The kitchen is the heart of the home! It is where families gather, eat, laugh, learn, make memories; but most of all, the kitchen is where families make a mess and lots of it… and for all those reasons, the kitchen is a great place to start SPRING CLEANING!!!
If this is your first time spring cleaning with Norwex, you are in for a treat. Norwex is not only environmentally friendly and a money saver, but Norwex will also save you time. Lots of time!!! It will take you 75% less time to do your spring cleaning with Norwex products than with traditional methods and cleaners. Norwex uses water and superior microfiber to clean most surfaces… it is quick, easy and effective.
This year I want to give you a quick and easy reference list of things to clean and how to clean them. Check them off as you go… your kitchen appliances and surfaces will be spring clean in no time!!!
Norwex cleaning methods are unique and sometimes require clear instructions… check out the YouTube tutorials to ensure you are getting the most out of your products.
Now for the surfaces of your kitchen. We all wipe down the counters on a regular basis, but in the spring it is a good idea to do a deep clean of all the surfaces, including; counters, cupboard shelves & doors, and even the table & chairs.
How to Clean Granite Countertops:
Once this spring clean list is complete, your kitchen is going to feel fantastic!!! Check back soon for my bathroom spring clean tips. Happy Spring Cleaning with Norwex!!!
Comment below: What will you do first?
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
Our homes collect dust. Dust is made up of all sorts of stuff – organic stuff like dead skin, but also toxic stuff from our environment. Although spring cleaning includes dusting because of how wonderful it feels when the dusting is done, but it should also be done as a fight against toxins in our homes. The EWG or Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to empower people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment”. They conducted studies to reveal the dirt about dust in our homes. They found that dust,
“is a place where harmful chemicals are found. One recent study by the Silent Spring Institute identified 66 endocrine-disrupting compounds in household dust tests, including flame retardants, home-use pesticides, and phthalates.
The chemicals in your dust originate from both inside and outside your house:
1 Products inside your house “shed” chemicals over time — furniture, electronics, shoes, plastics, fabrics and food, among other things.
2 Outdoor pollutants enter on your shoes and through open and cracked windows and doors.
Once inside, the contaminants in indoor dust degrade more slowly (if at all) than they would outside in the environment where moisture and sunlight typically break them down.
One type of toxic chemical commonly found in household dust is chemical flame retardants (aka PBDEs). As highly flammable synthetic materials have replaced less-combustible natural materials, PBDEs have been added to thousands of everyday products, including computers, TVs and furniture — among many others.”
The EWG cautions that young children are at a higher risk of being exposed to these toxins because they spend most of their time playing on the floor putting their little fingers and anything they grab into their mouthes… so let’s get started and remove dust without adding any more chemicals.
Walls – First you will need to wash your walls from fingerprint height and lower (everything above this height is just dust) using a well-wrung Enviro Cloth. For any scuffs use a small square of a Micro Cleaning Hand Pad and give it a scrub. For dusting, lock the head on your Mop, attach the dry head (yellow), and dust all the way to the ceiling.
Wood Furniture – Put a Dusting Mitt on each hand- the faster you can dust the better- and give the dusting mitts one spray of water. It will remove all the dust, finger prints, coffee marks etc. and leave the furniture streak free.
Doors – Put a Dusting Mitt on each hand, spray with one squirt of water clean the details in your doors beautifully.
Blinds – Put a Dusting Mitt on each hand and hold the blind with one hand and rub along the face and underside of each slat. The mitts will hold a lot of dust while leaving your slats clean.
Watch how:
Door Frames – Bend the EnviroWand in an upside “U” and drag along the tops of your door frames.
Pictures Frames – Put a Dusting Mitt on each hand and hold the frame with one hand and dust with the other.
Light Fixtures & Ceiling Fans – Bend your EnviroWand and give it a squirt of water and gently remove all the dust from those fixtures.
Done!
Remember your EnviroWand can bend and flex, so give it a squirt of water and sneak it into areas you have never dusted before.
Between the Dusting Mitts and the EnviroWand you will be able to dust the majority of the surfaces in your home. Isn’t that amazing?
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
With the long-waited spring season comes the long-waited barbecue season! Spring cleaning would not be complete without getting one of our favourite “tools” clean. As the BBQ works hard during the summer months to supply mouthwatering meals, I would like to show you a biodegradable, all-natural but tough cleaning system for your BBQ that works FANTASTIC! It is one that you will feel comfortable cooking dinner on, right after you clean it.
Roll your BBQ onto a tarp or a used newspaper to avoid staining your deck — this is a greasy and sometimes drippy job.
Heat your BBQ to its lowest setting, approximately 150 degrees, turn off.
Spray the BBQ racks including the upper racks with Oven & Grill Cleaner, close the lid and let sit for five minutes.
Grab a small bowl of water and a use a Spirinett to scrub across the face of the BBQ racks. This stainless steel ball will remove all the burnt on deposits and make your racks clean and shiny.
To finish the job, use an well-wrung EnviroCloth to wipe both the outside of the BBQ and the racks inside that you just scrubbed.
Bring your EnviroCloth to a sink and rinse well; rub it on itself to remove the majority of the grease.
Put your BBQ back in its original spot – ready for your next BBQ!
Done!
While we are outside let’s continue our “get it done” spring cleaning, by getting started on the windows. Our windows collect dirt, debris, whatever hit your window or what they left behind and creates another spring cleaning job. I would like to show you a simple method to maintain clean windows in your home that doesn’t not require paper towel or chemicals.
Box the outside edge of your window with a well-wrung, flat-folded EnviroCloth.
Wipe the remainder of your window with the same EnviroCloth. Spray your window with a little water if you find the moisture is evaporating too quickly.
Use your flat-folded WindowCloth to polish the window – leaving a streak-free and shiny window.
Done!
For high windows:
Attach a well-wrung EnviroCloth to your Mop System head – after you have attached your wet mop pad (leaving it dry) – with the clip system.
Lock the head of the mop so it doesn’t swivel.
With an up and down motion, clean your window.
Replace EnviroCloth with a Window Cloth. When your Window Cloth is dry you can only work in an upwards motion. So give your window a squirt of water and polish from the base to the top of your window.
Done!
Lastly, we will clean our patio furniture. Patio furniture is one of those things that gets dirty just by sitting there – not even being used. But we want to use them this spring!!! Again, this is a job that usually calls for paper towel and windex, but the Norwex method will eliminate the use of paper or chemicals. Even your kids can be the boss of the patio cleaning. So, let’s get started.
Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
This post is about deep cleaning kitchen appliances… the ones we couldn’t live without! I would like to share how to spring clean your oven without harmful toxins or the huge amount of energy output spent to run a traditional self-clean oven cycle, plus your fridge and your dishwasher and other small appliances without chemicals.
Oven:
The oven is a hard-working appliance and it shows the efforts of its labour in the grease spots, burnt on food, forgotten splatters and well, you know what I mean. The Oven & Grill Cleaner, a Spirinett, an EnviroCloth and Cleaning Paste will be all you need to spring clean your stove.
Preheat your oven to lowest temperature – approximately 170 degrees – and leave your racks in, they need cleaning too.
Turn off oven.
Standing to the side of your oven, spray the Oven & Grill Cleaner all over the door, walls, racks and floor of oven. Please be careful to not spray the gasket mesh on the door. Use a Spirinett to evenly distribute the Oven & Grill Cleaner. With the door fully open, let stand for 5 minutes. The enzyme cleaner will work to dissolve any roasted chicken or lasagna that escaped its dish.
Remove racks and place in sink. Using a Spirinett, scrub down the entire oven and then the racks.
Wipe clean with a well-wrung EnviroCloth. Your oven will shine and you will be able to see through the window again. A four-hour toxic process just became a half hour environmentally-and-canary-friendly process! Done!
Note: As you know, this is a dirty job and may stain your EnviroCloth. Remember to rinse your EnviroCloth well.
Now for the rest of your stove:
For the hood fan, remove your silver filter and place in the sink with hot water and a few tablespoons of Ultra Power Plus Laundry Detergent for 5 minutes. It will be shiny and look new. Use a dab of Cleaning Paste and an EnviroCloth to clean the rest of the hood. Wipe clean with a well-wrung EnviroCloth.
Use a dab of Cleaning Paste and a SpiriSponge to scrub any stove top. It will leave it clean and shiny without a scratch. For removable elements, soak the catchers in hot water and then use a dab of Cleaning Paste and SpiriSponge to scrub clean. Wipe down stove top and knobs with a well-wrung EnviroCloth.
Remove all your items from the bottom drawer. First vacuum up crumbs and wipe clean with a well-wrung EnviroCloth.
Remove drawer and vacuum the debris from beneath your stove and use your Wet Mop Pad to clean the floor before replacing the drawer.
For the sides of your stove, spray 2 squirts of water on the thick tassel side of your EnviroWand and wipe between your stove and cupboards. Done!
Note: This method can be used in your toaster oven too.
Fridge:
I recommend spring cleaning your fridge the day before grocery day. That way your fridge is as empty as it gets and there is less to move in and out.
Remove items from fridge.
Discard expired items and recycle empty containers.
Remove drawers and wash in the sink with warm water and a squirt of Dishwashing Liquid.
Wipe down all the shelves and walls of your fridge starting from the top to allow the crumbs to collect on the bottom. For sticky spots use a little Cleaning Paste and SpiriSponge to remove, for dirty edges and tough-to-get spots use the sharp SpiriSponge edge to loosen and for scuffs use a small square of the Micro Cleaning Hand Pad and scrub clean.
To clean the fridge door, remove the door compartments and wash in warm water with a squirt of Dishwashing Liquid, use an EnviroCloth to wipe the entire door.
Replace all compartments. Replace all your food.
Repeat the process for the inside of your freezer.
To clean the outside of your fridge, grab your Enviro Wand and give it 2 squirts of water on the thick tassel side, run the wand up the side of your fridge, over the top and back down the other side.
To clean your water dispenser area, spray with Descaler, let sit for a few minutes, scrub with a SpiriSponge and wipe clean with an EnviroCloth.
To clean the floor beneath your fridge, spray 2 squirts of water on the thick tassel side of the EnviroWand and slide all the dirt, debris, pencils and pieces of lego from beneath your fridge.
Lastly, wipe down the front of your fridge with an EnviroCloth and polish with a Window Cloth. For door handle smudges (on white appliances), cut a square of the Micro Cleaning Hand Pad and give it a scrub. Done!
Another Option: You can pull your oven and fridge out from the wall. Using your well-wrung EnviroCloth you can wipe down the sides and the surrounding cupboards and walls. Vacuum vents/coils. Clean floor with the Wet Mop Pad.
Now with the two toughest appliances clean… we can move on to some easier appliances.
Dishwasher:
This well-loved, often over-stuffed appliance needs a spring clean too.
Wipe the door edge with a well-wrung EnviroCloth to clean all the drips.
For any hard water/calcium build up or rust, spray with Descaler and scrub with a SpiriSponge to remove.
To maintain a shiny dishwasher, reduce the amount of detergent and keep your glasses from getting cloudy, place a Magnet Ball in the cutlery department. If you already have one, stuff a kid sock through the centre of the ball to clean. Done!
Coffee Pot:
Use a dab of Cleaning Paste and a SpiriSponge to clean your pot. Even if you thought there was no hope… the Cleaning Paste will remove all the coffee stains and make your pot shiny and look new.
Wipe the outside of your machine with a well-wrung EnviroCloth. Done!
Microwave:
Wipe down entire unit with a well-wrung EnviroCloth. Polish with Window Cloth.
Spray two squirts of water on your Enviro Wand and remove dust from beneath your microwave. Done!
Now that you have started, look how much you have gotten done! This kitchen is such a great place and now it just got better.
Did you know that this Friday is World Environment Day? Did you know that by cleaning with Norwex you drastically reduce your environmental footprint in our world. Keep up the good work and Happy World Environment Day!
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
I have been known to say, “If you don’t get started, you will never get done!” This is true about many things in life and especially true about spring cleaning. I grew up on a farm where we had a row of beautiful lilac bushes. Each spring they were one of the first flowers to bloom. Their beauty and scent not only reminds me of the spring but also the time to get spring cleaning. The kitchen is the best place to start because it is the high-traffic hub of our homes where we gather for meals, smell coffee in the morning, share stories of the day to connect with our family and of course where we raid the pantry.
Also, it is a place where we work hard and make our appliances work harder, often feel crumbs beneath our feet, know there are forgotten spills, crusted-on spots and greasy areas. For all these reasons, we will start spring cleaning our kitchens.
Cupboard Tops – Attach your EnviroWand to the Mop System handle and bend your EnviroWand to the width of your cupboards, spray the thick tassel side of the wand with 2 squirts of water and wipe across the tops of your cupboards. For heavy grease spots, use a dab of Cleaning Paste and scrub with a Spirisponge and wipe with a well-wrung EnviroCloth. Done!
Cupboard Doors – Use your EnviroCloth to wipe down the fronts, backs, sides and knobs. If you have debris in the nooks and crannies, use the sharp Spirisponge edge to loosen and simply wipe off. Finish by polishing your door fronts with a Window Cloth. Done!
Cupboards – This spring break I enlisted my girls for help! I asked them to choose two cupboards per day to clean. They chose to work from smallest to largest!!! They did a fantastic job with just water and an EnviroCloth. I will give you the same instructions I gave them:
Remove Items.
Discard expired items.
Recycle any empty containers.
Wipe down cupboard shelves, edges and walls with a well-wrung EnviroCloth.
To remove scuff marks, cut a small square of the Micro Clean Hand Pad and give it a scrub. Wipe clean with an EnviroCloth.
Replace items.
Repeat.
Done!
Tip for utensil drawers:
Vacuum drawer after removing utensils.
Use a Micro Clean Hand Pad to remove scuffs in your utensil try and wipe clean with an EnviroCloth. Done!
4. Back Splash & Counter Top – Remove items from your kitchen counter. Wipe your back splash and counter tops with a well-wrung EnviroCloth. If your grout is grungy use a dab of Clean Paste and scrub with a Spirisponge, wipe clean with EnviroCloth. Done!
5. Sink – Clean the sink basin with a dab of Cleaning Paste and the scrub with a Spirisponge. Spray the edge around your sink and the base of your faucet with Descaler. Let sit for a few minutes and scrub with an old toothbrush. Wipe clean with an EnviroCloth. Pour two tablespoons of Descaler into a plastic baggie and submerge faucet head, secure with an elastic. Let sit for a few hours. Use the sharp Spirisponge edge to remove build up. Wipe down sink and faucet with EnviroCloth. It will smile back at you. Done!
Now go out and enjoy the spring flowers, you have accomplished the start of your spring clean! Check back next week when we will tackle the home appliances.
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Delores VandenBoogaard is an Independent Norwex Sales Consultant from Edmonton, Alberta Canada with customers and consultants throughout Canada and the United States including; New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, North West Territories and Ontario. She also has customers and team members in; Michigan, Texas, California, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona, Missouri, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, New Hampshire, Iowa and Maine.
