The Cleaning Products Sure to Polish Your Home
For a woman that has at least seen the age of 25, the most memorable badge of honor is the one we receive for compliments on our home. Whether it be the outside aesthetic or the vibe inside, the attention we pay to our home sets the tone for our lives.
One of the first things I received as a "gift" before moving out with my new baby, were cleaning products. And lots of em!
Having no idea what it would cost to keep a clean home, I used the products I received a little more than sparingly and before I knew it I was cutting coupons trying to replenish my supply.
The mess is going to happen, and a few staples in your home will keep it spot and insect free.
A tip of the trade is to keep a tidy place and a tidy state because you literally never know who might come by, or when you may have to leave out unexpectedly.
A clean home promotes a healthy space to not only think, but to focus, relax, create or produce. And as a woman, focus needs to be one of the 8 pillars you visit frequently on your everyday goal to become your overall best self.
So, if you were either never taught properly, or simply don't know where to start, I've got you. I've got a few inexpensive items you can grab at the dollar store or at Walmart for no less than 10.00 dollars. These items keep your home fresh, and allow you to stick to a cleaning schedule, without the fear of running through it all so quickly.
After you clean and light your candle I have the perfect recipe to dirty up your kitchen.
It's been a while since I offered a recipe on this platform, so I have been scouting ideas and testing recipes. Last weekend when I finished my midweek clean, I checked my messages and found my sister had shared this quick and easy recipe for Jamaican Porridge.
It's the perfect touch to a night at home in a freshly cleaned home. And it's light on the dishes.
The number one cleaning product that YOU need no matter where you plan to apply it, AWESOME! No, really, the name of the product is AWESOME. It's a low cost, multi purpose cleaner, that just needs water to activate. The beauty in AWESOME is that the product IS the refill. You can apply it straight, or mix with water and vinegar for a more powerful clean.
Apply it to countertops, baseboards, bathroom finishes, and more. The smell is almost non- existent to your family but it's like kryptonite to ants and other bugs. Stains don't stand a chance with it's potent removal agents that work against:
- Blood stain
- Grease
- Wine
- Liquor
- Gum
- Oil
- Glue
- Coffee
- Pet Stains
- Some ink
- Fresh paint
- Varnish
- Hair dye
- Grape juice
- Food stains
- Berry juice
- and many more
Back when I was 21 and refused to spend more than 20.00 a month on cleaning products I had some aces up my sleeve to make sure I got my money's worth. Because choosing between hair bleach and house bleach at that age is such a no brainer. In the grand scheme of things the name of the game is cheap and strong, like our drinks. Insert Spic And Span by Procter & Gamble. Coming in at a whopping 3.00 USD at most retailers, it can be diluted with water for a fast-acting degreaser and cleaning agent.
Spic and Span products have a low talked about rap in comparison to Fabuloso and other products like it. Relatively speaking, the biggest difference would show to be the price, and while it's competitors are higher priced, this cleaner stands the test of versatility. Use it to clean counters or floors, porous or marble, wood or glass; your home will shine! And added bonus, it fights against bacteria and germs like:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Salmonella enterica
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- E.Coli
- Trichophyton interdigitale
- Influenza A virus
- Corona Virus
Mean Green multi purpose cleaner is next up. This powerful multi purpose cleaner can remove grease and grime from most surfaces with its unique blend of solvents and detergents. Known for its sour faced mascot and its industrial sized containers, Mean Green can be found in all distribution stores and can be used either in either commercial or industrial settings.
Murphy Oil Soap Wood Cleaner is something your grandparents used and probably their parents too. Murphy's has been shining homes even before every appliance and cupboard was chrome and stainless steel. Since 1910, when not only the floors were wooden, oil soap cleaner has been a household favorite. Think of the streak free shine of Windex, the foam from a drop of Dawn, and the cleaning power of Comet combined into one easy to use product. Just add a little to water and mix until you see a lather. That's it. This wood soap won't damage your surfaces and doesn't leave that film of cleaner that most soap products do. Its fantastic on ceiling fans and removes any dirt or smoke stains from walls with regular cleanings.
Bathroom Care
As I'm assuming most ladies here like to keep a clean home, I'm also willing to assume the bathroom is one of, if not THEE most important room on the list of weekday chores. With proper maintenance the bathroom should rarely get out of hand.
Ditch the outdated information that says don't mix products and use shaving cream to clean bathroom floors when you have males in the house. I've tried the shaving cream hack so you don't have to. It's a mess and you come out better using some water, a couple drops of bleach and a little Murphy's if you have it. However, point being made, sometimes you have to mix these products to get the clean you want. Some products are better for their scents than their cleaning power, and some have shine you can't find in every product. You've got to mix it up.
That being said, the bathroom is where I concoct my most heinous brews. The bathtub is my cauldron and I add in things here and there until I see that satisfying puff of smoke arise from the drain. Same goes for my toilets and my sinks. The products listed below are interchangeable. Meaning you can use it on any part of your bathroom that collects water. An older receptionist from my dentist told me about using toilet bowl cleaner on the bathroom receptacles and I haven't looked back. Everything here can be found for under 5.00 USD, and have no impact on your surfaces. Meaning no scratches, no chipping, no damage.
- Comet
- Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaner
- Mop and Glo
- Myers Cleaners
- Microban
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Harpic Powerplus toilet bowl cleaner
- Method cleaners
**Helpful Tips
1. Never keep wet rags or sponges in closed dark spaces. Under the sink or in a drawer are the worst places to store the cleaning utensils. Always lie them flat outside in direct sunlight to dry and then store.
2. When cleaning faucets and handles, always clean with a paper towel to dispose of germs.
3. Keep bleach in a spray bottle diluted with water to spray surfaces after cleaning. When using brushes and rags bacteria and residue can develop. These harmful germs can linger and using disposable napkins to give a lasting swipe of disinfectant makes the bathroom shine.
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Now what do you do now that the house is clean? There's so much space to think and move.
I like to relax with a nice movie and a desert, or maybe a glass of wine sitting next to a steaming bowl of soup. For those nights where I can't decide I settle for a Jamaican porridge. It's warm, it's comforting, it's filling. The delicious bowl of goodness is filled with spice and flavor while being creamy and tasty. We love a good oatmeal or a nice cream of wheat but this is next level. Enjoy this at home in front of the television or a good book. The sleep you'll get on clean sheets will be worth sleeping on the carbs.
Happy relaxation readers.
{TOGETHER IN POT} BRING TO A BOIL
2 CUPS WATER
1/2 CUP EVAP MILK
2 CINNAMON LEAF
1 CINNAMON STICK
AFTER ^ BOILING ADD- 1/2 CAN COCONUT MILK
{MIX TOGETHER}
3/4 CUPS CORNMEAL & 1 CUP WATER
1/2 CAN SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
1 TBSP VANILLA
1 TSP CINNAMON
1/2 TSP NUTMEG
1/4 CUP BROWN SUGAR
Directions:
Add Water, Milk, Cinnamon Leaf and Cinnamon sticks to a pot and place on your burner over Medium-High heat. Bring to a boil.
Once boiling, add can of coconut milk and bring back up to a simmer.
Meanwhile, add your Cornmeal and Water to a bowl and mix until well incorporated.
Next, add your Cornmeal mixture to you Water/Milk mixture on the stove and bring back up to a boil. At this time, you are going to start whisking continuously for the remainder of the steps. This will ensure lumps do not form in your Porridge.
Allow the cornmeal to continue to cook on medium heat, or a low boil, for approximately 5 minutes. Remember to keep Whisking.
Now, decrease your burner temperature to Low and add your Brown Cane Sugar, Condensed Milk, Vanilla, Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Lastly, a dash of salt and whisk to combine.
