green

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!

Cleaning With Food Products

by Scarlette | No Comments Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Jennifer found this article the other day and I just loved it!   I had heard of many of these cleaning tips but had never heard of using ketchup and white bread to clean anything.

Ten Unexpected Natural Cleaners

At Bit a Bliss we are dedicated to providing extraordinary maid service.  Everyone deserves a Bit a Bliss!  www.bitabliss.com

The Power of Vinegar

by admin | 2 Comments Sunday, December 20, 2009

White distilled vinegar is effective for killing most mold, bacteria, and germs, due to its level of acidity. Cleaning with white distilled vinegar is a smart way to avoid using harsh chemicals. You’ll also be glad to know that it is environmentally friendly and very economical.

Here are some of my favorite tips on using vinegar in your home.

Never use white distilled vinegar on marble. The acid can damage the surface.

Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.

Clean the shelves and walls of the refrigerator with a half-and-half solution of water and white distilled vinegar.

Cut the grime on the top of the refrigerator with a paper towel or cloth and full-strength white distilled vinegar.

Remove soap buildup and odors from the dishwasher by pouring a cup of white distilled vinegar inside the empty machine and running it through a whole cycle. Do monthly

Get rid of calcium deposits on faucets by soaking a cloth or paper towel in white distilled vinegar and wrapping the area tightly. Let this sit for a couple of hours or overnight.

Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Clean grout by letting full-strength white distilled vinegar sit on it for a few minutes and scrubbing it with an old toothbrush.

More at www.vinegartips.com