cleaning Archives - Page 13 of 15

Spring Cleaning Poll

March 17, 2009 15 Comments

I’ve added a new poll question to the left hand side bar. It’s nderneath the followers section and just above the blog archive.

And here’s the question and answer options:

Do you have a big spring cleaning project planned?

No
Yes, the whole house.
The closets
The garage
Yard/garden
Bathrom(s)
Kitchen
Other

Personally I’m going to be cleaning the whole house and the yard. I don’t have all the specifics yet, but I am in the process of making an extensive list of cleaning and organizing projects. And I confess that my husband will be doing most of the yard stuff, but I’ll be helping in anyway that I can.

I’m also starting to do some more decorating in the house (finally!). I just bought some new rugs for the kitchen, and I’m planning to put up new curtains in the bedroom, bathrooms, living room, kitchen, and possibly the office. Decorating isn’t really the same as cleaning, but it does improve the look of the house, so I guess I can count it in with my cleaning projects.

What projects are you guys planning to tackle this spring?

-Jerri

Filed Under: cleaning

Spring Cleaning: The Living Room & Den, Part 2

April 14, 2008 Leave a Comment

Just a few more cleaning tips to spruce up you living room area and den:

-Dusting: Remove items from your entertainment center, coffee table, etc. and dust your furniture to give it a clean shine and eliminate allergens. Also, take a moment to dust picture frames and knick knacks, and dust/clean lamps, ceiling fans, and lighting fixtures.

-Eliminate Clutter by Creating a Space – De-clutter your living room by creating a space for room-cluttering items. Purchase a media cabinet for movies, video games, etc. Purchase a toy box for quick storage of kid’s toys in the living room. Or purcahse a hall tree to hang coats, umbrellas, etc.

-De-clutter by getting rid of unwanted knick knacks and decor.

-Controllers and game clutter- Come up with a place to store video game controllers and tv remotes so that they are out of the way. Perhaps place them in a special bin or basket that looks nice or hide them away in a media cabinet.

Creating a work & hobby space – If your living room is used as a game room, hobby room, or work space, or home office/family computer area, create a designated space that is just for this purpose (perhaps in the corner), and make an effort to de-clutter and organize it.

-Windows – Take down curtains and blinds to be cleaned. Use a vacuum to clean the base of the window. Wash windows inside and out.

-Spruce up walls – Dust walls with a swiffer, wipe down base boards, and touch up scuff marks. And get rid of cobwebs in the corners.

-Rearrange: Change the look of your living room by rearranging picture frames, decor, or furniture.

-Mats & Rugs – Clean or replace rugs and mats in your living room area, especially those in high traffic areas and doorways.

Related Articles:
Creating a Shoe Station

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden

Spring Cleaning: The Living Room & Den, Part 1

April 11, 2008 Leave a Comment

When I think of spring cleaning, the living room/den area isn’t the first place that comes to my mind. I think this is because we typically don’t store things that get cluttered and need organizing in this room. And speaking for myself, I do a little bit of cleaning every day in the living room, sort of a “clean as you go” plan. Also, I think sometimes everyday-clutter has a tendency to just be natural to us. (like kid’s toys)
But I think that since we spend so much time in this room, (particularly our leisure time), we should make a special effort to keep it as clean as possible (while still maintaining a comfortable & relaxing atmosphere). So I got to thinking about some different ways to approach spring cleaning in the living area.

-Cleaning Carpets & Upholstery: Run the vacuum over your carpets and furniture upholstery. Use the hose and an attachment to get in between and behind cushions. If the cushions can be removed, take them off the couch and vacuum the bottom side of the cushions as well as the entire area underneath the cushions. If applicable, consider flipping the cushions over before placing them back on the couch. Take cushions outside for a while to let them air out, or sprinkle baking soda or fabric refresher on cushions before vacuuming to eliminate odors. To eliminate odors on carpets, sprinkle baking soda and leave it overnight. Then vacuum the next day.

-Afghans & throw pillows – If cleaning instructions allow, place these in the washing machine. Or take them to be professionally cleaned. Place throws and pillows that you do not plan to use again till next winter in a vacuum storage bag or other water-proof, moisture-proof container and store them in a closet, under a bed, or in the attic. -Buy or Rent a carpet cleaning machine: Once or twice a year my dad shampoos his carpets with a professional carpet cleaning machine. If you can’t afford one of these, you can rent one to use. They work extremely well, and you won’t believe how much dirt they keep up. And your carpets will look great. You also hire someone to professionally clean your carpets, but it’s much more cost efficient to do it yourself.

Related Articles:
Indoor Air Quality Articles
Eliminating Odors

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden

Spring Cleaning Must-Dos

April 9, 2008 2 Comments

Some of us don’t have the time (or the energy) to thoroughly clean up during the spring cleaning season, but the truth is that a lot of clutter can get built up over the cold winter months, and even if you don’t have the time to turn your house upside down this spring, you can do a lot of good by simply concentrating on a couple of problem areas. Here are a few suggestions that I consider to be must-dos for everyone’s spring cleaning to-do list:

Pantry/fridge – Empty your fridge/pantry. Go through all your food, throw out items that are out of date & any items that you know will never be eaten. Wipe down shelves, drawers, and other food storage areas. Then restock and organize.

Medicine Cabinet – Clean out your medicine cabinet. De-clutter by getting rid of expired medications. Clean the shelves and any storage compartments. Rearrange your medicine cabinet to make items more accessible and easy to find.

Closet – Clean out your closet. Get rid of clothes that do not fit, or are torn, items you haven’t worn in over a year, and anything else that you know you won’t wear. Arrange your closet so that like items are together. Move winter coats, dresses, and other items to an extra closet if you have one, or store them in totes or “vacuum” storage bags on a shelf or under your bed. I did a post last fall on storing summer clothes for this winter. This can also be applied in the spring: Storing Clothes.

Bathroom – True, you should clean your bathroom on a regular basis anyway, but when was the last time that you cleaned it thorughly? If you do nothing else for spring cleaning, you should give your bathroom a good cleaning. Scrub your sink, shower, tub, and toilet till they shine. Take down your shower curtain and wash it in the washing machine or replace it with a new one if needed. Do the same with bathroom rugs.

These are just a few spring cleaning projects that you can do to improve your home, even if you have very little time on your hands. And if these areas aren’t a problem for you, then find another problem area of your home and tackle it this spring. A little goes a long way.

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden, organizing

Safety Concerns & The Magic Eraser

February 26, 2008 2 Comments

A reader left an interesting comment about the Magic Eraser product view that I posted. The comment stated that the Magic Eraser contains formaldehyde; this concerned me, and so I decided to check it out. I responded to the post in the comments section, citing statements made from the Mr. Clean website, but for some reason whenever I try to post the link on the comments page I cannot get the entire link to come up, so I decided to post it again Here.

Here is some of the information from the site:

“A recent television broadcast may have raised concerns about an ingredient in Magic Eraser. Be assured Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is completely safe when used according to directions, and poses no health risks or safety concerns. Here are some facts about the ingredients used in Magic Eraser:

The ingredients in Magic Eraser have been safely and commonly used for many years in a wide range of household products.

Formaldehyde is not and has never been an ingredient in Magic Eraser. One ingredient in Magic Eraser (formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer) contains the word “formaldehyde” in its chemical name. However, this ingredient is not formaldehyde and poses no health or safety risks. (Think of this name like “sodium chloride”, which is table salt. Sodium by itself can be dangerous, but sodium chloride – salt – is safe.).

Magic Eraser is considered non-toxic. As with any sponge-like product, when swallowed this product may block the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, we do advise to keep this product out of the reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion – it is not a toy.

It is possible that formaldehyde may be present in minute, trace amounts as a result of the manufacturing process. Even then, the amount present is significantly lower than standards established by governmental agencies and trade associations, and is actually less than what is found in indoor air.

In fact, no ingredients in Magic Eraser are subject to any health-related labeling laws in North America or in the European Union.”

Of course, you can do the research and decide for yourself whether you want to use the product. For other information on safety, see the following:
http://www.homemadesimple.com/sites/en_CA/mrclean/ME_Truth/index.shtml

Filed Under: cleaning, product review, safety tips

Product Review: Cleaning Up with the Magic Eraser

February 23, 2008 6 Comments

The other night I walked outside to look at the eclipse and a bug flew in from outside. Without thinking I picked up one of my husband’s black tennis shoes and went in for the kill. Unfortunately I completely missed the bug but did manage to cream the wall, leaving a small black scuff mark. Dissapointed with my efforts, I decided to leave the bug killing to my husband, and I meanwhile went to retrieve the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. My husband used this product in his delivery business whenever a customer’s wall or floor accidentally got marked or scratched, and I found one in his tool bag one day and asked about it. He said I could take it in and try it. So the other night it seemed like the perfect time.

To use the magic eraser, you simply run water on the sponge, squeeze it out, and rub it over the mark. And it really is like magic! With very little effort on my part, the mark came right off. I then went through the house looking for other marks. We just moved in to our home back in January, and I knew of several small marks that I had seen on the walls, so I inspected each and every room and took care of all the marks. What a great tool to keep walls and floors looking clean and new! And finally I took it into the bathroom and used it on the tub, and amazingly it took the soap scum right off!

The product is also said to be good when used on stoves, microwaves, and other metal kitchen appliances, as well as plastic furniture, your child’s swing set & other outdoor playsets, and even the interior console, dashboard, and hubcaps of your car. Oh, and it removes crayon too. (I know that’s got to be a plus for some of us.)

I think this product is a must to have on hand. Without a doubt, this product does what the commecial says it will do, and it is a great value for the money! I will definitely buy this product again in the future

Filed Under: cleaning, product review

Simple Solutions: Creating a Shoe Station

February 20, 2008 1 Comment

Items that have a tendency to continously clutter a home week after week are those which we use on a dailybasis, and one of the main culprits in our house (as well as others from what I’ve heard) is shoes. I know I can be the worst when it comes to walking in the door, sitting on the couch, and taking off my shoes. Then the shoes will either stay there until I wear them again or until I look around the room and realize that my pair of shoes now has a few pairs of friends in the floor with him. Home Sanctuary had a post a few weeks ago where she challenged visitors of her site to go through the house and pick up shoes that are laying about and put them where they belong. She even titled her post “Do Centipedes Live Here?” I couldn’t help but find this a little humorous. Anyway, her post got me to thinking about how I could avoid the centipede question and avoid constantly cluttering up the house with shoes.

First I try to make it a goal to scan the living room every couple of days and put away shoes or any other items that don’t belong, which I have found is good habit to get into, saving you a lot of time and work in the long run. But then I came up with another solution as well. For those of you who have kids (which means there’s a lot more shoes left out in the floor) or for those of you who never know when you’re going to get some last minute company, and for those who, like me, occasionally overlook/forget about the shoes in the floor, here’s another solution: Create a shoe station.
This is a designated “temporary” location for shoes. It can be a basket/hamper, a trunk, a canvas bin, a halltree or bench. (basically any kind of container that doesn’t look too awkward to have in your living room/den or by the door or entryway of your home.)

You can encourage your kids to either put their shoes in their room or to put them in the “shoe station.” This way the shoes won’t clutter up the house, and you avoid having a kid who can’t remember where they put their shoes. This is also a helpful tool for moms. Rather than picking up all the shoes and taking them back to the room of the person they belong to, you can place them all in your shoe station, and your kids can get them out later. Additionally I recommend checking the bin/basket about once a week to make sure it isn’t full, and whenever you find that it is full you can have everyone to come get his/her shoes to put away in their own closet.

Filed Under: cleaning, organizing, Simple Solutions

Baskets for Storage and Organizing

January 29, 2008 Leave a Comment

Since moving in to our new home, I’ve had to do some rearranging and reorganizing. In particular I had to find new ways to store items because I have less drawer and cabinet space. I have some different items in mind to buy for the new place (after we get some bills taken care of, that is), but in the mean time I’ve been shopping around.

One thing I’ve looked at is baskets. I’ve never been a “basket person” but they are starting to grow on me. I think it’s because I’ve begun to realize how multi-functional they are. You can store pratically anything from clothes, linens, and towels, to craft & office supplies, to books and magazines, household items, and bath and body items.

I also like these because you can place them in just about any room and they won’t clash. It’s also easy to find high quality baskets that look good without paying a fortune. (It’s one thing to find containers to organize and store stuff, it’s another thing to find containers that actually look good; with baskets you can get both, even on a low budget.)

And depending on what size you get, you can easily place them under counters, on shelves, in closets, and even under end tables or other furniture. I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of organizing something and also essentially being able to hide items away.

Here are just a few baskets that I’ve found on the internet.

Storage Basket – Natural by Organize It All

Rope Basket Set by Greenbriar Home & Garden

Wicker Waste Basket by Organize It All

Round Wicker Hamper with Lid by Organize It All

Cabana Willow Basket – Large by Greenbriar Home & Garden

Filed Under: cleaning, organizing

Tips to Prevent Colds & Flu, Pt 2 – Housekeeping & Personal Hygeine

January 23, 2008 1 Comment

Here is the second part to my post on preventing colds and flu. This part lists tips about proper hygeine and housekeeping.

*Go for yearly checkups, and take a yearly flu shot, and get other necessary screenings and vaccinations.

*Wash your hands frequently with hot water and antibacterial soap for at least 30 seconds. Be sure to wash after using the restroom and before eating, and wash frequently if you are around sick people or if you are around a lot of school kids. Also, wash up after handling raw meats & after washing dishes & performing other cleaning duties.

*Don’t cover your sneezes and coughs with your hands. This only puts germs on your hands which will then spread to others. Cover your mouth with a tissue instead.

*Avoid touching your face. Viruses enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching their faces is the major way children catch colds, and a key way they pass colds on to their parents.

*Clean your house regularly, including floors, counter tops, toilets, sinks & tubs, and bedding.

*Avoid sharing towels and rags, as this spreads germs.

*Change out dish towels, rags, and sponges regularly.

*Replace your toothbrush every 2-3 months, and if anyone is sick replace their toothbrush after they get well, as well as any toothbrushes that are stored nearby.

*When someone is sick, wash their sheets and spray their mattress with Lysol to kill germs. Also, clean and sanitize toys that children play with while they are sick.

*Spray door knobs with Lysol or other antibacterial cleaners, especially if anyone in your home has been sick.

*Use plastic cups & silverware and paper plates while someone in your household is sick, in order to avoid spreading germs.

Filed Under: cleaning, health

Simple Tips: Shelf Brackets & Dividers

January 8, 2008 2 Comments

Sometimes it’s easy to organize but harder to maintain organization, especially on closet and cabinet shelves. You create a stack towels or clothing only to have the stack topple over or two stacks mingle with one another and become hard to manage. The solution is to separate the stacks using shelf brackets and dividers.

Not only will this product help you to stack your linens, it can also help you organize books, photo albums, and even kitchen items.

For more on this idea, click here.