Tip Tuesday: Cooperative Cleaning

Do you have big projects to take care of? Perhaps you are a single Mom with children and you need help. Perhaps you are older and climb as high as you used, too. Perhaps you just enjoy the company of others so much that it makes the work go by faster. Perhaps . . . well, it doesn’t actually matter what your situation is, does it? Sometimes that old saying, “Many hands make heavy work light” is good enough. Here are some suggestions to making it work more smoothly for you, plus a bonus Baby Wipe Recipe at the end of this article!

If you have some large projects that could go faster with more hands, you might want o think about setting up a Project Co-Op. Set it up so that people sign up to help, say for 6 months. Every weekend (or every Month depending on how many people sign up) you work at one persons home fulfilling their work needs. It could be anything from painting a room, weeding a garden, shampooing carpet, organizing a room, stripping and painting cupboards, etc. Whatever projects you have. You can even co-op the babysitting that might be needed for each of these project days.

With your co-op you will need to decide what people will need to furnish for their month. IF you set up clear rules at the beginning then things will run much more smoothly. Will the host person need to rent the equipment or can they ask for volunteers. If you co-op’ed the needed machinery and the labor projects could be completed at a very discounted rate. This works well for everyone involved. You will also need to be specific on the time frame that people are committing to. For example, if you are helping someone with their projects you will need to carve out 2 hours of time. You want it long enough to accomplish things, but not so long that people get pooped out after the first effort!

Beware of the people that sign up but never show up to help and still want their work completed.  It WILL happen. Count on it. Just be prepared to play nice and let it roll of your back. Then for your next Co-Op sign up, just remember to not let them sign up again.

The last thing you should think about is what projects you have that can the most beneficial to use a co-op for. Here are a few more suggestions: Organizing a spare bedroom, cleaning out a storage shed, basic landscaping, power washing the exterior of your home, painting outside, setting up for painting, etc. You might find that you have some very talented people in your neck of the woods that can help your projects get done quicker.

Whatever you decide to get accomplished, you can be successful at planning, setting up and following through with your Neighborhood Co-Op.


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!

November Odd Holidays

NOVEMBER

Peanut Butter Lovers Month

2nd - Deviled Eggs Day

3rd - Sandwich Day

16th - Button Day

21st - World Hello Day

1st Saturday - Book Lovers Day

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: Carpet Cleaning - Homemade Stain Remedies

Looking for some carpet cleaning ideas? I have found some tricks for pulling stains (old and new) out of your carpet and tips for a great 'clean' after vacuuming. The reason that most of the recipes for cleaners use Vinegar is because it is inexpensive, effective at deodorizing, sanitizing and stain removing, and it definitely safe to use around your kiddoes and pets. Some final tips: make sure you test your cleaner on a small area before trying to use on the entire carpet or in a very visible spot. Finally, remember to avoid getting the cleaner in your eyes and wash your hands immediately after use. Remember, never mix ammonia and bleach - their combined fumes are TOXIC!

Natural Carpet Stain Removal Recipes:

Quick Stain Removal:

  Equal parts vinegar and water. Spray on the stain then let it sit for 5-10 minutes. You will want to scrub it with a soft brush.

Tough Grease Stains:

   Pour Cornstarch onto stain (liberally) until it is dry. Vacuum it up and then use the Quick Stain Removal.

Heavy Duty Stains:

   1/4 cup salt
   1/4 cup borax
   1/4 cup vinegar
   Rub mixture into stain. Let it sit until dry - then vacuum up. If any of the stain remains try using the Quick Stain Removal.

Spot Remover:

  1-2 tbsp of each: White Vinegar, baking soda and water (depending on how big the stain/spots are. You don't want to make this ahead of time.)
   Mix ingredients to form a paste. Work the paste into the spot/stain with a brush (toothbrush, carpet brush, etc). Allow it to completely dry, then vacuum it up. The stain SHOULD be gone, if not repeat procedure until gone.

Steam Cleaner Recipe:

   Using equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Then just follow your machine's instructions.
Need your carpet deodorized? Simply sprinkle baking soda (optional: add 10 drops essential oil into 1 cup of baking soda) around the carpet, let it sit for at least 30 minutes (great to do right before you leave to pick up the kiddies from school!) and then vacuum it up!

Carpet Shampoo:
   1/2 cup vegetable oil based liquid soap
   1/2 cup of laundry detergent
   1 cup ammonia

Add the above ingredients to 1 gallon hot water.Follow the manufacturers directions for use in your carpet cleaner. If you are doing it by hand, just work it into the carpet in sections. Make sure you rinse well and soak it up with towels.

   

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: Whitening and Disenfecting Your Toilets

If your bathroom is completely spotless and smells wonderful but you lift the lid on your toilet and it is a bit grubby - it just makes your entire bathroom seem dirty and unkempt. If you have children and are trying to teach them how to clean the bathroom, this might be the one area that seems entirely impossible for them to tackle correctly.

Here are some traditional and some not so traditional ideas to help your toilet bowl glisten:

Pumice Stone:

  Flush your toilet to make sure there is only clean water in the bowl. Wet your pumice stone and then scrub (gently) to remove the stain. You may need to follow the pumice scrub with a scrubbing with green scrubby.

  *** Caution *** 

Do not use a pumice stone on plastic or enamel toilets.

White Vinegar:

   Yes, vinegar is a great stain remover for your toilet. You will need to shut the water off and flush the toilet to remove the water from the bowl. Soak several paper towels (or old rags you want to throw away anyway.) in the vinegar. Then place the towels on the stained area. Allow it to sit there for several (2-3) hours. Then you will come back with your green scrubby or toilet brush and scrub at the area to remove the discoloration. Rinse the bowl with clean water prior to turning the water back on and flushing again. 

 Another use is to pour a quart of vinegar directly into the toilet bowl water for routine spot cleaning.

Bleach:

  Pour 1/2 cup of liquid OR powdered bleach into bowl and let sit for an hour. Scrub then flush.

Borax Powder:

  Sprinkle 2 tbsp into your toilet and let sit for about 30 minutes. Scrub it clean and then let it sit for another 30 minutes prior to flushing it away.

Coca Cola:

   Pour entire can of coke into bowl and let sit for an hour. Scrub then flush.
You can also turn off the water and empty the bowl, add an entire 2 liter of coke, let it sit over night (good for really tough stains) and scrub it in the morning and rinse then turn water on and flush.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser:

   Using gloves, scrub stains with the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If you have eraser leftover - rinse out and put in baggy that is CLEARLY MARKED TOILET USE ONLY! 

Comet:

  Use 1/2 cup to 1 cup of comet and scrub, scrub, scrub.

Hydrochloric Acid:

   Use only for very stubborn stains, this caustic chemical is very powerful and can tackle stains as old as 40 years but be very careful in its usage and do not leave for it for any longer than the directions say, as it can eat away at the porcelain itself, thereby causing surface roughness that will make the toilet stain even quicker in future. 

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: How To for Laundry

I hate it when our white clothes are yellow or not as bright white as when we originally purchased them. It is so frustrating! At least until I figured out that Hydrogen Peroxide could be my new BFF for Laundry Purposes! Here are a couple of easy recipes to help whiten YOUR white laundry. May we live yellow/dingy free forever more!


Dishwasher Detergent:

  If for some reason you don't have vinegar or baking soda on hand, but you DO have a dishwasher and the detergent for it - try adding 1/4 cup of dishwasher detergent along with your regular detergent. This is a great whitener!

Hydrogen Peroxide, White Vinegar or Baking Soda:

First you will want to set your machine on the hottest temperature that your fabrics allow. Add in the normal amount of laundry detergent for your load size. Just pour 1/2 cup to 1 cup of white vinegar, peroxide or baking soda to the water as it is filling up. Pre-treat stained white clothing before washing by spraying them with vinegar. LOVE THIS!

Lemon Juice Soak:

You will want to fill a large soup pot with water. Slice up one lemon and place the slices into the water. Bring the water and lemon slices to a boil and then remove the pot from the heat. Add the clothing you want whitening, allowing them to soak for at least an hour. Then wash as you normally would.

You can also try adding 1/4-1/2 cup of lemon juice to your washer along with your laundry soap as an alternative. Remember to get the water on the highest heat level that you can for the fabric you are washing. 

More Traditional:

   1. 1/2 cup of ammonia into the washer with your regular detergent
   2. Mix a tsp of bluing agent with 1 quart of water and the mixture to your wash water or final rinse.
   3. Pour 3/4 cup bleach in the wash cycle BEFORE adding laundry - NEVER put bleach directly on your clothing.
   4. Wash whites regularly and in COLD water
   5. Do not mix bluing agents and bleach
  

Sun:

Hanging your clothes outside will also be a natural way to brighten them. The sun is a natural brightener of white clothes!

How do YOU whiten your laundry?

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 Mess under Stress

Think back over your life. . . have you had an experience in your life that has brought a great deal of anxiety and stress into your daily routine? Let me share some tips with you of things that might help you in the future, because we all know that those times come around fairly regularly.

Somethings that help me and our family when we are in these type of situations:

1) Make menu's for EVERY meal and snacks - this relieves the pressure of not having an idea of what you have in stock and what you can use to prepare meals. This also gives you a chance to know in advance what grocery items you will be needing. We try to do Monthly Menu's every quarter. This saves the extra stress of spending unnecessary money and wasting things that you already have in your refrigerator or pantry.
2) Write in your journal - whether it is one sentence, one word or pages and pages - the more you can verbalize (in writing) how and what you are feeling, the more you are able to stay in control of your feelings. Plus, it is handy to have to look over and see what changes you can make or what you can do to improve your situation. Sometimes you don't have enough time to really do a journal 'justice' - just a few keywords will jog your memory.
3) Take care of yourself. This is when you need to spend more time on yourself - take a relaxing bath even if you only have 5 minutes. Do what will rejuvenate you. It is different for everyone. Try to make sure you look your best, even if you don't feel your best.
4) Think positive thoughts. The more positive reinforcing thoughts you share with yourself the more capable you will feel in taking positive steps in your stressful situation.

Cleaning Tips:

When you are in a stressful situation that is going to be long term or even fairly long term you can try focusing on the clutter and not the deeper cleaning issues. Keep the clutter put away and you will feel more in control of your situation. There is a time and a place for deep cleaning and when you are right in the middle of something emotionally big - that isn't the time to get rid of things. You need to wait until you are in control - fully - and have stepped away from the situation before you start discarding things. This is the best tip I can give you.

Don't forget when you are in the middle of a crisis that the deep cleaning can wait. Focus on the little clutter that comes in and don't try to get in to the whole sort and discard routine. Save those when the crisis has been resolved and you have all of your thinking capabilities at your service. 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!

October Odd Holidays

OCTOBER

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Cookie Month

National Pizza Month, National Popcorn Popping Month

4th Sunday - National Mother-in-Law Day

5th - Do Something Nice Day

7th - World Smile Day

10th - National Angel Food Cake Day

13th - World Egg Day

16th - Dictionary Day

30th - National Candy Corn Day

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!