Cleaning Vent Covers

Other spring cleaning posts you may like:

Clean and Disinfect a Pack N Play

Disinfecting with Basic G

Clean Kid's Toys w/o Bleach

 It's starting to feel like spring here and you know what that means! Spring cleaning! If you've followed me for a while, you probably know that I (for the most part) enjoy cleaning. Really I just enjoy having a clean home.

Something new to this home is having the air vents in the floor. It's not like that in Vegas. So I made sure to include them in my cleaning. I removed the vent covers and made sure to vacuum real well inside the vent and then I took it one step further and washed all the vent cover and air return vents.

I did this by filling my bath with water and adding a squirt of Basic H2. I figure if I'm going to go to the trouble to clean, why would I use harmful chemical cleaners with fumes to do it. I want my air to be clean too. Basic H2 is super concentrated and is all natural. It is by far my favorite cleaner ever! Then I ran the jets to get some good suds. If you don't have a jetted tub, you could agitate by hand or use a shower sprayer to create suds.

 I let the covers soak for a bit to loosen dust, then took an old toothbrush to scrub them clean.

Once I got through them all, I rinsed them and then laid them on towels to dry. Once fully dry I returned them to their spots. Super easy, but I think it's something that can be easily over looked.

You can see all the grime that came off them!

Yuck!

What are you spring cleaning this week?

Clean and Disinfect Kid’s Toys (without toxic bleach)

So I’ve totally been on a spring cleaning kick lately. The end of last week I spent shampooing my carpets (I’m in heaven!) and I’ve had the hankering to do all the odds and edds. Like clean the crumbs out of my kitchen drawers, cleaning behind the fridge, and cleaning window tracks!
Well I wanted to clean all the kids toys and wanted to do it pretty quickly. Bleach/lysol are not allowed in my house anymore. They are just too toxic…

So here’s what I did. I started running the bathtub and poured in some Basic G, probably a couple teaspoons.

Then I dumped in all the water safe toys. You know the plastic Duplos, kitchen play toys, matchbox cars, and even the wood stuff. But they only went in and out quickly. Don’t put anything in there with batteries or holes that water can get in and possibly never get back out again.

Then just pulled them out and dry them off. Andrew was a good helper with the drying.

The rest of the toys got sprayed and wiped down. This was also a great chance to go through the toys, I threw away anything broken or cheap, pulled out things to donate, and returned the rest to their proper place.
It felt so good to have clean toys and a clean toy room. And then this happened a couple days ago…

Oh well, at least the toys and carpets are clean.
I’ve got a bunch more organizing and cleaning I want to do so stay tuned!Interested in learning more about my non-toxic cleaners...check out my website HERE , email me if you have any questions!
What’s on your spring cleaning list?

Getting Kids Started on Chores

Each day I grow progressively bigger and bigger (I'm pregnant, in case you didn't know :). And with that I have less and less motivation and energy to get things done around the house. So I had the brilliant idea the other day to get Andrew, who is almost 4, more involved in the daily housework.

I have a general cleaning schedule that helps me divide the work through the week so it’s not so overwhelming. I wrote a bit about it here. Most of my chores still take about 30 minutes, but with a bigger house and bigger family, laundry and vacuuming take a bit longer.

So I made this routine/chore chart for Andrew. I want to start prepping him for school – I may or may not send him to preschool in the fall- so it’s a routine and chore chart in one.

I matched his ‘chores’ to mine so he can help me. (Nina – on Thursday- is the name of our Roomba, the robot vacuum, haha).

On Monday I had him pick up the dirty clothes and towels in the bathroom and put them in the hamper.

Put away the toys, toothpaste, and other stuff that didn’t belong on the counter.

Then because he thinks it’s super fun, I have him be my ‘squirter’. I have him spray down the sinks, counter, and toilet with Basic G. I’m so grateful that it’s non-toxic because there is no way I’d let him do this with any other cleaner. After he gets it all squirted down, I go in behind him to wipe it all down.

I also had him take the garbage downstairs.

On laundry days, I have him move clothes from the washer to the dryer.

I taught him how to put his shirts on hangers, needs a little work, but I’m not going to be picky when he’s helping out.

And now thanks to the Hanging Clothes Bar I made, he can also hang up his clothes!

Then he puts away the rest of his clothes in his dresser.

On ‘Mommy Helper’ times, I’ll have him help me unload the dishwasher (the silverware only)

or do odd jobs for me. Today I just needed him to be my legs and get me stuff that was either upstairs when I was downstairs or something that was downstairs while I was up. I had him throw away a dirty diaper or when it’s appropriate, I have him help with dinner. Simple things.

So there you have it, the beginning of child labor...err...chores, hehe. I think this will really help Andrew, he likes and does really well with structure. I just need something to keep me on track. So far, it's mostly been me teaching him what to do and that's fine. He's only 3 so that's all I expect, but having the chart gives us a way to track our day. If he asks to watch a video or for something special, I'll let him know what needs to be done first and he gets right on it.  :)

What kind of routine or chores do you have your kids do? What incentives do you offer? Hope you're having a great week!

EDIT: Check out this awesome infographic from Suzie @Terry's Fabric. Thank you for sharing Suzie!! Check out her original post HERE

10 Reasons to Love Basic H

 Here are the TOP 10 reasons to LOVE BASIC H!

1. Stop living in a toxic home

Some of the most questionable chemicals used regularly in household products are ammonia, chlorine bleach, phenol, butyl cellosolve, and formaldehyde—all of which can be found under your kitchen sink. Basic H2 is nontoxic and safe for your family.

 

2. Everything and the kitchen sink

Basic H2 cleans it all from kitchens and bathrooms to appliances, woodwork, mirrors, painted walls, and floors— it even does windows.  So, toss those single-purpose cleaners like sink and tile cleaners. Mix ¼ teaspoon in 16 oz. of water in a Get Clean spray bottle for all purpose cleaning, and 2 drops in 16 oz. of water to clean windows.

I used Basic H2 to clean all over our new house – including cleaning the carpets

I also use it for cleaning my produce

and even bathing my kids…Yep, that’s right, it’s safe to use as a baby wash.

3. Eliminate your ammonia-based window cleaner

Basic H2 cleans windows without streaking while being a great alternative to leading brands. Basic H2 window cleaner is equivalent in performance to Windex Original.

1 bottle of Basic H²equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz. Windex

4. Removes the impossible

From lipstick on a linen napkin to crayons on a painted wall, full-strength Basic H2 comes to the rescue.

5. Great for cutting grease

Tough on greasy barbecue grills, ovens, and even oil spots on concrete. Mix 2 oz. per gallon of water for a super degreaser formula.

6. Does odd jobs

One tablespoon of Basic H2 in a bucket of hot water lifts off old wallpaper. One and a half teaspoons in a half gallon cleans sticky paintbrushes. Just soak for 24 hours and rinse with hot tap water.

 

7. Saves money

One 16 oz. bottle of Basic H2 diluted per label directions makes 214 bottles (28 oz.) of ready-to-use all-purpose cleaner.

8. Camping and traveling companion

Take along a small size of Basic H2 to keep clothes, dishes, and everything else clean. And you’ll help by keeping the great outdoors unpolluted.

 

9. Easy on the planet

Biodegradable and environmentally friendly, Basic H2 handles even hard-to-clean jobs without phosphates, borates, nitrates, or other stuff the planet doesn’t appreciate.

10. Less in the landfill

Basic H2 is super concentrated, so you’ll use fewer bottles of cleaning products throughout the year.

I know once you try it, you will fall in love like I did and some many others!!!!

I recommend starting with:

Get Clean Start Kit (regular or un-scented)

Scour Off

Hand Wash

Basic G {Germicide}

Basic G Bottle

Hope you’re having a great week!

How to Clean and Disinfect a Pack N Play

First, I just want to give another huge thank you to Emily @Nap-Time Creations for allowing me to co-host Tastful Tuesday with her! It was awesome. If you didn’t, go check it out HERE and link up, there are so many awesome links! I think I just might feature a couple next week too!

Oh boy, if you have baby stuff, you will seriously not want to miss this.

So several weeks ago, my friend Mary posted about How to Clean Used Baby Items – great post, go check it out. She goes into how to clean all your baby stuff and she even cleaned her pack n play. I hadn’t really thought about it, but I sure am glad I cleaned mine.

I got this new pack n play several months ago on my local Facebook garage sale sites. I wanted an upgrade from my basic one – I wanted one with the changing table and bassinet in it because baby usually spends a couple weeks in our room before going to the big crib.

Anyway, I pulled it out and thought I’d try Mary’s tutorial on cleaning it.

It was a lot dirtier than I thought. I don’t know if you can tell completely from the pictures, but there are definite wetness marks where I circled.

YUCK YUCK YUCK!

So I prepped my bathtub. I used warm water and a squirt (maybe a tsp) of Basic H2 and a squirt of Basic G (also about a tsp). I was a little on the excessive side with the Basic G because I wanted those germs gone. The great thing about Basic G is it is non-toxic and won’t bleach fabrics so I knew it would be safe to use around my baby.

Then I submerged the frame, case, and bassinet part. I hand washed the bassinet fabric and case with a little scrub brush and let the frame soak a little longer.

I the frame and mesh a bit, then I removed the framed and let it dry on some towels.

I ended up submerging the mattress – even though Mary warns that it may be made of cardboard and could get damaged- I was pretty sure it was a more solid material. I submerged it and scrubbed it with a brush. This is the water after…..

Blech!

I took all the components outside and double sanitized them by putting them in the scorching heat that is Las Vegas.

SOOOOOO much better. Plus it all smells like sunshine

Alright so that takes some cleaning off my list for when I’m huge and don’t want to do anything – oh wait – I already don’t want to do anything. This last week or so it’s really gotten hot. We were lucky for a while and it stayed in the 80’s, but no now it’s full on 100+.

Hope everyone is having a great week, I know a lot of you are finishing up school today or this week. Have a great time with your kids!

Interested in more non-toxic cleaners, check them out HERE. Let me know if you have any questions about the products!