CLEAN FEELS GOOD!

Organizing Scrapbook Supplies

2011-01-18T06:25:00.000-08:00

If you are a scrapbooker, you know that scrapbook supplies literally multiply over time. It really can be quite crazy to stay on top of organizing what you've got . . . so you can use what you have. I would be sooooo embarrassed to admit how many duplicates I've bought over time - because of my lack of organization in my scrapbook room.

When I saw this article today from the Creating Keepsakes Blog, I think I might have drooled a little bit. I know, that should be embarrassing to admit. BUT if you click over to it (and by all means, you should) you will see what I mean. It just makes me want to organize the heck out of my scrapbook room!

Which, by the way, is one of my New Year's Resolutions. Yeah, not even lumped in with all the organization goals I have . . . organizing my scrapbook room is has a goal all it's own.

So, here are a few beautiful organization options that I especially loved from their blog entry. And you could definitely transfer scrapbook organization skills over to just about any room in the house. Why? Because I truly believe that if you can organize a scrapbook room, you can organize anything!

Is this stacked multi-tiered tray delicious? It is from Pottery Barn, so no wonder I have serious love for it. Ahhhh. Just think of the organizing possibilities! Obviously it works great for scrapbooking, but how great would this be in a home office? Laundry room? Baby's room? Kitchen? Teen bedroom? Sewing room? Just whatever? (I tried to find this on the Pottery Barn website, and it must be an older item. Dang. But the concept is still the same, a tiered organizer can be used for a ton of stuff!)

I love vintage stuff! And a cool old toolbox could be so useful for holding just about anything.

I love using baskets and bins for organizing. How great it is to use simple canning jars inside to help keep everything where it should be.

Isn't this space lovely? It belongs to Laura Vegas, a fabulous scrapbooker. It just makes me want to scrapbook. I have two desks just like the one pictured, and I love it! But my desk does NOT look as tidy as this one right now. But it will . . . soon enough. Click here to see more of Laura Vegas' organizing genius.

Here is another space that inspires me. It just looks, well, inviting. I just want to copy so many of her organizing ideas. This room belongs to Cindy Tobey, and I am in love! Check out more of her brilliance here.

And if you are in the mood for some serious organizing of all this scrapbook-ish, you may want to check out this book. It is so great! I just love, love, love it! I have it, and I love to pour over the pages, and I have definitely marked a few ideas to try.

So, stay tuned for some FABULOUS before and after shots of my very own scrapbook room. I really am determined to make it happen this year! You just wait!

Because if you are a scrapbooker, or even if you aren't, organized supplies just feel good!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

2011-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

I know it looks a little different, but that is what it is supposed to look like.

Ok. I am sensing a theme here. Obviously I have laundry on the brain. This is my third post in a row about laundry!

I am not a pioneer, but I did realize not too long ago, that I can make my own laundry detergent. It saves a TON of money, and I have really liked it so far! I've been making my own detergent for about 8 months now, and I can attest that it is worth it! And oh so simple!

Here is the recipe. I got it off the Internet, and since it was a while ago, I don't have a source to site. BUT there are quite a few recipes out there, if you google "homemade laundry detergent."

1 cup Borax
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
2 cups grated soap (Fels Naptha or Zote - in the laundry detergent aisle) (I even used Ivory soap one time)
(Also, I use a Salad Shooter for grating the soap. It is super fast, and works just fine!)

Mix altogether, and store in an airtight container (I don't know why it needs to be airtight, actually). Use 2 T. per load of wash. I have a high efficiency washer, and I just put the homemade detergent right in with the clothes, and bypass the detergent dispenser. But that is just what I do.

This website talked about much $ you can save . . . . (only $2.98 for about 65 loads!)
This website gives a liquid formula recipe (which just takes more time, and I don't think it is worth it). . . .
This website had a lot of details info, including a YouTube video . . . .

But when it comes down to it, you should probably just use my simple recipe. Because you can trust me that it works! But you really should try it, that is if you are into saving money. And with the economy these days . . . it seems like we are all on board with saving money.

Let me know what you think!

And, as I've been pointing out for the last few posts, CLEAN LAUNDRY FEELS GOOD!

I hang my jeans. Always!

2011-01-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

Since we've been talking about laundry lately, I just feel that you should know that I hang my jeans. I never, ever, ever put them in the dryer. It really is AMAZING how much longer they last, and how much longer they look good. Our jeans rarely get worn out . . . and we rarely get holes in the knees. Well, unless they are supposed to (which I think someday we are going to question that style - just like we question all of the styles from the 80s).

Anyway, I give my sister's kids our hand-me-downs. And she is my best witness that our jeans still look great by the time they get to her. Keeping them out of the dryer has allowed all three of my boys to wear the same jeans . . . and then on to my sister's four boys. Yeah, that is right. It is not like we have done an actual scientific experiment or anything, but a pair of jeans that starts out belonging to my oldest, could end up being worn by her youngest. That is seven boys. Crazy!

Did you know you can buy retractable clothes lines? They are sort of retro and oh so cool! That is what we use. I bought mine at Home Depot. And I am using it so much, I rarely retract it at all. But it nice to have the option. My clothesline stretches across my laundry room, and I can hang up to seven pairs of jeans all at once. And in the summer, I just lay them across the trampoline, and they are dry within an hour. Perfect!

Believe me, hang drying your jeans is totally worth it! It isn't that much more of a pain, and all your jeans will last longer. Which will save you $ over the long run! Right?

Trust me on this one, because saving money (and being clean) feels good!

Laundry Hell

2011-01-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

You should know, this isn't actually my pile of laundry hell. Mine looks worse. ;)

That's right folks, that is what we call it around our house! And we are currently in Laundry Hell. Which is oh so overwhelming. Things are getting so desperate, that my husband actually started to do some laundry. Which is sweet! But also messes up the system. And I have had to explain to me how to DO laundry. Which is scary.

Which is causing me to revisit my whole laundry process. I work full time outside the home, which means I am always behind on laundry. And we do a lot of laundry around our house. With three boys that wear school uniforms, are into wrestling, and are extremely active, we have a lot of stinky, smelly clothes. It is not like we can just skip a few washings on the school uniforms and especially not on the wrestling singlets. There is just no freaking way that is going to happen!

I remembered a post that my friend Gabi posted a while back. And it shared some good stuff. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it here! I think I will implement a few of her tips. You can read her whole post here. Hopefully something will work . . . and fast! My husband is threatening to just go out and buy new socks because it has been a while since he has seen his.

Actually, that is not such a bad idea.

Ok, here are a few of Gabi's tips. She is really cute, and smart. We should listen to her and her laundry tips.

Here are a few tricks that really knock my socks off. (And leave them gleaming white and static-free...)

•Laundry hampers. In every room where clothes are stored, removed or changed. I have them in every bedroom and bathroom. Some larger rooms have more than one.

•Regularly scheduled wash day. I only wash twice a week. Period. Usually Tuesdays and Fridays. It works best if you are at-home most of the day. (Or have a helpful home-officed husband who doesn't mind shifting the loads, in a pinch.) Promise yourself that you will get all the laundry in and out within a 12-hour period. It takes discipline...but there is nothing more depressing than seeing yesterday's whites still molding away in the washer as you are digging through piles of clean, but rumpled, permanent press searching for the soccer uniform.

•Individualized laundry baskets. Each kid has their own labeled clean-clothes basket. (Note: these are not the same as the laundry hampers...those are stationary, because there is always more laundry.) Depending on their age, at the end of laundry day, the kids will have either a pile of clean clothes to fold or pre-folded clothes to put away in drawers and closets. (Word to the wise: I don't advise looking in drawers too often. It can cause stomach upset.)

•Fold as you go. This doesn't work for everybody, but I've found that if I drag all the clean laundry into the family room and fold while watching Oprah or other educational programming, it takes a whole lot longer to finish. Plus, I am annoyed if my kids trip over my work. Time yourself. Folding even the biggest load only takes about twelve minutes. Just pull it out of the dryer and deal with it while it's warm and sweet. Less wrinkles, too.

•Bright whites. Sort and wash whites first while there is still plenty of hot water. For best results, rinse the load first with cold water. Tip learned from appliance guy: If you have an high-efficiency washer, it may fill with water before the water gets really hot. Before starting the hot cycle, run the faucet in your washtub or closest powder room to get the heat in the pipes.

•Sock basket. My laundry room is also the mudroom. The kids keep their shoes in there. So it makes sense to keep a big basket of clean white socks handy. I don't even match them. It has streamlined our daily out-the-door routine...and every second counts.

•Baking soda. Gets the stink out towels and socks. Can be used instead of bleach to brighten whites. Used as a paste will clean out a dirty washing machine. Cheap trick.

•Finally...buy cute clothes. When apparel shopping, don't just look at cost and fit. When buying any top or bottom, ask yourself, Will I still love this after I've pre-treated, sorted and folded it 50 times? If the answer is no, put it back on the rack.

Great tips, eh? Although, I will say that we all need to figure out what works best for us! I am going to try her idea of keeping laundry to two days. Saturday and Sunday for me. I was trying to do a few loads in the morning, and a few at night, but then it just seems to get shoved aside, and we get all confused about what laundry is clean, and what is dirty. Not good. I am also going shopping for laundry baskets for each room. I have them for my boys room, but having them in the bathrooms just makes sense! I saw that TJ Maxx had a whole new selection of cute new laundry baskets the other day. Perfect!

This is me, after I am done with all the laundry. Ok . . . it is how I feel inside.

We can DO this. We can keep our families out of laundry hell. Right?

What about you? What works for you? What keeps you out of laundry hell?

And you know it is true . . . CLEAN LAUNDRY FEELS GOOD!

So . . . let's revisit this whole cleaning blog thing.

2011-01-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love blogging! But sometimes it can get a little hard to keep up on. Especially when life is so crazy, as I know it is for everyone. So . . . I know that I need to be better about keeping up this little blog. I started it as a way to give little tips here and there for our customers (and hopefully soon to be customers) of our carpet cleaning business. Brick House Carpet Cleaning - you should call us! We are amazing! ;)

BUT it became a great way for me to try to improve on my own cleaning and organizing. And basically a way to keep track of the things I know that WORK. I've never put anything on here that I haven't tried myself. And I just get so dang passionate about all things clean and organized.

I am hoping to be much better this year with this little ol' blog. Of course I want to be cleaner and more organized in the new year. Isn't that on pretty much everyone's lists?

So . . . here is a little tidbit that my sister sent me on GOAL SETTING. Perfect timing for this time of year. I thought I would share it here as a reminder to write it down . . . make a plan . . . and just do better. I know I can do it! Starting with being a better blogger. Of course since this is written by Dave Ramsay, it is more money minded than cleaning, but I think the tips work for just about any goal setting you are doing.

Top 8 Reasons to Make Goals (and Stick to Them)
from daveramsey.com on 13 Jan 2010

It’s just plain fun to accomplish a goal. When you make a plan to do something and are focused, it’s enjoyable to know that you’ll actually get it done. It’s not just idle talk. You’re getting somewhere. You're aiming toward something. But those aren't the only reasons why you should set goals. Here are a few more:

Goals Are A Compass
People who don’t make goals usually don’t get anywhere, because they don’t know where they are going.

Makes You Unique
A Harvard study found that the 3% of students who write down goals for their life accomplish more than the 97% who do not. Which group would you rather be in?

Fun Times
If you have debt, it’s more fun to have a plan to get out of it than it is to have no plan and end up in more debt.

Keeps You Focused
Just like in hockey, the person who keeps an eye on their goal wins.

Accountability
Goals on paper stare you in the face until you do them. Without goals on paper, all you have is something you maybe kinda said you’d do a few weeks ago, er, something.

Carry-over
When you excel in one area of life (which goals help you to do), that excellence spills over to other areas. You can actually lose weight because you have the discipline to stick to a budget. Imagine that!

Make The Call
With focus, you earn the right to call Dave’s radio show and scream that you are debt-free! Sweet deal, if you can get it. And with a goal of being out of debt, you can.

Be The Leader
Throw a rock out the window. You’ll hit someone who only made a promise to exercise and lose weight, and it didn’t last a month. With a goal, you can stand out from that group and encourage others to do the same.

I can't wait for my new found sucess at New Year's Resolutions AND my little ol' cleaning blog. Yay!

Because, I know without a shadow of a doubt that CLEAN FEELS GOOD!

Labeling! Part 1

2010-08-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Labeling. It is oh so important! That is why there is going to be a Labeling Part 2, and maybe even more labeling posts in the future. It is that important.

Today's labeling lesson is ALWAYS label the stuff you let people borrow. Always. Here is why:

1. You might want your stuff back. And chances are, if your name is on it, it will actually get back to you. Why? Because every time your friend sees your name it is a big reminder that they should return your item to you. Right?

2. It makes it so much easier on the person that did the borrowing, especially if they borrowed more that one person's stuff. Example: I just helped plan a 40th birthday extravaganza for my friend (birthday shout out to Michele!). We had to borrow a lot of chairs, and I mean a lot. And THEN when it came time to return the chairs, we weren't exactly sure who to return them too. It was so confusing! And a little annoying. Just grab a Sharpie and write your name on the bottom of chairs (or any such items) before you hand them off. It just makes life easier. And you are ensured that you will get your stuff back.

SIDE NOTE: Sharpies are your best friend when it comes to labeling. Repeat it with me please, SHARPIES ARE MY BEST FRIEND. They really are the best for labeling big things like chairs and banquet tables.

3. I am a scrapbooker. And I have seen non-labelers lose stuff. It happens. You THINK you are the only person with a hot pink handled Crop-a-dile (yes, people, that is a real scrapbooking tool), but you are not. And when everyone whips out their Crop-a-dile at a Crop, bad things can happen - like you never see your beloved Crop-a-dile again. BUT, if your name is on it, and someone asks to borrow YOUR Crop-a-dile, chances are that you will have it back in your bag again when it is time to go home. I've witnessed it may a time.

4. Books and movies are a fine thing to lend out, but chances are, you may not see them again if you don't label them. The perfect label for these smaller items are an address label. You know you have TONS of them that you get free in the mail from charities wanting a donation if you accept their free gift of a sheet of address labels. Well, whether or not you decided to donate (hey, I'm not here to judge) peel off one of those little labels and add it to your book before you give it to your friend. That is ONLY if you want your book back. Or your movie. I may have loaned out my copy of Dr. Laura's The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands with no intention of getting it back. I'm just sayin'. And I could see Robb lending out my Anne of Green Gable movies just so he doesn't have to worry about ever having to watch them with me.

5. Tools want labels too. They really do. Tools are just one of those things that if you lend, you sort of plan on never seeing again. BUT if your name is etched into the metal with an engraver (yes, I really have an engraver) your next door neighbor will have no choice but to remember whose thingamajig they borrowed.

SO, my challenge for you is to label your stuff before it walks out the door . . . forever. And trust me on this, you are not going to look all crazy possessive about your stuff if you name is on it. You are going to look smart. Like you care about your investments. And you should! It is seriously annoying to have to replace something you loaned out. Seriously.

Because, there is no question, clean feels good!

the DO JUST ONE THING Challenge

2010-06-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

My list to do seems to be a mile long. Is that a summer thing? It seems like everyone I know is doing project after project right now.

SO, I gave myself a little challenge. I've been doing it for two weeks now (I wanted to see if I could really do it before I blogged about it) and it seems to be working GREAT! I call it (drum roll please) . . .

THE DO JUST ONE THING CHALLENGE

I have an ongoing list of things I need to do, but never seem to get to. The lovely list has chores listed both big and small. So on the super busy days, I pick a small job (like clean a bathroom drawer) . . . and on those rare days when I have a huge chunk of time (huh? like, when does that ever happen?), I pick a big job (like empty out the storage unit).

Side note: Yes, we emptied out our storage unit yesterday! Which will save us a whopping $100 a month on ridulousness. It feels oh so great! Although, now my GARAGE is full of crap that I now need to sell or donate, but at least that gets me one step closer to getting rid of junk we don't even use! Victory!

So, if you have a bunch of annoying little (and big) jobs that just nag at you, and you never seem to find the time for them. . . try the DO JUST ONE THING CHALLENGE! If it works for me, it will work for anyone. Trust me on this. And it feels sooooooo great to chip away and my crazy list of things to do.

Because, you know, clean and being organized feels good!

From Top to Bottom

2010-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Just a quick tip I picked up on a while back, which may or may not be obvious to the rest of the world . . . because it wasn't to me!

It is always best to clean from TOP to BOTTOM. Gravity is your friend but can also be your enemy when it comes to cleaning. Think about it. You've finished mopping the floors, and you then wipe off the counters. It is inevitable, some of that crud is totally going to fall on your newly mopped floor. Yuk!

This is an especially helpful when you are dusting something like the ceiling fan (dang! those things can collect SERIOUS dust) and dust falls all over the floor. Then when you vacuum, you can just take care of the dust with the vacuum. Easy peasy!

SO, if you already knew this, I guess you could teach me a thing or two about cleaning. :)

Oh, and did you know? Clean feels good!

The Ever So Fabulous Clothes Hanger Trick

2010-05-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the clothes hanger trick when it comes to purging clothes you never wear? Well, it is oh so simple . . . and it totally works! I have applied this to my closet R E L I G I O U S L Y, and my closet (and tendency for collecting clutter) have loved me for it.

It is as simple as this. Turn your hangers backwards in your closet. That way, after a month or two, or when you do the Seasonal Clothes Switch Out, you will know what clothes you haven't been wearing and you can just get rid of them. I do this -- no. matter. what. Even if I think that shirt is super cute - there is some reason I never wear it. . . and that means it is time to go!

Ok. This obviously isn't MY forest green Girbaud jeans. Use your imagination, please. And I'm pretty sure I didn't look at all like Katie Holmes wearing them. But I DID peg them, like Miss Katie. :) Lovely.

Try this out. Really, it works wonderfully! It helped me finally get rid of the forest green Girbaud jeans I was holding on to from back in the 90's. Which also didn't even fit anymore. But knowing I had spent $80 on those babies (and that was a lot for a pair of jeans in the 90's!) made me want to hold on to them forever. I hope their new owner cherishes them like I did. I haven't missed them a bit.

Oh, by the way, clean feels good!

Snapware Containers = organizational happiness

2010-05-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

This lovely photo was from Becky Higgins' blog. Her pantry just looks so much nicer than mine.

Recently one of my favorite bloggers, Becky Higgins, did a post on her pantry organization. Becky is Little Miss Perfect when it comes to, well, everything! And I only mean that in the kindest way. I am a huge fan of Becky Higgins. Not only is she one of the most talented scrapbookers ever, but she is an Organization Queen too. Love that combination!

Anyway, Becky recently organized her pantry and you can read all about it here.

The thing that got me oh so excited was that I have been using her new container of choice, Snapware Containers, for years in my pantry. I love, love, love them! Mostly because I like to buy things in bulk - like bagged cereal, giant bags of pretzels from Costco, and Goldfish crackers. I also love to make homemade granola, which stays nice and fresh in Snapware, and it looks lovely too. This is why I have such a love affair with Snapware.

When you pour your cereal (or whatever) the lid stays open. It is genius, I'm telling you!

And it makes your pantry look so clean! And organized!  Pure love.

I should mention that these little babies are NOT dishwasher safe. That is the only drawback. I feel like a pioneer when I have to scrub them out myself. But I really think they are worth it!   And that is obviously saying a lot if I am willing to hand wash them.

So try them out, if you are in a pantry revamping spring cleaning kind of mood!  They are a little pricey, so you may want to just try out a few to see if they work for you. But they will last a good long time. Especially if you don't accidentally leave one close to the stove and then turn it on. I am sorry to say I know this from experience. And I am also sorry to say that I am to ~~cheap~~ frugal to throw it away. I still use the dang melted thing!   I just stick it in the back. No one knows.  It is in the pantry, for hecks sake.

You'll have to let me know if you love Snapware as much as I do!

Because it is just the best thing to feel organized, because clean feels good!

The DREADED seasonal clothes switch out.

2010-04-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Do you hate the seasonal clothes switch out as much as I do? This chore seems to last a full week for me for some unknown reason. And it drives. me. crazy!!! So, this year I decided to try things a little differently. I enlisted the troops. And let me tell you, they were not a bit happy about having their Saturday taken up by such a lame-o chore! But it really did make my life so much happier and easier not dragging the winter clothes switch out f o r e v e r.

So here is what I did. Prepare to be amazed.

1. I had each boy (since that is what we have around our house. except for me, of course) pull all the clothes out of their closet that are winter-ish. I had them hold on to a few pairs of favorite jeans, but for the most part anything with "long" in the title - long sleeved shirts, long pants, long underwear (I'm kidding on the last one) were pulled out of the closet.

2. I then had them remove the hangers. And put in a tidy pile. I can't handle a tangle of hangers.

3. I folded the winter-ish clothes and put them in clear plastic Sterlite containers that are my fav for this sort of thing. I have been using them for years, and I have a real love affair with them! I buy them at Target . . . and sometimes they even go on sale! Yay! Anyway . . . you should know that I have to fold the clothes. They have to look a little bit orderly since you can see into the containers. I am quirky like that. BUT if that doesn't bother you, this is another thing you should have your kids do. I probably should teach my boys how to fold . . . but I am so not there yet. Oh, and don't forget to label the outside of the containers with something brilliant like "Kade, winter." Or the size would be good too.

BUT, I digress.

4. I then had them sort through their spring/summer clothes and pick the ones they still like and think they will wear. We always seem to have closet overload - you know,the kind of closet squishiness that doesn't allow you to hang even one more t-shirt, and it is one of my New Year's Resolutions to stop that insanity. SO, I told them they could have 15 shirts and 10 pairs of shorts and/or pants. We will store the rest and see how we do. If they aren't missed or needed (it is nice to have a back up plan in case I get seriously behind on the laundry. Hey! It happens!) they will be taking a trip to the local DI. Or maybe I will even try to sell them. Who knows! I also made them try on the keepers - just in case their sedentary winter lifestyle packed on a few extra pounds (I am probably talking about me here). Or just in case they grew a little taller.

And that is it! I knew you would be blown away. Getting the kids involved took my week long terrible, horrible, no good, very bad project and made it into a much easier task. Love it!

Obvious rewards? My kids learned a new skill (how to untangle hangers), our clothes are organized, and there was more time left over for me. AND there might have been a little Cold Stone thrown in too. Cold Stone is my favorite kind of reward. Cheesecake ice cream with raspberries and almonds. Pure bliss. I think I've mentioned this before.

Yes, that's right. That is SNOW you are seeing. I took this photo from my window, just today. Yikes! It is April 29th!

OH, and I should mention that Mother Nature also rewarded me by bringing back cold and freezing weather. Nice. And there is NO WAY my kids are pulling back out their winter clothes. They are just going to have to toughen up.

But that is ok, because now we are READY! Ready for spring!

And it is the honest to gosh truth . . . clean feels good!

The super-fantastic-can't-live-without-it CLEANING toothbrush

2010-04-19T09:26:00.000-07:00

Ok. It is obvious I get pretty excited about cleaning products. Anything that makes my life a little easier? Who wouldn't be excited? Well, I have been using this lovely cleaning toothbrush for years . . . and I am still in love with it! Maybe you already use a toothbrush for cleaning in the nooks and crannies that seem to collect all kinds of grossness. It is pure genius!

This little tool has become priceless in my cleaning routine. You can't believe how much easier it has made my life! It can get into the tiniest of places and after just a little bit of agitating, most crud comes up with ease. I'm not even kidding! This past weekend, I realized how disgusting the kitchen faucet had become. You know, hard water yuckiness and other grody junk that had set up permanent residence (there is a reason I didn't take a photo of it for my blog - ewwww! No one should see that up close. I promise.). Just a little Lime Away and my handy dandy toothbrush made it a breeze! Ok . . . not a breeze . . . but it was a much easier task than it might have been is my pre cleaning toothbrush days.

So, here is a link to my favorite ever cleaning toothbrush. I order it from The Clean Team. And they last for a super long time. Seriously, mine have lasted for years. And I am pretty hard on them! I love the fact that you can tell they are different from a normal toothbrush. I can't imagine how tragic it would be if you or one of your kids accidently mixed up your teeth toothbrush with your cleaning toothbrush. Nasty! This way, you will never ever have that problem.

Some of my favorite uses: yucky faucet handles (obviously), stovetop scuz, toaster muck, skuzzy light switches, filthy window tracks, toliet rottenness, grody door handles, refrigerator crud . . . you get the idea. Pretty soon your kitchen (and everywhere else) can look just as spiffy as this lady's.

Try it! You'll like it! :)

And of course, undeniably, clean feels good!

Whiter whites! I swear!

2010-03-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a laundry professional. I know, I know, the word professional would imply that I get paid to do laundry. Well, not exactly. But sometimes I pay myself with Cold Stone. Shhhhhh . . . don't tell my husband though.

BUT here is my point. I am pretty darn good at laundry. And I am willing to share my very favorite laundry tip with you, my faithful blog readers.

Here it is: CASCADE (yes, the dishwashing kind . . . the powdered version)

Have you wondered the best way to keep your whites their whitest? Cascade is the answer. I swear. I read about this tip on a blog years ago. I wish I knew where so I could give credit where credit is due. But really, this has improved my laundry results in a noticable way.

Here is what you do:

1. Add 1 cup of powdered Cascade Dishwasher Detergent to your load of whites. If you have a high efficiency front loader, you can still do this - just add it to your clothes, not where you add your detergent. That is what I do, anyway.

2. Add laundry detergent, as you normally would.

3. Soak load overnight.

4. Rinse as normal. You can even do an extra rinse cycle if you want.

I love the results! You won't necessarily notice a big difference the first time you do this, but you should notice a significant improvement by the third or fourth time. My boys wear WHITE shirts everyday for their school uniform, and their shirts really do look pretty darn great, if I do say so myself. And these are seriously rough and tumble, get crazy dirty, laundry nightmare-ish, stain after stain after stain kind of boys. But they look great as they head out the door in their white shirts! Really, they do!

Try this . . . and let me know what you think! I love the results.

Because, believe me, clean feels good!

Clog Schmog

2010-03-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Note: This is not my bathroom. But I kind of wish it was. I'm in the mood for a redo!

So, we have this sink in our bathroom that always seems to get clogged. I don't know why, and I'm not even sure I want to know why! But it is definitely clogmatic.

And I just hate to buy Drano - which just seems so, well, toxic. I feel like I have to wear a Hazmat suit just to protect myself. So, I went in search of a safter, greener option, that would make me feel oh so much better about unclogging my nasty drain problem.

After a quick google search, I found this:

Isn't she lovely? And her idea really works! I tried it . . . and SUCCESS! And best of all, she used environmentally safe products, that I always have on hand -- baking soda, vinegar and water. YAY for the cute lady with the hot pink gloves!

So . . . if you don't want to take the time to watch the 1 minute, 34 second video, here is what you do: (and I know, I know, every minute is precious - please don't have guilt about not watching this youtube beauty)

1. remove drain stopper if you can (I skipped this step)
2. pour 1/2 cup baking powder directly down drain
3. pour 1/2 cup vinegar directly down drain
4. pour a kettle full of boiling hot water directly down drain

And that's it! And I swear it works! This made me happy for a few reasons . . . this option is cheaper than Drano OR a plumber AND maybe it will prevent my husband from spending a Saturday unclogging our dang sink.

And with all the time you've saved, you can take the time to watch this youtube video. Because it is just oh so worth it! Seriously, have you seen it? Amazing!

And really, it is true! . . . clean feels good!

I'm in love!

2010-02-18T10:27:00.000-08:00

That's right, I'm in love with the new Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner. Ahhhhhh, this stuff just makes me happy. Smells good, easy to use, and you only have the need for one cleaner as you make your way through the house in your cleaning freenzy. And best of all, it works great!!!

You can read all about it here, if you are interested. But what I would really recommend is just buying it and trying it! I especially loved using in on the dreaded chore of blind cleaning. Brilliant!

Thanks, Jen, for introducing me to my new favorite thing! It has changed my life in so many ways. I love you and I love my new Pledge. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

It just feels so great, because clean feels good!

Just give me 10 minutes of your time....

2010-01-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

I used drive my kids crazy with what I like to call The 10 Minute Tidy. Maybe it is my high pitched voice that I use when I am just about to lose it - because there is crap all over the family room.

But I've learned over the years . . . and this is a solution that really works for us! And even my family would agree.

Now when I see a growing disaster area I've changed my ways. For me I had to just learn to calm down. Take a deep breath. And enlist the troops. For my family of five, if I get them all involved on a room (and usually it is the family room or kitchen that needs the most help) - that is like cleaning for almost an hour!

All we do is set the timer, and clean like crazy. For just 10 minutes! And my family has learned that no one is going to die from taking 10 minutes away from Hannah Montana, Facebook or the favorite Wii game of the day. It's only 10 minutes. And that is all it really takes!

Trust me. You will love the difference that just 10 minutes can make.

And you know it's true, clean feels good!

I am not a clean freak....

2009-11-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

Although I could be. There is a part of me that would love to live in a dust free house that smells like bleach all the time. I would love vacuum lines to stay in the carpet and always have windows that sparkle. Really, that would make me happy on so many levels.

BUT, I live in a house with other people. Male people. A husband and three boys. So my idea of a clean house is not in any way a reality. So I am just doing what most everyone else is doing. Just trying to get by the best I can.

SO, here is my brilliant cleaning tip for the day.

Chill out.

This is obviously a reminder for yours truly, that my house can't stay clean all of the time. That is why we actually have to clean it. So, when I get overwhelmed (like I am right now) I just need to remember to relax. I'll get to it eventually. I always do! And the thing is, all of those cleaning and organizing projects always wait for you.

And you know, clean feels good!

Have you ever stepped on a Lego?

2009-10-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I have. And it hurts.

So, why do I insist on having a collection of Legos around, just so they can make it to the floor? Just so I can step on one in the middle of the night?

Because they are sooooo worth it. I would venture to guess that they are one of the best toys ever to contribute to the creative minds of their owners everywhere. My cute nephew Caleb loves to bring one of his precious Lego creations over to show me each time he visits me house. And his creations really are incredible!

My sister, Jen, is likely to win Mom of the Year due to the collection of Lego's she has at her house. It really is phenomenal. And even better, she bought a TON of them on eBay. Especially since those little things can get oh so expensive! And knowing that someone else's kids had their possibly unwashed fingers all over the Lego's she turned to the internet for tips on Lego cleaning.

Place Legos in a pillowcase. Put pillowcase in washing machine. Wash on low setting.

Easy . . . and it works!

Now if we could only just find an easy way to get our kids to clean them all up when they are done! All of them. That would sure be nice.

Because, of course, clean feels good!

The Wonderful Windshield Wonder - AS SEEN ON TV!

2009-09-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

Confession. I love a good infomercial. And those "As Seen on TV" products? I can't resist. I don't even dare to admit to you how many exercise programs I've bought as I've been channel surfing during late night hours. Shopping channels? I absolutely love them. Even the cheesy hosts. I love them too.

Well, one day I just happened to catch a cleaning solutions segment on Home Shopping Network. And it was awesome. I wanted to grab my credit card, and just max that thing out. This particular little item was especially enticing. I don't know why! Imagine my surprise (and joy) when I saw it at my local Wal-Mart. For only $9.99. Bargain! I bought it, and my life is forever changed.

The beauty is, that this little gadget is not just for windows. Nosiree. This little baby can clean:

- flat screen tvs (that is why I wanted it)

- computer screens (another good reason)

- mirrors

- windows besides windshields (duh!)

- glass shower doors

- the top of the fridge (because it is oh so hard to reach!)

Just a quick misting with water, wipe with the green bonnet (that's what the HSN guy called it), and voila! Your window, or flat screen or mirror looks great! And it is CHEMICAL FREE CLEANING! fine print: I've read a few reviews on The Windshield Wonder, and a few people were not as impressed as I am. I did figure out that sometimes I have to clean whatever I am cleaning twice - if it is especially gross - like my windshield was - but now isn't because of this lovely little tool. But that is fine with me, since it is so easy to use!

BUT WAIT!

Look what I found! The very presentation I saw on HSN. It is right here. Click on the video, and you will be mesmerized. Ok, that might be an exaggeration. But it really is kind of fun to watch. And it will actually inspire you to get off your butt, and wash some windows! Because it is just so dang easy!

Ahhhh, my flat screen has never looked better.

(maybe I should point out that the Wal-Mart deal didn't include all that the HSN deal did - but it was a great bargain to try it out.)

And I know you'll agree, clean feels good!

Back to School Organizing . . . set up a homework station!

2009-08-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

Ah, school supplies. I just love them! I have to admit, I have bought a few too many boxes of crayons this year (and my kids rarely even use them anymore) just because I can't pass them up at a mere $.20 a box. Seriously!

But Back to School can also mean Back to Clutter. You know what I'm talking about. And I am no expert in this department . . . so I turned to one of my favorite organizing experts on one of my favorite organizing blogs. Aby Garvey has a great website called Simplify 101, and her article on Getting Organized for Homework totally spoke to me. Aby suggests setting up a homework station. I took Aby's great advice, and it is working like a charm (ok, I know it is only week 2, but so far so good).

I purchased a simple basket and added the following items:

- pencils (sharpened) . . . and an electric sharpener nearby

- crayons

- highlighters

- extra notebooks and notebook paper

- erasers

- glue sticks

- scissors

- ruler

- markers

- stapler

- calculator

- file folders (with each family member labeled clearly)

No more wasted time looking for a glue stick! No more wasted time trying to find the stapler (although, I have a son that likes to use the stapler for everything . . . hopefully this one can stay put). And all of their schedules, class disclosures and even the lunch menu has a place for easy reference. I am sure we will add and subtract items (school lingo, get it?) as the year goes on until we have come up with the perfect solution to our homework needs. I am loving it so far! More organized equals a one happy mom!

We are off to a great start! And it feels great! Even my boys were a little excited about their homework station - and that is pretty dang hard to get them excited about anything homework related. Well, except for my stapler loving son. He shares my love for school supplies. Man, I love that kid.

So, set up a homework station! It might just take away a little bit of homework stress! And we can all use some of that!

And obviously, clean feels good!

C'mon, get those kids cleaning!

2009-08-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

You are a busy mom (or dad).

You work. You clean. You pay bills. You do laundry (it is like a full time job - seriously!). You volunteer. You carpool. You are a built in kid's taxi service. So, why do you do ALL (or mostly all) of the jobs around the house too? It it time to get those kids involved!

I've tried a million different things to try to get my kids to clean. Chore charts, dry erase boards, checklists, stickers, point systems - and they just didn't work for our family. I finally decided to try what my mom used to do back in the day - when I was little. It worked beautifully when I was a youngster.

Mom's Method to Get the Kids Cleaning:

Write chores on a post-it note.

Change them up each day so they don't get boring or monotonous.

(this are my actual chore post-its notes. i know, impressive, right?)

And that is it! It works like a charm. I tried it this summer, and it honestly worked better than anything else I've tried. My kids actually did their jobs with very little complaining. Our system wasn't confusing or hard to stick to it. It worked! Victory!! And now that school is back in session, we are still sticking to it. Yay!!

Who knew? I should have just listened to my mom in the first place.

It definitely reminds of the KISS acronym - Keep it Simple, Stupid. Sometimes the simple plan is the plan you should go with.

Lesson learned. Thanks, Mom!

And, I feel I should mention, clean feels good!

P.S. If your chore system for kids works for you, by all means, stick with it! You are one of the lucky ones that has it all figured out. And please, feel free to share it with the class. Comment below. ;)

Vinegar is your friend!

2009-08-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love a good household product that has many, many purposes? Vinegar just might be the Queen of Multipurpose around the house. There are just so many great things you can do with vinegar! Here are a few favorites, and maybe a few you haven't thought of.

DID YOU KNOW?

Vinegar is environmentally safe and very economical.
Vinegar is great at killing germs, bacteria and most mold.

AROUND THE KITCHEN

My vinegar lives in the kitchen pantry, so it truly makes it convenient to grab for these quick clean up solutions. I've tried all of these and they work like a charm!

Clean and deodorize a drain by pouring in 1 cup baking soda, then one cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let this sit for 5 minutes or so, then run hot water down the drain.

Deodorize and clean the garbage disposal with white distilled vinegar ice cubes. Make them by freezing full-strength white distilled vinegar in an ice cube tray. Run several cubes down the disposal while flushing with cold water.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean. This works like magic!!

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly.

Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar.

To clean a grease splattered oven door window, saturate it with full-strength white distilled vinegar. Keep the door open for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge.

So, grab your vinegar bottle next time you have a clean up job to do in the kitchen. And don't worry, that vinegary smell actually goes away and leaves your kitchen smelling great! Thanks, Vinegar. You've made my life a little easier.

And don't forget! Clean is good!

Source: http://www.vinegartips.com (for lots of other great tips for using vinegar, check it out!)

Do you refuse to do windows?

2009-08-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I do. I have to admit, the outside windows in my house are just one project I used to never get too. Until now. Oh my gosh. This is life changing. I am not even kidding you. You know how DVR was life changing? And iPods? And cell phones? This is one of those things.

Introducing . . . The Windex Outdoor All-In-One Glass Cleaning Tool. If you haven't tried this yet, you really should. Your outside windows will look professionally cleaned in just 3 easy steps. You just need to buy the starter kit (which includes the pole and one pad). And after that, all you need to buy are the refills.

Here is how it works. I hope you can follow these detailed instructions. If not, there are pictures on the packaging to make it even easier.

1. SPRAY window and cleaning pad with garden hose

2. WIPE window with cleaning pad. Robb thinks I should elaborate, but no elaboration is needed (obviously, he hasn't cleaned the windows). It is really that easy. Just wash your window with the window washing pad.

3. RINSE window with garden hose. No need to hand dry!

And that is it! Really! It is amazing, I tell you. I did all the outside windows at my house in less than one hour. And they looked incredible!! As much as I loved having the cute window washing guys come and do it once in a while, I won't be calling them again. No need!

Try it, you'll like it. I promise.

There is even a video demonstration here and you can get a coupon here

And remember . . . clean feels good!

Welcome!

2009-08-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Do you love all things clean as much as I do? Then definitely check back often. I am planning to keep this updated with all my favorite cleaning tips and other interesting stuff.

This blog is brought to you by BrickHouse Cleaning (our family business!). We know a lot about cleaning carpet, tile, upholstery, garage floors and even mattresses. Call us for a free in house estimate on your cleaning needs. 801.572.1000