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How To Deep Clean Your Bedroom In 8 Steps

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, March 15, 2012

It can be easy to skip out on deep cleaning your bedroom. After all, it’s not a kitchen or bathroom, right? Ok, maybe it’s not as intensive as deep cleaning one of those, but you spend more time in it than any other room, so it deserves some TLC here and there. If you are cleaning your home on your own, we recommend doing this deep clean quarterly, then keeping it up with dusting and spot cleaning in between. For this deep cleaning, we recommend opening your windows a little to keep the air circulating, so there will be minimum resettling of dust.

1. Use An Extendable Duster To Clean The Ceiling

Before you do anything else, dust the ceiling fan, crown moulding, and remove any cobwebs with an extendable duster. This way, everything will fall onto surfaces and your bed before they are clean.

2. Clean Your Bed

Strip your sheets and bedskirt, and throw in the washer. If anything is dry-clean only, take it a day or two in advance so that it will be ready today, and use your backup linens/comforter in the meantime. Take a spray bottle with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of baking soda filled to the top with water and spray on your mattress and pillows until slightly damp. This will remove unsightly odors and freshen up everything. You can add a little scent to the baking soda mix if you like, but if you are sensitive, just leave it as is. Make your bed at the very end of your deep clean, making sure the mattress and pillows are completely dry.

3. Clean Blinds, Windows, and Sills

Carefully dust your blinds and window sills with a microfiber rag, to minimize tossing dust up in the air. With a clean rag and a spray bottle with 2 tablespoons vinegar, a few drops of essential oil of your choice (optional) filled to the top with water, remove any spots from your blinds, windows, and sills.

4.  Doors, Door Frames and Switchplates

With the Vinegar solution, go around and clean all door frames, doors, door handles, and switchplates. These are commonly touched areas that can harbor viruses and bacteria. Vinegar is naturally anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal, so it will not only make those areas look sparkling, but will sanitize them as well.

5. Dust Wall Decor

With a microfiber rag, dust every item on your wall carefully. If possible, gently pull the decor away from the wall and dust behind it.

6. Dust Furniture

A good trick is to take every item off of your dresser and tables first. This way, when you put everything back, you are less likely to put everything back as clutter, and find a new home for everything you don’t need sitting out. Go around with a microfiber cloth and dust every piece of furniture, including the sides and any detail work. Don’t forget the headboard and footboard! As you put all decor and necessities back on your furniture, dust each item as well.

7. Wash Your Basebaords

Using the vinegar mixture and a rag, wash all basebaords. Move furniture away from the wall if possible.

8. Vacuum/Sweep And Mop Floors

If you have carpet, use the hose attachment of your vacuum to go around all edges, corners, and underneath all furniture before doing the main area. If you are sweeping and mopping, be sure and get every possible nook and cranny.

How To Clean Your Oven With Baking Soda

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, March 8, 2012

I found this great video on youtube.com that I had to share! It gives a step-by-step on effectively cleaning your oven with baking soda and water. No chemicals, no self-cleaning cycle, nothing dangerous. If you have read some of our previous blogs, you know that we are big fans of cleaning with simple, green ingredients. And this is about as simple as it gets!

The Benefits Of Having Your Own Herb Garden

by Jennifer | No Comments Monday, March 5, 2012

Having your own herb garden can be very beneficial to you and your family. You tend to feel very accomplished when your plants grow and thrive. And having fresh herbs in your recipes can take your dish from great to WOW! Not to mention the savings. For example, a 1/2 oz. of fresh basil at the grocery store will run you $2-$3 dollars, whereas you can spend a few dollars to get a plant that will give you that same amount over and over again. And who knows, maybe it will inspire you to eat healthier!

For outdoor gardening, try this How-To From The Tasteful Garden.

If you live in an apartment, or just think the kitchen would look and smell great from an indoor garden, start with E-How’s Guide To Indoor Herb Gardening For Beginners.

Cleaning Your Bathroom In 5 Easy Steps

by Jennifer | 1 Comment Friday, February 3, 2012

Cleaning and maintaining your bathroom is not as hard as you might think. When you think of doing it, do hours of sweaty and nasty hard labor pop into your head? Well, the good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. Follow these steps in this order (to keep things sanitary and easy) and you will find that it’s really a piece of cake! All you need is a few clean rags, microfiber cloths (to help with lint and streaks,) a broom, mop, magic erasers, and cleaner. And don’t forget to go green! If you need help deciding what products to use, check out Our Blog On Creating Your Own House Cleaning Kit!

1. Mirrors

You always want to start with the mirrors with a fresh, clean rag for the best result, and spray the product directly on the mirror, followed by a dry microfiber cloth to ensure a clean finish. If you use a rag that has already been used elsewhere, you will likely have problems with streaking and smudging.

2. Counters

Using a fresh rag with the cleaning product of your choice, clean your countertops and sinks. Make sure you get underneath all items on the counters, as well as wiping off the items. Also, spot check the cabinets and clean as needed.

3. Tub and or Shower

Whether it’s a standing shower or combination tub/shower, you want to begin with the walls and work your way down. Spray down the walls and use a magic eraser if necessary to remove any soap scum, then wipe down again with a rag to smooth out. Then clean out the tub with the eraser and rags, and making sure the fixtures are clean as well.

4. Toilet

If you are using a homemade vinegar solution, you can pour or spray some in the bowl first and let sit to disinfect. Start with the tank, the sides, outside of the bowl, and the area between the tank and toilet seat. Then lift the lid and clean the seat and rim. Finish by scrubbing the toilet bowl with a brush and flush.

5. Clean The Floor

If you have carpet, simply vacuum, and use the hose attachment to go around the areas the vacuum can’t reach and over the baseboards. If you need to sweep and mop, sweep first, going over the baseboards as well. If your mop does not reach behind the toilet, use a rag to clean that area, then mop the rest of the floor. Let dry for 10 minutes and voila! Your bathroom is clean and sparkling!

DIY Home Decorating Ideas

by Jennifer | No Comments Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Home decorating, as much fun as it is, can get very pricey if you buy everything ready-made. Of course, you can’t be expected to make everything on your own, but sometimes creating pieces of your own design and labor can add that personal touch to your home that you can really be proud of. And it can be a great hobby for yourself or your family.

Whenever I see something that I like, my first thought is, “can I make that?” and the answer is often yes. Here is a couple of pieces that I am particularly proud of, and were really easy to make.

Fall Centerpiece

A Spicy Fall Centerpiece

Fall is my favorite time of year, and part of that is making my home feel as cozy as can be. In this centerpiece, all I used was what I already had lying around the house: A vase, synthetic foliage (but you can use the real thing if you’re up for it,) 3 candle holders, 7 tea lights, and some fall-themed ribbon. I set it all on the table as I wanted, cut 2 generously sized lengths of ribbon (at least 2 1/2 ft. each depending on how large you want, you can trim off any leftovers,) then I took one ribbon and wrapped the middle around the vase as shown, used some double sided tape to hold it in place, and simply kept the natural curve of the ribbon on either side and placed candles between loops to keep them grounded. With the other ribbon, I simply kept with the natural curve, and worked the candle holders in them. Voila! Takes about 10 minutes to put together, and there are an infinite number of variations you can do with this idea.

3-D Picture

3-D Picture

I created this gem for my daughter’s room to make it a little more personal. All it takes is a picture frame with removed backing and glass, ceramic or painted wood letters, hemp cord (but you can use anything you want depending on the colors you choose,) synthetic flowers I got from a craft store, and some cardboard. I laid out the letters on the frame where I wanted them to go, and measured out the cord, and placed the nails on the inside of the frame where the cord would go. Then I tied the cord to the letters, added a little decor, then wrapped and tied the cord around the nails, and secured with hot glue. Once the letters were in place, I cut cardboard into corners to fit on the frame, and glued them in. Then I glued the flowers to the cardboard. Depending on the type of frame you use, you may not need to use the cardboard, I just did it here to avoid smushing the flowers in the corners.

My next project is turning Pizza Boxes Into Wall Art, Shown Here!

Do you have any amazing DIY tips to share? We’d love to see it!