Cleaning

A couple weeks ago I hit a breaking point and was simply fed up with the disorganized mess of cleaning products that had accumulated in our laundry room. The problem is that I can often get cleaning supplies for FREE after coupons and rebate… and I have a really hard time passing up free cleaning products!

So despite my best attempts to keep my cleaning supplies simple and organized, they were piling up again… and I wanted to do something about it. Plus I was just in the mood for a quick organizing project

One thing I did that I absolutely LOVE is my new “bucket of bathroom cleaning tools”.

In our old house, we only had 1 bathroom so we kept the cleaning supplies in that bathroom under the sink. However, in our current house, we have 3 bathrooms, so I just decided to keep all the supplies in the laundry room.

That worked fine, except it always seems awkward to cart everything around to the different bathrooms, only to realize we forgot something down in the laundry room or left it in the previous bathroom.

So, 2 weeks ago, I got a medium size bucket with a handle and filled it with my bathroom cleaning essentials – nothing more, nothing less — and now, we can simply grab this bucket, clean the bathrooms, and put it away again. It hardly takes up any space in our laundry room cabinet and we’ve eliminated a bunch of extra trips back down to the laundry room. {yes, I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this earlier!}

What’s In My Bathroom Cleaning Bucket:

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I’m am thrilled with the simplicity of my bathroom cleaning tools… especially since I made most of them myself out of ingredients from my kitchen!

Vinegar Spray:

I use a 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water mixture in a plastic spry bottle to clean and disinfect pretty much everything in the bathroom. It even works great on mirrors and glass.

Baking Soda Shaker:

I simply filled an old spice jar with baking soda and use this to scrub any tough areas {like hairspray on the counter tops}

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:

I still haven’t been able to convert to a homemade cleaner for the toilets — mainly because toilets gross me out and I want to make sure they are really clean! I do keep a separate toilet bowl ‘wand’ in each bathroom so we don’t need to cart those germs around.

Microfiber Rags:

I absolutely LOVE microfiber rags. They are so great for cleaning pretty much every surface and are also really durable {which means I can wash them a lot}. I feel like I have a never-ending supply of microfiber rags so I just keep a handful in our bathroom cleaning bucket and then wash them each week.

Sponges:

I got these great microfiber {and fully washable} sponges through a giveaway I did this summer. They are by-far the best sponges I’ve ever used, so I keep a couple in our bathroom bucket and a couple under our sink for washing dishes. Whenever I do a load of towels/rags, I just throw them in the washing machine and they are good as new. No more smelly, moldy, rock hard sponges in our house!

Papertowels:

Ok, I know I should just use the microfiber rags and give up my papertowels, but I like to use papertowels on the toilets so I can simply throw them away after I’m done. Something about washing rags that I clean the toilets with just grosses me out! Maybe I’ll get over it some day, but for now, our bathroom bucket is fully equipt with a roll of papertowels!

You may notice that I don’t have anything in here for the showers — that’s because I only clean the shower when I take a shower {which is usually not when I’m cleaning the rest of the bathroom}. When I do clean the shower, I use this homemade shower cleaner that I talked about last week.

So there you have it… my bucket of bathroom cleaning tools. I feel so much more organized, more efficient, and even more excited to clean the bathrooms!

What are your best bathroom cleaning tips?

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A few weeks ago, I shared how I keep our showers clean in about 10 minutes a month. I mentioned that although I try to use mostly homemade cleaners in and around our house, I still hadn’t found a great homemade cleaner for the shower.

Well, after that, I got a bunch of emails with different “recipes” for homemade shower cleaner; and although I was skeptical, I decided to try a few of them out.

Anyway, after experimenting these past 2 weeks (yes, our shower is now extremely clean) I’ve picked my favorite… and it’s REALLY simple!! 

Recipe for Homemade Shower Cleaner

Thanks to Anna for sending me this “recipe”!

Step #1: Pour any amount of white vinegar into a plastic spray bottle {I started with about 6 oz.}

Step #2: Heat it up in the microwave until very warm. {you do NOT need to reheat it every time you want to clean your showers}

Step #3: Pour the same amount of Dawn dish soap into the spray bottle.

Step #4: Put the top of the spray bottle on and gently shake until they are combined.

That’s it!!

Just 2 simple ingredients and about 5 minutes of your time and you have a very inexpensive, homemade shower cleaner that works wonders on soap scum and smells great too!

NOTE: This cleaner is also great for removing greasy buildup in the kitchen!

Do you have any other great homemade cleaning recipes?

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I know it’s still January… but I never like waiting until spring to do ALL my spring cleaning. I think it’s much simpler and less overwhelming to tackle a little bit at a time.

The following guest post from Jakob has a bunch of great tips for cleaning those odd spots around your home that you might not get to during your weekly cleaning.

It’s always good to sweep the floor, vacuum the rug, tidy up clutter, and scrub the bathroom at least once a week. Doing so prevents the build up of hard-to-remove dirt and crud.

However, there are plenty of nooks and crannies that aren’t as easy to reach on a regular basis (and don’t get as much attention) but certainly need an occasional wipe-down. When left untouched, they attract germs and grime… which is why doing periodic home inspections can actually contribute to better health and give your home a little extra shine around the edges

All you’ll need is a little little soap, water, a rag, a mildly abrasive sponge… and you’re ready to clean!

Here are some of the areas you might want to check:

1. Door knobs:

The amount of hands that touch your door knobs every day is a lot, especially if you have a large family. The oils from our skin collect in places like this, leaving a dry scum. It’s those markings you’ll want to search for and eliminate.

2. Household handles:

Door knobs are one thing; handles are another. This is especially true in kitchens where meals with messy preparations often result in oven, fridge, microwave, and cabinet handles getting coated with a long list of ingredients such as oil, dough, and sauce. You may need a good degreaser for this one.

3. Light switches:

It takes one finger to flip a light switch but hundreds of flips later, the switch’s surrounding plate can look a little dark around the edges from all the use. Simply wipe them down with a damp rag and they are good as new.

4. Windows:

Both interior and exterior windows collect a lot of airborne matter that blocks natural light. Giving them a quick cleaning every few months will make a world of difference.

5. Chair legs:

Have you looked at your chair legs recently? The legs of your office chairs, dinning room chairs, and even living room chairs can become covered with filth from your shoes, dust, debris, food, etc. If your chairs have wheels, they might also pick up a lot of particles, hair ,etc.

6. Floor creases:

Especially in older homes, the spaces between the carpet and hard flooring collects crud. Clean out the creases, and if necessary, fill with putty or caulk to prevent new dirt from entering.

7. Light covers:

Check the domed coverings of all your light fixture and ceiling fans… you might be surprised at the number of dead bugs and the amount of dust inside!

8. Small ridges:

Door and window frames often have ridges or ledges that collect a lot of dust particles. Remove the dust and a room’s highlights may stand out better.

9. Shelves:

It’s a good idea to take everything off your shelves a few times each year to eliminate all the dust and dirt that can accumulate. This is also a good time to declutter those shelves too

10. Rugs and mats:

Door mats and other rugs are full of dirt, dust, and grim… which eventually gets tracked into your home. Shake out all your mats and wash the ones you can wash. You might even consider replacing some that are in really bad shape.

I know this might seem like a long list, but I bet you can accomplish most of it in an afternoon… and then you’ll be finished with a chunk of your spring cleaning chores well before spring!

What odd spots would you add to this list?

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Jakob Barry is a home improvement journalist for Networx.com. He writes about eco-friendly topics for remodeling pros across the U.S. including New York flooring contractors.

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Since you already know how frugal I am, it probably doesn’t surprise you to know that I have NEVER been to the dry-cleaners! Yes, you read that right; Dave and I have never paid for anything to be dry cleaned… ever

Part of the reason for this is because we purposely try not to buy things that require dry cleaning. However, I’m also really cheap, and have figured out a few different ways to wash our “dry-clean-only” items at home!

Here’s how I do it…

Feather/Down Pillows and Comforters:

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I wash and dry our pillows and comforters right here at home by throwing a few tennis balls in the washer and dryer so the items don’t get lumpy.

Simply use your regular detergent and fabric softener, throw 3 tennis balls in with the items, and then wash on gentle cycle and dry on low. They should be good-as-new!

I will say that washing large items is easier in a front-loading washer because it doesn’t have an agitator in the middle. 

Clothes and Coats:

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Although we try not to purchase dry-clean-only clothes, we do have a handful of items that are supposedly dry-clean only — but I’ve never really paid attention to that! I’ve washed them all in our washer on the gentle cycle — using a gentle detergent like Woolite or something similar.

I also never put these items in the dryer, but rather lay them flat on a drying rack.

So far, the only item that didn’t come out fabulously clean was a 100% wool sweater that seems to smell a little after being wet. I actually didn’t like it that much anyway, so I donated it!

I’ve also tried using those in-home dry-cleaning kits like Dryel, but wasn’t extremely impressed with the results. I’d rather just wash everything with water and detergent.

Rugs:

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Since we have hardwood floors, we do have several different rugs — but they are all washable {or at least I’ve washed them all!} I’ve also used carpet cleaning products to spot-clean some of our larger rugs.

We don’t have any huge area rugs in our house, but if we did, I would simply call a carpet cleaner.

Obviously, I know there are some items that really DO need to be dry-cleaned — like formal dresses and men’s suits — but since Dave and I don’t make a habit of wearing formal clothes that often, we can easily get by without a dry-cleaning bill!

Oh and here are a few more posts about laundry:

• My Thoughts On Washing Whites
• A Laundry Experiment — 10 Ways to Reduce Static Cling
• More Tips to Simplify Your Laundry Routine

What are some dry-clean-only items you wash instead?

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our newly renovated shower

Cleaning has never been a “chore” for me. I know I’m weird, but I honestly do enjoy MOST of the cleaning jobs I do around the house. I really like to vacuum and sweep the floors, I love making my bed every day, and in general, I enjoy the process of cleaning just as much as the end results.

However, one thing I do not like to clean is the shower. I guess it’s just one of those things I’m always willing to procrastinate on

Several years ago, {after not cleaning my shower for a few months} I decided I had to come up with some type of system for cleaning my shower so I wouldn’t put it off for so long ever again.

From then on, I’ve been cleaning my showers the same way every month and it only takes me about 10 minutes total!

Here’s what I do…

Step 1: Gather My Supplies:

I actually don’t use many supplies to clean our showers — just a sponge, a small bristle brush, and my cleaner of choice.

Currently, I’ve been using Scrubbing Bubbles and have very happy with the results. I have tried using homemade cleaning products {which I do use for the rest of our bathroom} but I decided I liked the “stronger” stuff for our showers.

If you have rust, soap scum, or lime build-up, I’d suggest using Lime Away {I had much success with that product in our old house}. Also, just a little tip — Dial soap / body wash leaves a lot more soap scum than most other soaps!

Step 2: Create the “Optimum” Conditions

Whenever I clean the shower, I ALWAYS do it while I’m taking a shower. That way, it’s already steamy inside {which helps to loosen the dirt and grime} and I don’t have to awkwardly try to clean it without getting wet.

If you’ve never tried cleaning the shower while taking a shower… you will be amazed at how much easier and faster the process is!!

Step 3: Clean the Shower

I always spray the shower with my Scrubbing Bubbles about 10 minutes before I get into the shower. By the time I get in the shower, the bubbles have already “gone to work” and I start scrubing with my sponge from the top down.

I use my bristle brush to scrub in the corners, between the tiles, and any other small spaces that I can’t get with my sponge.

Finally, I scrub around the drain and then move the shower head to wash down the walls.

Step 4: Daily Maintenance

One thing Dave and I do every single time we take a shower is to use a squeegee to wipe down the walls. We even use the squeegee to direct water on the floor into the drain.

This might sound a bit obsessive to some of you, but it drastically cuts down on soap-scum buildup, water spots, mold, mildew, etc. — which means I don’t need to clean our showers nearly as often.

We keep the squeegee hanging in the shower so we have absolutely no excuse not to use it!

I’ve timed myself many time {I know, I’m weird} and I can easily clean any shower in our house in less than 10 minutes… and it doesn’t even seem like a chore because it’s simply an excuse for me to take an extra long steamy-hot shower!

And in case you’re thinking about making some changes in your own bathroom this year, I’ve got lots of inspiration for you! I’ve teamed up with four other bloggers today, and we’re all talking about bathrooms! Go check them out for some great ideas!

Christine from I Dream of Clean is revealing her method for speed cleaning a bathroom.

Lauren from Mama’s Laundry Talk is sharing advice on how often to wash your bathmats and towels.

Jami from An Oregon Cottage is sharing her lovely decorating expertise with an ultra-cool project. She’s making a new shower curtain by stenciling on drop cloth!

Nony from A Slob Comes Clean is organizing her bathroom cabinets according to how her family really lives!

What are your best bathroom cleaning tips?

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A few months ago, I showed you our new ALL white couch that we purchased on our crazy IKEA shopping trip! I’ve always wanted a white slip-covered couch so when we finished our first round of home renovations, I knew exactly what couch I wanted for our living room.

However, I got a lot of grief from people who thought I was crazy for buying a white couch — I even got emails from people who said I was making a HUGE mistake and would totally regret the white couch…

Well, it’s been 5 months; we’ve eaten on our coach, we’ve napped on our couch, we’ve had spit-up on our coach, we’ve spilled on our couch — basically, we’ve used and abused our couch, but it’s still white!  So I thought I’d give you a little update and a few tips for keeping a white couch clean.

1. Get a washable slipcover.

Obviously, this isn’t always possible, but I’m a huge advocate for washable slip-covered furniture… because it’s just so easy to clean. I actually haven’t had to wash our entire slip-cover yet, but I have washed the ottoman cover and it came out bright white again.

IKEA and Pottery Barn are two stores with a large variety of slip-covered furniture — but IKEA will probably be 1/3 the price! And just an FYI, we were told that IKEA furniture was “cheap” and “poor quality” but Dave and I are both super happy with our IKEA purchases and we’ve  been told several times how comfortable our couch is.

2. Have the fabric treated with stain guard.

When we had our carpet cleaned, we also got our couch slipcover professionally treated with stain guard {which is WAY more “protective” than any stain guard you can buy from the store or do yourself}. I was honestly a bit skeptical if it would actually work, but I have to say I’m pretty impressed.

We’ve had a few small spills that never really turned into spots or stains because we were able to quickly wipe them up thanks to the stain guard.

3. Keep fabric cleaners handy for small spots.

If you have white furniture, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll see a few spots here and there. We’ve already spilled a little pop, juice, and even pizza sauce on our couch; but since we had it protected with stain guard, we could quickly wipe most of it up before it stained. However, if there is a little of the stain left behind, I’ve just used carpet or fabric cleaner to get it out.

4. Use a lint roller regularly.

This might sound crazy, but I use a lint roller on our couch every couple of weeks — which removes all the blanket fuzzies, hair, clothes lint, etc. and helps it instantly look more white!

5. Rotate the cushions. 

Dave and I tend to sit in the same spots on our couch, so those cushions get more wear and tear. To compensate for this, I shift all the seat and back cushions to the left every couple of weeks {usually when I use the lint roller}.

Yes, this might sounds somewhat anal, but it really has made a difference in how our couch looks and feels! I also think it will help our couch last a lot longer since we aren’t always sitting on the same cushions all the time.

As you may have guessed, we definitely do NOT have a formal house and our living room is used all the time. So, even though I fully expect to buy another $99 white slipcover at some point, I am really happy with how clean it still looks after several months of use.

Do you have any tips for keeping your furniture clean?

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Yes, I know — you’re not supposed to be “working” on Christmas Break. However, if you are anything like me, you LOVE to take advantage of any spare time you have and fit in a project or two!

So while I completely intend on relaxing and enjoying my Christmas Break, I’m also planning to tackle a few simple projects as well — especially since Dave has almost two weeks off from school and can help with Nora.

Here are some of the projects I’m doing over break:

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1. Defrost the Freezer: we actually already did this and it only took a couple hours. It’s an easy winter project for us because we just put everything outside for the afternoon and didn’t’ have to worry about anything melting or spoiling.

2. Laundry: I’m all caught up on our “regular” laundry, but it was time to wash the sheets, blankets, rugs, etc. again so I took a day to get all this finished before real life starts up again!

3. Freezer Cooking: defrosting the freezer was a great opportunity to take an inventory of everything we had in our freezer. I took several items out to eat during break or to bring to holiday parties, and then I made a list of a few things I wanted to make to stock it back up again. No, I’m not going crazy, just making a pot of soup, maybe a casserole or two, and some baked goods.

4. Rapid Purge: even though I’m always pretty diligent about purging anything we don’t need, want, use or love; the holiday season always seems to add excess stuff to our home! So, I usually take a couple hours and simply walk through our home — opening every drawer, every cabinet, every closet and quickly pulling out anything I know we don’t need, want, use or love.

I don’t spend any time organizing, just purging — and it really does make a difference!

5. Photos: I get easily overwhelmed by photos… I don’t know why, because I don’t even have that many of them!  However, now that we have Nora — I’m bound and determined to keep up with taking AND printing photos; as well as keep up with our digital photo albums.

6. New Year’s Card/Baby Announcements: Yes, we ordered, stuffed, and addressed all our New Year’s Cards/Baby Announcements during break {just one of the many advantages of sending a holiday card AFTER Christmas!}

I know this might seem like a lot to some of you, but remember, I’m still kind of on maternity leave so I don’t have nearly as much on my plate right now. Plus, Dave is home from school and is basically on “baby duty” most of the time! Also, we have TONS of family members who are on break and just dying for a chance to watch Nora or help out in any way they can.

Oh, and we’re definitely still finding plenty of time to relax. In fact, I think I’ve watched more movies and spent more time on our couch this past week than ever before in my life!

Do you have any projects you’d like to do over break?

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