How to….

Television commercials take up as much as eighteen minutes of a one hour program.  Let’s face it – who actually watches only one hour of television? So, instead of sitting on the couch and watching those useless commercials why not do some cleaning and get some exercise? Of course, this works even better if you do it with a couple of kids, or a kid and a spouse. The more, the merrier.

Here’s my commercial break cleaning tips and quick exercise plan (and even a game!):

Here’s the game. You be the parent. Think of short cleaning tasks before the show. These should be routine things the kids can do in the space of a two-minute commercial break. If you need to, write each one on a slip of paper; I just have a clipboard with a list. For each commercial break, choose two family members to race. I leave one child for each break to alert everyone at the end of the break, and to referee who completes the task first. I literally yell, “GO!” and they fly. Next break a different child (I have three, so it works well) gets to stay behind.

While the children race to complete their task, I clean as well. I just personally believe that if parents are seen, they will be heard. Besides, I need the exercise. Often, I dust, with a microfiber cloth. These fantastic cloths pick up large amounts of dust, hair and dirt and make my job much easier. 

I start by attaching the cloth to the end of the broom with a rubber band and going around the edge of the ceiling and down the walls, stopping when the referee calls. I also do pictures, knick knacks and their shelves, coffee tables, the computer, and so forth.

One trick to keeping this going is to focus on one room per program. I find if I send the boys to the bedroom to put away laundry during one break, then send them to the kitchen to take out the trash and feed the dog the next, they see it as a contest and not just having to do housework. Getting chores done is really a side benefit. We have some fun, they get snacks for the program, or computer time, as a prize for “winning” and they’re not camped out on the couch for a whole hour. Or two. Or longer.

Lastly, two of my three are teenagers. When they began to be aware that this was contrived for their own good and maybe not just for the fun of it, they began to balk at the races. I had to take them aside and explain that I understood the tendency to be cynical about it, but that little brother still thought it was fun. This, by the way, was where I made good use of the fact that I participated with the same enthusiasm that I expected from them. We still enjoy the whole process.

Chelsea Myers is a proud mother of three and has been working as a freelance writer for the past 10 years.

Looking to sell a used car or know someone who is?  By following a few simple, inexpensive guidelines, you can maximize the price you get for your car.  For starters, find a good estimate of your car’s worth by going to Kelley Blue Book.  You can enter all of the pertinent information and rather quickly get a rough value for your car.  With this number in mind, by following the tips below you can get as near to this number as possible or perhaps a few dollars more if you can justify your car as being in “excellent” condition.

-Unless you have some type of special deal with a car dealership, selling your car privately will get you a lot more money than doing a trade-in.  By comparing the trade-in or private sale value on Kelley Blue Book, you can see that the trade in value is typically only around sixty percent of the private sale value at most.

-Wax and polish your car, using proper car wash soap.  Don’t use dish soap as it isn’t quite as good at bringing out the original color of the car.  The color of your car will fade over time – to see what the original hue was, the inside of the car door is a great place to look as it doesn’t fade nearly as much as the outside of the car.  This will be what you are aiming for as you wax and polish your car. Don’t forget about using Armor All on the interior surfaces.

-Fix minor dents and body damage if you can do so cheaply, it will be worth the time by being able to get a higher price for you car.  Major work however should be avoided and simply pointed out to the person you are selling to.  If you spend too much getting your car ready for sale you’ll likely end up losing money overall.

-Have paper evidence for work done to your vehicle.  If you have custom work done on your vehicle, the person buying will be more receptive to seeing the paperwork for it than taking your word on it.

-Pay attention to those small details.  The first reaction at the seller seeing your car should be positive.  Make sure the lights are bright, the wheels are shiny, clean the floor mats, vacuum the car, get rid of any smoke smell or other bad odors, and clean all of the glass with a good glass cleaner.

Good luck with selling your used car!  Hopefully following these tips will help you get a few more dollars for your vehicle.

Prevent extra cleaning charges from your landlord by cleaning thoroughly when you’re moving out of an apartment or rental. Here is a moving checklist that came from Clean Expectations Cleaning Services, a residential and commercial cleaning company in Phoenix Arizona.

I broke their giant cleaning list down to three lists for cleaning the kitchen, cleaning the bathroom, and cleaning the laundry room. Today we post the kitchen cleaning list, because it is probably the most time intensive!

Start a month before you move, so you can break down these major tasks into manageable chunks. Don’t try to clean everything in the last hour before you leave your keys, or you’ll never get it done.

Download a copy of the full list.

Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning out the Refrigerator/Freezer

____ Defrost

____ Move the fridge out to clean behind and underneath (if possible)

____ Vacuum or sweep coils behind the fridge

____ Top of fridge, sides, bottom grate, exterior and handles

____ Remove shelves, drawers, butter tray, ice cube trays and vegetable crispers to clean

____ While shelves and drawers are out, wipe down the inside of the fridge and door completely

Cleaning the Stove/Oven

____ Detail clean inside oven

____ Scrub, oven racks

____ Inside and underneath oven drawer

____ Under range and burners

____ Remove knobs, clean the knobs and area underneath

____ Scrub drip pans

____ De-grease range hood. Rinse grease filters

____ Remove cobwebs and dust from all surfaces

____ Clean return air vents in floor and ceiling

____ Clean ceiling fan

General Kitchen Tasks

____Clean light fixtures (take down to wash as needed)

____Clean cabinets, pantry and drawers – inside, outside, shelves

____ Vacuum out all window tracks and wipe down

____ Wash windows and wipe down frames

____ Clean all light switches and outlet covers

____ Clean doors and frames – wipe down both sides and all molding

____ Spot clean large scuffs, spots and dirt on walls

____ Clean microwave inside and out

____ Clean dishwasher (inside edges of door, exterior, bottom grate)

____ Clean baseboards and molding

____ Clean countertops and backsplash

____ Clean sink and fixtures

____ Clean sliding glass doors or French doors and wipe down frames (both sides of glass and exposed tracks)

____ Clean glass surfaces

____ Clean hard surface floors

____ Clean and polish hardwood floors

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you have painted or will paint inside or outside of your home.  Whether it’s redecorating a room or refreshing the coat outside, painting your house can bring old walls back to life and leave you with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.  Cleaning up afterwards is a necessary part of the task as well, make it easier by following these great tips!

- Use Masking Tape to protect trim or glass: If you tend to be a little messy while painting, tape off trim or glass to protect it from accidentally getting paint on it.  This will help you save time as you paint, and while cleaning up later.

- Keep garbage bags handy:  Avoid drops of paint on the floor by keeping a garbage bag under the roller tray.  If you need to continue painting the next day, simply place the roller tray into a garbage bag after use and tie it off.  This will keep the air out and the paint tray will be ready for you to continue painting!

- Plastic bags for rollers and brushes: If you need to continue painting again the next day, rather than cleaning your brush or roller out at the end of the day simply put it in a plastic bag, seal out the air, and they will be ready for you to use the next day.

- Clean up spatters immediately: If you accidentally get paint on something you did not want to – clean it off immediately, as the longer it sits the more difficult it will become.  Keep plenty of clean rags at hand so you can quickly grab an unused one when you need it.

- Clean up right away when the job is done: If you delay cleaning when you finish, it will be more difficult later.  If you wait it is much more difficult to clean the paint off of brushes, rollers, or anywhere else it may have gotten.  You will be saving yourself time by cleaning up immediately after finishing the job.

- Use warm water and Dish Soap to clean the brushes: When cleaning out your brushes, warm water with a little dish soap will make the paint come off easier.

 Follow these tips to help make your cleanup easier.  Enjoy your project!

Today we are featuring a guest post about vacuum cleaner maintenance. By keeping your vacuum cleaner in working condition, you improve the length of time it will work for you! It is much greener to keep well maintained tools, rather than needing to replace them all the time. A combination of maintenance and the right cleaning products form the basics of green cleaning. Follow these tips for a vacuum cleaner that will last.

If you have ever had a vacuum cleaner break down, or had your house filled with the horrible smell of a burnt vacuum belt, you know how frustrating it can be. Although changing belts is an inevitability, most people would much prefer doing it as a part of routine maintenance, rather than having one rip or burn while cleaning. Here are some helpful tips to help you keep your vacuum running properly, for a long time:

Tip 1: Before you ever start vacuuming, it is very important that you look around the area you will be working in, and pick up any small items that might be hard or sharp. A Lego head or penny may seem harmless enough, but in reality, these things can cause you to lose suction or even damage parts of your vacuum’s interior.

Tip 2: Whether you have a bagged or bagless vacuum, you should check to make sure that the bags are not full, and that any filters are clean. Again, a full bag or dirty filter can cause you not only to lose suction power and have to cover an area several more times, but it can also be harmful to your vacuum’s motor by making it work much harder. A dirty bag can also lead to dirt, hair, and dust being blown back to where you have already cleaned. Most filters, whether from a bagged or bagless vacuum, are easily replaced or even cleaned. Do not be afraid to look at your vacuum’s manual to find out proper way to handle your vacuum’s filters.

Tip 3: If you want to avoid that burner rubber smell that comes with a broken or burnt vacuum belt, make sure to check your belts before each use. If the belt on your vacuum has been stretched or has loose, fraying edges, it needs to be replaced. You do not want to have broken belt bits sucked into the vacuum itself, as this could cause damage to the vacuum’s internal mechanisms. Changing your belts as part of a routine, every six months to a year, can help you to keep your vacuum running for as long as possible.

Tip 4: You will need to inspect your vacuum’s hoses, brushes, and ports for anything that might be obstructive. Animal hair, food, loose change, or even small toys can be stuck in your vacuum’s hose or ports, and this can cause lower suction and make the vacuum’s motor work harder. It is also good to check the wheels on your vacuum. Both human and animal hair can become wrapped around them, making them move much slower and possibly stop altogether. this can cause your cleaning experience to be slow and very aggravating.

Tip 5: Doing a height adjustment on your vacuum, especially if you have different lengths of carpet from room to room, can seem like a big hassle or even a waste of time. It is not. Making sure that your vacuum’s height is set properly as you work can actually make your work go more quickly, by increasing your vacuum’s effectiveness, and lessening the number of times you will need to go over each area. Having the height of your vacuum set incorrectly can also cause your vacuum’s motor to have to work much harder.

Tip 6: Keep your cord out from under your vacuum, and out from under your feet as you work. Your vacuum’s cord is its power source, and without it, you have no vacuum. Many people unravel the entire cord, and then do not bother moving it or picking it up as they vacuum. The cord lays there while they clean, and is abused by the vacuum’s wheels, brushes, and even their own feet. Many times, if someone is cleaning from room to room, the cord will even be pinched in a door or jammed beneath furniture. All of these things can cause your vacuum’s power cord to fray, and may even hurt the wiring beneath the protective covering. You should always unplug your cord when you move to a new area, only unwind as much cord as you will actually need, and keep the loose bit in your free hand. That way the cord is easily moved from one side of the vacuum to the other.

This is a post contributed by James Adams who is a writer and a product reviewer at SparesNextDay.co.uk, offering the cheapest vacuum bags.

Today’s Giveaway: FREE GREEN WORKS Cleaning Wipes with every order over $100! No coupon code needed, just make your order and receive the a sample canister of cleaning wipes! These wipes are natural and biodegradable, made with plant-based ingredients. Works on grease, grime and soil. For use on non-wood surfaces including acrylic, fiberglass and vinyl. Never tested on animals. Go green and buy eco-friendly cleaning supplies. Order today and get your free Green Works wipes!

Today we are featuring a guest post by Julie Urlaub, Founder and Managing Partner from the Taiga Company. Julie consults, writes, speaks, blogs and tweets on how viewing your world through the lens of sustainability can refresh your business and deliver uncommon results. As a catalyst for sustainability, a matchmaker for green business relationships and a promoter of green products and services, her effervescent attitude inspires others to eco-action.

Guide to Green Your Spring

It is that time of year to begin your spring cleaning. People across the country are breaking out the cleaning supplies and lawn equipment to give their homes and yard a fresh clean look. In doing so, there are a few sustainability concepts to consider. Individuals aiming to become more sustainable in their personal life have a variety of eco actions at their disposal.
Green clean your home by replacing conventional cleaning supplies with eco-friendly products. Conventional cleaning supplies may contain ingredients that are toxic or hazardous. By replacing them with eco-friendly products, you’re providing improved indoor air quality, as well as using products aligned with sustainability concepts. There’s an abundance of alternative products from which to choose. Ideas mentioned in our personal consulting practice include:

• Seventh Generation is an industry leader renowned for its nontoxic cleaning products.
• Mrs. Meyers also offers nontoxic cleaners and all of the company’s cleaning supplies are biodegradable and incorporate natural essential oils to provide a pleasant cleaning experience.
• Ecover makes its biodegradable, nontoxic cleaners from plant based ingredients and is powered by green energy in the making of its products.

In addition, apply that same eco awareness outside the house to your yard work. Traditional fertilizers and mulch often contain chemicals that are not only bad for the environment but can be hazardous to your health. With the variety of eco-friendly products available, you no longer have to sacrifice quality and price to have a great looking organic yard. Here is a list of alternative products offered at your local Home Depot or Lowes:

Click here to continue reading: http://blog.taigacompany.com/blog/sustainability-business-life-environment/guide-to-green-your-spring

Check out our 30 Days of Green promotion on CleaningProductsWorld.com for more information on green cleaning and chances to win product giveaways. You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

A recent article in the Times Colonist wrote about how the scent of a home can affect its sale to prospective buyers.

So what is the best house selling smell?

Real estate agents recommend that offending smells should not just be covered up with other scents, but removed completely.

“In my experience, the absence of smell is the best smell,” says Mark McDougall, an agent with Royal LePage Coast Capital. “It doesn’t offend.”

Over time, homeowners become immune to the smells in their house. Ever walk into a house with a dog and get floored by the stink? The dog owner probably doesn’t notice anymore. Cigarette smokers also become desensitized to the ashtray scent that lingers in curtains and upholstery.

Here are some tips for deodorizing your house before selling:

1. Sprinkle carpets with baking soda before vacuuming. Try Arm & Hammer Carpet Care & Room Allergen Reducer & Odor Eliminator
2. To get rid of cooking smells, open windows while cooking. Citrus air freshener sprays also are best for eliminating cooking odor.
3. Use disinfectant deodorizer cleaners in the bathroom to get rid of mold, mildew and bacteria.

Check out CleaningProductsWorld.com for all the cleaning products you need for getting ready to sell your house!

Real Simple recently posted some new uses for dryer sheets. Laundry sheets are coated with positively charged substances. The positive charge rubs off onto clean laundry in the dryer’s heat. This aspect makes them useful for taking the static cling out of clothes  fresh from the dryer.

Try out these tips for household tasks using a dryer sheet!

IRON CLEANER
Remove gunk from the soleplate of an iron. With the setting on low, rub the iron over the dryer sheet until the residue disappears, and you’re left with a pristine press.

SHOE FRESHENER
Roll up one sheet per slipper, sneaker, or loafer, insert, and forget about stinky shoes. (Bonus uses: Toss them in hampers, on closet shelves, in diaper bags.)

STATIC STOPPER
Stop static cling on clothes—or tame flyaway hair—by rubbing a sheet over the problem area.

SAWDUST CLEANER
An easy way to keep the work area clean. Saw dust at a work station sweeps up so fast with one pass of a used fabric softener sheet.

THREAD DETANGLER
To prevent tangles, run a threaded needle through a sheet before you begin stitching.

SCUM BUSTER
Remove obstinate soap buildup from glass shower doors by sprinkling a few drops of water onto a used fabric-softener sheet and scrubbing.

Check out the selection of dryer sheets at CleaningProductsWorld.com to use for laundry or other household purposes! What other uses have you used dryer sheets for?

Do you have a New Years Resolution related to cleaning? Check out the Cleaning Products World blog for tips to use throughout the year. Making a  change can help you. The effort is worth it!

Start using environmentally friendly chemicals. Make a vow now to not buy any new harmful chemicals, and as cleaning products run out, only buy green cleaning replacements.

Use a cleaning  schedule. Have a more organized approach to cleaning this year! Break up tasks and delegate them around so everyone is involved.

Prepare for emergencies. Check out the post about Hurricane Preparedness and Basement Flood Clean-up.

Start a recycling program at work. Help your co-workers go green! Suggest to management to provide recycling bins. Remind people to recycle the proper waste products.

Safely store cleaning products. Keep dangerous chemicals out of children’s reach and prevent accidents.

What other new year’s resolutions do you have?

You may be planning a holiday event at your home. Cleaning and cooking in preparation for a party may be overwhelming, but don’t forget to have fun and relax! Here are some tips for cleaning hardwood floors to make the holiday season a little easier.

Remove candle wax from hardwood floors

Try using an iron over a paper bag to melt and absorb the wax. Use a medium setting and keeping ironing until all the wax is removed. You will know it’s working if you see the wax leave a dark spot on the paper.

Thoroughly sweep floors before cleaning

Use a microfiber dust mop to remove all dust and dirt from the floor. Microfiber helps to remove even the smallest dust particles.

Try vinegar and water to remove any stains or spills

A solution of vinegar in a bucket of water will help remove any sticky residue or mysterious stains.

Use Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean the floor

A naturally gentle and environmentally conscious product for cleaning wood, Murphy’s Oil Soap is a great choice for making your hardwood floors shine without stripping and refinishing. Murphy’s Oil Soap is a trusted brand for over 100 years.

To keep floors looking great, use floor mats

Floor mats help to remove dust and dirt from people’s shoes before they enter your home. Reduce the need to clean carpets and floors by using entrance mats.