Ask The Helpful Housewife

My Dirty Big Secret Is Now SMALLER!

No, the basement isn't finished yet. Not by a long shot! I still have to sort out each individual box and purge/re-organize them, but at least I have the space to do it in now. I ended up taking 3 very full loads to Goodwill on Tuesday, including 2 dressers, a table, a desk, and tons of miscellaneous other stuff. Boy, was I tired! Hauling furniture up the stairs, outside, then loading into the vehicle in 100 degree heat was exhausting! But it definitely made a difference. Now I can work on making it NICE. By that I mean re-vamping the craft area with the other table that will be replacing the existing one next week and making the area inspiring; getting rid of boxes I empty and making sure I have all the same type of plastic containers, labelled and on shelves for storing keepsakes and Christmas decorations; and by putting up some pretty curtains in the window and adding some more drywall, a drop ceiling, yada yada yada...

But I have room now.  And, as promised, here is the fruit of my labor...

 

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Quite an improvement, don't you agree? Obviously it still has a ways to go, but for a good 12 hours of steady work, I'm happy with what I have at the moment. This winter will be perfect timing to go through boxes. I'll be stuck inside most of the time anyway!

So, have I inspired you to declutter and dig out a little? I hope so! It is such a liberating feeling - you really should try it sometime!

 

Digging out from under the avalanche...

Yep, I've been AWOL for a week or so.  I know! I know! Why haven't I been posting? Well, the Helpful Housewife has a dirty little secret. Well, not so little in size, once you see it.  I've been in my basement.  Before we left on vacation, we had a water heater incident, and I also had to empty some bins to use on our cargo carrier that attaches at the hitch.  It's time to clean up the mess, but instead of just putting everything away, I got carried away! As usual...  I made a bigger mess instead.  You know how sometimes you get the urge to purge and reorganize?  Big mistake to get that with a basement! Too big of a project!  Here's what I'm dealing with:

 

I feel so ashamed! But I have always been about full disclosure on here! It wasn't this bad when I started.  I'm tearing a lot of stuff apart to get rid of the last of the old furniture that's down here from when ANDY WAS A KID!!!! Yeah, sad, I know.  But in the meantime, I need to sort to purge/store what's invading my life and basement.  If I don't return in the next week or so, send in 911. I may have been buried alive!

But I have made some progress... the playroom is at least acceptable, though still not up to my standards.  My kids will be happy with it, and since I avoid it like the plague, I don't care all that much!

 
   

But I am on my way to Goodwill with load number two in just a few minutes.  I have a photo to prove it! And the car was just as full yesterday with load number one.  I'll most likely be making even one more trip today with the truck, loaded with old furniture... there IS a light at the end of this tunnel!

 
YIPPEE!!!! I'm making progress! It's a turtle's pace, but I'm getting there.  I promise to let you see what the final dungeon looks like!

 

Musty Linens Must Get Clean

I had the incredible fortune of buying several vintage quilts for only $10 each.  I don't think the seller knew their worth?!  Usually these quality of vintage quilts go for a couple hundred dollars or more. 

Anyway, they all had that old musty smell to them.  They smelled of dust and damp, like an old attic.  And I really wanted to keep them out with my collection of other vintage quilts.  But with the smell, I just wouldn't be able to!  So, I got to work.  And they are now smelling fresh and lovely!  This method can be used for just about any fabric that needs to be rid of unwanted "old" smells.  If it is dry clean only, then DON"T do this, take it to a professional.  But if it is a washable fabric, then by all means give it a whirl!  For especially stinky fabrics it may take 2 or 3 times through the process to really get the ick out.

Fill the bathtub with cool (not cold or warm) water. 

Add about an 1/8th of a cup of a mild detergent, such as Ivory or Dreft, and slowly swirl it into the water to disperse it well.

Add about 1/8th cup of Arm & Hammer washing soda and dissolve by stirring.

Add in 1 cup of vinegar.  (The smell will dissipate, I promise!)

Gently lay the quilt, blanket, etc. into the water.  Using your hands, softly press it into the water, pressing in different areas each time.  Slowly turn it over to the other side and repeat.  Let it sit for an hour or so.

Drain the water from the tub, and refill with cool plain water.  Then repeat the process above with the quilt, pressing the suds out of it into the plain water.    Repeat until the water is  clear, and no more suds come out of the fabric.

Roll the quilt tightly while still in the tub to squeeze out excess water.  Then take it outside into the sunshine and hang it to dry.  Over a railing will do if you don't have a clothesline. 

The combination of the vinegar, washing soda and the fresh air should remove the musty smell and leave it fresh and bright.  The soap and washing soda will remove any dirt or dust that is keeping the odor in.  And the washing soda will leave it nice and soft.

Updated Housewife Schedule/Routine for the Helpful Housewife

It's been ages since I uploaded an up-to-date schedule for the Roman family!  Obviously things have changed drastically since 2006 in our household.  In the last four years, our schedule changed to accommodate me owning a store, to me being back home full time; kids getting older and having new school schedules; and just plain refining it. 

Here is the schedule we will be following until mid-June (the end of the school year):

Download Daily_schedule_for_the_roman_family_3

Download Daily Cleaning Master Checklist

Download Cleaning Schedule

I hope these documents actually embed in the blog... it's been a long time since I did this, and I can't quite remember how to do it!  I am putting them out here, because when I get around to peeking at where everyone is coming from when they arrive at my blog, the majority of hits come from google searches for 'housekeeping schedules' or 'housewife routine'.  Perhaps these will inspire those of you looking for information on forming your own schedule.  And keep in mind, I am a very structured person.  I need this type of detail.  Please don't think it is a requirement for all homemakers!  You need to do what works for you...

Green Clean On The Cheap!

Yes, I missed Earth Day on the blog.  I know!  But to atone for it, here are a couple cleaning recipes for you!  These are really easy on the wallet and really hard on dirt and grime.  I know that it's tough sometimes in this current economy to stay green while taking care of your home and family, but you don't have to shell out for the expensive green cleaners.  Simply use these cleaning products that you can whip up on your own in a matter of minutes for only pennies!

Glass Cleaner

1 part white distilled vinegar

1 part water

Simply pour into an empty spray bottle and use just like the more expensive glass cleaners.  Works better, in fact, and if you use a flour sack towel instead of paper towels you not only save trees, you don't have that pesky lint that is left behind by the paper!

All-Purpose Cleaner

1/2 cup white distilled vinegar

1/2 cup warm water

2 tsps borax

Mix until the borax is dissolved, and pour into a spray bottle.  Antiseptic, works great, cuts grease and grime, and safe for food surfaces, too!  Use caution when pouring out the borax, though, that you don't inhale it. You can even add a drop or three of essential oil to this to give it a lovely fragrance.  I happen to like lavender and geranium oils in mine!

Dishwasher Detergent

1 part washing soda

1 part Borax

Combine in a plastic, sealable container.  Use 1-2 tbsp per load in the dishwasher.

Toilet Cleaner

1 cup white distilled vinegar

1 cup baking soda

Pour each into toilet bowl.  Let sit for 1/2 hour, then scrub clean and flush to rinse.  Sparkling!

The costs associated with these cleaners is so much less than commercial cleaners!  I can buy a box of Borax for about $3.89, and a box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda for about $2.89.  A gallon of white vinegar is $2.67 where I shop, and baking soda is super cheap when you buy the big box of the generic brand.  I have found plastic spray bottles for .98 cents.   And I use an old, large, plastic butter tub for my dishwasher detergent and have it labelled clearly under my kitchen sink. 

If I total all those things up, I have about $11 invested, and these cleaners will last me forever!  I have two spray bottles, and it works out to less than a penny per cleaning session with them.  Even the dishwasher detergent recipe saves a ton of money.  The typical box of name brand detergent can be on average $6 per box.  I get four to five times as much for that same price by making my own!

I hope these little tips help you.... Your home will be sparkling and germ free without any dangerous toxins and chemicals.  Open the windows once in a while, and get the fresh air moving, too, by the way!

More Green To Share!

  This is something completely new to me!  I just heard about it yesterday, literally.  I'm ordering a starter set of the cleaners so that I can give you an honest to goodness review, as well as ordering the Zoegetics product as well.  Listen, I try really hard to eat organically, detox once in a while, and am willing to try supplements like this.  It truly does make a difference in living with my MS, believe it or not!  So I am going to try this product as well.  I will happily give this company a shot.  Take a look at their site, and see what you think!  The prices are very reasonable, and the products definitely meet my criteria for environmental friendliness.  Just click on this link:  Zoe Lifestyle and poke around to your hearts content.  I think you'll like what you see as well.  It's always nice to find a company that can create a cleaning product that is natural, safe, and that works.  Can't wait to get mine!!!!!  This company has only been around for about 6 months, so it's a new find for everyone.  Thanks, Jeannie, for sharing it with me!!!!!

EcoStore USA Has Another Hit On Their Hands!!!

I know that I have told you before how much I absolutely love this company's product line, but EcoStore USA deserves yet another post about one of their proven winners!  Their Naturally Active Pure Oxygen Whitener has far surpassed my strict testing requirements!  Not only is it 100% natural and oh-so-gentle on mama earth, this stuff whitens like you wouldn't believe!  I love it!  

I tried it several ways.  First I used it on a load of regular whites, and then put them in the dryer.  They came out so nice and bright!  The dingies were gone!  Then, I washed a second load of whites that were a bit faded and greyed out, and hung them on the line.  Well, as you know, sunlight is a natural bleach for whites.  The combine power of the two was even more amazing!  It was like the scene in "Friends" when Ross had bleached his teeth!  No lie!  

It even brightened and whitened a load that had accidently had a red beach towel mixed in with it... have I convinced you yet?  And it only takes a tablespoon or two in a load!  Talk about economical.  I've tried OxyClean.  That stuff is garbage as far as I'm concerned.  It has never done a thing it promised.  Not one.  But this product has me sold forever!  Go get some.  Right now.  And you can even get a coupon for it to use at Meijer.  Save almost $8 when you go to Coupon.com, type your zip code and print out the Meijer coupon.  It is under household products.  What could be better?!?!?!

Making Your Laundry Room Work For You

I get a lot of hits on this blog relating to google searches for laundry room tips.  You all know how much I adore ironing, and even the laundry is a task I really don't mind doing.  Here's the secret to why:  a well organized laundry room!  Even if you don't have an actual laundry room, an area dedicated to this task helps trememdously.  I don't technically have a laundry room in my home.  It's more of an all-purpose back entry area.  It's closed off from the kitchen by a pocket door, but it has the hook ups for a washer/dryer and a built in laundry sink.  By default?  It's a laundry room/mud room/entry way/utility room.  I actually hate the layout, but I've made the best of it.  So today I'm going to share it with you, and maybe you can gain some ideas from what I've done to streamline and organize your own laundry spaces.

Remember my post regarding the family information center?  This is a bigger snapshot of the wall it's located on.  It's where we come and go 99% of the time, so it makes the most sense for us.

As you can see in the photo below, we installed shelving above the washer & dryer to keep laundry supplies close at hand.  It works rather well to be able to just reach straight out for stain removers, or to set items on the shelf that are found in pockets.  It also keeps things from getting lost behind the appliances!

 

In this next photo, you can see how I store my daily cleaning supplies in their caddy right on the counter top to keep them easily accessible.  The laundry soap is also right there in the blue caddy where I can just scoop it out as I need it.  The counter top is usually clear, but today I have some things there that need to be delivered in an errand later.  The counter does come in handy, though!

 

Over the sink, I have installed a fold out drying rack.  In the summer it's great for the swim suits, and year round I use it for delicates and hand wash items.  The clothespin bag is hung across from it.  In the cabinet I keep my dust rags, extra rubber gloves, cleaning supplies, sponges, scrubbers, and the sunblock/insect repellent.  Also a first aid kit and the shoe polish, so the kids dont' get into it!

 

This is the view coming in from the garage.  These hooks keep us organized on school mornings.  We always know where the backpacks and coats are!  Plus, it keeps them up off the floor so we aren't tripping over them all the time, and the kids can hang them up themselves.  There would be one more set, but Attie is still at school right now!  I also keep my cleaning smock hanging on the last hook here so I can just toss it on whenever I need to.

 

And here's the view from the sink towards the pocket door to the kitchen.  This is how our wierd and awkward room manages to have so many different functions yet work so well for us.  Because it is so organized, it is a useful space.  Laundry is easy to do here, and our lives are organized because of the other tools in place like the calendar area and the hooks.  It is a multifunctional room.  Even the closet next to the hooks -- we took out the rod and put in a shelving system and created a pantry/utility closet.  Only a few panty items are stored here; mostly trash bags, the blender, extra picnic wares, and the vacuum, broom, etc. are kept in it.  But making it functional makes it work for us, not against us!

 

It's even painted a sunny yellow to make it bright and cheerful.  Although I am considering repainting it a bright bright white... will have to simmer that thought for a while.

So, there's another glimpse into The Helpful Housewife's home.  I hope I can inspire you to improve upon my ideas in your own cozy homes!

Spring Clean-A-Long Completion Celebration Day!

 

Congratulations!  Today marks the end of Spring Cleaning!  Today is the day we put the finishing touches on everything and declare victory over our homes and welcome in the warmer days to come.  We can breeze through the end of the school year in organized peace and usher in summer vacation in a relaxed frame of mind knowing that we are prepared and don't have to tackle any big chores in the midst of having fun.  Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

First things first.  Have a cup of coffee, tea, and relax for a moment.  Enjoy what you've already accomplished.  Look around and give yourself a pat on the back.  Once you've gotten yourself into a proper state of mind, it's time to get out of that housecoat and into some pretty spring attire!  You are going to be doing the following today:

1. Grocery shopping to restock items from the list you made yesterday.  I'll share a few tips further down in this post to help you save a little money with this as well...
2. Pick up a pretty bouquet for the kitchen table, dining room table, or both if you fancy!
3. Go to the cleaners and get the draperies you dropped off on Monday.
4. Run any additional errands you may need to complete while you are out and about.  Saves gas and time to consolidate trips!
5. Head back home, and temporarily change into some comfy clothes.  Unload those groceries and in an organized fashion put them away. 
6. Rehang the draperies, and put out the fresh flowers. Pretty up your freshly cleaned home with little details; you'll feel like it belongs in a spread of Better Homes and Gardens by this point!
7. Plan your dinner menu for your celebration tonight.  Everyone deserves a special night in to enjoy the wonderful home they live in, and to give them a chance to thank you for the job well done.  They will appreciate it, trust me!
8. Get back in your pretty outfit and begin relaxing. You are the lady of the house, and you deserve to act as such!  Especially tonight!
9. Tomorrow, you may want to consider putting together your own daily, weekly, or monthly routine to keep your home in this condition.  I have my own routines posted here on the site in the right hand sidebar if you need an example, but find what works for you.  Keeping up with it makes it much more manageable, and makes spring or fall cleaning go much more easily.  If I didn't do my routines, my spring cleaning in a home the size of mine for a family of six would take a month, not a week!  Maintenance is key. 

While grocery shopping today, remember to take your coupons.  Many stores double coupons up to 50cents, even 75cents.  Pay attention to the store's flyer.  In most cases the store brand of a product is identical to the name brand, but significantly less expensive.  HOWEVER, look closely!  Here is one example that paid off to buy the name brand.  Kraft Mac & Cheese was 10 for $1, get the 11th free a couple weeks ago.  The store brand was .99 per box.  Kraft ended up being 11 for $10.  The store brand was 11 for $10.89.  OK, so it's only .89 but in this case the Kraft really does taste better and you can buy the organic version.  The store brand was fully processed junk.  This week our store has bread, toilet paper, and many other things on the 10 for $1, get the 11th free deal.  And yes, I always get 11.  If it's a perishable, I freeze it.  Bread can be frozen!  I just set it on the counter overnight and it's fine!  Our deep freezer was the best investment we ever made.  The $275 we spent on it has saved us thousands over the years.  Literally!  We buy freezer beef when a local farmer butchers beef steers.  We stock up on great sales at the grocery store.  I freeze produce from the garden.  It's been well worth it.  There are times when our family of six has only spent $50 or less at the grocery store every two weeks!  Our food budget is actually quite low because of our freezer and because of paying attention to deals at the stores. 

If you are buying meat, pork, or poultry, I recommend heading to Sam's or Costco.  You can buy in bulk packages at MUCH lower prices than the traditional grocery stores.  When you get home, simply divide them up into smaller portions and place in freezer bags.  I have a foodsaver system, which is wonderful, but if you don't the freezer bags from Ziploc will do.  Just be sure to squeeze as much air as possible from them. 

Grab your grocery lists and head on out the door!  We've got just a little bit more to do today before we are really and truly done by dinner tonight!  At our house we are celebrating by having grilled lemon garlic chicken, grilled outside for a change! But I will make all of the rest of the dinner in my newly cleaned kitchen!

Congratulations to all of you who are done spring cleaning and ready to party!

Lemony Fresh!

 

I found somehting in my produce drawer today that prompted me to hop back online to pass along another tip for you all.  If you come across any lemons today while cleaning your refrigerator that are past their prime, don't throw them away.  Save one or two to help finish up your cleaning!  A little lemon juice and salt is great for scrubbing cutting boards and deodorizing them.  Slice them up and place in water with some Rosemary that's beyond it's shelf life from your frig as well, set it in a sauce pan on the back of your stove and let it simmer for a while to freshen the air.  And of course, you can always toss some lemon wedges down your garbage disposal to disinfect and freshen it as well, along with a dash of baking soda.  When you run the disposal, your whole kitchen will smell lemony fresh!

Spring Clean-A-Long: Day 4, The Kitchen Part I

When tackling the kitchen during spring cleaning in my home, I always reserve two days for this area.  Let's face it, it's the busiest room in the house!  While I'm trying to scrub it to a sparkling diamond finish, people are still expecting me to fix them meals and find them snacks and are running through it at all hours.  It's not practical to think I'll have it all to myself for 8 straight hours.  So I divide it up over two days and hope that it's enough time to get it all done.  Here's the game plan for today's allotted time:

1. Clear the clutter.  Get rid of all the accumulated school papers, recycling, miscellaneous Barbie shoes and paper clips that somehow make their way to the counter top by my refrigerator over time until I shovel it out again.  Anything non-kitchen related goes back to it's home where it belongs.  Kind of like the uncle who comes to visit and stays for three months until you get fed up and kick him out.
2. Once the clutter is gone, begin at the top of the room.  Dust the cobwebs and dirt from the ceilings and walls as best as you can.  Then get a bucket of warm water with some all purpose cleaner mixed in it and several old rags for washing with. The kitchen gets really grimy near north.  The rising steam while cooking carries a surprising amount of grease.  Have you looked at the top of your cabinets recently?  GROSS!  Time to get scrubbing! Wash all that gunk off!  This will take quite a while.  See why I allocate two days?  (I won't judge you if you have cosmopolitan after this task.  I may even join you!)
3. Now, dump the bucket, and refill with clean warm water and some more all purpose cleaner.  Time to do the cabinet fronts.  Just the top cabinets.  No point in doing the bottom ones just yet. 
4. You're going to be very happy you cleared the clutter and emptied your counter tops earlier.  At this point we empty out the cabinets and wipe down the interior shelves.  Place everything back in an organized fashion.  While you're at it, sort out the things you don't use or don't like anymore and consider donating them to Goodwill or put them in your next garage sale. 
5. Time to clean the counter tops, back splashes, and countertop appliances.  Make them sparkle!  Don't worry about the sink.  You're still using it, so we'll clean that last.
6. Now let's empty out the lower cabinets and wipe down the interior shelves and repeat the process here.  Once that's done, it's time to wash the outside of the lower cabinets.

Tha'ts enough for today.  Don't you agree?  Because seriously, that's a LOT of work for one day.  And there's a lot more to do tomorrow.  Dinner tonight at our house is take out.  I don't know if it will be pizza, chinese, thai, or drive thru, but I'm not cooking!  And if they vote down take out, they can all continue cleaning out the frig of whatever is left in there.  They are on their own.  Less for me to clean out tomorrow, as far as I'm concerned!  All bets are off for dinner on these two nights.  But after all these years, my husband already knows that.  My dinner will consist of either take out or 2 aspirin.  Trust me, I'll be tired and sore tonight from all the climbing and bending! 

Fresher Carpets and Air

While you are cleaning your living areas today, you may be wondering how to get that spring air scent back in your home.  Here's a little info and tip I forgot to pass along earlier. 

First of all, fresh air is the best cure for stale smells in the home.  Even in the winter, you need to open up the windows every once in a while.  Especially homes built these days:  they are  meant to be so energy efficient, they don't let the home BREATHE anymore.  So while you are cleaning today, open the windows wide and let your house breathe again.  That will help immensely.

Now, to get rid of stubborn stale odors, pet smells, and just general funkiness in the air that may be stemming from your carpets it's time to pull out this little trick from your cleaning arsenal.  Grab a large ziploc bag.  Put about 2 cups of baking soda in it.  Just plain old baking soda.  Now add about 10 to 15 drops of your favorite scent essential oil.  My favorite is lavender, but geranium and lemongrass are close seconds!  Don't just dump them in one spot; sprinkle them around all over the baking soda.  Now, seal the bag leaving a considerable amount of air in the bag.  Shake it pretty well.  Heck, toss it in the air like a bean bag a few times, but MAKE SURE IT'S SEALED!   Next, take a pencil, skewer, or other sharp object and poke a few holes in the bottom of the bag.  Shake it over your carpeting like traditional carpet freshener.  Let it sit while you do a few other cleaning chores, and then simply vacuum it up.

VOILA!  Fresh carpets, and sweet smelling rooms!

Spring Clean-A-Long: Day 3, The Living Areas

Wednesday is another busy day!  Today I'm tackling the Living areas of our house:  the living room, dining room and family room as well as the front entryway.  If I get really brave, I'll clean my husband's office, but most likely I'll leave that up to him.  Today's work isn't quite as back breaking because there isn't as much scrubbing to be done, but on the other hand there could be some heavy lifting.  Here is the plan for today:

1. Clear all clutter and put everything in it's proper place.
2. Dust walls, corners, and crevices.  Clean ceiling fan.  Wipe down all wall art, framed photos on walls, etc.  Wipe down all trimwork.
3. Clean windows inside and out.  If window treatments weren't taken to the cleaners, vacuum them with the appropriate attachment.
4. Clean light fixtures.  Vacuum lampshades.
5. Vacuum upholstery and inside cushions.  Move furniture and vacuum underneath.
6. Dust all surfaces.  Vacuum books with brush attachment and clean knick knacks with a soft cloth.

7. Vacuum or sweep/mop floors.

In the dining room, you may have a china cabinet with china on display. Mine is very simple and rustic -- my great-great-grandfather made the cabinet, the buffet, the table and chairs.  It holds my tea cup collection.  When I move to the dining room, I will empty it and wash each piece, dry it and put it back after I also dust the shelves. 

Today is a little easier.  It's the middle of the week, and the heavy work is going to be over the next two days in the kitchen!  Yes, two whole days dedicated to the kitchen!  So tonight I'm getting a head start on clearing out the refrigerator.  Dinner is a free choice tonight for everyone at our house.  They can choose whatever they want out of the refrigerator.  That way tomorrow it's that much easier to begin cleaning it out!  I know my husband will probably choose eggs and toast, as he loves over-easy eggs.  But the kids will probably go for all the stuff I usually have on reserve for the baby sitter that they can't have on a normal basis like hot dogs and things of that nature!  I'm not concerned about hitting the pyramid perfection tonight when it comes to nutrition.  I'm only concerned with clearing it out.  Grilled cheese and pickles sound like a plan? 

Plan on Thursday and Friday for the kitchen and laundry rooms; Saturday morning will be errands to pick up the window treatments from the cleaners and groceries to restock your newly cleaned refrigerator and cabinets/pantries.  Saturday night will be a great night to grill out to celebrate being done with Spring Cleaning and keep your kitchen clean!

Spring Clean-A-Long: Day 2

How did everyone fare with the bedrooms yesterday?  Did you sleep well in your luxurious sanctuaries?  I sure did!  After a thorough cleaning, leaving all the windows open all day, and having the faint scent of lavender wafting through the air at night, our entire family slept so well and soundly!  It was like going away to a spa and returning home rejuvenated in the morning today!

Day two brings about the task of cleaning the bathrooms.  We have two full bathrooms and one half bathroom.  This does take a full day for me.  I do the walls, windows, light fixtures and trimwork just as I did in the bedrooms.  But the bathrooms have all kinds of nooks and crannies to get into, so the jobs take longer, even though the rooms are smaller.  Here's how I'll tackle today's chores:

1. Remove dirty towels, linens, laundry etc.  Clear any clutter and put away all toiletries.  Toss anything past it's expiration date.  If you have window treatments, they should already have been removed yesterday.  If not, take them down and put them in the washer now so that at the end of the day they have been dried, ironed and can be rehung.
2. Dust walls and along the ceiling corners, etc.  

3. Wash the walls with a mild soap and water solution and rinse well.  Dry immediately with a soft cloth.  I'll do this in sections, so that I don't leave any weird streaks or water marks.

4. Clean the windows and trim around them.

5. Clean all light fixtures.

6. Clean the fan.  I use my brush attachment on my vacuum cleaner initially, but I finish the job with a dust rag.

7. Put cleaning solution in the toilet to soak, and spray down the shower to loosen any soap scum or mineral deposits.  I then move on to the tub to clean it.

8. Clean the sinks and counters, using an old toothbrush to get in tight spots and grooves.

9. Clean the mirror and polish fixtures.

10. Go back and clean the shower and toilet.  Using an old toothbrush, go around each little crevice, groove, etc.  Pay close attention to the door rails of the shower door.  On the toilet, be sure to scrub in the little tight spaces of the hinges of the lid, and around the base of the toilet on the floor. 

11. Sweep and mop the floor. 

12. Put out fresh towels and hand linens.  Restock toilet paper, tissues, and any other items that need to be replenished.

13. Empty the trash basket and reline it with a new bag.  Put out a fresh vase of flowers, light a scented candle, or put a small potted ivy in the room as a nice added touch.

14. If you have laundered your own window treatments, iron them and rehang them at this point. 

I will be doing this in each bathroom today.  It may not sound like a lot of work, but once you start you realize it really is!  Once again, my crock pot will be getting a workout today.  And since we still have some freezer beef left and we are getting ready to order more from our favorite farmer to restock our freezer, I am going to be using up some of our meat this week.  Our dinner tonight will be Swiss Steak.  Super easy--just a simple round steak, a can of diced tomatoes, sliced green peppers, sliced onion, a dash of salt & pepper.  Let it simmer away all day.  Serve with a simple tossed salad and a baked potato.  I can toss the potatoes in the oven and ignore them as I finish up the last of my cleaning, then get myself cleaned up by the time hubby gets home for dinner!  Oatmeal Raisin cookies for dessert. 

I just hope the kids let me get all the bathrooms done today, and they didn't use up all of their cooperativeness yesterday!

Spring Clean-A-Long Kick Off: DAY 1

 

OK, so this is how most of us usually feel about the task of spring cleaning.  And I actually love Maxine - she's one of my favorite cartoon characters!  But when it comes to spring or fall cleaning, I look forward to it.  It's a great way to usher in the seasonal changes, shake off the dustiness, and go into the next phase of life prepared and refreshed.  I really do enjoy it!  So here we go;  are you ready?

When undertaking a massive whole-house cleaning there are a few things to remember.  It's best to clean from top to bottom, and from one side to the other in each room.  If you have a multi level home, begin on the top floor and work your way down.  Move from dry messes to wet messes.  Shake out upholstery/linens/pillows, follow with dusting, and vacuum last.   Beyond that, I'll talk you through it each day!

Today we will analyze the whole house as well as begin actual cleaning.  Before we pick up even a dustrag, I want you to get out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil.  At this point, it doesn't matter what room you begin in.  The order of investigation doesn't matter, but I want you to go from room to room in your home and write down everything you see in each room that really jumps out to you that needs special attention.  Write it down on this piece of paper under individual headings for that specific room.  For example:

Master Bedroom

• cobwebs in ceiling corners
• dustbunnies underbed
• shoe scuffmarks on lower wall

First Floor Half-Bath

• dust inside light fixture
• dingy light switch plate
• general crud buildup in overflow outlet of sink
• dust/cobwebs on crown moulding

When you get to each room in our cleaning rotation you can look at your list and make sure to pay special attention to those items that are most conspicious to you.

Next, I want you to go back through each room and inspect your fabric window treatments.  Look closely at them.  Can they be cleaned well enough with your vacuum attachments?  Are they machine washable?  Or are they pretty dirty, and "dry clean only"?  Anything that is labelled "dry clean only", take down and set aside right now.  Anything that is machine washable, make a determination of whether it will fit in your washing machine or if it is too large.  If it's too large, set it aside with the dry clean only pile.  If it will fit in your washer, decide if you want to wash, dry and iron it yourself, or if you want to have some one else deal with the hassle!  If you don't want to wash it yourself, put it on the pile too!

Now, let's think about dinner tonight.  I am putting a roast into the crockpot.  It's a beef chuck roast, nothing fancy.  I'll put an envelope of Liption Onion Soup mix over it, and a 1/4 cup of water.  I'll put it on high for the morning, and at lunch when I fix something for the kids to eat at around 12:00, I'll turn it down to low until dinner time.  When it's time for dinner, I'll just heat frozen mixed vegetables in the microwave.  Not gourmet, but it comes together in a moment without a lot of fuss.  I'm not slaving in the kitchen this week.  Too much work to be done, and I do have 4 kids to do this cleaning around.  School schedules are staggered among my younguns, since they are only 1st grade down to 3 years old!  But we'll make it work.  It can be done!

With dinner in the crockpot, I'm now going to put my window treatments in the car and take them to the cleaners.  Even though I know they will be ready by tomorrow or Wednesday, I'm not going to pick them up until Friday.  It's free storage until I'm ready to rehang them!  And why get them dirty again in the cleaning process?  After I stop at the cleaners, I have two more stops to make:  the first is at the store to pick up dinner rolls (because I forgot to bake some for dinner tonight!), and the second is Biggby's (our local version of Starbucks) for a Carmel Marvel Grande coffee drink.  I usually don't get the coffee drinks, but I'm going to splurge and have a treat this morning.  What better way to kick off my favorite spring ritual!

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Wearing my supportive tennis shoes, a spring scarf around my hair, my pedal pushers (of course!), and a cheerful smock to keep me clean, I am ready to go!  Since we have a 2-story home, I will begin my week on the second floor.  Today I'm going to clean all of the bedrooms, the hallway and the closets.  I'll tackle the bathrooms tomorrow, and tie in the bathroom on the first floor as a transition down there.  If your home is a single story, then begin in the bedrooms which are usually at one end of the home.  Remember, you can always adapt any of these methods to other rooms, too. 

In each room, this is the order I will follow:

1. Sort and put away all clutter, throwing away or donating as appropriate.  Don't forget to pull everything out from under beds and return to it's proper location! 
2. Using a microfiber cloth, a very slightly damp rag, or a dusting wand, wipe down the walls to remove dust and cobwebs.  If necessary, you can wash any soiled areas with lukewarm water that has a drop of mild soap in it, followed by a rinse with a rag that has clear water rung out of it.
3. Once the walls have all been dusted, dust any ceiling fans and light fixtures thoroughly.
4. Using a soft dust brush or your vacuum cleaner attachments, dust lampshades and fixtures.
5. Remove all bedding, linens, mattress pads, etc...  wash the bedding.  Vacuum, flip and rotate the mattress.
6. Wash the windows, inside and out.  Wipe down the trim work.  Leave the windows open to air out the room from the long winter.
7. Dust all furniture.
8. Clean all glass surfaces with glass cleaner.
9. Vacuum under the bed, and along all baseboards.  Vacuum the entire room. 
10. Make up the bed with fresh linens, and even spray them with a lovely linen spray.
11. Add a vase of fresh flowers, or a lavender scented candle to bring a calm and relaxed feel to the room.  It's now brand new and ready for spring!

Do this in each bedroom.  It is enough work for the first day!  Tonight, take a long hot bubble bath before climbing into those wonderful fresh sheets.  You'll have the best night's sleep you've had in months.  And you'll need it; tomorrow is another big day. 

Alright, ladies, here we go!  Happy dusting!