Cleaning those old verticals

Who has those anymore? We do!  You know the story. They came with the house and, at today's prices, they will be expensive to replace with newer technology. That said, other than being outdated, they don't even look used.  I'd rather buy an airline ticket to Arizona than buy new blinds.  Obviously, I have other priorities. Enough said. 


When I redid our bedroom over a year ago with paint and a window dressing, I cut these vertical blinds from floor length to window sill length.  The room really was too small for a full wall of blinds. When I reassembled the room, I knew the day was coming that they would need a nice soaking in hot soapy water and a clean rinse before drying and rehanging.  TODAY was that day!  

I unhung THIRTY of these vertical slats and put them into some hot water and Dawn detergent in the tub. I got on my (padded) knees and used my hands to bathe them individually. I didn't want to stress out my body in that position so I took breaks between soaking and rinsing and drying and hanging.  In between times, I did other minor chores.  It made a big difference when I broke up the time in that way. Usually, I hunker down for hours and push through the UGHS I HATE DOING THIS. This time was easier. I even stopped for lunch! Plus I got exercise and I'm sure I built up my glutes with all the kneeling and maneuvering activities in the tub.

Well, dry and rehung, they look even better than before! Sometimes we never know how much better something can look until we wash it. Maybe it's just that I KNOW they are clean. My living room blinds are next, but not too soon...  They are going to be easier because I won't have to move any furniture. YAY.  That will be my incentive!

• Ideas for cleaning blinds
• Bring your window treatments up to date

Cleaning products - Keep it simple and Natural

Just as I prefer to use natural remedies for my health, I prefer natural cleaning products for my home.  I don’t buy ready made cleaners because they are expensive compared to pure natural ingredients that I want to use and because I want to control what I’m being exposed to.

I built my cleaning regimen by researching the internet.  I did some trial and error mixing and cleaning with natural remedies, some with essential oils, but found that the complexity was unnecessary (to me) so I decided to keep it really simple with straight up and pure products. I've been successful with those! However beware, that even with natural cleaning products, gloves are important to deter skin sensitivities.  If you aren’t worried about your skin, consider that your fingernails can suffer from exposure too. Also, try wearing a surgical mask when you are using the finely ground powders that I’m recommending. You really can’t see them in the air after you’ve sprinkled them and you can't help but inhale them.  I went without a mask several times and found that the next day I sneezed all day long.

Here are my favorite natural cleaners:

• I spray vinegar on tile surfaces and chrome bathroom fixtures to break down lime deposits. Sometimes I spray peroxide on tile if I feel it needs a bit more muscle. I let it sit for a few minutes while I wash the sink and then wipe it from the tile.  It might take another application. I use O-Cedar’s microfiber glass cloth for mirrors and glass surfaces. Sometimes I use it dry, just to dust the surface. When cleaning is needed, I spray the cloth lightly with vinegar.

• I use Bon Ami cleanser for all porcelain surfaces. I’ve recently used Bar Keeper’s Friend on porcelain and I think I am liking it even more than Bon Ami. It seems to leave a better shine. That said, it is a stronger acting agent so I don’t use it where it isn't really needed. 

• I always use Bar Keeper’s Friend on stainless steel sinks. They buff out lustrous after drying with a cloth towel. Bar Keeper’s Friend can be used on rust stains in toilets, on sinks, etc. I use Bar Keeper's Friend on glass stove tops as it won't scratch it. First, I spray with a little distilled water, then sprinkle the Friend, and spray again so a paste forms. Then I use a sponge to rub the surface with the paste. I wipe it all off with a wet towel and buff dry. Tough cooked on spots can be treated with a paste and left to sit for a few minutes before rubbing with a sponge or even a toothbrush which works great!

• I use peroxide and Bon Ami to form a paste in moldy shower corners. I spray the peroxide, then sprinkle Bon Ami, then spray it all again. Then I let it sit for about 10 minutes while I clean the toilet. Then I clean the shower walls and floor with Bon Ami and a mop. Once I’ve rinsed and dried the floor and wall surfaces, I re-treat any corner that looks suspicious. I just leave it then to its own demise and check it later to see if the mold is gone and if mold stains are there. Without some bleach-y compound, I can honestly say I have had little success removing the mildew stains with anything. That is why you must stay on top of the killing so you won’t have as many stains. I am open to any solutions you have found for removing mildew stains without using any bleach. 

• I spray distilled water for all things marble and granite. If I see no lime deposits on chrome then I use distilled water instead of vinegar.  I use distilled water on stainless steel appliances and stainless steel flat surfaces (i.e. a kitchen back splash) and use a microfiber stainless steel cloth specifically engineered for use on stainless steel. It’s made by O-Cedar.  If the stainless steel is greasy I use a little Dawn to spot clean then use distilled water to rinse. I find that stainless steel surfaces respond well to rubbing, drying, and buffing with a microcloth.

• I use baking soda and vinegar in the toilet bowl so they can chemically react on the rim. First, I spray vinegar on the bowl insides and under the rim, then I sprinkle baking soda on top of the vinegar. Finally, I spray vinegar on top of that to make it all foam up before I scrub it with a toilet brush. 

I avoid using synthetic chemicals as much as possible.  

• I use Windex as a last resort because I don’t like the smell of ammonia.  I apply it sparingly whenever glass has a caked on element and my microcloth with vinegar won’t break it down. 

• Rarely, I use a chemical toilet bowl cleaner if I’ve neglected “the ring” and it doesn’t want to budge with my natural products.  

• I use Dawn detergent to break down grease so I use it on non-wood floors and non-marble surfaces. If I have to clean a greasy marble or granite counter top, I will spot clean with Dawn.
  

Honestly, natural products probably require more time and elbow grease but you will have less exposure to chemicals from which no one knows the impact of exposure. You'll also work up a sweat and get more exercise. So get your supplies together and go as chemical-free as possible. I’ve provided several links to my research areas below. The natural product recipes I tried smelled wonderful and were fun to make but I found I did not need them to make me believe that my house would be cleaner.

• Homemade_Grout_Cleaner 

• Homemade Cleaning Tips & Recipes

• The-organically-clean-home

• Detox-your-indoor-air

I’ve dropped the mop!

Ok. I knew this day would come. I’ve dropped the mop! Literally. I have done virtually nothing to clean my house for about 10 days, except I did change the bed and clean my bathroom because company was coming. LOL  Now I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing and I can hear my cleaning calendar laughing hysterically in the background.  

Eventually, this will happen to you too, if it hasn’t already. Life has swept me into other details that are much more fun than cleaning house, like making jewelry, helping a few friends in need (i.e., cleaning THEIR house), cooking, and entertaining as my super clean house wanes back into unacceptable dirtiness.  I could continue on this vein but just realized today that I’ve lost control of my cleaning schedule. I actually forgot that I even had one! That is pretty cool for me--the disciplined housekeeper. But I will have to get back to it soon. I have childhood friends coming for an as-yet unscheduled dinner and I know my house has to be cleaned, if not for myself then CLEAN FOR COMPANY!  LOL

Here I go again.  My first step is to actually find the schedule (I know it’s printed somewhere) and then bring it up to date. That involves assessing what I've forgotten to do for all this time, integrating current stuff scheduled on the calendar, deleting any duplicate items, and then assigning new dates to get it done within a minor, self-imposed whirlwind. That’s when the panic and regret will set in and I’ll kick myself in the butt for actually FORGETTING about the schedule. On the other hand, I will be CONGRATULATING myself for having a life and enjoying it. That’s a good sign that my retirement has moved me into a playful state that is well deserved. WOOT WOOT, good job!  

So how is your cleaning calendar working out?

• Why do we clean?
• Retirement — What’s the Most Awesome Lifestyle?

Cleaning tools - Floor cleaning made easy

The days of scrubbing floors on my knees are over, unless it’s a very small bathroom and I’m already down there cleaning the toilet base. I think the scrub brush and elbow grease were needed before today’s cleaning chemicals were created. But I don’t use those chemicals or a scrub brush. I use steam when I need to fight grime. I am getting ahead of myself here because floors need to be prepared before deep cleaning. Here are the tools that help me clean floors. 

Vacuum cleaners are a must for anyone with a carpeted home. When I started writing about this piece of equipment, I became self righteous and felt compelled to dedicate a post on the subject of vacuum cleaners. Before they were invented (or people could afford them), people used rug beaters on big rugs hung outside. But I’m not THAT old. We used to just shake them out on the back stoop. I still do that because, today, not all rugs will accept vacuuming, especially fluffy bath mats and rag mats.  To save on having to clean hair that gets wrapped around the "beater bar", I instead use the wand accessory with a small brush to pick up excessive hair, especially in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Shaking out rugs brings back memories of my mom, Queen Aurora, as she shook them out in the fresh air. Today it seems like an old fashioned thing to do but I honestly enjoy breathing some fresh air outside in the midst of a day cleaning inside. The contrast between the two is a pleasant shock to the body. Our bodies are important tools used for cleaning and this physical workout of stooping, stretching and sprawling is good for the body. Your body may require some yoga before or after your cleaning session. That too is good for the body. Hey, it’s the only one you’ve got… and your house needs cleaning on a regular basis.

Now I might shock you. I prefer to use a swiffer on floors, instead of a vacuum cleaner,

whenever possible. This tool is lightweight and you can move from room to room without having to find an electrical outlet. It’s much more relaxing because it is quiet, I have more control, and it works just as fast--if not faster-- than the vacuum. Swiffers get into spaces that most vacuum cleaners cannot reach. Under the bed. Under the coffee table. Between the chair legs. A swiffer tool has disposable swiffer cloths, another great invention. I use both sides of the swiffer cloth and I buy the less expensive, generic brand. So much dirt is invisible to the naked eye. You will be shocked how much dirt a swiffer collects and how often you need to change them in just one or two rooms.

Swiffering a floor is never enough though. Its role is to show you just how dirty a floor is. It

prepares a floor to be washed. I use washable mop heads to clean tile floors, and I own two of them. While one is drying, I always have another available to use at a client's home. Thankfully, modern day mops are no longer heavy and they provide leverage and strength that you may not have in your hands. I prefer to use a mop on shower walls and inside the tub. It takes less elbow grease than doing it all by hand and I can stand up and use my hips for strength. A mop helps with rinsing too. Then poof! The mop head goes right into the laundry.

Got grime or small children? A steam mop sanitizes surfaces it cleans and it uses distilled

water which won’t leave any residue behind. I sometimes use my steam mop instead of a regular mop when I’m just not feeling as energetic. Steam tends to loosen up ground in dirt, especially within textured tiles. It isn't meant to clean grout by itself. That's a future post. My steam mop came with attachments of different shapes including one that funnels heavy steam to kill mold and mildew. It doesn’t remove the stains but it kills the fungi. More on cleaning mildew stains in yet another future post. I use my steam mop mostly on tile and sometimes on my real hardwood (timber) floors.

On my next post I’ll start sharing good old fashioned cleaning products that I use.

• How to steam clean your home
• Floor mopping 101
• The case against jute rugs