Where Energy Flows

Dr. StrangeRebmann, or how I learned to stop worrying and love cleaning my chemical free home - Part 3
Read part One & part Two

My family and I sure spend a lot of time in our kitchen. I feel lucky to have my own kitchen sitting in the Family & Foundation and Abundance areas of the home. I love to prepare and share good food with my family.

I suggest trying to keep this area free from Clutter when possible, especially because of how much time we spend in the kitchen, and how great it feels when it is clear and clean. As we know, it is a powerful metaphor to have your space clean and clutter free.

I have to be honest and tell you this room is where I use the most commercial products. While I would like to use all homemade cleaners, I have run into difficulty finding ones that work well here. Yet, I do have some good tips.

1. Surface Cleaner – Mrs. Meyers All Purpose Concentrated Cleaner. I bought one of these sometime last year, and I haven’t even gone through a fifth of it. I take one capful of cleaner to 16 oz of water – and I am set for several weeks of cleaning up counters, tables and highchairs.

2. Dishwasher – Ecover Dishwasing Detergent. It works well with my pots and pans cycle. I have to use a little more water, but I think the reduced phosphates is worth it. Also – substitute white vinegar in your rinse aid compartment – works great – no chemicals.

3. Liquid Dish Soap – Mrs. Meyers again. It just works so well and I can clean an entire sink full of dishes with one squirt. I have also had good luck with Seventh Generation Dish Soap – it requires more - but is a bit cheaper.

4. Stainless Steel Appliances – Mrs. Meyers Stainless Steel Cleaner. This is more like a polish, but it works very well. I only have to use it once a month or so – and my stainless steel appliances and compost bucket look great!

5. Floor Cleaner – I use water. Unless it is raw chicken on the floor where I would feel the need to use some disinfectant, I use a damp microfiber mop. It works great!

6. Other cool tricks – Salt and Lemon Juice Paste for rust stains. Combine into pastes – leave on rust overnight – wipe off in morning. No need for CLR at all.

Next week – the rest of the house and laundry!

Subtitle: Dr. StrangeRebmann, or how I learned to stop worrying and love cleaning my chemical free home - Part 1.

This is the first in a series of four articles on Healthy Home Cleaning.  In this first installment, I will talk about my thoughts on cleaning and using intention.  Part 2 will focus on the bathroom and contain step-by-step instructions.  Part 3 will be on the kitchen, and Part 4 will be on the rest of the house as well as laundry.  I ask for indulgence, with a title this funny – I have to use it more than once.

Part 1 – Thoughts on Cleaning

When my son was an infant, I had a cleaning lady.  It was wonderful!  The feeling the house had after she left was unmistakably sparkly and fresh.  It was one of the best post-baby treats I can imagine and highly encourage everyone to spend money on cleaning services for baby shower gifts.  Yet, as sometimes happens, budgets change.  When the baby was about one, we started cleaning our house by ourselves again.

Luckily, I had recently gone through Denise Linn’s 28 day Soul Coaching program with the book and her guided meditations available free on her website.  While many things changed in my life during this process, I also started to think about cleaning in a new way. 

Prior to this, I could vacuum, dust, and straighten all day, but I just hated cleaning my bathrooms.  Throughout our ten years of marriage, my husband had been our designated bathroom cleaner because I hated it that much.  Yet, after my enlightenment, so to speak, I started thinking about a clean bathroom as a present to myself.  I remembered how great it felt to be home after our cleaning person left, and decided I wanted to feel that way again.  I also started researching making my own environmentally friendly cleaning products, so it became a bit of a challenge and science experiment at the same time.  Pretty much, I just decided to own it.  Having a clean house was going to be my gift to myself. 

Now, I really like it.  I play music.  I dance.  I improve my family’s health.  I help the environment.  The bathroom doesn’t bother me at all anymore.  Go figure.

AND… there’s more!  Cleaning has the power to activate intention.  If your are feeling tired and grouchy…come up with an intention like “I want to be vibrant and full of life.”  Then, clean your widows, and say, “ I clean these windows to let vibrant energy into my home and fill me with life.”  Every time you see those clean windows, you will remember your intention and it will re-enforce your desired change.  Easy!  Recruit these chores to serve your highest good – I say!

Do I have you convinced?  Want to learn more?  Stay tuned – more coming.  However, if in the mean time you want to start leaning more, good places to start are:

1. Denise Linn’s “Soul Coaching”
2. Karen Logan’s “Clean House, Clean Planet”
3. Google phrases like “Natural Bathroom Cleaner” or “Make my own tub scrub.”

Happy Cleaning! 

© Elise Rebmann, 2008. All rights reserved.

My children - My sweet children -They are terrors without doubt
The crazy ones that live with me - My hair? – I pull it out
It’s hard - It’s easy - I don’t know - They drive me crazy
All I want is sleep – yet I am sure I’m not too lazy

Oh exhaustion - I’m so tired - I’m so grouchy - I ‘m a mess
Something needs to change right now – there’s way, way too much stress
So I shall shift the energy - Creating what I focus on
I can get this right – I will - My mad, sad thoughts will all be gone

Balance – Beginners Mind – Patience – Good Thought Thinking
They’re only little once - They are a joy - I am not sinking
Wait – Cancel – Correct – I’m buoyant with so much love
That always surrounds me - From below and from above

Be gentle with myself - Who I am right now’s enough
Life is really good to me – It’s really not so tough
And if society pulls me down - I notice it – without a frown
As perfect parents don’t exist

I go outside – I make a list
Of all the good that’s in my life
And I let go of all the strife
Because – after all, Life is way too short - so why not have a ball.

 © Copyright Elise Rebmann, 2007. All rights reserved.