How To: Go Green with your In-Home Cleaning!

When you really think about it, it does seem a little counter-intuitive to invest so much time and energy into using safe, sustainable materials in our homes, to go and clean them with harsh chemicals. We have found that the best cleaning components are safe, inexpensive and probably already in common use in your kitchen!

 

One cup of baking soda mixed with a teaspoon of liquid soap, a bit of water, and a few drops of antibacterial essential oil (such as tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, or peppermint) makes a really effective cleanser for your bathroom.

 

Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar to clean your mirrors. Use a solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar to clean windows. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. Use a piece of crumpled up newspaper to remove any streaks left behind by the cloth.

 

Need to polish your silver? A frequently recommended, nontoxic trick is to fill an aluminum pan (or one lined with aluminum foil) with hot water, add salt and baking soda, and stir to dissolve. When you add the silver pieces, a chemical reaction occurs, removing tarnish.

 

For an economical and environmentally friendly floor cleaner, mix a solution of 3 drops dishwashing liquid to 1/3 part white distilled vinegar, 1/3 part alcohol, and 1/3 part water. Spray sparingly and mop for a fast clean-up.

 

Some carpet stains can be removed with a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and 1/4 cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the carpet stain and let dry. Vacuum up the residue the next day. (Always test on an out-of-sight part of the carpet first).

 

Try these simple tips out to save money and be eco-friendly! Your wallet and Mother Nature will thank you.

 

[ Image by Judith Doyle ]

 

Home Decorating, From the Ground Up

Carpet Wagon wants to know: What best defines your decorating style?   Sleek and modern?  Shabby Chic?   Traditional Americana?

Our homes are an extension of ourselves and our families.   How you decorate your home expresses part of who you are.    Decorating is a process that can be done from the “ground” up, so to speak.

What kind of flooring will match best with your innate style?   Are you the sleek pinewood floor or the distressed oakwood floor?    Does plush and comfortable carpet best match your needs and style?     What kind of area rug fits your personal taste?

 

How To Choose Eco-Friendly Carpet Options

All carpet uses some chemicals during manufacturing or installation due to the glues and padding needed to keep carpet in place in your home.  The trick is to choose flooring that is the most sustainable, both in your home, and for the planet.

Some carpet fibers are worse for the environment than others.  Carpet or rugs made from synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic is often maligned as the worst because those fibers are all made from petroleum based chemicals.

You can avoid a lot of toxic chemicals if you choose a natural fiber such as wool.   One little known fact is that wool is also naturally flame retardant, whereas carpet from man-made fibers is usually sprayed with chemical flame retardants that contain chemicals like as PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether), and naphthalene.

Wool also is self-sustaining because it is not produced in a chemical plant, but is grown on sheep all over the world.   Most wool is harvested once a year when the sheep are shorn.  Then the wool is washed with soap and water and spun into thread or yarn to be then turned into any number of warm and wooly things - from your favorite holiday sweater, to the carpet beneath your feet.   The people working to process wool are exposed to much less chemicals than the people who work to manufacture carpets made of petroleum based products such as acrylic.

Carpet Wagon cares about the health of the people who are part of the manufacturing, and distribution processes of flooring.  Call Carpet Wagon today to find out more about quality wool carpet or rugs that is better for you and for the environment:  1-877-57-WAGON

[ Image by epsos ]

Shoes On? Shoes Off?

Do you have a “Shoes Off” policy at your house?

Thoughtful Moms are concerned about germs and other things being dragged in from the street: No thank you!  Others simply don’t want to see their carefully maintained floors scuffed or dented by the errant stiletto or rough boot.

It can be slightly tricky to ask a guest to first take off their shoes before entering your house.  We want to be wholly hospitable while still keeping our carpets clean.  

What about your family?  Are you a “shoes on” or “shoes off” type of house?

What Are Your Fave Home Deco Magazines?

Do you love home decorating?  Which home decorating magazines inspire you?

Here are a few of our favorite home decorating magazines and why we like them:

Veranda:  This beautiful magazine is published 6 times a year.   It gives great tips for entertaining and features various geographic locations with historically traditional styles.  www.veranda.com

Elle Decor:   This magazine specializes in ideas for a trendy, upscale lifestyle with contemporary French influence.  www.elledecor.com

Dwell:  This modern magazine explores new and exciting decorating and architectural trends.  www.dwell.com

Fabulous Floors: This incredible print magazine also features all of its articles online.  It starts with the floor as the first transformation point for a redecorated room.   www.fabulousfloorsmagazine.com

What about you?  What are your favorite home decorating magazines and what draws you to them?

What Floors Fight Allergies?

Tired of fighting mold allergies?  Have you checked your floors lately?

Laminate floors are antimold and antimoisture, keeping you and your family allergy-free.

Did you know that laminate flooring is created to look and feel like authentic tile, wood, stone and ceramic?  It’s not only fade-safe, but is made of antimoisture material, keeping those allergies away.  Laminate is also durable and easy to clean.

[ Image by mcfarlandmo ]

The "Floor" is Your's...

As the "CEO" of your house, we know you have a lot of things to manage.  We envision this site as a growing resource space for you.  

We want to be a space to encourage learning smart tips about your house, a place where you can kick around new ideas about the family, nesting, and much much more.  The possibilities are endless!

While our speciality is in flooring and carpeting, we don't want to stop there.  We've been doing a lot of listening from our friends on Twitter and have heard a lot of chatter and questions surrounding home decorating.  In response, we will soon be providing lots of home decorating tips for you...right here!

The floor is your's!  What else would you like to learn from Team Carpet Wagon?