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Post by Monica* on Nov 18, 2016 12:12:45 GMT
Since today it's going to be something like 80 and tomorrow in the 40's, DH is going to try to take a half day and we are going to tackle the outside Christmas lights so they're ready to turn on after Thanksgiving. This involves dragging them up from the basement and testing them all/sorting them first. They were not stored well last year so it's going to be a pain. I need to commit to storing them better this time. Last year, the boys just wadded them up and threw them down there. Ugh.
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Post by Linda on Nov 18, 2016 13:49:47 GMT
msliz - deepcleaning the other side of my kitchen and throwing AWAY the damn microwave...there was another bug in the display panel this morning and after deepcleaning it TWICE yesterday, I'm done...it can leave...I don't use it that often anyway...
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 18, 2016 13:52:23 GMT
For my cooktop, I clean with cream of tartar and water to make a paste. That plus elbow-grease gets those marks from cooking right off.
I'm home all day today so I have a long list of little jobs to get done including some ironing and cleaning up my herb garden.
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Post by idahopea on Nov 18, 2016 15:11:49 GMT
Regarding putting away Christmas lights- we have a bunch of those sets of mesh lights for bushes, garland, and some plain strings of lights. Last year as I took them down, I put each set of lights in its own white kitchen trash bag and then put the bag directly into a large tote box keeping them as flat as possible. I coiled the light strings like you would an extension cord. It was so easy to take each set out and they were not all tangled together, expecially the net lights. I found if I took the set out, held the plug on each end and shook, the entire net was ready to place on a bush. I will reuse the same bags each year since it worked so well.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,969
Jun 25, 2014 23:13:23 GMT
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Post by Nanner on Nov 18, 2016 15:12:07 GMT
For my cooktop, I clean with cream of tartar and water to make a paste. That plus elbow-grease gets those marks from cooking right off. I'm home all day today so I have a long list of little jobs to get done including some ironing and cleaning up my herb garden. Thanks for the cooktop advice.
I'm trying everyone's suggestions for it this weekend!
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Deleted
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May 20, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 15:40:32 GMT
I am so glad I reorganized! I was able to neatly store the reuseable water/coffee cups and battery candles in my hutch which opened up a big space in the bottom kitchen cabinet. I found stuff piled in the back so I dumped it all out. Then I moved my slow cooker and skillet down and over which made room for my extra pantry items!
Going to go this weekend to the $1 store and get a bin for some of the food items to keep them corraled.
I also cleared off the top of the fridge and need to give that a good wipe down.
Today I will deep clean the kitchen and downstairs bathroom.
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Deleted
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May 20, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 15:44:37 GMT
Since today it's going to be something like 80 and tomorrow in the 40's, DH is going to try to take a half day and we are going to tackle the outside Christmas lights so they're ready to turn on after Thanksgiving. This involves dragging them up from the basement and testing them all/sorting them first. They were not stored well last year so it's going to be a pain. I need to commit to storing them better this time. Last year, the boys just wadded them up and threw them down there. Ugh. We save cardboard from my sons medical formula delivery boxes and cut out a chunky I shape. Then wrap each light strand around the cardboard and store laying flat in a rubbermade box. Dh also takes the time at take down to fix/replace any broken or burned out lights. Makes installing a lot easier. We do this for outdoor and tree lights
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mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
Jun 27, 2014 19:58:15 GMT
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Post by mlana on Nov 18, 2016 16:50:32 GMT
gillyp - one nice thing about at least starting with a list is that it makes it easier to menu plan...at least for a week or two until the list gets outdated when I'm DONE deep cleaning the kitchen (so NOT today), I need to deepclean the utility room where my tinned and dry goods and freezer are...I'll make a list and hopefully we can eat from the pantry/freezer for a week or two... Were you on the old board? Someone there used to do Pantry challenges every now and then. They'd tell some of the things they had in the pantry and other Peas would try to help them plan meals for a week or so (sometimes until payday) using just what they had on hand. I got some great ideas from those challenges. Expired food - we have a Boy Scout in our neighborhood who collects food for the Food Pantry twice a year. You take whatever you want to donate and put it in a bag at the curb on a given day. I use this as a time to clean out my pantry of things we might not use before they expire, as well as a reason to just clean out the pantry. Knowing when he's next collecting is also a great way to judge if it's worth using my extra coupons to buy items intended to go to the Food Pantry. Marcy
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Post by Linda on Nov 18, 2016 16:56:37 GMT
mlana - I was on the old board but mostly as a lurker Working on my kitchen again today. Cleaned out and bleached my medicine cabinet - it wasn't bad since I had recently gone through the medicines and got rid of the old ones. Cleaned out and bleached my spice rack....obviously I need to do THAT more often as they was a lot of expired ones (and not especially recently expired either). Only added a handful to my shopping list though -some I must have bought for a specific recipe and never used again. Cleaned out my toaster and bleached the counter it sits on. Went through a 4-drawer plastic unit (my kitchen has only 2 actual drawers) - donated some stuff we never use, mended a trivet, bleached the whole unit... Next up is the stove/oven....
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Post by Monica* on Nov 18, 2016 16:59:52 GMT
Thanks for the ideas on the light storage! I just went down there and did an assessment and it wasn't good. Threw away three strands, and literally every other strand only half the lights worked. I did find some spare bulbs so if I really want to kill myself, I might try to repair. On a positive note, I had the foresight last year after Christmas to buy more lights on clearance (I must have known our shoddy habits would come back and bite us in the butt), so I've got new ones ready to go. I am going to make sure that I put away the lights this year instead of leaving it to the boys.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 20, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 17:16:26 GMT
So in deep cleaning the kitchen I realize the hood vent cover is gross. How often should those be replaced? Or do you just clean it over and over?
What should I soak it in? We have been here 10 years so I am sure it may be time to get a new one. ?
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Post by yodutchess on Nov 18, 2016 17:33:35 GMT
I bought the Scrub Daddy sponges in Bed, Bath and Beyond. When I was cooking and canning jam I made a mess of my glass top stove and burnt my Le Crueset pot. It handled the LeCrueset burnt jam well without scratching the pot. We have very hard water so I would have combo hard water and burnt jam on the stove. It handled that with a paste of vinegar and baking Soda. After a month of use the sponge breaks down. I used to buy those fluffy plastic scrubbies but my stores do not carry them any more.
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,003
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 18, 2016 17:44:53 GMT
I bought the Scrub Daddy sponges in Bed, Bath and Beyond. When I was cooking and canning jam I made a mess of my glass top stove and burnt my Le Crueset pot. It handled the LeCrueset burnt jam well without scratching the pot. We have very hard water so I would have combo hard water and burnt jam on the stove. It handled that with a paste of vinegar and baking Soda. After a month of use the sponge breaks down. I used to buy those fluffy plastic scrubbies but my stores do not carry them any more. Wow, thanks for the great info, especially that they break down after a month. They last longer than a Magic Eraser, but not as long as a regular sponge, so that's good to know. I'll definitely pick up more than one then. I'm always on the hunt for a new cleaning gadget or tool. Anything to make my life easier..like my new mop and self wringing bucket I got recently. LOVE IT.
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Nov 18, 2016 19:39:10 GMT
Thanks for nothing, calimom2. You made me look up at my vent hood. Now I have to clean it. I was very happy ignoring it, but no, you had to go ruin it for me.
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,003
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Nov 18, 2016 20:26:08 GMT
Thanks for nothing, calimom2. You made me look up at my vent hood. Now I have to clean it. I was very happy ignoring it, but no, you had to go ruin it for me. OMG that made me literally LOL! So true!! ahhhh!!!!
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Post by Linda on Nov 18, 2016 20:27:54 GMT
Thanks for nothing, calimom2. You made me look up at my vent hood. Now I have to clean it. I was very happy ignoring it, but no, you had to go ruin it for me. yeah - me too...it's the last thing I need to do before I run the self-clean cycle on the oven....
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 20, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 20:29:59 GMT
Thanks for nothing, calimom2. You made me look up at my vent hood. Now I have to clean it. I was very happy ignoring it, but no, you had to go ruin it for me. Lmao!!!!
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Nov 18, 2016 21:12:55 GMT
Well, I didn't get any of my yard work done today, but my attic looks amazing! It's looking less like a junk room and even strongly resembles a craft room / guest room. My mom will be staying here for thanksgiving week, and the room is looking cozy. ( DD13 has her bedroom off of this common area, and there's a bathroom up here too. ) There are piles of junk in the corners, but I'm happy with how it came out. Yard work can wait for tomorrow
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Deleted
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May 20, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2016 22:57:11 GMT
Well I took off the stove hood vent, soaked it in super hot water and dawn dish soap for 20 min, and scrubbed it a little. Looks almost brand new! I set it upright at an angle to dry and that took about 30 min.
So far I have deep cleaned the kitchen, cleaned all the items that sit out on the counters (mini K, KA stand mixer, cookie jar used for kcups, canisters that hold cooking utensils) cleaned the stove hood, wiped down the stair railings (why in the hell did they paint them white? In two days they will look dirty again. Ugh!), and did 2 loads of laundry.
I also went to ds's school and helped out/took pictures during the annual Turkey Trot. Each grade and then the SDC kids run around the track, chasing the principal who wears a turkey suit LOL
Ds came in 4th!
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Post by Linda on Nov 18, 2016 23:50:59 GMT
well done @calimom2
My kitchen is clean also - took two days but it sparkles! Cleaned the stove, ran the self-clean on the oven, cleaned the stove hood, scrubbed the trash can, emptied/bleached/refilled the cabinets, bleached counters and island....
I still need to mop but I'll wait and do that tomorrow after I deepclean the dining room so I can do both
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Post by gillyp on Nov 19, 2016 0:56:15 GMT
While this is fresh in my mind, can I ask if anyone uses vacuum bags for storing large items like bedding? I've steered clear of them because I've felt that items such as pillows or duvets (comforters?) would never regain their fluffiness after being sealed inside a bag for at least a few months.
I suppose I would like to know if you like using them, what's the longest you have kept something in one and did the item go back to its original size and shape. Plus anything else you would like to share about them!
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java
Junior Member
Posts: 81
May 15, 2016 5:32:05 GMT
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Post by java on Nov 19, 2016 1:15:02 GMT
I use the vacuum bags and find them very useful. I have not noticed that items don't return to their original size or fluffiness (is that a word?)
They are also very handy for moving kids to college. Fill up a bag with bedding and towels.Couple other bags for clothes and they take up much less space for the trip. When they come home for the year, all the bedding and towels get washed and put back in the bag. Easy to store till they return to school.
I have had things like off season blankets or beach towels in them for months and have had no problem.
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Deleted
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May 20, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2016 1:15:26 GMT
well done @calimom2 My kitchen is clean also - took two days but it sparkles! Cleaned the stove, ran the self-clean on the oven, cleaned the stove hood, scrubbed the trash can, emptied/bleached/refilled the cabinets, bleached counters and island.... I still need to mop but I'll wait and do that tomorrow after I deepclean the dining room so I can do both Cleaning the kitchen trashcan is on dh's to do list over fall break! I am going to mop on Sunday. Tomorrow is date day with the hubby.
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Post by anxiousmom on Nov 19, 2016 1:37:55 GMT
So in deep cleaning the kitchen I realize the hood vent cover is gross. How often should those be replaced? Or do you just clean it over and over? What should I soak it in? We have been here 10 years so I am sure it may be time to get a new one. ? Soak it in a solution of ammonia and warm water. I just run a sink about half full of water with maybe a baldish cup of ammonia. It will stink and you DO NOT WANT TO STAND OVER THE SINK AND BREATHE. Let it soak for a bit. Ammonia is one of the best methods of getting grease off. And much less expensive than some of the lesser effective products you buy at the store. This is one of those old school solutions that has fallen by the wayside but works.
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Post by Really Red on Nov 19, 2016 5:47:25 GMT
I have been on a cleaning binge these days. Cleaned out junk drawers, boxes in the garage that have been there 14 years, but the worst was the basement. We had water once and apparently - ugh - Wait, I think I need a spoiler so people who are truly grossed out by stuff don't have to read it mice. Mice droppings. SO unbelievably gross. I feel like the more I do, the more I have to do!! I'm going to try the Magic Eraser for my stupid glass-top stove. If there was gas where we were, I'd never EVER get a glass-top stove. Hateful. Mine is new and hateful. I have one great tip for wood floors: Rejuvenate My dogs had done a number on my hardwood floors and this stuff made them look stunning again. It is pricey for the amount, but it lasts a good long time. My first application was my steps and that lasted a good several months. It's been on all my floors for about 2 months now and they still look fab.
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Post by gillyp on Nov 19, 2016 8:20:49 GMT
I use the vacuum bags and find them very useful. I have not noticed that items don't return to their original size or fluffiness (is that a word?) They are also very handy for moving kids to college. Fill up a bag with bedding and towels.Couple other bags for clothes and they take up much less space for the trip. When they come home for the year, all the bedding and towels get washed and put back in the bag. Easy to store till they return to school. I have had things like off season blankets or beach towels in them for months and have had no problem. Thanks for this. I don't have the kids at college situation but I can see that that's a good idea and I'm sure others will find it useful. Fluffiness? It's a word.
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Post by gillyp on Nov 19, 2016 8:32:39 GMT
I have been on a cleaning binge these days. Cleaned out junk drawers, boxes in the garage that have been there 14 years, but the worst was the basement. We had water once and apparently - ugh - Wait, I think I need a spoiler so people who are truly grossed out by stuff don't have to read it I feel like the more I do, the more I have to do!! I'm going to try the Magic Eraser for my stupid glass-top stove. If there was gas where we were, I'd never EVER get a glass-top stove. Hateful. Mine is new and hateful. I have one great tip for wood floors: Rejuvenate My dogs had done a number on my hardwood floors and this stuff made them look stunning again. It is pricey for the amount, but it lasts a good long time. My first application was my steps and that lasted a good several months. It's been on all my floors for about 2 months now and they still look fab. We have had that problem too. It goes with the territory of where we live unfortunately. When I ask the cats what they think they are playing at, allowing it to happen, they just look at their claws, look at me and shrug their shoulders. I LOVE my glass top stove and wouldn't have anything else! When something is burnt on and won't come off with the scraper I pour a table spoon of boiling water over the burnt on bit and wait for a little while for it to soften, then scrape off. I've found Hob Brite (I expect you have something similar) brilliant and only need a paper towel to wipe it on and off. Sometimes it needs a bit more elbow grease. Do you have hob conditioners over there? They are supposed to form a film on the glass once it's clean, to make it more difficult for things to stick. I can't say I've noticed any difference with using it but something like that may help. I love Magic Erasers too! They can be tricky to buy here for some reason.
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mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
Jun 27, 2014 19:58:15 GMT
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Post by mlana on Nov 19, 2016 8:51:20 GMT
This thread was just what i needed today. My back is out and I really wanted to sit and whine all day, but I read the posts here and then got up and got moving. I got 8 very large cardboard computer shipping boxes broken down and out of the living room. They're neatly stacked on the deck and will go out in the garden tomorrow after I empty and break down the 13 remaining boxes in the garage. I'm going to lay them in the aisles between my garden beds and cover them with leaves. I'll added shredded tree mulch on top of that after I have some trees cut and mulched next week.
I got most of the piled junk in the living room sorted out and put away or thrown out. DH was not happy with the bag of trash he had to take to the can. LOL. I finally got the shoe rack hung over the door in the LR. I want to use it to hold winter stuff as well as the assorted little things that end up on the flat spaces in there. I also got some smaller cardboard boxes emptied of the parking materials and carried upstairs to the craft room.
I got the last of last night's dinner dishes unloaded and put away before getting the stove and counters scrubbed again. My mom decided that she wanted to do floors today, so swept and mopped the kitchen and vacuumed the living room. She has COPD and she has to stop and rest ever so often, but I just stayed out of her way and let her work at her own pace. She was so tickled to have something to do to get the house ready for DD coming home. I was tickled not to have to do those things with my back hurting so bad. LOL
DD got home from college and told me that she'll help me measure the basement and help me figure out how I want to set up my craft room down there. We're going to move my craft room to the basement and set my mom up in the guest room. She stays in DD's room when DD is at school. But we want her to have her own space upstairs with us. During this coming week, we're going to try to clean out the basement and get the craft room ready to be moved. We hope to actually get the shelving hung up before DD leaves so I can be moving things downstairs as I have time and energy.
Marcy
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
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Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Nov 19, 2016 15:26:07 GMT
Marcy, those are some big plans!
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Nov 19, 2016 15:27:37 GMT
Sent too soon. ... oops. I meant to add, I'm glad you're getting lots of help from your family, and I hope your back feels better soon
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