Here at SoftBums we are doing some spring cleaning. We have found a couple HTF's and we want to give our fans a fair chance at them.
For this weeks HTF Contest the theme is all about Spring Cleaning.
Spring is a time when the weather is (supposed) to be getting warmer, you open up the windows to let in the fresh air. You organize the pantry, clean all the winter coats and store them for the next year. Clean & dust and get the place ready for a new season.
Being the green person you are, we thought you might like these all natural cleaning recipes to help you get started:
All Purpose Cleaner
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Dawn dish soap
All Purpose Cleaner
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Dawn dish soap
4 TBSP white vinegar
400 mL warm water
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.
400 mL warm water
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.
Dusting Spray
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 c white vinegar
1 c warm water
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1/4 c baking soda
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
1/4 c baking soda
1/4 c borax
1 c white vinegar
Place ingredients directly into toilet. Mix gently with bowl brush. Let sit at least 30 minutes before scrubbing.
Granite Cleaner
1/2 c rubbing alcohol
8 drops Dawn dish soap
Granite Cleaner
1/2 c rubbing alcohol
8 drops Dawn dish soap
2 c warm water
Combine in a squirt bottle.
Glass Cleaner
1/4 c rubbing alcohol
1/4 c white vinegar
Combine in a squirt bottle.
Glass Cleaner
1/4 c rubbing alcohol
1/4 c white vinegar
1 TBSP cornstarch
2 c warm water
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.
Tub Cleanser
1/2 cut grapefruit
1/4 c kosher salt
Stir/shake to mix well. Use a squirt bottle for optimal usage.
Tub Cleanser
1/2 cut grapefruit
1/4 c kosher salt
Place salt directly on grapefruit half. Scrub your tub!
OK OK on to the contest...
SPRING CLEANING HTF SOFTBUMS SHELL CONTEST:
How to Enter: Simply tell us your secret spring cleaning tip in a comment below. 1 entry per person, only comments on this blog post count & include your email address.
This contest has ended
Winner has been announced here:
http://loveclothdiapers.blogspot.com/2013/04/pile-o-fluff-htf-giveaway-winner.html
Winner has been announced here:
http://loveclothdiapers.blogspot.com/2013/04/pile-o-fluff-htf-giveaway-winner.html
 |
| Pile of HTF looking for new homes. |
Here is last weeks winners:
Out with the old in with the new.
We asked our superfans what suggestions they had for SoftBums and we've gotten a lot of great feedback. Many of the suggestions we were thinking about doing anyway so it's great to know they'd be appreciated!!
There were so many cool ideas we are going to random.org
to pick the winners...
Out of 138 entries the 2 winners of this weeks HTF Shells are:
{Stephanie Otero- Soft bum Trainers!}
{Meaghan Blood- The bigger pocket opening to reach the toggles should be standard! and more solids!!!}
Stephanie & Meaghan email us at info@softbums.com to claim your HTF SoftBums Shell!!
Stephanie & Meaghan email us at info@softbums.com to claim your HTF SoftBums Shell!!
So cool! Congratulations ladies :)
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to open as many doors and windows as you can! Fresh air is the best after a long stuffy winter.
ReplyDeleteMy Spring cleaning tip is to do it in zones and not try to do the whole house at once. Ideally you can do a deep clean on a zone of your home every month or so through most of the year and avoid the Spring cleaning routine all together. Also, de-clutter!! Less stuff means less work!
ReplyDeleteMy secret spring cleaning trick? Having the husband take our 2 yr old tornado out of the house for a few hours so I can deep clean! That way the house is clean for at least a little bit before he come back home and touches back down! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have a flat top stove... I tried everything to clean the top of it with no luck... Then a friend suggested baking soda and a little water. Nothing cleans the top of it like a little baking soda and water! :)
ReplyDeleteemail is christykaygeis @ yahoo.com
DeleteMake it fun to get the older kids involved. -Kirsten
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to not try to do it all yourself! DHs and all the kiddos can help too!
ReplyDeleteMake a plan! I like to make a to do list full of small, manageable goals because it's so satisfying to cross each thing off (and it motivates me to keep going). :)
ReplyDeleteMy tip is not to wait until spring to do any cleaning lol
ReplyDeleteAlso opening windows will not only air out your house and make is smell great but it'll save energy! We keep our windows open 90% off the time :-)
Write down a schedule and cross items off the list as you get them completed.
ReplyDeleteOur biggest problem is the kids toys, we simply put the ones that are broken and toss it, the rest that they've outgrown we donate to the Alexandra House in Blaine.
ReplyDeletebest mail is emmagotchi at msn period com.
DeleteMy tip this year...hire someone. We just had a baby and I have no time to sleep or eat let alone clean anything :) Sara
ReplyDeleteI get overwhelmed if I try to clean a whole room at once, so I do a little here and a little there. It might take a few days to notice I really did anything :-)
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to focus on one area at a time and not get overwhelmed.
ReplyDeleteI like to open all the windows and get after all that winter dust. Ceiling fan blades, heat register grates, window covers, and furnace filters all get attention.
ReplyDeleteOpen the windows and some good old music with some dancing in between =)
ReplyDeleteI love using essential oils in my homemade cleaning products.
ReplyDeleteWhere are we supposed to leave our email address?
DeleteSome good music always motivates me! Start at the top- ceiling fans & work my way down- baseboards& floors.
ReplyDeleteMix cream of tarter & hot water to make a paste for an excellent rust remover. It helped me pass inspection when clearing military housing! Also, don't procrastinate. Do the most dreaded item on your to do list first. Then the rest is a breeze.
ReplyDeleteQuickshep19 at yahoo dot com
DeleteI use a homemade household cleaner with citrus lemon essential oil which makes the house smell fresh and clean.
ReplyDeleteWhen cleaning your windows, use newspaper! You'll never have streaking again!
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to make it fun by putting on some music and getting the kids involved like it is a game :).
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to open windows as you finish a room. I race myself to see if I can get the whole house nice and cheery with sunlight and fresh air before its to late for it. I need that bit of motivation to keep going. Works like a charm every time :)
ReplyDeletemy spring cleaning tip is to get as organized as if you were going to move!! for many months, i end up making our house as a whole tidy, but i think we all have those "special areas" throughout the house where we are prone to stash things - either as a fast way to tidy up, a spot to stash a confiscated toy that was the root of the latest toy battle, or just to keep important things out of the grasps and sights of little ones (definitely true in my case!).... so when i am spring cleaning, i target those areas that are uncluttered but go otherwise unnoticed - areas like kitchen cabinet where the tupperware pieces are fighting to fall out when the door is opened, the infamous "junk" drawer in our kitchen... the hall closet no one uses (except me)! Haha.. the upper cabinets in our hall <-- read: last remaining spot the kids can't reach yet! under the bathroom sink in our main bathroom! and finally ---> our attached garage. we started with the biggest undertaking - our garage! we finally got rid of things we hadn't even gone through since before we got married, and hadn't touched since! and my husband now has space for his home gym and BONUS *gasp* we could park a car in there at any given time, if the mood struck! lol I say start cleaning out the areas of the home that are unseen but cluttered to the hilt - take them on - and conquer them - you will have a clear mind, a load off your shoulders, more space, and you may even found a couple things along the way that you thought had disappeared forever!! Happy spring cleaning Mama's and Dada's!!
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to air the house out. I despise stagnant air and as soon as it gets warm, all the windows are thrown open. It's also great to open windows for air flow because nature is warming the house, not your heater. Saving money is always a plus.
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning usually consists of going through the closet and donating all the clothes that I am no longer wearing/doesn't fit! also this year I would like to start from the bottom and work to the top of the house and do and DEEP clean!!!
ReplyDeleteI say to make a list of what you want to get done and do a few things a day :) nhasser@q.com
ReplyDeleteI don't have a spring cleaning routine...I just try to clean when I can. We have cats, and the best thing I've found for cat pee odour is vinegar. Then, baking soda all over it, and scrub with a mix of diluted dish soap and hydrogen peroxide (not too much). Gets rid of the smell and the stain. Music helps me stay in the mood...I hate cleaning!
ReplyDeleteVinegar is the miracle cleaner! We use it for so much while cleaning. It was the only thing that took the grout off our tiles - who knew? chippydippy@me.com
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning tip is to kick my husband out of the house... at least until I need some heavy lifting done! haha.
ReplyDeleteWe don't really do spring cleaning here! We try to go through each room every month or so and donate items we no longer need.
ReplyDeletekholappa@yahoo.com
DeleteI have quite a few recipes that I use and there are some great ones listed above. It's amazing how many uses there are for Dawn dish soap! Here's a recipe I know I'll be using this spring: make Homemade Goo Gone by mixing equal parts of coconut oil and baking soda.
ReplyDeletethyme_21 at yahoo dot com
DeleteGive the kids gloves and a tub of Clorox wipes. If they can reach it they can wipe it! Takes a good 1/3 of the work out of it.
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning tip is get the kids involved and make it fun rather than a chore.
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning tip: For storing all those winter clothes you're not going to wear, I get Japanese hand vacuum clothing bags. You put your thick winter clothes into the bags, seal them and then squeeze the air out. It reduces the size of the packages by a lot! And also prevents things like bugs and moths to get in. Just put them in a box or wherever you like to store your winter clothes and they'll stay safe until it gets cold again! Also don't worry if the clothes look squished. They pop right back out once they're exposed to air again.
ReplyDelete-snooping.sophie@gmail.com
a bowl of vinegar will deoderize a room
ReplyDeleteWe like to do one room at a time and box up clutter then have a garage sale
ReplyDeleteMy Spring cleaning tip would be to tackle whatever tasks you feel motivated to do that day. I only clean when I feel like it. Haha! When you feel the motivation, get up and tackle a job! It would help me to make a list of tasks and then each day pick whichever I actually feel like doing! And it feels good to cross things off. Also, for me, it would help to have my husband take the kids to the park or something! And the less you have, the easier it is to keep it all organized so be sure to routinely get rid of things that are never used or worn out!
ReplyDeleteTo stay motivated to actually keep cleaning I open all the blinds and windows so I can feel the nice crisp air and breathe in a little bit of purity! And I listen to great music, and try to get friends to join in on the cleaning! It makes it much more fun and it goes by faster.
ReplyDeleteAnd I use water and white vinegar to do my dirty cleaning. It's non toxic so it's ok for the little one to breathe in and touch too!
tmcderm1 @ gmail.com
Frankly, one of the best cleaning methods I ever came across was while running a preschool: a spray bottle with Dawn dish soap and water. It cleans everything (and the kids can help)! I also agree with many other posters about opening the windows; fresh air is best for clearing out your home from the musty winter. :)
ReplyDeleteteacher.liana85@gmail.com
(And OMG Retro Cars!!!)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGet rid of your extra stuff and donate it! kellymgrosser@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to not do it on your own. My mom comes over to help me with mine, then I return the favor and help with hers. Then we both go help my grandma. Makes it a little more fun, and I have learned a lot of cleaning tips from them.
ReplyDeleteshuttle626(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite spring cleaning is to wash all my cloth diapers and hang them to dry in the fresh air and sun!! I love SPRING!!
ReplyDeletePlan carefully. I love timing chores so i can multitask, doing dishes while laundry goes or letting hot water and vinegar clean the kettle while I do something else. It's amazing how much more I get done when I plan ahead with letting things soak and using that time for other chores
ReplyDeleteRiversdream47 (@)gmail (.) com
My spring cleaning tip is not to wait until spring! Just keep doing a little bit all year round so it doesn't become such a big burden :)
ReplyDeleteOpen the windows and let the air in, that's my tip!
ReplyDeleteOh and I'm at Claibornem at hotmail
DeleteIf you see it needs to be done, do it! Don't put it off, you'll never want to do it!
ReplyDeleteamerynmarie{at}gmail{dot}com
Not really a secret, but my spring cleaning tip is this... If you haven't used it, worn t, touched it, etc in a year, get rid of it. If you haven't used it in that time frame, you probably don't need it. Donate it, sell it or throw it away... And get rid of the clutter!
ReplyDeletemichelle (at) michellelangley . net
My spring cleaning tip is vinegar and water! Cleans like a champ! and doing the windows/mirrors with newspaper!
ReplyDeletepink.orangechrome@yahoo.com
Spring Cleaning: Pick a day you have the time. Start early. Make a list of what needs to be done. Choose the jobs you don't like doing and do those first. (If not you will keep procrastinating and never accomplish them)Gather your supplies. (Most jobs can be done with things you already have in your home: hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, white vinegar and water) Go at your own pace and make it fun.
ReplyDeleteDo a little each day and get rid of anything you haven't used or thought about in the past year.
ReplyDeletemrs.rachel.russo (at) gmail.com
Since I am pregnant this spring and feeling ohhh so sick, my tip is to pay someone else to do the deep cleaning. I hope I can maintain whatever work they do :)
ReplyDeleteJanaming@gmail.com
I make a list and try to stick to it... also use lemon essential oil for cleaning and disinfecting! Smells great and works like a charm!
ReplyDeleteajbraud (at) gmail.com
make a list! thats the biggest tip. Two_angelzmommy@yahoo.com HOPE TO WIN!
ReplyDeleteBest cleaning tip I know...mix equal parts Dawn dish soap (original blue kind) and white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray down your entire shower or tub. Let sit for about 30 minutes and wipe soap scum clean with a magic eraser or sponge!! Keep a little bit of the mixture in the shower in a Scotch Brite dish scrubber (the kind with the handle you can fill) for easy touch ups now and then, and scrub while you're in the shower to keep ahead of the scum buildup. Works so well for us!! zachandcassy@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteToys... about 2 times a year we fill bags with old toys and then donate EVERYTHING in the spring! (birthdays and all of the holidays are around the same time, so it's toy overload here :\
ReplyDeletedkburroughs21(at)gmail(dot)com
I loose steam really fast and get distracted if I just go room by room. I've found it's way faster if I give myself a list of things to do task by task instead of room by room. So I run around the house and pick up all the laundry from everywhere first and get that going, do all the sheets at once, and so on until I dust each room and wash the walls and clean the carpets/ mop the floors.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I get the toddler to help too. Then she doesn't destroy everything in my wake ;)
cassie@fourwindsrc.com
DeleteIf you haven't touched it/ thought about it in the past year then get rid of it as fast as possible before you think about it to long :) jjbwlng@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI had to have the house spotless for Passover. My trick was to make up spray bottles of Biokleen, and vinegar and water and hand them to the woman I hired to clean! I have 3 kids, 2 under 2 and no time to shower, let alone clean my house! I did put on music though to make it more fun! pixiedoodle(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
ReplyDeleteMy Spring cleaning tip is to do things gradually throughout the year instead of all at once in the Spring. One thing we do is have a squeegee in the shower. We use it on the glass door after each shower. Then we never get that film that's impossible to remove. I also try to take advantage of anytime DH takes my son out of the house to do a little extra cleaning.
ReplyDeletejcichy@hotmail.com
My tip is to be ruthless with clutter! I clean out the clutter at the start of every season. It doesn't seem like it's enough to just do it once per year. It feels so good to get unnecessary stuff out of the house! :) aimeesbell(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMake a chart and follow it to make sure you don't forget anything! mlzzplnkle@aol.com
ReplyDeleteWash curtains before opening windows to get rid of dust.
ReplyDeleteI like to take orange peels and let it soak for a couple days in my all purpose cleaner (very similar recipe to the one you posted) to help mask some of the vinegar smell. It still cleans great, but smells even better. Oh so fresh! mle.r.sullivan@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to opening windows!! My plan for this year is to hire someone to help with the deep cleaning and decluttering... It motivates me so much to work along-side someone who isn't emotionally attached to stuff in my house and things go SO much quicker!
ReplyDeleteerianna(dot)flores(at)gmail(dot)com
Spring cleaning for your mattress! Mix baking soda(1 Cup) and lavender essential oils(5-6 drops) and sprinkle on your mattress. Let it sit for about an hour and vacuum off. Your mattress will smell amazing and be disinfected! tatwbl@aol.com
ReplyDeleteopening windows! not exactly cleaning, but with dogs cooped up inside all winter the air gets pretty bad and the natural circulation works wonders blstepanek@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite cleaning trick is finding a great Pandora station to clean to! Keeps it fun when you can dance and clean! And I love when I can finally open my windows!!!
ReplyDeletemeaghanblood(at)gmail(dot)com
My best tip is more product does not mean better. Twice as much cleaner does not actually mean cleaner! A little goes a long way, and non-toxic worked for hundreds of years just fine! looloo01 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeletePurge purge purge what you can. I like to clear out a room and then put back only what I want in that room! Manderzthegr8@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to work on one room/ area at a time and keep a laundry basket with you to put anything that does not belong in that room/ area into
ReplyDeleteschramm.j@gmail.com
My secret is this: have a hubby who is a clean freak and you'll never have a lot to clean.
ReplyDeleteSend the kids to gradnmas for the weekend and knock it all out while they are gone. and unless you are actually going to have that garage sale, donate all the items you've been holding onto to sell! :)
ReplyDeleteJust don't do it! Go outside and enjoy the weather. :)
ReplyDeleteI am about to try a new homemade cleaner. White vinegar and citrus peels, let sit for a week. Supposed to be an all purpose cleaner.
ReplyDeleteMy tip is so super secret that I don't even tell myself: Don't wait until spring...clean as you go all year round! Too bad I haven't told myself my secret tip! rmmaul(at)excite(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI employ my kids in spring cleaning. We do toy rotation/clean out together. We take apart the closets and toy bins, sort through broken or missing pieces, should we sell or keep or donate and so on. The kids REALLY enjoy this because after all is done, Mommy goes into her secret stash of toys from the previous clean out and I bring out a few gems I just couldn't part with the previous time! It is like Christmas in Spring! They love it!!! Plus, I feel great about having cleaned and reorganized their closets (I sneak clothing rotation in there too). My kids are 4.5, 3 and 9 months. Of course I don't have the baby help except be our entertainment!
ReplyDeleteOops! anna(at)getahelmet(dot)com
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe only cleaner I use on my laminate and tile floors is a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water. You can also add rubbing alcohol to make the solution dry faster, but I just open the windows and Mother Nature do the drying for me!
DeleteThat'll teach me to hit the right button. :) akatcooper@gmail.com
DeleteMy tip, crank the tunes and wear your rattiest clothes and then shower,.order take out and a movie for after you're all done so you can relax! Angelalaws09@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to have a garage sale every summer. I go around the house and throw stuff we don't need/use into storage bins and put them in the garage until we have a sale. I get rid of more stuff thinking about the money we'll earn from it. :) tcharlet76 (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteEvery time I buy a new shirt or shoes I donate or throwaway an old one so that I have less piles of items to get rid of in the spring :)
ReplyDeleteEmail: mhodeniusatmsndotcom
Deleteemail is erinjenna@ gmail. com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite spring cleaning tip is opening the windows and throwing on some music for motivation! It really clears my mind and gets me in such a productive mood.
I clean all my walls and replace the blinds and wash the curtains
ReplyDeletemy emailis misty196812@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteAnything I have not used in a year is sold on Facebook buy and sells:) krisandvanessa@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to let in fresh air and clean one area every day til it's all done. Today I dusted, and then let in fresh air for several hours while my toddler and I played outside. At 36 weeks pregnant, one area per day is about all I can do. :) Another tip - clean out your closet and donate what you don't wear anymore. We dropped off a huge pile of stuff at a charity garage sale last weekend and it was sooo freeing to get rid of it.
ReplyDeletebeccaebyATgmailDOTcom
Yes, you could hire someone to do your spring cleaning, but if you are like most moms with multiple children you live on a budget. I suggest you start by making a list and gather your supplies. (stick with as few products as possible that are deemed "safe") Next open the windows and put on some light music. Enlist the aid of your children and distribute the activities based on ability. When its all done relax and order in your family's favorite dishes.
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to use a dab of strait rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth to clean mirrors. it gets rid of all the little fingerprints and leaves it streak free :) n.specker13@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWe have super hard water. A couple of times a year I spray lime dissolver on everything that needs it (sinks, tub, shower, etc), have a cup of coffee while it soaks, and then scrub from one end of the house to the other, finishing in the shower so I can rinse off.
ReplyDeleteJamie J. ~jamiejo_13@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis is always the time I remove the cushions from the couch and clean out all the food!
If you have a jetted tub, toss a dishwasher capsule in and let it rip. Will clean out all the gunk that accumulates in the jet system quickly and easily!
ReplyDeleteemily(at)alumni.duke.edu
have a garage sale :)
ReplyDeleteHydrogen peroxide is great for getting blood and stains out of carpets and clothing. Also a great alternative for bleach when doing laundry.
ReplyDeleteJessica
Sugar38492@gmail.com
My tip is do NOT use bleach to try to kill mold on porous surfaces such as wood, wallboard, or ceiling tiles. The chlorine in the bleach does not soak into the porous surfaces; however, the water in the bleach does. The water from the bleach feeds the mold and can cause the mold to spread and get worse!
ReplyDeleteEric emonmillz8@yahoo.com
Plain white vinegar is my go to weapon for spring cleaning. Its high level of acidity makes it effective at killing most bacteria, mold and germs and its also super cheap and safe for the kiddos to use. Get the entire Fam involved.
ReplyDeleteHappy spring cleaning,
Lisa V.
Lisavvvv@yahoo.com
Hello all,
ReplyDeleteGive all members in the family a box for giveaway and write their names on it. Make it into a contest to see who can fill up their own box first with their unwanted items. Not only do you rid your house of junk, the kids have fun giving away unwanted toys. Win, win! Jess salonrinnova@yahoo.com
How to clean a funky dishwasher:
ReplyDeletePour one gallon of vinegar in the bottom of dishwasher. Let sit one hour. Run full cycle. Vinegar loosens dried on food and gunk and makes it smell better. Repeat as needed.
Thank you, Alyse alysev86@yahoo.com
Hope to see a peacock pattern soon
Awesome, thanks for the great cleaning recipes! When I spring clean I really go through everything and donate things we aren't using!
ReplyDeletesradke1024 at gmail dot com
Turn on loud music and make cleaning a party. - Kimberly Price (trashmuell@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteI make a list of what needs cleaned and then go from smallest jobs to bigger jobs. I work full time during the week so cleaning is done on weekends and during spring break.
ReplyDeleteLots of fresh air! For floors and surfaces I clean with HOT water, apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of tea tree oil or "robber oil" blend. As far as organization, I think springtime is the perfect time to purge all the junk you don't need and have a yard sale! I do find it important to NOT go on a marathon cleaning spree. You get tired and don't have the motivation to clean again for a long time. Bursts of 45 minutes with 20 minute breaks do the trick for me. :)
ReplyDeleteHope I win!
kwagner1220@gmail.com
I make an all purpose cleaner with water, baking soda and tea tree oil. I also vaccum out all closets and under the furniture and get rid of half of everything I own as I can't stand clutter!
ReplyDeleteHscutakes@yahoo.com
Get pregnant in July or August, then use your nesting craziness to do you spring cleaning!
ReplyDeleteMelissa Arndt
melarndt19@yahoo.com
My spring cleaning is to clean when you can! See dust while you're on the phone? Grab a sock and dust away!
ReplyDeleteI start by cleaning and organizing the kids rooms. That way I can clean the rest of the house and have a place to put everything! They seem to slowly deposit their room all aroun the house. With five kids I think the bedrooms come first.
ReplyDeleteMrsfuzzy2424 at gmail dot com
Being able to open the windows and get fresh air and getting rid of clutter! jac_6596@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteMy cleaning tip is to have supplies in each bathroom of the house. It's crazy how many times I've neglected to clean one thing or another because I couldn't just grab the proper supplies quickly (a must with a 4 year old and a 4 month old). Plus I only use non-toxic vinegar based cleaners just in case! And open the windows as soon as it's warm out!
ReplyDeletemandyw526 at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the opportunity!
My bulletproof tub cleaning routine is to use a 50/50 Blue Dawn/Warm White Vinegar combo (mixed well), spray down even the dirtiest of tubs, let is sit for 15 minutes, scrub with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and VOILA! The whitest tub there is!
ReplyDeleteMy tip for spring is to take all soft furnishings that you can't or don't want to machine wash (area rugs, huge duvets, pillows, etc) outside to air and sun!
ReplyDeleteOOPS, hit publish too soon ~ my email is kathleen.aman@yahoo.com :) Exciting giveaway!!
Deletei love using a mixture of vinegar, water, and lavender oil or lavender infused vinegar (with lavender from my own garden)~lavender is a disinfectant and it smells fantabulous!
ReplyDeleterochellegw@gmail.com
DeleteI like to start at the top of the house and work my way down. I pick one room a day and clean, de-clutter, donate, etc. I like being able to see my progress as I move throughout the house.
ReplyDeleteJessicaLEhrhardt@gmail.com
I use vinegar and water as a cleaning solution!
ReplyDeletebecca dot schwartz09 at gmail dot com
Clean top to bottom & vinegar is great for cleaning, sanitizing, & deodorizing.
ReplyDeletewutzername at gmail
I use a lemon to clean out the microwave. i also use lemon juice as a cleaner all around the house.
ReplyDeleteskhayes15 at yahoo dot com
I like to start with small projects that make a big impact. I start out with one closet at a time and sort everything, and get throw away or donate what we don't use, or need, then find everything a home in a place that makes sense for it. Then I move on to the detail cleaning. I like to use baking soda and water to make a paste to clean the grime that has built up on things that have been used in a while, especially in our kitchen.
ReplyDeletelizzwisniewski(at)hotmail(dot)com
Have a checklist and make several trips to Goodwill!
ReplyDeletebananamick(at)hotmail(dot)com
I use vinegar and water for almost all my cleaning! Also am trying to make a box for donations as I clean. =)
ReplyDeletelindsayf at gmail dot com
I've been doing some spring cleaning this week as well! I try to tackle one room a day and get everything done in that room, from windows (inside and out) to baseboards. The next day I tidy all the rooms I've done previously to keep them clean and then move on to my next room.
ReplyDeleteIt helps if you can get the baby to take a long nap!
mamabearblogs @yahoo .com
Start with the biggest project first, I would always get discouraged if I left the hardest room to the last. Also have all your supplies in a bucket/basket (rags, cleaners, trash bags, etc) and carry around from room to room.
ReplyDeletebecaturtle@aol.com
Every day, deep clean a designated "area" of the house, from top to bottom! The next day, move on to a different area. Keep 3 boxes for tossing stuff with you-one for trash, one for things to donate/garage sale, and one box for stuff that needs to be put away in a different room.
ReplyDeletechristinaree@hotmail.com
Once the weather gets warm enough I like to open the windows and doors and let in some fresh air!
ReplyDeletejennyhull20 at gmail dot com
My secret tip is start with one room at a time! It makes things less stressful and you feel accomplished once each room is done!! Plus it's almost a must to open the windows and let that beautiful fresh air in!!
ReplyDeleteJackoball807@gmail.com
My secret spring cleaning tip is: If it fits in the dishwasher it should get washed! Nothing cleans/sanitizes like the dishwasher, and if it won't melt or get ruined, put it in! Kids toys, decorative stuff, anything you want to sanitize without tons of chemicals.
ReplyDeleteUse chore charts to get the kids involved in small tasks and teach responsibility. After a couple of weeks of enjoying their bright colored chore chart, my kid asked to help with clean up as part of their routine. We also make cleaning a game. We try to put all toys of a certain type where they belong in 30 seconds to “win” and then move on to the next one. The race against time makes it fun. By cleaning with my kid and making it a positive (and often silly) experience, I’ve found that it encourages good habits, saves time due to teamwork, and eventually inspires them to tackle the task on their own.
ReplyDelete- Lindseyvestal@gmail.com
Get the heavy duity cleaning done during the day. leave things like laundry and floor moping for the night when the kids aren't running around. :-) email is jhack1125@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteConcentrate on one room at a time, top to bottom. Air it out, wipe and dust everything, wash everything you can and get rid of stuff you don't need.
ReplyDeletemoniqueeckert@hotmail.com
I do my best cleaning when I wasn't planning on doing any cleaning at all. I start with something little, then one thing leads to another and before I know it's midnight, but at least the house is clean and laundry is done :) anettdc at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning tip is to make it fun!! Getting your SO and your kids involved means that less of the burden falls onto your shoulders and it makes it far less overwhelming/stressful. Give your kids their own special tasks, that way they feel included and helpful. Besides, after the work is all done, everyone can take showers and you can go out for a treat! :)
ReplyDeleteonbeingamom@yahoo.com
To not feel overwhelmed, I pretend we have guests coming to the house and do a quick clean first. Then I go back and deep clean.
ReplyDeleteAmanda D
Amandibella@yahoo.com
Tackle one area at a time. Ours this year is going to be the craft room - aka the "Forbidden Room" - and having storage space is key!!!
ReplyDeleteBritni Bradford
britni.manry at gmail.com
I try to do just a bit at a time so it doesn't build up.
ReplyDeletelilydom76 at msn dot com
My tip is to do one room at a time and take a tiny break in between. I like to put some music on, open the windows and make it fun. I like to dance around a little when I clean. (:
ReplyDeleteintactivistt@yahoo.com
I love heating up a little vinegar and mixing it with equal portion of blue dawn in a spray bottle. I then use it to clean the shower. Nothing has worked better on my hard water!
ReplyDeleteMagic Erasers work wonders. I don't like using harsh chemicals and often the natural cleaning methods don't seem to quite hack it, but with a little elbow grease Magic Erasers work wonders!
ReplyDeleteeabrenke@gmail.com
With 3 little kids I do spring cleaning a little at a time. I make a list and try to do 1 small job each day and then check it off. And get your kiddos to help out. My boys love to wipe things with cloths and every piece of dust or dirt they clean is one less for me:)
ReplyDeleterichardrachel@hotmail.com
A tip for a naturally fresh smelling home, is to, use 1 cup of water in a small sauce pan, and add 1 tbsp of vanilla. Simmer on low for about an hour. Your house will smell amazing, minus any harmfull chemicals. When selling your home, about an hour prior to the open house, bake up 2 loaves of banana bread, or have your bread maker timed to finish while the open house is taking place. The first thing I do when viewing a home, is to sniff as soon as I walk in. lol
ReplyDeletedixieboxer@hotmail.com
I like to clean with vinegar, but my husband can't stand the smell. So my tip is to soak orange peels in vinegar for a few days. This will get rid of the vinegar smell and leave your house smelling orangey fresh!
ReplyDeleteI VI use vinegar water to clean my windows, and then wipe to a streak free shine with a Norwex window cloth. Works great.
ReplyDeletetake it one room at a time and go through everything! I used to try to do too much and once, get overwhelmed and burned out. Take it slow and hit it all!
ReplyDeleteamanda selenke
selenke at yahoo dot com
My biggest tip is to go one room at a time! If I can, I empty certain areas and only put back what I use regularly...everything else gets sold or donated! mleerx (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteGo thru my stuff every year and what I haven't worn/used in the past year goes to goodwill! :)
ReplyDelete-Laura Fulks lfulks516 at gmail dot com
my spring cleaning tip is to work on the closet first. More or less there's a lot of stuff there that you don't need anymore and also stuff that you bought that you didn't even remember that you did and haven't used yet. I arrange our clothes by color so I already have to think what color I want to wear for the day so I only have limited choices and don't waste time looking thru every clothes I have.
ReplyDeleteAinee Ramos (aineeramos@yahoo.com)
White Vinegar is a great cleaner cuts odors and no harmfull chemicals.
ReplyDeleteJessica V
dene27018@yahoo.com
Do one room at a time so you don't over whelm yourself!
ReplyDeleteMacendaxislove@Yahoo.com
Borax, washing soda, castile soap an vinegar to clean my grill
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTake your time so you don't burn out!
ReplyDeleteAriamerino at gmail dot com
I set aside at least one Saturday, turn up the music really loud, and have my husband pitch in. Then we take short breaks for good food. We try not to get bogged down in time-consuming projects (like going through old boxes of paper - sheesh), so we put those aside and focus on the big, conquerable things! couponsforlaura at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite spring cleaning tip is to finish the job you started before starting a new one. I have a terrible habit of starting on one room, then taking stuff out of it and starting on the room I took it to. Then, I end up with a bunch of things started and none finished. ladyvdzine@ gmail. com
ReplyDeleteI do one room at a time. (winhammyk@aol.com)
ReplyDeleteI do one room at a time until it's done.
ReplyDeletekrystalglick (at) gmail (dot) com
DeleteThe garbage bag is your friend! I try to fill up one garbage bag per room of stuff I don't use anymore. I donate it, sell it, or throw it out depending on what I put in there. Melissa.marino@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to have grandparents or DH or a babysitter take the kids for a day to get them out while you clean. Having time & the ability to focus on cleaning is priceless. (ECHorst@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteAn empty laundry basket to walk around collecting toys or random stuff that needs to be put away. Carry it with you to each room and take the items that belong in that room out of the basket, and put the items that don't belong in that room into the basket :) This really works well for toys especially.
ReplyDeleteOne of my biggest tips is to have the LO out of the house when you're trying to clean or she will "help" you and make it a mess again. I take a laundry basket for each person with me and throw their stuff into the basket. Then DH takes care of his stuff, I take care of mine and LO's stuff. Much easier to put your own stuff away than it is someone else's.
ReplyDeleteSpring Cleaning Tip:
ReplyDeleteTo organize a closet (or any space for that matter) - pull everything out and place it all in one area. Sort through it item by item, into "keep", "give away", & "toss" piles. Then place items from the "keep" pile in the closet in an orderly fashion (keeping similar items together, etc). One of the best ways to spruce up a closet is with matching hangers! (nice ones... not the wire ones)
My two biggest helpers when it comes to cleaning are the magic eraser and my hubby! With 3 kids and another on the way, any help is great! I just found a recipe using dawn and hot vinegar. Worked awesome!
ReplyDeleteSara
Issharper@yahoo.com
My spring cleaning tip.. Hmm, well I think really I need to learn some tips. I would say that vinegar and a little water truly do clean mirrors WAY better then Windex! ;)
ReplyDeleteOur all year cleaning tip is that we have at least one big garbage of stuff that goes out every two days. So with two kids you are only little bits at a time and your house will be decluttered all year round.
ReplyDeleteMy tip is to get the kids involved. My son loves to spray things down with a bottle of vinegar and water and then wipe it off.
ReplyDeleteLots of fresh air circulation! Lemon oil and vinegar! Oh and music of course! I'm currently loving the 1970's calypso station on Pandora!
ReplyDeleteFor microwave cleaning, I wet a cloth and ring out the excess. Stick it in the microwave and nuke for about 30 seconds. Then let sit for a minute after. The steam released from the wet cloth will loosen anything stuck to the walls and you can simply wipe right out. No scrubbing required.
ReplyDeleteIf I do it all at once, it won't get done, with two kiddos eight months and two years old. So, I clean ten minutes here, nurse, ten minutes there, diaper change, ten minutes there, push play on Elmo, ten minutes there, nurse (again).... Lol!
ReplyDeleterachel.bushman@hotmail.com
My tip is to marry a teacher! Then they can help all week long while on Spring Break!
ReplyDeleteOSBORNA@UMICH.EDU
DeleteIdk of its really a tip but I put all the kids toys in groups and then stuff them into 2.5 galon Ziploc bags... Easier to take one bag out at a time, you can see through them, easy to organize! Lol
ReplyDeleteOh sorry jbauer1988@hotmail.com
DeleteMy spring cleaning tip is to start in one room and treat it like you're moving... i.e. Act like you're gonna be packing and anything that you don't want to take to the "new home" throw out (donate, sell, whatever, just get rid of it!). Most people accumulate way too much "junk" and just keep saving it but never use it. It's a great way to go throug things and if you do ever move, hopefully you won't be throwing out things that should have been gone a decade ago!
ReplyDeleteEmail: mag3_21@hotmail.com
Haha. Who can get anything done with two kids under foot? So, my best tip: a babysitter. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I tackle spring cleaning together with music on. My mom started selling Norwex and I have really enjoyed their products especially the descaler..works great to get our shower sparkling! krista_cummings@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteSpray pillowcase with vinegar water mixture and clean fan blades in the pillowcase.
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning tip is to get organized! You can't deep clean anything until the area is free of clutter, and having a system in place makes daily pickup and weekly cleaning so much faster. We purchased shelving units from Lowes for the garage and got hand me down furniture and shelving to organize toys and household items. Pinterest has so many good ideas for organization and cleaning, and since I started pinning more our house looks better than it ever has, so I suppose pinning falls under the "get organized" category as well!
ReplyDeleteI make a lot of smoothies and to do that I pre-cut/prepare fresh fruit and freeze it. One of the fruits I use is citrus. So I often have piles of citrus peels from my prep left over. I hate throwing these away so I take big air tight containers and fill them about half to 3/4 of the way with peels and then fill the rest to the top with white vinegar. I let this sit for about 2 weeks. It makes a great all purpose citrus cleaner. I poor out what I need to spray bottles and leave the rest in the air tight container with the peel. You can top off the vinegar about 2 more times as long as you leave it at least 1 week to soak up the citrusy goodness before using it agian.
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning tip would be to purge what accumulated over the winter and have a garage sale!
ReplyDeleteEmail: briana.v.sutherland@gmail.com
My big tip is to lay on the couch and try not to throw up... wait, that's just what I'm doing instead of cleaning. Ummm, kids really like to clean baseboards for some reason so I always give them a wet washcloth and tell them to go at it. It's also a good idea to give them lysol wipes and have them clean the whole bathroom. They don't get everything but it's easier for me to go in and get what they missed at the end.
ReplyDeleteheather_n_s(at)mail.com
When I do spring cleaning I take one room at a time. It's easier than doing everything in one fel swoop, and if I run out of energy at least one room looks half decent or half of a disaster instead of several rooms!
ReplyDeleteI also use 1c. blue dawn (or any dish soap) and 1c. vinegar, warmed in microwave for a minute and then put in a spray bottle. It is MAGIC on soap residue shower walls! You have to let it sit for a bit, but it does an amazing job!
My biggest tip is to clean in zones, don't try to get the whole house clean all at once. Also open the windows and get some fresh air, it really does wonders :)
ReplyDeletegenieporter618@gmail.com
Try and get a sitter for the kids so you don't get distracted, turn the music up load and go to town! jbang 0331 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteI like to involve the toddler, she loves to help. (amy . bolyard at gmail . com)
ReplyDeleteMy spring cleaning tip: I used to take a lemon, cut it in half, sprinkle water on the exposed part then dip it in sugar and clean all surfaces ( counters, sink, toilet, tubs etc.) in my house. The sugar acts as he scrubber along with the lemon juice as well as a degreaser. Then i just wipe over with a wet towel to remove and excess sugar. The entire house smells amazing and just looks so clean. Then i realized why am i only doing this for spring, so my spring clean turned into what i always use for weekly cleaning but now i cutthe emon in quarters.
ReplyDeleteI use baking soda to get the stove top clean and to get out stubborn stains on counters, bathtub, etc. Lauren.Vagen@gmail.com
ReplyDelete