My Favorite Cleaning Products

Since I indroduced some cleaning/organizing things yesterday I thought the next logical step is to show you some of my favorite things.  Don't get me wrong - I don't love cleaning but I do LOVE cleaning products!  I've been working the past 6 months not to keep buying random things but to figure out what I love and just buy that even though I also forced myself to finish up some things I bought that I didn't like. 

Starting from left to right:

1.  The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner - nothing gets rust stains out better

2. Scrubbing Bubbles - I really like all scrubbing bubbles products but this is the new Extendi-Clean for the bathroom.  It really does seem to help the shower to stay cleaner longer

3. Iron Out - due to our extremely hard water which is  being treated by a water softener, we still get terrible rust stains in the tub (especially with 4 people taking at least one shower/bath a day sometimes two!) Nothing removes rust stains in the tub like Iron out; it really does wipe right out.  My disclaimer - you really need to wear a mask when using it . .. or just don't breath until you are done!

4. The Works - Yes, I have 4 things I use in the bathroom - I use the works more day to day to try and keep the Iron at bay.

5. Fabreeze Dusting Spray - It works great and it smells awesome!!

6. Windex - it is my go to All Purpose Cleaner - I use it daily to "Swish and Swipe" - I spray the toilet daily and wipe it down, and I spray the sink and mirror and wipe those down as well.  I also use it just for spot cleaning - it really works well.  It is also what I use to clean my stainless steel kitchen items

7. Clorox Anywhere - I use this in my kitchen.  I actually love cleaning with Clorox Clean up but because it has bleach in it and stains my clothes, I've switched to the Anywhere product. 

8. Glade Air and Fabric Spray - I love the smell of Glade :-)

Back row:

9.  Paper Towel - Yes, I still use paper towel for cleaning glass.  I've tried Micro Cloths and have yet to find one that I like.

10.  My Bucket - I keep all my cleaning supplies in it plus if I really need a bucket I have a great one

Front Row:

11.  Rubba Scrubba - It's a rubber brush that you can use anywhere - I use it mostly in my bathtub but it's also greate for spot cleaning the carpet or running along the baseboards to get animal hair out where the vacuum doesn't reach (It is  Flylady tool!)

12. Dusting Mitt - I've tired Feather dusters, rags, dusting clothes - but love this mitt.  I love that I can hold things in my hand and dust them. 

Just a few more :-)

 

My last three favorites:
1.  My Shark Steam Mop -  best thing I think I've ever bought for cleaning.   It's easy to use, heats up quickly and it doesn't matter if my kids crawl on the floor right away - it's dry and clean!
2. My Swiffer Sweeper Vac - ummm . .it competes with my Shark Mop LOL  I love how that I don't need a broom - it vacuums up all the little stuff and the cloth gets all the animal hair!.
3. And My toilet brush (who knew you could love it?) - It is a Rubba Swisha (also from flylady)  I like it because it is rubber so it dries quickly; it has a little piece that sticks up to get under the rim.  I clean my toilet daily - squirt a little dish soap or cheap shampoo in there and swish it around.  It makes a huge differance to do it daily!

Do you have favorites?  Maybe you'll inspire me to try something new - I'd love to get down to one thing to use in the bathroom but I haven't found a product that takes care of the rust like I need it to!

31 in 31 - Day 7

Decided to be random today and photograph the first thing that made think "peacefulness".  What a better picture than my sweet cat Misty sleeping in front of an open door with black-eyed susans in the background.  Just another view that I enjoy :-)

Cleaning and Organizing

This is kinda an intro post more than anything.  Several years ago I was introduced to a cleaning/organizing concept by a friend called "Flylady".  Really it isn't a concept but rather a person!  The Flylady gives all kinds of great ideas to help set routines for our homes so that we aren't constantly cleaning or have CHAOS ( Can't have anyone over syndrome) in our homes.  Over the years my plans and routines have evolved, changed, and grown based on my life at that point.  When it was just Darryl and I and we both worked 60 hours a week, I had one set up focused mainly around the weekend.  When we added Josh and I cut back to only 40 hours a week, (ONLY 40? LOL) my plan changed again but still revolved around most cleaning on the weekends since I didn't get home until 6;00 most nights and had limited time to get dinner on and spend time with Josh before he went to sleep.  Than, when I quit to stay home, I reworked my entire routine/cleaning concepts since I had more time.  One of the things that I'm able to do is weekly deep cleaning.  Each room in my home is assigned a week on a rotating basis throughout the year and it gets deep cleaned.  The Flylady divides our homes into 5 zones and assigns missions to the weekly zone - often the things we never get too.  (I found I didn't have time to get through my deep cleaning on weeks that she includes two rooms such as the laundry room and the bathroom so I broke my home down further.   I plan on including some deep cleaning lists and other cleaning helps.  If nothing else, maybe it will help you think of how to make your cleaning load lighter!

31 in 31 - Day 6

Today, the boys and I went on our weekly adventure.  I decided last week that once or twice a week we are going to go on an adventure so we can get out of the house while the weather is nice.  Normally Monday and Wednesday will be at home/outside days, Tuesday will be park days, Thursday will be our adventrue day and Friday's will walking day.  But, we had to go out this morning anyway so we made it our park day today.  We also made a stop at a great farmers market and got some more peaches plus went to Dairy Queen for lunch but this picture captures the moment, I think. 

Two brothers hanging out at the park. 

Signature Photography Studios

This is another Photography Studio that I would recommend in the Belding area.  Barb is my Creative Memories "Upline" but she is also a fantastic photographer - she goes outside the box.  One thing she does is "Quick Clicks" - which are themed photo shoots.  She offers affordable optoins where she snaps the photos and than sends you the CD to edit and print but also offers packages where she edits the best of the best too.  I have seen her work and it is fantastic and we are signed up to get our pictures taken in October.  One of the great things is that you "own" your photos so you can post them, print them, whatever you want because you bought them.  So, feel free to check her out. 

http://www.signaturephotographystudios.com/aboutSignature

(I know, I shouldn't list to photographers but they each do great work - depends on what you are looking for!! PLus there is enough distance between them that they really serve different areas !!)

31 in 31 - Day 5

We went for a walk tonight and this picture says alot:

1.  Josh is getting to enjoy his wagon

2.  Nate's first wagon ride - he was in awe

3.  A beautiful sunny day

4.  The humidty finally broke so we can actually GO for a walk and not die of heat exhaustion

5. Great family time

6.  And, if you look in the bottom right hand corner, even China got to go!

The Dainty Daisy

I've been meaning to add a couple more links for you to check out - this is The Dainty Daisy.  It is an Etsy Shop "owned" by another member of the group Darryl plays in currently.  Betsy crochet's some really adorable pieces.  Check out her etsy shop or her blog to see some of the great things she makes or to place an order!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheDaintyDaisy
http://www.thedaintydaisyblog.blogspot.com/