Saturday, June 04, 2005

CLEANING QUIZ

I know some of you are in nesting mode (Ruthanne and Ann!) and I am busy cleaning my house today after being on semi-vacation. Sometimes I just get in a real cleaning mood; my husband calls it being a white tornado. So just for fun I have some questions to ask. If my lurking friend Jane is out there, she may finally be prodded into commenting since I know her best friend is Clorox, LOL!

Three questions -

1. What are some of the best new cleaning products out there? What new gadget is really worth the money? Conversely, what one product is totally useless?

2. What is your best homemade cleaning agent?

3. What is your least favorite cleaning job? How do you psych yourself up or pray yourself into doing it with the right attitude?

**Bonus question for all you Flybabies out there - Is the Flylady duster really worth it?

Have fun!

12 comments:

Meredith said...

1. I really love the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It has gotten stuff up that amazed me. It's really good for my countertops which attract all sorts of marks and stains (Kool-Aid). Lysol wipes are great too, but I guess I could do without them.

2. I like my vinegar and water solution which cleans glass and is a good all natural all purpose cleaner.

3. I dislike dusting the most because I never feel like I'm really getting the job done. My motivation for doing it is when the dust is more obvious than the furniture! Ha, ha.

Karen said...

Mere, does that Magic Eraser really work?? I will have to check it out.

Okay...

1. We love our Clorox wipes (we've even thanked God for them); we also love Kaboom for showers and tubs...it works best on soap scum - better than anything I've ever used.

2. My dh makes homemade Windex (it's called "Poor Man's Windex"). He makes 2 gallons every 2 months or so (I'm a Windex fanatic), and we're just thrilled with it.

3. My least favorite chore has been laundry, but I can honestly say that the Lord has been changing my heart regarding it. So currently (I can't even believe it!), I really don't have a least favorite chore. Hooray!

And Meredith, yes, I'm back...and I've found my book. I'm just going to jump in with you soon. We've been out of town a LOT and blogging just hasn't been a priority.
:-(

~Karen

elisa said...

Cleaning! It's all I'm doing for the next week!
1. My new favorite gadget is my Swiffer Mop. I find it well worth the money. I buy the replacement pads and I'm supposed to buy the replacement bottle of solution. However, and this leads to...
2. I don't buy the replacement solution for it. I mix my own, usually some type of floor cleaner and water. I use pliers to take off the special cap. They told me I couldn't do this, but I love a challenge!
3. What cleaning job do I least enjoy? Hmmm? Well I not really "a whistle while I work" person; I more of a "for the joy set before me I endure the cleaning" person. In the summer the joy set before me is the beach:)

Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience said...

OK, Meredith...
1. Favorite cleaner: Water--really.

2. Favourite homemade solution: water and vinegar for windows---and with a squeegee it only takes me 15-20 min to do the main windows in the house--every Saturday

3.Job I dislike: Toilets---solution? Swish everyday.

ANNNNND...I *HAD* the Flylady duster--until some darling child left it in garage after dusting van... where overzealous, teething golden lab found it and decided to depluck the feathered beast! But was it worth it---aw, not really. I still like water and a rag. Yes, water....really.

Great post, Meredith--I guess I should now go clean something??!!
Ann holyexperience

Anonymous said...

My favorite tool is a dust mop. I bought it for my hardwood floors, but I use it on the tile too. Much more efficient than vacuums and brooms. Here's a link to homemade cleaner solutions:

http://www.barefoothomemakers.com/cleaning/season.html

Finally, I hate scrubbing showers, and I don't know how I make myself do it. I just "bite the bullet." And use lots of bleach.

Anonymous said...

I lazy linked, and it didn't work. Sooooo, here's the professional way to link.

Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Karen said...

I forgot to mention that I don't have Flylady's duster, but I did buy an ostrich feather duster at the recommendation of The Clean Team...the kids love it, and so far none of the pets have attacked it!
:-)
Also, I have to agree with Amy - I love my dustmop. Which is at my mother-in-law's right now. "Note to self..."

Anonymous said...

I really have to second the MR. Clean Eraser....I use it for everything!

Meredith said...

Karen,
You'll have to give me the recipe for the homemade Windex! No problem about your absence. I just missed ya.
Lis,
Ditto on wanting the recipe for your floor cleaning solution. I tried to get that cap off too but I guess I didn't have as much grit and determination! Ha, ha.
Ann,
Can you really dust furniture with water?!
Amy,
Does your dust mop have a name? I'm curious.
Lea,
Welcome! Thanks for stopping by. And yes, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser really works, but be careful not to rub off paint from your walls!

Blessings.

Anonymous said...

Hi Meredith! :)

Well ... I am basic, basic, basic.

I still stand by 409. I dilute it for mopping, use it on countertops and cabinets, and it cleans like a gem. I was sold on 409 when we moved into a rental and I would spray a segment of the floor, let it set for about 5 minutes and then wipe. OH MY GOODNESS ... the floors were white under that. I honestly thought tan.

Okay, I'm rambling.

409
Soft Scrub (w/bleach ... lemon variety)
Clorox
Windex
Endust (lemon scent)

For the wash I swear by Arm & Hammer and Oxi-Clean. All our whites soak in a hot overnight load of A&H and Oxi-Clean and come out white everytime.

Oh, and don't try Magic Eraser on walls painted with a flat paint. It'll take off the stain AND THE PAINT ... you'll have all these 'swirls' that were more evident than the stain itself.

Perri said...

Found your blog through Lea's.

1. Best new cleaning agent - Swiffer Wet Jet & Magic Eraser

2. Best home-made cleaning agent - my kids

3. Least like job - toilets - how do I do it? See #2 above.

Meredith said...

Heather,
Thanks for stopping by. I have to try the 409. When I was single I used it to drown cockroaches that I discovered in my apartment. Hate, hate cockroaches.
Perri,
Welcome! For some reason my boys fight over who gets to clean the toilet. That's probably because of the new gadgets I'm always buying to clean the toilet. You know men always have to try out the latest gadget!