Show Us Your Life - Cleaning Tips from a Grad Student in the Trenches

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Kelly, from Kelly's Korner blog, talked a couple days ago about her cleaning tips and ideas.  They were fabulous.  I totally wish I could say I loaded my dishwasher every day!  I wished I made my bed every day!  Ha!  But being the grad student "in the trenches" as I am (and as my hubby is), we are lucky to have our dirty clothes in the hamper!  Haha.  =)

I seriously do not have the time to devote to keeping my house as clean as I'd like.  Here's how cleaning goes in the McLamb household... (now after July 30th, I'm hoping this will get better - hehe)...

  • Wash clothes every day only when we run out of undies!
  • Fold clothes every day only when we can find no where else to put clothes coming out of the dryer!
  • Keep the sink free full of dishes :) ...Not really full but we often run out of spoons :)
  • Sweep each week when doggie hair starts sticking to my feet
Ok, so don't, like, freak out on me... our house actually stays pretty clean, if you can believe that!!  I am actually kind of a neat freak, but I've had to let that side of me go since I started going to grad school full time (and working part-time!).  So, without further delay, here are the tips and/or products I (used to) can't (couldn't) live without!  =)

The Swiffer.  Awesome for doggie hair & dust!  

Lysol Disinfecting Wipes.  Great for quickly wiping down counters, sinks, toilets.


Goo Gone.
I swear by this stuff!!  It gets off anything really, like leftover sticker adhesives on mirrors or other products (can you say bye-bye Target clearance sticker?!?) & is considered safe for just about ANYTHING.  Love it.

Regular old vinegar.
It cleans just about anything.  I use it to get pesky stains out of pots & pans (like tea)!


Barkeeper's Friend.
It's like Comet, but safer for non-stick pans and glass cooktops.  I use it to keep my cooktop clean.


Arm & Hammer Essentials line.  I love their Glass Cleaner (for my glass dining table) and their Degreaser (gets my microwave & other annoying stuff clean).  It's all natural and good for the environment - you use the same bottle, and only buy the tiny concentrates & add water.  Easy... long-lasting... & they smell GREAT!



**I would LOVE some suggestions for a good toilet bowl cleaner - I've gone through all kinds (including those with the little applicators)**

Other (decent) cleaning tips I've picked up along the way:
  • To get out ink - don't wet it!!!  Instead, spray it with an aerosol hairspray and rub with a dry cloth.
  • To get out blood stains (what??  I'm a nurse!!) - don't wet it!!!  Instead, dab it or soak it in Hydrogen Peroxide and rub/dab/rub/dab.  Reapply until stain is gone.
  • Baking Soda and Vinegar will clean anything in a pinch.

Ok, so now that I'm totally off the adoption subject... haha!  Don't worry, I will update you guys on the adoption VERY soon.  We had our home study done yesterday - can't wait to share with you what went down.

Until then!
Love in Christ,



Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 29, 2010 at 8:43 AM

    Tara,

    I hear you on the cleaning. Especially since my in-laws lived with us for the past 4 months (ah!). Can you say a total brat about cleaning up!!

    Anyway, SO excited to hear about the homestudy...fill us in (so I can be prepared...whenever we get the ball rolling!)

    Christie

    ReplyDelete

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