The focus on a greener planet can be applied to cleaning. There are safer, more environmentally friendly products on the market now that are just as effective for cleaning as chemicals. Greening Your Cleaning by Deirdre Imus looks at some of the harmful chemicals found in today's traditional cleaners. It may surprise you to know that all of these toxins in our home promote indoor air pollution which can lead to unwanted health problems such as allergies and asthma. No longer do we require the smell of pine or bleach to indicate that our home is clean. Did you know that certain species of houseplants can absorb some of the toxins from the air? This book includes natural products already found in the home that can be used for cleaning plus resources listing green products and retailers.
For a quick guide to making your own household cleaners try The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier. Using herbal formulas you can create your own non-toxic dirt busters for everything from laundry soap to wood polish. The internet is also another useful tool for finding household cleaner recipes. Clean and Green is a great list of common cleaner ingredients found in the kitchen cupboard or readily available from the grocery or drugstore.
If you are confused about where to begin, Real Simple Cleaning written by Kathleen Squires is a good place to start. This book outlines the tools you will most likely need to use for cleaning with a room by room cleaning guide. There are tips on how to clean various types of surfaces and materials including stain removal. Part of the cleaning regimen generally includes deciding which things to keep and what to discard. I follow the one year rule. If I haven't used it or worn it in the last year it's time to get rid of it.
Whatever rule you choose to follow don't forget to recycle! Pack up those unwanted, but still useful items and donate them to the charity of your choice. Bring an item to work and leave it in the staff room. Attach a "free" sign and watch it disappear. Try a yard sale or join the millions of people already selling on eBay. Both are a good method of earning some extra cash and recycling unwanted stuff. The Official eBay Bible by Jim Griffith is a manual of how-to for the popular online auction website for both first time users and experts.
Sometimes we accumulate too much stuff and before you know it, cleaning up can become a monumental task. Clutter can become exhausting and have a negative impact on mental well being. We make excuses, keep putting it off, and soon it is all too overwhelming. If this is the case, Peter Walsh addresses the problem in his book titled It's All Too Much. It may be that you simply need to learn to live within the limits of your space. Perhaps he can inspire you to make a clean break.
If you are simply unable to part with that waffle maker, hand knitted sweater from 1973, or battery operated milk frother you will need to get organized. Mission Organization by Home and Garden Television will help you sift through and store all that clutter. The Organizing Idea Book by John Loecke can help you make the most of your space. Lots of choices are presented from boxes or bins, to stacking or hanging. As well, the February 2008 edition of the magazine Workbench is titled Get Organized! It provides storage solutions for the basement, bathroom, closet and kitchen with patterns for the do-it-yourselfer. This magazine is available at both the Waverley and Brodie Reference departments. So open up the windows, let the fresh air in and start dusting!Michelle Paziuk, Library Technician
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