‘Cleaning Closet’ Category

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How To Find Time To Clean

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that finding time to clean was among the big worries of those trying to juggle work and family:

One of the keys is not letting things get out of hand to begin with, since deep-set stains and caked-on residues are hard to clean.

Consider the refrigerator. No one wants to spend an hour on a Saturday scrubbing their fridge. And yet, as [a] Journal article from a few weeks ago points out, most Americans seem unwilling to tackle their grimy refrigerators and wind up scrubbing them down maybe once or twice a year.

To make the task less overwhelming, Debra Johnson, a training manager at Merry Maids LP, a cleaning service headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., recommends that people explore the depths of their fridges once a week for food that needs to be tossed. She suggests cleaning one shelf at a time so that the task is less overwhelming.

Personally, I often try to clean throughout the week, but I seem to always have the same amount to do by the weekend anyway. What about you? How do you find time to clean – and how do you make it efficient? Do you hire help?

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Dialogue | 3 Comments »

New Week, New Product

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Usually I add my own thoughts here, but I love Full Circle’s mission so much, I’m quoting it in full:

It’s a simple reality – our product choices are limited to what we can find on store shelves. And more often than not, products that are the most accessible aren’t always the most eco-friendly. Or good looking. That’s just the way it’s been for ages.

But the game has changed—with Full Circle’s line of stylish, functional products made from sustainable and renewable resources. Like scrub brushes with sleek, bamboo handles and sponges made from cellulose, a plant-based iber. We’ve even made pot scrubbers that fully biodegrade! (As you can see, we’re really into this stuff.)

Important behind-the-scenes changes are happening here, too—such as improved working conditions, cleaner manufacturing methods and higher environmental standards. Even our suppliers have come around to our way of thinking. (We’re kind of persuasive that way.)

At Full Circle, we believe in constantly striving to do things better. Because while there may be a finite number of resources in the world, there’s an infinite number of ways to use them more wisely.

And figuring out how to do that is what gets us up every morning.

Awesome, huh? And they’re right. That scrubber IS pretty.

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Kitchen, New Products | No Comments »

Vote for your favorite paper towels, and win an Alice.com gift card!

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

All this week, we’re putting up your favorite household products to a vote. Help us celebrate 2009 by letting us know your opinion on the best household products of the year, from toothpaste to toilet paper.

Vote in the comments section of each category (we’ll have six all together; vote on round one of toothpaste here, round two of razors here, round three of coffee here), and each time you’ll be entered to win a $25 Alice.com gift card. Six winners will be notified and announced on Thursday, and we’ll also have another fun contest to top off all the fun.

In this fourth round of voting, tell us your favorite paper towels to use to wipe up messes. Can’t wait to win? Purchase gift cards for all your favorite friends and family, and give them the gift you know they’ll use.

bounty
 viva

1. Bounty Basic

2. Viva


seventhgen		 bounty2

3. Seventh Generation

4. Bounty
brawny
 Your favorite isn’t here? Write it in!

5. Brawny

6. Other

Vote for your favorite brand in the comments below for your chance to win a $25 Alice.com gift card!

RULES
Winner will be awarded an Alice.com gift card with an estimated retail value of $25 dollars. Giveaway is open to legal U.S. residents 18 or older residing in the 50 United States (includes DC).  Void where prohibited.  Employees (and their immediate families and households) of Alice.com, Inc. are not eligible.  Giveaway entries will be accepted until Thursday, December 17th  at 12:00 pm (noon). Winning entry must provide a valid email address (Alice.com will never sell or rent your e-mail to third parties). We will notify the winner by email on Thursday, December 17th.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to us with their name and valid U.S. mailing address.  If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.  Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Sponsor: Alice.com, Inc.

This giveaway ends Thursday, December 17th at 12:00 pm (Noon).

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Giveaways | 238 Comments »

Can excercise make you less anxious?

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009


shoes

“For years, both in popular imagination and in scientific circles, it has been a given that exercise enhances mood,” the New York Times reports. And for years, cleaning my home has been the best exercise I’ve been able to fit in every week. I’ve found that not only does it get me up and moving, but I’m much more relaxed and de-stressed afterwords. No doubt due,  not only to the exercise portion of cleaning, but also to the de-cluttering and organizing bit as well.

Scientists are closer to beginning to see how this actually does affect the brain, specifically “how exercise remodels the brain, making it more resistant to stress,” the Times reports. “Anxiety in rodents and people has been linked with excessive oxidative stress, which can lead to cell death, including in the brain. Moderate exercise, though, appears to dampen the effects of oxidative stress.”

The positive stress of exercise “prepares cells and structures and pathways within the brain so that they’re more equipped to handle stress in other forms,” says Michael Hopkins, a graduate student affiliated with the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory Laboratory at Dartmouth. “It’s pretty amazing, really, that you can get this translation from the realm of purely physical stresses to the realm of psychological stressors.”

Just another reason to make sure everything is in it’s place… including those running shoes which belong on your feet, not the back of the closet. Let the exercise begin!

Do you feel de-stressed after exercising? What about cleaning? Do you feel the same affects or does a good run outweigh the benefits of a clean house?  How do you keep stressful situations to a minimum during this busy time?

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Dialogue, Home Management | 1 Comment »

Husbands, housework is key!

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

housework

Now here’s some good news for couples everywhere. According to the Wall Street Journal, a study of nearly 7,000 husbands and wives found that couples who vacuum together spend more time in the bedroom together.

“The study is actually just the latest of several on the link between scrubbing and shagging, but it’s the first to find that wives really, really dig it when their husbands help mop the floors, take out the garbage, pay the bills, iron laundry or drive the kids around town,” Reveries reports.

While some spouses were surprised by the results, other spouses said the results make sense: “Housework can be a proxy for one’s commitment to shared marital endeavors, several said. Also, the rewards of housework – a clean, calm home that is running smoothly – feed a sense of well-being and can help you enjoy your partner more. But this is true only to a point: When housework takes over the evening, even the most dedicated spouses risk letting their relationships slide, these spouses say,” the WSJ reports.

What do you think of this work hard, play hard theory? Does doing the housework together show that you’re functioning well in other areas?

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Dialogue, Home Management | No Comments »

New Week, New Product

Monday, October 19th, 2009

mrcleangloves

These Mr. Clean gloves are just right when you don’t want your hands to touch all the dirt and grime. The cleaning gloves are made from high quality natural rubber latex and have a special slip resistant formulation as well as hundreds of molded rubber grippers for maximum holding power. Soot and stains, watch out!

And in case you’re extra sensitive to staying clean, a long cuff has been added to provide greater protection to the forearm and a cotton flock lining has been added for comfort. Obviously, Mr. Clean isn’t about to let you down.

Posted in Cleaning Closet, New Products | 3 Comments »

New Week, New Product

Monday, October 5th, 2009

garbage-disposal

I admit, this may seem like a boring product at first. But it’s so not.

First, let me explain. I can’t even tell you how many things I’ve put down my garbage disposal, either on purpose or by accident. I didn’t grow up with a garbage disposal so I didn’t exactly learn all the rules. Now, I more or less go by if you can chew it, you can dispose it. So, an olive pit couldn’t go down the garbage disposal by this rule, for instance. But that hasn’t stopped the olive pits, nor the numerous other food items that would have probably been safer or less smelly in the trash.

Anyway, so that’s why I like Disposer Care. It’s specially designed and tested to clean and deodorize your garbage disposer. There’s cool foaming action that strips away food particles, grease and odors, and leaves, of course, a kitchen-y lemon scent.

I’m not alone, right? What have you mistakenly put in your garbage disposal?

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Kitchen, New Products | 11 Comments »

Who cleans in your house?

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Susan Getgood of Marketing Roadmaps shares with Kristen Chase her thoughts on Alice.com, what product she’s most brand-sensitive to, what she’s wearing, and who does the cleaning in her house.

We’re pretty sure we’d like Susan’s husband. But tell us, who does the cleaning in your house?

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Videos | 4 Comments »

If the Health Department Isn’t Coming, It’s Clean Enough (+ Giveaway!)

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

wtmhighresimageThis is an excerpt from the book, The White Trash Mom Handbook by Michelle Lamar. We first met Michelle at BlogHer and are thrilled that she not only wants to share this excerpt, but is also willing to give away a copy of the book!

To win, comment below on why you’d like the book or tell us your best “trashy” cleaning tip.

If the Health Department Isn’t Coming, It’s Clean Enough
If you live in a doublewide, a McMansion, a classic colonial, in the city or country, your home is your White Trash Palace, so treat it accordingly.

White Trash Mom’s Cleaning Tips
I’m sure it will come as no surprise that I don’t enjoy housework. So, I’m not really the best resource for information on how to keep your own little doublewide trailer clean. But, I do know a thing or two about making it look clean or making it look like clean is one of your priorities. Consider these tips and shortcuts just another way of attacking the perfection expectation. I’d rather fight the war on perfection than battle dust bunnies any day of the week. White Trash Mom cleaning and housekeeping tips are not for everyday. WTM tips are what you can use when you experience the following:

“Uh Oh” Moments
For most people but especially “ADD” people like me, having an “Uh Oh” moment is a fairly routine occurrence. For those of you not familiar with this syndrome, an “Uh Oh” moment is when you remember that it’s your turn for book club and 25 people are coming over in 4 hours. Or when you remember you offered to have the entire family to your house for a dinner and you live in complete squalor. White Trash Mom tips are good for those moments when you have to do six-month’s worth of cleaning in a few hours.

You need extra help.

“I’m On My Last Nerve and I’m at the Maximum Dosage” Moments
There are times when life gets too busy or too crazy. When super replaces normal chaos sized chaos that makes it hard to keep your sense of humor and your perspective.

It may be a week, a month or longer but there are times when life goes too fast and you need to cut something out. Skimp on the chores and not on your favorite reality TV show.

Cutting Corners can Increase Sanity
But WTM knows there are ways to cut corners during maximum insanity times in your life and I think sanity over eco-perfect is a good thing if you are raising children.

At least it’s good to have some sanity—-no mom is completely sane because children suck some of the logic/reason cells out of your brain just before birth. It’s true. My neighbor Jan told me so. And she has 7 kids so I don’t argue with her.

Quick Cleaning Tips When You Need a Little Sanity
Products to Keep Handy for those “Uh Oh” moments

• Clorox Wipes
• Swiffer Wipes
• Febreze

Please don’t get on me about the environment. I am not suggesting you do this every day. I’m saying these are great in a pinch. You can get a bathroom clean in 10 seconds with two Clorox wipes. A “Swiffer” mop is easy for a smaller child to wipe a floor down with in a hurry. Febreeze helps quickly take that “Muddy Dog Paw” smell out of your carpet or upholstery without having your house smell like a hospital.

Giveaway Alert! Michelle is letting us give away a copy of The White Trash Mom Handbook. To enter, simply comment below on why you’d like the book or tell us your best “trashy” cleaning tip.

For extra entries, tweet about the giveaway. Here’s a suggested tweet (but feel free to be creative) – What’s your “trashiest” cleaning tip? Share to win! – http://bit.ly/lMDG8 – Include the link to your tweet in your comment. For another extra entry, blog about the giveaway and include the link in your comment. The giveaway will end this Saturday,  September 12 at 11:59 pm. Looking forward to your comments!

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Hacks & How-Tos, Home Management | 41 Comments »

What do you do when you run out?

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

The hilarious and ever-so popular Jenny, The Bloggess shares with Kristen Chase what she used to do when she ran out of toilet paper before learning about Alice.com at BlogHer ‘09.

She also shares her views on Alka-Seltzer and Fantastik, all in good fun, but may not be safe for work. Be warned.

Do you have a story to share about running out of a household essential? What did you do?

Posted in Cleaning Closet, Home Management, Videos | 2 Comments »

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