My Cleaning Arsenal and Cleaning Tips...

As many of my friends, family and co-workers know, I'm a bit of a clean freak! Many times they'll ask me how to get a stain out of a piece of clothing or how to tackle a specific tough cleaning job, and I'm always happy to share with them the tips and tricks that I've learned over the years while raising a son and being married to a fella who are outdoors enthusiasts and, therefore, dirt magnets! Here's a photo of my cleaning arsenal...below the photo is an itemized list of the products and just a few ways how I use each one:

Products left to right:

Front Row:

• White Vinegar: This product is AWESOME for a ton of cleaning purposes and is completely safe for the environment! If my laundry, (especially bath towels), starts to smell a little soured I add a cup to the wash at the same time I add laundry soap. This makes my towels smell so fresh and clean!
• Bar Keepers Friend: Gently scrubs my stainless steel kitchen sinks and leaves them amazingly shiny! Works great on stubborn stains, (like red Kool-Aid), on kitchen countertops too! 
• Baking Soda: Pour a little bit down a smelly bathroom or kitchen drain and add a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar...the chemical reaction will "boil" the odors away! Once again...completely natural and safe for the environment!

Back Row:

• Swiffer Products: Do these even need an explaination?!?!? A GENIUS invented these! They make cleaning a breeze, and now that you can purchase them with the scent of "Febreez" added to the cloths, your house will smell so nice after swiffering the floor or dusting the furniture! I LOVE to use these to dust the dashboard, etc. in my car...they do a super job of picking up the dust that gets into all of the little cracks and crevices!
• Microfiber Cloths: Gives my bathroom mirrors, windows, glass fronted cabinets and chrome fixtures that "WOW" factor! Doesn't leave any streaks behind...just an INCREDIBLE shine! I use them with water only, so these are also environmentally friendly!
• Magic Erasers: Invented by yet another Genius!!! These little gems are fabulous for getting smudges off of painted walls and doors. They are also great for cleaning white leather tennis shoes, and when used on a glass shower door they do a terrific job of removing soap scum and water spots!
• Clorox Wipes: I use these constantly to wipe down kitchen and bathroom counters, the TV remotes, phones, door knobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, etc. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to keep germs at bay and these fit the bill nicely!
• Lemon Oil: This natural product, applied with a soft cloth, will make your cabinets and furniture shine...and it smells wonderful to boot! It can also be applied to clean, glass shower doors or tile/fiberglass surrounds to repel water and cut down on water spots.

Now, if this post doesn't inspire you to get a jump start on your spring cleaning I don't know what will - HA! HA! Have a wonderful day!