My just about six year old son wrote all over his wall in ball point pen this past weekend. He is not an out of control, disobedient kid; he was writing in a notebook, sitting on his bedroom floor, while I was putting his laundry away and he literally lost his mind. He continued his doodling from his notebook onto the painted wall, and very meticulously wrote his name and and drew a little person. I looked over (it had been quiet too long), saw what he was doing and shrieked “What are you doing?!?” which surprised him, and he...

It’s fall, which is my favorite time of year with changing leaves and comfortable temperatures, but it is also the season of mud. If you have pets or children (or active adults!), mud is easily tracked inside and can wreak havoc on your floors, carpets and clothing. Here are some tips on removing mud stains, and keeping mud where it belongs - outside. Stop mud in its tracks If you have a dog, set up a clean up station outside your door, or if you have the appropriate space, just inside your entry way. The best thing to do is to hose...

The bathroom - talk about a room you want to keep free of any toxins! Many store bought cleaners are harsh and contain chemicals you might not want to come into contact with. Here are some recipes to try for homemade, non-toxic bathroom cleaners. Post any recipes that work for you to share with our readers. Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 c. baking soda with 1 cup vinegar. Pour into bowl, let sit for at least a  few minutes and up to a half hour, scrub and flush. Tub and Tile: For basic cleaning, rub baking soda into surface with a damp sponge and...

Making your own glass cleaner is even easier than buying one of the traditional, often chemical-laden products at the store because chances are you have the ingredients at home already. Why make your own? Aren’t we all trying to save money, avoid products with harsh chemicals and reduce waste? You can accomplish all three of these objectives at once if you make your own cleaning products. One must when you do this is to use a new spray bottle (you can find them at your local Dollar type store) because if you reuse a bottle that had a purchased cleaner in it, the...

I recently was introduced to the nightmare that is a house with mold - and yes, gasp - black mold. Mold can be minor or it can be dangerous - leading to health problems for you and your family like upper respiratory problems and in severe cases, dizziness, headache, nausea or worse, so it is worth checking out. I thought I would share some of the information I have learned about this potentially dangerous home invader: If you smell an off-odor in your house, do a thorough investigation. For a few weeks this summer my basement was smelling especially musty. I live...

As a cleaning lady, I am often the first to discover ants’ and other insects’ invasion of indoor (and outdoor spots like decks or patios) space. Some of the sprays sold at stores can be full of pretty harsh chemicals that you may want to use as a last resort, especially inside when you have pets or children roaming around. Here are some natural ways to get rid of insect intruders: Ants: Try dusting the problem areas with baking soda - it is poisonous to ants. You can also try dusting areas where you see ants with baby power, cinnamon or black...

Are you tired of buying dryer sheets? Save money by making your own. Just take a washcloth or clean rag and dip in liquid fabric softener. Let dry over a towel rack and pop in the dryer each time you dry a load of laundry. This will last for up to 30 loads for pennies a load. When you notice your clothes are less soft, repeat dipping the cloth in the fabric softener. One bottle of fabric softener can last y...

Hello.. i have a question, i want to know the easiest way to clean hair out of the sink! my boyfriend always shaves over the sink in the bathroom and the little hairs are everywhere, when i wet the cloth to clean them out they just get stuck and spread around more.. this happens almost everyday and it ends up taking me 20 minutes or more to clean up after him.. are there any easier more efficient ways to clean the sink up after a Man shaves?? -Christine Dear Christine, Don’t you just hate that???  I know exactly what you are talking about and...

Dear Cleaning Lady, How do I clean the inside of my washing machine? There seems to be a buildup of black gunk near the rubber rim? -Lucy Dear Lucy, I know the gunk you are talking about and I have seen it on the inside of my washing machine (front loader) as well as my dishwasher. It tends to be right near where the door hinges exist which is a prime spot for grime and hard water deposits to build up. It is really important that you keep this area clean or else the machine can rust or erode.  Plus, the...