Spring Cleaning

(Please read our disclaimer)

“To clean, or not to clean, that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to keep things dirty
Or to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous cleaning…”

Okay, Shakespeare really didn’t say this, but don’t you have this feeling when it comes to doing a thorough cleaning after the winter season? Wouldn’t you rather be outside in the sunshine and ignore the build up of clutter, dust, and dirt on floors, furniture, and possibly even walls?

You’re not alone, but planning ahead and having the right tools makes it a little easier and once you are finished, more rewarding. So let’s get going…

The Right Tools

How often have you started cleaning only to stop due to burning eyes or coughing because of the products you were using? Many products on the market use chlorine and ammonia. Both have been found to be airway irritants and according to the Poison Control Center, just exposure to chlorine is the most frequently received call regarding children.

So that you don’t stop before you get started, make sure that you have products on hand that are not only safe for you and your family, but also clean properly so that you can then go outside and enjoy the sunshine.

The EcoSense lines of household cleaners do not depend on harsh alkaline chemical reactions. Instead, soil is dissolved and rinsed away by the use of natural enzymes, solvents, and surfactants. They do not contain surface damaging abrasives, bleach, ammonia, phosphates, or glycol ethers. And they do not contain quats, and they are not packaged with the endocrine disrupting chemicals BPA or phthalates.
Which Ones Where?

Sol-U-Mel makes spring-cleaning easier. The Melaleuca Wellness Guide lists over 120 uses for Sol-U-Mel. It is unique in that it dissolves and lifts stains by turning them into a solution that can be easily rinsed away.

In preparation for carpet cleaning, first use full-strength Sol-U-Mel to remove oil-based stains like chocolate, paint, grease, permanent markers, food stains, and gum. Pet stains should also be pre-treated with Sol-U-Mel. If a pet can smell his scent he will return to the same area. Sol-U-Mel penetrates and dissolves the pet stain so that the pet no longer needs to visit that area.

To clean carpets mix 1 ounce of Tough & Tender and 1 capful of Sol-U-Mel for each gallon of water in your cleaning machine reservoir. Check the color fastness of your carpet before using any cleaning product.

In the kitchen it is probably the oven and ventilation hoods that will need extra attention. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of MelaMagic and 1 capful of Sol-U-Mel in a 16 ounce spray bottle and fill with water. Apply to the oven and ventilation hood and let it set for 5 minutes. Wipe it with a damp cloth. If it is a major job, use a soft scrubbing pad and diluted MelaMagic.

Showers can be easily cleaned by spraying with diluted Tub & Tile with an added capful of Sol-U-Mel. Rinse well. Not only will Tub & Tile clean and shine the shower, but also it will wipe off hard water spots, along with fungus, mold, and mildew. For spot treating mold and mildew use full strength Tub & Tile.

If you have a ceiling fan, it probably needs spring-cleaning too. Tough & Tender dissolves grime making it easy to wipe off with a damp clean cloth. After drying the blades, apply Rustic Touch to help repel dust.

Metallic or polymer venetian blinds (not wooden blinds) can be taken down and soaked in a bathtub with a tablespoon of MelaMagic or Tough & Tender mixed with warm water. Swish around to clean, then rinse with warm water and gather up and carefully stand on their side on a clean dry towel to dry.

Having kids and pets stay inside during a big part of the winter may also mean your walls took a beating as well with fingerprints and tail prints. Mix 1 teaspoon of Tough & Tender with water in a 16 ounce spray bottle and spray directly onto the walls. Wipe with a damp cloth. This will leave the walls looking as if they were freshly painted.

Last but not least, wash windows inside and out. The EPA tells us that the basic ingredients in window/glass cleaners are ammonia and isopropanol. The cleaners may be irritating to eyes, skin, nose, and throat, and cause death if swallowed.

Clear Power Glass Cleaner does not contain ammonia or other caustic chemicals and yet is a very effective cleaner. Clean with paper towels or a microfiber cloth.

Spring-cleaning our homes with EcoSense can give us pleasing results without exposure to caustic ingredients. We can pull open the curtains and let the light shine through our clean windows into our clean home.

For additional information, see the chapters entitled “A Healthy Home Means a Healthy You” and “Healthy Home Solutions” in The Melaleuca Wellness Guide.

~ Richard M Barry

Cleaning Success Stories

We remodeled our house a couple of years ago which included the installation of a beautiful new shower. I was very hesitant to use my new shower as I didn’t want to return to the dirty, moldy tile and grout which seemed to never be clean, even after a serious scrubbing. But thankfully, a coworker introduced me to Melaleuca and the “No Work” product. I can proudly say that after 18 months, my tile, grout and fixtures look as good as the day they were installed. I spray my shower after each use, which can be completed in 10 seconds. It is such a relief to have eliminated the need for scrubbing the grout and fixtures which most likely will extend their service life.

As a bonus, because of my success, I purchased the “No Work” product for my elderly parents. Their use of the product has eliminated the need for them to perform cleaning processes which for them, can sometimes be unsafe.

In my quest to find something that helped keep a clean shower, I have used other brands of similar products. However, none performed to the level of the Melaleuca product. I am so thrilled with “No Work” and thankful to Melaleuca for always bringing superior quality products.

~ Peggy

Last Saturday I met with some of our Co-op members to clean up our meeting facilities and I took all my Melaleuca cleaners with me, because I wanted everyone to be safe. Edna and Tony were using the Lemon Brite Hand Dishwashing Liquid to wash the dishes and Tough & Tender All Purpose Cleaner to clean the surfaces in the kitchen. Tammy was in the gift shop and mainly used the Clear Power Glass Cleaner for the windows and the shelves. For the piano she used the Rustic Touch Furniture Wipes. I tackled the bathroom. There were a few stains on the walls, which I got off with the Sol-U-Mel Stain Remover, the Safe & Mighty Toilet Bowl Cleaner removed the water stains in the toilet and the Tub& Tile Bathroom Cleaner took care if the rest, even the bathroom floor. In the main meeting room, we wiped all the chairs and tables down with the Sol-U-Guard Botanical Convenience Wipes. And then there was this chair; a nice upholstered arm chair with this big ugly stain on it, the size if a football. The wipes did not get the stain off. I remembered that one of my team members once cleaned a cap using the PreSpot Laundry Stain Remover and I thought I would try it on this stain. To my amazement, using the attached brush, the stain was just melting away. I followed up with a wet towel to wipe down the loosened dirt. We used the Clean & Gleam Floor Cleaner for the floors. There were no harmful chemicals floating in the air and every room smelled so fresh when we left the building. I just love Melaleuca products. They keep us safe!

~ Ricarda

Wow! I’ve been a Melaleuca customer for 7 years now and I have severe allergies. When I first got my value pack I went straight to cleaning EVERYTHING!! I mean EVERYTHING in my house, from the bathrooms with tub and tile, to the vents, and couch cushions with Sol-U-Mel, to kitchen floors and cabinets with Tough & Tender, I couldn’t believe the “clean fresh smells” of all the products!! I wasn’t sneezing. I could breathe without holding my mouth and nose. And the EcoSense line did a FANTASTIC job at cleaning!! I look forward to cleaning every Spring!! I even spray my filters with the Sol-U-Mel. Thanks Melaleuca for giving me peace back and not having to use allergy pills in 7 years!!

~ Angel

I joined Melaleuca in January 2013. I have several dogs and 2 cats. As you know pets can be very messy. Here recently, I rented a carpet cleaner to help clean up the mess my pets had made. I have done this in the past but the carpet never seemed to be very clean after using carpet cleaner products. This time, since I am a Melaleuca customer I bought extra Sol-U-Mel and put it in the carpet cleaner to see if it would do a better job. To my amazement it got rid of the stains and odor better than anything I had ever used previously. Not only does the carpet look and smell cleaner, it looks like it did 10 years ago. Instead of the dark dingy color that it was before the cleaning, it is now a bright new looking color as it was when it was first put down in my home. I would recommend Sol-U-Mel to any of my friends, family, or even complete strangers. I will never use any other carpet solution ever again when I rent a carpet cleaner.

~ Adrienne

My grandson was diagnosed with irritant-induced hyperactive airway disorder. The doctor told my daughter to clean Charlie's room often. She was cleaning with supplies that contained chemicals, and then airing out the room. It didn't matter -- every time Charlie went into his room, he would have an asthma attack. We realized that the cleaner she was using was causing the attacks, so we switched to Melaleuca products. The first time after cleaning his room, no attack! Six months later, Charlie placed out of IIHA -- all because of Melaleuca's all-natural products.

~ Juliette

A few years ago I was preparing my home for sale. The outside windows were so covered with hard water that it was going to cost over $600 just to clean the outsides. I took out my Tub & Tile and a non-scratch scrubbing pad. With very little effort, and less than an hour and half of work, every window in my home was sparkling clean. For the inside I just used a little Clear Power and one of Melaleuca's Microfiber glass cleaning clothes. Those clothes are also perfect for mirrors and stainless steel appliances. Wow, I just love cleaning with Melaleuca products. I save so much time, money, and no more harmful chemicals. Thank you Melaleuca and thank you RM Barry.

~ Callie