The benefits of using natural cleaning products essentially come down to health. The health of our own human health, our pets and our precious earth. In this article we shed some light on the common household cleaners which are harmful, their side effects and why you should choose natural cleaning products.
What many people don’t realise is the detrimental impact of choosing chemical based products over natural cleaning products. The hidden dangers are normally masked with fragrances and promises of clean sparkly homes.
The use of these chemicals in your home contributes to indoor air pollution. These chemicals are often poisonous and can cause harm through ingestion, inhalation and absorption through skin. In fact, according to an international report, cleaning products are the most toxic products found in homes.
Some chemicals can cause acute and immediate hazards such as sneezing, skin or respiratory irritation, chemical burns, watery eyes. Other chemicals can be associated with chronic and long-term effects such as diseases and illnesses.
Some of the common items in your home which have harmful chemicals include:
Some of the side effects of using chemical products include:
When there is prolonged use of chemical based products, it can also contribute to several types of cancers, as well as lung and heart damage.
The next time you’re out buying your cleaning products, be sure to read the fine print. You may be surprised by what’s in the ingredient list and the warnings issued on the labels.
So what can you do to protect your home, your family, pets and our environment?
Choose Natural Cleaning Products
Natural cleaning products are derived from natural sources. These products are non-toxic to human health, pet health and our environment. They are normally more cost effective and do the job as well as chemical alternatives.
You can choose to make your own natural cleaning products from items you may already have in your pantry or cupboards. These common items include:
The ingredients listed above have a number of uses and benefits. As you can see there are no chemicals and they are all completely natural. To access natural cleaning tips for your home using the list of ingredients above, visit our Instagram page where we share a variety of tips for all areas of your home.
Ultimately natural cleaning products are extremely safe to use in your home, around your family and pets, and do not negatively impact our environment.
Bliss Home Care Services Green Cleaning Products
The cleaning products used by Bliss Home Care Services are certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA’s ecolabel on products provides an independent assessment and approval that products are better for the environment and reduce their impact on human health. GECA’s standards are rigorous, scientific and relevant to key Australian industries.
You can rest assured when Bliss Home Care Services cleans your home, the products used are GECA certified. They also:
Alternatively, you can purchase eco-friendly green cleaning products that incorporate innovative technology and are safe for health and environment. These are referred to as Bio Bacterial Technology solutions. To read more about these safe and natural solutions, click here.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world as we know it to a standstill. Who would have thought this possible? We have heard from all the regulatory and government bodies that washing and disinfecting your hands is the way to eliminate germs but what about your home? How can you effectively keep it clean? What do you need to arm yourself with to safely disinfect your home and keep it germ free?
Now, more than ever, it’s time to take action and learn how to disinfect your home and what products you should use so that your home remains your safe haven. In this article we take a closer look at how you can disinfect your home against the harsh germs circulated by COVID-19 and many other viruses and bacteria and the most effective way to keep your family safe.
Cleaning and disinfecting may seem like the same thing, but there are differences. Cleaning does not kill germs, it’s the process of physically removing dirt and grime from surfaces. Cleaning helps to reduce the number of germs on surfaces to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria.
Disinfecting is the process of using chemicals referred to as disinfectants to eliminate and kill germs that remain on the surface after cleaning. It’s really important to clean surfaces before disinfecting to make the process much more effective.
Care should be taken to ensure your safety while cleaning. Here are 3 tips to keep yourself safe:
Germs can live on frequently touched surfaces for anywhere between 10 minutes to 12 hours. This includes items such as door handles, benches, light switches, taps, table tops, toilets, hand rails, remotes, fridge door, microwave and any other area of the home that is frequently touched. The key to cleaning and disinfecting these highly frequented areas is to use a high grade (also known as a hospital-grade) disinfectant after you have cleaned the surface.
Once applied to the surface it needs to cure (left there to dry) for 10 to 30 minutes at room temperature to ensure that all traces of bacteria are removed. After it’s cured, wipe the surface with a warm cloth. Be sure to rinse the cloth in warm soapy water before cleaning the next surface or better still use a fresh cleaning cloth for each area of the home you are disinfecting.
Regular household disinfectants are not adequate enough to eliminate and kill COVID-19 bacteria during the disinfecting process. Hospital-grade disinfectants need to be certified and contain at least 70% ethanol to effectively wipe out any bacteria. Using a high grade disinfectant will be the only way to ensure the hygiene and safety of your home.
During the cooler months that are approaching we tend to keep our doors and windows closed, however this action compromises the air quality in our home and increases pollutants. This creates a breeding ground for more bacteria, particularly when someone in our home is unwell.
The most simple and effective way to increase the air quality in your home is to simply open doors and windows. Try to do this on a daily basis, even if it’s only 5 to 10 minutes each day. It will create airflow circulation and flush out any harmful pollutants and bacteria that may be present.
It’s particularly important to open doors and windows when you’re disinfecting your home. Surfaces that have been cleaned and left to cure will work much faster and will allow you to get back to enjoying more time with your family.
Professional Cleaning & Hospital Grade Disinfecting
Bliss Home Care are offering new and existing clients cleaning and disinfecting service to protect your home and keep it safe. This is part of our regular cleaning service and there is no additional cost involved. We also offer this as a once-off cleaning or spring cleaning service. We want to ensure your home is free from any viral activity and remains your safe haven. Click here to enquire now.
Bliss Home Care is using BioCidal Hospital Grade Disinfectant. We are huge advocates for green cleaning and this disinfectant is bio-degradable which means it’s safe for our environment. BioCidal is a concentrated commercial grade quaternary ammonium compound (TGA approved by the Department of health for COVID-19) surface disinfectant.
BioCidal effectively cleans all surfaces including floors, walls, tiles, porcelain and laminated benches, leaving surfaces sparkling clean. It’s suitable for use in homes, hospitals, restaurants, hotels/motels and general industry.
Act now to ensure the you keep yourself and family safe in your home, cllick here to enquire now. (link to enquiry/covid-19 cleaning page)
P.S. Be Kind to Yourself
Just as important as cleaning your home is taking care of your mental health. You may be surprised to learn that there is a correlation between have a clean home and your mental health. There have been studies which show that decluttering and cleaning reduce cortisol stress levels and extend your physical well-being. Read our article Why Cleaning Your Home is Good for Mental Health and remember this is a stressful time so be kind to yourself.
Cleaning for health has never been more important than right now. With the cooler months ahead and viruses on t
he brink of becoming a world-wide epidemic, taking care of your home and its cleanliness should be a priority. And because the people and pets you share your home with are important to you, we recommend using natural cleaning products which are also environmentally friendly.
So let’s take a closer look at cleaning for health and how you can avoid spreading germs and bacteria throughout your home.
This is a significant issue and germs and bacteria can easily spread from one area of your home to another. One way you can significantly reduce the risk of infection and cross-contamination is to use different cleaning cloths for each area of your home. You can simply colour code cloths or ensure you are particularly careful with the cloths you are using. Always avoid dipping a dirty cloth into a bucket of clean water. Instead place it under running water and give it a wash before putting it back into the bucket of cleaning water.
Tip: Make a natural cleaning solution for surfaces and floors by simply adding 1 part tea tree or eucalyptus oil to four parts of warm water. Once wiped or mopped, allow surfaces to dry naturally so the disinfectant is on the surface long enough to kill and eliminate any germs.
We use natural cleaning products that have bio-bacterial and enzyme technology which keep on working even after you have finished cleaning.
These natural cleaning products are made up of “good” living bacteria to break down and liquefy soils such as fat, proteins, carbohydrates and grease while eliminating odours. These products keep on working even after you have finished cleaning.
When this type of bacteria cleaning product is applied, the microorganisms begin to digest the waste and the “good” bacteria in turn multiply. The soil is broken down and continues to break down the soil into smaller pieces, until there is nothing left.
For more information on safe and natural cleaning products you may like to read our article, An Insight to Natural Cleaning Products which breaks down the facts on these Australian made natural cleaning products. The range has been certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), an independent body who assess the products to ensure they meet environmental, human health, ethical impact criteria.
Tip: Use natural cleaning products that continue to work, long after you have finished cleaning.
That’s right, Mother Earth provides us with the essentials we need when it comes to keeping things clean and making our homes and our environment safe.
Keeping doors and windows closed means that the air quality in our homes becomes compromised with pollutants which can quickly become a breeding ground for more bacteria when someone is unwell. If you’re about to reach for air freshener, think again! The scent and gasses emitted from these products will release more harmful chemicals in your environment, adding to your indoor air pollution.
The solution? Open windows and doors, daily if possible. It’s the cheapest and healthiest thing you can do to improve your air quality. Try to do this for even just 5 minutes a day to create airflow circulation and flush out any of the harmful pollutants and bacteria.
What else can you do to ensure you’re cleaning for health? When the sun’s out take full advantage of it – it’s great at killing bacteria, dust mites and other microscopic critters that we can’t see. These may be thriving in your pillows, cushions, doonas, rugs, and blankets without you even realising.
If possible, remove the covers from items and place them on a clean bed sheet or towel to keep them from getting dirty, and leave them out in the sun for 30 to 60 minutes. Rotate them and turn them over to ensure even coverage. This practice is also great for deodorising any smells from sweat and body odour.
Tip: Open your doors and windows to create airflow throughout your home. Be sure to take advantage of the sunshine to kill bacteria and unwanted critters in pillows, blankets, rugs and doonas.
In our article, 7 Reasons to Choose Green Cleaning, we share healthier ways you can incorporate natural cleaning products in your home.
As you can see from reading this article, cleaning for health is not difficult, however it is something we need to do regularly to keep our home, our family, our pets and our environment safe and free from harmful bacteria, germs and viruses.
Isn’t it true that when your home is cluttered, messy and grubby you feel the burden of overwhelm? You can’t seem find anything you are looking for, you may feel embarrassed about the state of your home, you don’t want people coming over and you feel helpless and don’t know where to begin. Cleaning your home is good for your mental health because it’s directly linked to your health and well-being.
In this article we’re going to share some cleaning and organising hacks that will promote a bright, clean, organised and happy home environment. A home environment that supports peace, happiness and living life as it should be lived.
When you see a photo or image of an organised home, bookshelf or room do you feel an unexplained sense of satisfaction? Let’s face it we’re all busy so we sometimes overlook the fact that keeping your home clean and tidy is actually good for you. Leading research has correlated clutter with stress and anxiety, so it’s really true, cleaning your home is good for your mental health!
Join us as we take you through each room of your home…
The Living Room
This is one area of the home that you probably invite your guests into so make it as welcoming as possible. You’ll want to hang out there more often too if the space is inviting and uncluttered.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is often the heart of the home and a place where families come together to share a meal and some family time. Make the area as clean and stress free as possible and get everyone, including your kids involved in sharing the joy of cooking (and cleaning up afterwards).
The Bedroom
There’s no better feeling than having a great night’s sleep. Here’s a few things you can do to make your bedroom the blissful and peaceful room it deserves to be:
The Bathroom
There’s no greater satisfaction than a clean bathroom, particularly when it’s sparkling clean. You won’t want to leave!
The Study
When you’re in work or study mode the last thing you want is distractions. If your desk or study area is messy then chances are you will be unable to focus and have the clarity to get through your tasks. Give your study and desk a tidy up and you’ll be more productive!
Getting Started
If it’s overwhelming start with one room and work your way through your home. Once you get started you’ll build momentum and realise the connection between cleaning your home and good mental health. There have been studies which show that decluttering and housekeeping reduces cortisol stress levels and also extend to your physical well-being. If you’re after a more comprehensive guide to decluttering, then be sure to read our article, Tips for Organising Your Home.
At Bliss Home Care we promote cleaning with eco-friendly and natural products so that you, your family, pets and the environment avoid harmful and toxic chemicals in your home. Throughout our article we have referenced natural cleaning solutions so if you want more information take a look at 10 Natural Home Cleaning Hacks.
Once you’re done, put your feet up and enjoy your clean and stress-free home!
At Bliss Home Care Services we are all for finding natural and sustainable ways to make our world and our environment a safer and healthier place to live. One place to start is to make small changes in our home and everyday life. This blog is dedicated to eliminating cling wrap which is harmful to human health and ends up in landfill and in our oceans. We’re going to share how easy it is to make your own reusable bees wax wraps to replace cling wrap.
Bees wax wraps are a safe and healthy alternative to cling wrap and the best part is that it will reduce the waste each home is producing. According to the most recent statistics from National Waste Report, Australia as a nation produces 64 million tons per year. That equates to approx. 2.7 tonnes of waste every year – that’s right 2.7 tonnes of waste in 365 days! Let’s say no to cling wrap and reducing waste.
Why Is Cling Wrap So Bad?
All plastic products are made up of chemicals and there have been many reports and findings over the years that these chemicals seep into our food and drinks and eventually cause many harmful health concerns.
It’s also a non-recyclable product and ends up in landfill or litter in our streets and eventually finds its way into our beautiful oceans, affecting our environment, wildlife and sea life.
What Is A Safe Alternative?
Firstly, say no to cling wrap and replace it with a safer and healthier alternative – bees wax wraps which are reusable and incredibly easy to make at home.
Given that it’s the beginning of the school holidays here in Melbourne, Australia making your own bees wax wraps to replace cling wrap is a great activity to get the kids involved in. They can make their own colourful, bright and reusable bees wax wraps that the whole family can use in 4 easy steps. All you need are 6 items and you have a whole lot of fun ahead of you!
What You Will Need
Step 1
Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Place your bees wax bar in an oven proof container and insert into the oven until it’s completed melted. This normally only takes 5-10 minutes. Do not use a microwave to melt the bees wax.
Step 2
Place an old towel or blanket on a flat surface to protect your surface. Cut out squares or circles from your sheets of baking paper and cotton fabric.
You can make a variety of sizes to suit different sized bowls and for sandwiches. Ensure you cut the baking paper a little larger than the fabric for any overflow and drizzles.
Step 3
Dip your brush into the melted wax and paint it onto the fabric squares with a small clean brush or pastry brush. Start at the top and work your way to the bottom to ensure a smooth and even coverage.
Just a small amount of the wax is sufficient, don’t use too much wax on the fabric as this will cause it to crack. Turn the fabric over gently and repeat on the other side.
If you’ve used a thin fabric, the melted bees wax may have seeped through to the other side to coat the entire fabric.
Repeat this process until you’ve used all the beeswax and fabric.
Step 4
Once both sides of the fabric has been evenly coated and you’re happy with the bees wax wrap, lift the corners from the baking paper gently and hang it to dry.
And there you go, you have made your very own bees wax wraps! Just remember that they are not air-tight so we do recommend using them to cover foods that will be eaten within a day such as sandwiches, a bowl of food or fruit. It is not recommended to use them on perishable items such as fresh meat, fish or poultry.
You can simply maintain your beeswax wrap by rinsing them clean after use with cold water and mild soap. If you used hot water it would melt the wax. Air dry the wrap on your dish rack or on a towel on a flat surface. They can be reused time and time again.
Help to spread the word on how easy it is to make small changes to make a big difference. You may also be interested in reading our article Reduce Waste at Home where we share our top five ideas to inspire you to make more changes to your daily habits and further reduce waste at home.
If you are looking at hiring a house cleaner then there’s some things you’ll need to know. At Bliss Home Care we always have new cleaning inquiries and an important factor to clients and the management team are questions about who we employ, their qualifications and training as well as what security checks are in place.
So we thought we’d shed some light on how the Bliss team is selected, the qualities our team members have, our expectations and training regime. This guide will be helpful if you’re looking at hiring a house cleaner – you’ll know exactly what you can expect from your cleaner.
Also, if you are seeking to become a team member with Bliss Home Care you can use this guide to learn more about our employment process and what is required.
At Bliss Home Care our core focus is professional residential cleaning using eco-friendly products and methodology. We aim to deliver a house cleaning service that exceeds your expectations while ensuring we are keeping your home, family, pets and our cleaning team safe by not using any toxic chemicals. You might like to learn more about green cleaning by reading our article, 7 Reasons to Choose Green Cleaning.
We offer flexible employment opportunities to our team so that their hours can fit in around our clients and their own lifestyles and family commitments. We also aim to employ people in local areas so they don’t have to travel long distances to client’s homes.
We clean just about all areas of your home and this varies for each client and their requirements. A member of the Bliss management team will arrange an initial meeting with new clients to ensure we have a clear understanding of what they would like cleaned in their homes. This is then agreed upon and you’ll get to meet your cleaner as they get started. As a general guide the areas of house cleaning services we offer include:
We also perform regular follow ups both with our clients and conduct home inspections to ensure everything is running smoothly and cleaners are performing their role correctly. Our Supervisors are always available to discuss and adjust any aspects of your home cleaning. This is a very important part of our Quality Assurance process.
We thoroughly train all our team members individually so they have an understanding of the green cleaning products as well as how they are best used. Our extensive training program also offers hands-on training so that new team members learn how to safely clean without causing injury to themselves in compliance with our Health and Safety Policy.
Our house cleaning team is fully supported by our management and training team and we regularly have training sessions to revisit and review our cleaning methods as well as introducing any new cleaning products. New team members are placed with an experienced ‘buddy’ who will have them learn on the job as well. This helps with the hands-on experience when initially beginning with our team.
While prior cleaning experience is not expected, the willingness to learn and being a diligent and reliable team member is very important to us. It is expected that our team members also have a valid driver’s licence and a reliable car.
Our team members are energetic individuals who enjoy what they do. They have pride in their work, are diligent and reliable. As most of our team members work autonomously, we do require our team members to have the following qualities:
We understand your home is your personal haven and sanctuary and we take security very seriously. We are very selective about the people we employ. New applicants are thoroughly screened and checked before becoming Bliss employees.
We do not hire any sub-contractors or contractors which is important to our clients, so they know exactly who is coming to their home. This also means that our team is covered by WorkCover and are insured for public liability and any damages.
Our recruitment program is rigorous and each applicant will go through an initial phone screening. If successful they are invited to interview and are subject to background checks, identification checks, employment history is reviewed, and references are checked before being offered a house cleaning position.
We also assess an employee’s reliability and character to ensure they are a good fit for our team.
Given that Bliss Home Care is very aware of work-life balance we like to offer our cleaning team flexible working arrangements to fit around our clients as well as our team members. We create our rosters based on employee availability and the client’s requirements.
We generally offer a minimum of 15 hours a week of casual employment (Monday to Friday) and our preference is to hire cleaners in local areas to minimise travel. This means that we attract many women and men who like to work around their family commitments and often work during school hours after they have dropped off their children at school or childcare.
When you are a client, this means that you’ll most likely have a mature team member who is diligent and reliable, and one who also respects your home environment.
We understand that you’re a busy individual who has little time for cleaning or getting on top of your household chores and we’re here to help. If you’re looking to hire a cleaning service to free up some of your valuable time then we welcome you to click here for a quote. Contact Us for a Quote
We’re very proud of the service the Bliss team provides and many of our team members have been with us for many years. We do it best, naturally.
Are you seeking flexible employment with a green cleaning company? If you believe you’re a good fit for the Bliss Home Care team we’d love to hear from you! Click here to send us your resume Join Our Team
Is it really possible to reduce waste at home and save money? Each small step we take, every change we make will create a positive impact on our environment, our lives and the wider world.
One of our favourite quotes by Matt Bevin sums it up… “While it may seem small, the ripple effective of small things is extraordinary.”
Consider what sort of impact would be made if every person in the world did something small every single day. Collectively we’d make a big impact! Reducing waste at home may seem difficult and a big task at first but there are small things we can do around the home that will create less waste and the added benefit is that it can save you money too.
Here are our top five ideas to inspire you to make a change in your daily habits, and to reduce waste at home:
Your home is the best starting point because you can control what comes in and what goes out.
You will lessen your carbon footprint by using reusable items or those that are biodegradable. You will also save money when you are not constantly replacing items after every use.
Compositing may be daunting but it probably not as involved or messy as you may think. It’s an ideal process in particular if you’re keen to grow your own veggies. It builds good soil structure, it allows soil to retain nutrients, water and air and protects plans from garden diseases. All soil types will improve with the addition of compost.
If you’d like to give it a go here are the basic steps…
Once it’s ready add it to you garden and get growing your own veggies. Plant seasonally and you’ll reap the rewards
of delicious, fresh veggies that you’ve grown yourself!
If you’re still not keen you can keep your food scraps in a container in the fridge or freezer and find a community composting location such as a community garden to contribute to.
Before modern conveniences were available there was canning, freezing, pickling and fermenting. These are the methods that have been around for centuries to keep food from spoiling and avoiding it going to waste.
If you’re growing your own veggies or fruit then you may find that you have an abundance of fresh item each season. Next time you have too much of anything consider how you can preserve it and use it at a later date when perhaps it’s not in season. Here are some examples…
You’ll end up saving lots of money by not buying food and produce out of season and it will be just as fresh or tasty as though you’d just picked it. Best of all you will not be contributing to more environmental waste.
This one is one we are incredibly passionate about. It astounds us that supermarkets and retail outlets are still allowed to sell toxic and harmful cleaning products. These toxic products contribute to indoor air pollution and medical conditions and are poisonous, just read the labels on their own packaging!
You can create your own effective home cleaning solutions that will be safe for adults, babies through to teens, your pets and the environment. Best of all you are likely to have most of the key ingredients in your pantry already. These include:
You may also like to read more in our article, 10 Natural Home Cleaning Hacks, which provides great tips on cleaning almost every area of your home without the nasty, toxic chemicals. When you choose to stop buying expensive and toxic solutions you will quickly notice how much money you are saving! Not to mention the health benefits…
Do you really take notice of how much you throw in the bin? Sometimes we think we are recycling, reusing and being responsible but we often don’t realise how much we are actually sending to landfill until we empty the contents of our bins.
Once a week empty the contents of your bin (including recycling bins) and see where you can make small changes to your habits to contribute less to landfill. Here are some ideas for your consideration….
So there are our five tips to help you reduce waste at home and save money along the way. Best of all you can get the whole family involved. Buy less, waste less, save more! Create a ripple effect by starting in your home and community and watch the movement grow around our precious world.
The change in urban environments and our work commitments means that many people now live in smaller spaces and don’t get out in the fresh air as often. So why not bring the benefits of the outdoors into your inner sanctuary by using beautiful, green and lush indoor plants?
While this may seem like a new trend, the benefits of incorporating plants into the indoors have been around for hundreds of years. Not only are indoor plants easy to look after and maintain, they are powerfully packed with lots of health benefits too. Here we explore the benefits of indoor plants for your health and mind, and which plants are best to use.
Indoor plants drastically reduce indoor air pollution and purify the air inside your home. Our homes can harbour unhealthy invisible toxins such as benzene formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. These toxins are emitted through furniture, carpets, appliances and household products. Studies have found that incorporating plants into our indoor space can eliminate and neutralise the air within our homes and purify it so we can breathe easier.
Recent studies have shown that green indoor plants with broad leaves help boost your mood and alleviate stress levels. They stimulate the mind and enhance productivity so are a great addition to a teenager’s room who is studying for exams, your study nook or your home office. Green luscious leaves and plants also add colour and life into the indoor space you inhabit. Plants are also known to increase positivity and mental well being.
With the busy lives we lead these days having a restful and blissful eight hours sleep each night can be challenging. There are some plants whose fragrance can stimulate relaxation and promote a better night’s sleep, in particular lavender or jasmine. The fragrance from these plants are beneficial when placed in the bedroom and can help you relax and unwind prior to drifting off to sleep.
Ten percent of the moisture in the air we breathe is released by plants. This is particularly helpful when the air quality in our homes is rather dry especially when the heating is running during the winter months. So if you have family members who suffer from eczema and asthma they will benefit from the humidifying effects of natural living plants in the home.
You might already know about the health benefits of the aloe vera plant and its gel for the skin, but the plant itself is also great for purifying air. It has many healing benefits with the gel acting an effective healer for cuts, abrasions, skin conditions and for soothing burns.
There are numerous indoor plants to choose from which will provide you with the greatest health benefits, but how do you choose one that will look great and will thrive indoors. Here we have compiled our top 5 plants to use indoors…
The rubber plant (Ficus Elastic) is a great ornamental plant with glossy oval shaped leaves.
Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) is also known as golden cane or butterfly palm. It has a beautiful, luscious whisply leaf and is a very popular addition to any indoor space.
Lavender (Lavendula) is easy to grow and maintain in pots and ideal particularly for bathrooms or bedrooms for its calming fragrance and affects.
The Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum Sensation) has dark glossy green leaves that presents as lush foliage. A great indoor plant that grows beautiful white flowers.
Aloe Vera (Aloe Barberae) is often celebrated for its medicinal, soothing and air cleansing properties.
All of the plants listed above work well to eliminate air pollutants and toxins by taking in the toxins and converting them to oxygen.
Looking after indoor plants is relatively easy and will be enjoyable. Be mindful that plants will grow so ensure you choose a plant and pot that it lives in to suit your space and environment. To get the most from your indoor plants keep them well hydrated with regular watering. Most indoor plants will thrive in medium light so try and avoid dimly lit areas and direct sunlight. If you find leaves are wilting take your plant outside for some fresh air and a good water when the sun is shining.
Have some fun in your home by experimenting with decorative pot plant holders, hanging baskets and filling your rooms with green energy and life. To get the full benefit from indoor plants place them within two square meters of where you normally sit or sleep. Your health will thank you for it!
Let’s face it, our floors are one area of the home where dust, dirt, crumbs and bacteria constantly collect and live. This may be particularly concerning if you have young children who spend lots of time playing, rolling, crawling and even licking the floors! So let’s take a look at how natural floor cleaning solutions can keep your family home clean and safe.
If you’ve ever read the labels on commercial cleaning products you will be horrified by the chemicals and toxins that are included in these products. Not only are they harmful to the environment, but there has been much research to suggest they are harmful to our health and can cause serious health concerns over time.
Natural floor cleaning solutions are incredibly easy to create and use in your home. Most of the ingredients you most likely already have in your cupboards, so why not create a solution that is natural and safe?
Here we share our top tips for all kinds of floors in your home. These natural floor cleaning solutions are cost effective, easy to make and so much safer for your and your family’s health.
Timber floors are known for being low maintenance and a great flooring choice for those who suffer from allergies. There are many different finishes on timber floors from high gloss to matt and laminate. Firstly vacuum or sweep your floors. Never saturate timber floors with water or leave water sitting on the timber as this will cause damage when it is absorbed by the timber. Instead use a light damp mop as part of your regular clean to get the best results and maintain your beautiful timber floors.
Solution:
Mix one part white vinegar to four parts warm water (250ml vinegar to 1 litre warm water) and lightly spray on a microfiber mop for the best finish. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to the mixture if you’d like to have a nice fragrance throughout your home. Open doors and windows to ventilate the air and ensure the timber floor dries well.
Tiled floors are very durable and give a very sleek, modern look to any home. When maintained regularly your tiles and grout will keep looking new over time. Most tiles are made from ceramic or porcelain and are very easy to keep clean. Firstly sweep or vacuum your tiled floors and then proceed with the following natural cleaning solution.
Solution:
Fill your mop bucket with warm water and add quarter cup of white vinegar. Use a clean mop (our favourite is a microfiber mop), wring out as much water for a streak free finish. You can also add your favourite essential oil to the mixture if you want to leave your home smelling fresh and nice. If you have heavily soiled floors or dried stains you can add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the mixture for more effective cleaning. Remember to change your water frequently while mopping for the best finish. Open doors and windows to ventilate the air and allow for faster drying.
Note: avoid using sponge mops as these tend to retain more water and the water gets pushed into the grout lines.
Carpets are cosy and comfy and normally used in bedrooms and living rooms. Rugs are also a great way to add warmth to floorboards or tiled areas, however carpets and rugs are renowned for collecting dust, crumbs and dirt particles.
As part of your regular clean vacuum the carpet or rug and if you want to give it a spruce up or have some stains to clear then try this natural solution.
Solution:
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water. Spray on stain and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing clean with a soft brush. If you have a stubborn stain try adding 1 or 2 drops of dishwashing liquid to the mixture and scrub gently with a soft brush. Wipe clean with a clean cloth and allow to dry completely by opening windows to ventilate the room.
Note: try the solution on a small patch of carpet to ensure it does not discolour prior to using.
As passionate advocates of natural cleaning we love to share our insights on natural cleaning and protecting you, your family, pets and the environment. Not convinced? If you would like to know more about why you should choose green cleaning you may be interested in reading our article, 7 Reasons To Choose Green Cleaning. We hope our tips on natural floor cleaning solutions help quickly and easily keep your floors clean.
Bliss Home Care also offers a range of natural cleaning products for other areas of your home, including a multi-purpose bio-bacterial cleaner, shower cleaner and stain and odour remover. Click here to learn more about our natural cleaning products.
