11.09.09
Twenty-One Reasons to Have Your Home Professionally Cleaned
So, you’ve never had professional housekeeping help. People are often surprised at how relatively little it can cost, so what’s holding you back? If what you need are a few reasons to get started, read on.
- You want to devote more time to working on your career, advancement or promotion.
- You run a home-based business or tele-commute.
- You want to spend more time with the people you love and doing the things you enjoy.
- You are temporarily unable to clean due to health issues.
- You are pregnant.
- You have a new baby (or babies!)
- You are about to have a party or house guests.
- You had a party or house guests!
- You’d like to buy back your weekends for rest, relaxation and fun.
- You or a family member suffer from allergies.
- You want to relieve some stress in your life–and be a nicer person for your family.
- You want to live in a healthy environment.
- You want to be able to entertain and have visitors without a major overhaul.
- You are caring for several young children.
- You are Ms. Volunteer for the community, your children’s school, etc.
- You hate house work!!
- You want to reduce the stress associated with a cluttered environment.
- You want to solve the family conflicts which result from the “messy house and no one wants to clean it” syndrome.
- You want to feel proud of your home.
- You want to experience the unbelievable bliss of coming home–just once or every week– to a sparkling clean house.
- Because you desire a “life” outside of work and more work!
What’s your reason for having or wanting professional house cleaning? Please share.
11.08.09
How to Stop Procrastinating Forever
We came across this article recently and thought it was valuable enough to post in its entirety. After all, we can know every housecleaning tip, every organization method and speed cleaning technique in the world, but if we never get around to actually using any of them, we’re no better off than the person who knows nothing. So let’s change our thinking and we’ll change our way of doing things. Here’s hope! Read on.
How to Overcome Procrastination Using Self Talk
from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit
We talk to ourselves all the time in our minds. Even when we’re not paying attention, these relentless mental debates deeply influence our feelings and, ultimately, our behavior.
The good news is that each time that if you can become aware of these mental dialogues, notice the patterns, and turn them into productive statements, then you are empowered to overcome many unwelcome feelings and behaviors.
Let’s see how this can help us when it comes to procrastination.
Steps
- Recognize the procrastinator’s motto. Consider the following thought, which surely crosses our minds many times in one form or another:“I have to finish this important task. It should already be done by now and I just need to do it.”This small, seemingly innocent thought contains almost every mental block that encourages procrastination. We all use the Procrastinator’s Motto (or variations of it) every once in a while. If you’re a chronic procrastinator, chances are you repeat it to yourself very frequently — daily, perhaps.But what’s so wrong about the Procrastinator’s Motto? In what ways do these words encourage procrastination so much — and what can we do about it? Let’s consider each part of this statement in turn, replacing each of them with an empowering alternative. In doing that, we’ll turn the original motto on its head and create a productive call to action: a “Producer’s Motto”, if you like.
- Remember that you don’t ‘have to’ do anything. ‘I have to’ is every procrastinator’s favorite expression. It’s also the most disempowering. Every time you say to yourself that you have to do something, you imply that you don’t have any choice, that you feel forced or coerced to do the task — that you don’t really want to do it. That perception, of course, elicits a strong feeling of victimhood and resistance toward doing the task. The solution to this problem is to replace ‘I have to’ with the immensely more empowering alternative ‘I choose to’ or ‘I will’. Everything you do is ultimately a choice (yes, even completing tax forms). Using language that expresses choice reminds you of that and brings the feeling of power back.
- Focus on starting, rather than finishing. When you focus on finishing something, you direct your attention to a vague, highly idealized future. Visualizing a finished project is motivating for many people, but for someone who’s having a hard time starting a task, visualizing a hard-to-grasp future can be overwhelming — even depressing. The solution in this case, then, is not to focus on finishing, but on starting. Forget for a minute about the finish line, just concentrate on giving your first step. Bring your focus from the future to what can be done right now. We all know that if we start something enough times, we’ll eventually finish the task. Starting — all by itself — is usually sufficient to build enough momentum to keep the ball rolling.[1]
- Break a long project down into short tasks. Dwelling on the size and difficulty of a looming task will overwhelm us, and thus promote procrastination. Any undertaking, no matter how daunting, can be broken down into smaller steps. The trick is — with each step along the way — to focus solely on the next, achievable chunk of work. Ignore the big picture for a while and just tackle that next small task. Make sure you can easily visualize the outcome of your small task. Don’t write a book; write a page. If it is still intimidating, commit yourself to work on it for a specific period of time.Keep the big picture in mind, of course, but don’t allow it to frighten you. Use it for motivation and direction.
- Don’t place too much pressure on yourself. “This project has to impress everyone; I really can’t blow this opportunity.” Placing such high hopes on a project only adds anxiety and fear of failure. Perfectionism fuels procrastination. Overcome this mental block by simply giving yourself permission to be human. Allow yourself to be imperfect with the next small task. You can always refine your work later. If you’re a serial perfectionist, go one step further and commit yourself to doing a sloppy job on purpose — at least at first. Instead of making every step perfect, think of them as steps toward perfection. For instance, write a page or two now, then proofread and correct them later.
- Stop thinking about the way things ’should’ be. The expression ’should’ invokes blame and guilt. When you say you should be doing something (instead of what you’re actually doing), you focus on comparing an ideal reality with your current, “bad” reality. You focus not on what is, but on what could have been. Misused ’shoulds’ can elicit feelings of failure, depression and regret. The solution is not to focus on how you feel now, but on how good you will feel after you begin to take action.
- Take some directed action. Even the tiniest progress is success — moving toward a goal is the best motivator. The trick is to bring that expected feeling of accomplishment into the present — and know that the real joy of progress is only a small task away. That small step is success.Success is not the end of your task. Success is the progress that leads you to your next step.
- Make it fun! “I’ve got to work all weekend”. “I am trapped in this laborious project”. Long periods of isolation can bring an enormous feeling of resentment. These feelings generate a strong sense of deprivation and resistance toward the task.Overcome this mental block by avoiding long stretches of work. Schedule frequent and brief breaks. Plan small rewards along the way. One idea is to work near a break area. Have something to look forward to — not far away and not at the end of a long stretch — but in the very near future. When rewards are small, frequent, and deserved, they work wonders. Truly commit to brief bursts of relaxation and leisure time. In fact, go ahead and make it mandatory. This “reverse-psychology” can, by itself, give you a more productive and enjoyable mindset.
- Rephrase your internal dialog. Time to check what we’ve accomplished with all the word substitutions. We started with:“I have to finish this important task. It should already be done by now and I just need to do it.”And ended up with:“I choose to start this task with a small, imperfect step. I’ll feel terrific and have plenty of time for fun!” Quite a change, eh? Every time you catch yourself repeating any part of Procrastinator’s Motto to yourself, stop and rephrase it. Then check how you feel. At first, it may seem to be a simple matter of word choices. But when you try this simple way of reframing your thoughts, you’ll see how it instantly changes your attitude toward your tasks. Moreover, if you turn it into a habit, you’ll slowly reprogram your thoughts, and make a positive, permanent change in your mindset.
Tips
- Some other “procrastinator phrases” include:[2]
- “I just don’t really feel like doing this right now. I will do it later.”
- Say instead: “Even if I can’t get the whole thing done right now, I can start on this part.”
- Say instead: “Even if I can’t get the whole thing done right now, I can start on this part.”
- “It’s no big deal if it doesn’t get done.”
- Say instead: “This is important to ME, so I choose to start now.”
- Say instead: “This is important to ME, so I choose to start now.”
- “It won’t take me that long.”
- Say instead: “This may take a long time, but I choose to start now and get part of this done right away.”
- Say instead: “This may take a long time, but I choose to start now and get part of this done right away.”
- “It’s not fair.”
- Say instead: “I choose to do this”
- Say instead: “I choose to do this”
- “I just don’t really feel like doing this right now. I will do it later.”
- Taking on a second-person view can also help. Tell yourself: “You know you’re just putting this off. Take the time right now and get started on this part. You’ll feel better and then you can take a break, or start on another small part.”[3]
- You can also provide yourself with an extra measure of motivation by using the Best Me Technque of self-hypnosis to pre-experience the rewards of a long-term goal, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for “will power.”
Related wikiHows
- How to Stop Procrastinating
- How to Be Punctual
- How to Develop Your Sense of Time
- How to Get Things Done Fast
- How to Wake Up On Time
- How to Hypnotize Yourself Using the Best Me Technique
Sources and Citations
- http://litemind.com/overcoming-procrastination-self-talk/ – Original source, shared with permission.
- ↑ This is what Mark Forster calls the “I’ll just get the file out” technique.
- ↑ http://livingwelltools.com/procrastination.htm
- ↑ http://www.catalystorganizing.com/articles/Later_Never_Comes.pdf
Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Overcome Procrastination Using Self Talk. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
11.02.09
Housekeeping Tips: 6 Ways to Banish Odors and Freshen Your House
As we said in our previous post, the first thing we notice about a home is the way it smells. Here are a few more ways to freshen your home.
- A sour sponges are disgusting! To freshen your sponges, rinse them thoroughly after each use. In addition, put them in your dishwasher with every load you wash and/or put them in the microwave oven for 30 seconds and/or wash them with baking soda.
- To freshen your house while you vacuum, add a cotton ball– soaked in your favorite essential oil or perfume–to your new vacuum bag or in the dirt receptacle of a bagless vacuum cleaner. Choose the right aroma, and you might even enjoy vacuuming–well, at least a little.
- For shoe odors: spray inside with Frebreze or shoe deoderizing spray made by Odor Eaters (available in shoe repair shops and drug stores), or loosely wrap a cotton ball soaked in an essential oil in plastic wrap and place in shoes or boots.
- Keep food cupboard shelves clean–especially where there might be drips from food containers.
- Heloise suggests making your own aromatic jars. Take a small, clean glass jar and put a few cotton balls inside. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil such as clove, cinnamon, orange or peppermint and punch holes in the top. Now put your jars under a bed, behind books on the book shelf, near the cat litter box or wherever you need to freshen the air.
- Use high quality aromatherapy candles.
10.26.09
Housekeeping Tips: 7 Ways to Make Your Home Smell Clean and Fresh
The first thing anyone notices about your home (however unconsciously) is the way it smells. Try these tips to freshen the air.
- Sprinkle borax or baking soda on the carpets. Wait an hour or so before vacuuming. You’ve brightened and deodorized in one simple step.
- Put a dab of your favorite perfume or essential oil on your light bulbs when you entertain. Heavenly!
- Have a smoker in the house? Discreetly place a saucer or two of vinegar in the room(s) and cigarette odors will vanish.
- Grease accumulates on your range hood exhaust screens and turn rancid in time. Wash them thoroughly with a grease cutting detergent and/or run them through the dishwasher.
- Put a few cotton balls soaked with an essential oil, such as cinnamon, orange or eucalyptus, at the bottom of the garbage container before putting in the garbage bag. Renew the oils as often as necessary.
- Freshen Fido’s bed by combining a few drops of lavender oil to a quart of water and spraying your pet’s sleeping area or use a commercial pet deodorizer. lavender oil has the added advantage of shooing away the fleas…for a little while! Your dog will thank you.
- And speaking of Fido, if you suffer from his bad breath, put a couple of drops of peppermint oil in a quart bottle. Shake thoroughly and pour into your dog’s water dish.
What do you do to keep your home smelling fresh and clean? Please share.
10.19.09
How To Clean and Protect Granite Counter Tops
Granite is much tougher and more durable than marble. It is pretty much heat resistent so it’s okay to put your hot pots or pans directly on the counter top. And it is extremely hard so scratches aren’t generally a problem. However, granite is surprisingly porous, so it is easily stained if you’re not careful.
To clean granite use one of the following–never use an ordinary kitchen cleaning product–then rinse and thoroughly buff dry with a soft cloth.
- Liquid dishwashing soap and water.
- A solution of borax and water.
- Stone soap, available at any hardware store, or on-line at www.stonecare.com.
- Use “Granite Guard Protector” (www.marble-cleaning-products.com ) to prevent staining from food, water, oil and dirt.
- For spots and stains, make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, or a peroxide cleaner such as Bio-Ox Citrus Concentrate and baking soda the stain with the paste. Place a damp cloth over the paste and leave it on overnight. Rub the stain with a white or blue scrubber pad if necessary. Rinse thoroughly and dry. If stain remains, refer to “how to clean a granite countertop” on www.ehow.com.
- Be sure you keep your granite properly sealed. www.StoneCare.com has a good selection of sealants as well as granite cleaning wipes for super convenience.
Do you have further suggestions for keeping granite clean and protected. Do you have a favorite product you’d like to share?
10.12.09
How to Care for Marble Surfaces: Dos and Don’ts
Here’s a summary of how to care for your marble surfaces. First the Dos:
- DO be sure the surface is free from dirt and/or grit before washing.
- DO clean your marble with liquid dishwashing soap or stone soap and water. Rinse thoroughly and buff dry with soft cloth.
- DO blot up spills immediately with a paper towel.
- DO make sure marble is properly sealed.
- DO protect marble floors with rubber-backed mats or rugs. Protect marble counter tops with mats, trivets or coasters.
And a few don’ts as well:
- DON’T allow water to remain on marble any longer than absolutely necessary.
- DON’T use lemon juice, vinegar or any regular household cleaner–even those that claim they are safe for all surfaces.
- DON’T use any abrasives whatsoever to clean your marble. No scrubbers, no “Soft Scrub,” nothing but a little baking soda if necessary.
For more tips on caring for your marble, please refer to our previous three posts.
Comments? Suggestions? Please share.
10.05.09
How To Care for Marble Surfaces in the Bathroom
Special care needs to be taken for marble surfaces in the bathroom.
- Be extra careful that these surfaces are properly sealed. (See previous post).
- Avoid hair spray near the vanity top as it may etch the surface. Ditto for perfumes and after shave as they contain alcohol.
- Do not use hair dye near a marble surface because, well, it will dye it!
- Never, ever leave water on any marble surface! This means a thorough wipe-down every time you use the shower or sink.
- A high quality marble wax or car paste wax may be effective to remove water spots.
- Use a rubber-backed rug instead of a bath mat so that the floor is kept dry.
- To remove soap scum from the shower surround, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water).
Do you have any additional suggestions? Please share!
09.28.09
How to Avoid Problems With Marble Counters in The Kitchen
This is a second in a series on caring for your marble counter tops and marble floors.
You can preserve your kitchen countertops for many years by taking some precautions:
- Always use a cutting mat (or cutting board with a towel underneath it) when working with any acidic foods such as lemons, vinegar or alcohol or foods such as beets which can discolor the surface.
- Blot (don’t wipe) any spills with a paper towel immediately. Then wash the area with dish soap and water. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Be especially careful with spilled sodas, ketchup, orange juice, lemonade and wine.
- Always place a hot pan on a trivet, mat or cutting board, never directly on the marble.
- Never allow wet dishes, glasses or water to stand on a marble for any length of time.
- Always brush off any salt or other gritty stuff before wiping your marble counter tops.
- Use a mat, trivet or cloth under anything that might possibly scratch your counter.
Marble needs to be resealed every year or two. To test the seal on your marble, place a few drops of water on a clean counter or floor and see if they retain the perfect bubble shape after 15-20 minutes. For a selection of marble sealers try Marble-Cleaning-Products.com or StoneCare.com
- r help with removing stains and spots on your marble go to www.marble-institute.com.
Have you had any “marble experiences” of your own? If so, please share.
09.21.09
How to Clean Marble Counter Tops and Floors
Marble countertops and floors are beautiful and should last for many, many years. They do however need to be carefully cleaned and cared for.
First step: Use a soft brush to get rid of all the crumbs or other debris on your countertops, a broom or dust mop to do the same on your marble floors. This is important because cleaning over any kind of grit will scratch your marble. Think sandpaper, here!
Second step: Wash your floors or counters with any of the following:
- Dishwashing liquid (Dawn, Palmolive, etc.) and hot water.
- Stone soap, available at any hardware store.
- Baking soda and water.
- Any natural, phosphate-free cleaner such as Shaklee’s Basic H. (Go to www.Shaklee.com for information).
- A microfiber cloth or mop dampened with water.
- Special marble cleaners. Two good resources are: www.Marble-Cleaning-products.com and www.StoneCare.com.
Do NOT use too much cleaner or soap as that may leave a film or streaks. Also do NOT use regular cleaning products on your marble–even if they say they are safe for all surfaces. Nearly all household cleaners, except those that are phosphate-free, contain acid which is enemy #1 for your marble surfaces.
Third step: Rinse the surface thoroughly. This is an important last step as any soap residue will dry your marble.
Fourth step: Dry the surface with a soft cloth. Never leave water on your marble! You can wipe a marble floor dry in several ways:
- Place a cloth under your sponge mop and go over the entire floor.
- Use an old towel under your feet and boogie around until the floor is dry.
- Change to a clean cover on your microfiber mop.
Please share your own tips and suggestions for cleaning marble.
09.14.09
How to Clean Stainless Steel: Best Products and Home Cleaners
Since stainless steel sinks are so popular, there are number of commercial stainless steel cleaners available:
- “Stainless Steel Magic” and “Sheila Shine” were two of the first stainless cleaners. They are both excellent, but you may object to the odor they leave behind, or how your lungs feel while using them. They are, however, the favorites with our housekeepers.
- There are two highly rated cleaner/polishers made by available on Flitz.com–you can even order “free” samples on line (although you pay shipping and handling. Both these products require some “elbow grease,” but the reviews all point to excellent results.
- WOW Stainless Steel Cleaner is a little pricey but excellent. They make both a liquid cleaner and handy wipes. This is the product recommended by Viking appliances.
- One of the best values around is “Clean and Shield 1-Step Stainless Care from Unelko. This is a spray cleaner good for all stainless appliances and is especially good for removing hard water spots and fingerprints. According to a Wall Street Journal review, this product cleans “without streaks” and made appliances “the brightest” of those tested. It’s also the cheapest, which puts it in the amazing class on that basis alone.
Stainless steel wipes are surely the quickest and easiest to use if cost is not an issue. Three of the best:
- “Method Stainless Steel Wipes” have been well received. They are available at Target and on line.
- Stonecare makes a very good wipe and can be purchased through Stonecare.com.
- And Pledge has entered the market as well. They are especially good at removing water spots.
There are many inexpensive and effective stainless steel cleaners that you can find in your pantry or medecine cabinet. Try these green cleaning methods:
- Baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge cleans beautifully. Of course, it must be rinsed thoroughly.
- White vinegar or rubbing alcohol will effectively remove water spots and put a nice shine on it too.
- Another way to add a nice luster to your sink, dry it thoroughly and then wipe it with a soft cloth and vegetable or olive oil.
- Rust spots can be removed with lighter fluid.
A few “Nevers” for stainless steel:
- Never use anything abrasive on stainless steel. No paper towels or green side sponges, no steel wool, harsh brushes or scouring powders.
- Never use any product that contains chlorine.
And three final tips:
- Soap and water are still very effective cleaners!
- Wiping the sink dry after each use will prevent water spots.
- Place a perforated rubber or plastic mat in the bottom of the sink to prevent scratches. They have some rather attractive ones now. There are also some grates on the market that work as well. There are advantages to each.
We hope these tips are helpful. Do you have one or more to share?
09.08.09
Cleaning Green: 7 More Great Uses for Baking Soda
As promised, here are yet more fabulous uses for that kitchen staple, baking soda!
- Sprinkle some on the bottom of your kitchen garbage can. It will effectively remove any odors there.
- Got a slow running drain? Pour half a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar, wait 15 minutes for the fizzing to subside, flush with hot water. The clog is gone. It’s like magic!
- Cleaning your bathroom and kitchen fixtures to a blinding brilliance with a paste of baking soda and liquid dish soap.
- Appliance manufacturers will tell you never to use any kind of chemicals when cleaning the inside of the refrigerator or microwave. Use baking soda and water only.
- For a sour sponge, wet it and sprinkle a goodly amount of baking soda on it. Work it in and let is set up overnight. Works every time.
- A grease fire in your kitchen or barbeque can be put out quickly by smothering it with baking soda.
- Use a baking soda and water paste to remove scuff marks on vinyl floors, crayon from the walls.
So, that’s about it from us on baking soda. What can you add?
09.01.09
Cleaning Green: 9 Great Uses for Baking Soda
With people becoming increasingly concerned about the chemicals we use to clean our homes and the toxic conditions they produce, we’re finding more and more uses for plain old baking soda. Try these on for size:
- Use half your usual amount of dishwasher detergent and then fill the cups with baking soda. No worries about what harm caustic detergent may be doing to your body long-term, and it makes your silverware shine, saves you money and means fewer scratches on your glassware! Who knew??
- Throw a cup of baking soda in with each load of wash. The baking soda softens the water and makes the detergent more effective. And of course your clothes will smell fresher too! You can also cut down on the amount of detergent you use per load.
- Use baking soda just like you’d use powdered cleanser: for the bathroom and kitchen sinks (including stainless steel), bathtubs and shower stalls.
- Sprinkle a little baking soda to absorb grease in a pan instead of pouring it in a can. (You’d never pour grease down the drain, would you)?
- When you scorch a pan, try sprinkling dry baking soda over the scorch, let it stand awhile and clean as usual.
- A paste of baking soda and water will effectively remove coffee and tea stains from the inside of your coffee cups.
- Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets 20-30 minutes before you vacuum. Brighten and deoderize in one easy step. This is especially effective if you have inside dogs: no more doggie odor!
- Pour a cup of vinegar in your toilet, add baking soda. When it stops fizzing clean as usual.
- Use a baking soda and water paste to clean the window of your oven.
A measure of baking soda’s popularity is that it now comes in 12 pound bags.
One more thing: you know baking soda absorbs odors (we put it in our refrigerator, right?) so if you use it for….well….baking, be sure it comes from a new box or sealed container. Your chocolate chip cookies will taste better that way.
Look for our next post for even more ways to use bicarbonate soda (baking soda). And please feel free to give us your comments here.
08.24.09
Speed Cleaning: Small Time-Savers Add Up
Hope you find something useful here.
- Some of the fastest, most efficient housekeepers we’ve known through the years, wouldn’t even think about cleaning without wearing an apron. Not only does an apron keep your clothes clean, it can save you lots of time. As you approach each room, take the supplies you’ll need out of your cleaning caddy and put them in your apron pocket. You will then have everything you need right at your fingertips.
- There are other uses for an apron too. Use one or more pockets for a soapy sponge (in a plastic bag) for touch-up work around the light switches, doorjambs, etc. Another pocket can be for any debris you find. Or use a pocket for small items you find that need to be put away in another room.
- If you use plastic liners in your wastebaskets, keep a supply of bags folded in the bottom of the wastebasket. That way when you remove a full bag of trash there’s a fresh plastic bag right where you need it.
- Whenever you are wiping a large surface–kitchen counters, for instance–try wiping with a cloth in each hand. You’ll be surprised how much faster it is.
- If using a broom to sweep, try using a half sheet of newspaper which is dampened on one side instead of a dustpan. Simply press the dampened edge to the floor and sweep the debris right into it. Fold it up and throw it away.
- Keep touch-up supplies in the bathrooms and kitchen in addition to the supplies in your cleaning caddy. Window cleaner, paper towels, and a microfiber cloth should do the trick.
- If you prefer using a dustpan, spray it with furniture polish and the dust will slip right off.
- Place plastic lids under the metal containers such as cans of shaving cream. As the inevitable rust accumulates the coasters can easily be washed or replaced.
As always, we’d love to hear any comments you may have. Do these suggestions bring to mind tips of your own?
08.09.09
How To Remove Scratches, Burns, Candle Wax, Water and Heat Spots From Your Furniture
Scratches on your furniture? Here’s help. For small blemishes try white toothpaste. It’s mildly abrasive and can be effective on minor scratches. For deeper scratches or wide areas probably the best you can do is to use a blend stick, crayon, liquid shoe polish or paste boot polish. Apply toothpaste to even out the finish after coloring. Then wax with good quality furniture polish and buff with a clean cloth.
Water spots (and heat spots as well!) can be removed with any of the following:
- Wipe a little lemon oil on the stain, wiping with the grain of the wood.
- Apply baking soda with a cloth covered damp toothbrush. Again go with the grain.
- Cover the stain with a smooth textured, lint-free white cloth (napkin, T shirt–any thing without a nap). Then place a warm (not hot) iron on top of the cloth. Check the stain every few seconds to see if it is gone. Repeat as necessary. Amazing, but this truly works! Who comes up with these ideas?
Cigarette burn on your table? Rub with mayonainse. Let set for an hour or so, wipe with a soft cloth. Repeat if necessary.
Candle wax can be removed in a couple of ways.
- Soften with a hair dryer, then carefully wipe with paper towels going with the grain of the wood.
- Scrape the wax off with a credit card. Any residue can be taken off with a little vinegar and water. Dry immediately.
(Margaret S. Dasso)
That’s just about all we know on the subject. Can you add more?
08.05.09
How To: Clean Grease, Fingerprints and Smudges From Your Walls
Most spots and fingerprints can be removed from painted walls with a Mr Clean Magic Eraser or a good all-purpose cleaner. But always do a test spot first and don’t rub too hard or it may remove some of the paint.
When repainting remember that the higher the paint sheen the easier it is to care for. For kids’ rooms, high gloss may be the best choice.
If you must wash an entire wall or ceiling to prepare it for painting or just because, use a microfiber mop or a sponge mop for the large areas and then a sponge or cloth for the corners and edges. Avoid streaking by starting at the bottom and working upwards. Yep, seems counter intuitive, but trust me it’s the only way.
Never try to spot clean a wall that has even a smidgen of grease on it, or you’re in a world of hurt.
Remove those nasty grease spatter spots from the wall behind the stove with a Dobie Pad and concentrated all-purpose cleaner. For really heavy-duty grease, use Dow Bathroom Cleaner, wipe and rinse throughly right away. After the wall is clean, apply a generous coat of paste wax and those spots will come off with just a paper towel.
An art gum eraser will remove most spots and smudges from wallpaper. (Wallpaper is making a come back, you know!)
For grease spots on wallpaper, rub gently with cornstarch or baby powder. Brush off after an hour or so.
Margaret S. Dasso
Do you have some wall cleaning tips you’d like to share? Write on!!
07.21.09
How To Vacuum: 7 Tips To Make It Fast and Easy
Vacuuming is way down the list of our favorite things to do. Maybe it is for you too. If so, let’s learn to do it as fast and easy as possible so we have more time for fun!
- Attach a long extension cord to your vacuum so that you can vacuum several rooms without replugging the cord.
- Save time when vacuuming be dampening your vacuum brushes with a glycerin and water solution. It attracts lint, hair and dust like a magnet. (Glycerin is available at your pharmacy).
- If pins, paper clips or the like are a problem, put a magnet on the front of your vacuum to catch them before they are sucked up and damage your machine.
- Vacuum under a dresser without moving it by simply removing the bottom drawer. Vacuum the area with a mini-vac or wipe it out with a damp rag or sponge.
- Remember that the vacuum only has suction on the backward stroke. Pushing it forward is only for positioning the machine. So go forward fast and pull it back slowly. Carpet manufacturers generally recommend vacuuming the same area 5 times before moving to the next. But we say, It depends….!
- Electric cords can get in your way while vacuuming and dusting. Screw one or two cup hooks behind wood furniture and loop excess cord over the hook. There are also devices which bundle multiple cords together.
- Many people like the convenience of a vacuum with on-board tools. Others find them difficult to manuver. You may prefer a small carry-around mini-vac. Use it for upholstery, drapes, blinds, lamps, etc., plus hard surface floors, carpet edges, stairs, hard to reach areas and cobwebs.
One of our clients favorite things about having their homes professionally cleaned is that their carpets have beautiful straight vacuum lines. See how well you can do it. At least it will give you something to concentrate on. 
Margaret S. Dasso
Your comments? Suggestions? Please share.
07.14.09
How To Wash Windows: 7 Ways To Do It Better
If you really want your house to shine, you’ve got to have clean windows. What’s that you say? You hate doing windows? Well, perhaps that’s only because you haven’t “seen the light” on how to do them quickly and easily. Read on.
- Buy a good quality squeegee and learn how to use it properly. (Go to a janitorial supply company for both). Or use top quality paper towels or clean microfiber cloth. Don’t use newspaper. Not only is it yikky (black stuff all over your hands) but it doesn’t do as good a job no matter what your grandma says.
- Spray as little cleaner on the window as you can and still get the surface evenly wet. Experiment.
- Wipe the window until absolutely dry. Check it at an angle to make sure there are no streaks.
- Never wash windows inthe wind, sun or hot weather as you will surely have streaky glass.
- When washing windows inside and out, use vertical strokes on one side and horizontal on the other. This way, if there’s a streak or miss you’ll know which side it’s on.
- If windows have a greasy look, try using rubbing alcohol on them.
- If you use an ammonia solution, don’t splash it about. It can strip wax or paint off any nearby surface.
Margaret S. Dasso
Window Washing Solutions
There are a number of solutions you can use. Experiment. See which one suits you best.
- Plain lukewarm water. That’s right plain old water will do a very good job if windows aren’t too dirty–especially if you use a microfiber cleaning cloth. The advantage: no streaks. If you must do windows in the sun or hot weather this is the only thing to use.
- Commercial cleaner–Windex, etc.
- A quart of cool water with 1/2 cup white vinegar.
- The same amount of water with 1/4 to 1/2 cup ammonia.
- Lukewarm water with a few drops of Dawn dishwashing soap. (There are undoubtedly others that work, but we know this one does).
- Automobile windshield washer fluid. Does a good job and it’s cheaper that most supermarket brands.
- Special glass cleaner available at glass stores. (Expensive, but some people think it’s worth it).
- Our “Special Brew.” 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon Dawn dishwashing detergent. Add enough water to make one gallon.
So Easy A Kid Could Do It….
The easiest way to clean the outside windows is to use a very strong solution of powdered cleanser (Ajax, Comet, etc.) and water. Then rinse thoroughly with a garden hose. Then rinse again. The rinsing is crucial. A sponge mop makes a fairly good applicator.
Here’s an instructive and really fun video from ToolGirl.com
Do you have additional glass cleaning tips? Any experiences to share? We’d love to hear from you.
07.07.09
How To Make Beds Faster and Easier
Imagine leafing through your favorite decorating magazine and seeing a picture perfect bedroom. Now imagine that same bedroom with the bed unmade. Not a pretty picture. While it may be tempting to rush out of the house without making the bed, it’s one of those little tasks that can take less than a minute and make such a difference to your mood when you get home. A few suggestions….
- Use a duvet or comforter as a bedspread.
- Minimize the number of throw pillows. Having to replace 17 pillows every morning is enough to discourage anyone.
- When making the bed pull up all the linens on one side of the bed before moving to the other side.
- Make the bed–or your side of the bed–before you get up by pulling up all the linens while you’re sitting there and finishing it when you get up.
- If you use down pillows remember you need to fluff them hard each morning or the down will compact.
- When changing the linens, put all sheets and blankets on at one time, then tuck them all in at the same time rather than individually.
- Your sheets will last longer if you rotate two sets.
- Put a fabric softener sheet between the guest room sheets. It will keep them from getting that faintly musty odor that comes when linens are seldom used. This is also good for the linen closet if sheets are not rotated often.
Do you have suggestions you’d like to add?
06.29.09
How To Clean Your Dishwasher
There are several ways to clean the inside of your dishwasher:
- Fill the detergent cups with powdered laundry bleach. Run through a complete cycle.
- Fill the cups with lemon flavored Kool-Aid. (It’s the only flavor that works).
- Run 1/2 cup white vinegar through the cycle.
Under normal circumstances you only need use half the usual amount of dishwasher detergent. If you fill the remainder of each cup with baking soda you soften the water, and thus increase the efficiency of the detergent, and your glasses and silverware will be cleaner as well.
Was this information helpful? We’d love to hear your comments.
06.22.09
How To Get Rid of the Cobwebs
Cobwebs add a perfect decorative touch…at Halloween! The rest of the year? Uh-uh. Not a good look. Here are several easy ways to get rid of them:
- Suck those suckers up using the wand of a mini-vac. This is a great Kid Job–they love it.
- Wrap a broom with a slightly damp towel affixed with a rubber band.
- Slip an old pillowcase over a broom or dust mop.
- Use a Webster, a bristly half-dome device found in most hardware stores.
Always use downward strokes when removing cobwebs from the ceilings.
And don’t forget that occasionally you need to attack cobwebs behind, between, under and in furniture, plants, etc.
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