A Clean House Confession

If you spend more time cleaning house, than you spend loving, playing and listening to your husband or children . . . you simply do not have your priorities straight!  Do you spend the best part of yourself on keeping a perfect house?  If so, you have wasted the best part of yourself!  Can I get an Amen?

Below are a few housekeeping tips:

 Telephone Housekeeping:  While on the phone chatting with your mother, sister or friend use that time to walk around the house and pick-up while you are talking.  

Dusters with a handle:   The new dusters enable you to dust quickly without moving most things.

Window and glass cleaning cloths :   The new glass cleaning cloths are wonderful!  The cloths can be purchased at the Dollar Store and after dampening them a little with water, you can clean glass doors, glass tabletops and mirrors in seconds with no streaking.   

Scenting your home:  The new candle warmers lightly scent your home and people assume that your house is very clean because it smells so good!

Remember the main thing:  Relationships, family, good health and rest are more important than a clean house!

What if someone shows up without calling?

• If it is a good friend, they do not care if your house is clean or not, they came to see you!
• If it is a complaining, nosey . . . . .(well you know), do not go to the door or put the vacuum cleaner out and say, “Oh, I’m so glad to see you, I was about to begin housecleaning ~ want to help?”

Do you have a housekeeping tip?

We labor to make a house a home, then every time we’re expecting visitors, we rush to turn it back into a house.  ~Robert Brault

Is a tidy house good enough?

Is the simple life ~ the good life?  When my husband and I began dating, Marie (his Mom) worked full-time, took care of a husband (who had serious health issues), had three adult children at home ages 18-21, kept a nearly perfect house, cooked two meals each day and never seemed overwhelmed. Whew, that made me tired just writing the sentence!

Below is the example she set:

     1.) Marie’s home and her family were a priority in her life.
     2.) A tidy house appears cleaner than it is and a tidy house is good enough!
     3.) Keep decorating simple – there will be less to clean.
     4.) Keep cleaning supplies simple.
     5.) Do not over-stuff drawers, closets or cabinets. Have “just enough stuff and no more.”

Honestly, I do not know how she did it, but she did. Marie made housework appear effortless, she made home-cooked meals look easy (she did not have a dishwasher and did I mention the washing machine and dryer were in the basement) and she never appeared stressed regarding the care of her family and home.

I think it all comes down to one word: SIMPLIFY. Simplify everything in your life ~ simple meals, simple clothes, simple make-up & hair, simple yards, simple commitments, simple routines, etc.

Is there one thing, one room, one drawer, one closet or a meal that you could simplify and enjoy life more?

My house is protected by killer dust bunnies.  (Author Unknown)

Tarnished Diva’s Cleaning Tips

Most people have a love/hate relationship with cleaning – you hate to clean but you LOVE a clean house. I’ve put together a list of 5 of my best cleaning trips – all my friends can now laugh here as I attempt to look like a cleaning diva, we all know how much I LOVE to clean. Here ya go:

1. Microwave – put a plastic bowl full of water in the microwave and run on high for 5 minutes. The water will boil and steam the grime and gunk inside the microwave-just wipe clean! Sure does beat playing Olympic gymnast trying to scrape the grime off the roof of the microwave.

2. Hard Wood Floors – vinegar cleans and doesn’t leave any type of residue on the floor. Just a small amount of vinegar to hot water. If you don’t like the smell of vinegar then a small amount of any type of glass cleaner (even the bargain brand) will do the trick! Anyone out there learned that Pledge on hardwood floors is not a GOOD idea?

3. Windows – another use for old newspapers is to use them to clean glass. Newspapers work better than paper towels because you are reusing AND they don’t leave any type of lint behind. Put on gloves if you don’t like the ink on your fingers as your window’s sparkle! You can multitask and finish the last bit of that story as you clean the patio doors!

4. Cleaning Basket – create a holder for all your cleaning supplies to carry with you as you clean. This prevents unnecessary treks back up and down steps or into and out of other rooms for something left behind. My basic basket includes – window cleaner, vinegar, salt, baking soda, rubber gloves, sponges, scrub bushes, micro fiber towels and dusters. Hidden to the side is a small bar of chocolate, too early to add in a glass of wine.

5. Music – put on jazzy music as you clean, it will make you move faster AND get the job done quicker! Plus it lightens your mood as you do that task that most of us love to hate!
Better yet, just lower the blinds in the house and you’ll be amazed at how clean it looks! Why do you think you’ve always been invited to my house after dusk?

Do you have any cleaning tips?