This post, Spring Cleaning – What’s on The Icky List? is sponsored by The Libman Company but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Got filthy neglected nooks and crannies? It’s time for Spring Cleaning! Wonder®Mop works great on all surfaces.#ad #SpringCleaning #EmbraceLifesMesses
Spring Cleaning – What’s on The Icky List?
Have you got filthy, neglected nooks and crannies?
It’s time for Spring Cleaning! And today, I’m going share with you how to make that job easy-peasy. It’s simple.
Hire someone to do it for you! Hmm… don’t want to fork over the big bucks to have somebody come into your home and crawl up into all of your filthy, neglected nooks and crannies? Me either and thanks to The Libman Company you can get all the tools and supplies you need to make YOUR SPRING CLEANING JOB EASY.
And here’s a list of some of those aforementioned neglected nooks and crannies. Be sure to get these clean!
The Icky List for Spring Cleaning
Garbage Disposal – Unplug before cleaning! Clean the inside and the rubber baffle.
Toilet Brush Caddy
Window Tracks and Sliding Door Tracks
Vent Covers, Registers, and Grilles – Don’t forget the fan vents for your bathrooms.
Shower Head
Dryer Ducting
Fan Blades
I’m spilling my secrets on a great way to clean behind hutches, buffets, or bookcases–use a dry Wonder® Mop or Microfiber Wet & Dry Mop. The long handle and Microfiber GRIPSTRIPS help you reach behind and capture all the dust, spiderwebs, or whatever else is lurking in the dark. In our case, it’s cat fur. Watch for our family horror story coming soon, Fur, It’s Everywhere!
Guess what? A dry Wonder® Mop works great for snagging cobwebs from the ceiling too. It is also fantastic for cleaning your floors. The Microfiber GRIPSTRIPS lift up to 20% more dirt leaving your floors cleaner. The power wringer removes more water allowing your floors to dry faster. And a super duper big BONUS–the removable head can be machine washed up to 50 times!!!
The Libman Company is a family-owned business makings quality and innovation a priority when it comes to cleaning tools! Find at a LOCAL RETAILER near you!
This shop, Make Your Furniture A Reflection Of You, has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PledgeReflectionOfYou #CollectiveBias
Make Your Furniture A Reflection Of You
Memories, Sentiment, and a Hutch
I am sure you all have something that reminds you of a special time, a special place, or a special someone. Whether it is a trinket, something handed down through the generations, or maybe even a piece of furniture, these items are a reflection of you.
When I was a kid, I loved our trips to my grandparents’ farm in Mississippi. It was so different from Southern California. Everything enthralled me, from the airplane ride to the long drive from Jackson to Carthage. We traveled through the beautiful Natchez Trace, an Indian reservation, and dirt roads to get to the farm. I would always think of that old song, “Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go…” (You sang those words in your head, didn’t you?) These sights and sounds were just the beginnings of a wonderful time of family, joy, and memory making.
My grandmother was a hard-working woman, and I liked following her around the farm helping with the chores. I’m not sure I helped all that much, but we had fun together just the same. When dinner time came around, grandma always asked us kids to set the table. Now, grandma was a woman of the Depression Era; she did not have a lot of fancy stuff, but what she had, she kept in a narrow hutch in her kitchen dining area. That was the one piece of furniture I wish I could have been blessed with, but my cousin was the lucky recipient.
Loving Reflection
One day, I found a hutch that was very similar and I fell in love. I had to have that piece of furniture, and I have cherished it ever since. Even though it is not my grandmother’s hutch, it reminds me of her and all the wonderful things we did and shared. Like my grandmother, I entrust the care of my prized hutch and the things I display on and in it to Pledge® Lemon Clean Furniture Spray. It keeps my hutch clean, while it conditions and protects the wood. The Allergens Trappers® remove dust and up to 90% of allergens found in dust. My hutch has a rustic rough-wood finish. This means that from time to time it needs a little extra care. The wood can dry out from sun and dry air easier than fully finished furniture.
How-to Clean Rustic Rough-Wood Furniture:
Use a soft paintbrush (dedicated to dusting) to brush away dust that gets trapped in the rough texture.
Do not spray furniture polish directly on the wood.
Use a liberal amount of Pledge® Lemon Clean Furniture Spray on a soft cloth.
Wipe the prepared cloth against the wood, massaging the spray into the wood.
This will leave a beautiful glow and a lemony fresh scent.
If your furniture is getting dry and needs a little extra T.L.C., use the Pledge® Extra Moisturizing Furniture Spray.
Remember to care for your furniture and your home on a regular basis.
The lemon fresh scent takes me right back to grandma’s kitchen, when I’d pull open the silverware drawer in her hutch. Grandma would even polish her laminate kitchen table to a brilliant shine after dinner with the Pledge® Lemon Clean Furniture Spray. Like Grandma, I keep silverware in the drawer of my hutch. I have confidence in serving my family and friends at gatherings and holiday celebrations from my hutch, and I love the sentimentality and treasured memories it brings.
Here’s a couple helpful hints:
In need of a quick clean? Grab the Pledge® Lemon Wipes. They are fantastic for touch-ups! And the Pledge® Multi Surface Everyday Cleaner with Glade® Rainshower® is a winner for stainless steel and chrome, and many other surfaces.
It is easy to pick up Pledge® products at your local Kroger family of stores. Rory and I snag our furniture polish, cleaner, and wipes from the cleaning aisle at Ralphs. Follow Pledge® on Facebook for more helpful hints and tips.
What pieces of furniture do you have that bring back special memories and reflections of you? Are you giving them the care they deserve with Pledge®? Celebrate the beauty of your home! #PledgeReflectionOfYou
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Pledge®. All opinions are mine alone. #MyPledgeCastle #CollectiveBias
Pledge® – It’s Not Just For Furniture!
You have all heard the phrase, “My home is my castle.” It is so true, isn’t it? We surround ourselves with the things we love and cherish, things that have special meaning and a place in our hearts. It is only natural to want to take care of these things in the best way possible. And, for me that means using the products trusted by my mother and grandmother, Pledge®.
Whether it’s the china hutch handed down to me by my grandmother, the vintage sewing machine and cabinet given to me by my mom, or the bedroom suite I passed down to Rory, Pledge® Lemon Clean helps beautify and pamper our furniture. I love that the furniture cleaner features Allergens Trappers® to remove dust and up to 90% of the allergens found in dust. Sometimes, I switch things up a bit and choose the Pledge® Orange Clean scent. The lemon and orange both leave my home smelling fresh and clean.
But, did you know that Pledge® has an entire family of cleaning products? They do. It is not just for wood furniture. The furniture polishes mentioned above join together with Pledge® Multi Surface Everyday Cleaner with Glade® Rainshower®, and the Pledge® FloorCare Products to give your castle a beauty makeover with your usual cleaning routine.
Here are some other uses for Pledge® Lemon Clean and Pledge® Multi Surface Everyday Cleaner with Glade® Rainshower®:
Shine your Stainless Steel (dishwasher, refrigerator, oven).
Shine your Chrome (faucets, toaster, light fixtures, knobs, towel holders).
Cabinets, Doors, Moldings (door jambs and window frames), Ceiling Fans.
Remove that gooey tough glue residue left behind from adhesive or stickers.
Clean and condition leather couches, leather bound photo albums
In fact, some of our favorite uses (other than furniture) happen outside the home. Let’s face it, what castle doesn’t have a carriage, and with us, it is our classic cars and hot rods.
A while ago, I shared this fun post, Hot Rods & Classic Cars. Today, I’m going to tell you a little secret on how to get a show-worthy shine on your vehicle with Pledge®.
When you take your hot rod to a car show, trunk space is very limited, so taking the full-blown car detail kit is not an option. You can still impress the judges and spectators by bringing along this simple kit. All you need is a can of Pledge® Lemon Clean / Pledge® Multi Surface Everyday Cleaner with Glade® Rainshower® and a clean, soft, cloth baby diaper.
Spray a light mist on a clean cloth diaper (never spray directly on any part of the vehicle); then, wipe and polish the car one area at a time, until you have a dazzling shine.
Wipe down the dashboard, door panels, console, and seats.
Polish the chrome bumpers, grill, valve covers, chrome axle, mirrors, door handles, emblems, hood ornament, wheel rims, etc.
Shine your tires (use a different cloth from the one you are using on the car or interior).
This works really well on fiberglass cars to help keep dust away.
These touches will give your car or truck a brilliant shine worthy of any competition or special occasion (date night, graduations, weddings, etc.). And, it will leave your vehicle smelling fresh.
So, next time you’re at your local Ralph’s, Kroger, or any of the Kroger family of stores, don’t forget to pick up your Pledge® cleaning products. Check out more on the official Pledge® Facebook Page.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze. All opinions are mine alone. #YouGottaBeKittenMe #CollectiveBias
The Litter Master Recommends
Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze
They call me, The Litter Master.
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Cats are known for having unique and quirky personalities, and honestly, my adopted family finds me a little on the wacky side. But, they cannot argue with my superb selection in litter, Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze.
Some may say I am obsessed with litter. Just because I monitor the litter box, investigate when anyone is nearby, and have to jump in and check things out when people are messing with my box, does not mean I am obsessed. Can I help it if they don’t rake the new litter like I want it, and I have to climb in and rearrange the granules to perfect feline specifications? I take my litter seriously, don’t you? Do you like to use a dirty, smelly bathroom? Of course, not. So, go ahead, call me obsessed, call me The Litter Master; after all, I have a doctorate in litterology.
When our family adopted Josie and me as cuddly little kittens, we had a regular plastic litter box with no lid. Josie was so tiny she had trouble climbing into the box, but she did manage. I, on the other hand, thought that box was a great place to play. The litter box was my personal sand box—especially if it was freshly cleaned and filled with new litter. Such fun I had doing flips and somersaults, scratching and throwing about the litter. I was in heaven playing in my sand box. But, all that my family saw was the so-called mess. Was it really a problem to have litter strewn everywhere?
That constant mess led to the purchase of a deeper litter box with a lid! I was told my shenanigans had to be contained. The new higher-sided box meant the revival of Rory’s childhood step to reach the sink. Josie needed a boost to get in and out of the new litter box. LOL I have to admit, watching her try to get in or out before we gave her the step was hilarious, take it from a brother. Josie was a trooper, and she was determined to use the litter box and not go anywhere else.
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Kitty life went along just fine, until one day when we had a litter change…
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My family had me neutered! Think of all the litterology prodigies I could have spawned. Now, I must focus on sharing my expertise with humans to help better the lives of my fellow felines. But, I digress, when I returned home to recover (and believe you me, I worked the sympathy ploy to be royally pampered), the veterinarian recommend we use shredded paper instead of litter for the 10 days of my recovery. My precious Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze! Did he realize what he was asking? BIG MISTAKE! Neither Josie nor I was happy, and it led to this…
Skeptics may say this was a diabolical plan to get our favorite litter back, but Josie and I are tight—we will never admit to it. So, mission accomplished… I mean, mom and dad decided to give us back our litter, and just take extra care of me, when I had to use the facilities. The next problem at paw was how to clean the couch! Well, the doctor is in; let me help.
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What is the Best Way to Get Cat Urine Out of Your Couch?
Well, let’s learn a little science, so we can best understand the issue. Cat urine is waste fluid of protein metabolism. Its color and staining potential may vary with dietary habits, age, health, and sex of the cat. Since cat diets are typically richer in protein than that of dogs, cat urine can cause harsher odors, and are more likely to stain. See, cats have good reason for being finicky.
But, there is some good news. You can get the smell out of your couch. It is all in the science. Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), will damage the protein and lipids in the cat urine that lead to bacteria and odors. (There goes the vet’s plan to boost sales at the family sofa factory).
Keep in mind that cat urine can easily penetrate and saturate absorbent materials such as, carpet, upholstery, padding, etc. In fact, Josie’s accident soaked all the way through the couch and onto the flooring. The sooner you find and take care of the accident the better–while it is still wet is best.
DO NOT mix this until you are ready to apply it. Hydrogen Peroxide stays active for only 15 minutes.
DO TRY this on a small, inconspicuous area to be sure it is color safe on your upholstery, carpet, etc.
USE gloves to protect your hands.
16 0z – 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (if using 6% H2O2, dilute 50/50 with water)
1 Teaspoon mild Dishwashing Liquid
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
How to Clean and Apply:
Remove as much stuffing or padding, upholstery coverings, etc., as you can.
Completely Soak the saturated areas (plus a little more for good measure) with cold water.
Use clean white cloths or paper toweling to pat dry the area. Use deep pressure to draw as much of the urine out as possible. Do not rub or scrub.
If your padding is removable, soak with water and squeeze it out good.
When you have removed as much cat urine as you can, Mix the cleaning solution (H2O2, liquid soap, baking soda).
Wearing gloves, immediately saturate the areas with the solution. Use a white clean cloth to help you squeeze the cleaner into hard-to-reach places. (Place your padding in a large sink or tub, and soak thoroughly).
Once everything is fully soaked through, allow the cleaning solution to stand for a minimum of 15 minutes before sopping up as much liquid as you can.
Let air dry completely. This may take a while, maybe even a day or two–do not rush the drying.
Then, vacuum.
This works great! It has been nearly two months since our little accident, and we have had no recurrence of odor, and no staining.
16 0z - 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (if using 6% H2O2, dilute 50/50 with water)
1 Teaspoon mild Dishwashing Liquid
1 Tablespoon Baking Soda
Directions:
Remove as much stuffing or padding, upholstery coverings, etc., as you can.
Completely Soak the saturated areas (plus a little more for good measure) with cold water.
Use clean white cloths or paper toweling to pat dry the area. Use deep pressure to draw as much of the urine out as possible. Do not rub or scrub.
If your padding is removable, soak with water and squeeze it out good.
When you have removed as much cat urine as you can, Mix the cleaning solution (H2O2, liquid soap, baking soda).
Wearing gloves, immediately saturate the areas with the solution. Use a white clean cloth to help you squeeze the cleaner into hard-to-reach places. (Place your padding in a large sink or tub, and soak thoroughly).
Once everything is fully soaked through, allow the cleaning solution to stand for a minimum of 15 minutes before sopping up as much liquid as you can.
Let air dry completely. This may take a while, maybe even a day or two--do not rush the drying.
Then, vacuum.
Notes
1. DO NOT mix this until you are ready to apply it. Hydrogen Peroxide stays active for only 15 minutes.
2. DO TRY this on a small, inconspicuous area to be sure it is color safe on your upholstery, carpet, etc.
3. USE gloves to protect your hands.
3.5.3208
So, why does The Litter Master recommend Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze?
For one thing, Red Fox and Mr. Mouse give the new 42lb. bag, found only at Sam’s Club, a thumbs up! Jinx, The Litter Master, is a huge fan of the antimicrobial agent that inhibits the growth of odor producing bacteria, and the Borate Technology for superior ammonia control. Josie loves the odor controlling power of Febreze with the fresher aroma of the lemongrass citrus scent and lower dust.
Mom and dad like the resealable bag and stretchy handle that make handling and storing so much easier. PLUS, be sure to check the May Instant Savings Book – $3.50 off at Sam’s Club 5/11-6/5. This offer is already loaded to the member’s card. Remember, Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze is only available at Sam’s Club
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As The Litter Master, I have fully inspected this cat litter, and am confident your kitties will approve!
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Jinx and Josie give Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze a 5 Meow Review!
Pamper your kitties with easy to make DIY Yarn Balls Cat Toys!
Josie and I are so excited to share with you something that our sissy, Rory, has made for us, Yarn Balls! They are great fun, and Rory says they are pretty easy to make. She and mom put together a little video tutorial to walk you through making these amazing Cat Toys for your kitties. There are written instructions for download available here.
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Caring and Sharing with other Cats in Our Community!
As much as we LOVE this kitty litter, it was an even greater thrill to donate $100 to our local pet charity, Second Chance Pet Adoptions, as part of this campaign on behalf of Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze. It makes us happy to help other kitties find loving homes like we did. We hope you will be inspired to donate to a local charity of your own!
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Get your Fresh Step Total Control with the Power of Febreze NOW! It can be purchased in store or online. Take it from me, The Litter Master, your cats will thank you!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Clorox for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
Happy New Year!
Start the Year Clean and Fresh with Clorox
The holidays are over. I hope you enjoyed them as much as we did. Now, we look forward to the grueling drudgery of packing away all those decorations and cleaning every nook and cranny of the house for the New Year. I thought I would introduce you to my favorite NEW cleaning product—Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes with Micro-Scrubbersavailable at Target.
We all know that underneath and behind all those glorious holiday displays seethe all kinds of dirt and grime that has not seen a really good cleaning since Thanksgiving. They are everyone’s dirty little secrets.
Well, the New Year is here, and it is time to come clean. All that holiday cooking and baking takes a toll on your kitchen and appliances. The quick wipe-downs that worked around your busy holiday schedule, leaves you in need of something more thorough. Factor in that it is the middle of cold and flu season, and a good cleaning and disinfecting cannot be more important for your family’s health.
I know you all have used Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes before, and if you are like me, you love them. Those convenient pop-top bottles stay well stocked in my supply closet. But now, there is a new Clorox® product available that has quickly found its way to my cleaning heart. It was easy to add the Micro-Scrubber Wipes to my cleaning arsenal for those tough jobs.
Clorox now offers a second type of disinfecting wipes–upping the toughness of their wipes by adding Micro-Scrubbers to one side. These NEW scrubby textured wipes are thicker and more absorbent to scour away the toughest messes such as soap scum and grease, with the same great disinfecting power killing 99.9% of germs. With these added strengths for durability and hardiness, you can clean and disinfect 2-times the surface area.
I use my regular Clorox wipes for my light cleaning and disinfecting jobs; but now, I use the new Micro-Scrubbers Wipes for my toughest jobs.
10 Great Ways to Use Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes with Micro-Scrubbers
Micro-scrubbers are perfect for cleaning the non-skid bottom in your tub.
Wipe down sinks, shower, and vanity daily to keep that tough soap scum at bay.
Scrub and disinfect your cutting boards.
Clean up tough spills and grease from your counters.
Great for cleaning appliances—ovens, stovetops, laundry spills, detergent dispensers, toaster grime, microwave splatter, refrigerator inside and out (those grimy handprints on the handles, dried-on spills), etc.
Have glitter glued to your craft table? What about the paint drips or other crafting messes? Micro-scrubbers are just the thing you need.
Sticky doorknobs, doorjambs, and light switches.
Clean grout, muddy footprints, and spills on floors.
Make easy work of pet messes and litter boxes.
Keep your patio furniture clean and ready to use.
My supply closet stores both types of Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, those with Micro-Scrubbers and those without. Now, all my cleaning needs are met with one easy swipe of a wipe. And, bonus, they are available at Target, so it is easy to pick-up on my usual runs to Target! There is nothing I love more than clean and convenient.
This is our newly remodeled upstairs bathroom. The Christmas flood was good for something at least. Obviously it is not finished just yet since it has no mirror, but that will come later. We love our new bathroom, and to help keep it sparkling clean and in tip-top shape, we have a few easy cleaning tips and tricks.
Cleaning Tips
First off, the Products~
Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Scrubbing Bubbles, Chlorox Wipes, Glass Cleaner, Paper Towels, Sponges, Scrub Brush, Latex Gloves, and Plastic Bags.
Then, the Organization~
As you can see, all of the supplies for cleaning fit into our handy plastic tub, except for the paper towels and the plastic bags (the plastic bags are tucked inside the paper towel roll).
Everything tucks into the vanity cabinet (under the sink) for convenient storage. This way everything is handy-dandy when you need a more thorough cleaning. We keep a supply box like this in every bathroom. You can see our Non-Adhesive Contact Paper lining the shelf.
Tip Time~
Now, obviously, we all know what to do with the toilet bowl cleaner, but I keep a small toilet brush tucked back behind the toilet so we can swish and swipe every morning…very quick, very easy. This way we don’t have any really hard scrubbing clean-up when we do our weekly cleaning.
We line the trash can with a plastic bag…recycling, yes! This also helps keep the trash can clean.
Whenever we use the sink, we dry and polish it up with the towel. And every night before bed, we use the glass cleaner and a paper towel to shine up the sink, faucet, and counter top…easy-peasy.
Here’s the shower / tub… oh, how we L.O.V.E. our new shower! Notice the purple arrow pointing to the squeegy? This makes shower clean up so much easier. When we are finished showering, we simply use the squeegy to wipe down the shower doors, and shower walls. We use a towel to shine up all of the chrome fixtures, and our shower always looks gorgeous.
These are just a few simple tips that really do not add a lot of time to your daily routine, but save a lot when it comes to cleaning your bathroom!
I hope you found these tips useful. Do you have any cleaning tips? I would love to here about them in the comments!
