Clean Your Home in 3 Easy Steps - A Refresher

The very idea for my book (originally titled The Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning, but re-titled No-Hassle Housecleaning) came about when I was working as a bank teller. I'd worked for years as a freelance writer, but I really wanted to write a book. I'd tried to get a fiction book published, and discovered that it was very difficult. Maybe a non-fiction book about housecleaning would be better received.

So, there I was doing bank teller-ish type things, and I decided that I would write a book for all my fellow 'happy slobs' out there - people who wanted to be neater and tidier, but wanted it to be accomplished quickly and simply. Martha Stewarts we are not, but we do want to keep things nice and neat (ish).

Maybe you've read this blog for a while, maybe you've just found it. But, regardless of that - thanks for reading these words. Here is a summary of the basic 3 steps that make up No-Hassle (or, Happy Slob's) housecleaning methods. If you can count to three, you can totally tackle this. And if you have health issues, or are battling with fatigue or maybe old age is causing you to feel like you can't do as much as you once could around the house. Rest assured - the three steps really help you to feel like you've got a bit more control over the mess and clutter.

1. Cleaning bursts. These are just what they sound like - quick bursts of cleaning that you do once or twice a day to get the major stuff accomplished. Like handling that pile of dishes in the sink, or tidying up the bathroom. The areas you concern yourself with are the areas that you LIVE in the most. Makes sense, right? I thought so too. That's why it's step #1.  Here's a post that goes into more detail about cleaning bursts. Remember to set your timer! A good timer is a happy slob's best friend, since it reminds us that we only need to spend a certain amount of our precious time cleaning. It limits the misery!
2. Focus Room Cleaning. This is, again, just what it sounds like. You spend a little more time cleaning in one very specific area of your home. Maybe it's the bathroom, where you'll do a little deeper cleaning than is possible with only a cleaning burst. Again, use your timer and budget your time. If you can only 'afford' five minutes, that's awesome! Set the timer, do your best, and on with your life you go. All about focus rooms in this link. Helpful, no?
3. Clean-for-Alls. This is last on the list because you do these extra tasks only when you have time. As in, about once a week or so. Keep a notebook with you in your cleaning kit (here's how to make your cleaning kit) and keep track of real trouble areas around your home that will need more than just a few minutes during a burst or focus room cleaning. This will help you know what to tackle when you can afford some time to do a clean-for-all.

That is it. Start with a cleaning burst once a day, in either the morning or the evening. Then, add the opposite one to your day - a burst in the morning if you were doing one in the evening and vice versa.

Please remember that it's just house cleaning. Don't stress. And on the other hand, do all you can to fight our natural happy slob's desire to procrastinate. (Ooh, that should be my next post! I'm a master of procrastination, sadly...) Set your timer, and get to it. Post a comment to let me know how it's helped you and to share a tip or two with other slobbos from around the world.

Admittedly Gross...Removing Sweat Odors from Clothing

Okay, so maybe this isn't a delicate topic that we all yearn to discuss: how to remove sweaty odors from clothing. But, take it from me - someone who is trying with all earnestness to use natural deodorants. Sometimes those crystal deodorants and natural deodorants just don't do quite the trick that the chemical-laden antiperspirants do.

With what result?

Sigh...sweaty odors permeating my clothing!!! It's disgusting, and I can hardly believe I'm blogging openly about sweat smells in clothing. But, I digress. We all sweat, but most of don't like talking about. At least now I'm learning firsthand how to remove those stinky, sweaty smells from clothes.

Baking soda is a huge help once again. My, oh my...what would we DO without that big box of baking soda? This time it's a soak in the stuff that will help. Uhhh...your clothing that is, although soaking in baking soda couldn't possibly hurt the sweaty situation to begin with! Okay, back to business: Add at least a cup of plain baking soda to your usual wash load. If you have the ability to let it soak first that helps - the soaking seems to allow the baking soda to permeate the fabric and really dig out the stink. (Ha! That's a sentence I never thought I'd write.)

Otherwise, just do your regular laundry load with the regular amount of detergent - I choose liquid laundry detergents because I don't have to worry about white clumps and bumps of detergent ending up on my clothing - and then add at least a cup of baking soda. If you find that one cup didn't do quite the odor removing you'd hoped for, next time double up and try two cups of baking soda.

Let me know how it works, slobbo buddies! And hey...let's not be embarrassed about our au naturel sweating, shall we? Okay...we're still embarrassed. But there for a moment, we seemed all cool and oh so European.

Post a comment on all things perspiration related...go on, you know you want to.

Spring Cleaning Time - Dozens of Helpful Hints

Okay guys, it's spring cleaning time. This is a time of hope and renewal and blooming flowers and chirping birds. But, in spite of all that loveliness spring cleaning can take the joy right out of spring!

No worries, I want you to check out two important databases of info I've compiled on the Happy Slob site. It will ease your mind and hopefully motivate you to do a bit of extra cleaning to usher spring in!

1. Cleaning Tips - my fave cleaning tips to make it all easier. Honestly. Includes how to properly clean different flooring types, how to declutter closets and other clutter-prone zones, and even how to find more organizing space in even the tiniest homes.
2. Cleaning Recipes - how to make your own cleaners, deodorizers, floor washes, etc, etc. Almost any type of cleaner can be made for way less coin at home using all-natural stuff like baking soda, vinegar, lemon and other citrus juices, salt, and other common ingredients.

Remember that these ideas along with the 3-Step Solution you already know about from the book will make spring cleaning a lot less stressful. Bit by bit cleaning is what we're all about, and it really does work! (And doesn't turn you into a raving loonie, which is a definite plus.)

Messy Purse Alert! It's That Time Again...

Hey everyone,

I've been thinking for the past week (or two...Okay fine, THREE to be perfectly, painfully honest) that my purse is looking a wee bit cluttered. As in, I can't find anything I need in there anymore, except random sticks of gum of dubious age and flavour.

See, the situation is indeed dire! So, grab your favorite handbag, purse, backpack, messenger bag, tote or briefcase (you classy slob!) - whatever it is that you use to tote your stuff around with you. (See guys, this DOES include you! Ha...you thought you got away from this one easy, didn't you?) Dump out the contents. If your bag looks anything like mine, it'll be embarrassing how much random junk actually falls out!

Chuck out all those old pieces of paper, clippings, old crumpled tissues (I can hear you saying 'Ewwww' from here) and whatever else is in there. If you have an extra few minutes, take time to declutter your wallet while you're at it. Put back in the stuff you really need and use, and otherwise put the rest of the stuff away.

Voila! A much neater purse/bag/briefcase, ready to use in day-to-day life. Good job, slob. I always knew you had it in you.

Housecleaning Tell-All - Tell us what YOU Did Today (and I'll tell you what I did too!)

Now here's something useful...an occasional "Housecleaning Check-In" where you come and let all of us know what you did around the house today! And you know what - if you didn't do much, that's fine too. We all have days like that, right? And the comments of other posters might get you motivated to get up off the sofa and lift more than a remote control...maybe a duster or a broom?

Here's what I did so far today:

1. Worked on my book! Ack! (I'm getting a little bit stressed about the upcoming deadline next week...) And whenever I talk about it or type about it, I always end it with 'Ack!' as I just proved. Ack! (Because I got thinking about it again.)
2. Cleaning burst early this morning - dishwasher unloaded and reloaded with the few dishes in the sink. Made the bed. Simple and fast - probably took about three minutes, which is all it should take, I believe.
3. 1 load of laundry...not my favorite thing in the world to do, but I DO love clean laundry on the other hand. So, one sort of goes hand in hand with the other.
4. Made cookies. See, I can't eat wheat and am trying to eat very little refined sugar, so that leaves me baking. Often. But these were very good, so it was all worth it. I'm eating one now, in between typing fits.
5. Focus Room Cleaning...To do later today. 10 mins or so in our bedroom decluttering the bookshelves. Man, they were awful! I started this a few days ago and am working away at it bit by bit.
6. PM Cleaning Burst...Later, before bed. Hub will do sweeping floors, cat litter. I will make sure the dishes are under control, wipe down surfaces in kitchen and bath and tidy up VERY briefly.

Wow, to me that looks almost like a productive day! And it sounds like I cleaned a lot, but in reality it takes very little time - which is the point of it all.

Okay...YOUR turn! Post a comment and let the rest of us know what you did. I especially can't wait to hear about how you're using Cleaning Bursts and Focus Room Cleaning in your day-to-day routine. Spill the beans, please! (But then sweep them up. hardy har)

Ahhh...Fresh Air

Want to know one of the best natural air fresheners you can ever use? It's called Fresh Air, and it's as easy to find as opening up the nearest window! Stale, musty air makes your home feel (and definitely smell!) gloomier. Whenever you're doing your housecleaning, open up some windows and let some gorgeous fresh air come wafting in.

On A Budget? Homemade Cleaners Save Hundreds!

I love a good bottle of homemade cleaner, in fact my bottle of Squirt, Squirt (aka Very Vinegar) cleaner is the one yellow bottle I cannot clean without! I wanted to do a quick post before I go tackle some Focus Room Cleaning of my own...on the economics of sticking to homemade cleaners!

I'm going to take a few average prices around here of things I DON'T BOTHER BUYING:

• Specialty cleaners, ie: toilet bowl cleaner or tub and tile cleaner. Total: $10.00 a month
• Expensive all-purpose cleaners - fancy ones can cost $8.00 a bottle of more! And yes, the lovely scents and swoon-inspiring designs of those bottles ARE tempting. (Trust me, even I'm tempted by them!) But, you can create some lovely scents with natural essential oils or even just lemon or lime juice added to your regular cleaners. $8.00 a month
• Automatic shower cleaner + refills = Total: $15.00 a month
• Swiffer refills = $8.00 a month (at least!)
• Maid service! (haha - sort of kidding; sort of not) = at least $50.00 a month
• Assorted other specialty cleaners = $10.00 a month

GRAND TOTAL: Up to $109.00+ a month SAVED by keeping your cleaning products simple

By doing your own cleaning (bye bye, little Missy Maid Service!) and sticking to tried and true natural homemade cleaners, you'll save a bundle. And in this ever-tightening economy, those extra dollars really add up, and really HELP!

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The Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning is a fresh take on cleaning!
Takes only minutes a day to keep your home tidy and cozy.
Order yours today at: http://www.happyslob.com/buythebook.html

Happy Slob's Housecleaning - Making Your Cleaning Bursts More Effective

So, you've read my book The Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning. You're pumped up, you're ready to clean like you've never cleaned before, you're dedicated to this new routine of cleaning. Hurray!

But...maybe after a while you find that you'd like to increase the effectiveness of your cleaning bursts. Lately, I've been thinking the exact same thing! And so I've made some tweaks to help all of us get the maximum 'punch' out of our morning and evening cleaning bursts.

Here's what I've done to make MY cleaning bursts have more BANG:

• Create a list of cleaning burst essential activities. When you're first starting out, do as the book says - just tidy and clean whatever you possibly can in the time you've allotted for yourself. But, as you become (ahem!) a cleaning burst PRO, you'll want to take the cleaning up a level or three - make a list of essential activities for morning and evening cleaning bursts.

Here's what MY Cleaning Burst Essentials List looks like:

AM Cleaning Burst (I do it first thing in the morning!)

1. Wipe down surfaces in kitchen
2. Deal with the dishes (meaning - unload the dishwasher from the night before, and make sure the sink is empty of all dishes)
3. Make the bed
4. If time leftover - pick up in bedroom/living areas - wherever needs it most

This works great for me, because the night before I've already done another cleaning burst before I head to bed. So...moral of the story is -- for easier, less hectic and stressful mornings, make sure to do your evening cleaning burst!

My PM Cleaning Burst Routine

1. Deal with the dishes - again, that means making sure that the sink is emptied out entirely. Pots that were left to soak after supper are scrubbed and set to airdry on the countertop. (And then put away in the morning.)
2. Wipe down the surfaces in the kitchen AND bathroom. This sounds like such a minor thing, but having nice clean surfaces makes the whole room feel utterly lovely. And it takes (honestly!) just a few minutes to do. My cleaner of choice? Our Very Vinegar spray recipe - which is so easy you can hardly call it a 'recipe' at all! (Just pour a few tablespoons of white vinegar into a clean spray bottle. Add a few drops of natural liquid dish soap and then top off the container with water. Shake to combine and you're ready to go!)
3. Sweep
4. Clean cat litter & put on the Lampe Berger to destroy the stinky lingering odors. (What would I do without my Lampe Berger??)
5. Throw out 5 things (decluttering). I honestly don't do this every single day, but I try to as often as possible, to keep clutter under control.
6. Check garbages/recycling

That's it! So, your assignment for today is to make your own Cleaning Burst Essentials list, and then stick it on your fridge or a bulletin board - wherever you'll be able to easily refer to it when you're in the middle of cleaning.

And remember...this list will take some time to tweak and develop. I started with a different list, but then tweaked my own cleaning burst list until it did all that I needed it to. It's just a cleaning burst list, not rocket science - so have fun with it, adjust it, and don't stress about it. :)

Reader Poll - What is the ONE Area of Your Home You want to De-Clutter?

In an attempt to get more organized and declutter more often, I'd like to hear from all of you on this question:

What area(s) of your home do you want to declutter? What are your biggest organizing challenges? Would regular email organizing tips help you stay focused on your organizing/decluttering goals?

Please post a comment on the blog OR email me at christina@happyslob.com and let me know your answers! Thanks for participating everyone. :)

A Dose of Cleaning Cheerfulness to Brighten Today's Chores

Here's a wonderful email from Debra that I just received. It brightened my day, and I wanted to share it with all of you!

Hey,

I just love love love your site still,always something new and learn soo much. Just want to thank you for your time.
Happy Dance when I'm cleaning......Have a very cleanful day,
Debra

Awww, shucks, thanks Debra! Glad to know you're still having fun while you're doing your cleaning. See everyone - cleaning doesn't HAVE to be miserable. Turn on your favorite tunes, and get to it - a few minutes for a cleaning burst might even BRIGHTEN a gloomy mood. Give it a try! It's obviously working for Debra...