Cleaning for the little Happy Slobs Among Us - Cleaning for Kids

I couldn't help myself...look at how cute this little cleaning set is!! Maybe this will motivate all the Junior Slobbos among us to pick up their broom or duster and get cleaning with Mom, Dad or Grandma. I don't have children, but if I did I would buy this in a heartbeat.




What is YOUR best cleaning tip for cleaning with kids?
Post a comment to let us know!
Have you tried the timer technique with your kids to 'limit the suffering', and remind them that their cleaning tasks can only take a few minutes a day?

Another Natural Stain Remover - Club Soda

Just what is club soda, anyway? A quick bit of research reveals that club soda is a wonderful addition to your cleaning kit, since it's basically carbonated water with a small amount of salt. (Originally, this was apparently added to the bubbly drink to give it a taste that more closely replicated natural mineral waters.)

Add some bubbly OR stale club soda to a cleaning spray bottle, and add a splash of fresh lemon juice to it. I know this sounds like a pretty tempting beverage, but in fact this cleaning cleaning duo will really help bleach away stains - on clothing, and more! Plus, it'll leave a fresh scent wherever you clean.

Have you used club soda to clean with? Do tell....

5 Ways to Use Q-Tips to Clean

No, not your ears! (Did you know that you're not supposed to use Q-tips to clean out those gunky ears? I still do...but I've heard that using a watered down concoction of hydrogen peroxide or even slightly warmed olive oil will do the trick more safely.)

Q-tips are handy little cleaners for around the house. Here are 5 ways to use Q-tips to clean things OTHER than your ears:

1. Clean jewelry - those little grooves and edges can be a nightmare to clean! Use some jewelry cleaning solution and a Q-tip swab to clean out even the tightest areas of your favorite jewellery.


2. Clean around the edges of sinks - Ewwww...looked at that edging around your sinks lately? It's gunkville! A soft Q-tip dislodges the dirt, and then a clean cloth will just wipe it all away.


3. Clean between keyboard keys - Another disgusting area for dirt, grime and certainly germs to gather. Use a Q-tip to get to hard to reach areas of your keyboard. The tapered end type of cotton swabs would be especially useful to get into those really tricky spots.


4. Use Q-tips to polish silver. No, not Grandma's old and overly large platter! Those little areas on tiny trinkets that are otherwise hard to reach will do very well with a bit of polish smeared on a Q-tip. And yes, I think this might be the first time ever on this blog that I've ever mentioned polishing silver. (I'm not a polishing silver type, you might say. Oh, or an owning silver type either.)


5. Use Q-tips to clean up oopsies with nail polish. This is more a cleaning up YOU tip than a cleaning your home tip. When applying nail polish, it's so frustrating when you get that gorgeous bright red smeared messily beyond your nail. A cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover is a quick and easy solution for this messy situation.

Have another Q-tip cleaning tip to share? Comment!

What is the ONE cleaning product you can't live without?

We're all about homemade and natural cleaning formulas around here, baking soda, vinegar, salt, lemon and all kinds of other natural cleaners leading the list.

But, what is the ONE cleaning product you can't live without? Is it an ultra cool mop? A broom that works amazingly well? A Dyson?

Please post your comment!

What's mine, you ask?
Little scrubby pads called 'The World's Greatest Scrubbie' is the one product I seriously don't think I could live without anymore. I've used them for years, and they come in a small, thin pad size that lasts for months. They're awesome at safely scrubbing everything from pots and pans to (ahem, a different scrubby for this purpose I admit) cleaning the grout and tiles and tub in the bathroom. These little miracles can often be found in specialty kitchen shops, so look around and stock up! You can clean them in the washing machine or dishwasher, and they do literally last months before they get worn down and need replacing.

Hello! How about a cleaning burst? Why Cleaning Bursts Work

It's obviously been ages, but I hope I still have some of you loyal followers lurking around. I think it's definitely time (well overdue, in fact) for a cleaning burst!

Remember, cleaning bursts are the easiest and overall most effective way to simply clean your homes. Why? Because you completely control how much time you spend - have 5 minutes to spare? Great! Set your timer for five minutes and then focus on the areas that need the most attention. Over time, doing two cleaning bursts a day - one in the AM and one in the PM - will greatly help your home to look great, without becoming a terrifying perfectionist.

Happy cleaning all...

Rubbermaid Reveal Mops - Swiffer Type Mop with Your Own Cleaning Solution

Hey all! You know what a pesky job it is to tackle any floor cleaning...for us happy slobs it's definitely not on our happiest to do lists. But, of course it's one of those tasks that just need to get done. So, here's an idea from another Happy Slob to all the rest of us... Donna C. wrote: "Have you seen the Rubbermaid Reveal mops? I read some bad customer reviews on amazon, but I am hoping that it was the customer's fault that they did not work. I bought one a couple of weeks ago at Target. The bottle can be removed and filled with your own cleaning solution and the mopping pads are microfiber and can be washed about 100 times. I am going to use up the rest of my Swiffer products and use the Reveal mop. (I bought it while it was on sale at Target.) I also found that Windex made some microfiber cloths that I believe can be used with my Swiffer sweeper instead of the more expensive dry floor "cloths" that Swiffer makes. Just wanted to pass this along in case you hadn't seen the Reveal mop." Thanks for the email, Donna! I hope other readers who have in fact tried the Reveal mop (I haven't) will give us their opinions too. E-mail me at christina@happyslob.com if you have an opinion on this product to share! I love the idea that you can easily refill with your own homemade cleaning solutions - cheaper, easier for your health and the planet's. Guess what I'd recommend to fill the cleaning chamber with? Vinegar water of course! Add a squirt of natural dishwashing liquid if you like.

Oh right...and here's a link to the Reveal mop to check it out for yourself:

No Hassle Housecleaning - Lavender Dish soap, removing wine stains, using notes to clean

No Hassle Housecleaning for

February 2, 2011

Less hassle and less fuss - that's what we're all about. Have a great cleaning idea or tip to share? Send it to me at christina@happyslob.com

• 5 Ways to Clean with Lemons - since we all love that lemony fresh scent. And, did you know that lemons cut through grease amazingly well? They do!
• Do-little dusting tips make that ongoing chore easier and faster.
• Red wine oopsie stains are easily removed with this solution you already have in the medicine cabinet.
• It's funny how a few well placed reminder notes can help you, your kids and the whole family get in on the cleaning action with greater regularity. Well worth investing in a sticky note or two!

A Homemade Cleaning Formula...or Three

• Homemade Shower Cleaner (with bleach or option without bleach, too)
• Stainless Steel Shiner will get your stainless and chrome sparkling clean again.
• Homemade Lavender Dish Soap - clean clean dishes, with a gorgeous lavender scent left drifting through the air. Lovely!
  
  

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 .