Maid In America

 Looking to start using natural cleaning products but you aren't sure where to begin? Here are a few tips to get you going: There are a few must-have essentials to get you started. Throughout the coming year I'll share with you some of my favorite homemade cleaner recipes and scents, but this list here is where I started, and where you can start too. Baking Soda works best on proteins, greases, & animal messes; and because it's only slightly abrasive, it can scour surfaces without fear of scratching. It's also a natural deodorizer and less expensive than commercial scrubbing powders. I used to use a cleaner specifically marketed for glass cooktops when I started my business, because that's what we used before I bought my share of the business. The product is great and does the job, but it comes in a small container and is kind of pricy. So I decided to switch to an Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Kitchen Cleaner and see what happened, and I was thrilled with the re...

 I recently had a customer ask me what process could be done to deep clean a garbage disposal. I don't personally have a disposal in my home (where I've lived for almost 16 years), and I don't deep clean disposals as part of a regular cleaning. I do add vinegar to everyone's disposal when I clean, and I know that does help cut down on odors, but I decided it was time to take a closer look at what steps could be taken to deep clean a garbage disposal that really needs it. So, Janet, this one's for you! Most disposals I've seen look like the one here on the left. No wonder we're left with stinky kitchens even after a good deep cleaning! Your disposal needs a deep clean every 1-2 months as well, or you'll end up with a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Small pieces of food can get stuck in the splash guard or grinding chamber and eventually decay. Grease and stringy vegetables can leave behind a slimy substance that the disposal can't pulverize, an...

 To kick things off, here's a compilation of some of my favorite quick and easy cleaning tips and tricks to make cleaning up after your family easier: Toothpaste has many uses other than the obvious brushing our teeth, and I'll get into a comprehensive list in another post. I'm including one useful hack here that moms of small children are likely to find especially helpful: Keep in mind that with this next tip, you need to follow the exact instructions. According to plumbers, using the citrus rinds alone will leave acid behind in your pipes, which will cause costly damage over time. If you choose to use this hack, you must be sure to put an ample amount of ice cubes in the disposal with the citrus rinds and make sure the water is running at the same time. It will definitely be noisy, but there will be no damage done to your disposal or pipes. Clean hair brushes are better for your clean hair than brushes filled with leftover gel, hairspray, and other products. You can use t...