Things i keep in My own Cleansing Caddy

Does it surprise you that housecleaning isn’t my favorite thing to do? Cleaning and keeping a tidy home are necessary to keep our family organized… but not exactly a fun hobby!




I do know that when my home feels tidy, I seem to appreciate the space I’m in so much more. I may feel disgruntled that we don’t live in a bigger house, but if the home is tidy, I realize we have just the right amount of space we need. And, when our home is tidy, it’s much easier to kick my feet up or spend the day playing with the kids, rather than focusing on what hasn’t gotten done.

Cleaning will go much quicker if you have an arsenal of tools that you can grab at a moment’s notice – either on each level of your home, or in one central location. I rely on homemade cleaners and reusable cloths – even items from the recycle bin – for tackling the cleaning around our home. We’ll be talking more about green cleaning later this month and I can’t wait to share more tips on that.

Here’s my list of essential items, recipes and tips for your cleaning caddy:

All-Purpose Cleaner

Mix together two tablespoons of mild dishwashing soap (like Dawn or Palmolive) and two cups of water in a spray bottle and give it a shake. Use these anywhere that you would use a commercial all-purpose spray. This cleaner is particularly great for countertops, bathroom surfaces, and highchairs. It’s also great for wiping down plastic outdoor furniture.



Glass Cleaner

Mix together one part white vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on your mirrors and windows.

Scouring Scrub

Mix one cup Borax, one cup baking soda (or you can use washing soda), and ¼ cup salt. This is a great scrubbing agent to add to toilets, tubs and sinks to make them gleaming white again. A tablespoon can also be used in the dishwasher to clean your dishes.

WD-40

Sounds strange, but I always keep it on hand. WD-40 helps remove any sticky residue left from crafting with my children and I use it constantly to remove crayon marks in our house.

Microfiber Cloths

These are great with or without cleaners on them. Wet, they’re great for cleaning the bathroom sink and fixtures and to get that nasty soap scum off of tubs. Dry, they work wonderfully to dust surfaces. Place one of these on the bottom of a Swiffer mop or broom and use the handle as an extension to release cobwebs and dust from the corners of your ceilings.




Newspaper

Recycle your newspapers by using them to dry mirrors and windows. They offer a lint-free solution and a great alternative to other cloths, which can leave a dusty finish.

Old Toothbrush

These are great to get in the crevices of sinks and to do detail work around tight areas. Keep one of these in your bag of tricks to make that tedious work a little less tedious.

Tote or Basket

As you declutter, put items in the basket on their way to the appropriate rooms. Always keep a tote handy for items you plan to donate.

Trash Bags

Save bags from grocery shopping or keep a stack of trash bags handy for removing junk from rooms as you clean them.

Caddy or Bucket

Store your tools in one of these to make it easier to lug cleaners around as you accomplish your tasks.

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Outdoor Decorating and Enjoyable

Let your outdoor space become the perfect designer room. Create it with a specific use in mind: as the ideal outdoor dining room, living room or dreamy reading nook.



Design the décor

Start with a bold, colorfully graphic outdoor rug that will do two things: “ground” the space and help you map out the furniture placement. Add layers of color and texture with outdoor fabrics on furniture and as drapery. Use both modern and traditional patterns to mix things up and create your own unique style. Mix and match outdoor dinnerware and furniture to create a curated, vintage-style look.

You can easily give existing furniture a face-lift by re-stuffing and re-covering cushions with a bold fabric. Spray paint will instantly change the look of metal outdoor furniture. Try it… and don’t be afraid to use a bright color like green, yellow, or orange!



Light the way

Lighting has the biggest impact on how your outdoor space looks and feels. Add outdoor lighting to accent beautiful stone walkways, trees and driveways. Solar powered or LED walkway lights not only showcase the hardscaping, they are also economical and energy-efficient.

For a dramatic look, try solar-powered spotlights to up-light mossy oaks, maples or your favorite fruit tree. Check out the Sears collection of outdoor lighting, oversized lanterns and decorative glass hurricanes — they can be used in so many ways. Try flanking your front door with two oversized lanterns, one on each side of the door, or place a few along your walkway. It’s the perfect solution for adding light and making your entry more inviting. I like to use glass hurricane vases on my outdoor dining, coffee, or end tables to add ambient light for entertaining. I also use lighting to break up the different areas of my outdoor spaces, to create “rooms” for easy entertaining. Walking paths denoted by hanging lanterns will lead guests around your outdoor space.



Fire it up

Test your culinary skills with Kenmore’s 5-burner gas grill. It makes outdoor entertaining so easy. The colossal grill lets you rotisserie, barbeque, steam and stove-cook all at the same time. Impressive! It’s everything you need to create the perfect feast.

This Blog is brought to you by Appliance Repair Austin Attempting to repair appliances without proper training and safety standards is dangerous. Appliances should only be repaired by skilled professionals who have the knowledge and experience to safely bring them out of disrepair. Repairs performed by unqualified people risk serious injury or even death. A relatively small outlet can easily carry the current needed to kill a person. Please call (512)-690-2191 or email info@ApplianceRepairAustinTX.com. Our technicians are stading by and ready to relieve you from your appliance problems.

Thoughtful Wedding offerings on a Budget

Ah, love is in the air! And with a wedding comes the opportunity to share a gift with the newlyweds. I’ll share my favorite gifts to give… and a few that we received when my husband and I tied the knot (amazingly!) eleven years ago.

Board games

In our family, it’s all about board-game night. So I love to get the couple’s board game collection started with a few of our favorite games. When we were newlyweds, we didn’t have a lot of cash and relied on board games to get us through those lean date-night evenings. Pick games that are played with two players (Scrabble, Monopoly, Blokus, Rummikub) and games with are played with larger groups (Apples to Apples, Cranium, Trivial Pursuit) for entertaining at home.

Send them on a picnic

I like to stock up on picnic supplies to give as gifts. Combine a retro picnic basket with outdoor dinnerware, blanket, bottle of wine and favorite picnic recipes the couple can make together. We received a picnic set when we married, and it’s wonderful to still be using it after all these years… now with our children gathered around the picnic table.



Trim their Christmas tree

When we got married, I never thought about what we’d do when Christmas rolled around. For couples that celebrate Christmas, tree decorations are a thoughtful way to gift on a limited budget. Try to shop the after-holiday sales and select trims that will go with any décor. Items like white lights, ornaments in solid colors, a simple star topper, and a little garland can be used in whatever scheme they might choose. Consider an ornament personalized with the year of their wedding or an ornament storage box.

Give the gift of appliance convenience

When I was selecting gifts for my wedding registry, I had no idea what to choose and based my selections on recommendations from others, rather than my own experience. If I could do it all over again, the top four items I’d put on my list would be my slow cooker for easy weeknight meals, my bread machine for creating bread and pizza each week, a stand mixer for all of my baking needs, and a really good coffeemaker that would see me through those long days of work. These simple appliances make a world of difference to meal preparation – and they’d all make fabulous gifts for a new bride. To personalize the gift a little further, tuck in a few well-chosen recipes to get the couple started!



Welcome them home

Nothing says home like a welcoming front door. I love to buy couples a welcome mat and wreath, or a personalized sign to adorn their new place. If you’re crafty and can make one of these gifts, you’ll save a little bit of money and create a truly personalized gift in the process.

Share a big-ticket item

Check the couple’s wedding registry and think about going in on a big-ticket item with a few other couples. Choosing a larger item and splitting the tab lets you spoil the couple without making a huge dent in your wallet.

One of the best gifts that we received was a folding card table and chairs. We’re still using it for every party that we host today. Truth be told, in those early days of marriage, that little table and chairs served as our kitchen set until we could afford to deck out our apartment the way we wanted to. I still get a little misty-eyed when I think of the sweet, simple dinners we shared together at our little folding table.




Make thankfulness convenient

As a new bride, all the thank-you notes I needed to write after our honeymoon overwhelmed me. One thoughtful gift that will really be used and appreciated: a few packages of thank-you cards, stamps, and a self-inking address stamp with the couple’s new name. I promise you that it will be a gift long remembered and utilized!

This Blog is brought to you by Appliance Repair Albuquerque Attempting to repair appliances without proper training and safety standards is dangerous. Appliances should only be repaired by skilled professionals who have the knowledge and experience to safely bring them out of disrepair. Repairs performed by unqualified people risk serious injury or even death. A relatively small outlet can easily carry the current needed to kill a person. Please call 800-469-4663 or email info@ApplianceRepairAlbuquerque.net. Our technicians are stading by and ready to relieve you from your appliance problems.