House Cleaning Tips

I have a few grandkids, but with the birth of the last one – cutest granddaughter ever by the way, but then aren’t they all? – it really hit me how important it is I help teach her about cleanliness. Especially now that she’s two, going to daycare, and coming home sick. I’m not a germaphobe but I am more cautious and I do notice how much I’ve stopped putting my hands on my face. I’m one of those when absorbed in working, I lean on an elbow and my face rests in my hand(s), near my mouth (Ick!). When you think about it, who knows what germs are on the surface of the computers keyboard, your cell phone, the loofah you shower with, the razor you shave with, etcetera and so on. Now that its summer (and where I’m at the temperatures have been soaring); I’m sure there are plenty of kids pleading for some pool time, outdoor activities, and other fun stuff. And who are we to spoil their fun and disappoint them? Spoiling the fun or not, here are some things you should be aware of. Its good i...

This post isn’t about cleaning or organizing; it’s more about how I’ve been spending some of my time over the past weekends. Something different to write about but none-the-less – it was fun and enjoyable! Over the past couple of weekends I have been spending some time with a friend making over her daughter’s (I’ll call her Dee) bedroom. The three of us have been putting our heads together to make this a special room, we want it to be something that can grow with her yet easily be changed as she gets older. There were some requests Dee made. She wanted her favorite colors incorporated into the room - a light aqua blue, grey, and pink. She also wants a bright and cheery bedroom to match her personality. Our Plan for Brightening up the Bedroom After much discussion, we decided we would paint the walls, trim, and window sill white. White is a color that will brighten up a room bright. The majority of the color used would be the light blue. We bought blue curtains for the windows that had ...

We’ve talked quite a bit about getting rid of smells around the house. I have a touchy nose – it picks up the slightest of smells. If you have a nose like mine, you know what I’m talking about and if you’re like me, you keep a clean house so where do those disturbing little smells come from? Below are some common and not-so-common things around the house that cause bad smells and natural ways to send them to the bye bye world. Bring in the Fresh Air! This is one of the first things I do when weather permits. I open the windows and doors (with screens so my cats don’t get out) and let the fresh air in while I’m cleaning. Keep the Vacuum Cleaner Clean! OK, we all know the importance of vacuuming on a regular basis and changing the bag regularly (if you have one) but some things a lot of us don’t think about doing are: Keep the bag compartment or dirt container (for bagless machines) clean. Clean the filter on occasion how the manufacturer recommends. Keep the beater bar and the area ...

There are many different types of paints and paint brushes that are made to use with the different types of paints that may require a certain kind of brush fiber to be used. Because of this, when cleaning your brush, there is more than one way that is required to remove the paint from the brush. Let’s look at the different types of paints, brushes, and bristles used. Paint Acrylic, Acoustic, Gloss, Latex, Matte, Oil Based, Primer, Resin, Rubber-based, Semi-Gloss, Textured, and Water Based Brushes Angular, Angle Flat, Bright, Chinese Bristle Brush, Chisel Blender, Filbert, Flat, Flathead, Oval Wash, Pointed Round, and Round Bristles Natural hair bristles from animals: badgers, camel, hogs, and sable. Synthetic hair bristles are made from polyester and nylon. Flagged synthetic bristles are typically made from nylon with split bristle ends. This helps to hold paint on the brush. These types of brushes are usually used with a Latex based paint. Now let’s take a look at some of the clea...

I was sitting down getting ready to write a post for you all about cleaning tips but the sun is beckoning and felt I had to say a little something about how the warm weather makes me feel. It’s the end of April in my neck of the woods and we have been having some wonderfully warm sunny days. It won’t be the end of the rainy days but Oh! How we Are loving it! Some of my flowers are blooming, leaves are green, the butterflies are out, windows are open; the fresh, warm air is like being wrapped in a blanket. Isn’t it amazing how a beautiful day can do so much to lift your spirits and help you see things in a whole new light? The sun feels so good; I’ve started wearing my shorts and tank tops, even if only for a short time I know summer will be here soon and it will be part of my daily attire. I love the simplicity of summer, the slower pace in which my life moves and that I have the time to “stop and smell the roses”. Being outdoors more often, tending my gardens, and walking with my came...

There are many reasons why you should consider hiring a professional cleaning company to come in and clean your home. Your home is being cleaned by a professional company. That’s right. A professionally trained team of typically two or three will come in and clean your home. Instead of you spending the day making your home spotless, you’re letting the pro’s do it for you while you get to relax. An established company provides stability, has the necessary insurance and bonds in place, and will send out qualified, trusted and background checked employees. It’s important you hire a cleaning service that complies with all state and federal laws. It’s your Choice, What do you Want? When you hire a professional cleaning company, you have the freedom to pick the time that works best for you and the day. You also choose the type of service you would like to have done; one that fits your budget. You can get on a regular cleaning schedule, a one-time only cleaning, or just have a cleaning do...

I like a clean and tidy house and I like coming home to a clean house, not a whirlwind of disorganized stuff. It wasn't always like that though, I mean I kept a clean house but there were days that would get away from us. We'd get busy with kids, school, work and Wham! the mess was there. I'd come home and there'd be stuff covering the counters or the desk was messy and I didn't want to sit and pay bills. My thoughts felt as scattered as the contents in my home. That's about the time we incorporated "Dump Baskets". What is a Dump Basket? A dump basket is a tool to help keep the house clean and organized. You place them in areas of the house where things tend to get dumped. Then one day (or days) you put the contents from the dump basket where they belong. This saves you time and energy during the week to relax and not worry so much about picking up after everyone. A dump basket can be of any size, rectangular, square, circular, and design to fit i...