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		<title>Spring Clean Your Bedroom: Spring Clean Series</title>
		<link>https://themotherlyheap.com/spring-clean-bedroom/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:37:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bedroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homemaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spring Clean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spring Clean Series]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love16&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;16SharesDoes your bedroom needs love and spring clean action? Except for the kitchen, bedrooms become dirty faster than any other room in the house. However, we sometimes skip cleaning them because they are too demanding of our precious time (and let us be honest: Who has time?).&#160; So we&#8217;ve devised a way to get structured cleaning for your bedroom this spring—a step-by-step guide to getting your bedroom to shine again. Also, devoting your time to making a clear, clutter-free bedroom for you to enjoy helps your mental health.&#160;A double win for you, my friend. We know that creating a space for rest is a top priority in building solid relaxation and sleep habits. So what does spring clean have to do with all these goals anyway? It all depends on how you tackle and clean your bedroom this spring.&#160; Now, grab your cleaning gloves and get your A-game for spring cleaning! Your bedroom requires a thorough going over, and you&#8217;re the one who can do it. This spring, stop reorganizing that messy space beneath your canopy bed or hiding away those old clothes. Instead, get right down onto your hands and knees for some serious cleaning &#8211; YOU CAN DO IT! How to Spring Clean your Bedroom 1. Prepare your cleaning supplies and trash bags for a quick decluttering session. It&#8217;s easier to get going when you have the needed supplies. 2. Start from top to bottom when cleaning your bedroom. You become more organized when you plan the steps, to begin with, your cleaning. Then, you can focus on one area at a time systematically. 3. Tackle the ceiling, light fixtures, and ceiling fans. Take care of every little angle filled with dust. A microfiber cloth with a water/cleaning agent will help remove dusty surfaces. And while you&#8217;re at it, check if the light bulbs need changing if they haven&#8217;t been changed during your quarterly cleaning to-dos. 4. Change the air filters and clean the covers. Springtime is another best time to switch them out. Again, the more you care for your vent system, the healthier environment will be more beneficial.  Remember, home air quality also depends on how clean your air filters are. 5. Take down all curtains and wash them. Curtains harbor dust, and they need to be cleaned often.  6. Wipe down and clean the windows and blinds. Blinds and window screens can easily collect dust and other allergens. Make sure you vacuum, wipe and dry the windows appropriately. 7. Dust away anything from the headboards and any flat surfaces. Nightstands, headboards, and other flat surfaces have more dust than other furniture.  If you have a TV console and other speakers in your bedroom, you might want to check on them too. 8. Vacuum your lamps and drawers behind the side tables and under the bed. Investing in a good, practical vacuum will streamline cleaning the house, including your bedroom.  Lamps and drawers need to be vacuumed frequently to prevent dust. 9. Remove bed linens and all sheets. Wash them. Washing your bedroom linens and duvet will remove accumulated shedding skin, dust, etc. 10. Sprinkle baking soda on the stripped mattress. Later on, vacuum all the powder off the bed. Next, freshen up your mattress by cleaning it properly &#8211; remove debris, etc. You can also steam and dry your entire mattress before putting back fresh linens. Quick note: Vacuuming with baking soda &#8211; please double-check first on your vacuum manuals. If you aren&#8217;t sure, skip this step. Vacuum the mattress without baking soda. Related Posts: Spring Clean Your Kitchen Spring Clean Your Bathroom Cleaning Routine for SAHM (Checklist) 11. Polish all fixtures and furniture. When it comes to cleaning, you not only remove the dust and gunks &#8211; it&#8217;s good to polish fixtures and furniture to prolong their life. 12. Give your bedroom and closet doors a good wipe-down. Use any cleaning products as appropriate because these areas can become dusty and dingy.  However, here is a quick cleaning tip: you can easily use a magic eraser with squeezed-out water to clean the doors.&#160; 13. Vacuum the bedroom floor if you have carpet flooring; time for some carpet washing too. First, clean up your bedroom floor, whether it has carpet, wood floor, or other flooring.  If you are washing the carpet, ensure it has good ventilation, so it can quickly dry. 14. Keep your cables uncluttered by securing them. Purchase or DIY a storage system to keep your lines/cords secured in one place. 15. Assign a charging station area for all electronic devices. To minimize clutter in the bedroom, designate a space for all electronic devices to charge. 16. Sanitize all controls, door knobs, and hardware. Frequently touched areas need to be cleaned and sanitized regularly, not just in the springtime. 17. Clean your air purifier, cool humidifiers, and essential oil diffusers. It&#8217;s helpful for your health to keep these devices and gadgets regularly cleaned out.  18. Sort out your clothes by season. Store away clothes that are off-season. Stay organized by keeping the clothes you&#8217;ll wear accessible and have the off-season tucked away. 19. Donate or throw away bedroom products and clothes that are not serving you anymore. Clutter will build up if you aren&#8217;t careful in acquiring stuff in the bedroom. Regularly purge your products to keep clutter to a minimum. 20. Organize the rest of your bedroom items and keep track of clutter spots. Then, when bedroom cleaning is completed, it&#8217;ll be easier to organize the bedroom spaces. Remember, do not feel pressured to finish it in a single day. We all know how good it feels to have a clutter-free and clean bedroom all year, not just in spring. So take the opportunity to freshen up your bedroom this season.&#160; After all, it&#8217;s where you should feel truly relaxed and at ease. So, once you&#8217;re done deep cleaning your bedroom, add a vase of fresh flowers or a new throw blanket, and voila!&#160; You&#8217;ll be surprised at how much better you sleep in a clean, tidy bedroom. So go ahead &#8211; spring clean your bedroom today! If you like this cleaning post, please share and PIN it. Thanks! Spread the Love16&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;16Shares</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/spring-clean-bedroom/">Spring Clean Your Bedroom: Spring Clean Series</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8553</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>6 Tips to Maintain a Clutter-Free Home</title>
		<link>https://themotherlyheap.com/maintain-a-clutter-free-home/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Nov 2022 17:05:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clutter-Free]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Declutter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homemaking]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=8345</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love6&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6Shares You&#8217;ve decluttered your home. You&#8217;ve put in the work to get rid of unnecessary things and unused ones. Now, as weeks and months roll by, you are looking at cluttered spaces in the home with a huge question &#8211; why are the clutter piles back again?&#160;How do you maintain a clutter-free home? Here&#8217;s a secret, no one&#8217;s home is genuinely clutter-free. That includes mine too.&#160; On the contrary, somewhere in the house, stuffed boxes and overflowing storages prove that the clutter bug is at it again.&#160; Nothing makes a mom cringe more than looking at the clutter all over the house. And you know, it will be eating up your time and energy. So, now, here are six tips on how to maintain your home clutter-free.&#160; We can only try to find solutions to each situation, and recommendations may be hit or miss. So, stay with us on this &#8211; prevent bringing in more items and tackle clutter head-on. Practical Tips To Maintain and Keep a Clutter-Free Home Ask before you buy Purchasing things on a whim. Shopping spree with no plans.&#160; Shopping scenarios, here and there.&#160; Now, thinking of keeping the home clutter-free, you&#8217;ve got to stop impulse buying.&#160; Easy to say, hard to do. Then, let these questions be on your mind before swiping the card or handing in your cash – The list goes on… Asking yourself questions before buying an item can help you sort out what you need or want. Hopefully, it deters you from getting things you don&#8217;t need yet fills up your home with clutter.&#160; Be ruthless on clutter Yes, you&#8217;ve cleared out some from your stash. Yet you still have plenty of storage boxes to sort out—souvenirs and memorabilia, sometimes clothes from the early college years.&#160; Check and check. It&#8217;s time to part ways. Instead, become the ruthless declutter queen &#8211; starting today!&#160; Let it all go. You take a picture of something you choose to keep and not use anymore. Then, say goodbye. Adios. They said, &#8220;other people&#8217;s clutter can be another&#8217;s treasure.&#8221; So let it be a therapeutic step of letting go and giving away. Scan prints/art into digital items and save them on a hard drive. Or best, find them a new home. Contentment&#160; It is personal. How we feel and what we have and deserve are ours.&#160; When we feel content with the things around us, we are more relaxed and happier. As a result, we don&#8217;t seek out other material things to fill the void or be the answer to what we&#8217;re dealing with.&#160; It may be in our nature to want more, to keep &#8211; just in case. So even buying just for the sake of buying or item DEALS gives us a heightened feeling &#8211; only to realize we didn&#8217;t need it.&#160; Clutter in the home can be the aftermath of wanting more material things; the problem is some items don&#8217;t even get used or meet their purpose. Time to let go. Related Posts: Declutter First Before Organizing Your Home Organization Hacks for Your Laundry Room Family Affair Involvement in the maintenance of your home requires the entire family. YES, not just mom or dad. Everyone. Kids love to be involved. So the responsibilities of keeping their school backpack organized, taking out the clutter from their bedroom, tidying their personal space &#8211; let it be a family affair.&#160;Add decluttering to their chores. There may be some pushback from the kids, but having a clutter-free space shows them how peaceful it can be for them too. Be able to concentrate on homework or enjoy their personal space without the chaos. It also helps them reflect on how they feel around the home. Of course, it will never be perfectly clutter-free; it&#8217;s understandable. However, feeling responsible for the home environment can keep them from adding to the clutter. Make a habit It takes an average of 66 days to make a habit. Since you&#8217;ve done your part on the initial decluttering of your home, let it drive you to continue clearing things around. Creating a decluttering habit incorporates it within your daily routine. Motivation can become fickle, but a strong decluttering routine can keep you going. Time and Plan Dedicate time to decluttering the home. Would it be the early morning, midday, or late evening?&#160; You can also use the clutter timer &#8211; 5 minutes pick up for any area.&#160; You&#8217;d be surprised how many you can check off your list when you are determined to make your home clutter-free.&#160; Any area is a potential clutter place. But, as I&#8217;ve mentioned, planning your time and energy to declutter can help you in many ways.&#160; Clutter-Free Home and Maintenance Maintaining a home is complex, and adding clutter to the mix becomes complicated. Prevention is key to keeping clutter from piling back up again. Getting ahead of chaos can become another task in your homemaking, yet it can be a savior to your sanity.&#160; How you maintain a clutter-free home does do cleaning and organizing your home more accessible. As a result, it won&#8217;t be as time-consuming. Include these tips in your homemaking routine today, and let a clutter-free home bring peace and happiness.&#160; What are your hidden secrets in keeping clutter under control in your home? Please share your tips with us.&#160; Spread the Love6&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;6Shares</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/maintain-a-clutter-free-home/">6 Tips to Maintain a Clutter-Free Home</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8345</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Spring Clean Your Kitchen: Spring Clean Series</title>
		<link>https://themotherlyheap.com/spring-clean-your-kitchen/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 May 2022 23:15:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaning Routine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homemaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=8129</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love5&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;5SharesThe warmer weather is the perfect time to do some much-needed spring cleaning. The days are getting longer, and the weather is finally warming up – it must be time for a kitchen spring clean!&#160; This year, don&#8217;t just focus on your house&#8217;s interior – give your kitchen a good scrubbing. Take this opportunity to purge all the old, unused items and give your space a fresh start. So get those cleaning supplies out, and let&#8217;s get on with it! Here are some tips to help make the process a little bit easier and to help get you started.&#160; This post may contain affiliate links; if you purchase from any links provided – I may earn a commission at no cost to you. In addition, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the complete disclosure here. 28 Ways To Deep Clean Your Kitchen This Spring: 1. Throw away broken kitchen appliances and expired items: spices, sauces, and other kitchen staples. It&#8217;s time to clear out expired things around your kitchen. You may think it&#8217;s still okay to use sauces beyond their date, but you don&#8217;t want to compromise your family&#8217;s health. Spices are one of the many everyday things not replaced as they should be.&#160; I mean, they&#8217;re dry. But spices aren&#8217;t going to last that long. After that, ground spices may lose their scent, and you&#8217;ll know when to say goodbye.&#160; Whole spices can last a bit longer as well as some dried herbs. So when you&#8217;re not getting the taste you expected in your cuisine, maybe it&#8217;s time to replenish the spice rack. 2. Keep sets of gadgets and things you use daily nearby. Then, store them around the area where you use them.&#160; When you know you&#8217;re going to be using the toaster every morning or blender every day, then have them on the counter if space is available—no need to put them back and forth from storage below or above where you use them. Unless you bake daily, you may want to store the stand mixer somewhere you can hide it when not being used.&#160; But, if you prefer to display any particular kitchen gadget, by all means, do what you need to.&#160; 3. Do vacuum any cobwebs from the ceiling. Let&#8217;s not forget our ceilings around the kitchen. It will need some tender loving cleaning if you have a space between the ceiling and the upper cabinets. 4. Wipe down any light fixtures and replace the bulbs. Having light fixtures in the kitchen can add to your cleaning checklist. Don&#8217;t neglect them, primarily if dust quickly collects on them. You&#8217;ll be preparing your food daily, and having dust above you won&#8217;t do any good. Buy new bulbs when lights are dimmed or dull, or replace bulbs that won&#8217;t turn on. 5. Dust and wipe clean all cabinets and drawers. The kitchen cabinets tend to get grease on the surface. The drawers are not an exemption either.&#160; If not taken care of quickly, handprints can even live there for a long time.&#160; Choose the cleaning agents to clean off your cabinets and drawers, paying attention to the type of paint and materials. As for my kitchen cabinets, I only use plain water with my microfiber cloth. Then I make sure I dry the surfaces immediately. Finally, wipe down any metal fixtures or styled handles with a dry cloth. I painted them last year with a Valspar cabinet and furniture paint (Enamel). That paint was a game-changer for me &#8211; it&#8217;s quick to clean my cabinets and drawers.&#160; I get my all-purpose cleaner if there&#8217;s a tough spot to take off using just the water. But I&#8217;ve never had to use any cleaner ever since I painted the cabinets.&#160; 6. Clear out items from the top of the refrigerator. If you have items over the top of your refrigerator, maybe it&#8217;s time to look at them to see if they need to stay there.&#160; It may not be an option for you if you&#8217;re saving space to store items, but as much as possible, it&#8217;s better not to put any perishable or edible items on the top of the fridge.&#160; 7. Tackle the inside of the refrigerator. So we are talking about what&#8217;s in the refrigerator. Is it time to purge?&#160; Before we can clean the fridge, it&#8217;s best to take everything out and discard items beyond consumption. You can take the shelves and wash them by the sink or grab a basin with your cleaning agent and a wipe cloth. Then, organize the items back in the fridge with bins as needed.&#160; 8. Deep clean the microwave. Reheating food in the microwave can create splatter that will last until they are cleaned out. You can easily deep clean your microwave with three kitchen items you can mix inside a measuring cup or even a mug.&#160; You can mix equal parts of water and vinegar and then add a tablespoon of dish soap into a clean measuring cup. Please place it in the middle of your microwave and heat it for 2 minutes. Then you can wipe down the entire microwave and clean including the filter below.&#160; 9. Deep clean your kitchen oven and stovetop. Like any other kitchen appliance, you have to be very careful about using any cleaning agents concerning the material of the appliance that you&#8217;re cleaning. Do follow the direction for cleaning your oven and your stove.&#160; If you have an oven like what we have in our house, you can also open up the glass door of your oven and clean it inside. Be very careful when putting it back together and ensure they are adequately secured. 10. Empty crumb trays from bread toasters or air fryers. When you have toasters and an air fryer in your kitchen, check if the crumb trays are removable, and they usually are, so make sure that you clear them as you go or clear them once a week; it&#8217;s really up to you. 11. Throw away used oil from the deep fryer. Deep frying in the kitchen can be grimy. Aside from the oil splatters that happen as you cook, cleaning is much more challenging. Replace your frying oil regularly. Check for any unstrained food items floating. 12. Wipe down all appliances displayed on the counters. Kitchen appliances on the counters can become dusty, and they might also have grease on them. So don&#8217;t forget to wipe them down as you clean your kitchen. Use water and a clean cloth to get rid of dust. But as for the grime, choose your cleaning solution. 13. Clear the clutter off your counters. Where do we start with kitchen clutter on all the counter spaces?&#160; I recommend getting a clutter bin for everything that doesn&#8217;t need to be in the kitchen. Don&#8217;t worry about sorting things out now; focus on corraling items and getting them out of the kitchen. For any kitchen items, you can place them on top of your table. Then, sort them as soon as you&#8217;re done cleaning.&#160; 14. Clean the kitchen walls, windows, and doors. The kitchen is the most used area in the house, if not the first, maybe the second. So it&#8217;s only typical for the kitchen walls, backsplash, windows, and doors to get dirty more than the rest of the house. Again, use a cleaning agent appropriate for the area you are cleaning. RELATED POSTS: Spring Clean Your Bedroom: Spring Clean Series Spring Clean Your Bathroom: Spring Clean Series Clean These 5 Kitchen Items: Don&#8217;t Skip Them Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To 15. Tackle the sink and garbage disposal. Most homemakers clean the sink after using it or even at the end of the day. Having a clean sink makes me feel good. I feel accomplished when the sink is cleared and clean.&#160; Don&#8217;t forget about the garbage disposal &#8211;&#160; it can quickly smell bad when food and other stuff are not taken care of. Check out how to easily clean the garbage disposal and maintain it. 16. Clean out the kitchen trash can. Clear the trash as you go through your day. Now and then, use a cleaning and disinfectant spray to tackle the trash can. 17. Vacuum or sweep the whole kitchen floor. Do you prefer to sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor? I am both. When there&#8217;s a lot to clean up, I grab the vacuum, and on the other hand, if it&#8217;s just a tiny spot, I use my broom to clear it out. Do you know what helps me the most during my clean-up, and I need to do something else? My Roomba, yes! She&#8217;s my cleaning buddy &#8211; always ready to vacuum the kitchen floor.&#160; 18. Mop the floor or sanitize. Once you did the vacuuming and sweeping, mopped the floor next.&#160; There are a lot of mopping systems that you can buy in-store or online. But what matters most is what works for you and your house. So, grab the mop system to help you be an efficient cleaner.&#160;&#160; 19. Clean the baseboard, including under the lower kitchen cabinets. Now we&#8217;ve gone to the baseboard. First, check out the baseboard area under the lower kitchen cabinets. Those are the spots that easily get neglected during your daily cleaning. Spring cleaning can be the perfect time to give them the necessary attention.  You can use a microfiber cloth to clean your baseboard or a duster with an extension to prevent back pain. Bonus tip:&#160; use a dryer sheet and run it across all kitchen baseboards. The sheet will help lessen the dust collected in the area, and it&#8217;ll be easy to clean up next time. 20. Deep clean dishwasher. How often do you deep clean your dishwasher? Every week? Every month? Quarterly? The answer will depend on your daily usage, manufacturer instruction, and other reasons requiring you to deep clean your dishwasher. Not only deep clean the inside but also wipe down the outside of the dishwasher. Springtime is easy to remember to do this task and frequently added to your spring clean your kitchen list afterward. 21. Clear out expired things and stock up the pantry. Scratch off your grocery list and update your inventory.&#160; When it comes to your pantry, it&#8217;s always helpful to have the ingredients and items you need to be available daily. Update your pantry list as you clear the things off the space. 22. Organize all kitchen drawers and cupboards. Now that the cleaning part is done, it&#8217;s time to organize everything in your kitchen.&#160; Check out this video on organizing kitchen cupboards and drawers.&#160;Organizing your kitchen can be part of your spring clean checklist too. 23. Tackle things under the kitchen sink cabinet. What&#8217;s going on under your kitchen sink cabinet? Why is it so hard to keep this area organized?&#160; Time to clear out necessary items that are stored under the sink cabinet. You can also vacuum the inside of the cabinet. Once that&#8217;s done, gather your bins, buckets, and organizers to place all kitchen cleaning agents, cloths, cleaning tools, etc. 24. Store away all kitchen items not being used daily. This particular step matches item number two above. It doesn&#8217;t need to be on the counters when you don&#8217;t use a specific kitchen gadget. Instead, give them a good home where it&#8217;s easy to take them out as you need them. 25. Double-check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Fire can happen at any home at any time of the day. So every spring, let&#8217;s double-check our alarms:&#160; the smoke and carbon monoxide system.&#160; Use high-quality batteries, so you don&#8217;t have to change them frequently. Our changing seasons: we usually switch them during spring and fall. 26. Everyone must know where the fire extinguisher is and check the expiration date. It&#8217;s great for everyone to know where the fire extinguisher is stored. However, adults should only use portable fire extinguishers.&#160; However, an important reminder...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/spring-clean-your-kitchen/">Spring Clean Your Kitchen: Spring Clean Series</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8129</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Spring Clean Your Bathroom: Spring Clean Series</title>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2022 19:42:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaning Routine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homemaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=8035</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love8&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;8SharesAgain it’s that time of year to give your house a good spring cleaning! Horray for spring clean &#8211; start with your bathroom by getting rid of all the clutter and cobwebs.&#160; Are you feeling guilty every time you walk into your bathroom because it’s such a mess?&#160; Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone!&#160; A lot of people have trouble keeping their bathrooms clean. I’ve got you covered if you’re looking for some help getting started. Today we’ll be focusing on how to clean your bathroom quickly and easily. So grab your supplies and get ready to tackle this dreaded task!&#160; Spring is officially here, so it’s time for everyone’s least favorite chore: cleaning the bathroom from top to bottom. So read on for these steps to clean your bathroom like a champ. This post may contain affiliate links; if you purchase from any of the links provided – I may earn a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon&#160;Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the complete&#160;disclosure here. How to spring clean your bathroom! Grab a big trash bag and bins Chunk everything that’s expired &#8211; hair, body, and bathroom products. If you like to keep spare or extras of each, save it to a minimum. Put bathroom products in a bin to coral them till you are done cleaning. Sort bathroom products out later when it’s time to organize.&#160; For now, they need a temporary home so you can clean without the clutter. Get your cleaning supply nearby where you are cleaning When it’s easy for you to grab what you need as you clean, the convenience of a cleaning caddy is a must—one basket for all your cleaning essentials in one place. You don’t want cleaning spray bottles lying around as you clean. Having a one-stop carry-all for what you need makes it more manageable to do the cleaning. Use proper protection and ventilation while cleaning Always protect yourself first when cleaning. You don’t want to feel dizzy when you’re in the middle of the cleaning spree.&#160; Take the time to keep yourself safe as you clean around. Vent out the air. Use a mask and even eye goggles. Use gloves for hand and skin protection. Take breaks when you’re cleaning. Sometimes, you’re in the clean deep zone and skip breaks. Clean your bathroom counters and sinks Counters get dirty quickly, and the sink may also suffer from toothpaste stains. Scrub those stains away with your cleaning products. Be very careful with what cleaning agent you use for your sink and counters because some cleaning products may ruin them if they aren’t for them. Always double-check the cleaning instructions and warnings printed on your cleaning products.&#160; We don’t want any ruined marbles, granites, quartz, etc. Too pricey to replace that.&#160; Deep clean the shower and tub Do you deep clean your shower right after you use them? Are you the type to deep clean it once a week? Whichever your stand in cleaning your shower, it’s always helpful when you give enough time to scrub down the soap scums around it.&#160; And it can be tough. It can be time-consuming. I’ve been there. But, if you’re wondering, I’m the latter type of cleaner when it comes to my shower. Use the shower spray solution for your shower walls and door. There are natural cleaning solutions, and commercial agents don’t need much scrubbing effort from you. Pick what you prefer.&#160; Remember, the shower floor is as important as the walls and doors.&#160;The grout &#8211; keep grout clean and prevent molding &#8211; grout cleaning method. But the tub is a different talk. Tackle the cleaning as soon as you’re done soaking or using it. You don’t want extra water stagnant inside the tub.&#160;Or, if you love bath oils, those oils need to be off the tub surface. It’s the same thing with tub; use the appropriate supply and products to clean your tub. If you have a shower curtain with a liner, drop them in the washer and get them air dry. RELATED POST: Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To Dust the toilet, cabinets, and shelves Hello, dusting! Does your bathroom suffer a lot of collected dust?&#160; Grab your favorite duster or microfiber cloth to clean the dust off your cabinets and shelves. You may need some bottle sprays for accumulated dust or stains on the cabinets.&#160; It’s perfectly safe to use water and get rid of the dirtied space. However, some stains may need more potent products to get it off. So now, check the finish of your cabinets and shelves before using any chemicals on them. Polish all mirrors and chrome fixtures to get them looking brand new Mirrors with handprints?&#160; Yes! Toothpaste splatters?&#160; Yes, tell me about it. Time to clean your bathroom mirror Please take off the debris first; it easily peeled off. Then, use a cloth with alcohol to scrub the debris away from the mirror. If you have a high-quality mirror cleaning spray, use it. If you prefer to make your own, combine ½ cup water, ½ cup white vinegar, and one tablespoon cornstarch. Turn on the bathroom vents. Put on a mask. Spray cleaning solution on the mirror. Use a microfiber cloth on your mirror for a streak-free clean or a crumpled newspaper.&#160;I still remember cleaning my childhood house mirrors using crumpled newspapers. To this day, I know it works if other wipes aren’t available. Make the pattern: edge to edge and top to bottom. Doing this will cover every inch of the mirror and all sides for cleaning.&#160; Inspect the mirror for anything missed.&#160; For the bathroom fixtures Check the material of your bathroom fixtures. You DO NOT want to use a cleaning agent that will erode or ruin your fixtures. Only&#160;use the appropriate cleaner&#160;for your faucet, showerheads, cabinet handles, and other fixtures. When there are mineral deposits, it may be time to grab the cleaning staples to address the gunks. Always make sure you&#160;dry after cleaning. It will help decrease streaks, prevent molds and enhance the sparkle effect.&#160; Cleaning the bathroom floors Vacuum or Sweep the floors Before you do the floor &#8211; time to look up! Vacuum the corners of the ceiling. That’s right!&#160; Look up to the corners of the shower stall, above the mirror, and other hubs you see around your bathroom. I hope all the clutter and products to keep/throw away are contained or gone. It will be easier to take care of the floor when the areas are cleared first. So grab your vacuum and hit every nook and crannies of the entire bathroom.  Don’t forget the space behind the toilet bowl, the trash can, and the back of a towel cabinet&#160;(not mounted or built-in). Mopping your bathroom floors You can use a cleaning solution on your mop system.&#160; You can also use a cleaning spray bottle with your DIY or commercial-made solutions as you mop the floor. Again, use the correct cleaning agents for the type of floor you have.&#160; Freshen up the toilet bowl Do you have a favorite cleaning tool for toilet bowls?&#160; Preference for toilet bowl cleaning depends on what type of cleaning you do. Some use a traditional toilet scrub with cleaning solutions. Some use the ready-made attach the cleaning pods to the toilet cleaning tool. The goal is to clean under the insides of a toilet bowl.&#160; To clean — the splatters, the dark stains, and all of the above. The steps in cleaning your toilet bowl will depend on your chosen solutions. Read the fine print of proper and safe handling of the cleaning solutions. P.S. if your toilet has a bidet attachment, CLEAN the sprayer! Don’t forget that dirt, grime, and poo splatters may also stick.&#160;Scrub and clean the toilet bidet Bathroom Baseboards&#160; Keeping up with the dust includes your baseboards.&#160; Time to give them some TLC. They haven’t been tended to for a while. Spring cleaning your bathroom will provide them with the deserving time your baseboards need.&#160; When you vacuum the floor early on, I hope you include your baseboards.&#160; If not, you can grab your microfiber cloth, wet and squeeze, then wipe the boards one way. Be careful with any chip paints or dried-out stains. You may need more scrubbing to get the stains off. When all is clean, use a dryer sheet (laundry dryer sheet) and run it across the baseboards. This method will prevent the dust from collecting more on the surface.&#160;It will be an easy clean-up next time. Keep the trash can smelling fresh till the subsequent cleanup How do you keep the bathroom trash can clean?&#160; Do a deep clean every week. Wash the trash can on your tub; if there is no tub &#8211; turn on the shower (bonus if you have a removable showerhead).&#160; Give your trash can a good shower and cleaning.&#160; For daily cleaning, use disinfecting wipes to clean the top and sides of the trash cans. You can pick up unscented trash bags to refill the can. However, if you aren’t sensitive or allergic to scents &#8211; you can use Scented Trash Bags! Thanks to the heavens for these. Life-saver for everyday use and contains any odors &#8211; poo or pee wipes!&#160; Organizing the bathroom Now, all bathroom corners, top to bottom, are clean. So it’s time to house back the things you put in those bins. Then, organize your items, so everything has its place. You’ve already decluttered first before you even started cleaning. It’ll be easier to put the items back to where they belong and not see clutter.&#160; Who likes organizing in chaos? Organizing when the space is clean is the next best thing!&#160; This last part is when you organize from top to bottom. So do the shelves, the shower products, etc. Then move on to the countertops and finally the bathroom sink. Easy Spring Cleaning Tips for Bathrooms Spring cleaning tops the number one to-do list in any household. And with the arrival of spring comes the annual tradition of cleaning your house from top to bottom.&#160; Let’s cut the overwhelm once and for all when it comes to cleaning your bathroom this spring.&#160; Be strategic with your cleaning, prepare what you need, keep track of your nook and crannies, and be cautious of the cleaning agents you use on each surface.&#160; But never fear – following the bathroom cleaning tips above will make this process quick and easy! Are you ready to tackle and deep clean your bathroom this spring?&#160;Leave a comment about your favorite products to use in the bathroom. Spread the Love8&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;8Shares</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/spring-clean-your-bathroom/">Spring Clean Your Bathroom: Spring Clean Series</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">8035</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Clean These 5 Kitchen Items: Don&#8217;t Skip Them.</title>
		<link>https://themotherlyheap.com/clean-5-kitchen-items/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 06 Mar 2022 19:24:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homemaking]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=7820</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love4&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;4SharesThe pace of life can pick up some days. My go-to mantra these past few weeks &#8211; “it is what it is.” These 5 particular items somehow stop me in my tracks as I clean my kitchen. Why? Because when I clean, I want to be able to do the cleaning without putting anything extra. I understand when I need to scrub the burnt grill or get the fridge purged once or twice a week. But some days, I want to clean and go. I don’t want to spend extra time making sure they’re super sparkling clean. Are you the same with cleaning? Hey, we don’t get to do what we want for easy cleaning. But, as homemakers, we make time for things that need attention. Additionally, the health of the family may depend on it as well. So, grab your gloves, and let’s do it. 5 Kitchen Items need extra cleaning and attention: 1. Cutting Board  When’s the last time your meat cutting board had a good scrubbing and soak? Do you mean there are different cutting boards for food? I say yes; you may want to dedicate one cutting board for meat and one for produce. The reason is food safety and handling. It makes sense not to use the cutting board for meat and chopping potatoes together. Some bacteria from the uncooked meat get picked up by other food items you’re preparing on the same board. Keeping your cutting board clean after every use: Scrub your cutting board with salt and a lemon cut in half. Paying particular focus on crevices. Get hot soapy water in a small tub and clean your cutting board. You need to use a gallon of water + 1/3 cup of chlorine bleach to soak for 5 minutes. Then rinse with hot water &#8211; to remove the chemical solution. (Follow bleach safety guidelines for home use). Allow the cutting board to air dry and store in a clean place. If you have a wood cutting board, choose it for produce or other items rather than meat. There are NSF-certified plastic cutting boards available in the market. Another alternative is a glass cutting board. Whatever you use as your cutting board at home, be sure to clean and sanitize them properly. If the cutting boards are worn out &#8211; REPLACE them. 2. Under your microwave oven &#8211; grease filter Have you taken a good look under your over-the-range microwave? Do you see that screen mesh filter with gunk in it? Yes, that one underneath. If you have your microwave manual handy in the kitchen, check how to remove it for cleaning. You can carefully remove it for most microwave models by unhinging one corner. Remove the screen. Soak with a fourth cup of baking soda with 4 quarts ot water with a few drops of diah soap for 10 minutes. After soaking, you can get a cleaning brush to scrub and then rinse with warm water. Say no to oil splatters and dust. Instead, grab your favorite cleaner to wipe down the entire bottom of your microwave. 3. Refrigerator: Water spout and ice dispenser Hello, fridge! If you have a refrigerator with a water and ice dispenser, you’ll see that this area gets nasty pretty quick. Look closely at the water tip and make sure there isn’t any gunk-like white or, worse green stuff sticking around. The ice dispenser spout can get easily dirty as your family uses it daily. So for your safety, pay attention to this area as much you’d want to get fresh, safe, and clean water. Never use a commercial cleaning agent or chemical on them. Opt for the simple tried and true &#8211; vinegar and water (V+W) solution. Fill out a small ziplock with equal parts of V+W. Wrap it around the spouts. Leave it to soak longer. Then wipe down. If you don’t want to soak, grab a spray bottle filled with V+W and use a soft cloth to wipe it down after spraying the spouts. Related Post: Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To 4. Sink Grinder (Garbage Disposal) Ever wonder what’s that smell when you’re by the sink? Yes, it’s your garbage disposal. It may be automatic for you to clean this weekly or more times during the week. But sometimes, life gets busy, and you forget. Let’s tackle it together to get those slimy, grimy goop around and in it. TURN OFF the power to your garbage disposal. Please do this FIRST. Grab a sponge and your dish soap. Scrub the spout chamber sometimes, it can be stuck with all the gunk around it. Rinse your sponge and repeat cleaning it thoroughly and rinse with hot water. Now take your ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup of baking soda &#8211; pour down the drain. COVER with your sink stopper. Let it do its magic. Then, wait for the fizzy to slow down. Once done, remove the cover, then flush your sink disposal with hot water. For the scent part: either grab a few lemon peels, drop into the chamber or a few drops of lemon essential oil with ice cubes &#8211; turn on the disposal for 20 seconds. You can do the same for the other sink without the disposal. Clean as much as you can, then drop some lemon fragrance oil to freshen the smell. 5. Trash Cans Include your trash can on your cleaning to-do list this weekend. Unfortunately, this kitchen item can get overlooked. The trash can may not get cleaned until it’s overly yucky looking to your sight. A good scrubbing and rinsing will do the trick. For quick clean up: Empty the trash. Grab your all-purpose cleaning spray and sponge to clean. From cover to the sides, then the bottom and pedals. Replace a new trash bag and freshen up with a fragrance spray. For thorough cleaning of the trash bin with stuck food, liquid stains, etc. Empty the trash. Bring it to your bathroom and give it a good shower. Use dish soap and scrub those gunks off and rinse with hot water. Always dry out the trash can before using it again. Replace a new trash bag and spray it with your favorite essential oils. Now that we’ve tackled those 5 Kitchen Items in your home to clean. Let’s give these items the proper cleaning and never forget it again. Which one are you going to clean first? Anything you want to add to those kitchen items that get overlooked? Let me know in the comments. Spread the Love4&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;4Shares</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/clean-5-kitchen-items/">Clean These 5 Kitchen Items: Don&#8217;t Skip Them.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">7820</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Laundry System for Family and Ways to Keep it Under Control</title>
		<link>https://themotherlyheap.com/laundry-system-for-family/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jul 2021 15:02:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homemaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Laundry Routine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organization]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=5600</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love33&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;33SharesLaundry isn’t that scary, you know. But, as a family of four, we do have days that those hampers get filled up pretty fast. Which family doesn’t? Finding the laundry system that works for your family can make or break this chore. We do our fair share of getting our clothes cleaned, washed, and put away. When my kids were little, I, of course, have a different laundry system for our family with babies and toddlers. However, that changed now that my kids are growing and getting more responsible. I’ve experimented with different systems and finally settled in our ONE DAY laundry system. What? A whole day of washing, drying, and sorting/folding? Am I crazy? It sounds scary, exhausting, and tedious? Now, let me tell you that even though it feels like it’s a whole day of laundry, it isn’t that bad, and it works for us. Saturday is our Laundry Day unless there are new clothes that need to be washed right away.&#160; Our family of Four ONE DAY Laundry System: A day of washing, folding, and organizing. I start in the morning with four loads. I usually do the kids’ laundry first. Next, I grab one hamper from my daughter’s bedroom then load the light clothes first, followed by the colored ones. While that is ongoing, I finish my morning daily cleaning tasks.  After the first two batches of washing and drying her clothes, I load the 3rd and 4th batch: my son’s clothes. Again, the light followed by the colored garments.&#160; Next thing, I fold my daughter’s clothes with her help. She sorts out little socks, underwear, and I do the rest. Once done, we both quickly put away her clothes and remove the decluttered extra or grown-out clothes (if it&#8217;s purge time). By the time we finished, it’s time for my son’s clothes to be folded and organized. This part is getting me excited. Why? My son had been folding his clothes. Then, when he was around four years old, my husband made him a made-shift folding helper out of old cardboard. Then, he and my husband had a folding teaching moment one afternoon, and that was a game-changer.  We still have the folding helper cardboard for my daughter to use now. So, while my son folds his clothes, I load our bedsheets, pillowcases, and blankets. Then, I make or reheat our lunch, and we enjoy a nice lunch together. Here’s another important part: My husband&#8217;s work schedule is set, so if he’s at work that weekend, he does his laundry the Monday after or Friday. Yes, you read that right! He does his laundry, plus our bath towels are washed weekly. He washes his work clothes separate from the rest and done last. This laundry routine just worked out that way for us. He has his laundry routine and system, and I’m okay with that. Less work for me, right?&#160; Back to my laundry system, after lunch clean-up, I resume the washing of my clothes and other hand towels, cleaning rags, etc., in the afternoon.  I’ll finish my other chores between loads while the kids have their downtime, playtime, and whatever we assigned that day to do.&#160; It’s been an excellent working laundry system for our family for years. But, of course, there are exceptions to this system &#8211; in vacations, travels, weekend plans, and other events. We adjust laundry day accordingly. If one of us (me or husband) is ill, the other will assume the laundry task—teamwork for life. This system is flexible enough and doesn’t have to happen on the weekend. I think we chose Saturday because we were working full-time nurses when we started this out. So, we stuck to it till now, even as I transitioned into a stay-at-home mom last year. Related post: Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To Is it doable to do it in ONE DAY? Depending on what’s going on with your home life, your kids’ age, and other responsibilities, it can be pretty doable for a family to do it this way. As I remind anyone who reads my blog, this is not something that you SHOULD do, and this is my account of what works for our family. If your family laundry method works excellent for you, that&#8217;s awesome, then stick to it. However, if you’re still looking for a laundry method to try and not get stressed out during the week/weekend, this system can be a game-changer for you and your family.  Tips for Getting your Family Laundry System Organized: #1 Give your kids attainable laundry tasks. Let them start their wash load and drying with instructions (Download and Print this Laundry Cheatsheet for kids here). Have the kids sort out small items: socks, underwear. Also, let them fold their clothes. Let them help sort newly washed clothes and organized their closet. The bottom line, you can teach your kids how to do the laundry from start to finish at an early age. Supervisions for younger ones and detailed instructions for the older kids. #2 Place one hamper bin with a divider for every bedroom.&#160; This way can tremendously help when it’s time for laundry day. The bin is already split into two: LIGHT and COLORS. You can check out this trash container turned laundry bin we&#8217;re using in our home; I think we got it from Walmart. Before dirty laundry leaves each bedroom, they are already sorted &#8211; a big time-saver for me. On a different note, working in healthcare, we&#8217;ve set up another laundry bin out in the garage for removing work clothes before entering the house. #3 Set expectations for laundry organization. Kids need to understand that keeping their closets tidy is their responsibility too. Yes, keep everything tidy. This one is still a challenge for my daughter &#8211; she likes to change clothes multiple times a day, and we are working on that end.&#160;Do you have a mom tip for this? If there’s a stained clothing item, mom needs to know right away. Don’t hide or dump around. No clothes on the floor, please. #4 Make it fun for kids.&#160; We are sorting with colors. Sorting per category items. We are keeping the folding fun by listening to music or play a name something of the color game. Extra tickles for kids when grumpy faces emerge. It always works. #5 Keep laundry in check. Everyone can wear some clothing items twice like pajamas, jeans (unless soiled), and hoodies.&#160; Mommy Sniff Test? Anyone?&#160;I&#8217;m not kidding here. Next, towels get washed once a week. The bedsheets, bedcovers, pillowcases, and blankets also get cleaned weekly. #6 Declutter your closets: Keep or Donate. This method is a huge game-changer. When you haven’t worn clothing items in a year, it’s time to have a sit-down with those piles. Start a decluttering routine. Getting clothes into minimum number and not buying clothes out of whim helps keep organization more manageable and have clutter-free closets. Schedule a day or two in a month to do a PURGE ROUTINE from all closets in your home. Place them all in a box/clear bin labeled with what season wear, and the rest DONATE. So, thinning out everyone’s wardrobe can help laundry under control.&#160; #7 Stick to a system that works. When you know what works for your family in tackling laundry, it’s great to be consistent about it. Although, I said earlier that experimenting first with what works and finding an effective method &#8211; can take you to great lengths in cutting down hours or days of laundry tasks.&#160; There’s nothing wrong with switching laundry systems, especially when there are changes at home: family dynamics, kids growing up, work-related limitations, etc. Laundry Hacks I can share with you that are working for our family: Use color catcher sheets if you’re planning to wash all colors PLUS a red item. I’ve had my shares of blotches of red stain to other clothing items. Then, prevent it from ever happening again.&#160; If you don’t need a HOT wash cycle, you don’t have to use it. Cold cycles are an effective washing option for your family’s clothes. But for other seriously soiled items, check the recommendations first. Sweat and blood can get set in the fabric when washed with hot water.&#160; Sanitizing laundry goal: may use Hot water to help kill the bacteria/virus, especially if someone in the family is sick. That includes sheets, towels, and clothing items. Pre-treat stains before washing. For blood &#8211; apply hydrogen peroxide directly on the stained area, then run cold water afterward &#8211; then wash. For pee, poop and vomit &#8211; use baking soda, spray with a 1:4 ratio of water/hydrogen peroxide solution, then rinse with cold water &#8211; then wash. If it hasn’t entirely resolved in one try, repeat the process and check again.&#160; In order to get rid of any odors and residues left in clothes or washable items, you can add ½ cup of baking soda along with your chosen detergent and start the wash cycle usually. For little ones’ or baby socks, use a mesh bag during washing and drying. We know how these cute items can be &#8211; they can turn into endless mismatch socks and missing ones.&#160;&#160; Wool dryer balls are great for sensitive skin; use them instead of dryer sheets. This method also helps keep your towels fluffy.&#160; Laundry Stripping: for garments or items that can withstand HOT water temperature. But before you do this method, please check the labels of your clothing or items. Make sure you use protective gloves and ventilate your bathroom well. **This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the product links and purchase through the links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See the Full Disclosure Here. Thank you for your continued support!** Laundry Essentials: Laundry Detergent Liquid, Powder Dryer Balls or Dryer Sheets Color Catcher Sheets Fabric Softener Baking Soda Vinegar Bleach Hydrogen Peroxide Laundry Stain Remover Spray Bottles Laundry Hampers (something similar) Folding Hampers Small Trash Bin Containers for Other Items Clothes Pin for Sun Drying Hangers Laundry Mesh Bag Friendly Reminder: Keep all products away from younger kids. Always have direct visual supervision when they&#8217;re doing laundry wash/dry. Related Post: Cleaning Supplies Checklist You’ll Need In Your Home Mastering your Family Laundry System is Key The good thing about a family laundry operation is flexibility. You can alter any method you find interesting and customize it according to your family’s needs. Find a laundry routine that&#8217;s effective and helps your time management. There’s no one-fix way to do laundry in any home, the best thing is for you to practice consistency, and it’ll become more manageable. As your kids grow with age, they will be able to help out, and your homemaking laundry routine doesn’t have to be complicated. If you are willing to try this ONE DAY Laundry System for your family, let me know how it goes for you.&#160; Do you have any laundry system tips to add? How frequently do you do laundry at home? What are your effective ways to tackle the laundry at home? Let me know in the comments. Was this post helpful? Would you mind pinning it or sharing it? Thank you! Spread the Love33&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;33Shares</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/laundry-system-for-family/">Laundry System for Family and Ways to Keep it Under Control</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">5600</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To</title>
		<link>https://themotherlyheap.com/cleaning-routine-stay-at-home-mom/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2021 22:34:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cleaning Routine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homemaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stay at home mom]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love1.6K&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1.6KShares As a stay-at-home mom, managing the household with a disorganized cleaning routine can get stressful and exhausting. I believe that every mom has a routine that suits her life and schedule. One mom equals a cleaning schedule that works specifically for her homemaking.  Although the time opportunity to use in my homemaking has extended now that I&#8217;m a stay-at-home homemaker, I actually feel that an efficient cleaning routine will get me the most bang for my time! After deciding to stay at home last year, I had to reset my cleaning schedule. This time it&#8217;s different from the cleaning routine I followed back when I was a full-time working mama. Staying organized with the tasks each day is a priority. Using a checklist can aid you in tracking each cleaning goal.   For some moms, cleaning is therapeutic. For the most, it’s a never-ending loop. Whichever group you belong to, I want you to know I understand if you ever felt trapped in the cycle of cleaning.   Regardless if you&#8217;re a working or a stay-at-home mom, it all comes down to the same denominator &#8211; CLEANING is a must in every home.  Everything falls into place when you have a clean house, and you get to spend more beautiful time with the people in your home. You reap the benefits of having a clear mind because the house isn&#8217;t cluttered. Your stress level decreases because you have more time to enjoy your family besides doing chores all the time. Your children will remember the time you get to play more and do family activities. My husband has his cleaning routine as well, even if he works full-time. In homemaking, I truly believe in the word partnership. That includes teaming up to keep the home running and family cared for. The responsibility to manage the home doesn’t fall only on moms but also on dads. I’m grateful for what my husband does to help me at home. It’s a lot easier and smoother every day when we both do our fair share of chores. Time has gone when only the wife is expected to pitch in. Welcome to the new homemaking era!   Without further ado, I&#8217;m sharing what my cleaning routine looks like as a stay-at-home mom. There&#8217;ll be an opportunity for you to download the FREE Cleaning Routine Checklists at the end of this post.  Are you ready to run with me in this cleaning schedule? Let’s go! Stay-at-home Mom Cleaning Routine: My Weekly Cleaning Routine:  I divided my Cleaning Zones into days of the week; so I don’t go hopping every room and zero in my cleaning responsibilities. Each day of the week pretty much explains what is on the to-do list. Bathroom: Monday Kitchen: Tuesday Living Room: Wednesday   **I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Read more details on this disclosure.**   Check these E-Cloth Rugs to add to your cleaning supply. Look into the variety of packs or specific sets for your cleaning needs. Dining Area: Thursday Bedrooms: Friday Laundry: Saturday Pantry/Fridge: Sunday P.S. Noticed why I put the bathroom on Monday and the kitchen on Tuesday? These are high-traffic areas in the house that can get chaotic every week. Tackle them on the first 2 days of the week, so it’s out of the way.    Daily Cleaning Hacks: In my everyday homemaking, I do these 5 daily tasks to keep everything streamlined as much as possible and not get stressed. These menial tasks changed my cleaning habits and helped me get peace of mind.  As far as these daily tasks, it doesn&#8217;t take me long to finish them. They are tasks that only take as short as 3 minutes to 10 minutes. What better way to get things done quickly than with a short burst of easily achievable chores. Mama, find your daily rhythm in your home management. Your tasks depend on what you definitely need to be completed in no time. These are my daily chores:     Cleaning Hack: Quick pick-ups save the day! It doesn&#8217;t take long to bring things back to where they belong. Who hasn&#8217;t done anything like when you&#8217;re walking down the hallway and see a couple of toys; you pick them up and drop them into the toy bin nearby. Quick, right?   You might also like: Homemaking – The Ultimate Overview for Today’s New Homemakers Spring Clean Your Bathroom: Spring Clean Series Gift Ideas for Homemakers for Kitchen Use   My Monthly Cleaning Tasks: Now, these cleaning tasks can be done monthly and anytime there’s downtime between your weeks.  Warning: DO NOT do these tasks all in ONE DAY. Space it out in weeks, or combine two tasks ONLY if you’re up to it.   Keep track of when these tasks were completed. Using a cleaning checklist will help you get reminded of when they&#8217;re next due to be done.   Additional Quarterly Cleaning Chores:   There you have it. A rundown of my Stay-At-Home Mom: Cleaning Routine. This system helps me get my home in order. If you want to tackle your mattress with a good deep cleaning, check out this article below. Recommended Post: How to Deep Clean Your Mattress Quickly and Easily by Goodhousekeeping.com   Final Thoughts on sticking to a Cleaning Schedule: Get yourself organized in your cleaning routine. Mama, it doesn’t have to be exhausting all the time. Some days you&#8217;ll complete your to-do cleaning list; some days are missed. That&#8217;s okay too. The above cleaning routine is what&#8217;s working for me, being a stay-at-home mom. A challenge for you, try it out for a month and see if it’s a good fit for you. Tweak the days to your preference. However, if you have your cleaning rhythm already and it’s working for you &#8211; stick to it.    Check out the FREE &#8211; Cleaning Routine Sheets. This will help you streamline your cleaning schedule at home. Stay on top of your daily chores, keep every room in your home clean, and be reminded to do the monthly tasks specific to your homemaking.  Get the Cleaning Routine! Signup for news and special offers! You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy. Subscribe Loading&#8230; Thank you! Download your Blank Cleaning Routine Checklist!&#160; You have successfully joined our subscriber list. How do you keep your home clean? Do you follow a strict cleaning routine? If so, please share a cleaning hack that&#8217;s life-changing for you. Share this post. Pin this post on your Pinterest board and follow me on Pinterest.  Spread the Love1.6K&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;1.6KShares</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/cleaning-routine-stay-at-home-mom/">Cleaning Routine for a Stay-At-Home Mom That You Actually Can Stick To</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">3710</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Why Kids Routines Will Change Your Chaotic Mom Life?</title>
		<link>https://themotherlyheap.com/why-kids-routines-will-change-your-chaotic-mom-life/</link>
					<comments>https://themotherlyheap.com/why-kids-routines-will-change-your-chaotic-mom-life/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jordan N.]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Apr 2021 20:39:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Mom Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Routines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom life]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=827</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Spread the Love77&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;77SharesWhat is a recurring household scene in your morning? Is someone crying? Are you yelling? Is the constant struggle to push and rush everything a staple in your home? Mama, are you inside a bubble that&#8217;s about to pop? Then, what about at night? Do your kids just close their eyes and escape to dreamland? Great! Or you&#8217;re on a long winding road of unending requests from your toddler trying not to sleep yet. Will these battles in your life continue? How long are you going to endure it? What if there&#8217;s a way to lessen the chaos? Then, creating kids&#8217; routines might be the answer to your question. It can become a significant part of your home. Mama, let&#8217;s check what kids routines can do for your kids and for you. Kids are relaxed when there&#8217;s a regular structure in their lives. When there are consistency and predictability, they feel confident when they know what&#8217;s next. It&#8217;s never a good scenario when they don&#8217;t know what to expect. What comes next? (Drum rolls, please.) Meltdowns and fits happen because kids can feel out of control, and emotions are running high. In addition, kids can&#8217;t adjust to abrupt changes in their environment easily. Routines are ways for them to understand how the world works and how they can be a participant. Make these new routines become learning moments for them and the saving grace for you. Benefits of Routine to Kids Routines need not be strict, although we could all follow time blocks for efficiency. Kids feel secure when routines are present in their lives. It offers a safe space for our kids. Change happens every day, and their routines can help them feel grounded by knowing what to anticipate. They are less likely to feel rushed, especially in the morning. Children are calmer as they approach their bedtime. Routines act as a stepping stone in learning. Independence, life skills, social connections, and healthy habits creation are among the things they can improve. Practicing routines can fundamentally set up your kids for success as well as their emotional stability. Kids will form healthy habits like brushing their teeth properly, washing their hands after play/potty time, or just taking their vitamins every single day. You&#8217;ll witness their delight and satisfaction in completing each task, and you celebrate them joyfully. These tender moments with your kids can only strengthen your bond more. Benefits of Routine to Parents Anything that creates less chaos in our home is a must! I see your hands up high, Mama! With structured routines, it fosters cooperation, and there’s less power struggle between you and your kids.&#160; We all start and end our day better. The less stress we deal with everyday living, the more we can enjoy each other. As we all know, it&#8217;s hard to keep it together when kids have meltdowns. So we try to refrain from becoming increasingly upset about the situation, and at the same time, trying to diffuse the emotional outbursts of our kids. When routines are solidified, kids will learn boundaries and the effect of their actions/inactions. It is a teachable moment for you to show that things in life aren&#8217;t all carefree, that we all have our places and responsibilities. Our kids can learn that their choices can result in an expected outcome. And for those times that aren&#8217;t that great, kids know how to do better. We can encourage them to grow their creativeness and be mindful of their choices. We strive to have a calm and collected disposition as parents; that&#8217;s when routines come into place. The home environment becomes less stressful, more predictable, and controllable. Here are my Kids&#8217; Routines for Morning/Nighttime: Don&#8217;t be afraid to add new rituals that you want to be included in the kids&#8217; routines or take some out. Kids aren&#8217;t overwhelmed when one new ritual is inserted at a time. Just remember; the simpler it is, the quicker it becomes a habit for them. With my kids, we read and then pray together right before we say goodnight. These rituals can fortify a sense of belonging in your family. It strengthens core family values and beliefs and for your kids to know what&#8217;s important. Kids need a healthy balance in their lives, so don&#8217;t overdo routines too rigid or time-conscious. It does help us to get things moving; however, kids will need some flexibility to manage their own with your guidance. This explains well when occasions or life events arise around the family. Your kids will definitely look for a familiar ground when it comes to sudden changes in their day. Routine comes easily with kids age; a simple daily routine for a preschooler isn&#8217;t going to be similar to how structured activities are for a pre-teen. The older they become, the more independent, self-reliant they become, and can easily adjust to change. Make routines fun for them, and next thing you know, you&#8217;ll realize how come you&#8217;d not jumped into this kids&#8217; routines train way sooner. Celebrate any day that makes your homemaking easier, and having a good routine for kids will achieve just that. In the end, we all want a calm start in the morning and a restful end at night. Are you finding ways to reduce your stress as a mom? Will you start routines for your kids? What are your family&#8217;s rituals? Share below in the comment. Share this post. Spread the Love77&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;77Shares</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com/why-kids-routines-will-change-your-chaotic-mom-life/">Why Kids Routines Will Change Your Chaotic Mom Life?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://themotherlyheap.com">The Motherly Heap</a>.</p>
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