Spring Cleaning: Items You Forget to Clean Pt. 6

It is spring time, which means spring cleaning for so many people. We always think we are cleaning things really well, but in reality there are so many things that we often forget to clean or don't realize that we need to clean. Past articles you can find here, here, here, here, and here. 

• Vacuum cleaner parts
• Game consoles
• Lego displays
• Cribs
• Toaster
• Rice cooker
• Steering wheel
• Vent hood
• Backsplashes
• Computer Screen
• Soap dispensers

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

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Eco & Natural Cleaning Supplies

I have been using eco cleaners for many, many years and have switched up products I don't know how many times. Honestly, you can make a lot of great cleaning with baking soda and vinegar as well.

7th Generation Granite Cleaner: I love using this cleaner on my granite counter tops. I really like the smell of it as well.

Bon Ami: This is perfect to use in sinks, bath tubs, etc. to get that built up soap scum off.

Branch Basics: I have been using these products for years and even add some essential oils in them or  squeeze lemon in them to give them a fresh scent.

Pumice Stone: These work great to get rings around toilet bowls off.

The Laundress Stain Solution: I have mentioned The Laundress on here endless amounts of times through the years and love them! This stain solution works miracles, especially on armpit stains.

Dryer Balls: Dryer balls really do work at drying clothes so much faster because it absorbs a lot of the  dampness from the laundry.

Glass cleaning bottles: Perfect if you buy bulk cleaning concentrates and then you can refill. This waste less plastic from individual bottles.

Sal Suds: Great when making your own natural cleaner.

Cleaning brush set: These brushes are made of bamboo and natural fibers and are great for cleaning the dishes or washing of fruits and veggies.

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Spring Cleaning: Items You Forget to Clean Pt. 5

It is spring time and here are some things we commonly forget to clean. You can check out posts from years past here, here, here & here.

• Your phone
• Shoes. Many you can throw in the wash or take to the cobbler to clean.
• Couch cushions
• Carpets & rugs
• Tiled surfaces. You can get them professionally cleaned. 
• Outdoor toys like slides and swing sets
• Art work
• Figurines and display items
• Candles
• Curtains
• Purses and travel bags

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Made in the USA + Eco Cleaning Supplies: Branch Basics

I first got introduced to Branch Basics these products from a client. Then come to find out many of my clients use these products and some are even friends with the founders. I love that they are eco, made in the USA and a little goes a long way. I have been using them for a while now and really like them. They are unscented, but you can easily add high grade essential oils to the products if you want a certain scent. You get one large bottle of concentrate and all the other bottles are empty, except the oxygen boost. Each bottle tells you what to do, like where to fill the water to and then where to fill the concentrate to. Super easy and lasts a long time.

Have you tried these products yet?

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How to Care for the American Flag

I was reading Real Simple magazine recently and came across this article on "How to Care for Your American Flag".  If you have a flag, do you care for it?

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Spring Cleaning: Items You Forget to Clean Pt. 3

The last few years I have written posts on items you forget to clean. There is SO much to clean in your house and the things that you use everyday that you often forget. Here and here are past posts.

• Keys
• Toys 
• Keyboard
• Air filters
• Shower curtain
• Tools
• Credit cards
• Outdoor furniture
• Brooms, mops and vacuum cleaners
• Houseplants
• Vents
• Bookcase shelves
• Sky lights
• Car

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

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Made in the USA + Eco: Floor Cleaner

I don't know about you, but I am pretty picky when it comes to my cleaning products. I have caved and gone with non eco products due to what works best and husband compromise. As a floor cleaner I really like this Better Life one. It is made in the USA and it smells good. Many times clients hire Eco Modern Concierge because we give recommendations of products we like, so I am constantly testing and trying various products. What are some of your favorite eco cleaning products? 

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Number 1 Mold Remover for Tile

I thought I would share this tidbit because this is something that I have struggled with for the past several years after we bought our house. The shower in our master bathroom is floor to ceiling tile and it is SOOOOOO hard to keep clean and from having mold grow on it. I, of course, wanted to use eco products, but then we started testing out 5 million different products because NOTHING seemed to get the grout clean from mold growing. We even tried just spraying bleach and even that barely worked. Finally we found a Clorox bathroom product that helps a lot. Since I love eco things so much I hate using it, but it is give or take and I want a mold free shower. THEN we started squeegeeing the shower after we get out and and that helps keep the mold down SOOOO much. It is a thousand times better than it used to be. I found this squeegee on Amazon and of course they are all basically the same, but I just really liked this one because we have more of modern aesthetic.

Do you have any tips for keeping the mold to a minimum on tile showers?

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Spring Cleaning: Items You Forget to Clean Pt.2

Last year I wrote this post on items you forget to clean and thought I would just add onto it because you don't always think of things right away. I would make a check list to make sure you are cleaning all the right spots.

• Window sills
• Microwave
• Refrigerator drawers
• Dog water / food bowls
• Inside of cabinets and drawers
• Top of windows
• Inside of canister lights
• Hairbrush
• Soap dish
• Sponges
• Under couch
• Under bed

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Eco Cleaning Products

I almost always use eco cleaning products in my home. My husband on the other hand, doesn't think they always get some things cleaned well enough and will buy toxic ones. It just depends on what the situation is. I have been using the 7th Generation brand for many years and really like them. I just recently started using Murchison-Hume and do like the smell of their products. I also use just plain 'ol vinegar and baking soda to make various concoctions of things. I like adding essential oils to make some of the products smell good. I use alcohol in some things like tile floor cleaning for when I am mopping. I like Bon Ami for the kitchen sinks and in the bathroom.

What are some of your favorite eco products to use?

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How to Clean Your Dishwasher

Just like your washing machine, the dishwasher is something you don't think about cleaning on a regular basis, if at all. It is a very simple thing to do. 

• Take racks out of the dishwasher
• Pour about 2 cups of vinegar at the bottom of the dishwasher
• I run mine on the longest cycle without the heated dry
• Get cotton swabs and clean in between the crevices where the hinges of the dishwasher are
• Get a stainless steel cleaner (if your dishwasher is stainless) or cleaning wipe and wipe down the front of dishwasher and the front inside of the door if it looks like it needs to be wiped down

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Cleaning a Washing Machine

When we moved into our house we decided to buy the washer and dryer from the previous owners. One: it was way cheaper than buying new ones and two: it would have been a pain in the ass to move them upstairs (that is where our washer and dryer is).  Since we moved in I said I should clean the machine. I had not done it yet. I finally did it a few days ago. Man, I am embarrassed to show some of these photos because I can't believe I went this long without cleaning it. Never again.

My machine is an older, top loader. I got in all cracks and crevices that I could. There is a space between the outside of the machine and the barrel that just collected all kinds of grime as did the middle of the machine. I used cleaning wipes and cotton swabs to clean those areas. It was long overdue.

I used The Laundress Machine Cleaner that I have had for years, not sure if they even sell it anymore. If you know me or have been following along for a while you know I LOVE The Laundress products. I also used vinegar and baking soda, which is a very common thing to use. You use equal parts vinegar and baking soda (1/2 cup), run the washer on the hottest, longest cycle. Some sources say let sit for an hour and agitate. 

For the dryer I just wiped it down. Although I get lint out of the lint trap after each use, there was lint pieces in the bottom and side of the lint trap so I removed that as well. 

This took some time to do, but man am I glad I FINALLY did it. I never felt like my clothes were dirty after being washed and cleaning the washing machine isn't always something you think to do.

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Cleaning Calendar

Since we are on the topic of cleaning this week, I thought I would share another cleaning chart this time from the Little Green Notebook blog. This chart suggests what you should do daily, weekly and on swing days. Now if I can only stick with it, which is usually the hardest part. Once you get in the habit of doing something it usually becomes pretty easy to keep up with.

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Clean House

One thing I really do not like doing is cleaning house. I don't completely mind it right now, but it is annoying. I like this chart that I found on Life on Paper blog. Bryan and I have been debating for a while whether or not get a housekeeper. Bryan REALLY wants one and I think why spend the money if we can clean ourselves just fine. We live in an older 1920s home that is sooooo hard to keep clean. We have no problem picking up after ourselves and staying organized, but I feel like there is constant dust and dirt because of the windows, foundation shifts, cracks, etc. When we move in the future we will probably get a housekeeper if we can afford it.

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