One Day Left -- eBay Auction for a Signed Copy of No Hassle Housecleaning

Come on over and check out my eBay auction for a signed copy of No Hassle Housecleaning. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200450957530&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT I know, I know, the excitement of it all is killing you, but go check it out nonetheless. ;) Thanks guys!

Cleaning Ceiling Fans - Give it a Whirl!

This blog idea was inspired just about fifteen minutes ago, when I was finishing up my bowl of oatbran and flax (don't scoff - fiber and I are very dear friends) and looked up. Waaaay up. To the ceiling fan. Which looked disgustingly neglected, which in reality it has been. Ah ha! The little lightbulb in my head went on, and therefore this post was born of necessity.

If you have a ceiling fan, get a sturdy chair or stepladder to ease your way up there, and then use a dampened rag or microfiber cloth to clean out all the gunk and mess. (Please, be careful! I don't want anyone falling down and hurting themselves.) Word to the wise: place some large garbage bags down on the floor beneath the fan, so that you're not left with a messy floor to deal with too!

Have a fantastic Monday everyone,
Christina

A Stain Removal Song for this Sunday Morning (Remove Tea and Coffee Stains)

I love coffee,
He loves tea,
We love hot bevvies,
But the stains bother MEEEE....

Yes, I actually did sing that as I typed it. :) How sad. Feel free to roll your eyes.

Right, so if you're a tea or coffee drinker then you're also well aware that the beverages taste delicious, but the stains they leave behind in our favorite mugs and cups are far less charming. I've found three things that help remove those nasty stains:

1. Baking soda - the old favorite is a star again. Scrub with baking soda and a scrubby pad.
2. Table salt - same thing, but a little grittier for even more difficult stains.
3. Barkeepers Friend - The hardest, oldest stains are no match for this cleaner. When I was writing my book, I researched this marvelous powdered cleanser and discovered that it's derived from rhubarb. Hmmm. And here I always thought rhubarb was just good in pie. Wrongo, it's also good for scrubbing stains away (and cleaning your stainless, copper, etc...but I'll try to remain on topic here.)

Plus, a little scrubby pad called 'The World's Greatest Scrubbie' is available in many kitchenware shops. At the store where I work part-time we sell them for around $2.99. I always use that when scrubbing away stubborn beverage stains -- so keep an eye out for them in your locale. They're little rectangles of rainbow colored cleaning extraordinariness. (IF that's even a word.)

Right, now, go grab a coffee or tea and don't worry for even a single moment about any stains to come. :) Have a lovely Sunday while you're at it.