Newsletter: Kitchen Renos, The Book & Carpet Powder

No-Hassle Housecleaning for

January 17, 2011

5 Surprising Cleaners You Already Have at Home
I admit - two of them are vinegar and baking soda - but one in particular is one I don't think I've EVER suggested before except for here: 5 Surprising Cleaners You Already Have .

Reviews and Opinions: Cascade All-in-1 Dishwasher Detergent Pacs
Watching the commercials of a woman bent over her dishwasher, stashing in a lasagna pan that's baked on with gook (who DOES that anyway?), and then shortly thereafter removing the same pan - now beautifully clean - made me want to try Cascade All-in-1 dishwasher detergent pacs. They come in little science fiction-worthy gelatin capsules with swirls of bright yellow and green, and claim to wash your dishes that even have stuck on, baked on food. While I didn't leave any baked on food on the dishes (I'm a stickler for rinsing dishes off before loading), I was hoping that this detergent would work decently even with the hard water that we have.

The Grade: B
The Verdict: I'll probably buy these little cleaning pacs again.
Pros: So very easy to use! Just open your main detergent receptacle, and pop one of these in. I believe they work slightly better than regular Cascade powdered detergent, which was my favorite before. I tried the lemon scent, and really liked the fragrance. Overall, they cleaned well. Cons: I still wish my glassware would come out without a bit of residue. And, these do tend to be pricier - so convenience costs! (Try them out with a coupon to make it more affordable.)

Your Turn: Have you used this product? If so, please email me YOUR opinion - send emails to christina@happyslob.com. Big thanks in advance for your input!

The Dream Behind The Book
The whole reason I started http://www.happyslob.com/ was to sell my original ebook, The Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning. Since then, my dream has come true and my published book is available at About the Book . If you've never had a chance to, I'd appreciate it if you check it out - and tell a friend while you're at it! And, if you're curious about my story, read the original idea at: About Me - the Happy Slob

Reader Woes - Surviving Kitchen Renos
Reader Question: "How do you survive kitchen renovations? Do any of your readers have tips or hints to help??"
If you have ideas to share, please email me at christina@happyslob.com and I'll share them on the site or here on the blog. :) While never having experienced renovations of any sort, I've heard it's dreadfully stressful...

Homemade Cleaner du Jour: A wonderfully simple carpet powder that will naturally soak up lingering unpleasant scents. A particularly great idea for pet owners who want to freshen up the floors! Freshen Up the Carpets Naturally .

Cleaning all Types of Floors, Cleaning Tips & Hints, and Caldrea Sea Salt and Neroli cleaner

No Hassle Housecleaning

for December 22, 2010

"House cleaning for the rest of us!"

Happy, Shiny Floors
The bane of all happy slobs is getting a floor - any floor - shiny and clean! Here are some helpful tips for a variety of floor surfaces. Once the floor is clean, the whole room automatically looks a lot better.

Help for Hardwood Floors
Cleaning Laminate Floors
Cleaning Tile Floors the Old Style Way
Cleaning Linoleum Floors

Cleaning Stuff I (and Others) Dream Of...
Guys also love this stuff, so if you want to encourage a little more dishwashing, consider this a helping hand! The Sea Salt Neroli scent is so amazing that one mom told me her grown son wished it came in a cologne. Hmmm...


Some other handy cleaning-ish tips of the day:
Today is a great time to dump the junk in your purse, slobbos! Cleaning Stove Elements and Drip TraysHow to Get rid of Mold
Help for Pets Wetting the CarpetsHow to Delegate Cleaning Tasks to Your Family (or Roommates)

The State of Your Handbag - It's Time to Clean out that Purse!

Yes, it's time again for one of our famous handbag hauls - as in, hauling out all of the inevitable junk that has accumulated in our purses! Dump the contents out and mercilessly chuck stuff away - just be sure to keep any required receipts for your files. (I've been known to get a little too enthusiastic and throw away a receipt I really should've kept!)

Okay, one, two three - dump! And then...declutter that purse until it looks brand new. Speaking of which, a little wipe down with some of our Very Vinegar spray on the outer surface (for synthetic surfaces) wouldn't go amiss either, since the germs that gather on the bottom of our handbags are some of the most plentiful.

Have a few extra minutes after that purse is shining and tidy? Then work on your wallets - a spot where receipts, coupons and snippings can seemingly procreate all on their own.