Curbing Our Dust Problem

Dust can be an issue in any home.  Some houses tend to be dustier than others due to location, age and interior features.  An old house with lath plaster walls will be dustier than a newer home with plastered walls as will a house with a lot of textiles or pets.  Increased household activity can cause dust to become airborne while indoor air currents can cause the dust to form dust bunnies, the bane of many homemakers.  Our home was built in 1994.  The walls are drywall and one selling feature for us was the absence of carpeting.  I quickly discovered that a home with all hard flooring did not mean less dust.  If anything, the dust is more apparent because it has nowhere to hide.

After moving in, I realized the floors needed daily attention to keep them dust free.  There is a farmer's field behind us which is only a problem when the farmer is tilling or harvesting so I simply keep the windows shut then.  I came up with several solutions to control dust in our home including the use of both wet and dry mops.  I use the Bissell steam mop for floors as well.

About three weeks ago, I noticed the dust of the floors getting worse which really didn't make a lot of sense.  It was still cold enough that I hadn't had the windows opened and it had been over a week since we had had a larger get together.  Still, where I had been able to keep the floors looking nice by dusting each morning, the dust balls were quickly growing into the size of dust tumbleweeds.  I resorted to sweeping the upper level floors morning and night but within a half hour of sweeping, they looked like they hadn't been touched.  I was getting frustrated so mentioned to my husband that we might have to install an air cleaner on the furnace.  I set about researching for furnace air cleaners when I cam across a site that listed several ways to reduce dust in the house.  The author indicated that in most cases a furnace air cleaner was not worth spending the money on.  One of his suggestions was using a higher filtering furnace filter.  We already use the 3M allergen control filters so I went down to the furnace to check the filter.

Oh my gosh!  I discovered the furnace filter was beyond being dirty.  It was clogged as you can see from the picture.  Clearly we had somehow forgotten to change out the furnace filter.  Actually, forgetting this important task is rather easy since it is not something you see on a regular basis and it is even easier when you spend time between two houses.  I know we changed a furnace filter back in December but it must have been at our vacation home.  At any rate, I did find the problem.

I turned off the furnace then went to the hardware store for a replacement.  With the new filter in place, I turned the furnace back on and set about removing as much dust as possible from the floors and furniture. I swept all the floors to remove the larger dust bunnies then vacuumed and finally used the wet mop.  Then I went through the house and damp dusted the furniture.  Once the dusting was finished, I turned the furnace back on.  The following morning, the floors were considerably better.  There were no large dust bunnies, just a light coating of dust.  I am using the wet mop with a vinegar and water solution each morning just to keep the dust knocked down even though it doesn't really need it.  At least the floors are back to looking normal rather than living in a dust bowl!

Our House is a Mess!

I would love to say our house is always neat, tidy and ready for unexpected company at any given moment.  The reality is, it isn't.  That's because I am a chronic multi-tasker with many, many projects on the go (knitting, crocheting, home decorating, home food preservation).  I'm a high volume canner which by definition creates a multitude of messes.  We are also working on the house so there are a lot of DIY projects that create a bit of chaos and mess. 

This past couple of weeks, my husband hung new drapes in two rooms and replaced the range hood, both of which I will go into further detail.  Then, I finally had enough of how our dining room table was looking so decided it was a good time to refinish it (more details to come).  While that project is moving along nicely, I'm getting little done in the way of housework and gearing towards my annual spring cleaning.  So today, I took action and got out my trusty timer to go back onto my 15 minute routine.  I'm focusing mainly on the morning hours (9 AM to noon) to do this, freeing up the afternoons for blogging, knitting/crocheting and cooking.  I'm up a lot earlier than that but unless under a crunch usually don't do much housework other than laundry before 9 AM.

The 15 minute routine is my modification of the 15 minute declutter from my Flylady days.  Her idea was to set the timer and do whatever you could in your zone in 15 minutes.  The month was divided into zones so for the first week of the month you only focused on zone 1 which I think was the entrance.  That never worked for me but mind you she was/is giving advice to individuals with severe clutter problems bordering on hoarder issues.  So while the zone thing never worked for me, the modified 15 minute routine did as did the 27 Fling Boogie.  For that, you grab a garbage bag then as fast as you can toss 27 pieces of trash into the bag, then toss the bag.  Once it is in the bag it can't come out.  I modified that a bit as well to meet my needs. 

I take the timer to any room and it doesn't matter which one, set it and do as much as I can in 15 minutes.  When the timer goes off, I have a 15 minute timed break which is much needed due to health.  Then I repeat the process.  So far today, I've hit the utility room, pantry, kitchen, master bedroom and living room.  I can't believe what a difference just 15 minutes can make in any room.  It is not a perfect system and the house will take two or three days to get back to normal but it is a system that is working well for me.  I'm looking forward to getting order restored in our house!

Dusting Solutions

One of the selling features of our new home was hard flooring throughout.  It certainly makes you appreciate exactly how much gunk was hiding in our carpeting.  Dust is a mixture of dirt and soil coming in through window screens, pet dander, human hair and sloughed off dried skin, dust mite carcasses and feces, and so much more.  When this gets into your carpeting it is bad enough but carpeting also harbours the proliferation of dust mites compounding the problem.  Dust can give your house that 'old' smell, or just an off smell that says your house isn't clean.

Dusting is a bit more complex than simply dusting.  Many can get away with dry dusting but if you have allergies or asthma, you really need to damp dust without using an aerosol spray.  Damp dusting picks up the dust without allowing it back into the air.  Static cloths and microfibre dusting pads are a must especially if you have allergies or asthma.  They work well without any sprays  allowing you to dispose of the dust easily.  Contrary to many beliefs, dust does not just accumulate on horizontal surfaces.  Every surface in your home accumulates dust including surfaces you wouldn't normally think of like light bulbs and clothes in your closet. Walls should be routinely dusted and if you don't think walls accumulate dust just run a static cloth over a couple to see exactly what is on your walls.

The thing is if you have no carpets you will notice more dust.  That is just the nature of the beast but at least you are seeing the dust and can deal with it than if the dust were hiding in your carpet.  Put an air cleaner on your furnace along with good filters then set about dust control duty.  If you have allergies or asthma, you already know how important it is to get this dust out of your home. Here are a few tools I use and tips for achieving that goal:

• wet dusting - Wet dusting does not put the dust back into the air where it can get into your lungs.  A light solution of Murphy's Oil soap is suitable for most wood, wood veneers and pseudo-wood surfaces including laminate flooring.  Just dip your 100% cotton cloth into the solution, wring it out and use it for dusting.  Repeat if needed.  This does a wonderful job not only of dusting but cleaning at the same time.  I make up a Murphy's Oil solution then pour it into a spray bottle for quick touch up cleaning.  
• wands - Many of the dry dusting methods require using some type of wands.  The most common is Swiffer but there are other brands.  Our local dollar store carries the generic long wands for $2 meaning you can easily have a couple at a considerably less price than the brand name and trust me they work just as well as the brand name for a lot less money.  You will want a couple of the longer wands and at least one short dusting wand (dollar store find with pad $1.50).  The head should be designed to use the static cloths (eg. have teeth grabbers) and the reusable dusting pads.
• microfibre cloths, pads and slippers - I honestly can't say enough about these.  They are a reusable dusting mop pad that goes onto a wand much the same as a Swiffer wand.  They work whether wet or dry and are machine washable.  Surprisingly, our local dollar store is the best place to buy them at $2 each so I have a few.  I am rather partial to the larger loop style but the fine loop style is available as well.  Walmart is now carry the large loop microfibre slippers so you essentially are dusting as you walk about.  I haven't tried them yet but at $7 per pair, I am planning to.  Basically with the slippers you are dusting your floors as you walk about eliminating the need for separate dusting.  
• static cloths - By far the most popular brand is Swiffer and the cheapest place to buy them is Sam's Club.  Static cloths are highly recommended by allergists because they pick up the dust easily without chemicals then with a toss it is out of the house.  A couple of years ago Swiffer started adding scents to their cloths so be aware of that which is one reason I now prefer microfibre cloths over Swiffer.  Also weighing against the static cloths is they are disposable meaning you are continuously spending just to rid you home of dust.  However, and especially when first trying to get allergies and asthma under control, the static cloths are a must for some applications.  Avoid any static cloth that has any kind of scent.  
• hand held steam cleaner - Dust tends to get into lots of nooks and crannies.  It can combine with moisture to create gunk for lack of a better word but not a lot of gunk just a thin layer that can harbor mold spores.  A hand held steam cleaner is a must have for getting rid of this gunk especially in crevices.  Not only does it get rid of the gunk it sanitizes, killing any mold or bacteria present.
• vacuum cleaning - Allergists will stress using a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner as one of the best ways of controlling allergens in your home.  I've tried several models of HEPA filter upright vacuum machines plus a canister vacuum before installing a central vacuum system in this house.  By far, the central vacuum is the way to go and you can actually have it exhaust to the outside meaning nothing from the exhaust comes back into your house!  We did that three houses ago when we had central vac but so far have not vented outside for the new install in this house.  Vacuuming is not just for floors either.  It can be used for so much more like around your windows, horizontal surfaces, blinds, walls and more.  If you have upholstered furniture use the vacuum on that to reduce dust mites, and other dust.
• the dryer - The dryer set on air only is ideal for removing dust from pillows, stuffed animals and other textiles.  If there is a concern over dust mites as there may be with throw pillows or stuffed animals, put them in the freezer for an hour then run them through the dryer on air setting.  The freezer will kill off any dust mites present and the dryer will remove their carcasses along with any dust mite feces.

Customer Loyalty

I posted earlier that I was a Bissell kind of gal.  I've used their products for years but that all changed last week when I called Bissell Customer Service regarding the wheel on my new Bissell Opticlean Cyclonic Bagless vacuum cleaner.  The machine is just barely over the 90 warranty offered by the store but still within the 1 year warranty offered by Bissell.  The wheel just fell off when I was vacuuming.  It didn't bump anything, it just fell off.  I put it back on and continued vacuuming but it fell off again.  Upon closer inspection, the two of the plastic tabs that hold the wheel on the wheel hub had broke off and this was with normal usage.  I called Bissell for a replacement wheel but they said I had to go through one of their service outlets.  The one closest to me is a 40 minute drive.  I called them and they said it would be a 4 to 6 week wait for the part.  Let's see, I have all hard wood flooring and severe allergies (aka daily vacuuming) yet I am supposed to wait 4 to 6 weeks?  In addition, I was supposed to drive 40 minutes each way twice?  Does Bissell realize just how much gas is now a days?  I called Bissell back to let them know it would be 4 to 6 weeks before my vacuum would be repaired.  Well, I might as well have been talking to a brick wall.  Here's the thing, if Bissell actually cared about their customers they would have just sent me a replacement wheel.  I would even had paid for a replacement wheel but instead they chose to not apply the finer art of keeping a customer satisfied.  Bissell has lost a loyal customer, plain and simple! 

My husband came up with a temporary repair for the Opticlean then last night brought home a new central vacuum.  It is a Hoover straight-air central vacuum system with attachments.  There are two head attachments but not a power head as this system is designed for hard floor surfaces.  Since we have no carpeting in the house, this central vacuum system is ideal for us and it saved $100 by not needed the power head.  We had central vac in our third house and it was a Hoover.  It was really quite delightful so I'm looking forward to going back to using central vac here.  I won't get rid of the Opticlean unit as that will be good for vacuuming out the vehicles.  I'll report back on the installation of the central vac and how I like it once the unit is installed.

Garden Gnome
©2006-2012

Birds Can Be A Problem

Morning Dove Nesting
April 29, 2009

Birds can cause a multitude of problems around your house and garden.  I watched our neighbour putting up steamers to stop birds from nesting over the awnings of his patio door.  I had to snicker a little while remembering all the problems birds have caused us over the years.  In retrospect the bird problems have been minor but at the time not so minor. 

I love feeding the birds.  So one year I tossed out the left over Christmas nuts for the Blue Jays and of course they always got their daily peanuts.  One of the downspouts of our gutters wasn't working but we couldn't figure out why until my husband took it apart to find the downspout practically filled with nuts and peanut shells.  One house we owned had a mulberry tree.  Now that was lovely cleaning the purple stains off of the light colour siding!  We've had birds down our chimney when heating with wood, birds hitting windows  and birds building nests where we don't particularily want them.  A couple of houses ago I was elated to see a Sharp Shinned Hawk (Sharpie)  hanging around and I did manage to get some awesome video.  My husband, on the other hand, was not impressed picking up the carcasses the Sharpie left behind.  We have had swallows at this house and our previous house that will seriously come right at your head missing by mere inches. 

When it comes to birds' nests we take the stance of leaving them alone if at all possible.  Pictured is the morning dove who made a nest in the eavestroph just abouve the downspout.  So apparently birds are not all that smart.  Anyway this nest was just above our main entrance and despite being build in a location where you would think water would be a problem the nest survived.  What was rather interesting is my husband or I  could go in and out that door without a problem.  Anyone else met the rath of a testy morning dove defending the nest. 

Birds can be a problem but for the most part should be encouraged as part of a healthy balance in your yard.  Sometimes they present a bit of a bigger problem but for the most part they provide a benefit to your yard and gardens.  I encourage birds via bird feeders, water sources and plants that will provide a natural habitat for them.  In return I get some rather nice pictures of our feathered visitors :)

Garden Gnome
©2006-2010

Well, now that the house is officially listed, I have a whole new daily routine. Much of this is based on what I don't like when house hunting. So I sat down and made a list of what I don't like then created a to-do list to help me achieve the things I like to see in a house. On my list of what I want to see in no particular order are cleanliness, sparkle, homey feeling and order. What I don't want to see is clutter, dust, pets, mess, dirty laundry or dirty dishes. The problem is while our house is up for sale, we are still living in it and that means certain activities have to continue. For that reason I have developed a couple of strategies. To see how I'm dealing with meals and the possibility of a showing during the dinner hour, check out my cooking blog, Mom's Cafe Home Cooking. I'll focus on my modified daily routine.

For awhile I tried Flylady techniques mainly because some of her tips make good sense. While I found it was a little too structured now that I'm home all the time, I still use some of her tips like a once a week 27 Fling Boogie and my dailies. She breaks home cleaning into zones but I had already developed my schedule. I also kept her idea of a 15 minute hot spot declutter. It works well for me. Most days I only need 5 minutes.

So I have a morning routine consisting of 5 morning dailies and an evening routine of 5 things I do before retiring for the night. Some of these things change depending on the season but for the most part most don't. These just make the house run smoother but for selling the house I needed something more so I've added 3 tasks to the morning routine and 2 to the evening routine. In the evening I set out the swiffer duster, 1:1 vinegar solution in spray bottle, 3-4 white terrycloth washcloths, vacuum cleaner and bring down whatever load of laundry I will do next. With the front loader I'm doing a load about every 10 days for dark and colours and once every 8 days for whites. What I do is put as much as possible for that load into the washer but leave the door ajar unless the house is being shown. In the morning, I do my regular routine then go through the house with the vinegar solution (shines & deodourizes) shining every possible surface including appliances. The swiffer duster makes quick work for keep dust under control. Then I vacuum and by then the house is ready at very little notice for showing. I think at most I'm spending an extra half hour in the mornings and about 5 minutes in the evening which isn't that bad if it helps sell the house. The other change I made was to try to run the washer, dryer and dishwasher in the late evenings so they aren't running during the times the house is most likely to be shown. This may sound like a lot of work but really it isn't and if it helps sell the house, it will be well worth it!

Garden Gnome
© 2007

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

We have been seeing an increase in allergies, asthma and chemical sensitivity due to indoor air pollution in our homes and workplace. The problem is manufacturers convince us that our houses need to smell of the latest, greates scent du jour in order to be clean. An earlier entry focused on what chemical free cleaners I use in my home that don't harm our indoor air quality or the environment. Several recipes for cleaners follow.

Cleaners

My last entry didn't give a picture so I thought today I would post one. My favourite non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaner is Simple Green®. It can be used for so much! Since I make up my own solutions, I splurged and bought commercial spray bottles at Sam's Club but you can find similar at the dollar stores or if you really want to save, just put the word out to your friends to save their empty spray bottles for you. Notice, I do lable my spray bottles and that is important. The pile on the left is a small portion of my cleaning cloths. I bought two 25 packs of terry cloth wash cloths at K-mart for $2.99 a piece. I use these for wiping up spills and cleaning. The handheld steam cleaner is on the right and by far could almost eliminate everything else but the wash cloths!

Steam Mop

Let's see, floors - we all have them and somehow we have to keep them clean. I use three tool: swiffer, steam mop and carpet steam cleaner. My steam mop is likely the second most used cleaning appliance in my home. Floors are squeeky clean with no chemical or residue. It has more than paid for itself! Not shown in the picture is my Bissell Carpet Steam Cleaner. It is an older model earned though Z-Points years ago. It's still going strong and does a great job of cleaning carpets.

Ok, so you are all gun ho on going towards non-toxic cleaners BUT you don't want to or can invest in a handheld steam cleaner ($39.99), steam mop ($79.99) or Simple Green ($8.99). The first thing is to congratulate yourself on making one more step to a healthier home and you. The second step is to arm yourself with a few inexpensive supplies: vinegar, baking soda, washing soda, spray bottles, pure bar soap and bleach if you can use it. Total cost should be under $15. From there you can start replacing your regular toxic cleaners for more environmentally friendly onew with one or more of the following recipes. Your home will smell clean and be clean without you polluting your indoor air or your body.

Warning: Even homemade cleaners can pose a risk to children and pets. Always label your homemade cleaners including a complete list of the ingredients. Keep them out of the reach of children and in case of accidents, call your poison control centre.

All-purpose Cleaner
50 ml borax
125 ml pure soap
1 drop eucalyptus oil
4 L hot water
Mix thoroughly

Wall & Floor Tile Cleaner
125 ml shredded coarse soap
125 ml washing soda
4 L hot water
Dissolve ingredients in hot water. Use a stiff brush to scrub the tiles with the cleaner. Rinse well as soap based cleaners toend to leave a film. Dry.

Laundry Powder
250 ml pure soap flakes or powder
25 to 50 ml washing soda
*Do not use in high efficiency front loading washing machines!

Descaler
1 part vinegar
2 parts water
For kettles, pour the solution into the kettle, bring to a boil then let sit for a few minutes. Pour out solution and rinse well. For shower heads or spayers, remove and let sit 30 minutes in the solution, rinse and replace.

Window Cleaner
1 part vinegar
1 part water
Place in a spray bottle. To use spray then wipe.

Disinfectant
25 ml chlorine bleach
1 L water
Mix then pour into a spray bottle. Use for killing mould, germs and bacteria.

Non-caustic Drain Opener
125 ml baking soda
50 ml white vinegar
1 kettle boiling water
Pour the baking soda into the drain followed by the vinegar. Leave for 15 minutes. When the fizzing has stopped, pour in the boiling water.

Silver Cleaner
1L warm water
5 ml baking soda
5 ml salt
small piece of aluminum foil
Mix and place the silver in the cleaner. Replace the foil whenever it turns black. Be careful when cleaning silver plated items.

Oven Cleaner
25 ml dishwashing soap
15 ml borax
1 L warm water
Mix and pour into a spray bottle. Spray on dirty surfaces and leave for 20 minutes. You may need steel wool to remove some stubborn spots.

Scouring Powder
50 ml pure sop flakes
10 ml borax
375 ml boiling water
50 ml whiting (fine chalk powder available at art supply or decorating stores)
Dissolve the soap and borax in boiling water. Cool to room temperature and addwhiting. Pour into a plastic or glass container and seal well.

Garden Gnome
© 2007

Good Old Vinegar

I use a lot of vinegar in my home. For cooking, I have a lot of kinds and like good 5% acetic acid by volume for making some of my homemade herbal vinegar blends. However, vinegar has so many other household uses besides culinary uses.

Vinegar is cheap and non-toxic. When using for household purposes, I buy the cheapest jug I can find. Generally that is about 99 cents for a 4L jug. Here's just some of the ways I use vinegar in my home:

1. fabric softener - 1/2 c per load
2. diswasher cleaner - 1 c once per month, using water miser cycle, no dry,
3. coffeemaker cleaner - run one cup full stength, run through once a month
4. tea kettle cleaner - 1/2 c once per month
5. cleaning sprayer attachments - remove the attachment, soak in full strength vinegar, rinse
6. cleaning rings - let rings soak about 10 min in full strength vinegar, rinse and wipe dry with soft cloth
7. air cleaner - pour about 1 c of full strength vinegar into a bowl, set in area of problem odours, leave about one hour or longer if desired, especially effective against cooking odours but works as a general air freshener too
8. cleaner - pour full strength into a spray bottle, great for windows, mirrors or cleaning chrome
9. mold/mildew control - I just spray on full strength, it does kill both
10. washing ceramic tile - the installer of our previous ceramic tile floor said to wash with water and vinegar only, I use the same tip for cleaning ceramic tile in the bathroom
11. cleaning microwave - place 1/2 c vinegar mixed with 1/2 c water into microwave, heat to boiling then let sit 10 minutes, wipe down microwave
12. drain cleaner - mix 1/2 c baking soda with 1/2 c vinegar, pour the baking soda down the drain first followed by the vinegar; another method is to pour 1/2 c vinegar followed by a quart of boiling water
13. hair rinse - vinegar will neutralize detergents leaving your hair soft and manageable with no build-up

I know I use it other ways as well but am coming up with writer's block at the moment.

Enjoy!
Garden Gnome
© 2007