Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

Cleaning up Christmas, Pine Needle Pick Up

Still enjoying the beauty of a live Christmas tree? Although there are so many benefits to having a live tree, clean up can be a nightmare. Using a regular vacuum to pick up pine needles doesn’t always work, and can cause some serious damage to your vacuum cleaner.

Instead of clogging up your vacuum cleaner this year, just follow these simple tips and taking down that tree will be easier than ever.

Sweep up the majority of the mess with a broom and dust pan. The remaining needles can usually be removed with a large lint roller. You can also wrap duct tape around your hand with the sticky part facing out. It might take some time, and a lot of duct tape, but it’s easier than picking up each needle one by one.

Baking soda is the perfect solution to getting up any remaining needles that are stuck to your carpet with sap. Sprinkle on the baking soda, and wait 10 minutes before picking up the sticky needles.

Although the clean up of a live tree is quite a hassle, the pleasure it brings during the Christmas season is worth all the effort. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

Amanda & the Chocolate Milk Cow Explosion


Fighting Mid-Winter Boredom

With the changing seasons, came a serious change in lifestyle for Amanda and her children. No more long evenings playing outside with late sunsets. No more comfortable temperatures and homework-less afternoons. Winter came and Marty, Amanda’s son, got bored.

As an inquisitive and inventive child, Marty decided to make some indoor fun of his own. Feeling inspired by his last biology lesson at school, Marty decided to build a replica of the amazing Guernsey cow, the dairy queen of the farm, but with a twist.

Marty, locked away in his work space, created a beautiful cardboard white and brown spotted cow. As an avid chocolate milk fan, Marty felt it only necessary to finish off the cow with a latex glove utter filled with freshly mixed chocolate milk.

White Pastures, Brown Puddles & Flat Rate Carpet

Feeling utterly proud of his creation, Marty brought his cow out to pasture on the white carpets of the living room.

While frolicking among the carpets, Marty’s Guernsey cow sprung a chocolate milk leak and the glove exploded. Before Marty could react, a giant chocolate milk puddle absorbed into the carpet.

Marty did the only responsible thing he could think of–he called his mom for help. Amanda looked from the chocolate stain to her disappointed son. She shook her head, smiled and said, “Thank goodness for Flat Rate Carpet.”

A technician arrived at her house an hour later and, while he cleared the stain completely, Amanda took a break from her book and thought lovingly to herself, “What will that boy of mine think of next?”

Quick House Cleaning Strategies

Having a few friends over? With these simple strategies you can finish your house cleaning quickly, and even have some fun.

Start off by keeping all your supplies close at hand. Fill a box or bucket with all your cleaning supplies, and bring it with you to cut down on unnecessary trips and distractions. Keep a damp rag in one pocket and a dry one in another for convenient touch ups.

Cold weather, busy days and fattening holiday meals make it hard to manage your weight. House cleaning is a great way to get in some old fashioned aerobic exercise while checking things off the to do list. Start by setting the mood with some fast paced music. Keep your heart rate up by dancing while dusting, and move fast. Keeping up a fast pace while you’re cleaning will not only burn calories but will save time as well.

Finally, get some incentive other than a clean house. Go and get a manicure when you’re finished, that way you don’t have to worry about ruining your nails, and you’ll give yourself a much needed break after all that hard work.

How to Remove Nail Polish from Upholstery

If you are a female or live with a female, it’s likely that, at some point, you have encountered the nail polish dilemma. The dilemma that steams from the sometimes unavoidable spill or spot that drips onto carpets, rugs and upholstery during at-home, DIY mani/pedi treatments.

But have no fear, we’re here to help. Follow these insider tips and remove nail polish from your upholstery easily.

First, start by quickly blotting up all the excess polish. Be careful not to rub because it will cause the stain to spread. Using an eye dropper, apply a few small drops of acetone to the polish stain. Blot the stain immediately. Repeat this step until the entire stain has been lifted out of the upholstery.

If the stain remains in your upholstery, apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, from an eye dropper, directly to the stain.

Moms: More Than Maids

A recent study reveals that stay-at-home moms show more signs of depression than working moms with a “SuperMom” complex. The findings suggest that working moms exhibit signs of better mental health overall as they attempt to find a stable balance between work and home.

Mothers everywhere, regardless of it they stay at home or work, strive to have it all; a happy family, clean home and laundry and dinner on the table at a reasonable hour. But no matter how hard you try, things can’t always be perfect and go the way you want.

Every mom needs a break. Stay at home moms need a break from their house work and children duties. Working moms need some quite time away from job and home responsibilities. Without a break, the relentless routines of cooking, cleaning and caring  or working and home management, start to wear on your will.

Mothers everywhere should treat themselves to something special once in a while. Whether it’s chocolate ice cream for lunch, a mani/pedi at the spa, a new handbag, or a person to do the house cleaning for you, find something that pampers you. Give yourself a break and a peace of mind, for once.