News

What’s in My Cart: 13 Affordable Items to Energize Your Home for Spring

Posted on April 12, 2021

Spring tends to be the time of year when many people strive to amp up their cleaning routine, but it’s also a good opportunity to think about your decorating approach. For me, the spring season is my cue to bring the outdoors in with greenery, have fun with home decor accents in an array of graphic patterns and colors, and find simple ways to freshen up my everyday routine.

The good news is you, too, can do this without blowing your budget. That’s why I’m sharing a selection of lifestyle items to celebrate the season in style. From a patterned pillow that’s under $25 to an under-$50 wall mirror to maximize natural light in your space, every one of these items are worth adding to your cart. Happy shopping!

Here are our faves!

Sunny Ocean Throw Pillow

One of the easiest ways to transition your living room winter to spring is with the right throw pillows. Draw inspiration from nature and go for this artsy design with an ocean motif.

Buy Now On Society6!

Dish Detergent Refill

The Laundress has an allergen-free detergent that’s known to keep your clothes looking new and smelling amazing. Now, you can expect this same level of excellence from its new unscented dish detergent refill. It comes with a 64 oz. pouch (expect to get up to 700 washes) and a refillable 16 oz. glass pump.

Buy Now On theLaundress!

Sebasco Round Indoor/Outdoor Metallic Gold Metal Planters Set

Snag your favorite plants and showcase them in these striking planters, featuring a gold finish. What’s more, the set is designed to be used both indoors and outside, so the possibilities are endless.

Buy Now On overstock!

Joan Berry Basket

You won’t make the mistake of spoiling anymore berries once you purchase this adorable ceramic basket.

Buy Now On ANTHROPOLOGIE!

Brightland Alive Olive Oil

A high-quality olive oil is a necessity for any home chef. Drizzle Brightland’s Alive oil on salads, sorbets, you name it.

Buy Now On brightland.co!

33 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for a Sparkling Home

Posted on April 7, 2021

Nothing feels quite as satisfying as coming home to a house that sparkles. Since cleaning your house from top to bottom can be overwhelming — not to mention, tiring and time-consuming — take it room by room or appliance by appliance with these spring cleaning tips from organizing and cleaning pros.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Floors

Posted on May 15, 2019

If you’re like me, you’re still knee deep in Spring cleaning. This week, I’m focusing on landscaping and getting my floors in shape so I’m sharing some of the research I’ve done about getting the dirt and grim out:

Your hard floors see a lot of action. No matter what type of flooring is installed in your home, domestic life takes its toll. They are streaked with mud, strewn with grass clippings and sprinkled with water on a regular basis. You may find yourself spending an upsetting amount of time trying to wipe, scrub and sweep the evidence away. Luckily, products designed for these situations hit the market regularly, so your options are expanding from the traditional to the innovative.

Mops

There are a few very popular brands of convenient mopping solutions in stores. If the convenience of a disposable moistened pad suits your needs, there are varieties that are specialized for different levels of cleaning and specific hard floor types. You simply need to choose the right formula and product for your floor. For example, there are some products that are made for pet owners who want to reduce the obvious results of shedding and odors that come with pet ownership. Cleaning is as simple as attaching the pad to the end of the mop and disposing of it when finished.

If you prefer the results achieved with a more traditional mop but hate to wring them out with your hands, spin mops are a good alternative. The mop itself looks similar to other mops, but it is equipped with a bucket that contains a basket-like attachment. The basket spins and wrings water from the mop when you place your foot on the bucket’s pedal. No more bending over and getting your hands wet.

Sweepers

From the basic to the elaborate, sweepers have come a long way since their invention. The cumbersome, loud contraptions of the past have given way to lighter and more versatile machines. There are many attachments that come with a lot of popular brands, and some even offer steam and dry sweeping in one model. You are not only able to clear debris from your floor, but you can also remove stains and germs from them with the same sweeper. These multi-tasking products are particularly efficient for people who lack the time and space for multiple cleaning tools.

A more recent development in the world of household cleaning products is the availability of robotic sweepers. These ultra-modern devices are programmable and automatic, so your floors will be spotless with virtually no effort. You tell the machine how long it should run, and it does the rest. Hours of floor cleaning is one less thing on your list of chores.

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Tips

Here’s Your 100 Item Spring Cleaning Checklist

Posted on February 25, 2018

Spring is coming and very soon it will be time to start thinking of doing a thorough and comprehensive cleaning and overhaul of the family home. Spring Cleaning is a time to start fresh and get rid of all the accumulated dust, grime and dirt from everyone being crammed indoors.

A little while ago the Imperfect Homemaking blog came up with a pretty thorough list of over 100 tasks including some of these below to guide your cleaning:

FOYER

1. Dust lighting fixtures.

2. Wash walls and trim

3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.

4. Wash bench or other furnishings. Launder bench cushion, if applicable.

5. Empty out coat closet. Wash walls and floor, if needed. Sort items as you return them to the closet. 6. 6. Store out of season items, donate unneeded items.

7. Clean or replace entry mat.

8. Sweep and scrub floors.

9. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

BEDROOMS

11. Open windows

12. Dust furniture.

13. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly. Donate Items you no longer need.

14. Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly. Donate items you no longer need. Try not to store things on closet floor.

15. Move Bed. Sort and put away anything that was under bed. Sweep or vacuum under bed. Try not to store things under bed.

16. Put bed back. Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up.

17. Launder bedding and curtains. Wash pillows and duvet in hot water. Air out mattress pad, if you have one.

18. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.

19. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

20. Wash switch plates. Wash walls and trim as needed.

21. Wash mirrors or dust art.

22. Wash doors and doorknobs.

23. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

24. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.

BATHROOMS

25. Open windows

26. Empty all cabinets and vanity. Wash inside, replace items neatly. Discard expired medications and cosmetics.

27. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities

28. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain.

29. Clean toilet, inside and out. Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.

30. Clean sink and drain.

31. Shine faucets.

32. Clean mirror and frame .

33. Dust light fixtures.

34. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

35. Wash switch plates. wash walls and trim. Wash doors and door knobs.

36. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

37. Sweep and wash floors.

38. Reseal grout lines if necessary.

KITCHEN

39. Open windows.

40. Remove and clean window coverings. Click here for instructions on cleaning mini blinds.

41. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly. Donate unneeded items.

42. Wash and sanitize cutting boards

43. Sharpen knives

44. Wash cabinet doors and knobs

45. Clean and organize pantry. Check food expiry dates.

46. Clean oven.

47. Clean stove top. Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.

48. Clean and organize fridge and freezer. Defrost freezer, if necessary. Check food expiry dates.

49. Clean under fridge and stove.

50. Vacuum refrigerator coils.

Continue READING and get the rest of the list for other areas of the home at Imperfect Homemaking and download a PRINTABLE LIST HERE!

Happy Cleaning!

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Tips

Your 100 Item Spring Cleaning Checklist is Here!

Posted on February 19, 2017

Spring is coming and very soon it will be time to start thinking of doing a thorough and comprehensive cleaning and overhaul of the family home. Spring Cleaning is a time to start fresh and get rid of all the accumulated dust, grime and dirt from everyone being crammed indoors.

A little while ago the Imperfect Homemaking blog came up with a pretty thorough list of over 100 tasks including some of these below to guide your cleaning:

FOYER

1. Dust lighting fixtures.

2. Wash walls and trim

3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.

4. Wash bench or other furnishings. Launder bench cushion, if applicable.

5. Empty out coat closet. Wash walls and floor, if needed. Sort items as you return them to the closet. 6. 6. Store out of season items, donate unneeded items.

7. Clean or replace entry mat.

8. Sweep and scrub floors.

9. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

BEDROOMS

11. Open windows

12. Dust furniture.

13. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly. Donate Items you no longer need.

14. Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly. Donate items you no longer need. Try not to store things on closet floor.

15. Move Bed. Sort and put away anything that was under bed. Sweep or vacuum under bed. Try not to store things under bed.

16. Put bed back. Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up.

17. Launder bedding and curtains. Wash pillows and duvet in hot water. Air out mattress pad, if you have one.

18. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.

19. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

20. Wash switch plates. Wash walls and trim as needed.

21. Wash mirrors or dust art.

22. Wash doors and doorknobs.

23. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

24. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.

BATHROOMS

25. Open windows

26. Empty all cabinets and vanity. Wash inside, replace items neatly. Discard expired medications and cosmetics.

27. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities

28. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain.

29. Clean toilet, inside and out. Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.

30. Clean sink and drain.

31. Shine faucets.

32. Clean mirror and frame .

33. Dust light fixtures.

34. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

35. Wash switch plates. wash walls and trim. Wash doors and door knobs.

36. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

37. Sweep and wash floors.

38. Reseal grout lines if necessary.

KITCHEN

39. Open windows.

40. Remove and clean window coverings. Click here for instructions on cleaning mini blinds.

41. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly. Donate unneeded items.

42. Wash and sanitize cutting boards

43. Sharpen knives

44. Wash cabinet doors and knobs

45. Clean and organize pantry. Check food expiry dates.

46. Clean oven.

47. Clean stove top. Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.

48. Clean and organize fridge and freezer. Defrost freezer, if necessary. Check food expiry dates.

49. Clean under fridge and stove.

50. Vacuum refrigerator coils.

Continue READING and get the rest of the list for other areas of the home at Imperfect Homemaking and download a PRINTABLE LIST HERE!

Happy Cleaning!

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Parenting

Your Ultimate Spring Cleaning Guide: Over 150 Tips & Links for You and the Kids to Get your Home In Shape

Posted on March 13, 2016

We are clothes to Spring Cleaning time in my house and I have already ascertained a timeline for getting tons of clean up, sorting and re-arranging done. I’m going to pull out my copy of Cherly Mendelson‘s book Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House which I reviewed HERE. I am going to try my hardest to get a bunch of these things from this Spring Cleaning checklist complete and will review once again my De-Clutter and Home Organizations Tips and these 30 Blog Posts to Help Parents Organize the Home Routine BLOG POSTS TO HELP PARENTS ORGANIZE THE HOME ROUTINE

And of course, I won’t forget to include the kids in this joy. You can too. Check out my past post about “9 Age-Appropriate Tasks for Little Hands and “10 Things Kids Can Learn from Doing Chores” and “10 Chores Your Pre-Schooler Can Do”

Finally, check out Montessori Schools’ famous chores chart for children of all ages for ideas on what you can assign your toddler thru High School -age kid to do.

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BumpNews

Here is Your 100 Item Spring Cleaning Checklist

Posted on February 23, 2016

Spring is coming and very soon it will be time to start thinking of of doing a thorough and comprehensive cleaning and overhaul of the family home. Spring Cleaning is a time to start fresh and get rid of all the accumulated dust, grime and dirt from everyone being crammed indoors.

A little while ago the Imperfect Homemaking blog came up with a pretty thorough list of over 100 tasks including some of these below to guide your cleaning:

FOYER

1. Dust lighting fixtures.

2. Wash walls and trim

3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.

4. Wash bench or other furnishings. Launder bench cushion, if applicable.

5. Empty out coat closet. Wash walls and floor, if needed. Sort items as you return them to the closet. 6. 6. Store out of season items, donate unneeded items.

7. Clean or replace entry mat.

8. Sweep and scrub floors.

9. Reseal grout lines, if necessary.

BEDROOMS

11. Open windows

12. Dust furniture.

13. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly. Donate Items you no longer need.

14. Remove everything from closets. Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly. Donate items you no longer need. Try not to store things on closet floor.

15. Move Bed. Sort and put away anything that was under bed. Sweep or vacuum under bed. Try not to store things under bed.

16. Put bed back. Freshen mattress by sprinkling with baking soda, letting sit briefly, and the vacuuming it up.

17. Launder bedding and curtains. Wash pillows and duvet in hot water. Air out mattress pad, if you have one.

18. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.

19. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

20. Wash switch plates. Wash walls and trim as needed.

21. Wash mirrors or dust art.

22. Wash doors and doorknobs.

23. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

24. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum.

BATHROOMS

25. Open windows

26. Empty all cabinets and vanity. Wash inside, replace items neatly. Discard expired medications and cosmetics.

27. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities

28. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain.

29. Clean toilet, inside and out. Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.

30. Clean sink and drain.

31. Shine faucets.

32. Clean mirror and frame .

33. Dust light fixtures.

34. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.

35. Wash switch plates. wash walls and trim. Wash doors and door knobs.

36. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.

37. Sweep and wash floors.

38. Reseal grout lines if necessary.

KITCHEN

39. Open windows.

40. Remove and clean window coverings. Click here for instructions on cleaning mini blinds.

41. For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly. Donate unneeded items.

42. Wash and sanitize cutting boards

43. Sharpen knives

44. Wash cabinet doors and knobs

45. Clean and organize pantry. Check food expiry dates.

46. Clean oven.

47. Clean stove top. Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.

48. Clean and organize fridge and freezer. Defrost freezer, if necessary. Check food expiry dates.

49. Clean under fridge and stove.

50. Vacuum refrigerator coils.

Continue READING and get the rest of the list for other areas of the home at Imperfect Homeaking and download a PRINTABLE LIST HERE!

Happy Cleaning!

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BumpNews

Family Spring Cleaning Tips

Posted on March 15, 2015

Spring cleaning season is just around the corner and families will be clearing out the dust and clutter that accumulated this winter. But part of that cleaning involves chemicals, mold and mildew, all which may contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Broan-NuTone offers the following tips from home-improvement expert Danny Lipford on how to breathe easy and have a healthier spring clean out.

Watch your chemical count!

§ When you use household cleaners be mindful of the harmful chemicals that circulate into the air you breathe. To be safe, open a window during and after the use of these products.

Keep humidity levels (and potential mold and mildew!) in check particularly in bathrooms and kitchens where moisture builds up throughout the year.

§ Easily test the effectiveness of your fan by holding a piece of tissue paper near the fan – if the fan is removing air properly the paper will be drawn against the grill and remain there as long as the fan is on

Clear the kitchen air after cooking and cleaning.

§ The kitchen is a key source of indoor air pollution especially with a gas stove, so make sure to use a range hood to remove the pollutants created from cooking and preparing meals.

Keep dust and debris at bay.

§ Dust is basically shed skin cells and pet dander. Dust mites feed on those particles and tend thrive in bedrooms on linens and blankets. Wash linens often in very hot water and replace pillows regularly, or cover existing pillows with antiallergenic covers.

Happy Cleaning!

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BumpNews

Spring Cleaning: The Must-Have Bible for Keeping House

Posted on March 17, 2014

Despite the fact that it may or may not be snowing still in your world, Spring starts this Thursday.

And whether you live in a single-family home, studio, apartment, loft or town home, NOW is an ideal time to start contemplating and planning your Spring Cleaning Checklist. Every one in the family: the kids, hubby or partner and even the littlest ones, can get involved and help get your home back in tip top shape after a dusty, musty and messy Winter.

Children can pick out which toys they will give away to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. If you or your spouse is handy around the home, itemize broken fixtures that need repair or replacement.

Before you start planning your Spring Cleaning tasks, it may be a good idea to make sure you understand the art of keeping house too.

When I got engaged back in 1999, a dear law school pal of mine threw me a bridal shower in her quaint Capitol Hill apartment. It was wonderfully organized and I got a chance to check out her very neatly organized home.

Her secret: The Bible of keeping house, “Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House” by Cheryl Mendelson, which she gave me as a gift.

It is a nearly 100-page hardback text and includes a comprehensive guide to every section of the home and is easily understood and great for beginners, like I was back then. Even intermediate or advanced home makers will find this resource text helpful.

My dog-eared version of the home-cleaning bible

I didn’t grow up with a mother who passed on homemaking skills and techniques to her children so I was clueless. The book was right on time.

In it, Mendelson explains materials and properties of common household items which is essential for knowing how to care for them and extend their life. She explains when to replace worn out items. Home Comforts has sections and subchapters like Electricity Safety, The Air in your Castle, Caring for jewelry, Ironing, How to launder Tricky Items and more.

Since I am pretty busy and have been since getting hitched years ago, I haven’t had time to comb carefully through the entire book, yet I use it as a reference guide and turn to it often…especially each Spring during Spring Cleaning time!

If you don’t already have a copy and are considering purchasing a new home or just want to start fresh and learn how to manage your own home, I highly recommend it. It’s available at Amazon.com in Kindle, Paperbook and Pdf now! And it makes a great wedding or bridal shower gift.

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BumpNews

It’s Spring Cleaning Time! Here are 10 iPhone Apps to help the process

Posted on February 28, 2014

It’s still Spring Cleaning in my house and I’m certain in other homes nationwide, people are cleaning our basements, washing comforters, putting away winter gear and getting their living quarters in tip top shape for the new season. If one has an iPhone, there are many apps out there that can help out in the spring cleaning process. Here are 10 from Housekeeping.org to keep in mind and consider downloading. Enjoy!

Useful Cleaning Tips – Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned house-cleaning pro, you could always use a few time-saving tips for how to clean your house faster and more effectively. That’s where this $0.99 app comes in handy, breaking down a variety of cleaning tips into dedicated categories and helping you learn new ways to complete your cleaning chore list in less time.
Cleaning Manual – Keep your carpets free of unsightly stains, learn how to manage your laundry in a manner that results in clean clothes that last longer, and eliminate some stress, all with the help of this free app that’s filled with advice and instructions for removing stains and caring for your clothing.
Rumgr – In order to maintain a clean and orderly home, you’ll need to clear out clutter and get rid of items you no longer need from time to time. This free app helps you do just that. Take a picture of something you want to sell, set the price, and then wait for buyers to contact you. You can even create a circle of preferred friends to buy, sell and trade with, eliminating some of the more anonymous aspects of working with local online classifieds sites.
Good Housekeeping @Home – Good Housekeeping has been a trusted source of home management tips for decades. Now, this venerable name is attached to an iPhone app that will help you learn the best ways to remove stains, manage household cleaning tasks, and even view inspiration photos for home decorating. The News and Tips feature brings Good Housekeeping articles and advice straight to your iPhone, keeping you informed about the best methods for managing your household.
HomeRoutines – Create your own housecleaning routine checklists and set the days of the week that you’d like to be reminded to complete them with this $3.99 app, which syncs between devices and can be edited online for optimal management. When you complete a task, you’ll even get a gold star!
Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule – Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule is a $0.99 app that manages all of your housekeeping chores with an innovative and effective “divide-and-conquer” approach that breaks even the most intimidating projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Check off items as you complete them and manage all of your recurring chores by reviewing information about how long it’s been since a specific task has been completed.
Green Shine – If you want to keep your house sparkling, but are hesitant to use harsh chemicals that can be dangerous to your children and harmful to the earth, this $2.99 app may be just what you’re looking for. Green Shine helps you replace your household cleaning chemicals with safer, more environmentally-sound alternatives.
Chore Hero – Every now and then, keeping the house clean means enlisting the help of the entire family. That’s where this $2.99 app shines, allowing users to build chore lists and delegate specific tasks in a fun and entertaining way, taking a bit of the drudgery out of housework.
Custom Hypnosis: House Cleaning Edition – This $1.99 app claims to make household cleaning tasks more enjoyable by playing hypnosis audio that motivates you and provides you with suggestions for making housework more fun and less stressful. The three currently supported powers of suggestion include cleaning the bathroom, dusting the house and doing the laundry.
Cleaning Checklist – Sometimes, all you need to get the housecleaning accomplished is a comprehensive list of what needs to be done and when each chore should be completed. This $1.99 app does just that, allowing you to build 100% customizable lists for cleaning the house, which can be backed up in the cloud or shared with other members of the household for delegating tasks.

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