,orWoodBeam

Tocleanpopcornceilingsandwoodbeams,slipthreelint-removerreplacementtubesover themetal baseof a paint roller.Attach the roller to your extensionhandleandrolltheceilingorwoodbeamstoremovedustandcobwebswithoutsmearingthecobwebsorscatteringspacklingcompoundeverywhere.Ducttapetheendofthepaintrollertoprotectthewallsfrombeingmarred.

CleaningtheWalls

Ifdirtywallsare,well,drivingyouupthewall,thenkeepreading.Trythegreenwaytoremovingsnafusfromwalls:•Removesmallmarksbyrubbinggentlywithanartgumeraser.•Noartgumeraseronhand?Rubthemarkgentlywithtoothpaste.Rinsewithmouthwashandfloss.(Wearekiddingaboutthemouthwashbutthetoothpasteworks!)

•Pourafewtablespoonsofbakingsodaintoasmallcontainerandaddenoughhydrogenperoxidetomakeapaste.Applyandletitsetforfiveminutes;thiswill“bubble”offthestain.Thengentlyblotwithacleancloth.

•Toremoveink,gentlyuseanartgumeraser.Ifthatfails,blottheinsideorzestofalemonoranorangepeelonthespotandrubgently.Wait10minutesandgentlyblottoremoveit.

TacklingTougherStains

Ifyou’redealingwithstainsfromgrease,oil,orcrayons,well, that’satoughercookietochew.

DirtyWords

Never use mineral spirits, liquid dish soaps, or WD-40 to removegreaseoroil.Theseproductsleaveastickyresidue,whichcausesthepainttoturngummythenexttimeyoupaint.Theyaretoxic,exceptfororganicdishsoap,soyounotonlybreathe thefumesbutalsoabsorbthetoxinsthroughyourhands.

Moststainscomerightoutbydampeningaclothwithwarmwaterandpouringabitoforganiclaundrypowderorliquiddetergentonthecloth.Boraxworkswell,too.Blottoremove.Ifthatfails,trythis:1.Mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch and enough water to make a thickpaste.

2.Plasterthespotandletthemixturedryseveralhours.Asthecornstarchdries,itwillabsorbtheoil.

3.Brushoff thecornstarchwithapaintbrushandwipeoffanyresiduewithabarelydampcottoncloth.

4.SeeAppendixAforspecificstainremedies.IfthegreasedecidestobeasstubbornasaMissourimule,you’llhavetoapplya

water-basedprimeroverthegreaseandthenpainttheareausingsomeleftoverwallpaint.

Mary’sHandyHints

Youmightneedtoaddabitofblackpainttodarkenyourleftoverwallpaint to blend it to the right color.Remove a small amount of paintfrom the can and place it on a piece of waxed paper. Use a flattoothpick to retrieve a dab of black paint. Mix until you have areasonablematchforthepaint.

WashingtheWalls

Refertothesection“CeilingCleaning,”earlierinthischapter,forgeneralwallwashingdirections.

•Spongethem.Alwayswashyourwallswithanaturalsponge,foundinpaintstores.Rags,towels,andflatmopscantakethepaintoffflatwallpaints.Theycanbeusedonglossorsemi-glosspaints;justdon’taggressivelycleanthem.

Mary’sHandyHints

Cut the foot off a clean but old cotton tube sock andplace the sockoveryourwrist tocatch thedrippingwaterbefore it runsdownyourarms.Usethefootsectionforpolishingshoes.

•Go inorder.Most experts tell you towash from the top down toavoid thedirtstreaks thatdripdownfromthe top.Nevercleanwallsfromthebottomupunlessyoulikerecleaningthebottomareaasthewaterdripsfromthetop.

Wehaveaneattrickthatwillsolvethedrippyproblem:whenwashingwallsuphigh,coveradustpanwithahand-sizeterryclothtowelandholdit justundertheareayou’recleaningtocatchthosedrips.Wash thewall fromright to leftand left to right in thesamedirectionpaint isapplied.Cleaninginacircularmotiongoesagainstthegrainofthepaint,whichcanleaveitscratched.Rinse walls using a second bucket of water plus ½ cup of white vinegar pergallonofwater,anddryimmediately.Vinegarisanexcellentcleanerandhastheabilitytoremoveacleanerfromthewall,sopaintglidesoneasily.Evenifyouareusingagreencleaner,openthewindowsanddoorsandturnonafantocirculatethefumesoutofyourhome.Springandfallarethebesttimesofyear for heavier cleaning chores because the doors and windows are usuallyopenanyway.

TreatingPaneling

The popularwood paneling of the ’70s has, unfortunately,made a comeback.

Cuttingdowntreestolineourwallsisdifficultformetobearsincesomuchofour vital forests are being needlessly destroyed simply for our “viewing”pleasure.Pleasethinktwicebeforepanelingyourhome.Let’sgocleanthem.Allwoodpaneling,whetherit’ssynthetic,finished,orrawwood,mustbedustedregularly.Useawoolduster,drysponge,orbarelydampcottonterrytoweloveratowelmoptodust.Followtheinstructionsforyourtypeofwoodpaneling:•Unfinished wood paneling. Lightly wipe clean using a barely damp cloth.Excessmoistureonunfinishedwoodpanelingcandamagethewood.Wait24hoursandthenapplyawoodtreatmentrecommendedbythemanufacturer.

• Sealed or finished wood paneling. Generally, damp cleaning finishedpanelingisn’tnecessary.Adryspongeshouldremovemostsurfacedirt.

DirtyWords

Please heed all prior warnings concerning the use of petroleumdistillates-based products inside the home. Also stay away fromlinseed oil as well. Linseed oil, in large enough amounts to treatpaneling,willoverwhelmyouwithfumesandcausesevereheadaches.Linseedoilspontaneouslycombustscatchingaragandyourhomeonfire. A beeswax-based conditioner does a safe job cleaning andconditioningpaneling.

If grime has developed on the paneling, clean it with a solution of ½ cup ofwhite vinegar per gallon of water or a cleaner recommended by themanufacturer.Work from the bottom up, cleaning with the grain of the wood. As the dry

spongesoils,takeitoutsideandsanditwith600-to800-gritfinesandpaper.Ifyouneed towash thepaneling,useadampclothandworkfromthebottomupward.Whybottomupherebuttopdownforpaintedwalls?Onfinishedwood,any dirty water dripping down could streak the finish, and the streaks aredifficulttoremove.Holdaterrytowelunderthespotyouarecleaningtocatchdrips.

FireplaceFronts

Theplasticisdownandcleaningequipmentout,sowhynottacklethefireplacefronttoo?Besuretocoverthebaseofthefireplaceandthecarpetwithonepieceofplastic.Liquidscanseepthroughoverlappingplasticandstainthecarpet:1.Headtoajanitorialsupplystoreforwhatiscalledafoamingsprayer.Gettwoof them in case onebreaks.Saturate the brickswith the heaviest dilutionofyourgreencleaner,addingafewdropsofpineoil.Waitafewminutes.

2.Using the foaming sprayer, add⅔cupborax and⅓cupof agreen laundrydetergent per gallon of your cleaner. Thoroughly spray the bricks or stones.Thefoamingsprayerfoamsthecleaner,whichthen“foams”thesootoutofthebricks.

3.Scrubusinga stiffbristlebrushdipped in thecleaning solution.Reapplyasneeded.

Keeptheroomwellventilatedandwearglovesandamask.Eventhoughyouareusinggreencleaners,youareworkinginatightareaaroundthefireplace.

WindowWizardry

Ifyourwindowsgiveyouacrystal-clearview,congratulations!Theyarecleanandyoucankickyourfeetupandlaughattherestofuswhoaredraggingouttheladders.

DirtyWords

Papertowelsandnewspapercontainpiecesofpulpthatscratchglass.Use lint-free towels andwash them first addingwhitevinegar to therinse cycle.Vinegar removes any soap residue that can smear glass.Drythemusingnodryersheets.

Grandmother had many words of wisdom, but don’t adopt Grandma’s use ofcrumpled newspaper. Instead, follow these professional tips for squeaky cleanwindows.Whenever possible, avoid spraying even your home-brew window cleanerdirectlyonglass.Thosedropletsfloatdownsoyouinhalethemtheentiretimeyou clean windows. Instead, dampen the Window Scrubber from The CleanTeamoracottonscrubberfromahardwarestoreandthencleanthewindow.

FromtheInsideOut

Cleaning the insideofwindows ismucheasier than theoutside, so let’s tacklethatfirst.MixabatchofwindowcleanerfollowingtherecipegiveninChapter4.Usedistilledwaterasitgivesthebestresults,ortryBenyaortheBlueJuicefromTheCleanTeam.Clearthewindowsillsandpushasidethecurtains.Holdonelint-freetowelovera sheet of plastic laid on the floor and lightly spray the cleaner on the towel.Wipe over the window; then dry with a second 100 percent cotton lint-freetowel.Windows,exceptfortintedones,aretheonesurfacewhereyouhaveourpermission to use microfiber products—vehicle windshields are the other.Microfiberwill not scratch glass since it does not have a coating. It scratchesplastic,sokeepitoffplasticandPlexiglasskylights.Lay a towel on thewindowsill to catch anydrips. Finally, step back and lookthroughwindowssocrystalclearyoudon’tknowthey’rethere.

FromtheOutsideIn

Outsidewindows takeabeating.Fromrainpoundingon thepanes todustanddirtandevenbirdsflyingintotheglass,outsidewindowsrequiremoreefforttogetthemclean.Youmaybeusingasqueegeetocleanoutsidewindows.Cleantherubberbladewith soap and water to remove any manufacturing oil left on the rubber.Otherwise,theycanstreakthewindow.Ofcourse,youneedtoremovethescreensfirstandcleanthem.Youaregoingtolove this quick trick to clean screens.Rather thanwashing screens and all theothernonsenseyougothrough,grabadryspongeandwipethemfrontandback.Sandthespongeasitsoilswitha600-to800-gritsandpaper.

Mary’sHandyHints

Nomatterwhichtypeofglasscleaneryouuse,cleaningyourwindowsinthemorningorearlyeveninggivesyouthebestresults.Whenglassbecomeshotfromthesun’srays,thewindowcleanerdriestooquickly,leavingitstreaked.

Clean aluminum frames with ametal polish such as the one from The CleanTeam,orMaryMoppinsandrinsewithadampcloth.Forpaintedframes,cleanwithyourorganiccleanerandadampcloth.Brush thewindowsills and framingwith amedium-size paintbrush to removebits of leaves and other debris. Clean the sills and framingwith your organiccleanerormetalpolishiftheyarealuminum.

To clean the windows themselves, you’ll want to take a page from theprofessionalsanduseasqueegee,alint-freetowel,andsomequickwristaction.Herearethesteps:1.Mixtogether1tablespoonoforganic,powdereddishwashingdetergentand½cupofwhitevinegarinabucketofwater.

2.Usingacloth-headedwindowsqueegeeoralint-freetowel,swabthesolutiononthewindowfromtoptobottom.

3.Usetherubberbladeofthesqueegeetowipeoffthesolution.Startbyusingonecornerof thebladetowipewherethetopedgeof thewindowmeets theframe.

4.Continuedownthewindowworkingrighttoleftsothatthesqueegeepusheswaterdownasyoumoveacross theglass.Overlap thestrokesbyan inchsoyouleavenowaterbehind.Attheendofeachstroke,wipethesqueegeedrywithacloth.

5.Removeanyremainingwateronthesidesoftheglasswithalint-freetoweloramicrofibercloth.

6.Drythewindowframeandsillwithaseparaterag—notthelint-freetowel.Iftheframeisaluminum,cleanitwithametalpolishlikeMet-AllorTheCleanTeam’sStainlessSteelpolishtopreventcorrosion.Thisalsohelpsthewindowtoslideeasieraswell.

First timewieldinga squeegee?Youmay findyou leave a few streaksbehindbeforeyoupickuponthetechnique.You’llcatchonquickly.Afteryou’vefinishedwashingthewindows,parkyourselfinachairinfrontofapicturewindowandenjoytheview!

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

• Always protect the floors and furniture before washing walls,ceilings,orwindowsandhaveallyourcleaningproductsonhand.• Remove marks from walls with an art gum eraser, toothpaste, orbakingsodamixedwithhydrogenperoxide.• Clean popcorn ceilings and wood beams with lint-removerreplacementtubesonapaintroller.•Whenwashingoutsidewindows,forgetthecrumplednewspaperanddoitlikeapro—withasqueegee.

Chapter12

TheGreatGreenOutdoors

InThisChapter

•De-gunkinggutters•Cleaningthesiding•Manningthedeck(andthepatio)•Sittingprettyonpatiofurniture

Remember in school how your teachers encouraged you to be well-rounded?They coaxed the athletes and computer whizzes to run for office or join thedebateteam.Yourhomeneeds thatwell-rounded touch, too.Sofar thisbookhasbeenabitintrovertedstickingtoinsidecleaningissues.Butthedirtontheoutsideofyourhomedetractsfromthatinsidesparkle.Besides,outsidedirtalwaysfiguresouthowtohitcharideintoyourhome.Grabyourbrush, ladder,andabucketofwaterandfollowusoutsideforsomefreshairand—okay—someworkaswell.

KeepYourSidinginCheck

Nature’selementsbreakdownthattoughexteriorsurfacemakingitavulnerabletargetfordirt,mold,andotherunsavorycharacters.Trustus;it’seasiertocleansidingbeforethemoldstartsbuildingthanwaituntilmoldhasmovedinside.

PreventMoldandMildew

Left unchecked, mold can contaminate your entire home. Heavy rains and

humiditystartmoldgrowingontheroof,siding,sidewalk,anddriveway.Shoescarrymoldsporesinsidewheretheybecomeairborneandarecarriedthroughouttheentirehomebytheductsystem.Insidemoldpollutionisdifficultandcostlyto treat.Thatseemslikeanexcellentargument infavorofkickingthehabitofwearingshoesinsideyourhome.Peopleusuallyreachforabottleofbleachtokillmoldandmildew.Let’stakealookatafew“green”solutions.Neverallowasmallmold infestation togrow intoa largeproblem.Treateachspotwhen it first appears toprevent it fromspreading.Scrub the spotusing abrushand½cupofboraxpergallonofwatertoremovethemold.Letthatdry.Using a sponge, wipe on straight white vinegar and let it dry. If the moldremains, treat it with 35 percent food-grade hydrogen peroxide. Repeat at thefirstsignofnewmoldgrowth.Treatlargerareaswithamixtureof½cupborax,⅔cuporganiccleaner,and32ounces of white vinegar poured into a gallon of water. Scrub the areawith abrush.Afteritdries,spraythesidingwiththreepartsvinegartofivepartswater.

AluminumandVinylSiding

Aluminumsidingisafactory-paintedmetalthatcanoxidizeorturnchalkyifnotproperly cleaned.Vinyl siding etches over the years,making it prone to stainsanddulling.Propercleaningkeepsyouaheadoftheseproblems.Wash either siding with a long-handled, soft bristle brush. Use ⅓ cup of anorganic non-sudsing laundry detergent such asBi-O-Kleen’s laundry detergentorTheCleanTeam’sRedJuiceadding½to1cupofdistilledvinegarperbucketofwater toretardmoldgrowth.Besure to turnoff theelectricalconnectiontoanyoutdoorplugsbeforeyoubegin.Startat thebottomandworkyourwaytothetop.Cleanasectionandthenthoroughlyrinseit.Check with the siding manufacturer before you pressure wash siding. Somesidingcannotbepressurewashed.Setthepressurewashertothelowestsettingand keep the nozzle two feet from the surface. Never aim the power washerupward because you can drive water behind the siding, which causes indoormoldproblems.

Stucco

Stucco turnsdarkwith accumulateddirt andmold.Both stuccoandbrick turnwhitewithefflorescence.Cleanstuccoonceayear,ortwiceayearifit’slightincolor.

definition

Efflorescence occurs when the mineral salts in the mortar of yourstuccodissolve.It leavesawhiteappearancethatstandsoutfromtherestofthestucco.

StuccoCleaner

2gallonshotwater¼cuporganiclaundrydetergent(trytheonebyBi-O-Kleen)½cupborax½cupwashingsodaMix together the above ingredients. If you are using a powerwasher,spraythedirtstartingatthetopanddon’tstopuntilyoureach thebottomof that strip. Ifyou stop, thegrungewill stainthestucco.Keepthepressuresetlow;otherwise,youwillknockthestuccoofftheside.

Brick

Exterior brick maintains its beauty with a simple yearly hosing. If you spotmoss,mold,ormildew,thoroughlywetthebrickwithwater.Next,scrubwithasolution of 1 cup of 35 percent food-grade hydrogen peroxide per 1 gallon ofwater and a soft bristled brush.Never use awire brush as itwill damage thebricks.

Wood

Woodsidinglooksgreat,althoughitishighmaintenance.Paintorstainiteveryfiveyearstoprotectit.Keepitbeautifullongerbycleaningittwiceayear.Pressure wash wood siding with the nozzle set to the lowest setting.Alternatively,useasoftbrushand½cuppowderedlaundrydetergentand½cupboraxperbucketofwater.

De-GunktheGutters

Youcan’thelpbutwonderifguttersdon’tgetachuckleoutoftrappingleavessotheycanlaughatthestrangepositionsyouengagetryingtocleanthem.Iftheyaren’t laughing, the neighbors certainly are. Gutters protect your home bydirecting rain away from your siding, doors, windows, and foundation. Theykeepyourhomedry!Youneedtoclean(andrepair,ifnecessary)gutterstwiceayear.Here’swhatyouneedtogetstarted:•Rubberworkglovesandsafetyglasses•Gutterscoop(foundathardwarestores)andaladder•Guttersealandplumber’ssnake•Waterhosewithahigh-pressurenozzle•Chalkandcaulkinggun

DirtyWords

Never lean your ladder against the gutter unless you like damagedgutters.Gutterattachmentsfoundathardwarestores letyouraise theladderhigherthanthegutterwithoutdamagingit.

LadderSafety

Don’triskanaccidenttocleangutters.(No,Iamnotgivingyoupermissiontoskipcleaningthem!)Alwaysmakesureyourladderisfirmlyanchored.Ifyou’llbeusing an extension ladder rather than a step ladder, have someonehold theladder.Wearheavyworkglovestoprotectyourhandsagainstscrewsorsharpmetalbitsonthetrough.Wearheavy-dutyshoeslikeboatdeckshoesorrubberbootsthatgiveyougoodtraction.Hikingoroutdoorshoesthrowyouoffbalancebecausethesolesarenotflatandoftenhaveridgesthatcatchonladdersteps.

WheretoStart

What’sholdingyouup?Let’sgetthosegutterscleaned:1. Before you start, use a strap or hook to hang a bucket from the ladder tocollectdebris.Beginatthedrainoutletatthelowendofthegutterandscooptotheotherendofyourhomeusingthegutterscoop.

2.Hoseout theguttersstartingat theoppositeendof thedrainoutletworkingtoward theoutlet.Stubborndirt canbepersuaded to come loosewith a stiffscrubbrush.

3.Drainpipesplugged?Stick thepowernozzledown thepipe and turnon thewater full blast.Youmay need to use a plumber’s snake to pull out debris.Pushthesnakeupthepipefromthebottomuntilyouunclogthedrain.Keepascreenoverthepipeopeningtokeepoutdrain-cloggingleaves.

4.Asyouhosethedrain,havesomeoneonthegroundwatchforwaterleaksintheseams.Markthe leakswithchalk.Let theguttersdryandthenseal themwithgutterseal.Thenextdayspraywaterdowntheguttertomakesuretheyaresealed.

5.Whileyouareon the ladder, lookbehind thegutter fordaylight. Ifyou seedaylight,thegutterhasseparatedfromthehouse.Pullouttheloosespikesandreplacethemwithgutterboltsfromthehardwarestore.

6.Theoutsideoftheguttersneedcleaningtoo!Mix⅓cupofpowderedlaundrydetergent and½cupof borax in agallonofwater.Add2 cupsof hydrogenperoxideifmoldormildewispesky.Wearglovesandthenscrubthemwithawhite scrub pad. Use only white scrub pads as the other colors scratch thegutter.

AllHandsonDeck

Weall love sittingon thedeck sipping a cool lemonadewhile reading agoodbook.Don’tlookdownorthedirtandgrimeonthedeckmightlayaguilttriponyouuntilyoucleanit.Givedeckdirtthebrush-offwiththesetips:•Organicmatter suchas leaves,mapleseeds (helicopter seeds),and twigscanstainyourdeck.Sweepsuchdebrisoffthedeckfrequently.

•Ifyoucan’tseeit,itwon’thurtyourdeck,right?Goodtry—butwrong.Debrisbuildsupbetweentheboardstrappingmoisture.Thenmoldstartsgrowingandthe boards rot. Run a spade or a wallboard spackling trowel (even an oldspatula works) between the boards to knock down the debris. Water is apreciousresourcesosaveMotherEarthanddon’tusethehose.

•Gasgrillsareawesomeforservingupburgers,buttheirgreasestainsarenotsoawesomeonthedeck.Placeanaluminumpanusedforprotectingfloorsfromcargreaseunderyourgrill.

Keepreadingtolearnthespecificcareforeachdeck.

CleaningRedwoodorCedarDecks

Ifyoudon’tmindthegrayishhueofredwoodorcedardecks,rinsethedeckandscrub it with a stiff-bristle brush. To bring the luster back, apply a deckbrightenerfoundathomecenters.

DirtyWords

Be careful around house trim and sidingwith a powerwasher. Thispowerfulmachinecanblowpartsofyourhouseaway!

CleaningPressure-TreatedPineDecks

Clean pressure-treated decks with a solution of ½ cup borax and ⅓ cuppowdered organic laundry soap per gallon ofwater.Or blast away dirtwith apowerwashersetonmedium.

Patio

Youneedtocleanyourpatiowithoutturningthesurroundingshrubsandflowersintoyardwasteafterusingtoxiccleanersonthepatio.Wehaveanecofriendlysolution.Forconcretepatios,mixasolutionof1gallonofwarmwater,1cupofwhite vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of borax. Hose down the patio and pour onsome of the solution scrubbing with a long-handled brush. Make sure youthoroughlyrinsethepatioincludingthesurroundingyard.Tileandstonepatioscanbescrubbedwithanorganiccleanerandascrubbrush.Rinsethoroughly.Borax also kills fleas, ants, and cockroaches so leave them some powdered“food” when you finish the patio. Keep children and pets away from treatedareasuntilithasdried.

PatioFurniture

The great outdoors is filled with fresh air, beautiful trees, our four-leggedfriends,thewingedonesinthesky—anddon’tforgetdirt.Translation?Cleanthepatiofurnitureeveryseason.

PlasticFurniture

Cleanplastic furniture,but forget about removing stains.Theydon’t comeoutevenwith extreme elbow grease.You can paint itwith paintmade for plasticfurniture.Cleanthefurnitureusingyourorganicgeneral-dutycleaner.Followthecan’sdirectionstopaint—besuretolaydownfabricdropcloths.Avoidplastictarpsbecausetheydonotbiodegradeandleavelastingfootprints.

WickerFurniture

Useapaintbrushorasoft-bristlebrushfromavacuumcleaner to removedustandcobwebsonwickerfurniture.Cleanyourwickerfurniturefour timesayearwith twodropsoforganic liquiddishsoapinabucketofwater.Dampenasoftcloth—notaterrytowel—inthebucket and wipe to clean. Soap and water prevent wicker from drying andcracking.

Mary’sHandyHints

Cut off 1 inch of a 2-inch-wide paintbrush to clean the crevices ofwickerfurniturethatthevacuumcleanerwon’treach.Aftercuttingoffthe top of the paintbrush, the bristles are stiffer and work into thewickermoreeasilythansoftbristles.

Wrought-IronFurniture

Toremovedustanddirt,firstusethesoft-bristlebrushofyourvacuumcleanerand then switch to a paintbrush as suggested previously. If the furniture hasbeguntorust,switchtoawirebrushandscrubitgood.Thencleanwithastiff-bristlebrushandairdry.Paintitwithrust-resistantpaint.

Mary’sHandyHints

Aprotective coat of liquid beeswaxor shellac onyourwrought ironretardsrustingandsimplifiescleaningjobs.

Clean wrought-iron furniture with ionized water. It’s expensive, but you onlyneedacuportwo.Chemicalsinwaterdamagewroughtiron,andionizedwaterprevents it from rusting.Use awet or dry vacuum to inhale thewater as youclean.

AluminumFramingFurniture

Metal polish such as Met-All, The Clean Team’s Stainless Steel Cleaner, orAlumiBrite by Mary Moppins cleans and polishes non-painted aluminumframing.Cleanaluminumtwiceayear to retardoxidation.A50/50solutionofwhitevinegar towaterandagoodnylonscrubbrushcleanaluminumbutwillnotremovetheoxidationthatdullsthefinish.Cleanpaintedmetalframingwith1tablespoonofconcentratedorganiccleaner

per bucket of warm water. If you’re really energetic, a toothbrush cleans thesmallcrevicesquitenicely.

FabricandVinylCushions

Cleanfabriccushionsandpadswithatablespoonoforganiccleanerand2dropsessentialpineoilpergallonofwater.Wipeonthesurface,wait10to15minutes,thenrinsewith½cupofwhitevinegarpergallonofwater.Airdry.Treesapstickingaround?Firstfreezeitwithanicecube.Chipoffwhatyoucanwiththebluntsideofakitchenknife.Thendabonabitofcreamypeanutbuttertoremovetherest.Waitseveralminutesandcleanwithsudsywater.Alwaystestanareafirst,asthepeanutbuttercanstain.

PatioUmbrellas

Opentheumbrellaandbrushoffallthedustanddirt.Thenremoveanysapwithice and peanut butter as described previously. Using a foam sprayer from ajanitorial supply store, spray the umbrellawith your organic cleaner.Add 4-5dropsofanessentialoillikepine.Startatthebottom,workingyourwaytotheholeatthetop.Grabawhitescrubpad,addabitofelbowgrease,andcleanthesurface.Rinsewithasolutionof½cupwhitevinegarpergallonofwater.Dryinthesun.

CementSurfaces

Youryardandhomeshouldbereadyfor thecoverofHomeBeautifulbynow,right?Thatis,aslongasyoudon’tcheckoutthemoldcovereddrivewayorthesidewalk full of weeds growing between the cracks. Caring for these areaswithoutdamagingeitherourMotherEarth,ruiningyourhealth,orwipingoutthesurroundinggrassandshrubscanbe tricky.Hereare safe,ecofriendlyways totakecareofthesesorespots.

Sweep,Don’tHose

Take awalk through any neighborhood on theweekend and a dozen ormorepeoplewillbehosingafewleavesintothestreet.Ahosenotonlytakeslongertocleanthedrivewaythanabroom,butalsowastesgallonsofpreciouswater.Many areas of our country are under heavy drought conditions. Conserve thewater,pushabroom,andgetyourheartrategoingandyourbloodcirculating.Ifphysicalproblemspreventthiskindofexercise,thenhireaneighbor’schild.

RemovetheMoldandMildew

Whenyouseeblackbeforeyoureyesaftersweeping thedriveway, it’s timetorent a pressure washer, which is the most effective method to clean concretesurfaces. Set the pressure on the lowest possible setting that will effectivelyremove mold and dirt. Use care along the sides where grass and shrubs caneasilybedamaged.Aimthenozzleintocrevicestoremovemoldgrowinginthosespots.Afteryoufinish,mixasolutionof50/50water towhitevinegar.Pour thesolution in thecrevices to kill any mold spores that might still be hanging around. Just becarefulnottogetanyonshrubs,grass,orflowers.Itwillkillthemaswell.Aftertreatingthecrevices,startatthetopofthedrivewayandgentlypoursomeofthesolutiononthedriveway.Agallon-sizewateringcanworkswellforthis.Using apushbroom, sweep it to the endof thedriveway.Repeat this twice ayeartokeepmoldfromreturning.Add½cupofboraxtocleanthecement;thenyouneverhavetopowerwash.

GreaseandOilBeGone

Oneofyourout-of-townfriendsstoppedbyonhiswaythroughtownandleftagiftofoilinyourdriveway.Wheneveryouworkonyourcar,alwaysplaceaflatpanfoundatanautomotivestoreunder thecar to catchdrips.For fresh spills, immediatelygrab someoldragsandabsorbasmuchoilaspossible.Store therags inanopenplasticbag;thentakethemtothetoxicwastedumpforproperdisposal.Donotleavethese

ragslyingaroundbecausetheycanspontaneouslycombust.Afterabsorbingasmuchoilaspossiblewithrags,pourkittylitterorsawdustonthe spot and let it absorb the oil overnight. Sweep to remove; then pour drycementonthespottoabsorbtherest.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Checkwithyoursidingmanufacturerbeforeyoucleanit.• Always use safety precautions and wear nonskid shoes whenworkingonaladder.•Cleanyourdeck,patio,andpatiofurnitureonceayeartokeepthemmoldanddirtfree.• Never use any kind of cleaner outdoors unless you have read theMSDSsheetandknowitissafeforMotherEarth.

Chapter13

MeanGreenDrivingMachines

InThisChapter

•TLCC—TenderLovingCarCare•Timeshavechanged,andsohavevehiclepaints•Keepthosetiresspinningroundandround•Thegood,theshiny,andtheuglysidesofwaxes

Signs and billboards along our nation’s highways are often humorous andsometimes ill placed.One such ill-placed sign is aplug forCalifornia farmersalong I5 that says“California farmersclean theairwith thecrops theygrow.”ThatareaofCaliforniagrowsalmondsandfruit.Treeshavelongbeenknownfortheirability tocleanse theairof toxins.Theproblem is that thesign isplaceddirectly in front of a large and odorous dairy farm, so it loses just a bit of itsbelievability.A bumper sticker in Arizona reads “A woman’s place is in the House andSenate”andanotheronaratheroldbeat-uptruckinWyomingstates“Ifit’sgottiresit’sgonnagiveyoutrouble.”Theinformationinthischapterwillhelpkeepyourtiresoutoftroublewhilethecleaning guidelines won’t foul up the environment with toxins. Besides, yourvehiclewillendupsoshinyyou’lluseittotaxiCongresspersonsaroundtown.

WashingCars,Vans,Trucks,RVs,Trailers,andBoats

By now you may be wondering what a home cleaning expert could possiblyknow about caring for cars, boats, or RVs.Maybe she could remove a carpetstain,buttiresandwaxes?WhenMarystartedsellingherproductstoRVers,shewas asked to present cleaning seminars during which people asked questionsaboutthingscalledholdingtanksandrubberroofs.

BecauseMaryknewnothingaboutcleaning these itemsandfolksneeded theirproblems solved, she started callingmanufacturers to learn theproper care forthe various parts of anRV.She spoke andmet personallywith the companieswho manufacture the rubber roofing, fiberglass and metal bodies, tires, andpaint.Shethenappliedherprofessionalcleaningknowledgetotheproblemareasanddeveloped cleaning solutions that protect the surfaces rather than damage it.Overtimeandhardearnedtrust,majorRVmagazineeditorsrequestedcleaningarticles.Her seminars arenowbacked and approvedbymajorRVmotorhomemanufacturers.So,grababucketandlet’sputashineonthosevehicles.Weall learned towashourcars fromourparents,whodraggedoutabottleofliquid dishwashing detergent and poured enough in the bucket to clean fivemonths’worthofdishes.Timeshavechanged,andsohaveboththeformulasfordishsoapsandpaint.(Thenextsectionbringsyoucurrentonpaintissues.)Most paint manufacturers recommend using mild soap and not degreasingcleanerslikeorange-basedcleaners,cleanersmadeforremovinggreaseandoil,liquiddishsoaps,andevenecofriendlydegreasingagents.Thereason?Thejobofthesecleanersistobreakdowngrease,oil,andheavydirt.Overtimetheyalsobreak down the clear and gel coat finish on a vehicle, boat, or RV. Givensufficienttime,thepaintstartstooxidizebecausetheprotectivecoatinghasbeenweakened.Youhavereadmyravesonusingwhitevinegarforcleaning.Well,itdoesagreatjobcleaningvehiclesaswell.Itneutralizesthealkalineinwatertohelppreventwaterspots.Italsobooststhecleaningabilityofacleaner—ifyouneedoneatall.

DirtyWords

Degreasingcleanersalsosoften theadhesiveholdingdecals,striping,andletteringtothesideofanyvehicle,trailer,boat,orairplane.When

thatadhesivesoftens,thedecal,stripping,andletteringpullawayfromthesurface.

Unlessthevehicleisquitedirty,allyouneedtowashis⅓cupvinegarpergallonofwater.Upthatto½cupifyourwaterishard.Forextradirtyvehicles,addhalfa capful of an ecofriendly baby shampoo that does not contain sodium laurelsulfateordioxide.

DirtyWords

Resist the temptation to use a product likeRainEx orwax on yourvehiclewindshields.Ifarockchipstheglassandyouneedtohaveitrepaired, the repair material will not stick to Rain Ex. You willeventuallyhavetoreplacethewindshield.

Youwillreadarticlessayingnottouseanacidtowashavehicle.Vinegarisanacid,but it’sanaturalacidmadefromgrain.Thesearticlesarespeakingaboutmuraticorphosphoricacids,whichwilldestroyapaintjobandarehighlytoxic.Theoil builduparound the exhaust ofboatsusually requires aheavier cleanerlikeTheCleanTeam’sRedJuiceorCleanEz.Dampenatowelandpourabitofcleaneronyourtowel; thenwipeitdown.Waitafewminutesandaddabitofelbowgreaseandrinsethoroughly.Remember to immediatelycleanbugsandbirddroppingsoff the frontofyourvehicleandanypaint.Bugsandbirddroppingshaveanacidthatwilleatthroughpaint if leftonforevenafewdays.Lateryoumightthinktheyarerockchips,butthatisbugorbird“juice”thathaseatenawaythepaint.

VolatileOrganicCompounds(VOCs)andPaint

Sowhat’sthebigfussaboutpaintandpickingoncertaincleaners?Travelbackintimeto1978whenthegovernmentbannedtheuseofleadinhousepaintandpaintusedon toysdue to the largenumberofchildrenbeingpoisonedby leadpaint.Bytheearly1990s,awarenessbeganrisingoverthetoxinsemittedbyleadat paint manufacturing plants. Finally, lead was removed from all paint,includingthatusedforvehicles.Thatmeantchangingthepaintbase.Therearedozensofbasesforpaint;thetwomost common are water-or chroma-based paints. In the “good ole days,” if adetergentwasusedonleadpaint,ittook10yearsorlongerforthepainttoshowsignsofoxidation.Thenittookanother2yearsbeforethepaintoxidizedtothepointofneedinganewpaintjob.Awater-orchroma-basedpaintisasoftbase.Aheavy-dutycleanerordegreasingagentcandeterioratethispaintwithinafewshortyears.

definition

Whenoxidationoccursonapaintedvehiclesurface,thepaint“sheds”itscolor.Eventually,thepaintbecomessplotchywhiteanddisappearscompletelycausingtheframetorust.

TroubleinBrushLand

Waitaminute—youusedthissamebrushonyouroldvehicleforyearsandnowithasleftnastybrushmarksonyournewcar.Brushesdon’tcomewithwarningbuzzers that soundwhen theyneed replacing.Those flagged endsbreakdownover time leavingnasty scratchesonyour vehicle’s surface.Plus, thepaint onnewvehiclesissofterandscratcheseasily.Theonly100percent safebrush forvehiclesMary recommends ismade fromboar’shair.Otherwise,stayastepaheadoftheproblemandreplaceyourbrushevery two years.Use amarker to note the purchase date on the brush so you

knowwhentoreplaceit.HeedMary’swarningsaboutmicrofiberandhowitscratchessurfacesovertime.The same applies for any vehicle surface, including cars, semi trucks, vans,trailers, airplanes, boats, and motorcycles. It may take several years for thedamagetorearitsuglyhead,butitwill—andanewpaintjobisexpensive.

Mary’sHandyHints

Boar’shairbrushesaredifficult to find.Because theyareexpensive,mostautomotivesupplystoresdon’tcarrythem.Youcanfindagoodone online called the Montana Original Boar’s Hair Brush. Severalonlinedetailshopsalsocarrythisbrush.

ThepaintmanufacturersMary consults recommend100percent lambswool orcottonwashmittsorpads.Becautiousofimitationlambswoolbecauseitis100percentpolyester,thesamematerialasmicrofiber.

TireCare

Tires aregood for a few things.Theygetyouwhereyouwant togoand theymakegreattreeswingsorsandlotsforthekids.Tiremanufacturers recommend scrubbing tires four times a yearwith laundrysoap,water,andatirebrush.Rubbernaturallyoxidizes,whichmakesatirelooklike it’sdryingout.Scrubbing removes theoxidationandpreventsdrying. If avehiclelikeanRVorshowcarsitsforlongperiodsoftime,besuretodriveit

100mileseachmonth.Tiresareself-lubricating.Drivingbringsthenaturaloiltothesurfacetokeepthemlubricated.Youdonotneedatreatmentontires.Yes,youliketheshinylook,buteventuallyyouaregoingtosee thatshinylookscatteredallover theroad.Thepetroleumdistillatesinmosttiretreatmentsmakethemshinebutitdisintegratestherubbercausing them to blow out.Besides, they are extremely toxic to our Earth andyou.If your tire does blow out and is under warranty, you just lost the warranty.Warrantiesonlyprotectagainstmanufacturingdefects.Ifyouhavebeenusingatreatment, the tirecompanywill rightfullyblame the treatmentandnot replacethetire.Ifyouuseatreatment,keepyoursparetireinflated.Whetherawheel isaluminum,plastic,orsealed,washthemwithorganicsoapandwater.Headintoahardwarestoreandpurchasesomespongepaintbrushes.They are small and flexible and clean easily around the rims, nuts, and brakeholes.Clean aluminum wheels with a metal polish like Flitz, Met-All, or Mary’sAlumiBrite.Polishesremovebrakedustandoxidation—and,boy,dotheyshine.Neveruseametalpolishonplasticorsealedwheelsevenifthepolishsaysit’ssafe.Theywillscratchoffthesealant.Totellwhetherawheelissealed,lookforthe identification number. Sealedwheels have the letter “C” at the end of thenumber.

WashTowelstheRightWay

Youhavebeenwashing towels a long time anddon’t need some lady comingalongtellingyouhowtodoit.Timeshavechangedandsohastheformulationformany laundry detergents. Some powdered laundry detergents now containsawdust,whichisusedasafiller.

DirtyWords

Bewareof towelsmadeinChinaandTaiwanthatclaimtheyare100percent cotton. These towels are not tested or regulated by thegovernmentandusuallycontain20percentpolyester.Thesetowelsarenot known as microfiber. Microfiber contains 60 to 85 percentpolyester.Thesearemostlycottonbutcontainsomepolyesterbutnotenoughtobeclassifiedmicrofiber.

Thesawdust left inyourcarwashtowelsafter theyhavebeenlaunderedcouldbe scratching your car. Also if you don’t get all the detergent rinsed out, thetowelwillleavestreaksonthesurfaceofyourvehicle.Switchtoanorganicsoapandneverusefabricsoftenersordryersheets.Comecleanwithyourtowelsbypouring½cupofwhitevinegarinthefabricsoftenerdispenser.Itremovesthedetergenttopreventstreaksandscratches.

Drying

Somefolksallowtheircarstodripdryafterwashingandwonderwhytheyseespotsbeforetheireyes.Alwaysdryyourvehicletopreventwaterspots.Silicone-bladecarsqueegees(findtheminautomotivesupplystores)doafastjobpullingwaterfromthesurfaceofavehicle,boat,orplane.Finishwithaterrytowel.Never use amicrofiber towel to dry a vehicle unless you intend to repaint it.Microfiberwilleventuallyscratchthefinishoffthebodyofthevehicle.Peoplelovealeatherchamois,butbeawarethattheycanstripthewaxoffthesurface.Thefakechamoisare100percentpolyester,orthesamematerialasmicrofiber.

WaxOn,WaxOff

Theexampleof“waxon,waxoff”fromtheKarateKidmoviehasbeenuseda

timeortwointhisbook.It’sagreatexampleofhowtocleaninsideyourhomeusingbothhands,butstopthere.LeavetheKarateKidintheringwhenitcomestowaxingavehicle,includingboatsandRVs.You know not to sand wood across the grain. Why? Right—it scratches thewood.Vehiclesarepaintedwithaleft-to-rightandright-to-leftmotion.Paintisnotapplied incircles.Wipewith thegrainof thepaint—neveragainst it.Nowlet’stakealookatthisconfusingworldofwaxesandpolishes.

KnowledgeRules!

Whenachildisyoungandyougiveheranewfoodtoeat,shesometimesgivesthefoodbacktoyouinoneformoranother.Sheisclearlystatingthatthisfoodisnotgoinginhermouth.Whenitcomestocarwaxes,childrenknowbest.Carwaxesdonotalwayslistwhatisintheproduct.Somecompaniestrytobeevasivebysayingthecontentsare“proprietary”informationsoitsoundsformidableenoughtoconyouintoasale.Ifyourunacrossaproductthatsoundsintriguingbutthecontentsarenotdisclosed,belikeayoungchildandshoveitbackontheshelf.Itisyourvehicle.Youaretheonewhohastopayforanewpaintjobifthecarproductdamages thesealantorpaint,andsomeof themdojust that. If thecarproduct issafe touse, themanufacturershouldproudlylist thecontents.Don’ttakeachance—knowledgerules!

When,What,andWhereofWaxes

Various chemicals are used to make up car “waxes.” The job of a wax orprotectant is to protect paint from oxidation caused by the UV sun rays.Choosingthewrongcarcareproductmightleadtodisaster.Hereisalistofthemostcommonproductsusedinwaxesorprotectantsandwhytoavoidsomeofthem:•Carnaubawax.Technically,whenthewordwaxisusedtodescribeacarcareproduct, it means that product contains carnauba. Because carnauba wax issolid,itneedsanotherchemical,usuallyapetroleumdistillate,tokeepitinaliquidstate.CarnaubawaxprotectsagainstUVraydamage,but itpenetrates

through the paint and seals the body. This is fine if the body is metal.However, if the body is fiberglass, it could mean disaster. Fiberglass mustbreathe to stay “healthy.”Once sealed by carnaubawax, it can turn yellow.Look at white boats in a marina or RVs in an RV park; some will have ayellowtinge.Thatistheyellowingcausedbycarnaubawax.

•Polymers.Referredtoasprotectantsbecausetheydonotcontainwaxyettheyprotect againstUV raydamage the same aswax.Polymers donot penetratepaint likecarnaubaandare recommended forallbodystructures.Apolymerstaysonthevehiclesurface,andunlikecarnaubawax,makesthesurfaceslick.Bugswiperightoffandrainsheetsdownfromthesidessothevehicledoesn’taccumulateasmuchdirt.

•Petroleumdistillates.Thesehave two jobs in a car careproduct.First, theykeep carnauba wax in a liquid state. Second, they keep chemicals mixedtogether.Somepaintcompaniesadviseagainstusingcarproductscontainingdistillates.Distillatescandeteriorateaclearcoatorgelcoatfinishresultinginoxidized paint. 3M and Avery, who make the material used for decals,lettering, and stripes, specifically state not to use distillates because theydissolvetheadhesivethatbindsthestrippingtotheside.Howdoyouknowifa product contains distillates? That is the tricky part because a wax orprotectantcancontainsmallamountsofdistillateandnotstatesoonthebottle.Look for products that specify “NoDistillates” on the bottle, or request theMaterialSafetyDataSheet(MSDS).OntheMSDSsheet lookfor thewordsaliphatic hydrocarbon,mineral oil,petroleum, or hydrocarbon. Those are afewofthealternativenamesfordistillates.

•Silicone.Thisisanothertrickyadditivetocarproducts.Ifacarproductdoesnotlisttheingredients,it’susuallymadewithsilicone.Companiesneverwantto tell you their product contains silicone because of the dangers associatedwith using it. If a company says its product ingredients are “proprietaryinformation,” it could be a signal that the product contains silicone. Likedistillates,siliconecandeterioratepaint.Theproblemwithsiliconecomesintoplayifyourvehicleisalreadystartingtooxidizewhenyouapplythesilicone,or if the silicone deteriorates the paint and it begins to oxidize.Most bodyshops won’t paint a vehicle after silicone has been applied. It’s difficult tocompletely remove silicone, so a bit is left on the vehicle. If you have evertriedtopaintoversiliconewindowcaulking,youknowpaintdoesn’tsticktoit.Newcar paintwon’t stick to the residual silicone left on the bodyof thevehicle. It endsup looking like“fisheyes,” and threemonths later thepaintbubblesandpeelsoffthesides.

•Teflon.TheresearchMaryhasdoneonTeflonhascomeupempty-handedfor

problems. Some companies apply a Teflon coating to a vehicle. Althoughexpensive,itdoesseemtowork.

DirtyWords

Bewareofproductsthattellyoutoaddacapfultoabucketofwater.Itis supposed towashand shine thevehicle.Theyareusually siliconeunlessthebottlestatesotherwise.

ChoosingaWax

Handsdown,apolymer-basedprotectantwillgiveyouexcellentprotectionfromdamagecausedby theelements.Look forone thatdoesnotcontainpetroleumdistillates.

DirtyWords

Manyofthecarwaxesorprotectantsarecalled“waterlesswashesandprotectants.” That means they clean a vehicle without water. Theproductisdesignedtoemulsifyordissolvedirt.However,noproduct

canemulsifysand.Donotusetheseproductsifyourcarisgritty.Thesandwillscratchthepaint.

It is just as important thatyourprotectant containkaolinclay. Ifyou runyourhandacrossthesurfaceofavehicle,youwillfeellittlebumpsinthepaintcalledimpurities. Unless the impurities are removed, they can damage the paint byallowing water to settle into the tiny pin drop-sized holes. The kaolin claycontainedinagoodprotectantnotonlyremovesthoseimpurities,butalsosealsthetinyholeleftbehind.

HowOftenIsOftenEnough?

Howoftenshouldyouuseaprotectantonyourvehicle?Thatdependsonyourcircumstances.Anyvehicle—whetherit’saboat,anRV,oracar—thatisoutsideintheelementsduringthemajorityofthedayshouldbetreatedwithaprotectantfour times the first year, three times the followingyear, and then twice ayearafter that.Afterayearofapplyingyourprotectant,youstartbuildinglayersofprotectionthatlastalongtime.If your vehicle is parkedunder cover half theyear, apply a protectant twice ayear.Applyanothercoatiftherainisnolongersheetingdown;orifthevehiclebeginstolookdull.Alwaysapplyprotectanttotheroofandhoodthreetofourtimesayear.Thesunbeats down on those surfaces all day and quickly deteriorates the paint.Likewise, salt, sand, snow, and ice during the winter can cause damage sowinterizeyourvehicleatthebeginningoftheseasonandapplytwocoatstothebottomwheresaltandsandhithardest.First, ifpaint iscomingoffyourvehiclewhenyouwashorapplyaprotectantandyouareapplyingitonceortwiceayear,youneedtobumpthatuptothreetofour times.The sun is deteriorating your gel or clear coat finish, and it needshelp.Ifyouareoxidizing,youactuallyneedasealanttoremoveit.

Mary’sHandyHints

To remove oxidation or the whitish look from lettering, decals, orstripingonavehicle,boat,airplane,motorcycle,truck,trailer,orvan,spray itwithafoamingtubandtilecleaner. It removes theoxidationandbringsbackthecolor.Thatstuffisverytoxicsoneveruseitinsideyourhome.Weargloves.

Second,ifyouareprotectingyourvehicletwotothreetimesayearandyouareoxidizing, it means your protectant either contains silicone or a low-gradepetroleum distillate. A low-grade distillate will “eat” through the finish andcause the paint to deteriorate. If this is the case, use a sealant or oxidationremovertogetridoftheoxidation.Maguire’s,303,andMaryMoppinsallhaveexcellent oxidation removers. Wait for 24 hours; then apply a high-gradeprotectant and again three times within the next year to stop any furtheroxidation.

TheInsideView

Iftheinteriorofyourcarcouldtalk,itwouldbegformoreattentionthanjustaquickvacuumofthecarpet.Vacuumingisagoodstart.Nowlet’scompletethejobandevenfindafewwaystopreventapotentiallydisastrousspill.Use additional floor mats to protect the carpet—a must if you have youngchildrenorpets.Theadditionalmatprotectsyouroriginalcarpetandmatfrommajorspillsorpetaccidents.Next,purchaseawhiteplastictableclothtoputdownonthebackseatifyoudo

have children or pets. Turn the fuzzy side upward and place a light-colored,body-sizebathtowelorbeachtowelontopofthat.Thetowelcatchesthespillswhiletheplasticprotectstheseats.Personally,I’drathermachinewashatowelthanscrubseatcushions.Wipedown the faceof thedashandwindowswithyourorganicglasscleaner.The off-gassing from vinyl creates a film that distorts your vision andmakesdrivinghazardous.That“newcar”smellistheoff-gassingfromvinylaswellasflameandstainretardantsincarpetandupholstery.Theseproductscauseserioushealthissuesdiscussedearlier.Keepawindowcrackedopenfortwoyearsafterbuyinganewvehicle.Clean leather or vinyl with a cleaner specially made for leather and vinyl. Itpreventsoilanddirtfromgaininggroundinthosesurfaces.Agoodconditionerpreventsdryingandcracking.Someleathercareproductsarebothacleanerandconditioner.Yourorganiccleanerorapineessentialoildilutedincarrieroildoesagoodjobremoving most stains from carpet and cloth seats. Nature’s Miracle workswondersforpetaccidentsandspilledmilkfromsippycupsorbabybottles.Forthesakeofyourhealth,whenyoupurchaseanewvehicleaskforfabricseatsthatcontainnostainorfireretardants.Ifthecarcannotbeorderedwithoutthoseadditives, consider a used vehicle so all the toxic fumes have off-gassed. Theaddedbenefitofpurchasingausedvehicle is theenergyandnatural resourcessavedinthemanufacturingprocessofanewvehicle.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Fathermaynotknowbestwhenitcomestocleaningavehicle.• A little vinegar and water, properly washed towels, and the rightequipmentgiveyouagoodstartwhenitcomestowashingyourcar.•Doyourresearchbeforechoosingaproducttoprotectyourvehicle.•Befussywhenitcomestokeepingtheinteriorofyourvehicleclean.

Part4

That’sNotAll,Folks:OtherCleaningChallenges

If youhave ever beenhamperedby laundry, driven to extremes cleaningyourcar, ridden through themud on your bike, or gone batty cleaning the furnaceductsthenthissectionisyourbasicbootcamptocleaningalltheoddsandendsincluding Fido. You’ll receive a bird’s-eye view on Mary’s new PrecisionCleaningMethods.Mary just sent speed cleaning packing back into the darkages.

Chapter14

LaundryRoomBliss

InThisChapter•Whiteningwhitesandbrighteningbrights•Decipheringlaundrycycles•Conservingenergywhilelaunderingiseasierthanyouthink•Don’tforgettocleanyourdryer

Itpilesuponthefloorandthreatenstotakeoverthebathroom.Ifyourteenagesonisanythinglikeminewasgrowingup,thesmellcouldmakeaskunkseempleasant.I’mtalkingdirtylaundryfolksandnotthekindwhereyouconfessallyoursinstotheworld.Okay,foryouyoungerfolks,therewasasayingbackinthe’50s:“Heairedhisdirtylaundrytotheworld.”Itmeantsomepublicfigureconfessedtoagrievoussin.Infact,backindaysofyoreMondaywasthetraditionallaundryday.Itwassuchanoneroustasktodragoutthewashboardorwringerwasher,thatthedaywaslabeled“BlueMonday.”Let’sairourown“dirty laundry”andfessup tonotknowingwhether towashlight-coloredclotheswiththewhitesorcolorsandtherightwatertemperaturetouse.

PrepClothesBeforeTheyHittheHamper

Faceit,we’veallhurriedlygrabbedanarmfulofclothesnotcaringabouttheircolor or weight and tossed them into the washer hoping the machine wasforgiving enough to clean them. The toss-and-go method works if you don’tmindreddishspotsonyourfavoritewhiteshirtortowellintonyourpants.Gatheryourdirtyclothesandsortthemfollowingtheseguidelines:

1.Washingmethod.Peopleoftenadvisesortingclothesaccording todifferentfabricweightsandtypesofclothing.Thisworksfineifyouhavemorethantwopeople in your family and run five or six loads of laundry at one time. Beconsiderate toMotherEarth.Running several small, separate loads of laundryconsumesexcessivewaterandenergy,anditaddsanextraburdenonthebudget.Beginbysortingheavierwhiteandlight-coloredclothing,likesweatsandpants,inonepile.Lighter-weightwhitesandlight-coloredclothinglikeundergarmentsandshirtsgointoasecondpile.Dothesamefordarkclothes.Heavyweightdarkclothes include jeansand sweatshirts. If there isnot enough laundry to fill thewashingmachine for all four piles, combine the light-colored clothes into onepileand thedark-coloredclothes intoasecondpile.Maryhasbeencombiningweightsofclothingsinceshelefthome30yearsagowithoutahitch.Asyousortyourclothes,setasideanyclothesthatneedtobehandwashedorbewashedonthegentlecycle.Ifyouhavebutafewoftheseitems,washthembyhandtosavetheenergyofmachinewashing.

Mary’sHandyHints

A fast alternative to hand washing is to order a Handwasher fromLehman’sMailOrderCatalog.Itisaminiaturewashingmachinethatsetsonacounter.Yourarmsuppliesthetwominutesofenergyittakestocleanclothes,whichisfasterthanwashingclothesinthesink.Call330-857-1111orgotowww.lehmans.com.

2. Color. The basic groupings are white, medium, and dark. Here are thespecifics:

White.White (of course), pale yellow, beige, light blue, light gray, andmistygreen.Medium. Depending on the number of clothes you are laundering, washmedium-coloredclotheswiththelightcolors,exceptfordarkerpinks.Mediumcolorsincludeskyblue,mintgreen,tan,gray,yellow,khaki,andcamel.

Mary’sHandyHints

Anythingwithredshadingshouldbewashed together, includingred,darkpink,andpurple.Newbluejeansshouldbelaunderedwithotherbluejeansthefirstfewtimes.

Dark.Navyblue,brown,bluejeans,green,darkgreen,andcharcoalgrey.Somepinkscanbewashedwithdarkcolors—testforcolorfastnessfirst.3.Amountortypeofsoil.Asyousort,putheavilysoiledclothingintoapileallitsown.Youdon’twantgreaseendinguponyourgoodblouse.Afterwashinggreasy items, be sure to wipe down the washer and dryer tubs with yourconcentratedall-purposecleanerandrinse.Greaseandoilcanstick to the tubsandcontaminateyournextloadofclothes.

DecipheringCleaningLabels

The time to read the cleaning label on clothing is before you bring it home,especiallyiftheclothingisdrycleanonly.See“Dry-CleaningCautions”atthe

endofthechapterforwarnings.Manypiecesofclothingthatsay“drycleanonly”canbelaunderedbyhand.Silkisoneofthosefabrics,asarewoolandcashmere.SilkwillnotshrinkanddoesquitewellbeinghandwashedincoolwaterusinganorganicdetergentlikeBi-O-KleenoranorganicliquidhairshampoolikeAubrey.Mary was told by the director of the Western Wool Yarn Association thatWoolitehas changed its formula and isno longer safe touseonwoolyarnorfabric.TheyrecommendBrownSheepShampoo. (www.brownsheep.comor1-800-826-9136).

DirtyWords

If you turn your clothes inside out before you launder them, yourTshirts won’t pile, pants and jeans don’t wear so quickly, and goodblousesandshirtswillkeeptheircolorlonger.Pretreatanysoiledspotswithyourorganiccleanerbeforelaundering.

Alwaystestasmall,unnoticeablespotfirsttodeterminewhetherthefabriccanbe handwashed. If a label says towash the clothing inwarmwater, you canwashitincold.Justdon’twashitinhotwaterunlessyouareonadietandgoingtoloseafullclothingsizebytheendofthewashcycle.Itwilleithershrinkorturnfromredtopink.Ifthedirectionsspecify“washincoldwater,”it’snotokaytousewarmwater.

LaunderwithOurEarthinMind

TheDepartmentofEnergyreportsthatnearly90percentoftheenergyconsumedforwashingclothescomesfromheatingthewater.Whyishotwaterneededtocleanclothing?Mostlaundrydetergentmanufacturersspecifyusinghotwatertokillthegermsandtogetclothesclean.Let’sbackupforasecondandlookatthatlastsentence.Hotwaterneededtogetthe clothes clean andkill germs?First of all,most germs survive avery shortperiodof timeonanysurface.Agerm that isgoing to invadeyourbody fromclothing will do so while you are wearing the garment. It will not live longenoughtocontaminateyouafteritsitsthreeorfourdaysinthehamperandthengoesthroughthewashcycleanddryerheat.Thenextrecommendationbylaundrydetergentcompaniescallsforhotwatertodissolve thedetergentandcleanyourclothes.Maybemythinking isall turnedaround,butIthoughtthepurposeofalaundrydetergentwastodissolveinwaterso it could clean the clothes. If hot water is necessary to get clothes clean,doesn’tthatmeanyourdetergentisn’tworking?Testyourpowdereddetergentbypouringateaspooninaglassjarandfillitwithacupofcoldwater.Stiruntilitdissolves.Thenextday,ifyouseeaslimyfilmormorethanabitofresidueatthebottom,thedetergentprobablyismadefromsawdustorfiller.Evenincoldwater,anorganicdetergent(mostdonotcontainfillers)willstaynearly95percentdissolved.Reducetheamountofenergyyouconsumebyusingcooltowarmwater.Usethepermanentpresssettingratherthantheregularcycletosavefurtherenergy.Plus,thepermanentpresscycleislessabrasiveonclothingsoyourclotheslastlonger.HereisanotherwaytosaveyourhealthandourMotherEarth:Stop using dryer sheets and expensive fabric softeners. Add ½ cup—more ifneeded—ofvegetable-orgrain-baseddistilledwhitevinegartotherinsecyclefortop-loading machines and ⅓ cup for front-loading machines. It pulls thedetergentoutofclothingsoyourskinwon’titch,anditisaprovendisinfectant,andsoftensclothes.

Mary’sHandyHints

When you need to replace your washer, invest in a front-loadingwashingmachine.Theyuselesswater,doabetterjobcleaningclothes,andputlessstressonclothessotheylastlonger.

Finally, for best washing results in top-loading machines, begin filling yourmachinebyadding½cupdistilledvinegarandyourdetergent.Pouranother½cup of vinegar into the fabric softener cup. Swish the detergent until it isdissolved—about30seconds—thenaddyourclothes.Clothescannotcomecleanunlessthedetergentiscompletelydissolved.Here’showyoucanbreakdowncold,warm,andhotwaterforlaundering:•Cold water is 80˚F (26.7˚C) or colder. Use cold water for delicate items,clothing that is lightly soiled, permanent press, protein stains such as blood,garments with dyes that may bleed or run, and the final rinse of the washcycle.

•Warmwaterisfrom90˚Fto100˚F(32.2˚C-43.3˚C).Usewarmforcolorfastbrightsanddarkcolors.

•Hotwater is130˚F(54.4˚C)orabove.Youonlyneedhotwater forheavilysoiled or greasy rags or clothing. It may also be preferable for towels anddiapers.

Useanorganicdetergent suchasBi-O-KleenorTheCleanTeam’sRed Juice,andyourarelyneedhotwater.Bi-O-Kleenisgentleenoughfordelicatessoyoudon’tneedWoolite-typedetergents.

TheRegularCycle

Sturdy cottons, towels, and heavily soiled clothes should be washed in the

regularcycle.Presoakheavilysoiledclothing.

ThePermanentPressCycle

Wash cotton, bedding, undergarments, and synthetic fibers other than acrylic,modacrylic,acetate,andrayon(whichrequirehandwashingorthegentlecycle)onthepermanentpresscycle.Shorterthantheregularcycle,thepermanentpresscycleprovidesacool-downrinseandacoldfinalrinseplusaslowerspinspeedtopreventwrinklesfromsettingintosyntheticfabrics.

TheGentleorDelicateCycle

Use the gentle or delicate cycle forwashable lace, lingerie, nylons, and otherclothingthatindicatesgentletreatmentonthecarelabel.Thiscyclehasashort,slowagitationcycle,cooltowarmwater,andacoldrinse.Useamilddetergentforthiscycle.PreferablyusetheHandwasherfromLehman’s.

DirtyWords

Never use hydrogen peroxide or bleach on silk, wool, or dry-clean-onlyclothing.Donotusechlorinebleach,especiallyonbabyclothing.Yourskin—especially thatofbabiesandyoungchildren—absorb thetoxinfromthebleach.Switchtohydrogenperoxideorborax.

ALookatHealthyHelpfulWashingOptions

Do your white clothes appear dingy even though you bleach them? Toss thebottle of bleach. It causes not only skin irritations, but also a host of otherserious medical problems. Add ½ cup of 35 percent food-grade hydrogenperoxideorpowderedlaundrywhitenerperregularwasher.Toremovethedingygraycausedbybleach, allow theclothes to soak in thewasher for30minutesafteraddingtheperoxideanddetergent.Thenwashnormally.Whiteandcoloredclothesperkrightup.

DryerRules

Nowthatyourclothesareclean,youneedtodrythemusingthe leastpossibleamountofenergy.Whatshouldandshouldn’tgointo thedryer?Mostmachinewashableitemscanbedriedinthedryer.Thereareexceptions,naturally:•Rubber,plastics(includingmicrofiber),andfiberglass•Acetate,acrylic,spandex,anddelicateslikeviscoserayon•Drip-dryclothingandflannel.Flannelsheetscanbemachinedried•WoolsotherthanSuperwashandothertreatedwools

Mary’sHandyHints_

Fillyourdryeronlyhalffull.Overfillingcanleadtowrinkledclothingthattakeshourstodry.

Follow these directions for dryer settings to prevent clothing shrinking to the

sizeofaBarbiedoll’s:• Regular is the hottest temperature setting. Use it for sturdy cottons such astowelsandpreshrunkjeans.

• Use the Medium setting to dry permanent press clothing, synthetics, someknits,andlightweightcottonsandlinens.

•SavetheLoworDelicatesettingforcottonknits,lingerie,andsheerfabrics.Follow the instructions on the care label. The label will tell you whether thegarmentcanbedriedandatwhichtemperaturesetting.

DirtyWords

Neverleavehomewiththedryerrunning.Ifyoumustleave,turnoffthedryeruntilyoureturn.Dryersarealeadingcauseofhousefires.Ifyouaren’thome,itcansaveyoufromlosingeverything.Besafeoutthere.Turnoffthedryer.

CleantheFilter

More than 15,000 homes a year catch on fire because of lint left in the dryervents.Cleanthefilteraftereveryloadofclothing.Thenonceaweekremovethefilterandwhiskaroundtheareajustunderthefilterwithalambswoolduster.Don’t stopwith the filter.Twiceayearwhenyouchange thebatteries inyoursmokedetectors,letthatremindyoutocleantheventlocatedattherearofyourdryer. Clean the piping as well. Remove the piping and run your lambswooldusterthroughthepiping,orusethebrushattachmenttoyourvacuumcleaner.

SaveonEnergy

Mostheavyclothinglikesweatshirtsandbluejeansneedonlybedriedfor15-20minutes to remove the wrinkles. Hang them to finish drying and reduce theamountofenergyyouuseby60percent.Youwilloftenfinditnecessarytodryheavier-weightclotheswith lightweight items likewhitecotton tubesocksandlight-coloredshirts.Thedryingtimecouldtake50minutesforthesockstodry.Setyourtimerfor30minutes;thenremovethelightweightclothes,whicharedry.Withfewerclothesin the dryer, heavier items finish drying in 10minutes, saving 10minutes ofenergy.Tenminutes energy on 1 load of clothesweekly equals 520minutes of savedenergy each year. Multiply that by the 70 million households in the UnitedStates,anditcomestoamere36billion400millionminutesofsavedenergy.Looking for a place to hang wet clothes to dry? Invest in a tension rod thatextends fromwall to wall in your shower or tub enclosure. Put it up high toprevent it frombeing in thewayof takingashower.Hangyourclotheson therodtodry.

Dry-CleaningCautions

Drycleaningisexpensiveandthesolventused—tetrachloroethylene,otherwiseknownasperchloroethylene(PERC)—iscarcinogenicoverlong-term,low-levelexposure. It can causekidney and liver damage, neurological impairment, andvision problems. It has been associatedwith reproduction disorders aswell asdevelopmental problems in unborn children, babies, and young children.As achlorinatedcompound,itisaprecursorofdioxin.People are moving away from dry cleaning for that reason. Never bring drycleaning directly into your home.Always leave the clothing in the garage forseveraldays.Dioxinbioaccumulatesinyourbody.Itnevergoesawayandcanbedeadly.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Sortingclothesproperlyisthekeytopropercleaning.•Someclothingcarelabelscanbeignored.•Matchupyourwashcycle,watertemperature,anddetergentforthebestresults.• Be energy efficient when it comes to washing and drying yourclothes.

Chapter15

LooseEnds

InThisChapter

•Crittercomforts•Takingcareofsportingequipment•TLCforstuffedanimalsandtoys•Cleaningkid’sstuff:Highchairs,strollers,andcarseats

Loose ends—we tie ’em up, sort ’em out, piece ’em together, pull ’em tight,hangonto’em,andwhennothingelseworkswesiftthroughlooseendskeepingtheonesweneedandtossingtherest.Andallthatsaidinonebreath!Itmaytakeyoumorethanabreathortwotocleanup,shapeup,andconditionyour assortment of bikes, car seats, bowling balls, baseball gloves, stuffedanimals,dogs,cats,orfish.Inthischapter,theselooseendsarepulledtogethertogiveyouEarth-andhuman-friendlysolutionstokeepthemclean.

CleaningYourCritter’sArea

Backin1990,agroupcalledPetShopBoysreleasedanalbumcalledBehaviour,whichcontainedthesong“Jealousy.”Inthesong,theysumuptheworldofpetsaspetsdisplayavarietyof“behaviors”from“jealousy”toexcitement.Alongwiththesebehaviorscomesarangeofotherissueslikesmellykittylitter,fleas,andthefloorbeingusedasapotty.Let’ssolvethoseissueswithouttoxicchemicalsorsprays.

TLCforDogsandCats

These loveable four-leggeds are known to beman’s andwoman’s best friend,until theydisplayoneof thosebehavioral issuesandurinateordefecateonthecarpet.Wet or dry vacs quickly absorb large amounts of liquids. Then you can useseveral towels to finish the job.Walkon the towelwithyour shoeson tohelpabsorb themoisture. Heat sets a stain so resist the temptation to use a steamcleaner.Enzyme products such asKleen-Free (www.kleen-free.com),Nature’sMiracle(found at pet stores), or PetGuest (www.petguest.com) do a superb jobdestroying stains and odors. Enzymes eat away at bacteria and solid wastematter.Theyareunmatchedintheirabilitytodestroyurine,feces,vomitodors,andstains.

Mary’sHandyHints_

WhenIresearchedenzymeproductsforcleaningpetstainsandodors,I was impressedwithKleen-Free. According to their information, ittakescareofstainsandodors;killsfleas,lice,andbedbugs;andtreatspestsonplantsandgardencrops.

Read Appendix B, including the introduction, for complete instructions onremovingurineandfecalmatterfromcarpet,furniture,andbedding.Fleas:Dogsandcatsmustbecombedregularlywithafleacombtoremovefleasandtheirlarvae.Vacuumallfloorsurfacesdailyfor10daystoremovefleasandimmerginglarvae.Removethevacuumbageverydayandsealitinaplasticbagtopreventreinfestationinyourhome.Setthebaginthesunorinyourfreezer,ifyouhaveroom,tokillthefleas.

Aftervacuuming the first day, spray the carpetwith anontoxic fleakiller likeKleen-Free,or look foranaturaloneatpet stores.Damp-mopyourhard floorsurfacesusingavinegarandwatersolution—donotusethisonstonefloors.Use dry borax sprinkled on stone or wood floors if you see fleas aftervacuuming.Lettheboraxsetonthefloorforfiveorsixhours,keepingpetsandchildrenoffthosesurfacesuntilafteryouhavevacuumedagain.Add a couple ounces of 100 percent pure castile oil soap, which containspeppermint, coconut, and jojoba oils, to the Kleen-Free to treat your yard.Castilesoapalsorepelsticks.Brewer’syeastaddedtoyourpet’sfoodrepelsfleasasdoesaddingateaspoonofapplecidertotheirdrinkingwater.Finally,tosscedarchipsintotheirbedding.Bathtime:Takecarewiththeshampooyouusetobatheyourpet.Thetoxinsinthat shampoo penetrate their skin as well as yours. Pets don’t like perfumedscents,sobuyunscentedsoap.

Mary’sHandyHints

Keep fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes off any pets, kids, and you bycheckingout“TheBugBand.”www.bugband.net. Iattached themtomydog’scollarandheneverhadaflea.Theyaremadefromgeraniumoilandare100percentnontoxic.

Afewdropsofcastilesoap(mentionedpreviously)addedtoanenzymeproductlikeKleen-Freecleansyourpetandkillsfleasandticks.Givethemafinalrinsewithonepartwhitevinegartofourpartswatertorestoretheirnaturalskintone.Frequentbathingdriestheirskin,sobathepetsonceamonth.

Pethair:Whenyouhaveapetyouhavehair.Youcanspendanhourcleaningthehairoffyourfurnitureandfloors,oryoucantake10minutesonceadaytobrush your pet.Worth the effort? You bet! Use a flea comb on their neck tocheckforfleas.Washingpetbowls:Cleanpetbowlsin thebathtub.Afterwashing,wipewithstraight vinegar.The slobber in their bowlsdoesnot belong in the sinkwhereyoupreparedinner.Ifyouwashtheirbowlsinthekitchensink,cleanitwithhotsoapywaterandthenwipeitwithstraightvinegar.Kittylitter:You’llfindahostofvariouskittylittersonthemarket.Testingthemistheonlywaytofindwhichworksbestforyourfurryfriend.CleanthemwithBi-O-Kleen, CleanEz, or castile soap and hot water once a week. Then wipethemwithvinegaroranenzymeproducttokilltheodorandbacteria.Hairballs:Nowthereisanot-so-pleasanttreatforyou.Add½teaspoonofcornoilorsaffloweroiltoyourcats’foodtwiceamonth.Theoilcoatstheirintestinessohairslidesondownratherthangatheringintoballs.Varytheamountuntilyoufindwhatworksbestforyourcat.

OtherFour-LeggedCreatures

Itjustdoesn’tseemlikechildhoodunlessachildhasapetturtle,mouse,gerbil,hamster,orrabbitinhisroom.Yourchildiscleaningthecage,right?Turtles:Because turtles aremessy little critterswhen theyeat, feed them inaseparate tank. Then theirmain tank can be cleaned every 45 days rather thanweekly.Theyurinateanddefecate in the tank, soclean the residuedaily for ahealthyturtle.Scrubthetankwithbakingsodaandawhitescrubpaddampenedwithstraightvinegar.Thenrinsethetankwithstraightvinegarandfinishbyrinsingthetankthreeorfourtimeswithwater.Clean“decorations”withatoothbrushandbakingsoda.Mice,gerbils,andhamsters:Ibetyourchilddidn’tcountoncleaningthecageweekly, but weekly it must be done or the smell will become overpowering.Animalsaresensitivetosmells,souseanenzymecleanerforthecage.Enzymecleanerskillbacteriabutdon’tupsetthepet.Drythecagebeforeputtinginnewbedding.Rabbits: Should they get loose in the house, theywill gnaw on furniture. So

“rabbit-proof”yourhome.Changetheirwaterandcleantheircagedailywithanenzymecleanerbecauserabbitsaresensitivecritters.

DirtyWords

Think twice before buying a rabbit for your child. They bite andscratch humans and need daily attention and exercise because theirbones break easily.Children tend to be roughon animals. Perhaps ahamsterwouldbeabetterchoice.

CleanTanks=HealthyFish

Itisnotwithinthescopeofthisbooktocovercleaningallthevarietiesoffishtanks.Let’stakealookatthemostcommontank,whichisacommunitytankoroneinwhichtwotothreetypesoffish“commune”peacefullytogether.Do your research before buying supplies and fish. Have the tank set up andready to receive your fishwhen you bring them home. Part of those suppliesshouldbetongsforgrabbingthingsoffthebottomofthetank,andofcourseafishnet.Cleanthe tankeverytwoto threeweeks;otherwise, itwill turn intoanall-daychore.Scrubthetankthoroughlywithawhitescrubpadandanenzymecleaner.If the tank is green or moldy, clean it with straight vinegar and then straighthydrogenperoxide.Leteachsetforseveralminutes;thencleanwiththeenzymecleaner.Rinsethetankseveraltimesbeforerefillingwithwater.Checkthepumpsandheatertomakesuretheyareworkingproperly.Cleanallthetankdecorationswithatoothbrusheachtimeyoucleanthetank.Fishdependon a clean environment and properly working equipment to stay healthy and

alive.

BirdsofaFeather

Whetheryouhaveaparrotorotherkindofbird,hercagemustbekeptcleanona daily basis; otherwise, your bird could become ill. Pull the water and foodcontainerseverydayandcleanthemwithanorganicliquiddishsoap.Rinsethecontainers thoroughly and dry them completely before refilling them. Changethelinereveryday.Ifyourbirdisatidybird,theneveryotherdaywilldojustfine. After pulling the lining, dampen a cloth with an enzyme cleaner listedpreviouslyandwipeallthesurfaces.Useabird-safecagecleanertoremovethetoughstuff.

SportingEquipment

Ah,you just returned fromawonderful25-milebike ride through the countryandyouwanttorestonthebackpatiowithacoolglassoflemonade.Onlyalongcomesthisladyoutofsomecleaningbooksayingyouneedtocleanyourbike.Issheoutofherrightmind?Well,asamatteroffact,Ilostmyrightmindalongtimeagoandmyleftmindwasneverworthahootinthefirstplace.Yes,cleanyourbike,alongwithyourbaseballglove,andgolfclubs(ifyoulikeimprovedscores)—anditdoesn’thurttobrushoffthatbasketballonceinawhileeither.Keeping your gear in gear means it will last longer. It also prevents mold—something you folks in dry, hot states like Arizona know little about—and itreducesinfections.Serious infections, though,cropupwith thesharingofequipment like footballuniforms,judomats,andevenbasketballs.Let’stakeacloserlookintothisnastyworldofgerms.

BootCampandMRSA

Soyousendyourchildofftoschoolwherehewantstoplayasport.Inschool

situations,helmetsanduniformsareusuallypassedfromstudenttostudent.Cutshappenandthensweatsoakstheclothingandhelmetswithpossiblegermsfromthebleedingcuts.Methicilin-resistantstaphylococcusaureus(MRSA)isanastylittlevirusthatisresistant tomanyantibiotics.Oftencontracted inhospitals, itcanbepassedonthroughsharedsportsequipment,includinghelmets,padding,andmats.Thenitiscalledcommunity-associatedMRSA.Itispassedthroughskin-to-skincontactorwhenanopensorecomesintocontactwithawrestling, judo,orgymnasticsmatorthingslikebaseballhelmets.TheNationalInstituteofHealthandSafetysuggestspracticinggoodhygienebydoingthefollowing:•Keepcutsandscrapescleanandcoveredwithabandage.•Avoidcontactwithotherpeople’swoundsorbandages.•Donotsharepersonalitemssuchastowelingorclothes.•Washsoiledsheets,towels,andclothesthatcomeincontactwithacutinhotwaterwithbleach.Drytheminahotdryer.

•Seeahealth-careproviderifthewoundbecomesinfected.Theinfectionmustbetreatedwithantibiotics;otherwise,seriousillnesscanoccur,notonlyforthepersonbutothersaswell.

Checkwithyourchild’scoach,instructor,orschooltoensurethelockers,mats,helmets,padding,andsoonaredisinfectedandcleanedregularly.

DirtyWords

Fitness centers are social places where MRSA can be spread. Takeyourownbottleofantisepticspraytowipeoffthemachines.Yes,thespas provide bottles, but they are touched by dozens of peoplewhomighthavehandinfectionsorotherskinproblems.

Bicycles

Cleanyourhelmetfrequentlywithmildsoaplikecastilesoaptoremovesweat.Bacteria canbuild up and cause itchy scalp.Always cleanyour helmet if youloanittosomeone.Ittakesbutafewminutestowipedowntheinsidewithanenzyme cleaner after each ride. Wash it regularly, following the helmetdirections.Helmetmaterialvariesandsodoescleaningthem.Cleaningyourbicycleisbeyondthescopeofthisbookbecauseitentailschains,brakes, and gears.Do an online search for themanufacturer of your bike andfollowthosedirections.

Mary’sHandyHints

Hereareafewwebsitestogiveyouthebasicsoncleaningyourbike:www.trinewbies.com/BikeClean/Welcome.asp,www.bikeexchange.com.au/article/bike-cleaning, www.mtbonline.co.za/info/bike-chain-cleaning.htm(checkthisoneouttolearnthebestwaytocleanmountainbikechains).

HoleinOne

Sothechipofftheoldblockisn’tchippingsohotanymore?WhenwasthelasttimeyourclubsreceivedabitofTLC?Youchewthemoutwhen“they”sendtheballintothesandtrap,buthowoftendoyoucleanthem?

Neverusehotwater, liquiddishsoap,oradegreaseronclubs.Theyall loosenthe ferrule. Begin filling a bucket with cool to lukewarm water and a bit oforganic laundry detergent. Add just enough water to cover the heads of yourirons.Takethebucketoutsideorwashtheminthebathtub!Putyourclubsinthewaterandletthemsoakasyougatheranoldtowelandastiff-bristledtoothbrushorscrubbrush.Lettheclubssoakafewminutes(longerifthedirtisreallyhardened);thencleaninthedirectionofthegrooveswiththetoothbrush.Rinse(donotallowwatertorunupintotheshaft)anddrytheheadandtheshaftthoroughly.Never soakwoods inwater.Useaclothdampened in the sudsywater towipethemcleanandthetoothbrushtocleanthegrooves.Wipewithacleanclothanddry.Alwayskeepatowelattachedtoyourbagtocleanasyouswing.Seethenextsectiontocleanandconditionyourbag.

ThingsMadewithLeather

Bicycle seats, sports bags, and athletic shoeshaveone thing in common: theyneed attention, too. Anything made of leather or vinyl must be cleaned andconditionedtopreventdryingandcracking,especiallysportingequipmentduetotheintensemoistureandtemperaturechangesitendures.To take the P.U. out of tennis shoes spray an enzyme product like Nature’sMiracle orKleen-Free inside the shoes.Enzymes attack the bacteria that sendoutthosenot-so-friendlysmells.Don’tforgettospraytheinsideofgymbagsorbikeseatsiftheygetalittlepungent.Cleaningandconditioningleatherandvinylinvolvesthesameprocesswhetheryouareworkingonabag,shoes,orabicycleseat.Foamingshavingcreamdoesafairjobremovingsomestains,suchasgrass,grease,andheavysoil.Neveruseadegreasingcleaneronleatherorvinyl.Useonlyproductsspecificallymadeforleather.Remember that “cheap ain’t good andgood ain’t cheap,”which reallyappliestoleatherandvinyltreatments.Thecheapstuffwillcostyouhundredsofdollarsreplacingbags,shoes,seats,andsoon.Youcanfindexcellentleatherandvinylcleanersandconditionersonthemarket.Makecertain theproductyouchoose is freeofchemicals, includingpetroleumdistillatesandsilicone.Useabeeswax-basedproductforconditioningandwaterrepellency.MaryMoppinscarriesLeather/VinylCare;anotherexcellentproduct

ismadebyOakwoodfromAustralia(www.oakwoodusa.net).

StuffedAnimalsandPlasticToys

Whenbuyingstuffedanimalsorplastictoys,makesuretheyarewashable.Afterall,toysendupinthechild’smouth,inthedog’smouth,andontheflooratthegrocery store. Before purchasing a toy, check out the safety of the toy atwww.thedailygreen.com/greenhomes/ecofriendly/toys. This website listscompanieswithage-specific,safetoys.Alwaysresearchatoymanufacturerfirsttoseewhetherithashadthetoytestedbyathirdparty.Stuffedanimals:Buymachine-washable stuffed animals for your child. Thenwash themmonthly.Vacuumstuffedanimalsweekly to removedustmitesanddirt.Useasoftbrushtobrushthehair.Nevergivealong-hairedstuffedanimaltoachildstillindiapers.Babiesdothrowup,andfecalmattertendstofinditswayintothetoy’shair.Plastictoys:Tocleanplastictoys,dampenawashclothandthenpouronabitofbakingsodaandshampoo.Cleanthetoy,rinse,andgo.Doyoulikeeasy?Ilikeeasy.Putthetoysinthetubduringbaby’sbathtime.Kidsdon’tmindandyoudodoubledutycleaningbabyandtoystogether.Placeplasticbooks inameshbagandlaunderalongwith towelson thegentlecycle.Plasticbookscancontainphthalates,though,soresearchbeforeyoubuythem.

Mary’sHandyHints

TheConsumerProductSafetyCommissionproducesarecallletterforchildren’stoysandfurniture.Signupatwww.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

Most stains on plastics can be removed with a paste of cream of tartar andhydrogenperoxide.

Playpens,CarSeats,HighChairs,andStrollers

Plastichighchairs,swings,strollers,andplaypenscancontainformaldehydeandphthalates.Thoroughlyresearchanybrandbeforeyoubuy.Usecottonbeddingand solid wood furniture. Used furniture is best because it has already off-gassed.For more information on children’s furniture, read the articles onwww.asehaqld.org.auandwww.checnet.org.

DirtyWords

For the safety of you and your child, research before you purchasefurniture for baby or you. Think twice about replacing furniture,carpeting,orhardsurfaceflooringduringyourpregnancyanduntilthechild is eightornineyearsof age.SeeChapter2 for toxins in thesefurnishings.

Becauseyourbabyoryoungchildprobablychewsandsucksontheplasticparts

oftheseproducts,nevercleanthemwitharegularcleaner.Organicornot, thatcleanerdoesnotbelonginyourchild’smouth.Thesebasic instructionsapply tocarseats,strollers,playpens,andhighchairs.First, take the piece to the backyard or lay plastic down on the garage floor.Disassemblethepiecebylayingitoutflatforcleaning.Mix one cup distilledwhite vinegar to four cupswater, adding a teaspoon ofbaking soda. Pour on a cloth andwipe the surface. If your child has been ill,wipedownthesurfaceswithNature’sMiracleoranotherenzymeproductbeforeyoucleanittokillanygerms.To clean into the little nooks and crannies of these products, purchase a foampaintbrush at the hardware store.Dampen the brush in the vinegar solution tocleanthosetightareas.Strapsonchildren’s furniturearenotorious forbeingcoveredwithgooey foodand other surprises Mom and Dad may not even be aware are there. It isimportant to keep the straps clean. Because children rarely put them in theirmouths, they can safely be cleaned by soaking them first with sudsy water,lettingthatsetfor20-30minutes,andthenscrubbingwithadampcloth.Placeanoldcottontubesockononehand,likeyoudofordusting,anddampenitwiththevinegarsolution.Itdoesaquickjobwipingdownthesesurfacesonadailybasis.Youcanevenpickupfoodcrumbswiththesockedhand!

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Ignoranceisnotblisswhenitcomestokeepingyourlooseendscleanandtidy.• Wait until your child has proven she can handle chores withoutfussingbeforeallowinghertohaveapet.•Alwayscarryabottleofanenzymeproductorhandsanitizerwhenyouplaysportstotreatsharedequipment.•Whenlookingforclothing,toys,orequipmentforchildren,researchbeforeyoubuy.

Chapter16

BreatheEasierbyGoingGreen

InThisChapter

•Smokin’:thefurnace,fireplace,andothersourcesoffire•Conditioningtheairconditioner•Understandingpotentialallergensandyourhome•Thejoysofgoinggreen—houseplants,thatis

Youbuildup funds foryour retirement—that’s agood thing.Trafficbuildsupwhenyouarerunninglatedrivingtoameeting—that’snotagoodthing.Youcanbuildupyourphysicalendurance—that’sanothergoodthing.Toxicfumesbuildupinsideyourhome—nowthatisahorriblething.Sickhomesyndromeencompassesmorethanfumesfromthechemicalsyouuse.Dust, air fresheners, dishwasher detergent, carpeting, andmore cause a list ofailmentsfromallergiestocancer,heartproblems,AttentionDeficitDisorder inchildren,andadisruptionofthecentralnervoussystem.Thegoodthing?Youdon’thavetorunawayfromhometogrababreathoffreshair.Thischapterintroducesyoutohotspotsinyourhomethatcontributetosickhomesyndrome.You’lllearnpreventativetricksandwhentocallanexpertforhelp.

SomeLikeItHot:Furnaces,Fireplaces,andMore

Handsdownfire is themost importantdiscoveryofmankind.Howelsewouldwe toastmarshmallows?Cavemenwiselyburned their firesoutsideor inwell-ventilatedcaves.Weburnfiresinsidewheredangerouslevelsofcombustioncanbuild.Fireplacesarebuiltwithchimneys to remove theby-products.Furnaceexhaustpipesand

ventscarrytheirfumesoutsideahome.Havebothprofessionallycleanedatthebeginningofeachwinter.

Mary’sHandyHints

Change your carbon monoxide (CO) detector batteries when youchange smoke alarm batteries in the fall over Labor Day weekend.Changingthemonaholidayhelpsyouremembertodoit.

SmokytheBear

Scary stuff: cigarettes emit 40 types of carcinogens. Secondhand smoke hitsyoungchildrenandthosewithlungorheartdiseasethehardest.Thebestremedyis, of course, to stop smoking. Even smoke from clothing can cause lungproblemsinyoungchildren.Attheveryleast,takesmokebreaksoutside.

WhatYouDon’tKnow,Learn

Acting likeanostrichwith itsheadstuck in thesanddoesnotahealthyhomemake. Indoor air pollution canonlybe solvedbygettingyourheadoutof thesandandintoknowledge.Itmeanschangingyourwayssoyouliveahealthylifewithoutfearoftheailmentsthatneedlesslyafflictfriendsandfamily.Beawareofby-productemissionslikecarbonmonoxide(CO).Itisacolorless,odorless, and poisonous gas. Relatively harmless in open spaces, CO can be

deadlyifallowedtoaccumulate,suchaswhenrunninggas-poweredmachineryinyourgarage.Infact,everyyearmorepeopledieofCOpoisoningthanfromanyothertypeofpoisoning.ProtectyourselfandyourfamilyfromthisinvisiblemenacewithaCOdetector.The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends placing onedetector on each level of your home and in the garage.Check gas heaters forproper ventilation and leaks. Construction on many homes is so lax that gasvalvesmightnotbeproperlyplacedandcanemitslowgasleakage.

Chillin’Out

Baby, it’s hot outside! During the summer most areas of the country get tosizzling.Someareassufferevenmorewhenthehumidityreacheslevelsashighas the temperature. Along come our life saviors—the air conditioner anddehumidifier.Thefilter inyourairconditioner trapsdustparticlesso theydon’tescapebackinto your home. Replace old or dirty filters with an electrostatic mesh filter,which can be bought at hardware stores. The filter is made of polypropyleneplasticmeshwithanelectrostaticchargethatattractsparticlesfromtheair.Cutittosizeandcleanitbymerelyrinsingitout.Dryandreplace.

CausesofHomeAirPollution

No one likes being trapped in a motel room with noisy neighbors. You canchange motel rooms. By making a few changes at home, you can moveunwelcomedtoxic“guests”outofyourhomeaswell.Hereisabrieflineupofafewtoxinsthatinvadeyourhome.

Mary’sHandyHints

Burn100percentsoycandles.Soycandlesemitlittleifanysmokeanddonotcontainleadwicks,whicharetoxictobreathe.Plus,theyburnfive times longer than regular wax candles with a gentle, non-overpoweringscent.

•Moisture.Homeandhealthenemiessuchasmold,mildew,bacteria,dustmites,dryrot,andinsectsthriveonmoisture.• Cigarette smoke. We all know the harmful effects of cigarettesmoke,bothfirst-andsecondhand.•Combustion products. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide canbuild up in the home from fuel-burning heating equipment, gasappliancesandheaters,fireplaces,andwoodstoves.•Particles. Invisible to thenakedeye,dust,dustmites,pollen, lead,andformaldehydecanbecontaminatingyourhome.•Common household chemicals. Cleaning products emit chemicalresidues in your home that hang in the air for several days. Someaccumulateinyourbody,takingatollonyourhealth.•Furniture and carpet. Refer to Chapter 2 for the toxic problemsassociatedwithvariousflooring.•Pethairanddander.Iloveanimals,butunlessyoukeepyourdog,cat, hamster, and furry critters cleaned and brushed, the sneezing isgonnagetcha.

Add the fumes frompaints, solvents,pesticides,andodorsandyouhavequitethenastytrappings.Lateryou’lllearninexpensive,effectivemethodstoputtheboottothesepollens.

TheMatterofBuildup

Okay,soyouaretiredofreadingaboutbuildupandtheailmentsthatafflictyouifyoudon’tchangeyourways.LetmelaythisonelastfactonyoutohelpyouunderstandwhyI’msoadamant.Grabadimeandplaceitonyourforearm.Thatonespotofskincontainsthreemillioncells.Cellsareporoussotheyareatwo-waystreetforyourbody.Theyabsorbthingsintoyourbodyfromtheenvironmentandaidtheliverbyemittingtoxinsfromthebody.

DirtyWords

Guess what happens when you use most typical grocery store barsoaps in your shower? Right, the soap residue builds up on showerwalls.Guesswhereelseitbuildsup?Itbuildsupinyourcellswhereitblocksthemfrombeingabletoexcretetoxins.Soapsandhandlotionstrap the toxins.Switch to a soap that is freeofoil, lye, and fat.Uselotionssparingly.

The trillions of cells on your body’s skin absorb everything that touches yourskin,passingitalongtoyourorgans,blood,brain,andbones.Nosinglepartofyourbodygoesunscathedbythethingsyoueat,breathe,touch,anduse.Thesethingsaffecthormonebalance,cellregeneration,andnerveimpulses.Dementia,Parkinson’s, arthritis, cancer,osteoporosis,heart and lungdisease, asthma,andfibromyalgiaarebutafewoftheproblemsdirectlyrelatedtowhatyouuse,eat,andbreathe.As I said earlier, one product used a few timeswon’tmakemuch of a healthdifference—exceptions noted. It usually takes time for problems to arise, andthoseproblemsaresneaky.Theydon’tbelieveingivingyouadvancewarnings.

Thus,youtoolalonginlifethinkingyouareanexerciseguruanddon’tneedtochange a thing.Whammo, the next day you have cancer and ask what wentwrong.What went wrong was years of toxic buildup in your body, which isusuallypreventable.

BewareofAirFresheners

Advertisingdoessuchawonderfuljoblayingonguilttrips.Unlesswehavethemostrecentairfreshener,ourhome,well,stinks.Therearesafewaystoridyourhomeof smellsother thanair fresheners. Iwould rathernothave reproductiveandhormonedisruptionsthatthephthalatesinthesefreshenerscause.Phthalatesarefoundin85percentofthemostpopularairfresheners.It doesn’tmatter whether you purchase the plug-ins, sprays, plastic packages,wicks,ordiffusedfresheners—mostcontainphthalates.Evenworse,theydon’tgetridofthesmell.Mostfreshenersaretoxicperfumesthatmaskodorsandleadtolungproblems.Manyofthemcontainpesticides.

DirtyWords

Foryoudiehardairfreshenerfans,the“natural-scented”airfreshenersactuallycoatyournasalpassagewithanoilsuchasmethoxychlorthatdeadensyournasalpassagesoyoucan’tsmelltheodor.It’sapesticidethataccumulatesinyourfatcells.

Becauseofitstoxicitytotheenvironment,formaldehydehasbeenbannedfrombeing used in holding tank products for RVs and boats, yet companies areallowed to add it to air fresheners. Talk about respiratory failure and asthma

attackheaven,tosaynothingofthecancercausedbyformaldehyde.TheEPAin2002testedplug-inairfresheners.Theyfoundalistofchemicalsintheseproducts so long itwould take a chemistrybook to list them.A fewarepinene,limonene,phenol,cresol,andaldehydes.Pineneandlimonenereactwithozone,whichisfoundineveryhome.Combinedtheymakeformaldehyde.Not enough to convince you to take that stuff to the toxic dump? Then trycarcinogenssuchasacetaldehyde (or styrene), toluene,andchlorbenzene.TalkabouttheGreatAmericancoverup—andwearen’ttalkingodorshere,folks.

TheGreatWindowCoverup

AslongasI’mdeliveryaheartyblowtoindoorpollutants,hereistherundownonthetoxinshangingaroundyourwindows.You’vealreadyreadthetoxicstorybehindvinyl.Stayclearofplasticvinylminiblinds.MostaremadeinChinaorTaiwan.TheUnitedStatesallowsthemtobeimportedwithnotesting.U.S.ConsumerProductSafetyCommissiontestedvinylblindsandimmediatelyissuedawarningtoremoveandproperlydisposeoftheseblinds.Theleadfoundinthemcanbeasmuchas100timesthefederallyallowedlimit.Vinyldeteriorates,leavingatoxicleaddustonplasticblinds.Cleantheblindsorwipeyour finger across themandyou just absorbed the lead.Thinkof babiesandyoungchildrenandhowtheytouchthingsandthenputtheirfingersintheirmouths. Lead poisoning from blinds causes behavioral problems, learningdisabilities,hearingproblems,andgrowthretardation.According to the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, manufacturers ofplastics and synthetic fibers in TVs, computers, fabric furniture, curtains, andmattresses all use polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and brominatedflameretardants(BFRs)toslowthespreadoffire.AfewstateslikeMainehavebannedtwoPBDEproducts:PentaandOcta.TheybannedthembecausePBDEsarenotchemicallyboundtoplastics,whichmeans they float from your drapes, furniture, mattresses, and carpet to otherareas likeyour skin.When they leachout, theyconvert intomore toxic formslikedioxin.

Don’tDucktheDirtyJobofCleaningDucts

Whenhomeheatingductsaredirty,yoursystemcanspewdust,dirt,andmoldsporesintoyourhome,increasingallergyproblems.Also,dirtyductsdon’tworkasefficiently,soheatingandair-conditioningbillsskyrocket.Haveyourductscleanedprofessionallyeverytwotothreeyears—moreoftenifyou smoke, have pets, live in a dusty area, or have a family member withbreathingdifficulties.Remove the return registergrill yearly to clean itwith alambswoolduster.

DirtyWords

Awordofwarning:wholehousepurifierscanbeverypricyandmustbeinstalledbyaspecialist.Theydokeeppollensoutofyourhomeandrelievethephysicalproblemsallergysufferersface.

PollutionSolutions

Homeinsulationstodayeffectivelykeepourhouseswarminthewinterandcoolin the summer. However, insulation prevents your home from breathing, sopollutantshavenowaytoescape.Old,draftyhouseshaveanadvantageafterall!As you need to replace things such as carpet, furniture, and drapes, choosenatural products like real wood or stone flooring. Stay away from laminatesbecause they contain large amounts of toxic adhesives. Wool, sisal, and jutecarpeting are excellent alternatives, although wool can succumb to mothinfestation so beware. Make sure fabric furniture does not contain flame

retardants.Switchtorealwoodblindsratherthanfabricdrapes.Youmight not be aware of the toxic buildup going on in your home becausethere are few clues it is happening.Here are a few inexpensiveways to keepyourairclean.

OpenWindows

Soyouwanttobeashakerandmover!Welllet’sshakeandmovethosetoxinsoutofyourhome.Ispeaktothousandsofpeopleduringmyseminarseveryyear.Veryfewareawareofsickhomesyndrome,letalonethefactthattheycangetridoftoxinsjustbyopeningwindowsacoupletimesaweek.Crossventilatebyopeningwindowsonoppositesidesofthehouse,whichpullsthebreezethroughyourhouse.(Keepinteriordoorsopen!)Inatwo-storyhome,openadownstairswindoworslidingglassdoorandopenwindowsupstairstocreateachimneyeffectthatpullsairthroughthehouse.Youcanincreasetheeffectivenessbyusingawhole-housecirculatingfansuchasaPatton.Setitinfrontofawindowon,preferably,thenorthsideoreastsideof the home. Cooler air that comes from the north or east is pulled into thewindow,whilewarmerairispushedouttheoppositeside.Ifyouareallergictotreeorotheroutdoorpollenandopeningwindowsworsensyoursymptoms,awhole-houseairpurifiermightbeyoursolution.

GottaLoveThosePlants

Whenthegoinggetstoughandhouseplantsjumpship,thetoughgetfakeplants.Beforeyouthreatentoturntofakeplantsbecauseyourgreenthumbturnsbrownalongwiththeplants,keeptrying.Plantssolveindoorairpollutionproblemsandhelpreduceifnoteliminateindoorpollution.Through photosynthesis, plants absorb pollutants and carbon dioxide throughtheirleaves.Microbessurroundingtherootsystembreakdownthecontaminantsandthenemitpureoxygen.Just15houseplantsinanaverage-sizehomeofferasignificantreductioninthenumberofindoorcontaminants.

Mary’sHandyHints

Whenyour plants turnbrown, call your localExtensionCouncil.Orconsult master gardeners through a state college; these folks areexpertsatsolvingplant,tree,andyardproblems.

Commonhouseplants like spiderplants,philodendrons,andBoston fernsclearformaldehyde from the air. Peace lilies take care of trichloroethylene, whileEnglish ivy, chrysanthemums, and gerbera daisies have a handle on benzene.Marginata and Mother’s In Law Tongue are two excellent plants for healthyindoorair.Themostusefulhouseholdplantsarethearecapalm,goldenpothos,JanetCraig,and corn plant. They do not requiremuch light and are effective air-cleaners.Placetwotothreeplantsinaroom.Wolverton’sbookHowtoGrowFreshAirisawonderfulreferencebookonthesubjectofplantsandindoorfreshair.Someplantscanbetoxicifeatenbyachildorpetsochooseplantswisely.

WonderfulVinegarandMold

Back in the ’60sand ’70swehadvinyl records.Whena record scratched, theneedlestoppedinthescratchmarkplayingthatsamesectionoverandover.I’mmuchlikeascratchinavinylrecordinthatIrepeatimportantissues—sorepeatafterme,“Preventionisthekeytoaclean,greenhome.”Gotthat?Good,becausepreventingmold is thekey to improvedhealth. Ifyou live inarainy or humid area, you must place dehumidifiers in your home; otherwise,moldwilldevelop.Mostimportant,thesecondyouseeorsmellmoldormildew,youmusttakeimmediateaction.Onesmallspottodaycancovertheentireroom

bythenextday.Please, for the sakeof your health, get rid of chlorinebleach. It emits dioxin,whichisthemosttoxicchemical.You have several natural options to get rid of mold.Mix a solution of threetablespoonsofboraxpercupofdistilledwhitevinegar inabottle.Thoroughlysaturateacloth,wipingonthemold.Aone-halfinchpaintbrushbrushesitintocrevicesandsmallareas.Leaveitalonefor30minutes; thenrepeat.Nowwait60 minutes and wipe to remove. If the mold is stubborn, hit it with a 50/50solutionof35percentfood-gradeperoxidetowater.Youdon’tneedtowipeofftheperoxide.Beforeyoubegin, coverany surfacewithplastic that couldbeaffectedby theborax,likefurniture,flooring,orcarpeting.Onceamonthwipetheareawithstraightdistilledwhitevinegartopreventthemoldfromreturning.Vinegarstopsmoldfromgrowingandthesmelldissipatesinafewhours.Alternatively, you canmix 20 drops of grapefruit seed oil in 2 cups ofwater.Followthedirectionsabove.Moldyflooringisbesttreatedbyaprofessional.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•InvestinaCOdetectorforeachlevelofyourhome,especiallyifyouhavewoodburningstovesorfireplaces.•Ventilationandplantshelpridyourhomeofairpollutants.•Rather thanuse toxicair fresheners, try leavingcinnamonsticksorclovesindecorativedishesoruserealflowerslikelilies.• Itmay take cleaningmore often but the tidiness prevents allergiesfromworsening.

Chapter17

PrecisionSpeedCleaning

InThisChapter

•Gatheryourtools•Exercisereigns•Time-testedtricksofthetrade•Divideandconquer

Soyouhavebetter things todo thanhangaround thehousewitha rag inonehandandaspraybottleintheother?Youwanttozipthroughcleaningatneckbreaking speed?Well, you don’t need to throwyour neck out of kilter just tospeedcleanthehouse.Thetipsinthischapterwillgetyouwhistlingahappiertune.I’mgoingtointroduceyoutoasystemIcallPrecisionCleaning.Itencompassesall of my trade secrets to get you through these cleaning jobs—fast yetthoroughly.Thereisevenatimetablesoyouknowhowlongitshouldtakeyoutocleaneverypieceoffurnitureandeveryiteminyourhome.Combine the time table with a bit of prep work, and you have a grasp onbreakneckcleaningcalledPrecisionCleaning.

ExerciseandYou

Soyouwant the inside scoop toPrecisionCleaning your home?Guesswhat?That tradesecret isexercise.Thebettershapeyouare in, themoreenergyyouhave.Themoreenergyyouhave, the fasteryou’llbezipping throughallyourdailyroutines.Thehealthbenefitsyoureapareimmeasurable.

Mary’sHandyHints

Alwayscheckwithyourdoctor ifyouhavehealth issues.Pamperingyourselfwithregulardailyexerciseisawholebodylovehug.It’sgoodfortheheartandsoul.

Work in a variety of exercise programs, aiming for 30-60minutes every day.Alternatebriskwalkswithavarietyofexercises likeyoga,Pilates,andweighttrainingtotone,condition,andexerciseeverymuscleinyourbody.Justhowdoyouworkinexercisewhenthekidshavepracticeandyouhaveclubmeetings? If necessary, get up 30minutes earlier.Trustme, your energy levelwillbesomuchhigherthatyouwillnevermissthe30minutesofsleep.Admitit,thealarmgoesoffandyoulayinbedfor30minutes,right?Weareallguilty—metoo.Hereareafewwaystoworkintheexercise:•Walkonyourlunchhour.•Callotherparentstocarpoolthekidstopractice.•Usethewarm-uptimebeforeyourchild’sgametowalk.•Involvetheentirefamilyinanexerciseprogram.Putupabasketballhoop,ridebikes,orjointhecommunitycenter.

MoveItorDitchIt

Organizing.Ouch,eventhemostmatureofuscanthrowafitbetterthanatwo-year-oldwhenitcomestobeingtoldtopickupourthings.A small cluttered home takes at least 90minutes longer to clean than awell-

organizedhomethreetimesthesize.Try all you want, but without an organized home you aren’t going anywhereexceptmudboggingwiththemonstertrucks.Thosetrucks,likedisorganization,usuallyendupspinningtheirwheelsstuckindeepmuckymuck.Let’skicktheclutterhabitbyrunningthroughsomeshortandsimpleexercises.OrganizationisoneoffourbuildingblockstoPrecisionCleaning.TheothersarePrevention,Mary’sTradeSecrets, andKnowingHow toClean theRightWay.Mastertheseandyouwillbeteachingtheproshowtoclean.

OrganizationalKeys

This section teachesyou short basic steps togetting ridofmostmajor clutter.Once themomentumstarts to roll,youwilladapt these techniques todecluttersmallerareas,evendrawers.Theseareafewofthemajorcluttermagnetsinahome:• Papers on the couch, magazines on the coffee table, and mail piled on thekitchencounter.

•Refrigeratorfullofmonth-oldleftovers.•Cabinetswithout-of-datemedicinesorfood.•Clothingstrungaroundthebedroom.Faceit,youcomehometiredandhungry.Thekidsneedattention,dinnerwaits,andhangingupclothes—wellisn’tthatwhytheyinventedchairs?

Let’stakeapeekintoafewquickpreliminaries:Prevention:Neverleavearoomempty-handed.Takesomethingwithyou,putitaway,tossit,orgiveitaway.Mary’stradesecret:Whenyouleavethebedroom,takethetrashwithyouoraload of laundry down towash.When youwalk into the bedroom, grab a fewpiecesofclothingandhangthemup.Can’t find closet space to hang clothes?Then spend an hour aweek cleaningthem.Somebooks recommenddeclutteringone roomata time. If Ineeded todeclutterahome,itwouldliftmyspiritstowalkintoanyroomandseeprogress.Thereisnorightorwrongwaytoclearclutter—just theeasyway.Sogoafterclutterhoweverit’sfastestandeasiestforyou.

Shakeitout:Don’tshyawayfromchange.Yourhomeisclutteredbecauseoldhabitscontinuetohauntyou.Oldhabitscausedtheclutter,sotossthemoutwiththeoldclothesandneverlookback.

GettingStarted

First,makeadatewithyourselfwithinthenextdayortwo.Grabthreeboxesorlargeplasticbags.Boxonearethingstoputaway.Boxtwoisthegiveawayorgaragesalebox,andboxthree—yep—tossit.Headfromroomtoroomandpickuponelargepilefromeachroomortheentireroom, your choice. Immediately put away keepables, toss the trashables, andstartaboxforagaragesaleorGoodwill.Makeadatewithyourselfwithinthenextthreedaystodoitagain.KeepyourclutterdatesandsoonyourhomewilllooklikethecenterfoldofHomeBeautiful!Well,maybenot,butyouwill lovethenewroominessyouhaveuncovered.

ToolsoftheTrade

Whenyouneeda jobdone,yougottahave tools.Here is a listof the tools tospeedcleanyourwaythroughallyourchores:•Abiglaundrybaskettotossinanythingthatneedstobeputaway.• A towel mop so you can dampen the towel and not have to carry aroundbucketsofwaterortaketimerinsingmops.

•Adividedtotetraykeepsyourcleaningbottlesandtoolsseparatedandeasytograb.Findthemathardwarestores.

•Abottleofall-purposecleaner.•Abottleofglasscleaner.•Alambswoolduster.•Rubberglovestoprotectyourhands.•Bakingsoda.•Adrysponge.•Ascraper.

•Astiff-bristledtoothbrush.•Addalintrollerifyouhavetexturedwalls,popcornceilings,orwoodbeams.Theyremovecobwebsfromroughsurfaces.

TheBasics

People today want fast. The fastest computers, instant dinners, problemsresolvedyesterday.Whyshouldcleaningbeanydifferent?Cleaningsofastyourvacuumcleaner smokes probably is not going to happen.With a few tricks, asmidgeofpractice,andconqueringPrecisionHomeCleaning,youcancutmostofthetimespentcleaningbyhalfifnotmore.Clean like the pros: Professionals don’t enter a home and heat up a cup ofcoffee,flipontheTV,orsendane-mail.Whenyouclean,clean.Puteverythingelseasideandstayfocused.Theansweringmachinecanpickupphonemessages—stay focused. Yes, I know with kids at home, this is not always possible.Engageyourspousetooccupythekidsforafewhoursiftheyaretooyoungtohelp.Ifyouareasingleparent,plantocleanwhenthekidsareoutofthehouse.Betteryet,putthekidstowork.Don’tstop:Youbuildspeedasyouclean.Everytimeyoustop,ittakestimetorebuildyourmomentumandcostsyouvaluabletime.Setyourgoaltocleanthebathroomin15minutesandstayfocused,andyouwillfinishinthattime.Newways:Forget theoldwayofcleaningwhereyousprayasmallsectionofthesurface,wipeitwithonehand,andthenpickupthebottleagaintospraythenext section. My Precision Method gets both hands in the act. Dampen twotowelswithyourcleanerandthenusetheKarateKidmotionsof“waxonwaxoff.”Yourrighthandmovescounterclockwiseandyourlefthandclockwise,sotheyoverlap just enough to catch all the spots. Your surface will be cleared awaybeforeyoustartcleaning.Shortcutstoclearingsurfacesaregivenaseachroomiscovered.PrecisionHomeCleaningisbestachievedbycleaningyourhomeinoneday.Ifyou find yourself doing a bit of cleaning each day, then do that one jobcompletely.Dusttheentirehouseorcleanallthebathrooms.Ittakestimetopulloutyourcleaningequipment,sokeepgoinguntilyoufinish.

Mary’sHandyHints

Eachitemineachroomistimed.Forinstance,toiletstake45secondstoclean.Usethechartedtimetotellyoutheareaswhereyourtimeislaggingbehind.Say,youaretaking90secondstocleanatoiletbutarecleaningsinksandshowersfaster.Youroverallcleaningtimeisstillontarget.Studywhichareas are robbingyour timeand then reread thatsectiontofigureouthowtospeedupyourtime.

DivideandConquer

Cleanyourhomeinsectors.Cleanonesectorandthenmovetothenext.Adjustthefollowingtothelayoutofyourhome.

SectorOne:Bedrooms,bathrooms,andhallwayareaSector Two: Kitchen, eat-in section of the kitchen, den, andfamilyroomSectorThree:FormallivingroomanddiningroomSectorFour:Laundryroomandremoterooms

Mary’sHandyHints

Adda15-to20-footextensioncordtoyourvacuumcleanersoyoucanreachalltheroomsinonesectorwithouttakingtimetomovethecordfromroomtoroom.

Learningtodomostanythingusuallymeansstartingatthebottomandworkingyourwaytothetop.Ilovebreakingrulesandthisisoneofthem.Youdustfromthe top down and start cleaning from the top floor of your home if you havemore than one level. This keeps you from pulling dirt over freshly vacuumedfloors.Oneach floorbeginwith the rooms to the left, cleaning to the right.Forone-storyhomes,beginwithroomsonthefarleftandcleantowardthecenterofthehome,finishingwiththeroomstotheright.Carryalargegarbagebagwithyouandempty the trash asyouclean.A lotof clutterheads to thegarbagewith atrashbagintow.Areyouwithmesofar?Ifnot,e-mailmefrommywebsiteandI’llansweryourquestions.Followmethrougheachsector.

SectorOne:BedroomsandHallway

Startwiththebedroomontheleftofthehallwayandworkyourwayclockwisearound thehallway.WhenIwasprofessionallycleaning, thiswas thepattern Ifollowed:1.Cleanthehallbathroom.2.Cleanthebathroominthemasterbedroom.3.Dustmasterbedroom.4.Dustotherbedrooms.5.Dusthallwaypicturesandbanisterrailingiftherearesteps.6.Vacuumstartingwiththebedroomtotheleftandworkingaroundclockwise;thendownthehallwayandfinallydownthesteps.

Why did I clean the bathrooms first rather than startingwith the roomon theleft?Easy.IdidthemfirstbecauseIwasfreshandcleanedfaster.Truthfully?Idon’tlikecleaningbathroomsanddidthemfirsttogetthemoutoftheway.

SectorTwo:KitchenandDinetteArea,Den,andFamilyRoom

Adjustthesesectorsforthelayoutofyourhome:1.Dust theroomat thebackof thissection,movingleft toright ifpossible.Ifthissectorincludesahalfbath,cleanitasyoudusttheotherrooms.

2.Dusthallwayhangings.3.Vacuumbeginningfromlefttoright,finishingbybackingdownacorridororthehallway.

4.Cleanthekitchentableandanywallhangingsinthekitchenarea.CleanthekitchenasdescribedinChapter6.

SectorThree:FormalLivingandDiningRoom,Office,orDen

1.Dusttheroomtotheleft,movingacrossthefoyerifthereisone.2.Finishdustinganyotherroom.3.Cleananybathroominthissector.4.Vacuumeachroomandtheentryway.5.Damp-moptheentryway.

SectorFour:LaundryRoomandRemoteRooms

ThissectorcanvarysowidelyIcannevergivealltheexamplespossible.Yourwasheranddryermightbeoutinthegarage.Oryoumighthaveasunroomoracraft room. If those roomsare close toSectorThree,youmightwant to cleanthemwithSectorThree.CleanthissectorfollowingthesamepatterninSectorTwo.

TimeIt

The night before cleaning,move objects on tables or desks to the far right orplacethemonanearbysofaorchair.

On cleaning day as you clear breakfast dishes, place any placemats, napkinholders,andsoforthontheseatsofthediningroomchairs.Eachmemberofthefamilyshouldberesponsibleformovingtheirownplacemat,eventhekids.Precisiondusting:Grabacottontubesock(anolderbut“holy”oneisjustfineaslongasitiscleananddoesn’tsmelllikeyourson’ssneakers).Placethissockonyourdominanthandthatwillmoveobjects.Sprayitdownwithyourfurniturecleaner.Theotherhandworkswithadiaperclothora100percentcottonsoftclothlikeawhiteT-shirt.Sprayitaswellwiththefurniturecleanerandconditioner.Dustingisoneamazingwaytoworkinagoodaerobicworkoutwhilecleaning,so let’s get funky with dusting. Both hands are used, which increases bloodcirculation.Rememberwipeonwipeoff.Useitfordustingaswell.Chairs:Squatbehindthechairanddustdowneachlegandtherungswiththecorrespondinghand—oneoneachsideofthechair.Thencomeupthesidesofthebackandacrossthebackandthefront,stillusingbothhands.Ittakesalittlebitofpractice.Youwillsoonmasterit.Time?10seconds.Endtables:Bringyoursockedhanddownthebaseofthelampandthenpickitupasyourotherhanddustsunderneath the lamp.Continue liftingobjectswiththesockedhandanddustingwiththebabydiapercloth.Usebothhandstodustdownthelegs.Time?15seconds.Coffeetables:Usethesamemethodusedfordustingendtables.Startattheleftsideofthecoffeetableagainwithyourrighthandworkingcounterclockwiseandyour left hand clockwise. Squat down as far as necessary and go. Time? 10seconds.Diningroomtable:Workthesamewayasacoffeetable.Spraythetablefirstifanyfoodisstuckonthetable.Time?Oneminute30seconds.Dressers and chest of drawers: Keep as few objects on your dresser aspossible.Largerobjectssuchasjewelrycasesareeasytomoveanddust;it’sthesmall stuff thatcounts—timewise, that is.Dust the topstartingat the leftandworking your way over mirrors using the double-handed method. When youfinish the top, dust the lower-right side, work your way across the front, andfinishwiththeleftside.Time?2minutes.Remembertosprayalint-freetowelwithabitofwindowcleanerandtuckitintoyourbackpocket.Grab theclothwithyoursockedhand,clean themirror,andkeepgoing.

GeneralDustingPatterns

Nomatterwhat roomyouarecleaning, the flow is from top tobottom, left toright.Beginat the leftof the room.Dustanywallhangings first and thenanytable, chair, or other pieceof furniture immediatelybeneath it.Bydusting thehigherareasfirst,anydustthatmightfloatdowndoesn’tdirtyupthesurfaceyoujustcleaned.Move furnitureaway from thewall asyoudust. It saves10minutesper roommovingfurniturewhenyoustarttovacuum.

GeneralVacuumingPatterns

Start vacuuming the first room you dusted in each sector. You moved thefurnitureoutasyoudusted.Right?Ifnot,pull thefurnitureout fromthewallstwo widths of your vacuum cleaner. You will make two swipes at the carpetbehindthefurniture.Begin at the left and vacuum behind the furniture following close to thebaseboard.Returnthefurniture.Vacuumthemiddleoftheroomandthenbehindthefurnitureontherightside.Replacethefurnitureandvacuumyourwayoutthedoor.

PrecisionCleanYourBathroom

Me? Enjoy cleaning bathrooms? Right and one-legged ducks don’t swim incircles. Soap scum builds in the shower and rings in the toilet run rampartbecause it’ssoeasy to findother things todo thanclean thebathroom.Withafewnew ideas and fresh approaches, youwill be in andout of there in 12-15minutes for an average-size bathroom. Reread Chapter 7 for importantpreventivetips.

PrepareforBattle

Wegrewup learning toprepareforeverythingwedid.Wepracticed thepianoand studied for exams and took driver’s education. Well, cleaning is noexception.Doabitofprepworktosavehoursofcleaningtime:•Onthemorningyouaregoingtocleanthebathroom,puteverythingontopofthe counter away in a drawer or cabinet as you brush your teeth. Time? 0seconds.

•Whenyoufinishbrushingyour teeth, fill thesinkwithhotwater.Placeyoursoapdishes in thesink tosoak.Thehotwatersoaks thesoapresidueoff thesoapdishes.Thesoapresidueinturncleansthesink.Time?30seconds.

•Gatheryourcleaninggearandpulloutyourcolor-coded terry towels for thebathroom,whichareblueinthePrecisionCleaningKit.

Ready,Set,Go

Thebathroom is the one area youmight not clean left to right because of thelayout of the room. First, clean the sink area; then the toilet, shower, or tub;finishingwiththefloor.Start by sprinkling a small bit of baking soda inside the toilet. Pick up yourdilutedbottleofRedJuicebyTheCleanTeam,CleanEz,ororganiccleanerandpoursomeontobothofthetowels.Dospraythetoiletinsideandoutsideratherthanwipingit.Next,wipedownthecounterandfaucetandpourmorecleaneronyourtowels.Wipedowntheshowerstartingatthebottomoftheleftsideoftheshowerdoorifthereisoneandworkingyourwaytothetopbymovingclockwisearoundtheshower.Time?4minutes.Finally,grabyourwindowcleanerandspraysomeintoalint-freetowellikeanoldcottonT-shirt.Wipethemirror.Time?15seconds.NOTE:Ifyousoakedyoursoapdishesinthesinkwhenyoufinishedbrushingyourteeth,youwillusethewaterandsoapalreadyinthesinktocleanitratherthansprayingthesink.Scrub your toilet with your scrub brush and rinse it by scrubbing the sink—remember that the sink is full of soapy water. Let the water out of the sink.Time?45seconds.Nowwegoambidextrousandusebothhandstoclean.Usealint-freetowelinbothhandstocleanthemirror.Ifyoudon’trememberthehandmotions,reread

thesection“TheBasics”tolearnhowtoworkyourhands.Time?10seconds.Next,grabthetwocolor-codedbathroomtowels,oneineachhand.Usethedrysidesofthetowels.Thelefthandwipestheleftsideofthecounterandleftpartofthesink,whiletherighthanddoestherightside.Itmaytakeatimeortwotogetusedtousingbothhands.Onceyougetthehangofthis,though,you’llnevercleananyotherway.Andit’sagoodworkoutaswell!Time?1minuteand15seconds.Nextupisthetoilet.Again,usebothhandstocleantheirrespectivesides.Wipethe toilet tank, cover, seats, down the outside, and around the back.Time? 30seconds.Theshowersarenext.Continuewithbothhandsandstartwiththeslidingglassdoorifyouhaveone,workingfromlefttoright,toptobottom.Continuearoundthe shower or tub, moving to the right and cleaning top to bottom. Time? 3minutesand30seconds.Spraythebottomoftheshowerandthendampenthegreenfloortoweltocleanthe floor.Scrub thebottomof the tuborshowerandmopyourwayoutof thebathroom.Time?2minutes.TotalTime?12-15minutesforanaverage-sizebathroom.

SleepingQuarters

Youhavethebasicsofdustingmasteredbynow,right?Ifnot?Well…Idon’tmakehousecalls,sorereadthischapter.If you are cleaning themaster bedroom or another bedroomwith an attachedbathroom,cleanthebathroomfirstandthendust,finishingwiththevacuuming.

DirtyWords

Preventyourwoodfurniture fromdryingandcrackingbyapplyingawoodconditioneratleastonceayear.

Remember: Dust high areas first, which includes the ceiling. Use yourlambswooldusterortoweloveryourtowelmoptosnatchthosecobwebs.NowyouarereadytostartPrecisionCleaningbedrooms.Startattheleftsideofthe room, dusting wall hangings followed by any furniture below themcontinuingclockwisearoundtheroom.SeetheindividualpiecesintheprevioussectionsforPreciseCleaningmethods.Dustwindowsillsasyoucometothoseandminiblindswhentheycomeupontheschedule.Tovacuum,startatthebackleftsideofthebedroomandworkyourwayaroundbeds,dressers,andsleepingdogs.Vacuumtheclosetasyoucometothatpoint,workingyourwayoutthedoor.

K.P.Duty

Ifcleaningthebathroombroughtontheblues,thenK.P.dutywillnotgetyousinginghappy tunes either. It doeshelp to turnon someupbeatmusic suchascalypso or whatever keeps your mind off cleaning and your body movingquickly.Thisisnotthetimetoplaysoft,gentlyswayingmusic.Savethatforacupofteaandawell-deservedrestwhenyoufinish.Grabyourcolor-codedkitchentowels.PrecisionCleaningKittowelsarewhiteifyouwanttofollowthepattern.

PrepWork

As you are cleaning up the dishes the night before cleaning the kitchen, tuck“things”awayinacabinet.Time?2minutesand30seconds.

Ready,Set,Go

Beginbyplacingamicrowaveablecuphalffilledwithwaterintothemicrowaveandheatingitfor3minutes.Pourabitoftheboilingwaterfromthecoffeecupontoanystuck-onfoodspotsontopofthestove.Addadropofliquiddishsoap.Time?45seconds.Spraytheentiretopofyourstovewithyourcleanertogivethetoughstuffampletimetosoften.Time?5seconds.Start at the left side andmove all objects on the counter to the right as far aspossible.Open areas encourage cleaning because you can clean them quickly.Time?1minuteand30seconds.Pour your organic cleaner on one end of both kitchen cleaning towels.Guesswhat?Thisiswherewegetfunkywithbothhandsagain.Placeonetowelineachhand. Using the same “wax on wax off” motion by starting at the left andworking to theright.Wipedownthedishwasherasyoucometo it,usingbothhands.

DirtyWords

Never use regular cleaners on tile, marble, granite, or other stonesurfaces. They will damage the surface. Use hot water only andNature’sMiracletodisinfectthem.

Youcanuseonlyonehandtocleanthemicrowave,butitgoesquicklybecauseyouhavethesurfacepretreated.Time?5minutes.Cleanthosecabinets:Pourabitofvinegarandwaterontoaclothtowipedownthedoorknobsof thecabinets.Cleanonesectionof thecabinetseachweekto

keepaheadofthegrime.Payspecialattentiontodoorknobs.Time?5minutes.Refrigerator:Next, tackle the refrigerator.Dampenyour cloths again.Grab achairtoreachthetop.Cleanthetopandstartwipingdownthefrontusingbothhands, always starting at the top. Finish by cleaning the inside gaskets andexposedareasthatneedattention.Time?3minutesand15seconds.Stove:Removetheburnersanddrippans.Wipethefrontofthestoveusingbothhands.Time?4minutes.You presprayed the top of the stove, sowipe it down next.An SOS pad stillseems tobe thebestway tocleandrippans.Usea rubbermat inyour sink topreventscratching.DampenthedrippanswithhotwaterandsoaktheSOSpadjustabit.Addtheneededelbowgreaseandthenrinse.Time?5-6minutes.Congratulations!Thekitchensparkles.Butdon’tpickupthatcupofteayet.Youstillmustdothefloorandsink.Cleanthefloorfirst,followingthedirectionsinChapter10.Thendothesink,followingdirectionsinChapter6.Time?Varies.

LivingRoom,FamilyRoom,DiningRoom,etal.

Rereadthegeneraldustingguidelinesatthebeginningofthischaptertoreviewstep-by-stephowtodust.Followthesameleft-to-rightdustingdiscussedinthesection“SleepingQuarters.”Remembertospraydownyourlint-freetowelwithglasscleaner(tuckitintoyourbackpocket)tocleananyglass.After youhavedusted the room,vacuumas discussed in the section “GeneralVacuumingPatterns.”Forhardfloorsurfaces,vacuum,dust,andmopusingthesamepatternoutlinedpreviously.By now, you have gained enough information to adapt the generalcleaningtechniquetoanyroominyourhomeifitisnotspecificallycovered.

TheLeastYouNeedtoKnow

•Ifyoulookathouseworkasbeingdrudgery;itwillbejustthat.•Keepyourbottlesfilledandallsuppliesinoneplace.•Usingboth hands to cleanmay require some adjustments but once

youdoadjusttothisnewmethodthereisnogoingbacktooldways.•Alwaysengagefamilymemberswhenitcomestodoingchoresbutremembertohavefun.

AppendixA

YourCompleteStain-RemovalGuide

So you spilled something on something else. Noworries! This appendix tellsyouhowtogetjustaboutanysubstanceoffofjustaboutanysurfacewithEarth-andhuman-friendlymethods.

GeneralGuidelines

Let’ssetafewguidelinesbeforeyoustartblottingandwiping:•Alwaystestaninconspicuousspotforcolorfastnessbeforeyougoalloutonthestain.

• Give your product time to work. Apply the cleaner and allow it to setundisturbedfor15minutes.

• Bi-O-Kleen and CleanEz both remove most stains. Never use petroleumdistillates, which may be listed as mineral spirits, aliphatic hydrocarbon,hydrocarbon,orotherknownharshchemicalslistedinTheHitList.

• Clean a spill immediately. The longer it sets, the harder it is to remove thestain.

•Useacleanwhiteragtoremovestains.Thecolorfromaragcantransferontothesurfaceyou’recleaning.

•Frequentlymovetheclothsothatacleansurfaceisshowingtokeepthestainfromspreading.

•On fabrics, begin spraying the cleaner from the outer edges of the stain andwork your way toward the center of the stain. This keeps the stain fromspreading.

•KeepabottleofenzymecleanersuchasNature’sMiracleonhandforcleaningurine,vomit,andallorganicstains.Bythetimeyourunouttothestoretobuyabottle,thestaincanset!

Thesetipscansaveyoualotofwork,givingyoumoretimetosiplemonadeandrelaxonyourporchswing.

CarpetStain-RemovalGuidelines

Followtheseguidelineswhenremovingcarpetstains:• Always blot; never rub. Rubbing breaks down the fibers and weakens thematerial.

•Blotbypunchingyour indexknuckle intoa ragdampenedwith¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Startwithyourwrist facing to the right, twistingclockwise. Carpet fibers are twisted clockwise. This motion prevents fuzzyspots.

•Whenliquidspillsintocarpet,ithitsthepaddingandspreads.Youmustcleananareaofcarpettwiceaslargeasthesurfacestainwhenmorethan2ouncesofliquidhasspilled.

•Forlargerspills,useawetordryvacuumorBisselltypevacuumifavailabletosuckupasmuchliquidaspossible.Otherwiseplacetwotothreeterrytowelsontopofthestainthenwalkonthestain,wearingshoesofcourse,toabsorbtheliquid.Replacethetowelsastheybecomesaturated.

• Work carefully with peroxide. Let it set 15 minutes and rinse with ¼ cupvinegarperquartofwater.ManycarpetsaremadefromOlefin.Peroxidecanremovethedyeinthesecarpets.

•Rinseanycleanerwith¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwatertakingcarenottooversaturatethecarpet.

Now,ontothegoodstuff!

Stain-RemovalSecrets

Beer on the upholstery? Soot on the walls? Mascara on the carpet? (Hey, ithappens.)Here’sthelowdownonthestains.

BallpointInk

Carpet: Apply rubbing alcohol with a cotton swab to prevent the stain fromspreading.Wait15minutes,blot,andrepeatifnecessary.Rinse.Fabricfurnitureandmattresses:Tryasquirtofwhitefoamingshavingcream.Sprayonenoughtocoverthespotandwait30minutes.Wipeofftheexcessandrinse.Laminated/woodfloorandwoodfurniture:Applyadabof rubbingalcohol,

waitfiveminutes,thenwipe.Repeatifneeded.Ifthisdoesnotwork,trywhite(notgel)foamingshavingcream.Leather/vinyl: Use only products made specifically for leather, like LeatherCareorabeeswax-basedcleaner.Anythingelsecandryandcracktheleather.

DirtyWordsYou may read recommendations to use hairspray for ink removal.Hairspray contains alcohol, which removes the ink. The otherchemicals in hairspray could damage a fabric, though. Use cautionwithhairspray.

Linoleumfloors:Rubwithabitoftoothpaste.Walls:Rubwithabitoftoothpasteorsealandpaintthespot.

BeerandAlcohol

Carpet:Blotthestain.ApplyNature’sMiracle,anenzymecleaner;waitanhourormore;andrinsewithplainwater.Fabric furniture: Follow themanufacturer’s guidelines. Remove the cushionandrinsein1gallonofcoolwaterplus½cupofwhitevinegar.Soakthefoaminthetub,usingthepreviouslymentionedformula.Airdryit,keepingthecushionstretched to prevent shrinking. Or wash the entire cushion in the tub if it iswashable.Laminated/woodfloor:Wipewith¼cupofwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Dry and run a fan to finish drying the floor.Contact themanufacturer for thepropermethod to restore thewoodshould itdiscolor. If thewoodwarps, sandandrefinishthefloor.Youcannotsandandrefinishlaminatedfloors,though.Leather/vinyl: Wipe with an enzyme cleaner like Nature’s Miracle. Wait 24

hoursandrepeatifneeded.Applyahigh-qualityleatherandvinylconditionertopreventdrying.Linoleum:Removeexcessmoisture.CleanthefloorwithNature’sMiracleandrinsewithplainwater.Dryimmediately.Mattresses:Professionallycleantoremovetheodorandstain.Tile,marble,granitefloors:Seelinoleum.Walls: Clean with Bi-O-Kleen or Seventh Generation liquid dish soap usingminimalwater.Rinsewithstraightvinegar.Woodfurniture:Liquidspillsdarkenandpossiblywarpthewood.Cleanwith¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Dry.Ifthewoodhasdarkened,sandandrefinishthefurniture.If thewoodhasnotdarkened,applyahigh-qualitywoodconditioner.

BerryStains

Carpet,upholstery,andmattresses:Usestraight3percenthydrogenperoxide;wait20minutes.Rinse.Repeatifneededafter24hours.Oruse1teaspoonboraxperquartofwater.Laminated/wood floor: Sand and refinishwood floors because the stainwillnotcomeout.Useperoxideonlaminatedfloors.Leather/vinyl: This stain may not come out. Try blotting with hydrogenperoxide,lettingitsoakanhourkeepingthetoweldamp.Holdthetowelinplacewith a bowl. Rinse with plain water and dry. Follow with a leather/ vinylconditioner.Tile,marble,granitefloors:TheStainEraseristheonlyitemthatwillremoveberrystainsfromgrout.Walls:Mixapasteofperoxideandbakingsoda.Dabonandwait30minutes.Blottoremove.Sealandpaintifneeded.Woodfurniture:Use3percentperoxidewithcautionbecauseitcanbleachthewood.Apply,wait 5minutes, and blotwith¼ cupwhite vinegar per quart ofwater.Use themeat of awalnut or pecan to restore the color if needed.Treatwithwoodconditioner.

Blood

Carpet and upholstery: Blot with Nature’sMiracle or a 50/50 solution coolwaterand3percentperoxide.Rinse.

Wood/laminated floors and wood furniture: Blood is difficult to removebecause it darkens wood. Lighten the stain with peroxide using caution. Blotwith¼cupvinegarto1quartcoolwater.Leather/vinyl:Cleanwithcoldwateror3percentperoxide.Mattresses:Blotwithanenzymecleaneror3percentperoxide.

DirtyWordsWearrubbergloveswhencleaninganotherperson’sblood,evenifit’sa close friend or familymember.Hepatitis C and other diseases arespread by blood contact; the person might not know he is a carrierbecausesomediseasescantakeyearstodiscover.

Tile,marble, granite floors: Forwhite grout, spraywith 3 percent peroxide.For coloredgrout, rinsewith coldwater, dry, and thenuseTheStainEraser toremovetherest.Walls:Blotwith3percentperoxide.

Chocolate

Carpet: Dab with a bit of nonalkali organic liquid dish soap, and wait 30minutes.Rinseandrepeatifneeded.Usea50/50solutionofhydrogenperoxidetowaterifanystainremains.Fabricfurniture:Usewhitefoamingshavingcream.Rinse.Grout instoneflooring:Usewhite foamingshavingcream.Sprayon,waitatleast15minutes,andwipeup.Walls: Dab on a nonalkali liquid dishwashing detergent. Rinse using as littlemoistureaspossible.Woodfurniture:Seethesection“Grease(Auto)andMotorOil.”

CoffeeorCola

Carpet: For large spills, follow the advice in the “Carpet Stain-RemovalGuidelines.”Otherwise,blotwitha50/50solutionofperoxidetowater.Rinse.Ordilute1tablespoonboraxperquartofwater,blot,andrinse.Fabricfurnitureandmattresses:Sprayonwhitefoamingshavingcream,wait15-20minutes,andrinse.Laminated/woodfloorandwoodfurniture:Wipeimmediately.Ifwaterspotsremain,rubinabitofrealmayonnaise.Tile,marble,granitefloors:UseTheStainEraser.Walls:Bloton3percenthydrogenperoxide.Repeatevery30minutesuntilthestainisgone.

CookingOil(IncludingBacon,Butter,andLard)

Seethesection“Grease(Auto)andMotorOil.”

Crayon

Carpetandupholstery:FreezethecrayonwithanicecubetuckedintoaZiplocbag. Scrape off what you can with a blunt knife. Use a concentrated organiccleanerlikeCleanEzorBi-O-Kleentoremovetherest.Rubabitintothecarpet,twistingclockwisewithyourindexfingerandthumb.Wait30minutesandrinsewithvinegarandwater.Becarefulnottoworkthecleanerdowntothebacking.DegreasingcleanerslikeCleanEzorBi-O-Kleencandissolvetheadhesiveholdingthefiberstothepad.Mattresses:Useundilutedconcentratedorganiccleanertoremoveanythingthatremainsafterfreezing.Applywithacottonswab,wait15-30minutes,andgentlyblot.Youmayneedtorinseseveraltimes.Laminated/woodfloor:FreezethecrayonwithanicecubetuckedintoaZiplocbag.Carefullyscrapeoffwhatyoucanwithaplasticscraper.Useahairdryertoheatthecrayon,dabbingwithaclothasitmelts.DoNOToverheattheflooringorpushthecrayonintotheseams.Neveruseanirononanysurface.Leather/vinyl:UseamildsolventsuchasDeSolvIt.Wipeon,wait10minutes,and blot. Rinse with organic dish soap and then with plain water. Apply aconditionersuchasLeatherCare.Linoleum:Freezewithiceandchipoffwhatyoucanwithabluntknife.Finish

withDeSolvItoraconcentratedorganiccleaner.Tile,marble,granite:Seelaminatedfloors.Donotuseasolvent.Walls:Donotuseasolventbecauseitwillstainandpreventpaintfromstickingtothewall.Dipaclothinboilinghotwaterwithabitofliquiddishsoap.Blotonly.Applyaprimerandpaintoveritifnecessary.Woodfurniture:Forhard,slickfinishes,blotwithacleanclothandheatwithahairdryer,wipingwithacloth.Callarefinisherforantiquefurniture.Fortungoil finishes, freezewith iceandscrapeoffwhatyoucan.Useahairdryerandcleanclothtoremovetherest.

Dirt

Carpet,mattresses,andupholstery:Blotwithanorganicall-purposecleanerandrinsewithvinegarandwater.

Mary’sHandyHintsIfyourdirtbeginsasmud,allowit todryand thenbrushorvacuumawaywhatyoucanbeforeusingacleaner.

Laminated/woodfloorandwoodfurniture:Cleanwith¼cupwhitevinegarto1quartofwater.Walls:Wipethedirtoffwithanorganiccleaner.

Dye

Dyewill not comeoutof leather, vinyl, hard floor surfaces,mattresses,walls,

wood,orclothing.Carpet and upholstery: Red dye 40 (found in dog and cat food, popsicles,Kool-Aid, and punch): Blot with 3 percent peroxide.Wait 15 minutes; rinse.Hair dye: Call a carpet-cleaning company because anything you dowill onlyspreadthestain.Grout:IfTheStainEraserdoesn’ttakeitout,nothingwill.

Feces

Carpetandupholstery:RemovewithanenzymeproductlikeNature’sMiracle.Followthebottle’sdirections.Laminated/woodfloor:Useminimalamountsofenzymecleaner.Wipeon,wait5 minutes, and rinse with ¼ cup white vinegar per quart of water. Dryimmediately.Leather/vinyl:Useanenzymeproduct.Followthebottle’sdirections.Linoleum:Useanenzymeproduct,followingthebottle’sdirections.Mattresses:Professionallycleanit.Tile,marble,granitefloors:Useanenzymeproduct,followingtheinstructionsonthelabel.

Food

Refertothespecificstain.

GlueandAdhesives

Carpetandmattresses:Seethesection“Crayon.”Laminated/woodfloor,woodfurniture,tile,marble,granite:Freezeandtreatasforcrayonincarpet.Dabonabitofsmoothpeanutbutter,wait5minutes,andblot.Sometimespeanutbutteroildissolvestheglue.Orcallaflooringspecialist.Leather/vinyl:Goodluck.Thisoneisroughbecausetheglueworksdownintothesefabricsandisquitetoughtoremove.Treatasyouwouldforcrayon.Linoleumandwalls:Seethesection“Crayon.”

Grease(Auto)andMotorOil

Carpet:Dab on rubbing alcoholwith a cotton swab.Wait 15-20minutes andblot.Ifthisdoesnotwork,useanundilutedorganiccleanerworkingitintothefibers by twisting the fibers clockwise between your finger and thumb. Usecautionnottoworktheorangecleanernearthebaseofthecarpetbecauseitwilldissolvetheadhesivethatholdsthefiberstothepadding.Wait30minutesandblot.Rinsewith¼cupvinegarperquartofwater.Fabricfurniture:Whitefoamingshavingcreamworksbest.Sprayon,wait5-10minutes,andrinsewithvinegarandwater.Laminated/woodfloorandwoodfurniture:Blotwithasoftclothlikeanoldclean cotton T-shirt. Apply a dab of rubbing alcohol. Wait no longer than 5minutes,rinsingwith¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Leather/vinyl: Spray on white foaming shaving cream, wait 15-20 minutes,gently rubwith a soft cloth, and rinsewithplainwater.Always followwith agood-qualityleathercleanerandconditioner,suchasLeatherCare.Linoleum:Sprayonrubbingalcoholorwhitefoamingshavingcream;letitset10-15minutes.Rinsewithwater.Mattresses:Usewhitefoamingshavingcream;apply,letitsetfor15minutes,andblot.Tile,marble,granitefloors:Wipewithaclean,softcloth.Trywhitefoamingshavingcreamfirst, lettingitset10minutes.Blotandrinse.Ormixapasteofrubbingalcoholandbakingsoda.Apply,wait10minutes,andrinse.(Donotuseongraniteormarble.)Walls:Mixapasteofrubbingalcoholandcornstarch.Plasteronthespot.Letitset45minutesanddry.Applyapaintprimer,and then touchup thespotwithleftoverpaint.Wood furniture: Rubbing alcohol will remove grease and oil from sealedfurniture.Apply,waitno longer than5minutes,anddrywitha softcloth.Fortung oil finishes, press cornstarch into the wood. Wait 30-60 minutes andvacuumoff the cornstarch.Keepapplyinguntil nomoreoil is absorbed.Thendabonabitofrubbingalcohol,followingthepreviouslymentioneddirections.Applyfurniturewaxtotheentiresurfacetorestoretheluster.

Gum

Here’sthegeneralruleforremovinggumfromanysurface:freezethegumwithacubeoficeinazipperedplasticbag.Useaplasticscrapertochipawayallyoucan. Repeat until most of the gum has been removed, and then follow thedirectionsforyoursurface.

Followthedirectionsforcrayontoremovetherest.

HairDye

Seethesection“Dye.”

HandLotion

Carpetandupholstery:Dabwithorganicdishsoapandrinse.Laminated/wood floorandwood furniture:Work cornstarch into thewood;thenwait30minutes.Vacuumthecornstarchandrepeatuntiltheoilisabsorbed.Removetherestwithrubbingalcohol.Letitsetnolongerthan5minutes,rinse,anddry.Beeswaxrestoresthelusterinwoodfurniture.Leather/vinyl:Absorbwhatyoucanwithcornstarch.Ifanylotionremains,blotonwhite foaming shavingcream.Wait5minutes, and rinsewith¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Linoleum:Cleanwithanorganicall-purposecleaner.Mattresses:Useanorganicall-purposecleaner.Tile,marble,granitefloors:Wipewithacleanclothandhotwater.Walls:Mixapasteofcornstarchandwaterandplasterthespot.Wait30minutesandwipeoff.Lotionleavesastain,souseaprimerandthenpaint.

IodineandMetholide

Carpet,upholstery,andmattresses:Rinsewithcoolwater,workingfromtheouterareatowardthecenter.Blot,turningthetoweloften.Removetherestwithhydrogenperoxide;thenrinse.Laminated/wood floor andwood furniture: Use cool water only. Sand andrefinishifthestainremains—anditprobablywill.Leather/vinyl: White foaming shaving cream might work. Dab on, wait 15minutes,andrinsewithcoolwater.Linoleum:Usecoolwater. If the iodineormetholideseeps into thesublayers,thestainwillbepermanentlyset.Tile,marble,granitefloors:Blotwithcoolwater.Walls:Blotwithcoolwater.Primeandrepaintifneeded.

Juice

Seethenextsection,“Kool-Aid,Popsicles,Punch,andGrapeJuice.”

Kool-Aid,Popsicles,Punch,andGrapeJuice

These stains are all caused by red dye 40, except for grape juice, but they’retreatedthesameway.Immediatelysponge3percentperoxideontothespotandletitsetfor15-20minutes.Rinse.Thistreatmentmayalsoworkforwood,butitcantakethecolorout.Ifthishappens,rubitwiththemeatofawalnutorpecanoruseastain.

Lipstick

Treatasyouwouldforgreaseandmotoroil.

MagicMarker

When the label reads permanent, that means permanent. Repeated cleaningsometimesremovesthestain—maybe.Carpet,fabricfurniture,andmattresses:Mix1teaspoonofboraxandadropoforganicdishsoapwith1cupoflukewarmwater.Blot,wait10minutes,andrinse.Laminated/wood floor and wood furniture: Sand the wood with very finesandpaper.Thenuseawoodconditionertorestorethewood.Tile: SpraywithMotsenbocker’s Lift Off #3. Spray, wait 1minute, and thenwipewithacleantowel.Repeatifnecessary.Leather/vinyl:Goodluck!Tryfoamingshavingcream.Walls:Sorry!Applyaprimerandrepaintthespot.

MascaraandMakeup

Carpet and fabric furniture: Pour a dab of organic dish soap onto a dampcleancloth.Bloton,wait10minutes,andrinsewithvinegarandwater.Corianormarblebathroomcounters:Cleanwithhotwaterorabitofwhite

foamingshavingcream.

Merthiolate

Seethesection“IodineandMetholide.”

Milk

Carpet,fabricfurniture,andmattresses:Mixonepartwhitevinegar tofourpartswater, or useNature’sMiracle.Saturate the carpet,wait 30minutes, andrinse.Laminatedfloors:Use¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Woodfloors:Wipe it; thenwalkona terry towel topull themoisture into thetowel. Clean the floorwithNature’sMiracle, rinse, and dry. Set a fan on thefloortodrytheboards.Woodfurniture:Followthestepsforawoodfloor,buteliminate thefan.Drythoroughly.Applyagoodwoodcleanerandconditioner.Leather/vinyl:Wipewitha50/50solutionofwhitevinegartowarmwater;thenfinishwithaleather/vinylconditioner.Linoleum:Use¼cupwhitevinegarperquartofwater.Marble,tile,andgranite:UsehotwateronlyorNature’sMiracle.Walls:Cleanwithanorganicall-purposecleaner.

Mold/Mildew

Bathroomceilings, tile,andgrout:Mix a solutionof 50/50white vinegar towater.Cleanthemoldandallowittodry.Thencleanwith25percentfood-gradehydrogen peroxide (found at health food stores). Borax alsoworks but not aseffectively.Mix¼ cup per quart of warmwater.Wait 24 hours and repeat ifnecessary.Wood furniture: Sanding and refinishing the wood is the best treatment formoldywood.Decks,siding,androofs:Rentapowerwasherandcleanthedeck.Allowittodryandcleanwitha50/50solutionofvinegar towater tokill themold.Stainandsealthedecktopreventmold.Carpet: Always be cautious ofmold in carpet andwalls. It could be a toxic

mold.Hireacarpetcompanyspecializinginremediationtocleanmoldycarpet.Callalocaljanitorialsupplystoreforrecommendations.Forsmall spots,cleanwith50/50solutionvinegar towater.Keepa fanon thespottodrythecarpet.Pullthecarpetbackandtreatandsealthefloor.Itmightbewisetoreplacethecarpet.Useadehumidifiertoeliminatefurthermold.Fabric furniture: Take the furniture outdoors (to prevent the mold fromspreading in thehome), andbrushoff anyvisiblemold.Wash thebroomwithstraightvinegarbeforereusing.Then clean with a vacuum cleaner and attachment brush again, cleaning thebrushwithvinegar.Disposeofthebagoremptythebagoutdoors;thencleanitwithvinegartopreventscatteringthemoldindoors.Mattresses: Spray themattress firstwith 50/50 solution vinegar towater andthenwith25percentfood-gradeperoxide(foundinhealthfoodstores).Thenletthemattress set in the sun all day, turning it once to expose both sides to thesunlight.Laminated/woodfloor:Forwaxed finish: Themold can usually be removedwithawoodfloorcleaningliquidandNo.1steelwool.Forsurface finishes: Ifmold is on the surface,wipeupwith50/50vinegar towater.Youmayneedtorefinishthefloor.Linoleum: Gray splotchy areas indicatemold growing from the floor-boards.Findthesourceofthemoistureandtreatitimmediately.Nothingkillsthismold.Unfortunately,thefloormustbereplaced.Leather/vinyl:Wipewithaclothmoistenedwith50/50vinegartowater,turningon a fan to dry it. Then clean with 3 percent peroxide, dry, and treat with aconditioner.

Mustard

Seethesection“CoffeeorCola.”

NailPolish

AsgreenasItrytobe,somestainssimplyrequiretheuseofatoxiccleaner.Nailpolishisoneofthem.Carpet, fabric furniture, and mattresses: Apply nonacetone nail polishremoverandblot.Mix1 teaspoonofanorganiccleaner—nobleaches—withacupoflukewarmwaterandblot.Rinse.

Laminated/woodfloor:Rubgentlywithsteelwool.Rinse,drycompletely,andrecoatwithappropriatefinishorwaxifneeded.Leather/vinyl: There are now so many new varieties of vinyl and leatherfinishes that it is best to call themanufacturer for removal instructions.Whatmightworkforonetypeofvinylorleathermightdamageanother.Linoleum:Followthebottle’sdirectionsusingacleanwhiteclothandfingernailpolishremovercontainingacetone.Finishbyrinsingwithsudsywater.Thestainispermanentandwon’tcomeout.Youmightneedtowaxtheflooriftheacetoneremovesthewax.Tile,marble,andgranitefloors:SpraywithMotsenbocker’sLiftOff#3.Spraythestainthoroughly,waitatleast60seconds,andthenwipewithacleantowel.Repeatifnecessary.Walls:SpraywithMotsenbocker’sLiftOff#3(foundatHomeDepotandTrueValuehardwarestores).Saturatethestain,wait1minute,andwipewithacleantowel.Repeatifnecessary.Woodfurniture:Avoidnailpolishremoverbecausethesolventswillruinwoodfinishes.Removewetnailpolishwithmineralspirits.Ifdry,soakthestainfor2-3minuteswith boiled linseed oil; then scrape off the residuewith a nonstickspatula.Allowittodryandtreatwithawoodconditionertopreventdrying.

Ointments

Seethesection“Grease(Auto)andMotorOil.”

PasteWax

Useyour concentratedorganic cleaner todissolve the residue. If that doesnotwork,hardwarestorescarryaproductcalledDeSolvItthatworkswellonmostsurfaces.Blotonthecleaner,wait1hour,andblot.Rinsewithliquiddishsoapandthenwithvinegarandwater.Forwoodfurnitureandwoodflooring,contactaprofessional.

Paint:Latex,Water-BasedPaints,andArtPaint

Carpet:Moistenwithhotwater.Sprayonwhitefoamingshavingcreamandlet

it set several hours.Blot and then rinse.When thepaint is softening, blot andreapplyifneeded.Rinse.Fabric furniture and mattresses: Mix 1 teaspoon of a mild detergentcontainingnoalkalisorbleacheswithacupoflukewarmwaterandblotitonthestain.Rinse.Whitefoamingshavingcreamwillalsowork.Laminated/wood floor: Scrub with a concentrated solution of detergent andwater.Leather/vinyl: Use denatured alcohol or white foaming shaving cream,followingtheinstructionsforcarpet.Linoleum: Rub with a cloth or plastic mesh pad dipped in warm water anddetergent.Tile, marble, and granite floors: Scrape off what you can with a plasticscraper, and thenapplyveryhotwaterwitha cloth, addingelbowgrease.TheStainEraserwillremovepaintfromgrout.

Pencil

Carpet,fabricfurniture,andmattresses:Firstuseapieceofboxingtape—notducttape—doubledovertoliftoffasmuchofthepencilaspossible.Thenuseasoftarteraser(thekindthatcanbemolded,notagumeraser).Rubitover thestainverygently; it should lift thepencilmarkout. Ifany remains,cleanwithliquiddishwashingsoap,blot,andrinse.Tile,marble,andgranitefloors:Rubgentlywithanartgumeraser.Laminated/woodfloor:Rubgentlywithanartgumeraser.Leather/vinyl:Rubgentlywithanartgumeraser.Linoleum:Rubgentlywithanartgumeraser.Walls:Rubgentlywithanartgumeraser.Woodfurniture:Rubgentlywithanartgumeraser.Wallpaper:Rubgentlywithanartgumeraserorcommercialwallpapercleaner.On washable paper, wipe with damp sponge or sudsy sponge and then dampspongeifneededtoremovethemark.

PetroleumJelly

Seethesection“Grease(Auto)andMotorOil.”

PopsiclesandPunch

Seethesection“Kool-Aid,Popsicles,Punch,andGrapeJuice.”

Rubber-BackedThrowRugs

Unfortunately, the yellow stains left by these rugs on any floor surface arepermanent.We recommend using only light-colored 100 percent cotton throwrugswith nonslip padding underneath them. If you do use these carpets, pickthemupwheneveranymoisturelandsonthecarpet.Alwayspickthemupafteryoushowerandatnightiftheyareinthekitchen.Watchcloselyforearlysignsofyellowing.

Rust

Carpet, fabric furniture,andmattresses:Squeezeenough juicefromafreshlemontothoroughlysaturatethespot.Generouslysprinkleonsomesaltandletthat set 24 hours, refreshing the lemon juice once or twice during that time.Rinsewithcoolwaterandrepeatifneeded.Metalsurfaces:Treatmetalimmediately.It’seasiertotreatasmallspotthantosand and repaint. Naval jelly dissolves small rust spots. Naval jelly containsphosphoric acid, which is toxic. It might be necessary to use navel jelly toproperly prepare a metal surface for paint. Another product called Rusterizerclaims to be organic and an effective rust remover. After the rust has beenremoved,rinsewithsudsywater,drythoroughly,andpaintwitharustpreventivepaint.Porcelainandfiberglass:Rubthestainwithacutlemon,orapplylemonjuice.Alternatively,boildistilledwhitevinegarthensoakaheavydutypapertowelinthevinegar.First,spongethevinegarontherustthenplacethetowelontopofthe stain.Keep the towelwetwithhotvinegar for severalhours.Scrubwithasaltandvinegarpaste.Rinsethoroughlywithhotwaterandpainttopreventtherustfromreturning.Laminated/wood floor and linoleum: First try lemon juice leaving it on thespot for only a few minutes. Preferably call the floor manufacturer forrecommendations.Ifsteelwoolissuggested,use000grade.Leather/vinyl:Treatasyouwouldforcarpet.Rinsethoroughlyandfinishwithaleather/vinylconditioner.

Tile,marble, and granite floors: Squeeze lemon juice on the spot for a fewminutes.Rubgentlywithsaltandlemonjuicepaste.Rinseimmediately.Donotleavethe lemonjuiceonthesurfaceverylongbecausetheacid in lemonjuicecanetchthesurface.Walls: Mix a paste of lemon juice and salt. Apply to the spot and wait 15minutes.Reapplyifneeded.Primeandrepaintifneeded.Woodfurniture:Tryapplying the juice froma fresh lemonasyouwould forcarpet.Donotallowittosetforlongbecauseitwillwarpthewood.Blot.Ifthatbeginstodissolvetherust,wait24-48hoursforthewoodtodry,andrepeat.Thewoodmightneedtobesandedwitha0000steel-woolpad.Thenapplyawoodconditionerorrefinishifneeded.

SaladDressing

Seethesection“Grease(Auto)andMotorOil.”

Sap

Automobile: Never use a petroleum distillate on a car as it will damage thefinish. Apply baby oil or vegetable oil and give it an hour to loosen the sap.Repeat if needed.Then rinsewith sudsywater then againwith a vinegar-and-watersolutionfollowedbyplainwater.Clothing, furniture,anddecks:Often theoil frompeanutbutterwill removetreesap.Dabonagoodbitof it,givingitanhour to loosenthesap.Repeat ifneeded.Ifthatdoesn’twork,tryDeSolvIt,whichisfoundatvariousdepartmentstores.Hairorhands:Gentlyrubbabyoilorvegetableoilonthesap.Givetheoil5-10minutestoloosenthesapandwashwithwarmsudsywater.Repeatifneeded.

ScorchMarks

Scorch marks made by irons, cigarette burns, or other forms of heat are notremovable.Theyareburnedintothefabricorsurface.Ifthemarkisinwoodandisverylight,trybuffingwithagoodwaxandplentyofelbowgrease.Workinthedirectionofthegrain.

ShoePolish

Carpet:Spongewithasmallamountofdry-cleaningsolvent,andthenblot.Mix1 teaspoonofamilddetergentcontainingnoalkalisorbleacheswith1cupoflukewarmwater.Blotiton,andthenrinse.Laminated/woodfloorsandwoodfurniture:Thepolishworksintothegrainofthewoodandwillbeimpossibletocompletelyremove.First,tryblottingthepolish with rubbing alcohol. Wait 15 minutes and blot to remove. Alcoholremovessomeshoepolishesbutnotallofthem.Ifthatdoesnotbringthedesiredresults,applyabitofturpentine.Ifthepolishremains, it has soaked into the grain and the wood must be sanded andrefinished.Fabric furnitureandmattresses:Tryblottingwith rubbingalcohol,and thenuseDeSolvIt,whichisfoundathardwarestores.Apply,wait30minutes,rinsewithsudsywater,andthenrinsewithvinegarandwater.Leather/vinyl:Contactthemanufacturerforinstructions.

Soot

Fireplacefronts:First,washthebrickswithastrongdetergentlikeBi-O-KleenorSeventhHeavenandagoodstiff-bristlebrush.Aftercleaning(besuretoputdownplastic toprotectall surfaces), spray thebricks thoroughlywithacanoforganic foaming bath cleaner. Saturate the bricks thoroughly and wait 30minutes; thenwash againwith sudsywater.Bricks are very porous, andmostcleaners saturate through the bricks. A foaming bath cleaner adheres to thesurfaceofthebricks,givingthecleanertimetodissolvethesoot.Walls: A chemically treated dry sponge quickly removes soot from wallswithout leaving a residue. The sponge is used dry andwiped across thewall.Thisisthesamewayprofessionalcleanerswipedownwallsafterahousefire.Fabricfurniture:First,wipethefurniturewithachemicallytreateddrysponge.Usethespongedryandkeepmovingitsoasnottospreadthesoottootherpartsof the item. Then clean the item with a foaming furniture cleaner, testing aninconspicuousspotfirst.

Stickers

Cars:Grabyourhairdryerandheatthestickeruntiltheadhesivesoftensandthe

stickercanberemovedwithaclothdampenedinsudsywater.Plastic:Applypeanutbutter.Allowthepeanutbuttertoremainonthelabelonlylong enough to allow the label to be rubbed off. Wipe away excess fluidimmediately,washthearticleinsudsywater,anddry.Glass,mirrors,andmetalsotherthanaluminum:Foldapapertowelorclothtomakeathickpadaslargeasthelabel.Dampenthepadwithliquiddishsoapand lay it over the label. (Use masking tape to hold the pad onto a verticalsurface.)Wait½hourto2hours,redampeningthepadifitdriesout.Thelabelwillslideoff.Aluminum:Heatwithahairdryerandwipeoff. Ifanyresidueremains,useametalpolishsuchasMet-AllorFlitztoremovetherest.

DirtyWordsNever use ammonia on plastic or aluminum. Ammonia will interactchemically with either material and can “burn” the aluminum orplastic.

SuntanLotion

Seethesection“Grease(Auto)andMotorOil.”

Tar

Seethesection“GlueandAdhesive.”

Urine

Carpetandmattresses:Whenurinehitsthepaddingincarpet,itspreads.Whatlookslikeasmallstainonthesurfaceistwicethatlargeonthepadding.Alwaystreatanareatwotothreetimesaslargeasthesurfacestain;otherwisetheodorwillremainandthepetwillcontinuetoreturntothesamespot.PouronplentyofanenzymecleanersuchasBac-Out,whichisanenzymeproductthatgetsridofthestainandbanishestheodoraswell.Theenzymes“eat”theodor-causingbacteria.Fabricfurniture:Removeasmuchof theurinefromthefurnitureasyoucanwithawetordryvac.ThensoaktheseatcushionwithBac-Out.Ifthatdoesn’twork,youmayneedtoreplacethepaddinginyourfabricfurniture.Laminated/woodfloor:DabonasmallamountofBac-OutorNature’sMiracle.Letthatsetnolongerthan5minutes.Rinsewith½cupwhitevinegarperquartofwateranddryimmediately.Leather/vinyl: Use a solution of 1 part bleach-free liquid enzyme laundrydetergentto30partswater.Rinsebyblottingwithdistilledwater.Blottoremoveexcesswater,andthendrywithairfromafan.

Vomit

Seethesection“Urine.”

WaterSpots

Carpet: Mix a thin paste of baking soda and 3 percent hydrogen peroxide.Gentlyblotonthespot.Wait30minutesandspraywithstraightperoxide.Allowtodry,brushoffwhatyoucan,andvacuumtoremovetherest.Repeatifneeded.Rinsewiththevinegar-and-watersolution.Fabric furnitureandmattresses: Pour a bit of baking soda on the spot, andthenspraywith3percenthydrogenperoxide.Wait30minutesandsprayagainwithperoxide.Waituntilthebakingsodahasdried;thenrinse.Repeatifneeded.Sometimes water stains on fabric furniture can be removed with straight 3percenthydrogenperoxide.Glassshowerdoors:Open thewindow, turnona fan,andventilate theroom.Bringsomewhitevinegar toaboil.Putonapairof rubberglovesand,withaclean sponge, thoroughly saturate the glass door with the vinegar. Keeprepeatingthisevery15minutesforanhour.Dampenawhitescrubpad(donot

useanyothercolorpadbecause theyaremoreaggressiveandwill scratch theglass)withthevinegarandaddsomebakingsodatothepad.Scrubthedoor.This should remove the whitish look of the water spots. It might need to berepeateddependingontheseverityofthespots.Whenwaterisallowedtostandon a surface, the alkali etches into the surface. The etching is permanent andcannotberemoved.Abarofkaolinclay,whichisusedforremovingimpuritiesfromcars,mightalsohelptoremovethewaterspots.Laminated/woodfloors:Waterdamageonhardwoodfloorsgenerallyhappensbecause a pet urinates on the floor or thewater has run over afterwatering aplant.Laminated floorsdonot stainaseasilyaswood floors.Absorbasmuchmoisture as possible with a terry towel. Then pour cornstarch on the spot toabsorbevenmore.Press thecornstarch into the floor and replace itwith freshcornstarchasitbecomesmoistened.Linoleum: Water damage will look gray or nearly black as it does in woodfloors.Itcannotberemovedfromlinoleumfloors.Marble and granite: Unless marble and granite are dried immediately afterspilling liquid on the floor or damp mopping, water spots will form on thesurface.Theywilllookjustlikewaterspotsonwindowsandglassshowerdoors.Trygentlybuffingthefloorwithkaolinclay.Makecertaintheclayyoupurchaseis100percentkaolinclayanddoesnotcontainanyotherchemicals.Kaolinclayissolid.Iftheclayyoufindisinliquidform,itcontainsotherchemicalsthatwilldamagethefloor.Should the water spots refuse to budge, contact Fred Hueston at www.ntc-stone.com.Fred isa leadingexpert instonefloorcareandwillhaveaproductthatsafelyremoveswaterspotsfrommarbleorgranite.Windows:Seetheadviceforglassshowerdoorsinthissection.

Wax

Alwaysplaceacandleonacandleholder.Candlessweatandleavestainsonanyhard surface.Nevermove a burning candle;wait until thewax has solidified.Burnsmokelesscandlesonly.Candlesticks:Placeinthefreezerforonetotwohours.Thewaxchipsrightoff.Clothing:Freezethewaxwith ice inazipperedplasticbag.Chipoffasmuchwaxaspossiblewithaplasticscraper.Placetheclothingontopofapaperbagwithnoprinting,andthenputanall-whitepapertowelontopofthewax.Settheiron tomediumand ironover thewax.The ironmelts thewax into the paperbag.(Ifyouuseapaper towelorbagwithprinting, theheatfromtheironsets

theinkintothefabric.)Toremovethecolorfromcoloredwax,trysoakingthegarmentinstraight3percenthydrogenperoxideovernight.Carpet,mattresses,andfabricfurniture:Freezethewaxfirstwithanicecubeplaced in a zippered plastic bag and scrape off what you can with a plasticscraper.Grabanall-whitepapertowel.Setyourhairdryertothehottestsettingandheat thewax,wiping itupwith thepaper towelas itmelts.Donotuseanirononcarpet.ManycarpetsaremadefromOlefin,whichispolyesterorplastic.Itdoesnottakelongfortheheatfromanirontoleaveuglyscorchmarksinthecarpet.Ahairdryermaytakeabitlonger,butitworksandissafetouse.Laminated/woodfloorandwoodfurniture:Placeapieceofwaxedpaperoverthewaxandsetyourirontomediumhot.Ironthewaxforafewseconds.Thewaxfromthewaxedpapermeltsthewaxandliftsitfromthesurface.Ifastainremains,youmightbeable to remove itwithhydrogenperoxideora removerfoundatcandleshops.Leather/vinyl:Freezing leatherandvinyl is theonlysafeway to removewaxfrom these surfaces. Any solvents used on either surface will discolor anddamagethefabric. Ifadyestain is leftafter thewaxisremoved,pourabitofbaking soda on the spot and then spraywith hydrogen peroxide. Themixturewillbubbleandfizzle,andsometimesyougetluckyandthestainwillcomeout.Letthemixturesetonthedyefor15minutesandrinse.Ifitdoesn’tcomeout,leave the stain alone.Any solvent, soap, or detergentwill further damage theleatherorvinyl.Linoleum:Freezewithanicecubeinazipperedplasticbagandscrapeoffthehardened wax with a plastic scraper. Use a hair dryer set to medium heat toremoveanywaxthatworkeddownintothoselittledivots.Beware!Anydyeleftinthefloorispermanent.Ithasseepedintotheinner layersandwillnotcomeout.Tile, marble, and granite floors: For granite and marble floors, follow theinstructionsforlinoleumfloors.Fortilefloors,freezeasyouwouldforlinoleumfloors.Meltedwaxwillpenetrateintotheopen“spores”ofthetile.Heatingthewaxwill only drive it deeper into the tile. Instead, boil somewater and thenplace the pannext to youon a hot padon the floor.Wearing a pair of rubbergloves,dipaclean,softclothintheboilingwaterandimmediatelyapplytothewax.Sometimesthewaxwillmeltintothecloth.Keepadryclothhandyforfastblotting.Walls:Youcan’tremovewaxfromawallwithoutdamagingthewallboard.Thesafestmethodis tobegafriendforassistance.Drapeacleanclothoveradustpanandplace that immediatelyunder thewaxwithnowallspacebetween thepadandthewax.Thiswillcatchthewaxasitdrips.Holdasecondclothinyour

otherhandtoblotthewaxasitmelts.Beginheatingthewaxgentlyonthelowsettingofahairdryer.Asthewaxmelts,catchwhatyoucanwiththetowelyouareholding.Thedustpanandclothwillscoopuptherest.Ifadyestainremains(anditwill),sealthewallwithaprimerandrepaint.

Wine

Carpet:Blot3percenthydrogenperoxideonthespot,andthenwait5minutes.Blotonmoreperoxideifneeded;thenrinse.Missedthestain?Mixa50/50solutionofhydrogenperoxidetowater.Sprayitonthespotandlet itset15minutes.Rinse.Repeat ifneeded.Winestains thathavegoneuntreatedonthecarpetmighttakeseveraltreatmentstoremove.Fabricfurniture:Dampenaclean,whiteclothwithhydrogenperoxide.Beginat theouter edgeof the stainandblot,working toward thecenterof the stain.Thiswillhelppreventthestainfromspreading.Wait10minutes,andthenrinse.Repeatifneeded.Laminated/wood floor:Wipe immediately to prevent the wine from seepingdeepintothewood.Afterwiping,poursomecornstarchontothestainandpressitintothewood.Sweepupandkeepapplyingthecornstarchuntilthemoistureisgone.It’sbesttoleaveanystainalone.Addingmoremoistureatthispointmightcauseadarkstainandwarpthewood.Callaprofessional.Leather/vinyl:Dampenawhitepapertowelwithhydrogenperoxideandlayiton the spot, weighing it down with something heavy (such as a pan) for 30minutes.Ifthestainhasimprovedbutstillremains,repeat.Mixapasteofbakingsoda and hydrogen peroxide, and gently rub to remove any stain left in thecrevices.Whitefoamingshavingcreammightalsohelptoremovetheremainingstain.Finally,treattheleatherwithagoodconditioner.Linoleum:Wipe immediately. If thewine seeps into the linoleum, the stain ispermanent.Sometimesanovencleanerwillremovedeepstainsinlinoleum.Justbeawarethatitwillremovethewaxfromthefloor.Youcanstripandrewaxthefloorifneeded.Mattresses:Mixapasteofbakingsodaandhydrogenperoxideandplasteritonthespot.Wait30minutesandspraywithstraightperoxide.Letitdryandwipeoffthebakingsoda.Repeatifneeded.Marbleandgranite:Wipeoffwithwarmwateranddry immediately.Graniteandmarblegenerallydon’tstain.Tile:Applyhydrogenperoxidetothestainandrinsewithatowelsaturatedwithhot water; then dry immediately. After the red wine has seeped into the tile,

there’slittleyoucandotoremovethestain.YoucanremoveredwinestainsingroutwithTheStainEraser.Walls: Dab on a bit of hydrogen peroxide. If the stain remains, you need toapplyaprimerandrepaintthewall.Woodfurniture:Blot immediatelyuntilnomoremoisturehassoakedinto thetowel.Presscornstarchonthestaintoabsorbasmuchwineaspossible.Removeand repeat until themoisture is gone.Wait until thewoodhas dried, and thenapplyperoxide. Itmaybepossible toapplyawoodstainoruse themeatofawalnutorpecan torestore thecolor.Sandingandrefinishing thesurfacemightbenecessary.

AppendixB

YourCompleteResourceGuide

This appendix is your guide to products mentioned in this book. It also listsplacestobuynaturalproductslikecarpetingandpaint,availableagenciestohelpyougonatural,andafewothersuggestionstopeakyourgreensleuthingskills.

ProductGuide

Advantage:MaryMoppinswww.goclean.com.AlumiBrite:www.goclean.com.Bac-Out:Healthfoodstores.Benya:Seeglasscleaners.Bi-O-Kleen:Healthfoodstores.BioOx:Contactthemanufacturerforanoutletnearyouatwww.Bio-Ox.comor1-866-246-6943.BonAmi:Anysupermarket.BrownSheepShampoo(towashwoolandsweaters):Call1-800-826-9136orgotowww.brownsheep.comCameo:Supermarketcleaningaislealongwithsilverpolishes.Citricacid:Availableinhealthfoodstoresoratwww.nowfoods.com.CleanEz:www.goclean.com.TheClean Team: Jeff Campbell’s products meet or exceed all EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)requirements to be classified as safe green cleaners; they can be found atwww.thecleanteam.com.DeSolvIt: Found at Wal-Mart, Kmart, and department stores, or go towww.dtep.com/buy-de-solv-it.htm.Dishwashersoaps:Bi-O-Kleen,SeventhGeneration,orLifeTreecanbefoundinhealthfoodstores.Drysponge:Foundatkitchenandbathstoresorgotowww.goclean.com/_dry-sponge.htm.

Enzymeproducts:SeeNature’sMiracleorBac-Out.EraseItforBathrooms:www.goclean.com/erase-it.htm.Essential oils: I have purchased from the www.mountainroseherbs.com andwww.starwest-botanicals.comseveral timeswith100percent satisfaction; theiroils are pure and properly extracted, but do be careful of the oils you buybecause cheap oils are diluted; also available atwww.aromaticsinternational.com/oils.php.FiltaKleenten35:Increasesyourgasmileageandpreventswaterdamagefrombiofuels;foundatwww.goclean.com.Flitz:Available at automotive supply stores, by calling1-800-333-9325, or byvisitingwww.flitz-polish.com.Glass cleaners: Benya atwww.goclean.com, The Clean Team’s Blue Juice atwww.thecleanteam.com,orBi-O-Kleen.GuardsmanFurniturePolish:Foundatfinefurniturestores.Horsehairbrush:Foundatrestaurantsupplystoresorfineclothingstores.Hydrogenperoxide,3percent:Gettheseatgrocerystoresanddrugstores.Hydrogenperoxide,25percentfood-grade:Availableathealthfoodstores,butcallfirstforavailability.Kaolinclay:Availableatautomotivesupplystores.Kleen-Free: Products to kill fleas, lice, bedbugs, and mites on all surfacesincludingpets;visitwww.kleen-free.com;seealsoPetQuest.com.Lambswool duster: Found at kitchen and bath supply stores and departmentstoresoronlineatwww.drugstore.com.Leather cleaner and conditioner: Stocked in western supply stores, atwww.goclean.com,andatwww.oakwoodusa.net.Life Tree Automatic Dishwashing Liquid: Get it at natural food stores or bycalling1-800-824-6396.Met-All:Available at automotive supply stores or call 1-800-835-5578or visitwww.met-all.comtofindadealer.MotsenbockersLiftOff#3:Carriedinhardwarestores.Nature’sMiracle:Atpetstoresoronlineatwww.petsmart.com.Plasticscraper:Kitchensupplystorescarrythese.Restorz-It:Call1-800-759-4345orvisitwww.restorz-it.com.Seventh Generation: Sold in health food stores or online atwww.seventhgeneration.com.Squeegee: Found in hardware stores or online atwww.goclean.com/accessories.htm#ws.The StainEraser: To find a dealer, visit www.thestaineraser.com orwww.goclean.com.

Towelmops: Visit www.goclean.com, which also carries baby diaper materialclothsandlint-freetowels.

OtherProductstoGreenYourHome

Bedding: www.ecobusinesslinks.com/links/non_toxic_organic_bedding.htmlistsecofriendlybeddingandfurniturecompanies.Earth-and human-friendly products for the home, yard, and garden: VisitLehman’s Non-Electric Catalog (www.lehmans.com), The Vermont CountryStore(www.vermontcountrystore.com),orRealGoods(www.realgoods.com).EcoMall:Anactivecommunityforgreenliving,ithaslinkstoalargeselectionofgreen livingproducts,anactivistcenter,and information; itcanbefoundatwww.ecomall.com.Environmental Home Center: An online source for green building supplies,www.environmentalhomecenter.com.Gardenandyardsupplies:DirtWorksisaNorthernVermontcompanythathasavariety of organic supplies and products for home and garden(www.dirtworks.net).Alsosee:

GreenHome:FeaturedinTheNewYorkTimes,ithasalargeselectionofnaturalproductsforthehome;www.greenhome.com.Home remodeling: www.greenhomeguide.org has a wealth of information ongoinggreenwhenyoubuildorremodel.Hotwaterheaters:Acompleteresourceguideto“instant”hotwaterheaterscanbefoundatwww.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com.Insulation: www.goodshepherdwool.com/benefits.htm and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool_insulationhaveinformationonnaturalwoolinsulation.NaturallyYoursAll-PurposeCleaner:Finditatwww.naturallyyoursstore.com.Paint: Low VOC paint is available from Sherwin-Williams Harmony andBenjaminMoorePristineEcoSpec.OthernontoxicpaintcanbefoundatEarthEasy (www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_paints.htm). This is a good place forinformation on nontoxic paints. Other nontoxic paints are Bio Shield Paint

(www.bioshieldpaint.com), Livos Paint (www.livos.us), Auro Paint(www.aurousa.com), and Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company(www.milkpaint.com).Personal care products: www.safecosmetics.org lets you check whether thepersonal care products you use are safe. Click “How safe are your beautyproducts?,”andthenclickthetablabeled“SkinDeep.”Sustainable living: A book calledCountry Wisdom and Know How from theEditorsofStoreyBooksteachesyouaboutsustainablelivingandhowtoliveoffthe land. Don’t miss this book. It is delightful reading with far too muchinformationtolistandcostsonly$20.Showerheads:Showerheadsthatremovechlorineandothertoxicchemicalscanbe found at www.cleanairplus.com, www.Ionizers.org, andwww.showerfilter.biz.Toys: Green information and child safe toys can be found atwww.thedailygreen.com/greenhomes/ecofriendly/toys.

OrganizationsandSourcesofInformation

AgencyforToxicSubstancesandDiseaseRegistry:Provideshealthinformationto prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances(www.atsdr.cdc.gov).American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy: They rate applianceefficiency(www.aceee.org).Building Green: The GreenSpec Directory lists 2,100 green products(www.buildinggreen.com).Cancer PreventionCoalition: Learn to protect yourself and your family fromcancer(www.preventcancer.com).TheCenter forDiseaseControl andPrevention:Lists148chemicals found inhumanurineandtheirdangers(www.cdc.gov/exposurereport).Childproofing Our Communities Campaign: Dedicated to making theenvironmentsafeforchildren(www.childproofing.org).Children’s Environmental Health Network: Protecting children fromenvironmentalhazards.Resourceguide/linkscanbefoundatwww.cehn.org.Children’s Health Protection, from the EPA: Visityosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpWeb.nsf/content/homepage.htm.Citizens for Safe Carpet: This group can help if you have health problemscausedbytoxiccarpeting(call513-385-1111).ConsumerHealthOrganizationofCanada:Articlesonhealthandgreen living

(www.consumerhealth.org).Co-Op America and National Green Pages: Visitwww.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages.The Dioxin Homepage: Information on the hazards of dioxin (www.ejnet.org/dioxin).EnviroLink: Extremely large directory of all environmental organizations(www.envirolink.org).TheEnvironmentDirectory:Extensivedirectoryofcompaniesandorganizations(www.webdirectory.com).EnvironmentalProtectionAgency:Theironlinewebsiteiswww.epa.gov.EssentialOils—Books:EncyclopediaofEssentialOilsbyJuliaLawlessandTheDirectoryofEssentialOilsbyWandaSellar.FriendsofEarth:Visittheirwebsiteatwww.foe.org.TheGlobalCampaignforRecognitionofMultipleChemicalSensitivity:Excellentinformationcanbefoundatwww.mcs-global.org.Green Seal ofApproval: www.greenseal.org/ evaluates products for theGreenSealstandard.Greener Choices: Consumer Reports Guide to green products is found atwww.GreenerChoices.org.Healthy House Institute: An excellent resource for healthy indoor living isavailableatwww.healthyhouseinstitute.com.HolisticMomsNetwork:Momssupportingmomswhoareraisingtheirchildreninholisticways(www.holisticmoms.org).MotherEarthNews:Anexcellentresourcemagazineforourgreenenvironmentisonlineatwww.motherearthnews.com.National Environmental Health Association: Check out their website atwww.nfpa.org.NationalInstituteofHealth:Findthematwww.nih.gov.Oregon Department of Environmental Quality: Eliminate toxic substances bydownloading an A-Z guide to household hazardous substances atwww.Oregon.gov/DEQ.Click“QuickLinks”andthenclick“HazardousWaste.”Organic.org:Anorganiconlinewebsiteisatwww.organic.org.OrganicConsumersAssociation:Theirwebsite can be found atwww.organic-consumers.org.OrganicTradeAssociation:Visittheirwebsiteatwww.ota.com/index.html.Physicians for Social Responsibility: Reports on toxic threats to childdevelopmentaldisorders(www.igc.org).Recycling: A business resource guide to major recycling programs andcompanies(www.webdirectory.com/Recycling).

Simple Living: Resources to help you simplify your life(www.ecobusinesslinks.com/simple_living_simple_life.htm).Simple Living Network: Resources, books, and articles to simplify your life.You’lllovethissite,atwww.simpleliving.net/main/.U.S. Consumers Product Safety Commission: Check out their website atwww.cpsc.gov.U.S.DepartmentofEnergy:Theirwebsitecanbefoundatwww.doe.gov.Women’s Voices for the Earth: An organization educating women on toxicproducts(www.womenandenvironment.org).

Index

A

absoluteoilsacrylic,cleaningactiveingredients(labels)aerosolsairconditioners,filters,changingairducts,cleaningairfreshenersairpollutionrecipesreplacing

airpollution(home)alcoholsAlcott,LouisaMayaliphatichydrocarbonalkylatesulfonateall-purposecleanersrecipetoxicchemicals

aluminumcleaners,recipealuminumframedfurniture,cleaningaluminumsiding,cleaningammoniaantibacterialproducts,detrimentsantimicrobialtreatmentsantiques,cleaningantistaticspraysaromaticchemicals,essentialoilsartificialdyesartwork,cleaning

attics,cleaningAubreyhairgelautomobilesdryinginterior,cleaningwashingwaxing

B

backpackvacuumcleanersbacteriabathroomskitchens

bakingsodabambooflooring,cleaningbarsoaps,buildupBarkeeper’sFriendbaseoilsbathingpetsbathroomcleanersrecipestoxicchemicals

bathroomdraincleanerrecipebathroomschlorinecleaninggermsmoldodors

beaterbars,vacuumcleanersbedding,washingbedrooms,cleaningBi-O-Kleenbioaccumulation,toxicchemicals

birdcages,cleaningbiweeklyduties,choresblankets,washingbleachesrecipe

blinds,cleaningboar’shairbrushesbodyburden,toxicchemicalsBombeck,ErmaBonAmibottleattachedmopsbrasscleaners,recipebricksiding,cleaningbroomsbrushesbuckwheathullpillowsBugBandsbuildupairpollutiontoxicchemicals

C

cabinets,cleaningcages(pets),cleaningCameostainless-steelcleanercampylobacteriosisbacteriacancerincreasedoccurrenceprevention

candles(soy)canistervacuumcleanerscarwaxes,toxicchemicalscarcinogensCarnaubawax

carpetcleaners,toxicchemicalscarpetspotremovers,toxicchemicalscarpetingchemicalreactionscleaningfleas,removingoff-gastoxicchemicals

carrieroilscarsdryinginterior,cleaningwashingwaxing

CAS(ChemicalAbstractsServiceRegistry)numberscast-ironcookware,cleaningcast-ironsinks,cleaningcathode-raytube(CRT)televisions,cleaningCautionwarning(labels)CCA(chromiumcopperarsenic)cedardecks,cleaningceilingfancleaningbrushesceilingfans,cleaningceilings,cleaningcementsurfaces,cleaningceramictiles,cleaningcertifiedorganicallygrownoilschairs,dustingchandeliers,cleaningchemicalreactions,flooringchildrenchores,assigninghighchairs,cleaningplastictoys,cleaningplaypens,cleaningstrollers,cleaningstuffedanimals,washing

chinasinks,cleaning

chlorinebathrooms

chlorinebleachstainlesssteel

chorescigarettesmoke,dangerscinnamonoilcleancoatedcookware,cleaningCleanTeam’sRedJuicecleanersall-purposecleanersbakingsodabathroomcleanerscarpetcleanerscarpetspotremoverscleaningsolutionsdegreasingcleanersdishsoapdishwasherdetergentdistilledwhitevinegardrainopenersessentialoilsfloorcleanersfloorpolishfurniturepolishglasscleanerslabelslaundrydetergentmildewremoversmoldremoversMSDS(MaterialSafetyDataSheet)ovencleanersrecipesbasicingredientsbathroomcleanersfurniturepolishkitchencleaners

laundrydetergentmixingscouringproductssoapstoiletbowlcleanerswashingsodawindowcleaners

CleanEzcleaningschedules,creatingcleaningsolutionscleaningtoolsbroomsbrushesclothscostconsiderationsdustersmopsPrecisionCleaningqualityissuesragsscrubbersspongesvacuumcleaners

clogs,drains,preventingclosets,cleaningclothfurniture,cleaningclothingcleaninglabelsdrycleaningdryingwashing

clothsmicrofibercloths

CO(carbonmonoxide)detectorscombustionproducts,buildupcommercialvacuumcleanerscompositesinks,cleaning

cookware,cleaningcoppercleaners,recipecoppercookware,cleaningcoriancleaners,recipecoriansinks,cleaningcorkflooring,cleaningcornbroomsCorrosiveclassifications(labels)cottonclothscottonpadmopscottonstringmopscounters,cleaningcreosotecrystalcleanerrecipe

D

dailychoresdailyshowerspraysDangerwarning(labels)datin-glossfurniture,cleaningDEA(diethanolamine)decks,cleaningdegreasingcleanersdelicatecycle(washingmachines)dens,cleaningdiningrooms,cleaningdishsoap,toxicchemicalsdishwasherdetergentdishwashers,cleaningdisinfectantsessentialoilsrecipe

disposingtoxicchemicalsdistilledwhitevinegar

downpillowsdrainopenersrecipetoxicchemicals

drainsbathrooms,cleaningclogs,preventing

driveways,cleaningdrycleaningclothesdryerfilters,cleaningdryerhoses,cleaningdryingautomobilesclothes

ducts,cleaningdustmopsdustersdusting,PrecisionCleaningdustingcloths

E

efflorescenceelectricbroomsEnvironmentalHazards(labels)essence,plantsessentialoilsabsoluteoilsaromaticchemicalsbaseoilschoosingcinnamonoilcleanersdisinfectantsinfusedoils

lavenderoillemonoillemonverbenaoillemongrasslimeoilOilofClovesorangeoiloreganooilorganicessentialoilspetroleumdistillatesprecautionarystatementsroseoilrosemaryoilstoringsweetorangeoilteatreeoiltherapeuticgradethymeoilverbenaoilvolatility

exercise,importanceExtensionToxicologyNetwork

F

fabriccushions,cleaningfabric-pleatedshades,cleaningfamilyrooms,cleaningfaucets,cleaningfeatherdustersfiberglassdoors,showers,cleaningfilteringsystems,vacuumcleanersfiltersairconditioners,changingdryers,cleaning

fireretardantsfireclaysinks,cleaningfireplacefronts,cleaningfireplaces,cleaningFirstAidStatements(labels)fishtanks,cleaningflatceilings,cleaningfleas,pets,removingfloorcleanersfloorpolish,toxicchemicalsflooringbambooflooring,cleaningcarpetingcleaningtoxicchemicalscorkflooring,cleaninggraniteflooring,cleaninglaminatedflooring,cleaninglinoleumflooring,cleaningmarbleflooring,cleaningslateflooring,cleaningtileflooring,cleaningvinylflooring,toxicchemicalswoodenflooring,cleaning

foampillowsfreezers,cleaningFriendsoftheEarthfurnacepipes,cleaningfurniturecleaningpatiofurnitureoff-gastoxicchemicals

furniturepolishrecipes

G

garages,cleaninggarbagedisposals,cleaninggasheaters,ventilation,checkinggentlecycle(washingmachines)Gerba,Charlesgermsbathroomskitchens

glasscleanersrecipetoxicchemicals

glassdoors,showers,cleaningglycosidesgolfequipment,cleaninggranitecleanerrecipegraniteflooring,cleaninggranitesinks,cleaningGreenSealofApprovalgrout,cleaninggroutcleaningbrushesgutters,cleaning

H

hair,pets,cleaninghairballs,preventinghairsprays,discontinuinghardfinishedfurniture,cleaningheatducts,cleaningHEPA(high-efficiencyparticulateair)filters,vacuumcleanersholdingtankshouseholdchemicals,emissions

I-J

Ignitableclassifications(labels)impulsebuying,avoidingimpurities,paintindoorairpollutioncauseseliminatingpreventing

infusedoilsjanitorialsupplystores,vacuumcleaners

K

kidneydamage,preventionkitchenbrusheskitchencleanerrecipeskitchens,cleaning

L

labelsCAS(ChemicalAbstractsServiceRegistry)numberscleanersMSDS(MaterialSafetyDataSheets)

ladders,safelyusinglaminatedflooring,cleaninglaundrycleaninglabelsdrycleaningdryingsortingwashing

laundrydetergenttoxicchemicalsrecipes

lavenderoilLCD(liquidcrystaldisplay)televisions,cleaningLCoS(liquidcrystalonsilicon)televisions,cleaningleatherfurniture,cleaningleathersportinggoods,cleaninglemonoillemonverbenaoillemongrasslimeoillinoleumflooring,cleaninglinttraps(dryers),cleaninglitterboxes,cleaningliverdamage,preventionlivingrooms,cleaninglow-glossfurniture,cleaninglye

M

marblecleanerrecipemarbleflooring,cleaningmarblesinks,cleaningMaterialSafetyDataSheets(MSDS)mattresses,washingmicro-filtrationsystems,vacuumcleanersmicrofiberclothsmicrofibermopsMieleCanistervacuumcleanersmildew,preventingmildewremoversrecipetoxicchemicals

mirrors,cleaningmixingcleanersmold

eliminatingpreventing

moldremoversmonthlychoresmopsMorita,PatmothrepellantrecipeMSDS(MaterialSafetyDataSheets)Murphy’sOilSoap

N-O

Nature’sMiraclenervedamage,preventionnonstickfoodsprays,replacingnylonscrubbingpads

odors,bathroomsOilofClovesoil-finishedfurniture,cleaningorangeoiloreganooilorganicessentialoilsovencleanersrecipetoxicchemicals

ovens,cleaningoxidation,paintremoving

P

paintdisposingimpurities

oxidationremovingVOCs(volatileorganiccompounds)

paintbrushespaintedcabinets,cleaningpaintedceilings,cleaningpaintings,cleaningpaneling,treatingpapertowels,detrimentsparticles,builduppatiofurniture,cleaningpatios,cleaningpatterns,dustingpermanentpresscycle(washingmachines)petroleumdistillatesessentialoils

petsareas,cleaningbathingbowls,washingcages,cleaningcancerdander,airpollutionfishtanks,cleaningfleas,removinghair,airpollutionhairballs,preventingtanks,cleaning

pillows,washingpinedecks(pressure-treated),cleaningpineoilpipes(furnace),cleaningplantsessencehomeairpollution,eliminating

plasmascreentelevisions,cleaningplaypens,cleaning

plug-inairfresheners,replacingPoisonwarning(labels)popcornceilings,cleaningporcelainsinks,cleaningPrecautionaryStatements(labels)PrecisionCleaningbathroomsbedroomscleaningtoolsdustingkitchenslivingroomsorganizationphysicalfitness,importancepreparationsectors

predampedtowelettemopspregnantwomen,newflooring,dangerspressure-treatedpinedecks,cleaningpreventiondiseaseshairballshomeairpollutionmildewmold

PureAyreenzymeairfreshener

Q-R

quarterlychoresquartzsinks,cleaning

ragsRainExranges,cleaning

rawmaterialsReactiveclassifications(labels)recipesairfreshenersall-purposecleanerbasicingredientsessentialoilsbathroomcleanersbathroomdraincleanersbleachesdishwasherdetergentfurniturepolishkitchencleanerslaundrydetergentsmildewremoversmixingmothrepellantsshowercleanerstuccocleanertoiletbowlcleanerupholsterycleaners

refillingspraybottlesrefrigerators,cleaningregularcycle(washingmachines)rings,toiletbowls,cleaningrinsebasketsroseoilrosemaryoilrust,toilets,cleaning

S

sandingwoodflooringschedules(cleaning),creating-62Scotchguardscouringpowders

recipeshampoo,toxicchemicalssheds,cleaningsheets,washingshowercleanershowercurtains,cleaningshowerheads,cleaningshowers,cleaningsickhomesyndrome“SickofDust:ChemicalsinCommonProducts”siding,cleaningsiliconesilverpolishrecipesinksbathrooms,cleaningdrains,preventingclogskitchens,cleaning

slateflooring,cleaningsoapsantibacterialsoaps,detriments

sortinglaundrysoycandlesspongemopsspongesspraybottles,refillingStainEraserstainless-steelappliances,cleaningstoringessentialoilsstoves,cleaningstrollers,cleaningstuccocleanerstuffedanimals,washingsuedefurniture,cleaningsweetorangeoil

T

teatreeoilTeflontelevisions,cleaningtexturedceilings,cleaningtherapeuticgrades,essentialoilsthreadednylonbrushesthymeoiltileflooring,cleaningtires,cleaningtoiletbowlbrushestoiletbowlcleanersrecipetoxicchemicals

toilets,cleaningtoothbrushestowelmopstoxicchemicalsToxicclassifications(labels)toys,cleaningtreatingpanelingtwistmops

U

ultraleatherfurniture,cleaningultrasuedefurniture,cleaningupholsteredfurniture,cleaningupholsterycleanerrecipeuprightvacuumcleaners

V

vacuumcleanersVenetianblinds,cleaning

verbenaoilverticalshades,cleaningvinegar,mold,eliminatingvinylcushions,cleaningvinylflooringchemicalreactionstoxicchemicals

vinylfurniture,cleaningvinylsiding,cleaningvirusesbathroomskitchensMRSA(methicilin-resistantstaphylococcusaureus)

VOCs(volatileorganiccompounds)paint

volatility,essentialoils

W-X-Y-Z

walls,cleaningwarnings,cleaningproductlabelswashingmachinecycleswashingsodawashingtowelswaxes,choosingwaxingautomobilesweeklychoreswhitewashedcabinets,cleaningwholehousepurifierswickerfurniture,cleaningwindowcleaners,toxicchemicalswindowtreatments,cleaningwindows,cleaningwoodbeamceilings,cleaningwoodflooring

cleaningsanding

woodsiding,cleaningwoodenfurniture,cleaningwoolpillowswrought-ironfurniture,cleaning

yearlychores