Tip of the Day 5/31/11

Summertime was officially launched with our celebrations yesterday and with it came half the dirt from the backyard and sand from the beach inside the house.  A good habit to get into at the very start of the season is cleaning your rugs every week.  Gather all rugs from the house and take them outside.  Our Grandmas and Moms had it right when they would take their rugs outside and shake the dirt out of them.  Washing and vacuuming does a good job, but the old fashioned method of shaking them out first will get them really clean, save on the wear and tear and is a great upper arm work out.  If the rugs are washable run through the washer after.  By shaking them out first you eliminate dirt and sand that can harm your washer and dryer.  Vacuum any non-washables and be sure to vacuum the floor before putting them back down.  If you have a floor sized rug (not wall-to-wall carpet) turn the rug back and vacuum underneath.  This rug should be taken outside at the beginning of summer and cleaned as well.  Hang over a fence or clothesline and do the old fashioned method of beating it with a broom.  It really does work and will extend the life of the rug.  Maintaining clean rugs will help eliminate allergens from the house and extend the life of your floor coverings.

Tip of the Day 5/27/11

Summertime is finally here

That old ballpark, man, is back in gear

Out on 49

Man I can see the lights

School's out and the nights roll in

Man, just like a long lost friend

You ain't seen in a while

And can't help but smile

And it's two bare feet on the dashboard

Young love and an old Ford

Cheap shades and a tattoo

And a Yoo-Hoo bottle on the floorboard

Yes, it's here, are you ready?  If you have been following my tips all week you should be geared up to get the summer off to a great start this weekend.  Today let's finish it up by making sure all the lawn furniture is cleaned and in good condition.  Wash the covers if needed and dust away the cobwebs.  Make it a great Holiday weekend as we kick off a great summer.  Enjoy family and friends and celebrate this awesome country we live in. 

Tip of the Day 5/26/11

One of the first things that comes to mind when we think of Memorial Day and the first "Summer Holiday Weekend" is a cookout.  It may be raining where you are today, like it is here in Michigan's Great Southwest, but the sun is supposed to be shining all weekend and the temperature is supposed to climb to perfect.  So, let's get out that shopping list and plan a menu for the weekend.  Hamburgers, hotdogs, steaks, ribs, brats, potato salad, baked beans, chips, sodas, brownies, cakes, and s'mores, and the lists go on and on.  In January we did a check of the condiments in the fridge and this is the perfect time to check them again.  No one wants to pick up a bottle of mustard this weekend to discover it expired in March or only has enough in the bottle for one hot dog.  Make sure you are well stocked for the summer with all the regularly used condiments.  They are on sale this week because of the holiday, so it is the perfect time to stock up.  Buy several of each and you will always be ready to serve a great cookout.  Don't forget the briquets, lighter fluid, and a lighter stick or matches.  Check the tiki torches for the yard and see if you need fluid.  How about the citrinella candles, do you need new ones?  Stock up on napkins and paper products as well.  Make sure your table cloth is clean.  Last, but most importantly, make sure your flag is in good condition and ready to be flown.  Let's get ready to celebrate our heroes that have fought to give us the freedom to live the lives we enjoy in this awesome country.         

Tip of the Day 5/25/11

Suits are ready, the bag full of ointments and sunblock is ready, now let's get the towels, hats, toys, and beach chairs ready.  Pull out all of your beach towels, blankets, and hats and wash them today.  If you don't already own one purchase a large washable bag and pack all of the towels and blankets in the bag so you can just grab it, throw in the small bag you filled yesterday and head to the beach or pool.  This is also a good place to keep flip flops specifically for the beach.  If you have it all in the bag you won't waste time searching for the items you need to take with.  A secondary bag should hold all of the beach toys the kids love to play with.  Give them a good washing today as well if you didn't at the end of last summer (the toys not the kids :) ).   Dust or wash the beach chairs.  Put all of these items in a central location ready to grab at a moments notice.  The day will start out on a happy note without the frustration of having to hunt for the items you only use for this purpose and you will have more time for fun in the sun. 

Tip of the Day 5/24/11

Sunburn and Bug bites are 2 of the hazards we face during the summer. Put together a bag that can easily be taken with for those trips to the beach or backyard. The bag should contain different #'s of SPF, bug bite prevention (wipes, spray, etc.) after bite analgesic, antiseptic, bandaids, chapstick, and wipes. Outdoor time will be much less stressful if you are prepared.

Tip of the Day 5/23/11

The first official holiday of summer is just a week from today, Memorial Day.  So, let's take this week to get geared up for summer.  Let's start with bathing suits--I know many of you are saying, "Ugh, I don't even want to think about a bathing suit."  But this week is a good time to pull them out, try them on, IN PRIVATE, and get rid of the worn, ugly, ill-fitting, just plain wrong suits you have been hanging on to.  Have the kids and hubby try theirs on as well.  Their are lots of good sales this week on new suits, so buy some that look good on everyone.  Do yourself and the world a favor, no Speedos or other inappropriate suits this summer.  We would all like to enjoy the view at The Lake or the pool. 

Tip of the Day 5/18/11

Day 3 of Dirty Jobs-The Garage:  This tip is for people who actually park their cars in the garage instead of using them as a storage facility.  The garage gets very dusty and filled with cobwebs around the ceiling and floor.  First clear out the junk that has accumulated through the winter months.  Some of us live in cold climates where we don't go into the garage for several months except to get in and out of the car.  We put things out there thinking we will get to them in the Spring.  Well, it is Spring so time to face the music.  Throw out the trash, straighten the shelves, get rid of broken and unused items.  Now you are ready to clean.  Just like you would inside the house start at the top and work your way down.  Using a long handled Swiffer or broom sweep across the ceiling and then down the walls and door.  Sweep the floor paying attention to corners where dirt and cobwebs accumulate.  Lastly clean the windows.  Now you have a clean "room" so if it rains on Memorial Day weekend you can move the grill under the overhang, set up tables and have a semi-outdoor cookout.  Of course your cars will thank you for a nice clean place to park as well.  As for those of you that use the garage as a storage locker--in the words of Bob Newhart "STOP IT!!!"     

Tip of the Day 5/17/11

Today's Dirty Job-Fans:  This time of year a lot of us have fans we use around the house because it isn't time for the A/C yet.  When those fans get put away in the Fall most of us do not think about cleaning them first.  Now that they are back out they should be cleaned before using.  The blades are dusty and the case is dirty.  With just a little bit of time you can have them looking as good as new.  Pull off the cover and clean the blades and inside of the case with a good spray cleaner.  Clean the screen/cover using an old toothbrush.  Oil the motor with a little sewing machine oil, WD 40, or cooking oil.  Replace cover and you are set for a cool spring without all the dust and allergens that were hiding on the fan.  Enjoy the Spring days with the windows open and the sunshine pouring in.

Tip of the Day 5/16/11

Let's tackle some of those projects that we know we need to do, but avoid because they always seem overwhelming.  Today-Window Washing.  We have all heard the joke, "I don't do windows."  Well, I would like to give you a tip to get those windows acceptably clean without renting a power washer, dragging the garden hose around the house, etc. Start outside by washing the exposed part of the window with Windex and newspaper.  Do not remove screens or  clean that portion of the window, we will deal with it from the inside.  Next, using a sticky roller, clean the outside of the screen.  Move inside and open window all the way, using a sticky roller clean the inside of the screen.  Close window leaving just enough space to insert an adjustable arm Swiffer duster and clean the window.  Using Windex and newspaper clean the inside of the window.  Last step is to wash out the window sill and use a small hand held vacuum to remove the last of the dust.  This should leave you with windows that are acceptably clean without breaking your back.  Enjoy the sunshine.    

Tip of the Day 5/13/11

Laundry 101:  The Dryer--eater of socks, snagger and shrinker of clothes, our best friend and our worst enemy.  A few basic rules will help you to use that dryer to its fullest potential.  As you remove items from the washer shake each item to help remove wrinkles, check to see if sleeves have turned wrong side out, if pants have come unzipped, items are wrapped around each other, etc.  The more care you take putting the items in the dryer the more efficiently it will dry them.  Line dry all female underware, this will increase it's "shelf life."  Lay sweaters flat to dry, shape them and smooth out wrinkles, if you do not have a drying rack just use the top of the washer or dryer covered with a towel to absorb moisture, turn them over after a few hours to dry the other side.  Never put silk or linen in the dryer, the should be hung to dry.  Again, read the care label for the best instructions.  Do not use the High heat cycle for anything except towels, blankets, or other heavy items.  It is not designed for clothing.  It is better on your clothing to dry them on a lower heat for a longer time if need be than to subject them to the high heat.  Set the time for half what you think it will take to dry the load, redistribute and check for items that have dried faster than others to go ahead and remove.  As you remove items, shake them out to further release wrinkles.  If you are blessed to have one of the new high efficiency washer and dryers, utilize the different options.  Don't limit yourself to the old standards.  This is a major pet -peeve and I believe the reason so many people are walking around looking disheveled in wrinkled clothes--leaving clothes in the dryer or the laundry basket.  Fold, hang and put clothes away immediately.  It really isn't that much more work to just do it.  If you know you are not going to be able to get to the items right away try to only wash items that really aren't going to be affected by sitting for a few hours, towels, underware, jeans, sheets.  If leaving items in the dryer is a consistent problem, work on developing a new habit, enlist family members to help, buy and iron, use wrinkle spray, you will all feel much better about clothing that looks neat.

Tip of the Day 5/12/11

Laundry 101: To insure clothes stay safe while going through the washer and dryer always zip or button pants, hook the back of bras, zip jackets or any other top with a zipper, check pockets for left behind items (remember finders-keepers), do not wash items with velcro with other items, remove shoe strings before washing tennis shoes, check for loose buttons before placing in washer (remember that needle and thread that should be handy in your dressing area, take care of the button now). The more care you take with items before placing in the washer, the better your clothes are going to look and last. 

Tip of the Day 5/11/11

Laundry 101- now that the laundry is sorted let's get to washing. I know cold water is the safe way to wash everything, but some loads need warm or even hot water. Sheets and towels harbor germs and odors and need the extra strength of warm water. Whites are brighter if washed in hot water. Every 6-8 weeks add a box of Whitener (find it with the fabric dyes) or bleach to your whites to refresh them. Turn jeans and darks wrong side out to help maintain the color. Again pay attention to the care labels and your clothes will look nicer and last longer.

Tip of the Day 5/10/11

Laundry 101-Sorting. I have mentioned before the benefits of pre-sorting, but today we will break down the basic categories further for good laundry care. Darks-pants, jeans/heavy items, shirts should each be a separate load. Lights and delicates are 2 separate categories. Pay attention to the care labels. Dry Clean ONLY-really is, however, Dry Clean or Recommended can be washed.  Always read the care labels and follow the recommendations. Your clothing will last longer and look neater. By breaking down the loads your clothing will be cleaner and neater (fewer wrinkles, snags, etc.).

Tip of the Day 5/9/11

In honor of my Mom, who was the queen of clean laundry, my tips this week will feature that topic. Today Basic Supplies-Good quality and good smelling soap of your choice, an inexpensive brand to wash things like rugs, work clothes, rags etc. (they will get just as clean without the expense that gives you the awesome fragrance), soap for washing delicate items, stain remover spray, keep a stain stick in your purse to keep stains from getting set in, wrinkle remover spray for quick touch ups, fabric softener sheets-not liquid (told by an expert this clogs the washer), bleach (for whites and colored items), dry cleaning sheets for an inexpensive, but very effective, way to freshen dry cleanable items, Iron and ironing board-yes you need one, clothes pins, hand held steamer (an inexpensive luxury well worth it). These items will help insure a well cared for wardrobe that will last a long time because it will be properly cared for.

Tip of the Day 5/7/11

Saturday, the 1 day of the week we try to cram everything into that we don't have time for during the week. But our need to accomplish work needs to be done alongside those we love. My Mom and Dad gave me a strong work ethic by showing me how and at the same time finding time to enjoy life together. Be with your family this weekend, we never know when it will be too late.

Tip of the Day 5/6/11

Your closet and drawers should be looking awesome and roomy by now. Now that you have conquered the leaning tower of T-Shirts we will move to the other tower we find in every closet in America, JEANS. Some of those jeans haven't seen the light of day in years. GET RID of THEM. Please do not say, "some day I will fit into them again." If you get back to that size buy a new pair.  Jeans go out of style just like other clothing and you will feel so much fresher and happy about the weight lose by wearing a new pair. Rotate ONE (1) pair only into the "work clothes" ONLY category and get rid of everything else. Be realistic, don't over analyze, just clear them out and you will love what you see as a result.

Tip of the Day 5/5/11

Your house should be well on the way to being Spring Fresh if you have been doing each Thursday Spring Cleaning Tip. Today, take down curtains and wash them. If they are Dry Clean Only you can vacuum them and use Febreeze to freshen them or use a product like Dryel. Your rooms will smell fresher with clean window coverings.

Tip of the Day 5/4/11

Now that you have cleaned up your shoes and thrown out the old unmentionables we are moving on to the T-Shirt Tower. Don't try to deny you have a stash somewhere. Go through them and sort into Must keep, Get rid of. Haven't seen in 10 years (wait, that is GET RID OF). If it is stained, torn, ugly, too small, wrong, GET RID OF it. There are teens that would love to wear them.  If you have a couple of sentimental ones, wear them. What good do they do in the top of the closet. They are JUST t-shirts. Put it on, take a picture, LAUGH, and then get rid of it.

Tip of the Day 5/3/11

Today's tip is regarding your "unmentionables." Yes, I'm talking about underware. We all have them and some of you have had the ones in your drawer way past the expiration date. THROW THEM AWAY! It is beyond okay to get rid of torn, ugly, ill-fitting items. Please do not put them in your give-away/garage sale box. No one else needs or wants them.  If you have never worn items feel free to pass those on. Bras can easily be passed on, but panties should still have the tag or be in the package. Clean up that messy drawer and start wearing things you won't be embarrassed to have on if you are involved in an accident. :)

Tip of the Day 5/2/11

By Dee-Cluttering our lives we are learning to be good stewards of our belongings. Today would be a good day to go through your shoes, dust them, see if any need to go to the repair shop for new heels,etc. instead of buying a new pair, get rid of the ones you don't like or don't fit or should never see the light of day again. Be thorough.