First Things First

Hi There! I am starting another blog because I want to share my tricks of the trade, but also to clear up some misconceptions that keep floating around.  Many people I know are under the impression that I do nothing but keep house all day which is why my home is always so clean and fresh.  That is CRAZY!  I have a life!  In my opinion, being busy is no excuse for having a messy and unhealthy home. We could play the "who's busier game?"  But trust me, you do not want to go there. I am a full time grad-student, college teacher, substitute teacher, LDS temple volunteer, and a 24 hour-on-call maid, cook, and caretaker.  


While it is true that my home is pretty darn clean at any hour of any day, many people believe it is only because I don't have any kids.  I would say that is only partly true. While I do not contend with the whirlwinds of messiness that some moms have, I do constantly clean up after a dog and a messy husband all by myself.  Yep. All by myself.  My husband is a wonderful hard working guy, but he probably couldn't even find the laundry room (sigh).  So it's all on me.


Because I love to live in a orderly and clean environment, but I have such a tight schedule, I have devised a lot of time and money saving tricks that allow me to clean less often than you would think. 


So here we go!


THE SUPPLIES:


Just like an artist, a master cleaner must choose her tools carefully.  Okay, it's not thaaaat important...but I save tons of money each year by carefully choosing what products I use.  Even more important than saving money is using products that are safe for the environment and your kids and pets. A lot of people avoid cleaning because of the toxic chemicals that hurt their eyes and lungs. Well stop suffering! You want to know my best secret?  You really, really want to know?  You want to know why I LOVE cleaning?


I use aromatheraputic grade essential oils.


"That's it" You ask? Yep!  "Is it safe" You ask? Yep. "Is it cheaper" You ask? Yep!


There are only a few cleaners that I buy from the store: Lysol spray/wipes, toilet cleaner, and CLR.  Everything else can be replaced with natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.


Here is how I use oils to clean: 

1. Select an essential oil that has antibacterial or disinfecting properties that is also a pleasing scent to you.  In the bathroom I use a mixture of eucalyptus and spearmint, and in the kitchen I like to use lemon oil. 
2. Buy a cheap garden sprayer.
3. Fill the sprayer with water
4. Add about an ounce or two of the oil
5. The oil will rest on top of the water, so as you clean you will need to shake the bottle so that the two mix together.  When you spray the solution it should look a little opaque or milky.
6. That is it!  Enjoy the relaxing properties of the essential oils while you sanitize your home.

The oil/water mixture will clean just about anything.  It dries streak-free so it is a great substitute for Windex. It nourishes leather and wood so it takes the place of Pledge. It is the ultimate multi-surface cleaner.


I always use microfiber cloths that I get from the dollar store. These cloths will do a great job of tackling tough soap scum and other messes.   


Some oils that are especially suited for cleaning:

• eucalyptus
• lavender
• lemon
• pine
• juniper
• thyme
• rosemary

Be on the look out for future posts on other cleaners and remedies that use essential oils!

*Note: Be careful with undiluted oils. Some of them can irritate skin slightly if you put them directly on your skin.  I have also read that pregnant women should limit their exposure to eucalyptus oil...but then in other places I have read that it is okay.  Just be careful when using a new product, and if your are concerned, consult a healthcare professional.