Tip Tuesday:

Deep cleaning your bathroom is more that just having it company ready. It is getting it to the deepest level of clean. It's the type of clean that just makes you feel so accomplished!

First, gather your cleaning supplies. Microfiber clothes are good and so are just plain old rags. Use what you have. Don't feel obliged to go out and try every new and improved thing that hits the stores. Toilet brush and cleaner (I like the Lysol Toilet Bowl cleaner). I also like using vinegar/water mixed at an equal ratio. I LOVE using this. I find the vinegar wipes out any lingering smell (especially if you have big or little boys). If you are lucky enough to have a window you can open in your bathroom - this is a great time to open it wide! Let the fresh air in. That in itself will help inspire you to clean!

There are many ways to clean - top to bottom, side to side, etc. I like to clean like things first. I start with the floor and remove anything that needs to find its real home. I sweep but I do wait to mop/steam clean until completely finished with everything else.I do all sinks, tubs showers, counters, at the same time. I just like using the same cleaner and getting al of those jobs done - especially if I have something sit to soak. It can all sit at the same time.

You can throw all of your dirty towels, shower curtains, window curtains and bath mats into the wash. Add a cup of vinegar to the cycle and run it on the warm cycle as opposed to the hot - since your vinyl shower curtain is in there. Make sure you hang dry your shower curtain and avoid the dryer for it.

Remove all of your items from the shelves and counter tops. Wipe down. I also wipe down the light fixtures. You can set it right outside the bathroom or out of the way until you get everything clean. Then bring it back in and arrange it.

Wipe down your blinds (vinegar/water). You can use your steam cleaner on the window sills or use a toothbrush to get into the tracks and into the tiny corners and crevices.

Clean the shower and bathtub. You can use your steam cleaner or use the vinegar water mixture (with a few drops of blue Dawn Dishwashing Liquid). You can also use your Lysol toilet bowl cleaner and water in about a 2 to 3 (water) mixture. This is great stuff - just don't allow it to sit on your metal faucets and fixtures. (it can turn the color)

Clean the toilet - clean under the outside first then lift up your seat and wipe that down. (Lysol mixture or vinegar mixture or your favorite). Wipe down at the screws on the basin of the toilet and also at the base. Use your cleaner (adding some baking soda) around the outside of the toilet  and use your toothbrush or steam cleaner to get those areas clean. Set your brush between the seat and the base so that it can drip dry over your toilet bowl.

Wash the walls, floors and baseboards. The very last thing I do is mop/vacuum the area out. Then I leave and know my bathroom is in the best shape it can be in, again.


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: Organizational Tips for Cleaning Efficiently

If you can't find your supplies or don't know what you have on hand, it will be hard to clean efficiently. The following are some tips and guidelines to being more organized so you can clean more efficiently.

 Tip #1:
  Keep a list of the cleaning supplies you have on hand. If you prefer to make your own - keep a separate list with the recipes and what you have on hand to be able to make your cleaning recipes. This can ultimately save you time and money.

 Tip #2: 
  Place a shower curtain rod in your bathroom/kitchen under sink cupboards. This will give you room to "hang" your cleaning bottles up and keep them off the floor of your cupboard. You can also use tension rods in your kitchen cupboards to make "dividers" for platters, plates, pans, lids, etc.
 

 Tip #3: 
  Use a magnetic strip in your kitchen for knives and in the bathroom for bobby pins, tweezers, nail clippers, etc.

 Tip #4:
  Store your boxes (like foil, saran wrap, wax paper, parchment paper, baggies, etc.) in magazine holders. Then store in your cupboard or drawer.

 Tip #5:
  Use a hanging magazine rack to store your lids to pots and pans. (Genius!)

 Tip #6:
  In your fridge, use wire shelves and/or lazy susans. Use bins to store like items - use various sizes: large ones can hold fruits, smaller ones can group "sandwich making" items together or "sauce making" etc.

 Tip #7:
  In your closets: hang all of your hangers backwards. As you wear clothes hang them in correctly. At the end of the season (or year) whatever hangers are still hanging backwards you know you can donate that item of clothing because you know you haven't worn it.

 Tip #8:
  Store your boots with pants hangers in your closet. You can also make "shoe storage" for your walls using crown molding.

 Tip #9: 
  Store your matching sheet sets inside the matching pillowcases. Stores so flat and looks pretty sitting on the shelf.

Tip #10:
  Put a shelf over your bathroom door for things that you don't need regular access to. 

Whatever organizational needs you are looking for - I hope you found something here to help 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: Cleaning Hacks for your Bathroom

Here are some cleaning tricks to help you get your bathroom clean and also to help you maintain that level of clean that you wish for.

In the Bathroom:

-- Spray the inside of the shower tracks with your preferred multipurpose cleaning solution. Use a toothbrush that you have covered with your cleaning rag and wipe it all down. If you need to clean more you can cut off fairly small parts of your Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and use your toothbrush to get it into the edges and crevices that need cleaning. 

-- You can also use your toothbrushes to clean other small and not easy to get to places like the tops and bottoms of baseboards, heater/ac vents and the fan covers in the ceiling.

-- Dental floss is a great tool to get the nasties out of tricky spaces like faucets and toilet handles. 

-- For an overnight solution to cleaning your shower head: pour white vinegar into a storage bag - enough that you can fully immerse your shower head into it. Tie it off and allow it to soak completely overnight OR all day while you work. All you will need to do is rinse it off. IF you have some harder to clean areas then you can use your old toothbrush and scrub away.

-- Toilet cleaning can be easily done by using a mixture of 1 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup peroxide, and a 1/2 cup of white vinegar in to the toilet bowl. Add your brush and let it all sit there for several hours. Not only are you cleaning your brush but your toilet will wipe down easily. This can be done over night or during the day. Just make sure you don't allow someone to use it. 

-- Add a 1/2 cup of pine-sol or your favorite deep cleaner into your Toilet bowl brush holder (make sure animals and children can't get to it). This will keep your brush fresh and will discourage germs and things to grow there.

-- Refresh plastic shower curtains and liners by placing them in the washing machine with a few old towels, which act as scrubbers to help get rid of soap scum and mildew. Wash on warm with a normal amount of detergent. Rehang to dry.

-- Use 1 part isopropyl alcohol, 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts distilled water. I add in a drop or two of blue Dawn. This works fantastic for a streak free window/mirror cleaner.

-- A loofah sponge will clean away soap scum and bathtub rings with your favorite soft cleaner. 

-- To clear scum and residue out of your drains: spoon a cup of baking soda into the drain (go as far down as you can) then pour a cup of white vinegar and let it fizz for 5-10 minutes. Pour a half gallon of boiling water over the top to rinse.

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: Green Cleaning 101

Green cleaning can be confusing. This article will expose some of my favorite green cleaning tools and products to make cleaning efficient, economical and Easy. The best E's of cleaning!

If you maximize the ingredients you use for cleaning then you will safe your self space as well as time and money. As long as you try to keep it simple and try to use as small amount as you can, you will always have good results! Just remember, you can always add more - you can't take it away.

Here are some Favorite Green Cleaning Products and Materials:

Microfiber Cloths:

Good microfiber cloths stand up well over time and have a much better anti-bacterial cleaning effect compared to regular microfiber cloths. Combined with water, they work much better at cleaning windows and mirrors than any of the chemical window cleaners you can purchase and are even great for cleaning walls and oven tops. 

Water Bottle:

If you plan on doing any amount of homemade cleaning products then you need to invest in quality water bottles. If you buy dollar store bottles, expect to replace them more frequently. However, by purchasing a quality water bottle (or two or three) you will actually save yourself money in the long run. Make sure you clearly label them!

Vinegar:

White distilled vinegar is as cheap to purchase as it is effective to use.  It will loosen dirt, disinfect, deodorize, and help to remove mineral deposits and stains.  Although some people do not love the smell, it does dissipate quickly and will leave your home fresh.  Vinegar can be used in a myriad of ways. The best mixture that I find that works is a 50:50 with water.  Just remember that the acidic properties of vinegar can eat away at stone and should be used sparingly (& rinsed extremely well) from granite and marble.

Hydrogen Peroxide:

Like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide is a great non-toxic disinfectant and is also helpful for stain removal. You can attach a spray bottle to the top of your bottle and spray it. Be careful because it can have 'bleaching' tendencies so you will want to test it out on a small, out of the way place prior to using it on large areas.

Baking Soda:

This is a great tool for deodorizing. You can use it in a shaker bottle (think cheese shaker from a pizza place) and sprinkle it directly on areas that need a little extra scrubbing. It is great in the bathroom as well as the kitchen!

Washing Soda:

Washing soda is basically baking soda’s father or grandfather. It is stronger and more powerful. Because the ph balance is higher than regular baking soda it can be a skin irritant. Be careful to wash/rinse well after using it. It is great for laundry, removing stains, and other hard cleaning jobs.

Fresh Lemons or Lemon Juice:

Lemon juice is good for bleaching and disinfecting and leaves a nice fresh scent behind.  Bottled lemon juice can be a cheaper alternative and will work as well. You will just lose out on the fresh smell. Be careful of using it on stone as it is acidic. They do make water bottles that have citrus juicers right on top - this would work out best if you chose fresh lemons for your cleaning needs. It only lasts about 4 days after squeezing so you will want to make it up as you go.

Castille Soap:

Castille soap is made from 100% plant oils, is non-toxic, and completely biodegradable.  You can use it in liquid or bar form. It is a great all-purpose cleaner that works great for washing dishes and even in your laundry. You can purchase it scented or unscented and add your own essential oil to it. My favorite cleaning scent is lemon. 

Essential Oils:

Essential oils can not only be used to add a more pleasing smell to your green cleaners, but they can also be helpful in many other areas such as removing mold and mildew,  killing viruses, bacteria, dust mites, and cutting through grease. I am currently researching the best types of essential oils to use for cleaning. 

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 Before Vacation

There is nothing like taking a vacation! You get re-energized, recharged, and rejuvenated to do the things that are important to YOU - no matter what they are. If you leave your living space untidy in the crazy "get out of town" hassle then returning home can be a double edged sword. Not only will you need to catch up on the laundry, but you will need to clear out the mess that was left behind. Nothing sucks the fun out of vacation like cleaning up pre-vacation mess. 

Here are some things to think about before planning your vacation. Make sure to leave yourself enough time to make coming home more enjoyable. Your living space should reflect the calm and peace you felt on your vacation. This will help you to come home and remember and enjoy the good feelings of your vacation. 

There are three main areas to conquer. 

KITCHEN:

You will want to leave your kitchen completely clean. This means: sweeping & mopping - as needed, counters completely cleared and wiped down, refrigerators emptied and wiped out (if longer than 2 days), garbages emptied and baking soda sprinkled in the bottom of the empty bag (1 tbsp), and 1/2 a lemon ground in the garbage disposal. 

BATHROOM:

Counters and toiled need to be wiped down and the garbage emptied. You can sweep if it needs it. If you have time, wipe down the mirrors and faucets. You can close your drains (keep bugs at bay) as one of the last things to do before locking the house. Set out fresh towels so everything is ready for your return. Sprinkle with lavender essential oil or powder. 

COMMON AREAS:

These rooms should be picked up and vacuumed. You can dust if you have time but it isn't necessary. Just make sure the trashes are emptied and relined. Make your bed - if you have time launder you lines so everything is fresh for your return. 

If you leave your house fresh and neat when you leave - once you come home the hardest part will be putting everything away and catching up on the leftover laundry. 

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: Habits of Keeping a Clean Home

Here are 15 of the most important habits to get into in order to keep your house clean.

#1: As soon as you finish using something - put it away, correctly. The MOST important tip!!

#2: Put clothes away, don't lay them down randomly. Put in laundry bin or hang up. This makes "pick up" easier because you won't have to pick up clothes!

#3: As soon as you finish an working in the kitchen, clean that area up. (If you use the cutting board/counter: wipe it down, if you use the stove, wipe it down as soon as you are done).

#4: Don't own extra's of ANYTHING. This will elliminate clutter and you will save space and money too!

#5: Keeping all of your mail, bills, papers, etc. organized. Have a place for everything. Bills, coupons, mailers. As soon as you pay a bill - file it. As soon as the week is over for coupon/mailers, throw it out. Having a filing system will greatly help your paper problem!

#6: Only use your bed (& dare I say, Bedroom) for sleeping. Not for storage. 

#7: Make your bed, daily. This makes your room look 1000 times cleaner. 

#8: Get rid of extra blankets and pillows - only have what you need. 

#9: Always hang up coats and put away shoes.

#10: Clean the dishes (place in dishwasher or wash) as soon as you use them. Clean up the kitchen after EVERY meal/snack. 

#11: Dust regularly. Depending on your pet and dust situation you can probably get away with dusting once a week. If your area is a farm area or rural then you might need to do it more if the dust accumulates faster.

#12: Vacuum regularly. We vacuum twice a day. There are 10 of us in the home - trust me it needs it. You may only need to do it once a day or even every other day if you don't have pets. If you vacuum regularly your home will look cleaner.

#13: Keep Windows washed - inside and out monthly (or more as needed). This gives the appearance of your home clarity - inside and out!

#14: Don't let trash sit over night. This lets old food odors linger. By removing your trash every evening you are allowing your house to regenerate freshness!

#15: No matter your living arrangements it is important to respect the ones you live with. By keeping a clean home you are showing respect to all that live there.With everyone pitching in and everyone doing their part, they are showing respect to each other. This is key!

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 Get and Stay Motivated to Clean

Sometimes you have routines in place for cleaning, but you lose your resolve or your excitement to follow through. Don't despair! All you need to do is find some quiet time in your day and follow these steps:

 1) Write down what IS working for you. Whether it is the tools, products or what you are doing that works - write it down. Don't second guess yourself. 

 2) Write down what IS NOT working for you. Be just as honest here. If you have doubts about it - write it down. Don't over think this.

 Once you figure out what is NOT working for you, it is time to do some tweaking. IF it has something to do with the routine of it - that is a pretty easy fix. Change it up! Whether it is the time of day or the actual job itself on that day, you can change things to better suit your current schedule.

 I make chore charts for every room in our home. I have children assigned to tasks as well as their Father and I. Sometimes they grow up and can do more or perhaps I find that the task I assigned them is to hard. I have to be flexible so that they can feel accomplished and not stressed out by their assigned tasks. If they feel like they can do it then there is less trauma about it. That doesn't mean that it can't be challenging to them. Challenging is good - completely impossibly difficult is not. I try to keep their chores age/maturity appropriate.

 If your routine needs work you might try some of these different ways to have a better routine:

 A) One room per day (plus daily tasks in kitchen & bathroom)
 B) Specific Daily Tasks (all dusting or all vacuuming per day)
 C) Minute by Minute Assigned Tasks (Jobs you will get done at certain times of day)

 Perhaps it isn't your routine. Perhaps you are getting bogged down because most cleaning tasks don't ever seem to be "completely" done. Tomorrow the same jobs will be done again. Sometimes you can feel frustrated. Take time to reward yourself. Whether you give yourself "TIME" daily to do what you want to do (ie: hobby, read, tv, exercise, etc.) or you reward your self with sometime (chocolate, a new book or shopping). Whatever will help get you motivated, do it!

 Sometimes you just need to feel accountable for the cleaning. If this is you, you can either choose to be accountable to your family members (ie: husband, children, etc.) or you can use your best friend, mom's group, etc. Figure out how often (daily, weekly, monthly) you will check in with each other. Make sure you are specific and you follow through.

 Having realistic expectations on what you can and will accomplish is a great motivator in and of itself. Challenge yourself (just like the children) but don't overwhelm yourself.

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!