How to Spring Clean Your Home to Best Prevent Physical Disease & Emotional Distress
by www.SixWise.com
All the fresh spring air in the world can't compete with
the winter's worth of dust, grime and stuffiness that envelopes
most homes at this time of year.
Spring cleaning is the best way to give your home a complete
makeover -- which means you and your family will actually
be able to feel the natural freshness that comes with the
new season.
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Let the freshness of spring enter your home by doing
some spring cleaning of your own.
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Not only is spring cleaning your home great for your mind
-- returning from work to a truly clean, clutter-free home
is proven to be one of the prime contributors to a sense of
calm and well-being -- but if done properly, it will help
to prevent
disease and illness in your home.
Here's a game-plan that will give you a sparkling clean home
with the least amount of time and effort on your part.
First, Get the Right Tools
Professional cleaners all have one thing in common: they
come prepared. Running downstairs every time you need a towel,
mop or cleaner is one of the biggest mistakes (and time-waster)
that amateur cleaners make.
Before you start, make sure you have rags, a mop, dusters
and cleaners -- but make sure they are a high-quality, non-toxic
variety. Investing in a few really good cleaning tools will
make your job much easier, and will be less expensive in the
long run because you won't need to replace them as often.
When it comes to cleaning tools, Sixwise.com highly recommends
the PerfectClean
line of terry-cloths, dusters and mits - the same tools
used by leading hospitals, hotels, and other organizations
that depend on environments that are clean down to the biological
level.
Rather than just pushing dust and dirt around, or worse,
stirring it up into the air, all PerfectClean products are
made with positively charged ultramicrofibers that pick up
everything in their path -- including
the biological and toxic contaminants that no other cleaning
tool or solution can touch.
As for cleaning supplies, most commercial cleaners are toxic
and contain harsh chemicals that are poisonous if inhaled
or spilled on the skin. Oven
cleaner, for instance, contains all of these dangerous
ingredients:
Manyof the individual substances in a wide array of cleaning
products -- from toilet bowl cleaners to spray cleaners to
laundry detergents
-- have been linked to cancer, reproductive problems and damage
to the central nervous system.
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Liquid
Sunshine is made with saponified organic coconut,
olive and jojoba oils, as well as essential oils, organic
aloe vera and rosemary extract, creating a unique, efficient
and environmentally friendly cleaner.
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If you're looking for a top-notch cleaning line that's completely
safe for you and the environment, we also highly recommend
the
EnviroRite line of non-toxic cleaning products, which
contain no hazardous ingredients, petrochemicals, perfumes,
dyes or animal byproducts.
Another unique, and very effective, multi-purpose cleaner
is Vermont
Organics' Liquid Sunshine Non-Toxic Cleaner. It's a powerful
cleaner, with a citrus scent, that delivers dramatic results
with a multi-functioning non-toxic formula that's safe and
mild, even on your skin.
Get Organized
Before you begin cleaning you should take a quick walk through
your home and pick up anything that does not belong. Put things
away, throw things out and gather items that you don't need
or use anymore (put these in a bag for charity).
Then, gather the cleaning supplies you'll need for all of
your cleaning and keep them with you (a bucket works well
for this). Put on some old clothes and a lively CD and you're
ready to start.
Get Cleaning
The general game-plan for each room is the same: clean from
top to bottom (dirt will fall to the floor as you clean) and
only circle the room once. Clean all that you can from each
position you're in (at the sink, for instance) before moving
on. Move in a clockwise movement around the room if it will
help you remember where you've cleaned already.
For a total spring cleaning, pay attention to the details
in the following rooms.
In the Kitchen
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Empty and wash out the trash can
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Spot wash air vents, walls, handles, switch plates and
other surfaces
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Clean out the refrigerator and freezer (discard old foods,
wash the produce bins and shelves, don't forget the handle!)
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Vacuum or wash blinds or curtains
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Clean small appliances, including your microwave, toaster,
blender, etc.
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Remove burners and knobs from stovetop and clean
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Wash the sink, paying special attention to the drain
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Clean out cabinets and drawers (remove items you don't
use and reline them if necessary)
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Wash countertops, then floors
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Run the dishwasher through empty once to clean it out
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A clean home can do wonders for your peace of mind.
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Bathroom
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Clean mirrors, faucets and light fixtures
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Vacuum vents, fans and ceiling corners
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Clean the shower and tub
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Empty the trash basket and wash it out
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Clean the toilet, inside and out
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Vacuum, then wash, the floor
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Vacuum or wash blinds or curtains
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Shake rugs outside then wash them
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Clean out the medicine cabinet and wash it
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Remove unused items from the shower and under the sink
Living/Family Room
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Dust and clean ceiling corners, ceiling fan, wall art
and photographs
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Vacuum or wash blinds or curtains
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Vacuum and clean couches and chairs
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Remove knick-knacks and books from shelves and wipe them
down
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Dust surfaces, lamps and knick-knacks (don't forget to
dust off houseplants)
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Vacuum and clean carpets and floors
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Clean your door
mats so dirt isn't transferred into your home
Bedroom
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Dust and clean ceiling corners, ceiling fan, wall art
and photographs
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Vacuum or wash blinds or curtains
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Wash all your bedding (linens, mattress pad, dust ruffle,
comforter, pillows,
etc.)
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Dust all furniture, including knick-knacks
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Vacuum the carpet or floor
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Clean out your closet (put items you have not worn in
awhile into a bag for charity)
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Enviro-Rite Non-Toxic Cleaning Line:
Safe Cleaning Products for a Healthy Home
 Unlike
most cleaning solutions on the market that contain harsh
detergents, synthetic chemicals and harmful additives,
the Enviro-Rite cleaning line is completely safe--they
contain no hazardous ingredients, petrochemicals, perfumes,
dyes or animal byproducts.
And, they're incredibly effective for all of your cleaning
needs:
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Enviro-Rite Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner:
Intended for use on both carpet and upholstery,
EnviroRite Carpet Cleaner is an excellent vegetable-based
cleaning concentrate that replaces all petroleum-based
formulations.
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Enviro-Rite Dish Washing Liquid: Kitchen
Sink Dishwashing Liquid makes quick work of dirty
dishes and contains soy's natural moisturizing qualities
to make washing dishes smoothing to your hands!
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Enviro-Rite Spot Lifter: Spot Lift is an
excellent, ready-to-use carpet and upholstery cleaning
solution that makes house cleaning easy, effective
and hazard-free!
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Enviro-Rite Glass & Plexi Cleaner: Clearly
Clean is a ready-to-use, high performance cleaning
solution made with naturally occurring, renewable
ingredients.
Check
out the entire Enviro-Rite Non-Toxic Cleaning Line Now!
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Recommended Reading
The Rise of
Contagious Disease & How to Minimize Your Risk of Contagious
Disease Exposure
The Five
Key Areas of Illness-Causing Germs & Toxins in Your Home
Sources
Complete
Spring Cleaning Checklist
Spring
Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Speed
Clean Tips From Cleaning Pros