Spring Clean Your Bed

Spring is here and its time to clean up your home. Don’t forget your bedroom where dustmites hide. Here are five tips for cleaning your mattress, the often over-looked component of your bed:

Spring Clean Bed

Step One: Thoroughly vacuum/clean your bedroom floor. Remove all bedding, including mattress pads, covers and pillows. If you can, remove the mattress from the box springs, placing it onto the floor.

Step Two: Using the furniture attachment on your vacuum, vacuum the top of the box springs, then the top of your mattress.

Step Three: Using a non-toxic, organic cleaner targeted for mites & bed bugs, such as Kleen Free, thoroughly spray the top and sides of your mattress and box spring. Allow to dry to the touch. (Fans can speed drying) In the meantime, launder your linens (see here [LINK TO OTHER ADD ON] for tips on how to purify your pillows and sheets).

Step Four: Once the mattress & box springs are dry, lightly sponge the ticking with an organic upholstery cleaner (like Howard Naturals especially the lavender fragrance – perfect for repelling future pests & a soothing sleeping environment). Let dry.

Step Five: Flip the mattress back onto the box springs top up and repeat entire process on top of the mattress.

Just be sure to wash it every time you wash your sheets.

Linens

Sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters, mattress pads & covers all need TLC too. Machine-wash them in DeMite with medium hot water. And don’t forget to gather all of your throws and blankets from the rest of your home as well.

Add a little spring fragrance to your sheets with a fragranced dryer sheet – Pure Grass from The Good Home Company [LINK: http://www.goodhomestore.com/0032pu.html] fits the season perfectly! Plus your laundry room will smell divine for hours!

However, if you use other fragrance in the bedroom (sheet spray or room fragrance) it’s best to pick one fragrance or fragrance family or your bedroom may smell like the perfume counter. Happy Spring Sleeping!

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the pan with parchment paper.

Cut the butter into cubes and place in a heavy saucepan along with the two chocolates, sugar, molasses, and buttermilk. Heat gently until the ingredients have melted, then set aside to cool.

Snip the prunes into small pieces with kitchen scissors. Sift the flour into a large bowl along with the baking soda and spices. Pour the chocolate mixture into the bowl and beat thoroughly with a wooden spoon, then add the beaten egg and beat again. Fold in the prunes.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and level off the surface using a butter knife or pastry spatula. Bake for about 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack and let cool completely. Wrap in waxed paper and store in an airtight container.