House Cleaning Tips

What is it about laundry that makes it one of our least favorite chores? I mean, it’s fairly easy to put the clothes in the washer and then transfer those clothes to the dryer, right? We can pretty much walk off and do other things while they are washing and drying but— what is it ? Is it because doing the laundry is boring and takes up too much time? Is it because of all the sorting, pre-treating, too many products to choose from, ironing and folding? Could it be there are articles of clothing someone in the family doesn’t want to go in the dryer because their yoga outfit or favorite sweater could shrink? What if you don’t remove them from the dryer right away or you completely forget they are in the dryer in the first place? You turn the dryer on again to fluff the wrinkles out before folding—then hopefully it doesn’t get forgotten about again. And what if you forget they are even in the washing machine until you go to do another load of laundry? You have to rewash the forgotten ...

Want to know a secret? I’m not perfect. Just because I clean for a living doesn’t mean I’m immune to something getting dirty. I’ve been known to spill a little coffee, and my laundry basket isn’t full of clean clothes – I have a few kids, a husband that loves to barbecue, and a large family that comes over to gather around the holidays. Stains do exist in my house just like they exist in yours and I’m here to tell you, you can conquer the stain! I love my coffee and stain here and there isn't going to make me stop drinking it. So let’s get to removing a coffee since we all have slopped a little over the years. One of My Coffee Stain Stories I' sure this story is a familiar one to many of you. I was out meeting a friend of mine for lunch one day and when she got to the table and I reached over to take her hand, I bumped my latte, it spilled a little, and I got a little coffee on the end of my shirt sleeve. I knew I was going to be out for a few hours, so instead of getting u...

I have a daughter that has extremely sensitive skin. She would break out with random skin rashes, hives, and other breakouts. We weren’t really sure what the cause was. We did the usual: went to the dermatologist tried specialty skin care products eliminating foods and fabrics changing our laundry products and on and on When we went to the dermatologist, he prescribed a high strength corto steroid cream. It actually breaks down collagen and can only be used for 10 days at a time. Why would you want to put that on your skin? It finally struck me (as I was folding laundry) and noticed a heavy fabric softener residue on the towels that my daughter was adding excessive amounts to the laundry. Because fabric softeners are loaded with chemicals , we wondered if that couldn’t be the problem she was having with her skin. I mean its common sense that using these chemical ridden products; they can leave a residue on your skin and cause a reaction! This is especially true for those who alread...

Summer and warm weather, you gotta love it. I know I do. I was a tomboy when I was growing up. Riding the mini-bike, horses, climbing, you name it, and we were doing it better than the boys were. Of course, doing these things also left my Mom with quite a lot of dirty laundry, sometimes I’d scrap or seriously scratch an arm or leg leaving my clothes a bloody mess. My mother was none too happy. Now I know how my Mother felt. After having 3 children (2 daughters and 1 boy), I've removed my share of blood stains and I'd say that qualifies me as a stain removal expert. Keep reading and you’ll be one too! The old fashioned, tried and true methods remove blood stains on clothing, sheets, blankets, and furniture. Remember Time is of the Essence If you can, get to the stain before it dries and has a chance to set in the fabric. A fresh blood stain is easier to remove. Use Cold Water Always use COLD water. If you use hot water on a blood stain, you will literally cook the blood bind...

Removing stains doesn’t have to be rocket science or become a scene where you’re shouting expletives. If it’s summer and you have kids, you have stains. Maybe Dad’s out in the back practicing baseball with junior and he slides for home base or the kids are riding bikes or skateboards and one falls and scrapes themselves up. These things happen all too often, leaving you to clean up. Below are some easy, non-toxic ways to get some of the most common kids stains out! Blood Stain Removal First off, don’t use hot or warm water. This can lock in the stain and make it a permanent stain. Hydrogen Peroxide This handy multi-tasker works great on blood stains. Put a piece of plastic wrap under the stain, then pour the hydrogen peroxide right on the stain. Cover with another piece of plastic wrap then a towel (hp turns to water when exposed to light). Check the progress after a few minutes, repeat as necessary. Rinse with cool water. Ammonia This can be used on most fabrics and it won’t damag...

Front loaders have become very popular over the years. For one they say they are easier on your clothes and it seems you can put an endless amount of clothes in each load of laundry you do. They are more energy efficient and they cut back on water consumption. One thing that seems to be common with front loaders is the mildew smell coming from the washing machine and sometimes your clothes. This is because front loaders don’t completely drain every time after every load of laundry you do. Space issues in your laundry room can also lead to excess moisture in the tub which can lead to bacteria and germs. Because these front loaders can be expensive, maintenance is important to prolong the life of the washing machine. Let us lend you a hand the next time you clean your front loading washing machine with these helpful tips.

Who doesn't like to own something made of leather; whether it's a leather couch, a leather coat, a purse or shoes, it's durable and flexible, soft and supple, and looks fabulous. So what happens when you get a leather stain? Hopefully either the leather you purchased was pre-treated or you were advised to pre treat your leather with a good commercial cleaner and protectant. Leather protected from the elements is less likely to stain. Then - you need to get to the stain immediately for best results. Stains are not always noticed right away but don't panic - see our tips for removing stains on leather using household products.

Do you have a tough stain on a piece of clothing and you're frustrated because it didn't come clean in the wash and now your thinking you might have to throw it away? Wait!! Before you toss it in the trash or use it for a cleaning rag, check out these cleaning tips. You might just find something that works for your situation. How to Remove Baby Formula Most of the time, if you catch a fresh formula stain on baby’s clothing, you can pre-treat it (with something like Dreft Stain Remover) and wash it, and then the stains are gone. But what if you have been given some baby clothes with formula stains that have been there a while? Pre-Treating Baby Clothes Here are a few things you can try: Apply a detergent like Dawn to the stain and gently work it in with a clean, old toothbrush. Let sit for an hour or so. Dissolve 2 to 3 scoops of OxiClean into one gallon of cold water and let soak between 24 and 48 hours. Good old Mother Nature is another great option. Spritz the stain with...