Special offer

Ensure A Sense Of Well Being Beyond The Clean ~ Create A Luxurious Green Cleaning Kit ~ To Give Or To Keep ~

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Four Winds Healthy Home Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning

Map of the 7 Winders of the Natural World

Creating a luxurious green cleaning kit is an exquisite change from conventional products where the only sense of well being comes from, well, having a clean environment.  Or so one thinks...  Generally, household cleaning with chemicals is quite an oxymoron. Think about it, cleaning while leaving chemical toxins behind, cleaning while obnoxious odors linger, cleaning while leaving build up and residue from the hardy strata of waxes, cleansers and gel like formulas.  You may or may not see them with the naked eye, but they are there - as part of their working methodology is to create a chemical barrier. 

The green cleaning kit featured here creates a sense of well being beyond the clean as it is non-toxic to children and pets as well as individuals with allergies or sensitive immune systems.  The properties of the included essential oils ensures a boost of sanitizing power, a lift of the spirits and a luxurious aroma for a fraction of the price of purchased equivalents.

Vinegar, while it is not suitable for use on all surfaces, has been shown to have quite an impressive impact on eliminating viruses and bacteria on surfaces - "an astounding 80- 99% kill rate". Do not use vinegar on sealed and polished stone surfaces as it will break down the luster and seal. Better to use microfiber mops and cloths for that task.

The luxurious green kit that follows is one that I have given on various occasions. I also include a gift certificate for a service that would be appreciated.  Whether it is for a window cleaning service, or an awning cleaning service, of course in my case, I can easily include a carpet, upholstery, air duct or dryer vent cleaning service. But sometimes depending on the need, I try to go out of my sphere, as it is a wonderful gesture to support your colleagues, for then it become a gift that radiates good will en masse.

When giving the basket, it is a nice and encouraging gesture to create attractive labels for each of the bottles with the Name of the Solution and all the ingredients should be listed recipe style. A Beautiful Fabric Ribbon tied around the handle of the basket with a few sprigs of lavender or whatever is fresh and gorgeous makes an elegant finishing touch for this luxurious green cleaning basket.

~ How To Make A Luxurious Green Cleaning Kit ~                                           Woven Basket with compartments

Supplies

  • A compartmentalized woven or molded basket
  • 3 Spray Bottles with the easy on the hand trigger
  • 2 Glass Jars with wide mouths preferably like the canning or storage type with the rubber seals and the fold over locking mechanism
  • Baking Soda
  • White Distilled Vinegar
  • Vegetable Glycerin, naturally extends shelf life for the creamy cleanser
  • Tea Tree Oil
  • Plant Based Liquid detergent from BioKleen or any eco-friendly favorites
  • Essential Oils such as Lavender, Grapefruit, Mint, Geranium, Thyme, Rosemary, Citrus of your liking
  • Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Microfiber Cloths
  • Brush
  • Microfiber Squeegee
  • For the Air Fresher distilled water is required

General Use Spray Cleaner

  • 2 cups hot water
  • 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda or washing soda
  • 2 tablespoons of eco-friendly liquid soap
  • 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil
  • 2 teaspoons of lavender essential oil or any of the above combinations
  • Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle

Window Cleaner

  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup vinegar
  • 2 or 3 small drops of eco-friendly liquid detergent
  • 2 teaspoons of Lavender essential oil
  • 2 teaspoons of  Rosemary essential oil
  • Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle

Furniture Polish

  • 1 teaspoon of almond oil (olive oil will go rancid)
  • 1/2 cup of vinegar or fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lavender essential oil (citrus oils are not really desirable for this one)
  • Mix the ingredients in a glass jar with tight fitting lid. Use sparingly on a soft cloth and wipe very well

Cream Cleanser

  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons of vegetable glycerin
  • 2 teaspoons of grapefruit essential oil
  • 2 teaspoons of  mint essential oil or any of the above combinations
  • Add 1/4 cup or so of eco-friendly liquid detergent while whisking mixture into a mouse like texture
  • Mix the ingredients in a bowl and scoop into a tight fitting glass jar

Air Fresher

  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • distilled water - fill to the top of the bottle
  • 8  - 10 drops of pure vanilla extract, you can also use other pure extracts of your choice
  • Mix the ingredients in a plastic spray bottle

A few of my favorite sources for this kit are:

http://www.casabella.com/microfiber-cleaning.html

http://www.originalswissaromatics.com

http://www.picnic-basket.com/Tivoli-Market-Basket_P_2014.html 

The basket pictured is the Tivoli Market Basket

 Michelle Viggiano of Phoenix & Scottsdale,  Four Winds Health Home Carpet and Air Duct Cleaning http://www.healthyhomeaz.com

Tamara Perlman
Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

OOOoooh Michelle--This is a great list!  I'm sure there are people who will feel much better after cleaning their houses with these items.  I don't think most people are aware of how toxic all their "cleaning" products are!  I'd love to re-blog this. 

Mar 22, 2009 02:25 PM
Michelle Viggiano
Four Winds Healthy Home Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning - Scottsdale, AZ
healthyhomeaz

Hi Tamara, as always, great to hear from you.  You know, I was looking at your blog and your photography is astoundingly beautiful.  You could make calenders and sell them to all the municipal and local chambers in your area or any area you visit for that matter, and they would be thrilled. Perhaps, in fact you do sell your photography, if you don't you should seriously consider it.

Thanks for mentioning the list and the re-blog.  It really is great to give as a gift because if you print out beautiful labels with attractive fonts and get a great looking basket, ribbon and flowers or herbs, it really looks quite impressive and if you add a gift certificate to a service it is so complete.  It is also wonderful to use for yourself as well and not expensive but it certainly smells like luxury.

Mar 22, 2009 04:41 PM
Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495
Stage it Right! - Melbourne, FL

Michelle, I LOVE all those recipes!  Some of which are variations on ones I use.  Last year I posted a blog on the hundreds of uses of olive oil, which is my good old standby.  I use it as furniture polish, stainless steel polish, gunk remover, hair conditioner, and all kinds of stuff.  I use tea tree oil straight from the bottle to disinfect countertops, vinegar to clean floors, and all of the items you mentioned.  Its so easy, so much cheaper than store bought, and so environmentally friendly.  I did an eco basket give away at a chamber function a while back.  Most of the people who saw the contents had no clue what they were for and I got quite a few negative comments about CFLs.  I left wondering what planet I had landed on!

Mar 23, 2009 05:48 AM
Michelle Viggiano
Four Winds Healthy Home Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning - Scottsdale, AZ
healthyhomeaz

What planet indeed!  I suppose Terry, it all goes back to the framing.  When I give these baskets all glammed up with beautiful labels, a gorgeous French ribbon and fresh flowers attached to the handle and say there are essential oils in them, even the die hard chemical product lovers melt.  As essential oils have been framed as luxurious scent providers and the same essences are used in the commercial perfume industry - now they can relate and embrace. 

If I were to give these same individuals, the same basket - but in a cleaning trough without the essential oils and the beautiful packaging, I would probably get a cursory thank you and the life span of the basket and its contents would be questionable at best.  Not even a glimmer of hope to change the consciousness regarding a greener way to clean.

Mar 23, 2009 09:43 AM
Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495
Stage it Right! - Melbourne, FL

Dang Michelle, thats what was missing the essential oils!  Next time.  Thanks for the heads up.

Apr 01, 2009 02:31 PM
Michelle Viggiano
Four Winds Healthy Home Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning - Scottsdale, AZ
healthyhomeaz

Nowdays, packaging is everything.  Sadly, often more substantial and costly than the actual product itself.  But I tell you Terry, the essential oils work every time...

Apr 02, 2009 07:42 PM