How to Clean Granite

Not a big fan of the products used but stone can be a bit tricky.  Anyone have a better product/solution please post in the comments section below.

Looking for someone to offer a little help with social media for the Reno Americn Lung Asso. Looking for some1 to advise me as I assist.

American Lung Association: Fight for Air climb April 25th. Going to be a ton of fun. http://ping.fm/HWHSu

What a great day...very productive both from a client standpoint and getting involved with a local non-profit...more to come.

Had a question today regarding cleaning granite. Do you have granite and what do YOU use to clean water spots? Don't: use glass cleaner/all purpose cleaners. Do: use microfiber clothes...

On webinar about social media marketing hosted by a group in Australia! Very cool to connect internationally...

Cleaning Tips

Household Cleaning Hints and Tips

By J. A. Young

The following article provides sage (and easy-to-follow) household wisdom to keep your abode in tip-top shape.

Dirty Microwave: Put a dish of water in the microwave with a lemon slice and bring it to a boil. Wait until there is plenty of steam, then open and wipe out the inside with a damp cloth.

Greasy Pans: Add a tablespoon of vinegar to your dishwater to help remove the grease more easily.

Dirty Pots and Pans (with baked on food grime): Boil Coca-Cola in the pan and the burned, baked-on grime should come right off.

Ice Trays: Soak your trays in vinegar to remove hard-water buildup.

Musty Books: Place several dryer sheets between the pages of the book and place in a Ziplock bag for a couple weeks. Placing a book in clean kitty litter is also known to remove musty odors.

What does "Green" mean?

Are there some green cleaning products that are greener than others? Just what makes green cleaning products environmentally friendly anyway? There are several things.

First, they should not contain harmful chemicals like phosphates, borates or nitrates; you know, the things that kill the plants and wildlife exposed to the runoff.

Then, the ingredients that they DO contain should be truly biodegradable, breaking down easily and quickly into natural compounds like carbon dioxide and water.

And finally, the greenest of the green cleaning products are concentrated, meaning you add your own water to a small amount of the concentrate. This can keep hundreds of pounds of packaging waste from filling the landfills. It also drastically reduces the amount of weight being shipped cross-country, thereby reducing pollution related to the movement of freight.

Cleaning for Allergy and Asthma Sufferers

By Carole Pagan 

Ready for another round of allergies?

My daughter recently had a bout with asthma. The strange thing
is, she hadn’t had any problems for a couple of years. In
looking at the possible triggers – She had a new batch of
puppies at her dad’s. While the 2 dogs didn’t seem to bother
her, the addional puppies seemed to put her over the edge.

To make matters worse, since we hadn’t had problems for a coupleof years, I had become lax in some of the cleaning that I would have done when she had problems every year.

Once I realized what her problem was, I immediately started
cleaning for asthma. That means thoroughly vacuuming walls,
behind furniture, matresses, pillows, upholstery, screens, and
vents, and dusting every crevice- including things like behind
the tv and stereo inside the cabinet, the backs of furniture.

Controlling household mold naturally

Maryjane Butters / United Feature Syndicate

Tags: cleaning maryjane butters mold

Vinegar and baking soda are NOT friends of mold. Teamed up, they prevent re-growth.

No matter where it is we call home, our houses are all vulnerable to a nasty invader: mold. Its unsightly black and green blotches are the bane of anyone’s housekeeping efforts, but the effects of mold on our health are even more troubling. As we become increasingly aware of the importance of indoor air quality, it’s apparent that repelling mold is critical to maintaining a healthy home environment. Mold has been linked to a rise in asthma rates over the past 20 years, and it has been shown to contribute to weakening the immune system.

According to a Mayo Clinic study, mold is a leading cause of multiple respiratory problems and a contributor to nearly 100 percent of chronic sinus infections! This is an issue that we can’t afford to ignore, but if you’re eco-minded like me, it doesn’t make sense to employ toxic chemicals to fight mold. Fortunately, there are natural methods to kill and control mold that are easy to come by, inexpensive, and often more effective than commercial products.

Local green events ----- great stuff

Clicky: Green Events Blog - Reno

Cleaning products and Asthma

Here is a medical study done to determine if there is a connection: The simple, cut to the chase answer is; YES

Medical Study finds link