Living On A Dime

Category: Cleaning

  • Cheap Paper Towels – How To Save Money On Cleaning!

    Cheap Paper Towels – How To Save Money On Cleaning!

    Cheap Paper Towels? Using a lot of paper towels can get expensive, but it’s easy to save money on paper towels. Check out our head to head paper towels test to see which one was the cheapest and learn to save money and clean better with fewer paper towels!

    Cheap Paper Towels? Using a lot of paper towels can get expensive, but it's easy to save money on paper towels. Check out our head to heat paper towels test to see which one was the cheapest and learn to save money and clean better with fewer paper towels!

    Cheap Paper Towels! The Great Paper Towel Test For The Betterment Of Mankind!

    I often get asked how to get cheap paper towels, so I tested these 10 paper towels to see which ones saved the most money. I don’t use all that many paper towels, so it never occurred to me that it might be a big part of a family budget.

    In my test, I discovered that the paper towels that many people expected to be cheapest were not. It was especially important to note that when you’re looking for cheap paper towels, the bulk size packages were almost never the cheapest.

    If you use 1 roll of paper towels per day, it works out to $365/year!
    If you use 1 roll of paper towels per week, it works out to $50/year!

    Here is how I calculated the cheapest of the cheap paper towels:

    I did this test to compare how well different brands of paper towels work, along with how well different kinds of rags and cleaning cloths work. I also compared the cost of each of these cleaning solutions.

    Conclusion: If you switch from Bounty Full Sheets to Great Value Everyday Strong you would save 50% on paper towels.

    Here is how I evaluated the cheap paper towels

    I counted the cost of a roll of paper towels. Then I determined how many of each kind of paper towels it took to clean up a typical spill and divided the cost of a roll by how many sheets it took for each use.

    I also included the cost to use various cleaning rags, towels and cloths for the same spills.

    Rags – Free – Save $365/year

    Wash Rag – 1 rag – $0.50/rag – $.0016/use – 300 uses/rag minimum
    Dry 20 seconds completely dry
    Wet 24 wipe once, wring out, wipe again dry.

    Shirt Rag – Free – 300 uses/rag minimum
    It took 45 seconds and didn’t get completely dry.

    Towel – $0.50/towel – $.0016/use – 300 uses/towel minimum

    Regular Towel – It took 30 seconds to clean and got most moisture but didn’t completely dry.

    Flour Sack Towel, Regular – Took 30 seconds to clean and got most moisture but didn’t completely dry.

    Multipurpose Cloths – $5 for 10 – $.50/cloth
    Dry 20 seconds completely dry
    Wet 25 seconds wring out once dry

    Skoy Cleaning Cloth
    It took 24 seconds. I had to wring it out once and wipe again to completely dry.
    $1.39 per rag – 200 days – 6000 uses minimum – $0.00023/use

    Great Value Everyday Strong Paper Towels, Split Sheet = 1 1/2 regular rolls 1 pack – 140 sheets/roll – $.98/roll
    30 seconds – 7 sheets/use – $0.048

    Great Value Ultra Strong, Split Sheets 2 pack – 168 sheets/roll – $3.64 – $1.82/roll
    30 seconds – 5 sheets/wipe – $0.054/use

    Black White Paper Towels – 88 sheets/roll – $0.50/roll
    10 sheets – 55 seconds/wipe – $0.056/use

    Great Value Ultra Strong, Big Sheets – 2 pack Double rolls – 96 sheets/roll – $3.64 – $1.82/roll
    33 seconds 3 sheets/ use $0.056/use

    Brawny Pick A Size 3 large rolls – 92 sheets/roll – $4.97 – $1.65/ roll
    35 seconds – 4 sheets/use – $0.071

    Bounty, Select A Size, 2 Bulk Rolls = 4 rolls 142 sheets/roll – $4.97 – $2.48/roll
    28 seconds – 5 sheets/use – $0.073/ use

    Viva Choose A Sheet – 102 sheets/roll – $1.98/roll
    25 seconds – 4 sheets/use – $0.077/ use

    Scott Choose A Sheet – $2.98 – 102 sheets/roll – $1.49/roll
    46 seconds – 6 sheets/use – $0.087/use

    Bounty Basic Full Sheets – 44 sheets/roll – $0.98/roll
    40 seconds – 4 sheets/use – $0.089/use

    Sparkle Pick A Size – 2 pack giant Rolls – 102 sheets/roll – $2.77 – $1.38/roll
    40 seconds – 7 sheets/use – $0.094

    Bounty Full Sheets – 45 sheets/roll – $1.97/roll
    28 seconds – 3 sheets/use – $0.13/use

    So I determined that if you switch from Bounty Full Sheets to Great Value Everyday Strong you would save 50% on paper towels.

    If you look at the cost of using towels, rags and cleaning cloths, you could also save a lot of money if you used those items at least some of the time instead of using even the cheap paper towels.

    If you’d like to see some of my tests in my search for cheap paper towels, here is our show where I’m demonstrating how well each kind of paper towels cleans up spills.

    Of course, rather than just looking for cheap paper towels, you can save a lot more if you simply use fewer paper towels! I know many people are afraid of certain kinds of messes and I admit that I have my limit, too, like pet messes and such, but many spills can be easily accomplished with cleaning rags instead of paper towels.

    One thing that leads to spending too much money on paper towels is leaving them out where a family can easily reach them. Often minor spills, like water, juice, soda or Kool Aid spilled on a countertop doesn’t really require paper towels to clean up, but if the roll is on the counter or underneath the cabinets, husbands and kids especially will simply yank a big wad of them off the roll rather than using a rag, simply because they’re within view. Even when you buy cheap paper towels, the cost will add up if your family is wasting them.

    You can save a lot if you keep the paper towels underneath the kitchen sink in a cabinet and put rags in a more convenient location so the family is inclined to grab them first.

    We will be sharing more later in this post about how to spend less on paper towels by using rags more. Some people are afraid of using rags, thinking that they’ll be spreading germs around as they clean, but as long as you wash them regularly, and be cautious about not continuing to clean with one that has been in contact with raw meat or something, you’ll be fine and you’ll be able to save a lot of money.

    Which Paper Towels Are The Cheapest And How To Save More And Waste Less! We tested 10 paper towels to see which ones saved the most money and you'll be surprised at the result!

    How to Save on Paper Towels – Paper Towels vs. Rags

    I do love paper towels – there’s no denying their convenience. But I don’t use them often, so hunting for the best deal has never been a priority for me. I once had a friend who seemed to use nothing but paper towels. And not just one or two – she’d rip off three or four at a time for a job that only needed one! It was clear she needed to rethink her paper towel habit. In most cases, a rag can get the job done better, faster, and without all the waste.

    That said, I do still use paper towels on occasion – mostly for draining bacon or lining my fruit and veggie drawer in the fridge. When the bins get dirty, I can toss the paper towels and wipe them down in a snap. They also come in handy under my spices and containers to catch spills, making cleanup way easier.

    But after seeing so many people buying them in bulk, and even one woman’s shower stall filled to the brim with them, I began to wonder: Do most people use paper towels the way I do? I’ve realized that many people not only skip using rags, but they may not even know how or why they’re useful. And that’s where I hope these next few paragraphs come in – to rethink how you use them and and help you save money on paper towels.

    [organizing]

    My Rag Background

    Yes, you read that right. I have a background in rags – something not many people can say. And no, it’s not as strange as it sounds, I promise! My grandmother was a true rag expert. In fact, she built her whole life around them. My family didn’t throw away fabric – we turned it into art.

    My grandmother wove rag rugs for a living. She did it all of her life and her mom did it before that. They made unbelievably beautiful rugs, completely different from the ones you see sold now. The colors and designs she used would make any artist break down and weep and she made them all with rags.

    I remember as a child going to her house where she would have huge appliance boxes full of carpet balls. These were balls of fabric (from rags) that had been torn into strips, sewn together and rolled into balls. My brother and I had great fun rolling and playing with all of those fabric balls!

    Nothing went to waste. Every button, zipper and piece of trim was carefully cut off and saved. I guess frugality must be in my blood. : ) And over the years, I learned a lot about rags – knowledge that I’m excited to share with you so you can see rags (and paper towels) in a whole new light.

    Cleaning Rags – A Great Way to Save Money On Paper Towels

    One of the main complaints we get against using cleaning rags to save money on paper towels is that people don’t like to wash them because they get so nasty sometimes. I don’t like to wash them either, so I don’t. My cleaning rags fall into two categories: rags to toss and rags to wash.

    Rags to Toss

    paper towels on a roll

    The cleaning rags I toss are the ones I use for the nasty jobs:

    By the time a rag gets to my “use and throw” pile, it is already pretty far gone. I have probably used it for many other “clean” jobs and it is on its last leg, so I have no qualms about tossing it. I use it just like I would a paper towel.

    Rags to Wash

    These are my studier cleaning rags. They are usually old tea towels, wash rags, etc. I use them to:

    • Wipe fingerprints off of the wall
    • Wipe mildly sticky things from furniture
    • Wipe the spray starch off of my ironing board
    • Shine my mirrors
    • Wash the insides of my windows
    • Wipe my bathroom faucets and wipe dry everything in the bathroom

    Now here’s part 2, we’ll look at where to get cleaning rags and ways to make the most of them to make your life easier and save money on paper towels and cleaning in general.

    For even more tip to save money on organizing, cleaning and laundry, take a look at our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books.

    [organizing]

  • 13 Cleaning Tips To Make Cleaning Easier! Save Time and Energy!

    13 Cleaning Tips To Make Cleaning Easier! Save Time and Energy!

    Are you doing too much work cleaning? Do you wish it was easier to keep everything clean and tidy? Here you’ll find some inspiration along with 13 quick cleaning tips to save time and energy so you don’t have to spend as much time getting it all done!

    Are you doing too much work cleaning? Do you wish keeping everything clean and tidy was easier? Here you'll find some inspiration along with 13 quick cleaning tips to save time and energy so you don't have to spend as much time getting it all done!

    13 Cleaning Tips To Make Cleaning Easier!

    Are You Choosing a Dirty House? Could you be making more work without realizing it?

    Sometimes, we create our own cleaning and organizing problems when we refuse to change old habits and try something different. Often our habits create stress and steal valuable time, without really improving our lives. If we can identify and change these obsolete habits, we can make life a lot more pleasant for ourselves. Here are some examples from people I know of habits that created more trouble than they solved. After you read through them, think about the areas in your own life where you feel overwhelmed. Would it help to change your thinking in that area and change the way you do something?

    A woman with four children under the age of six decides she wants beige carpet throughout her house. She then spends the next few years nagging her family to be careful. A portion of every day is spent cleaning spots off the carpet. Then she complains to a friend that her husband and children are slobs because they make a mess of her carpet every day.

    The reality is that her family is unusually careful when it comes to making messes and if she had a twill-type darker carpet with a small pattern you wouldn’t be able to see any spots.

    Do you REALLY need to do so much laundry?

    A friend of my daughter’s was complaining about how many loads of wash she had to do every day for her small family. When my daughter suggested that she have her family wear the same pair of jeans a second time if they were clean, her friend became angry at the very thought.

    The reality is that if clothes still appear clean and don’t smell, there is no harm in wearing them again. I have never heard of anyone dying or getting some exotic disease from wearing their jeans a second or third time or even for a week, but I have known of children who have been needlessly mistreated by grumpy, angry and overworked moms.

    Do you insist that everyone get a clean towel every time he takes a bath? Why? Assign each person a towel and have him use it two or three times. When you get out of the bath, your body has just been scrubbed down and cleaned (we hope!). You’re getting less dirt and germs on that towel than you are on the sheets that you have slept on for a week or more.

    One interesting observation about people who are obsessive about one-use washing: It’s not really about the dirt. I have noticed that women who insist on washing everything after one use often allow their children to wear their winter coats and tennis shoes until they are so grungy that they aren’t sure what color they once were.

    If you let yourself be obsessive, you will drive yourself crazy.

    We knew a woman whose children would come in from their swimming pool every day all summer long and drip pool water on her good hardwood floors. Each time it happened (several times a day), she would scold them and then mop up the floor.

    The bathroom where the children changed out of their swimsuits was against an exterior wall right next to the backyard patio. The reality was that for a small amount of money– which this family could easily afford, she could have put a door leading from the pool to the tiled bathroom, but she refused to have it done because she insisted that they learn not to walk inside while dripping. Just like anything in life, to stay sane, you need to choose your battles.

    In case you think I exclude my own habits, I too have had this problem. I used to iron everything. With my first child, I even ironed my baby’s little t-shirts and pajamas. (note from Tawra: I knew something went wrong in my childhood :-) )

    When my second baby came, he had very bad colic followed by pneumonia. (It took many weeks and four pediatricians to find out what was wrong.) I had walking pneumonia for three months, but I was still trying to iron everything.

    There were days I would only get up long enough to take care of the kids and then would collapse on the floor because I didn’t have the strength to make it to bed. Well, one day a little light bulb went off in my head– Maybe I should stop ironing (at least for this season in my life). Duh!

    Simplify your cleaning and organizing!

    Don’t get me wrong– If having beige or white carpet inspires you to clean, puts a song in your heart and gives you warm fuzzies then by all means choose the beige carpet. Carpet your walls if it makes you feel that good. The same goes for the laundry. If it fills your heart with pride to see your children in freshly washed clothes, then let them change their clothes every hour.

    The easiest way to keep your sanity is to reduce the things you do to the simplest process that gets the job done. If you want to be especially picky about one thing and you don’t mind spending the extra time, go ahead and do it. Just don’t neglect to maintain your home by becoming obsessed with it and, most importantly, do not blame your family for the extra work it causes you. It is not fair to them for you to take your anger out on them because you choose to do more work than necessary.

    There is a verse in the Bible that says “Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.” (Proverbs 14:1) Measure everything you say and do by asking yourself this question: “Is it going to be for the good of my family and build it up or is it just the way I want things done even if it tears down my family?”

    Here are some quick cleaning and organizing tips to start saving time and energy by changing habits:

    • If clothes are clean, hang them up and wear them again.
    • Spot clean clothes – If they have just one dirty spot, take a wash rag and wash it off. Then wear it again.
    • Let each family member use one towel per week. Gasp! It won’t kill them to use a towel that has only touched their clean body after getting out of the shower! But it will cut down on your work!
    • When remodeling or replacing items, get things that will make cleaning easier. Get carpet that will conceal dirt. Don’t put in tile — The grout is horrible to clean.
    • Put down inexpensive throw rugs under tables if a vinyl floor is not possible in the dining area.
    • Allow the family to eat only at the table to avoid food messes in the rest of the house.
    • Make toddlers wear a bib or oversized t-shirt when eating.
    • Serve only light colored drinks if you have light colored carpet such as white grape juice, lemonade and of course water.
    • Don’t overdo it when buying clothes. A four week supply of clothes isn’t necessary for every member of the family. Ten days’ worth of clothing is plenty for most people. Unless you work outside the home, five dresses for church, two pairs of jeans, two pairs of dress pants and some blouses are more than enough.
    • Buy clothes that don’t need to be taken to the dry cleaners.
    • Don’t clean it if it doesn’t need it. Who says you have to vacuum everything every week? For a seldom used room like a guest room, don’t waste time vacuuming it every week.
    • Don’t dust until you see dust.
    • If there is something that continually frustrates you, fix it. If you can’t find your keys, hang them by the door. Put them there as soon as you walk in and you will know right where they are when you leave. If the door knob doesn’t work properly, fix it. Sometimes we think that we are too busy to take care of these things, but eventually, the hassle of working around something exceeds the time necessary to fix it. I once heard someone refer to this as being “too busy driving to stop for gas”.

    For more easy cleaning and organizing tips, check out our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books, which are full of easy tweaks to make cleaning and organizing easier.

    [organizing]

  • How To Clean A Burnt Pot Or Pan: The Easy Clean-Up Method!

    How To Clean A Burnt Pot Or Pan: The Easy Clean-Up Method!

    Here’s how to clean a burnt pot or pan. Cleaning a burnt pot can be tough, especially when it’s very burned and greasy, but this method makes the job so much easier!

    Here's how to clean a burnt pot or pan. It's not easy to clean a burnt pot, especially if it's very burned and greasy but this method should help.

    Mary asks:

    “Can you tell me the quickest way to remove years of burned on grease on the bottom of my flat pan.“

    I’ve used Awesome, Scrub Free, and Dawn Dish Detergent (the one used for cleaning oil from the birds during oil tanker spill from the Valdez that ran aground in Alaska).”

    “With the combination of the three, and a lot of elbow grease, I’ve removed some of it, but I’d really like to find one product or method that makes it easier.”

    Tawra: I am the queen of burning things. One time I even melted the tea kettle to the burner! No kidding, Mike and mom still tease me about it. I have tried over the years many things to save my pots and pans. Here’s what I do.

    I wasn’t clear if you meant the bottom of the inside of a pan or the outside, so I’ll address both.

    For Cleaning the Inside of a Burnt Pan:

    • Place a generous amount of baking soda (about 1/2 cup) in the bottom of your pan. Make sure it covers the bottom of your pan. Fill the pan with water and then simmer for an hour or so. Most of the burnt-on stuff should come right off. You can do this more than once if needed.
    • If the grease doesn’t all come off the burnt pan with the first method, then take a razor blade and scrape off the last of the burned on food. Follow up with an SOS pad to scrub away the rest and after that the pans are usually good as new!

    For Cleaning the Outside Bottom of a Pan:

    If the burnt on grease is on the outside bottom of the pan, then go straight to the SOS pad and scrub hard. Unfortunately, for years of baked-on grease, this method takes elbow grease—but it’s the most effective option I’ve found. The only easier way we have found to deal with this is to buy a new pan, which was the first thing Mike recommended when he noticed “quickest” and “easy” in your question ;-).

    These tips have saved many of my pans over the years, and I hope they work for you too, Mary. Let me know how it goes!

    Tawra

    [organizing]

     

  • Get Organized and Get Out Of Debt – Where Do I Begin?

    Get Organized and Get Out Of Debt – Where Do I Begin?

    Some of the most common goals people have are to get organized and get out of debt but it can be difficult to know how to start. These easy tips will help!

    It’s almost New Years Day and many of us are already starting to think about making resolutions. Most resolutions sound something like: “I’m going to eat healthy and lose weight“, “I’m going to get out of debt” or “I’m going to get organized.”

    These are great things to WANT to do but I’m afraid that about 90% of us won’t keep these resolutions. Here are a couple of things to think about that will hopefully give you greater success in keeping your resolutions.

    I can’t, in this one sitting, give you all the details about how to handle every situation but I can give you some things to think about that will help you in all of these areas. Then for more details check out LivingOnADime.com, or our e-books to help you in each specific area and to give you practical ways on how to accomplish what you want to do.

    It helps to understand why we do the things we do. Most of us want to lose weight and eat healthy on New Year’s Day because we have just spent the past month gorging ourselves so that we now feel bloated and sick and can’t fit into our clothes anymore. Like a pendulum that swings from one extreme to another, we think that the answer is to eat carrot sticks for the rest of our lives. That usually lasts about 3 days and then we give up.

    The same applies to the idea of getting out of debt. Most of us have just spent the past few weeks spending more money than we had planned and now we feel guilty. We’re determined that we are not going to spend a penny on anything. Then we will panic every time we have to buy something like food or gas because the price is so high.

    Then there is the thought of getting organized. Right now you are probably surrounded by a Christmas tree and decorations that are starting to accumulate a thin layer of dust, which is giving a dingy look to everything. The once bright and cheery look of the Christmas lights have dulled. The candles on the mantle have burned down to nubs and look more like they belong in a haunted house or in a horror movie.

    There is leftover wrapping paper strewn here and there. Piles of Christmas dinner platters and dishes sit on every counter. You close your eyes every time you open the fridge so you don’t have to look at the piles of leftovers inside it. Then there are all the mounds of new toys, clothes and gifts. How do you stuff them into the already full closet? No wonder you have the urge to clean and get organized. You wonder, “Where do I even start?” Getting organized is a way to give yourself a fresh start.

    As I’ve said before, too much of even a good thing can make us sick and frustrated.

    Here’s my point: You can get organized and do everything you resolve to do, but you need to pace yourself. It’s like running a long distance marathon. You don’t just shoot out of the starting line going as fast and hard as you can. You will never make the distance that way, so you pace yourself. In the same way, pace yourself in everything and do a small amount at a time, breaking things into manageable pieces.

    Have a plan, whether it is writing menus for good balanced meals for each week, making a budget or, even more important, being bold enough to write down and acknowledge what your debts are.  Make a plan. Plan where to cut your spending or to start to get organized, try making a list of 1-2 areas of your home you are going to organize each day.

    Next prepare. When you are preparing for a race, you would ask yourself, “Do I have the right shoes”, “Are there water stations?”, “Have I slowly worked my muscles into shape?”, “Am I prepared for some pain?” and “When it hits, will I not be afraid of it but keep going in spite of the discomfort?”  In the same way, you may have to spend some time preparing things like planning good meals or making sure you have cleaning supplies and boxes for when you start to get organized.

    Pace Yourself
    Plan
    Prepare

    One thing you must remember – discouragement and a sense of being overwhelmed will hit most of us once we start. Pacing will help but it is especially important to have a plan and be prepared when discouragement sets in so you can overcome it and keep going. Here are some things to think about when you start feeling discouraged:

    Have you ever looked up the definition of resolution? I did. It means to have firm determination, to be bold and steady and to reduce something to a simpler form. You need to be steady and pace yourself. Little by little and piece by piece, reduce your mess to something simpler and more manageable. You can’t accomplish any of it in a week or two. You took a long time to make the mess and you may have to take just as long to clean it up but like the tortoise in the tortoise and the hare, keep a slow but steady pace and you will win the race and succeed.

    Lastly, get up and do it. Stop blaming everyone and making excuses. You won’t even get out of the starting gate if you spend all your time standing there telling everyone why you can’t run. Even if you have a real excuse for not running then at least start taking baby steps and walk. You’ll at least be getting somewhere but if you just stand bemoaning your lot in life and how miserable the world is in these hard economic times, you will get nowhere.You may fall (or eat that piece of chocolate cake, spend more than you should have or leave dirty dishes in the sink one day) but pick yourself up, brush yourself off and keep going. The only thing that will keep you from getting there is if you stop (quit and give up), so keep at it.

    We will try to do the same and keep plugging along with ideas on how to accomplish all of the above. Now I must quit because I have a messy room that I really need to deal with today! : ) : )

    For more help with organizing, cleaning and laundry, take a look at our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books.

    [organizing]

  • How To Clean A Stainless Steel Sink

    How To Clean A Stainless Steel Sink

    Here’s an easy 4 step process to clean a stainless steel sink, with a video demonstration. We also share what cleaners to use and include natural options.

    Here's an easy 4 step process to clean a stainless steel sink, with a video demonstration. We also share what cleaners to use and include natural options.

    How To Clean A Stainless Steel Sink

    Keeping your stainless steel sink clean isn’t as difficult as it seems. It does seem like it can be intimidating when you aren’t sure what products to use. Below, you will find 4 simple steps to get it clean and keep it that way.

    You can see our video demonstrating how to clean a stainless steel sink here:

    4 Steps To Clean A Stainless Steel Sink

    1. Get the gross OFF! Use a solution of dish soap and water to wipe down all the food and grime. Do not rinse. Just let it soak for a minute until it loosens all the stuck-on food. When everything is softened, wipe out the sink with fresh water.

      You can skip this step if your sink isn’t too bad but it’s a good idea to do it if you have a lot of stuck on food.

    2. Scrub it! Use either a stainless steel cleaner or baking soda and vinegar. (Bar Keepers Friend is a good inexpensive stainless steel cleaner brand, which does not contain bleach.)

      • You can use a product like Comet with bleach if you want. I prefer to use the Comet but YOU CAN NOT LET BLEACH SIT IN THE SINK. If you use a cleanser with bleach, you must rinse it off right away as bleach can pit and stain your sink. Also, if you use this kind of abrasive cleanser, use a lot of water to prevent scratching.
      • If you use stainless steel cleaner, just rub on with the grain of the sink and rinse.
      • If you decide to use baking soda and vinegar, then scrub the sink with baking soda first. When you’re finished scrubbing, leave the baking soda on. Then pour some vinegar over the sink and let it bubble. Rinse with water. Vinegar is somewhat useful in disinfecting, but the vinegar will not disinfect as well as bleach.

      • IMPORTANT: When you’re cleaning the sink, make sure you wipe around the edges and the back of the faucet. (See our video.) A lot of people miss this area. This is where a lot of gross stuff can collect, causing unpleasant odors, and the grime can build up over time so that you will have to scrape it off.

        If you have missed this area a lot and you have a big build up, you can take a plastic scraper like a pot scraper or a plastic knife and scrape away the build-up.
    3. Dry the sink: Wipe down the clean sink and counters with a dry cloth. This makes the sink look shiny and extra clean.
    4. Shine It! To add even more shine to your stainless steel sink, wipe down with a small amount of olive oil or mineral oil and shine with a dry cloth.

      To freshen your disposal, you can put a piece of lemon or orange peel in your disposal and run it. The lemon will help clean and freshen, so if you have odors you might try this.

      Here’s my #1 Tip for keeping your sink looking good: WIPE IT DOWN IMMEDIATELY AFTER EVERY LOAD OF DISHES!!! Seriously! It takes about 30 seconds to wipe and dry your sink and if you do this every time it will keep the grime from building up. While you’re at it, make sure to wipe the counters, too, and be sure to dry them as towel drying makes counters look shiny and extra clean just like it does with the sinks.

      That’s it! As you can see in our video, it really doesn’t take much to get it clean. Once you know what cleaners to use, you can scrub away and have a fresh clean sink in just a minute or so!

    1. Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipe – My #1 Go-To for Cleaning!

      Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipe – My #1 Go-To for Cleaning!

      This homemade all purpose cleaner recipe makes my absolutely favorite cleaner for my house! I pretty much use this cleaner for 90% of the cleaning done around my house. I just use the Dawn but if you need something a little stronger you can use ammonia.  It’s in volume 1 of our cookbook and I just love the way it makes everything from windows to sinks and toilets shine!

      This homemade all purpose cleaner recipe makes my absolutely favorite cleaner for my house! It is quick and easy to make with ingredients you have at home!
      Print

      Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Recipe

      This homemade all purpose cleaner recipe makes my absolutely favorite cleaner for my house! It is quick and easy to make with ingredients you have at home!
      Print Recipe

      5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      5 from 2 reviews

      Ingredients

      1 gallon water
      1 cup ammonia or 2 tsp. Dawn dishsoap
      1/2 cup vinegar
      1/2 cup baking soda

      Instructions

      1. Combine all ingredients.
      2. Put into a spray bottle to clean showers, toilets, sinks and counters.

      This homemade all-purpose cleaner is great for most cleaning needs. Use all-purpose cleaner to clean your floors. Just spray on and wipe off as you would counter-tops.

      This is not a disinfectant. To make it a disinfectant, too, add about 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol to the bottle.

      All Purpose Cleaner Recipe #2 – (My newer version.)

      This disinfecting cleaner is the one I prefer and use most often. It is the same as the all purpose cleaner above except that it includes alcohol for disinfecting.

      Print

      All Purpose Disinfecting Cleaner Recipe

      This homemade all purpose cleaner recipe makes my absolutely favorite cleaner for my house! It is quick and easy to make with ingredients you have at home!
      Print Recipe

      5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      No reviews

      • Author: Tawra Kellam

      Ingredients

      Units
      1 gallon water 1 cup ammonia or 2 tsp. Dawn dish soap 1/2 cup vinegar 1/2 cup baking soda 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

      Instructions

      1. Combine all ingredients.
      2. Put into a spray bottle to clean showers, toilets, sinks and counters.

      This all-purpose cleaner is great for most cleaning needs. Use this all-purpose disinfecting cleaner to clean your floors. Just spray on and wipe off as you would countertops.

      Notes

      This all purpose disinfecting cleaner is a disinfectant because it includes the alcohol.

      [organizing]

    2. 10 Spring Cleaning Tips To Make Things Easier!

      10 Spring Cleaning Tips To Make Things Easier!

      Try these 10 easy spring cleaning tips to help you keep your home in order without going crazy! They are short tips for quick things that need to be done but are often forgotten.

      Try these 10 easy spring cleaning tips to help you keep your home in order without going crazy! Quick things that need to be done but are often forgotten.

      Spring Cleaning Tips

      • Clean your coffee pot and sink drain. Pour 1/2 cup to 1 cup of vinegar into the coffee pot and run it through as if you were making coffee. Repeat a couple of times using the same vinegar.

        Pour 1/4 cup baking soda down your drain. Then pour the used vinegar from the coffee maker down the drain. Let it sit for a minute or so.

        Next, pour 1-2 pots of water through the coffee maker to wash out the vinegar. When each pot of rinse water from the coffee maker is done, pour it into the drain. You now have a clean coffee pot and a clean drain.

      • Clean and take care of all your small appliances. Cleaning and caring for them really does make them last longer.

        Toasters – There is a little door on the bottom of your toaster that catches the crumbs. Open and clean out the crumbs once in a while. (UNPLUG THE TOASTER FIRST!)

        Hand mixer – Wipe down your hand mixer after each use.

        Iron – Run your iron over a dryer sheet to remove anything gummy, including fusible web or spray starch. I also keep a couple of packages of alcohol hand wipes by my iron and use them for an instant cleaning (after it cools).

        I iron a lot so I use the small tubes of iron cleaners that Faultless sells. I do this about twice a year. In most places, it is found by the irons, cleaning products or where ironing board covers are found. More often than not, they are displayed hanging on a plastic strip.

      • Blow the dirt off of your fans, computers, or air purifiers. (You can buy cans of air for use with computers at office supply stores. These can be used to blow dirt off of other hard to clean items, too. I used to use an air compressor to blow the dirt off of house fans and heating grates.)

      • Two weeks before Christmas and birthdays, go through and remove several of your children’s toys, since they will soon be replaced. Let the kids play with only half of the new toys each holiday and save the other half for them to play with later.

      • If an old porcelain sink is marked with metal scratches, use 400 grit wet/dry sand paper and lightly sand the markings out. I also love using Comet on my old porcelain sinks on a regular basis. This usually keeps the scratches down. Of course, prevention is the best. When you are scrubbing a pan or something metal, lay a dish rag down to set it on first.

      • Save brown paper bags and use them for trash sacks, wrapping paper, drawing paper for the kids, oil leaks under cars, etc.

      • If you have a sisal rug or one like it that slides all the time, use rows of acrylic chalking about 6 inches apart on the back of it to prevent it from moving around. Let it dry then flip over.

      • To repel mosquitoes, stuff a dryer sheet in your back pocket.

      • Replace the glass or plastic pitcher part of your blender with a mason jar.

        The bottom part of a blender pitcher unscrews (the part with the blade, the rubber gasket and the screw on base). If you remove these parts from the glass jar, you can screw on a mason jar, in the blender pitcher’s place. If you do this, make sure you use a larger mason jar than your contents require — like a 1 quart jar if you’re going to be blending a pint to a pint and a half.

        You would just put it on there and and turn the blender upside down to blend. Then everything is in the jar after it’s blended. Turn the jar back right side up when you are done and unscrew the blender base, and put a regular mason lid on your jar.
    3. Foaming Hand Soap Refill Recipe

      Foaming Hand Soap Refill Recipe

      This easy foaming hand soap refill recipe is a quick and simple way to save on hand soap. You can refill your soap for just pennies a bottle!

      This easy foaming hand soap refill recipe is a quick and simple way to save on hand soap. You can refill your soap for just pennies a bottle!

      Vickie asked:

      I really like the foaming hand soap; do you have a foaming hand soap refill recipe for making it at home?

      If you love foaming hand soap but hate paying for those pricey refills, you’re not alone! Many of us have fallen for the convenience of foaming soap—only to realize the refill bottles are ridiculously expensive for what’s basically watered-down soap. I forked over $1.67 to buy one of those new foaming pump hand soaps just to see if it would last longer. Interestingly it only lasted 1/4 of the amount of time that normal hand soap does.

      After some experimenting, I found a super simple way to refill your foaming soap dispensers for just pennies a bottle! It’s quick, easy, and just as effective as the store-bought stuff—without the extra cost.

      Whether you’re using a store-bought foaming pump or a reusable dispenser, this DIY foaming hand soap refill recipe will save you money, reduce waste, and keep those hands clean without breaking the bank!

      Here’s how to make a foaming hand soap refill for just a few pennies per bottle!

      Print

      Foaming Hand Soap Refill Recipe

      This easy foaming hand soap refill recipe is a quick and simple way to save on hand soap. You can refill your soap for just pennies a bottle!
      Print Recipe

      5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      5 from 3 reviews

      • Author: Tawra Kellam

      Ingredients

      2 Tbsp. of regular liquid hand soap or bubble bath enough water to top off the bottle

      Instructions

      1. Pour the liquid hand soap into the bottle.
      2. Fill to the top with water.
      3. Swirl it around gently until it’s mixed and you have foaming hand soap!

      I figured that the store-bought soap lasts about the same amount of time as regular liquid hand soap but costs twice as much. Isn’t that nice of them? :-)

      [dining]

    4. Easy Countertop Disinfectant Recipe You Can Make in Minutes!

      Easy Countertop Disinfectant Recipe You Can Make in Minutes!

      This easy countertop disinfectant recipe is a great disinfectant that can be used for most cleaning needs and it will save you a lot of money over buying it at the store!

      This easy countertop disinfectant recipe is a great disinfectant that works for most cleaning needs and will save you a lot of money buying it at the store!

      Here is our easy homemade countertop disinfectant recipe. This recipe works well as an all purpose cleaner and I use it for lots of cleaning applications in my home. The alcohol is a disinfectant and the ammonia is a disinfectant and also a degreaser.

      You can save a lot of money making your own cleaning products instead of buying the expensive ones at the store that have the same ingredients.

      When you use this or any kitchen and bathroom cleaner, it is important that you NEVER mix any cleaning product that has ammonia with any cleaning product that has bleach. If you use bleach and ammonia together, it creates a poisonous gas. This applies to all cleaners, not just homemade cleaners. This countertop disinfectant uses ammonia, so you would want to avoid using it with any cleaner that includes bleach.

      Here is our countertop and all purpose cleaner recipe. Mix some together and keep it in a spray bottle wherever you need quick clean-ups and disinfecting.

      Print

      Easy Countertop Disinfectant Recipe

      This easy countertop disinfectant recipe is a great disinfectant that works for most cleaning needs and will save you a lot of money buying it at the store!
      Print Recipe

      5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      No reviews

      • Author: Tawra Kellam

      Ingredients

      Units
      2 Tbsp. ammonia 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol 1/4 cup vinegar water

      Instructions

      1. Pour ammonia, alcohol and vinegar into a spray bottle.
      2. Fill with water.

      This works especially well for countertops but may also be used to clean showers, toilets and sinks. Great for most cleaning needs.

      Important tip: NEVER mix ammonia and bleach.

      This Homemade Countertop Disinfectant Recipe is from the homemade cleaning products chapter in volume 1 of our cookbook:

      [dining]

    5. Homemade Outdoor Window Washer Recipe

      Homemade Outdoor Window Washer Recipe

      Tired of spending money on expensive outdoor window cleaners? This simple and budget-friendly homemade outdoor window washer recipe works just as well—without the high price tag! Made with just a few everyday ingredients, it’s perfect for reaching those high-up windows without needing a ladder. Clean your windows with ease and save money in the process!

      Why spend a fortune on a specialty cleaner for your outdoor windows? Here's an easy homemade outdoor window washer recipe you can make for a lot less!
      Print

      Homemade Outdoor Window Washer Recipe

      Why spend a fortune on a specialty cleaner for your outdoor windows? Here's an easy homemade outdoor window washer recipe you can make for a lot less!
      Print Recipe

      5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      5 from 3 reviews

      Why spend a fortune on a specialty cleaner for your outdoor windows? Here’s an easy homemade outdoor window washer recipe you can make for a lot less!

      • Author: Tawra Kellam

      Ingredients

      3 Tbsp. liquid dishwashing soap
      1 Tbsp. anti-spotting agent (Jet Dry)
      1/4 Cup ammonia (Optional for extra cleaning power and degreasing)

      Instructions

      1. Put soap and anti-spotting agent into a spray bottle attachment for your garden hose.
      2. Add ammonia, if desired, for extra cleaning power and degreasing.
      3. Fill the bottle to the top with water.
      4. Attach sprayer.
      5. Spray upper windows and let them dry.

      This outdoor window washer recipe is for cleaning the higher windows on your house that you can’t reach except with a ladder.

      For more easy homemade cleaner recipes like this, check out our Dining On A Dime Cookbooks!

      [dining]

    6. Clean Your Kitchen in 7 Easy Steps

      Clean Your Kitchen in 7 Easy Steps

      Many of you are focused on deep cleaning right now, but there are still all the everyday jobs to keep up with. Here are some ideas about how to do your daily jobs quickly (starting with easy steps to clean your kitchen) so you can get on to the big stuff. Some people do things differently and in a different order. This is just a suggestion to help you get started. Feel free to modify it.

      Try this easy step by step guide to clean your kitchen quickly. These ideas will help you get in and out of the kitchen quickly! It really isn't hard!

      Clean Your Kitchen In Seven Easy Steps

      Are you tired of looking at a messy kitchen and don’t know where to start? Cleaning your kitchen doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With these seven easy steps, you can quickly get your kitchen clean and sparkling in no time.

      Start by picking up any items that don’t belong in the kitchen, like mail, newspapers, and other odds and ends and quickly putting them away. If there is a lot of this kind of stuff on the counters, gather it and place it in a box to deal with when the kitchen is clean. Don’t waste time sorting through it until after the kitchen is clean.

      1. Gather all dirty dishes and load them into the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is already full, start it immediately to get it done as soon as possible.

        Fill the sink with hot soapy water and put the dishes that must be washed by hand in it to soak. This will help loosen any dirt or grime, making them easier to clean later.
      2. Wipe off countertops and tables with hot soapy water. (This way, if you have unexpected company your table and counters are clean. They will think you have been cleaning all morning.)

        If you have a spot with stuck on food, lay a wet washcloth on the spot for a few minutes while you work on something else. This will help soften the stain, making it easier to clean off.
      3. Sweep the kitchen floor and shake out any throw rugs if needed. This will ensure that your kitchen looks clean and tidy.
      4. Wash the dishes that have been soaking. As you go, place them on the drainboard to dry. Once you finish, put all of the dishes away in the cabinets where they belong. If they have not completely dried, grab a dish towel and quickly dry each of them as you put them away. Don’t be obsessive about the drying. Quickly wipe each one dry and move on.
      5. Wipe down the faucets and dry with a towel. Drying with a towel prevents water spots and makes the fixtures look shiny and clean. (Be sure to wipe any sticky appliances, too. Don’t forget to wipe the door handles, especially on the back where you grab to open them.)
      6. Put out a clean dishcloth and towel.
      7. Take out the trash.

      If you have a lot of kitchen items on the counter that you rarely or never use, find a place to store them that is not on the counter. If you occasionally use something, see if you can find a place in a cabinet to store it. If you never use it, get rid of it.

      By following these seven easy steps, you can quickly get your kitchen clean and sparkling. Don’t let a messy kitchen stress you out. Try these steps today and enjoy a clean and tidy kitchen every day!

      -Jill

      For more easy tips and tricks to make it easy to clean your kitchen and keep your whole house in order, check out our How To Organize And Clean Your Home E-books.

      [organizing]

    7. Does Vinegar Disinfect As Well As Bleach?

      Does Vinegar Disinfect As Well As Bleach?

      Does Vinegar Disinfect as Well as Bleach? Some people are afraid of bleach and prefer to use vinegar as a disinfectant but is it as effective?

      Does Vinegar Disinfect as Well as Bleach? Some people are afraid of bleach and prefer to use vinegar as a disinfectant but is it safe to use vinegar as a disinfectant?

      Does Vinegar Disinfect As Well As Bleach?

      When mom mentioned that you should disinfect your countertops with bleach we received a lot of comments about how great it is to use vinegar instead of bleach.

      So, let’s set the record straight.

      We do not want to knowingly put incorrect or dangerous information on our website. so in situations like this we will refer to the best places we know to get the correct information. That’s why, in cases like this, we look to trusted sources—usually government health agencies. Also even the sites who recommend the use of vinegar admit that the testing for it is very unclear because it hasn’t been thoroughly tested like bleach.

      Regarding vinegar working as well as bleach, vinegar is NOT as effective as bleach and does NOT kill as many germs. While vinegar does have some disinfecting properties, it is only 90% effective against bacteria and 80%-83% effective against viruses and mold/mildew. This means when you use vinegar as a disinfectant, you are putting your family at risk.

      Bleach kills 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and mold/mildew. This information came from the health department. I encourage you to contact your local health department to confirm if you don’t believe these statistics.

      There are a lot of rumors and conspiracies about bleach that people worry about, but isn’t it wise to really look at the facts rather than using products that are unsafe as disinfectants? Don’t let emotional fear from people spreading rumors online cause you to make poor decisions.

      Another thing to consider is that using soap and water kills more germs than vinegar so, unless you are trying to get rid of soap scum, residue or mineral build up in laundry, why are you even messing with vinegar?

      We are not suggesting that you use an entire gallon of bleach every day to clean your home. I wash whites two times a week using bleach. I generally disinfect every few days to a week or once a day when there is sickness in the house. A gallon of bleach lasts me 3-4 months! People say they can’t clean with bleach because the fumes take their breath away. If this is happening, it is usually not the bleach. Many people simply use way more bleach than they should. I also have to ask– Has no one smelled vinegar lately? The smell from it really takes my breath away and burns my nose.

      I know there are people who believe that illnesses have increased because people are using products line bleach and other disinfectants. I have to say that I do not agree and think that we should be thankful that we have products that kill life threatening bacteria and viruses now.

      I once heard a person from Africa say, in response to people who want to ban pesticides, “You rich Americans want to try and force us to stop using pesticides, but you aren’t dying from the diseases that these bugs carry.”

      I think the same is true with the use of bleach. It has been 60-70 years since a lot of people were dying from major illnesses that are preventable. This generation has not had to go through the pain of losing family members to these diseases so many people haven’t heard the stories and aren’t often reminded about how very lucky we are to have things like bleach and pesticides.

      Find our easy Homemade Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Recipe Here!

      If you are concerned about bleach and the environment, you might want to check out these facts from Clorox.com:

      • Household bleach is derived from sodium chloride, also known as common table salt.
      • Clorox® Bleach begins and ends as salt water: 95–98% of household bleach quickly breaks down into salt and water, while the remaining byproducts are effectively treated by sewer or septic systems.
      • No bleach gets to the environment. Studies have shown that dioxins are not produced when sodium hypochlorite bleach is manufactured, used in laundry or in household cleaning.
      • The main ingredients in Clorox® Regular-Bleach are sodium hypochlorite, a form of salt, and water. There is no free chlorine in Clorox® Regular-Bleach.

      Most people simply use too much bleach when cleaning. Here is the proper way to clean with it:

      If you are going to use bleach in your dishwater, make sure that your soap can be mixed with bleach. Look on the back of the bottle to make sure it doesn’t say “Do not mix with bleach.” Some of the new scented dish soaps will set off toxic fumes if mixed with bleach.

      To disinfect correctly, follow these directions from Clorox:

      • To Disinfect Surfaces: Use 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water, or as directed on the label, to disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces in your home.
      • To Disinfect Water: If you need to purify water during an emergency, (and don’t have the means to boil it for 3–5 minutes), you can disinfect your water using bleach:
        • For clear water—add 8 drops (1/8 tsp.) of bleach per gallon of water
        • For cloudy water—add 16 drops (1/4 tsp.) of bleach per gallon of water
          Mix the solution thoroughly and let it stand for about 30 minutes before using it. Properly treated water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn’t, repeat dosage and allow water to stand an additional 15 minutes. The treated water can be made drinkable by pouring it between clean containers several times.

      [dining]

    8. How To Clean A Front Load Washer And The Secret Trick I Use So I Never Need To!

      How To Clean A Front Load Washer And The Secret Trick I Use So I Never Need To!

      Many people experience disgusting mold in their front load washing machines but I don’t. Here’s the secret trick I use so I never have to clean mine!

      [dining]

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    9. Room By Room Spring Cleaning Checklist – Speed Cleaning Ideas

      Room By Room Spring Cleaning Checklist – Speed Cleaning Ideas

      Use this easy room by room cleaning checklist to make cleaning quick, easy and efficient! By organizing your cleaning supplies efficiently, keeping cleaning equipment where it’s easy to access and having a plan to get it done efficiently, you’ll be able to get the cleaning done fast!

      Use this easy room by room cleaning checklist to make cleaning quick, easy and efficient! By organizing your cleaning supplies efficiently, keeping cleaning equipment where it's easy to access and having a plan to get it done efficiently, you'll be able to get the cleaning done fast!

      Room By Room Spring Cleaning Checklist – Speed Cleaning Ideas

      Once you have your home organized and you have gotten most of the major deep cleaning done, you’re ready to start speed cleaning your home. I also call speed cleaning your home maintenance cleaning because it is more of a maintenance routine than the deep cleaning and organizing.

      • Each family is different so you decide how often you need to do your speed cleaning. You might choose to do it daily, once a week, twice a week, etc. depending on your family size, number of pets and other considerations.
      • If it isn’t dirty but is on your speed cleaning list, don’t clean it. Only clean something when it is dirty.
      • You can use a special apron or plastic container of some kind to put your cleaning supplies in to make it easier to carry from room to room. There are so many options that I could do a whole article just on how to store and transport your cleaning supplies. Find something that works well work for you.

        I don’t carry most of my cleaning supplies and tools with me from room to room. I prefer simple– very simple. I keep my rags and 2-3 cleaning products in the bathroom and I do the same in the kitchen.

        When it is time to clean the living room and bedrooms, I grab a dust rag from the kitchen, spray it with my Pledge (if you use microfiber, you don’t even need to do this.) and take it along with the damp cloth diaper I used to wipe the faucets in the bathroom. The only things I use to clean the living room and bedrooms are the dust rag sprayed with pledge and the cloth diaper. I dust with the rag and then use the diaper on mirrors and glass surfaces. When I’m in a big hurry, I will use a feather duster too.
      • I clean the living room first. That way, if unexpected company shows up then it is ready for them. Next I clean the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms.

      Speed Cleaning Living Rooms Or Family Rooms

      Clear clutter
      Straighten pillows and throws
      Clean glass, mirrors and tabletops
      Dust furniture and mantle
      Vacuum and damp mop the floors

      Speed Cleaning The Kitchen

      Wash the dishes
      Wipe counters and items on counters (toaster, coffee pot)
      Wipe table
      Wipe the outsides of appliances that need it.
      Empty trash and clean the trash can if needed*
      Sweep or vacuum. Then damp mop the floor.
      Shake throw rugs*

      Speed Cleaning Bathrooms

      Clear clutter from the vanity and tub.
      Place dirty towels in the laundry.*
      Vacuum or sweep the floor.
      With a damp piece of toilet paper, wipe up any loose hairs in the sink, tub or toilet.
      Spray down the sink, tub and toilet with cleaner.
      Wipe and rinse the sink, tub and toilet.
      Clean the inside of the toilet.
      Dry the sink, tub, and toilet with a rag or cloth diaper.
      Empty the waste basket.
      Mop the floor.
      Shake and replace throw rugs* and towels.

      Speed Cleaning Bedrooms

      Clear clutter.
      Straighten anything that is out of place in the closet or drawers when putting away clothing.
      Change linens.
      Clean mirrors and glass tables.
      Dust.
      Empty waste baskets.*
      Vacuum or dust mop.
      Shake throw rugs*

      * To save time and to keep your momentum when speed cleaning, always place things like throw rugs, trash cans, dirty laundry or things that need to go into another room just outside the door of the room you are cleaning so they’re out of the way. Then, when you are finished cleaning the room, take the throw rugs out to shake and then return them to where they belong. Empty the trash and replace it and put clothes and linens in the laundry.

      Cleaning List For Occasional Things


      Here is a list of home cleaning tasks that can be done less often.       These things don’t really fall under speed cleaning. They’re more like occasional deep cleaning. You can pick one thing from this list to do each time you clean a room or do them all on one big cleaning day. Once again do them weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or on whatever schedule it takes to fit your needs.

      Here’s an example of what I normally do with an occasional task: I automatically dust window sills each time I do my speed cleaning because, as I walk from one side of the room to the other, I run my rag along the sills and call it good. At times, I just dust the sill when I clean the windows. Do what works for you.

      Once In A While Cleaning List

      Dust baseboards, moldings, lamp shades, pictures and areas behind furniture.
      Vacuum upholstered furniture.
      Vacuum or wash curtains and drapes.
      Carefully clean knick-knacks.
      Clean inside cabinets and drawers as they need it.
      Wash throw rugs.
      Scrub tile and grout.
      Wash the shower curtain.
      Clean the stove and oven.

      You may want to add other things to the list of tasks for speed cleaning your home. The things that I listed above are a few basics to get you started. Now go get it done!

      For more easy cleaning, laundry and homemaking tips to make your life easier, check out our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books.

      [organizing]

    10. Decluttering Your Home Room By Room

      Decluttering Your Home Room By Room

      Decluttering your home is an important part of reducing the stress in your life and it can save you money, too! These easy tips will help you get started!

      In this post, we look at some of the common reasons people put off decluttering and help you get the motivation to get going! We also share a list of easy things to do in each room to clear out the clutter and have a more relaxed life!

      Decluttering your home is an important part of reducing the stress in your life and it can save you money, too! These easy tips will help you get started!

      Decluttering Your Home Room By Room – A Time to Cast Away

      “To every thing there is a season… a time to keep and a time to cast away.” –Ecclesiastes 3:6

      How many of you didn’t know there was a Bible verse about decluttering your home? ;-) Yes, even in the Bible there is a verse that says there is a time to get our acts together and get rid of things.

      Our emotions are so wrapped up in our stuff that decluttering your home can be a stressful task. One might think we’re being asked to throw out a child instead of just tossing a book, blanket, can of paint or some old spices. I say this halfway joking but decluttering your home really can be serious for some people – no, for most people. We come up with all kinds of excuses and explanations about why we need to keep these things:

      Grandma gave it to me.

      If it isn’t an important family heirloom or you don’t use it or like it then toss it. It isn’t as if you are tossing out grandma or that you don’t love her. Stop dealing with these things emotionally and be practical. Don’t you think grandma loves you enough that she would rather you get rid of something that is simply cluttering your life than be miserable having to store, clean and continually rearrange something you don’t use? Trust me, grandma is wiser and she would toss the things she didn’t use or like in a heartbeat.

      You can see our full Decluttering Your Home Room By Room video series here:

      I paid good money for it.

      We hate to throw things away because we paid so much money for them and we feel like we are wasting money. Please! We don’t give a second thought to buying another drink from that convenience store, having our hair done, going to a movie, playing golf, paying unreal amounts of money for a smartphone to play and text with and on and on.

      We waste a lot of money on things we really don’t need without batting an eye but when it comes to tossing something we never use or that is worn out, we suddenly become so noble and frugal that we refuse to toss it. Decluttering your home often involves letting go of past mistakes.

      I might need it someday.

      Really? You are 60 years old and you’re saving the bikini you wore at 20? What about those jeans you wore pre-baby 10 years ago? If you ever get into them again they will be too outdated to wear. What about that coffee pot you got for your wedding? No one in your family drinks coffee, and you don’t know how to make coffee so exactly why do you think you will need it some day?

      I once knew a woman who had gotten a coffee maker 10 years earlier at her wedding and kept it sitting in a box on the counter of her very small kitchen. This may seem like irrational behavior but look around you. Most of us do this all the time with our own “coffee pot” things.

      I could go on and on. We keep mounds of clutter– books we never read, 15 of baby’s first stuffed animals that won’t mean anything to him when he grows up, sacks of silk flowers we might use some day and 10 sets of dishes when we can’t even keep the ones we are using washed. The list is unending but let’s be brave, clear our heads, take the bull by the horns and start clearing and decluttering your home and life one room at a time.

      Here’s a list to help you get started decluttering your home room by room. Either toss or give away things but get them out of the house. Start with one shelf, closet or room at a time and just do it.

      It will be hard but once it is decluttered it will feel so much better. I have never heard one person who decluttered tell me they wish they hadn’t done it and their life is so much worse with the clutter gone. It is always the opposite and they usually say “Why didn’t I do it sooner?”

      Things to Get Rid Of When Decluttering Your Home:

      Decluttering the Kitchen

      Pantry

      Cabinets

      • Extra dishes you never use. I kept 25 Christmas glasses thinking I would use them one day. I have good crystal I could use if I needed it and for the past 10 years we have either used Christmas paper cups or not had Christmas at my house. Why am I saving them?
      • Casserole dishes and plasticware. How many 1 1/2 quart dishes have you ever used at one time? 4-5 tops? Maybe you could get rid of the other 5. Get the plasticware under control. You really don’t need 10 containers of one size for an average family.
      • Junk drawer. Most of us can get rid of half of what lives in the junk drawer and we don’t usually use the half we can use because we can’t find it in the mess.
      • Cleaning supplies. Toss anything old. If you have 5 cans of furniture polish, each of which has only been slightly used, quickly use them or get rid of them. Consolidate containers of things and boxes of things when you can.
      • Sort through your kitchen linens. We are so fussy about not wearing ratty or torn undies which, more often than not, nobody sees but we don’t hesitate to have dingy, torn dish towels and dish rags on display in our kitchens. I really hesitate to eat off of some people’s dishes when I see the nasty dish rags they have used to wash their dishes.
      • Get rid of anything that is broken, chipped or doesn’t work.

      Decluttering Family Rooms and Living Rooms

      • Get rid of old magazines and newspapers. Not only do they clutter your home, they are a fire hazard!
      • Knick knacks and odds and ends that don’t add to the beauty or use of the room but only clutter it.
      • Kids’ games- board or electronic ones. If games are missing pieces or don’t work, toss them.
      • Get rid of DVDs, video tapes, CDs and other collections you rarely use or don’t work. If you listen to it once every 5 years, toss it. You can download it or borrow it from somewhere if you really need to see or listen to it later. These are some of the hardest things to toss because we have spent so much money on them. Many of us felt a little guilty when we bought them knowing they weren’t something we needed. Now, 5 years later, we feel even worse because they have become so unimportant we forgot we even had them but we still want to keep them. Learn from your mistake, move on and think twice (ten times?) before you buy the next time.

      Decluttering Bedrooms

      • Be ruthless with your clothes. Toss anything that is old, torn (and you aren’t going to mend), you don’t wear, is outdated or too small. (Here’s a cute way to reuse old sweaters and pillows)
      • Do the same with accessories like jewelry, purses, shoes, scarfs and ties. Be ruthless. So many of these things are outdated or just not “you” anymore. Move on. Many of them don’t fit my lifestyle anymore so I need to face that fact and toss them.
      • Get rid of anything in your bedroom that you don’t use for sleeping and dressing. Don’t use your bedroom as a spare room or catch all room. Your bedroom is especially important when decluttering your home.

      Decluttering Linen Closets

      • Toss old bedding, pillows and towels. Get things down to a minimum. You don’t need 6 towels per person or 5 blankets for each bed unless you live in Alaska or only do laundry once a year. Why are you saving that comforter you used in your bedroom 15 years ago? Even if it wasn’t so outdated, it doesn’t fit any of your beds now. (By the way, if you want to know how to fold a fitted sheet to make them look neater and fit into the closet check out our video on How to Fold A Fitted Sheet.)

      Decluttering Bathrooms

      • Toss outdated medicines. This could be dangerous if you don’t. You don’t need 6 half full boxes of band-aids. Put them in one box or container together. Try to put all like items together in the same area or container: first aid items, stomach medications, pain medications, etc.
      • Toiletries. Be realistic. Do you have 25 bars of soap when you might use one a year? Get rid of a few. Once again, consolidate partially full bottles of things. To make life easier, start using shampoos and soaps the whole family can use when possible.
      • Make up. Oh boy, this is a fun one. We pay so much for makeup and when we don’t use it, we feel so much guilt about tossing it. Toss outdated things and things that look awful on you. Do you really need 20 different tubes of lipstick? Do you know how much simpler you life would be if you looked in your drawer each morning and only had to make the choice between 5 lipsticks, rather than digging through the clutter of 20 tubes all mixed together to find the right one?

      Decluttering the Garage, Basement And Attic

      • Toss excess tools or tools you don’t use. This is hard for most men to do but when was the last time you used 5 of the same kind of pliers at the same time? Half the time you can’t find your tools because you have so many tools you don’t really need cluttering your space. Make a small tool bag for the car, one for the junk drawer in the house and then carefully weed out things to keep on your work bench.
      • Toss old paint, cans of oil, containers, newspapers and boxes. Out town has a place that accepts donations of paint, oil and chemicals that they check and then give away to someone else who might actually use them. Keep only a small number of boxes and newspapers if you use them for projects or packing. Once that area or shelf is full, don’t keep more than your allotted amount.
      • Sell that old exercise equipment. If you haven’t used it by now, you won’t use it. Just go for a walk. That will help you get some exercise and give you a nicer looking basement that isn’t cluttered with unused equipment.
      • Go through those boxes of memories. Sure, those old tintype pictures from the 1800’s look cool but if you don’t have a clue who those people are get rid of them. (These might be good items to sell on eBay.) Do you really need the ticket stub from the first play you went to see in the 5th grade? It must not mean that much to you because you have kept it stored in a box for 30 years and have forgotten all about it.

      I hate to sound ruthless but you really need to start thinking about how to make your life easier. You’ll be surprised how much decluttering your home will improve your life!

      Oops! I just saw the time! I really must go and start practicing what I preach. : ) I hope the sun is shining where you are and the spring cleaning bug has hit you, too!

      -Jill

      For more helpful tips to make decluttering your home, organizing, cleaning and laundry easier, take a look at our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books.

      FULL video series: Decluttering Your Home Room By Room here:

      [organizing]

    11. Decluttering Ideas And Tips

      Decluttering Ideas And Tips

      Here are some decluttering ideas and tips to help you get motivated to start decluttering. Don’t make it so complicated and get organized today!

      Here are some decluttering ideas and tips to help you get motivated to start decluttering. Don't make it so complicated and get organized today!

      Decluttering Ideas And Tips

      I was thinking about writing something new this year about decluttering, so I started researching the topic. To my disappointment, I found there is almost nothing new under the sun and what I wrote 10 years ago still seems to be the best way to do things. Instead of repeating what I have already written and what is still being repeated out there, I thought I would share some thoughts for you to think about and to help you get motivated to start decluttering and getting organized.

      I’ll start with a couple quotes I found so funny:

      I found this quote on Pinterest but I took some liberties and changed a few words. It shows a woman with her head down sobbing and saying:

      “Are you telling me pinning decluttering ideas is not enough? I actually have to do them?” : )

      I love it. Most of us really know the basics of decluttering but we keep researching and looking for “new” ideas because researching is another way of procrastinating and putting off actually doing the work. 

      I was watching my 4 year old grandson clean his room one day. He said, “Nan, I don’t need this anymore” and he tossed the item out of his bedroom door. “This doesn’t fit me anymore” and, once again, out it went. “This is broken.” Again, into the trash it went.  You see, he knew the basics at four years old. We just need to get up and do it.

      “I don’t clean clutter for security reasons… If someone breaks in, I will hear them coming.” : )

      I had to laugh at this one because I always said exactly that and it turned out to be true for me. My husband was a pack rat and, after he left, I still had piles of his things in our basement, which only had an outside entrance. One night, I heard someone crashing around down there, followed by police running down my driveway with rifles. Someone had robbed the convenience store behind my home.

      I told them I heard something in my basement. They checked it out but, since the light wasn’t on and there were many places to hide, they couldn’t see anything. After they left, I heard more crashing in the basement again.

      There are two things you need to know to really appreciate the story. The basement was full of clutter, hardware and heavy machinery and there was no light down there at all unless you knew where the hidden light switch was. All night long I heard crashing and banging. The poor guy (I was actually feeling sorry for him at this point) could not find his way out and was really hurting himself.

      The next morning I heard the basement door slam. I guess there was enough sunlight filtering in that he could finally see enough to make his way out. So this quote is not too far from the truth even though it was meant as a joke. ;-)

      We can take the simple and make it so complicated. 

      While researching decluttering, I found 101 ways to clean your bedroom. Seriously? Do we really need to be told that those dirty undies need to go into a hamper and how to put them in there or how to put your shoes away in your closet? I’m not talking about those of you who truly don’t know how to do these things because you have never been taught and really want to learn. That is why our website is here.

      Still, it baffles me that so many of us spend so much time studying the pros and cons of the best cleaning product to use in our bathroom instead of taking 5 minutes to wipe it down each day. We spend hundreds of dollars on fancy closet systems, bigger closets and fancy storage containers instead of  purging our closets of those clothes that are too small or outdated or scaling down our kids’ toys from 50 cars to 5 cars.

      Practical Ideas To Help Get Organized

      1. Get help.

      Many of us hire people to do our yards, wash our cars, fix our cars and handle many other tasks but most of us can’t bring ourselves to hire a professional to organize or clean our homes. We act like we are failures if we have to hire someone to help get our home back in order. Even though it may cost money up front, it is one of those things that can save you money in the long run.

      2. Change your habits.

      The average person I have observed with a cluttered house usually just has bad habits that caused the mess.

      They do things like sit and take off their shoes in the living room instead going straight to their bedroom to slip off their shoes or leaving them by the door.

      They place dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink instead of rinsing it and slipping it in the dishwasher or stacking it neatly in the sink.

      They may toss the mail on the counter instead of going through it or neatly placing it on the desk or in a basket for later.

      Even things like washing your face or brushing your teeth and splattering water everywhere are bad habits that need to be changed.

      Watch yourself. You will be shocked at how many bad habits you have gotten into and how your children are following suit. Exchange one bad habit at a time for a good one. Once you have a new habit in place, move on to the next.

      3. Use each room for the purpose for which it was intended.

      Eat in the kitchen or family room, not the bedroom.

      Get dressed in the bedroom, not the bathroom.

      Keep papers and office work in the office.

      4. Get rid of as many horizontal surfaces as you can.

      Horizontal surfaces are clutter catchers. Get rid of things like coffee tables, benches at the end of the bed, long TV tables and large desks if they are getting piled with things all the time instead of being used for the purposes for which they were intended.

      Wisdom is knowing what to do next.
      Skill is knowing how to do it.
      Virtue is doing it.

      -Jill

      [organizing]

    12. How to Start Organizing – 2 Secrets to Get Organized

      How to Start Organizing – 2 Secrets to Get Organized

      How to start organizing – Getting organized can be a big job but these easy steps can help you get your clutter under control! Don’t put it off anymore!

      How to start organizing. Getting organized can be a big job but these easy steps can help you get your clutter under control! Don't put it off anymore!

      How to Start Organizing – Easy Steps To Get You Started!

      Where do I begin to explain to you where to begin organizing? :) :) When it comes to organizing, the first question I am always asked is, “Where do I begin?” followed by, “How do I do it?” Hopefully I will answer both of those questions for you today.

      I am addressing organizing first instead of cleaning (there is a difference) because you really can’t clean properly if you don’t have things organized.

      I will try to give you hints and ideas about how to do things over the next few weeks but that will take time. For those of of you who read the story, “When Queens Ride By”, I am sure you are all excited to jump in and start cleaning right now. (Well, maybe you are at least thinking about it.)

      To prevent you from committing organizing suicide and to keep you from crashing and burning, here is “Organizing 101” in a nutshell.

      Stand Up and Move
      Toss and Store

      These two things just about cover it. It is so simple it can be confusing, so let me explain. First you just need to make yourself do it. Stand up, move and start to work. Don’t keep sitting there thinking someone else is going to wave a magic wand over everything and it will get clean. Don’t think that after weeks of debating the details of this cleaning product and that one you can now pick one, spritz it in the air and miraculously everything will get clean.

      Don’t be deceived. Spending hours studying and talking about the best cleaning products or the best ways to clean is not actually cleaning. It is just another excuse to keep you from cleaning. I once read a quote that said, “Ideas are funny little things. They don’t work until you do.”

      I hate to break the news to you, but you are going to have to work. It’s like our grandmothers said– You will have to use good old-fashioned elbow grease. We have yet to invent anything to replace it. I’m sorry but that is just the way it is. We have got to stop being mentally and physically lazy and get busy– busy taking care of your home and family, not busy doing anything and everything to avoid the difficulty of taking care of your home.

      Mentally, you will have to think and plan. Do I need this or not and if I do where do I put it? You can’t have your mind wandering, thinking about what you are going to wear to so and so’s wedding, what you are going to have for dinner and how are you going to fix Bobby’s bed. Keep focused on the job at hand.

      Walk into the room that needs to be clean, pick a spot and start doing the next step, which is toss and store. Every item your hand touches needs to be tossed in a trash bag, in a give-away box or placed in the place you are going to store it. It is just that simple.

      Here are a few things to keep in mind as you clean:

      1. Recruit help if you can. A friend, spouse, aunt or mother… Someone who will be a help, not a hindrance. No help is better than bad help.

      2. Envision what you want a room or area to look like and then proceed to make it look like that. For example, when you stand and look at your dining room table, is it piled high with papers, dirty dishes and junk? In your mind do you see it with a pretty table cloth and a vase of colorful flowers? Then make it so.

      Here’s the more practical version if you’re like me… My kitchen table is the hub of my home. I would have to take the tablecloth off every five minutes and the vase of flowers would surely get knocked over at least once or twice a day. Knowing this, I would instead keep the table clear with a pretty bowl of fruit with a doily under it. Then, at dinner time, I would pull out my tablecloth or place mats.

      What about your bedroom? Do you see your bed neatly made with a warm throw laying across the foot of it instead of the rumpled smelly mess it is now? Then make it so. Move from room to room doing this, starting with the areas that are driving you the most crazy.

      3. Start small with one little area. It could be a closet, cabinet, table or coffee table. It will amaze you how good you will feel getting just one little area done and how it will invigorate you to do more.

      4. DON’T QUIT. If our kids come in from a job that they have only half done or not done well and moan and groan, “It’s too hot, I’m too tired, it’s too hard,” or there’s too much to do, we are usually all over them to get the job done anyway. I wonder where they learned their work ethic from when mom or dad is cracking under the pressure of just cleaning a dirty house.

      We expect kids to do their homework on a daily basis whether they want to or not, whether it is easy or not, whether it is boring or not and we become very frustrated with them when they want to shirk it, yet we are even more irresponsible when we shirk taking care of our homes. We are adults and should know better.

      5. Work quickly. This is a job that needs to be done and not a time to walk down memory lane. Looking through vacation pictures and reading every bit of paper you pick up is a no no. Glance at it and toss or store it. Don’t forget that you don’t need 10 pictures of the same pose of a dolphin jumping in the air. It is not a sin to throw out a picture. If you must, keep just one picture or better yet throw them all out and when you want to see a picture of a dolphin in the air go to the library or find one on the Internet.

      6. When the trash is full, take it outside to the trash can or at least set it outside of the room you are cleaning. This is not the time to recycle. I knew a woman who could have had a clean house but it was literally filthy with a year’s worth of milk cartons, cardboard boxes and newspapers all over the house that she was “one day” going to recycle.

      You can recycle, but get your house in order the easiest and fastest way first, just tossing things in the regular trash so you have one less decision to make when you might otherwise be overstressed. Get your priorities straight. There is no use saving the environment for your children if the environment in your house is more dangerous and could be killing them or at the very least making them sick.

      7. When your give away box is full, take it to the car so you will be forced to get rid of it immediately. I hope this box contains a lot, too. No child needs 75 little cars or dolls. No woman needs 10 pairs of black pants and 15 eye shadows. No man needs 8 pairs of pliers.

      8. Wipe and clean shelves, drawers and cabinets as you put things away.

      9. Keep your eyes on what you have cleaned and not what still needs to get done or you will become discouraged.

      10. When you have worked hard, sit back and admire your work with a hot cup of tea or a cold glass of lemonade. You can even have a cookie because think of all the calories you have burned! Pat yourself on the back now and say, “Job well done.” Or better yet, comment on the blog when you complete something so we can pat you on the back too!

      -Jill

      P.S. Play some music while you work if it helps. There really is a reason why the seven dwarfs whistled while they worked!

      For more helpful tips to make organizing, cleaning and laundry easier, take a look at our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books.

      [organizing]

    13. Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe

      Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe

      This homemade soft scrub recipe is a non toxic but effective homemade cleaner that really gets the grime off your tub. It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients.

      This homemade soft scrub recipe is a non toxic but effective homemade cleaner that really gets the grime off your tub. It's easy to make with just a few ingredients.
      Print

      Homemade Soft Scrub Recipe

      This homemade soft scrub recipe is a non toxic but effective homemade cleaner that really gets the grime off your tub. It's easy to make with just a few ingredients.
      Print Recipe

      5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

      5 from 1 review

      This homemade soft scrub recipe is a non toxic but effective homemade cleaner that really gets the grime off your tub. It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients.

      • Author: Tawra Kellam

      Ingredients

      1 tsp. liquid soap
      several drops of an antibacterial essential oil (such as tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, or peppermint)
      1 cup baking soda
      water

      Instructions

      1. Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.
      2. Add just enough water to form a paste and mix.
      3. Use this homemade Soft Scrub recipe with a sponge or brush to scour bathtub surfaces.

      [dining]

    14. One Trick To Cut Kitchen Cleaning In HALF! Make Cleaning Easier!

      One Trick To Cut Kitchen Cleaning In HALF! Make Cleaning Easier!

      Here are some useful tips that will make cleaning easier in your kitchen and the rest of the house! Try them and save not only money but on cleaning aggravation!

      Here are some useful tips that will make cleaning easier in your kitchen and the rest of the house! Try them and save not only money but on cleaning aggravation!

      One Trick To Cut Kitchen Cleaning In HALF and make cleaning easier!

      I did a couple of small things today that I thought might help you make cleaning easier in your home. Here are some quick cleaning ideas:

      I see so many people with these plastic scrapers always scraping away at kitchen counters and it never really dawned on me that I have never had to use one before. I didn’t know why until today.

      One of the key rules of professional cleaners is to let your cleaning products do the work for you. I didn’t realize it but my mom taught me this many years ago when I started doing dishes. I always rinse my dirty dishes and then place as many dishes as I can into the hot soapy water in the sink.

      Before I start washing my dishes, I take my super wet and soapy dish rag and run it quickly over all the kitchen counter tops and the stove. I’m not really wiping it, I’m just getting a nice film of soapy water on it.

      Then I wash my dishes. When I’m done, I thoroughly wring out my dish rag and re-wipe the counters. When I do it this way, every bit of pancake batter, syrup and honey wipes right up. This works every time and I never have to scrape my kitchen counters.

      I don’t do this every time I do dishes. If we only have sandwiches I know there is probably not much sticky stuff on the counter so I wash the dishes without focusing so much on the counters ahead of time.

      Years later, this practice worked for me even better because it forced me to put all the dishes into the sink and get my counters cleared. When I had unexpected customers or company, even though the dishes weren’t done, the counters all looked cleared and nice.

      I also had to clean my trash can today. I took it outside, filled it full with soapy water and a little Clorox bleach. I placed the lid and a broom that needed to be cleaned into the water and let them soak for a couple of hours. Later, I went out and all I had to do was rinse them. I didn’t even need a rag or anything. All that nasty sticky stuff that gets in the bottom of the trash can just dissolved away. When you can, let things soak.

      -Jill

      Jill, I just want to say, YOU WERE RIGHT!!! You mentioned how wiping down counters with soapy water eliminates the need for scrubbing and scrapers and will make cleaning easier. Well, I’ve needed to clean the dreaded microwave for a while now. Every time I’d heat something in it I’d cringe and put off cleaning it because of all the food stuck to the inside.

      Well, I took your advice. I got my dish rag nice and soapy and wiped down the entire microwave first. Then I went over to the sink and wiped down the glass microwave plate with hot soapy water and let it sit, too. Then I went back to the microwave and really started cleaning. Everything came off quite easily.

      After finishing rinsing the plate, I realized that this “dreaded task” only took five minutes. Who knew?

      Thanks! Sarah

      Mom always says the best cleaner is hot soapy water. Use it more and you will save more!!! :-)

            -Tawra

      Hot soapy water and soaking work wonders!

            -Jill

      [organizing]

    15. Age Appropriate Chores For Kids

      Age Appropriate Chores For Kids

       

      Here is a list of age appropriate chores for kids, listing chores kids can do at various ages along with easy tips to manage your family’s household chores.

      (more…)

    16. 8 Tips To Clean Your House In 15 Minutes – Quick Cleaning Tips

      8 Tips To Clean Your House In 15 Minutes – Quick Cleaning Tips

      Did you just learn you’re about to have unexpected company? These easy tips will help you clean your house in 15 minutes or less!

      Did you just learn you're about to have unexpected company? These easy tips will help you clean your house in 15 minutes or less!

      Do ypu need to clean your house fast? Here are some simple cleaning tricks that you might be interested in. These work well whether you are showing your house to move or you have someone call saying, “We are 5 minutes away and coming for a visit.”

      • Sweep your front porch. It is the first thing people see when coming to your home and the only thing many people see of you and your home. People used to sweep their porches every day, mostly because they didn’t have “yards” with grass so the porches could get messy quickly. They also spent more time out on their porches. A porch was like another room of the house so people kept them clean. If you can’t sweep it every day, do it at least once a week.
      • Tawra cleaned the bathroom with some nasty smelling stuff just a few minutes before the people were supposed to arrive. It was awful and the smell wouldn’t go away. I sprayed some Pledge on the wooden door of the bathroom. It really helped. It was the first thing they would smell when entering the bathroom. Now we use our homemade all purpose cleaner which doesn’t have a smell.

        Certain smells make a house smell like it has been cleaned. Furniture polish is one of those smells. I always spray some on the piece of furniture right by the front door. This also makes people think you were just cleaning.

      • Baskets – We couldn’t clean without them. The kids normally have a cabinet to put their shoes and backpacks by the front door, but right now these items are just lined up by the door. So we have a laundry basket there and when we’re getting the house ready to show, we toss everything within a 6-foot area of the door into that basket. Not only does it help for quick clean up but when the people have left we know where to find everything that was in that area.
      • Speaking of finding things. When we first started cleaning to show houses, we would toss things into any little hole we could find. Now we try to “hide” things close to where they are used. Previously, I would get calls for hours after we showed the house from someone asking if I knew where this or that item had been stashed. The cat and dog eat by a dresser, so I just slip their bowls and food into one of the dresser drawers. The toaster and other odds and ends on the kitchen counter get tossed into the dish drainer and are carried to the garage, where they are neatly covered with a towel or blanket.
      • Surface clean only the rooms the company will be seeing. Quickly gather up things like dirty socks, last night’s ice cream bowl and anything else that looks really bad.

        If you don’t have time to pick up all the kids’ toys or magazines, that’s okay. These items are “everyday living” messes that are to be expected in most homes. It’s the pile of cat barf or teenage son’s stinky socks you will want to remove. Even though those are normal everyday things for some people, it isn’t the type of thing guests like to see.

      • In the bathroom, simply run a rag over the sink and counter, shut the shower curtain or door and straighten the towels and rugs. Voila! You should be good to go. If you have clutter all the time like on the counter by the sink and you often expect company, you might consider keeping an empty basket under the sink to dump things into to hide.
      • The kitchen can be a challenge, but just fill the kitchen sink with hot soapy water and place all the dishes into it. Don’t worry about carefully rinsing and scrubbing. This is just to sort of “hide” them. This is sometimes faster than trying to put them in a dishwasher. (This is not a good idea for showing the house! ;-)

      Wipe off the counter and stove and call it good. People will think they just caught you in the middle of doing the dishes.

      • Last, but not least- when all else fails… I read a joke many years ago where a woman’s house was a mess and she saw their pastor walking up the sidewalk. She ran to the closet, pulled out her vacuum and placed it in the middle of the floor. Quickly, she tied on an apron and a scarf around her hair and answered the door. When the pastor walked in, he thought he had caught her in the middle of spring cleaning and that was why the place was such a mess. : ) : )

      [organizing]

    17. Home Organization and Cleaning Like the Pros

      Home Organization and Cleaning Like the Pros

      Home organization and cleaning are not really difficult if you have a plan and break the job into smaller tasks. Try these tips and see how easy it can be! (more…)

    18. How To Organize Your Pantry

      How To Organize Your Pantry

      Here are some easy tips to organize your pantry! Keeping your pantry neat and organized can save you time and money and prevent you from wasting food!

      Here are some easy tips to organize your pantry! Keeping your pantry neat and organized can save you time and money and prevent you from wasting food!

      How To Organize Your Pantry

      With the holidays fast approaching, now is the time to get your pantry in order. You will be cooking for family get-togethers,  you’ll probably be doing some holiday entertaining and then there will be all the baking for the holidays.

      If you have your pantry in order, it will make all these things easier and faster to do.

      When your pantry is well organized, you will be able to see immediately what you need to buy to restock. Now, before all the frantic holiday activities start is a great time to organize your pantry. Once you’re organized, you won’t be caught without some ingredient you need and being organized will make it easier to take advantage of all those great sales on pantry items that are offered this time of year. Most canned goods, chocolate chips and other pantry items will last until next year’s sales roll around again, so you’ll save a bundle of money, too!

      • First, clean each shelf and lay down shelf paper where needed. It you have sticky things like honey or syrup, use a plastic lid like the one from a cool whip container or cottage cheese container for these things to sit on. If they get sticky, it is much easier to wash or throw away a disposable lid than to try to clean the shelf.
      • Instead of using expensive shelf liner, you can find inexpensive rolls of kitchen wallpaper or scrap pieces of vinyl flooring. Just use thumb tacks to hold the corners down.
      • When putting food away, put like things together. Put your canned goods in rows so you can easily see how many of each item you have. Store all the corn together, beans together, peas together, fruits together, (peaches, pears, plums), soups, crackers, cereal, etc.

      Organize your pantry in similar groups like:

      Grains and pastas
      Desserts
      Snacks
      Vegetables (canned)
      Soft Drinks
      Fruits (canned)
      Juices
      Soups
      Cereals
      Meats in cans (tuna, spam, roast beef)
      Coffees, teas, creamers, sweeteners, etc.
      Baking items

      • If you store your baking supplies in the pantry, group the baking supplies together. Keep a tray by the baking supplies. That way you can quickly stack everything you need on it and carry it all at one time to the baking center.
      • Arrange all the labels of the canned goods facing forward so you can see them. Place all your corn on one row one behind the other so you know everything behind that can of corn is corn. Do this instead of placing two cans of corn side by side. Do this with all your canned goods.
      • If you need to, buy the little wire shelving or adjust your shelving to use all of your space. I often don’t think about adjusting my shelving and, if you have 2-4 inches of space at the top of each shelf, that can add up to 12 inches of wasted space for just three shelves.
      • Use a basket to hold things like small box mixes, juice packets, cake mix packets, etc. You can take it out in one movement instead of digging through the entire cabinet. It will also save when grocery shopping so you can see what you have at a glance.

      • Put all of the breakfast cereals, bowls and cups on a low shelf so the kids can get their own cereal. Put milk on a lower shelf of the fridge, too. For 3 and 4 year olds put a pre-measured cup of milk on the shelf.

        Note: This applies to many things. If your children keep asking for you to reach a glass for them for a drink, place a few glasses in a lower cabinet for them. Just today, my 16 month old grandson came marching into my house, went straight for the cup cabinet, got himself a cup and handed it to me for a drink of water, so they can start young.

      • Be sure to put food you use every day on a shelf in the front and middle. I store the tea I use every day at the front and the tea I use every now and then in the back.
      • If you have children, put the canned goods on the lower shelves of the pantry. This way, if they try to get something out, there isn’t a risk of cans falling down on them.

             -Jill

      For more help with organizing, cleaning and laundry, take a look at our How To Organize And Clean Your Home e-books.

    19. 10 Steps To A Cleaner House, part 1

      10 Steps To A Cleaner House, part 1

      Doing a few things differently around the home can save a lot of time and reduce the need to clean as much! Here are 10 easy ideas about How To Have A Cleaner House! (more…)