When I
started this blog in 2012, my goal was really to “get my crap together” and get
my home in order. I did this primarily
through sewing and going room by room to get organized and put together.
I still do this each year and each
season. I try to plan a spring cleaning
and a fall cleaning.
I often will even
do a
quick holiday cleaning just to get ready for guest and the many visitors during
the holidays. I have found over the
years so many great tips and tricks, products and easy hacks that I thought I’d
share just a few with you today.
This post contains affiliate links to products I recommend. I do make a portion off any you may purchase. See full disclosure here. #grovepartner
Quick Cleaning Hack #1
Vinegar
and Baking Soda. That’s all.
For so
many cleaning situations, all you need is a little bit of vinegar and baking
soda. Want sparkling clean cookie
sheets? Make a paste of baking soda and
water. Brush it on your cookie sheets
and let it sit 10 minutes. Add
vinegar. Wipe clean.
Stinky
garbage disposal? Pour a little baking
soda in your sink, scrub what you can.
Add vinegar. Run disposal. Voila!
The stink is gone.
Does your
fridge have a weird odor and you’ve cleaned it a million times but can’t seem
to find the source? Place a small dish
of baking soda in your fridge and it will eliminate the odor.
How about
that small stain on the carpet that you can’t seem to get. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Scrub it in and let sit for 10 minutes. Add a small amount of vinegar and suck it all
up with your carpet cleaner.
I would advice to make sure to test a small place on your carpet first, just to make sure it doesn’t bleach it.
I would advice to make sure to test a small place on your carpet first, just to make sure it doesn’t bleach it.
There are
so many great uses for vinegar and baking soda.
The list could go on forever.
Quick Cleaning Hack #2
Join a
co-op.
That
might sound silly, but if you clean your house and use products regularly, why
not save on your favorite products.
There are so many different co-ops out there from Amazon Pantry where you can create a list of your favorite cleaning products and purchase regularly from your list.
To Grove Collaborative where you can have your favorite natural products shipped monthly right to your front door. Either way, you’ll get a great product and you’ll save money and you don't have to go to the store to grab them each month.
There are so many different co-ops out there from Amazon Pantry where you can create a list of your favorite cleaning products and purchase regularly from your list.
To Grove Collaborative where you can have your favorite natural products shipped monthly right to your front door. Either way, you’ll get a great product and you’ll save money and you don't have to go to the store to grab them each month.
Grove Collaborative's deals are live and really awesome!!
New customers get a free Mrs. Meyer's hand soap, dish soap, multi-surface spray (LOVE these), PLUS, their great scrubber brush. They have some delicious fall scents like Apple Cider, Pumpkin and Mums.
Quick Cleaning Hack #3
Everything
needs a home, even when it isn’t in its home.
You could
clean all day every day but it won’t make a difference until everything has a
place and is in it’s place. How do you
do this? I usually take it room by
room.
I start with one room and decide what needs a home or what already has a home. Books need a bookshelf and toys need a chest, box or cubby. I also like to try and rotate books, toys and games so they don’t get old and keep their conditions a little better.
Make a simple container for your kids’ socks. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to get them to put them away where they go.
I start with one room and decide what needs a home or what already has a home. Books need a bookshelf and toys need a chest, box or cubby. I also like to try and rotate books, toys and games so they don’t get old and keep their conditions a little better.
Make a simple container for your kids’ socks. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to get them to put them away where they go.
In other
rooms like the living room, I usually have a bin dedicated to my kids
toys. That way we can quickly clean up a
space if guest are coming or I just have a spot to throw toys when I clean up
throughout the day.
Once a week we empty the bin and put them away where they go in the house. I also love using drawstring bags to organizing my spaces. You probably have the fabric you'd need in your stash right now.
Once a week we empty the bin and put them away where they go in the house. I also love using drawstring bags to organizing my spaces. You probably have the fabric you'd need in your stash right now.
Use what
you’ve got.
You don’t
have to spend tons of money to get your home cleaned and organized. Use what you already have. I seem to always have random bins, boxes and
containers that show up or got cleaned out.
Keep them and repurpose them for another space. Diaper boxes can be covered in contact paper or even butcher paper and used for storage of toys or in a craft room.
Old socks are great for cleaning blinds and windows. That doesn’t mean you need to keep everything you plan to discard from your house. But many of the items we use every day can be repurposed and used for another space or project. Get creative with it.
Quick Cleaning Hack #5
Have a plan of attack.
Make a cleaning and organizing plan and stick to it. Whether you plan to clean daily or once a week. The more of a routine it is, the fastest it becomes to clean and organize.
Get your kids to help or assign them specific chores. That way everyone is part of the plan. You can always download our spring cleaning checklist to help get you started.
Keep them and repurpose them for another space. Diaper boxes can be covered in contact paper or even butcher paper and used for storage of toys or in a craft room.
Old socks are great for cleaning blinds and windows. That doesn’t mean you need to keep everything you plan to discard from your house. But many of the items we use every day can be repurposed and used for another space or project. Get creative with it.
Have a plan of attack.
Make a cleaning and organizing plan and stick to it. Whether you plan to clean daily or once a week. The more of a routine it is, the fastest it becomes to clean and organize.
Get your kids to help or assign them specific chores. That way everyone is part of the plan. You can always download our spring cleaning checklist to help get you started.
