Tag Archives: cleaning

The Asian tradition to remove shoes before entering a home  is centuries old.  The muddy streets of Japan long ago, made it necessary for the shoe removal, to prevent the grime of the street to enter their homes.  Although streets are now paved in most of Asia, the tradition is set within their cultural norms.
It is rare to encounter a home in the states that requests for you to remove your shoes before entering.  Maybe I’m wrong? Do you ask guests to remove shoes before entering?  You may want to consider to!

What can you do in ten minutes?  I’m not necessarily suggesting the amount of times you can hop on one foot or juggle three balls with just your right hand.  I’m thinking about in and around your house.  If you suddenly lost Internet connection and your smart phone went dead (yes, I hear the gasp) what could you actually get done?  Maybe straighten out one child’s sock drawer or make some sense of the canned goods in the pantry.  You could possibly do both.
We see the days of June Cleaver and wonder how she always stayed so calm and had a fresh pie coming out of the oven.  Yes, it was TV but real life wasn’t too far from the Cleaver’s.  The advent of technology has brought us so much progressive, time saving tools, but simultaneously given us tools to distract us from our responsibilities (ahem…Facebook.)
Smart Mamas …

So the unofficial start of summer 2011 was this past weekend.  It’s time to get the summer to-do list organized!  What projects do you need to get done?  Which ones are more optional but would be awesome to have crossed off the list?  Although summertime is typically filled with kiddies home from school, family vacations and more, it is still a set time to get Smart Mama tasks done before the school year arrives!
My 1st list revolves around projects in my preschooler’s (Isabella) room.  Here I go, proudly admitting the disasters that lie in my home! (Yes, it will be your turn next!)

The Closet: This is a bit of a disaster zone.  With her Nana being a bit obsessed in buying her any and every outfit, the closet is jammed packed with old dresses, stained dresses and outfits that should be front and center and worn …

Coffee filters, whether you buy them at CVS, Publix, Target or Family Dollar, you probably won’t spend more than a few dollars for a few hundred!  Beyond the obvious use of the filters, I’ve recently learned of these 25 other ways of using them!

Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
Clean windows, glass, mirrors, chrome. & more! Coffee filters are lint-free so everything will sparkle.
Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
Protect a cast-iron skillet.  Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
Apply shoe polish.  Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
Recycle frying oil.  After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
Weigh chopped foods.  Place chopped …

Got stains?  I’m sure!  What home doesn’t?  We’re covered in grass, ketchup, paint and general “what on Earth is this” markings here!
Wondering what this Smart Mama uses?  I recently tried and fell in love with Stain Solver!  This organic powder cleaner, available at StainSolver.com, can be the lifesaver for not just your clothing stains, but for general laundry, tile & grout, kitchen areas, carpets and outdoors like your patio and more!
I used it on my daughter’s lunch box that has been through the war & back, and I am so impressed with what just 2 hours of soaking accomplished!
Stain Solver is hosting a Spring Cleaning Sweepstakes! The grand prize winner can win a $1000 gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond! Be sure to head over to StainSolver.com to enter!
I received a complimentary sample of Stain Solver to aid …

Sure you can sit on the couch to eat your donut…wait, NOOOOO!!!!!! What was I thinking? You know what I’m talking about. You’re in the midst of something (Tweeting, cooking, on the phone) and the munchkin starts to pester you about something. You, in ways annoyingly say sure, sure, sure without realizing what you’re agreeing to. Well below is a prime example of that.

Smart Mamas, I think we have 2 lessons here. #1 Attempt to realize what you agree to before you agree (good luck with that one!) #2 Get a little vacuum to have on hand just in case (an easier solution!)

I think you can clearly see my obsession with my little Dirt Devil Gator 10.8V-this is a little vacuum purchased with my own money for around $30. Sooooooo awesome and very Smart Mama friendly!

Wedding invitations, doctor’s appointment card, birthday invitation, CVS receipt, munchkin’s artwork, Tot-Lok magnets, random photo magnets, grocery list, and other random magnets: What my fridge looks like on a good day! A magnetic fridge provides you with a place to display and organize papers – the key word there is organize! My fridge looks like a tornado came through and threw-up!
Today I will tackle this fridge door! I will throw away the invitations of events that have already passed, old receipts, and the hodgepodge of other unnecessary random things!
I’ve done some searching and have found some items that will help my fridge door become and stay more organized. A start with any fridge door organization is to have the proper tools – magnets! Currently I have a random assortment of magnets. From my college days (beer openers) to the various calendar magnets sent …