Daily Tasks

Did you know that doing a few tasks daily will keep your spirits high, your home looking tidier and actually motivate you to do *more*? It's true! 

A few things to do *every* day...

* Clear and wipe down kitchen counters.
* Clear and wipe down bathroom counter.
* Make your bed. 
* Wash/Dry, Fold/Put away at least *one* load of laundry.
* Sweep floors (this is necessary for us to do daily...but may not be for you!)

You don't have to have the newest and fanciest counters. You don't have to have the nicest or fanciest house. Keep what you have...no matter what the age/style of your home (even if it is not to your liking)...tidy and clean and you can enjoy your surroundings!

If you do nothing else...at least make your bed in the morning. That is *the* way to start the day off correctly! I am always up before my husband in the mornings...so after he has left for work, I go back upstairs and make the bed. I've tried to make it with him in it..but that doesn't work out so well! ;)

When you keep the counters of the kitchen and bathroom clear and wiped up, they just look nicer...plus when they look neat, you won't want stray dishes or spills on them to make them look dirty...this motivates you to keep them looking nice throughout the day. And hey, while you are wiping down that bathroom counter, maybe you want to refill the soap dispenser? Maybe you could give the toilet a swish as well?

I'm telling you...these few simple chores, done daily, can really help you in your home-keeping duties! Adding in a few extra chores from time to time such as dusting, washing windows/mirrors, washing bed linens, scrubbing down toilets and bathtubs etc....and you will find that keeping the home doesn't have to be so overwhelming!

Keeping up with things is *key*!

Cleaning the Bathtub

Cleaning the bathtub is a dreaded but necessary chore. In our home, with 5 people bathing constantly (and two of those being boys that are dirt-magnets) the tub can get dirty...fast! We have an older, claw foot tub. It does not do well with bleaches or harsh chemicals (plus, who wants to use that stuff anyway?). 

I am going to share with you what *I* use to clean my tub. These ingredients (plus a lot of elbow grease) help to keep my tub sparkling (well, as close as we can get. With this being an older tub, it still holds onto some of it's stains from years past).

 I fill my hand-dandy Mrs. Meyer's Bucket (which has been well-used) with warm water and some Mrs. Meyer's Basil All Purpose Cleaner and swish it around until I have great-smelling, sudsy, warm water! (I put the bucket right in the tub while I am scrubbing!) I sprinkle some borax and baking soda (which I keep in an old parmesan cheese container...notice it needs refilled...) onto the surface of the tub. Then...using my scrubby sponge and a lot of muscle...I scrub and scrub until clean.

I didn't really think about making a post about this until *after* the fact...so unfortunately, I don't have any before photos. But this is basically, as nice as this tub gets (a good cleaning on a newer tub could end up perfectly, sparkling white!)...

If you have a cast iron claw foot tub, as I do, you may also find it helpful (for those stains that just won't go away no matter how hard you scrub) to make a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Sprinkle the baking soda on the stain(s). Then add just enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Let it sit a while...when you come back to it...scrub and rinse! It should help that tub to sparkle! :)

I would love to hear any *bathtub* cleaning tips *you* may have to share!!! :)

Using Glass Jars in Your Home

 Not only can you use mason jars to can your garden harvest, but you can make great use of them throughout your home! Using glass jars in your home is a frugal, great-looking way to decorate and organize! I love using different sizes of jars in my home for many different things! 

Here are a few of the ways I use glass jars throughout my home...

Storing knitting needles...

For flowers (that I am lacking at the moment)...

For decoration...

Salt and pepper shakers...

Pen and pencil caddy (I *love* blue jars!)...

In the bathroom to hold potpourri, q-tips, cotton balls, and cough drops...

As a soap dispenser...

In the kitchen, using small jars is a great way to decorate a less-than-desirable oven hood...

Large jars are great for keeping bulk items...

Jars to drink from...

Around the house, jars can make great bases for lamps...

If you go HERE you can find 50 Great Uses for Mason Jars and if you go HERE you can find 31 more great uses for them!

What are some ways *you* make use of jars around your home? 

A Cheerful Little Bathroom

 I was so excited to find this little cupboard while out today (I got it for a GREAT price!). The colors are cute but don't exactly "go" with my bathroom (although my bathroom is quite colorful)...maybe I'll paint it one day...

Here are a few other looks at my cheerful little bathroom (decorated in a Mary Engelbreit theme)...

I would love to redo my bathroom one day...as the theme of it really doesn't match the rest of my house...however, it is fine for now (and so much better than it was when we first moved in). When we redid it, I was going through a Mary Engelbreit "love" phase! I loved all her stuff! I still like it...the cheerfulness of her paintings and pictures is so alluring...however, I don't think I would choose to decorate with this pattern if I could do it over. :)

What does your bathroom look like? What are some changes you would like to make (if any)?

Using Baskets

I use baskets all throughout my home. One place that they really come in handy is in the bathroom! In my opinion, baskets look much nicer and cozier than plastic bins. (I also love mason jars to decorate and keep things in!).

I use baskets to coral hand towels, wash cloths, soap, make up, hair products and more (and that's just in the bathroom)!

I don't know about you, but anytime I find a good basket at a great price...I buy it! There are *so* many uses for well-made, great-sized baskets that I just can't resist...although again I say: only if they are a *great price*! ;)

You don't have to have a lot of money to organize and stay tidy. You don't have to have the perfect home and use only expensive things to decorate/organize! Anyone *of any income* can choose to be tidy! You just have to work on it and keep up with it.

When folding, do it neatly (it will give you such a sense of satisfaction when you do!). When you get something out, be sure to put it away. Keep the floors swept and things dusted from time to time. Organize things with other *like* objects....this is where the baskets come in handy!

You can find baskets at your local thrift store or craft store (I found the ones pictured in the top photo at JoAnn Fabrics at 50% off!). If you can't afford to buy any right now, use what you have at home.

Homemaking can be so much fun when you see it as a challenge to keep your home neat, functional, cozy and enjoyable! I love trying to figure out better ways to organize areas. When things are tidy, it is so much easier to clean them too. :)

Neatly Folded Towels

The difference between a tidy bathroom and an untidy one can be something as simple as how your towels are folded (if they are not behind closed doors). I do not own fancy towels. I would love to get new matching ones for Christmas or something...but if not, that is okay...these towels work just fine for us (even if they don't match). I like my towels to be folded neatly though. I figure, why fold them at all if you are going to do it in a messy way? Plus, having your towels stacked neatly makes you want to make sure the *rest* of the bathroom is tidy as well!

So after making sure those towels are neat...move onto scrubbing the sink, toilet and shower. Dust the walls and other surfaces and sweep the floors. Use baskets or bins to corral "like" items. Remember, you don't have to have a picture-perfect, expensive bathroom. Whatever your bathroom looks like, keep it clean and tidy. It's easy to think, "well, if my floors were nicer or my bathroom was fancier..then I could keep it clean."...the truth is you can keep your bathroom clean no matter what it is. An ugly bathroom can still be a delight to walk into when it is kept clean!