Green Cleaning with Marcela Barraza

This week I am happy to present an interview with my friend Marcela Barraza. As a mother she became concerned about the health and well being of her family and thus became passionate about non-toxic and green cleaning practices. Lucky for us she's sharing some of our knowledge with us today!

You can also find tips on her blog Tu Casa. Check it out! She's even featured Holistic Spaces feng shui tips alongside her green cleaning tips.

AC: Tell us why it's so important to clean your home with non-toxic cleaners and why you made the change.

MB: It's important to take care of the air we breathe in our homes.  Studies show that indoor air might be 3 to 5 times higher in pollutants than outdoor air, leading to health issues such as asthma and headaches, just to name a couple.  If you think about it, when we "clean" our homes with toxic products all that fume stays in for days and you breath that; you have your baby crawl on the floors that are covered with toxins!  

It really takes a few simple steps to live better in you own home.

What would you said are the top three toxic items in the home that most people aren't aware of?

What are some simple tips to incorporate green cleaning practices in your home?

  • Switch paper towels for microfiber cloths

  • Take advantage of vinegar and baking soda

  • Use concentrated organic, non-toxic cleansers that you can mix at home by just adding water. You'll save money and the planet because you're using much less plastic that will eventually end up in landfills.

by Anjie Cho

Marcela Barraza owns MB Green Cleaning and has been in the cleaning business since 2004.  Her background in Hotel Administration and working for an airline for over 9 years created a strong foundation in customer service.  She's passionate about working with people, helping them to live in a healthy home.  She believes we can live better in our own homes!


Spring Cleaning Feng Shui Tip for Living Areas

Featured again this week on my friend Marcella Barraza's blog, Tu Casa Blog.

tu cas blog con flor.jpg

Marcella provides information about cleaning, organizing and inspiring spaces.  Last week and this week she's focusing on different rooms in the home, with excellent green cleaning tips.  Holistic Spaces has contributed by adding a feng shui tip for each room.

The last tip is for the Living Areas!

Anjie's Feng Shui tip for Living Areas
Make sure all your windows are really clean!  The windows represent the eyes of the inhabitants.  If they are dirty and cloudy, take special care to wash them well, the inside and outside.  Make sure the frames are in good repair so you can open and close them easily.  In feng shui, the windows should be clear and easy open, so you can feel seen and heard as well as nourished.

...read full article

by Anjie Cho

For tips on spring cleaning for other rooms, see our tips for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom!


Spring Cleaning Feng Shui Tip for Bedrooms

Featured this week on my friend Marcella Barraza's blog, Tu Casa Blog.

tu cas blog con flor.jpg

Marcella provides information about cleaning, organizing and inspiring spaces.  This week she's focusing on different rooms in the home, with excellent green cleaning tips.  Holistic Spaces has contributed by adding a feng shui tip for each room.

The last tip of the week was the Bedroom!

Anjie's Feng Shui tip for Bedrooms:
Our bedrooms are tied closely to our personal energy because we spend a lot of passive time in the bedroom sleeping.  So, while you're spring cleaning, don't forget to clean underneath the bed!  Clutter under the bed symbolizes subconscious blocks in your personal life and relationships.  This is an ideal time to re-organize and clear out any clutter and anything you haven't used in the last three years.  Also make sure that if you must have storage under the bed, everything should be soft and bed related.

...read full article

by Anjie Cho

Check out these kitchen and bathroom tips and visit the Holistic Spaces blog next week for our tips on cleaning living areas!