In my quest to simplify most household tasks I’ve gotten the laundry room organized and running smoothly. My last post was about sorting laundry and doing a load every day to cut down on the enormity of the task. Today I have some tips and tricks I’ve collected that help make laundry even easier. *Instead of sorting and mating socks, trying to figure out if those white socks are your husbands or your teenagers, give each person a mess delicates laundry bag. Collect the bags once a week, zip closed, toss in the washer and dryer and then return to … Continue reading →

Home guru Sabrina Soto’s trick of cleaning the exterior portion of a fireplace with spray-on oven cleaner has served me well. However, I wouldn’t suggest spraying the interior enclosures with Easy-Off or Mr. Muscle. Fireplace enclosures need to be cleaned with non-abrasive cleaning materials, given their relatively delicate surfaces. Most fireplace enclosures feature glass or metal, which can easily scratch if they are cleaned with abrasive sponges and brushes. Still, for safety reason, you will want to clean your fireplace’s enclosure, so you won’t be breathing in dust, soot and dirt, and be forced to stare at unsightly burns and … Continue reading →