A Fresh Clean Start for a New Year!

by Mary Pereira

5 Tips to Organizing Your Home

1.  Be Forgot & Never Brought to Mind...

Happy New Year, my Sweet Friends!!!!

The New Year brings to mind all the regrets we have and realizing what we could have done with our friends and loved ones. Were there people you meant to send Christmas cards or Birthday cards to last year but just didn't have their addresses? Do you regret not having spent enough time with everyone because of such a busy schedule? Well? C'mon Beloved, it's time to pull out your address book, planner, calendar, smart phone and computer. Call everyone you know, look up their contact info and their birthdays on Facebook. Start making some plans with the ones you love this year. Think back to what you wished you had done with them. This is a time to reflect. A new start and a new beginning for the future, so set your pace. Don't forget...there are plenty of apps to remind you of birthdays. It won't take long and it will be well worth it to your relationships for this coming year.

2. Storage Resolutions 

Time to make real RESOLUTIONS for the clutter in your home that you can easily follow through on by these quick steps. First is the fool proof rule to follow....If you haven't used it in a year, loose it!! Now go through your closets, drawers, shelves, boxes, attics and basements. Let's not forget, the extensions of our home, our cars and offices. Next, the words to keep in mind are PURGE & CATEGORIZE....Throw away trash, figure out what you need, what you want, what gets donated and what gets stored away. Don't forget to include family, friends and neighbors when separating what is to be donated. They will love you for thinking of them. 

  

Now is the time to organize the clutter of magazines and books scattered all over the coffee table, to deal with the never-ending clothes piled on the floor and the overwhelming excess of items on your counter tops. Use beautiful baskets, decorative boxes and trays for your Bathroom, Bedroom, Kitchen and Living space. They really make a difference.  

3. Wallflowers

Do you have plenty of wall space, My Love but none on the floor? It's time to create what I call Wallflowers and beautify your wall space with creative utilizations. Hooks, floating shelves, shelving units, grids, magnetic strips, filing boxes, hanging shoe racks and even mason jars attached to a wooden plank can have great character.

For the Laundry Goddess inside you

Look at the possibilities 

Grids enable you to make constant changes and adjustments so you will never be bored

If your thumb is green....just think of the endless propagation and space saved

Magnetic wall strips are my favorite new Wallflower

 See what I mean about the Mason jars...lots of character!

4. Buy One...Donate Two

If your home looks like an over stuffed closet...you might want to step back and take a good look. You may be shopping on an emotional level. Just like some people over eat, others over shop. As therapeutic as it may be at the time sooner or later the bulge catches up to you. So here is the plan, when you purchase an item, before it goes into the home, two things have to go out to the donation center. This will help to minimize the over growth of your home and it also feels good to help out others at the same time. 

5. Be Diligent 

I am not here to preach but I am here to help. One of the best resources for advice is the Bible...don't you know?  Here is one to Bless you in this New Year and throughout your whole life.  

The hand of the diligent will rule,

But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

Proverbs 12:24

Written by the wisest man in the Bible...King Solomon. Looking back at all of my own personal failures, I reflected on how I got there. I would have these awesome ideas, much like the New Year's Resolutions, we all have attempted. I was always full of fire and desire, but somehow fell short and lost interest. Turns out I was missing one key ingredient. Diligence! I would become lazy and therefore not finish what I had started. I did not follow through with my original plans and I always ended up doing more work to fix things afterwards. This Scripture rings true for me and I bet that if you keep the words...BE DILIGENT on the frontlets of your mind you will have success this year in keeping your home organized. 

Until next time my Friends. I will be thinking about you as I start to make all the changes in my life for the New Year. Keep a smile on your face, it's important to stay positive, have faith and be thankful for what you already have. Happy New Year! Remember, Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

I LOVE BORAX

By Mary Pereira

Hello Beloved...I find Old Fashioned products used back in the day as being so romantic and so simplistic. How did we get so far away from the basics? Borax has become one of my favorite cleaning solutions. Borax is a powerful deodorizer, Bleach alternative for brightening and for disinfecting. I LOVE BORAX!!

THE BASICS

So let's start with the basics. Borax is composed of tiny crystals, that come in a variety of colors. Mostly Borax comes in white but also in yellow, green and brown. The Scientific names for Borax is Sodium Borate,  Disodium Tetraborate and Sodium Tetraborate. The Basic name for Borax is Borate Salts. Borax is a Boron compound, a mineral and a salt of Boric Acid. It is an all natural safe product to use BUT it can not be consumed. You heard it here, Folks....DON'T EAT BORAX Lol

Vintage Commercials

Death Valley and The 20 Mule Team

Death Valley is known for having volcanic eruptions, supposedly millions of years ago. However long ago it was, there was also flash flooding that covered the land.  Rains washed the volcanic eruptions into the lakes creating layers on the bottom floor. The ash deposits from the volcano contained Boron, which I mentioned previously. Boron is in the Borate Crystals which are one for four colors....QUICK QUIZ? Without looking...what were those colors?? Anyway...The lakes evaporated and created the salty mixture of Death Valley's Borate Crystals.

The 20 Mule Team Wagons were the largest pulled by animals. They carried 10 short ton boxes of Borax Ore at a time. The Wagon beds made of solid oak, were 16ft. long and 6ft. deep. When they were empty, they weighed 7,800 pounds. Loaded with Ore, they actually weighed 73,200 pounds equal to 36.6 short tons. I find that facinating. During the 6 years of hauling Borax out of Death Valley, the 20 Mule Team hauled more than 20 million pounds (9,000 metric tons). Trains took over shipping in 1896. Just a brief History for you. I wouldn't want to kill you with boredom. Truly is romantic, at least to me it is...I love American History.

What Good Is It?

Besides being excellent in your laundry, Borax has a number of fantastic uses around your home. What's that? You're not sure what it does for your laundry? It is so good, that I will never do another load of my laundry without it. My clothes and family are so happy to hear it. A half a cup of Borax added to your regular laundry detergent gives a boost that blasts all the nasty sweat and body gunk. Borax deodorizes rank smells caught in the fibers because it sanitizes everything. Borax has anti-septic, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. That's not all Sweetheart...Borax brightens your whites, your colors, removes stains, softens the water and in turn, softens your clothes!

Borax is excellent on metals, so get ready to make your pots and pans shine. Borax also has the ability to remove rust when combined with lemon juice. When you clean your refrigerator use the all-purpose cleaner recipe below for maximum odor removal and disinfecting.  Borax is the best cleaner for your toilet because it removes odors, germs and stains. I LOVE BORAX!!

All - Purpose Cleaner

Mix together the following: 

1 tablespoon Borax
3 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
1/2 tablespoon washing soda
2 cups hot water
1 tablespoon castille soap

put this into a spray bottle, shake it up and go!

Dishwasher Detergent

Mix together and store in a dry, air tight container:

2 cups Borax
2 cups washing soda

*Ladies, this is better than anything you can buy & much cheaper

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

mix together to make a thick paste:

1/2 cup Borax
1 to 2 tablespoons castille soap

Scrub with a toilet bowl brush

Pot and Pan Cleaner

1 teaspoon Borax
1/2 cup warm water

use a scrubbing sponge and gloves...don't forget a little elbow grease always helps

Floor and Wall Cleaner

1/3 cup Borax
1 tablespoon castille soap
1 gallon very hot water

make sure the borax completely dissolves and wear gloves. This is excellent for not stripping paint from walls. But I would always test a small area, just in case someone used water soluble paint. You never know!

Mold Remover

1/4 cup Borax
2 cups hot water

*for really stubborn mold, use a higher concentration of Borax until you get the results you're looking for or make a paste, let it dry then come back and vacuum or brush away the excess.

Borax is helpful to remove rust stains from the toilet by combining Borax with lemon juice to make a paste. Smear the paste onto the rust stain and leave it over night. In the morning scrub the stain right off and flush. This tip is also very good for getting rid of that nasty ring around the tub, but you won't have to let it sit overnight, just scrub.

To clean china, even hand painted china, fill a dish pan or sink with warm water and add half a cup of Borax, swish it around. Soak your china for a least an hour, then rinse really well. Your china will look marvelous for the upcoming Holidays.

Clean your comb or brush by filling your bathroom sink with hot water, a quarter cup of Borax and one tablespoon of castille soap. Soak it until it's clean. 

Garbage disposals need to be deodorized often, so put three tablespoons of Borax into the disposal and leave it there for a half an hour. Then run very hot water and turn it on for freshness.

Dishwashers need periodic cleanings as well. Place a quarter cup of Borax at the bottom of the dishwasher (be sure to remove any food or trash at the strainer on the bottom) and run the dishwasher on an empty cycle. This will remove detergent residue and hard water stains.

If you have pets, no matter how well trained, sometimes they have accidents. To remove pet urine out of carpets, dampen the spot with warm water. Be sure not to saturate your carpet too much. Rub in a half a cup of Borax or more if need be. Allow this to completely dry, then vacuum. This can also be used for sour milk stains or any foul odorous stain in your carpet. 

Do you remember that commercial...Ancient Chinese Secret, huh??? It was for Calgon water softener but Borax is soooo much better. Borax works as hard as the 20 Mule Team used to do to transport the stuff. Borax to me is a wonderful solution to Bleach and a secret I think everyone should know about. I Love Borax!!! Fare thee well my friends and please stop by again next time. 

Remember, Cleanliness is next to Godliness. 

The Essentials of Essential Oil

by Mary Pereira

One of the questions I always ask my customers is....which fragrance do you choose?  I make all my own cleaners and add Essential Oils to them. Sometimes I wonder if they realize just how important that question can be to cleaning.  See, it's not just about how great it smells to me....it's about the power behind the Essential Oil. The fragrance is just a bonus! And what a bonus it is....everyone says the same thing when they return to their home after we've been cleaning. "It certainly smells clean in here!!!" That's because it is clean...I mean truly clean! Essential Oils are the purest essence of God's all natural ingredients. it is very concentrated and is at it's purest form.

Cleaning Essentials

There are certain properties to the Essential Oils that make them superior to others as far as cleaning is concerned. Of course cleaning is primarily a battle to kill germs and stave off sickness and diseases. We are especially reminded of this when cold and flu season come around, but as a Mother....I am reminded everyday. Besides who likes going to the Doctors, unnecessarily. So here I will be introducing you to the terminology that best describes the germ fighting properties to look for in your choosing of Essential Oils. These are basic definitions as they pertain to cleaning. Then we can talk about the bonus of how awesome they smell as well.

1. Anti-septic - anti-septics are used for the disinfection of inanimate objects, including furniture surfaces
2. Anti-viral - Anti-virals are used in destroying or inhibiting the growth and reproduction of viruses
3. Anti-microbial - Anti-microbials are used to destroy or inhibit micro-organisms, including, but not limited to, bacteria. Another word for it would be Anti-biotic
4. Anti-fungal - Anti-fungals are used in destoying or inhibiting the growth of fungi
5. Insecticide - Insectides are used to destroy or inhibit the growth of spiders, insects & rodents

Essential Oils to Choose 

Allspice

Allspice - Ani-septic
This beautiful flower produces a seeds that surprisingly looks a lot like Black Pepper. The fragrance is Spicy....most associated with Gingerbread cookies and Pumpkin Pie.

Anise

 

Anise -  Anti-septic and Insecticide

This seed produces an Essential Oil that smells like Licorice, Fresh, Sweet and Rich. It is another Fragrance well associated with Christmas and celebrating.

Basil

Basil - Anti-Microbial

 This beautiful leafy plant which often used in many Italian dishes has a sweet pungent, Licorice-like, Herbaceous and slightly Camphorous smell. This fragrance would do very well in your Kitchen.

Bay

 

 Bay - Anti-septic and Insecticide

This terrific herb, often used in Cajun dishes of my own has a Fruity, Sweet, Medicinal, Herbaceous and Sweet Balsamic fragrance. Another winner for the Kitchen.

Bergamot

 

Bergamot - Anti-septic

This gorgeous flower's fragrance and taste is the special ingredient in Earl Gray Teas and the fragrance is Floral, Sweet, Fruity and has a Citrus scent as well. If you enjoy Earl Gray as much I do on a dreary day, you will certainly enjoy this fragrance throughout your house to lift your spirits.

Birch

 

Birch - Anti-septic and Insecticide

To me, Birch is the perfect fragrance for a Man Cave or a Bachelor's apartment. It has a very masculine Woody and Smoky fragrance.

Camphor

Camphor - Anti-septic and Insecticide

Have you ever had the pleasure of smelling this wood in person? It is fantastic and unforgettable.  Camphor has a Minty, Strong, Herbaceous and Woody fragrance, that will leave your home smelling fresh and clean.

 

Chamomile

Chamomile - Anti-septic and Anti-microbial

This gentle flowers has been used in Teas to put you to sleep and in Baby's Bath water to soothe their crying. This powerful flower is not only good for cleaning around infants but smells Sweet, Warm, Fruity, Strong, Herbacous, Bright and Crisp. 

Cedar Wood

Cedar wood - Anti-septic and Insecticide

Have you ever had a Cedar Chest and opened it up and the smell is still there after years and years of owning it? This essential is filled with a Fresh and woody scent, that will delight any of your guests.

Cinnamon

 

Cinnamon - Anti-microbial and Anti-fungal 

There isn't anyone I know who is not familiar with Cinnamon or has a good memory associated with it. Christmas and Cinnamon go hand in hand. This fragrance is Spicy, Bright, Peppery, Earthy and Woody. 

Clary Sage

 Clary Sage - Anti-septic

This beautiful plant's Essential Oil fragrance is Bright, Fruity, Herbaceous and Earthy. This leaves a wonderful clean scent on your home. 

Clove

Clove - Anti-microbial, Anti-fungal, Anti-septic and Anti-viral

An excellent germ fighter, Clove also has the power to bring back a lot of Christmas memories in the Kitchen with Mom baking cookies or sipping hot toddies. This fragrance is Spicy, Slightly Bitter, Woody, fruity and Warm. 

Eucalyptus 

Eucalyptus - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial and Anti-fungal

 

I always think of Koala bears when I think of Eucalyptus....they love to eat this plant. The fragrance is Fresh, Woody, Camphoraceous, Earthy and Medicinal.

Frankenincense

 

Frankenincense - Anti-septic

Everyone knows that the Wise Men considered Frankenincense  precious enough to bring to the infant Jesus.  Another great fragrance for Christmas. It is Fresh, Woody, Balsamic, Spicy and Fruity.

Geranium

Geranium - Anti-septic and Insecticide

This flowers brings back memories of being on my Mom's porch and growing up in the South. The fragrance is Floral, Fresh, Sweet and Fruity. Very similar to Rose.

Ginger

 

 Ginger - Anti-septic

 This fragrance has a nice punch and reccommended for a Zen atmosphere. It is Warm, Spicy, Earthy and Woody.

Grapefruit

 

Grapefruit - Anti-septic

This is an excellent fragrance during the Summer or if you wanting to uplift a dreary day. The fragrance is Citrus and Bright.    

  

Honeysuckle

 

Honeysuckle - Anti-septic and Anti-microbial

This is a Southern favorite and gives me such pleasure to even just say the name, let alone drink the nectar. The fragrance is Sweet, Fruity and Floral. 

Jasmine

 

Jasmine - Abti-septic

My childhood seems to be laden with garden memories and this one especially after a summer rain in the evenings. The fragrance is Warm, Floral, Exotic, Rich and Sweet. This one is a good aphrodisiac as well. Great for Anniversaries.

Juniper

 

Juniper - Anti-septic

Juniper has the ability to refresh and is wonderful during the Fall and Winter. It is Coniferous (piney-smell), Crisp, Earthy, Sweet, Fresh, Woody and Herbaceous. 

Lavender

 

Lavender - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial, Anti-fungal and Insecticide

There is a magical attraction to Lavender of which I have much to say on the subject. View my two previous Blogs on Lavender and expect more to come. It is Herbaceous, Fresh, Floral and Fruity.

Lemon

         

 Lemon - Anti-septic, Anti-viral, Anti-microbial, Anti-fungal and Insecticide

Lemon gives joy to a home and lifts up  your mood...not to mention between Lavender and Lemon, they powerfully kill all germs on contact. Excellent for prevention. It smells Citrus, Warm and Bright.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial and Insecticide

This is a fresh fragrance that will give a nice zing to your home. It is Citrus, Fresh, Lemony and Earthy.

Lime

 

Lime - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial and Anti-viral

  Who can pass up a drink with a wedge of Lime in it and you shouldn't pass the opportunity to use this fruit to clean your home...it's invigorating. It is Fresh, Sweet and Citrus.

Mandarin

Mandarin - Anti-septic

This beautiful fruit will make you feel beautiful as you step into your home filled with this fragrance. It is Citrus, Very sweet and Fruity.

 

  Myrrh

Myrrh - Anti-septic, anti-microbial and Anti-fungal

Christmas will have so much more meaning when using this Essential oil throughout your home. It is Balsamic, Warm, Earthy and Woody.

Nutmeg

 

Nutmeg - Anti-septic and Anti-microbial

I used to tell my children that I was serving them Christmas Milk instead of calling it Egg Nog....They loved it with a sprinkle of Nutmeg. Good Christmas Scent too. It is Spicy, Rich, Sweet and Woody.

Oakmoss

 

Oakmoss - Anti-septic

This is another good fragrance for Guys because it's very masculine. It is Woody and Earthy, like a lot of Guys I know.  So recommend this to your friends.

Orange

Orange - Anti-septic

This is a fragrance that makes everyone smile and brings back a childhood memories in everyone. Combine this fragrance with Vanilla for a Dream-cycle delight. It is Citrus and Sweet.

Patchouli

 

Patchouli - Anti-septic, Anti-fungal and Insecticide

Patchouli always reminds me of The Hippie Era and it has a unforgettable smell. It is Woody, Rich, Strong and Earthy.

Peppermint

 

Peppermint - Anti-septic and Insecticide

Talk about a Christmas Smell!!! But I happen to love this fragrance all year around because it is so fresh and brings me joy. Besides, it not only drives away and kills bugs but spiders and mice don't like it either. It is Fresh, Minty, Herbaceous, sweet and Menthol. 

Pine

 

Pine - Anti-septic and Anti-microbial

Tell me who doesn't know what Pine-sol smells like? Well try Pine in it's purest form and you will thank me over and over again. WOW...it's amazing. It is Strong, Coniferous(Piney), Fresh, Woody, Earthy and Balsamic.

Rose

 

Rose - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial and Anti-viral  

This is one of the most romantic fragrances that exists and so powerful to kill germs. It is meant for the romantic at heart. It is Very Floral and Sweet.

Rosemary

 

Rosemary - Anti-septic and Anti-microbial

Anyone who cooks knows how awesome this fragrance is and can also be introduced as a Holiday Fragrance...fits right in. It is Camphoraceous, Fresh, Herbaceous and Sweet.   

Rosewood

 

Rosewood - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial and Insecticide

This tall tree is from Brazil and has a gorgeous smell...very good wood to make floors and furniture too. It is Sweet, Woody, Fruity and Floral.

Sage

Sage - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial and Anti-fungal

Sage is another fragrance that can be used during the Holidays, like Thanksgiving. I love using it on my Turkeys and Stuffing. It is Herbaceous, Fresh and Camphoraceous.

Sandalwood

 

Sandalwood - Anti-septic and Anti-microbial 

Sandalwood has an alluring fragrance. It was the very first Essential Oil that I ever purchased when I was 15 years old, from the Crabtree & Evelyn store. I used to put it in my bath water. It is Woody, Rich, Sweet, Balsamic, Floral and Musky.

  

Spearmint

Spearmint - Anti-septic and Insecticide

My Mom's garden was filled with Spearmint and I loved it. She planted it away from everything else because it was a ground cover. Let it loose and it will take over. Awesome smell. It is Minty and Fruity.

Tangerine

 

Tangerine - Anti-septic

It's amazing how many Citruses there are to choose from...similiar but they all have their differences. This one is Sweet, Tangy, Fresh and Citrus.

Tea Tree

 

Tea Tree - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial, Anti-fungal, Anti-viral and Insecticide

This powerful cleaning agent is practically a miracle worker and has a vibrant smell. It is Camphoraceous, Medicinal, Fresh, Woody, Earthy and Herbaceous.

Thyme

 

Thyme - Anti-septic, Anti-microbial and Insecticide

Want your Kitchen to have a germ-free environment and smell like an Italian woman was hard at work over a simmering pot of sauce? This will have your house smelling fresh! It is Spicy, Fresh, Medicinal, Herbaceous and Sweet.

Vetiver

 

Vetiver - Anti-septic

This plant may not look like much and you may have never heard of it...but you should pay attention because it is worth it. Another good reccommendtion for a Bachelor Pad. It is Woody, Smoky, Earthy, Herbaceous and Spicy. 

Wintergreen

 

Wintergreen - Anti-septic

This plant is responsible for so many fresh breaths out there and a winner in my book for Christmas fragrance...Top Notch! It is Minty, Fresh and Herbaceous.

Ylang Ylang

 

Ylang Ylang - Anti-septic

If you have never smelled this one personally yet...you are missing out on one of the most sexiest fragrances on the planet. This will certainly get your Loved One in the mood or at least get the hint. It is after all, it is an Aphrodisiac. It is Fresh, Floral, Sweet and Fruity.

We Have Come to the End

So there it is....my complete list!!! Keep this Blog bookmarked for future references. Each and every one of them is what I recommend to use. They are all on our list to choose from when using our Services.....just let us know which one best fits you and the mood you are wanting to create within your home. Maid For you Cleaning Service will make sure of the rest. I really enjoyed putting together this list for Y'all.  Muah!!! Until next time...just remember Cleanliness is next to Godliness!