Tip Tuesday: Simplifying Chores in a Crisis

There may be times in our family life that crisis sets in. Whatever that crisis may be it is a great idea to have a gameplan on what chores NEED to get done and what chores can be done away with - temporarily. Obviously if you have a big family the more you can spread around the chores getting done. You just have to get creative (especially with children that might be under stress) and everything will go more smoothly.

One of the first things that still need to be done is the kitchen. Basic cleaning in the kitchen. This isn't the time for deep cleaning. Keep it basic. Keep up with dishes, sweeping and floor clearing. If you have time (& energy) then you might try clearing out the fridge at least once a week, especially if you have had meals brought in. You don't want to lose track of the delicious food that you do have available.

Another area to not forget is the bathroom. Again, keeping it basic. You will want to keep everything tidy - especially if there is a sick person that needs things sanitized or if you have visitors coming in (like for a funeral). A quick daily swish of the toilet and making sure the trash has been taken out, clean towels are out and the floor stays tidy. Just keeping up with this little bit will make a huge difference.

The only other areas to be concerened about are entrance ways - making sure they are clear and walkable. Dusting and sweeping optional, but will make your living space feel cleaner. Another space is the visitor area. If you have a separate living area, this room should stay tidy and kept picked up. This will make those unexpected visitors feel less troublesome and more welcome.

If you have children that you are managing as well, it will be imperative to keep things light and fun for them. They need to keep to a routine. Having chores and responsibilities will greatly aid in their comfort because it gives them that routine. Making a game out of it or making everyone feel special and encouraged will aid in the atmosphere of your home. If you can keep them feeling positive and happy then everyone will feel better.

No matter the crisis you may be facing (now or in the future) having a plan for the cleaning aspect can help things run more smoothly.

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: Clean Indoor Air

There are known plants for cleaning our indoor air. Why is this important? Well, if you suffer from allergies (or a family member does) there are some beneficial plants to keep around your home that can help filter out some of the bad "air" that can collect in homes over time. Whether you live in a hot climate or a cooler climate, if your house stays closed up for any length of time it is a great idea to have a couple interior plants - easy upkeep and manageability - in your home to help give it the fresh, clean feeling.

One of the first plants to talk about is the Gerbera Daisy: 

  There have been studies done that show that it absorbs the carbon dioxide out of the air and can even put out oxygen over night! If you have better oxygen at night then you are almost guaranteed to have sweet dreams! Nasa has even done research that shows that it can remove benzene from the air. This is a cancer causing chemical.

Another great plant is the Aloe Vera:

  You probably already know this one for its great ability to help heal burns topically. It also has the properties to collect and remove formaldahyde from the air. 

The Ficus Alii:

  This plant is said to work wonderfully as an air purifier. This is a great one for allergens in your home. This plant can help remove those for you!

One of the the other top performing plants is the Areca Palm:

  Another great plant for purifying the air. This plant can get fairly large and as it grows so does its capacity to purify more. The Areca Palm is one of the most widely known as the best air purifiers.

The Pygmy Date Palm:

  This is another great plant for the removal of formadehyde in the air. It is also great at removing xylene which is a chemical that is found in many plastics and cleaners.

The Baby Rubber Plant:

  This plant is an air cleaner. How it effectively does this is it releases high oxygen content into the air. This will in turn clean the air and pull out the toxins left behind by chemicals and other house hold air impurities.

The Mass Cane, The Boston Fern and the Chinese Evergreen:

  These plants are much like some of the others as they are great at the  removal of formaldehyde from the air. They are really good at cleaning the air indoors and purifying it.

No matter your personal taste in plants, you are sure to find one that will work for you!

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: More Simple Cleaning Tips and Tricks

There are few things that make you feel more accomplished than having a clean home. Following some simple tips and ideas you can get more done in less time and with minimal effort! What more can you ask?

1) Cleaning between the glass on your oven door. 

 This one can be tricky. You will need a wire hanger or another long thing with a hook on the end. On the end of the hanger that you have straightened - you will want to attach a Windex Wipey or your own homemade windex rag. It needs to be fairly thin. You will want to make sure it stays on by using a rubberband or a hair band. If you lay on your kitchen floor and look up under your oven door you will see a space between the glass. This is where you will poke your 'cleaning tool' up and in. Wipe all around and you will be amazed at how much grime can come off onto your rag!

2) Removing Nail Polish from a tile/laminate/linoleum floor - 

 The sooner you can get the stain removed the better job you will be able to do. First use your fingernail polish liberally all over the spillage. Next you will wipe it up. If that hasn't removed all of the stain, use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to pull up the rest. You can also use hairspray. Once the polish is removed, clean the area with warm, soapy water. This will remove any lingering residue.

3) Getting streak free, clean windows - 

 You will want to use equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Next just add 2-3 drops of Blue Dawn Dish Soap. (I like to add about 1/8 cup of Isopropyl Alcohol to mine. It helps the windows dry really fast! Then just use like you would Windex!

4) Removing Permanent Marker from wood floors -

 If you use a dab of white toothpaste onto the marker and wipe it off with a damp rag. The marker should be completely gone!

5) Removing labels (& the sticky residue) - 

 Fill your sink with hot water and add a scoopful of Oxiclean. Dump your bottles or items into the sink and let the sit for about 30 - 45 minutes. All of the labels will be floating in your sink! Just wipe the items down really quick and let them dry. 

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!