. Food Fun Family https://foodfunfamily.com A family lifestyle blog about food, family, entertainment, travel and family-friendly products. Wed, 25 Jan 2017 04:14:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.5 https://foodfunfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/09May20_candy_40-2-5571ff1cv1_site_icon-32x32.png Food Fun Family https://foodfunfamily.com 32 32 Tips for Organizing a Basement https://foodfunfamily.com/tips-for-organizing-a-basement/ https://foodfunfamily.com/tips-for-organizing-a-basement/#respond Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:00:01 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=155804 We live in a 3-level townhouse, so our basement (that 1st level) is a very important part of our living space. For the first few years that we lived here, it was a dark dungeon-like storage room (which is often what people think of when they hear the word “basement”). Luckily, we renovated the basement...

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We live in a 3-level townhouse, so our basement (that 1st level) is a very important part of our living space. For the first few years that we lived here, it was a dark dungeon-like storage room (which is often what people think of when they hear the word “basement”). Luckily, we renovated the basement as our first big home project so that it could be useable space for toys and the TV along with needed storage and office space.

Our basement has gone through many stages over the last 18 years. Although we’ve continued to store games and books and toys for ALL ages (the kids have spent many hours playing down there!), we no longer need that kind of space with a house full of teenagers. We recently undertook a huge project to make our main basement room into the LuLaRoe boutique (you can join me in my Facebook group or send me a message if you want to learn more or shop!). No more couch, no more big entertainment center, and no more self full of picture books and toys. It’s a major transformation!

Your basement may have a different function than ours. Maybe you’re used to using basements simply for long-term storage. If your basement is out of control and full of stuff, then it is time to get it organized. Organizing your basement may not be at the top of your to-do list, but this is your year to get things organized. Here are a few tips for organizing a basement.

Note: Amazon affiliate links are used within this post.

Tips for organizing the basement

Remove the junk

There is no possible way to organize a basement (or any other area of the house, for that matter) when it is full of junk. Your first step in gaining control of the basement is to spend some time getting rid of everything you are not using. While you may think you will need something later, keep in mind that the space is something you need now. You will be happy once you get the junk out and have room for space for the family. I always look at things we’ve been storing or holding on to and ask myself 1) does it have sentimental/historical value? and 2) is it replaceable?

Go through what you’ll be keeping

When organizing, I always do a second look of the things I plan on keeping. Do I really need to keep it? What am I saving this item for? A double check on the item can help determine if I really need it or not. I need all the space I can get, so this step is extra helpful.

Labeling is your best friend

When organizing a basement, especially when it’s a space you don’t go into as much as the rest of your house, labeling is a must. You can buy a labeling machine cheap, and I know you will get your money’s worth. It’s well worth it to stay organized! If you do not want to buy a label maker, paper labels from the Dollar Tree will do the trick.

Keep things off the floor

This is just a little trick I learned over the years. Keep everything in your basement off the floor as much as possible. Not only does it keep things more organized, but it helps protect your items. Since the basement is the lowest level of the house, you never know what can make its way indoors. Your best bet is to use shelves for items and to hang up as much as you can. I personally think it is much easier to keep things organized when you are not putting everything on the floor.

Everything in its place

This tip applies to any section of the house. When putting things away, make sure you’ve given everything a “home.” As you’re maintaining your organized space and cleaning up on a regular basis, it’s so much easier for the whole family to know where to put things away versus searching for an empty shelf or nook to stuff it. This step helps when looking for things, too. If you know where items belong, then finding things is as simple as walking downstairs and grabbing them off the shelf. It saves time in the long run!

What tips do you have for organizing a basement? Removing the junk and labeling items are two of my favorite tips. Don’t be shy about sharing your tips with me!

© 2017, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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Aunt Fannie’s Food-Based Cleaners #HealthierHousekeeping https://foodfunfamily.com/aunt-fannies-food-based-cleaners/ https://foodfunfamily.com/aunt-fannies-food-based-cleaners/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2016 11:00:47 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=153193 This week my kids and I took on the family cleaning with Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar as part of a sponsored post for Aunt Fannie’s. All thoughts are my own. #HealthierHousekeeping #NaturalCleaning My Grandma was a firm believer in vinegar. For everything. So when I had the chance to try Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar this...

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This week my kids and I took on the family cleaning with Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar as part of a sponsored post for Aunt Fannie’s. All thoughts are my own. #HealthierHousekeeping #NaturalCleaning

Aunt Fannie's Cleaning Vinegar and FlyPunch: plant-based, non-toxic cleaners and pest control that is safe to use around food, children, and pets #HealthierHousekeeping

My Grandma was a firm believer in vinegar. For everything. So when I had the chance to try Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar this week, I felt like I was heading back to my roots. Grandma would have approved. Grandma used vinegar for cleaning before natural cleaning products needed to be called “natural.”

A few years ago, I probably wouldn’t have cared that much about what was in our cleaning products. A lot has changed in our home since then. Now, I make a lot of the products that we use at home, particularly for skin care. I’ve always been a fan of making our foods from whole, real foods. And so adding non-toxic, food-based cleaners just made sense for our family.

Aunt Fannie's Cleaning Vinegar and FlyPunch: plant-based, non-toxic cleaners and pest control that is safe to use around food, children, and pets #HealthierHousekeeping

Let me introduce you to the two amazing products from Aunt Fannie’s that we’ve been trying:

Aunt Fannie’s FlyPunch! – this is a natural, non-toxic, and totally safe product that is perfect for families that eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables (especially those families like mine that have a bunch of garden vegetables lining all of the empty spaces in the kitchen). We always have a ton of produce out – from apples and bananas to onions and tomatoes.

Just today, I found not one but two bags of “forgotten” lemons, and I have a bunch of bananas that need to be made into banana bread ASAP. Once the fruit flies come, it can be so difficult to get rid of them, and of course I’m hesitant to use anything that could potentially compromise our food. I love FlyPunch! because it is safe AND it works. It’s also 100% guaranteed!

Aunt Fannie's Cleaning Vinegar and FlyPunch: plant-based, non-toxic cleaners and pest control that is safe to use around food, children, and pets #HealthierHousekeeping

Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegars – I’ve kept my kids active in the kitchen since they were little. Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegars are a great food-based cleaning solution that are perfect for getting kids to help with the cleaning without having to worry about harsh or toxic chemicals. It smells great and is super effective in cleaning up all of our messes.

I love the idea of healthier housekeeping and of not having to wipe down the counter AFTER cleaning it because I want to put food down (raise your hand if you’ve ever cleaned the cleaner off the counter to make it safe for food!!).

Aunt Fannie's Cleaning Vinegar and FlyPunch: plant-based, non-toxic cleaners and pest control that is safe to use around food, children, and pets #HealthierHousekeeping

Aunt Fannie’s products are highly effective, totally safe for our bodies and made from garden-grown herbs and fruits. Aunt Fannie’s cleaning and pest solutions are so pure they can be used on or around food. For more product information: visit https://www.auntfanniesco.com/product-category/cleaning-solutions/

Unique Coupon Code for Food Fun Family Readers

I’m excited to share this unique coupon code just for Food Fun Family readers. Just enter code foodfun at checkout and you’ll get 30% OFF CART! You’ll also get Free Shipping for orders over $35. This offer expires on 10/31/16.

Aunt Fannie's

What is Aunt Fannie’s?

Aunt Fannie’s is reinventing home care with food-based Healthy Housekeeping solutions. Unable to find truly safe products for his family, Mat Franken founded Aunt Fannie’s in 2013 with a mission to create food-based solutions for households, food service establishments, and food manufacturers. Read more about the CEO’s story HERE

Aunt Fannie’s name is inspired by Mat’s own Grandma, she represents a postwar era of hard-working, truth-telling people that relied on no-nonsense solutions. Aunt Fannie’s products are based on tried and tested solutions that work hard in your home and have crushed the myths of chemical companies to prove that our homes are indeed safe, clean (and far less toxic) without them.

Check out Aunt Fannie’s full line-up of products:

Aunt Fannie's Cleaning Vinegar and FlyPunch: plant-based, non-toxic cleaners and pest control that is safe to use around food, children, and pets #HealthierHousekeeping

WHERE TO BUY: Aunt Fannie’s products can be found in stores like Whole Foods nationwide and online via Amazon and Thrive Market. For local retailers check HERE.

 

© 2016, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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How to Prepare Your Home for Fall: Healthier “Honey-Do” Lists #Ad #HealthierHome https://foodfunfamily.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-fall/ https://foodfunfamily.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-fall/#comments Wed, 17 Sep 2014 12:40:47 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=86467   I am proud to be a 3M-sponsored blogger. Opinions are my own and additional products used in the project were selected by me. It’s hard to believe that in a matter of weeks we’ll be packing away the shorts and t-shirts and pulling out the pull-overs and scarves. It may be gorgeous, sun-shiny, late...

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I am proud to be a 3M-sponsored blogger. Opinions are my own and additional products used in the project were selected by me.

It’s hard to believe that in a matter of weeks we’ll be packing away the shorts and t-shirts and pulling out the pull-overs and scarves. It may be gorgeous, sun-shiny, late summer weather today, but cold, nippy Fall weather is just around the corner. Before we know it, we’ll be flipping the switch from air conditioner to heater and wearing boots instead of flip-flops.

This is the perfect time of year to add a few things to your honey-do list to help make (and maintain) a healthier home environment. Forget Spring Cleaning. It’s time for Fall Organizing.

How to prepare your home for fall: healthier honey do lists

Fall Cleaning “Honey-Do” Lists

  • Clean the furniture. I don’t know about you, but once I’ve put a piece of furniture into place, I tend to leave it there…and forget it. Move furniture to vacuum underneath and behind, pull up cushions…and discover all of the hidden – lost – treasures within! Just last weekend, we deep cleaned the couches in the basement and found lost glasses, a long-lost remote control, spoons, toys, and lots of garbage. Behind the couch was a wealth of dust – and I spent the rest of the night sneezing. I felt so much better knowing that that dust and trash was gone!
  • How to prepare your home for fall: healthier honey do lists

    How to prepare your home for fall: healthier honey do lists

  • Dust walls and baseboards. There’s something about the summer that simply leaves a mess behind. Tackle everything from the cobwebs to the dust bunnies and get a hold on all of the dust that has settled along walls with the long-handled brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner.
  • Rotate bedding. Flip your mattress (from end-to-end and front-to-back) for optimal wear. Grab a book and all of your bedding (quilts, pillows, mattress pads, etc) and head to the laundromat for a heavy duty machine wash.
  • Clean all windows, window treatments, and doors and get them ready for colder weather. If you have storm windows or doors, install them now. Check weather stripping and replace or install as needed.
  • Move the refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum the coils…and then before you put everything back in place, take all of the food off the shelves and throw out foods that are out of date or of unknown date. Clean all shelves thoroughly before replacing the foods that you’re keeping. While you’re at it, check the pantry shelves for foods that are past their prime, and toss spices that are older than 6 months.
  • Change your air filter. Changing your Filtrete Healthy Living Ultra Allergen Reduction Filter MPR 1500 at least every three months is important (I recommend adding it to your calendar!), but it’s especially critical to change filters before turning on the air conditioner (in summer months) or the heat (in fall months). Remember: when you pull out the sweaters, pull out that old filter and exchange it for a new one. New filters not only capture allergens from the air passing through the filter, but doing so may also help reduce the amount of energy needed to cool or heat the home. Bonus benefit!

How to prepare your home for fall: healthier honey do lists

The Filtrete Healthy Living Ultra Allergen Reduction Filter (MPR 1500) is just one of the ways you can help create a healthier home by capturing airborne particles like dust, pollen and mold spores from the air passing through the filter (in fact, it captures 90% of large airborne particles!). It also attracts and captures particles that can carry bacteria and viruses.

Connect with Filtrete

• Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/Filtrete
• Twitter: @Filtrete
• Register to receive seasonal e-newsletters featuring special offers, filter change reminders, better home living tips and more at www.Filtrete.com.

Enter to win a Fall Cleaning giveaway from Filtrete!

We’re giving away a year’s supply of Filtrete Filters along with a $50 gift card to put towards creating a healthier home. Enter on the Rafflecopter form below before midnight on September 30, 2014 and let me know how you prepare your home for fall. A winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. This giveaway is limited to US-based winners only and you must have a heating/cooling system that uses one-inch filters.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

© 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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Food Stains and Dirt Stains and Pit Stains. Oh My! #BizChallenge https://foodfunfamily.com/food-stains-and-dirt-stains-and-pit-stains/ https://foodfunfamily.com/food-stains-and-dirt-stains-and-pit-stains/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2014 16:03:29 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=72038

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This post brought to you by Biz Stain & Odor Eliminator. All opinions are 100% mine.

 
 
As a mom of 5, I do a lot of laundry. I used to think that as my kids got older, I'd have less of a problem with pesky stains on their clothes, but although the stains that we deal with now are not the same stains that I had to deal with when the kids were little….there is NEVER a shortage of messes to deal with! I think this may be a case of bigger kids=bigger stains.
 
Since we've been staying at my mom's house, I've seen an even greater variety of stains on clothes, since we've had a dozen kids ranging from 17 to 7 months living together. The washing machine has been running every day, practically, and since I took on the Biz Challenge, I've been keeping my eyes open for a variety of stains that I could tackle (and eliminate!) with Biz stain fighting liquid.
 
 
Guess what? The Biz you’ve known and loved (the same Biz your grandma and mother knew and loved too!) has recently undergone a 21st century makeover! The ingredients that make it so great haven’t changed – just the package it comes in. Biz has an updated logo and color scheme – keep an eye out for it the next time you're at the store!
 
 
In my laundry room, the most common stains that I have to deal with on a regular basis are pit stains (eww! Discolored arm pits on white shirts are the worst!), food stains (chocolate and berry juices and watermelon are my most common trouble-makers), and dirt/mud.
 
 
The past couple of weeks, though, as I've been paying more particular attention to the stains that show up in my laundry, I found several things that looked like color transfers. I was worried because I typically don't have ANY luck with getting rid of color transfers once they've occurred (I can't tell you how many pieces of clothing have been ruined by mysterious pink blotches that show up in the laundry!).
 
Did you know? Biz cleans up to 80% better than washing with a detergent alone. Biz contains more stain fighting ingredients
 
 
I was kind of blown away by the results of our Biz Challenge. I set to work on stubborn stains that have been through multiple washes (like those pit stains I mentioned earlier and rig-around-the-collar) and new stains (like the purple-red berry popsicle that was all over Reese's off-white shorts yesterday. I used Biz as a pre-wash stain treatment for troublesome spots, and I also added it to each load along with my regular detergent. I was impressed that it worked equally well on whites versus colors. After just a few days, my mom started deferring to ME as the stain-treating expert in the house (giving me even more articles of clothing to try out my Biz Challenge with!).
 
 
I loved that I could really SEE the difference between the before and after photos! I was so impressed!
 
Have you used Biz stain fighting liquid before? What are your biggest laundry trouble-makers?
 
Save save $1 on Biz by downloading a coupon! Check out where to buy Biz.
 

Connect with Biz: 

Like Biz on Facebook
Follow @BizStainFighter on Twitter
Check out Biz on Pinterest

Visit Sponsor's Site

© 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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How to Get Rid of Mold and Mildew in the Bathroom https://foodfunfamily.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mold-and-mildew-in-the-bathroom/ https://foodfunfamily.com/how-to-get-rid-of-mold-and-mildew-in-the-bathroom/#comments Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:45:16 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=49813 I’m working with Tilex® on a paid basis, but my opinions are my own. I don’t remember ever having a problem with mold and mildew when I was growing up in California. I’m sure my memory is incorrect, though I DID clean my fair share of bathtubs and showers for my weekly chores. That’s what...

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I’m working with Tilex® on a paid basis, but my opinions are my own.

tilex

I don’t remember ever having a problem with mold and mildew when I was growing up in California. I’m sure my memory is incorrect, though I DID clean my fair share of bathtubs and showers for my weekly chores. That’s what happens when you’re the oldest kid in the house.

I may not have memories of mold and mildew from my childhood home, but – Boy-oh-Boy! – when moved to Maryland shortly after I got married, mold and mildew became something I was all too familiar with.

No matter how often I clean the shower, it seems that mold and mildew STILL creep up on me. And with my main shower (that all 7 of us share!) tiled with white tiles and white grout, EVERY little spec of mold and mildew show up and stand out like a sore thumb.

tilex mold and mildew cleaner

When I picked up Tilex® Mold and Mildew Remover, I didn’t know what to expect. I guess I would say that I was initially skeptical about it’s ability to make a huge difference.

I was blown away by what it was able to do.

My favorite part of Tilex® Mold and Mildew – by far – is the no scrubbing aspect. No scrubbing (!?!).

Who wouldn’t LOVE to get rid of mold and mildew in the bathroom…with no scrubbing?

Here’s a quick before and after of one of the top corners of my shower:

tilex mold and mildew cleaner

tilex mold and mildew cleaner

Facts About Mold and Mildew:

Are you nervous about having friends see the mold in your bathroom? Do you close the shower curtains to hide the mess like I do? Think your home is unique in it’s mold and mildew problems? Guess what? 100% of homes in the U.S. have mold!

  • Mold shows up as as black stains in your grout or red stains on your shower curtain. As soon as you spot mold, it’s time to disinfect!
  • Mold regrows quickly if it isn’t killed! Soap and detergents may remove mold stains initially but they are not enough to kill mold.
  • Do you know why mold is so prevalent in bathrooms and basements? All mold needs to grow is a moist, room temperature environment and an organic food source to feed on. And it only takes 48 hours for mold to grow in the right conditions!

Did you know? Tilex® Mold and Mildew Remover contains Clorox® Bleach, and disinfects as it kills 99.9% of household mold and mildew on hard, nonporous surfaces. There is no scrubbing required – just spray it, let it sit for 5 minutes and rinse.

Where do you have mold and mildew troubles? How do you banish mold and mildew in your house? Be sure to visit Tilex.com to learn more about Tilex®’s mold and mildew remover products!

I’m working with Tilex® on a paid basis, but my opinions are my own.

© 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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Sponsored Video: Four Girls + One Shower = Clogged Drains https://foodfunfamily.com/clogged-drains/ https://foodfunfamily.com/clogged-drains/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2014 15:27:09 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=30132   This post has been sponsored by Liquid-Plumr®, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Let me tell you a little about my house. This week marked the 16th anniversary of moving in to our little townhouse. When we bought it, as a young couple with one baby, the 3 bedroom, 3 level townhouse...

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This post has been sponsored by Liquid-Plumr®, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Let me tell you a little about my house. This week marked the 16th anniversary of moving in to our little townhouse. When we bought it, as a young couple with one baby, the 3 bedroom, 3 level townhouse seemed enormous. Now that we’re a family of seven in that same house…it doesn’t feel quite so huge anymore.

We’ve mostly worked out the sleeping situation (it’s always evolving…and Hey! We’ve got a child heading to college this summer!), we’re on the downward trend of toy-collection (less space for toys. Yay!), and we’ve even managed to squeeze two home offices into our 1800-square-foot space. But no matter how well organized things are (or in my case…are NOT) the fact remains: seven people sharing one shower means that drains get clogged quickly!

Let me remind you of who I’m living with here:

kim5

See all that hair? That’s only ONE of my daughters.

And then there’s me. I’ve been growing my hair out again, and although it’s nowhere near as long as K’s hair, I have a feeling my hair falls out more than hers does. Four girls, lots and lots of hair, an average of 40 showers a week means we’ve got a lot of clogged drains!

Half the time I take a shower, I end up standing in a pool of clogged water. Yuck. Clogged water = gross build up…and personally, I want my shower and tub to be as clean and grime-free as possible so that I can take a relaxing bath whenever the mood arises.

Showering should be a clean, yuck-free experience, don’t you think? There’s no point in living with hair clogs when it’s so easy to take care of them with Liquid-Plumr®.

How often do you have to clear your drains?

About Liquid-Plumr® Hair Clog Eliminator™

Liquid-Plumr’s thickest gel ever is formulated to coat pipe walls, unclog your drain and destroy that Sasquatch-like hair clump that’s slowin’ the flow in your shower. Just pour, wait 15 minutes and flush that hair right out of your life.

Liquid-Plumr® Hair Clog Eliminator™ drain cleaner is safe for all septic systems and pipes, including PVC, plastic, copper, and old pipes.

© 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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Spring Cleaning Checklist for a #HealthierHome https://foodfunfamily.com/spring-cleaning-checklist/ https://foodfunfamily.com/spring-cleaning-checklist/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2014 18:32:49 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=28107   This Spring Cleaning Checklist is sponsored by Filtrete Filters by 3M. All thoughts and opinions included in this post are my own, as always! It may not look like Spring outside my window today, but the calendar says that it’s officially Spring. After such a long, cold, snowy Winter and far too many days...

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This Spring Cleaning Checklist is sponsored by Filtrete Filters by 3M. All thoughts and opinions included in this post are my own, as always!

spring cleaning checklist

It may not look like Spring outside my window today, but the calendar says that it’s officially Spring. After such a long, cold, snowy Winter and far too many days spent cooped up inside the house, we are all looking forward to sunshine, warmer temperatures, and – yes – we’re even looking forward to some Spring Cleaning!

I admit that cleaning is not my favorite past-time, but the benefits of a clean house far outweigh the minor inconveniences of getting my hands dirty. When the house is organized, I work more efficiently. We lose things less often and it’s easier for the kids to do their daily straightening up. When I spend the time to Spring-clean the windows and the filters, the cupboards…and everything else that tends to be over-looked during our weekly cleaning efforts, then we suffer from fewer allergies and feel so much more healthy over-all.

So where to start? As I begin my Spring Cleaning this week, I’ll be following this simple checklist to get my house in tip-top shape for the Spring. I can’t wait!

Healthier Home Spring Cleaning Checklist

Replace air filters – After running the heat constantly for the last few months, I was horrified at how dirty the filters were in my furnace/AC unit. Thank goodness the filters were there to catch all of that filth….and now that I’ve changed to a new, clean filter I’m looking forward to breathing a little easier! I love using Odor Reduction filters during the Winter and Allergen Reduction filters during the Spring and Summer.

spring cleaning checklist

Out with the old filter!

Did you know? The Filtrete Odor Reduction Filter is 65 times more effective than other carbon filters at removing odors from the entire home, such as those from cooking, tobacco smoke, pets, mildew and cleaning chemicals.

spring cleaning checklist

…and in with the new filter!

Prepare windows – Open the windows and clean inside and out…and in between. The rain and snow and constant closed state of my windows during the Winter means that once Spring rolls around, my windows are a mess. I love opening my windows when the weather starts to warm up (before the oppressive heat of the summer sets in) but I don’t like seeing the yucky build-up from the Winter. Spring clean that gunk away!

Dust ceiling fan blades – I know that we run our ceiling fans regularly during the Spring and Summer to keep the house cooler and the air flowing. I can’t tell you how many times we have turned on a fan after it has sat dormant for a few months only to spray the entire room with big clumps of dust. That’s a particularly bad situation when you’re cooking food and the messy fan is in the kitchen…

spring cleaning checklist

Clean furniture – Move furniture away from the walls and vacuum and dust under, on top, and behind. Dust anything sitting on shelves (remember to dust with moist cloths – instead of feather dusters – to ensure that you’re picking up dust and not just spreading it around). Remove cushions and vacuum up debris. {Then treat yourself to some ice cream with all of the change you found!}

Clean the cooktop vent – If you do even half as much cooking as I do, the vent above your stovetop is probably filthy with grease and grime. A clean vent will help keep your kitchen more odor-free and fresh-smelling.

Clear out the pantry shelves – remove everything from the shelves, toss any food that is out-of-date or stale, then sweep and wipe down shelves before putting the food back.

spring cleaning checklist

The pantry needs Spring Cleaning, too!

Deep-clean the fridge – Do the same thing with the refrigerator as you just did with the pantry; emptying the shelves, scrubbing them down, and only putting back foods that are fresh.

Freshen up trash cans – Take all your garbage cans outside and hose them down, then scrub and disinfect the inside and outside before drying them off and putting them back in use.

Donation time! – Go through each room and closet and gather clothes that you don’t need to keep for next season or hand down to a younger child, toys that kids don’t play with anymore, or any other “treasures” that are just taking up space. Once a bag is filled, stash it in the trunk of the car and drive it straight to a donation center!

Enjoy your cleaner, fresher house!

What tasks are on your Spring Cleaning Checklist?

Be sure to visit Filtrete to stock up on replacement air filters for the Spring!

© 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle #MrCleanMorePower https://foodfunfamily.com/mr-clean-liquid-muscle/ https://foodfunfamily.com/mr-clean-liquid-muscle/#comments Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:27:37 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=27778 This post is sponsored by Mr. Clean through SheSpeaks but all thoughts and embarrassing messes are my own. As I was uploading the *before* pictures, my oldest daughter came into my room and peeked at my computer. “You should tell them that we staged these messes. We did that on purpose,” she suggested. Oh yes....

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This post is sponsored by Mr. Clean through SheSpeaks but all thoughts and embarrassing messes are my own.

As I was uploading the *before* pictures, my oldest daughter came into my room and peeked at my computer. “You should tell them that we staged these messes. We did that on purpose,” she suggested. Oh yes. These are hard pictures to share.

mrcleanI used to be a neat freak. I was never necessarily the best house cleaner, but I was always organized on on top of cleaning. I thought keeping my house clean would be easier once my kids got older, but somehow the house has gotten dirtier. The messes are bigger, there is more stuff in the house, and we are all busier. Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about tips for getting kids to clean the house. It’s something we’re still working on.

I stay on top of the basics, like laundry and dishes and vacuuming the carpet. Ok, maybe I don’t stay as on top of it as I should…. But I will readily admit that I neglect the deeper messes. I wipe things down, but I rarely work very hard to get rid of stains and I tend to overlook the dirt that slowly builds up. Oy.

OK, take my microwave as an example. Our microwave gets a LOT of use. Seven people, lots of food to reheat. I grew up with the rule that any food that went in the microwave had to be covered. Although we have a plate cover AND a roll of paper towels next to the microwave, it’s obvious that people forget more often than they remember to use it.

Mr Clean Liquid Muscle #MrCleanMorePower

I put off cleaning the microwave because it’s gross. It feels like a chore. But this week, I grabbed the bottle of Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle that had come in the mail through SheSpeaks, added a squirt (yes, just a single squirt) to a big bowl of water, and dipped a sponge into the mixture. In FOUR minutes, this is what my microwave looked like. It was so easy to clean it up with my Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle that I had to laugh at myself for waiting so long.

Mr Clean Liquid Muscle #MrCleanMorePower

Another place in my house that I tend to ignore is my makeup counter. It’s a strange little spot in my bedroom right next to my closet – no sink, just a counter and a mirror. Between the powder and the blush and the eye shadow and the hairspray, that counter top gets covered in grime. I have tried cleaning it so many times before, but it always seems like the 30 years of build up have left it permanently stained. I’ve gotten used to it.

This morning, I decided to give Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle a try on it. Instead of diluting it in a bucket or a bowl, I squirted a little bit of Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle straight onto a sponge and scrubbed away. I got ink pen off of the bathroom counter, I cleaned the grout in the shower, and…I tackled the makeup counter. With just a few swipes of the sponge, all of the grime came right off. I was shocked at how WHITE the counter was. Yes, I am a little embarrassed by the contrast here:

Mr Clean Liquid Muscle #MrCleanMorePower

In the end, after trying Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle in several different trouble spots in my house (including a few that I was not willing to photograph!), I can tell you – I will be using this stuff throughout my house, top to bottom. It’s perfect for the kitchen, the bathroom, the counters, the floors, the shower…you name it! It could only be better if it did the cleaning FOR me!

Where do YOU need a little Liquid Muscle?

Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle is available at Walmart in 16 and 30 oz. bottles for a suggested retail price of $2.74 (16 oz) and $4.97 (30 oz). You can learn more about Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle on Facebook and Twitter and Online.

 

© 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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Sponsored Video: How to Make Cleaning Fun https://foodfunfamily.com/how-to-make-cleaning-fun/ https://foodfunfamily.com/how-to-make-cleaning-fun/#respond Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:40:17 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=27095 This post has been sponsored by Glad Black Bag, but all opinions are my own. I was just talking with a friend on Sunday about the fact that getting kids to clean up their messes doesn’t get easier as they get older. We both had really hoped that it would. When the kids were little,...

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This post has been sponsored by Glad Black Bag, but all opinions are my own.

I was just talking with a friend on Sunday about the fact that getting kids to clean up their messes doesn’t get easier as they get older. We both had really hoped that it would. When the kids were little, I used the excuse of age and maturity (or lack of both) to explain why it was so difficult to motivate the kids to clean up. Now, they’re plenty old enough…but it appears that it is never going to be as easy as I would have hoped.

An example: Every day when the kids come home from school, they have two jobs – homework and dishes. I remind them every single day. The expectation is the same every day and yet…I have to pester them every day. If I don’t remind them, the jobs don’t get done.

So how can moms make cleaning more fun to motivate the kids to help out more at home? Here are just a few tips that we’ve used to make it easier – and dare I say FUN – for the kids to help with the cleaning at home.

6 Tips to Make Cleaning Fun for Kids

6 Tips to Make Cleaning Fun for Kids

Now, remember that I just complained about how it’s STILL difficult to get my kids to clean without being coerced. We’re far from perfect! But these are the tricks that we’ve used successfully to make cleaning a little easier to manage.

  • Play music. Make cleaning a sing-along, dancing PARTY!
  • Join in with the kids and work together. My kids always respond so much better when they are cleaning WITH us and not being made to feel like a slave.
  • Teach them the correct way to clean things. Knowledge is power. Knowing the right way to do something and being able to see that they’ve accomplished something productive in the end makes a huge difference in kids’ attitudes about cleaning.
  • Give them age-appropriate responsibilities. Make sure that the jobs they are asked to do are things that they can accomplish with success. Make sure that it’s easy for kids to figure out where toys and other knick-knacks belong so it’s easy – and not a dreaded chore – to tidy up.
  • Clean regularly. The more frequently you clean, the lighter the job will be each time. Once, years ago, my daughter complained that Saturday was the WORST day of the week. What a sad thing for a kid to say! Why did she feel that way? Because we saved all of the cleaning for Saturdays. Blah!
  • Rewards never hurt! At our house, cleaning up and contributing to the household chores is something that is expected of everyone. My kids, like most other kids, love watching TV and playing on the Wii or the iPad. When they ask if they can play a game after school I happily tell them, “Sure! Is your homework done, have you unloaded the dishes, and have you picked up all of your things in the family room?” When they want to watch a movie or a show at night, they are welcome to watch while they sort or fold laundry.

     
    Glad Black Bags make taking care of your messes fun, and the cheerleaders and gymnasts in the video sure make cleaning up look fun!

    How do you make cleaning more fun – or at least more manageable – at your house?

    © 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

    ]]> https://foodfunfamily.com/how-to-make-cleaning-fun/feed/ 0 The Swiffer Sweep & Trap #NewFromSwiffer https://foodfunfamily.com/swiffer-sweep-trap/ https://foodfunfamily.com/swiffer-sweep-trap/#comments Fri, 07 Feb 2014 20:26:56 +0000 https://foodfunfamily.com/?p=25598   This post introducing the #NewFromSwiffer Swiffer Sweep & Trap is sponsored by Swiffer through SheSpeaks, but all thoughts, photos, and video are my own. I can get my kids to load and unload the dishwasher (in fact, I make them do it everyday). They rarely complain about vacuuming the family room floor. They don’t...

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    This post introducing the #NewFromSwiffer Swiffer Sweep & Trap is sponsored by Swiffer through SheSpeaks, but all thoughts, photos, and video are my own.

    I can get my kids to load and unload the dishwasher (in fact, I make them do it everyday). They rarely complain about vacuuming the family room floor. They don’t even seem to mind cleaning the toilets. But ask them to sweep the kitchen floor? They almost always run away and beg for a different chore. I’m not quite sure why sweeping with a broom is such a chore-to-avoid, but I’ve come to accept that it’s one of those chores that I will have to take care of myself if I want it to get done.

    And, trust me, my kitchen floor NEEDS sweeping often. With seven people sharing a small kitchen and no dog to lick up the crumbs, there is a mess every single day.

    Last month, I was able to give the new Swiffer Sweep & Trap a try before it hit the shelves, and as soon as I took it out of the box and started assembling it my younger kids flocked to the kitchen to see the new gadget.

    swiffer-1

    AJ, who would never volunteer to sweep with a standard broom, asked if he could give it a try. I watched my 8 year old, with no “training” grab the handle of the Sweep & Trap and clean up the kitchen floor. It was literally so easy to use that my son needed no explanation.

    I also loved that my kids were willing to sweep up with the Sweep & Trap while they steer clear of the broom. Kids can be funny like that.

    Here’s a little about the Swiffer Sweep & Trap:

    • The Sweep & Trap combines the dry sweeping cloths that we already love about Swiffer with rotating beater blades to pick up the small stuff AND the big stuff.
    • No cords or batteries needed!
    • Easy cleanup – when you’re done cleaning, you just dump the mess collected in the dirt bin and the used dry cloth into the trash.
    • Available at Walmart

    I was very impressed, not only with how easy it was to use the Sweep & Trap, but how well it worked. The kit that was delivered to me included a bag of sawdust and a bag of nuts and bolts. The video above showed AJ sweeping and trapping the sawdust….but what about the nuts and bolts?

    swiffer sweep & trap

    I was shocked that with only ONE single sweep over the nuts and bolts picked up EIGHT of the ten pieces. That’s huge! I went on to clean up the rest of my floor, and loved that I was able to pick up the pretzel that I had stepped on earlier that morning along with all of the dust in my kitchen at one time.

    swiffer sweep & trap

    swiffer sweep & trap

    Tip: I learned that the Swiffer Sweep & Trap works best if the blades are facing AWAY from you, in the front.

    Do you or your kids have chores that you always avoid?

    Connect with Swiffer:

    Website: Swiffer.com/products/swiffer-sweep-trap
    Facebook: Facebook.com/Swiffer
    Twitter: @Swiffer

    © 2014, Food Fun Family. All rights reserved.

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