Move/Renovate, the Green Way

Natalie Norbut / January 6, 2015 / Comments are off for this post.

Do you happen to be moving to a new place, or renovating your current home? If so, you probably need to remove or replace several items. Before you just throw out any of these items, take a look at some ways you can move/renovate the green way. In this article from Green Cleaning Magazine, you are given tips on how to do just that. Check it out, and make sure your next move or renovation is made with the environment in mind.

Moving or Remodeling? Clean Up Green

It doesn’t matter if you are moving to a new house or you are just renovating your living area, there are always some possessions that need to be removed for good. Why not be environmentally conscious in this process?

Indeed, moving or renovating can be an overwhelming experience that involves a lot of planning and effort. Here are some tips for cleaning up green in the process.

Hire a Green Mover: If you are hiring a commercial moving comoany, choose a mover that offers eco-friendly solutions. Check ahead of time on their website to see if they have options for donation or recycling. Choose a trustworthy company that also has green ethics and responsible attitude toward the environment.

Divide and Conquer: If you decide to manage the process alone, consider a few important factors. Before going straight to the dump to dispose of your items, inspect the clutter. Divide the unnecessary into different categories:

1. Recycle: Decide what can be reused from other people. Household appliances usually have longer life. If they still work properly, at the moment you are replacing them, set these items aside. Clothes, books and furniture can also be added in to your donation list. Of course, they should be in good conditions.

2. Donate: Research charitable organizations or ask friends, family, and acquaintances if they could use the items. You probably know someone who might benefit from your unnecessary possessions.

3. Sell: Have you ever heard the popular saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” You can try and sell some of your items. Organize a garage sale. If you don’t have time and you want to quickly remove the clutter, visit a second-hand shop or offer them on an appropriate site on the internet, such as Craig’s List. An alternative to the online selling is the “freecycle” network. This is the fastest way to get rid of your junk, because everybody loves getting free stuff.

4. Trash: The final frontier.

Be sure that you label everything, especially if you are moving. Your home will be filled with boxes and it’s useful to be able to quickly identify their contents. Another useful sorting tip is to keep the items from one category in a separate room from the rest.

Lastly, the best way to have less to recycle is to stop purchasing things you don’t really need. Next time you go to the store you should not randomly buy stuff. In this way you will save money and you will preserve the environment.

Taking Care of Those Forgotten Chores for the Holidays

Natalie Norbut / December 12, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

The holiday season is upon us, and if you happen to be planning on entertaining guests this season it’s time to start getting your home into tip top shape, which means tackling some chores that you may often forget about or just choose to put off. The good people at Enviro Maids, have compiled some tips on how to take care of some of the more common, “dreaded chores”. Tasks such as, cleaning out and disinfecting your trashcan, taking care of soap scum, and cleaning stainless steel appliances are a few of these forgotten and/or dreaded chores which are discussed. So, check out this article and get your home as clean as possible for this years holiday parties.

Easy Ways to Tackle those Dreaded Chores

Kitchen trash can

Your kitchen trash can is one of the most germ-filled surfaces in your home. WebMD reports that the average trash bin has 411 bacteria per square inch! Traces of food and liquid can sometimes leak through plastic bags, leaving you with a stinky, icky mess. Give your trash can a good cleaning once or twice a month to prevent mold, mildew, and a petri dish of bacteria from covering its surfaces. Spray the inside and out with a cleaning solution and scrub; rinse and let completely dry before lining with a plastic bag.

Soap scum

Unsightly and stubborn to get rid of, soap scum is notorious for being one of the most dreaded cleaning tasks. Soap scum is a combination of mineral deposits, soap residue, body oils, and dirt. Tipnut.com shares a couple of ways to get rid of the cloudy, stuck-on mess:

Mix ½ cup of boiling water (be careful!), 1 ½ cups of white vinegar, and a squirt of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the surfaces of your shower and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Scrub with a nylon cleaning brush and rinse.
Wet the surface to be cleaned with hot water and sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto a damp sponge. Scrub the trouble spots using a circular motion; rinse and repeat as necessary. For stubborn areas, try adding a bit of white vinegar to the baking soda.

Window blinds

Over time, dust and grime can accumulate and stick to your window blinds. What makes this task so tedious is trying to clean each of the slats. To remove dust, simply slip an old sock onto your hand and using your thumb and fingers, run your hands over the slats. For stuck-on grime, mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water and follow the steps above.

Chandelier

Need to brighten up your crystal chandelier and remove the cobwebs? It’s not as bad as it seems. The pros at Goodhousekeeping.com suggest first covering the table or surface directly below your chandelier with a drop cloth. Next you’ll need your favorite glass cleaner and two cotton gloves or two old white socks. Spray the glass cleaner directly onto one of the gloves and wipe each area; use the other glove to dry and remove any remaining residue.

Stainless steel appliances

With so many different hands going in and out of the refrigerator throughout the day, chances are your stainless steel refrigerator is constantly covered by fingerprints and streaks. Goodhousekeeping.com has an easy fix:

Prepare a solution of 1 teaspoon dish detergent and 1 quart hot water
Using a microfiber cloth, rub the detergent solution onto the marks in small sections, going with the grain of the stainless steel.
Rinse with clean hot water, and dry immediately.

Buffing with mineral oil is also a great way to remove streaks

De-crumbing the toaster

If there’s a burning smell coming from your toaster each morning and the bread you’re toasting isn’t the culprit, chances are it’s the leftover crumbs lingering at the bottom that’s the problem. Cleaning your toaster is one of those chores many simply forget about. To clean your toaster oven, Realsimple.com suggests:
Placing a small oven-safe dish filled with water inside the oven and heating the dish at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. The moisture will help to soften stuck on gunk. Unplug the oven and remove the crumb tray and the rack; dump out the crumbs. Use a plastic spatula to gently get rid of stuck-on bits. Wipe the inside with a damp cloth; wash the tray and rack and dry. Done!

A Few Alternative Cleaning Solutions

Natalie Norbut / December 2, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

If you’re against traditional cleaners and into saving money, chances are good you’ve tried to come up with some alternative cleaning solutions for your home. While items like vinegar, lemons, and baking soda may be common knowledge for the experienced DIY cleaner, there may be a few items lying around your home you weren’t aware could handle certain cleaning tasks. Here are a few examples of some of the more unusual natural cleaning solutions from the good people at Green Cleaning Magazine.

5 Unusual Natural Cleaning Solutions

Are you fed up with buying expensive products that sometimes don’t manage to do the trick at all? Is your space under the kitchen sink full of bottles with warning signs that make you wonder if washing off a stain isn’t also washing your health?

Don’t dismay—here are 5 ideas for green cleaning that uses safe, everyday products as effective cleaners:

• Alcohol: you might be surprised that alcohol is a great cleaning tool. It is useful in many areas—from disinfecting and cleaning to defrosting windows. It does wonders in cleaning bathroom and toilet areas, making sinks shine and disinfected.

It is the weapon of choice when it comes to ink and permanent marker stains. It is also effective on cleaning mirrors and tiles. Remember that although this product is getting more and more reputation, it is still not largely found in the cleaning aisle of many supermarkets. If you are familiar with it and want to give it a try, it might be necessary to do a little research on where to find it in your country.

• Cola: believe it or not, the liquid joy of millions of people around the globe actually has great cleaning potential. One of the most well-tested uses is toilet cleaning—just pour the drink, wait for an hour, scrub with a brush and then flush for sparkling result.

Cola is also great for removing rust and refreshing objects, due to its phosphoric acid ingredient. Are you a coin collector? Consider soaking the pennies in the drink to make them shiny as new.

• Vinegar: a true champion when it comes to natural cleaners. It is well known for usage to combat mold, mildew, and a ton of bacteria that can be harmful for human health. It can disinfect glassware, washing machines and coffeemakers. After proper soaking, it can free the showerhead from any mineral deposits. Combine it with some baking soda to make an effective drain cleaner.

• Lemon: great for cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing countertops. It can easily remove stains off many types of surfaces, glassware, and cookers. We are all aware of smells that can linger on our skin for days, such as when dealing with raw fish. Lemon can remove the odor easily. Try dropping a lemon slice in your garbage disposal, too, for a fresh smell.

• Toothpaste: a truly unexpected usage of common toothpaste is as a cleaning agent. It can be used to shine up bathroom and kitchen chrome. It does wonders in polishing silver and cleaning CDs.

Maid Service for Lyons

Natalie Norbut / November 20, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Have you been looking for a house cleaning service in Lyons? Well, today is your lucky day. Clean Conscience now provides green house cleaning services in Lyons, Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, Superior and Broomfield. Whether you need a one-time clean, or recurring service, our cleaning service can be customized to meet your needs. Contact us today for a house cleaning quote

House Cleaning Service for Erie

Natalie Norbut / November 15, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Are you looking for a house cleaning service in Erie? Well, you’re in luck. Clean Conscience Boulder, now provides green house cleaning services in Erie, Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Lafayette, Lyons and Broomfield. Whether you need a one-time clean, or recurring service, our cleaning service can be customized to meet your needs.

Prep Your Home for the Winter

Natalie Norbut / November 11, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

With just over a month before winter is officially here, it’s time to start thinking about prepping your home for the cold winter months ahead. With the holidays soon approaching, now is probably the best time to start winterizing your home. If you are not entirely sure what you should be doing to prep your home for this winter, this article from Enviro Maids, has some great tips on how to get your home clean and safe for the frigid months ahead.

Daylight savings time ends, now the winter home prep begins!

Smoke and carbon monoxide detector test

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) urges homeowners to check their lifesaving devices once a month to make certain they are working properly. Consult the instruction manual for your particular model for important instructions. The NFPA also recommends replacing fire and carbon monoxide detectors every 10 years.

Furnace tune-up

Have your furnace checked by a professional once a year. If you haven’t gotten it done already this year, now is the time to get it properly inspected. Also, according to Popular Mechanics, replace or clean your furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Dirty filters can block airflow resulting in an increased energy demand — putting a strain on your furnace and on your wallet. The type of filter you choose is also important. Certain filters do a better job at trapping debris. Popular Mechanics recommends an electrostatic filter for its ability to trap around 88 percent of debris. Another great choice is a genuine HEPA filter which can remove at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles.

Switch your fan in reverse

Ceiling fans often take a vacation during the winter. After all, most people use them to keep cool in the hot months. But did you know that your fan can actually help keep your home warm during the winter AND reduce your energy bill by up to 10 percent? When fan blades spin counterclockwise, they produce that refreshing breeze that cools you down in the warmer months; when the blades spin clockwise, they create an updraft that pushes the warmer air that collects near the ceiling back down. Most ceiling fans come with a direction switch on the unit; simply flip the switch, set the fan on low and enjoy the toasty warm air.

Fight stormy weather with storm windows and doors

Swapping out your screens for storm windows and doors is a tedious task, but well worth it; doing so helps to seal out drafts and prevents the frigid outdoor air from creeping indoors.

Clear your dryer’s vent and ducts

In addition to cleaning the lint filter after every drying cycle, the NFPA recommends taking the time now to check that the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and that the outdoor vent flap opens when the dryer is operating. Be sure to clean accumulated lint out of the vent pipe, as the lint that collects in the pipes and the ducts outside your home are common causes of dryer fires.

Chimney check

According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), have your wood burning fireplace inspected annually by a certified professional. The professional will sweep your chimney, remove creosote buildup (a residue that builds up on the chimney’s inner walls and can cause chimney fires) and check for any structural problems. Even if you don’t use your fireplace often, it still should be inspected before lighting it to make sure objects such as bird’s nest haven’t blocked the inside.

Seal up leaks

When the temperature dips and the winds start to howl, any leaks or cracks around your windows, doors, vents, or pipes become noticeable. Uncomfortable drafts can be remedied by installing weather-stripping or caulking windows and doors, and sealing electrical outlets. Caulk inside and out, if necessary, to prevent heat from escaping.

Other miscellaneous tasks:

Flip your mattress to ensure even wear and to extend the life of your mattress; if you have a pillow-top mattress, rotate it instead. Also take this time to thoroughly vacuum your mattress and box spring.
Make sure all heating vents are opened and unblocked. Check that large pieces of furniture such as couches aren’t blocking baseboard heating elements. Move couches at least a foot away to ensure even heat distribution.

Have Clean Conscience, Clean Your Fridge

Natalie Norbut / November 7, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Recently, we posted an article which discussed the importance of maintaining a clean and organized refrigerator. With the holidays fast approaching, cleaning out your refrigerator is as important as ever. Needless to say, many people have more than enough on their plate already when it comes to preparing for the holidays.

If you are planning on hosting this holiday season, give yourself a break and hire Clean Conscience, to get your home clean and ready for the holidays. While you are getting the rest of your home prepared for the holiday food and festivities, don’t forget to have Clean Conscience, clean out your refrigerator for the abundance of holiday food which will be filling it up.

Keep Your Refrigerator Safe and Clean

Natalie Norbut / November 4, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

When it comes to keeping your family safe from harmful bacteria, one of the most important, yet often overlooked things to do, is maintain a clean and organized refrigerator. Besides the obvious health issues that can arise from an unclean, unorganized fridge, there is also the gross-factor of gazing into an unkept refrigerator and the potential smells that may accompany it. If you happen to be interested in giving your refrigerator a little makeover, check out this article from Home Food Safety, which has tips on how to keep your refrigerator safe, fresh, and clean.

Does Your Refrigerator Need a Makeover?

When it comes to keeping your food fresh and safe, your refrigerator is your best friend. Yet we don’t always give it the attention it deserves. If you can’t remember the last time you gave your fridge a good wipe down—or it’s so stuffed you can’t find a thing in it—it could be time for an overhaul.

Here’s how to get a cleaner, healthier and more organized fridge in three simple steps:

1. Keep It Safe

Set the temperature in your refrigerator below 40°F. This keeps food cold enough to prevent bacterial growth, which can cause food poisoning. If your refrigerator doesn’t have a built-in thermometer, an appliance thermometer placed on the center shelf also will work.

2. Keep It Fresh
Making sure foods are at their peak of freshness not only protects your family from food poisoning, it also helps your food taste better.

Schedule a weekly freshness check: Once a week, toss all spoiled leftovers and packaged foods that are past their expiration date. While most leftover food is generally safe for about four days, freshness can vary from food to food. The Home Food Safety program’s app, Is My Food Safe?, can tell you exactly how long you can safely store everything from soup to steak.
Wrap it right: Make sure all meat, poultry and seafood are either tightly wrapped or stored in sealed containers. This will ensure that their juices don’t leak and contaminate other foods.
Assign foods prime real estate: Your refrigerator is specifically designed to help you store foods for maximum freshness:
- Condiments: The door is the warmest part of your refrigerator, making it best for storing long shelf-life items.
- Orange juice: Orange juice tastes best when it’s kept cold, so skip the door and stow it on an interior shelf instead
- Butter: The butter keeper in your fridge door might look like the perfect place to stash your butter, but it’s not cold enough to keep it fresh. Since butter can pick up off flavors quickly, keep it protected in its original wrapper or in a covered dish inside your fridge
- Milk: Store milk where it’s coldest, specifically the back of the bottom shelf.
- Yogurt: As long as it’s tightly covered, you can store yogurt in the interior of your fridge up to 10 days past the “sell by” date.
- Eggs: Keep eggs in their original cartons in the center of the fridge.
- Deli meat: The meat drawer delivers an additional blast of cold air. That makes it the ideal place for highly perishable deli meats and cheeses.
- Packaged raw meat: To prevent dripping which can contaminate other foods, store packaged raw meat on the bottom shelf.
- Produce: Store fruits and vegetables in the crisper drawer. If yours has dual controls, adjust them to allow for higher humidity for vegetables and lower humidity for fruits.

3. Keep It Clean

Nothing spreads bacteria faster than a dirty fridge. Here’s how to germ-proof yours:

Think soap and water: Once a week, give your refrigerator a thorough cleaning by wiping down all shelves and compartments with hot, soapy water. Then rinse well and dry thoroughly. Check all bottles and jars for drips and rinse and dry those as well.
Wipe it up: Spills can spread bacteria fast. Between cleanings, immediately wipe up any leaks or spills with hot, soapy water.
Get organized: Make food easy to find by storing leftovers in clear glass containers. Placing smaller items in the front and taller items in the back can also help. For more tips on refrigerator organization, watch this video.
Freshen it: Keep an open box of baking soda in your fridge so it will always smell clean and fresh.

A Few Tips for Fall Cleaning

Natalie Norbut / October 22, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Fall cleaning often gets overlooked as being as important as spring cleaning. However, after a long summer of having the windows and screen doors open, along with dirt brought in on kids shoes after long summer days/nights playing outside; a good fall cleaning can be very important. Luckily, the good people at Seventh Generation, have a few tips to help you out with your annual fall cleaning, to make sure you go into those chilly autumn months with a nice clean home.

5 Tips For Fall Cleaning

Do you Fall clean as much as you Spring clean? You should! Summer is a time of open windows and little ones running through the house from outside, which provides a lot of opportunity for germs to enter your home. Take advantage of these cooler fall weekends and get the house ready for winter with this checklist:

Clean from top to bottom. Go through each room and dust everything! Walls, ceilings, baseboards, etc. Summer is a common time for the house to collect dust, and an dust is an easy way to cause irritation in the winter. Follow through with a thorough vacuuming of carpets and any fabric drapes you may have.
Winterize the beds. Pull out all of your heavier winter blankets and give them a solid wash to make them feel like new. Flip or rotate your mattress (you should be doing this every three months). Tuck your kids into a warm, cozy and clean winter bed.
Organize the closets. Go through your closets and your kids’ closets and pull items that you no longer wear or don’t fit anymore. Make a pile of clothing to donate. Swap out the summer styles for the winter coats and sweaters that have been packed away.
Wash the windows. Go through the house and was all the windows, indoors and out, to avoid this step during the cold and snowy winter months. Take out the screens and wash them so they’re ready to go next summer. Replace them with storm windows.
Deep clean the kitchen. Fall means the holidays will be here before we know it, and holidays often bring guests. Deep clean all of your appliances – refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher. Organize your cabinets and drawers to make sure you can easily find what you need.
Use VOC-free OR Low-VOC cleaners. In winter, windows are open less, and according to the EPA, our indoor environment is two to five times more polluted than the air in our outdoor environment. Because of this, it can be important to choose the cleaners you use indoors wisely – and make sure to open your windows for 5 minutes a week during the winter!

How to Avoid the Spread of Ebola

Natalie Norbut / October 17, 2014 / Comments are off for this post.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last several weeks/months, I’m sure you are well aware of the situation of Ebola, making it’s way into the United States. While the major outbreaks seem to be localized in the Texas area, you never know if it will spread further. You can help protect yourself and the ones you love from this virus by staying informed. Understanding the symptoms of the virus, how it’s spread, and how to clean to avoid it spreading; are all ways you can help protect yourself from Ebola. The following is an article from The Associated Press, which answers a few of the more common questions about how Ebola, is spread.

Ebola: How it spreads

Here are some facts about how Ebola spreads:

WHEN IS EBOLA CONTAGIOUS?

Only when someone is showing symptoms, which can start with vague symptoms including a fever, flu-like body aches and abdominal pain, and then vomiting and diarrhea.

HOW DOES EBOLA SPREAD?

Through close contact with a symptomatic person’s bodily fluids, such as blood, sweat, vomit, feces, urine, saliva or semen. Those fluids must have an entry point, like a cut or scrape or someone touching the nose, mouth or eyes with contaminated hands, or being splashed. That’s why health care workers wear protective gloves and other equipment.

The World Health Organization says blood, feces and vomit are the most infectious fluids, while the virus is found in saliva mostly once patients are severely ill and the whole live virus has never been culled from sweat.

WHAT ABOUT MORE CASUAL CONTACT?

Ebola isn’t airborne. Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has said people don’t get exposed by sitting next to someone on the bus.

“This is not like flu. It’s not like measles, not like the common cold. It’s not as spreadable, it’s not as infectious as those conditions,” he added.

CAN DOGS SPREAD IT?

No one knows. Authorities euthanized the pet dog of a Spanish nursing assistant who caught Ebola while caring for a patient there. No case of Ebola spreading between dogs and people has ever been documented. But at least one study suggests dogs may be able to get Ebola without showing symptoms.

WHO GETS TESTED WHEN EBOLA IS SUSPECTED?

Hospitals with a suspected case call their health department or the CDC to go through a checklist to determine the person’s level of risk. Among the questions are whether the person reports a risky contact with a known Ebola patient, how sick they are and whether an alternative diagnosis is more likely. Most initially suspicious cases in the U.S. haven’t met the criteria for testing.

HOW IS IT CLEANED UP?

The CDC says bleach and other hospital disinfectants kill Ebola. Dried virus on surfaces survives only for several hours.