CLEAN IT UP! MAINTAINING A CLEAN SPACE.
Don't get it twisted! I am not a fan of filthy floors but I do love the Dollar Tree. Instead of trying to have carpeted floors that are never cleaned, they need to strip the floors and focus on keeping them clean. This is always the first thing I notice when I enter a Dollar Tree and it drives me nuts!
So I love to go to Dollar Tree to re-stock my cleaning supplies. I love the Awesome cleaner, (concentrate), carpet cleaner, Fabuloso, rubber gloves, large brushes, tooth brushes and other items.
I know that everyone is not into cleaning but it works for me especially when I am stressed or bored. The primary weapon in my cleaning arsenal is Awesome from Dollar Tree. I use in on everything from appliances, to bathroom fixtures, spots on carpet, wall and door smudges, base boards etc. I also started using it to replace the cleaner in my Swiffer because the cartridges are over $5 apiece and the Awesome is just pennies. This product is much safer than bleach so it was great when teaching my kids the fine art of cleaning. Just make sure that it does not come in contact with your furniture or anything with a varnished coating because it is a chemical. It has a very light and clean smell.
While you are at the store, don't forget your rubber gloves and make sure that you use different colors for different areas, pink for the kitchen, yellow for bath fixtures, blue for the toilet. This helps to keep from cross contaminating or just being gross. Make sure you educate the kids and spouse. The toothbrushes are great for fine areas along the carpet, and around sink fixtures. Although I have a carpet shampooer, I still need to apply a little elbow grease at times so I like to use their large brushes or those hard to treat areas.
Cleaning the kids' rooms:
I know that some of you are so frustrated with your kid's room just being a mess that you want to scream. Figure it out, why is it such a problem? I realized that my kids were just overwhelmed with it all so I started doing a major clean maybe three times a year (in secret, when they were out of the house). I would totally "gut" the room and reconfigure it, sometimes with new furniture and accessories. Yes, I actually threw stuff away and organized the rest!! (something they had difficulty doing). They loved it and still call it the "Mommy Makeover".
I made sure that they understood cleaning meant going under the bed, cleaning baseboards and doors, organizing closets, windows, fans, shampooing the carpet and just being detailed and thorough. Kids love the surface or shallow clean because they just want to get it done and get going. Not on my watch!
***Address their specific weakness:
Son-car parts and junk under the bed and clothes left in piles on the floor, a fear of cleaning.
Solution-larger dresser (that he REALLY liked), car parts in garage or shed, I spent several cleaning sessions with him to show him how to organize and attack the problem.
Daughter- Pack rat, didn't like to throw papers away. Gave her an office with an executive sized desk with great organization. She was emotionally invested in her junk, but I was not so it was easy for me to just toss out those four year old academic papers and she was cool with that.
My kids came to realize that there is "Mommy clean" and that other type of clean which really doesn't count. They were always proud of their new space and it was much easier to maintain so we were all very happy.
****If your kids are sneaky, secretive and mistrusting of you, cleaning while they are away will not work as they will simply see it as snooping or an invasion of privacy.
Now that my daughter is living in her own space, she is a Dollar Tree fan and now manages to maintain a very clean and organized home. It's the gift that keeps on giving! read more
