Avoid the Bedtime Battle

Daylight saving time ends in the wee hours of Sunday morning. For many parents, the occasion can be bittersweet. While “falling back” yields an extra hour to spend however you desire, it can also mean extra-tired kids whose bodies don’t acclimate well to time changes. My daughter is a warrior when it comes to bedtime. The kid fights off sleep like a Roman gladiator. She’s Spartacus, sleep is the enemy, and I have to suffer through the nightly battle. Add in the whole turn-your-clocks-back-an-hour business and things can get rough. Fortunately, there are ways you can avoid going to war … Continue reading

Care of Your Washing Machine

You never realize how much you appreciate an appliance in your home until it breaks down. At the same time, you don’t realize how much you appreciate Mr. Handyman until he figures out how to fix it. A couple of weeks ago, it appeared that my washing machine was done. It was making a loud clunking sound and when it was finished with the final cycle, the clothes were sopping wet. It was bad timing (isn’t it always?) with a trip we have coming up. Buying a new washing machine was not in our budget. Thankfully my husband was able … Continue reading

Clean Your Kitchen, Get New Appliances

Did you know that it is Whirlpool’s “Kitchen Clean Up Month?” Apparently it is the third annual one but since I’ve never heard of it, it’s news to me! An entire month to clean the kitchen, the only thing better would be if they sent someone to do it for me. The idea behind this is that since the kitchen is the busiest and messiest room in the house, we need to take the time to clean and organize it. The kitchen really does take most of the abuse in your home and most of us use it for just … Continue reading

Timesaving Tools

There are so many tools on the market to help you clean your home quickly and more efficiently. I previously wrote about time saving laundry and housecleaning tips, now it’s time to talk about the tools that can save you time. Personally, I don’t like disposable products, I think they are a waste of money and landfill space, but I can also see the need for them. So here are some products to help you keep your house clean. Cleaning the toilet is not high on anyone’s list of favorite things to do. Luckily there are products on the market … Continue reading

Tips For Saving For A Rainy Day

For the past two days I have been cooped up inside because it is raining. What does this have to do with money? Well, there is always the popular saying “saving for a rainy day”. The phrase implies that it is important to set aside money now so that we will have it available when we need it later. There are many unplanned expenses that can come up, and having a “rainy day” fund can help to lessen the impact on your regular budget when, say, the hot water heater breaks or you suddenly find yourself jobless. In the current … Continue reading

4 Holiday Shopping Tips

If you want to have a merry holiday without going deep into debt, then you’ll want to keep a few thing sin mind. Here are 5 holiday shopping tips that will allow you to buy plenty of gifts without the need for a second mortgage. 1. Do your research Take the time to find the absolute best prices on the gifts that you would like to give. Scout sales, use coupon codes and printable coupons, and take advantage of free shipping deals online. Here is an example of how this really pays off. At one of my go to stores, … Continue reading

Great Home Tips

I’m always searching for great tips that I can use around the house. Sometimes the simplest solution is the most ingenious. When faced with a common problem, little household tips can come to the rescue. Here are some ideas that I have been thinking about or practicing lately. I keep a spray bottle with a half vinegar and half water mix under the bathroom sink, along with some soft rags. The spray bottle and rags make it easy to clean up the shower doors, the sink and anywhere in the bathroom in just a few minutes. Plus I know that … Continue reading

Kitchen Cleaning Tips

For a clean, bacteria-free kitchen without a lot of work, use the following tips. They will ensure that you have a safe, easy to maintain clean in one of the most important rooms of the house. Get them while you can Clean up little messes as they are made. It doesn’t take much more effort to put dishes into the dishwasher as it does to put dishes in the sink. If something spills, wipe it up right away. This will ensure that you don’t have sticky messes or overwhelming dishes that are much harder to deal with later. Clean in … Continue reading

More Clever Household Tips

Do you know the best way to vacuum or how to keep the roll of plastic wrap from falling out of it’s box? Sometimes it is the clever little tricks that make daily keeping of a home so much easier and more effective. Here are plenty of clever home tips that I bet you didn’t know about. On a roll Did you know that from the very beginning, those boxes that hold plastic wrap and aluminum foil were engineered to prevent the rolls from falling out when you are trying to rip off a piece of wrap or foil? It … Continue reading

How to Sweep

While sweeping is simple (even a four-year-old can do a good job sweeping), having proper technique when sweeping can make the job easier and faster. Here are some things that you need to know all about sweeping. First things first When cleaning, it is generally better to start from the top and work your way down. So if you have to sweep up the crumbs on the dining room floor, first wipe down the table and chairs, or you may find yourself doing the sweeping twice. Keep your broom handy at all times. Getting little messes right away will be … Continue reading