Tag Archives: Home Furnishings

An Ordered But Livable Home

For the most part, I keep my house in good order. Very rarely do you find things in chaos. I attribute that to my organizing skills. But at the same time I have also strived to make it livable. I was just at a birthday party recently where I met up with an old co-worker. Before I quit that job to become a full-time freelance writer, one of our other co-workers had been building a brand new house. So I asked my co-worker how the new house looked and if she had been there to see it. She said she … Continue reading →

Does Your Household Product Meet the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval?

You are probably familiar with the magazine, “Good Housekeeping.” It has been in circulation for 100 years now. That is pretty amazing. One of the unique features is the “Good Housekeeping Seal.” This is a list of products that have been approved under their stringent judgments. The seal actually guarantees consumers that if they purchase a product with their seal and it is found to be defective within two years from the date it was purchased, they will receive a replacement, refund or repair kit. So needless to say, you pretty much can’t go wrong when you purchase a product … Continue reading →

Creating an Annual Chore List

We are wrapping up our chore lists with today’s final one, the annual chore list. Hopefully by now you have discovered that keeping your home in order is not as difficult as you thought, once you organize everything. Your housekeeping binder will be helpful for other things but I will touch on that in a bit. Let’s first consider some of the chores that can be done on an annual basis. Go through your house and look for minor repairs that should be done. This includes tightening screws on cabinets, drawers, doors and furniture. It could also include caulking around … Continue reading →

Creating a Monthly Chore List

What I love about creating a monthly chore list is that it keeps me on top of housekeeping that can easily slip under the radar screen. When you create your monthly chore list, you should also have a space to write in the date you do it. That way you can know if it was done at the beginning, middle or end of the month. Here are some ideas on chores that can be done on a monthly basis (of course this depends on preference): Wiping down baseboards throughout the house Cleaning cobwebs out of basement, garage, on ceiling, anywhere … Continue reading →

Creating a Weekly Chore List

In my last blog I talked about creating a daily chore list. I also mentioned this was a great opportunity to delegate chores. If there was ever a good time to divide things up and teach new skills to your children, this is it. I also mentioned putting your daily chore list into a binder. This binder can become a very helpful resource in your home. You could even decorate it and label it “(Name of Your Family) Housekeeping Book” or something more creative. Make sure everyone is aware of where it is kept so that it can be accessed … Continue reading →

Creating a Daily Chore List

Some people find housekeeping therapeutic and others would like to avoid it at any cost. I tend to be one of those that equate it to therapy because I feel so much better when things are cleaned up and put away. But what has really helped is my daily chore list. I know that some people like to do their chores whenever they get to them, or an entire evening may be set aside. Some people take advantage of the weekend and use that as a time to catch up. Personally, I don’t like to spend hours of my time … Continue reading →

Skunk: A Most Odious Encounter

Late last Saturday night my dog had that most unfortunate of meetings: with a stinky skunk. I’m ashamed to say that in my rush to do something about the horrid scent coming off of Chihiro, I didn’t think clearly. My husband and I should have hosed her off and applied treatment outside, but instead we brought her inside to the spare tub. We made her wait in the yard until we had the de-skunking mixture ready, but her trip through the house left awful scents that lingered for days. One good thing I can say is that the hydrogen-peroxide, baking … Continue reading →

Clean Out Your Cleaning Supplies

Part of housekeeping is making sure that your house is in order but if your cleaning supplies aren’t, then you just might be wasting space. Think of the number of products and tools you have bought over the years in order to make your job of cleaning easier or more efficient. Do you still use all of them? It’s a good idea to go through your cleaning supplies, products and tools to decide which ones are worth keeping. For instance, despite the fact that my house is 95% hardwood floors, I still keep a vacuum cleaner around. All that does … Continue reading →

The Smell of Clean

I love the smell of clean but let’s face it…with a house filled with children and pets; it can be difficult to come by. Thankfully we don’t have carpeting because I truly believe that helps to keep out the “pet smell.” But it doesn’t matter…with three dogs, one cat, a bird, two bearded dragons, fish and a turtle…it takes a little work to keep my home smelling clean. If you have pets, the key is to keep your pets and their habitats clean. I know that sounds really simple but it makes a huge difference. As for your children, well … Continue reading →

Nothing Like Line Drying Your Laundry

Looking to save some money this summer? Try putting your laundry outside on a line. Not only will you save money but you will enjoy the benefit of the fresh outdoor smell. One of my most favorite items to dry outside is my down feather comforter. There is nothing like slipping into bed with the smell of freshness permeating all around me. It may sound old-fashioned to dry your clothes on the line. I have childhood memories of my neighbor wearing her apron with clothespins clipped all around. I would watch her take her time in putting the clothes up … Continue reading →