clean day

{baileys by mail}

today with the help of this lady i cleaned most of my house. i left the windows open and scrubbed the floors. the entire house smelled like one big geranium. i even consolidated the box of padded mailers that has been sitting in a huge box next to my bathroom for months. woohoo! i have also committed to myself that i will break down the ironing board when i'm not using it. sticking to it.

so, i want to know your cleaning house tips. it is a huge pitfall of mine to feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done, so i just put it off. however, i LOVE the feeling of a clean house. i remember my grammy talking about plotters and flashers. i am a flasher. i get in cleaning "moods" and go crazy, but these moods are few and far between. i want to be a plotter, plotting away at my daily tasks.

also, what are your favorite products? thank you in advance for indulging this terrible house keeper.

Products I adore: Mrs. Meyers

You know I love me some good packaging and especially on cleaning products. Pretty products make me actually want to clean, just so I can use them. Sam says I'm every marketing person's dream! You've probably seen Mrs. Meyer's products styled in magazines, in laundry rooms and on kitchen counters. The packaging is clean and fantastic. Most if not all of the line is available at your nearest Whole Foods. Mrs. Meyers is a company started by a girl who was inspired by her mothers cleaning prowess, Mrs. Meyers. The cleaning lines' fragrances are taken straight from their gardens...Basil, Lavender, Lemon Verbena, Geranium, and Baby Blossom and "they clean like the dickens." I love how you can shop by fragrance or cleaning task.


There is also a baby line, I was thrilled to know!





Right now they're offering this wonderful, practical gift set at a great price:



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Green and Clean

My friend Jodi was interested in green cleaning and suggested I do a post on that. As we all know our favorite cleaning products aren't always so great for us or the environment. I found a great list of concoctions you can make out of regular household staples. You can see them all here!

Not only are homemade cleaning supplies better for the earth, but they are cheap! A fun Martha type project would be pre making them, putting them in pretty spray bottles from the Container Store and labeling them...



Martha's suggestions:

These basic products have more than one purpose; use them in place of chemical-based cleansers for a healthy and less-expensive alternative.

Dishwashing Liquids
Mix 2 cups water with 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle. Use solution to clean countertops and other household surfaces. Rinse with plain water.

Baking Soda
Combine 3 parts warm water with 1 part baking soda. With a damp sponge, rub the paste on laminate countertops, then rinse. It will also polish chrome and stainless steel.

Borax
To remove marks on stained toilet bowls, add 1/2 cup borax to the water, swish it around, and let soak overnight.

Washing Soda
For extremely soiled surfaces, such as oil-stained garage floors, mop area with a solution of 1/2 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate) mixed in a bucket of warm water.

Soda Water
Pour a small amount of soda water onto a fresh carpet spill, and blot with a towel. Don't rub, as you may mat the fibers. If the stain is set, try hydrogen peroxide: Pour some onto a clean, white cloth, then press cloth to carpet. Wait about 15 minutes, blot with a clean cloth. There should be no need to rinse.

Water
Boost the cleaning power of ordinary water by presoaking a soiled spot, flushing away dirt or grime with a stronger spray, gently scrubbing, or using warmer water. For protein stains, such as egg or blood, cold water still works best.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is safe to treat stains on delicate colorfast fabrics. Place stained area in a bowl, and pour on peroxide. Let soak at least 1 hour, then launder as usual.

Distilled White Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Place paper towels or sponges soaked in full-strength vinegar or lemon juice over crusty buildup around faucets. Leave for about an hour, then scrub deposits away.

Tea-Tree Oil
Mix a few drops of the oil in a spray bottle filled with 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid to create an effective general-purpose cleaner. (Handle cautiously, and consult a doctor before using if you are pregnant.)



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Cleaning is fun

Lately I have been driving Sam crazy with my obsession with cleanliness. The problem is that I want everything to be spotless, but my friggin feet are keeping me from being mobile for long. Being on my feet all day at work is about all I can handle. I get home and I become one with the couch. However, that does not keep my eyes from noticing every spec of dust and dirt and out of place item. I think they call this nesting?

I decided to consult my dear friends at Real Simple for tips on cleaning fast...

I wanted a get everything done once a week and your house will stay clean solution, but unfortunately it appears that cleaning a little every day is the key...who knew?

How to clean your house in 19 min a day:

Kitchen, 4 1/2 minutes daily
Always start with the sink. "Keep it empty and shining," says Marla Cilley, author of Sink Reflections (Bantam, $15) and creator of www.FlyLady.net, a housekeeping website. A sparkling sink becomes your kitchen's benchmark for hygiene and tidiness, inspiring you to load the dishwasher immediately and keep counters, refrigerator doors, and the stove top spick-and-span, too.
Wipe down the sink after doing the dishes or loading the dishwasher (30 seconds).
Wipe down the stove top (one minute).
Wipe down the counters (one minute).
Sweep, Swiffer, or vacuum the floor (two minutes).


Anthropologie


Bathroom, 2 minutes daily
Make cleaning the basin as routine as washing your hands. But don't stop there. Get the most out of your premoistened wipe by using it to clean around the edges of the tub and then the toilet before tossing it.
Wipe out the sink (30 seconds). Wipe the toilet seat and rim (15 seconds).
Swoosh the toilet bowl with a brush (15 seconds).
Wipe the mirror and faucet (15 seconds).
Squeegee the shower door (30 seconds).
Spray the entire shower and the curtain liner with shower mist after every use (15 seconds).



Pomegranita

Bedroom, 6 1/2 minutes daily
Make your bed right before or after your morning shower. A neat bed with inspire you to deal with other messes immediately. Although smoothing sheets and plumping pillows might not seen like a high priority as you're rushing to work, the payoff comes at the end of the day, when you slip back under the unruffled covers.
Make the bed (two minutes).
Fold or hang clothing and put away jewelry (four minutes).
Straighten out the night-table surface (30 seconds).



Dwell Studio

Family Room, Living Room, Foyer, 6 minutes daily
Start with the sofa — as long as it's in disarray, your living room will never look tidy. Once you've fluffed the pillows and folded the throws, you're halfway home. If you pop in a CD while you dust, you should be able cover the whole room by the end of the third track.
Pick up crumbs and dust bunnies with a handheld vacuum (one minute).
Fluff the cushions and fold throws after use (two minutes).
Wipe tabletops and spot-clean cabinets when you see fingerprints (one minute).
Straighten coffee-table books and magazines. Throw out newspapers. Put away CDs and videos. (Two minutes.)


Apartment Therapy

Alright Sam, repeat after me: "I can do this!"
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