Day 94: Spring Cleaning the "Get Neater" Blog

OK, folks! I am happy to announce that "The Neat Get Neater" blog will be getting a little attention, too, for spring cleaning!

To celebrate the success of the first 100 blog posts and the challenges of the days to come, I will be redesigning the blog!

This won't be a topsy turvy or anything extraordinarily drastic. But be sure to come back and look for the post for DAY 100... and check out the all new, cleaner look! :)

Now, THAT's neat!

Day 93: Spooning in the Dishwasher?

My neighbor shared a little tip with me. Now, I have heard this one before, but I always thought it would keep the utensils from getting clean... you know, with all that spooning going on and all! But... it seems I may be wrong!

SO, here is another neat freak cheat sheet tip! (Wow! Two in a row!)


When loading the dishwasher, put all the same utensils in the same slot in your utensil bin. So, put all forks together, all spoons together, and so on. That way, when it's time to unload, the sorting is already done! This will save time and energy as you put those dishes away. My neighbor commented, "When unloading, it takes less than 1/2 the time... because [the utensils] are already sorted. For me, it's easier to sort on the front end!"


Now, THAT's neat!

DAY 92: HA! Foil-ed again!

I love to bake, so I use my oven a lot... and I really, really hate cleaning it. Talk about the worst grimy, greasy, gooey, crunchy, baked-on mess. ACK!

So, I use a little help: aluminum foil.

Yes, I cook and bake with it... sometimes coating the inside of whatever bake ware I'm using so I don't have to wash and scrub so desperately when it's done. BUT, I also line the bottom of my oven with a sheet of heavy-duty aluminium foil.

This way, the grimy, greasy, gooey, crunchy bits and splats don't actually hit the oven floor. Instead, they get caught on the foil. And when the foil gets gross, I simply pull it out and toss it! EASY clean! And another great tip from the neat freak cheat sheet! ;)

Now, THAT's neat!

Day 91: Do You Roll?

I have several lint rollers. Big ones. "Mini" ones. One in the bathroom. One in my car. And I LOVE them all! They are so handy - a total "must have" for neat freaks! And you can use them on more than just that unsightly lint!

Here are a few more uses:

• craft bits, or "sniglets" as a friend of mine calls them... Ever have those random paper pieces, ribbon snips or fabric threads all over the place after some crafting? Well, a lint roller is a perfect solution for getting those up and out of the way!
• stray hairs... Just roll the back of your shirt, sweater or jacket and remove those "strays" that fall out or fly away after brushing or styling your hair! This is also a perfect tool for picking up those little ends after a bang trim... or after a gray hair annihilation!
  
• pet fur... I roll the couch and chairs, regularly, to remove Rowdy's fur clumps.
• dust bunnies... Hey, if you can't grab the vacuum, roll away those dust bunnies with a lint roller! It's a quick fix. Not a permanent solution!
• lampshades... Oh, yes, these decorative beauties LOVE dust and grime. So, roll over them with a lint roller to bring them back to their old glory! With that in mind, try one out on a curtain or a table cloth! I use mine on the table runner in our dining room when I don't feel like removing the heavy vase and candle holders to give it a good shake outside!
  
• crumbs... Again, this is a quick fix, but a lint roller can be a handy tool for crumb removal! I've used it on counter tops, highchairs and car seats MANY times! I also have used it on baking spills, to roll away some of the flour, sugar or baking mix splatter before attacking with a antibacterial wipe!
  

What do YOU use a lint roller on?


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 90: Oh, It Smells So GOOD!

I love cleaning products that smell good. It makes me want to use them even more! AND.... it makes me feel good when people come into the house and comment, "Oh, it smells so good in here!"

Of course, sometimes the odoriferous wonder in my home is due to some delicious, homemade goodness. I LOVE to bake (and eat baked goods!), so there is often a pound cake, some sweet bread or a batch of chocolate-chip cookies cooling on the counter. BUT, when I am on a clean streak, I love to use just about anything citrus or "fresh laundry" scented. (What about you? What scents make your nose happy?)

With that being said, I was quite interested in trying out a pretty well-known product that I had never tried: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. Their natural, plant-derived essential oils are "powerful against daily dirt and grime, but leave your home smelling like a garden, not harsh chemicals." And, oh..... it's SO true!


I tried out the lemon verbena scent. I was not so sure about the smell in the bottle, but throughout the house, it's absolutely wonderful! (Even my outdoor-working husband and his rough-and-tough co-worker commented on the delightful scent!) And, most importantly, the toilet bowl cleaner and the countertop spray worked VERY well! With just a swipe of a paper towel or swish of a bowl brush, dirt and grime were disappearing right before my eyes!

I assure you, I will be purchasing more! I even got the laundry detergent in the same scent! And since Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day also offers dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, dishwasher packs, wipes, hand soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets, candles, room fresheners and window spray, *WHEW!* I may be trying out some other things, too! ;) (They also have other scents. So, I may have to explore!)



Now, THAT's neat!

Day 89: Quick Tip for Wayward Pouches

I have a bunch of food pouches in my pantry... you know, those mixes for tacos and chili and seasoned fries. Well, those said pouches tend to fall through the cracks, literally. And I was pretty tired of mounting an all-out search for these seasonings and such while in the middle of cooking.

So... simple solution: I took one of those "throw-away" plastic containers and stuffed all the pouches inside. Now, I can find what I need without straining my back while leaning over, balanced on one foot, digging around the bottom of the pantry where extra paper towels and other odds n' ends reside! :)

Add THAT to your neat freak bag o' tricks!



Now, THAT's neat!