Life As Mom » Cleaning

Get Cleaning with Norwex (A Giveaway)

Jessica Fisher — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:40:26 +0000

Antibacterial cleaning cloths can make cleaning more fun and chemical free. Win some this weekend from Norwex.

I am not a clean freak. I really wish I were. But, I’m not. I like to call what I have, creativity. But, others might call it distracted or even flaky. While I love things to be clean and while I don’t mind doing it once I get going, finding the motivation to get myself in gear is harder.

So, over time I’ve found ways to make cleaning a little more, dare I say it, enjoyable. Good music, a glass of my favorite beverage, and a bribe to myself to do something fun when I’m done are always helpful. Companionship helps, too, whether it’s my kids to work alongside me or a friend to talk to while I scrub.

Find Cool Tools

Another thing that helps is having the right tools for the job. Since FishPapa was a general contractor for so many years and needed the complete line of every construction tool imaginable, he’s never been stingy with my buying whatever tools I needed. In fact, when I was teaching, he said clothes were my tools, and he made me go spend money on clothes!

(Yes, I did marry Mr. Right For Me.)

Having the right tools for cleaning tasks is not only expected around here, but they make the job easier and more fun to do. I have found cleaners that work for me. Aside from a little bleach for disinfecting, I almost exclusively use vinegar and baking soda for my everyday cleaning tasks. But, last year in our discussion about bleach, Laura mentioned that bleach was still bad. She mentioned something about using a silver cloth, information which I filed away. But, the post slipped into the archives and I forgot what brand cloth she mentioned.

Recently I had a chance to try out Norwex cleaning products. I had actually never heard of the brand before, or at least I didn’t think so. But, rereading the comments on the bleach post clued me in that Norwex was the brand Laura was talking about! Crazy.

In researching Norwex, I was pleased to see that they are a company dedicated to cleaning without chemicals. I love that! And they sell those silver-laden clothes that Laura mentioned.

Mom-preneur Marilyn Kjellman sent me a number of Norwex cleaning cloths that are fabulous for all the messes this family of 8 can make. I was especially smitten with the Blue Dusting Mitt.

And the Olive Green Tea Towel Set is super soft, a great feature for when you are washing and drying often.
According to Norwex,

“Norwex microfiber goes beyond “surface clean” with the innovative use of silver particles integrated into synthetic microfiber cloth ensure:

Single-celled micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeast, and viruses cannot survive or adapt in silver exposure
Surface-to-surface cross-contamination is eliminated
Rapidly drying cloths prevent bacteria growth in the cloth itself”

I think that is very cool. I am really impressed with the entire line and am thankful to add some new tools to my bag of tricks. Especially if cleaning is more fun — and chemical free.

You can check out all that Norwex has to offer at their main site or browse the specials page for occasional discounts.

This weekend Marilyn is offering a great giveaway. Three Life as MOM readers will each win one of the following:

Basic Package
Kitchen Tea Towel Set
Dusting Mitt

~~To Enter:~~

~~Leave a comment telling us, what tools YOU use to get your house spanking clean?~~

This promotion is open until Sunday, December 11th, at 8 pm PST and is limited to US residents, 18 years or older. The winner will be chosen randomly and notified via email. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. This post will be updated with the beginning of the winner’s email addresses. The prize for this promotion is provided by and shipped by Marilyn Kjellman. Life as MOM will not be held responsible for unclaimed or undelivered prizes.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winners: jlmwnk@, Couponrn@, bluehydrangea@

Disclosure: I received review product and been compensated for my time administering this giveaway. All opinions are my own.

SPONSOR: Great Homeschool Conventions offer a wide range of resources and speakers for homeschoolers. Attend one of five conventions nationwide: Cincinnati, Greenville, Hartford, Long Beach, and Memphis.

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Laundry Tips for the Potty Training Family

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:27:25 +0000

The following is written by LifeasMOM contributing writer, Prerna:

We are in full potty-training mode at our household. Our daughter has moved to toddler underwear and while we are thrilled about her ditching the diapers, the switch has meant an additional load of laundry to deal with accidental messes and smells.

In true mama spirit, I’d love to share some laundry tips and tricks to help you deal with laundry during toilet-training time.

1. Get the Stains and Smells Out

One of the biggest challenges that we faced were dealing with the poop and pee stains and smells. During the initial days of potty training, accidents were common and getting the stains and smell out were of highest priority. So, here’s what worked for me:

For Stain Removal

First of all, get rid of the solid waste by flushing it into the toilet. Next, swish the soiled underwear in a half-filled bucket of water, rinse, repeat if necessary. Throw away the dirty water. Apply a paste of detergent, oxygen-based stain remover and water, let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes. Use a scrubbing brush to scrub away stains. Toss into washing machine or wash by hand.

Getting Rid of Smells

Soaking the underwear in a vinegar-water solution before washing them by hand worked to not only get rid of the stains but also the smells.

You can also try soaking the stained and soiled underwear in a solution of soda bicarbonate and water and then, washing as usual. I’ve also found sprinkling soda bicarb in shoes that have gotten wet during an accident works well to get rid of pee smell.

2. Laundry Hygiene and Toddler Toilet Training Clothes and Underwear

I wanted to keep her underwear separate from our loads of laundry for two big reasons: One the thought of washing poop and pee-stained underwear with our regular clothes was too icky. Two, washing her toddler underwear with our delicates and undergarments was also, too icky. So, I may be paranoid but I do a separate load of laundry with just her underwear and maybe a mattress cover or two.

3. Have a Toilet Training Laundry Plan

Since moving your toddler to cotton underwear will translate into extra loads of laundry, especially if you haven’t been using cloth diapers before, you want to have a laundry plan in place. You’ll also have to hand wash the clothes that have been soiled due to “accidents” so that they don’t sit around smelling and stain-setting for long. So, hand wash clothes like shorts, socks or skirts that get wet right away and reserve a day for doing your toddler’s underwear.

Since I do several different types of laundry loads, it meant doing her load of underwear on the day I did our delicates and undergarments as well. So, find out what works for you and create a plan. Else, you’ll end up with a stash of dirty toddler underwear before you know it.

Are you a potty training mom?

How do you keep on top of the laundry pile when potty training?

– Prerna Malik is a mom, a wife, a writer and woman who believes in parenting with love, being postively productive, and creating a home that invites you to put your feet up and relax. Find her sharing her simple tips and easy-to-do ideas at The Mom Writes or follow her on Twitter.

For Further Reading:

Potty Training in 10 Days or Less
One Clever Potty Seat
A Travel Potty Seat – Don’t Leave Home without It

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Be Prepared for Carsickness

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:46:06 +0000

Summer vacations are just around the corner. And with them come the summer road trip. And while your destination and your luggage are important things to plan for, so is the inevitable bout of carsickness.

Yes, you hate to think about it. But, when your child hollers, “Mom, I feel sick!” from the backseat as you tool along I-35 with no place to stop, you’re going to have to think about it. So, plan ahead.

Both my girls tend toward car sickness. And recent experience, like both of them throwing up in the car two days in a row, has taught me to be better prepared. Trying to clean up the Rapunzel doll’s hair in the aftermath is no fun. Trust me.

You never know when your child might feel queasy on the road, so pack a box like this one:

Car Sick Kit

paper towels – for wiping up
disinfecting wipes – for sanitizing
plastic cups – for a stand in “barf bucket”
mini can of Lysol – for fumigating
squirt bottle – for cleaning off car seats, seat belts, and Rapunzel’s tangled doll hair (don’t ask)
plastic bags – to contain all the trash and mucked up clothes
and a first aid kit just ‘cuz

It is now standard operating procedure to hand the boys plastic cups so that they can hand them to their sisters should they get sick en route. And if they miss the cup, well, we’re prepared for clean up duty, too.

What do YOU do to be prepared on the road?

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Why Dishwashing by Hand Can be a Fun Choice

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:00:00 +0000

The following is a post from LifeasMOM contributor, Prerna:

Washing the dishes by hand has been my favorite part of housekeeping. When I got married, my mother-in-law thought I was crazy sicne each night I would happily and enthusiastically jump at the chance of doing the dishes. Yes, that’s how much I love playing with soapy water!

Here are five of my favorite reasons to savor the experience that is…dishwashing.

Dishwashing Gives You Time to Reflect

You know, there is something deeply meditative about the whole process. The quiet, the peace and the fact that you’re cleaning something gives you a chance to reflect, think and introspect. Even if you’re washing dishes in the middle of a real racket, you can easily shut yourself off and just focus on scrubbing, soaping and rinsing.

Saving the Planet.. One Plate at a Time

Most importantly, washing dishes by hand is green and eco-friendly. It allows you to save tons of energy and water without much effort. It is an easy way to go green while saving yourself some money as well.

Bonding Over the Kitchen Sink

I love washing dishes especially when my toddler and husband give my company. They stand around talking and playing while I join in sometimes with songs and rhymes. I’m happy I’m passing this love for dishwashing to my daughter in a way that’s fun and enjoyable.

Catch Up on Reading or Music

I admit, I got this idea from Kat of Inspired to Action. Earlier my dishwashing time was more of reflection or fun time. Now I like listening to an audiobook or some good music while doing my favorite chore. So, if you have an audiobook you want to read, get out your iPhone or MP3 player and head to the kitchen sink.

A Chance to Indulge and Exercise

While dishwashing on regular days is fun as it is, washing a sink full of dishes during the holidays or after a big party can seem well, exhausting. In this case, I motivate myself with a reward. Anything. Even, an extra large serving of that gooey chocolate cake left over from the dinner last night.

And if it’s the calories you’re looking to burn, well, my friend, dishwashing will make you very happy. According to Fitday, half an hour of washing dishes by hand can help you burn 160 calories as compared to the 105 calories that loading the dishwasher will burn. So, get washing!

Do you do your dishes by hand?

How do your make it more of fun and less of a chore?

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Get in on the Spring Cleaning Action

Jessica Fisher — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:30:00 +0000

Last Spring, we walked through Spring Cleaning together. If you missed that series, you can catch up — and see the insides of my linen cupboard, too.

There’s all sorts of other Spring Cleaning ideas and inspiration to be had.

Check out this good clean fun:

Simple Mom is hosting a 5-week cleaning program. It starts Monday, so plan accordingly.

Other good ideas:

5 Easy Steps to Clean a Kitchen :: from The Mom Writes

Spring Cleaning :: from Organizing Your Way

Chore Planning and Homemade Household Cleaners :: from Vanderbilt Wife

Housecleaning Schedules :: from the Happy Housewife

Removing Soap Scum :: from Getting Freedom

Washing Windows :: from The Finer Things in Life

Intentional Cleaning :: from Steady Mom

Do YOU spring clean?

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A Busy Mom Cleaning Kit for the Home and the Soul

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:00:00 +0000

A post from LifeasMOM Contributor, Prerna Malik

photo source: D Sharon Pruitt

I love to clean. Really. Okay, maybe I’m not a big fan of dusting but boy, we do get a lot of dust in this part of the world. But, do you know why I enjoy cleaning so much?

I try to make it easy and fun for me and for everyone around me with a simple cleaning kit. Here’s how you, too, can put together a basic cleaning kit to keep your home clean and your heart happy:

A Cleaning Kit Checklist for the Home

A no-fuss, high-impact cleaning kit works best for a home with plenty of action through the day. Here’s what my basic cleaning kit has:

Microfiber cloths
Scrubbing brush
Spray bottle filled with my homemade vinegar-water cleaning solution
A small bottle filled with dishwashing liquid
A small jar of baking soda
Cloth dusters
Squeegee
Dustpan
Broom
Mop

I have a caddy that I tote from room-to-room for my everyday cleaning, stocked with these essentials. Since outsourcing my sweeping and mopping to a cleaning lady, I no longer need to tote the last three items, but before that, it helped to have these stored along with my cleaning caddy.

A Cleaning Kit Checklist for the Soul

What’s that? It’s a simple way to make cleaning fun and interesting. Here’s what you need:

Good music.

I find foot-tapping music an instant mood booster but you may want to drown yourself in Mozart. Choose anything that lifts your spirits and cheers you up as you go about scrubbing and wiping.

Conversation.

Since my husband is unwell and can’t really help me out with the physical part of cleaning, I use cleaning time to talk and converse. Being a talker, I enjoy sharing tidbits of my day or reminiscing over the past while cleaning the windows or washing the doors.

Games and Activities.

Every now and then, the act of cleaning does become mundane and boring. When I find this happening, I either challenge myself and set a timer to see how fast can I clean a room or I rope in my toddler and we try and out-clean each other.

We got her a toy cleaning kit for Christmas, quite like my own, complete with a broom, mop and small bucket. I’ve since added a small spray bottle with plain water, a small cloth duster and a clean sponge to the toy kit. ***smiling*** She has a ball trying to clean faster than me and I enjoy her company. Win-win!

There you are. A cleaning checklist that wouldn’t just leave your house looking nice but also, energize and refresh you.

How do YOU make cleaning fun?

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5 Tips for Keeping the Bathroom Clean & Tidy

Jessica Fisher — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:20:37 +0000

As I’m sure you’ve already heard from the toilet paper commercials, the majority of your life is spent in the bathroom. Not quite my favorite place to be — unless it’s got a tub filled with bubble bath, surrounded by flickering candles and chocolate.

And we know how often that happens….

If you compound the amount of time you naturally spend in the bathroom with the time it takes to clean said bathroom, well, let’s just say it could be considered your home away from home.

But, there are steps you can take to minimize your potty time — at least the cleaning part.

1. Simplify the decor.

Pretty is as pretty does. If the decorations in your bathroom take up your time in straightening, dusting, and other maintenance, you might consider downsizing. A bare bones bathroom is less cluttered and therefore, easier to clean. You don’t have to throw it all out, just find items that don’t demand your time or care.

2. Simplify your tools and cleaners.

Sometimes we make something so easy, so very complicated. Most bathrooms don’t need five different cleaners to do the job. Seek out multipurpose cleaners that can serve a number of purposes. Find the bottom line that works for you and stick to it.

3. Remove kid stuff that’s just taking up space.

If you’ve got bath toys coming out your ears, consider paring down. Can’t part with the collection? Relegate some of them to the beach or park bag for play in another venue. Stow the best of the best bath toys in an easy to clean up way.

Got potty seat issues? Inserts, potty chairs, and stools can take up a lot of space, especially in smaller bathrooms. We recently purchased this toilet seat and eliminated our need for a training insert. FishChick2 is safe from falling in and we’ve got less clutter in the bathroom.

4. Set up daily habits for cleaning.

Since I have soooo many helpers, I put them to work. Each of the bigger boys is responsible to wipe the bathroom counter and tidy one bathroom every day. Having daily upkeep helps keep the messes and grunge at bay and affords an easier cleaning time once a week when we do a bigger scrubbing.

5. Lock the door.

You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. The last five homes we’ve lived in have had 3-4 bathrooms, way more than we’ve needed most of the time. When convenient, I’ve cleaned a seldom used bathroom and locked the door behind me. This consolidates usage to other bathrooms and freed me from cleaning at least bathroom each week.

What do YOU do to keep the bathroom clean?

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Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Jessica Fisher — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:24:31 +0000

Photo Source: Magnus D

Thank you to everyone who completed my survey from a few weeks ago. It was very enlightening to read what you like, what you want, what you could live without. Dessert, especially chocolate, was a keeper. See how much we have in common?

Some of your questions made me laugh — in a good way. Like this one:

I would like to know HOW, with six kids, you manage to keep a home clean and the laundry caught up! I have no kids, but I get so frustrated keeping our home tidy and clean – so much so that I go through periods of time when I just STOP. That’s not working well either. You would think after 10 years of marriage I would have this homemaking thing figured out a little better – at least the cleaning part – so I’m just wondering if you have any methods or schedule that you use to keep up with the uglier side of life as a mom (or wife)?

Ah, well. Here’s the thing. I’m realizing that I can’t do all the things that I coulda, shoulda, woulda all the time. I can get the laundry done only to turn around and find that the kitchen is a wreck or someone exploded a Lego bomb in his bedroom.

Life, at least my life, is like two steps forward, one step back. For much of the day, our living room looks like this:

– or worse! Piles on tables and random stuff on the floor is just part of my life. It usually gets cleaned up by the time we go to bed at night. Or on a very, very, very good day, by the time hubs gets home at night. Messes are a part of my life.

I would love a perfectly spotless home, but that just isn’t part of my season of life. The days pass too quickly, and something’s gotta give. Currently, I’m working on “picked up most of the time” and clean clothes on our backs. Some days I get a bulls’ eye. Sometimes I miss the mark.

I try to make sure the kids do their part. I’m trying to get on a cleaning schedule. And I reassess my expectations of myself often.

I’m working on not getting too freaked out about it as well. If my husband and kids are loved, happy, and well-fed, I’m good.

Where do YOU let things slide — just a little?

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Cleaning Out the Refrigerator

Jessica Fisher — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:13:30 +0000

It’s a dirty job. But, somebody’s got to do it. And if I don’t miss my guess, that somebody could be you.

Never fear! FishMama is here with an 8 Step Program Toward a Cleaner, Happier Refrigerator. And believe me, I speak from experience….

Prior to our recent vacation, I did a major refrigerator overhaul and I was so glad that I did. We had been battling illnesses for the first three weeks of September.

Dimished appetites resulted in a lot of little leftovers and a tired mama contributed to a very messy fridge. Definitely not something you want to come home to after vacation.

But, it doesn’t take illness and fatigue to wreck havoc on your fridge. Just the business of life can get ya. So, ready to get cleaning? Let’s go.

But first a note from my legal team: I am not a medical or nutritional professional nor do I work for the US Department of Agriculture or the food police. If you know better, then do it your way. I make no promises that mine is the best way.

1. Empty

Empty the refrigerator of all its contents. Really. It will be okay.

This presupposes that you have a clean sink and clean counters. (Sorry, babe, but its true.) Remove everything from the shelves, from the door, from the drawer, from the little storage nooks and crannies.

2. Wipe and Wash

Once the fridge is empty, wipe every shelf, removing them if necessary. I took out all the drawers and door inserts and washed those with warm, soapy water, as directed by my refrigerator’s manufacturer. I’ve also read that baking soda and water is a good refrigerator cleaner.

3. Purge

Throw away any leftover food that is older than three days or wasn’t all that great the first time. It’s not going to improve with age.

Scan your condiments. If you haven’t used it in the last couple months and don’t foresee using it anytime soon, give it the “heave ho” and make a note not to buy it again if you really won’t use it in a timely fashion. I ditched old BBQ sauce and peanut butter that my daughter is allergic to. I also said farewell to ethnic condiments that just don’t fit our tastes, but which we were willing to try once upon a time.

4. Rinse, load, and run

Remember all those leftovers? Well, if there were beakers of science experiments containers that need to be washed, rinse those. Load them into the dishwasher and get it going. I have to confess after several weeks of illness in our house, I had a lot of dishes to wash. (Yikes!)

And, no, that wasn’t all from the fridge. I cleaned it right after dinner so I could add the dishes to the dinnertime cycle.

5. Wipe bottles, jars, and containers

Take a damp wash cloth and wipe down any bottles, jars and containers that you will be returning to the fridge.

6. Organize

As you return condiments and other refrigerated items to the refrigerator, organize them in a logical way. Place unopened containers behind their opened counterparts, so that the oldest is used first. I found out that we had two milk jugs opened. Oops! That’s what happens when your fridge is a wreck!

For more ideas, check out these suggestions from Organizing Junkie.

7. Use what you have

Now that you’ve touched everything at least twice, you have a good idea of what’s in your refrigerator, what needs to be replaced, and what needs to be used up. Build this week’s menu plan from what’s there as it is probably the most perishable food in your house.

8. Repeat monthly.

If you do steps 6 and 7 weekly and wipe up spills as they occur, you can easily only clean the refrigerator once a month. This works for me.

What’s your method to keeping your fridge clean and happy?

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Basic H2 and Shaklee Cleaning Supplies – A Giveaway

Jessica Fisher — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:39:47 +0000

Earlier today I shared how I’m on a new cleaning kick. After months of just cleaning when the mood struck, which believe me, that kind of mood is fleeting, I’ve decided to reestablish a cleaning schedule.

Our family is in a season where I can let the kids play, including the toddler, and I can spend a couple hours tackling household task. In our busyness, I realize that if I don’t make a plan for cleaning, I won’t be so likely to do it.

Gathering Some New Tools

For years I’ve heard people sing the praises of Basic H, an organic super cleaning concetrate from Shaklee. Recently Kristina contacted me and offered to send me some products to review. Since I’d heard about the products, but never tried them — and since I definitely need to get my clean on — I jumped at the chance.

Basic H2 is an all-purpose concentrated cleaning solution that can be diluted to a number of different degrees and used for a number of different applications. I can see how one bottle could go a very, very long way. I was amazed at how easily and effortlessly I was able to get bathrooms scrubbed, using one basic cleaner.

Kristina also included a selection of other products in my starter kit, including Scour Off, Germ Off, Basic H cleaning wipes, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and some spray bottles and measuring tools.

All of these are perfect complements to my normal cleaning regime. I like to have simple cleaners to do a multitude of jobs.

Wash the mirrors
Wipe the counters
Scrub the sinks
Wipe down the toilets
Mop the floor

I was really pleased with the range of products I got to try and don’t see a reason not to continue using it, provided I can fit it in the budget.

This week TEN LifeasMOM readers will each win samples of Basic H2 to make 16-ounces of all purpose cleaner and 16-ounces of window cleaner.

If you’re already a fan of Shaklee products, simply contact Kristina with the code LifeasMOM to get a discount on your next order.

To Enter

Pick one, pick ‘em all. You choose.

1. Leave a comment, telling us what your biggest cleaning challenge is.

2. Follow FishMama on twitter. Then tweet this giveaway, such as “@FishMama is giving away Basic H2. Enter to win: http://wp.me/pLlgS-2Aw” Then, leave a second comment here, telling us you did so.

3. Subscribe to LifeasMOM in a reader or via email. (Don’t forget to verify it when Feedburner sends you the confirmation.) Leave a third comment, telling us you subscribe.

Giveaway will be open until Sunday, September 26 at 8 pm PST. Winners to be chosen at random and announced via email. Please respond within 48 hours of announcement email in order to claim your prize.

This giveaway is now closed. Winners have been announced and emailed.

Disclosure: I received a variety of Shaklee products to test at home. I was not compensated to publish positive comments. My opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

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