In the last few minutes before party or dinner guests start arriving, the best thing to do is quickly touch up the bathroom. It’s one of the rooms that likely everyone will see, and it is very apparent if it’s not clean. Here’s the 10-minute cleaning plan for your bathroom: 1. Wipe out the sink. 2. Wipe down the mirror […]
more about: cleaning
How to Remove Soot and Ash Stains
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, A: count me as jealous and B: you’ve likely had to tackle ash or soot stains on fabrics or your carpet at some point in time. That’s not so fun. Luckily, you can get those stains out on your own. Here’s how to do it. For fabric: Use the […]
Two Smart Tips for Whiter Whites
Are your whites looking a little yellow? Here are two ways to brighten them up. 1. By Hand: Soak the garment in four inches of warm water mixed with either OxiClean Versatile or a color-safe bleach for about 30 minutes—or until the stain disappears. 2. In the Washing Machine: Try this unusual tip, courtesy of the blog, Happy Slob’s Guide to Housecleaning. Add a half […]
In a Pickle? Let Us Help!
I don’t know about you, but for me, most days bring some kind of minor calamity. Think: “I cut my bangs too short!,” “I ruined my lipstick” (see photo), “I overcooked the chicken!,” and my personal pet peeve, “I shrunk my favorite sweater.” One wrong move, and suddenly you’re annoyed, frustrated, and left wondering, “Now what?” We’re sure you’ve got […]
Save Money on Laundry with Aluminum Foil
We’ve told you that can use aluminum foil to protect doorknobs when you’re painting, make holiday garlands, remove wrinkles when ironing, and as a makeshift funnel when you’re cooking. And today the smart folks over at Apartment Therapy have alerted us to another money saving use for this multi-tasker: Ball it up, and use it as a dryer sheet. Apparently […]
How to Wash a Down Jacket
There’s a serious chill in the air in New York today, which means it’s time to put away our trench coats and start sporting our down jackets. But before you start wearing yours all over town, you’ll want to make sure it’s clean. As a general rule, you should clean down parkas twice each season. (Any more, and you could […]
The Two Items You Don’t Have in Your Pantry—But Should
Like many in the tri-state area, I’ve clocked a few hours staring at my pantry over the past day or two. In the process, one fact has become very apparent: Mine could use some cleaning and organizing. So as soon as the weather improves, I’m heading out to grab these two essentials: A lazy susan, and a small step stool. […]
The Secret to Safely Cleaning Your Cushions
When you spill a glass of wine on the couch, do you immediately spring into action—grabbing a damp towel, club soda, or stain stick? Next time, take a precautionary measure: Turn over the cushion and take a look at the label. You see, upholstery labels generally bear one of four markers that shed light on how the fabric should be […]
How Much Time do You Spend Re-doing Your Partner’s Chores?
Did you know that the average British woman spends three hours each week redoing her partner’s housework? That number comes courtesy of Sainsbury’s, a retail chain in the United Kingdom. (And we have a feeling American women are giving those Brits a run for their money.) Cleaning the kitchen and fluffing the couch cushions were the primary chores that men […]
Banish Crayon Drawings (on Your Walls) with Baking Soda
This dilemma came up for one of my friends with kids the other day. Her daughter drew all over the walls with crayon. And as much as she might have liked the abstract masterpiece, she would have preferred for it to be on paper hanging on the wall rather than on the wall itself. Luckily, there’s an easy way to […]
