4 Years of Living

We have lived in our current house for 4 years. Looking back and the changes we have made has been fun. Here is a picture tour of our house 4 years ago and now. The left side is 4 years ago and the right side is current.

 

We put flower beds in front and along the sides of the house. The tree is a crepe myrtle and is fire cracker red when it is blooming.

 The kitchen. For showing purposes we took the leaf out of the table to make it smaller. The chairs that are on the right in the current picture get taken out of the house. We have replaced the vinyl floor with tile and added a few decorations.

We sold the coffee table, old tv, and entertainment center and upgraded to a newer/modern version.

 The game room has had quite a few changes. We re-arranged furniture. Sold the futon and the rocking chairs. got a different entertainment center and a new tv.

 The table is now in our bedroom serving as The Doctor's study desk. We no longer have the computer upstairs and all the craft stuff is in my bedroom closet. The room is really big and spacious for the kiddos to play.

 The girls room was painted. new bedding was purchased and the crib is in storage. KMae sleeps on a crib mattress that gets pushed under Na's bed during the day. We look forward to getting her, her very own bed with the new house. Most of the baby toys were sold at a garage sale.

 Bubs room went from bright colorful toddler room to a room with a cal king bed. He is the one that gets kicked out of his room when company comes. We were going to buy him a new bed then decided to get ourselves a new bed and move the old one into his room. He likes a big bed and I frequently find him sleeping with 10 cars circled around him.

I never took a before picture of our bedroom because it was never fully unpacked until last month. That's right, I still had boxes from when we moved in sitting on the floor. Plus, our bedroom was always the dumping ground for the last of the stuff that needed to be cleaned before people came over. Ahhhh it is so nice to have a clean and organized bedroom. Yes, I should have done this 4 years ago. The cowhide and the longhorns were our treasures picked up from our time spent living in Fort Worth.

Vacation at Last

I have been so busy lately getting my house from this....

 to this...

  that I have negelcted blogging.

Actually, that first picture was from when we retiled our kitchen floors last year and moved everything into the family room. It has not been that bad since then...at least I don't think so. We are moving this summer and I have had my work cut out for me in preparing my house to go on the market. I didn't realize what hoarders my husband and I were. We got rid of so much stuff and probably will have so much more to get rid of just before we move. I finally have my house the way I have wanted it for the last 4 years. Ahhhh it is nice. I will do a picture tour later. After all the work I put into it I needed a vacation bad so we went here...

The beaches of Destin, Florida were welcoming. It was our first family vacation in 8 years where it was an actual vacation. No work, weddings, or funerals involved. Just my family, the beach, pool, and a condo. It was amazing. I'll post pics later. Until then, just look at this white sand beach and crystal waters and imagine you are there soaking up the sun.

Clean Your Room

Do you find yourself, like me, constantly telling your kids "clean your room"? My children's rooms tend to always be in disarray. We spend a good portion of a Saturday morning cleaning their rooms and by Tuesday they are a complete disaster again. I have some kiddos who think that as soon as they get tucked in to bed and the door is closed it is play time. I walk in their room in the morning and it looks like the toy box threw up. KMae is in the wonderful phase of changing her clothes 5 times a day so there are piles of clothes. Or, maybe the dresser took a look at what the toy box was doing and had a gag reflex.

Why oh why can't my kids clean up their room? Oh, do you think it could be because their mamma's room reassembles the after math of a Texas Twister? I try to keep my room clean, I really do but in the process of cleaning up the rest of the house my bedroom becomes the dumping ground. There are boxes filled with things that need to be "put away" lining the perimeter of my bedroom. In the mad dash to get the downstairs looking de-cluttered and clean I pile things in boxes and haul them up to my room. The reason my room is so lucky is because it is generally "off limits" when people come over. I'll even lock the door so people don't "accidentally" wander into it.

Alas, my husband is attempting to clean up on his own and I'm down here writing about it. I suppose I should go and help out. After all, my parents are coming to visit next week and I don't want to her my mom say "go clean your room!"

House Rules

Everyone has rules with in their own home. Some make sense like, no bouncing/throwing balls in the house. There was one rule in my house that I really didn't like. "No shoes on the carpet". Seems simple enough and for those of you who are OCD or neat freaks (which is not necessarily a bad thing) this probably isn't a big deal for you. I hated always having to think about taking my shoes off to just run upstairs and get something really quick. If we didn't want to take off our shoes my dad had a little basket of booties we could put on over our shoes. It was so embarrassing to have a party and have everyone with their little blue booties on.

picture source

The other rule tied to this one was no barefeet were allowed on the carpet either. We always had to have socks on. It wasn't until recently I realized the reason for the rule and, when we move, or the next time I get my carpets clean, I'm going to implement this rule in my house.

Think of where you walk in your shoes (public restrooms, grass where animals have been, etc) and then think of all the stuff that gets stuck to your shoes then transfers to your carpet. My carpets look so dingy right now and it is because we just walk all over the carpet in our shoes throughout the day. The reason we had to wear socks was so our body oils didn't get on the carpet. If the oils are on the carpet then dirt has something to stick too.

When I look at how dirty the water is when I clean my carpets it is incentive to remove shoes before walking on carpet. Plus, it means I can go longer between cleanings too. So, the next time you come to my house and I hand you some booties to put over your shoes you can thank my Dad for the idea.

What rules house rules did you think were stupid only to determine later on that they weren't so bad afterall and have implemented them in your own home?

Labor of Love

Yesterday was Labor Day. It is supposed to be a day to rest from your labors but many people, like us, take the day to do projects around the house. The Doctor took the time yesterday to perform a labor of love for me. He cleaned out the inside of my van. I can't believe I'm actually showing this picture. I'm quite embarrassed. I decided it would do 2 things by me sharing. 1. Those of you who have a vehicle that resembles this know you are not alone. 2. those of you who manage to maintain a clean van can feel grateful yours does not look like this.....(GASP!!) This is the trash from our summer excursions. For some reason my children feel the need to throw everything on the floor instead of bringing everything out of the car. I'm usually in too big of a hurry and forget to remind them to bring it out. The Doctor started the cleaning around 8:30 AM and finished around 3:30 PM. That didn't even include washing the outside of the vehicle. When The Doctor does a project he makes sure it is done correct the first time. So, he hauled out all the trash, vacuumed the carpets, scraped all the gunk out from where the bench seats hook in, removed melted crayon, and shampooed the carpets. Cleaning the carpets is what took the most time. He had to do it about 4 times before the water resembled a clear brown over a murky muddy brown. Once it was transparent (still brown though) he determined it was good enough and he was never going to get the water crystal clear.

I'm happy to say my vehicle is now clean and we will no longer be eating in the car....at least for today and maybe tomorrow.

Just 10 Minutes

I don't like cleaning all day. I'm sure I could do it if I really wanted to but I don't. Sometimes I'm so busy making sure my downstairs is clean that my upstairs gets completely neglected and looks like a tornado has been through it. It is to the point of driving me crazy but I don't know where to begin so I have come up with a plan. I'm going to set the time for 10 minutes and work on one room for 10 minutes. When the timer goes off I will move onto the next room and so on until I have worked in each room. If I feel like cleaning more I will continue. If not, I will do it again the next day. Eventually my upstairs will be clean and it will be easier to maintain with just 10 minutes a day per room.

Problem Solved

We are out growing our house but have to stay in it for at least 10 more months. Na gets to share a room with her 2 little sisters. The girls bedroom is pretty large. So there is plenty of room for their beds plus, a dresser, book shelves, toys, and a place to play with all the toys. There is one problem with all of these girls with different personalities and at different stages in life sharing a room. At least a problem for Na. She is at a point where she has her "special" things and her little sisters get into them and destroy them. She doesn't have a place of her own.

This last weekend we gave her a safe place for her things. The bedroom closet is hers. We switched doorknobs with one that has a lock and key. She now has the ability to lock her closet and keep her stuff safe. I have a key too just in case she loses hers or so I can get in there if needs be. This will work until we move next year to a bigger house where she will finally be granted her own room.

Cleaning Your Microwave

I used to never cover my food in the microwave and it left quite a mess. I hated cleaning it so I decided it was time to start covering the food when I used the microwave. Even when I cover it though some food manages to escape and leave it's mark. I used to use some kitchen cleaner to wipe out the microwave but hated the smell and residue it left behind. Well, today I tried a new method that my friend told me about. I actually think it is pretty common and I'm sure you have heard of it but if not then I guess I'm doing my job in sharing it. So, here is how to clean your microwave with out chemicals.


Place a microwave safe bowl filled with water in the microwave and microwave it for at least 5 minutes.
Let the bowl sit in for about 2 minutes after the timer beeps to allow the steam to collect on the walls.
Take a washcloth and wipe the walls clean. The steam loosens the food so it just wipes away.
I think (I haven't tried it yet) you can use a touch of vinegar too to help eliminate extra grease and deodorize.

Tips to get Children to do Chores

When I was growing up I was fortunate (or unfortunate depending on how you look at it) to have an older sister whom I shared a room with who liked to have things clean and tidy. I never had to clean my room because my sister always did it for me. She was constantly moving around the entire house helping my mother out with different tasks. When she was around 14 years old the neighbor paid her to clean her house. And today, my sister still has the same work ethic in her own home. She doesn't go to bed until everything is in it's place. I think my sister was born with a clean gene which some how passed me by. So, the point of this story was to show that some children clean and do chores with out having to be asked, they see a problem and fix it. Other children, I fall into this category, need incentive or lots of reminders to get things done. Here are a few ideas for getting children to do chores.

Sometimes changing your wording is all that needs to be done. Instead of saying "go clean your room" try changing it to sound like something fun. Say something like "I'm going to set the timer for ___ minutes and if you can clean your room and beat the clock then we are going to do XYZ." The incentive can be whatever you want it to be, extra story at bedtime, go outside to play, special time with mom, etc.

Create a duty chart and let your children know that the TV and video games don't get watched/played until the chores are done. Don't' forget to rotate the duties weekly.

Make it fun by making a game out of it. Beat the clock is one my children love. We often create toy chains or book chains which are like an assembly line. One child picks up the toy and then passes it down the line to the last person who puts it in place.

Music can make things fun and move faster. My children always know when I'm in the cleaning mood when I put on my upbeat dance music. Put on some up beat children's music and show them how to clean to the beat.

Make sure the chore is age-appropriate. It doesn't make sense for me to have a 2 year old unload the dishwasher since she can't reach most of the places the dishes go. However, she can set the table if I pull everything out for her.

Before you just start assigning duties to kids explain to them why you are doing it. They are smart and will be able to understand the amount of work for one person to run a house is too much and it would be easier if everyone pitched in. They just need it brought to there attention and explained at a level they can understand.

There are so many ways you can teach children to do chores that I'm sure I missed a bunch. Please share what works for your family.

Managing Housework

Face it, housework is one of those things that is never done. Once you complete one task it is on to another while all of the work you just completed is being undone by someone else in the house. There are methods of doing housework which make it so you aren't cleaning every second of everyday. Here is one such method.

Begin by listing all of the tasks that need to be done on a daily basis. This list should include but is not limited to: Wash dishes, sweep kitchen floor, make bed, tidy bedrooms, and tidy family/living rooms.

Now list things that need to be done on a regular basis (every couple of days or once a week) like vacuum floors, mop floors, dust, laundry, clean bathrooms, deep clean kitchen, etc.

Once you have your housework listed in those two groups it is time to divide the housework up among the days of the week. You have your daily chores and those never change but now you need to assign the "regular" jobs a day of the week. For example:

Monday: Deep clean kitchen, mop kitchen floor, washes kitchen rags.
Tuesday: Wash kids laundry, vacuum
Wednesday: Wash adult’s laundry, mop
Thursday: Dust, go grocery shopping and run errands, vacuum floors
Friday: Clean bathrooms, wash bath towels and sort through papers.
Saturday: Clean bedrooms, wash bed linens
Sunday: Enjoy the day off.

You may have more or less tasks to assign depending on your household. Now, the key to having time for you is only doing the assigned task on the assigned day. You must complete the everyday jobs before you move onto the assigned day jobs. Some days you might not be able to complete all of the assigned day jobs due to illness or other unexpected events. If this is the case, don't play catch up on another day; wait until the day rolls around again or until you have extra time you don't mind using. When you feel comfortable, start adding in the monthly tasks (tasks done once a month), quarterly tasks (things done every 3 months), bi-annually tasks, and tasks done once a year. Once you get into a rhythm you will find it easier to maintain your home.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

Declutter and Organizing your Home

How a home looks on the inside is often a reflection of how the owner feels about themselves. De cluttering and organizing your home may be a daunting task but as you work through it you will feel better about yourself and your home. Here are some tips for getting started.

Do you have a room or a closet which the door always remains closed and if a friend opened the door you would be mortified by what they would see? You are not alone. It doesn't have to be this way. Start with this room or closet within this room. Start small and pick a corner of the room and start there. Pick up something and make one of three choices: keep, give away/sell, or trash. Create three piles.

• Keep-Items to keep are items which you use often and they have a purpose.
• Give Away-Items to sell or give away are items which still work and someone else could find a use for. Sell the item in a garage sale or donate it to a charity.
• Trash-Items to trash are items which are broken (that you will never fix), no longer have a purpose, or just plain garbage. You would be surprised at how much paper you can accumulate.
  
  If you have the ability to do the entire room in one day great. If not, work on a section each day until the task is complete. Once you complete this room move onto the next until eventually you have cut back on the clutter through out your house.
  

Don't let it get so bad that you loose control and end up on a show like this.

When Silence equals Trouble

This adorable girl you see below is my #4. She celebrated her 2nd birthday this week. I bought the outfit she is wearing the day before. She looked so cute in it and it was perfect for the beautiful sunny day we had.

I was working on a blog post which I still haven't finished and noticed it was awfully quiet. You know when the kids are quiet there is trouble. I went to find her and this is what I found.

(the snot just adds to the yumminess of the picture right?)

She discovered someone had left Magic Shell on the table and she needed to have some. Yes, that is an entire bottle of it poured out onto her plate and all over her new outfit. I immediately placed it in cold water to try and rinse it out. Then I added liquid dish soap to try and remove the stain. I read somewhere that it would work. Well, the Kirkland brand got most of it out but not all of it. I haven't washed it in anything but cold water yet. Do any of you have any suggestions on removing chocolate stains from clothing?

Cleaning Glass Cooktop Stoves

When it comes to stoves I prefer a glass cook top stove over and electric coil stove. I do not have much experience with the gas stoves so I can't compare the three. I find it so much easier to clean a glass cook top than a coil stove. Sure you can add tinfoil to the drip pans but how nice does that look? There are many cleaning substances for glass cook tops but I found one that I prefer the most, Bar Keepers Friend.
The other day my mother accidentally set a plastic lid on a hot burner and it melted. Aside from the horrible smell, it left behind melted plastic right on the burner. We removed as much plastic as we could while it was still soft but there was still a residue. Once the burner had cooled down I sprinkled a little Bar Keepers Friend onto a wet wash cloth and then rubbed the area. It came off in no time. It also works great for the food splatters and boil overs too. It's safe to use this cleaner on stainless steel, fiberglass, porcelain, tile, copper, and brass surfaces as well.

I Want a Shawabty

Yesterday I had the privilege of chaperoning my daughter's Alpha class field trip to the art museum. This year they are studying Egypt and our local museum has a ton of Egyptian artifacts. Our docent was very nice but she was quite soft spoken and some of the kids and adults, myself included, were getting a little board with some of the things she was showing. Until, she started talking about the Shawabty.
See, the Egyptians believed that if you do all you are supposed to in this life and live a great life then, in your next life you can have Shawabty's do your undesired chores in the next life. So, before people died they created these sculptures that would come to life and be their slaves in the next life. If you didn't want to scoop the litter box you could send your shawabty to do it. Whatever job you hated or didn't want to do you had a Shawabty. This way, your next life would be better. It was your reward.
I have many tasks in my life that I would rather not do. I would like to have several Shawabty's. One to do the laundry, one to do the dishes, and one to clean my kitchen floor. You see, these are jobs that are never done. Lately, my kitchen floor is my weakness. My kids seem to think that if they don't want to finish eating something they can just push it onto the floor. I hate to sweep and mop. I think it is mostly because I do not have the proper tools. My broom sheds when I use it and it doesn't get everything. I can sweep and then look back at my floor and you can hardly tell I did anything. I have been trying for years to find a good mop. I don't like the sponge mops because they just push the grimy water around. The micro fiber is okay but it is really hard to push across my floor for some reason. So, I've succumbed to scrubbing on my hands and knees in the same fashion as Cinderella. I want a Shawabty. I've been really good, so I think I deserve one in this life so I don't have to wait.

Removing Laundry Stains

I don't know anyone who hasn't experienced a stain on their clothing or had to deal with laundry stains, especially if you have a child. Here are a few tips for removing stains from laundry.

• Always treat the stain as soon as possible. Dab or rinse with cold water if you cannot pre-treat it right away.
  
• Know the type of fabric you are working with. If it is dry clean only then that is what you should do.
  
• Know the type of stain. Water temperature can make a big difference in stain removal. Some stains come out with hot water while others are made permanent with hot water.


• Work from behind the stain. Turn fabric inside out and place on a clean cloth or paper towel to prevent further spreading.


• Allow chemicals time to work. Some take time and rushing the process could lead to inadequate stain removal.


• Do not rub excessively; this will lead to the fabric wearing down.


• Test whatever chemicals you use on an inconspicuous place for color fastness. Don't use chemicals that will harm your clothing.
  

Here are some common stains that you will encounter and tips to remove them.

• Grass stains- Blot with cold water as soon as possible. Use a pre-treating agent (Spray and Wash, Shout, Oxi-clean), rubbing alcohol, or vinegar. Let it soak overnight. Rinse with water. Rub normal laundry detergent on the spot and then wash as normal. My favorite pre-treater is Oxi-Clean.


• Spaghetti Sauce Stains- Wet fabric and sprinkle with powdered dish detergent. Scrub gently with toothbrush. Rinse and launder as usual.


• Blood Stains- Pour hydrogen peroxide on and rinse with cold water.
  Ink Stains- Before washing blot with rubbing alcohol. I have heard that hair spray will work too.


• Berry Stains- Dab with lemon juice and flush with water.


• Deodorant Stains- Oxiclean is my favorite but you can also soak the garment in equal parts ammonia and water. Add a few Tablespoons of liquid dish soap and soak overnight.


• Soiled Collars- Take a small paint brush and brush on some shampoo to the soiled area. Shampoo was created to dissolve body oils.
  

These are just a few. I want to know, what are your favorite stain removers?

Tips for Tackling Laundry

Laundry is one of those things that never goes away. I know that if I get behind it is almost impossible to catch up. The hardest thing for me is finishing the job. By finishing I mean all of the clean clothes are folded and put away. I can get the clothes clean and folded it is the last step of putting away that gets me almost every time. There are 2 ways of doing laundry, you can have a marathon day where all you do is load after load or assign different days for different loads. I personally have a hard time finishing with the marathon day but my sister prefers this way. I prefer to split up laundry throughout the week. Typically, if I'm on top of things, my laundry days look like this:

Mondays- wash the kitchen rags and towels
Tuesdays- wash the kids colors
Wednesdays- wash the adult colors
Thursdays- no laundry because this is my errand day.
Fridays- wash the whites
Saturday- wash the bath towels and rugs.
Sunday- day off.

It doesn't matter how you choose to do your laundry but here are some tips everyone could use.
Laundry baskets- make sure everyone has their own basket for putting dirty clothes in. They also help for putting folded laundry in to carry to the rooms. My kids all share one that is in a central location of the bathroom since that is where most of the clothes end up. My husband and I have 2 baskets in our bathroom, one for colors and one for whites.

Have a basket or bucket in the laundry room for wet items or items to be washed soon. I have a bucket for the rags and a mesh basket for the clothes that inevitably end up downstairs.

Have shelves above the washer and dryer to hold laundry items like soap, fabric softener, and stain remover.

Have a place to hang up clothes that go on hangers immediately after they get out of the dryer. I have an over the door clothes hook.

Create a space to fold laundry and fold it as soon as it comes out of the dryer, this prevents too many wrinkles from forming.

Most importantly, FINISH the laundry by putting it away immediately.
I will have a post next week about stain removers that work. If you have any great ones please let me know.

Baking Soda: Not just for Baking

Your house is full of everyday household heroes, products that have a beneficial secondary use. I have written previously about Vinegar. Baking Soda is also a very handy item to have on hand. The best part is it is inexpensive to purchase. You are probably familiar with baking soda when it comes to baking but here are some other ways you can put your baking soda to use.

• Unclog drains by pouring 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup hot vinegar. Let sit for 30 minutes and then run water.
  
• Use it as a mouthwash,sorry, no minty fresh breath but you will have less bacteria.
  
• Clean your toothbrushes, especially after being sick, by soaking them overnight in 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup water solution.
  
• If you have a grease fire don't dump water on it. Dump baking soda on it to extinguish it.
  
• Great deodorizer for your freezer or fridge. Open the box and put it in. It will last up to 30 days. You can even purchase specially made boxes for the fridge or freezer.
  
• Run an empty dishwasher with baking soda to clean up hard water and other buildup.
  
• Don't want to spend lots of money for expensive jewelry cleaner? Just make a paste out of baking soda and water. It is perfectly safe on gold and silver.
  
• Help reduce kitty litter odor by putting a layer of baking soda in the bottom of the pan and then pouring the litter on top.
  Or, make your own litter by mixing baking soda with 3 inches of sandy clay.
  
• Relieve bug bites, sunburn, and poison ivy by making a paste and applying it directly to the sore.
  
• Scrub out your bathtub and sink by sprinkling it on the grime and then wiping with a sponge.
  
• add 1/4 cup baking soda to the toilet bowl, swirl, and scrub.
  
• If you don't have any antacids to fight heartburn? Make your own by combining 1/2 tsp. baking soda with 1/2 cup of water.
  
• If you have cracks in your side walk or drive way sprinkle baking soda to keep weeds at bay.
  
• baking soda is less corrosive then salt so sprinkle it on your icy side walk.
  
• Keep ants out of the dog/cat bowl by sprinkling a layer of soda around the bowl.

33 Minutes to a Cleaner House

A friend of mine sent the following in an email to me. Who ever thought it up was brilliant. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

33 Minutes to a Cleaner House…

You're getting company in 30 minutes. Your house is a mess. WHAT WILL YOU DO?Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the first session of Housekeeping Tips for Regular People. If you're a Martha Stewart type of housekeeper, this column is NOT for you. However, for the rest of you, this is your chance to learn 15 Secret Shortcuts to Good Housekeeping that your mother never told you.

SECRET TIPS

1: DOOR LOCKS If a room clearly can't be whipped into shape in 30 days--much less 30 minutes--employ the Locked Door Method of cleaning. Tell anyone who tries to go in the room that the door is intentionally locked.CAUTION: It is not advisable to use this tip for the bathroom. Time: 2 seconds

2: DUCT TAPE No home should be without an ample supply. Not only is it handy for plumbing repairs, but it's a great way to hem drapes, tablecloths, clothes, just about anything. No muss, no fuss.Time: 2-3 minutes

3: OVENS If you think ovens are just for baking, think again. Ovens represent at least 9 cubic feet of hidden storage space, which means they're a great place to shove dirty dishes, dirty clothes, or just about anything you want to get out of sight when company's coming. Time: 2 minutes

4: CLOTHES DRYERS Like Secret Tip 3, except bigger. CAUTION: Avoid hiding flammable objects here.Time: 2.5 minutes

5: WASHING MACHINES & FREEZERS Like Secret Tip 4, except even bigger.Time: 3 minutes

6: DUST RUFFLES No bed should be without one. Devotees of Martha Stewart believe dust ruffles exist to keep dust out from under a bed or to help coordinate the colorful look of a bedroom. The rest of us know a dust ruffle's highest and best use is to hide whatever you've managed to shove under the bed. (Refer to Secret Tips 3, 4, 5.) Time: 4 minutes

7: DUSTING The 30-Minutes-To-A-Clean-House method says: Never dust under what you can dust around.Time: 3 minutes

8: DISHES Don't use them. Use plastic or paper and you won't have to.Time: 1 minute

9: CLOTHES WASHING (EEWWW) This secret tip is brought to you by an inventive teenager. When this teen's mother went on a housekeeping strike for a month, the teen discovered you can extend the life of your underwear by two ...if you turn it wrong side out and, yes, rerun it.CAUTION: This tip is recommended only for teens and those who don't care if they get in a car wreck.Time: 3 seconds

10: IRONING If an article of clothing doesn't require a full press and your hair does, a curling iron is the answer. In between curling your hair, use the hot wand to iron minor wrinkles out of your clothes. Yes, it really does work, or so I'm told, by other disciples of the 30-Minutes-To-A-Clean-House philosophy.Time: 5 minutes (including curling your hair)

11: VACUUMING Stick to the middle of the room, which is the only place people look. Don't bother vacuuming under furniture. It takes way too long and no one looks there anyway.Time: 5 minutes, entire house; 2 minutes, living room only

12: LIGHTING The key here is low, low, and lower. It's not only romantic, but bad lighting can hide a multitude of dirt.Time: 10 seconds

13: BED MAKING Get an old-fashioned waterbed. No one can tell if those things are made up or not, saving you, oh, hundreds of seconds over the course of a lifetime.Time: 0

14: SHOWERS, TOILETS, AND SINKS Forget one and two. Concentrate on three.Time: 1 minute

15: If you already knew at least 10 of these tips, don't even think about inviting a Martha Stewart type to your home.

Removing Crayon from Unwanted Places

If you have children in your house you have or will experience crayon in unwanted places. I have had crayon on my walls, furniture, carpet, and clothing. My children aren't the only ones to blame. I accidentally washed a blue crayon with my clothes- blue crayon ended up all over the clothing. Do not try and vacuum up crayons either because they can become lodged in between the rotating brush and the vacuum and just spread crayon all over your carpet. So, should any of this happen, here is what you can do.

If you have crayon on walls, furniture, any hard surface the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works magic. You just get it wet and wipe. I would test it on a small part of what you are cleaning first just to make sure it won't ruin it but I haven't had a problem yet. You can get a free sample here as well as read how other people use it.

On Carpet that is 100% polyester/rubber back/short pile spray it with a little WD-40 and then wipe clean with a soft cloth.

For Carpeting scrape off as much crayon as you can with a knife or a spoon. spray the area with WD-40 and let sit. Work the stain out with a stiff bristle brush and then rinse out with liquid dish detergent and water.

For clothing spray the area with WD-40 let stand and spray the other side. Apply liquid dish detergent and rub and work into a lather. Blot away the stain with paper towels. Wash clothing in hot water for 12 minutes with laundry detergent and color safe bleach.

If these tips don't work on your surface or you have a question about a particular surface or type of crayon you can visit Crayola and find a complete listing.

The Power of Vinegar

Oh, the power of distilled white vinegar. If you have white vinegar on hand there really is no other cleaning product you need. It is so acidic that it takes care of most bacteria and mold. Using vinegar eliminates all of the harsh chemicals other cleaners have making it green and safe to use in homes with children. There are so many uses but here are a few of my favorite.

• Remove hard water deposits in your dishwasher and washing machine by running them every once in a while with a cup of distilled vinegar.
  


• If you get lime build up around chrome sink fixtures you can remove it with a paste made of 2 tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar.
  


• To rid your microwave of hard baked on food, place 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl inside your microwave and bring it to a rolling boil. You can now wipe it clean and odors will be gone.
  


• Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
  


• Deodorize the garbage disposal by pouring in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup hot white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes then run hot water down the disposal.
  


• Rid a faucet of lime and Calcium deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar around it and leaving it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don’t wipe off, scrubbing with an old toothbrush should complete the job.
  


• To clean a scummy showerhead, pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup white distilled vinegar into a sandwich bag and tie it around the showerhead. Let this set for an hour after the bubbling has stopped. Remove the bag and then turn on the water.
  


• Get cleaner laundry! Add about 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar to the last rinse. The acid in white distilled vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, yet strong enough to dissolve the alkalis in soaps and detergents. Besides removing soap, white distilled vinegar prevents yellowing, acts as a fabric softener and static cling reducer, and attacks mold and mildew.
  

You can find these tips and a thousand more thanks to the folks at Vinegar Tips
Please leave a comment with your favorite vinegar tip. When you use one of these tips please be sure to let us know how it turned out.