Smells like HOME!

Do you like your house to smell like "Home?"  Many of the memories we have are often triggered by some sort of smell/scent.  I guarantee when you put this on your stove to simmer your house will smell simply wonderful...I have some simmering right now.

All you need is:

1lemon cut  up

1 orange cut up

4 bay leaves

1 large or 4 small cinnamon sticks or 1 1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon

Generous amount of cloves (I used ground, but whole would be fine too)

water

Just put all these ingredients in a medium saucepan and fill with water (not all the way to the top, but almost).  Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer.  Simmer as long as you like adding water as necessary.  If you add new water make sure you boil and reduce heat again.  In just a matter of minutes your house will smell naturally wonderful.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!



Making a list...checking it twice.



Do you clean your house in an orderly fashion or do you just close your eyes and hope for the best?  A few years back (mostly after I started homeschooling) I decided I needed to be more organized with my cleaning.  Don't get me wrong...I always clean...my house is very clean, but I was finding myself always doing the same jobs and certain things were getting overlooked.  I decided at that point to come up with list of things I would do on a certain day of the week and then things I would do everyday to kind of "maintain."  I've found it to be really helpful and I no longer come across areas that "never" get cleaned.  No surprises like under the fridge or stove etc...  Here's what my list looks like.

Monday-Clean bath (wash walls, floor, shower, sides of toliet and sink etc..)

Tuesday-Dust bedrooms, living room, kitchen

Wednesday-Dust upstairs, vacuum as needed, vacuum stairs and dust railings

Thursday-Change beds,  thourougly sweep (under fridge, stove etc..)  and mop kitchen

Friday-Vacuum living room, living room furniture and under beds

Saturday-anything that might have been missed during the week, catch up  laundry

Daily (to maintain)-Laundry (wash, dry and fold 1 load),dishes, countertops, sweep, vacuum as needed, spot clean bath (sink, toliet etc...)  I recommend keeping antibacterial wipes or a roll of papertowels and cleaner handy at all times for quick cleaning.

This is the list that works for me.  Obviously, your own house may be bigger, smaller etc...so do what works for you.  I think you will find a list like this helpful and it will also give you the assurance that things are getting cleaned and nothing is getting overlooked.  Don't stress if you miss...just make it up.  That's what Saturday's are for!

Say Goodbye to Dirty, Smelly Microwaves!



Here is a simple trick for cleaning your microwave and making it smell fresh at the same time.  Take a bowl of water and put a few drops of lemon juice(bottled or fresh) into the bowl.  Put it in the microwave and set the timer for five minutes (a few more if necessary).  Now while the microwave is doing it's thing, grab yourself a cookie and a cup of coffee/tea and put your feet up.  Enjoy a few minutes to yourself relishing in the thought of your microwave being clean and fresh.  When the timer goes off, take out the bowl (careful, it's HOT).  Grab a rag or paper towels and wipe down your microwave until all unidentifiable substances have been removed.  Bingo!  SMELLY MICROWAVE!  Repeat if necessary until it's sparkling clean. 

NOTE:  Don't use cleaning your microwave as a cover-up for eating cookies.  Your family will begin to catch on.  I recommend keeping a private stash hidden somewhere and then locking yourself in the bedroom to eat them :)