Getting wet and dirty

Okay.  So, I'm not a born-to-blog kinda gal.

The part that makes me laugh is the part that this blog is about cleaning and organizing and my infatuation with it...and that leaves me time to blog?  LOL

Here we are, February of 2011.  I got a fever...and no, it's not for more cowbell; it's to get out of the house and not have to shovel.  It has been one of those winters, hasn't it?   Snow, snow...and more snow.

I've found that I've put cleaning my back entryway off more and more.  It helps having an organized place to easily hang coats, find gloves and scarves, and hide unused shoes.  (I love my shelves and boxes from Ikea.  They were a great investment, and have made coming and going with two little boys and lots of visitors easy)  But I figure, why clean it when it's just going to get muddy, wet, and cold again?

(I need one of these to put the boys boots on--that might help.  I tried a metal cookie sheet last year...yeah...not so smart.  It caught all the water, yes...but metal plus water...t's called rust.  Bye bye cookie sheet.)

But, who am I kidding?  I'm not going to give up cleaning even if it gets dirty again 20 minutes later. 

The wet boots are going to keep coming, at least for a month or more...and I will be ready to face them.
Bring it on, wet and dirty.

Stain Drain

I have to admit, I get a kick out of laundry.  It's nice to see something go in filthy and come out clean, isn't it?  I thought it was fun...until I had two very actively boyish boys. 

Getting stains out is my new profession.  I am literally working on getting my doctorate in grass stain removal.  Summer isn't the time for grass stains--the kids are in shorts.  It's this time of year when the jeans and khakis take a licking and have to keep ticking. Here is what I have found gets the grass out the first time, every time

-Spray N' Wash with Resolve
This stuff is wonderful.  I have used it on grass stains that have set in the laundry hamper for 3 days, and they still came out.  Be careful though, it's powerful.  Use carefully on lighter khaki clothing--I have used it on Ethan's pants and have made sure not to let it set as long as I normally would.  NEVER let this stuff dry on the stain. Get it into the wash pronto. 

Have you found something that is tried and true?  Share with me! 
Happy washing!

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1.03.01

Jekyll and Hyde

I have no qualms admitting this summer has been lazier than most.  I have laid in bed until my sons drag me out.  I have crossed 2 out of the 309 "to do" items from my summer list.  I have run a finger along the top of my piano and found a bit of dust, without cringing.  I have let some things slip for the sake of an impromptu trip to the zoo or a run in the sprinkler.  As you can tell, I have even let my blogging slip to the wayside--who wants to be on the computer when the pool is calling? Sometimes you can't do it all.  Sometimes.

As school starts back up around my house next week, I am in full swing with preparedness.  I have made my lists, shopped for supplies, rewritten my "to do" list (making it my back-to-school projects instead of the summer tasks). I have school lunches planned for the first week.  I am allowing my micro-managing evil twin to emerge and take control for a short time...I am sounding a bit more like a Robert Louis Stevenson story.  You know the one, about the guy who drinks some potion and changes to a stronger, slightly more overbearing version of himself? (minus the torn clothing and really mean disposition)

Balancing home and life is tedious.  I can have it together one minute, and in pieces the next.  I can't kick the fact that I am a neat freak.  I can, however, choose how I respond to the moment. 

So, in light of this, I am going to enjoy the last few days of summer vacation with my children.  I will clean, a little bit at a time, here and there...but I am not going to flip out over it all. 

I'll be back once school starts with more fun cleaning adventures!  Happy end of summer, all...

fan fair

It's been lovely.  Having windows open as opposed to the air conditioning pumping is wonderful, don't you think? 

This morning as I began to "air out" the rooms, opening windows and turning on ceiling fans, I looked up.  I had a brain fart.  I couldn't remember the last time I had cleaned the blades on the fans.  It was probably in the Spring, but then again, I forgot to brush my teeth before bed last night, so I don't trust myself. 

I hopped into action (Ethan was playing peacefully and Isaac was off at school--it's always important to know where your children are before starting a cleaning project.  Trust me.  We had a clogged toilet that needed serious plumbing attention thanks to Isaac's idea to throw Dixie cups down while it was mid flush--I was cleaning the other bathroom. Guilty.) 

Here are tools you need to effectively clean a ceiling fan:
1.  If your fan is light to mid dusty/dirty, you can simply grab a sturdy step stool, ladder, or chair, your vacuum and brush attachment, flip the switch, and suck it up.

2.  If your fan is mid to heavily dusty/dirty, you can start by having a bucket of warm, lightly soapy water and a couple of clothes (one wet and one dry).  Lay down a bed sheet or drop-cloth beneath the fan and the chair or ladder you are on.  Wipe down each blade, stroking the cloth toward yourself.  (WARNING! Do not inhale directly, unless you'd like dust bunnies hunkering down in your nostrils).  If you have a mask and want to wear it, it's fine too.  I never have; it makes me feel like I'm cleaning up a biochemical spill.  Use the dry cloth to wipe down, and then pick up the drop cloth carefully.  Vacuum after all is done, if you're like me.

3.  While you're up there, you might as well wipe the ceiling around the fan.  Dust particles collect here as well.


Not a tough or time consuming project, but one that equally makes one feel like you conquered. 
And you can turn on the fans without wearing your biochemical mask.  Hurray for clean air!

Summer lovin'

...happened so fast.  In the timeless words of Sandy from Grease--they are all too true.

Ethan graduated Kindergarten last Wednesday, and today officially kicks off his first week of summer vacation.  I am so pumped!  I really missed him.  Now that we have time on our hands, we can choose to use it however we'd like.  Isaac is off to school for 2 more days, so during these next 48 hours, I have big plans for Ethan and I.

Organizing is something I enjoy.  It should be fun.  There should be a sense of accomplishment.  It's like getting a hair cut.  There is something freeing about getting rid of the excess, and seeing what beauty results.  This is a general enjoyment of mine in every facet of life:  I'm not a math whiz, but I love common denominators. 

Some of you are still stuck a paragraph back.  "Wha?  You're going to use your 6 year old to help?"  Yes.  See, children to me are not just joys, they are extra hands.  They aren't to be used as pack mules, but they are a part of the family, and they deserve to learn what it means to be a team player.  I'm not going to sequester the boy in the house on a beautiful day like today, but using this time to teach him organization 1.  Increases his ability to value things and 2.  Teaches him that working hard allows you to then play hard.  It's amazing what a little time of clean up can do for everyone.

Don't be afraid to enlist your kids to help during your daily tasks.  They love it, if you make it fun.  I give my kids jobs like matching a laundry basket full of socks, and the first one to match 5 pairs gets to pick something fun to play outside when we are done.  I also love chore charts.  My boys like seeing what they can accomplish, and getting a reward from that accomplishment.  It's never too early to teach your children to take care of their home, their things, and themselves.

Enjoy this day!  According to Ethan, after we arrange under the stairs in the foyer, he wants to go to the playground.  Sounds good to me.

Instruct me, wash me, love me

I do a few loads of laundry.  Just a few. 

This past Christmas, while my oldest son Ethan literally drooled over the holiday toy ads, circling each game, toy, and action figure with a black magic marker, I was sitting next to him, doing the same to the Lowe's and Home Depot ads.  There was nothing more I wanted than a new washer and dryer (I've already got my 2 front teeth, thanks). 

Unfortunately, Santa couldn't fit a pair into my stocking, so I make due with my Whirlpools, circa 1999.  They work just fine, and honestly, if I had a shiny red pair of these I might just never come up from the basement.

But, shopping for detergent the other day, I realized, this ain't cheap.  I could make something myself more economical and more earth friendly.  That's when I hit up this great site!  Recipes galore for making your own detergent.  Some dry, some liquid.  Whatever you'd like.

I'm going to try it, and of course, let you know how it turns out.  You do the same, and let me know what you picked.  Let's share the laundry love, peeps. 

Saturday night's alright

Dear Diary,

Here we are again.  It's Saturday night, and I am devouring a bag of sugar snap peas in front of the computer instead of cleaning out the washing machine like I had wanted.  I'm sorry.  I guess I just can't do it all.  Or can I....(magical chimes sound and image fades to a daydream)....

I am laying in my bed, the sun is rising, birds are chirping...and like a scene from Snow White, I arise.  Stretching my arms and sighing, I grab my robe and slippers, humming a cheery tune.  (This is not far from reality because truly, I can't whistle to save my life.)  I glide downstairs to see a host of woodland creatures scrubbing my floors, washing the windows, and bleaching my sink.  Smiling, I raise my arms as woodpeckers and robins with little paper towel pieces in their mouths come to rest on them.  But wait...where are the cute little dwarfs? (Interrupt with record scratching sound).

Present moment:  I hear my husband, Dan, in the living room scold my youngest son, "No Isaac!  Don't spill the juice on the couch...take it to the kitchen, buddy.."  Sigh.  There they are. 

No birds, no woodland creatures...just lots to stay on top of each day.  Some days I feel like the wicked witch instead of the princess, Diary!

I guess for me it's not so bad.  I enjoy cleaning.  I love finding new products to make life easier.  I dig discovering household cleaners that keep the environment sustainable.  I love scrubbing small places with a toothbrush.  I love stepping back, even if there are no birds to perch on my tired arms, and say, "nice work, Hladky."

Now, to clean up that juice.  Oh.  I love Stain-guard on furniture too.