Does the thought of cleaning on top of all your other responsibilities make you feel overwhelmed? Well there’s no need to panic! Here's how by barely lifting a finger, you can get fresh linen, glistening showers and a sparkling kitchen!
Bedroom
Create a "natural" bed
You can reduce your laundry loads if you sleep on 100 percent cotton sheets; they are usually more expensive than those made with synthetic fabrics but they breathe and absorb moisture better. Sheets made of synthetics like polyester tend to turn damp and odorous faster from perspiration.
Freshen up sheets without laundering
Fill a spray bottle with distilled water and a few drops of lavender oil, then lightly spray your sheets to freshen them. You can also put a fragrant lavender sachet under your pillow. The soothing scent of lavender will help lull you to sleep.
Bathroom
Decrease tub scrubbing
Tubs tend to develop rings when dirty water doesn’t drain quickly. If you have a slow-moving or clogged drain, take the easy approach and try Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover. Pour in, wait for 15 to 30 minutes and flush well with hot water. Your drains will quickly be restored to their free-flowing state, and you’ll save yourself the mess, time and effort of having to remove hair, soap scum and other gunky clogs.
Reduce mildew
Mould and mildew build up fast in showers, especially with all that morning traffic. To reduce that build-up, open your shower door or curtain after showering and let the interior air-dry. Hang up wet towels immediately after using; if possible, air-dry them in the sun.
One-stop rinsing
Keep shampoo and conditioner bottles from getting gunky by rinsing (with lids sealed) in the shower, immediately after using.
One touch shower cleaning
Imagine waking up to a clean shower stall every morning. Simply install the Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner using the easy to follow instructions. Then after the last shower of the day, while the shower is still wet, push the start button. The power sprayer sprays cleaning solution on all four shower walls and tub. With daily use, it’s a great way to eliminate build-up of tough soap scum and mould and mildew stains without scrubbing. Keeps showers clean from day one.
Kitchen
Cook ahead and freeze
Plan your meals for the coming week and spend one weekend day or evening doing all the cooking. Then, divide into individual or family-size portions and freeze, using Ziploc® brand Double Guard® Freezer Bags with the Double Zipper Seal, specially designed to protect against freezer burn. Label each bag by writing the content and date with black permanent marker on the outside of the bag. To maximize room in your freezer, press the air out of the bag as much as possible before zipping and lay each bag on its side and flatten.
One-pot meals
If you prefer not to cook ahead of time, consider serving easy-to-prep one-pot meals that offer a mix of grains, lean protein and vegetables.
Mess-free meals
Think no pots, no pans! Enjoy wraps filled with sliced meats and cheese or simple treats like yogurt and fruit. Or serve this easy-to-make brunch: frozen waffles heated on a griddle, topped with freshly washed berries (no cutting required) and a small spritz of whipped cream. The waffles can be eaten as sandwiches, so the only cleanup is the griddle and a couple of plates.
Keeping it clean
Kitchens are the centre of most homes, but unfortunately since they’re high traffic areas they can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria and germs. Common problem areas include most surfaces such as stoves, kitchen sinks, doors, drawers, and refrigerator handles. Even little things like timers, whisk handles, pepper mills and salt shakers can easily become contaminated. Cleaning regularly is very important so try Windex® Antibacterial Disinfectant. It can be used on most surfaces and with no effort at all, it kills bacteria leaving behind a beautifully clean, fresh kitchen.
Laundry Room
Run a full load
Conserve electricity by running your washing machine only when it’s fully loaded. Run your machine during off-hours (early morning or late at night) to reduce the strain on the electrical grid during peak hours. Also washing clothes in cold water and using cold-water detergents whenever possible saves money and energy.
Any Room
Effortless Ant control.
It takes only a minute to set out pest-control baits, but they can make a huge difference. Try Raid® Ant Baits which can easily be set along pathways where pests commonly congregate, such as in corners, under beds and in the kitchen.
Dispel odours
Too much snacking in your car? Get rid of the odour of French Fries and more by clipping a Glade® Auto Scented Oil fragrancer onto your vehicle’s vent blades. The fragrancer uses the airflow of your vehicle’s vent to continuously circulate a light pleasant fragrance. Choose a scent that matches your dream summer vacation, like Tropical Moment® or Ocean Blue™.
