Tag: cleaning

Stop Making These Dishwasher Mistakes

You may be curious how I know about all of these mistakes. Well, let’s just say that I’ve made all the mistakes so you won’t have to! Mistake: You Need to Pre-Rinse Scrape off all the chunks of food from the dishes, but don’t pre-rinse. It’s not necessary and only wastes time and water. Unless…


Set Yourself Up for a Calmer, Happier Fall by Tackling These Household Projects

As summer wraps up and fall and winter approach, there’s plenty to do to get your home ready for the coming season. To figure out what seasonal tasks to tackle first—yes, starting today—we spoke with Joni and Kitt of Practically Perfect, a Los Angeles–based organizing and lifestyle company, and Ria Safford of RiOrganize, a Southern…


What to Do When You Have Too Many of These Things

Before we get going here, and in the interest of full disclosure, I have an inner hoarder who puts up quite a fuss from time to time. I’ve managed to tame her, but now and again, she gets out. Before I know it, I have 48 boxes of borax on my storage shelves or 9,082…


10 Things You Should Declutter Every Time You Move

The moving process certainly has a downside—namely, the physical and financial burden of having to pack up and transport all of your stuff. The upside is that it presents the perfect opportunity to reassess your belongings and break free of what no longer suits you or the life you’re looking to create. Whether you’re making…


Knowing Your Cleaning Products Is Good for Your Health and Wealth

Two women. Different locations. Same accident. Both were using an ordinary commercial toilet bowl cleaner containing ammonia and weren’t satisfied with the way it was removing stains. Each added household chlorine bleach to that commercial product and stirred with a brush. One died quickly; the other spent a long time in the hospital. Here’s the…


Yes, Cleaning Products Can Expire. Here’s What That Really Means

If you look closely at your cleaning supplies, you’ll notice that many of them are printed with an expiration date. But if we’re being honest, most of us likely don’t check this fine print. The next time you’re embarking on a big cleaning spree, check the expiration date or manufacture date on that bottle of…


How to Have a Successful Garage Sale

Whether your goal is to purge your home of stuff you no longer need or you want to raise some cash—or both—you have options. You can sell your items on an auction website such as eBay.com or list them in the classified in a local newspaper or on Craigslist.org. You can unload unwanted clutter on…


How to Clean Windows Inside and out for Streak-Free Results

Compare a clean window with a dirty one, and the contrast is clear. Streak- and grime-free windows offer a lovely way to enjoy the outdoors, as well as an uninterrupted path for sunshine to enter into your home’s interior. But many people avoid this task because they are unsure how to clean windows. Luckily, it…


How Clearing out Clutter Can Improve Your Life

Getting organized is like dieting. Everyone knows how to do it, but the problem is getting around to it—to clearing out clutter, cleverly organizing what remains, and then maintaining the results. When we remodeled our kitchen a few years ago, I emptied every cupboard and drawer, carefully labeling every box and bin with its contents….


Cleaning Tips and Tricks That Promise to Cut Costs and Save Time

Cleaning is the one chore that most of us dread, but we all know it has to be done. And while none of these cheapskate cleaning methods pretend to make it fun, they do promise to cut costs and save time. Also, most of these tips can be implemented with everyday items you probably already…