Daily Cleaning Checklist

Young Woman Cleaning Bathroom Sink

I LOVE a good checklist! There are some areas in my life where it's more fun to go with the flow, but there's nothing like a checklist to help me stay motivated in cleaning my house and being more organized.

I like to have cleaning lists printed out so that I can check things off (so satisfying) and so that the kids can help. For some reason it works much better to give them a list than it does to tell them what I want them to do.

Here's what I try to get done every morning:

• Make beds (the kids make their own)
• Empty dishwasher and put away dishes (I usually run the dishwasher at bedtime)
• Clear clutter from living room, entryway and kitchen (for some reason things tend to pile up in the entryway and on the bar in the kitchen)
• Take out trash (this is usually one of the kids' job and sometimes happens at night)
• Wipe kitchen countertops and stove (just a quick wipe, not a full clean)
• Sweep kitchen
• Clean any spots on the kitchen floor
• Put out fresh kitchen dish towels
• Clean glass storm door (it drives me crazy when there are fingerprints and doggy nose prints all over it)
• Clean splatters off of bathroom mirrors
• Wipe bathroom sink, counters and toilet (if I have them on hand, I use Clorox wipes for this - they are so handy)
• Make sure clothes, jewelry, brushes, makeup, etc. are put away

This looks like a lot, but I usually get it done in less than 30 minutes.

Do you use checklists?

5 Things To Do With Table Salt

Salt and Pepper I

Y'all know I'm all about using what's handy, available and cheap, whether it's in cooking, cleaning, or entertaining. Plain old table salt has so many uses, it's natural and you probably already have some in your pantry.

1. Scour tiles with a mixture of salt and vinegar. They'll be shiny in no time.

2. Remove kitchen odors from your hands. If your hands smell like garlic or onions, make a little paste of vinegar and salt and scrub with it (provided you don't have any cuts on your hands because - ouch!).

3. Clean cast iron. If you have food stuck on your cast iron skillet, don't use soap, just sprinkle with salt, scrub and rinse.

4. Set tie-dye. Before you wash your lovely and artistic creation soak it in a mixture of 2 cups warm water to 1/3 cup salt for about 20 minutes.  We made tie-dye t-shirts at VBS one year and didn't do this before we washed them.  The colors ran and the kids were so disappointed that their shirts didn't stay vibrant and pretty.

5. Sprinkle salt on a lemon half and use it to scrub your copper pots to restore their shine. Rinse thoroughly afterward.

Boiling Water

Water Running out of Samovar into a Pot

Did you know that there are many uses for boiling water other than making tea? I love when something so ordinary is so useful (and cheap)!

It's a great way to get rid of the pesky weeds and grass that grow in cracks in the sidewalk or driveway. Pour boiling water on them and by the next day they are dead. Of course, you have to be very careful around kids and pets when you are carrying a kettle full of boiling water, but you won't have any poisonous chemicals left on the sidewalk. It's completely organic.

I found out today that you can get rid of ants with boiling water too. Apparently if you pour several gallons of it over an ant bed (keeping in mind that the boiling water will kill any nearby grass) it will kill the ants. We've had an invasion of fire ants in our backyard and we are hoping this will work. We've already used ant poison, but it hasn't completely eradicated the awful things. If you don't have fire ants where you live, be very glad.

I also used boiling water today in a stinky sink drain. What is it about warm weather that makes the drains stink? I poured some baking soda down the drain and followed with lemon juice. After it foamed up for a few minutes I poured about a gallon of boiling water down the sink. Not only does the drain smell sweeter, but it keeps the pipes from getting clogged up as well.

Boiling water is also a good way to sanitize your cutting boards that won't fit in the dishwasher.  If you rub them with lemon juice first it will help deodorize them too.

What are your favorite everyday household multitaskers?

Checking The List

1951
I'm checking things off the list for getting the house ready for a cookout this Saturday and company coming Sunday night. I've made lots of progress which is why I haven't even had time to check email much less blog.

I now have two lovely sparkling clean refrigerators! Even the "overflow" fridge in the laundry room is clean which I have to tell you is a small miracle. Cleaning the fridge is my least favorite chore and that one hardly ever gets cleaned. Out of site, out of mind. :) I also have clean ceiling fans and clean blinds (at least in the guest room). I've even been moving furniture to vacuum underneath, dusting baseboards and going through the girls' dresser and closet.

Tomorrow the guest bathroom gets a thorough going over and the kitchen floor will be clean enough to eat off of.

Preparing For Guests

Breeze Blowing Bedroom Curtains
We have company coming next week! Peter is finally back from Iraq and he is coming home on leave and also bringing his girlfriend. If you knew Peter you would know what a big deal this is. He never really dated and was more likely to spend time with a group of friends (that might include a girl or two). Now he is bringing his girlfriend J all the way to Texas! This is not just a passing thing.

I am so nervous, my husband can't stand me. :) I want J to feel at home here. She was raised in a very different environment than how we live. She grew up with a life of privilege, housekeepers, and world travel. We are just country people who might go camping or to a theme park every now and then for vacation and live in your average suburban ranch style house. I don't even have a working dishwasher for heaven's sake!

Peter is going to bunk in with Bobby and I am going to get the guest room fixed up for J. It usually serves as a room for Greg or Peter when they are home and it's full of a lot of their "junk" and leftover bits of furniture that don't fit anywhere else in the house. So please bear with me for what is sure to be a week of rambling nonsensical posts as I try to tear down my house and totally rebuild it for $23. ;)

By the way, I am so hoping Peter hasn't told J about this blog. If she is reading this I think I'll crawl in a hole and die! I don't want to embarrass Peter even further! ;)

Cleaning the Fridge

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I cleaned the fridge. I cleaned both the inside and the outside. I always forget about the top of the fridge...out of sight out of mind I guess, but I remembered it this time.

I had report cards, pictures, artwork and reminders of upcoming events on the fridge and I decided to take them down. I think it looks so much neater and cleaner now.


You can see the pretty magnets that I got on my trip to Japan.


I didn't get rid of everything though. I just moved it to our "overflow" fridge in the laundry room. I kind of like it in there. It's like my own personal bulletin board. :)

The basket on top of the fridge holds everyone's lunch boxes when not in use.

Cleaning Ceiling Fans

Living Area with Ceiling Fan
Here in Texas it is WAY too hot in the summertime not to have ceiling fans in every room. I know the designers on Trading Spaces don't like them, but I'm not planning on doing without. :)

Now that the ceiling fans are finally still, I can't believe how dirty they are! It's really odd how dirty they can get while moving so fast. I spent a good part of the day today standing on chairs and cleaning them.

I like to vacuum the edges of the blades where the most dust accumulates with the brush tool on my vacuum cleaner first. This helps keep it from landing in the carpet or on the furniture. Then I spray cleaner on one blade at a time and wipe down with a soft cloth. It's also a good idea to wash the globes on the light fixture part too while you're at it.

I know I should be cleaning light fixtures and fans way more often than I do, but at least I'm getting to them finally. :)

Caring for your front loading washing machine

Servis Washing Machine
I am LOVING my new front loading washing machine! I can put lots of clothes in it and it is SO quiet. The clothes spin so well they are nearly dry when they come out of the washer. I'm also looking forward to big savings on my water and electric bills. I can't believe that our clothes are getting clean with so little water.

I've found, however, that a front loader is much different than a top loader. It seems that it is quite common to have problems with odors. I've talked to friends and researched and I think I've figured out how to keep the odors away.

1) ALWAYS use HE detergents (they are low sudsing) and use as little as you can get by with. From what I hear, liquid HE detergents work better. That's all I've used so far.

2) Wash in warm or hot water. This seems to keep the inside of the machine cleaner. I do this anyway, because our clothes just don't come clean in cold water whether in a top loader or a front loader.

3)Run the "basket clean" cycle at least twice a month.

4)After your last load of the day, dry the rubber seal and leave the door cracked open.

5)Occasionally take off the little front panel in the lower corner and drain. Make sure nothing is clogged in it. It is made to catch small items that are left in pockets, etc. and it can start to smell if left too long.

6) Don't use liquid fabric softeners. They leave a "scum" on the inside of the washer that is hard to get off with so little water coming through. Just use dryer sheets if you need to.

I'm hoping that my washing machine will last for many years with a little preventative maintenance.

Smells Like Home

Peonies
One of things I loved about visiting my grandmother was how good her house always smelled. It's important to me that my house smell nice too. That's one of the reasons I've always used scented laundry detergent and fabric softener. I would tuck a fabric softener sheet in the linen closet or under the trash can liner in the bathrooms...maybe another between the mattress and boxspring in the guest bedroom.

I recently read an article about the toxic chemicals in scented laundry products and air fresheners so I have decided to stop using them. No point in taking the risk of endangering my family.

So how do we make our homes smell good without the use of toxic chemicals?

1) Baking: My personal favorite. :) Several years ago we had some furniture delivered. I had brownies baking in the oven when the delivery man showed up and he kept going on and on about how he could smell them as soon as he walked in the door.

2) Fresh flowers: Have fresh flowers in your entry way. Beautiful to your eyes and your nose!

3) Linen spray: I have a lavender linen spray that is scented with essential oil. It's so nice to spray on my pillows before I go to bed.

4) Keeping the trash emptied: This probably goes without saying, but it's easy for the trash to get stinky quickly.

5) Baking soda and lemon juice: These are great cleaners and also great ways to keep your drains clear and smelling good. Pour some baking soda down the drain and follow with lemon juice (or vinegar). Let it bubble for a while then follow with boiling water.

6) Non-toxic candles: Be sure to buy candles that don't have lead in the wicks.

7) Homemade potpourri: If you don't have time to bake, put some orange peels, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a small saucepan and cover with water. Simmer on a back burner.

8) Scented non-toxic furniture polish: I love the scent of freshly polished wood furniture. Daddy Van's has some that smells really nice.

9) "Swish" your bathroom every day: Do a quick swipe and swish of your bathroom every day. That will keep any smells from accumulating.

10) Open the windows: Open the windows first thing in the morning before the heat sets in and let in some fresh air.

Cleaning out the tea kettle

We have extremely hard water here (meaning that it has a high mineral content). It really does a number on my tea kettle. When I looked in it this morning, I couldn't believe how disgusting it looked!


So I put about half a cup of vinegar in it, and filled it up with water. I boiled this mixture for about 10 minutes (making the house smell like a pickle plant) and it looks SO much better! You can also run vinegar through your coffee maker when the minerals start to build up on it. Of course run plain water through afterward so your coffee won't taste bad the next morning. :)