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cleaning tips

Get Your House Clean For Summer In 8 Easy Steps

May 3, 2018 Leave a Comment

When did you start your spring cleaning? The “go getters” certainly have theirs done by now but what about the rest of us? It definitely is not too late to have a spring clean to get your house ready for summer.

8 easy steps to clean your house for spring #tips

For starters, here is a useful infographic featuring 8 favorite tips to get your house clean as a whistle in no time at all. We will discuss more about them below.

8 tips to help you get through your spring cleaning with ease #tips

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

8 Tips To Get Your Spring Cleaning Done Fast

1 Clean Inside Your Windows

It’s not just the outside of your windows that need cleaned, the inside needs some love too!

It definitely doesn’t need nearly as often as the outside but giving the inside of your windows a clean brings a new sparkle to any room. Just wash them the same as the outside except with a bit less water because you don’t want to ruin your window sills.

2 Clean The Inside of Your Washing Machine

If your washing machine starts to smell it soon get everywhere, because your clothes start to smell and then you put them on and carry the smell with you. So it’s good to get the inside of your washing machine cleaned. Just use a simple vinegar and baking soda solution to get rid of any bad smells.

3 Empty Your Fridge

I don’t just mean get rid of the old milk in the drawer I mean take EVERYTHING out. Check the dates, check the quality, and anything expired gets thrown out. Then once all your shelves are empty give the whole thing a wipe down.

4 Clean Your Screens

You know every time you turn on your computer you think about how you need to clean the screen. So get it cleaned! Now’s a good a time as any.

5 Freshen Your Vacuum

Your Vacuum cleaner should definitely aid you in getting your house cleaned. It shouldn’t leave an odd smell lingering in the air.

Easiest fix? Soak some torn up paper towels in a scented oil and vacuum them up!

6 Dust On Top Of Your Books

If you’re like me you still have loads of books, because no matter how great Kindle’s are nothing beats holding a book. But that leaves you with a big pile of books that tend to gather dust on the bookshelf.

So get a feather duster and get in about them! A really common dust trap that’s easy to fix.


7 Clean Your Patio Furniture

Now’s the time to get them cleaned! Before summer starts so if you have some nice weather you can just unpack it and go. Saves you taking it out when the sun arrives and spending the whole day cleaning it. Only for the sun to disappear by the time you finish.

8 Clean Your Brushes

No points sweeping up your house with a big dust bunny. So pick out all the biggest dust and give them a soak in some warm soapy water. Let them dry and your brush will pick up more than you ever thought possible.

8 steps to get your spring cleaning done fast! #tips #cleaning Click To Tweet

Bio – Tony is the lead Author at Appliance Hunter, he is a cleaning enthusiast (yes it’s a thing) and just loves helping other people get on top of there cleaning! When he’s not cleaning you can normally find him nose deep in a book at his favorite coffee shop.

 

Enjoy!


Filed Under: cleaning, Lifestyle, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips

8 Cleaning Hacks That Every Parent Should Know

January 11, 2018 Leave a Comment

Whether you’re dealing with the latest toddler tantrum, ferrying your kids to various clubs or running the school gauntlet, being a parent and keeping the house tidy can seem impossible.

Especially when children seem to make mess faster than you can clean it!

The good news is there are plenty of ways to speed up household chores. Try the tips below next time you’re in a hurry to clean up – you’ll be surprised at how much time they can save.

8 cleaning hacks to help busy parents save time and get the job done! #tips

1. Get Rid of Hair with a Rubber Glove

Stray pet hairs can make any sofa look old and dirty. Hair can be difficult to remove though – especially if your vacuum cleaner doesn’t come with a turbo tool.

A cheap alternative is to use the static electricity provided by rubber gloves. Simply wear the gloves and run your hand over the sofa. Hair will stick to your hand with very little effort. When your gloves are “full,” submerge them in a bowl of water and the hair will float to the top.

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2. Remove Juice Stains with White Vinegar

Juice is often spilt at lunch time – and it can be surprisingly difficult to remove from clothes.

There’s a trick for getting rid of most juice stains though – and it relies on the amazing properties of white vinegar. Start by rinsing in cold water, then soak in a mixture of ½ teaspoon of laundry detergent, a tablespoon of white vinegar and a liter of water. After soaking for around 15 minutes, run the clothing through the washing machine to get rid of whatever is left.

3. Protect Your Fridge with Plastic Wraps

Fridges can get dirty quickly – especially if your children often spill food or drinks when putting them back (like mine!)

An easy way to cut down on cleaning is to line each shelf with sticky food wraps. Once they get dirty, you can replace them without needing to clean.

4. Lint Rollers are Great for Dusting

Lampshades, windowsills and fireplaces are magnets for dust. Some vacuums come with dusting brushes, but these can be awkward to use if you’re in a rush.

A faster alternative is a lint roller. Run a roller over lampshades or other dusty items to remove dust without needing a vacuum. The sticky surface will also remove lumps of fluff and other debris without damaging delicate items.

On a side note, I always keep a fresh supply of lint rollers around the house. They can be a lifesaver when you realize your work clothes are covered in dog hair or fluff.


5. Clean Finger Marks from Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel appliances look great – but fingerprints can be almost impossible to prevent.

A quick way to make stainless steel shine again is to use some rubbing alcohol with a microfiber cloth. Make sure you rub with the grain of the surface and pay extra attention to the handles.

6. Find Earrings or Other Small Objects with a Vacuum and Tights

If you’ve lost an earring, finding it amongst the daily clutter of a family home can be a nightmare. Fortunately, there’s an easier solution than crawling on your hands and knees.

Start by cutting a leg off a pair of old tights, then fix the fabric over the end of your vacuum cleaner’s hose. You can use a hair elastic to secure it.

Switch on the vacuum and direct it under sofas, down crevices and anywhere else your earring may have fallen. Air can pass through the tights, so your vacuum’s suction won’t be affected, but earrings (or other larger items) get caught in the fabric.

7. Freshen Dirty Trainers with Baking Soda

If your kid’s trainers are starting to smell, an easy way to neutralize the odor is with baking soda.

Just sprinkle the baking soda over the shoes, including inside, then leave it to sit for a few hours. The baking soda should absorb the worst odors and is easy to brush off.

8 cleaning hacks every parent should know #tips #cleaning #timesaving Click To Tweet

8. Save Time by Maintaining Your Vacuum Cleaner

Abraham Lincoln once said, “if I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I would spend six of those hours sharpening my axe.”

A similar ethos can be applied to vacuum cleaners, as a clogged vac will struggle to remove dust, dirt and hair. So, if cleaning your floors seems to be taking longer than usual, some vacuum maintenance could do the trick.

Start by cleaning your vacuum’s filters. When these become clogged, air flow is reduced and the vacuum becomes less effective. If the filter you’re using can be washed in water, make sure it’s completely dry before you use it again. The filters of small vacuums or handheld models (such as those found here) often need to be cleaned more regularly, as they clog faster.

Next, check your vacuum’s beater bar for hair or string. When hair is wound around the bar, it may not spin as quickly. It’s also a good idea to empty your vacuum’s canister each time you use it, as a full dust bin can reduce suction power.

Summary

Being a parent and taking care of housework isn’t easy, but it doesn’t need to be stressful either. By adding these cleaning hacks to your arsenal, you’ll be able to keep your house cleaner in less time – even if your children excel at making mess!

Guest post by James Hall – freelance writer and cleaning expert. 

Thanks so much, James, for the great tips! If you have any cleaning questions for him, you can share them in the comments.

Follow me on Bloglovin' #socialmedia

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 


Filed Under: cleaning, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips, household hints

Keep Your House Clean In Just 30 Minutes A Day

September 11, 2017 Leave a Comment

Doing something every day – just 30 minutes invested – can help your already clean house to STAY clean on a regular basis. Here are some expert tips from cleaning-pro Pamela Garner to help you stay on task!



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1. Make a schedule and stick to it!
If you choose a regular time to clean every week, especially if you want your whole family to participate, it will provide consistency that will ensure the job gets done. It will also encourage good habits in everyone.

2. Make a list of cleaning priorities before you clean.
Checking things off lists can make you feel more accomplished and it’s a great way to stay organized.

3. Work in sections.
If you bounce from one room to another you may feel disoriented and overwhelmed. Start in one corner of the room and focus on the task you are doing then work your way across. No backtracking! Walk around the room once and you’re done then go back once for the floor.

4. Start with your least favorite room or area.
Might seem counter intuitive, but getting that bathroom or junky hallway out of the way at the beginning will make the rest of your cleaning seem like a breeze.

5. Pick up clutter first.
Picking up will automatically make everything look cleaner. Do this before you actually clean surfaces so you have less to clean around.

6. Always start at the top of the room and work your way down.
This way dust all ends up on the ground before you vacuum. If you work in the opposite way dust from the top will fall onto areas you have already cleaned below.

7. Always clean with dry things before wet.
So wipe off and dust surfaces before using any kind of wet cleaner. Getting rid of a lot of stuff with the dry cloths prevents streaking and spreading of dirt.


8. Take your cleaning tools with you from room to room.
The best way to do this can be a cleaning apron with pockets or a bucket. I suggest finding the right supplies (this is important) and then organizing them in some kind of bucket or tote. Just store them in the bucket all the time and all you have to do is pull it out and all your tools are there at your disposal. Plus they’re easy to carry!

9. Deal with stains early!
If you leave stains on carpet or furniture for long period of time they can become permanent.

10. When removing stains from clothing work from the back to the front of the fabric.
This keeps the stain from spreading deeper into the fabric as you’re working on the front.

11. Turn off your phones while you clean.
Try to eliminate any other distractions like televisions or computers too.

12. Make the house smell fresh!
Febreze and other odor killers for air and fabrics do this, but my personal favorite is leaving baking soda on the carpet for a few hours before vacuuming (some people suggest overnight).

13. Take pictures of your home (or specific “problem rooms”) when it is completely decluttered and cleaned.
It may seem a little silly, but I used to take pictures of a room I had cleaned and post them on the inside of the door. This was the way I wanted the room to look, and with pictures, whoever in the family used the room could see it was possible.

14. Control Clutter daily.
Try to make a daily effort to keep down the clutter in your home so you have less to clean next time. The more you deal with things as they happen the better.

15. Maximize your cleaning time.
Sometimes cleaning can be dull and there are so many better things we could all be doing with our time. A way to fight this problem is to find an easy and fun background task. No, I don’t mean turn on your computer or phone while cleaning. Don’t even think about work or anything distracting. Paying attention and focusing on the task are important for speed. You should also not do anything while speed cleaning that requires one hand – use both hands to clean.


But you can find an activity you enjoy (that requires no hand or heavy brain power) and may not get to do otherwise. This will make your cleaning time feel a little bit more like a treat. Just make sure you can still focus on the task at hand: cleaning with speed.

A couple of examples:

  • If you don’t have much time to read and miss reading great books, buy some books on tape and listen to them as you clean.
  • Good music, especially upbeat or something you haven’t gotten to listen to in awhile, can really do the trick. Plus, if no one’s around you can fit in some quality dancing time with the mop.
  • Cleaning is also great exercise.
  • Need basketball practice? Shoot hoops with the laundry and other things while putting them away.
  • When I am picking up or cleaning with kids I often challenge them to a competition: either that I can pick up more things than them or that I can finish picking up half of the room faster then them. This is just good old fashioned fun competition and always gets everyone a little bit more excited about the chore. It’s even fun with other adults.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Keep your house clean in just 30 minutes a day - 15 simple tips! #cleaning #home #tips Click To Tweet

 



Filed Under: cleaning, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips, organizing

Enlist The Ultimate Clean Squad To Make Way For Family Fun

July 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

What is your season? Summer is my time of year. It never seems to be long enough, though, so every moment I can find to be outdoors enjoying the warm weather – and NOT cleaning – the better. Did I say that emphatically enough? N-O-T cleaning!!!! Oh, I clean but it is important to me to get it done and move on.
That is why I was really excited to learn about the “cleaning squad.” Viva® Vantage® Paper Towels teamed up with Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner + Bleach cleaning spray makes my summer-loving-heart sing!

Viva Vantage paper towels are really strong and they clean like cloth. Wait till you try them. The texture is #scrubby” (Is that an official texture? Well, now it is!) They do an amazing job. I love that they come in smaller sheets so I can select how much I use. I bought the 6-pack that is actually like getting a 9-pack* – so that was a deal. And I discovered that there is an Ibotta rebate on Viva® Vantage® Paper Towels, too.

*Viva Big Rolls: 40% more Viva per roll* 
*Towel area compared to Viva® Regular Roll; Current practice is use of “33% More”

The other part of this dream-team is Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner + Bleach. Clorox: 99.9% germ killing strength; It is specially designed to clean and disinfect a variety of stains on a variety of surfaces.

As you can see, I have already used Viva towels and Clorox cleaning spray on my outdoor table to clean up the spilled soil from my planter …and my “melted ice cream cone debacle!” These products also came in so handy at our cookout: grilled barbecued pork chops and yummy sweet corn dripping with melted butter. And don’t forget the birthday cake!

Did I mention that Clorox has specially designed the sprayer with “Smart Tube Technology®” so that you will get every last drop out of the bottle? No more waste! There is an Ibotta rebate on Clorox® Clean-Up®Cleaner + Bleach, too.
cleaning

Perfect clean-up team for family birthday parties – frosting and ice cream is no match for them.

barbecue pork chops on the grill

Wonderful after you have barbecued food on the grill.

cleaning

Use them for wiping up the greasy drips after corn on the cob teaming with butter.

So I decided that summer is too short to waste on a lot of cleaning. I headed over to Walmart and bought my own “Clean Squad.” I was particularly excited that there were two current Ibotta rebates for the products – sweet!

Viva® Rebate Offer
Walmart + Clorox® Ibotta Rebate Offer 

Did you know that you can even save more of your precious summer time and money by shopping Walmart online and stacking the Ibotta rebates to save money. Be sure to go to the bundle page on their website. *For those who are shopping the bundle via Walmart Ibotta rebate offers, they cannot be used in conjunction with the bundle savings.

Wish someone would grocery shop for you? Well, while your are ordering the clean squad products online, order the rest of your groceries at Walmart for pickup. They will even load your car for you. Sounds like a plan to me!

#unleashthecleansquad.

The Great Summer Ice Cream Cone Debacle

So, I got this brilliant idea to make a lot of ice cream cones. I decorated them with colorful sprinkles and headed out to serve them on the deck. Wow, in the hot summer air ice cream melts fast! In seconds, I had a comical mess on my hands. One even toppled over, adding to the silliness. You’ve got to laugh! I grabbed the Viva paper towels and Clorox cleaning spray and moments later, the mess was gone and the ice cream eaten VERY fast!
cleaning tips,

cleaning tips

quick cleaning tips
You can tell that I love being outside. I planted colorful petunias and marigolds in pots to decorate the deck where I often sit to do my work. This particular day was kind of breezy and one of the planters toppled over. No big deal. Viva paper towels came to the rescue, along with a little squirt here and there of Clorox cleaning spra. It was clean in a jiffy.
cleaning tips, gardening
tips, planter
Make the most of your precious summer and head on over to Walmart — in person or online — for savings on Viva paper towels and Clorox cleaning spray. It will make your summer cleaning easier than ever. Be sure to check out those rebates, too!

Viva® Vantage® Paper Towels
Clorox® Clean-Up®Cleaner + Bleach

Enjoy!

Filed Under: cleaning, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips, Family fun

How To Clean A Baking Pan

March 27, 2017 Leave a Comment

Burnt on food is the number one reason that I used to avoid certain recipes. I didn’t want to face the tough job cleaning the pans. So often the recipes that are the yummiest dishes are also guaranteed to produce a burnt-on mess. It is just the way they are. 
 
cleaning tips, household hints, baking soda uses
What kind of dishes? I am talking about pot roast, beef stew and brisket: three delicious tummy warming dinners that my family loves. But how I dreaded the clean up. Whether made in the oven or a crockpot, the cleaning chore ahead was inevitable -that is, until now!

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Finally, I discovered the so simple cure. It is really a dream come true. What is it?  Baking soda! Yes. Nothing fancy but you are going to love this.

I extolled the hidden virtues of baking soda some time ago in “15 Great Uses For Baking Soda” covering everything from insect bite treatment to a key ingredient in your child’s Erupting Volcano Science Fair Experiment – but this? How did I miss this?

How To Clean Burnt-On Food In A Baking Pan

Supplies

Warm water
1/4 – 1/2 cup baking soda
household hacks, baking soda uses, cleaning, kitchen tips
 

Directions

Rinse the pan with water.
Pour in dry baking soda.
household hints, cleaning tips, kitchen

Add lots of very warm water to cover all the burnt on food.

Let the pan stand for at least 15 – 30 minutes.

 

clean pans, baking pans, dishes, cleaning, kitchen tips, household hints

 

Next, place the pan in the sink -if it isn’t already there- and rub the interior with a kitchen brush.
The burnt-on food will lift off easily!
Pour out the dirty water.
Add dish soap, clean warm water and,  using a sponge, clean it the rest of the way.
Rinse.
Dry.
Sparkling clean!
clean pans, baking pans, dishes, cleaning, kitchen tips, household hints
Do you hate trying to clean baked on food from your pans? This simple tip makes it so much easier! #tips #cleaning #household #home Click To Tweet
Got any great cleaning tips? Tell us!
 

Enjoy!

Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Anything purchased from Amazon through Ducks ‘n a Row – which will NOT cost you anything extra – will result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you!” … Sinea


Filed Under: cleaning, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips

Smelly Sneakers? Get Rid Of That Nasty Odor

March 25, 2017 Leave a Comment

sneakers, cleaning tips, household hints,

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Have a pair of sneakers that you just love but – ooooh the smell – who can stand them? Don’t throw those smelly sneakers away just yet. Try baking soda!  I did and it worked.

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer. Just sprinkle baking soda in each shoe, shake it around so that the powder gets in all the crevices and dump out the residue over a sink or waste basket.


Now, wear them! Check it out when you take them off again. They should smell just fine. Repeat every once in a while to maintain freshness. (By the way, canvas shoes can be washed so, if yours are canvas, wash them!)

Smelly sneakers? Well, don't throw them out. First, try this! #tips #deodorize Click To Tweet


 

Enjoy!


Photo Credit: Old Canvas Shoe by PANPOTE on Freedigital Photos and upper image Pixabay.




 

Filed Under: cleaning, Lifestyle, tips Tagged With: cleaning, cleaning tips, clothes

Make An Adorable “Welcome Doggie” Busy Bag For A New Puppy

February 6, 2017 Leave a Comment

Love puppies? Think about when you first brought your little fur baby home. She was cuddly, licky, snuggly, squirmy and truly a baby.
pets, pet care, dog care, puppy care, pet owner

If you haven’t had a young pup in a while, memories may have faded into everything fun. We all loved it, didn’t we? But with her youth comes messes. She poops – she pees – she may even have an upset tummy once in a while and your new little love, who doesn’t know anything,  lets it all happen on your beautiful clean rug.

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My little gal, Sadie [100lbs of yellow lab loveliness] was just the size of a big tea cup when we met her 4 years ago. Of all the silly things, this picture of her doing her business is the first one I took! Believe me, the lawn is not the only place where that happened – not by a longshot.
She is what inspired me to make this new-dog busy bag for my brother’s family. They are getting a new puppy and plan on naming him “Boomer” Cute! As we all know, when puppies don’t have enough to do, they find things to do. Sadie did! I remember the day she first discovered mud. She enjoyed every gooshy minute of it. As you can see by the picture below, she got on the carpet before I could catch her. Aren’t those muddy paws adorable? Of course, the carpet needed some TLC after I captured it on film.
puppy care, carpet cleaning, dog busy bag
Then there was the day she brought a TREE into the house (OK… part of a tree.) She needed to chew and took it upon herself to solve the problem – thankfully it was a tree and NOT the furniture!  With that experience in mind, I decided to make a busy bag for the new arrival including the most important part: STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover.
STAINMASTER® Carpet Pet Stain Remover is the best way to be prepared for the inevitable messes pets will make. Whether it is the occasional piddle or poop on the rug or muddy paws, Stainmaster cleans it up great. Not only does it do an excellent cleaning job, leaving an invisible protective shield protecting your carpet from resoiling, but it deodorizes beautifully, too.
Check it out after you use it. There will not be a trace of sticky residue where you applied it. None! I only wish I had had it when Sadie was little. I use it all the time now and, guess what? It also works great on other everyday kinds of stains like coffee, grape juice, jelly, ketchup, chocolate syrup, motor oil (YES!) and soil.
#NewPetNoStains
You can find Stainmaster products at your local Target. That is where I bought my first bottle! 
So, while I was there, I got the brilliant idea to buy one of the red Target recyclable bags to use for my new pet busy bag! Made it so easy:) Next, I went to the pet supplies section of Target and bought some dog toys including teethers and chew toys plus a few plush toys, as well. Along with the stain remover, this will make a great starter gift for their new arrival.
dogs, DIY, crafts, gift idea
How ever did Sadie figure out those were DOG toys, anyway? I thought  had been discreet. Oh well, I may have to give them to her and go buy some more for Boomer. LOL.
dogs, cats, pets, pet owners, puppies, kittens
yellow lab, labrador retrievers, puppies, pets, crafts

How To Make A New Doggie Busy Bag

Contents of a New Dog Busy Bag
Plush dog toys
Tough rubber ball or bones
Doggie chew teethers
Rope toy
Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Remover

Supplies
Red Target Store Reusable Bag
Tacky glue
Variety of colors of felt squares
Template (2 copies)
Self adhesive felt alphabet letters
Large googly eyes (2)
Directions
Lay the felt letters on the bag for placement.
One by one, remove the backing and adhere the letters to the bag.
My letters were big so I only had room for “DOG.”puppy busy bag tutorial, how to make a dog busy bag
Print out a clipart picture of a dog*
*Do an internet search to find the dog you want to use! 
Make 2 copies so that you can keep one as a reference.
Cut apart the other copy for your pattern and lay the pieces out.
free dog clipart
One at a time, hold them on a piece felt with one hand and cut around the shape.
Lay each piece down flat somewhere, after it is cut, to keep track of where every piece goes.
Starting at the bottom of the dog –  in this instance, the neck and collar – dab glue onto each part and place it on the bag.
Press gently.
Complete the process of creating the dog’s face.
Glue two big googly eyes on.

pets, dogs, puppies, DIY projects, gift ideas, busy bags, puppy

Let it sit for a few hours to be sure that the glue holds.
*You may want to check to be sure that the glue did not go through to the inside. I did not find that to be the case with mine but if it had happened, I would have put something inside to let the air flow while it dried.

Fill you bag with doggie goodies and a bottle of Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Remover.
Now you are ready to go!

Do you know someone who has a new puppy? It’s the perfect time to introduce them to Stainmaster Carpet Pet Stain Cleaner – they will be so grateful!

How to make an adorable doggie busy bag to take your fur baby's toys and things with you. #crafts #doglovers Click To Tweet

THE BEST PET VACUUM I HAVE EVER OWNED!

Best vacuum for pet hair I have ever owned! #tips

Enjoy!

Filed Under: crafts, dogs, tips Tagged With: cats, cleaning tips, Dogs, lifestyle, puppies, sewing

Destroy Bathroom Scum With This Super Powerful Trick

April 15, 2016 Leave a Comment

Let me start by saying, it took me years to even THINK of this. Then, when I did, I was almost too scared to try it. Afterall, no manufacturer of oven cleaner would ever say to use it on a fiberglass bathtub or shower. No way! I wouldn’t either ….but I was a desperate woman. 
This is my story…

bathroom cleaning, cleaning hacks, tips, household hints.

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For years the soap scum was building up in the tub and shower of our big bathroom. No, I did NOT skip cleaning it. But this particular bathroom was not the one I used regularly. The rest of the family did. I loved using our smaller powder room. It is cozy and has a shower. I liked it because I could leave my make up and other toiletries conveniently located at arms reach without getting in anyone’s way. That is probably why the other bathroom was slip sliding away from me. Three other people were using that one.

I didn’t recognize how bad it had become until really late in the game. By the time I did, I tried my best to correct the problem. I used just about every cleaning product known to man but nothing was TOUCHING it.

  • Multi-purpose cleaners.
  • Foaming bathroom cleaners.
  • Super-duper high-priced highly advertised cleaners.
  • Green techniques like pastes made with vinegar and baking soda.
  • Powdered cleaners.
  • Even laundry detergent.
Over the months, I truly tried it all with little to no results.
Then I had this little daydream. I saw myself using fume-free spray oven cleaner on my tub and shower. Really? What if it ate through the wall? Somehow, I kinda knew it wouldn’t. After all, there were so many layers of soap scum it would take the cleaner a while to even get to the wall! “OK, let’s try it!”
So I prayed, “Please Lord don’t let this hurt my tub” and “Please Lord, let this work.”  I sprayed on the foam, left the window open just in case there WERE fumes, and exited the room – closing the door behind me. 20 minutes later I returned with a scrubby sponge and bucket of warm water. I scrubbed the wall and, YES, the scum was disintegrating. It took me over an hour and one repeat spraying but I am happy to report that ALL of the soap scum buildup is GONE! What a relief! And, the tub was fine. It looks clean and pretty again!
Like I said, the manufacturer would never say to use it anywhere but in a real oven. And I’m not even recommending it. All I am saying is that it worked for me.

 ————————————————————————————————————

Sorry that I don’t have a before and after picture for you but my mind wasn’t on blogging at the time – I was just thinking of getting my shower and tub really clean.

Don’t you just love household hints, tips and hacks? Got any good ones for us? Share them in the comments!

See the the OUTRAGEOUS way this lady got the built up soap scum off her tub and shower...crazy but it WORKED! #tips #hacks #home #cleaning Click To Tweet
*Please Note: all fumes are dangerous. Chemicals should NEVER be mixed. When working around any kind of chemicals or cleaners – fumes or no fumes – ventilate the room and don’t stay around it long. 

 

Safety first!

tips, cleaning, household hint

 

 

 


Filed Under: cleaning, Home & Garden, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips

How To Wash Clothes In 5 Easy Steps

March 1, 2016 Leave a Comment

Wash Day = a day of the week on which a household’s clothes, bed linens, etc., are washed. Did you know that your family’s clothes will look great and last much longer if they are handled  properly? Here is how to wash clothes – the right way – in 5 easy steps.  
 
laundry tips, laundry symbols, wash, clothes

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Don’t you just love new clothes? New outfits are the ones we like to wear most. They are crisp, fresh and the colors are bright. They look new because they are new.

Laundry sorters help make wash day so much easier #ad

Laundry sorters make wash day so much easier! #Ad

When an outfit is new, we certainly aren’t looking to replace it anytime soon. Right? Hopefully, months down the road, our not-so-new outfit will look as nice as the day we bought it. Does it work? Sometimes “yes”, sometimes “no.” Time, wear and tear, and laundering weaken the fabric and its luster fades.

How To Make Clothes Last Longer When Doing Laundry

So get longer life out of our clothes by caring for them properly. Here are some tips on how to wash clothes and keep them looking their best, longer!
Got tweens, teens and newly-wed just learning this process? Share this post with them!
Fun true story: when I was in college a girl who lived on our hall met her future husband in the laundry room. He was one of those “gorgeous hunks” that all the girls drooled over! Anyhow, he was attempting to wash his clothes. Banging on the washing machine with his fist, speaking some expletives, he was a man in distress. 
Mindy finally got the courage to intervene. He thought the machine was broken – no suds. She gently walked the sheepish young man through the process of adding DETERGENT to the water. It either was the best pickup line ever or providence. By the time we all graduated, their wedding date was set and he knew how to do laundry!

 

How to wash clothes in 5 easy steps! #cleaningtips #tips #laundry Click To Tweet

How To Wash Clothes In 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Identify

Laundry Labels Are Key
Laundry labels are there for a reason. They are the manufacturer’s guidelines on how best to clean and care for that particular garment. Take time to read it and do not remove it (even if it’s scratchy on your neck.)
Laundry tags are most often found inside the back collar or on the lower part of a side seam. In slacks and skirts, they may be on the back of the wasteband. Occasionally, manufacturers print the instructions right on the garment instead of using a separate tag.
It used to be that all labels had straight forward written instructions such as “Cold water wash, separately with like-colors” or “Dry Clean Only”.
Now there are universal symbols that mean the same things but, if you haven’t learned the symbols, they are not helpful. Here is a comprehensive list of the laundry symbols and their meanings: LAUNDRY SYMBOLS 
You might want to print them out and keep them near the washing machine for future reference.
How to wash clothes in 5 easy steps

Step 2: Sort

laundry, wash, clothes care

Do not wash clothes until you sort them. At first, this may seem tedious. It is an all-important step, though. Don’t skip it. Eventually you will know your wardrobe well enough that this step will take no time at all.
  1. Get out some laundry baskets and sort your dirty clothes according to colors. First: darks and lights. Then, types of colors. White, black and red are best kept exclusive to same color. If you mix them, your whites will become pink or dingy grey and will never to return to their former luster. Black and navy blue can be washed together–most often they will be in the “cold water wash” pile to keep them from fading.
  2. Sorting does not stop with color. Next, READ THE LABEL to determine HOW to wash them. Some items may be delicates that should only be washed by hand. Others may be “machine wash, lay out to dry”. Trust the label. If it says “lay out to dry” then DO NOT put them in the dryer. Use a sweater dryer or table top with a towel on it to lay them out till they are dry.
  3. Sort by type, as well. For instance, white towels or colored towels can be two separate loads. Though towels can be washed with other types of clothing, washing them separately makes putting them away so much easier at the end of the process.
  4. Check them for stains and treat accordingly.
 

You have now sorted the clothes by:

  • Color
  • Treatment
  • Type
laundry, cleaning, laundry symbols

Step 3: Add Water

When it comes to water, you have to consider the size of the load and its contents.
Water Level: select your water levels according to the volume and weight of the load. A full load of nothing but socks will still agitate freely, though there are many. A load of bath towels or heavy sweaters will weigh down quickly. Pack the tub lightly to allow free movement when the water is added. Light loads may only require 1/2 a tub of water. Heavy loads will need a full tub.
Water Temperature: Water temperatures count! Not everything can be washed in warm water. Almost nothing can be washed in hot. When in doubt, cold or cool temperatures are your safest choice.
How to wash clothes, laundry symbols guide, cleaning, clothes

Step 4: Add Detergent

Detergents come with instructions, too. Start the washer using the correct water temperature: cold, cool, warm or hot. (Hot is SELDOM used. It is harsh on clothing.) Add the clothes and then the detergent. Use the amount of detergent recommended by the manufacturer.
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Detergents: use laundry detergent that lines up with the type of clothes you are washing. Detergent with bleach should only be used for whites. Some detergents include color-safe bleaches designed to brighten the existing color. Pay attention to the labels on the clothes to be sure that there is not a warning, otherwise it’ll be fine.
Fabric Softeners: some fabric softeners are added into to the wash load in a special dispenser. Read the bottle for specifics. You may prefer to use dryer-sheets, which are used in the dryer, instead.
Bleach: some whites need bleach to get really clean, others say specifically “do not bleach.” The fabric probably contains a synthetic fiber that will turn color (yellow?) when in contact with bleach. If your whites are safe to bleach, add the bleach through the dispenser in the washing machine itself. No dispenser? Add it after the tub is half-full of water and before adding the clothes to avoid spotting.
How to wash clothes in 5 easy steps; laundry symbols

Step 5: Choose Your Cycle

Cycle: the cycle you use is determined by how heavy or delicate the clothes. Denim jeans require more agitation than, let’s say, sheer nightgowns. Pick the cycle according to the type of fabric and recommended care.
Permanent press clothes should be agitated and spin dried more lightly than other types. Your washing machine should have a “permanent press” cycle right on it. And where do you find whether to use it? The label, of course!
More laundry tips:
  • How To Fold a T-Shirt
  • Laundry Piling Up? Organize It Today!
  • Brighten Laundry Colors Naturally

 

Enjoy!

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Photo credits:
Wash Day Cat – Pixabay
Clothes Pegs by Salvatore Vuono on Free Digital Photos

Filed Under: cleaning, Lifestyle, tips Tagged With: cleaning tips, laundry

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