Tip Tuesday: Simple Cleaning Tricks

Looking for some simple but useful cleaning tricks to help motivate you and help you get your cleaning done faster? Look no further!

1) Restoring Scratched Wood Furniture - 
       Mix 1/2 cup vinegar with a 1/2 cup of olive oil (don't use extra virgin for this). Just dip a cleaning rag into your mixed solution and rub it in to the surface of the wood furniture you are trying to restore. You should see the results immediately.

2) Cleaning Childrens Toys - 
       The best solution for cleaning childrens toys, that I have found, is a mixture of Vinegar and water. I use about 1/2 and 1/2 of vinegar and water and just an 1/8 of bleach (if I think the toys need EXTRA HEAVY DUTY CLEANING. The smaller toys I run through the hottest cycle (air dry though) on the dishwasher -  about 1 cup of VINEGAR ONLY. For larger toys I place them in the kitchen sink and wash them with a rag dipped in the solution (Vinegar AND Water). I let these air dry on the counter and table - depending how many I am doing at a time.

3) Refresh towels and remove the mildew smell -
      Just add a 1/2 cup vinegar to your towel load - do not add any detergent. Run the cycle on hot water. If you still smell the mildew odor, use 1/2 cup of baking soda (no detergent) in the next wash cycle. Again, using hot water. I have only used the vinegar trick and have never had to use the baking soda in a 2nd wash. 

4) Cleaning up your cookie sheets - 
       Place 1/4 cup of baking soda in a glass bowl and add hydrogen peroxide until you get a paste. This concoction will clean most everything in your kitchen that needs to be cleaned. Just rub it in and wipe it off (or you can use a scrubbie). For your cookie sheets you want to sprinkle the pans with the baking soda and then spritz the peroxide over the top. Then sprinkle an added layer of baking soda over the top of that. Then let it sit for about 2 hours (or more). You should be able to just wipe it off with minimal scrubbing or effort. AWESOME!

Good luck!

BellaOnline Cleaning

Make it a great one!

Daughter, Sister, Friend, Wife - in our 18th year of wedded bliss, Stepmother to 2 adult children, Mother - (G16, G15, B12, G10, B9, B5, G4, & B1), StepMother-In-Law to 2, StepGrandmother to 4 precociously precious little boys! Blessed, Happy & Satisfied!

Tip Tuesday: Children & Chores

When trying to have a home/living space that is happy and cooperative it is best to include all members of the household with the cleaning tasks that need to be done. The reason you want your children involved in the cleaning is so that when they are adults they will be able to function at their best - they will already know how to keep and maintain their homes properly. They won't have to learn on the fly, as it were.

How we involve our children is through chore charts - they know what job they are responsible for each day of the week. They also have a chart that can be referred to so they know what the exact cleaning expectations are for that particular task.

This is another idea for getting your children involved with the household tasks that need to be done at your home. These are chore baskets. You place everything that will be needed to complete one particular chore inside the basket. When they child grabs the basket they know exactly what to use and how to use it and where to use it. Everything is clearly marked and labeled. You can do it by room OR by job. For example, you can do a basket that is for DUSTING or a basket for the living room. If you do it by job, then you won't have to double or triple up on your cleaning products. BUT, if it is easier for your family to clean by room, then you will want to spend the extra time getting each room's basket perfectly organized.

Today we will talk about baskets by Job.

Dusting:

 Inside this basket, you will need the dusting rag/tool - multiple ones for different types of jobs, your dusting spray, directions for what it is used for and how much. 

Bathroom:

 Inside this basket: rubber gloves (for cleaning the toilet, if needed), scouring pads for sinks, cleanser (whatever cleaners you want used in your bathroom), garbage bags (to place bathroom trash in), pumice stone for the toilet, directions for how to use each of the cleaners and tools and where to use the basket.

Kitchen:

  Inside this basket you will include the tools and cleaners that you need to have and maintain a clean kitchen. Make sure everything is clearly labeled and directions are simple and precise.

Make sure that you aren't giving baskets to children that aren't mature enough for that job. A buddy system is a great idea until younger children get the hang of what is expected of them.

However you choose to help train your children, may you always have success!

Good luck!

BellaOnline Cleaning

Make it a great one!

Daughter, Sister, Friend, Wife - in our 18th year of wedded bliss, Stepmother to 2 adult children, Mother - (G16, G15, B12, G10, B9, B5, G4, & B1), StepMother-In-Law to 2, StepGrandmother to 4 precociously precious little boys! Blessed, Happy & Satisfied!

Tip Tuesday: Deep Cleaning Your Home

Here is a list of things that need to be cleaned on a regular basis - but not everyday. They are things that, when you clean them, make a huge difference in how your home feels and looks. It is always a great idea to walk into your home, as a guest would, once in a while. When you use 'fresh eyes' you will notice things that need to be touched up or repaired that you have just grown used to as time has passed. It is a good idea to try to do this type of walk through once a month or every other month, keeping a list as you go. This way, you always know what needs to be taken care of!

 1) Cleaning blades of ceiling and floor fans
 2) Sweeping porches, entryways and walkways (outdoors)
 3) Wash interior and exterior thresholds - including doors!
 4) Clean welcome mat
 5) Wash sides of house - noting anything that needs repair or touch up
 6) Wash all doors (exterior and interior) making sure to get border and knobs
 7) Wash all vent covers (ceiling, floor, etc.)
 8) Reseal grout
 9) Wash walls & trim (touch up paint too!)
10) Wash all windows, screens and sills (interior and exterior)
11) Wash all cabinets - inside and out
12) Wash inside/outside of washer and dryer
13) Wash all switch plates
14) Wash children's toys
15) Sort all Cd's, DVDs, books and magazines - tidy bookshelves, purging what isn't used/needed
16) Clean off electronics
17) Vacuum/clean all furniture - spot clean as needed
18) Wash bed linens, pillows, duvets, curtains, throw pillows and blankets
19) Dust all shelves, furniture and wall hangings/decorations
20) Clean lamps and shades
21) Polish tables and wood furniture
22) Wash table lines
23) Clean/dust all light fixtures/chandeliers
24) Clean under kitchen appliances
25) Clean all kitchen (large & small) appliances - interior and exterior
26) Clean back splash and walls above counters in Kitchen
27) Clean and organize refrigerator and freezers, pantries and cupboards
28) Clean all mirrors and frames
29) Clean/clean all cupboards and vanities - purge what you don't use/need
30) Clean mattress - turn and flip. Freshen by sprinkling with baking soda, letting it sit and then vacuuming it up.
31) Air out your mattress pad(s)
32) Move bed - clean out from underneath.
33) Clean out all dressers/drawers/closets - linen, bedroom, storage, etc. Purge what isn't needed/necessary (donate, toss, etc)

No matter how long it has been since you did any of these jobs, your house will thank you for taking the time. You can break up the jobs by room or by 'type', conquering a little bit every day.

Good luck!

BellaOnline Cleaning

Make it a great one!

Daughter, Sister, Friend, Wife - in our 18th year of wedded bliss, Stepmother to 2 adult children, Mother - (G16, G15, B12, G10, B9, B5, G4, & B1), StepMother-In-Law to 2, StepGrandmother to 4 precociously precious little boys! Blessed, Happy & Satisfied!

Tip Tuesday: Cleaning your Washing Machine

Cleaning your washing machine really takes no time, but the payoff of doing so is huge! Just think, no more stinky washing machine! The bonus is it looks great, it smells great and it works great!!

I suggest you start with completely wiping down the exterior of your washing machine. You might need to get a q-tip to get inside the small nooks and crannies. This will just take a few minutes, usually. If your machine is outside, it might take longer. As you clean the exterior, fill the washer with hot water and 2 cups of white vinegar. You can use the water to help you wash down the fabric softener cup, etc. You will want the vinegar to sit in the washer for a couple of hours. You could let it sit while you go to work. After your allotted 'wait' time, go ahead and let it finish the cycle.

Once you have completed the cycle you will need to run it again - let it go through a complete cycle. If you notice residue on the interior, this is a great time to wipe off. I suggest Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (before your washer gets full of water). You can always use straight vinegar and wipe the debris away with that.

The next step is to start another cycle - I like to use hot water for the cleaning cycles - even if I use cold water on most of my laundry. You will add 2 cups of bleach. Let it sit for an hour and then run it again. If you let it sit longer - that is fine, too!

No matter how long it has been since your machine was last washed down you will appreciate the clean, fresh scent of your laundry room and of your washing machine after spending a day (off and on) getting your machine in tip top clean condition. It won't take very much "elbow grease" and adding it to your Spring Cleaning repertoire will be a great addition for your whole family, especially if you have family members that suffer from allergies. You never know where mold spores will grow and cleaning your washing machine is a great way to take a proactive stand against mold/allergens in your washing machine!

Good luck!

BellaOnline Cleaning

Make it a great one!

Daughter, Sister, Friend, Wife - in our 18th year of wedded bliss, Stepmother to 2 adult children, Mother - (G16, G15, B12, G10, B9, B5, G4, & B1), StepMother-In-Law to 2, StepGrandmother to 4 precociously precious little boys! Blessed, Happy & Satisfied!