SCOUR POWER...THREE TOP SHELF CHOICES WHEN ELBOW GREASE ISN'T ENOUGH: ARM & HAMMER BAKING SODA, BON AMI, & MRS. MEYER'S CLEAN DAY SURFACE SCRUB!

We've all heard that the kitchen sink tends to be the most germ containing arena of the entire home, and I would have to agree. No matter what type of sink, this is where dried on food splatters, coffee/tea/Kool-aid stains, and other "mysterious matter" accumulates rapidly. Don't bother wasting your time with a multi-purpose spray cleaner. Grab a scouring scrub first!

The surface scrub I carry with me is the Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. I transfer the soda into a plastic Rubbermaid bottle with a pour spout for easy sprinkling. It is the least expensive of the three ($2.66 for a 4lb. box) and deodorizes while cleaning too. The only surface to avoid using it on is aluminum, because it can remove the protective oxide layer. Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a fine powder leached from deposits of the natural mineral nahcolite, found in the Piceance Basin in Colorado for over 155 years. It was used earlier than that by ancient Egyptians as a cleansing soap. Who would've thought we'd be eating and cleaning with ground up rocks? In 1846, two New York bakers (Church & Dwight Co., Inc.) established the first factory, with the Arm & Hammer logo being added in the 1860's. Like vinegar, baking soda is edible and has many uses other than for cleaning or baking. You can find more cost effective ideas by visiting http://www.armandhammer.com/.

Another mild-powdered cleanser regaining popularity with the "Green" cleaning fans, has been on store shelves for 120 years under the French term for "Good Friend," Bon Ami. The Faultless starch/ Bon Ami Company uses the slogan "Hasn't scratched yet" with a newly hatched baby chick on the can, inferring Bon Ami's safety for all surfaces. Bon Ami consists of Sodium Carbonate, Calcium Carbonate and Feldspar. This combination works quite well on tough jobs and is safe for cleaning aluminum also. Apparently, the only stains it could not remove were the bloody finger prints from the organ keys in the Don Knotts classic, "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." It was one of our favorites growing up and I'm sure Mom tired of hearing us repeat "...and they used Bon Ami!" for days after watching it. At $1.50 a can, this cleaner is still a good bargain. You can check out their new line of liquid cleansers and dish soaps at http://www.bonami.com/.

One whiff of the floral/herbal scents of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Surface Scrub cleansers and it may be the last natural scrubbing cleanser you put in your shopping cart, or, if shopping at http://www.mrsmeyers.com/, your shopping "bucket!" Though I couldn't locate a debut date for this product distributed by Clean & Company LLC, the website gives the background of the real Mrs. Thelma Meyer. She raised nine children in Iowa, one of which started the product line over the past decade. This newer cleanser contains Calcium Carbonate, Oxygen Bleach, Plant-Derived Surfactants, Fragrance & Essential oils. If you are like me and enjoy the smell of flowers, herbs, and cookies you might be scrubbing that sink every other day! I enjoy the relaxing lavender, but Basil, Lemon Verbena, Geranium, and Baby Blossom are also very nice. Seasonal scents are also available on line: Orange Clove, Iowa Pine, Cranberry, & Snicker Doodle. For allergy sensitive noses they offer Scent-Free, as well. The company site offers the surface scrub price of $4.99, but I found it for $4.49 at http://www.drugstore.com/.

Whichever scouring scrub you keep under your sink, make sure it is ammonia - , chlorine bleach - , paraben - , and phosphate - free, so you aren't breathing in toxins or absorbing them through your skin. It's wonderful to enjoy a clean home, but you shouldn't have to sacrifice your health for it. Scrub away!

I'M PUTTING MR. CLEAN MAGIC ERASERS ON MY "CLEANING PEDESTAL!"

In fact, I would probably need to quit cleaning if I could no longer buy or use this product. So, when I did a search online and found a "negative" article concerning their safety, I actually got a lump in my throat! I found a claim on http://www.snopes.com/ (the rumor debunking sight) that said Mr. Clean Magic Erasers contained formaldehyde and were being banned from stores. Given this was posted in 2006 (4 years ago), and the rumor status said FALSE ---I relaxed and took a deep breath. That was too close!

The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is not marketed by Proctor & Gamble, Inc. as a "green" cleaning alternative, but it is not considered a toxic substance either (to date). The only warning required on the packaging pertains to possible ingestion of the sponge by young children or animals, because it could cause an intestinal blockage.

Ok, so what is in these amazing little sponges that make them "magic?" I looked on another site, http://www.householdporducts.nlm.nih.gov/ and found that the active cleaning ingredient formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer (I know, it isn't vinegar!) made up only 5% of the sponge. The base is basically 85% Plaster of Paris; another 5% is Crystalline silica. It is in the making of the material that the real "magic" happens.

Wikipedia provided (uncited) information that stated the melamine foam is manufactured in Germany by BASF under the name "Basotect." It has been used for 20 years (so nothing new) for pipes, ductwork, and soundproofing material. The open cell foam is microporous and the surface is very hard (feels soft to me), but it acts like an extremely fine sand paper. It is similar in structure to styrofoam, but the bubbles interconnect into a maze of "fibreglass-like strands." The only caution I have found to keep in mind when using this sponge, is that some surfaces can get "scratched" or "scuffed" looking if you rub too agressively. ( Also, don't use it on skin. How do I know? Just use orange oil to remove fake tattoos instead...trust me, you will thank me for that one!) Anyway, "plastic glass" such as the front of a microwave is a good example. ( A very light touch can be tolerated, but don't apply much pressure.) Also, certain counter top finishes could get scratched trying to remove a very set in stain. Otherwise, the cleaning possiblilities are infinite.

Proctor & Gamble, Inc. offers several types of Magic Erasers. My favorite is the "extra strength" version. It won't shred so quickly and is superior in cleaning ability. There is a 50 cent coupon in each box and I just found a box of two at Blain's Farm & Fleet for $2.50. So, anyone can buy these for about $1 each. They last through many uses. Just rewet and use until there are small pieces left to pitch.

The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser combined with the vinegar/water cleaner is unstoppable on a very soap scummy shower. So, if Proctor & Gamble discontinues this product, I hope it's because they have something even better to replace it with. That will be hard to imagine! Until then, these will stay on my pedestal and in my caddy every day!

"NEW" SWIFFER DUSTER vs. "OLD" FEATHER DUSTER: WHY CAN'T THEY JUST BE FRIENDS?

We've all seen the commercial where the Swiffer Duster wand replaces the "outdated" feather duster. The poor feather duster even has a little suitcase sitting on the curb. I felt so sorry for the feather duster, I went and bought one. Now, I panic if either one of these dusters isn't in my caddy when I leave for a job. In my opinion, they are both very effective dusting tools for most dusting jobs.

The ostrich feather duster is far superior to any other bird feather duster for several reasons. The ostrich has a softer, more pliable feather with tiny finger-like barbules that grab the dust. They also resist static electricity, making them ideal around electronics. (FYI: ostriches aren't sacrificed just to collect feathers. They are plucked during moulting season. Ok, there are some "fun" jobs still available out there!)

There are several types of ostrich feather dusters:

• BLACK - come from the male bird and are soft and loose...great for delicate light fixtures or figurines.


• GRAY - sturdier than the black, but also very soft.. ..most popular and easiest to find in stores.


• FLOSS - most soft and delicate from under the ostrich wing.....also the most $.

I bought my gray ostrich feather duster at Target for under $10. There is also a Tennessee company, called the Beckner Feather Duster Company, which has produced hand-made feather dusters since 1913. They offer six types of dusters ranging in size (12"-32") and price ($6-$40). http://www.becknerfeather.com/.

Proctor & Gamble, Inc. has had record profits from their Swiffer product line. This doesn't surprise me, because most of their products deliver what they promise. The Swiffer Duster is a must-have for those out-of-reach areas like door jams, valances, and ceiling fan blades. The head can be angled to catch tops of armours or china hutches. (If you have to climb a ladder to keep these cleaned, it's very likely they'll just be skipped.) It is also great for edge dusting mop boards or cleaning under raised furniture. Wal-mart has the Swiffer Duster Extender Starter kit for $8 and a box of refills for $11.

So, the moral of this story is....."old" is still around for a very good reason. Things endure the test of time when they work well. Both of these dusters will swish dust into the air if you don't dust often enough. The key is to do it regularly enough to prevent any buildup. (Or avoid buying extremely dark furniture if you aren't a fan of dusting!) Meanwhile, we can all still enjoy the creative commercials P & G pays many $'s for!

STREAK-FREE WINDOWS & MIRRORS ARE THIS EASY!

If you have ever painstakingly tried to wipe off every little streak or smudge from a bathroom mirror, only to have more mysteriously reappear in the morning light, you'll love this discovery!

When I first began cleaning professionally, I mixed ammonia and water as a glass cleaner. It worked very well and was inexpensive. Overtime though, I began to develop vapor burns just inside my nose. I wondered, What else could be damaged by breathing these fumes? I switched to using white vinegar and water for awhile. (I still use that on very grimy, greasy windows or filmy shower doors.) But, I ordered a starter pack of cleaners from Imus Ranch

and nothing I have ever used performs as well as their Greening the Cleaning Citrus Sage Glass & Window Cleaner. Teamed with a lint-free flour sack towel, this combo saves me time and sanity every day.

This is the cleaner I reach for if I'm not sure whether a faucet or door hardware can tolerate the acid level of the vinegar and water cleaner. It contains no alcohol and is mild enough to be trusted on antique mirrors or glassware.

It can be ordered at http://www.imusranchfoods.com/. They offer several other very good cleaning products, as well as yummy chips, salsa, and coffee. Deirdre and Don Imus use the profits for the Imus Ranch, where children with cancer get to play cowboy/cowgirl in a toxin-free environment. You can also order her book, Green This! Greening your Cleaning on the website.

The flour sack towels are available at Wal-mart or on-line (5 for $5). My mom always used these for drying dishes and washing windows. Why change what has worked for that long without fail? They absorb best if you wash them first. The microfiber cloths are fine, but once washed, tend to hold onto lint and leave that behind on a mirror. They also have to have "just right" moisture conditions to work well. Who has time for figuring that out? Not me! Help yourself and help a worthy cause too... it's a win-win situation. You'll also have more reason to see a big smile in that glossy, clear mirror!

IT JUST MAKES SCENTS! LAVENDER OIL

I usually like to use my white vinegar and water cleaner mixed fairly strong (50:50 ratio), so the smell can be a bit overwhelming at times, especially in enclosed areas like a shower stall. As soon as it dries, the odor disappears also. It usually doesn't bother me, but some people aren't fond of the scent.

This week, I decided to try adding a little more lavender essential oil to the formula. The oil cut right through the vinegar scent and left a nice natural "flower field" smell behind. I had only added 6 drops to the bottle. It costs about $18 for a 4 oz. sized bottle at Heritage Natural Foods (Moline, IL), but at that concentration it will last a very long time for an average consumer.

Some other added benefits to using lavender oil in your cleaners are:

• spiders, dust mites, and other insects do not like it.


• it has an aromatherapy de-stressing effect on people. (Much needed for me!)


• it is a great antiseptic if you happen to cut yourself, get burned, or stung by a bee.

(Speaking of bees, the photo I took this morning is from the gardens of Lavender Crest Winery on Rt. 6 near Colona, Il.)

There are some precautions to keep in mind when working with all concentrated essential oils though:

• tip the bottle and allow drops to fall out. (Shaking could result in a splash in the eye)


• lavender is safe for skin contact, but oils like peppermint can burn.


• lavender is toxic to the livers of cats. (They should not even breathe the vapors)


• always shake your spray bottle before each use to remix the oils.

This trick is for some better sleep at night:

Just add 4-5 drops to a small spray bottle of water, spray it around your bed and pillows before sleeping, and you should drift off to sleep quite easily. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Welcome to the GreenSweep Blog page! I wanted to invite people to share questions and tips of their own with me and others here. I love trying out new or "very old" remedies for difficult cleaning tasks.

Here's my latest undertaking at a customer's house. The linoleum entryway had such a terrible buildup of dirt and old cleaners, that it was not even close to its original color. I actually discovered this after trying to remove a sticker residue with the Citrasolv cleaner I carry with me. Lo and behold, it ate the old dirt off too. This cleaner is made with real orange essential oils. I had to use it full strength, let it set for about 10 minutes, then scraped with a scouring pad, and rinsed with water.

I have to add that this little space did take me about 5 hours to shape up. As you can see though, it was well worth the effort and she decided not to replace the floor afterall.