Laundry Timesavers

Everyone is looking for a way to save time. In my mind time spent doing housework is wasted time. I could use that time to spend with the people I love or pursuing hobbies I enjoy. So I’m always looking for ways to streamline, to get things done. These tips may not make for perfection, but they will be good enough. I’m going to start with laundry. From the dirty clothes hamper back to the drawer or closet there are little things you can do to save time. The first thing I do is sort the laundry as I go. … Continue reading

Germs in the Laundry

Did you know that there were germs hiding in your laundry? These germs can make you and your family sick. Here is what to do about them. If you aren’t washing all of your laundry in hot water (and I certainly don’t), then you are not getting out all of the germs and bacteria that could be making your family ill. Laundry washed in cold or luck water only gets out about 80 percent of existing bacteria. Where is all of this bacteria coming from? There is bacteria living in dishcloths and kitchen towels, underwear and bath towels, among other … Continue reading

Channelling the Home Gurus

Every once in a while, while I am taking care of my home, I think of those home gurus and all of their advice. Some of it is very good: “Only surround yourself with the things that add meaning to your life,” and some of it is bad: “Bathrooms should be cleaned three times a day.” Ack, really? Still those home gurus have done a lot to help us with turning our houses into homes. Which home guru do you most relate to? Peter Walsh Super clutter organizer Peter Walsh wants people to “live rich and full lives without drowning … Continue reading

Stain Beaters

Don’t throw away that clothing or linen item! Instead beat the stain and get it out with the following tricks and tips. With any stain, it is important to try to attack it as soon as possible after it happens. Stains can set in, especially if they have been through the dryer. Red Wine Stain First apply some salt to the stain. The salt will absorb some of the color. Next, place the item over a bowl or a sink and pour boiling water over the stain. After that, ou can launder the item as usual. Dirt Dirt stains are … Continue reading

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Are you ready for spring cleaning? It is almost that time of year. Get a head start and make the process easier when you establish a spring cleaning checklist that works for you. Here is how to begin. The first thing you should do is to jot down a spring cleaning checklist by room. This will makes things easier on several levels. You can easily hand off a room to someone else, such as another member of your family or hired help. Having a room by room checklist will also ensure that the most important jobs get done and nothing … Continue reading

Mommy’s Little Helper…Sort of

I have been blessed with a child who loves to help; I mean really loves to help. If Mommy is trying to fold the laundry he thinks he needs to “fold” too. After which he promptly feels the need to jump into each of the piles, because what’s the sense in folding laundry if you’re not going to jump in it afterward, right? At three years old, he loves to sweep, mop, vacuum, clean bathrooms, do laundry, and just about anything else around the house. Having him “help” may take me three times as long, but he is learning little … Continue reading

Six Things You Should Check on Your Roof

If you want to have the best protection from the winter weather and a roof that will hold up and be safe, you should check the following six things. It could be the difference between being safe and warm in the winter and having a major problem with your roof. 1. The first thing you should do is to check the framing structure of your roof. Stand back and look to see if there are any parts of your roof that sag or parts that are uneven. Sagging could indicate a problem with the roof deck. 2. Next, get on … Continue reading

Wash Me, Please

There I was down in the basement, picking up our new playroom yet again. The kids were upstairs in the living room playing a new dance game on the Wii. They were having a lot of fun, judging from the giggling and the various stomps and booms I was hearing through the basement ceiling. I admit that I had an ulterior motive for being down in the playroom–to identify some items that could get passed on to other kids. Every once in a while, I would climb the basement stairs and ask the kids, “Hey, can we donate item x?” … Continue reading

Banish Bedroom Allergens

Did you know that over time your mattress will actually gain weight? it will weigh more than when you first purchased it. Do you know why? It is because of the added weight of dust mite colonies that are living inside of it. When you consider how little an individual dust mite might way and then the number of them that have to get together in order to change the weight of your mattress, it is scary, isn’t it? Yuck. There are many things that you can do in order to reduce the dust mites, and therefore the allergens in … Continue reading

Our Love Affair with a Floor Steamer

Well, I’ve been wanting a floor steamer for a while, and we finally got one! We took the plunge. Would it be a household help or an extra chore? We purchased the unit from Target and were ready to go. Like any new toy in the house, my husband and I battled over who would get to try it first. I wanted the steamer for deep cleaning without using chemicals. My husband wanted it as a substitute for the everyday mopping we had been doing with the Swiffer Wet Mop. We are analytical people and were ready to converse on … Continue reading