Tips for a Cleaner, Healthier Home

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How clean is “clean”? Understand there is a difference between a home that is properly disinfected and a home that looks clean. Millions of germs and bacteria are lurking where you least expect them, even though the room looks immaculate.

Meats and vegetables can leave behind germs that get on your hands, utensils, counter tops, cutting board, and other foods. After each use clean your counter tops and kitchen sink with an antibacterial solutions to minimize the spreading of germs and contamination. Disinfecting will help protect your family from illness, disinfect all areas to is a must to destroy germs and prevent them from spreading.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on surfaces like telephones, doorknobs, and tables some bacteria and viruses can live two hours or longer. Disinfecting these "hot spots" regularly is required to keep a healthier home.

For a variety of health issues, poor indoor air quality may be to blame. The average American spends more than 80 percent of their time indoors; where air pollution levels can be as high as three to four times higher than outdoor levels.

Home improvement expert, Andrew Mitchell says, "Homeowners often complain about dry eyes, headaches, and fatigue; as well as asthma and allergy attacks due to poor indoor air quality.
Breathe easier by following these simple strategies for reducing air pollution in your home:

• Invest in a quality air purifier.
• Minimize collection sources.

Whenever possible keep pets outside; on a weekly basis wash all bedding in hot water; and no smoking indoors. Go through your home and remove or reduce as many asthma or allergy triggers as possible.

• Check and replace - Maintenance.

Regular service maintenance on your heating and air conditioning systems and frequently changing the filters will help improve air quality. This includes: wood stoves, gas appliances, and fireplaces. Good ventilation and regular maintenance are important in keeping indoor air pollution under control.
"Clients have said they recognize the worth of the investment in an air purifier immediately” says Andrew Mitchell. “With a few changes you will notice a significant change in your breathing and overall well-being.”

If you are looking for more information and to learn about air quality by state click here.
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1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service.

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Why I Wrote This Book and The Painful Truth That Comes with It

 

Why I Wrote This Book and The Painful Truth That Comes with It

  

It's all about new techniques -- simplifying old techniques, and consolidating steps. Making things go faster, but not worse

-Martha Stewart

     There are many women in the world that believe it is un-progressive, some going as far to say that it’s downright insensitive to say that women belong in the home, but that isn’t what I’m saying at all. I’m simply saying that in most cases for women, there is a desire to not just maintain the home, but watch after the children. Whether it be maternal instinct or social conditioning is a debate for another day, but it’s something that is definitely ingrained in the hearts and minds of women everywhere. The painful truth of feminism is that women in most cases at least have the ambition toward being a mother and an astute wife.

     With that said, there are a variety of reasons why a woman may want to be a good homemaker. A present wife and/or mother is something that is not only important to have as a component to a family, but is essentially the heart of the family, or metaphorical glue. It holds the family together and brings in the nurturing love that men seem to lack, and as a consequence, need so much. Men are a lot like babies for their entire lives really, constantly in need of nurturing and attention, and the duty of the woman throughout most societies is to be the source of this nurturing, the beacon of light that instills love wherever it goes. If viewed as a duty, it is possible to be a bad wife, especially if you have the desire to be a good wife. If you don’t have the desire to be a good wife then this book probably isn’t for you – you’d be more interested in some sort of specific topic or some other purpose you’ve invented for yourself, but for the rest of womankind, I welcome you.

     This book is broken up in sections of the house. For example, chapter 3 talks about how to maintain the kitchen while chapter 4 explores the fascinating intricacies of keeping a bathroom sparkling, and so on and so forth. Life is a lot like a house, with various rooms and various problems. As a wife, you will run into more problems than keeping the house clean, but it’s important to get the basics down so that you can give your full attention to the real problems at hand. Housekeeping, after all, is just one of the many rooms in a wife’s life, but that’s exactly why I wrote this book – to substantiate the importance of keeping the home clean and how it serves as a foundation for the rest of a wife’s work. Love cannot spread if it isn’t in the atmosphere and the best and clearest way to show that you love your husband as well as your family and his family is to keep your house looking clean. I’m not talking, pick-up-the-socks clean. I mean the glossy magazine cover of Good Housekeeping clean.

     This book will focus on maintaining each room of the house and as a consequence, how to maintain one’s marriage. When I say maintain each room, I essentially mean that this book will explore how to keep tricky sections of the house clean as well as how to make it presentable Appearance after all are for the sake of, well, appearances. It’s always important to gauge the situation before you get started – what rooms need cleaning first? What is this person likely to scrutinize over? It’s also important to have emergency plans for whenever someone really important comes over. For example, part of being married is that you should expect surprise drop-ins not only from your own family but your in-laws as well. This means that you should always keep certain places clean, and the best way to do this is to have a day-to-day routine. With the help of this book, you can get yourself on the track to being a better wife and making cleaning as easy as breathing.

      They say that men are the ones that are in charge of relationships as well as the household, but it’s important to remember that women are just as important because of what they do in the home. If there were no women, there would be no marriage, and if there were no women, there would certainly be dirty houses littered all over the world. Luckily this book can rescue your home from being one of the many second-rate motels across the world and into a one of a kind beauty where love is born.

Order your copy now!

7 Window Cleaning Tips for That Special Sparkle

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​Everyone loves a sparkling streak-free window. Bright and clean shiny windows add lets in the most natural light and gives any home a new look. Windows, like furniture require their own maintenance to keep them looking their best. These simple 7 tips will give you those windows you can’t wait to show off every day or at your next holiday celebration.

1) Make sure you full dry your windows in one direction – left to right or top to bottom. Cleaning mixing directions will leave your windows noticeably streaky and unclean.

2) To clean your window glass, spray enough cleaning solution covering the entire area.

3) Only clean the window sills after you have finished cleaning your glass surface. To clean the window sills take a clean dry cloth and dab it with rubbing alcohol. Rub the surface firmly to remove any spots for a beautiful shine.

4) Windows are very sensitive to dirt. You should therefore apply only clean water in cleaning windows and in cases where you use damp cloth, use only clean cloths.

5) For glass that is greasy or smoky, use a dry clean cloth damp cloth (water) and white vinegar to cut through the grease. Using white vinegar will remove the grease without leaving streaks.

6) When cleaning windows taller than you can reach, use a step ladder. Safety is always your first priority. Check and make sure the stool is stable and the legs a securely locked in place.

7) It is easier to use a spray bottle than a heavy bucket of water. Plus, with a bucket of water there is always the chance of dripping and spilling water on the floor causing a slipping hazard. No need to add more work.

Now find a window to shine.
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#Home improvement, #clean windows, #window sills, #vinegar, #streaks
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1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service.

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Clean Clothes without Detergent or Hot ​Water Without using hot water or detergent, LaundryPure puts the technology of nature to work in the laundry room at home.

Easily Create Your Own Inexpensive Curtains

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A really nice pair of curtains can always pull a room together. Most times when people think of redecorating, curtains are one of the first things they think of. There is a window treatment for every taste. So many different, fabrics, lengths, colors, shapes, patterns, and styles to chose from. With all there is to choose from, sometimes we are looking for that one specific pair of curtains and the ones you have seen so far won’t work. Or you find that PERFECT ones and the price was just too unreasonable.

So that means…..make them yourself. Ok, I know sowing and making curtains are not a priority, but what alternative do you have when nothing else will do? Truth is you don’t need to buy curtains just to have something up until you can find what you’re looking for. Why settle when you don’t have to? You are more than capable, you can do this. Face it; most of us think we are designers, so here’s the chance to design your space using some real simple tailoring techniques.

We are going to start with selecting our fabric. When choosing your fabric, select a pattern or color you really like. Think of the time of year or season they are going to be placed up for display. Keep in mind quilted fabrics over time can shrink and stretch over time. Linen and cotton, those that are made with polyester and micro fibers, tend to hold up their shape and overall appearance better. When thinking about silk and silk blends, fade and rot very quickly. Be sure to buy enough fabric; you don’t want to have to start over or make a second trip for more fabric. Just to be on the safe side, triple the width and double length of the window.

Here are three simple techniques for sewing and hanging curtains for you to try.

Curtains with rings:

Stitch approximately a 3-inch hem on the edge of the panels that are going to hang. Take a clip-on ring; sew each ring to each curtain panel leaving small distances between the rings so that the curtain is pulled easily. You can also use clip-on rings that don’t need to be stitched and are easier to apply.
For tied tab curtains you will need to create the hangers. Simply stitch horizontal buttonholes at the top of the curtain panel. Now you can make the hangers using the same fabric as the curtains, or another but suitable fabric for a little diversity. Make threads and place through the buttonholes.

No Sew Curtains are also a smart and easy way to make curtains and decorate a window. In this case the fabric should be 3 inches more than double the height of the window and 2 inches more than the width of the window. Pull the fabric through the rod and fold evenly. Now stitch the two ends of the fabric at the bottom and at the sides together. When the curtain is ready, place a single fabric band in the center of the curtain or use two purchased tiebacks evenly spaced along the width of your window. Then adjust folds of fabric panel as desired.

Gather your supplies, fabric, scissors, screws, rings or ribbon, and use your imagination. In less than an hour you will manage to decorate that empty window effectively and inexpensively. But the most important thing is that you will have your own personal work to show off in your house.

#curtains #home improvement #window #drapes #interior decorating
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Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?

1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service.

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Great for holiday giving!

​Everyone wants to be house proud, but in today’s fast paced life cleaning has become a chore that is put off until company is coming over or shows up unexpectedly and you scramble to straighten up. The time of Saturday morning house cleaning is a thing of the past for the go-getter of the 21st Century; with this handy guide never be caught off guard again by unexpected guests.
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Even that dreaded visit from your mother-in-law can be a pain free visit. With these detailed methods for cleaning your entire home, watch her look for something to say about the cleanliness of your home and come up with nothing, well at least nothing about your cleaning.

Moving Out or Selling? Cheap and Easy Cleaning Tips

One of biggest and most annoying things is cleaning the house during a move. Working to remove, and prevent, scuff marks and stains on walls and surfaces when prepping your house can be especially hard. It’s very important to spot test a place not easily seen to ensure the treatment won’t cause more damage than good.  Make it a practice to organize your most used cleaning items in a case that’s easy to carry around. Create a checklist of supplies so you are prepared with everything you need and save time with last minute trips. Planning will save you money in the long run.

Some of the most common wall marks and surface stains can easily be removed with common everyday household items.

To remove marks and scuffs on woodwork use a pencil eraser – marks from wheels and shoes come off easily with a rubber eraser.

Toothpaste doesn’t just clean teeth – try it on crayon, ink and scuff marks on many surfaces. When removing stains from wallpaper test it first in inconspicuous place.  These type of stains can be seen through several layers of paint so be sure to remove as much of the stain as possible.

To remove crayon from radiators and glass, toothpaste is good for this. With a non-abrasive cloth lightly rub in a circular motion. When removing tougher stains let the toothpaste stay on the stain for one hour then scrub gently.

Be very careful or you can scratch the finish, but you can use a brass scourer to remove unsightly paint from most woodwork.

Oxy based pastes work wonders on lime scale, scum stains and dried on toothpaste.  At most supermarkets you can find “oxy” based cleaners that fizz and slightly heats up the water.

To tackle moldy and damp odors in just about any area use bicarbonate of soda or regular old baking soda.  Leave an open box in the refrigerator and freezer to remove food smells. In other areas sprinkle the smelly area let it sit for about five minutes, then use a damp cloth to clean and remove the baking soda. The smell should be noticeably diminished or gone in about 24 hours.  In place of baking soda, you can use a few drops of vanilla on a cotton ball or cloth, or activated charcoal to remove odors. An open box of baking soda in the refrigerator and freezer is good for an entire month and then you can use for cleaning so it can be used until it’s gone.

Use a nylon sock if you're cleaning textured walls. This way you won’t leave a paper towel or other debris behind. To avoid streaking when washing the walls always start from to bottom up. Once you’ve tested in a small space for paint or wallpaper fastness, apply your cleaning solution to a clean dry cloth and work in small sections at a time.

Did you know you can remove wax from the carpet? Take and absorbent cloth place it over the crayon and with a hot iron go over the cloth and it should peel away easily. This tip can also be used on floors and curtains.

Keep in mind, it is never a good idea to mix cleaning products. Most contain either bleach or ammonia and when combined the fumes can be deadly. What better reason than to go green? Learn more about green and eco-friendly cleaning visit: www.1GreenClean.com.

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Do you have green or Eco-friendly tips and tricks?  We know you do, send them to us for an opportunity to be a Guest Blogger.  What better way to build your community by sharing your knowledge?
​
1st Green Clean - A Leader in Home Management Services

1st Green Clean prides itself as a premier leader in residential home management services. 1st Green Clean is a luxury service provider we accept a limited number of appointments, we have an exclusive and limited clientele. When you invest in a home, you want a service provider that invests time in managing your home service needs, comprehensive consultation, and the security of reliable service.

How may we service you?: http://www.1greenclean.com/our-services.html

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Have you been looking for simple everyday tips and tricks to green cleaning? You're a Bad Wife Because You Can't Clean the House?: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Home Mother-in-Law Approved was written just for you. Get your copy today! It’s affordable because everyone should be able to benefit from a healthier lifestyle.

*** These are paid ads and 1st Green Clean and its parent company are not responsible for products or services. ***

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Where are the Discount Summer Vacations?

The cost of summer vacation is on your mind; you are not alone.  Families and individuals are hoping to take a summer vacation, but because of cost many will forego a get-a-way to enjoy a day her and there closer to home. Too many forget about discount summer vacations.
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If you are looking into taking a long-overdue summer vacation discount summer vacations do exist. You have to know where to look to find them. Many believe because it is a discount vacation they are low-quality accommodations and destinations.  If you are looking for an affordable summer vacation, I have some great resources for you.

With a little research discounted summer vacations can be easy to find. You will see discount summer vacations to some of the most desirable summer vacation destinations. Thanks to group packages, online coupons, and all included packages a summer vacation is very feasible.

Destination packages are some of the best ways you and your family can save money while taking a summer vacation.  You can find some of these through resorts. All round the world there are beach, theme park and golf resorts offering summer vacation packages. There are many types of packages; some all-inclusive or a variety of vacation accommodations. Start your online research, searching “discount vacations” on Google. If you prefer to pass off the heavy-lifting, you can always speak with a professional travel agent.

When looking for discount vacations, generally individuals are given discounts by a price reduction.  A price reduction is most often used as a last minute way to boost the number of guests to popular theme parks, hotels, beaches, and restaurants. To receive price reduction discounts directly contact the restaurant, hotel or theme park or you can search online.

Price reduction is not the only treat used to lure in more vacationers, popular vacation destinations have started offering price reductions to families looking to vacation. If you have multiple children, discounts for children can often be found at theme parks, vacation resorts, and hotels. The amount of a family discount will vary by the destination. Large or small saving money is always a good thing.

As an online shopper you will have no trouble finding online coupons. These are an easy and great way to secure a nice discount for your summer vacation excursions. A growing number of vacation destinations promote online coupons in addition to offline coupons. When looking for online coupons internet users may have the option to request a coupon booklet or print vacation coupons. The only drawback to using coupons, you have to remember to take the coupon with you to your vacation destination. If you don’t have them, you can be required to pay full price.

The disappointing part of discount vacations to keep in mind, you may not get a low price at every destination. Don’t worry, many of the popular vacation destinations do offer worthwhile savings and rebates to travelers. According to The Frugal Shoppersome of the most popular summer vacation destinations this year at a reasonable rate: Barcelona, Spain; Greece, and Puerto Rico. If you are looking for something with no passport required, Disney World or Disneyland, Six Flags, Bush Gardens, and the Caribbean may have something to interest you.  There may be times you will pay more for a not so well-liked vacation destination depending on when you decided to book your vacation.

You can use a few different methods to searching for low-cost summer vacations. If you have a destination in mind, search the location for discount vacation packages around the time you are looking to travel. Check the weather report in that area for that time of year so you are there during peak and desirable weather conditions. Now, if you have no idea where you would like to travel here is one of my favorite for all included vacation packages Cheap Caribbean. Whatever method that works best for you to find the valuable discount vacation you just can’t say no to, get to planning and start earning those frequent flyer miles and free night stays.

~ Here’s to great annual vacations!

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Word of Mouth Events & Planning

Whether your guests are competitive and want to see who can achieve the longest drive on our virtual golf simulator, or want to relax and shoot a game of pool, sports bars and game rooms are ideal for accomplishing both. Our vast inventory of immaculate games varies from old school favorites to virtual simulators. We have games to fit any theme and budget! Add games to your next hospitality suite or reception to take your event to the next level.

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Word of Mouth Events & Planning

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