If you were thinking that you were going to get some super house cleaning tips from this post, you might be a little disappointed. Instead, it's me that needs the tips...and pronto!! So, if you have any advice on the following questions, and I mean ANY, please leave me a comment....I'll love you forever :)
DISHWASHER SPOTS
All of a sudden, my dishes & silverware have spots all over them after they've been run through the dishwasher. I put some cookies in a tupperware to take to my husbands squadron the other day, and I was embarrassed! I had to empty said tupperware and wash it by hand before I actually took it up there...and friends, I just don't have time to do that every single time! What happened?! I used Cascade, just like always. I'm not really sure why this problem decided to rear its ugly head now. Got any ideas on how to nip it in the bud??
WHITES
I've tried EVERYTHING to get my whites really white, and I continue to fail miserably! Bleach just doesn't work for me. I've used OxyClean, but I always follow the directions on the box and put it in the washer AFTER it's started running. Should I put it in at the same time that I put the detergent in? I use All...strictly for budget reasons. But, at this point, I'm totally willing to change if my whites will start looking like they're clean! What do y'all use? I need help, can you tell??
FLOORS
Though Elli isn't crawling yet, I have a feeling that it's just right around the corner. And it's got me really worried about my floors. Okay, not REALLY worried, but it IS something that I think about. We have hardwood floors in our entry and dining room, and tile in our kitchen. What do y'all use on those kinds of surfaces that is okay for little hands (since those little hands so quickly go to little mouths)? I usually use the Swiffer Wet Mop, but I'm kinda thinking that I'd like to use something organic. Or if not organic, at least a little bit more natural. Got any ideas?
POTPOURRI
I have tons of candles in our house, but the only ones I've found that really make the entire room smell good are the Tyler Candles. My personal favorite is "Eggnog"...sounds weird, but it smells sooo good. While I LOVE burning the candles, Chris wants to start using something else b/c of the ash. I think he's hinting that my dusting abilities are severely lacking, but I'm not even going to get into that!! So...do any of you use the Renuzit Crystals, or Plug-Ins? Or do you know of any good potpourri that isn't too strong?
Thanks, in advance, for all of your tips and tricks! I've gotten some GREAT advice from a lot of you in the past, and I'm hoping to find the key to my house-cleaning woes from you as well!!
Happy Wednesday!!
10 comments:
Floors - Get a steam mop. They aren't the cheapest, but they use only water. So, it's safer for Elli. And it dries so quickly (something you'll come to appreciate once she's falling on your recently mopped floors)
Everything changes, huh? :-)
Have you heard of Flylady? Google her, she has a website. She can be a bit much at times. I've learned to take her general guidelines and adapt them to my schedule. Basically I try to use her clean sink approach and 15 minute a day section.. with the 10 item dash.
Whites - I love oxyclean. I put it in with the soap and use hot water on the whites. If something is really bad I also throw in some bleach. If you've seen my kids and the messes they paint on themselves you would be AMAZED anything we own is ever re-wearable. I've only had to throw one pair of shorts away in 6 years because it was the stain of all stains.
Floors - you can make a vinegar solution. When it dries it doesn't smell, cleans as well as bleach, but is much safer.
Dish spots - fill me in! I've tried adding that jetdry.. couldn't tell a difference. I think it just has to do with the washer. Over here they don't have a "dryer" in the dishwasher so I've been hand drying everything (Wendy would be so proud) and guess what... NO spots. But I'm pretty sure I'll drop this minutes after returns to the states ;-)
I have some scentsy warmers. They are AWESOME! You put wax in the top and it melts it and smells the whole room up. Go to scentsy.com and check it out.
I have the same problem with my dishes! We are going to get a new dishwasher, we need one..so hopefully spots will go away! I will be checking back to see your answers to help me, too. Your baby is getting so big! Enjoy her!
Hey Amy-
I know this is what you were really asking for, but in regards to your floors and being concerned about Elli crawling on them, I can tell you that our floors were not very clean in England. I mean I did what I could but I feel like they were always gross. Honestly, I don't know of any mom friend of mine who felt that her kid got sick from dirty floors. I don't mean you shouldn't clean then but I do mean to say that you will always feel that they will be too dirty for your baby, so I guess we have to put our anxieties in the hands of the Lord! Sorry if this isn't what you meant but I thought it may be encouraging when you end up feeling like things are so dirty.
Love, K
Scentsy instead of candles. LOVE IT! It is melted wax, but melts at a really low level. I spilled it on my hand once (A LOT of it) when I was changing it out and it didn't burn at all! So baby safe! :)
Okay. Here's my attempt to help you :)
Dishwasher - have you tried using JetDry? And is it just water spots or food spots? If the food isn't getting off totally, I started using not only the Cascade packs but also liquid in each load.
Whites - I've tried all lower-cost detergents, and I ended up going back to the pricier Tide With Bleach Alternative. It works the best for me! I've never used bleach because it scares me ;) Make sure your Tide says "with Bleach Alternative" if you buy it! In fact, I wash all of Drew's clothes with it now because of the increase in stains. Dreft just wasn't cutting it.
Hope this has helped somewhat!
Okay, not sure about laundry or dishes, cuz I have the same problems. But organic floor cleanin....the Shark Steamer! We got this, and it is totally awesome, I love it! You steam your floors, and all you use is water! And it sterilizes your floors. I'm surprised being at home you haven't come across one of the kajillion infomercials. But you can get this at Bed Bath, or online at amazon or something. It is about $120 I think. Totally worth it. Does a great job.
Hey girl,
I am borrowing my neighbors steam mop. I am going to mop my tile floors tomorrow with it. I will let you know how it works. My neighbor LOVES it. The best part of the steam mop is that it uses ONLY water and no cleaning products. It is a bissel. They cost around $75. I will let you know how it works.
ps - I've heard wonders about the steam mop
We do use Tide with bleach along with the oxyclean
And I love Tyler Candles so much I don't think I could ever part ways! I knew you were my kind of gal!
Okay...first Jen - very proud :) but I hate to dry them myself. Ask those who saw me leave my dishwasher open almost all day in England to "air dry". I miss my dishwasher in our base housing on SJ - only dishwasher that dried my dishes...
And sorry Amy I can't help you with any of that!
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