Tuesday's Tip

I have not been hiding under a rock, though our new yard would certainly encourage me to do so! I hope to get back into blogging regularly, but life has taken us by the proverbial horns and proves to never be boring! As we are settling into a new home with more square footage, I am finding it more difficult to keep it clean. Therefore, I have implemented a new strategy. Normally I do not buy convenience foods or items because I know you pay more for the convenience of individually packaged bags of chips or crackers. However, in this case, I am going to encourage convenience.

How often do you learn of a last minute gathering at your home whether it be for playgroup or an impromptu Superbowl gathering like the one we hosted? It seems to happen to me enough that I have implemented a new system for keeping the house clean. I still regularly mop, vacuum, and disinfect and clean the bathrooms. I have always kept cleaning supplies under each bathroom sink. However, now I have added convenience Windex, pledge, and Lysol or Clorox wipes to my collection under the sink. When a friend announces her impending arrival, I quickly disinfect the toilet, sink, and all handles and faucets and then wipe off the mirror too. It gives us a quick clean when we are short on time! Certainly the Lysol or Clorox wipes also work well for cleaning up after a bevy of company. You can pop in each bathroom and make sure they are clean and disinfected without pulling out an arsenal of cleaning products!

Yes, you will pay more for the convenience, but since we do not have a housekeeper, I feel this splurge is justifiable! Happy Tuesday's tip!

Tuesday's Tip...Cleaning

I love to clean. I grew up with a father who is very clean. When we had to wash the kitchen floor, we used a cloth and ammonia water and washed it on our knees... a mop would not make it clean enough. While I often hated my chores, I am thankful for them now. I love to have clean bathrooms more than anything. If we have had an influx of guests, then I clean the guest bathroom. I clean all of our bathrooms at least twice a week. If I walk in a bathroom that needs cleaning, I stop what I am doing and clean it.
Your Tuesday's tip is this: keep cleaning supplies in each bathroom. If you have to go to a central location to grab your supplies, then you are not going to stop what you are doing and clean. I stock each bathroom with a pink sponge (pink to clean the SINK) and a second sponge of any color for the toilet and tub/shower. Softscrub, Lysol Cleaner, and toilet cleaner are also in each bathroom, along with a toilet brush. You can buy toilet brushes at the $1 store and it is a good idea to replace them at least once a year. In our guest bath, we do not have a sink with a cabinet, so our supplies are stored in the bottom of the coat closet which happens to be in the guest bath! I also put several rolls of toilet paper in each bathroom and a book of matches on a shelf in the guest bath. Our guest bath also has a nice candle and some fragrant room spray. Clean those potties, girls!