10 More Random Cleaning Tips

I know, I know! It's been a while since my last post, but I've been a little preoccupied. After a relatively short but so far successful battle with cancer, I'm working on my come back! Just one more treatment!!!! I am hoping to have business back up and running by July. With all the time I've taken off know I will be looking to take on new clients (hint,hint)! But in the mean time....

Here are some more tricks of the trade to make your life just a little easier!

1. Rubbing wax paper on sink faucets will prevent water spots. Check out the website below for more wax paper uses.  http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20526059_21050727,00.html
2. Soaking knifes in lemon juice will remove the rust spots.  
3. Use WD-40 to remove scuff marks from the floor.
4.  Get more uses out of your dish sponge. Microwave on high for 30 seconds to kill bacteria and viruses. Let the sponge cool before removing it from the microwave.
5. Use a dryer sheet to cut through soap scum.
6. Soak your shower head in vinegar to remove calcium build up. Fill a plastic sandwich bag with vinegar. Place the bag over your shower head and secure with a rubber band. Check this site out for more great uses for vinegar.                                            http://www.vinegartips.com/scripts/pageViewSec.asp?id=7
7. Clean baked on grime off your non-stick baking pans with peroxide and baking soda.  Make a paste with the peroxide and baking soda and rub it directly on the pan. Continue to scrub until clean.
8. Coffee filters are a great alternative to paper towels when washing windows. You will use less window cleaner. Plus, the filters reduce streaking and provide lint-free windows. 
9. Unclog a drain naturally. Simply pour some baking soda into the drain followed by vinegar. Allow this reaction to take place and sit for 5-10 minutes. While your waiting, bring a 2 quart pan filled with water to a boil. Pour the boiling water into the drain to help push the clog through. Repeat this process if needed until the drain is clear. Clog free and no chemicals! 
10. Remove stickers and sticker residue with oil. Olive, veggie, canola, ect. Any oil I've tried works! Simply saturate the problem area with oil. Allow the oil to prenatrate the sticker by letting it sit for a few minutes. Wipe with a clean cloth and voila! Use a plastic knife to scrap away stubborn residue if needed. 

Which of these excellent tips are you going try first? Do you have any cleaning/organizational secrets you'd like to share? Happy cleaning! 

Spring is in the air... Let's get cleanin'!

The weather is changing. Time to open the windows, let in the fresh air, and clean... UGH!

            

Come on now, it doesn't have to be that bad! There are just a few extra cleaning tasks that need to do perform, trust me, you'll be so happy and proud of your beautiful home!

Before you get started, Here are a few spring cleaning tips:

1. Spring cleaning will take more than a day.  Set aside at least a week for a thorough spring cleaning. Work from one end of your house to the other. Also, work from top to bottom in each room.  Don't stress!  Take it room by room, day by day. 
2. As you clean, keep a list of any extra chores that need to be done: little paint or grout touch-ups or a pillow that needs to be mended.  Save these little chores for later.
3. Keep another list of things you notice you need.  Such as pantry supplies, cleaning supplies, or health and beauty supplies you are running low on.
4. Clean your trash cans.  This is an often neglected task, but very important for a clean, sanitary home!

Are you ready?  Here we go....

FOYER

1. Dust lighting fixtures.
2. Wash walls and trim
3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.
4. Wash bench or other furnishings. 
5. Empty out coat closet.  Vacuum floors.  Sort items as you return them to the closet.  Store out of season items, donate unneeded items. 
6. Clean entry mat.
7. Sweep and scrub floors.  

BEDROOMS

1. Open windows
2. Dust furniture.
3. For each drawer: remove items and place items back neatly.  Donate Items you no longer need. 
4.  Vacuum closet floor. Arrange everything neatly.  Donate items you no longer need. 
5. Move Bed.  Sort and put away anything that was under bed.  Sweep or vacuum under bed.  
6. Put bed back.  Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up.
7. Launder bedding and curtains.  Wash pillows and duvet in hot water.  Air out mattress pad, if you have one.
8. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.
9. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
10. Wash switch plates.  Wash walls and trim as needed.
11. Wash mirrors or dust art.
12. Wash doors and doorknobs.
13. Wash vent covers.
14. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.
15. Dust ceiling fans, if applicable.

BATHROOMS

1. Open windows
2. Empty all cabinets and vanity.  Wipe out and replace items neatly.  Discard expired medications and cosmetics.
3. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities
4. Clean tub and drain.
5. Clean toilet, inside and out. 
6. Clean sink and drain.
7. Shine faucets.
8. Clean mirror and frame .
9. Dust light fixtures. 
10. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.
11. Wash switch plates.  wash walls and trim.  Wash doors and door knobs.
12. Wash vent covers.
13.  Sweep and wash floors.  .

KITCHEN

1. Open windows.
2. Remove and clean window coverings. 
3. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate unneeded items. 
4. Wash cabinet doors and knobs
5. Clean and organize pantry.  Check food expiry dates.
6. Clean oven.
7. Clean stove top.  Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.
8. Clean and organize fridge and freezer.  Defrost freezer, if necessary.  Check food expiry dates.
9. Clean under fridge and stove.
10. Clean microwave.
11. Clean crumbs out of toaster..
12. Wipe down any other counter appliances
13. wash counters and back splash.
14. Wash and shine sink.  Shine faucet. Clean drain.
15. Clean Dishwasher.
16. Dust light fixtures.
17. Wash windows and window sills.  Remove window screens and wash.
18. Wash switch plates.  
19. Wash walls and trim as needed.
20. Wash doors and door knobs.
21. Wash floor vent covers
22. Sweep and wash floor.  

DINING ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash curtains.
3. Wipe down table and chairs.
4. Wipe down or dust other furnishing.
5. Clean chair pads, if applicable.
6. Launder table linens.
7. Shine silverware.
8. Dust art.
9. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
10. Wash switch plates
11. Wash walls and trim.
12. Wash doors and door knobs
13. Wash vent covers.
14. Clean floors.
15. Dust ceiling fan, if applicable

 LIVING ROOM/ FAMILY ROOM/ PLAYROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Vacuum sofas.
3. Spot clean sofas, if applicable.
4. Launder throw pillows and blankets.
5. Dust shelves, furniture and decor.
6. Clean lamps and lampshades.
7. Wash windows and window sills.
8. Take out and wash window screens.
9. Clean television screen.
10. Carefully dust electronics.
11.   Dust and  tuck electrical wires nicely out of sight.  Label if needed
12. Organize DVD/ video collection in an attractive manner.  Donate items that no longer interest you and your family
13. Organize books and magazines.  Donate items as needed
14. Wash hard plastic children's toys with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry  Donate or store toys that no longer interest your child or they have out grown. (This works best when your child is not home, trust me!)
15. Wash switch plates.
16. Wash walls and trim as needed.
17. Wash doors and knobs.
18. Wash vent covers.
19. Clean floors.

LAUNDRY ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash windows and window sills.
3. Take out and wash window screens.
4. Wipe cabinet doors.
5. Wipe inside cabinets
6. Wash outside of washer and dryer.
7. Vacuum the inside of the dryer vent. (This prevents fire hazards and allows clothes to dry faster)
8. Wash inside of washing machine.
9. Wash lint trap with soap and water to remove filmy build-up from laundry soaps and dryer sheets. Let air dry thoroughly before putting back in place.
10. Wash switch plates.
11. Wash walls and trim.
12. Wash doors and door knobs.
13. Wash vent covers.
14. sweep and wash floors. 

STAIRWELLS

1. sweep/vacuum stairs
2. Spot clean walls.
3. Wipe down handrail.
4. Dust art and light fixtures.

OUTSIDE

1. Sweep porches and walk ways.
2. Wash the outside of the windows.
3. Use fresh flowers and/or wreathe to brighten things up for spring. 

REMEMBER

This is just a guide, there may be things you need to add or subtract from this list according to your households needs. Also, donate those donation items! Don't let them sit around the house any longer than they have to (I am guilty of doing this!) Don't forget to take your time, this is not a one day project!! In the end, enjoy all your hard work, you deserve it!

Best Invention Since Sliced Bread!

                    

                       Isn't it cute!!!

Last week, I had a pretty major surgery to take care of a couple of health issues. Although I'm feeling pretty good and healing quickly, I just had surgery and I'm hurting! 

Once a year, my landlord does a housekeeping and maintence inspection. Nothing major, but they are checking for things  that are not part of my regular cleaning routine. Plus, when you have people coming to your house to check your housekeeping you want it to look its best! Of course this inspection falls 5 days after my surgery, go figure! 

I needed to dust some cobwebs offnthe very top Of the stairs and dust the ceiling fans. There is no way I'm climbing a step latter or or getting up on a chair after surgery and pain killers, I had to figure something out... That's when it came to me! The best DIY cleaning tool ever. Sometimes I even impress myself with my sheer brilliance! 

After all the suspense I've built, I will now share with you my brilliant invention! 

I noticed that my broom had a hole on the handle end. So I threaded about 2-3 dry Swiffer sweeper floor pads. I then tied and addition 2 Swiffer pads (in opposite directions) around the the bottom of the broom. This helped to keep the pads in place and fluffed the pads. I then shaped and fluffed the pads to resemble a feather duster.  

Super easy, super cheap (dollar store brand Swiffer pads), and it worked wonderfully.  The pads really do trap most of the dirt and dust. I had to do very little stretching and reaching. Which was great for the post-surgery cleaning (which I wasn't suppose to be doing anyways). This also brought to mind my post on cleaning with back pain! It would be the perfect tool for those suffering from back pain! Don't forget to go back to check out my November 25,2013 post on cleaning with back pain! 

Hiding Your Clutter In Plain Sight

Clutter:
To litter with things in a disorderly way. 

Dirty:
Soiled or soiling with dirt. Unclean. Foul

Although you can see there is a deference in definitions they are often confused. I can walk into a house that is cluttered, but still see that the house is sanitary and cared for. On the other hand, some peoples idea of cleaning is shoveling all their crap in a draw or closet and not cleaning their truck stop of a toilet. 

Either way, my house always "feels" cleaner when my clutter, not trash that belongs in the dumpster, is stowed away and outta sight! I'd like to share a couple ideas that I use to keep my clutter, but keep it hidden! 

Boxes

Boxes are my absolute favorite way to hide my clutter! Plus, I get to be crafty too! I buy unfinished boxes from the craft store and finish them to match a rooms decor. Fun and practical! I also like to keep an eye out for old cigar boxes. I love the look of them, but you can also revamp these boxes to give them a more modern look. I use these boxes as a catch-all for random items through out the house. Outta sight and clutter up counter space! 

  

 

Storage Ottomans 

 

Storage ottomans are not only a great storage option, they are also functional! You can use these to store electronics and such in the living room, but they can double as footrests and extra seating for company if needed. I also found a great chair that doubles as toy storage for my daughters toys. I LOVE this piece!!!! No stepping on toys in the middle of the night! These storage ottomans are available at any furniture store or home goods store, but there are some great DIY options out there. Thanks Pintrest!

 

 

Baskets

 

Baskets are a great organizational tool. I use them in the winter to catch all the gloves, hats, scarfs, ect... Because if there is no basket my daughter will have her wet winter wear all over the floor. This seems to help with prevent the mysterious disappearance of a single glove! Next time you head out, all your winter stuff is in one place. Another trick I use is placing a small basket on the bottom stair case. This way I can toss items that belong upstairs as I walk by. Then you bring everything up at once, saving the number of trips up and down the stairs. This is esspecially helpful and time saving while cleaning up. 

Hooks

Wall hooks make me feel like all my clutter has a home!  There are so many options as far as the type of hooks you can use and just as many ways to use them.  Over the door hooks require no installation and can easily be moved from room to room as your needs change.  I also like the Command Hooks by 3M.  As a renter, the less holes you put in the wall the better!  Plus, they are so strong they hold my daughter backpack (textbooks and all) with no problem.  There are also a number of hook options that screw into the wall.  They can be used for so many purposes and are a great way to get that clutter off the floors.                                                        

                             

These are just some of the ideas I use to keep clutter at bay. How do you tame your clutter? I would love hear your ideas. Got Clutter? I do, but you'd never know! 

The Chores We Hate! UGH!

We all have a household task that we hate to do. The chore that you procrastinate, ignore, or try to push off on another household member. 

What is your least favorite household task? Do you have any tricks to make this chore easier or ways to avoid it? 

I'm very curious! Let me know! Current clients and potential clients looking for help around the house will receive a $discount$ on their next service if you mention or respond to this post before March 1st! 

By the way... My least favorite chore is dishes! Grrrr! 

         

Cleaning Up Christmas

The twinkling light displays, the holiday spirit all around (except at a particular mass retailer that shall remain nameless), the ringing bells and family feasts! Now that the the celebrations have come to an end....It's time to put all those beautiful decorations away until next year.  This is the part I tend to procrastinate. Not this year!  With my small townhome, I started to feel overwhelmed by all the space that my decorations, especially my tree, consume! AHHH!  Plus, I got a little excited this season and had the house decorated two weeks before Thanksgiving. The decorations had to go!

 But.... I've picked up a couple of  tricks this year that make my holiday clean up a snap, plus they will make decorating so much easier next year! If I haven't perked your interest already, the best part is that the supplies are super cheap.  I even got my Christmas cleaned up for FREE!

 

 

Christmas décor

 We all know that plastic totes are an organizational God send, but when not used properly, they can become an organizational disaster! When the plastic totes powers not harvested for good, they become an evil hiding spot for unneeded items.  Now that you're beginning to repack those holiday boxes,  it's time to do a quick survey. Are there any items still pack away and went unused this season?  This is a great place to start! If these items didn't make it out this year, and you don't think they will next year, it maybe a good idea to think about getting them out of the house. Many seasonal items have a lot of family sentiment, so I know this can be difficult. Donating unused items to the needy is a great way to unclutter and feel good about getting rid of these unused seasonal items. You may also want to "re-gift" these to family members. This is a great way to clean up but keep these sentiments in the family!   

 

Ornaments  

Now that our holiday totes have been cleared out, it's time to repack them! I like to save the most of the packages my ornaments came in. They usually stack easily, and the boxes provide protection from breakage. That being said, some of my ornaments are hand-made, didn't come in a package, or the packages where lost or broken. For these decorations, I use egg cartons. This is an absolutely FREE way to store Christmas ornaments. Empty egg cartons stack up beautifullly in storage totes. They also provided excellent protection for more delicate items. Just place the ornaments in the open slots and, voila! Another added bonus is that the cartons can be trimmed to fit awkwardly shaped ornaments and decorations. 

Lights & Garland 

This tip is one of my favorite new tricks! I actually got this idea from one of the clients I have been doing organizational projects for.  All that's needed for tangle-free lights and garland next year is some old magazines and/or empty paper towel or wrapping paper tubes. If you go the magazine route, just roll up the magazine into a tube shape. That's what I did in the picture to the right of this section. I stuck one of the ends of the lights in the tube and just started rolling until I reached the end. Same with the garland. I used the same rolling technique to wrap up my garland. I just threw them into my Christmas tote after I finished rolling them up. Next year, they will just roll off the tube like toilet paper. No fighting involved!!!  I also saw another great Christmas light storage idea on an episode of Racheal Ray. You can probably find this at:
 www.rachealray.com

This organizational expert used one of those contraptions that are used to wrap up an outdoor water hose to wrap a lot of outdoor lights. I don't have that many lights but another excellent, tangle-free way to store all those outdoor Christmas lights! 

The Tree

For those of you out there that purchase real trees, I got nothin'! I enjoy the convenience of an artificial tree.  If I ever crave a piny-fresh scent(that has yet to happen), I can always buy a pine tree car air freshener to hang on my tree! For the last 3 years I have stored my artificial tree in the long, awkward box I purchased it in. This made for difficult organization of my storage closet. It was a game of Tetris everytime I attempted to organize, so eventually I gave up! This year, I decided to purchase one of those special tree storage totes.  When I started looking around I was shocked at the prices!  Perhaps it was the fact that I was looking right after Christmas and they jacked the prices up, but there was no way I was going to spend that much money on plastic.  As I continued to stroll down the storage isles, it dawned on me that I didn't need a special, red and green Christmas Tree storage totes.  All I needed was a larger storage tote!  It worked beautifully, the disassembled tree fit perfectly and the lid snapped shut.  Now I can stack and organized my seasonal decorations without the hassle.  Plus, I saved myself about $20!!! Yay!

Do you have any organizational or storage tips that will make the next holiday season a little more joyous and a little less "ahhh"?  Please share! I love the feedback.

 

 

Stinky House Fixes

With all the hussle and bussle of the holiday season and an amazing Disney vacation, I have neglected my blog. Hopefully you haven't forgotten your friendly neighborhood cleaning lady, 'cause I'm BACK!

I love this time of year! My home is always open for friends and family, and I never know when someone may pop in.  I love to keeping my home inviting, but there is nothing more uninviting than a stinky house!!

An overfilled garbage can, bathroom odors, stinky shoes, or lingering food odors. These smelly smells seems to go hand in hand with entertaining. Fear not, I've got some excellent ideas to treat these everyday odors. 

Microwave Odors

I first learned of this sweet little trick after my daughter and her Ramen Noodles had a disagreement with the microwave. By the way, after the incident, we read the package and Ramen is NOT to be cooked in the microwave! Ramen noodles WILL catch fire in the microwave when water is not added first. I thought my microwave was done for. It was not affected by the flame shooting out of the noodles, but the smell was awful! I actually had a neighbor ask if my house was on fire.  The smell effect the adjoining townhomes!   

My mom suggested I fill a microwave safe bowl with 1/2 water & 1/2 vinegar. Microwave this mixture on high for 2 to 3 minutes. Then allow the bowl to sit inside the microwave for another 15-20 minutes without opening the door. After this time, the steam will have loosened the food residue and you should be able to wipe the microwave clean with a few simple wipes. The vinegar will neutralize the left over odors. My microwave required more than one shot of this routine, but only because of the strong odor left behind from the smoke.

Trash Can Odors
With all the cooking and company this time of year, there is no doubt trash can odors will become an issue.  The first way to handle this type of smell is to remove the offender!  Take that stinky trash out to the dumpster.  If this is not possible or the bag isn't completely full yet, sprinkle a little baking soda over the trash to help absorb some of the odors.  You may also want to clean out the trash can.  The plastic use in trash bins can absorb smells too.  Just use a little soap and water to wipe down the inside and outside of the trash can, then let it dry before adding a bag.

I am ashamed to say this is my trash that has not been taken to the dumpster...
But it's just sooooo COLD! 
I guess I have a hard time "practicing what I preach"!

Bathroom Odors

Giving the bathroom a good cleaning is a great start to distroying bathroom odors. This will take care of the smell of mildew and dampness. While cleaning, keep in mind that plastics absorb odors. Also, don't forget to change out your bath towels, hand towels, decorative towels, and wash rags. You wouldn't believe the smells that get trapped in your towels, besides, it's just good hygiene! 

Another idea for getting rid of bathroom odors is baking soda. I like to add lavender, orange peels, or other aromatics to baking soda. I then display it in a decorative jar in the bathroom. The baking soda absorbs odors, while the aromatics leave a light, refreshing smell. One more thing, lighting a fragrant candle before guests come over is a nice touch! 

General Home Odors

There are a number of different things that cause a stinky home. The first step to taming these smells is identifing the source of and removing any malodorous items.  If you have any family and friends that smoke, set them up with a butt can outside.  This will not only prevent the lingering smoke smell, but it will keep all your loved one more comfortable (and healthy)!  I also keep a shoe basket by the front door for folks to slip their wet shoes in upon entering ( I HATE wet socks)!  I slip a couple of dryer sheets in the basket to mask stinky foot odor.  Not everyone has feet that smell like roses, such as myself! Keeping up with general cleaning is the best way to prevent odors in the first place.  Check out one of my previous to help you stay on top of some of those neglected cleaning tasks!
http://cristencleansomaha.blogspot.com/2013/08/cleaning-check-list.html

In conclusion , a clean house is a fresh house! But even the cleanest of homes develop funky smells.  These tips will help keep your home smelling its very best.  Do you have any tricks or tips for household odors?  I would love to hear some of your feed back!