Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

Winter Cleanup: Mattresses and Health

Messy Bed | Flat Rate Carpet BlogKeeping your mattress clean is not always the easiest task. Even if you change your sheets often, and don’t have any young children or pets, mattresses should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year. In between professional cleanings there are many steps you can take to ensure that your mattress has a long and clean life.

We don’t like to think about it, but mattresses are weighed down with dust, dead mites, skin cells, sweat, hair and other bodily fluids. Even the cleanest mattresses will accumulate much of this over time, so it’s important to vacuum your mattress regularly. Vacuuming your mattress helps remove much of the dust, skin and bugs from the surface before they get worked deep into the mattress itself.

Getting a mattress cover is another great way to protect your mattress. Some people cover mattresses in a sealed plastic cover. Although these covers work well to protect the surface of the mattress, they can be uncomfortable. Foam or cloth mattress covers are comfortable to sleep on, and are less expensive to replace than a new mattress.

A thorough, professional mattress cleaning is the best way to keep your mattress in great condition. Professional cleaning removes deep down grime, sweat and other liquids that vacuuming can’t reach.

Winter is the perfect time to get your mattress professionally cleaned. A clean mattress will help you stay healthy by limiting your exposure to germs. People usually have their carpets, mattresses and upholstery cleaned in the Spring. Since it’s a slower season, cleaning companies have amazing deals in the winter. Getting your mattress cleaned now will cost less, and keep you healthier all winter long.

We spend nearly a third of our day in bed, why not make it a clean and comfortable space?

Eat Lean on Thanksgiving

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Holiday time means food, family, and fun—with an extra emphasis on the food. No matter your diet and eating habits, choosing wisely during your Thanksgiving feast can help you shed pounds this season.

Follow this list of healthier food choices to save calories when that turkey hits the table. And, like all most things in life, remember to enjoy your Thanksgiving goodies in moderation.

The Main Event: When it comes to the main course, choose white meat. The lean turkey breast offers delicious flavors and tenderness and 215 less calories than dark meat.

On the Side: In place of stuffing, choose roasted potatoes. They give you a hearty fill with 235 less calories than stuffing. For your veggies, opt for something like succotash instead of creamed corn and roasted butternut squash instead of candied yams and you save 440 calories alone.

Sweet Finish: When desert hits the table, avoid the pecan pie and head straight to the pumpkin pie with a whipped cream. Trading out gluey pecan pie for pumpkin saves you 339 calories per slice, even with the whipped cream.

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.

How to Choose a Toothpaste

Toothpaste | Flat Rate Carpet BlogWith all the amazing claims that toothpaste manufacturers make, it’s hard to know what to look for in a toothpaste. Choosing the right toothpaste is integral if you want to avoid a life of expensive and painful dental work, so how do we choose the right one?

The one thing everyone should look for in a toothpaste is fluoride. Fluoride helps to strengthen teeth, and protects them from cavities. Although many neighborhoods have fluoride added to their water supply, toothpaste containing fluoride is essential for proper cavity prevention.

Whitening toothpastes help remove stains from teeth with special chemicals that scrub stains away. Although these toothpastes can be effective whiteners, they can also weaken tooth enamel and make teeth vulnerable. Be careful using anything too harsh on your teeth.

All natural toothpastes are under the same scrutiny as other all natural cleaners, although some swear by certain brands. For anyone suspicious of using chemical cleaners in their mouths, make sure you pick an all natural toothpaste that contains fluoride, or make sure you’re getting it from another source.

Whatever you are looking for in a toothpaste, make sure you trust your own judgment. If a toothpaste makes your mouth feel clean, and keeps your breath fresh, then it’s probably working just fine.

Toxin Free, DIY Dishwasher Detergent

Believe it or not, you really can find a highly effective and powerful, all-natural, home made cleaning solution for everything in your home.

Traditional dishwasher detergent uses some pretty scary sounding chemicals to keep your dishes clean and sparkling. With this recipe, you get the same high quality clean and shine but without all the unpronounceable and toxic chemicals.

  • 2 cups borax
  • 2 cups washing soda
  • 2 cups Lemi Shine
  • 1 cup kosher salt

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and transfer to a storage container. Fill your dishwasher soap well to the line with your mixture, close the door, and hit start every time you run your dishwasher.

To fight off residue, fill the rinse well in your dish washer with distilled white vinegar.

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