Coffee Filters...they clean mirrors too!

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home

I like resources.  This book has become just that to me.  A great resource for tips to keep my house clean. 

I like tips too.  Especially those that make my life easier and improve our quality of living at the same time.

Our house isn't perfect.  It's lived in.  No profound statement there yet somehow, I used to think I wasn't successful unless the house looked 'show ready'.  Whatever.  I'm beyond that now...this is real life people.  Projects are still on this month's "to do" list and many more continue to brew in my mind.  But for the day-to-day living I can say our house is a clean, lived in home meaning there is always something to do but the basics are being maintained. 

Okay...getting beyond the daily maintenance of our home, one of the tips that I tried out today is the use of a coffee filter.  Yes - I did use one to brew a pot this morning before the cleaning began.  That's not the coffee filter I'm talking about.  Back to cleaning...

In the past I've had a love-not so thrilled with the mirror / window cleaning version of Shaklee's H2 concentrate.  While I enjoy and encourage the use of cleaners that clean without adding toxins to your household (and saving money in the process!), I haven't always been thrilled with my mirrors and windows and sometimes broke down and bought the streak free windex cleaner...which had recently run out.

What to do?  I really really want to like my toxin-free, family safe cleaner but I want my mirrors to look good for a whole week...not just for a couple hours until they get that cloudy look or streaks that suddenly appear that weren't there before...or they were hiding.

Shaklee H2 for Windows and Mirrors

Enter the tip...coffee filter.  I was doubtful.  How could this really make the difference?  I actually didn't think of it right away and sprayed the mirror, drying it with the usual cloth and pouted as the dismal results.  I prayed.  I really did.  I know it's just cleaning but, if you haven't realized it yet, Jesus is one of my best friends and I talk to Him about everything.  Today, that included my cloudy looking mirror.  It was then I remembered the tip of the coffee filter.  Mrs. Meyer's actually suggests newspaper too but then my hands get yucky and I don't like that either.  I got one of my filters and sprayed the mirror again.  The result almost took my breath away.  Literally.  I'm not even kidding.  

I only needed one coffee filter for the entire mirror.  It dried the mirror - there are no streaks and it looks so sparkly clean.  You can see my smile can't you?  It's wide.  I finally can truly enjoy my cleaner AND have clean, sparkly mirrors.  That is until the boys make their mark on them...

Have you used coffee filters before?  Newspaper?  What works for you?

Shaklee's Basic H2...versatile and economical

One of my favorite cleaning products is Shaklee's Basic H2.  There are many reasons.  It is versatile - I can use the same concentrate to create quality window / mirror cleaners, all purpose cleaners and even a degreaser (this is my absolute favorite).  This difference is how much of the concentrate is added to 16 ounces of water - a few drops up to 1-1/2 tsp.

Shaklee Basic H2 Concentrate

As I said, my favorite is the degreaser (16 oz water with 1-1/2 tsp Basic H2 concentrate) and I use that on my countertops, appliances, floors (in a pinch it is a great cleaner to spray on the floor and then wipe with a microfiber cloth), showers, sinks, etc.  It is definitely my go-to cleaner.

The one downside for me is the fact that there is no odor.  I don't want a toxic odor - I'm using these products because I want to limit the toxins in our home - but I like to have a fresh clean scent.

Enter essential oils.

I add 3-5 drops to my cleaner and give a little shake.  My personal favorite is lavender.  I do however us tea tree for the bathrooms - it is naturally antiseptic.  If you choose to try the tea tree, I would suggest going with 2-3 drops to start because it is quite pungent.

How come I didn't do this sooner?  Honestly, I didn't really think about it.  But now that I have, I can't imagine not incorporating this into my daily life!  My cleaning is still 'green' - it's just a bit more personalized now.

What's one of your favorite cleaning tips or tricks?