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 post, Keep Pets Healthy and Your Home Clean – Tips, is sponsored by The Libman Company but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. #EmbraceLifesMesses #CelebratePetsWithLibman #coupon
Keep Pets Healthy and Your Home Clean
Get helpful tips on protecting your pets
It’s National Pet Month! So, in celebrating our furry friends, I wanted to share some tips on how to keep pets healthy. Part of keeping your pet healthy is maintaining a clean home.
We’ve been pretty lucky with our cats, Jinx and Josie, they don’t spit up furballs or throw up often, but when they do, we can embrace life’s messes with the help of the Libman Wonder Mop®. It has Microfiber GRIPSTRIPS™ that lift up to 20% more dirt and a power wringer to remove more water from the mop head. Best yet (as far as I’m concerned – LOL), you can toss the Wonder Mop mop head into the washing machine! Now, that makes for easy cleanup. The mop head can go through 50 washing cycles before it needs to be replaced. Awesome, right?
Click here to get a $3.00 OFF COUPON for a Libman Wonder Mop!
Here are some other ways we keep our pets healthy:
Pet Medical Binder
It is important to get your pet regular veterinary care to keep their health at its best — shots, flea/tick treatments, spay/neuter, worming, etc. Pay attention to your pet and if something seems off, don’t hesitate to get it checked out. Keep track of your pet’s health records and microchip registration. Jinx and Josie have a binder with a record of all the shots they have received, the surgeries, antibiotics, and so forth. This way, if you need to change vets, or are on vacation with your pet, you have their history easily accessible.
Wash Food and Water Bowl Daily
Would it be healthy for you to eat off dirty dishes? No, and neither is it for your pet. Make sure to wash food and water bowls daily. Provide fresh food each day, and make sure to refrigerate leftover wet food properly.
Clean Litter Box Daily
Cats are very particular about their litter box. They like it and want it to be clean. This is also something that is super important to your cat’s urinary health. Cats get urinary infections easily, so be sure to scoop out the box one to two times per day — more if you have multiple cats. Completely wash the litter box and provide fresh litter at least once a week.
Brush Fur
Brushing your pet’s coat helps them get rid of excess fur. Not only does that help keep your home cleaner, it helps keep your pet from swallowing fur as they lick themselves. Cats are especially susceptible to furballs.
Play with your Pet
Play with your pet. Not only is it great bonding time and lots of fun, but it also provides exercise to keep your pet trim and healthy.
Get Cleaning with Libman!
Let The Libman Company help you keep your home clean for your pets with the Wonder Mop and other cleaning supplies.
It’s spring and it’s National Cleaning Week, so we have some fantastic spring cleaning tips and ideas to help you get your home looking its best. Plus link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #SpringCleaningTips #NationalCleaningWeek #HomeMattersParty
Spring Cleaning Tips and Ideas + HM #177
I love the feeling of a fresh clean house. It is more relaxing and enjoyable. Having a clean house makes me more productive and organized in every part of my life. And that means our family functions better. So, I like finding new and different spring cleaning tips and ideas.
The gals of Home Matters have put together a fabulous Spring Cleaning Tips and Ideas Roundup. We hope you will find some things that will work for you as you tackle this annual cleaning event. Enjoy!
Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!
Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!
Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…
If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…
Are you ready to Party?
The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.
We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.
Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.
Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag…
Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:
We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.
Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)
Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.
Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.
We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.
We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.
On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)
With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!
By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, and across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source. Also, you will receive a weekly email reminder regarding the new week’s Home Matters Linky Party.
Loading InLinkz ...
Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.
Don’t have a blog, but want to Remember to Party With Us each week?
Forgot to leave your email while linking up your post?
You can still sign up for our Email Party Reminders. Click below for a form…
Hat’s were thrown in the ring! It was announced that the BISSELL Big Green Rental machine would take on the Rug Doctor Rental in a bout to see who will win the heavyweight carpet cleaner rental championship. The ring is a room of wall-to-wall carpet that will provide an immense challenge to both fighters. Which competitor will have the design, the strength, the power, and the stamina to walk away as the champ?
Carpet Cleaner Main Event
BISSELL Big Green vs. Rug Doctor
Are you entertaining this summer and want to spruce up the house? Trying to make that budget stretch and not replace your carpet? Need to get that cleaning deposit back on your apartment or rental home, but don’t want to pay the high cost of a professional? Rent a carpet cleaner and do-it-yourself. It really is not hard to do, and the results will make you smile. Now, you have to choose your rental machine — let me help.
It’s heavy, stocky design is hard to move having only the two wheels at the back making the machine unbalanced and more difficult to bob-and-weave.
Handle height is shorter than its competitor, and has a few locked-in adjustable positions.
Cleaner trigger distance is far from handle.
Needs help filling up for the fight (bucket and measuring cup required).
Clean water tank in the base of the machine.
One removable tank for dirty water.
BISSELL Big Green
Is in its 30’s, but hales from an impressive carpet cleaning lineage of 140 years.
Has a sleek, lower-slung design with front and rear wheels giving the machine better balance and quick and easy footwork.
Taller handle height and fully pivoting handle positions – no adjustments needed.
Rotating DirtLifter® PowerBrushes that clean in both the forward and backward pass.
Cleaner trigger is located on the handle.
Removable clean water tank with attached measuring cup / lid make filling easy and requires no extras (such as bucket or measuring cup).
Two removable tanks — one for clean water, one for dirty water.
It’s almost time for the main event, so let’s check out the ring.
We’ve found the toughest high traffic, heavy wear-and-tear, carpet that’s had years of hard use for this fierce battle. Even with regular vacuuming, this carpet has deep ground-in dirt and many hard to get out stains (including grease).
All right guys, let’s have a good clean fight…
Time to go Toe-to-Toe
First up — BISSELL Big Green:
The removable tanks and attached measuring cup / lid make the Bissell Big Green easy to set up for use. Snap on the dirty water tank and the vacuum cap, and you are ready to roll.
See how easily it handles that gross heavy traffic area? The Bissell Big Green cleans the carpet as it moves in both directions (backwards and forwards) to clean carpets faster and use less energy. The vacuum does a great job of pulling the water back out of the carpet leaving it a little damp, but not wet.
The long pivoting handle is an amazing feature. Not only is it taller making leverage and use easier, but the pivoting handle extends the reach of the machine, so you don’t have to take as many steps over your freshly cleaned carpeting.
The Bissell Big Green and the Bissell Multi-Purpose Professional Strength Formula with Oxy Stain Fighting Power easily handled the stains without pre-treating.
Rug Doctor takes a Jab:
Grab your bucket and measuring cup — you will need them to ready the Rug Doctor for use. Your clean water pours directly into the base of the machine. Snap on the dirty water tank and the vacuum cap, and you are ready to get cleaning.
Rug Doctor cleans only in ONE direction, when being pulled backward. You have to expend a lot more physical labor to tip the heavy machine and push it forward, just so you can drag it backwards to clean again. Even with extra vacuuming, the carpet was left very wet. The Rug Doctor and the Rug Doctor Oxy-Steam Carpet Cleaner with Oxygen Cleaning Boosters did not handle the traffic areas or stains.
Let’s Clean the Machines:
BISSELL Big Green
Rug Doctor
WOW! Each machine cleaned its own area of the room, each with equal heavy traffic and stains. There is no doubt which machine pulls out more dirt and grime from your carpet — the Bissell Big Green. And of course, that is exactly what you are looking for when doing carpet cleaning.
The Bissell Big Green is also easier to clean. Notice the rectangular boxy shape of the dirty water tank and the very large opening. These features make it easy to get your hand inside and gives no difficult angles or spaces for cleaning.
The Rug Doctor on the other hand, has a small opening and an irregular shaped dirty water tank — not easy for cleaning.
Readying the Carpet Cleaner Rental for Return:
Before you pack the carpet cleaning machine in your car or truck, you need to be sure all the excess fluids are drained. You certainly don’t want spillage in your vehicle. So, here’s how that works for these two machines.
BISSELL Big Green
The removable clean water tank makes it super easy to drain. You can even use a funnel and store the remaining cleaning solution for later use.
Rug Doctor:
The Rug Doctor does not make it easy. You have to lift the entire heavy machine to empty the clean water tank. Remember, it is part of the base of the machine. Not fun.
Recap the Boxing Match:
Here is the up-close and ugly truth! They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and it is so true.
We finished the room with the BISSELL Big Green, and just look at how nice that carpet looks now. We have a very clear winner…
Introducing the Heavyweight Carpet Cleaning Champion:
The Bissell Big Green wins the bout in every category. It’s superior design makes this machine easy to use from start to finish. It’s excellent cleaning power not only cleans your carpet better, but does not leave it soaking wet. The BISSELL cleaning formula has a fresh scent and leaves no residue behind. Congratulations, Champ!
Now, you’ve seen how awesome the Bissell Big Green Carpet Cleaner Rental is. Want to get a FREE RENTAL? It’s easy, just ENTER THE GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is leave me a comment, and tell me:
Why would you choose the BISSELL Big Green Rental?
The GIVEAWAY will close Sunday, June 12, 2016. All who leave a comment answering the above question will be automatically entered.
Even if you don’t win the giveaway, you can still get a screaming deal on your next BISSELL Big Green Rental and Machine Formula with this $10 OFF COUPON!
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.
…
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.
…
Kitty life went along just fine, until one day when we had a litter change…
…
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.
…
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
…
As The Litter Master, I have fully inspected this cat litter, and am confident your kitties will approve!
…
…
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.
…
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!
…
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!
Is your child’s room driving you crazy? Get some real life Cleaning Hacks to manage the mess from our new Regular Contributor, Megan Wild. You are going to love Megan’s ideas.
Hacks for Spring Cleaning Kids’ Rooms
Cleaning Hacks to Manage the Mess!
It’s bedtime, and the lights are going out around the house. Your little ones are climbing into their beds, patiently awaiting – and prolonging – your goodnight. This is when you bravely enter the room.
You find yourself walking through a carefully cleared path of clutter. One step at a time you inch forward. Step. Step. Step … until YOW!
As the pain registers and an inappropriate word sneaks into your mind’s vocabulary, you continue to quickly hobble to the bedside of your giggling child. They – of course – always seem to navigate the minefield of toys and clothes quite nimbly.
When you’ve made it, you survey the damage, swearing to yourself that tomorrow will be different. It will be clean tomorrow. It has to be. It just has to be.
With these spring cleaning hacks and organizational tips, a new day is coming.
Use Large Buckets and Bins
Sometimes it’s the desire to have everything in its proper place that really does a parent in. Go easy on yourself by using large buckets and bins to clear up miscellaneous toys, books and socks. Look for ones with lids if a little extra protection and privacy is desirable.
Different sizes will allow for the storage of both small and large, bulky items, resulting in a space that is cleared up in no time and looks like a million bucks.
Create Picture Labels
Help your kids understand where everything goes by using pictures of the items where they should be kept. Whether hand-drawn, clip-art or snapshots from your camera, picture labels on bins and shelves will give kids a sense of familiarity and understanding where their toys and clothes need to go when they’re not being used. You may even consider making this a rainy day project, getting assistance from your little ones to make the photos in a way that is interactive and fun.
Put Together an Organization Chart
Sometimes, a messy room can be overwhelming. If your kids aren’t sure where to start – and you aren’t either – try putting together an organization chart. The chart would lay out the order in which to start cleaning. Consider getting the trash gathered first, using bins to separate clothes from toys, etc.
Separate each task out and add stickers to the chart when something is completed. Consider rewards for consistently clean spaces and/or number of stickers for tasks completed. Small rewards, like a trip to the park or a vacation near home, can help keep older ones motivated.
Install Additional Rods in the Closet
Closets aren’t really made for kids, are they? Think about how tall they are, and where the rod for hanging clothes usually sits. Instead of having them teeter their way up a stepstool, install a second rod into the lower half of the closet.
This will allow them to hang up clothes themselves, using the lower bar for items that are worn all the time. The upper portion of the closet can be used for items that maybe don’t see the sun as much.
Hang up Artwork on Clipboards
Clipboards hanging on the walls are excellent for showcasing pictures, drawings, awards, etc. The papers and portraits are secure for as long as they are to be displayed, and the clipboards provide an interchangeable frame for the times when new artwork walks through the door.
Use Binders for the Rest
Not every piece of artwork that your son or daughter is proud of can hang on the wall. Instead of pitching out valuable pieces, store their proud moments in a binder labelled for each school year. Use archival sleeves and pockets to keep out pests and unwanted moisture.
Messy rooms are no fun. Clear the clutter away and get a deep cleaning going in your kids’ rooms this spring, using these cleaning hacks and organizational tips as inspiration. Be sure to get their help and input into the space, allowing older ones to take more responsibility for tasks as they are able. When it’s all done, enjoy a bedtime routine that is truly pain-free.
Megan Wild loves a lot of things, but organization takes the cake. When she’s not sorting everything she owns into a specific order, you can find her writing about her tips for keeping a clean home on her blog, Your Wild Home.
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.
Well, with Christopher moved out, and Kirk living and working on campus this summer, it is time for Rory and I to get this house CLEAN!!! I am so excited to be able to clean and not find more mess in mere minutes.
Five days before Christmas last year, we had a major flood in our house. The upstairs bathroom had 4-inches of water standing in it, water seeped into the bedroom, a closet, and the linen closet, and worst of all… We had a waterfall in our living room! Five and a half hours after we turned off the main water to the house, we still had water pouring from our living room ceiling. The Christmas Tree did not look happy and neither did I.
Finally, all of the reconstruction is finished, but my house is not yet put back together. To help us get the house into tip top shape, Rory and I are FLYing with the FlyLady! If you need to get organized, motivated, or energized to clean and de-clutter your house, check it out.
So far, so good for Rory and me. Do you FLY or have any great tips?
