(Green) Living With Cleandom

The fast yet non toxic "in-laws" cleanup

You know the time, when your mo-in-law from back East is visiting your comfy but not-so-super-clean pad or your new daughter-in-law is coming for the first (unannounced) visit … it’s time to clean … fast, furious and in a non toxic way. Just follow these quick tips and you’ll be done in no time.

put away the clutter (even if it means throw it in a basket and hide it in the closet or under your bed), just move from one room to another picking up odd things and items that don’t add up (a left shoe, last week’s Chinese food, etc …)
Have a spray bottle with vinegar/h2o and your fave essential oil handy … you can use it virtually everywhere.
Microfiber cloths save you time, money and sweat, have one damped and one dry as you move through the house
Use the damped microfiber cloth to dust visible places (don’t bother with anything else ‘cause this is just for looks, remember this is supposed to be fast). The microfiber traps all the dust inside the cloth unlike regular terry towels that just push the dirt.
Use you spray bottle from above and spray once on each mirror and wipe it down with the dry cloth
Vacuum main areas, or swiffer where you have hardwood floors (quickly! They are coming)
Use the same bottle and spray lightly the hardwood floor and use a microfiber mop (vinegar, h2o and essential oils will give your floors a nice shine but wont hurt them)
clean the counter tops and inside the microwaves (yup, a lot of in-laws look inside and that’s where they get ya)
While you do all this put your stove burners in the sink with hot water, add vinegar, baking soda and let it work … at the end just rinse it, dry it and put it back … looks brand new (or close)
Put a few more drops of your favorite essential oil in the bottle and spray in the air to get rid of odors.
Welcome your in-laws!

- Lukas

Posted in: on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at at 11:06 PM 0 comments

The R R R truth

Actions speak louder than words and you can start right now by adopting these three simple habits:

REDUCE ... a reusable mug for your morning coffee is a good way to go. Just keep your favorite mug in your car and take it to the coffee shop instead of getting one of those disposable ones. It means less litter and less waste for our beautiful city Long Beach.

REUSE ... "Let's talk bags" ... whenever you shop bring your reusable bags and say NO to plastic or paper bags. Some stores will even give you a credit toward your shopping if you bring your own reusable bag and THAT is a good thing.

RECYCLE ... recycle what you can, bring your recyclables home from your car and you will be a part of something great ... a part of saving our Earth for the next generation. Read the blog about recycling in Long Beach with useful information.

- Lukas

Posted in: on Friday, October 28, 2011 at at 4:01 PM 0 comments

Reviews and Testimonials

Andrea Y. - Long Beach

01/16/2011 *****

I was looking for a cleaning service for my one bedroom, one bath apartment and was comforted by all the positive reviews I saw for Lukas's company Cleandom so I gave him a try. Lots of useful information on his website and he was extremely prompt getting back to me after I first made contact. Within a few days, he did the walk through and then the next day did the cleaning. I should have taken before and after pictures because I was AMAZED when I came back home. BEAUTIFUL work. Even my disgusting microwave was white as could be again! Best part: my house didn't have any awful chemical smells at all. Lukas is extremely professional and didn't make me feel bad at all about how gross my apartment had become! I'm looking forward to having the services every other week now!

Yelp review here.

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)

Erika S. - Long Beach

12/30/10 *****

I'd gotten tired of spending my weekends cleaning. Never thought I would find some one to clean my house given that I have two rather large dogs who are all bark.

I found Cleandom on Yelp, the reviews all raved and their website said they are dog friendly and the bonus is they use green products.

Lukas gave came over and told how much it would be for the spring cleaning. Once that was done we were so pleased that we have set up a bi-weekly cleaning. They now come during the week while we are at work and the dogs and their team are getting along. YAY!

Lukas is very responsive to all emails, he even reminds you that you have a cleaning in the next few days, how's that for service. Lukas is a great guy who has an awesome business. He treats his employees well, great customer service!

I highly recommend Cleandom!

Yelp review here.

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)

Vincent O. - Long Beach

12/10/10 *****

After living the life of a bachelor for a few months, I was getting ready for my wife to return home. In honor of her return, I thought I'd spring for a great deep cleaning. After some searching online, I found Cleandom and gave them a shot. I was extremely satisfied.

Lukas came over for a site visit and estimated the cost/time of the cleaning. We scheduled the cleaning for a few days later, and when the cleaners arrived, they were early! A pleasant surprise - when does THAT ever happen?

They cleaned for a good five hours before they were done. Floors, baseboards, dusting, cooking surfaces, desks. Terrific work! They even got a few stains out of the tub that Lukas warned me might permanent! I'm thrilled with their work. Additional bonus - they use green products and my house doesn't smell like lemon pledge!

I'll DEFINITELY use them again.

Yelp review here.

Regina P. - Lakewood

08/05/10 *****

"A smattering of reasons why I think Cleandom is great: They show up promptly on time and on schedule every time. I never have to call and remind them. In fact, Luke sends a confirmation email the night before. Every time, for almost a year. They do a great job cleaning, plus put things back where they belong, instead of leaving a big jumbled mess. They even arrange my daughter's toys neatly, and put my husband's shoes back in the shoe rack, which is GREAT. Today we came home and my daughter's baby dolls were all sitting up on the sofa in a row, which she thought was fabulous.Luke always has a good suggestion for cleaning something I've never thought about . . .like the sliding door track, for example. Luke responds promptly to email, so if you have a question or a schedule change, it's easy to communicate with him.Sometimes they leave a flower or a card - a nice touch, and nice to see after a long day at work.And of course, there is no bleach smell when I get home! I can't tell any difference in the quality of the cleaning, except that there's no chemical smell. The eco-friendly products work just as well as the "regular" ones. It's noticeable that Luke and team take a lot of pride in their work. I plan to keep using Cleandom indefinitely, and if I can figure out how to budget having them come every week (instead of every two weeks), I'm going to do it. Totally worth it!"

Yelp review here

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)
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Mike P. - Cypress

07/12/2010 *****

They showed up exactly at the time they said they would and brought all equipment needed. The cleaning went very well and they did a very thorough job, I had a fairly dirty house in a few areas but it all looks great now!

All organic products are used according to what they tell me. Honestly doesn't make much of a difference to me and I wouldn't know the difference so I'm not the best to review this aspect of the service.

They have always arrived on time and been flexible in scheduling. Luke must use 24/7 email access and that was a plus for me.

Yelp review here

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)
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Natasha M. - Long Beach

07/06/2010 *****

I have used Cleandom for some of my more difficult and/or time consuming house cleaning needs once and will definitely utilize their services in the future. Lukas and his team were very professional. I was impressed by how well they cleaned all of my windows and mirrors, especially the tracks to the sliding glass door. The dirt was caked on, but they left it looking like new. I appreciated that Lukas checked his team's work once they were done and ensured that I was satisfied. He honored the quote he gave me, so I knew what to expect in terms of price and he was flexible in customizing the services to my needs.

Yelp review here

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)
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Martha C. - Long Beach

6/25/10 *****

This is an update to my original review of Cleandom. I've been using the service for more than a year now--which should say something in itself. After one year, I'm convinced that they are truly exceptional, and would recommend them to anyone. Lucas and company are EXTREMELY responsible, and modern in their approach to business. Before each service, I get an email confirmation that they will be here on the appointed date; afterwards, they send another email if they did something different, or noticed that something needs maintenance. On the one-year anniversary of using the service, they did an especially awesome cleaning as a "thank-you for your business." So unexpected, but so appreciated.

Yelp review here
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Melani S. -Long Beach

5/31/10 *****

My husband and I started using Cleandom several months ago to clean our 3 bedroom/2 bath house. From the welcome gift we received when we started service, to the accommodation of our schedule in making our appointments every two weeks, to his polite on time arrival every time, the service couldn't be better. Luke and the same two other people are here every time. Luke always asks if we need anything special done, and is more than happy to help. He and his crew are very pet friendly as well, putting up with our two small dogs and their big voices and greetings. Luke developed a custom checklist of items to be completed as part of our service, and checks to see that everything has been completed when his crew is finished. He only believes in using non-toxic, natural cleaning products which is perfect for us. We love working with him and his crew and can't recommend Cleandom highly enough.

Yelp review here

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)
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Stephanie G. - Lakewood

5/19/10 *****

This day and age, everyone is looking for a more natural, organic way of living. Cleandom embodies that idea and applies it to your cleaning service and living environment. Truly, a breath of fresh air...literally.

I am very sensitive to harsh smelling chemicals and cleaners most cleaning services use. I was looking for a cleaning service that would cater to my needs. By that I mean non toxic, environmentally friendly natural cleaners. I used yelp (thanks yelp!) to get the low down on cleaning services. Cleandom can up as one of the highest rated cleaning services in the Long Beach area. And guess what, they use all natural cleaning products that are safe for the environment! Have my dreams come true??

I've been using Cleandom for over six months now and it has really been a pleasant experience. Luke, the owner, has the same two professional workers come to my house every other week. They are always on time, and Luke is always there in the beginning to ask if there is anything specifically I would like greater attention on. The workers are done in an hour and a half (I have a very small two bed one bath house). They are efficient, thorough and friendly. Luke does a final check before leaving. Luke is professional and polite and I would definitely recommend to anyone seeking a non toxic natural cleaning solution. Thanks Cleandom!!

Yelp review here
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Andrea M. - Long Beach

1/19/10 *****

I have been using Cleandom for almost 4 months now. They do a fabulous job cleaning my house! They use all natural products, and I am always amazed how clean and fresh smelling my house is when I get home on the day they clean my house. Before I had my first cleaning, Luke came over and did a walk-through to give me a quote on the cost. I thought that was great because I was able to show him around. It made me feel so much more comfortable when they actually came for the 1st cleaning. I would recommend Cleandom to any one! I am positive you would be happy with the results.

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Vanessa K. - Cypress

12/06/2009 *****

I have been looking for a local cleaning service for some time now. I've contacted a few and either didn't get a reply or they couldn't accommodate my schedule (which isn't complicated at all).

I found the Cleandom website through Yelp and after looking over Luke's website decided to take a chance and contacted him. He responded promptly and I was glad to know that it wasn't a computer generated response but a real person. He was very nice and scheduled a walk through to asses our home.

Scheduling the initial meeting and going through the house was a breeze. Luke was very professional and always arrived on time. I wasn't home during the Initial Deep Cleaning but when I got home I could instantly smell the fresh clean aroma as soon as I walked in the door. There was a card and some goodies he had left for us on the kitchen counter which was unexpected and very nice of him to do.

After going through the house I was so happy to see how clean everything was! There were stubborn stains in the toilet bowl, kitchen sink and bath tub (left by the previous owners) that I have been struggling with for years. Nothing seemed to work on getting them out. Luke and his team were able to get ALL of the stains out and with non-toxic materials!! It gave me piece of mind since we have a small dog who likes to eat everything in sight. My house has never been cleaner and I will definitely continue to use Cleandom for regular cleanings.

Yelp review here

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)
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Camara and Michael G. - Long Beach

9/22/2009 ******

Our Family Loves Cleandom. They do such a great job. And the fact that they clean with nontoxic cleaning supplies is a plus! Luke the owner is trust worthy and professional which, these days it's very hard to find. I highly recommend them.

Updated on 08/24/2010 *****

Wow, Cleandom! They do a great job. We had other people clean our place before, and you know how it goes,.....the first time is ok, then it get worse as time goes on. The services that Cleandom provides, keeps going strong. They would clean stuff, i just don't have time to do. Like for example, the top of the ceiling fans ,window seals, patio doors, and window blinds. They even put lemon oil on the faucets to keep them shinny. We had to cut them back temporally when we had the baby, and trust me, I miss them already, because my white blinds are turning gray, gotta love LBC air......lol!

They are also, super professional, responsible and local. It's a must to support your local businesses. And i love the fact that they use non toxic and natural cleaning products. Thank you Cleandom crew, wish you guys the best. :)

Yelp review here

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)
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Maggie S. - Bluff Heights

8/10/2009 *****

I was looking to get my apartment cleaned before moving out of town. They were so responsive and accommodating with my work schedule and move-out schedule. Luke and his staff are wonderful and the cleaning job was very good. They even went over the time I paid initially for free! I was very impressed with the cleaning job and they left a wonderful orchid on the counter with a card to thank me for using the service. If I was staying in Long Beach I would continue to use the cleaning service for sure. Affordable. Accommodating. Great experience!

Yelp review here

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)

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Megan A. - Lakewood

8/1/2009 *****

Let me start by saying, I have been through MANY housekeepers... way too many. Some are only here once, some I put up with poor service way too long. But finally, I am satisfied with my cleaning service! What a relief! I am VERY sensitive to the smell of cleaning products and am unable to tolerate many kinds of cleaning products in my house. I'm so happy to come home to a clean smelling, but not heavily perfumed/toxic, home now! I hired Cleandom shortly after my baby was born as it became even more important to me to have a non-toxic home. Lukas goes above and beyond to make me happy... and not just in my nit-picky cleaning requests (which he takes care of immediately). He has researched mold for me and earth-friendly ways to keep it at bay in my house, AND he even takes my recycling that I save up for him to Long Beach for me since the city of Lakewood does not recycle, and as a new mom, I don't have time to be lugging it all over town to get rid of it! SO, I would HIGHLY recommend Cleandom. Lukas will work with you on just about anything, AND he'll make your house sparkle.. the good ol' fashioned natural way!

Yelp review here

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Dawn M. - Long Beach

7/21/2009 *****

I started using Cleandom Cleaning Service several months ago for every-other-week cleaning of my 3 bd/2 ba home. I'm thrilled with the result - very clean home that smells fresh but doesn't smell like toxic chemicals. Cleandom specializes in using all natural cleaning products in your home. Lukas, the owner, and his assistant show up on time every time, are very efficient, and do excellent work. Cleandom is a locally owned business (which I prefer to support versus national chains), however Lukas worked for a national chain for a year to get his training so his cleaning method is thorough. He's very responsive to all emails and requests, and provides great service at a reasonable price.

Yelp review HERE

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Ivy S. - Long Beach

8/10/2009 *****

This is an awesome cleaning service. I called them for a cleaning before we moved in, to clear up a house that was pretty dirty from construction, painting, and debris the old owners had left behind. They showed up fifteen minutes early - unheard of for cleaning services, in my experience - and cleaned the place from top to bottom, including areas that *never* get cleaned by services. They even left a checklist explaining each thing that was cleaned, with notes. (We also got an orchid and a card!)

Luke, the owner, is easy to work with *and* he's totally accessible by email; I didn't have to pick up the phone once to schedule this service, which is a real bonus for me.

Even better, Cleandom uses only organic, baby-safe cleaning products - better for the environment, better for my family.

I was entirely pleased, and I signed up for weekly cleaning. I love Cleandom!

Yelp review here

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Martha C. - Bluff Heights

4/9/2009 *****

First, my history with cleaning services: they come for awhile, their service quality tapers off, then they just don't show up or they take your money for four hours' of work when they actually breeze through in an hour and a half. Or it's a team that blasts through, hits the surfaces and scurries off.

And I'm always left wondering: why are you doing this? How hard can it be to just do what you say you're going to do?

Enough of the ranting, because now I've had a really GOOD house cleaning experience. Cleandom is run by a very conscientious young man named Lukas who is all about non-toxic cleaning products. He's local here in Long Beach. He showed up on time to give me a quote after looking at my house (how can a service give you an accurate quote without looking at your house? Two of the companies that quoted me didn't even ask what kind of floors I had). His was the LOWEST quote; the next lowest was 15 dollars higher and the highest quote was more than two times what Cleandom ended up charging me.

Lukas and one assistant arrived absolutely on time, cleaned like crazy and were out of here in five hours, completing a thorough top-to-bottom cleaning. (My house was very dirty; I had gotten behind in the cleaning, which I was doing myself after getting really frustrated with our last service). They did detailed things like taking apart the bathroom light fixtures and cleaning them out. I have two feline shedding machines, but you'd never know it today because there's not a cat hair ANYWHERE (I'm sure they consider that a challenge).

Anyway, I'm hiring him to come every other week, so if things change, I'll revisit Yelp.

Yelp review HERE

Updated on 06/25/2010 *****

This is an update to my original review of Cleandom. I've been using the service for more than a year now--which should say something in itself. After one year, I'm convinced that they are truly exceptional, and would recommend them to anyone.

Lucas and company are EXTREMELY responsible, and modern in their approach to business. Before each service, I get an email confirmation that they will be here on the appointed date; afterwards, they send another email if they did something different, or noticed that something needs maintenance.

On the one-year anniversary of using the service, they did an especially awesome cleaning as a "thank-you for your business." So unexpected, but so appreciated.

Yelp review here
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Julie S. - Belmont Shore

5/16/2009 *****

I don't write reviews BUT this one got me. I was looking for a house cleaning service that doesn't use all the toxic products because I have allergies.

I emailed them and Luke (the owner) got back to me right away, was very polite and came out to give me a free estimate. He said they don't use bleach which I was very happy about.

The cleaning was superb, it took around 4 hours for my 2beds/1bath condo. Afterwards I got an e-mail from the owner asking me if I was happy with the cleaning and offering me a free advice on green living. I thought that was cool. They also have a blog with some interesting stuff but I haven't read everything :o)

Yelp review HERE

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)

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Daniel L. - Bluff Heights

5/4/2009 *****

I highly recommend Cleandom if you're looking for high quality, professional, non-toxic, friendly, and dependable housecleaning!!! The owner Luke has superb customer service and he was very knowledgeable on everything regarding non-toxic housecleaning! With my hectic/stressful work schedule, I don't have much time to clean and keep my house maintained. Thanks to Cleandom I don't have to add a dirty house to my list of stressors!

The first time I hired Cleandom, my bathtub/shower was completely filthy and they were able to transform it and make it sparkly clean! They also did an excellent job cleaning the rest of my house with all their non-toxic, aromatherapy products (which is great since I suffer from horrible allergies!) My house smells so nice after they leave (which puts me in a peaceful, relaxing mood) and I can't wait for them to come back!

I have not been satisfied with my previous housekeepers and I was about to give up completely! Then about a year ago I received a flyer for Cleandom and decided to give it a try. Luke wrote about his European background and how he had a friendly, professional housekeeper who took a lot of pride & joy in her housecleaning. This really made a strong impression on him and inspired him to one day run his own housecleaning service and provide the same excellent customer service!

I was skeptical at first but Luke did deliver on all his promises and to this day, he still goes the extra mile for me! I have also recommended him to a lot of my friends & neighbors and they are all completely satisfied with his services! If you are like I was a year ago and about to give up on finding a great housecleaning service, please call Cleandom as a last resort and just try them out! I promise you will not regret that decision and you'll also get a neat bag filled with lots of cool environmentally-friendly cleaning samples on their first visit! Thanks Cleandom!

PS: May 2009 ... I've checked out Cleandom's blog and found a ton of info about recycling centers in Long Beach. Love it!

Yelp review HERE

(this review has been filtered out from Cleandom page by Yelp)

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Rich T. - Culver City

4/29/2009 *****

Luke does thorough job of making your place super clean--and it's all environmentally friendly!

Yelp review HERE
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Posted in: on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at at 7:59 AM 0 comments

Recycling in Long Beach

Recycling in Long Beach is not as hard as one might think. It’s actually pretty easy and simple. I just want to provide some basic know-how about recycling in general and post some information.

The easiest way to recycle in Long Beach is in the Purple Recycling Cart. Make sure you have one and if you don’t then click here and order one.

Things you CAN and should recycle:

Newspapers (obviously, all the LA Times, bring it on)
Cardboard and cardboard boxes (yup those moving boxes, the boxes from your shoes and gifts)
Beverage containers (plastic and glass, from your milk, soda, beer, etc)
Paint cans (they must be empty)
Plastic bags (those you get for your shopping)
Papers (phone books, catalogs, junk mail, regular mail, cereal and juice boxes, shoeboxes, paper towel and toilet paper tubes, paper egg cartons)
Plastic containers (as long as they are marked with numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the bottom, and again they must be empty and dry)
Steel and tin Cans and also Aluminum (soda cans, soup and fruit cans, beer, beans, vegetable cans)
Glass jars (from your spaghetti sauce, soup, jelly, peanut butter, marmalade, etc)

Things you CAN NOT and shouldn't recycle:

Pizza boxes and other greasy papers
Paper napkins and towels
Cans with poisonous contents scrap metal
Insecticide and pesticide cans
Aluminum foil
Trash bags
Toys
Fast food containers
Mirrors, pottery, window glass and ceramics, light bulbs and plates

If you are not sure then dont recycle it.

Used Motor Oil and Filter Recycling

Please do recycle after every change. You have two options (don't you just love options :o)
1. Call the city and schedule a FREE pick up. The phone number is (800) RECYCL2 or you can use the online form to schedule a pick up. For other instructions please click here.
2. Drop it off at a collection center. For the collection centers please click here.

Got fluorescent light bulbs? (I bet you do!)
If it's unbroken you can drop it of at any HomeDepot Center
If it's broken (thus dangerous) then check out the HHW (Household Hazardous Waste) Collection Events.

What about recycling Phone Books (they are getting bigger and come more often every year)
If you have the local recycling service just put them in your purple (in Long Beach) cart or drop them off at these locations:

CSULB Recycling Center, 600 Atherton Blvd
Long Beach Conservation Corps, 340 Nieto
Good Earth Recycling, 2005 Bixby Road

Got a business with more than 50 phone books? Just call the Conservation Corps of Long Beach and they will pick them up for free. The phone number is 562-986-1249

If you don't have, for whatever reason, your recycleables picked up you can drop them off at these centers:
General recycling
Cell phone recycling
Battery recycling
Used oil recycling
Miscellaneus recycling

Check out Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: An Easy Household Guide

Questions? Feel free to e-mail me at contact@cleandom.com and make sure to visit www.cleandom.com

Posted in: eco-friendly, home, Long Beach, recycle on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at at 5:27 PM 0 comments

Composting

Composting in Long Beach (and anywhere else too!) is a great way to enrich your garden and help lower the waste that would go to the landfill. Compost is one of the best (if not the best) natural mulches because it is produced by Mother Nature. Roughly 60% of our waste could be used for composting but is not because people are still not aware of the impact and the ways how to compost.

#1 reason Americans don't compost their waste is because they feel the process is complicated, time-consuming or requires special equipment.

It is not complicated
It is not time-consuming
It does not require special equipment
(special equipment may make things easier for you though)

What is compost?
The simplest definiton would be a mixture of decaying organic matter, as from leaves and manure, used to improve soil structure and provide nutrients.

Anybody can compost – if I can do it you can do it too. Bellow is a list of things you may compost as well as a few things you shouldn’t add to your compost. The rule here is: if it’s organic you can (most of the time) put it on your compost pile.

There are two ways to compost

1. Passive composting – this is the easiest way and will suit to people who just want to reduce and reuse their waste. What you do is collect your kitchen scraps, wood chips, dried leaves and so on and put it on your composting pile. It will take a while but eventually everything will decompose and turn into a rich soil.
2. Active composting – means you turn your compost regularly and control what and in what ratio goes into the pile. You aim for the “brown” (carbon-rich materials) and for the “green” (nitrogen-rich materials). Wood chips, dried leaves and basically everything that is dried is carbon-rich and kitchen scraps, grass clippings and coffee ground are nitrogen-rich.

Things you can compost:

Newspapers – shredding them before will speed up the composting process. If you have more then a better option is recycling.
Wood shavings – use only shavings from untreated wood and try to use not too much
Wood ashes – again not too much because wood ashes are alkaline and are high in Potassium. Don’t use coal and charcoal. Coal ashes contain sulfur and iron that can hurt your plants.
Cardboard – tear into small pieces, if you have a lot then recycle
Coffee filters and coffee ground – great for composting and worms love them!
Egg shells – crush them before putting on the pile. They break down slowly but are great addition to your compost
Hair – spread them out
Pine needles and pine cones – if possible shred them because they take a while to break down
Weeds and grass clipping – to avoid smell you can spread them out and let them dry a little and then put them on the pile.
Seaweed – a great material for your compost. Wash off the salt before you put it to your compost
Kitchen waste – corn cobs and cornstalks (the smaller pieces the better), apple cores, banana and carrot peelings, tea bags, melon rinds, egg shells, leftover veggies and fruit. They all are rich in nutrients, thus a great addition to compost.
Manure – one of the best materials for your compost. Manure for composting can come from chickens, sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, horses, cows, ducks and other vegetarian animals.

Things you should not compost

Meat – it will decompose eventually but it will cause a bad odor and attract animals
Fat, oils, grease and bones
Lime – can kill composting process
Charcoal briquettes
Coal ashes – they contain a large amount of iron and sulfur that can injure your plants
Dog/cat droppings and cat litter – may have disease organisms
Fish bones and scraps – they attract rodents and smell.

The city of Long Beach provides a free composting and smart gardening workshops that are held every third Saturday. For the upcoming workshop click here.

More resources and reading is bellow. Never stop learning.

http://www.leangreenhome.co.uk/category/compost-blog/
Great blog about how to turn your leaves into something rich for your garden
http://www.compost-info-guide.com/
Beginner’s guide to composting
http://www.composters.com/
Composting supplies
http://www.compostmanual.com/
A guide to composting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composting
Wikipedia resource about composting
http://journeytoforever.org/compost.html
More about composting
http://www.howtocompost.org/
This web site is designed to be a hub for all composting information
http://www.howstuffworks.com/composting.htm/printable
How composting works
http://www.compostguide.com/
Composting guide
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
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If you prefer to read a book on composting, check out these ...

Let it Rot!: The Gardener's Guide to Composting
Basic Composting
Easy Composters You Can Build
The Rodale Book of Composting
Composting: An Easy Household Guide
Composting: A Practical Step by Step Guide

Posted in: composting, eco-friendly, home, Long Beach on Monday, March 7, 2011 at at 5:39 PM 0 comments

September 2010 Promo - non toxic house keeping service

Hello everybody,

I hope you are having a great summer!

I'm running a promo between September 1 through September 15, 2010. If you book your appointment between these dates your hourly rate will be $25 per hour per person. You can "lock" your appointment for later on in September or October as long as you do it between September 1-15. Please spread the word, spread the eco friendly cleaning, and most importantly spread the LOVE ... because love is what this world needs!

More info on Cleandom can be found on cleandom.com
For testimonials and reviews check out cleandom blog

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Posted in: on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at at 4:54 PM 0 comments

The Flower Fields in Carlsbad

If you haven't visited this place you just have to! OK, some of you do not do the flowery thing but this place is not just about flowers (although there are fields and fields of them). It is a place where you can relax, bring your kids for a fun day, take beautiful (some even stunning pictures), listen to calm music, eat really yummy strawberry and just be in the moment ... yeah like really ... stop for a sec and smell the roses (and they do have a rose garden too).

There is more than 50-acre of in 16 different colors. I went there two weeks ago to take some pics but when I got there I was really kinda taken back by the massiveness, the vibrant colors, and relaxing feeling that took over me. The interesting thing is that they only cut about1-2% of the flowers for distribution in the US and Canada and the rest is left to die and then they harvest the bulbs.

For $5 or so you can take a ride on a real tractor through the fields. I didn't, I just walked and walked and walked. There is a pretty cool view overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A lot of professional photographers come here each year to take pictures and you will see them everywhere (in different languages)

The Flower Fields are open daily from 9am until 6pm, from March 1 and running through May 9. Tickets are $10.

My "two cents"

- get there early, when I was leaving the place was packed (I got there right around 9am and you will avoid the super bright sun too)

- bring cash - you can pay with your card but if you want (and you should) to get fresh strawberries and/or a strawberry shortcake you will need cash. The strawberries are amazing and the shortcake is good too (I'm a sucker for everything strawberry)

- got AAA membership card ... bring it and they will give you a discount, $1 but hey that's still a $1

- good shoes, some of the areas are muddy so flip flops wont do

- there is music playing in the background and while you sit down in the rose garden, relaxing and so on you might start thinking about getting one of those CDs because they just sound so right at that moment and place ... that's exactly what I did. They cost $15 each and I'm sure you can find the same exact music online later and cheaper ... it's just not the same to listen to it in the car.

- this might seem obvious but .... bring your camera!

The address: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008

For more info go to:

http://www.theflowerfields.com/