Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

How to Clean a Microwave

Microwave Cleaning | Flat Rate Carpet BlogWhen it’s time to clean the microwave you might be tempted just to toss the whole thing in the garbage, or have it labeled as a toxic waste site. Tackling a messy microwave seems like a job that takes an entire day, but with the right technique cleaning your microwave is quick and painless.

All you need to get started is distilled, white vinegar, water and a microwavable bowl. Fill the bowl with water and add ¼ cup vinegar. Now pop the bowl in the microwave and microwave it on high for five minutes.

Remove the bowl from the microwave very carefully and begin cleaning right away. The steam from the bowl of water loosens and softens stuck on food inside of the microwave, making it easier to clean. Dip a sponge into the warm water from the bowl and you have a great cleaning solution already made!

If the first round of cleaning still leaves your microwave with stuck on gunk, just repeat the process again. For super dirty microwaves, heat the water for five minutes and then wait a few minutes before opening the door. This allows the steam to keep working away at the stuck on dirt.

Don’t stress when you open the door to your microwave, with this little trick you can clean your microwave in minutes.

Make Your Own Green Cleaners

Green Cleaners | Flat Rate Carpet BlogMany of us would like to make the switch to a totally green and organic home, but are limited by the high cost of green cleaning products. By making your own green cleaning products, it’s easy to keep your house spotless and free of chemicals. All you need are these five simple household items to make your own green cleaner for almost everything in the home.

  • Distilled Vinegar- Vinegar is the king of green cleaners. Vinegar kills most bacterias and molds, wipes out odors and makes surfaces shine.
  • Liquid Castile Soap- What vinegar can’t clean, a good castile soap like Dr Bronner’s can. A little bit of liquid castile soap mixed with water is perfect for cleaning dishes, marble, floors and even yourself!
  • Baking Soda- Baking soda wipes out odors and makes the perfect whitener or scouring agent for any surface. Sprinkle baking soda on a stinky rug or inside shoes, and smells disappear. Mix baking soda with vinegar and make your whole house shine.
  • Essential Oils- Adding a few drops of tea tree or lemon essential oils not only makes your house smell fresh and clean, but it also adds a powerful antibacterial punch to any cleaner.
  • Cleaning Rags- Green cleaning isn’t just about what you clean with, it’s also about how your cleaning impacts the world. No matter what kind of cleaner you use, you can save money and the world by switching from paper towels to cleaning rags. Either purchase a few microfiber cleaning rags, or rip up some old t-shirts or towels to make your own cleaning rags.

Green cleaning doesn’t mean choosing between your values and your wallet. Make 2013 the year you start making your own all natural green cleaning products.

How to Clean a Hanukkah Menorah

Hanukkah Menorah | Flat Rate Carpet BlogThe site of a beautifully lit Hanukkah menorah in the window brings back memories of family, childhood and joyous holiday celebrations. However many menorahs wind up covered in dripped candle wax that’s impossible to scrape off without ruining the menorah. Cleaning candle wax off a Hanukkah menorah is very easy, and will help keep preserve the beauty of your menorah for generations to come.

For a quick clean up of large amounts of wax, simply place your menorah in the freezer for a few hours. The wax freezes and breaks off the menorah quickly. This freezing method is fast and easy, but will still leave small amounts of wax on the menorah. Freezing works best for ceramic menorahs.

For a more thorough clean up use boiling hot water to loosen up the wax. Boil water in a tea kettle, and then slowly pour the water over the menorah. Go one branch at a time, and peel the soft wax off slowly. Make sure you hold the menorah with a towel as it can get very hot. Before the menorah has a chance to cool down, polish it with soft cloth to remove leftover wax and prevent water stains.

Hanukkah menorahs make valuable heirlooms, and brighten up the home during the holidays. Keeping your menorah clean will extend it’s life and it’s beauty.

Move Over White Vinegar

We all know the wonderful cleaning and green power of baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and lemons. All of these products offer so many amazing cleaning options in all parts of your home and everyday life.

But, lurking in the medicine cabinet stands another super powerful and green cleaning product—hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide provides a useful alternative to most major commercial chemical-based cleaning products.

Hydrogen peroxide, chemically-speaking, features the same make-up as water, just with one extra hydrogen molecule. This gives the product strong oxidizing properties.

While many forms of hydrogen peroxide exist, the safest for domestic use comes in a 3% solution available at all drugstores. With this solution you can enjoy a cleaner, brighter, and healthier home.

Use hydrogen peroxide in the following ways and enjoy the benefits for days:

  • Pour your bottle of hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and use it as an all-purpose cleanser for your sinks, counter tops, and tubs.
  • Pour a couple of tablespoons into your white laundry load for a brighter white.
  • Disinfect cutting boards, sponges, and toothbrushes by soaking them all in straight hydrogen peroxide. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water once properly soaked.
  • Use it to kill mold and mildew spores. Mix together one part water and one part hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle then spray the affect areas. Let stand for at least ten minutes, and then scrub clean with fresh water.

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How Healthy is a Bacteria-Less Home?

Commercial cleaning companies continue to come out with new and improved products. These products claim to sterilize all surfaces and items in your house—we’ve all heard their claims, “kills 99% of all germs and bacteria.”

But, does a completely sterilized and germ-free home really keep you healthier in the long run?

Recent findings say no. According to new research, sterilizing an area removes natural and harmless bacteria from the environment. This creates stronger, drug-resistant forms of brand new germs. Exposure to these new germs causes all kinds of illnesses since your body does not recognize them.

Not to mention, that these new germs also attack and kill and the good bacteria in your body. Not cool.

So, in order to keep your home healthier and clean, take a break from the harsh chemical-laden, anti-bacterial products. Instead, use a simpler product or an all natural alternative for everyday use.

Try using a simple combination of water and distilled white to clean your home. Or mix together a few 100% all-natural essential oils. Certain essential oils feature mess and germ fighting qualities.

So trade out your chemicals for a natural substitute and reserve the serious products for a heavier mess.