| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Libbie |
Posted - Feb 12 2006 : 12:03:39 PM
It's coming up on that time of year around here - when I work like crazy to get the house in tip-top shape so I can spend the busy spring-autumn seasons outside. How do all of you ladies go about organizing the springtime cleaning ritual? I try to really get things into shape so I can spend the rest of the year (until the holiday season) just doing basic "maintenance" cleaning - nothing crazy like washing curtains. This year, I'm using cleaning products that I make, as well, as I must admit, a little bleach here and there, especially since we've been battling the stomach ick around here for a few days. I'm just starting, and could use a little motivation this year... Any ideas?
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Nance in France |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 05:08:23 AM
Jennifer, there is also a French version of that show! It is too funny, seeing these coiffed and manicured French cleaning divas in chic suits visit the disaster area for the first time! The changes they make are unbelievable. And the neat tricks and make-do products they use are great! Nance |
| Libbie |
Posted - May 14 2007 : 08:01:11 AM
It's about time for me to have a big "housecleaning-product-making-party" to replace what I made a while back. I'm so excited to try some new recipes from the "Herbal Housekeeping" book you mention, Missy - as well as use my standards from "Clean House, Clean Planet."
YAY! I really do love using housecleaning things that I can feel good about - and that my little ones can be around safely.
As far as the spring cleaning goes, all ground to a halt during our water turn at the farm, and now I'm back in the fray, so to speak, and working on the kitchen...
XOXO, Libbie
In honor of Mother's Day, "If it's not one thing, it's your mother... |
| Jana |
Posted - May 13 2007 : 5:50:37 PM
Laura,
The club soda doesn't have to be fizzy. Its actually the citric acid in the club soda, not the CO2 that cuts the crud when you are cleaning with it!
Jana |
| lamarguerite farm |
Posted - May 02 2007 : 08:58:09 AM
Herbal Homekeeping by Sandy Maine is an excellant book!! I made a cleanser out of the book that uses grated castile soap, borax,baking soda and essential oils. I absolutely love it. I use orange, peppermint and tea trea essential oils. I also dilute it down and use it in a spray bottle on my countertops.
Happy Cleaning
Missy
If you have a dream, even if you don't feel qualified to accomplish it, just try your hardest.-Maggie Jensen
http://18happyhens.blogspot.com
www.LaMargueriteFarm.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 2:06:53 PM
Jennifer-
Oh My Gosh! I love those shows! There is a USA version as well. It's scary to see what some people will live in! I saw one where this lady had no hygiene with her cat's litter box and such. It was horrible! I figure if they can get those houses clean, then mine isn't so bad after all. What always blows my mind is when the cleaners have to where special suits or breathing apparatus because of all the health hazards- and there was someone living there unprotected! Yikes!
Alee
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| JenniferJuniper |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 1:50:52 PM
PS, I have become strangely enamored of a show on BBA America called "How Clean Is Your House?" Are there any Farmgirl fans out there? These two housekeeping saints go into the most miserably fithy homes in Britain and clean to a spit-shine. The "befores" are absolute horrors - the mess some people live in is astounding - but the "afters" are so inspiring........ |
| JenniferJuniper |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 1:46:17 PM
Libbie, I'm with you on having to use but hating the CLR. I had to break down & buy a bottle because the showerheads were so clogged, and felt horrible about it.
I have been tackling two rooms each weekend. I started by cleaning the celing fans, then the window treatments, then the windows, and worked my way around the room. I have finished the spring cleaning as of today when I put a freshly ironed bedsirt on the box spring, flipped the mattress, and pulled out the summerweight blankets. I had hoped to have finished my yo-yo coverlet by now, but it should be done in a couple of weeks, Memorial day at the latest.
I have become enamored of Mrs. Meyers nontoxic cleaning products - the honeysuckle set I treated myself to for spring cleaning is divine! Other than that, it's vinegar, baking soda, and lemons. |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 1:32:12 PM
We kindof got stalled. Nora has been changing her sleeping patterns daily- or should I say she doesn't have a pattern? We did get the laundry done yesterday- Does that count?
Aleeq |
| Libbie |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 09:44:09 AM
Hard water buildup is a tough one - we have it in abundance around here. I have to say, when we moved in, I had to just about bathe all of the fixtures in CLR (nasty stuff that it is), and now I can use straight white vinegar to keep things under control. I hate to have used such toxic stuff in the house, but I figured that I'd nuke it once and then not use the toxins - it seemed better to me than using a little bit of toxic stuff EVERY week forever...
So, my upstairs has been "spring cleaned" except for washing the curtains - that's next on the list - and now it's onward and downward!
How are you all doing?
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 14 2007 : 2:49:04 PM
Susan-
I used to clean houses professionally as well. I had several clients who liked me to use organic and safe cleaners that I made myself. Vinegar is definitely a staple!
That cranberry colored fabric sounds wonderful especially since you said you have 6 windows in your kitchen.
I was hoping to get some cleaning done today but Nora doesn’t seem to want to settle in for her afternoon nap. Good luck with you cleaning!
Alee
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| mommom |
Posted - Apr 14 2007 : 10:11:31 AM
The only room left to do is the kitchen. It's a big room with six windows in it. I bought cranberry homespun material to make curtains with but haven't gotten that far yet. All the other rooms, windows, etc. are done. I'm hoping to get to it this week. I don't remember which one of you said you like vinegar a lot but so do I. I buy it in the gallon jugs. Vinegar is real good in the washing machine. I clean six houses and I have convinced all but one that all I need is vinegar, baking soda, and a little Murphy's oil to clean. I'm still working on the sixth person. Happy Cleaning! There's a Nor'Easter on the way for tomorrow. Yippee!!!! Susan (I;m kidding about the yippee part.) |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 14 2007 : 10:01:49 AM
Wow- It sounds like your house has had a major face-lift! I hope I have that kind of energy today. I really need to get some vacuuming and carpet shampooing done! Want to come to my house and help?
Alee
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| sewgirlie |
Posted - Apr 14 2007 : 07:34:38 AM
we are finally done with replacing floors, painting rooms, trim etc. So now I am going room by room and cleaning (most of the mess was cleaned up as we worked and painted, so it is not too bad now) and putting in the area rugs, furniture and curtains, etc. It will be all done with any luck this weekend. We are in for a major noreaster tomorrow, so if the main house is back together, I will do the attic tomorrow! Then, it will be all new and just need daily picking up!
YAY |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 13 2007 : 2:54:29 PM
Hi Ladies-
I get motivated to do a whole spring cleaning by thoroughly cleaning one room. Preferably a very SMALL room! Once I see how great that one room looks- I get inspired to clean more. Plus once that fresh smell starts getting around the house from cleaning and vacuuming- it helps keep me going. Now my only slow down is if Nora needs attention. Luckily she sleeps for nice long naps!
Kate- for mild hard water residue buildup- try straight vinegar. Acid breaks up the alkaline build up (which is what hard water mineral deposits are). Try soaking all removable faucet screens in straight vinegar for a day and you should see a better flow when replaced. For reddish stains in toilet bowls, sinks and bath tubs you might need to get a pumice stone to get rid of the build-up. Once you have the build up removed you should be able to keep it clean with vinegar though. You can also try a paste made of baking soda and washing soda to remove soap scum.
Here is a link to a list of a lot of cleaning recipes. I haven’t tried these, just found them. Some of them look really helpful though.
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/8088/clngrn.html
Off I go to clean my kitchen and hopefully get some windows cleaned!
Alee
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| katiedid |
Posted - Apr 13 2007 : 1:55:04 PM
Libbie, how do you handle hard water?
We have some serious hard water build up on our shower and tub in our new (old) farm house...I don't do well with strong cleaners (my sinuses are sensitive to chemicals) but I am seriously considering buying some Lime Away by the gallon!
Help!
Kate
my new blog http/www.theknifemakerswife.wordpress.com |
| kitchensqueen |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 09:38:18 AM
Oh, I am AWFUL at proper cleaning... not to say that we live in complete filth (certainly not!) but I just can never get motivated to do the proper, seasonal strip down of washing walls, cleaning radiators, moving furniture, dusting in places I didn't know existed... how do you all get motivated to do this? And do you tend to do the whole house at once, or do a little bit every day?
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com
Now Open!: http://shadetreestudios.etsy.com |
| Libbie |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 08:39:27 AM
Okay - really - I'm going to do the living room today. Ummmm....really... If it's not so nice that I can't stand to be inside!
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| levisgrammy |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 3:34:57 PM
Jana, How do you use the soda for the scratch marks? I have a few on the stove I would like to give it a try. Spray bottle?
Laura, We use a woodstove and I am just waiting for it to warm up so we can clean it out and get a handle on the dust it causes.
I am battling the beginnings of a cold and sore throat so I won't be starting to do to much cleaning just yet.
We have some major renovations going on too. For the last year and a half. I decided to just ignore those rooms. ( we are building an addition and only two rooms are pretty well done. The third we are working on, slowly it goes.) |
| mima |
Posted - Apr 05 2007 : 07:24:55 AM
Really procrastinating on washing all the windows. Waiting for a foggy morning. Oh! wait! Its foggy today! Hmmm.... Garden ,windows,garden ,windows! Can you guess what will win? |
| Libbie |
Posted - Apr 04 2007 : 11:55:05 PM
Just bumping this one up so I can tell you that I have thoroughly cleaned (scrubbed with a brush) the back and front porches, including the walls - and gotten rid of all of the stuff that seems to accumulate by the doorways over the winter. Ugh. DONE, however!
Next is the living room - washing curtains, moving furniture to vacuum...
How's your spring cleaning going?
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| _Rebecca_ |
Posted - Mar 27 2007 : 09:33:00 AM
[quote]Originally posted by Libbie
Dawnn - That's so funny that you're doing kids clothes this weekend - that's my next area, too. Those little things breed in the chest of drawers, I think! It's really hard to let go of some stuff, for me, too - [quote]
We are drowning in clothing. My girls could open a boutique (2 girls = 10,000 articles of clothing).
And my 8 month old just received 3 tubs of 2T clothing, I have never had that many baby clothes for one child!!!
I've got to get someone to come and help me!!!!
Then there's just the normal stuff: sheets, pillows, blankets, etc. Why don't we just get some hammocks? I'm caught up on towels.
.·:*¨¨* :·.Rebecca.·:*¨¨* :·. |
| Libbie |
Posted - Mar 27 2007 : 12:49:34 AM
My plan for spring cleaning this year is to start at the top of the house and move to the bottom, saving the "basement" (read: small dirt box of a room where the water heater, furnace and some storage live) for last. I'm aiming to finish it in the month of April. It feels SO good when it's done - that is a super motivating factor for me.
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Mar 19 2007 : 09:25:49 AM
I just plain like to clean, and putter. Been working on the attic first, before it gets to hot up there.
Even this morning, and its only about 30 out, I turned the heat down and opened three windows and went to the thrift store, came home and the house smelled so much fresher.Looking forward to those warm spring winds.
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| shelle |
Posted - Mar 19 2007 : 08:55:12 AM
I always do spring cleaning! I dont think it is an outdated notion at all. Spring is a time of renewal and is a great time to clean out the closets, scrub the carpets and rearrange the furniture among other things. This year we are moving so I had the great opportunity to pare down and throw away a lot more stuff when cleaning.
Shelle
http://janzenfamilyjournal.blogspot.com/ |
| sewgirlie |
Posted - Mar 18 2007 : 10:57:36 AM
We just painted the kitchen yesterday and today I totally cleaned everything in there before I put it back together. I will move into the mudroom this week after dh paints in there. I do one room at a time from top to bottom. This feels good to me. I will never be a person who can keep up daily because I work a lot all year and to be honest, we can be sloppy at times.
I use Borax and a little tiny drop of dish soap plus hot water to clean almost everything. I use vinegar and baking soda a lot too. After years of commercial cleaners, I am down to pretty much nothing now, and my house is actually cleaner looking when I am done! I do clean each Saturday, which believe it or not, I enjoy. I listen to NPR and get to have a nice day at home.
I am making curtains for the kitchen too, and all matching tea towels, so it will look great when done. I always add new things, either from other rooms, or from my sewing machine, to my rooms after spring cleaning. Then it looks like a new house! |
