Best way to clean a high chair?
In the summer, remove the padding, take the chair outside to the grass and hose it down with the garden hose. Get out a sponge or scrub brush and some dish soap and scrub the chair down. Scrub the padding down too if it's plastic or toss it in the washer machine. Rinse the chair with the hose again and towel dry it and you'll be surprised how clean you can get it!
Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts
7.22.2010
6.08.2010
Living Clean
It pays to live clean. I've come to discover that knowing how to clean and living clean are two different things. Most people know how to clean well enough when their house gets dirty and messy but not very many people live clean in-between.
You can touch stuff in your house with sticky hands never washing and never wiping off. You can spill in the kitchen and leave it. You can get toothpaste all over the sink and counter (and sometimes walls as I've discovered in my house cleaning business) and choose not to wipe it up. You can let dirt and crumbs fall on the floor and not think twice about sweeping them up. You can also not put things away.
OR
You can wash your hands so they aren't sticky and wipe up counters and sinks as you go. You can wipe off cabinets and handles, keep the lid on the toothpaste and even wipe off the toothpaste to keep it clean. You can sweep up the floor and wipe up the spills. You can take the few seconds it requires to put something away when you are done with it. Doing this you will find that you save yourself a ton of time on cleaning day and that your home is maintained better in general.
It's worth training your children to live clean by teaching them to clean up after themselves, wipe off, wash off, and sweep up. How early can you start this? As early as they make messes.
Even with potty training you have an opportunity to teach "living clean". Most parents think of potty training as "teaching my kids to go pee and poop in the toilet". Oh, it is SO much more than that! When I was potty training my kids I taught them the entire process.
Shut the door for privacy.
Go potty or poop.
Use toilet paper (3 squares) and properly wipe (there is a "right" way you know).
Close the lid of the seat.
Flush the toilet.
Wash your hands with soap.
Dry off your hands.
Turn off the light.
I feel sorry for the parent that fails to teach all of these steps. Trying to teach them after the fact is difficult. Don't miss the opportunity to teach at the moment a habit is learned. How often I have had children over to my house who don't flush, leave the lid up, and don't wash. How often I have had adults over who do the same! Living clean in this area can keep a much cleaner bathroom and no surprises in the toilet left for later. Not that we have kept living clean as a strict standard but it sure does help to at least have these habits in general.
Living clean means we respect what God has given us. Being a good steward of everything God has given us is honorable. We are not so lazy that we just spill and leave it. Living clean means that we show favor to the ones that have to live with us. It also means that our home is more ready for hospitality. It also ensures that we don't have a huge mountain of work ahead of us when we do decide to finally clean.
You can touch stuff in your house with sticky hands never washing and never wiping off. You can spill in the kitchen and leave it. You can get toothpaste all over the sink and counter (and sometimes walls as I've discovered in my house cleaning business) and choose not to wipe it up. You can let dirt and crumbs fall on the floor and not think twice about sweeping them up. You can also not put things away.
OR
You can wash your hands so they aren't sticky and wipe up counters and sinks as you go. You can wipe off cabinets and handles, keep the lid on the toothpaste and even wipe off the toothpaste to keep it clean. You can sweep up the floor and wipe up the spills. You can take the few seconds it requires to put something away when you are done with it. Doing this you will find that you save yourself a ton of time on cleaning day and that your home is maintained better in general.
It's worth training your children to live clean by teaching them to clean up after themselves, wipe off, wash off, and sweep up. How early can you start this? As early as they make messes.
Even with potty training you have an opportunity to teach "living clean". Most parents think of potty training as "teaching my kids to go pee and poop in the toilet". Oh, it is SO much more than that! When I was potty training my kids I taught them the entire process.
Shut the door for privacy.
Go potty or poop.
Use toilet paper (3 squares) and properly wipe (there is a "right" way you know).
Close the lid of the seat.
Flush the toilet.
Wash your hands with soap.
Dry off your hands.
Turn off the light.
I feel sorry for the parent that fails to teach all of these steps. Trying to teach them after the fact is difficult. Don't miss the opportunity to teach at the moment a habit is learned. How often I have had children over to my house who don't flush, leave the lid up, and don't wash. How often I have had adults over who do the same! Living clean in this area can keep a much cleaner bathroom and no surprises in the toilet left for later. Not that we have kept living clean as a strict standard but it sure does help to at least have these habits in general.
Living clean means we respect what God has given us. Being a good steward of everything God has given us is honorable. We are not so lazy that we just spill and leave it. Living clean means that we show favor to the ones that have to live with us. It also means that our home is more ready for hospitality. It also ensures that we don't have a huge mountain of work ahead of us when we do decide to finally clean.
3.24.2010
Love to Cook, Hate to Cook
Women today have decided that if they don't enjoy domestic work, have never learned, or don't know how that they should not be expected to do it. In an age where laziness is rampant, self-focus is encouraged, excuses are accepted, and the idea that I can make the world cater to me instead of me serving the world, believing-women have brought this thinking into their own homes. I know more and more women who "don't cook" and "don't clean" because (and I've heard it all) "I don't know how to cook," "I'm too tired," "I'd rather eat out," "it's too much work," "I can't possibly get it done so I need a maid," "I have better things to spend my time on," "I'm working a full time job," and the worst I've heard, "I don't like to cook."
Our great-grandmothers would be appalled at the excuses given and the attitudes behind them. I truly believe that. I'm sure they would wonder how so much was lost in just two generations. Is it our American wealth, or maybe the American slogan of the day that speaks of self, self, self, or maybe just laziness. The crazy thing is that we have so many more tools, products, resources, cookbooks, internet, appliances, and so forth that our great-grandmothers did NOT have. I'm sure we have never come close to working as hard as they had in one week's time just in caring for their family's basic needs.
My point, dear daughter, and dear grand-daughters of my future, is that there are plenty of days that I don't "like" to cook. I don't only cook because I like to cook. I do love to cook in general but there have been plenty of times that I wasn't in the mood or loving the experience of cooking. I cook because it is the best thing for my family. By cooking I provide my family with healthier foods, I spend my husband's paycheck with frugality, and I facilitate the training, habits, and bonding that are created at the dinner table which will be carried down for generations (the stuff that doesn't happen in a fast food joint). It may come as a shock to some but sometimes we have to do work that we don't like to do because we need to do it.
As a young pastor's wife another young pastor's wife told me that she had heard a man speak at a pastor's conference about how pastor's wives should have (are entitled to) a housekeeper. His reasoning was that the strains of ministry were so much that she would not possibly be able to care for a home and tend to the ministry. The workload would be too much and so she needs a housekeeper to take over the home so that she can be busy with ministry. I was so deeply struck by this comment. My mind wrestled with it for years.
As we began our lives in ministry I did feel overwhelmed. Yet, I took on more and more responsibility with church and my home suffered for it. My flesh kept wanting to cry out "I deserve a housekeeper!" knowing that we could not possibly afford one I began to grow bitter. Bitter at the man who had said I deserved one and bitter that the church wasn't paying my husband enough for us to have one. But there was another side to my thinking that kept nagging me. It was the side that said "no, my family and home comes first. That's my job. It belongs to no one else."
And so I wrestled with it some more...my flesh selfishly tugging me one way and the voice of reason and conviction trying to convince me that it was my job. Then I was super overwhelmed trying to take on both because it was too much. I could not do it all and something had to give. The day finally came when I realized that if I couldn't take care of my home then I had to cut back on ministry. I'm sure that seems pretty obvious but believe me it took years to figure that out. I had to learn that it was okay to not take on every ministry need just because I was the pastor's wife...that's a topic for a whole book....
My home and caring for it should be my joy. I should take pride and refuge in the job God has given me. It's a safe place to be....God's will is always a safe place to be. Cooking meals for my family is hard work and I don't always love it, but I do love being in God's will. I know it's God's will for me to serve my family, to work hard, to be frugal, to consider my family's best health, and to not be lazy. This has to do a lot with work ethic. If you believe that hard work is something to roll up your sleeves and tackle till it's done and you have no fear of hard work, this will come easy for you. If you are lazy and believe that you deserve to lay around, sit on the computer for long hours, neglect your laundry, cleaning, and cooking all the while lying to yourself that you have too much to do, that you are too tired, or that it's acceptable to say "but I don't like to do it"or "I'm no good at it" then this will be difficult for you.
If you are not good at it, then practice and get better. If you don't know how then find someone who does and ask them to teach you. If you don't like to cook then I pity you but you should still do it. I don't like grocery shopping but I do it. Think of the consequences if I just decided one day not to grocery shop any longer. Think of the consequences of a wife and mother that decides she doesn't feel like cooking very much. The majority of today's families in American are living that nightmare right now. They are oblivious to the consequences, the waste, the health crisis, and the attitude that they are passing on to the next generation.
When you are tired, rest, but then roll up your sleeves and press on.
Our great-grandmothers would be appalled at the excuses given and the attitudes behind them. I truly believe that. I'm sure they would wonder how so much was lost in just two generations. Is it our American wealth, or maybe the American slogan of the day that speaks of self, self, self, or maybe just laziness. The crazy thing is that we have so many more tools, products, resources, cookbooks, internet, appliances, and so forth that our great-grandmothers did NOT have. I'm sure we have never come close to working as hard as they had in one week's time just in caring for their family's basic needs.
My point, dear daughter, and dear grand-daughters of my future, is that there are plenty of days that I don't "like" to cook. I don't only cook because I like to cook. I do love to cook in general but there have been plenty of times that I wasn't in the mood or loving the experience of cooking. I cook because it is the best thing for my family. By cooking I provide my family with healthier foods, I spend my husband's paycheck with frugality, and I facilitate the training, habits, and bonding that are created at the dinner table which will be carried down for generations (the stuff that doesn't happen in a fast food joint). It may come as a shock to some but sometimes we have to do work that we don't like to do because we need to do it.
As a young pastor's wife another young pastor's wife told me that she had heard a man speak at a pastor's conference about how pastor's wives should have (are entitled to) a housekeeper. His reasoning was that the strains of ministry were so much that she would not possibly be able to care for a home and tend to the ministry. The workload would be too much and so she needs a housekeeper to take over the home so that she can be busy with ministry. I was so deeply struck by this comment. My mind wrestled with it for years.
As we began our lives in ministry I did feel overwhelmed. Yet, I took on more and more responsibility with church and my home suffered for it. My flesh kept wanting to cry out "I deserve a housekeeper!" knowing that we could not possibly afford one I began to grow bitter. Bitter at the man who had said I deserved one and bitter that the church wasn't paying my husband enough for us to have one. But there was another side to my thinking that kept nagging me. It was the side that said "no, my family and home comes first. That's my job. It belongs to no one else."
And so I wrestled with it some more...my flesh selfishly tugging me one way and the voice of reason and conviction trying to convince me that it was my job. Then I was super overwhelmed trying to take on both because it was too much. I could not do it all and something had to give. The day finally came when I realized that if I couldn't take care of my home then I had to cut back on ministry. I'm sure that seems pretty obvious but believe me it took years to figure that out. I had to learn that it was okay to not take on every ministry need just because I was the pastor's wife...that's a topic for a whole book....
My home and caring for it should be my joy. I should take pride and refuge in the job God has given me. It's a safe place to be....God's will is always a safe place to be. Cooking meals for my family is hard work and I don't always love it, but I do love being in God's will. I know it's God's will for me to serve my family, to work hard, to be frugal, to consider my family's best health, and to not be lazy. This has to do a lot with work ethic. If you believe that hard work is something to roll up your sleeves and tackle till it's done and you have no fear of hard work, this will come easy for you. If you are lazy and believe that you deserve to lay around, sit on the computer for long hours, neglect your laundry, cleaning, and cooking all the while lying to yourself that you have too much to do, that you are too tired, or that it's acceptable to say "but I don't like to do it"or "I'm no good at it" then this will be difficult for you.
If you are not good at it, then practice and get better. If you don't know how then find someone who does and ask them to teach you. If you don't like to cook then I pity you but you should still do it. I don't like grocery shopping but I do it. Think of the consequences if I just decided one day not to grocery shop any longer. Think of the consequences of a wife and mother that decides she doesn't feel like cooking very much. The majority of today's families in American are living that nightmare right now. They are oblivious to the consequences, the waste, the health crisis, and the attitude that they are passing on to the next generation.
When you are tired, rest, but then roll up your sleeves and press on.
3.01.2010
What I've Learned About House Cleaning
Using the right tools make cleaning faster, easier, and more efficient.
It's worth investing in good cleaning tools.
Using the right cleaning products make cleaning faster, easier and more efficient. Don't skimp on good cleaning products.
When cleaning your own house, keep a full set of cleaning supplies in each bathroom so that you don't have to cart them around your house when cleaning.
When cleaning someone else's house, keep your supplies in an easy to carry cleaning tote.
For hardwood floors, use a microfiber mop made for hardwood floors. Keep 50% water and 50% vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the floor as you mop with a microfiber mop. For really dirty hardwood floors use Pinesol (now safe for hardwood floors) and a kitchen mop...just be sure to soak up as much water as possible.
For ring-around-the-toilet bowl use a pumice stone made for cleaning toilets.
A good vacuum is worth the investment!
Rags are essential. I used to only use a sponge but when I started cleaning houses for a living, I learned how fast rags make the work go. Just be sure to only use bathroom rags in the bathroom and kitchen rags in the kitchen. You can't have enough rags. I buy them in the automotive section of Walmart in a dozen pack.
An extendable duster works great for hard to reach cobwebs and ceiling fan dusting. Get one.
Furniture polish not only keeps your furniture in great condition but it also gives furniture a fresh look.
A good pair of running shoes is vital to cleaning house!
It's worth investing in good cleaning tools.
Using the right cleaning products make cleaning faster, easier and more efficient. Don't skimp on good cleaning products.
When cleaning your own house, keep a full set of cleaning supplies in each bathroom so that you don't have to cart them around your house when cleaning.
When cleaning someone else's house, keep your supplies in an easy to carry cleaning tote.
For hardwood floors, use a microfiber mop made for hardwood floors. Keep 50% water and 50% vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the floor as you mop with a microfiber mop. For really dirty hardwood floors use Pinesol (now safe for hardwood floors) and a kitchen mop...just be sure to soak up as much water as possible.
For ring-around-the-toilet bowl use a pumice stone made for cleaning toilets.
A good vacuum is worth the investment!
Rags are essential. I used to only use a sponge but when I started cleaning houses for a living, I learned how fast rags make the work go. Just be sure to only use bathroom rags in the bathroom and kitchen rags in the kitchen. You can't have enough rags. I buy them in the automotive section of Walmart in a dozen pack.
An extendable duster works great for hard to reach cobwebs and ceiling fan dusting. Get one.
Furniture polish not only keeps your furniture in great condition but it also gives furniture a fresh look.
A good pair of running shoes is vital to cleaning house!
got laundry stains?
Once the washer machine is filled (don't be afraid to use hot water-unless it's blood stains then use cold), let it run for about 5 minutes to mix the soap in good. Then turn it off and let it sit and soak for at least an hour if not longer.
Using Oxiclean helps too. The Oxi spray and the Oxiclean powder both do an amazing job.
For extra tough stains try rubbing a Fels Naptha bar on the stain or soaking in vinegar. Soaking in vinegar also helps remove bad smells.
Hydrogen Peroxide takes out blood stains and other stains on white clothing.
Using Oxiclean helps too. The Oxi spray and the Oxiclean powder both do an amazing job.
For extra tough stains try rubbing a Fels Naptha bar on the stain or soaking in vinegar. Soaking in vinegar also helps remove bad smells.
Hydrogen Peroxide takes out blood stains and other stains on white clothing.
1.15.2010
Homemaking Internship
"But the truth is that homemaking involves so much more than just cleaning a house. The commands in Scripture to love, follow, and help a husband; to raise children for the glory of God; and to manage a home encompass a vast responsibility. Homemaking requires an extremely diverse array of skills—everything from management abilities, to knowledge of health and nutrition, to interior decorating capabilities, to childhood development expertise. If you are to become an effective homemaker, then you must study these subjects and many more.Read the whole article here. I'm printing it for my daughter.
Finally, back to you, daughters. Let me encourage each of you to embrace your mother’s domestic teaching. Allow her to probe your heart and direct your affections toward the home. And take it one step further. Appoint yourself as your mom’s homemaking assistant. In addition to your assigned chores, be on the lookout for practical ways you can shoulder more of her homemaking responsibilities. In so doing, you will not only receive vital training for your future mission, but you will honor God by expressing your femininity today. In conclusion, let me leave you with these words from John Angell James:
My young friends, let it be
your constant aim, and at
the same time your earnest
prayer, that you may first of all
thoroughly understand your
mission, and then diligently
prepare for it, and hereafter
as successfully fulfill it."
Carolyn Mahaney
12.13.2009
Be home
It took me a while to learn that when my children were little I needed to be home as much as possible. I liked being out and about most days as it was my nature and habit but I soon realized that little children (infants included) thrive on being home. They need routine and the security of home. Dragging my children out of the house every day from place to place only created chaos. Babies and children need the habit of good naps in the same place every day to establish healthy sleep habits. Taking them out of the house every day is over stimulating for their little bodies and minds. Once I learned that being home was best life became more peaceful and my children became much happier. I purposed to only leave the house twice a week if I had to which included my grocery shopping, errands, and play dates. Only 2 times during the work week was my rule. As a family, on the weekends there was already church on Sunday, errands to run as a family or other commitments to attend so we were out plenty as it was each week.
Being disciplined in this area (as much of an adjustment as it was for me to be home almost every day) came in handy when it was time to do potty training. I realized that I needed to be home as much as possible when we potty trained as well. It also became a beneficial discipline when I began homeschooling.
Being home more actually brought myself more freedom. At first it felt restricting because I was not a homebody and I thrived on social contact. But over time I adjusted and benefited from the peace that being home brought. Suddenly there were other benefits that I didn't realize. Like how much better in control of my house I was....the house stayed cleaner, I was more organized, meals were prepared on time more often, my husband came home to happy well rested children, a clean and welcoming home, a hot meal ready, and a happy wife who was also more rested and organized. I was free to enjoy doing what I was called to do....I was free to care for my children, free to keep my house clean, free to prepare healthy meals, free to play with and enjoy my children, free to rest, free to stay home and enjoy being a wife and mom. By allowing me to be a stay-at-home mom, my husband gave me the greatest gift which is to enjoy fulfilling my role as wife and mother in a Biblical fashion. Enjoying it to the fullest and disciplining myself in my role became my joy and peace.
Being home provides the opportunity to be organized and disciplined with caring for my home and my children. I still have the choice to be home and be lazy or be home and be disciplined. Being home merely provides the means.
Now, I am a homebody. I love being home and truly hate when I have to leave for the day to run errands or grocery shop. The best spent day for me is a day spent home soaking up my children's youth, preparing my home daily for my family and making a home that welcomes my husband back each day from the strains of life.
Being disciplined in this area (as much of an adjustment as it was for me to be home almost every day) came in handy when it was time to do potty training. I realized that I needed to be home as much as possible when we potty trained as well. It also became a beneficial discipline when I began homeschooling.
Being home more actually brought myself more freedom. At first it felt restricting because I was not a homebody and I thrived on social contact. But over time I adjusted and benefited from the peace that being home brought. Suddenly there were other benefits that I didn't realize. Like how much better in control of my house I was....the house stayed cleaner, I was more organized, meals were prepared on time more often, my husband came home to happy well rested children, a clean and welcoming home, a hot meal ready, and a happy wife who was also more rested and organized. I was free to enjoy doing what I was called to do....I was free to care for my children, free to keep my house clean, free to prepare healthy meals, free to play with and enjoy my children, free to rest, free to stay home and enjoy being a wife and mom. By allowing me to be a stay-at-home mom, my husband gave me the greatest gift which is to enjoy fulfilling my role as wife and mother in a Biblical fashion. Enjoying it to the fullest and disciplining myself in my role became my joy and peace.
Being home provides the opportunity to be organized and disciplined with caring for my home and my children. I still have the choice to be home and be lazy or be home and be disciplined. Being home merely provides the means.
Now, I am a homebody. I love being home and truly hate when I have to leave for the day to run errands or grocery shop. The best spent day for me is a day spent home soaking up my children's youth, preparing my home daily for my family and making a home that welcomes my husband back each day from the strains of life.
10.24.2009
kneeling on hard floors
When I was bathing little ones my knees would start to hurt kneeling at the tub. One day I thought of the gardening kneeling pads. I got one and kept it under the bathroom sink to save my knees some pain.
A few years later I started using it when I would mop my floors by hand as well.
A few years later I started using it when I would mop my floors by hand as well.
lampshades need a cleaning?
the best way to dust a fabric lampshade is with a lint roller. It works amazingly well!
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