Let’s face it, our floors are one area of the home where dust, dirt, crumbs and bacteria constantly collect and live. This may be particularly concerning if you have young children who spend lots of time playing, rolling, crawling and even licking the floors! So let’s take a look at how natural floor cleaning solutions can keep your family home clean and safe.

If you’ve ever read the labels on commercial cleaning products you will be horrified by the chemicals and toxins that are included in these products. Not only are they harmful to the environment, but there has been much research to suggest they are harmful to our health and can cause serious health concerns over time.

Natural floor cleaning solutions are incredibly easy to create and use in your home. Most of the ingredients you most likely already have in your cupboards, so why not create a solution that is natural and safe?

Here we share our top tips for all kinds of floors in your home. These natural floor cleaning solutions are cost effective, easy to make and so much safer for your and your family’s health.

Timber Floors

Timber floors are known for being low maintenance and a great flooring choice for those who suffer from allergies. There are many different finishes on timber floors from high gloss to matt and laminate. Firstly vacuum or sweep your floors. Never saturate timber floors with water or leave water sitting on the timber as this will cause damage when it is absorbed by the timber. Instead use a light damp mop as part of your regular clean to get the best results and maintain your beautiful timber floors.

Solution:

Mix one part white vinegar to four parts warm water (250ml vinegar to 1 litre warm water) and lightly spray on a microfiber mop for the best finish. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to the mixture if you’d like to have a nice fragrance throughout your home. Open doors and windows to ventilate the air and ensure the timber floor dries well.

Tiled Floors

Tiled floors are very durable and give a very sleek, modern look to any home. When maintained regularly your tiles and grout will keep looking new over time. Most tiles are made from ceramic or porcelain and are very easy to keep clean. Firstly sweep or vacuum your tiled floors and then proceed with the following natural cleaning solution.

Solution:

Fill your mop bucket with warm water and add quarter cup of white vinegar. Use a clean mop (our favourite is a microfiber mop), wring out as much water for a streak free finish. You can also add your favourite essential oil to the mixture if you want to leave your home smelling fresh and nice. If you have heavily soiled floors or dried stains you can add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the mixture for more effective cleaning. Remember to change your water frequently while mopping for the best finish. Open doors and windows to ventilate the air and allow for faster drying.

Note: avoid using sponge mops as these tend to retain more water and the water gets pushed into the grout lines.

Carpets & Rugs

Carpets are cosy and comfy and normally used in bedrooms and living rooms. Rugs are also a great way to add warmth to floorboards or tiled areas, however carpets and rugs are renowned for collecting dust, crumbs and dirt particles.

As part of your regular clean vacuum the carpet or rug and if you want to give it a spruce up or have some stains to clear then try this natural solution.

Solution:

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water. Spray on stain and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing clean with a soft brush. If you have a stubborn stain try adding 1 or 2 drops of dishwashing liquid to the mixture and scrub gently with a soft brush. Wipe clean with a clean cloth and allow to dry completely by opening windows to ventilate the room.

Note: try the solution on a small patch of carpet to ensure it does not discolour prior to using.

As passionate advocates of natural cleaning we love to share our insights on natural cleaning and protecting you, your family, pets and the environment. Not convinced? If you would like to know more about why you should choose green cleaning you may be interested in reading our article, 7 Reasons To Choose Green Cleaning. We hope our tips on natural floor cleaning solutions help quickly and easily keep your floors clean.

Bliss Home Care also offers a range of natural cleaning products for other areas of your home, including a multi-purpose bio-bacterial cleaner, shower cleaner and stain and odour remover. Click here to learn more about our natural cleaning products.

Bliss Home Care Services is very excited to announce the launch of a range of natural cleaning products that are now available for purchase for our clients, friends and those who care about keeping their home clean with only natural cleaning products.

These natural cleaning products are ones that we and the Bliss team have been using for years when cleaning our and our client’s homes. We made a conscious decision when we started our business over 15 years ago that we would only use Australian made natural cleaning products. We conducted a lot of research and sourced this range that has been certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA is an independent body who assess the products to ensure they meet environmental, human health, ethical impact criteria.

There has been lots of research that proves toxic chemicals are harmful to our health and the wider environment. There is absolutely no reason to still be using any toxic cleaning products that are harmful to your and your family’s health. In our blog, 7 Reasons To Choose Green Cleaning, we discuss how you can switch to natural cleaning products in your home. It will not only save time and money but you will dramatically improve the lifestyle for yourself, your home, family, pets and the planet.

 

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Choose Our Natural Cleaning Products

1. Do not contain hazardous, dangerous, toxic or polluting ingredients
2. Free of all known or suspected carcinogens
3. Do not contain phosphate, ammonia, butyl cellusolve, aerosols or acid
4. Products are biodegradable
5. World class certification by GECA
6. Are cruelty free and not tested on animals
7. 100% Australian owned and made
8. Produced in compliance with current Good Manufacturing
9. Are septic tank, grey water and black water safe
10. Company with all Australian standards.

The range of natural cleaning products currently available include:

 

 

Let’s take a closer look at why the technology behind these products is so effective and why the products work so effectively…

Bio Bacterial & Enzyme Technology  

These biological cleaning products are made up of “good” living bacteria to break down and liquefy soils such as fat, proteins, carbohydrates and grease while simultaneously eliminating odours. When this type of bacteria cleaning product is applied, the microorganisms begin to digest the waste and the “good” bacteria in turn multiply. The soil is broken down and continues to break down the soil into smaller pieces, until there is nothing left.

Bacteria use the enzymes they produce to break down complex waste into simple compounds, which it then consumes, thereby completely eliminating grime, waste and odours.

The bio bacterial cleaner makes cleaning quicker and easier. The product keeps on working even after you have finished cleaning.

As always, nature provides the answers. For good health and a naturally clean home, look no further. To purchase or learn more about these products click here.

Summer is all about being outdoors, having fun in the sun, firing up the BBQs and celebrating the holidays. Over the cooler months we often neglect the outdoors by spending more time indoors. Now that Summer is here it’s time for outdoor cleaning and enjoying the sunshine, warm days and balmy nights. Here are 10 outdoor natural cleaning tips to get your outdoor area looking its best, ready for entertaining and all the fun that Summer brings!

• Door and window screens

Have a brighter outlook of the outside world by cleaning your door and window screens. Dip a damp wire brush into baking soda and scrub away, rinse thoroughly with a damp sponge and you’re done!

• Windows

Crystal clear windows are a must and white vinegar is just what you need to get them that way. Mix two parts warm water to one part white vinegar into a spray bottle and spray directly onto windows. Then wipe dry with a clean, lint free cloth.

• Outdoor furniture

Outdoor furniture can easily get neglected but can be effectively cleaned with a simple baking soda solution. Use one cup of baking soda mixed with some warm water, wipe on the furniture, then rinse off thoroughly.

• Decking

Protect your deck from germs and mould by spraying it with undiluted white vinegar. This will also clean, disinfect and get rid of any stains it might have.

• BBQ

Stubborn charred remains on your BBQ racks? Apply some baking soda and then dab with vinegar which will start it foaming. Let it sit for a few minutes then rinse thoroughly before use.

• Kiddies pool

Time for the kiddies pool to come out and be cleaned so that it’s ready to be filled and splashed about in. This is easily done by mixing equal part white vinegar to water and scrub with a soft brush, then rinse.

• Pool and beach toys

During the off season the kids pool and beach toys will have accumulated some musty smells. Get them clean by washing them with a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda to 1 litre of warm water.

• Gardening tools

Lime and salt aren’t only margarita ingredients - they also remove rust! Get your gardening tools rust free by laying them on some newspaper and sprinkling them with table salt. Squeeze some lime liberally all over the salt covered rust and allow it to sit for three hours. Scrub the mixture off using the remaining lime and rinse under running water. Make sure to dry them thoroughly to avoid more rust!

• Clothesline

There’s nothing worse than seeing a clothesline with dirt or grime, which is of course going to transfer to the clothes you’ll be hanging out there now that it’s summer! This can easily be cleaned by mixing a solution of equal parts warm water and vinegar, then wiping down each line removing all dirt and allowing to dry.

• Pavers

Dirty and stained pavers aren’t a good look and you need to get them nice and clean for all that entertaining you’ll be doing! Spray undiluted vinegar onto the pavers and make sure they are thoroughly soaked. Leave them for an hour and although you’ll notice the dirt will have loosened, you will need to scrub away with a wire brush to get them really clean.

Now you’re ready to sit back, relax and enjoy your time and summer!

We all know that our actions can really impact the environment, and although most people would like to do what they can to make it better, they believe that green living can be hard - we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be!

Here are some simple actions that will make your home environment greener and healthier for you and your loved ones and will also benefit our amazing planet.

Grow your own veggie patch

What’s better than heading into the backyard and grabbing some fresh veggies that taste great, along with the knowledge that they are free of chemicals? Not only will your body thank you but so will the planet for reducing contamination to the environment.

When choosing what you’d like to grow, it’s a good idea to make a plan so that you can stagger the sowing of seeds to give you a constant supply of those fresh and seasonal veggies! Get the kids involved too – you might find that they eat more vegetables seeing as they helped create them.

Create your own compost

When you’re done creating your veggie garden and have reaped those benefits, you can use those, along with other food scraps to create compost (your free organic fertiliser) and reduce landfill waste!

You can invest in a compost bin or you can just start a pile in a heap on the ground. It’s a good idea to keep your compost moist, not wet, and add food scraps, lawn clippings and coffee grounds to the mix.

It also will require some aerating so turning the compost with a fork once a week will help it along. Decomposition time varies and is dependent on what you’ve used to create your compost and the moisture and aeration of your heap. When it all looks and smells like very dark soil your compost is ready to be used. Use it in your garden to create an abundance of healthy soil for your veggie patch.

Improve the air quality in your home

There are a few things you can do to improve the quality of air within your home, making it much healthier for your family to live in and is beneficial for the environment!

Firstly, you need to get rid of all those toxic cleaning products that are plentiful on our supermarket shelves these days. Healthier options are always available - one of which mixing a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water which cleans and disinfects!

Another thing that you can do for the air quality is to invest in a cold air oil diffuser. Using a variety of natural oils in a diffuser can neutralise chemicals and bacteria, eliminate the need for any synthetic air fresheners and keep your home smelling amazing!

We strongly recommend not to use air fresheners and avoid scented cleaning or laundry products that don’t disclose their fragrance ingredients on the product label. These products may trigger allergies and often contain suspected endocrine disruptors, such as phthalates  and synthetic musks.

If we all do our little bit it will collectively amount to a lot - so do yourself, your loved ones and our environment a favour and start living green today!

Spring is here and it’s time to breathe some new life into your home with a good Spring clean!

It’s a time when those neglected areas finally get some TLC, the de-cluttering of the pantry and cupboards finally happen, and those items stored in boxes that you haven’t needed all year can get used or perhaps get their marching orders. It’s time – you know it is…

Spring cleaning is not only great because it gets your home organised and clean, but it’s also an important thing to do for your health. One advantage that shouldn’t be overlooked is that you will burn a whole heap of calories, but more importantly you will also get rid of allergy culprits including dust and mould that may be lurking in your home.

Here are five tips to get you inspired – get started on your spring cleaning and have some fun along the way!

Make a Plan

Inspect your home and make a list of what you need to do. List the order of priorities so that you know where to begin. Don’t forget to tick off the items as they’re completed. This is a great way to keep motivated and feel a sense of accomplishment once each item is done. If you really want to make it fun get some friends (or your kids) involved and reciprocate the favour when their house is ready for a clean!

Natural Cleaning

Have some fun by creating and mixing up your own natural cleaning products. You’ll need some spray bottles, water, vinegar and baking soda – these products will clean just about everything!

Here’s an all-purpose cleaner recipe to get you started:

Equal parts water to white vinegar

Few drops morning fresh or dish washing detergent

10 drops of tea tree, lavender or lemon essential oil

Mix the essential oil and vinegar with a little water in a clean spray bottle. Fill it to top with water (based on 350ml bottle). Gently shake it and you’re ready to go!

Bi Carb Soda

Sprinkle bi-carb soda in the bath tub, sinks, vanities then spray with your vinegar product. Leave it for at least 10 minutes before giving it a good scrub.

Challenge Yourself

Is there anything that you can up cycle in those stored boxes? There are so many clever ideas online for turning your old items into something new. Try your hand at some arts and crafts - create something unique that you be can be proud of.

Donate to Charity

This is a great time to consider donating old books, appliances, clothes, tools or anything else you may no longer need to charity. De-cluttering and helping someone less privileged – it’s a win-win!

Musical Motivation

Last but certainly not least, make a playlist of your favourite dance tunes and turn the music up! Music is one of the best ways to lighten the mood and keep you motivated – perhaps even help you clean at a faster pace - you’ll have the house beautifully clean in no time!

Our point here is that Spring cleaning doesn’t have to feel like a boring chore after all. You can have some fun along the way and you and your home will feel refreshed afterwards.

If you’d love a spring clean but simply can’t find the time we can also help. We only use eco-friendly cleaning products and methods to keep your home free of toxins and safe for all family members. Enquire now at https://blisshomecare.com.au/enquire-now/

We all want our homes to be sparkly clean and want to do what’s best for ourselves, our family, our pets and the environment. Choosing environmentally friendly cleaning products can be a challenging task. Many off-the-shelf household cleaning products claim to be eco-friendly, however there are many hidden chemicals in these. Often many of these are toxic and can do harm to your health and that of your family.

Through a number of studies and research we know that household cleaning products can be linked to health conditions such as asthma, cancer, reproductive issues, lung damage, burns and more. The manufacturers claim that in small amounts toxic chemicals are not likely to pose any health problems, but when you are routinely using these it’s difficult to measure the risk to your health.

You may use an array of products including scents, soaps, detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, glass cleaners, bathroom and drain cleaners just to name a few. Let’s take a closer look at these and what their warning labels state: corrosive, may produce burns, vapour may be harmful, avoid contact with skin, contents can be harmful or fatal. So why do consumers continue to use these products?

Being aware of what’s in your cleaning products may help you understand why they can be so harmful used over a long period of time. Here are four common chemicals that are used in commercial cleaning products and how it may affect your health:

• Phthalates
Often found in fragranced household products such as air fresheners, dishwashing soap, scented soaps and event toilet paper. Phthalates are known to affect the reproductive system of men and women.
• 2-Butoxyethanol
Often found in glass cleaners, laundry stain removers and carpet cleaners. Sometimes also known as 2-BE or butyl cellosolve is known to be associated with blood disorders and may even cause liver and kidney damage.
• Ammonia
Often found in window cleaners, toilet cleaners, bathroom cleaners and all-purpose
cleaners. Vapours from ammonia can irritate the skin, eyes, throat and lungs. Asthmatics are particularly sensitive to the effects of breathing ammonia.
• Sodium Hydroxide
Often found in oven or drain cleaners. This product is extremely corrosive and can cause severe burns. When inhaled it can also affect your throat and respiratory system.

Replacing your cleaning products with a few simple ingredients such as water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and clean sponges can be as effective as the toxic commercial chemical products. You may want to visit our Clean Home Pinterest board for inspiration on natural cleaning tips: https://au.pinterest.com/blisshomecare/clean-home/

Make wise choices and eliminate environmental toxins that are harmful to your health. Reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals by choosing safer, healthier options that also minimise the impact on our environment and keep you healthier, for longer.

Bio Bacterial Cleaning Explained

When we established Bliss Home Care Services we decided we wanted to be an innovative cleaning company that uses only earth friendly cleaning products. The products, together with our proven earth friendly cleaning practices ensure the highest grade of cleaning for homes and offices which is not only safe for our environment but for families, pets and children.

One of our favourite cleaning products is Biological Cleaner. This product is a general purpose cleaner that contains active “good” bacterial ingredients and is the perfect alternative to harsh chemical solutions. The active bacterial ingredients means that it is able to effectively remove grease, grime, dirt and soap scum that is commonly found throughout all homes. The most important thing about this product, apart from the fact that it’s a highly effective cleaning product, is that it’s 100% chemical free, is biodegradable and non-hazardous.

Let’s take a closer look at how this earth friendly cleaning product works…

• The Biological cleaner is made up of “good” living bacteria to break down and liquefy soils such as fat, proteins, carbohydrates and grease while simultaneously eliminating odours.
• When this type of bacteria cleaning product is applied, the microorganisms begin to digest the waste and the “good” bacteria in turn multiply. The soil is broken down and continues to break down the soil into smaller pieces, until there is nothing left.
• The bio bacterial cleaner makes cleaning quicker and easier. The product keeps on working even after you have finished cleaning.
• It has a citrus fragrance and odour neutraliser that helps keep everything fresh and also keeps unwanted odours neutralised, free of unpleasant smells. An added bonus is that it naturally repels flies and insects!

This natural, earth friendly cleaning product is even effective enough to be used to keep bathrooms and restrooms free of germs and build up of unhealthy bacteria, mould and soap scum. It is often used to clean busy washrooms, urinals and toilets and is much safer for the environment and human health in comparison to chemical cleaning products.

When considering purchasing cleaning products please ensure you choose wisely and carefully to maintain and protect this beautiful planet we live on, now and into the future.

Earth Friendly Cleaning - Easier Than You Think

As consumers, we are constantly bombarded with new cleaning products that will save time and get things done better or faster. Using natural products and resources for earth friendly cleaning is not as difficult as it may seem.

With a spike in the number of adults and children suffering from allergies, asthma, sinusitis or bronchitis it's imperative for us to avoid using synthetic chemicals in our home environment. Using commercial products that are filled with chemicals, even when they claim to be 'natural' is introducing allergens and poisons into our homes.

By making a conscious decision to switch to earth friendly cleaning products and practices in your home, you will be saving money as well as improving the lifestyle for your home, family and pets. There are many inexpensive and easy to use alternatives that can used safely to replace chemical laden cleaning products.

Here are 3 powerful natural items, which you may already have in your pantry, that can easily be incorporated into your cleaning regime for safe and effective earth friendly cleaning:

Bi-Carb Soda

This is a versatile product which can deodorise, soften water and scour away grease. It's safe to use in your kitchen so simply mix it with a little water to clean bench tops, stainless steel sinks, microwaves, range hoods, cooking utensils, the list is endless. You can also use it to wash fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables safely removing unwanted chemicals and wax on the outer layer. It is a great odour eater - simply place a small bowl in your fridge or sprinkle it into smelly shoes. It's also wonderful to have a relaxing bath in and leaves your skin clean and smooth.

Lemon

Lemons are high in citric acid so it makes them one of the best natural cleaners due to its low pH and antibacterial properties. You can even use lemon juice in your laundry to replace bleach - it does a great job of whitening while leaving a fresh lemon scent.It's a great cleaner for bathrooms including taps, shower doors and build up of hard water deposits. And don't just throw away the peels once you've used your lemon! Use these in your spray bottles to create a citrus smelling cleaning spray.

White Vinegar

White vinegar is an effective cleaner and is able to cut grease, remove mildew and odours. If you have persistent odours in your home, leave a little bowl of vinegar out overnight. You can also use it as a hand rinse to remove strong scents such as garlic and onion from your hands. You can also create an effective window cleaner by diluting vinegar with water and using this in a spray bottle and you can even use this spray along doorways, windowsills and bench tops to keep ants at bay.

Making small changes in your immediate surroundings and cleaning practices will help with the long term goals of protecting not only your home but our environment.

NOTE: do not use vinegar and lemon on natural stone e.g. marble.