Articles

BY MARILEE NELSON

Spring-cleaning is a tradition that is always very satisfying in the end. It feels good to have a clean, organized house. What better time to do a super spring clean that will greatly improve the air quality of your home and really make a difference. This basic deep clean should ideally be done sometime after you have completed the heavy-duty version, especially if you suspect that your house has some serious contamination  - see “A Heavy Duty Clean-Up Job.”

The basic deep clean protocol is the heavy-duty clean minus the need for containment of rooms, exhaust fans, and air purifiers. This process can be taken incrementally and in workable steps over time, one room at a time, or it can be taken on all at once like a spring-cleaning project. If you are not yet ready for this and it just seems like too much then please see “Using Your HEPA Vacuum” as a first step and to read why dust is such a big deal.  

What does a basic deep clean consist of?

• The use of a true DOP rated HEPA filtered vacuuming equipment such as the Nilfisk GM 80. This is imperative for a deep cleaning protocol, as you want your air to be cleaner when you finish vacuuming, not more contaminated. See “Learn: HEPA Vacuum”   
• A more precise approach to remove dust and other microscopic particles from surfaces
• The use of non-toxic cleaning agents

Equipment and Supplies

(Read all procedures before commencing cleanup)

• Abatement Level HEPA vacuum – The HEPA vacuum is of critical importance because contaminants such as flame-retardants, pesticides, biocides, and plasticizers bind to dust particles. Three Branches recommends the Nilfisk GM 80.
• Branch Basics - A plant based enzymatic formula that is human safe (which means it wouldn’t harm you if you drank it) made from foods that you normally eat everyday.  Branch Basics is a degreaser that breaks down hydrocarbons, chlorinated pesticides such as chlordane, and chemicals. It kills and disinfects viruses and bacteria - salmonella and e coli, etc.   
• Distilled Water – Use distilled water for washing down walls and ceilings if water supply has a high mineral content that would affect paint. Many people do not need to use distilled water as using water from home water supply does not discolor the wall.  Test home water supply on area of wall to determine if spotting occurs.
• Clean soft cloths - Use as many as necessary per the procedure below according to size and number of rooms. Include enough cloths for use using an 8-sided cloth wipe down procedure. Get 48 Terry Utility Towels for $13.00 from Costco or Home Depot. Wal-Mart also carries these towels in a smaller size.   

Note: Do not use sponges for cleaning any part of the home. Most sponges in the U.S. are impregnated with a synthetic disinfectant – usually Triclosan, which has been registered as a pesticide with the EPA and has been shown to cause cancer and growth problems in children.

Preliminary Procedures

Step 1 – If you haven’t already implemented “Reducing Immune Stress: Where Do I Start?” then this is a good time. This is of paramount importance and implementation of it will immediately improve the air quality in your home greatly. I have had numerous clients with asthma clean up their environment as described in that article and their symptoms either went away or were greatly reduced. In addition, clients with a long-term history of migraines and headaches have been freed from that misery, depression has lifted, sinus congestion has cleared, etc. (Note: We were also working on dietary changes as well.)

Step 2 – Go through each room and gather up anything you don’t use including clothes that you don’t wear anymore. Either throw away or give to charity.

Step 3 – Take the cleanup room by room. If you have a multiple story home, start on the top floor and go room by room. If there is a common area on the floor, start with that. After you finish one floor, go down to the next floor and so on until the basement, if you have one. That would be the last level you will clean.

Step 4 – Test cleaning solution on surfaces. Before you start in a room you want to make sure that the cleaning solution will not damage the surface. It is very important that you take a small portion of the surface and apply agent to see if streaking or any other undesirable outcome results. Wipe an area in the most inconspicuous area possible. Let it dry, stand back and see if there is any problem. This is normally not an issue, but do not skip this step.

Step 5 – In the basic deep cleaning protocol, in contrast to the “Heavy Duty Clean-Up Job,” we do not set up containment, do not use air purifiers, and do not exhaust the room with fans. In the heavy duty deep clean we set up containment and exhaust because of the potential for stirring up very toxic dust. If the heavy duty deep clean has already been done, then containment, air purification, and exhaust fans are not necessary. Carpet cleaning is not part of this protocol, but can be added if desired. See “Carpet Cleaning, Encapsulation, and Sealing.”

Preparing and Testing Cleaning Solutions

For this deep clean, Branch Basics is chosen because of its versatility. You will need to make two solutions of Branch Basics: ½ t. Branch Basics per gallon of water and 5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics. It helps to put this in a spray bottle. Test sample area for compatibility with solution.

Important Note: Do not use Branch Basics on any manufactured wood products, plywood, or OSB. The Branch Basics will draw out the formaldehyde.

Walls and Ceilings

• Use a very dilute solution of Branch Basics on the ceilings and the walls. Use ½ teaspoon Branch Basics per gallon of water (use distilled water if needed) on walls and ceiling. Test the solution on a small inconspicuous area of a wall.  Dip the cleaning cloth in the Branch Basics solution, clean and wipe the surface. This is done to determine if paint will stand up to the solution. 
• Test on all surfaces to which solution will be applied. All colors of paints should be tested. There is usually no problem with the Branch Basics, but it is always important to test each surface.

Floors

• Test wood floors with the same very dilute solution used on walls and ceiling.
• No need to test solution on glazed ceramic tile. Use Branch Basics 5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics.  No need for distilled water on ceramic tile.
• No need to test solution on vinyl/linoleum floors. Use Branch Basics 5 parts water to 1 part Branch Basics. No need for distilled water on vinyl/linoleum floors.
• Carpet – see “Carpet Cleaning, Encapsulation, and Sealing.”

Other materials

• Test solutions on all materials to be cleaned
• On all solid non-porous materials wipe down using a Branch Basics 5 parts water to 1 part water solution. 

Basic Deep Cleaning Procedure

General Requirements and Summary

Systematically deep clean each room on a room-by-room basis starting on the top floor if multi leveled by first HEPA vacuuming all surfaces in the room and second, wipe down with Branch Basics.

Step 1: HEPA Vacuum

• Starting with ceiling and moving down to walls and floors, HEPA vacuum all horizontal and vertical surfaces using careful, overlapping strokes by 30%.
•  HEPA vacuum all personal items and furnishings, including all soft goods and draperies. Go slowly and thoroughly and do not skip over any areas or items, no matter how small.
• HEPA vacuum all books – all sides.
• Upholstered furniture like the couch is a magnet for dust and dirt. Vacuum the surfaces of your upholstery. Pull the cushions off and clean under the cushions. It is also good to take cushions outside and beat the dust out of them. 

Step 2: Branch Basics Wipe Down

• After testing all surfaces, use Branch Basics solution (1/2 teaspoon to one gallon of distilled water if necessary.)
• Thoroughly wipe all horizontal and vertical hard surfaces, starting with ceiling, then walls, then floors. Use clean cloths folded into 8 sections or sides that are dampened with Branch Basics solution. Wipe down all surfaces using one stroke per wipe - overlap strokes by 30%. Do not reuse cloths after last side is used.
• Do not skip over any areas or items no matter how small. All wiping movements should, like the vacuuming, be done with parallel and overlapping passes.  

YOUR’E DONE!!!!!