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Home Care and Cleaning

Spring Cleaning Made Easy: 3 Must-Have Items

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I am also open to cleaning products that will make my spring cleaning much easier.  I found some cool new products that were affordable and will help me keep my home smelling good and clean.  For the first time, I am looking for eco-friendly products and cleaning products that would not require a lot of effort to complete the job.

Rotating Spin Twist Hurricane Spinning and Shout Mop

Rotating Spin Twist Hurricane SpinningWith each passing year, it seems more difficult to clean my floors on my hands and knees.  I am thankful that there are floor cleaning systems like this Rotating Spin Twist Mop that I can use, that don’t require me to clean like I’m living in the 1800s!  Instead of manually cleaning the mop with your hands, you just put it in the tub and press the pedal to spin away the dirty water and start again. This spinning mop will cut your spring cleaning time in half.

Slipper Genie Microfiber Cleaning Slippers

Slipper GenieI really like the idea of this micro fiber cleaning slipper.  When I just want to tidy up my bathroom floor in a hurry, I’ll put a few Lysol wipes on the floor and use my own slippers to clean the floor instead of bending over. It works like a charm. These Slipper Genie Cleaning Slippers pretty much have the same idea in mind. They’re also useful for corners that your broom or mop are unable to reach. They are machine washable and come in a variety of attractive colors.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner, Lavender

Lavender CleanerThis lavender all-purpose cleaner is great for cleaning your entire house.  The scent of lavender has always been known to be a soothing scent — it fills your rooms and gives you a sense of peace during and after cleaning.  This product is eco-friendly and sold in a concentrated form.  Just add about a 1/4 cup to a gallon of warm water or a few capfuls to a water bottle. Amazon offers a better price if you purchase a set of two bottles — that should last you all season.
If you want your spring cleaning made easy this year, check out these three great products. They’re sure to make your cleaning experience quicker and more pleasant.

Clothing Hacks to Refresh, Renew, and Fix Your Clothes

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How many times have you tossed clothes or shoes because of a minor issue, like a stain or a problem with the way it fits? This neat infographic posted by Alight Fashion Blog gives clothing hacks that range from how to fix sweater pulls in about 3 minutes (I can’t remember how many times I’ve given a sweater away just because it had a few snags) to how to fix that annoying problem when your bra underwire comes out and starts poking you in the underarm.

I also liked the clothing hack for stretching out shoes that are too tight using either a blow dryer or a bag of water. When the weather gets warm, your feet expand and most of your high heels start to feel tighter, so this tip will come in handy.

[Tweet “Learn how to stretch out too-tight shoes using a blow dryer or… #LOH (courtesy of @alightcom)”]

The clothing hacks also include tips for men who want to keep their shoes and sneakers looking “fresh and clean.” View the entire infographic below, posted courtesy of Alight, and share it with your friends!

Courtesy of: Alight
 

Posted by Jade

Are You Tired Of Scooping Cat Litter Like Me?

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I have been a cat owner for more than three decades. There is just one annoying chore that I really hate, scooping cat litter! Don’t get me wrong, I really love my cats. At the same time, I have a difficult time getting motivated to clean out their litter boxes. I hate the smell and don’t like to dispose of their waste. It has been like having a part time job taking care of the litter box. So, I decided to look on Amazon to hopefully find a solution. Here’s what I found:

A Self Cleaning Litter Box with Good Ratings

Self Cleaning Litter Box

The first, was a Scoop Free Ultra Self Cleaning Litter Box made a company called Pet Safe. Their basic unit costs about $125. The description says that you can go weeks without cleaning the litter box. Wouldn’t that be a little slice of heaven! It was designed by a person educated at MIT, so I guess you can call it a “smart litter box?” The only downside of this unit is that you have to keep buying their special blue litter granules, which I’m not sure my cats would like.

Another Self-Cleaning Box that Pushes the Litter to the Back

The second product that I researched is called the Litter Maid Automatic Self Cleaning Classic Litter Box. It costs under $100 and doesn’t require you to buy special litter. This brand offers litter boxes that can be used by multiple cats for less than the cost of purchasing two of their litter boxes. One issue that some people mention is that some cats may get nervous about the noise these machines make. Also, waste can get caught in the grates. I do like that there’s a pad to catch excess litter as the cat walks out of the box.

The Cat Genie

Self-cleaning litter box for cats.
Self-cleaning litter box for cats.

The next litter box that I researched was called the Cat Genie. It is a self-washing and self-flushing cat box. This option seems to be the “sophisticated” choice in self-cleaning litter boxes. Your cat basically looks like he’s going on a toilet, then it flushes for him.

It includes washable granules so you never have to buy or touch cat litter again. Now that might make it well worth the $200 price tag, but it has some pretty questionable reviews. It requires a rigid water line (in a bathroom, utility closet or laundry room) and a wrench or pliers (but I would suggest you get someone who really understands this type of hookup to avoid issues). It sounds like an interesting concept, but I don’t think I want to go that far to avoid scooping cat litter!

The Rolling Litter Box

Rolling Litter BoxRolling the Litter Box Example

This is the litter box I ultimately settled on, and I like it! It’s called the Omega Paw Self-Cleaning Litter Box, otherwise known as a “rolling” litter box. Instead of scooping the litter, you roll the box to the side and the waste is deposited into a handy little scooping tray. The price is great for around $25 and it works reasonably well. It requires a little elbow grease, so I probably wouldn’t recommend it for an elderly person with mobility challenges, but it’s great for someone who’s reasonably athletic and able to lean down for a few moments to roll the box.

The Sifting Litter Box

sifting litter box

I actually bought this litter box a while back, and it worked reasonably well. It’s the Van Ness Sifting Enclosed Cat Litter Pan. The only issue was that waste sometimes got stuck in the sifting pan. Basically, you place the sifting pan inside of the enclosed box, then add litter. When you’re ready to clean the litter box, lift the sifting pan and shake it thoroughly, then toss out the hardened matter. It helps to put a liner at the bottom of the enclosed box, then add the sifting pan, then add the litter. It’s a large box and can accommodate multiple cats. It’s also very affordable (I found it here for under $15, the price may change) and it gets pretty good reviews. Looking it this sifting litter box again (especially at that price) I think I should go ahead and get one again as a second option!

I highly recommend that all cat owners/lovers who are tired of scooping cat litter check out all of the modern litter box options that are now available on the market. Anything is great that can make our lives easier as pet owners, right? Buying a good litter box could save a lot of time and unnecessary stress on our bodies.

Posted by Jade

Holiday Tip: Giving Your Home a Holiday Aroma

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I believe it’s true to say, most people, love the smells and aromas that are accompanied with the holiday season. Whether it be the aroma of pies or food cooking in the kitchen. My problem was that I soon missed the fragrant aromas after the Christmas dinner and dessert was had. The lovely fragrances always makes me think of great past holiday memories.

One year I hosted a party at my home, after Christmas and was only serving appetizers. Therefore, there was no pleasant holiday aroma present. So here is what I did to create a holiday aroma:

I filled a large pot 1/2 way with water and simply added certain spices that I already had in my pantry. Such spices like 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 tablespoon of nutmeg were added to the water. I stirred the mixture vigorously using a whisk. I then let it simmer on my stove on the lowest possible setting, hours before the party. I made sure to add water as the water evaporates as it steams. As I greeted my guests, all of them gave me compliments at the aroma emanating in my home. Now, I even use that recipe to create a holiday aroma in different combinations anytime during the year, whether I have company or not.

Happy Holidays!!!

Posted by Eve

Winter Home Tips: Eliminate Drafts From Your Windows

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If when you stand in front of your window(s) and feel a breeze, you have a draft. A draft allows cold air to enter your home. This subsequently, can be very costly during the cold winter months.

Your thermostat will work overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. I came up with two easy solutions (other than replacing the windows) to eliminate drafts from your windows that will save you money on your heating bill.

Window - Photo credit: Flickr; https://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/6365060845
Fix drafty windows with these simple tips

1- First, visit your local home improvement store and purchase a large roll of thick plastic. Upon your returning home, measure the length and width of the windows and cut the plastic a little larger than your measurement. Now, starting at the top of the window using either doubled sided tape or a staple gun, adhere the plastic onto the interior of the window frame. Do this to all of your windows. Use should soon realize the difference in how much less your thermostat has to work, to heat your home.

2- The second solution is to roll up a large towel, old clothes or sheets. Place the roll at the bottom of the window to stop drafts. This will again limit the amount of cold air that enters your home. Yet, the first solution is the solution that I highly recommend to improve the heating issues in your home.

Use these two simple winter home tips to eliminate drafts from your windows — you will probably see a significant improvement in your upcoming electric bills!

Posted by Eve

Home Tip: Stop Annoying Door Squeaks

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Squeak, squeak, squeak — that annoying sound you hear every time you open or close the door. There comes a time when you just don’t want to hear it anymore. So how do you stop annoying door squeaks?

Most of us have heard of using a well known product called WD-40 to eliminate squeaks on door hinges (auto & home). But what do you do when you don’t have that product handy to use to stop that annoying squeak?

Cooking oil to stop door squeaks. Photo Credit: Flickr; https://www.flickr.com/photos/10413717@N08/6825479819
Cooking oil to stop door squeaks.

Here’s a quick tip: I suggest using any type of cooking oil that you have in your pantry (preferably the cheaper kind). Simply pour a small amount into the cap and allow the oil to drip from top to bottom onto the hinge. Then open and close the door several times to allow the oil to penetrate into the hinge. Be sure to clean off any excess oil the may drip down. This tip is more affordable than purchasing any product from your local hardware store.

Posted by Eve