When GoodHousekeeping.com asked me to stop doing housework for two weeks, I was terrified. For starters, we're your typical, busy Midwestern family with two teenage sons and two dogs. My husband Alan is a tidy and fastidious civil engineer, and I am the proud owner of a Merry Maids office and the founder of the Don't Look Under the Rug blog. The two of us divide the chores (Alan washes dishes, cooks, and vacuums; while I handle laundry, grocery shopping, and monitoring general clutter) and the boys are expected to pick up after themselves. That said, I do feel I handle more than my fair share of housework after a day at the office.
I don't think my standards are unrealistic. I love things to be clean, but I also enjoy living in my home. We do have a mail pile and a "take it up the stairs" collection. So, eventually, I felt cautiously optimistic about taking a two-week hiatus from housework. My boys are well-behaved, helpful, and only slightly sloth-like when it comes to picking up after themselves — how bad could it be?
Showed News on 6 this week that club soda may not always do the trick for stubborn stains. Especially when it comes to permanent marker and ballpoint pins getting on your clothing (or children!), it doesn't have to be a lost cause. Grab a couple of items you have in your bathroom, find a clean cloth and get ready to be amazed!
#happycleaning - Amy
Did you forget to drop off the dry cleaning or need to freshen a suit or dress that picked up the smell of smoke after an evening out? What can you do? Using your home bar, or if traveling, the hotel mini-bar, D.I.Y. a quick odor eliminating fabric spray! The same mix works for removing pet odor on upholstery and more.
What you need:
#happycleaning - Amy
As I write this, I am finishing up a glorious cup of french press coffee. I admit, I make multiple batches of coffee throughout the day. With all that use, my coffee carafe can get stained and dirty from the coffee ground overload. However, if your coffee carafe is insulated, you can't simply put it in the dishwasher to get it clean. However, there is a natural way to get it clean safely! So I checked-in with my friends at News on 6 in Tulsa this week with a quick tip to help keep those overworked coffee pots ready for the next brew!
#happycleaning - Amy
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Clarisonic brush - it keeps my skin looking beautiful and smooth - but after multiple uses, dirt can build up on the brush that you definitely don't want on your skin! Try this quick cleaning method to get more longevity from your Clarisonic brush and help provide great skincare results!
What you need:
#happycleaning - Amy
I am thrilled to share that I am officially a News on 6 (KOTV-Tulsa) expert and have a regular Monday morning segment on the 7:30 a.m. show! The team at News on 6 is amazing and I am looking forward to sharing many more #happycleaning tips with viewers. You can catch my latest tip - "How to Waterproof your Shoes for Fall" - that aired this morning on their website!
The two products I used in the segment are Obenhauf's Water Shield Spray and Huberd's Shoe Grease!
- Amy
Vinegar is a versatile cleaning agent! It works wonders, is green and cheap! However, there are some surfaces and stains you should NEVER use it on. Check out the hit list of what to avoid!
#happycleaning, Amy
Say "bye-bye" to oil and bacteria buildup on your favorite makeup brushes! See how using warm water and baby shampoo (that's right, you DON'T NEED expensive brush cleaner) can clean your makeup brushes quickly, safely and effectively!
#happycleaning, Amy Bates
With people coming in and out of the house all the time, black scuff marks are bound to appear! Try these three easy ways to remove marks quickly:
#happycleaning, Amy Bates
Here is another one of my "Oh Sh#%" tips! Have you ever been sitting at work in a favorite shirt or blouse and suddenly realize you have ink on your sleeve? Or perhaps you have caught your kids writing on your car's upholstery?
What do you do?
You grab something you already have on hand! Follow these quick and easy instructions and be back to looking fabulous in no time at all!
#happycleaning, Amy Bates
I've attempted to use mayo to remove white water rings from my lacquered wood coffee table - a family heirloom that was damaged when a party guest forgot to use a coaster:
HELP! If you have a suggestion on how to get rid of this embarrassing furniture stain, please leave a comment below!
#happycleaning, Amy Bates
