Why and How Detox Your Home

Spring is almost here and with it comes Spring Cleaning! Some folks clean out their closets while others liquidate nick nacks. But one thing we all should do is detox our homes as they contain all sorts of contaminants, chemicals and bacteria. From our floors to our beds and everything in between, it’s incredibly important to keep your home as clean and chemical free as possible for the healthiest living environment we can create!

Some of the easiest things we can do are:

1. Green Your Products. The best things you can use in lieu of conventional, chemical laden cleaning products are:
   • Baking soda
   • Club soda
   • Hydrogen peroxide
   • Lemon juice
   • Salt
   • Vegetable oil
   • Vinegar (white or cider)
2. Ditch the Dryer. Drying your clothes in an electric or gas dryer isn’t just hard on your clothes; it’s also hard on the environment. Don’t stop with natural laundry detergent. Stay green every step of the way and install a clothesline in your backyard or utility room.
3. Plant it. Install a living air filter—houseplants! Some of the most efficient air-cleaning houseplants include Spider plants, English ivy, rubber plants, and peace lilies. You’ll need 15 to 18 medium-sized (6 to 8-inch diameter container) houseplants for the average 1,800 square foot house. Or at the very least, place a few plants in the room where you spend the most time.
4. Paint Job. If spring cleaning at your house involves a fresh coat of paint, consider the VOC content of the paint when choosing your paint. VOC’s, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicals that form vapors at room temperature. Some VOC’s, like the ones in many paints, contribute to smog and indoor air pollution, and can cause a host of short- and long-term health problems. The good news is that many paint manufacturers have started making low- or no-VOC paints. The bad news is that many of those manufacturers have simply substituted VOC’s with other non-VOC-yet-still-toxic chemicals. Do your research and find the healthiest, greenest paints for your house before starting the project.
5. Trash your Swiffer. Instead of continually buying expensive single-use mop pads, invest in a reusable mop. Widely available in health food stores and general stores, mop heads can be washed in your washing machine, hung dry, and used again and again.
6. Green Windows. If windows are especially dirty, wash them first with a soft cloth dipped in soapy water. You’ll want to wring it out after you do the dipping. Then follow the soapy water wash with a rinse using one part white vinegar to four parts water. The easiest way to do this is to put the vinegar and water mixture into a spray bottle. Squirt the windows and then buff them dry with crumpled newspaper. This works great on mirrors, too.
7. Freshen Up Your Furniture. There’s no need for expensive furniture polish. Simply mix one part lemon juice to three parts vegetable oil. Apply to the surface of your wood furniture with a soft cloth, allow to sit for a few minutes, and then use a clean, dry, soft cloth to wipe away any excess and buff the furniture to a shine. Use only on furniture—never on wood floors.
8. Chimney Sweep. If your wood-burning fireplace has gathered soot and smoke smudges around its exterior, you can spruce it up by applying a paste of cream of tartar and water. Rub the paste into the stains, let it dry, then scrub it off. If it’s the inside of your fireplace and chimney you’re worried about, you can help loosen soot build up by tossing an occasional handful of salt into the fire the next time you’re enjoying your fireplace. The burning salt will help loosen the soot a little, buying you some time between major cleanings.
9. Liquidate. Yep, its time to get rid of stuff you don’t use or need. Reducing your space and the stuff in it will give you less surfaces that need cleaning or catch all that dust. Living clean and green is also living lean!
10. Eco Carpet Cleaning. Carpets are the biggest filters in the home. The largest surface area where track in all kinds of stuff and where everything eventually settles. It’s incredibly important to keep our floors clean and just important is what we do to keep them that way. My friends over at ZeroRez Socal recently helped me steam clean my carpets the super eco way as they use an alkalinized water so pure, you can drink it! What is more eco and celan than that? Check out all the dirty surfaces they can clean around your house!

• Carpet Cleaning (great on berber!)
• Area rug cleaning (incl wool, silk, cotton, Persians)
• Upholstery cleaning
• Tile and grout cleaning and re-sealing
• Natural stone cleaning (marble, travertine, etc.)
• Hardwood clean and buff
• Mattress cleaning
• Air Ducts and Furnace cleaning
• Pet urine removal
• Linoleum and vinyl tile cleaning
• Counter top cleaning
• Shower cleaning
• Leather furniture cleaning
• Patio decks, garage floors, walkways
• Autos, boats, and motorhomes cleaning
• Carpet stretch and repair
• Commercial facility cleaning

So this spring, see how many of these tips are helpful when it comes time to detox your home!

*As a Zerorez SoCal Ambassador, I get to share a special discount to my SoCal readers! 2 Areas for $99! You can make an appointment today by calling  866-937-6739 and using code VOYA02 to receive the special rate. It covers carpet, hardwood, tile and grout, and natural stone.

*This post was sponsored by ZeroRez Socal