Are you sure dust doesn't count?

Well, I'm pretty certain that those creative professional home decorating experts aren't talking about dust when they talk about 'layering'!  In fact, I know it's about putting stuff in front of other stuff without fear when accessorizing a dresser or mantle or tabletop!  I'm learning! I've been doing minimum maintenance for so long because of this tendinitis that my cute accessories were literally obscured by dust.  Not good.

 I decided that it would be a good project to keep me from going crazy while the family is gone this weekend. I've taken everything off of every surface I can reach without the step stool since, with no one but the dog to catch me if I fall, climbing would be unwise.  I am quite ready to be done with this painful arm, but healing is taking so much more time than I thought.  It's no wonder our medical  insurance pays for 20 physical therapy visits for tennis elbow - I thought I'd never use that many, but now I wonder!

Slowly and surely I've been washing everything.  I've been shocked at how much dust has accumulated since I last deep cleaned - we were beyond the swiffer stage and into serious 'douse and dunk' cleaning!!! I still love Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Geranium all purpose cleaner - it's been making this chore a pleasure!  The van smelled so good the other day when I grabbed some Surface Wipes and gave it a quick cleaning out before the guys left to pick up sister!

So now the kitchen table is completely covered in stuff and a few things are in the Goodwill pile, and a couple of things needed some TLC so they are out in the Grammy Flat for some re-vamping or gluing.  The surfaces of our home are clean, bare and ready for some real layering!  My problem is that I am stuck in a very long, very deep decorating rut!  Unlike many who seem to have endless energy for moving things about and re-doing everything every few days, I tend to put stuff where I like it and leave it. 

Forever.  

Hence the dust! 

I've made myself a few rules - we'll see if I can stick to them:

My ( I don't have a clue about decorating) Accessorizing Rules

1. If I don't love it, I won't keep it.  Time for some thinning out and passing along. The Goodwill pile will grow, but since everything we own was thrifted/clearance or a gift, I can let it go with no regrets.
2. It can't go back where it was - everything must find a new home. No exceptions.
3. No glass in the DANGER ZONES - this means the family room (where rough housing and wild romps with Bailey take place regularly) and the sunroom ( where there are bats and balls and a 10 year old boy who isn't supposed to swing in the house ...). No exceptions.
4. Less is more - not every inch of every surface needs to be covered with stuff.

I think that's it! 

I daydream about asking a friend to come over a do this with me - one sweet friend is very gifted with home decor and I would love her to just come and give me some creative ideas to use what I have in a fresh way!  I love her home and she seems to have boundless energy for moving stuff around. Maybe we'll get our act together and do that someday!  For now, I'd better get back to work.  My family should be home soon and I think they'll want to eat at the kitchen table tomorrow!

Blessings,

Spring cleaning?

Maybe if I were SuperWoman, I would be starting my spring cleaning, but, I'm not! I've put it off until scheduled it for the first week of March, but in the meantime I needed to make some more of our regular cleaners for everyday use. I have a nice big basket that I lined with pretty fabric and it is our home cleaning kit. I use empty spray bottles from the Dollar Store and fill them with these homemade solutions - labeled well!

Today, one of my dear home school friends asked me to share my recipe for the cleaner I brought to co-op yesterday for our end of the day cleaning sessions. I thought I'd share these recipes here too because they work so well for me and are fairly inexpensive. Essential oils can be costly initially, but I just use a few drops and they seem to last a really long time. The lovely scents make me smile while I clean and they do linger, making the house smell fresh - which is really a blessing!

Heather's Counter Top Spray
Mix in a spray bottle:
1 T clear, non-sudsing ammonia
1/4 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 T clear liquid laundry detergent
3-5 drops essential oil (I like lavender and eucalyptus)
2 cups tepid water
Remember - never to use products containing vinegar, alcohol or lemon on marble counters as this will etch the surface, causing damage.
*Multiply all ingredients by 7 to make a gallon of this solution (that's what I did for co-op!)

Heather's Carpet Fresh
2 cups baking soda
1 cup corn starch
6 drops essential oil - I like lemongrass or lavender
Combine in a large shaker ( like a Parmesan cheese container) and cover tightly.
Sprinkle lightly over carpet - let sit for 10 minutes; vacuum thoroughly.
Test first in a small area - my carpets are very light colored and I don't know how they will work on darker carpeting.

Glass Cleaner Recipe
Mix in a spray bottle:
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon clear, non-sudsing ammonia
3 drops essential oil - I like wintergreen or lemongrass for windows

Super Grubby Window Shine
Mix in a gallon container:
1/4 cup of sudsy ammonia
1 cup of rubbing alcohol
1 teaspoon of dish washing liquid
8 cups of water
Pour into spray bottles.

SCOURING POWDER
Combine 1 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of washing soda.
If you like you may add a few drops of essential oils like thyme, lavender or tea tree to make your scouring powder a natural disinfectant.
Sprinkle and use with a damp rag, using rubber gloves to protect your hands.

Bathroom Disinfectant
2 tablespoons Borax
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cups hot water
Combine the borax and lemon juice with the water in a spray bottle. Shake until the borax dissolves.

Super Strong Spray Cleaner
*For the really grungy places that we don't want to admit to!
Combine in a spray bottle:
1/2 tsp Washing Soda
1 tsp Borax
1 tsp vegetable oil-based soap (I grate a bit of a bar of Fels Naptha)
2 Tbsp vinegar
2 cups of very hot water
Shake well until all the solids have dissolved. Spray and wipe clean with a damp cloth or sponge.

No-Scratch Soft Scrub:
1/4 cup Borax
1/2 cup baking soda
3 tsp. clear liquid dish soap
1/2 teaspoon lemon oil
hot water
In a bowl, mix the borax and soda with soap to form a creamy paste. Add lemon oil and blend well. Slowly add hot water until smooth. Scoop a small amount of the mixture onto a sponge, wash the surface, then rinse well. This keeps well when tightly closed. Shake well before using.

***These are my trial and error formulas that have been working well for me, but I'm no chemist! Be very careful not mix chemicals like bleach and ammonia or vinegar together - it is very toxic!

I have not come up with a creamy wood furniture polish that really makes the grade, and it appears that Mrs. Meyers stopped selling her wonderful furniture cream in my favorite - lavender, so if you have a recipe or favorite earth friendly product, please do tell! I am using up some lemon oil, but I don't like all of the oily residue. Or the prolonged polishing!