Do you ever have that feeling that the house is getting away from you? The Farmer and I were talking about this. It's not only cleaning projects but maintenance projects like re-staining the deck and painting the shutters. This place is starting to look downright tacky!
Living in the country means that we're on a well and septic field. When you move out here you're thrown in the deep end of dealing with super hard and rusty water. We have our own water treatment plant in the basement but it's still a problem. I've never been one to use household chemicals because I've always been of the belief that hot water and plain soap can do wonders. We must be careful what's put into the septic tank and I try to limit the Other Mother's addiction to chlorine bleach, ammonia, pine cleaner and any number of other chemicals.
The tubs, shower and sinks take a beating with the well water and I've tried scrubbing and mild abrasive powders to no avail. The rust and lime in our water sends the "scrubbing bubbles" back to the drawing board. Against my "chemical free" habits and out of sheer frustration I recently purchased this product.
OH MY GOSH....I'm in love. This stuff is fantastic (and no, they don't pay me to say that - HA). This makes the tub white as snow and with a little scrubbing takes all the white lime off the shower doors. I feel like I've been let out of tub-scrubbing prison. Like I said, it's mostly hot water and plain soap around here but I will make room for this stuff. Oh, and the beeswax and lemon furniture polish.
Do you have a favorite household product?
Do you have any annual housecleaning rituals? I had an aunt that would literally scrub down all the walls in her house every spring. I mean, huge buckets of hot water and scrubbing! All the furniture would be moved into the center of the room and they'd go to town. I've never heard of anyone else who scrubbed their walls. I just dust them off with a broom and repaint every so many years.
17 comments:
BarKeepers Friend is a favorite of mine.
As for the walls...when I was growing up it was part of the spring cleaning ritual. Every room was scrubbed from top to bottom, walls, windows, curtains, floors and all. When I was a stay at home mom, I did way more spring cleaning. Now I deep clean as I see it needs it other than the room with the corn burner. The walls get washed in there every Spring. I love the heat it throws but it's really dusty.
Ahhhh, washing down the walls. A definite spring cleaning happening here in Appalachia! Only.....one washes UP....start at the bottom and wash up. Something about the water dripping down over the dirty part leaves streaks. I have to tell you...I have gone on to your method, dust and paint....but the last few times I had to wash walls I cheated and used a sponge mop. Eliminated the ladders/chair and my hands didn't look like I had sandpapered them!!!
Thanks for the tip... we are on a well and septic system also so we always love to hear about products we can use safely.
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
I would second the BarKeeprs friend.
I also like Comet's tub and tile cleaner.
I'm afraid that I have yet to "chemical free." I love anything with bleach, ie. Softscrub, Scrubbing Bubbles, Windex with vinegar, and Lysol for toilets.
I will look for this stuff though, and can't wait to read about the laundry detergent. I'm spending a small fortune on Tide...with bleach of course.
This tip will be passed along to my mother who fights the battle of lime deposits continually (they, too, have well water). Even though I must pay dearly for town water, I'm grateful for it, until I have to drink it, which isn't often thanks to bottled water.
My favorite product? Barkeeper's Friend also comes to mind and Mr. Clean magic erasers.
(Yes, I've been "stuck" here as I read between fixing breakfast, reading obits, and feeding the cat.)
My favorite cleaning product would be the housekeeper. :) If I had one. :( blessings, marlene
BarKeeper's Friend, Windex, Clorox CleanUp are favorites here. OxyClean too. Aunty always took everything out of the crowded closets, scrubbed the shelves and walls down, dusted/cleaned the items and put them back. She then would scrub all of the woodwork in the house. She was always cleaning the wood floors and furniture throughout the year. Childhood smell memories of her home are PineSol and butter cookies (she was quite the baker too)
I find using plain white vinegar for cleaning windows, mirrors, etc. is great. I just mix about half vinegar and half water in a spray bottle and use it like any other glass cleaner. Vinegar is also great for cleaning the coffee maker and getting the lime scale off the coffee pot.
And yes--I do feel like the house is getting away from me! I've finally stopped stressing over it and just get things done when I can. I mean, we don't live in a hovel, but not every room is clean at the same time.
Murphy's oil soap is one of my favorites. I love it for washing the kitchen cabinets. It is safe for wood and is easy to use.
I also use softscrub and a spray on bleach product in the kitchen. It keeps the stains at bay on my corian sink.
Since my water is the same as yours, I"m going to go try that product. IT is new to me
Well water here, too. In fact, I got rid of my glass shower doors because I couldn't stand cleaning them... I'll have to look for that stuff. Thanks for the tip!
xoxo,
Mary
Once upon a time, I definitely had a favourite cleaning product...they were called FOUR KIDS !! :-)
Sadly, these days I have to do it on my own... well, with the help of The Man.
I think my house is getting away from me ... sighhhhh
Sighhhh.... That's not 'Jay'...that's me. Forgot to check the identity button...
I think the best part of spring cleaning is having it interrupted!
On my glass shower doors, we use a razor blade to remove the limescale buildup. It's not perfect but it works pretty well. I always feel more organized when I clean out a closet.
I am SO telling Prince Charming to buy this stuff on his next shopping trip. Our shower doors haven't been completely clear in 5 years. I'm giddy to try it!
Well I'm with Marlene on the housekeeper but I'm seriously going to try this. Holy cow I'd love to have clean shower doors.
I'm a HUGE fan of Charlie Soap. It's my favorite laundry detergent - and I use the all purpose cleaner for most other things.
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