Messy Monday: Homemade Dish Soap

It seems like I am forever running out of dish soap. Even when I stock up, I swear it disappears in an instant. So of course I had to figure out how to make my own. 

*Note: This isn't the creamy kind of dish soap that I'm accustomed to buying, but it gets the job done. 

Ingredients: 

• 1/3C. grated castile soap

• 1½C. boiling water

• 3Tbsp. Borax

• 10-20 drops tea tree oil (or other essential oil)

Directions:

• Stir all ingredients together in a large bowl to combine. 

• Carefully pour into an old dish soap container, soap dispenser or glass jar.

 

Messy Monday: Get Your House Party Ready in No Time

With the holiday season upon us, it's safe to say that company will be coming over at some point. Of course that doesn't mean that you need to keep your house immaculate at all times (which is nearly impossible anyways if you have small children). Actually, all you need is about 30 minutes & your house will look like you spent hours preparing for the arrival of your guests. 

Clear the clutter. Obviously picking everything up will make a huge difference, but if you don't have time to put it all away, don't worry. Pick a room & shut the door. The only time that this will not work, is if you just moved or remodeled your home. Everyone will want to see every inch of it then. 

Hit the "hot spots". Think of the areas where your guests will mostly hang out & give them a decent once over. (Living room, dining room, kitchen & the bathroom are the most common.)

Don't forget to sweep. Giving all of your floors a good once over with the broom, mop &/or vacuum will make a noticeable difference. 

Set the mood.  Light some candles, spray some festive air freshener, dim the lighting, set out a few holiday decorations if you haven't already & set out a platter of snacks. Your guests will think that you've been waiting on them to show up! 

Messy Monday: Fall Cleaning Checklist

Everyone is familiar with spring cleaning, but how many of you do a fall cleaning too? Most of the things that go with a fall cleaning, we tend to do anyways with the approaching winter season. While other things are a repeat of spring cleaning.

Inside Your House

• Wash all of your windows (inside & out actually).
• Dust, vacuum or wash any window coverings.
•Wipe down the walls. 
• Clean light fixtures & ceiling fans.
•Steam or spot clean carpets, rugs & upholstered furniture. 
• Wipe down kitchen cabinetry. 
• Clean refrigerator coils. 
• Organize any closets, swapping summer clothing for winter clothing. 
• Flip all mattresses to equalize the wear.
• Test smoke & carbon monoxide detectors.
• Have the furnace inspected & stock up on filters (replace the filter month during high usage).
• Clean & inspect the chimney & the flue if you have a fireplace or wood burning stove. 
• Clean the dryer exhaust tube & vent of any built up lint. 

Outside Your House
  
• Check weather stripping & caulking around doors & windows, replace if needed. 
•Replace screens with storm windows. 
•Check & clean gutters & downspouts. 
•Clean & store patio furniture, garden hose & children's toys. 
• Close up your pool if you have one. 
•Clear your yard of fallen leaves. 
•make sure you know where the snow shovels are & stock up on sidewalk salt if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow in the winter. 

Messy Monday: How To Get Crayon Out Of Your Laundry

The moment all mothers dread. You pull a full load of laundry out of the dryer & realize there was a crayon in the load. This happened to me not that long ago, but to harden the blow, about half the load was new school clothes. You know, worn once. I was in a state of shock. I wanted to cry, scream & drink a bottle of wine all at the same time. 

This is a photo of my dryer. I didn't even think to take one of the clothes that were inside it, but you can imagine just how awful it was. But the good news, is that I got it out. Almost all of it too! The only thing I wasn't able to remove the crayon from, was a house sweater (you know, that hideous sweater you wouldn't be caught dead in outside of your house but it's so warm & comfy that you just can't get rid of it), most likely because of the material it was made from. 

Now I know you're dying to find out how on earth I managed to not only get the crayon out of my laundry, but out of the dryer too! 

For the Clothing

•Start by spraying the areas of clothing that have crayon on them with a pre-treater & then let them sit for 15-20 min. 
•After spraying your clothing, start filling your washer with HOT water (the hottest possible water setting that could possibly be recommended for the clothing).
•While the washer is filling, add your laundry detergent (a tad extra than you usually use) & LA's Totally Awesome (found in most dollar stores & is extremely effective). If you need some extra assurance, you can add some Borax & Super Washing Soda as well.
•After the pre-treater has set in, place the clothing in the washer & begin the cycle just enough to make sure everything is thoroughly soaked. 
•Stop the washer & allow the load to soak for 1-2 hours.
•Finish the cycle & begin another one with just laundry detergent (or more LA's Totally Awesome if you can still see some crayon).
•Be sure to check the clothing before tossing it in the dryer again. 

For the Dryer

•In a large bowl, combine warm water with some Borax, Super Washing Soda, vinegar, LA's Totally Awesome & lots of salt. 
•Grab rubber gloves & a sponge with a scrubber side. 
•I never thought I was going to get the crayon out of the shiny smooth surface of my dryer, but the trick is to make it an abrasive scrub (hence all the salt). So just be sure you scoop up a bit onto your sponge to scrub with. 
•It's going to be messy & you're going to need a lot of elbow grease on top of being able to twist & turn inside your dryer (just as an FYI). Have some large bath towels handy to try to keep the watery mess inside to a minimum while you're scrubbing.
•When you think you've gotten all of it, grab an extra towel or two (in addition to the ones you were using), wet them & toss them into the dryer before turning it on. This will help clean up any of the scrub that was left behind. 
•If need be, give it another light scrub, a wipe &/or another dry cycle.

Messy Monday: Simple DIY Degreaser

Grease. It seems to get everywhere in my kitchen. Of course I'm sure that this wonderful humid summer we're having & my ceiling fan in the kitchen being on almost nonstop, had a bit to do with that problem too. But I'm not really a fan of spraying a chemical degreaser while the fan is on. Let alone when the fan is on & it still feels like a million degrees. 

This Simple DIY Degreaser is super easy to make & use. Of course if you have a really tough job, you may need to add a bit of elbow grease to the mix, which is no different if you used a store bought degreaser.

•1 part water

•1 part distilled white vinegar

•1-2 Tbsp. grease fighting dish soap (like Dawn)

Add all of the ingredients in a spray bottle & give it a gentle shake to blend. 

To use, simply spray degreaser onto surface or (directly onto a rag) & wipe off.

Messy Monday: How to Clean a Ceiling Fan

If there is one chore I despise the most, it would have to be cleaning the ceiling fans. They can be such a pain to clean, especially when you put it off for as long as you possibly can. But I'm glad that I finally have an easy way to clean them! 

 

Note: This is actually before I cleaned them again tonight (it was way too hot to turn them off, but I wanted to share this with you.)

 

So how easy could cleaning a ceiling fan be?

 

•In a spray bottle, make a 50/50 mixture of distilled vinegar & water.

•Spray the mixture on both sides of the fan blades.

•Using an old pillowcase, place fan blade inside, press firmly on both sides starting at the center of the fan & wipe down to the end.

 •Repeat on remaining fan blades. 

 

That's pretty simple! All of the dust will fall into the pillowcase. Just shake it out in the trash & wash it with your towels or your husbands dirty work clothes. 

Messy Monday: 5 Ways to Stay Organized this Summer

After Friday we are officially on summer vacation! And I am so not ready. I know you might be wondering why anyone would need to get ready  & be organized for summer. But the answer is simple. Summer is a "fly by the seat of your pants" kind of season. And quite frankly, you don't want to be left behind in your underwear. (Unless you don't have air conditioning, then it's a viable option.)

Swap Seasons - If you're anything like me, you've been procrastinating in putting your winter wardrobe away. Of course you already have your summer wardrobe out all over the place. So first things first - out with the old & in with the new.

Flip Flop Haven - Flip flops are a go to staple in my house. Which means that there's always a million here, there & everywhere. Just grab a bucket, basket or whatever else you have on hand, park it near an entryway & let everyone know to toss their flip flops in. You may have to dig a bit to find a pair, but it's better than digging under the bed!

Be Ready to Eat - There's always cookouts & picnics galore during the summer months. So be prepared to BYOU (bring your own utensils), even if it's your won cookout. Keep a basket stocked in the kitchen with plates, napkins & plasticware for when you need them for dinner under the stars. Or PB&J in the park. (Po-tate-oh, Po-tawt-oh.)

Bag It Up! - Bags, bags & more bags! There's snack bags (for those last minute picnics), activity bags (for those last minute road trips) & necessity bags (for everything else). Keeping everything in bags makes it easy to just grab & go. 

Stock Up - There is nothing worse than running out of bug spray, sunscreen or allergy medicine when you need it the most. So be sure to stock up on any necessities early in the season. Just keep an eye on your summer stockpile so you're not caught looking like a lobster with tissues & dryer sheets tucked in everywhere. 

Messy Monday: Company is Coming! How to "Clean" Your House in 30 Minutes

It happens all the time to me. The phone rings, someone asks if you're home then tell you they're swinging by in about 30 minutes. No big deal, right? Right! Except the fact that your house looks like a mini disaster (thanks, kids!). But that's OK since you try to keep your house at least halfway clean, you can have it all looking pristine (or close to it) in just about 30 minutes.

Pick Up

Pick everything up that's not in it's place & out in the open and put it...somewhere. Grab an empty laundry basket to collect everything as you go & place the basket in your closet if need be. Is this actually cleaning? No. But it will look like it & that's all that matters right now. 

Tidy Focal Areas

What exactly does this mean? Figure out what rooms your guests are most likely to be in & give them a quick tidying up. For me, it's the kitchen (counters, stove-top & dishes), living room (dust & wipe the sticky fingerprints off the TV) & the bathroom (wipe down the sink & the toilet). There's no need to clean more than they'll see, unless they've never seen your house & will want the grand tour. If that's the case, grab some of those boxes from the basement & use the "we're still unpacking" excuse (this excuse is only good for 2 years after you move though).

Make It Smell Clean

Clean homes always smell good, did you ever notice that? And not necessarily like a bunch of cleaners. I always light candles after I clean to give it that finishing touch. But with company coming, it's more like the beginning touch. 

Sweep & Mop Until You Drop

OK, not really, but a quick touch up on your floors can make a world of difference! Even if everything else looks a bit unkempt, clean floors will actually make it seem twice as clean as it really is. Just like everything being clean except the floors, will still leave your house looking like a mess. So take 1-15 minutes to do what you can, but be sure you put it all away as soon as your company arrives.

Messy Monday: Tips to Keep the Dirt Out

After a polar cortex of a winter, which included massive amounts of snow, the ground was already fairly moist. Now in comes spring with massive amounts of rain (most likely). April showers brings May flowers after all. Oh and mud. Lots & lots of mud. 

When mud gets on something, like clothes & shoes, it seems to dry in record time. Which of course means that you then have dirt in every nook & cranny of your home. Have kids or animals to gleefully track dirt everywhere too? Well, don't worry, here are some helpful tips to help keep the dirt out. Or at least most of it. 

•Use mats. Did you notice the word "mat" was plural? As in, more than one? At each entrance of your home?! Now I know that seems like a lot, but if you take the time to think about it, it really does make sense.  Wipe your feet on the mat outside, wipe again & take your shoes off on the mat inside. And just in case a mat won't quite do the job outside, invest in a boot scrubber/scraper to keep right outside your door. 

•Kick your shoes off at the door. Well, OK, don't actually kick them off (that would just spread the dirt), but take them off as soon as you get inside. This will help keep the dirt from letting loose in your home (did anyone else just picture a dirt dance party?).

•Keep a spray mop & handheld vacuum nearby. No, this doesn't mean to man every entryway with these household defensive tools, but a nearby closet will do. Because let's face it, the dog or kids will run right on in at least 10 times a day. Having these handy will help to clean up what is tracked in, in under 30 seconds. Unless they happen to get sprayed by a skunk too. Then...uh, you're on your own. (Sorry.)

Messy Monday: Homemade Steam Cleaner Solution

Having a KD kid, I always hear about the suspected link between professional carpet cleaners & Kawasaki Disease. Even though it has never been proven & I have never even used a professional carpet cleaner, it's enough to make me shy away from store bought steam cleaner solutions. Which is fine, since over the years I have managed to perfect a solution that I use every time I clean my carpets now.

 •hot water
•vinegar
•1Tbsp. dish soap
•1Tbsp. hydrogen peroxide

- Combine equal parts hot water & vinegar in the water reservoir of your steam cleaner. 
- Add dish soap & hydrogen peroxide.

*As with all carpet cleaners, first test in an inconspicuous area. 

Messy Monday: Homemade "Magic Eraser"

Years ago I fell in love with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I loved the simplicity of them, after all there were no extra steps or harsh fumes. All you had to was wet it & then happily scrub away (at least as happily as you could while you were scrubbing who knows what). Eventually it would begin to crumble away, which was OK since you got done what you needed to do. Too bad nowadays they seem to start crumbling almost instantly. That's when I decided to try to make my own version of a Magic Eraser.

• 1tsp. baking soda
• 1/2tsp. Borax
• 1/4tsp. super washing soda
 • 1/4tsp. salt
• 3/4C. hot water

- In a small bowl, stir all ingredient together until dissolved. 
- Dip a sponge into the cleaning solution & happily scrub away. Wipe surface off with a dry/damp cloth if needed. 


Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are simply melamine foam, that when wet, act as a superfine sandpaper to scrub your messes away.

Messy Monday: How to Make Your Faucets Shine

Nobody wants a dull or water spotted faucet. Of course, no one really wants to get in all the nooks & crannies with the chemical cleaner du jour either. At least i don't. Good thing it just takes a simple household product & a little bit of time to get the job done. 

If your faucet is in desperate need, soak a paper towel or two in vinegar & cover the faucet and handles thoroughly. Allow it to sit for 1-2 hrs, dampen the paper towel(s) again, wipe down the faucet & wipe dry with a microfiber towel. 

If you happen to be a bit OCD about keeping your faucets nice & shiny, just dampen a paper towel with vinegar, wipe your faucet & wipe dry with a microfiber towel. 

Messy Monday: Homemade "Comet" Style Cleanser

We all know I'm a fan of homemade cleaners, but did you know I'm also a fan of using Comet to clean my kitchen sink? The two obviously don't go together, but I love the clean I get from the slight abrasiveness of it. Then it dawned on me, I could probably make something pretty close to it. 

•1/2C. Borax
•1/2C. Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
•1/2C. baking soda
•1.2C. salt

- Place all ingredients in a bowl & stir to combine. 
- Store in an airtight container.

To use:

- Sprinkle on damp surface & allow to sit for 1 min. 
- Scrub in a circular motion.
- For deep stains you can spritz a bit of vinegar & allow it to sit for an additional 30 sec. before scrubbing it again.
- Thoroughly rinse with hot water. 
 

Messy Monday: Helpful Tips to Keep Your House Clean

Cleaning, Some people love it, most dread it. Sure everyone wants a clean house, but it can get overwhelming at times. Especially if you happen to have three (or more) small tornadoes to undo all of your hard work in .1341313513 seconds. Luckily for me, & now you, I've picked up a few helpful tips along the way. 

I would love to have this house! Photo cred: www.pointny.com

 Put it away when you're done with it - This is the simplest of them all. Get something out, use it & put it away when you're done with it. Sure, it's easier to just set it to the side & worry about it later. But then it'll be there three days later along with a dozen other things to put away.

See something that needs done, do it -  I don't mean washing walls or steam cleaning carpets (those both need days to themselves). But when you sit down to watch TV & notice a yogurt covered handprint, get up & clean it. Same goes for a dusty table or streaky window. 

Don't let the dishes pile up -  Personally, I despise the dishes. So if there gets to be too many, I will try to put them off until I'm out of silverware, plates, or both. So the best way to tackle this chore, is to wash them as they get dirty & put them away as they dry. 

Wash laundry when you have a load - I never could figure out how people could wash clothes once a week. Between the kids, myself & the hubs, I wash a good 3 loads daily (sometimes more). But that is actually a good thing since it also cuts back on the task of folding & putting it away. Plus no one runs out of clean underwear! (That's huge bonus points right there!)

Clean the toilet daily - This might have something to do with the fact that I have a 4 year old boy who doesn't have the greatest aim, but cleaning your toilet daily is one of the best ways to keep your bathroom from getting all yucky. Just give the inside of the toilet bowl a quick scrub & the outside of the toilet a quick wipe down with an anti-bacterial wipe. 

Make your bed before you start your day - There's something about a made bed that just seems to give your day a good start. That doesn't mean you have to make it as soon as your feet hit the floor, but whenever you actually start your day. I make mine when I get dressed. But if for some reason, I stay in my jammies all day, I just make it sometime before lunch. 

Set a routine - This can be a bit tricky to figure out a good routine that works for you & your family. And it doesn't have to include everything. For me, a big thing is cleaning the floors. I have three levels to clean so it can take a little while to do. I decided to vacuum daily & sweep/mop every other day (except for the kitchen since that is the only room that seems to need mopped at least a little bit multiple times a day). I also have Sunday as the day I chose to wash all of the bed linens. Recently I started washing all of the sheets & pillowcases first. Since we have plenty of blankets, everyone can have their bed made in just a couple of hours instead of right before bed. Plus that way I'm not rushed to wash all the blankets & I can finish them on Monday if need be. 

Do a run through before bed - If you have kids, chances are you have toys to pick up. It also helps to make sure all of the dishes are washed. If you know you have laundry to wash the next day, take it down the night before. Do whatever you need to to make sure the next day is off to a good start. The best part is, that it won't take you more than 5-10 min. 

Do a thorough clean once a week - This may be a bit of a bummer to some. You still need to do a good cleaning at least once a week. Move the furniture & sweep (after you pick up the mountain of lost toys), scrub the bathtub, clean your microwave...that kind of stuff. But since your house has pretty much been clean all week, a top to bottom will only take a couple of hours instead of the couple of years that you're used to. 

Messy Monday: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Do you have a dishwasher? Do you hate constantly having to buy detergent for it? Of course those little action-pacs, or whatever they're called, get the job done. But boy, are they expensive! Especially if your house is like mine where you can easily run the dishwasher twice a day. 

•5C. Borax

•3 1/2C. Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

•12pkg. lemonade flavored Kool-Aid

•1 1/2C. Epsom salt

- Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. 

- Place in a large airtight container for storage.

To use: Add 1Tbsp. dishwasher detergent to soap dispenser. 

I still use a store bought rinse aid with mine since I've noticed that vinegar just doesn't seem to do a very good job with this detergent.

* This detergent will harden over time. Just scrape off the top & continue to use. 

* This recipe can easily be doubled, just use a whole box of both the Borax & the Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (saves from counting so many C's).

Recipe altered from Being Creative to Keep My Sanity

Messy Monday: Homemade Soft Scrub Cleanser

I used to swear by Soft Scrub. I would use it on virtually any surface I could. Then I realized the amount of money I was spending on it, so I cut back. But when I started paying attention to what cleaners I was using & made an effort to use more natural ones, I quit using it completely. At least the store bought version of it.

•1/2C. baking soda

•1/4C. dish soap

•3Tbsp. vinegar

- Stir dish soap into baking soda. 

- Carefully add vinegar & stir to combine.

- Store in an airtight container. 

Messy Monday: Homemade Anti-Static Spray

There are two things that just don't go together very well. Laundry & winter. The amount of static that produces is insane. I'm sure I have several lost socks that are hidden inside pajama pants, fitted sheets or something else that came out of the dryer. Which means that an anti-static spray is a must to keep my laundry from sticking to everything. Including myself. 

•2C. water

•2Tbsp. fabric softener

•2Tbsp. vinegar

- Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle. 

- Lightly spray to combat static cling. 

 

Messy Monday: How to Remove Road Salt Stains

The snow & ice that winter in Northeast Ohio brings is beautiful to look at. But it's no fun to drive (& sometimes even walk) in. Which means that road salt is a must. But while it's a great help, it can also stain clothing, boots & even carpets from getting tracked inside. 

The solution is as simple as vinegar & water.

•3 parts water

•1 part vinegar

You can combine it all in a spray bottle for easy use. Just spray & wipe up with a damp cloth. 

*Note: Be sure you check labels before using on shoes, boots & some clothing. 

Messy Monday: How to Clean a Shower Head

Don't you hate it when you're in the shower, but you have a few stray streams of water? And is it just me, or do they always seem to end up going straight for your eyes? Well, there's a simple solution to that you know...clean the shower head. 

Just take a sandwich bag, pour a bit of vinegar in it & tie it to your shower head. Let it sit overnight & voilà!

Messy Monday: How to Clean a Top-Loading Washer

We use a washer to wash our clothes, but do you ever wash your washer? Well, if you haven't, you should. Especially since it's not difficult at all & can be done with just a couple ingredients that you have on hand.

 - Fill your washer on a hot water setting.
- Add about 3 1/2C. of vinegar to the water.
- Turn washer on for 10-15 sec. to thoroughly mix.
- Add 1/2C. baking soda to the water/vinegar mixture.
- Turn washer on again for 10-15 sec. to thoroughly mix.
- Allow to sit for 1 hr.
- Use the mixture inside to wipe down the exposed areas of the washer (don't forget around the lid). 
- Turn washer back on & allow to run through the cycle.
- Run through one more hot water cycle to thoroughly clean out any gunk that may not have made it's way out during the first wash cycle.