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When you join Julie's community you'll receive an instant $5 OFF coupon, good immediately. You'll also receive Julie's e-newsletter every month full of creative ideas for you and your household.
Happy warm weather to all! If you've been to one of my workshops, you know I talk a lot about using seasons to nautrally set the organizing and cleaning schedules for you and your household. My friend Lindsay O. jokingly called this way of thinking "Julie's Cleaning Zen," and the name stuck. I like maintaining my home with these principles in mind because it puts me and my family back in touch with nature a little bit, while getting things done! Summer is a great time to do outside maintenance and cleaning. Don't procrastinate, though; you don't want to wait until it's so hot that you can't stand to be outside! Instead, get a jumpstart on your cleaning by taking care of these summer tasks early.
Gutters. Use a ladder to reach the gutter, and then remove leaves and twigs with a gutter scoop, a garden trowel, or by hand. Then, use a hose to remove dirt and other small debris. Spray the entire length of the gutter. Finally, spray water into the downspouts to make sure that they aren't clogged. If they are, spray water into the opening, but don't use too much pressure; you don't want to damage them.
Sliding Doors and Windows. Summer is the best time to clean your sliding glass doors and windows, as well as shutters and screens. Before you begin washing windows, remove the screens, and clean them separately. Then, use the hose (or a broom) to remove spider webs, leaves, and other debris. Next, use window cleaner (or dish soap and warm water works okay too) to wash the glass and then rinse thoroughly. Finally, dry the windows.
Decks and Siding. Use a deck cleaner (available at most home improvement stores) and a scrub brush or broom to scrub the deck clean, and then rinse it thoroughly. Use the hose to spray down siding and then touch up the paint if necessary.
Driveways, Sidewalks, and Patio. To clean your driveway, use a broom or scrub brush with soap and water (dishwashing detergent also works well). To remove grease stains, commercial grease remover work best. For sidewalks and patio, you can usually spray them down with a hose and then sweep them periodically as needed.
That's a start to my checklist for Summer Cleaning Zen. Check back soon for more!
About five years ago, my dear friend Alison turned me on to composting. Composting is a great way to recycle organic materials such as plant food scraps, egg shells, fruit and vegetable peels, leaves, grass clippings, plant matter, shredded cardboard boxes, and similar materials right at home, even in a simple container under the sink. You can also add a small amount of garden soil or compost starters or accelerators, if desired, as you begin composting. You'll want to avoid using meat or bones; styrofoam or plastic, vegetation from diseased plants, or human or pet waste in your compost pile!When you are ready to begin composting, you can use a simple composting pile without the bin, or there are many types of composting bins available—larger, smaller, static, and tumbling. Before you begin composting, think about the location of your compost pile. Think about how much space you will want for composting, and consider the visibility of your compost, particularly if you choose not to use a compost bin. For a single compost pile, two to four square feet of area is usually best. When you compost, go higher, rather than wider, as a higher pile of compost produces better heat. After you start your pile, mix or turn it every so often (when you add more material is a good time) so that it is adequately aerated.
For best results, use a wide variety of materials in your compost. Having too much of any one thing will throw off the pH of your compost, and the material will not decompose very well. Also, make sure that your compost pile is neither too dry nor too wet—you need moisture to keep the composting process going, but your compost pile shouldn’t be soggy. Temperature, oxygenation, humidity, and the carbon-nitrogen ratio (which can be kept in balance by monitoring the humidity and composition of your compost) all affect the success of your composting, so keep these factors in mind.
I'm already wearing my t-shirts! That's because we've been very lucky in my hometown with an early, early Spring. Of course, with all the wild weather changes, who knows when it will be time for Spring Cleaning where you are. As you prepare for the time to begin your spring cleaning, you’ll want to store your winter clothes, as well. Before packing away your winter clothing for the season, however, go through your wardrobe and see what items should be discarded or can be given away; this will help ensure that you have adequate room to store your winter clothing.
After thinning out your wardrobe, give your clothing a final wash (if you have not washed them already). This will prevent possible ink, grass, or other stains from setting in and will help prevent moths and other insects from eating through your clothing. Take any dry-clean-only items to be cleaned, as well. For delicate items, hand wash them and make sure they dry thoroughly before storing them so as to avoid possible mildew or mold. Use a damp washcloth to wipe off winter coats, ski jackets and pants, gloves, and other items made of synthetic fabric. Also use a rag or soft shoe brush to clean your winter shoes before storing them until next winter.
Most clothing can be stored in plastic storage containers, cedar chests, or unused suitcases. When storing your clothing, pack them loosely to allow for air circulation and to reduce the risk of mold and mildew. Cardboard boxes are best used only for temporary storage, as insects can often easily enter them. If you do use boxes for temporary storage, make sure they are new (or gently used) and clean. You may want to store hanging clothing in garment bags to help prevent wrinkles; again, do not pack the clothing too tightly. Knit items such as sweaters, on the other hand, should not be stored on hangers, as this can stretch them out and cause them to lose some of their shape.
When you are ready to store your containers, make sure that the area where you will store them is clean and that it is a cool, dry place. For best results, store clothing in a dark place, as well, so that clothing will not fade.
Thanks and see you in a few weeks!
Hi everyone,
We all certainly know that pets bring a great deal of joy into a home, but they also require additional work. A friend recently asked me for some feedback about how to deal with keeping her home clean and enjoying her furry friends at the same time. I suggested that she use some preventive measures to help minimize time and effort put into cleaning up after your pet.
First, choose carpet and hardwood floors that are easy to clean and that are resistant to stains and claws. For furniture, choose fabrics that are stain- and tear-resistant. Fabrics that are tightly woven work well.
Next, keep the area where your pet sleeps, eats, and plays clean. This will help to minimize pet odors in your home. If your pet has an accident, immediately clean it up to reduce the likelihood of staining. There are many commercial products that are specifically formulated for this purpose. We recommend the Lambert Kay FRESH 'N CLEAN® Combo Kit. To reduce odor, baking soda or vinegar are quite effective. (For baking soda, sprinkle on the area and then wait at least fifteen minutes before vacuuming.) You can use an odor neutralizer to get rid of the smell.
To help reduce pet shedding, keep pets clean and well-groomed. Bathe dogs weekly, for example, and brush or comb your dog’s fur at least weekly. To reduce pet allergies, wash your hands with soap and water after handling your pet, and sweep, mop, and dust frequently to keep errant pet fur to a minimum. Establishing "pet-free" zones, in areas such as bedrooms, also helps minimize allergic reaction. And giving your pet a designated place, as well, for resting and sleeping helps you train them to stay off of furniture and gives them a place that is their own where they can feel secure. Pet beds come in all shapes and sizes, and many of them can be cleaned in the washing machine. For beds that are too big, you can dry clean them. Also to help fight against allergies, make sure that your home is well ventilated. Open the windows when possible (this will help prevent pet odor, as well), and use air filters (or a vacuum with an air filter).
Today, snow is falling in America's south for the first time in years! It's clear to me that nature is capable of making changes. The question is, are we? There's no denying that we live in a use-it-once-and-toss-it society. So many food products, for example, come in plastic containers that are immediately discarded after their initial use. Food storage containers and plasticware generally meet the same fate. To be more environmentally conscious, use, wash, and reuse regular utensils and dishes, rather than their disposable counterparts, whenever you can! It takes changing your habits, but it's worth it! Buy multi-use containers instead of single-use whenever possible, such as more durable food containers that are designed to be microwave and dishwasher safe. If you do use traditionally one-use plastic products such as those listed below, try to find corn-based biodegradeable single-use products and try to wash and reuse them as many times as possible and then recycle them rather than throwing them away.Plastic Storage and Sandwich Bags
Plastic sandwich and other storage bags (freezer bags, snack bags, and so forth) are extremely convenient. But next time you’re done with your sandwich or other snack, instead of tossing the bag into the garbage, wash it, instead. After washing it, turn it inside out and dry in your dish drain or a wooden bag dryer. You can even throw it into the washing machine!
Plastic Dishes and Utensils
When you buy plastic plates, bowls, cups, and utensils for camping, picnics, parties, or other activities, save them instead of throwing them away. After using them, put them in the dishwasher (or wash them by hand) and then add them to your camping or picnic gear or keep them handy for the next get-together. You can also take the utensils, for example, to work and reuse them for meals or for stirring your coffee or tea in the morning.
Plastic Food and Water Containers
Many types of plastic containers can be reused for storing, refrigerating, and freezing foods. Yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, and similar containers are great for storing leftovers. You can refrigerate or freeze them, and then when you are ready to eat the contents, put the food into a pan or pot to warm on the stove or into a dish to reheat in the microwave. Note: Do not microwave food in these kinds of disposable food containers. Chemicals leech into the food. Yucky!
Water, soda, juice, and sports drink bottles can also be reused, though they must be carefully cleaned after use to avoid contamination by bacteria. If properly cleaned, these liquid containers can be reused several times. Eventually, the plastic will start to wear down, though, so don’t keep them too long (probably no more than a month or two).
Milk jugs and other opaque containers, on the other hand, are designed for very short-term use and should not be reused for storage of food or beverages because they break down very easily.
