When you live in a house for almost a decade, you tend to
accumulate a lot of stuff. Not just new stuff, either. With every home my
husband and I have purchased, we’ve brought boxes from our previous home to go
through later. Later is now for me!
Showing posts with label
cleaning
Ah, Summer! How we love you. When you aren’t here we dream
of your warm days and perfect star filled nights. We long for juicy peaches and
messy popsicles. July is half over and we still happily look forward to summertime fun like swimming, taking road trips, picnics at the park, family cookouts, gardening, morning trips through the farmer's market and bonfires, just to name a few. The
one thing we don’t plan and dream of is summer chores. Today I'm sharing 15 chores you can tackle in 15 minutes or less to help you get back to enjoying this amazing season quickly.
I don’t know about you, but at my house, once the kids are
out of school my chore time increases. From sticky kitchen tables and counters
to the ever present need to sweep up tracked in grass and dirt, I felt like I
could not keep up until I made this one simple change.
When I'm home, I take a break from work every 30 minutes or so and do a
quick chore. Taking these mini-breaks helps me be more productive, helps
increase my energy while decreasing my seat time and helps lessen my chore list
when I do switch gears and stop working for the day. You’d be surprised how
much you can get done in 10 - 15 minutes!
Here are 15 quick chores that I do. Feel free to copy my
list to get you started.
- Fold a load of laundry, put it away and start a new one.
- Sweep the kitchen and mud room floor.
- Wipe down bathroom counters and mirrors.
- Water plants on front porch.
- Clean out trash in car.
- Go through mail and recycle junk mail.
- Dead head flowers and pinch back herbs.
- Check pantry supplies for weekly meal plan.
- Dust a room and put away discarded items.
- Unload dishwasher.
- Wipe down kitchen table and chairs.
- Clean out Frig drawers or organize shelves.
- Clean photo frames in the hall.
- Update coupons.
- Wipe down glass doors.
If you work away from home all day, you can still use this
list to tackle your chores. Taking a break every 30 minutes to do something you
enjoy like sipping a cool drink while reading will help you feel re-energized
once you do return to your chore list.
Be sure to delegate some of your chores to your kids if they
are old enough and especially if they find you mid-task and tell you they are
bored! I always find a task my daughters can handle. Just remember to be good
to yourself and step away from work too so you can fully enjoy this special
season.
Please share in comments: What is the toughest area of your home to keep clean? For me, it's the bathroom counters!
It’s Friday and you know I love being able to offer great giveaways on this special day, but this Friday feels more like a Throwback Thursday because I’m working with Dreft this week. Smelling that heavenly “baby” scent brought back a flood of special memories for me! I remember taking great care with my girls clothing, blankets and Lovie’s back then, and now I’m honored to be working with Dreft again to pass this love of Dreft’s scent and gentle cleaning on to other Moms with little ones.
This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Dreft. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.
Did you know that Dreft is the number 1 baby laundry choice of pediatricians because it’s gentle and hypoallergenic on baby’s skin? Dreft has been trusted for over 80 years! Now Moms can enjoy that beloved scent longer by switching to stage 2 Active baby Dreft and by adding the new Dreft Blissfuls in wash scent boosters to any load of laundry! I recently washed some of my girls’ stuffed animals before re-packing them for storage and I couldn’t get enough of that delightful scent.
Back when my now teen daughters were babies, I used Dreft newborn on all of their laundry. I didn’t want their clothes to be uncomfortable on their skin, especially during the warmer months. Here in the south, humidity plays a huge role in how we feel in our clothes. Combine that with warmer temps and all the allergens floating around and you’ve got a recipe for skin irritations, especially with baby’s sensitive skin!
Dreft has teamed up with Mom and pediatrician Dr. Dyan Hes to talk more about spring allergy season and how we can help keep our baby’s protected and comfortable this time of year.
Here are a few great tips from Dr. Dyan Hes to keep in mind this spring.
1. Shade the sun: The long awaited spring season means increased outdoor time for parents and their babies. When heading outside, don’t forget to practice appropriate baby skin safety.
- For babies 6 months or older. If your baby is 6 months or older, liberally use sunscreen. Also, avoid exposing your baby to the sun during peak hours — generally 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — and dress your baby in protective clothing, a hat with a brim and sunglasses.
- For babies younger than 6 months. If your baby is younger than 6 months, keep him or her out of direct sunlight. Protect your baby from sun exposure by dressing him or her in protective clothing, a hat with a brim and sunglasses.
2. Protect Problem Skin: Heat is a common trigger for eczema and as the weather warms up, there are a few things you can do to help prevent flare ups of such skin irritations.
- The sun is strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. so try to shield baby from direct sun exposure during those times. There are also apps available that can inform you of the hottest part of the day – which can be helpful for parents as they plan any outings with their little ones!
3. Load up on liquids: Staying hydrated during the spring months is important as baby gets more active outdoor time and sun exposure.
- Start with the inside and ensure children get enough to drink throughout the day. Infants should nurse or take a bottle often; older kids should tote a sippy cup or reusable water bottle. Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and smoothies in your child’s diet too.
Want to learn more? Please join @Dreft on May 9th from 9-10pm EST as they host a Twitter party with Dr. Dyan Hes! She will be sharing her tips to ensure your baby is happy and healthy this spring allergy season! Please RSVP to let us know you'll be joining us!
I've loved my walk down memory lane and I feel confident that when my girls pull their baby items out from storage, they will still be able to smell and feel the gentle care that Dreft provides.
Win It!
Thanks to our sponsors, one lucky reader will win a Dreft Hypoallergenic Package Dreft product prize package which includes 1 Dreft Newborn, Active Baby, & Blissfuls and a Gender neutral hypoallergenic blanket.
This sweet snuggle blanket from Brooklyn Bamboo is so soft, lightweight and comfy, I’m tempted to use it now summer napping with my big girls!
Terms:
No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter from below. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment. I will mail a coupon to each winner. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel.
Please share in comments: Do you have a favorite blanket or stuffed animal that your baby loves(d) that you are saving for your them?
Good luck!
Are you hosting family and friends during the holidays this year? Naturally, you want to make them feel welcome from the moment they arrive. All of a sudden the busiest spot in your home isn’t the kitchen; it’s the foyer. Before your guests arrive, think through what they will be wearing and carrying so you can provide a clean, functional space to help get them settled in quickly. This chore shouldn’t take more than 35 minutes.
In my last post I admitted that I was behind on my fall
cleaning. I’m putting in some domestic over-time to catch up and I’m seeing and
smelling the results of my labor. I fell
in love with Mrs. Meyer’s Sweet Basil multi-purpose cleanser a month or so ago when
I became an ambassador for ePantry and started using their green cleaning
products. As an ambassador, I am happy
to share a great offer on Mrs. Meyer’s Seasonal Scents with you today so you
can get your home holiday ready as well.
This post contains my
ambassador affiliate link and I may receive a small commission should you make
a purchase using it. However, I only share products and brands I feel are of
benefit to you.
The holidays are the most wonderful time of year for almost
everyone I know. I love all the hustle and bustle, the planning, the warmth of
an adorned home, the meals, but the cleaning? It’s a necessity that we all must
tackle, so why not make your home sparkle with one or more of Mrs. Meyer’s Seasonal Scents line? This year they are available in Cranberry, Orange Clove
and Iowa Pine.
I have to admit it was hard for me to give up my Sweet Basil,
but once I smelled the Cranberry- I have been using it every chance I get! I
could use either scent as an air freshener they smell so good! My family always
compliments the scent of our home each time I use a Mrs. Meyer’s product and they
love to use the cranberry hand soap I put in the family bath as well.
I am really excited to share ePantry’s exclusive offer just
for my readers so that you can experience the magic of Mrs. Meyer’s seasonal
scents for free. It’s easy to give yourself the gift of a cleaning and
delightfully scented home!
Just sign up for ePantry this week and receive a free
Mrs. Meyer’s seasonal hand soap, dish soap, a $5.00 credit and free shipping with
a $20 minimum purchase. That’s a $20 value! Choose from any of Mrs. Meyer’s
fantastic, festive scents Cranberry, Orange Clove or Iowa Pine or get
creative and mix and match all three.
Refer as many friends as you like. When they place their first order they'll get a $10 credit and a free Grove Collaborative soy candle. You’ll earn a $20 credit for your next order.
About ePantry:
I love ePantry because it makes getting the best, nontoxic
cleaning and household products effortless and affordable. The first time you
sign up, ePantry asks you a few questions to help predict what you and your
family need and how often. Each month, ePantry sends a reminder email before
your order ships so you can easily review and customize it.
I’m using products that are good for my family, my budget
and the environment. If you are ready to take advantage of the offer and learn
more about ePantry, I invite you to sign up for ePantry today. You’ll need to answer a few quick questions
(takes about 30 seconds). New customers who sign up receive your
free Mrs. Meyer’s products and $5.00 account credit, but only by using my
referral link here. Please hurry! This freebie offer is good for a very limited
time.
Are you an ePantry
customer already? Please claim one free seasonal hand soap on your next
order by using this link.
Another great reason to join ePantry: Give $10, Get $20! November
- it's all about friends and family. At ePantry, it's also Double Referral Month. Please use my
referral link here and then pay it forward!
Refer as many friends as you like. When they place their first order they'll get a $10 credit and a free Grove Collaborative soy candle. You’ll earn a $20 credit for your next order.
Refer 1 Friend, Get $20
Refer 5 Friends, Get $100
Refer 10 Friends, Get $200
Refer 5 Friends, Get $100
Refer 10 Friends, Get $200
And to help you ring in this festive season, be sure to
enter the Mrs. Meyer’s giveaway as well where you'll have a chance to win 16 products.
If you do join ePantry today- thank you! I truly appreciate
your help and support!
Please share in comments: Which scent makes you think of the
holidays most? Cranberry, Orange Clove or Iowa Pine?
Here we are, just three short weeks away from Thanksgiving
and I haven’t finished half my fall cleaning chores found on my checklists here
and here. Being a homemaker at heart,
it’s tough for me to admit my home isn’t in “company ready” condition and I could
share with you a handful of excuses, but instead- I’m going to swing into
action and share my Holiday Hostess cleaning checklist that will help you and I
be ready to greet family and friends in no time.
We are in full fall cleaning mode now as we welcome in October
and I’m happy to welcome my very first guest post today. Please make Miriam Bornstein from Zillow feel welcome by commenting on her chore prompt. This is a perfect “tackle
over weekend” chore.
By Miriam Bornstein
Say goodbye to your nightly game of hide-and-seek when
searching for dinner ingredients. If your pantry looks like a war zone with open
boxes of pasta, spices on every shelf and empty containers taking up limited counter
space, then you are in dire need of pantry reorganization.
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| Source |
My family and I are ready to embrace fall and all the fun activities we enjoy doing this time of year, so when our girls asked what we were doing this weekend- they were surprised when my husband and I both said in unison- Chores! Our girls know they should be helping more, and they really do try.
Lately though, I’ve been feeling like a broken record “reminding” them to do their chores in a timely fashion. And I blame myself for this frustrating turn of events. I knew it was time to update my kids’ chore charts and get us back on track. My weekly chore prompt takes a few minutes to print out and a few minutes more deciding what chores to assign.
Welcome to September readers! I know for most us in the
United States it still feels like the dog days of summer; but I’m ready to jump
back into my regular blog schedule now that the kids are back in school. With
September comes a lot of prepping for fall fun and holidays, so it’s the
perfect time for me to welcome back my weekly chore prompt.
This week’s chore is a pretty easy one in both time and
effort, but be warned- you may get grossed out by what I’m about to show you.
Are Your Spatulas really Clean?
When I got it off, this is what I saw.
Gross right?
Can you imagine
cooking with that? No, of course you can’t and neither could I! I grabbed up
all the spatulas I’d been using and started pulling the tops off. Some weren’t as
bad as others, but none of them were spotless. Time to clean them!
How to deep Clean Spatulas:
- Gather Spatulas
- In large bowl or dishpan, mix one cup water and a half cup white vinegar
- Pull tops off spatulas and place both dirty sections in water/vinegar solution
- Soak for 30 minutes
- Once they're done soaking, make sure the hole in the spatula top is clean as well. If running under warm water doesn’t dislodge remaining grime, take a bamboo skewer or butter knife, wrap a paper towel around the end and gently wipe around the hole until clean. Be careful not to stretch the hole or the handle may not stay secure.
- Rinse both parts of spatulas again
- Allow to air dry
Once your spatula parts are completely dry, reassemble and
store as usual.
To keep your spatulas clean in the future, be sure to hand wash them
after each use and take the top off to clean. If you don’t hand wash your
spatulas, simply use my soaking method at least once a week and you’ll never
have gross spatulas again.
Please share in comments: Is there an organizing/homemaking
topic you’d like to see me cover here on the blog? Please let me know!
Happy Monday dear readers! As I was trying to get out the door to my very first blog conference on a recent Saturday morning, I tried multiple times to shut our foyer closet door but couldn’t because there was a rogue sneaker blocking the door. I picked the shoe up, looked for a free space to call its temporary home and found zero free space. Zip, nada. I couldn’t even find the sneaker's mate, so I did what any sane mom would do when she’s pressed for time - I chucked in the shoe and slammed the closet door. I knew the weekly chore prompt had to be organizing shoes!
Time To Corral Shoes:
Welcome to my new blog series! As you may have read last week, the idea for this series stemmed for a from a conversation over lunch
with a friend who needed a quick chore prompt to help her tackle chores over
and above her daily cleaning.
This week, we are tackling the refrigerator folks. That over
stuffed, sometimes smelly place we rely on daily.
Time To Clean out the Refrigerator:
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| A peak inside my over-stuffed Fridge |
Happy Friday dear readers and if you are a Mom- happy Mother’s
Day to you! I hope you enjoy your special day and will have a no-cleaning
Sunday! If you are a busy Mom like me, you may be half way through your spring
cleaning and despair that you have so much more to do. Never fear- Linda is
here!
Welcome to my Weekly Chore Prompt:
While talking with a friend over lunch recently, she
remarked that she wished she had a guide to help her keep on top of both
the big and the little chores she should do every week; beyond making the bed,
or sweeping the floor. That gave me the wonderful idea to share a weekly chore
with you here. These won’t be anything fancy, no need to print -just a quick
post sharing what area of my home I’m focusing on that week. Hopefully we can
get and keep our home sparkly clean and clutter free together!
If you’ve been reading my posts this month, you know I’ve been busy cleaning. I’ve shared a few tips and tricks in my Fall Cleaning Checklists you can read here and here. Now that we have a cleaning guide, let’s discuss cleaning supplies.
I was so excited when I was approached by e-cloth to write a post and receive free products and share my thoughts with you. It’s a perfect way to help you with your fall cleaning efforts because I’ll be giving away an eight piece home cleaning set and a little something for your pet too today.
As the homemaker, head care officer for my home and family; I want to ensure both are kept clean and comfortable. Some cleaning supplies can often leave harsh smells in your home that can aggravate your family and pets, but I didn’t have to worry about spraying any chemicals with e-cloths. You just use water and the millions of tiny fibers in each e-cloth go to work.
Using water instead of cleaning products helps me save money, helps reduce the use of plastics and helps improve my home’s air quality. Not only am I cleaning chemical free, e-cloths are proven to remove over 99% of all bacteria, including e-coli and listeria from hard surfaces with just water!
Eager to see these e-cloths in action, I set to work with the kitchen cloth first, wiping down my counters. Then I chased some dust bunnies with the dusting cloth and lastly I cleaned some of my collectible glass with the glass and polishing cloth. I was very pleased with the results and can’t wait to utilize all eight e-cloths I received.
I even got to clean my kitties with a super soft and absorbent cleaning mitt. The dual sided mitt is so soft and easy to use on your wet or dry pet.
I used the fronded side of the mitt on one cat to dry her after her bath and she was dry in no time. Then I used both sides of the mitt to clean my younger kitty.
I’m very pleased with the cleaning results with e-cloth and I will continue to use them. They are guaranteed for up to 300 machine washings, so they are well worth the initial investment. You can learn more about cost, materials used and more by visiting e-cloths website and following them on Facebook and Twitter.
The Giveaway:
Thanks to the folks at e-cloth, one lucky reader will win 1 dual sided pet cleaning mitt and 1 eight piece home cleaning set which includes:
- One 12.5"x12.5" Kitchen Cloth with Scrubbing Pocket
- Two (2) 16" x 20" Glass & Polishing Cloths
- One (1) Bathroom Cloth
- One (1) Window Cloth
- One (1) Dusting Cloth
- One (1) Stainless Steel Cloth
- One (1) Range and Stovetop Cloth
- One (1) dual sided pet cleaning mitt
Entering is easy using the Rafflecopter form below.
Terms: Open to U.S. residents 18+. No purchase necessary to enter. My WAHM Plan not responsible for prize fulfillment.
Good luck!
Summer is such a fun season. We wait for it all year, planning and dreaming of those long, hot summer days and what we’ll do in them.
Summer Fun Activities:
- Swimming
- Traveling
- Enjoying summer fruits
- Picnics
- BBQ’s
- Bonfires
- Sleepovers
- Gardening
The one thing we don’t plan and dream of is summer chores. I don’t know about you, but at my house, once the kids are out of school my chore time increases. From sticky kitchen tables and counters to the ever-present need to sweep up tracked in grass and dirt, I felt like I could not keep up until I made this one simple change.
Take a Break from Work-do a quick chore:
I take a break from work every 30 minutes or so and do a quick chore. Taking these mini-breaks helps me be more productive, helps increase my energy while decreasing my seat time and helps lessen my chore list when I do switch gears and stop working for the day. You’d be surprised how much you can get done in 10 - 15 minutes!
15 chores you can tackle in 15 minutes or less:
Here are 15 quick chores that I do. Feel free to copy my list to get you started.
- Fold a load of laundry, put it away and start a new one.
- Sweep the kitchen and mudroom floor.
- Wipe down bathroom counters and mirrors.
- Water plants on the front porch.
- Clean out the trash in the car.
- Go through the mail and recycle junk mail.
- Deadhead flowers and pinch back herbs.
- Check pantry supplies for a weekly meal plan.
- Dust a room and put away discarded items.
- Unload dishwasher.
- Wipe down kitchen table and chairs.
- Clean out Frig drawers.
- Clean photo frames in the hall.
- Update coupons.
- Wipe down glass doors.
WAHM's Re-Energize:
If you work away from home all day, you can still use this list to tackle your chores. Taking a break every 30 minutes to do something you enjoy like sipping a cool drink while reading will help you feel re-energized once you do return to your chore list.
Delegate Chores:
Be sure to delegate some of your chores to your kids if they are old enough and especially if they find you mid-task and tell you they are bored! I always find a task my daughters can handle. Just remember to be good to yourself and step away from work too so you can fully enjoy this special season.
Enjoy Summer!
Please share in comments: If you could wish away one household chore forever, what would it be? For me, it’s cleaning showers!
This New Year cleaning resolution tips post is brought to you by Mr. Clean as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.
This is a compensated post brought to you by Mr. Clean. Mr. Clean is kicking off the New Year with the launch of a new product called Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle, a new multi-purpose, multi-surface concentrated cleaning gel that delivers superior cleaning performance on and off the floor. Be sure to like Mr. Clean on Facebook and follow @RealMrClean on Twitter.
In my recent Homemaking tips post, I shared my easy to follow Checklist tips on organizing your chores for each room of your house. Even though I have several hot spots to attend to, I was drawn back to my kitchen. Probably because it is a hub for our family and because my husband and I cook family meals almost nightly- this leads to a greasy, grimy stove top!
Look at that mess! Thankfully, I know the perfect product for this job- Mr. Clean Liquid muscle!
 |
| Courtesy: Mr. Clean |
Have you heard about the new gel concentrate? If you are a fan of Mr. Clean products like I am, you are going to love this one too, especially since it has 2.5 more cleaning power in every drop, so you’ll be saving money while getting your house sparkly clean. And I love the new auto-stop cap so you use just the right amount for each chore.
I tipped the bottle over and out came a dollop of lemon scented muscle.
Mr. Clean liquid muscle made cleaning my stove top and my stainless back splash a breeze. It rinses off quickly too so my stove was in tip top shape in no time. Just look at that reflection!
Next up will be my floors. I’ll add 1 squeeze of Mr. Clean liquid muscle to a gallon of water and mop all my floors including my Parquet Foyer because this product is safe to use on wood surfaces too.
My daughters grew up with the smell of clean lemon scented Mr. Clean so they enjoy coming home to that familiar scent. Yesterday my daughter said she wants her room smell like Mr. Clean Crisp Lemon, so she’d need my bottle!
I invite you to learn more about Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle by visiting their website and following them on Facebook and Twitter using their links below.
Share with me in comments- What’s your favorite scent for your home? I love Lemon/Citrus and clean linen scents.
This is a compensated post brought to you by Mr. Clean. Mr. Clean is kicking off the New Year with the launch of a new product called Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle, a new multi-purpose, multi-surface concentrated cleaning gel that delivers superior cleaning performance on and off the floor. Be sure to like Mr. Clean on Facebook and follow @RealMrClean on Twitter.
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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