storage of, 25
where to find, 10
Organizing
the bathroom, 69
the bedroom, 114–115
the catch-all room, 203
the clothing closet, 146
the freezer, 48
the home office/desk area, 173
kids’ rooms, 159
the kitchen, 36
the laundry room, 126
the medicine cabinet, 183
in purge, clean, and organize routine, 31
Ostrich feather duster, 96–98
Outdoor lights, 222
Oven, cleaning, 45–46
Oven Overflows and Oops Cleaner, 45–46
OxyClean, 18
Oxygen bleach powder, 18, 81, 122, 223
P
Patchouli essential oil, 17
Peppermint essential oil, 15, 46, 47, 78, 94, 155, 183, 205
Peppermint extract, 188
Peppermint lavender mouthwash, 189, 191
Peppermint leaves, 185
Peppermint oil, 189, 191, 210, 220
Peppermint power toothpaste, 188–189
PERC, 1
Perfume, dog, 210–211
Permanent marker on upholstered furniture, 100
Permanent marker removal, 167–168
Pesticides, 5, 8, 27
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), 6
Pets
bowl cleaner, 213, 215
dog perfume & coat conditioner, 210–211
leash and collar wash, 209
litter box cleaner, 215–216
spot and odor remover, 211, 213
Pet shampoos, 210
Phthalates, 1
Pillows, washing, 121, 123
Pine essential oil, 91
Pistachio-lemon hand and body exfoliating scrub, 199
Pistachio nuts, 199
Plants, 175
Plasma screens, cleaning, 108
Plastic
avoiding, 26–27
removing crayon from, 167
removing marker/highlighter from, 167
woodenware vs., 57
Plastic blinds, 99
Plastic food container wash, 65
Plastic gloves, 28
Plastic scrub brushes, 27
Plastic shower curtain liners, 72
Plastic sponges, 26–27, 28
Plastic storage containers, 29
Plastic toys, 159
Pod-based coffee maker, cleaning, 42
Polishing oil, 91–92
Porcelain, 49, 51, 72–73
Porch lights, 222
Potpourri, 64
Pour-through coffee makers, cleaning, 43
Prayer, 24
Purge, clean, and organize routine, 29–32
Purging
the bathroom, 68
the bedroom, 114
the catch-all room, 202
the clothing closet, 146
the home office, 172
in kids’ rooms, 158
in the kitchen, 36, 37
in laundry room, 126
in the living room, 90
the medicine cabinet, 182
Q
Quarternary Ammonium Compounds (QUATS), 11
Quilts, washing, 122, 123
R
Rags, 25
Razors, cleaning, 193, 195
Recycling, 28
Recycling bins, sanitizing, 63–64
Red wine stains, removing, 141
Refrigerators
cleaning spray for, 47
exterior cleaners, 46
odor absorber for, 47–48
Relationship-Saver Toilet Spray, 84–85
Repurposing/reusing, 28
Rodale Institute, 9
Rodale, J.I., 8
Rodale Research Institute, 8
Rodale’s Organic Life (magazine), 8
Rose (essential oil), 17
Rose water, 186–187
Rubber plants, 176
Rubbing alcohol, 16, 44, 62, 75, 77, 78, 79, 102, 106, 136, 141, 143, 147, 163, 167, 168, 174, 178, 182–183, 222
Rugs
cleaning, 103, 105
orange & clove refresh powder for, 102
removing crayon from, 167
removing marker/highlighter from, 167
Rust
on cast iron, 59, 60, 61
on chrome in the bathroom, 71
on outdoor lights, 222
on shower curtain metal rings, 70
on stainless steel sinks, 52
S
Sachets, stinky shoes, 154
Safety precautions, 18–19
Sal’s Suds, 17, 51, 128–129
Salt, 14, 73. See also Sea salt; Table salt
Salt stain remover, 153
Sandalwood essential oil, 17, 183
Sanitized toothpaste tube, 189
Sanitizing
toys, 159
trash and recycling cans, 63–64
woodenware, 57
Sanitizing wipes, 178–179
Sapindus Mukorossi tree, 128
Scratches in wood, 91–92
Screen door cleaning, 220–221
Screens, television, 107–108
Scrub
body exfoliating, 199
soap scum, 75
Scuffs, removing from sneaker soles, 163
Sea salt, 14, 183
Seasonal items, 203
Seasoning cast iron, 59–60
Seltzer water, 52, 100, 141, 143
Shampoo
coconut-honey-lime, 197–198
pet, 210
Shaving liquid, 193
Shea butter, 187–188, 191
Sheets, washing, 122
Shoes
leather, 148
sachets for stinky, 154
salt-stain remover for, 153
suede, 152
washing sneakers, 162
Shower curtains and liners
antimildew spray, 72
cleaner for, 69–70
rust spots around metal rings of, 70
Shower heads, 71
Sidewalk stains, 223
Silk, 106, 134, 147, 152–153
Silver items, cleaning, 53–55
Small kitchen appliance cleaning spray, 40
Sneakers, washing, 162–163
Soap. See also Castile soap
bar, 242
for cleaning cast iron, 60
foaming hand, 86, 241
Soap nuts (soap berries), 128
Soap scum spray and scrub, 73, 75
Soda ash, 18
Sodium bicarbonate. See Baking soda
Sodium hydroxide, 1
Sodium laureth sulfate, 129
Sodium lauryl sulfate, 129
Sodium percarbonate, 18
Sparkling water, 100
Spider plants, 175
Spot cleaning upholstered furniture, 100
Spot-clean only stuffed animals, 160, 162
Spot remover, 131
Sprays. See also Cleaning sprays
antimildew, 72
for bathroom odors, 84–85
clean air, 216, 237
lavender linen, 134–136
liquid spray starch, 148
mirror, 77
shower curtain liner, 72
static cling reliever, 147
yoga mat, 205
Stainless steel appliances, 46
Stainless steel scouring pad, 45, 51, 73
Stainless steel sinks, cleaning, 52
Stain removal cheat sheet, 141, 143
Stains
crayon and marker removal, 166–168
deodorant buildup, 131–132
deodorant marks, 147–148
on leather furniture, 101
moss and mildew, on the house, 225
from pets, 211, 213
on porcelain, 49, 51
rug, 105
rust, 70–71
salt on winter boots, 153
on sidewalks, driveways, and garage floors, 223
stain remover spray, 131
on upholstered furniture, 100
on woodenware, 57
Static cling reliever spray, 147
Steam cleaning curtains, 106–107
Steamers, 106, 107, 138, 172
Sterilized jars, 187
Sticky labels, removing, 16
Stinky foot solution soak, 184
Storage
color-coordinating, 159
in the kitchen, 36
in the living room, 90
natural materials for, 29
of organic products and supplies, 25
plastic vs. natural materials for, 29
Storage containers. See Containers
Stovetop cleaner, 43
Suede cleaning, 151–152
Sustainability, steps toward, 26–28
Sweet orange essential oil, 73, 86
Synthetic comforters, washing, 122
T
Table salt, 14, 57, 75, 132, 136
Tangerine essential oil, 211
Tarnish, removing, 52–53, 55
Tea on upholstered furniture, 100
Tea stains, removing, 141
Tea tree essential oil, 15, 24, 63, 64, 69, 71, 82, 84, 85, 102, 154, 178, 184, 189, 191, 210, 211, 213, 225
Tea Tree Toilet Cleaning Powder and Gel, 82, 84
Televisions
cleaning screens, 107–108
removing crayon from, 167
removing marker/highlighter from, 167
Thyme, 65
Tile floors, cleaning, 79, 81
Tile grout cleaning paste, 81–82
To-go mugs, 177–178
Toilet brushes, 28
Toilet cleaning gel, 84
Toilet cleaning powder, 82
Toilet spray, 84–85
Toluene, 175
Tomato ketchup, 52–53
Toothbrushes, 28, 193, 195
Toothpaste, peppermint, 188–189
Top-loading washing machines, 137
Towels, microfiber, 26
Toys, 159–160
Trash cans, sanitizing, 63–64
Triclosan, 1, 27, 52
Tubes, toothpaste, 189
Tweezers, cleaning, 193, 195
2-Butoxyethanol, 1
U
Upholstered furniture, 99–100
USDA certified organic, 5–6, 7, 9
V
Vacuuming
baseboard cleaning and, 108
behind bookshelves, 105
body awareness and, 23
carpet refresh powder for, 102–103
the catch-all room, 203
cleaning bed frames and, 115
cleaning blinds and, 98
cleaning lampshades and, 111
cleaning leather furniture and, 101
cleaning mattresses and, 116
cleaning upholstered furniture and, 99
rugs, 103, 105
Vanilla essential oil, 17, 44, 62
Vanilla extract, 44, 62
Veggie and fruit cleaner, 39
Vetiver essential oil, 17, 117, 183
Vinegar, 9, 39, 49, 62, 63, 73, 82, 84, 85, 86, 117, 136, 141, 143, 153, 159–160, 165, 174, 178, 184, 195, 206, 209, 213, 223. See also Apple cider vinegar; White vinegar
about, 14
citrus, 16, 45, 71, 75
for cleaning the oven, 45–46
mixed with hydrogen peroxide, 18
oxygen bleach and, 122
using castile soap with, 19
on vinyl floors, 78
Vinegar scent, 3, 14
Vinyl floors, cleaning, 78–79
Vitamin E, 55, 197
W
Walls
cleaning, 94
removing crayon from, 167
removing marker/highlighter from, 167
Walnut oil, 91, 93
Washcloth, storage of, 25
Washing. See also Hand-washing
bedding, 121–123
delicates and wool, 132–134
duvet covers, 122
mattress covers, 116
pet collars and leashes, 209
sheets, 122
sneakers and backpacks, 162–163
stuffed animals, 160–162
Washing machines
cleaning exterior of, 126
washing down comforters in, 121
washing interior of, 137
Water bottles, 177–178
Water rings in wood, 91–92
Wax paper, 136
Weekly housekeeping chores, 21–22
White chalk, 25, 143, 155, 206
White vinegar, 3, 40, 42–43, 46, 47, 48, 52, 57, 63, 65, 77, 79, 91, 99, 100, 105, 109, 111, 115, 119, 122, 131, 132, 137, 168–169, 173, 177–178
White wine, 100, 141
Wipes
baby hand, face, and bottom, 165–166
lunch box and diaper bag, 163, 165
sanitizing, for the office, 178–179
Witch hazel, 84, 147, 185, 186, 197, 205, 216
Wonder wax, for woodenware, 55
Wood bed frame, cleaning, 115–116
Wooden blinds, 99
Wooden Spoon Wonder Wax, 55
Woodenware
cleaning, 57
conditioning, 57, 59
sanitizing, 57
wonder wax for, 55
Wood furniture, restoring, 91, 93
Wood polishing oil, 91, 93, 106, 111, 115
Wool clothing and blankets, washing, 134
Wool dryer balls, 3, 138–139
Wool, hand-washing liquid for, 152–153
X
Xanthan gum, 84
Xylene, 175
Xylitol powder, 188, 189, 191
Y
Ylang ylang essential oil, 193
Yoga mat spray, 205
Yogurt, 186