Eco-Friendly Cleaning Tips

By Beds for less

Today is the largest environmental event in the world - Earth day! In fact, it is the perfect day to get involved in activities that can help make the planet cleaner, healthier and more sustainable. Even if one starts being eco-friendly at home by buying organic products, using energy-star appliances and recycling, it is a different story with furniture. In order to remain with today’s green spirit and lending our planet a helping hand, here are some tips on how to be eco-friendly while cleaning your furniture and upholstery.

First, you need to check your furniture cleaning code as it gives instructions and precautions on how to clean and care for it! If you bought or are planning to buy Ashley Furniture, you will find a cleaning code on your upholstery and furniture. Following these cleaning codes will help you make your furniture look newer and to maintain them longer. Here are the guidelines:

CLEANING CODE	MEANING	WASH: Cleaning products, water…	DRY
DC	Dry Cleaning only	û	ü
HW	Washing by hand	ü	û
S	Clean only with dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate. Do not use water.	û	ü
W	Water only. Do not over wet. Do not use solvents to spot clean.	ü	û
SW, WS	Spot clean. Do not saturate with liquid.	ü	ü
X	Vacuuming or light brushing only	û	û
E, N	Use the Millennium Leather Care Kit	û	û

Once, the cleaning tag is found, read and understood; it’s time to get equipped! In order to be efficient, you will need 3 things:

1-      a vacuum cleaner

2-      accessories like small brushes,  cloth/towels, buckets

3-      cleaning products and water

How to proceed?

1.       Vacuum your furniture till it is dust free. If you vacuum your furniture frequently you will maintain it clean and well kept.

2.       Spot clean with cleaning products and water on the stains you wish to remove if the code is a “W, SW, WS “. You can also use a brush to take off the stains as well. This accessory works well while using powder on a stain.  Use cleaning products from manufacturers or you can make your own! If you need to clean pillows, check whether they have removable covers, as it will be easier to wash them separately.

  

3.       Dry your furniture by applying a cloth on it, if you washed it with water and foam. Vacuum it again to remove any dry powder residue. Then, you can start using your furniture again!

Home-made/Natural products tips:

Make your own cleaning product depending on your needs:

-mix lemon with some olive oil or jojoba oil will clean leather sofas, chairs and fabric upholstery. It will also remove undesirable odors

- mix water and vinegar to help you get rid of food stains and/or pet little disaster!

Make your own dry cleaning powder with baking soda and corn starch to remove grease stains on leather and vinyl. After sprinkling the solution on the stains, let it sit for 4 hours. Finally wipe it with a clean cloth.

Everybody can contribute to the environment and make the planet a cleaner and healthier place. Happy Earth Day!

                                                     Content provided by: @tailbase

                                                           www.tailbase.com

DIY CLEANING SUPPLIES

by Beds for Less Furniture Express

Your sink cabinets are jammed with virtually every foam, spray and spritz cleaner on the market. And yet, you’re not satisfied with the results.

Time to get back to basics.

Wonderfully multipurpose, natural cleaning agents (e.g., baking soda) cost pennies on the dollar compared to brand-name products—and they work just as well (if not better).

There are endless possibilities for a green clean. Here are our five favorites:

Dispose of Odors.

Garbage disposal smelling like, well, garbage? Pour a half cup of baking soda, followed by a cup of white vinegar down the drain. Boil a kettle of water and pour boiling water down as well. Then add two cups of ice and one cup of rock salt to the drain. Run through the disposal. Lastly, cut a lime or lemon in half, and run both halves one by one through the disposal.

Unclog Drains Naturally.

While they might get the job done, products like Drano are terrible for the environment and dangerous in contact with your skin. A natural alternative: Pour ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup white vinegar down the drain. Let sit for at least 25 minutes. Pour in 2 quarts boiled water. The fizz you hear is the baking soda and vinegar working magic. If the water is still sitting in the sink, plunge it down to reveal your clean-as-a-whistle drain.

Nip Those Fleas.

Got pets? Then you know too well the dog days of summer can mean one thing: pesky fleas. Sprinkle 20 Mule Team Borax powder on your rugs/carpets and other areas where fleas may fest, such as a cat climber. Use a stiff brush to work the Borax into the rug/carpet. Let the Borax sit at least six hours (overnight is even better). Vacuum thoroughly. (A ½ cup of Borax powder will give your laundry detergent a power boost, too.)

Make That Stainless Steel Sink Sparkle.

Pour undiluted white vinegar—a gentle but powerful disinfectant—into a spray bottle. Rinse sink with water. Sprinkle baking soda over wet surface. Scrub with a soft-to-medium brush. Spray vinegar over remaining residue. That fizzing sound is cleaning in action. Rinse sink thoroughly. For even more shine, buff with a bit of olive oil, using a soft, dry cotton cloth.

Polish to Perfection.

Spare your finished wood furnishings that furniture spray buildup with this smart solution: Using a funnel, pour 2 tbsp. olive oil, ¼ cup distilled white vinegar and ¼ tsp. lemon oil (or fresh lemon juice) into a spray bottle. Shake well then spritz onto microfiber cloth and rub in evenly in the direction of the grain. Remove excess polish with a clean, dry cloth and behold the beauty of your like-new furniture.

Content provided by: +Tailbase  &  +Ashley Furniture HomeStore 

www.tailbase.com

www.ashleyfurniturehomestore.com