Discover The Every Day Choices You Can Make To Create a Healthier and Safer Home For You and Your Family

Clean with 5 Basic Tools•White distilled vinegar disinfects and deodorizes.

Acidic vinegar disinfects, deodorizes, and dissolves hard water scale, gummy substances, and tarnish. It also pulls dirt from wood. As a fabric rinse, 1/4 cup of vinegar added to the washing machine’s rinse cycle removes detergent completely from clothes, eliminating that scratchy feel. Recent research also shows that vinegar is an effective weed killer.
•Lemon juice cuts grease and polishes metal.

Lemon juice, also acidic, lightens stains and cuts grease. For a laundry brightener, add 1/2 cup of strained lemon juice to the rinse cycle. To remove tarnish, rub sliced lemons on brass, copper, bronze and aluminum. This work especially well with baking soda sprinkled on the lemon.
•Baking soda has many cleaning and deodorizing uses.

Slightly abrasive and alkaline, this soda ash (a mineral) byproduct neutralizes odors and makes a good sink, tub, oven and countertop scourer.

Deodorize: Place an open box of baking soda in the fridge. Sprinkle it on carpets before vacuuming. Line kitty’s litter box with about 1 cup before adding litter.

To de-grease and sweeten sink and tub drains, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain followed by 1 cup vinegar; let bubble for 15 minutes; rinse with hot water.

For a "soft scrub," mix together baking soda and liquid soap. Make only as much as you need, as it dries up quickly.
•Washing soda is a stronger alternative to baking soda.

Found in the supermarket laundry aisle, washing soda is baking soda’s more caustic cousin. It’s stronger and also requires the use of gloves and more rinsing, so save for extra-stubborn stains.

To clean extra-greasy ovens, apply a paste of 1 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup of washing soda, and water; soak overnight. The next morning, lift off soda mixture and grime; rinse well.

Add 1/2 cup washing soda to laundry as a detergent booster.

Watch A Wake Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World.

Find Peace Of Mind With Your Cleaning Services Company

Find Peace Of Mind With Your Cleaning Services Company
There are countless maid services and cleaning professionals from which to choose. Just open your phone book to maid service or maids and butlers and you’ll be faced with numerous options in a house cleaning company. Choosing based upon a clever advertisement alone may not yield a sparkling, healthy home. When evaluating a cleaning services company, consumers should have high expectations and not settle for anything but the best home maid service. Look for key benefits and exceptional service levels to ensure your peace of mind.

Home maid service involves more than just cleaning!
When it comes to home maid service, be assured you use a cleaning services company that cleans more than just the easy to reach places. You need a detailed clean in your home for your health and comfort.

A house cleaning company should provide its own cleaning products and equipment to ensure the home maid service employees are trained on their proper use. This guarantees products are used correctly.

Verify the service is bonded and insured. If a maid slips and falls while cleaning the shower or a theft occurs, a homeowner's insurance policy might not cover the incident. Demand the cleaning services company has coverage for both the business and your home.

Check references or if using a house cleaning company, be sure all employees' references are checked and residence status is confirmed. It is important that any in-home workers be thoroughly screened prior to hiring.

Remember, having a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on every clean is important to ensure you’re happy with the finished work.

Make sure the cleaning services company has a standard service agreement because you need to know what will be included with your home maid service and agree upon expectations. Does the house cleaning company have a regimen list of cleaning activities, or do you need to specify the areas in the home that will be cleaned? Be sure you understand what cleaning functions will be completed in your home by the home maid service to ensure you are satisfied with the finished work. For a quick estimate, call Katie or Sally @ The Maids of Portland, ME 207-772-6212.

Twenty-One Reasons to Have Your Home Cleaned Professionally

So, you've never had professional housekeeping help? People are often surprised at how relatively little it can cost, so what's holding you back? If what you need are a few reasons to get started, read this article from http://cleaningproz.wordpress.com/

1.) You want to devote more time to working on your career, advancement or promotion.

2.) You run a home-based business or tele-commute.

3.) You want to spend more time with the people you love and doing the things you enjoy.

4.) You are temporarily unable to clean due to health issues.

5.) You are pregnant.

6.)You are about to have a party or houseguests.

7.)You had a party or houseguests.

8.)You'd like to buy back your weekends for rest, relaxation and fun.

9.)You or a family member suffer from allergies.

10.)You want to relieve some stress in your life-and be a nicer person for your family.

12.)You want to be able to entertain and have visitors without a major overhaul.

13.)You have a new baby ( or babies!)

14.)You are caring for several young children.

15.)You are Ms. ( or Mr. ) Volunteer for the community, your children's school, etc.

16.)You hate housework!!

17.)You want to reduce stress associated with a cluttered enviroment.

18.)You want to solve the family conflicts which result from the " messy house and no one wants to clean it" syndrome.

19.)You want to feel proud of your home.

20.)You want to experience the unbelievable bliss of coming home-just once or every other week-to a sparkling clean house.

21.) Because you desire a "life" outside work and more work!

What is your reason for having or wanting a professional house cleaning? Please share.

Stain Buster- Pollen

Pollen is everywhere! To remove pollen from fabrics, gently shake the garment to remove as much pollen as you can. Use a sticky side of a piece of tape to lift off remaining particles, or vacuum lightly. Avoid rubbing the particles in. Pretreat with a prewash stain remover and launder with added bleach that is safe for the fabric.

To remove pollen from upholstery, vacuum pollen particles then use a sticky side of a piece of tape to lift off remaining particles. Using a clean white cloth, sponge the stain with a dry-cleaning solvent. Blot until the solvent is absorbed. Repeat until the stain disappears.

Do not use your hand to brush off the pollen. You run the risk of rubbing the pollen into the fabric. In addition, the oils from your skin may set the stain. If some pollen still remains, place the item in direct sunlight for a few hours; the stain may disappear.