This 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!