You won’t even start guessing what Epsom salt can do to soothe your body, mind, and soul. It is one of those things that you should totally get as you do your shopping. You are going to know why in a moment. However, don’t confuse Epsom salt with the regular salt used at home, which is beneficial as well. Regular traditional salt is sodium-based while Epsom is magnesium-based. It is named after a bitter saline spring at Epsom in England. In actual sense, it is not salt but an occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. It has so many benefits that range from beauty to household and it can even get plenty done in the garden too.
It even gets better; studies have shown that magnesium can be readily directly be absorbed in the body through the skin. Just by that fact, the wonders that this salt can do to your life are countless. Your body will appreciate more magnesium and sulfate. For instance, magnesium helps in muscle and nerve function, prevents artery hardening. While sulfites help in improving the absorption of nutrients and help ease migraine headaches. Mark you; those are just the tip of the iceberg. Although it must be mentioned that Epsom salt is a potent laxative. Therefore, you should not take it internally without a doctor’s recommendation. Rather, it is best absorbed through the skin; better be safe than sorry. Here are some ways Epsom salt can totally transform your life.
1. Health Benefits
There are so many health benefits of using Epsom salt. Using it as part of your daily routine can add a lot of good to your life in a very effortless way. Here are some health benefits of using Epsom salt.
Relaxes the Body
Whenever you are stressed out, instead of draining the bottle and turning out more helpless and distressed, get yourself a cup of Epsom salt. All you have to do is take relaxing Epsom salt baths. The high magnesium content will make it an amazing relaxing soak. Simply add one cup of Epsom salt to your usual warm bath and soak for about 15 minutes (clearly, you can’t do it when you are late for work). For an added advantage of moisturizing your skin, you can add baby oil to the water. Did you know that stress drains the body of magnesium? When you soak, the skin absorbs the lost magnesium, hence helps to produce serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical in the brain. This creates a feeling of calm and relaxation. Bathing in Epsom water will literally make you feel better, look better and increase your energy level. Your Mondays just got better, thank me later
Treats Constipation
Yes, Epsom salt can be used to treat constipation. When taken internally, by the doctor’s instructions, Epsom can act as a detoxifying agent for colon cleansing. It acts as a laxative by increasing the level of water in the intestine, therefore, bringing temporary relief from constipation.
Improves Muscle and Nerve Function
The two components in the salt can help regulate electrolytes in the body, which ensures a proper function of nerves, muscles, and enzymes. Magnesium is a very important mineral in the body that serves as the main conductor of electric impulses in your body. By absorbing Magnesium reduces your chances of muscle and nerve failure.
Feet Treatment
You can a simple effective pedicure in the comfort of your home. Simply add Epsom salt to warm water and soak your feet. It will help relieve the symptoms of athlete’s foot and toenail fungus. The warm water and salt are able to also soothe the pain expressed if you get a sprain or bruise.
2. Beauty Benefits
Exfoliate Face and Body
Using Epsom salt is a simple way to exfoliate dead skin effortlessly. Sometimes, instead of expensive skin beauty products, all we need is to exfoliate our skin to look better. Did you also know that magnesium has the power to help firm the skin? Once in a week as you take your bath, you can take Epsom salt and some olive or baby oil and rub it smoothly on your wet skin. You will not only have good looking skin but also feel good too.
Remove Blackheads
Blackheads can be such a nuisance, and you will be surprised at how easily Epsom salt can help with that. Take half a cup of boiled water and add one teaspoon of Epsom salt and three drops of iodine. Using a cotton ball, apply the mixture to the blackheads
Care For Feet
Our feet do a lot for us yet they are a very under-appreciated part of our bodies. If you have feet problems like a bad odor, rough skin, cracked heels or itching, simply soak your feet for 15 minutes in warm water mixed with Epsom salt. And you can also make magnesium feet scrub that will be a good step to having better feet.
3. Household Benefits
Cleaning Your Grout and Tile
Tiles look good when new and clean. They can become very unsightly when stained and dirty, especially the grout. If you want to clean them up without being too harsh, you can make an equal mixture of Epsom salt and dishwashing soap or detergent of your choice. Then scrub away the stain and dirt using a grout brush. Epsom can also be used to keep away slugs. After gardening or some rough work, your handwashing soap could appreciate some Epsom salt help in removing the dirt.
Gardening Benefits
There’s a charm that comes with household plants. And don’t even get us talking about the health benefits. You can have healthier houseplants by boosting it with a little magnesium. Add Epsom salt as you water the plant. If you also grow roses, hands down roses love magnesium. Simply sprinkle a teaspoon of Epsom salt and watch your flowers blossom to glory.
Epsom salt can be found at your local grocery store, or if it lacks, there’s always the option of buying it online. The ones listed above are just a few of our favorites, but there’s so much more you can benefit from the salt.
The clean state of your roof and gutter is an aspect that any homeowner can never afford to overlook. Gutters are very useful as they are used to drain water from the roof whenever it rains. During this process, a lot of tree leaves and other objects may find their way into the gutter thus compromising the efficiency of your gutter. If debris continues to accumulate in the gutter, this will lead to clogged gutters that will lead to the creation of ice dams on the roof that will force water to drip into your house through the roof.
Having a clean roof is essential too since a clean roof speaks volumes about the beauty of your house. Algae, moss, and lichen are very common on many roofs and they gradually reduce the beauty of your roof. Here are some helpful tips that can help you keep your roof and gutters in very good conditions.
How to clean gutters.
Before even cleaning your gutters, you need to set aside a day that is favorable in terms of weather, preferably choose a calm day with fewer winds and less sunny. Gutter cleaning process requires several tools which include:
Ladder
Gloves
Safety goggles
Brush
Garbage bag
Hosepipe
The best place to start your gutter cleaning process is the drain outlets this is because all the leaves and dirt will accumulate there. The ladder will give you a very good access to the gutters whereby you will have an easy way of eliminating the dirt. Using a ladder can be a risky affair sometimes so always have someone to hold it as you step on it.
The trowel is useful since it’s used to scoop up all the dirt and dumped into the garbage bag. Alternatively, you can use your hands to scoop up the debris, however, be careful not to get harmed by nails and other objects even if you have gloves on. With the help of a brush, you will be able to remove any silt or debris that seems stubborn.
The hosepipe has pressure attachment that will help you remove all the loose debris making your gutter clean. You should repeat this process for every gutter length and at the end of it all, you gutter should be debris free. If your gutter is not properly slanted, there will be a problem when it comes to drainage of water. This means that you will have stagnant water and debris in your gutters to worry about. Stagnated water in your gutter is a good breeding ground for mosquitoes, also it promotes the creation of ice dams that destroy your rooftop. You can call a plumber and have it fixed or you can do it yourself.
How to clean a roof.
Ways of cleaning a roof may vary depending on the type of roof you have. However, the process is basically similar, also, the tools required are all but the same. Weather is an aspect that you need to factor in before choosing a day to give your roof some cleaning services. The tools required are:
Safety glasses.
Non-slippery shoes.
Protective gloves.
Brush with hard bristles.
Garbage bag
Bleaching chemicals.
With the help of the ladder, you will be able to access the top of your roof from where you will be able to sweep off twigs and leaves or you can pick them up using your hand and putting them in a garbage bag. Moss creates an appealing visual effect when it grows on a roof but it can be very hazardous.
The process of removing moss can be laborious, a trowel and a brush will come in handy during this process. You should never let moss grow extensively on your roof so you should remove it as soon as it appears. If your roof is tiled, you will have to remove each tile and remove the moss using a brush. Remember to properly fix the tiles after cleaning so as to avoid having leakage when it rains.
Moss can be disposed of anywhere but for environment cleanliness purpose, dispose of it in a litter bin. Algae are fond of building up in shingle roofs. Algae are harmful as they make shingles lose their strength with time thus making them absorb a lot of heat. So how do you deal with this? A mixture of water and bleach is your best bet. As a precaution, avoid using bleach made of chlorine as they are detrimental to your shingles. Spray the solution on a small segment of your roof and thoroughly scrub to remove the algae on your shingles.
However, always stand on a dry path since the bleach solution can be very harmful to you. After a thorough scrubbing, remember to rinse the roof using clean water. The bleach solution is also harmful to your plants, so if by any chance it will get to your flowers it will be advisable if you water your plants before and after washing your roof. This will reduce the negative impact of bleach chemicals on plants.
Roof cleaning is very paramount as it can make your roof look appealing and attractive from a distance away. This process increases the survivability of your roof as it eliminates the possibility of leakages. Cases of leakage can make your roof get damaged very easily. If by any means, the process of cleaning gutter and roof seems very laborious to you, you can seek professional help at a pocket-friendly cost.
Whenever you want to undertake the process of cleaning your gutters and roof, always ensure you have protective gear on. A very clean and well-maintained rooftop will have you admiring it always as you drive or walk towards your home. In a nutshell, if your accord your gutters and roof the best maintenance, they will remain in good shape for many years hence you won’t have the bear the cost of replacing gutters every now and then. Bear in mind that maintenance is key.
It is possible to take your bathroom from pale to fabulous without risking bankruptcy. Often, when giving a tour of your home, the bathroom rarely gets mentioned. If it does, it’s only with an ‘it is over there ‘and you move on to showcase your kitchen. There’s nothing wrong about that. However, it is not a place to take décor shortcuts.
Remember anyone entering your home must at one point—like some unwritten rule, visit the bathroom. If they find urine stains, no tissue or soap in the dispenser, irrespective of whether it’s clean or not, they will cringe. It is, therefore, important to update the vibe of your bathroom. It should be a place where you can find solitude after a long day.
Most people know better than to bother anyone using the space. Anyway, does anything feel as good as a long bath or shower after a bad day? With the bathroom of your dreams, it raises the experience a notch higher. Whether you need a change from your dated bathroom, or you are bored of with the status quo, it is possible to do it in a snap and on a budget too. Here are some ideas that will help you brighten up space without using a fortune.
Painting
Painting is one of the easiest ways you can refresh and give your bathroom a different look. Additionally, small bathrooms are a burden to most and, you could do with some more space. Turns out, depending on the color of paint you choose, you can easily and cheaply make your space look larger. From cool white to dramatic red, colors literally evoke certain feelings. There’s no precise rule on how to paint the space, it’s a matter of personal taste. However, since space is generally limited and has unique functions, special consideration should be taken as you pick your color scheme. Think of what mood you want to generate. Do you want laid back rhythms that encourage relaxing at the end of the day? Or do you prefer an alarm clock hue that stimulates your senses during your morning routine? Painting can do so much in changing your space’s overall look. Basically, think about shades that will make your space appear larger, brighter, warmer, and more welcoming.
Upgrade Your Mirror
There is definitely a mirror for every taste, whether modern or classic. Mirrors are key in pulling off a trick that fools the eye that there’s more space in a room than there actually is. Besides playing a key role in grooming, mirrors can be used creatively to refresh and contribute to giving your space a charismatic effect. If you already have a mirror in your bathroom, you don’t have to lose it and buy a new one. Easily upgrade it by changing its frame.
As with art, mirrors can be grouped, or stand-alone. Although be careful as you hang your mirrors since as easy as it is for a mirror to reflect the beauty of a room, it can also cast back undesirable reflections. Add character to your this space by creating a gallery of different mirrors. Group them together to create an area which dazzles, adding light and interest to the room. Exploring with your mirrors gives you endless opportunities to add that extra something to your bathroom.
Re-Grout Bathroom Tile
Tiles are amazing in this room. They are long-lasting and simple to clean. However, if your grout is stained or crumbling, it brings down the whole look. Furthermore, if ignored, falling out grout will cause leakage which leads to more damage. While it is not a luxurious material you will use as you update your space, it plays a big role in the final look of your bathroom. Re-grouting cannot fail in refreshing the look of a tiled bathroom. The process is actually easier than it sounds. Yet if you are doing it yourself since it will be more economical, it takes time, technique and you will want to take it easy.
Maximize Storage
There is nothing that messes up your bathroom like clutter. It is limited space and you’d be wise to maximize your storage space in the most creative ways. Well, since it’s easier said than done, you will need some help in keeping clutter at bay to create an appealing look. First, start by decluttering your bathroom. Throw away the empty bottles and broken combs. Also, find a different storage room for things you don’t use regularly in the bathroom. You can then make use of decorative baskets. It reduces the number of items displayed, therefore, gives off an organized look. Also, make use of an open shelf instead of adding more cabinets. Having an organized bathroom goes deeper than aesthetic purposes. It also gives you a good start while preparing yourself for the day.
Lighting
Beautiful lighting plays a big role in every room, but it plays a particularly important role in your bathroom. Incidentally, too often lighting in this room is low on the list of priorities. A bathroom is no longer just a functional room. It’s a room that you can go to and take hours, all by yourself. Therefore, create a sanctuary by instilling different types of lights. When it comes to the bathroom, you need both beauty and functionality. The best and cheapest way to let in more light is by maximizing the natural light. Ensure your window treatment lets in light. Then you can go ahead and choose the right bulb and light depending on the effect you want. With lights, you can totally refresh your bathroom look.
Update Your Accessories
Accessories are key elements in creating the mood, style and look of your little room. Mostly, people think of the bathing or shower system as the most important of all as they upgrade. This might be true but you don’t want to deny your home that effect of well-picked accessories. When you select the right accessories, you can make your bathroom look inviting, cozy, and glamorous.
Try out some of the things mentioned above and watch your tired old bathroom come back to life on a budget.
Do you ever casually go about your day, popping into the kitchen for a little peanut butter toast and then the next thing you know you’re turning over the toaster oven because it’s been so long and you just can’t take the crumbs anymore?
At the risk of sounding like a cloyingly optimistic Peppy Patty (which I can assure you, I am not), I never really understood all the pervasive hate for Mondays. I get that easing yourself from the freedom of the weekend into the structure of the workweek is a bit of a shock to the system…
Home laundry is something inevitable and probably a boring chore to most people. The good news is that, as much as we can’t make laundry day go away, there are ways to make it more fun (though fun is subjective), but definitely faster and better.
Something to consider to make your laundry day easier is to maintain your clothes well. This could include wearing an apron when doing a messy task to avoid stubborn stains. It is also advisable to have common knowledge of how to handle different types of clothing according to their fabric. You can get help with this by the instructions that are already in the cloth or ask someone.
The following are tips on how you can do laundry effortlessly and like a pro:
1. Get The Stains Out Immediately
When you notice you have stained your cloth, it is recommendable for you to get it out right away. It is for your own good and you will be grateful you did it when the laundry day comes. There are various detergents and items you can use to remove fresh stains effortlessly. Some home stain removers that you can use include club soda and hydrogen peroxide. Mouthwash may help with smelly gym socks that might have bacteria. Lemon juice will also remove rust stains and any discoloration, and at the same time leave your clothes smelling fresh. The less time you spend on cleaning the laundry, the less boredom you’d have.
2. Have a Specific Day For Laundry
Some people prefer doing home laundry almost every day considering their large family. This method is not very effective in saving time, effort and money. There are compromises that you can make to ensure that the clothes for laundry are fewer. You can achieve this by recycling some clothes like jeans. Your jackets and hoods can be worn more than once too. Setting a specific day also helps in getting organized thus reducing time wastage. The bottom line is, the less you wash, the less effort you will spend on your laundry.
3. Don’t Mix Clothing Of Different Colors
Always start by sorting your clothes out. No one needs the surprise of a black dye on their favorite white outfit. Wash the white first then the rest later. It may also be important to find out whether a cloth is colorfast. You can achieve this by rubbing a wet cotton swab on the cloth. If it stains, then you ought to hand wash the cloth separately. You might also consider adding some salt to the water to avoid too much fading.
4. Get The Right Water Temperature
Selecting the right temperature for your fabric goes a long way into maintaining their quality. Essentially, cold water works best with fine fabrics, sensitive dark colors that tend to bleed and clothes that shrink. Warm water is suitable for man-made fabrics and hot water for colorfast, really dirty clothes and white items. It is also important to find out whether there is a specific recommended water temperature on the cloth. To make your work easy, wash the fabrics using the same water temperature together as long as they don’t bleed.
5. Use The Right Detergent And In Small Quantity
Most people pick detergents because of their friends’ or family’s influence. This is definitely not the correct way of picking the best detergents for your fabrics. Majorly, there are two forms of detergents: powder and liquid. The powder is relatively cheaper than liquid. Though for quality, you might consider liquid because it dissolves much better and deals effectively with stains. Try not to use excess detergent because your clothes won’t get any cleaner, in fact, they may get dirtier. It creates too many suds on the cloth, which attracts dirt.
6. Reduce Fading of Darker Clothes
It is annoying to see a cloth you invested jaw-dropping cash fade so quickly. There are beauty and class that comes with dark clothes, furthermore, it makes you look slimmer. But the opposite happens when it starts to fade. It looks sad and cheap. You can prevent your clothes from fading by washing them inside out. This helps reduce the abrasion used while washing the fabric. You also don’t need to wash it regularly and use the right detergent when you do it. It is advisable to use liquid detergent because it doesn’t leave too many suds that give your fabric a dull finish.
7. Fold Immediately From Dryer
It is easier to fold your clothes immediately after the dryer rather than later. This reduces wrinkling. Therefore, you won’t have to iron every cloth. It also reduces clothes clutter which can be a depressing sight. If folding is not your thing, you can roll your clothes too. It saves on space and prevents wrinkles too.
8. Clean Your Washing Machine
Most people rarely clean their washing machine yet it is essential. It helps get rid of accumulated dirt and soap gunk that could otherwise be disposed on the cloth. Cleaning the machine also enhances its purpose as clothes are cleaned better and at a short time. At the same time, it helps maintain the machine.
9. Get Several Laundry Baskets
Most people use half of the laundry day searching for dirty clothes. Most especially socks and shoes. Let everyone have their own laundry basket where they can keep their dirty clothes immediately after removing them. You can also have one home laundry basket whose main purpose is storing your used socks. This saves time and reduces any frustration that comes as a result of looking for clothes. It might seem like an unnecessary gesture, but you will be grateful everything’s sorted out for you.
10. Reduce Shrinking and Stretching
You might have a share of clothes whose fabrics stretch or shrink easily and, of course, you would want to maintain their shape as long as possible. To prevent clothes from shrinking and stretching, use a gentle cycle of washer or hand wash. You can also use cold or warm water because they are less harsh to shrinking fabric than hot water. Something that will also help is reading the label of your cloth before buying. If the cloth fabric will potentially overstretch on a few washes, you’d rather save your money.
The Bottom Line
Home laundry doesn’t have to be stressful and it will soon be something that you don’t cringe about when you think of it. The above tips should get you on your journey to actually loving to do laundry.
Many people feel little enthusiasm when it comes to doing their household chores. Some because it’s routine and gets boring over time. While others, cleaning isn’t their cup of tea and they would rather be doing something else. It was easier in your younger years where you could see cleaning as a game and play your way through it. Anyway, back then it wasn’t expected to be perfect and probably mom would redo it.
When reality kicks in as you grow older, it is expected you become responsible. Therefore, you have to look for ways to do your chores perfectly and have fun at same time. Otherwise, it’s not funny how devastating and mind-numbing it can get. If you are reading this, chances are, you need saving from your home duties which you have fallen behind in. Don’t worry anymore, here are tips you can use to bring joy into your everyday cleaning:
Listen to Music While Cleaning
Everyone has a genre of music they love listening to. This is a great opportunity to turn on the upbeat music. It’s a total judgment and boundary-free zone, where no one is looking at how good you can dance or how you are singing along to very different lyrics. You can totally do whatever you like as you do your cleaning and this gives you a sense of freedom. Which instantly makes you feel good (and maybe the only time you feel in control of your life). The melodious notes in music also have the power to relax and uplift, which goes a long way to making your cleaning time enjoyable. If you love jazz music, that’s beautiful, but you might consider playing music that will put you in the cleaning mood. Therefore, feel free to clean to the beat as you are transported to the world of melody.
Household chores hacks
Do you know it is possible to do your cleaning perfectly as usual but in a shorter time? By using cleaning shortcuts, you will not only clean effectively but also save time and resources. Some of the hacks include: when you want to clean the microwave, let a cup of water boil in the microwave. The steam will loosen up dirt making it easier and faster to clean it. If you want to clean the toilet, give it a good squirt of the bleach of your choice then let it soak as you clean other surfaces. Getting back to it will only require a swift brush then flush. There are endless cleaning hacks, try asking that friend who seems to have a perfectly clean house always. Chances are, they know plenty of cleaning tips.
Open up space
This might be done in various ways and definitely works. For starters, pull away from the drapes and open up the windows and doors. This will instantly make you feel better as fresh air circulates. Additionally, your house will look bigger, therefore less chaotic and give you the motivation needed to start on it. Clearing clutter, before starting on a specific chore also gives you an illusion that your work is easier than earlier thought. You can also turn on the fan to get the stale air moving.
Fantasize
Who says that your whole mind should be on scrubbing floors? – is it even possible? Anyway, you can use this time to explore your imagination. And please do yourself a favor by not thinking about how your life would be better with help around. That will leave you feeling sorry for yourself. Think of relaxing things are going to do on the weekend. Or of the date you had. You can also use the time to analyze your life and see how far you have come. This is because you might not be able to create some other alone time, considering the hustle and bustle of city life. Doing this will distract your mind and you’ll be done with your cleaning faster and happier than you thought.
Turn chores into a game
When the word fun is spoken, games come to mind. Turning your cleaning time into a game is very effective in making you have a good time. Of course in a game, the more the better. Yet if you are alone you can still have great fun. You can time yourself and see how fast you can clean while still doing a good job. You can also use a timer to motivate yourself to finish fast as you reward yourself for every achievement.
Getting everyone involved
If you there are other family members around the house, the better. It’s a great opportunity to have cleaning fun as a family. It can be done in various ways. If you kids, the secret is in motivating them because they don’t see the need to clean in the first place. You can hide treats at different spots where they are expected to take after cleaning the area. Another good game is playing police. Whereby, you have two of the kids as inspectors and go round picking the day’s clutter. They will place them in a basket (jail), and for one to get their stuff back- including mom and dad- a chore must be done. It makes kids feel involved and gives them a sense of responsibility. When you try it, it’s likely your kid might open up to you and talk about what’s up with their lives.
Create a chore list
It might totally scream boring and to some extent frustrating- especially if the chores are many- yet it comes in handy. Good preparation saves time used to clean, and definitely the less time you spend cleaning the less your chances of getting bored. It will also give you a rough idea of how long you take to do certain tasks and motivates you to improve or get them done if you have been postponing. And the most uplifting one is when you cancel out the tasks done. Goodness! It’s such a good feeling that encourages you to do more.
Reward yourself
After cleaning, definitely, reward yourself. And of course, since you don’t want to use it as an excuse to overspend, you either do two things: Reward yourself reasonably like making yourself your favorite lunch or generously reward yourself after completing the particularly onerous task (those that you do once per month).
Children are a source of joy that brings a lot of happiness to a couple. They approach life with such innocence and wonder that somehow gets into you in the best way. Kids make you laugh, not the polite laugh you give after hearing a dry joke, but a genuine hearty laugh. Besides, they are a legitimate reason for you to watch cartoons and play games. But there’s a catch. After you spend an impressive four hours cleaning stains around the house, only to have them back before the sun sets, you realize it is a full-time job and you need some cleaning tips.
With everything else thrown in with parenthood, you are not alone in thinking that you did not sign up for such. While it might be easy to let your house go, it is not the best idea. It is hard to maintain a clean home, of course, but so worth it for both your kids and you. That is why you need all the help you can get. We got you. Here are some cleaning tips that will ensure you have a clean and tidy home, as you save time and maintain your sanity.
Cleaning Out Crayon and Marker Stains
Crayon stains are fun to make for your kid as they are having the time of their life creating art. Crayons actually help your kid into their path of writing, but when they go vague and write on everything else rather than the paper, you know you are in trouble. It doesn’t look good. There are various things you do to get rid of these stains. The simplest one, that would hardly require an elbow grease, is by rubbing mayonnaise on the stain and let it soak for a while. Then take a damp cloth and wipe the surface. You can also use your hair blow-dry to soften up the crayon stain, then wipe it off. To remove permanent marker stains, apply some toothpaste on the stain and scrub in circular motions using an old toothbrush. Kids also manage to get crayon stains on their clothes as much as on the walls. Simply soak the cloth in undiluted vinegar and rub the stains off using a recycled toothbrush.
Removing Gum From Your Kid’s Clothes
Kids just seem to attract every sort of dirt throughout the day. One of the dirt is gum, so it is important for you to have some tricks up your sleeves when they come home from school with gum stuck on their cloth. To remove the gum, either place ice cubes on the gum or place the cloth in the freezer. This will harden the gum, and you should now be able to scrape it off using a blunt object.
Cleaning Urine Stains
Kids are generally messy and often you will find pee stain on your seats or bed. This doesn’t mean you give up on your sense of style. There is a really effective and cheap way you can get rid of the stain, and particularly get the smell out too. All you need is hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dishwashing detergent. Make a mixture and put it in a spray bottle. Leave it for around an hour then come back and wipe it off. Your fabric will be stainless and the odor will be gone too. Consider ventilating your home if the smell gets to you.
Delegate Duties
We like doing the household chores ourselves because we will do it better and in less time. While this is true, there are so many other duties thrown at you, that it will be more effective if you delegate some duties to your kids. This will not only be beneficial to you but also give your child a sense of responsibility and competency. Getting your kids to do chores is good for everyone. For instance, a toddler around 2-3 years can pick up toys and put them in a basket or set placement mats on the dinner table. A preschooler around 4-5 years can help set the table and putting away groceries. School-age children can help water plants or feed the pet. Consider finding a way to make them do it without you being in their case every time.
Ensure Everything Has a Place
The main cause of clutter is when things don’t have a place to go. This will make your work very hard while cleaning and maintaining the order of your home. Therefore, consider giving everything their place and letting your children know. This will also ensure that you become disciplined in buying your kids toys. Frankly speaking, we never seem to buy enough toys for our kids and when never we see something cute, we’ll get for them. Not wrong at all, but buy those extra clothes and gifts as long as they have a place to go.
Remove Glitter by Using a Lint Roller
Most kids love glitter, but parents loathe them because of their nanoparticles that are so hard to clean. But glitter doesn’t have to be your enemy. Clean them by first removing as much as you can with a broom. Then use a tape-based lint roller to remove even the stubborn stains of glitter off your floor. If you don’t have the roller, you can wrap a masking tape around your fingers so that the sticky part is outside, then use that to clear the dirt
Cleaning Lego Bricks
Kids never get enough of Lego bricks, and they indeed do the trick of keeping them busy for a while. But, they can be very tricky and time-consuming when it comes to cleaning them one at a time. Therefore, place them in a net and wash them in your washing machine. It is essential you do the cleaning regularly because they often end up in their mouths as they play.
Baby Wipes Are Essential
If you don’t have baby wipes, go get them. They come in handy in many ways. Kids and stains go hand in hand, and this is where the wipes come in. by now, you know that it is easier dealing with stains while still fresh. Therefore, when your kid spills something, bring in the wipes. They are also great for cleaning seat belts
Remove Floor Scuffs Using a Tennis Ball
When kids and pets move around, it is easy to have a messy floor. You can scrub it if you like, but there’s an easier option. Just make a hole in a tennis ball and place a broomstick in the space. It will do a great job on your floor.
Clean The Toys in a Dishwasher
Having a hard time cleaning your kid’s numerous toys? Place them in the dishwasher and they will sparkly clean.
From the above information, you have now known some useful cleaning tips that you can use in your house where the kid(s) lives and keep it clean and germ-free always
All it takes is to be a normal human for you to always crave for a clean house. But what is that you always say when it’s cleaning time: that watching your favorite series as you eat your popcorns is more enticing? Well, true, but there are things you just don’t put away. One of them is cleaning. As much you are a lazy homeowner having a dirty house is bad news and no one will understand that it is your nature.
Besides which, you are exposing your family to health risks. This is because the dirt will eventually accumulate causing germs. We get it, cleaning might be hard and thankless since things just get dirty all over again but you can’t entirely ignore the fact that dirt is going nowhere if you don’t clean it. Often cleaning your house might seem impossible-especially if cleaning is not your favorite activity- but it’s achievable.
If you are reading this, albeit you are already wondering how the spots you’ve been ignoring since last year are going to get cleaned. I also know how embarrassing it can get to confess to someone you hate cleaning. You rather undergo a personality transplant and join in with your friends as they drink to how much cleaning they have done. You don’t have to stress anymore. The following are hacks for the lazy homeowner that will help you clean smart and have some time left to watch that movie or sleep.
Invest in storage
Invest in a decorative basket or ottoman. It will go a long way in helping you maintain the organization of your home. Nothing screams messy louder than clutter, therefore, fool people that yours is a perfectly clean home by hiding small stuff in drawers. A floor that has only furniture and few accessories gives a good vibe. Also, ensure that the storage unit that you place your supplies is close to where you need them. For instance, place a bottle of bleach in the toilet. I can’t remember the many times I’ve talked myself out of cleaning because the bottle of bleach was upstairs.
Cleaning faucets
There are many annoying things about cleaning the bathroom and kitchen. One of them is cleaning the faucets. I mean, not only are watermarks, fingerprints, and oil marks difficult to remove but also they always come back too easily. These are the reasons why we talk ourselves out of cleaning things like faucets. Regardless, it shouldn’t serve as an excuse, there are easy brilliant hacks to solve the problem. For example, using a wax paper. It’s resilient and waterproof. Taking advantage of its diverse properties, you can keep your faucets spotless for up to one week. Try rubbing down your faucets with wax paper after their next cleaning. They will be clean plus be shiny for long.
Clean your microwave
Oh boy, what can be more repulsive than the stink of cooked-on food wafting from your microwave? Cleaning your microwave is not something you can ignore for long, it will always catch up with you. For an easy fix, pour two cups of water and lemon slices or vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl. Nuke it for three minutes on full power. The steam will loosen the grime and gunk, making the cleaning as easy as wiping down the interior.
Entertain yourself
While house chores are not considered as a hobby by many, if done right, they can actually be very relaxing, entertaining and distressing. With the hustle of city life and trying to live up to our lifestyle with prices skyrocketing by day, we hardly get time to entertain ourselves. Well, guess what, housework time can also be that time when you get down. Turn up some lively cleaning music that will put you in the mood. Then you can now be in the moment as you clean and have fun too.
Religiously use plastic and foil liners
If you are not using this already, then you better come on board. Plastic and foil liners are totally God-sent. Instead of using containers to store frozen items, use plastic wrap and aluminum foil for or parchment paper for your oven. This is also a good time to get a liner for your microwave. Then you can just peel off the liner after use, and your utensil is clean again. Lining up your appliances not only gives you an easier time when cleaning it but also takes longer before it needs cleaning.
Simplify your closet
You know the drill. Organize your closet but after looking for the dinner outfit, you are back to square one. It doesn’t have to be like that though. Sometimes less is more. If you are too lazy to clean and organize your clothes, having less can reap huge rewards in keeping your closet in a sane state. Chances are, your closet is full of clothes you don’t wear anymore. Whether they are too small or just out of trend, you’ll be much better donating them. After purging, look for a simple system and maintain them.
Fluffy socks Are The Thing
Though dragging your legs as you walk was highly condemned by mom as you grew, it was fun. When you are around the house, put on those fluffy socks and you can compensate for the childhood fun you missed. This will prevent you from mopping or vacuuming the house often because the socks will ensure that you walk around without leaving dirt. They are better than walking with shoes from outside all over the house. Then you can just remove them and toss them in the washing machine. As we are at it, you can also get an anti-microbial mat. It will trap any dirt coming from outside before it reaches your home. Isn’t it amazing? Every lazy homeowner is probably smilling at this one.
Invest in air fresheners
Having clean or fragranced air in your home is one of the simplest was to fool anyone of having a clean home. It shows that the owner is connected to their space and without doing anything else, it brings an amazing ambiance. You can also get a houseplant to further purify your air.
Squeegee your bathroom after use
The bathroom can get really gross if you let it. Just like your kitchen, it is wise to clean your bathroom immediately it gets used since you are a lazy homeowner and will hardly set time aside just to give your bathroom a deep clean. You will be grateful you didn’t keep it off for weeks before it accumulates grime. And if you are feeling too lazy, spray your door or tile with no-wipe cleaner.
So there you are, you lazy homeowner, you have no excuse to live in a dirty house. If things get too difficult to do, hiring a cleaning service once every two weeks is always an attractive option.
Being a mom is a blessing and a great responsibility. You have lovely kids to take care of – and you will constantly worry about them especially when you are away from them. You have thousands of household chores waiting for you at home: the sink is full of dirty cutlery, the laundry basket is full, everyone’s wardrobe has to be arranged and you have to cook for the family. To top it all, you might have your own business to mind, or be employed. All this might drive you to your extreme if you have no planned routine to work it all out. Even when multi-tasking you have to have a proper laid out plan.
To survive all this work, you need to have a strategy. Some things you can do to ease your workload are:
Have a To – Do List
Having an organized list of all the activities you need to do will help you prioritize. What activities are the most important and should be carried out first? What activities are not all that important? What activities could wait until tomorrow? How much time do you need for each specific activity? How many people are in your home and how can they help you achieve it all? When should you have a break?
All the above are questions you need to consider when making an activity list to help you in effective multi-tasking.
Also, be flexible. Do not let the list fully control you, it should be flexible enough to accompany additional workload, additional helpers, emergency activities and tiredness issues.
Organize A Schedule
Have a set routine about how you will do all your work. It would be a plus to let everyone in the house aware of your chosen and established routine in order to avoid clashes and disturbances while you’re doing the chores. For example, everyone should be aware of what time you clean the house so they avoid being in the house at that specific time to allow you room to execute your plans.
Also, everyone should know when laundry is done, to avoid leftover laundry. If you have assigned anyone a task – such as assigning washing of utensils to your daughter let her know when, how and why she should do the activity.
Avoid Procrastination
Sometimes you will get too lazy and decide to carry forward the day’s work to the next day. Do you what you can do now. Avoid time wasting. If you carry forward your activities, your workload will only increase in time and with time, you will be overwhelmed by all you have to do. Then you will be in a big mess since time will be too little.
Multitask Simple and Easy Tasks
Multitask when you can. This greatly reduces your workload. Such as applying your makeup while feeding the kids; washing, drying and folding your laundry at the same time; cooking while washing utensils; listening to your favorite podcast while brushing teeth.
You can even make multitasking fun – such as playing with the kids while cleaning the house; or teaching the kids how to work in the garden while you are also working on it.
Self Discipline
You will have to force yourself do some chores you don’t like because you have to. Also, when you feel lazy, you will still have to work since your family depends on you. Do all chores to the best of your ability, to minimize any repetitions of a task.
Limit Distracters
Your children, spouses, guests or pets might distract you from your duties, making you late in performing them. Avoid watching television or using your phone when executing your duties. If you need space while working, make it clear to other house members. Limiting distracters is the best way to get everything done on time especialy when multi-tasking.
Work in Small Increments
Do not hurry too much to do everything at once. You will be swallowing a pie too large for your mouth, which is disastrous. Do the activities incrementally; few small things at a time, just the right pace and soon you will be amazed at the size of workload you can finish in a day.
Find Motivation
Doing the same chores every time every day will always feel like a monotony over the course of time. Even if you love your job, you will get bored soon. However, you can counter this by trying the following:
Look for the light – look forward to better days such as birthdays, night time when you will be asleep with your spouse, public holidays when you can rest, or even vacations.
Motivational quotes – the Internet has lots of motivational quotes services. You can utilize them to get daily motivation to push you through your day.
Get Moving – when you are very tired, the last thing you would want is to wake up and start working again. However, this is a proven to revive your motivation. Start working and your heartbeat will spur more energy into you, reviving you.
Get Support – inform your mate of how exhausted you are and often, they will chip in to help you cut down the workload.
Tick the List – once an activity is completed tick it on your list as done. This motivates you as one task has already been down so that is one less task to perform for the day.
Set Clear Boundaries
Be clear on when you should rest and how much work you are supposed to do in a given day. When you feel like you are overworking yourself, take an immediate rest and reflect. You can also find out how multi-tasking simple chores can make your days less hectic.
Make Time For You
As much as you are working for the whole family, make some time for yourself. You have a life and you need to take care of yourself.
Take a bath, have a rest, take a walk or watch a movie, since you deserve the best. This will also help you keep your moods in check, as being overworked will leave you dull, unable to cope with your family.
As a mom, your responsibilities will need a lot of planning and multi-tasking. All decisions you make will affect your whole family. If you try the above measures, you can be well assured of a fun-filled adventure in life with your family.
