Sometimes it seems like housecleaning is a never-ending, time-consuming chore.  Just when we thought we had a day or two off from work, then we have to spend our free time cleaning instead.  However, housecleaning doesn’t have to consume your free time.  With some clever ideas and time-saving actions, you can slash your cleaning time and have time to spend with your family doing the things you enjoy the most.
Instead of spending an entire day or weekend cleaning, clean half the house, or one story of a two-story, on one day or afternoon; clean the other half or other story on another afternoon. Reserve a block of time for the attic, basement, or garage.
Try dusting cloth lampshades with a lint roller. It works quickly and effectively and you don’t have to drag out the vacuum and hook up the hoses and attachments. And old sock slipped over your hand makes a great dusting cloth to dust furniture with while cleaning the shades.
Newspaper works great for cleaning mirrors and windows.  You’ll not only be saving money on paper towels, but you’ll be creatively recycling at the same time.  Vinegar is an affordable and effective cleaner that can be used on windows and mirrors, and if you wait for an overcast day to clean your windows and mirrors, you’re less likely to have streaks.
Soak your toilet with a deep cleaning bowl cleanser while cleaning the outside. The inside dirt and stains will be loosened and more easily cleaned.  By using a drop-in cleaner, you can extend the time between scrubbings.
Use a baking soda solution to wipe down the inside of the refrigerator. It scrubs and eliminates odors without damaging surfaces.
When you begin cooking, run a sink of hot soapy water, and wash as you go. Food on dishes won’t have a chance to harden, and you’ll be that much ahead when the meal is done. Make sure you’ve got plenty of paper plates and disposable flatware and cups on hand for those nights when your evening schedule is jam-packed with activities .

A deck is an extension of your home’s living space and where you will spend much of your time during the summer months. Consequently, it needs to be treated and cared for as much as your home’s inside rooms.

Most important to the care of your deck is regularly sealing it. This is particularly true if you want your deck to maintain the natural color of the wood.

Sealing a deck is critical in order to preserve the life and look of the wood. The sealant preserves the beauty of the natural wood by protecting it from both water and sun damage.

When to Apply the Deck Sealant

In order to preserve the natural wood look for many years, I typically apply the sealant every year. Also, I usually apply it in late summer/early fall as I live in New England. I do this because of the concern of snow lying on the deck for long periods of time during the winter months. My concern is in the acidity of the water in the snow. By putting on a sealant just prior to snow season, I can provide peak protection against the prolonged damaging effects of the acid contained in the water. In hotter climates, where there is less snow, I would suggest applying the deck sealer in late spring.

Clean the deck prior to Sealing

First, remove all of the deck furniture off of the deck.

Prior to sealing it is then best to power wash the deck and let it thoroughly dry. You may need to use a stiff bristly brush to get off any material that is not being removed by the power washer. Pine pitch frequently requires the services of this tool. There are also a variety of products offered by sealant manufactures that can also assist in the deck sealant preparation.

After power washing it may take 24-48 hours, or even longer, for the deck to thoroughly dry, pending weather conditions. Make sure the deck is completely dry prior to applying the sealant. Otherwise the sealant may not be appropriately absorbed into the wood’s surface.

Once the deck is dry, and you are about ready to begin sealing, use a leaf blower to remove any debris that may have fallen onto the deck’s surface since you power washed it. If you do not have a leaf blower, than simply sweep the deck.

Sealing the deck

First, the deck sealer should not be applied if the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and if rain is forecasted in the next 24 hours. Otherwise the sealant may not absorb properly, nor dry properly.

Using a brush apply the sealant around all the deck edges and posts. Once the edging is complete, use a sprayer, brush or roller to apply the sealant to the deck surface. Make sure that the sealant is firmly pressed into the wood surface to maximize the penetration of the sealant into the wood.

Typically only one coat is recommended by most deck sealers.

Though most manufactures suggest the deck is ready for walking on after 24 hours, I would recommend waiting a little longer if the weather has not been ideal for drying conditions.

Once the deck is dry, return the deck furniture and enjoy the beauty of your deck for another year.

All of us have a special tool lying around the house
that we simply cannot live without. A tool or gadget
that makes life a lot easier because it exists. For
many people, this tool or gadget is the hand held
vacuum cleaner. When it comes to cleaning house, this
tool is something many people couldn’t live without.

Regardless of the type of home you have, a hand held
vacuum cleaner can make life a lot easier. Whether
it’s a tiny apartment or a large mansion, these small
cleaners are the perfect way to cope with unexpected
spills and not have to worry about dragging a vacuum
cleaner around. Anyone who has messy kids or a messy
spouse, hand held vacuum cleaners can help you keep
your home spick and span without having to lose your
mind in the process.

The truth remains that few of us do housework just
for the sake of doing it. There are a few dedicated
souls out there who enjoy all the stretching and
exercise that cleaning involves, although the rest
of us just go for the results.

A clean and tidy home is very nice, relaxing, and
nothing in the world is more frustrating than
achieving one only to see all of your hard work being
shattered by the falling of crumbs or the spilling
of liquid on your freshly vacuumed floor.

The hand held vacuum cleaner will allow you to
enjoy the same results without having to do any of
the hard work. Many of us who find peace and
tranquility in an organized home will normally hide
tools we use to create it out of sight. Then,
when it comes time to clean house, dragging the
vacuum out of it’s hiding place can be a chore in
its own rights.

For small messes and spills, a pint sized cleaner
can help you retain your sense of peace simply
because it will help you to realize that the small
stuff is just that – small stuff – and nothing more.

The tools used to perform common household tasks
should be the things you love to use, as this is
actually the best way to ensure that the housework
will actually get done.

Small portable cleaning devices are the ultimate
in friendly cleaning equipment, as they can clean
up small messes before they get bigger. You also
don’t have to work all the time either to achieve
the clean home you want, you simply need the
right tools for the job.

The first time you pick up a handheld vacuum
cleaner, you’ll see how something so small in
size can make a world of difference. You’ll cut
your vacuum time in half and ensure that your
home stays clean all the time – spill free.

To maintain the look, feel, and appearance of your carpet you’ll need to vacuum on a regular basis. If

you are new to vacuuming, you’ll find the tips below to help you when it comes to keeping your home clean:

1. Before you start, you should always inspect the area. Pick up any objects that could cause your vacuum cleaner to clog up. The smaller objects are fine, just as long as they will pass through the vacuum.

2. You should check the vacuum bag to ensure that is isn’t full already. If it is full, you should go ahead and change it. A full bag isn’t going to suck up much dirt, as the power will be greatly reduced due to the bag taking up a great deal of storage and limiting the suction.

3. You should always vacuum forwards instead of going backwards. Going forward will get the job done quicker and you won’t wear your cord out near as fast. When going backwards, you also run the risk of running back over your cord, which is something you don’t want to do.

4. Be sure that you overlap your strokes to ensure that you get out all of the dirt and the residue. You don’t want to miss any of the carpet, which is why it is important that you overlap your strokes.

5. You should change your vacuuming direction on occasion to reduce any type of matting in your carpet. You can change direction without any problems. Doing this every time you make a sweep on the carpet or every other time you vacuum will be good.

6. On corners, use a damp cloth or a crevice tool attachment that hooks up to your vacuum cleaner. This will ensure that you get the corners and tight areas good, and they don’t stand out from the rest of the carpet.

7. You can get rid of dust particles and dirt by waving a vacuum wand under your bed. Doing so on occasion will ensure that your bedroom stays clean, and smells clean as well. For kitty litter on carpets or floors, you should use a lightweight vacuum cleaner. To get deep into the fibers of the carpet, you should try an upright vacuum cleaner with a power brush. Kitty litter can be a pain in the neck if it gets crushed in the pile or embedded, which is why you should get it out as quick as you can.

Give some thought to purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush or combination beater and brush bar, which will loosen up the dirt in the carpet and then suck it out. This will beat the
dirt from the fibers and even embedded dirt, which will leave your carpet clean and smelling great.

Whenever you vacuum, you should always be on the lookout for straw, thread, and string as it can
trap debris in the vacuum hose and result in a clog. These types of hazards are also bad for the
agitators as well, as they can clog up the suction as well, or get tangled up in the agitators and
cause more problems.

If you have pets, you should sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet before you vacuum. Let it sit for a little while, then vacuum. The baking soda is a lot cheaper than carpet fresheners and it does the same thing – only better.

Vacuuming is very easy to do, and it’s something that should be done on a regular basis. You don’t have to be an expert to vacuum, all you have to do is make an effort. Your carpet will look good all the time, and your house will stay smelling great – which is reason enough to grab the vacuum and take a trip through the house with it.

Households are bombarded with paper on a daily basis. Bills, statements, pay stubs, calendars, schedules, menus and permission slips seem innocent enough individually, but when joined with the other piles of unattended paperwork, they can form an army that overwhelms even the best defenses. But you shouldn’t feel defenseless against this persistent warrior. With an organized plan of attack and some disciplined strategy, the paperwork enemy can be conquered and tamed.

First of all, take a look at the type of paperwork that’s overwhelming you the most. Is it those bills that go unpaid when you can’t locate them? Is it the mounds of artwork your children have lovingly created and decorated your refrigerator with? Maybe it’s the constantly changing soccer schedule or troop meetings.

Once you determined the most invasive paper culprit or culprits, it’s time to line them up and sort them out. A successful filling system has three main components. A file for those things that need to be acted on immediately, one for those that are part of a household’s ongoing management, and one for those that are more infrequent but nevertheless crucial, such as tax records, insurance policies, wills, and home maintenance documents.

When conquering the paperwork monster, make a promise to yourself to deal with each item the first time you handle it. Get out of the habit of rifling through your mail and tossing it aside. Set aside time each day to open mail, go through paperwork in your inbox and sort and file appropriately. Decide if each item is something to be paid, something to be done, or something to be filed. At the end of each week, take out each file and respond appropriately by paying the bill, responding to the request, or moving items that need to be filed into their permanent locations. Of course, if you know something is urgent and can’t wait until week’s end, clip it to the front of your file box or place it in front in a folder labeled Urgent and act accordingly.

Save telephone time by keeping calendars, schedules, take-out menus and phone lists into clear page protectors in a 3-ring binder. Flip through the household notebook to quickly check meeting dates or find phone numbers. Create your own forms, or use our free printable Household Notebook forms. This is also a great place to put correspondence addressed to the entire family. Organize magazines and newspapers into baskets kept near couches and living room chairs for people to look at during their free time. Be sure to keep in the habit of sorting through this on a regular basis and filing those magazines you decide to keep and tossing old newspapers and magazines you wish you toss.

How do you remove permanent marker stains from carpet? Well, the bad news is that it’s called “permanent” marker for a reason. Depending on how new and how deep the stains are, you may not be able to remove them completely.

You can almost always lighten stains, though, and sometimes make them unnoticeable. There are other things you can do to hide the stain as well. Start with the method here to get out as much as you can.

First, thoroughly vacuum the area. This removes any loose dirt, dust or other substances that might give you trouble when you work on the stain.

For the carpet stain removal solvent, use rubbing alcohol or a non-oily hairspray. Use a small amount on a clean white cloth, and dab at the stain. You should see transfer of the stain to the cloth. Use another dry cloth to blot up the solution between applications.

Just apply the solution and blot it up several times. Then rinse the spot with clean water and blot that up. Finally, dry the area thoroughly.

Get Out The Remaining Stain

If you couldn’t get it all out, and if the stain isn’t too deep, it’s time to cut out some carpet – just a little. Try snipping away the stained edges with small scissors or with a razor blade or exacto knife. Use tweezers to carefully pull out severely stained fibers.

When you try the latter, you might want to remove clean carpet strands from another, hidden area in the room, and then glue them into the stained area. Then leave a heavy object on the spot for several days before walking on it. That’s how you remove permanent marker in all but the worst cases.

Kitchen or dining room tables can easily become a catch-all for everyone’s belongings. Mail, school books, car keys, pens, pencils, and other miscellaneous items can quickly appear, and at dinnertime, end up in a large pile of clutter somewhere else in your household.

To curtail this habit, try organizing a central area for everyone’s belongings right inside the door to your house. Install hooks on the wall so that purses, coats and backpacks can easily be hung upon entry. A bench or short shelf can be placed directly underneath the hanging area for clearly labeled catch-all bins for each member of the family. This will also help during the course of the day when picking up around the house. Items found around the house can be placed in these bins, and each family member should get into the habit of making sure items are emptied from the bins and properly put away each evening.

If your kitchen table doubles as an arts and crafts studio or location for your kids to do their homework, make sure that there are bins, shelves and containers nearby that neatly organize school, office and arts supplies, and keep them within easy reach. Help establish good habits in your children by ensuring they are held responsible for putting these things away as soon as they are done using them. Make sure snacks are kept on plates and drinks are kept on coasters to ease cleanup time.

A nicely decorated table spread is also an ingenious way to keep the table from becoming cluttered. Spread a nice tablecloth and place a large centerpiece on it, or even set four or six formal place settings on a dining room table that is not used for meals each evening. Your family will be less likely to lay things on these tables since they can see there are already things there. You’ll also be ready for company at the last moment this way.

We’re probably all guilty of having at least one junk drawer somewhere in our house. This is the drawer that started out as a helpful drawer that kept all the handy items in one place like tape, tacks, buttons, safety pins, and so forth in one central location, but turned into the drawer where other things manage to accumulate when people don’t know where they go or don’t feel like taking the time to put them away properly. Get this drawer (or drawers) back into useful mode again by using a few simple steps to bring things back under control.

First of all, in order to clean it out, you’ve got to empty it out. Remove everything. Place a piece of paper or tea towel down to protect your countertop or table surface, and literally dump the drawer on top if possible. Otherwise make sure all items are placed on this protected surface.

Once it’s out of the drawer, it needs to be sorted. Group all similar items together, and if you can’t determine what something is or if it’s needed after consulting with others in your family, get rid of it. If there are things in this drawer belong in another location, be sure they are put away promptly. Clean the drawer completely and wipe dry. Afterwards, lay a fresh drawer liner or contact paper inside.

The next trick is devising a simple, workable organized system that everyone in the family can use. Ice cube trays, egg cartons, small boxes or even 35-mm film containers work well to store small things in. If you cannot see into it to determine its contents, make sure it’s clearly labeled. Small plastic sandwich bags are ideal for organizing and storing rubber bands, thread, and string. If you store glues or other adhesives in this drawer, make sure they have lids that are secured. It might also be a good idea to get into the habit of storing them inside a plastic storage bag in order to avoid a mess down the road should the lid become unsecured in the shuffle or is not properly tightened after use.

Most importantly, encourage your family to keep the drawer organized and neat. If it’s properly maintained, there should be no need to shuffle through the drawer looking for things, creating an even bigger mess to clean out yet again in a few months.

There are many great reasons for having a yard sale. Some people have yard sales before they move so they don’t have to pack and ship belongings they aren’t using. Sometimes they are updating the look of their home and sell their old belongings to make money and room for the new ones. Sometimes your children just grow like weeds and rapidly outgrow both their clothes and their toys. It could also simply be the desire to purge all those items you’ve held onto for so long, thinking you’d find a use for them but never did.

No matter what your reason, having a yard sale is a relatively easy goal to achieve and requires just a few hours of preparation and a few more hours actually selling your wares. You’ll reap both financial and emotional rewards from it.

Decide on a date for your yard sale, then get to work surveying the items you have. When you’re going through your house deciding what to sell, you’ll have to be brutally honest with yourself. If you haven’t used it, don’t like it, don’t see yourself using it or don’t know of anyone personally who could benefit from it, then it’s a yard sale item. Sort through every dresser and kitchen drawer, every clothes and linen closet, every cupboard and toy box you have in your house. Don’t forget your basement, attic, pantry, entertainment center, buffet and outdoor tool shed as well.

If an item belongs to a family member, don’t make the decision for them. Get their input before placing an item in your yard sale box. Regardless of the time it takes to sort through all your items, make the commitment to stick with it and remind yourself on a continual basis the monetary profit and emotional relief you’ll feel once your clutter has been cleared from your home.

Once the sale is over, make another commitment to yourself not to bring the unsold items back into your home. Make arrangements with your local rescue mission or charity thrift store to donate the items. Most will be happy to make arrangements to pick up large donations as well as provide you with a tax receipt reflecting your generous donation.

Once it’s all said and done, you’ll have some extra pocket change, and can breathe an emotional sigh of relief that the clutter that’s been weighing you down for so long has been purged from your home. Renew your commitment to remain organized and to combat the clutter demon on a continual basis.

Make your Closet Easily Accessible

Okay, you’ve finally reached your breaking point.  The stack of handbags and purses on the top of the closet shelf toppled over on top of you again, not to mention the mountain of shoes you trip over every time you have to get something out of the closet. You’re at your wits end about what to do, and haven’t a clue where to start. You’ve got to figure out a workable, affordable solution and make your closet more user-friendly.  Try some of these simple tools to help you get your closet space under control.

A double hanging rod is a simple addition and gives you double the hanging space.  It simply hangs from your existing rod.  You can also hang sweater or shoe bags from your existing rod to store sweaters, purses and handbags, hats, and other accessories and place them within easy reach.  There are also several clever options for storage that hangs from the top of your closet door.

Take a stroll down your favorite discount store’s home organization aisles.  You’ll find many clever ideas for affordable storage.  Sturdy bins and colorful baskets can be an easy and affordable addition to your closet, and make the job of maintaining it a snap.

And since you’ve most likely got a sizable investment in your wardrobe, it makes sense to do your part to care for your garments properly.  Place coats, suits, furs, formals, and other expensive items in protective storage bags. Invest in some good, strong wooden hangers.  Protect these items by having them properly cleaned before storing, and enclose in zip-up hanging bags.

Wooden clothing hangers are much better for your clothes.  They’re durable and long-lasting, too. Depending on the size of your wardrobe, it might be expensive to replace them all at once, so you might want to consider replacing them gradually.