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Cleaning Myths vs. Facts

Is your house ready for holiday parties?

Cleaning Myths vs. Facts

Is your house ready for holiday parties?

by Amy Sardone on Aug 07 2024
Ode to Stain Gobbler Oh, gather 'round, my spooky friends, For a tale of cleaning that never ends! In the haunted house where we monsters dwell, There's a hero we adore, and we must all tell!  Stain Gobbler, the name we cheer, With enzymes so mighty, it's perfectly clear, Non-toxic and safe, this cleaner's our dream, It tackles our messes with a gleam in its beam!  Witches' brew spills and vampire bites, Mummy bandages and ghostly frights, Stain Gobbler arrives, oh, what a sight, To banish the stains and make everything right!  Its enzymes, they work like magic spells, Breaking down messes in haunted hotel, From ectoplasm goo to zombie slime, Stain Gobbler's the hero in cleaning's prime!  So here's to you, Stain Gobbler, so grand, In our monstrous abode, you take a firm stand, With your non-toxic powers, you've won our heart, Cleaning up after us, it's truly an art!  As Halloween monsters, we give you our cheer, For making our messes disappear, Stain Gobbler, you're the best we've ever seen, Our spooky, stain-fighting, cleaning machine!  Tips for Prepping Your Home for the Holidays! Whether you’re going to be hosting a Halloween party, Thanksgiving, or just having a few casual gatherings with family and friends over the holidays, now is a great time to get your house in order before things start getting hectic. With that in mind, we want to help you with some tips for stress-free cleaning so your home can stay tidy during this holiday season.  Ditch the clutter  We’ve covered this before, but it’s a great tip for tackling clutter: Go from room to room with an empty laundry basket to pick up clutter that doesn’t belong in the room. Move methodically, from left to right around the room so that you know everything behind you is clutter-free and you can focus your attention on the mess in front of you. If you don’t have time to sort through the items before your guests arrive, you can stash the basket in a closet or unused room until you get a chance to go through each item one by one and put everything back in its rightful place.    Prioritize your efforts  Start cleaning in the most important room in your house, the one where you’ll get the most bang for your buck with your cleaning effort. In my house, that’s the kitchen, because the kitchen is where everyone spends the majority of their time during any visit or gathering. You can also decide to start with the most difficult room, the one you’re dreading the most (e.g. the bathroom, in my case!). So tie on your Speed Cleaning™ Apron and get started! This way, even if you run out of steam, you’ll have covered the most important areas of your home first.  Move all your furniture to clean underneath  During the holidays you might have to get creative with making space in your living room to accommodate lots of people. In preparation for a last minute furniture move—did someone suggest dancing?!—take the time now to vacuum underneath all the forgotten spots so that you’re not caught unprepared when the couch gets shoved against the wall. You’ll be able to remove any dust bunnies or misplaced toys that somehow snuggled under the sofa. Looking for a vacuum recommendation? We’ve got you covered.  Kitchen cleanup  You’re going to want a clean and organized kitchen for all that holiday cooking that happens. So get it out of the way now (yes, you’ll have to clean up again once all the cooking has happened, too!). Clean out your refrigerator and toss out expired items so you will have plenty of room for the groceries or dishes you’ve prepped ahead of time. Wipe down your stove top with Speed Cleaning™ Red Juice. Clean off your countertops and sink. Wipe down the exterior of your cabinets and appliances. Just keep the image of all that delicious food in mind as an incentive to get this done.  Bathroom tidying  Be sure that the bathroom your guests will be using is clean and well-stocked with toilet paper, towels, and soap. You could also think about adding some holiday-themed candles or decoration to the room. Your friends for cleaning the bathroom are our Speed Cleaning™ Scum Bum for any hard water stains, Speed Cleaning™ Blue Juice for mirrors, and Speed Cleaning™ Red Juice for everything else. Day-of-party cleaning On the day that you expect guests to come over, here’s a reminder of things you’ll want to have handled: Make the beds, do all the dishes ahead of time so you have an empty dishwasher, check the bathrooms, keep rooms free of clutter, wipe down tables and countertops, and then pour yourself a nice cup of tea to celebrate being prepared for your guests and as calm as a cucumber. Congratulations, you did it! We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season!
Clutter Control:  A Book Review

Cleaning Myths vs. Facts

Clutter Control: A Book Review

by Guest Author on Aug 07 2024
Long before organizing gurus got their own TV shows, our founder Jeff Campbell published Clutter Control: Putting Your Home on a Diet.  The book provided practical step-by-step solutions to help you and your family organize your home and simplify your daily lives.  Clutter Control was originally published in May 1992 - just a few months before Marie Kondo's 6th birthday! In 2023, seems we all have more time at home than ever before and the topic of organizing keeps coming up.  So we wondered precisely how relevant is a 31 year old book designed to help even the worst pack rat get their home (and life) organized.  What better way to find out than to present the book to someone who just moved a lifetime of collected stuff halfway across the country to their retirement destination?  Read for yourself: I was recently given a copy of Jeff Campbell’s Clutter Control.  I immediately thought it was probably a humorous look at housekeeping, and looked forward to it distracting me from the job I needed to do.  I had just retired and left the home, city, and state, where I had lived for 25 years to move across country. I have moved many times (prior military), but this was a big one. I am a lot older, and 25 years of stuff was ready to box up and move…and that is just what we did!  I truly wish my friend had gifted me with this book BEFORE the move, but here we are and it will be my guide NOW. The book purposely does not give one of those “self-scoring tests” but there is a list of consequences of clutter and an interesting list of questions to ask ourselves…just to see where we place in the world of STUFF. Not all the issues pertain to me, so I felt pretty good that I was not one of the worst…but the ones that smacked me, were dead-on. YES, I can’t find things and waste a lot of time looking for them. (Everyday!) YES, my collections are starting to feel like just something to clean. (from Beer Steins to Scottie dogs!) And I do feel like I am living in the past, with no room for the present or future. (Barbie dolls since 1963…and I have no daughters or granddaughters.) And YES, I have more than one junk drawer. (no comment!)The book presents a set of rules to apply when you are ready to attack the job of getting your house organized. I almost quit at RULE 1: When in doubt, throw it out.  That’s a hard one for me but the book breaks down our reasons for keeping things forever. It gets very specific with things like books and gadgets that we don’t use, and offers solutions for storage or how to get rid of them. One of the rules deals with recycling.  Another with “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” This was always the rule when I was growing up in a family of eight, and I think in some ways, I still live like this. I can always find my keys, a pair of scissors, and the dog’s leash. But don’t ask me where the umbrella is, or to find a flashlight, so I still need a bit of help in this area. There is a rule about Labeling things. I plan to do this. I have boxes and have to look in each one to see if it is the one I want.  How simple just to label it with a brief description of contents? Rule 8 is DO SOMETHING. I know what needs doing and have a good idea where I want to be in my organization, but not sure where to start or how to get there. So here I am in a new home with ALL my stuff and I do not want to pay for storage, and I don’t want my house stuffed to the seams with things.  I love their line “we want to put your house on a diet, not stuff it in a girdle!”The core of the book is a guide on getting clutter-free and organized.  They discuss solutions and tips for every room in the house. They cover basements, attics, garages, closets, cupboards, and drawers with ideas varying from sorting by groups, sizes, alphabetization, and purpose. A section is devoted to children’s rooms and teaching them how to become better organized. There are helpful tips with bill-paying and the value of file cabinets. We can learn how to organize and handle all the paperwork in our life, as well as how to remember birthdays and even do our shopping better. This book was written in 1992, so some parts will seem dated, as we have advanced our technology to “store” a lot of our information. We store photos and recipes differently, and we rarely save magazines anymore, and most correspondence is done online. There is an interesting look at the psychology of clutter. It explains WHY we collect and save and helps us understand why so many of us get into trouble with it. I can call myself a “packrat” without feeling that I am mentally deficient, and think I am ready to tackle my household. I now know where to start and where I want to end up.  Clutter Control will guide me through.  This is a good book to pass on and I know a few to whom I will be sending it. Thanks for listening and I hope this little review was helpful.
Myth vs. Fact: Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products CAN Actually Clean!!!

Cleaning Myths vs. Facts

Myth vs. Fact: Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products CAN Actually Clean!!!

by Amy Sardone on Aug 07 2024
It is officially "mess" season - are you ready? Autumn's vibrant hues have begun to grace our surroundings. With that natural beauty, we also welcome the season of messes with open arms - and I'm not just talking about pumpkin carving gone awry. The changing weather ushers in muddy paw prints, leaves, pine needles, sticky candy goo on furniture (thanks Halloween), and extra messes from our upcoming holiday celebrations.  It's a season of joy, and yes, a season of mess, but here's the secret: eco-friendly cleaning products are not just effective; they're downright magical! In this month's newsletter, we're dispelling the myth that eco-friendly cleaning products can't tackle the toughest messes and stains. As the CEO and owner of Speed Cleaning, I've seen firsthand how our eco-friendly arsenal of cleaning solutions rises to the challenge, leaving your home sparkling and your conscience clear. Join us as we explore the world of eco-friendly cleaning and bid farewell to fall messes in the most delightful way. Myth: Eco-friendly cleaning products don't work on tough stains.  Fact: Many eco-friendly cleaning products can be formulated to tackle tough stains and grime just as effectively as conventional cleaners. The myth that eco-friendly cleaning products are ineffective against tough stains is often rooted in misconceptions about their ingredients and capabilities. In reality, many eco-friendly cleaning products can hold their own against even the most stubborn of stains. Here's the scientific truth behind it:  Enzymatic Action: One of the key principles behind eco-friendly cleaning products' stain-fighting abilities is enzymatic action. Enzymes are natural proteins that can break down complex organic compounds. For instance, protease enzymes can target protein-based stains like blood or food, while lipase enzymes work on oily stains. These enzymes are harnessed in eco-friendly cleaners, providing effective stain removal while being gentle on the environment.  Surface Tension Reduction: Surfactants, a common component in eco-friendly cleaning products, reduce the surface tension of water. This means that water can penetrate stains more effectively, loosening their grip on surfaces. This action enables eco-friendly cleaners to tackle a wide range of stains, from coffee to red wine, with ease.  Solubility and Emulsification: Eco-friendly cleaning products often contain natural solvents and emulsifiers that enhance their stain-removing properties. These components help dissolve and lift away stains by making them more soluble in water. This process is just as effective as the mechanisms in conventional cleaners.  Biodegradable Ingredients: Eco-friendly cleaners are designed with biodegradable, non-toxic ingredients. This not only ensures they are safe for the environment but also for your family's health. Their efficacy in stain removal demonstrates that you don't need harsh, toxic chemicals to achieve a deep and thorough clean. ?  In summary, eco-friendly cleaning products can be equipped with powerful, science-backed mechanisms to tackle tough stains effectively. These products harness natural enzymes, surface tension reduction, pH adjustments, solubility, and emulsification to provide robust stain-removing capabilities, all while adhering to the principles of sustainability and safety for both your home and the environment.

Cleaning Myths vs. Facts

The Secrets to Getting Grass Stains Out

by Amy Sardone on Jun 18 2024
How to get grass stains out  Kids are putting on their bright white uniforms and hitting the ball fields all across America, which means having to tackle grass stains is not too far behind. One of the best kept secrets about how to get grass stains out of baseball uniforms is our very own Red Juice! For all the moms out there who get home from games and spend so much time trying to scrub out stains (especially when out of town on road games, grappling with stains in a tiny hotel room sink!), we have to let you in on the secret. Red Juice works like nothing else to combat these stains and return the uniforms back to sparkling white form. If you’re heading out with the team on a road trip to play games away from home, be sure to pack a small sample size of Red Juice. You can buy a travel size bottle and fill it with Red Juice. We’ve had so many moms tell us that they’ve tried everything under the sun to get the stains out of the uniforms, but nothing works as well as Red Juice. One of our customers, Katherine F., even said she’s given away tons of Red Juice to her friends to help them with this problem. Of course, this doesn’t just have to be on baseball uniforms because kids will get stains on just about anything they wear. Kids will be kids, jumping in puddles and rolling around outside, so whatever stain you’re trying to tackle, we recommend using the Red Juice that’s in your cabinet for this. If you aren’t already using Red Juice to clean your home as a multi-purpose eco-friendly cleaner, here’s another reason to give it a try! Don’t forget that you can use Red Juice to clean your kitchen countertops because it is a safe green cleaner. Wherever there’s a greasy mess in your home, just grab your Red Juice and problem solved! Have you had success with using Red Juice to get out stains? We’d love to hear your comments!
Do I Need to Wash My Microfiber Cleaning Cloths?

Cleaning Myths vs. Facts

Do I Need to Wash My Microfiber Cleaning Cloths?

by Amy Sardone on May 30 2024
Today, we set the record straight on a common misconception regarding one of our most valued cleaning tools: microfiber cloths. It's time to dispel the myth that microfiber cloths clean themselves. Despite their impressive ability to trap dirt and grime, they require regular washing to maintain their effectiveness. Let's delve into the science behind this necessity. Microfiber cloths consist of thousands of tiny fibers, each with a unique structure featuring microscopic hooks and loops. These fibers work together to attract and capture dust, dirt, and bacteria from surfaces. However, like any cleaning tool, microfiber cloths have their limits. Once saturated, they can no longer effectively trap dirt. Continuing to use a dirty microfiber cloth simply redistributes the accumulated grime, defeating the purpose of cleaning altogether. To prevent this, regular washing is essential. BEFORE washing them... SHAKE THEM OUT!!! Shake out all the loose dirt and hair that may be stuck to them - we suggest doing the shaking outside! Here’s the proper method: microfiber cloths can be washed in the machine on a normal cycle, but it's crucial to use cold water. Hot water can damage the fibers, compromising their effectiveness. For heavily soiled cloths, warm water is acceptable, but hot water should be avoided at all costs. For an extra cleaning boost, consider adding a small amount of Red Juice to the wash. Not only does it aid in breaking down stubborn stains and odors, but it also helps maintain the integrity of the microfiber fibers. Consistency is key. Aim to wash your microfiber cloths after each use, particularly after tackling tough messes. While it may seem like an additional chore, the results are well worth the effort.  Interested in a fun step by step tutorial on cleaning your microfiber cloths? Check out our friend, Beth Eldredge's Tik Tok HERE Myth debunked! While microfiber cloths excel at cleaning, they are not self-cleaning. By incorporating regular washing into your cleaning routine, you can ensure that your microfiber cloths remain effective cleaning tools, maintaining a sparkling clean home. Happy Cleaning! Amy Sardone, PhDOwner/CEO

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