Bed Bugs seem to never go away.  Phillip M. Tierno, Jr. a clinical microbiologist tells us that there are "countless intruders" with us every night. This should be enough to make you pay special attention to how you care for your sheets. So here are some tips:

When should you change the sheets? - Once a week is standard and anything beyond that is simply inviting more unwanted critters. For those who are actively involved with others, changing them more regularly would be more sanitary. You will also be safer from breathing in the debris that accumulates.

What causes this debris?  Human skin cells become food for dust mites. That is one of the biggest problems associated with bedding.  Mites accumulate along with their feces. Then there is animal hair, dander, fungal mold, fungal spores, bodily secretions and bacteria. Then there is lint, fibers, insect parts, pollen, soil, sand and cosmetics. Now that is enough to make me want to change them daily. For those of you who like to eat in bed and sleep with your animals, I suggest you either re-think this, or begin to change those sheets more readily.

How does this debris affect my health? Apparently all of this is mainly a threat to your respiratory tracts. If you have any allergies or asthma, this can exacerbate it. If you don't have an allergy, it can bring one on.

What is the ideal way to wash sheets? The water should be 130-150 degrees Fahrenheit, typically on a hot water cycle and dry the sheets using a hot drying cycle. This actually kills lot of vegetative materials. You can also use bleach since it serves as an excellent germicide, but use low concentrations of it.  You can also use a cold-water non-bleaches use peroxide which also serves as a germicidal.

What about the mattress and pillows?  To protect your mattress, use an outer cover.  Everything collects there and is absorbed into its core. Outer covers are made of pliable, plastic vinyl.  Pillows should also be in covers.It is a good idea to take a small vacuum attachment and use it on the entire bed frame and mattress before putting on the cover.

Attending properly to your sheets isn't just about housekeeping rules, it is about your health.

http://www.MartaPerrone.com

Most companies that produce cleaning products want their own "green" version to compete. Manufacturers like "Method" have great packaging that is very appealing, but still costly. For those watching their budget, they turn to home-made remedies by using Baking Soda, Vinegar and Water. Here are some ways to concoct your own arsenal of cleaning supplies:




OVEN CLEANER
1 cup baking soda (or more, as needed)
Water
A couple squirts liquid detergent

Spray water generously on the oven bottom, then sprinkle with enough baking soda so the surface is entirely white. Spray on more water and let it sit overnight. Grime and grease will be loose by then and you can easily wipe it off (a spatula works well). Then put some soap on a damp sponge to scrub off the remaining residue.

ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER

1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax)
1/2 gallon water
Store and use indefinitely. Good for removing water deposit stains in showers, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, mirrors.

FURNITURE POLISH

For varnished wood
1/2 teaspoon oil, such as olive or jojoba
1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice
Mix ingredients in a glass jar. If it’s closed tightly it will last indefinitely. To use, dab a soft rag into the solution and rub on wood surfaces.

For unvarnished wood
2 teaspoons each of olive oil and lemon juice

Mix and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to distribute the oil evenly and wipe with broad strokes.

LIME DEPOSITS

From bathroom fixtures
Squeeze lemon juice directly onto affected areas and let sit for at least 10 minutes before wiping with a wet cloth.

METAL CLEANERS AND POLISHES

Silver: Line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water. Add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with a soft cloth.

Brass or bronze: Mix equal parts lemon and baking soda, or equal parts vinegar and salt. Polish with a soft cloth. Rub a dab of ketchup on tough tarnish spots.

Copper: Boil a pot of water and add 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Using a cloth, apply to copper while the liquid is hot; let it cool and then wipe. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. Rub a dab of ketchup on tarnished spots.

Aluminum: Make a solution of equal parts cream of tartar and water. Rub with a soft cloth.

MOLD KILLERS

“Tea Tree Treasure”
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend and spray on mold. Do not rinse. The strong smell of tea tree oil will dissipate in a few days.

MICROWAVE OVEN CLEANER

1 part lemon juice
2 parts water
Mix the ingredients in a microwave safe mug or bowl and heat until steam fills the oven, about 10 minutes. Let it sit until the oven cools before wiping it out. The steam kills the microbes and the lemon leaves a clean fragrance.

CARPET STAINS

Use equal parts white vinegar and water.
Mix in spray bottle. Spray directly on stain and let it sit for several minutes. Then, scrub with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto the spot and wait 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For heavy duty stains
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup borax
1/4 cup vinegar
Stir into a paste to rub into the stain. Let it sit for at least 3 hours and vacuum.

VINYL AND LINOLEUM FLOOR CLEANER

1 cup vinegar
A few drops baby oil
1 gallon warm water
For tough jobs add 1/4 cup borax (but use it sparingly on linoleum.)

WOOD FLOORS

Equal parts Murphy's Oil and water
Add a few drops of peppermint oil (optional)
Mix for damp mopping.

SOFT SCOURING POWDER
For stove tops, refrigerators and other surfaces that shouldn’t be scratched, apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

TOILET BOWL CLEANER

1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar
Pour into the basin and after about 15 minutes scrub with a brush and flush.
Use a pamas stone for those rings around the toilet.

GLASS CLEANER

2 teaspoons vinegar
1 quart warm water
Mix in a spray bottle and shake it. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don’t clean windows if the sun is on them or if they are warm because, if you do, streaks will appear when it dries.

TUB AND TILE CLEANING
For simple cleaning, sprinkle the surface with baking soda, scrub with a damp sponge or cloth and rinse with water. For tougher jobs spray surfaces with vinegar first, and follow by scrubbing with baking soda. Avoid grout if using vinegar.

Sources include: Annie B. Bond; eartheasy.com


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http://www.MartaPerrone

_ In my training a Mom's Best Friend in Austin this weekend, a domestic worker who spoke English very well and is paid highly as a Laundress by a family who has a full staff spoke up and said that as a domestic worker, she feels like a “bottom feeder” on the totem pole of workers.  I was astounded to hear this since she was certainly very professional and apparently was excellent at her work. But it showed me immediately the low self-esteem many of these domestics feel inside.  I walked to the board and drew a triangle and said to her that the bottom of the triangle is the widest and also the part of the triangle that supports the pinnacle. Without the foundation filled with competent workers to support the pinnacle, there is no triangle. She smiled and thanked me telling me that she never had seen things like this before.

Domestic workers can feel their value through education and training. There is no reason for anyone NOT to be proud of the work they do.  A hard day of work is valuable to anyone and something that should not be diminished in any way. It isn’t like the old days when we had the likes of Downtown Abby where domestics lived a life devoid of excitement and had no life for they were forced to live vicariously through their principals – social and sexual lives while they lived in sparsely decorated unheated rooms that were sparsely decorated for fear that having anything more than this would spoil them.

My goal is to raise the bar by training every domestic worker in all areas required so that they have a good understanding of what it is to be a professional. One that can walk with their head up high and when asked what they do, respond with “I am a professional housekeeper.” 

http://www.martaperrone.com